Sorry my first chapter was so short. I didn't realize that that's all I got with a page of writing. This is a lot longer to make up for it…I just want to thank the people that have already reviewed my story. Three reviews, all of them pretty good, and my story's only been up for a day!  Hope you like this chapter too.

Chapter 2

Ruby Slippers and A Lot of Questions

Some people clapped, but it was odd that a student arrived late. And she looked too tall to be first year. Dumbledore continued the introduction. "Miss Whitman will be joining us for her sixth and seventh year of study. Although she will be entering this school late, I expect everyone to treat her well. Now, if our newest student will consent to be sorted…"

Everyone had been too busy staring at Dumbledore to notice that the stool and hat had been brought out again, but now they all looked expectantly towards the objects and the scared girl.

Evelyn stared at the hat, then at Professor McGonagall, who was standing behind her. "What do I do?"

"Just put on the hat, Miss Whitman." Evelyn looked confused, but sat on the stool and placed the hat on top of her head. Instantly a voice spoke into her ear.

"Well now, I thought the Sorting was over for the year." The hat stated.

"I got here late" Evelyn answered.

"Well, that would explain it. But enough of this chatter. What House should I sort you into? Let's see now…you have a good mind…no doubt about that a good heart. A very good one. And, oh yes, courage. Lots of courage…"

"Great. Now all I need is a pair of ruby slippers." Evelyn replied sarcastically. The hat chose to ignore this, but a few of the students chuckled.

"But I think you'd do best in…GRYFINDOR!"

The table farthest to the right erupted into cheers. Harry was smiling from ear to ear. Ron muttered to Hermione, "At least he's getting over Cho nicely." Hermione nodded her agreement. Evelyn started to sit at an empty space near the end, but Professor McGonagall steered her towards the cheering trio in the middle. "Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley, I expect you two to show Miss Whitman around the castle as you are the Gryffindor prefects and in all her classes." Ron and Hermione nodded their agreement.

Evelyn smiled as she sat down next to Hermione.

"Hello, my name is Hermione Granger. Welcome to Hogwarts. And this is Ron Weasley. We're both prefects and in your year." At the sound of his name Ron looked up from his still empty plate and muttered "Hi."

Dumbledore rose from his seat once again. "Now that we are all in the correct places I would like to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Huffington." Another small round of applause. "Now, just a few words…tuck in."

Suddenly the five huge tables were groaning under the weight of the food. Ron immediately grabbed an entire turkey leg and tore a huge chunk out of it. "Ahhh…'at's be'er." Hermione threw him a disgusted look, which made Harry choke on his pumpkin juice. Hermione glanced at Evelyn and noticed that she wasn't eating.

"What's wrong?"

"Are you sure this is safe?" Evelyn asked as she pointed to a dish.

"Of course it is." Ron stated as he threw down the now barren turkey bone. "Haven't you ever seen a steak and kidney pie before?"

Evelyn shook her head. At the three confused faces around her she added "I'm not from around here. I've never seen half of this stuff."

Harry stared at her. "Where are you from?"

"The United States. California to be exact."

"Wow, cool."

Evelyn smiled then glanced at Harry. Her eyes scanned his face, stopping at the lightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead. "Wow, neat scar…how'd you get that?"

The three of them stared at her, jaws dropped to the floor.

"What do you mean 'how'd you get that?' You don't know how he got his scar?" Ron was practically shouting. Evelyn shook her head.

"You don't know about You –Know-Who?" Again, Evelyn shook her head, no.

"Should I?" The trio continued to stare at her like wings had sprouted from her nose. By this time half the Gryffindor table and part of the Hufflepuff table was staring at her.

"What are you talking about?"

But nobody had time to answer her question before the food disappeared from the tables, and Dumbledore once more stood in front of the school. "Now that we are all fed and watered, I would mention that the Forbidden Forest is off limits to anyone that wants to stay alive. I would also like say that Mr. Filch has asked me to remind you that magic is not permitted in the corridors between classes as well as many other things; a list of which can be seen at any time in Mr. Filch's office. Now, prefects, could you please lead the first years up to your dormitories."

Hermione got up. "First years, over here please! Gryffindor first years! Ron!" Hermione had to grab the back of Ron's robes to get him to help as he was still staring at Evelyn in disbelief. "Wha-? Oh, sorry. First years, follow us!" Evelyn got up to follow them. Harry followed right behind her.

They walked in silence until they reached a large portrait of a large woman in a large pink dress. Hermione walked up to the picture. "Aqua Regia." The portrait swung open to reveal a doorway leading into a large warm room filled with squishy red arm chairs and a blazing fire. "Wow. This is amazing. This whole castle is amazing…at least what I've seen of it."

Ron stared at her again, obviously agitated. "What, now you've never been in an enchanted castle?"

"No. I haven't. For your information I was home-schooled for my entire life."

"Oh. I didn't know."

"I know you didn't know" Evelyn turned to Hermione who had just finished showing the first years their rooms. "Hermione, where am I going to be sleeping?" Hermione thought for a moment. "I have no idea. We've never had a transfer student before. I guess there should be an empty bed in one of the rooms. Come on, we'll look together." She grabbed Evelyn's hand and steered her towards the girl's staircase. Hermione yelled to the two boys behind her. "You two should go to bed as well. Classes start tomorrow."

"Yeah, yeah…we will."

Together Ron and Harry made their way up to the dormitory, but they didn't sleep. Instead, they spent the night talking about the new girl and her having no knowledge of what made her new friend so special.

On the girl's side of the dormitory, Hermione, Lavender, Parvati, and Evelyn were having the same discussion. Almost.

"Oooooo…you lived in California? Do you know any movie stars?"

"Did you ever go shopping on Rodeo Drive?"

"How do you not know about Harry Potter and Lord V-Voldemort?" Evelyn answered those questions and many more during the night.

The next morning at breakfast there were many blurry-eyed people absent-mindedly munching on toast. Harry and Ron had gotten up earlier than usual to make to see if they could try to talk to Evelyn before breakfast. They waited in the common room for ten minutes, before giving up a going to breakfast.

They had barely sat down when Hermione entered the Great Hall and slumped into chair opposite Ron. "Hey 'Mione. Where's Ev-Ev-Evelyn?" as he tried to stifle a yawn.

"She's still sleeping."

"Oh."

"Why?"

"We just wanted to ask her some things." Hermione stared at, then said "It's because she was home-schooled."

"What was?" Harry looked up from his eggs and bacon.

"Why Evelyn doesn't know anything about you, Harry. Or Voldemort." Ron took a sharp breath. "Oh, honestly, Ron. If you can't take anyone saying that name, I suggest you plug your ears, because you're going to be hearing a lot of it." She turned to Harry again. "As I was saying, she didn't know anything because she's been home- schooled her entire life, and her parents tended to keep things from her. Oh, good morning, Evelyn!"

The boys turned around. Evelyn smiled and waved at them from across the hall. "Good morning everyone." She sat down just as a piece of parchment fluttered down onto the table. "Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley, would you please show Miss Whitman her classes?"

"Yes Professor." They both chimed.

"What do you have today, Eve?" Harry looked up at Hermione in confusion, then finally realized she was talking to Evelyn.

"I guess that would be her nickname, wouldn't it?"

Evelyn looked at the parchment in her hands. "Uh…Double Potions in the morning and Defense Against the Dark Arts and Divination in the afternoon."

Ron choked on his orange juice and grabbed his schedule. "Double Potions on a Monday morning? Can they do that?" Harry groaned at the prospect of spending two full hours every Monday morning with his least favorite teacher, Professor Snape.

Evelyn looked at their reactions with a confused look on her face. "Is that bad?" Ron and Harry looked at her and then proceeded to spend the rest of breakfast complaining about the potions and divination teachers. By the time they walked down to the dungeons, Evelyn hated the classes almost as much as Ron and Harry.

So, what'd you think? Good? Bad? Do I need to be institutionalized? I love reviews, good or bad. Just don't be mean. 