"Wow..."

Harry could only nod his head dumbly at the sight set out before him. He was on a tiny boat that was self-propelling itself across a rather vast lake. Tonks was all but crushing his left arm in a tight squeeze. And an enormous castle, growing larger by the minute, seemed to be where their journey would be coming to an end.

To say that the duo were at a loss for words would have been more than a slight understatement. As soon as the thick fog had lifted, the castle had come into sight in all of its glory, the full moon overhead illuminating it in such a way to make it seem almost otherworldly.

When he and Tonks had finally gotten off of the Hogwarts Express earlier that night, they had parted ways with Dean Thomas, who had to run to catch a boat with some of his other friends. Harry and Tonks, along with all of the other first years, had been ushered into small boats by one Rubeus Hagrid. As they passed by, Hagrid gave Harry a wink. Harry offered a feeble smile in return, his mind flashing back to meeting the oversized man in Diagon Alley just weeks prior.

And now...

Now they had finally arrived. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was welcoming them with open arms. Harry couldn't help but crane his head back, looking up towards the very tops of the tallest towers. His mind raced, wondering what was kept inside every nook and cranny of the magical building.

Tonks, Harry had noticed, had gone almost completely silent as soon as Hogwarts had come into sight. This was fairly new to Harry, who had gotten used to her talking his ear off at times. In addition, she seemed to have a firm, unbreakable hold on his left arm – something that felt somewhat strange to Harry, who wasn't used to physical contact that didn't wind up with him nursing a wound.

"Heads down!" Hagrid cried, suddenly. Harry didn't react quickly enough and was slapped in the face by a sudden curtain of ivy. Tonks snorted from beside him. The boats continued through a dark tunnel, seemingly taking the first years underneath the castle itself. Before long, they reached a sort of underground harbor.

"Alright, you lot! Outta yer boats! Careful not t'slip, now!" Hagrid said as the boats docked themselves amongst some slippery rocks and pebbles. "An' anyone missin' their toad'd do well in catchin' that ne before i' hops back inna the water!"

"Trevor!" Came a whine from one Neville Longbottom, who hopped out of his boat, only to fall onto his backside on the rocks.

Tonks and Harry exchanged a glance and rolled their eyes.

"Now then!" Hagrid said, motioning the first years over. "Follo' me! An' watch yer heads!"

The group trailed after Hagrid as they walked up a passageway in the rock. They came out onto solid, if a little damp, grass that was right in the shadow of the castle itself.

"Nervous?" Tonks whispered aside to Harry, as their group was lead up a flight of stone steps and towards a huge, oak front door. Licking his lips, Harry looked at Tonks and smiled crookedly, whispering back, "Why? Are you?"

Before she could answer, three loud, echoing knocks on the door made the two jump. Hagrid lowered a meaty hand and the doors swung open at once. Standing in the entrance was an elderly, stern-looking woman whose lips were pursed. As she surveyed the group, Hagrid nodded and said, "The firs' years, Professor McGonagall."

"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."

Opening the door up a bit more, McGonagall led the group into the Entrance Hall. Harry gaped, looking around the monstrously large room. Tonks was obviously doing the same, as a moment later she had tapped Harry on the shoulder and whispered, "This room's bigger than my whole bloody HOUSE!"

Harry nodded and the group began moving once more. Following the Professor, they were lead through a doorway on the right side of the area. It was rather cramped in this spot, and Harry suddenly found one Nymphadora Tonks pressed up against his back, muttering a curse under her breath, followed by an apology to Harry.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall said. "The start of term feast will begin shortly. But before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you must be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because..."

While McGonagall droned on, Tonks managed to squeeze herself away from Harry's back and moved beside him, mouthing another apology. Harry just smiled in return, hoping it was too dark in the small room for her to notice the faint blush on his cheeks.

"--hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours." McGonagall finished, surveying the children once more. To Harry, she seemed nice enough, if a little rigid. He certainly didn't want to get on her bad side, however, if this was what she looked like in a pleasant mood.

"The ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school." She continued, telling the group to straighten themselves up. "I will return when we are ready for you."

And with that, the Professor turned and left the chamber.

Immediately, the first years began excitedly talking amongst themselves. Harry and Tonks looked at each other. "Wish your mum had told us more about this." Harry said, nervously. Tonks nodded. "Me too." She said.

From the front of the group, Harry heard one boy say, "--said it hurts a lot, but I think he was joking..."

Harry's eyes connected to Tonks' once again. "You don't think it does, do you?" He asked.

After a moment of hesitation, Tonks shook her head. "No way. Mum says Hogwarts is one of the safest places in all o' Europe... I dunno what that guy's been hearin', but..."

From somewhere behind him, Harry could hear a girl whispering at a fast pace about all of the spells that she had learned. Tonks raised an eyebrow as she peered over her shoulder, then muttered, "Reminds me of Malfoy. Loves hearin' her own voice."

Harry could only nod in agreement.

Just as Harry was about to say something else to Tonks, Professor McGonagall stepped back in. Clearing her throat to draw silence, she began, "Everything is ready. Follow me, please."

As the front of the group began to follow the Professor into the Great Hall, Harry suddenly found one of his hands being held onto tightly. Casting a glance aside, he found Tonks looking about as nervous as he felt. Unsure of what else to do, he gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. She smiled weakly at him in response.

Forming a line as they left the room, the group entered the Great Hall. Harry goggled once more. Thousands of candles floated overhead, illuminating the whole of the room. Four long tables stretched down the length of the room, students filling most of the seats. All of them had their eyes on the new arrivals. Harry suddenly felt as if a second adam's apple was filling his throat.

"Hey! Hey, Harry, look!" Tonks hissed from in front of him. "It's Dumbledore!"

Harry's attention moved from the other students to the staff table at the far end of the room. Indeed, Dumbledore was sitting in the middle of the faculty, smiling as he watched new students filter in. Harry leaned his head forward and murmured, "Bet he gets a real kick out of seeing us squirm."

Tonks grinned over her shoulder.

McGonagall led the students so that they came to a halt in front of the staff table and faced the rest of the school. Harry then noticed something else that made his eyes go wide. Nudging Tonks, he motioned with his head out into the room. Tonks followed his gaze, her eyes shooting open, as well. Several silver, ghostly figures were floating about the four house tables, conversing with the students quietly. "Ghosts?" Harry mouthed. Tonks nodded, still looking surprised.

A moment later, Tonks was nudging Harry. Turning his head, Harry saw Professor McGonagall pulling a four-legged stool out from somewhere behind the staff table. On top of it, she placed an old, pointed hat. It looked a mess, leaving Harry to wonder what on earth it was for. Before he could go over it much longer, he received an answer. The hat twitched, then a rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth. It then proceeded...to sing?

Harry cocked an eyebrow Tonks' way as the hat trilled and spieled about what it was. Tonks looked almost as bewildered as Harry, though it slowly turned to comprehension. Leaning close, Tonks hissed, "THAT must be the hat Mum mentioned in the car!"

When the hat had finished singing, a boy a few students down let out a loud sigh of relief, then grumbled, "All we've got to do is try on the hat! I'll kill Fred. He was going on about wrestling a troll!"

Professor McGonagall stepped forward again, this time holding a long roll of parchment. She cleared her throat, then said, "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted." She glanced down at the list, then began, "Abbott, Hannah!"

A blonde girl with pigtails bounced out of line to Harry's left. She walked over and sat on the stool, putting the hat on. It fell down over her eyes. A moment passed before the hat opened its mouth once more and cried out, "HUFFLEPUFF!"

Hannah removed the hat and scurried over to the Hufflepuff table, whose students were clapping and welcoming her.

"Bones, Susan!" McGonagall said next.

"HUFFLEPUFF!" The hat cried again. Susan got up and joined Hannah.

"Boot, Terry!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Bulstrode, Millicent!"

"SLYTHERIN!"

Harry and Tonks looked at each other once more. Tonks leaned in and whispered, "Do whatever you can to keep from getting sorted into Slytherin, Harry... remember, I'm coming with you..."

"Hopefully." Harry replied, watching another first year get sorted into Hufflepuff.

"Granger, Hermione!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"...And try to keep out of there, as well." Tonks added, eyeballing the girl who had been busily chattering earlier.

Neville Longbottom was sorted shortly after Hermione Granger, following her to the Gryffindor table with his toad clutched tightly. Then another Slytherin. And then...

"Ponce alert!" Tonks hissed.

Harry scowled as Malfoy swaggered up towards the hat, a look of calm superiority on his face. He had barely sat down, the hat barely touching the top of his head when it howled, "SLYTHERIN!"

"No surprise there." Tonks growled, watching Malfoy join with his two goons, who had also been sorted into Slytherin.

Harry's name was drawing closer and closer, the line of students getting shorter and shorter. Harry felt Tonks put a hand on his arm. She gave it a squeeze as Professor McGonagall called his name.

Almost at once, the students began whispering amongst themselves. Harry felt his face heat up once more. Hurrying to the stool, Harry took a seat and placed the Sorting Hat on. It felt down a bit past his eyes, thankfully blocking out the intent gazes of the students.

"Hmm... so, you're the one that they all talk about." Said a small voice in Harry's ear. "Not at all what I'd expected... No, you've led a very traumatizing life, haven't you, boy? Oh yes... I can see that. A lot of hardships in your eleven years. But hopefully no more. Now then... let's see what you've got in you. Hmm... very loyal, you are. Almost to a fault, in fact. I can sense that you've become quite protective of someone. Fancying girls a bit early, aren't we?" The voice paused then, seeming to enjoy the blush that had crept onto Harry's face.

Eventually, the hat shifted slightly before the voice continued speaking. "Your mind hasn't had much of a chance to flourish, has it? No... I suppose it wouldn't have. You've a lot of instinct in here... as well as courage to spare. I can also sense a thirst for knowledge... and that you'd rather not be in the public's eye. You don't like the popularity thrust on you... not one bit. Where, then, should I sort you?"

Harry's fingers gripped the edges of the stool, a single thought coursing through his mind - 'Not Slytherin... please, not Slytherin...'

"Not Slytherin, eh?" Said the voice. "Are you sure? You could be great, you know. HE... was quite great, as well. A pity what became of him. Well, if not Slytherin, then perhaps Gryffindor would suit you... it could certainly help bring out the courage that lays dormant within..."

Harry squeezed his eyes shut. He had been up far longer than any of the other students. He didn't want to be sorted into Slytherin – not when Malfoy was there. Not when... not when the man who had murdered his parents had also been sorted there...

"Well, well... your dislike of Slytherin house DOES run deep, doesn't it, lad? Reasonable, though, considering what happened. In any case, the time has come for my to make my decision. You would serve well to all of the houses. You're cunning, very loyal... smart, yet quite able to think on your feet and take care of yourself. Yes... Yes, I believe I know exactly where you belong. The draw of Slytherin does nothing for you... and the glory of Gryffindor isn't what you seek, is it? I can sense something deep within you...and I know that I'm making the right decision when I place you in..."

Tonks couldn't remember feeling so nervous in all her life. Licking her dry lips, she could only wonder what was taking so long. None of the other students had taken even half the time that Harry was. But then, she saw the mouth of the hat open once more. Its voice rang clear, echoing for a moment within the sudden silence that had been cast over the Great Hall.

"RAVENCLAW!"

The Ravenclaw table erupted into applause as Harry shakily removed the hat from his head. Casting a glance back at Tonks and looking somewhat worried, Harry set the hat back down and walked over to a place beside Terry Boot at the Ravenclaw table.

As he sat, he barely noticed a tall ghost congratulate him on joining her former house. Harry's mind was on Tonks. After one more student (Dean Thomas) joined Gryffindor (He and Harry waved to one another as he walked to the Gryffindor table) and one more became a Hufflepuff, it was Tonks' turn at the hat.

Harry watched as she took the hat and sat down, placing it on top of her head. It sat crooked and Harry managed to lock glances with her right eye - the only one not covered by the slanted hat. She seemed to be having a fast-paced, heated discussion with it in a very quiet tone.

A minute passed. As time dragged itself out in a painfully slow manner, the knot in Harry's stomach began growing larger. What if she didn't become a Ravenclaw, as well? What if he had to go into Ravenclaw all by himself? He certainly didn't know anyone else, and he desperately pleaded with whatever higher power existed that neither he nor his friend had to deal with their first year at the school by themselves.

Harry was so caught-up in his internal worrying that he didn't hear what house the hat finally cried out. The applause brought on by the announcement, however, did snap him back to reality. He looked up at Tonks, who was just setting the hat back down. For a brief moment, the two locked eyes as she turned. And then slowly, as if everything in the world had grinded to a standstill, she walked over and sat down beside him.

The roar of the Ravenclaw table was drowned out by the pounding in Harry's chest. All at once, relief washed over him. Tonks grinned at this and promptly threw her arms around Harry, giving him a brief, yet strong, hug.

The Sorting continued as the noise from their table quieted once more. "You had me worried sick!" Harry whispered. "What took so long?!"

"Bloody hat wanted to make me a Hufflepuff at first." Tonks snorted, scowling as one Lisa Turpin joined them at the Ravenclaw table. As a redheaded boy stepped up to the hat, his face green, Tonks continued, "I had to sit and argue with it. Told it that my Mum was in Ravenclaw. Told it I planned to follow you wherever you got sorted and that I wouldn't take anything else for an answer. It finally gave in... Was worried, too. What about you, then? You weren't exactly up there for a short time, either."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Ugh... first, it thought I'd do well in Slytherin. Had to will it not to put me there." Harry said, making a face.

"Your knuckles were going white, you had such a hold on that stool." Tonks said, grinning.

"Yeah, well, you would've, too, if it had wanted to stick you over there with Malfoy. Anyway, then it wanted to put me in Gryffindor. But it seemed like I'd just get even more fame and popularity if I went there..."

"And you don't want that. Right..." Tonks said, nodding slowly.

"Right...So anyway, it said a lot about my life and what was hidden deep in me...or something like that. And then it finally called out Ravenclaw." Harry finished, shaking his head.

"SLYTHERIN!"

General clapping from all four tables started up then, causing Harry and Tonks to pause in their discussion. Dumbledore had gotten to his feet. Beaming at the students, he opened his arms wide. "Welcome!" He began. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"

As the headmaster sat back down, everybody clapped and cheered. Harry shook his head and looked at Tonks. "He's a bit mad, isn't he?"

"'Course he is. All the strongest wizards are, really. And Dumbledore's the best in the world. So yeah, he's a bit loony." Tonks replied, chuckling. "Oi, look! Time to fill up!"

Harry blinked, then looked back at the table. A veritable feast's worth of food was now lining the four house tables. Had he not gotten used to eating regular meals at Tonks' house, he would've been outright stunned by some of the things that had been prepared.

As Harry piled various things onto his plate, the ghost that had earlier congratulated him pointed towards the Gryffindor table. "Look. He's at it again."

Harry looked up, taking a quick bite of a bit of chicken as he did. A ghost in a ruff and tights was staring mournfully down at the food on the Gryffindor table. From his side, Harry heard the female ghost say, "He does it every year. Trying to collect sympathy from the first years, I think."

Harry popped a bit of potato into his mouth as he turned to look at the ghost next to him. Noticing his gaze, the ghost smiled at him and inclined her head. "They call me the Grey Lady. Ravenclaw used to be my house before I died. When I came back, I decided to help keep its students in check. Filius does need a bit of help, at times."

"Filius?" Harry asked.

"Filius Flitwick, head of your house and Charms teacher. Look, over there." The Grey Lady said, swishing an arm up and pointing up to the staff table and towards a rather tiny wizard. Harry raised an eyebrow.

"Filius is quite brilliant with charms of all sorts...but, sad as it may be, his short stature often leads to authority issues. I'm glad to help out, though. Being a ghost IS spectacularly boring at times." Said the ghost. And then, frowning slightly, she let out a sigh. "Oh, dear. The Baron is here..."

Harry followed the Lady's gaze over toward the Slytherin table where a horrible ghost was sitting next to Malfoy, who didn't look too happy about it. His eyes were blank, his face was gaunt, and his robes seemed to be stained with silver blood.

"How did he get covered in blood?" Harry asked, cautiously.

"Ah... well, the other house ghosts and I have made it a point to never ask. The Bloody Baron has a tendency to be... irritable, shall we say." Said the Lady. "Though the Fat Friar HAS tried... no luck so far, however."

After this, the Grey Lady floated off down the table to converse with a pair of sixth year boys. Harry continued to eat, wishing he hadn't had quite so many sweets on the train ride in. Nevertheless, when the food faded and the desserts appeared, Harry couldn't help but take a slice of apple pie.

Next to him, Tonks was happily wolfing down a slice of cake that Harry could only believe was angel food. Harry watched her for a moment, his mind going back to something that the Sorting Hat had said to him - something about fancying someone. Harry flushed and stared pointedly at his pie, picking at it with his fork. It was silly to think that he liked Tonks as anything other than a close friend... wasn't it?

Thinking back, Harry recalled how angry he had felt when Malfoy had been insulting her. How he had, as if his body had acted on its own, punched the blonde to the ground. The hat's words rang clearly in his ears once more.

All around them, students were finishing their meals and were now quietly talking with one another. Tonks seemed to be talking to another first year - Lisa Turpin - about how Harry had defended her, despite the fact that she really hadn't needed it. This only made Harry's blush worsen.

The food started to catch up to him, making him rather drowsy. Harry shot a glance up to the staff table. Hagrid, the man who had brought him to live with his aunt and uncle, seemed to be in the process of getting drunk. Professor McGonagall was talking to the headmaster himself. Next to them, a nervous-looking man in a turban was talking to a rather sallow-skinned man with greasy, black hair. The man with the greasy hair turned at one point in the conversation. As his eyes

scanned the tables, they met Harry's. A sharp, hot pain shot through the scar on Harry's forehead.

"Ahh!" Harry hissed, clapping a hand to his head.

"Harry? You okay?" Tonks asked, her attention turning back to Harry as he winced.

"Y...Yeah, I'm fine... Only it felt like someone had pressed a hot poker against my head for a minute..." Harry replied, frowning as he rubbed his scar. "The teacher with the greasy hair looked at me and... there it was."

Tonks looked up to the staff table to see whom Harry was talking about. She then nudged an older student and asked, "Who's the greaseball up there, eh?"

The sixth year blinked, looked at the staff table briefly, then explained, "Ahh, that's Professor Snape. He teaches Potions. He doesn't want to, though. Everyone knows he's after the Defense Against the Dark Arts job. Rumors say he knows a lot of Dark Arts himself... and that he's none too happy with Professor Quirrell snatching the spot away from him."

"Quirrell?"

"Nervous guy in the turban. Stutters a lot, he does. Didn't used to, though... apparently he went on vacation and had a run-in with a vampire." Said the sixth year, shaking his head. "Lot of rubbish if you ask me. I think he's just scared of Snape."

"Ahem --" Came a voice from the staff table. Dumbledore was once again on his feet. "Just a few more words now that we have all been fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give out. First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that, as well."

Dumbledore's eyes were glancing towards the Gryffindor table. Harry followed his gaze and came across a pair of red-haired boys - twins.

"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors." Dumbledore continued. "Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch. And finally... I must warn you that this year, the third floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."

Harry felt a sudden curiosity take over him. Hadn't Tonks said that Hogwarts was one of the safest places in all of Europe?

"He's not serious, is he?" Tonks whispered to him. Harry just shrugged and replied, "You know him better than I do! You tell me!"

"It's odd." Said the sixth year that Tonks had asked about Snape. "He usually gives us a reason why we can't go somewhere... the forest's full of all sorts of deadly creatures. That's why it's forbidden! But I'm not sure why that corridor is off bounds... there isn't anything down there..."

"And now, before we all head off to our nice, cozy beds... let us sing the school song!" Said Dumbledore, pulling out his wand and giving it a small flick.

Harry and Tonks could only watch on in confused bewilderment as the school erupted into song. Only... no one was singing the same tune as someone else. Everyone went at different paces and using different tones. It was one gigantic, loud mess.

The twins at the Gryffindor table were the last to finish. Once they had, Dumbledore smiled and cleared his throat. "Ah, music. A magic beyond all we do here. Now then, bedtime! Off you go!"

The Ravenclaw first years followed a tall girl with silver-blonde hair out of the Great Hall. "Follow me!" She said. "Pay attention to where we're going, now."

As their group was leaving through another door in the Entrance Hall, a startled yelp from the staircase made the group pause momentarily. A little man with dark eyes, wearing a ridiculous outfit, seemed to be harassing the Gryffindors. The female prefect rolled her eyes and, as she began leading them towards the west wing of the castle, explained, "That was Peeves. He's a poltergeist. A troublemaker if ever there was one. You'd do well to keep away from him. He has a way to make you late for classes...and he's good at getting students into trouble in other ways."

"Why don't they get rid o' him if he's so much trouble?" Tonks asked, crossing her arms behind her head.

"Well," Said the girl, "It isn't as if they haven't tried. The Grey Lady said that they just can't get ahold of him for long enough to do something. Thankfully, the Bloody Baron seems to be able to keep him in line. That isn't saying much, as the Baron's just as bad, at times..."

The group continued following the girl - who turned out to be named Lindsay Erran, a prefect - up and down corridors until they reached a spiraling staircase. "Right, you lot." She said with a smile. "This is Ravenclaw Tower. The entrance to our common room's at the top. A portrait of Walter the Wise guards it."

The group followed Lindsay up the staircase until they reached the portrait in question. It was of an elderly man with a beard that could have rivaled Dumbledore's. He was dressed in midnight-blue robes with multi-colored stars on them. He seemed to be in a study of sorts, sitting at a desk with books surrounding him. When he caught sight of the students, he smiled. "Ahh, it's time, is it?"

"Hullo, Walter. These are our new arrivals." Lindsay indicated the first year Ravenclaws. She then turned to the assembled group and said, "The password for entry is 'Lucidus Susceptor,' alright?"

With this, the portrait opened wide, revealing an arched pathway. "In you go!" Lindsay said, smiling as she ushered students in. "Come on, the common room's on the other side!"

Harry let Tonks go first, following her into the darkened passage. When they came out, they were in a beautiful room decorated in bronze and various shades of blue. Near the pathway's exit was a large fireplace, which was currently crackling away and providing heat to the room. In front of it was an enormous, semi-circular couch that looked as if it could seat a dozen students easily. Other chairs and couches, all looking quite plush and comfortable, were littered about the room, as well. A number of tables were scattered around, as well. The ceiling overhead, like the one in the Great Hall, seemed to be enchanted to reveal the current sky outside.

"Wow..." Harry said quietly, taking it all in.

"'Wow' is right..." Said Tonks from his side. "Guess it pays off havin' the Charms professor as your head of house."

"Oh, yes..." Said Lindsay Erran, following in the last of the Ravenclaw students. "Professor Flitwick loves tweaking the room up a bit, every now and again. He says that nothing's more important than a comfortable place to study. He once said the Slytherin common room is cold and full of hard, wooden furniture. Can't imagine staying down in the dungeons..."

A throat was cleared from somewhere across the room. Turning, Harry saw a boy with spiky, red hair looking over the group. "Ah, good. Now that I have your attention, I'd like to explain to the first years where they're to be sleeping. Over here, you'll see two staircases. The one on the left leads down to the boys' dormitories. The one on the right leads up and to the girls' dormitories. First years, you'll come across your rooms first. Hard to miss. I'd also like to remind some of our OLDER students..." Here, the boy eyeballed a number of Ravenclaws. "That any boys caught trying to sneak into the girls' dorm rooms will trigger the spell on the staircase. Let's not forget what happened when Alan tried seeing his girlfriend last year."

At this, some snickers came from a group of boys.

"Right, then! Off to bed with you lot. You'll receive your class schedules tomorrow at breakfast. Classes won't begin until the day after, so you can get accustomed to living here. If you've got any problems, don't hesitate in getting ahold of Lindsay or I. We're prefects and we'll do what we can to help you if need be." Said the boy, who still hadn't given his name.

"Well," Tonks said as students began filtering off towards the two staircases. "Guess this is goodnight, huh?"

"Yeah... what a day. I'm going to sleep like a rock." Harry said, a yawn coming over him.

Tonks whined as one hit her, as well. "Mmph... same here. Been a long day. Well... sweet dreams, huh?"

"Yeah... sweet dreams..."

The two stood there for a moment, then Tonks leaned in and gave Harry a quick hug. Grinning crookedly as she pulled away, she winked and said, "I guess you'll have to learn to survive, not seeing my beautiful face every morning, hauling your lazy butt down to breakfast, won'tcha?"

"Hey! I'm not THAT lazy... it just takes awhile for me to wake up, that's all..." Harry said, defensively. "You're one to talk. Weren't YOU the one who slept in until two in the afternoon last Saturday?"

Tonks made a face. "Only 'cause you kept me up, thinking of stuff to add to the list!"

"Excuses, excuses." Harry said, scuttling off to the boys' staircase before Tonks could swat him. "G'night, Tonks!"

"Night, Harry! I'll wait for ya down here!" Tonks replied with a grin.

Harry nodded, then turned and began walking up to what would be his new room for the year. Yawning again, Harry stretched. Thankfully, the walk was a short one. Opening the door, he saw four other boys sitting around and talking as they changed into their pajamas. Harry only recognized one of these - Terry Boot - as he had been too busy worrying about both his and Tonks' sorting. The four looked up as he entered.

"Can't believe you got sorted here... are you really Harry Potter?" Said a longhaired blonde boy.

"Uh...yeah..." Harry said, instinctively moving a hand up to try hiding his scar. Before any of the other boys could question him, Harry went and flopped into the bed he assumed was his - his trunk WAS at the foot of it, after all. "Look, I'm... I'm really tired." He said, smiling apologetically to the four boys. "We can talk tomorrow..."

"He's probably right." Said one of the others. "Sleep now. We can get all chummy tomorrow."

Thankful that he had a bit of support, Harry shut his eyes. Without even having bothered to get changed, Harry fell into a deep sleep almost immediately.