Disclaimer: No I do not own any of the characters, they belong to J.K. Rowling. I do own Erica, Voula, and brief characters mentioned during the sorting though.

O.K, here's the next chapter. I hope you people think its good. I like the length a lot more than the other chapters. : P

Oh, and some of this chapter will practically straight from the books, I'm going to try to change some of it though. There are just no better ways to show a first view of Hogwarts than how Rowling does, at least none I could think of.

The song from year five is in here, just warning people who have not read that book yet.

"__" Speech '__' Thoughts *__*writer's actions

Chapter 2

When the train stopped they left their belongings and pets, only Ashlyn followed them out. As Erica jumped out of the train she heard a loud voice to her left, "Firs' years! Over here Firs' years! Hey there, Harry, Hermione, and Ron! Who's your new friend? Firs' years over here!" accompanying the voice was a large body, with a shaggy black beard and hair, holding a large pink umbrella.

Harry answered back, "Hi there, Hagrid. This is Erica. She's a transfer student from America."

"Nice ter meet yeh, Erica. You'll be comin' with the Firs' years then, "he spoke to the croud, "Firs' years! Any more firs' years?" His eyes roamed the crowd for any more first years, "Well... best be goin' then."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione said their goodbyes. Hermione spoke first though, "Don't you worry a bit, and you won't end up in Slytherin. They only accept purebloods. I have a feeling you'll end up with us. You are too good to be a Slytherin, and I think too brave for the other houses, from what I can tell."

Ron broke in, "You're just saying that because we said she was like you."

"Ron, you're just going to have to find someone else to help you with your homework this year."

"Oh, come on Hermione! I was just pulling your leg. I didn't mean nothin' by it," Ron said, looking very much in distress, "You know I need you!" He then blushed at what could have been implied at that sentence, while Harry tried not to laugh. 'Boys,' thought Erica, 'Is that all that's on their minds?'

"Anyways," said Hermione speaking once again to Erica, "We'll see you later and you will be in Gryffindor," then gave her a big hug as she had done to the boys earlier.

"Hope you end up in Gryffindor with us, see you later," The boys said and they all walked away towards the awaiting carriages that, as far as Erica could see, were pulled by large black horse looking things with wings.

When she was ready, Erica turned and followed Hagrid and the first years down a long winding dirt path that led to a big black lake. The lake was so black that she could not tell how deep it was. She imagined, though, that it was at least 50 feet deep and looked about a mile wide. On the shiny glass surface of the lake was a small group of boats. One was much larger than the others, for Hagrid, and looked like a few more seats had recently been added. Maybe they were tired of first years falling in the lake. When Hagrid got in the boat, Erica joined him and all the first years followed, jumping into the other boats.

When the last person sat, the boats all suddenly jerked away from the shore while first years gasped in amazement. Hagrid and Erica shared a laugh caused by the fact that what they were so used to by now impressed all of the first years. That was when Erica noticed another girl on the boat about her age with black hair, dark eyes, and tan skin; she was also a bit short. 'Well,' thought Erica, 'she looks nice and she must be new at Hogwarts too, I didn't do bad by going up to Hermione and saying hi. She turned out to be nice and now I have real friends. Maybe if I said hi to this girl it wouldn't be so bad either,' so she did. "Hi, my name is Erica Kohle, sixth year transfer student from America."

The girl let out a small giggle at such a formal introduction, causing Erica blush a bit and have slight doubts, and then answered back very properly. "Pleased to make your acquaintance Erica," the girl smirked a bit, "My name is Stavroula Eikosidekas." Erica's eyebrows lifted and Voula spoke again with a slight laugh, "You can call me Voula, I'm a sixth year transfer student from Greece."

"Wow, how did you come to live here?"

"Well, my parents are aurors, we were on vacation here when their bosses called and gave them an emergency assignment. All of their other agents were busy, so they had to leave quickly. My parents had to leave me behind. They had to go straight to the problem. This was the closest and safest place to leave me, so here I am."

"I'm sorry, that must be tough."

"Yea, well I'm a tough girl, babe, I'll survive. Plus, I make friends easily."

Erica gave a laugh. "Yep, that's totally an area I need to work on." They talked a while like this. Voula told Erica about her family and how she had lived in America for ten years then moved to Greece.

"Cool, I was wondering why you had an American accent and used American slang," said Erica.

"Yea, I still spoke English with my parents when we were in Greece. My friends there, though, didn't know any English so I had to learn Greek. It took a long time but while I was learning it, my parents put a spell on me so that I spoke Greek and what I heard when other people spoke it sounded like English. It was actually kind of cool. It really helped me with my boyfriend there, and I got to teach him English. Oh, he is such a babe. I wish I had his picture with me. I'm going to miss him."

"I imagine he's a dreamboat. Must be nice to have a boyfriend. Now myself, I have never had one, never even been on a date. In fact, I hardly even talk to guys. Whenever I start to think they like me they actually just need help with their homework or something."

"Well, maybe they do like you but are too nervous around you to actually tell you."

"Maybe, and maybe hell will freeze over too. You know, the first guys I have actually talked to were Harry Potter and Ron... Ron... Oh, come on what was it... Ron... Weasley! That's what it was. Ron Weasley, and that was lots of fun, Harry and Ron know practically everything about quidditch and they went to see the Quidditch World Cup in their fourth year. I heard it was amazing. Good thing Bulgaria won. I was a keeper at my school on my house team. Lord, it was fun. My cat Ashlyn, here," Erica patted Ashlyn on the head, causing her to purr, "Just loves to go on rides on my broom."

"Wow, you met the Harry Potter? I heard he was the one who defeated you- know-who and that he's the youngest seeker in a century on the Gryffindor house team and that they won last year," Voula said ignoring everything she had just said after Harry's name.

"Yes, he did defeat Voldemort," Voula flinched, "oh sorry, I forgot not to say his name. You-know-who is back though. He might attack while we are in school. I think he'll be after Harry. After all, Harry was his downfall. How better to prove himself most powerful? How better to intimidate the country? The world? How better to show everyone that he can finish what he almost accomplished last year. He wants to kill Harry. Harry might need our help."

"He's back? But, how can he be back? He died! It's not scientifically possible!"

"Hello! Don't you read? There are ways of staying alive after death. Someone discovered that if you drink unicorn blood you will live forever but you would have killed something so pure that you would lead a cursed life. Then there was Nicholas Flamel, the maker of the Sorcerer's Stone. He lived over six hundred years because of it. Vol- You-know-who tried to get hold of it in Harry's first year so he could live forever. And there are spells and stuff too.

"Voldemort hasn't given up and we need to be ready before he attacks. He will attack. Don't as me when, I don't know. I only know that he will, I... I don't know... I can just... feel it. We can't be afraid when he does. Fear is man's worst enemy. Hermione and the gang told me about a secret club in the school called the D.A., Dumbledore's Army. I think we should go. No, I know we need to go."

"For some odd reason, I think we need to go too."

"Good, we're agreed. Talk to some of the other students. But don't talk to first years yet, or Slytherins. From what I have read in Hogwarts, a History I don't know if we can trust them just yet. We'll talk to Harry later about it; I have a feeling something is going to happen at Hogwarts. He might just need us."

"Ok," said Voula, "well then, I told you my story, Hun, now what's yours?"

"Well," Erica started to explain and told her story. She had just finished when they bumped into the shore.

* * * * * * * *

When Erica looked up at the castle, her mouth stood agape. She was amazed at the beauty of it all. It looked so old. Vines climbed up the walls of the castle, as you would see in pictures of an old Victorian home. The many windows sparkled in the starry sky. The many towers and turrets almost glowed by the light of the moon. When Erica glanced a look at Voula, she saw that Voula was just as amazed. Then she heard a small deep chuckle come from Hagrid. He was of course laughing at the starry look in their eyes, it was the same look that he had when he had first come to Hogwarts.

They hiked up a flight of stone steps and packed around an enormous oak front entrance.

"Everyone here?" asked Hagrid, "Right then, 'ere we go." Erica checked to make sure that Ashlyn was still walking beside her. Ashlyn looked up at her with big green eyes making Erica think that somehow maybe Ashlyn knew how she was feeling and was trying to give Erica strength. She barely noticed the large man knocking on the door.

It opened in an instant. A tall dark haired, with a few signs of aging streaked through, witch stood there in dark violet robes with an unsympathetic look on her face. Erica thought that she would be a strict enforcer of the rules and mentally noted not to irritate this woman.

"The firs' years and transfer students, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.

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

She pulled the door open wide. The entry hall was huge. The stone walls were lit with flaming torches like Erica had seen in books on old castles, the ceiling was high, and a glorious marble staircase in front of them, she guessed, led to the upper floors.

They followed Professor McGonagall across the corridor. Professor McGonagall showed the students into an empty chamber off the hall. They crowded in, all standing close to one another. The room was not very large. Erica could practically smell how nervous everyone around her was.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall, she had this speech memorized after all these years. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seat in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room.

"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.

"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."

Her eyes touched for a moment on a first year boy who had a grass stain on his uniform. Erica brushed her fingers through her long hair and nervously adjusted her robes. Turning she saw Voula doing the same and they gave a nervous giggle. Erica looked down to see Ashlyn rubbing up against her leg.

"I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly."

She left the chamber. Erica bent down to pick up Ashlyn and give her a hug.

"How do you think they sort us into houses?" she spoke to Voula.

"I have absolutely no idea, a test?"

"Maybe."

"Maybe it's like those multiple choice tests you find in magazines, we pick one out of four, with a spelled quill of course, and they decide where we belong by our answers. If it's a test of course."

A first year spoke to them that had been staring at them for a while, "My brother told me that we have to fight a dragon but I highly doubt that, I could have sworn he was kidding. Some other kid here is saying that we have to drink a dark potion and see what the results are. I think-,"he was cut off as McGonagall returned.

"Move along now," she said, "The Sorting Ceremony's about to start. Line up, single file," she told them. "Follow me."

Erica and Voula, feeling very odd among the short first years, found a spot at the back of the line to stand. Erica gave Ashlyn one last big hug; Ashlyn licked her face, and then Erica placed her back on the floor. They walked out of the chamber, back across the hall, and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall.

Erica had never seen anything so wonderful, at the Esgal Academy they had electric, it was much more muggle than Hogwarts. Thousands and thousands of candles lighted Hogwarts' hall airborne over four long tables, where last year's students sat. She supposed that each table was for the four houses. The tables were arranged with impressive golden plates and goblets.

The teachers were sitting at a long table along one wall, vertical to the students. Professor McGonagall led the new students up there and faced them away from the teachers, facing their future friends and house families. The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like a piece of art in the iridescent light. Among the students, a few ghosts were seen. Erica looked upward and saw the ceiling she had read about. She whispered to Voula, "It's bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History."

Erica looked as Professor McGonagall placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years and Erica and Voula. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched, tattered, and just plain filthy. Erica heard a first year voice a thought, "maybe we have to try to get a rabbit out of it." Erica just laughed at that absurd thought, 'a rabbit? No, that's not real magic. It must be something else. But what can you do with a hat? I bet first years come to that conclusion a lot though.'

Everyone in the hall was now staring at the hat, she stared at it as well, and for a few seconds there was total quiet. Then the hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth and the hat started to sing:

"I once would sing a song that was new

But I really feel that you

Need to hear last year's song again

Maybe you will heed it and then,

Our world will not fall, as I fear

For you all know what may be near

You-know-who is back

And I fear that we lack

The union and peace

That will help us defeat

What we soon may all meet

So here I go

And I ask you all

That you heed my call

And be at peace with one another

And treat each other as you would a brother..."

This was strange, every year the hat would sing a new song. Why would it possibly want to sing last years song again? That was what all the older students were thinking with the hat's message. The sorting hat paused a moment and began to sing its previous song, word for word, but one part stood out for Erica.

"Oh, Know the perils, read the signs,

The warning history shows,

For our Hogwarts is in danger

From external, deadly foes

And we must unite inside her

Or we'll crumble from within

I have told you, I have warned you....

Let the Sorting now begin."

The hat became noiseless and unmoving once more; applause broke out. There were people muttering and whispering all about the hall. Erica knew what the hat was talking about, and she agreed. She glanced a look at Voula and saw her nodding a bit. The hat had a point, not just literally. "We need to break the wall standing between the houses, Voula. We both came here this year for some reason. We were both the most powerful students in our school, and now we are in the middle of future chaos, Voula. They need our help."

"I know. We'll do it somehow. We just need to figure a way."

Professor McGonagall, waiting to read the names, was giving the whispering students a look that could burn. The house ghosts quieted the students. When all was silent again, she swept a last frowning look along the tables, then lowered her eyes to her long piece of parchment and called out, "Archer, Ike."

A boy with hair that looked as if it had been bleached walked with what he thought was an air of confidence up to the stool and sat down then the Professor placed the hat on the boy's head. After a moment of considering the rip of a mouth opened and shouted, "Ravenclaw!"

Everyone clapped loudly as Archer pranced over to the Ravenclaw table. He seemed the type that enjoyed attention.

Soon the line of first years had thinned down. A very nervous "Carver, Kate" had been sorted into Hufflepuff. While outgoing "Drake, Iris" went to Slytherin. Then it had been Voula's turn and she had been placed in Gryffindor. The line had slowly withered before McGonagall had called a K. Before Erica knew it she had been called. "Kohle, Erica" went and sat on the stool. The Professor placed the Sorting Hat on Erica's head. And she heard a voice.

'Hmmm... you are difficult. Where should I place you? You would do go far in Slytherin... but, you would also do well in Gryffindor. you are a very complicated girl. You have the bravery and power of a Gryffindor, the cunning of a Slytherin, and the intelligence of a Ravenclaw.'

'No you can't place me in Slytherin. I don't belong there. My friends are in Gryffindor and I'm a mudblood. They would kill me!' thought Erica, 'I know it might help your word to put me in another house but, think of this, I need to be with them to help my plans go through. I need to be with Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Voula! They might need...'

'Yes, yes, I know. Calm down. It is all here in your head. Just make sure that everyone knows what needs to be done, and do not worry, the house I put you in is where you belong,' the hat yelled out loud for all to hear, they had been wondering what was taking so long, "Gryffindor!!" (AN: did you guys ever think it was going to be a different house? I know that would have been the more ironic and exciting thing to do. But, oh well!! It's important to my future plot, whatever it is I still don't know, that she be in Gryffindor).

McGonagall took the hat off her head and she practically skipped over to her new friends, Voula was sitting by Hermione, as everyone at the Gryffindor table stood up and cheered her and gave her pats on the back. Hermione stood up, gave her a hug, and whispered to her, "Welcome to the club." Erica looked down again to find Ashlyn, again, rubbing up against her leg, giving her warmth. She patted Ashlyn on the back and gave the cat a smile, then sat down with the gang.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ok, now people I need to know what you think about my writing please!!! I need your info!! Review me!! I need reviews! :'( *Starts to sniffle* I need your insight!! *Starts to suddenly seem much more upbeat* I am so happy with this chapter!!!!! I hope you guys like it!! *Posts big sign reading "Reviews and Ideas Needed"* Thank you ppl, I hope you like what I have done. *Bows and exits at right stage*