I stepped down from the final step, down onto the gravel next to the tracks. Even though the scarlet Hogwarts Express wasn't running anymore, the remaining heat was radiating from it. With the combination of the engine and the sun baring down from just over the forest, I wished I could swap my long, black robes for just a t-shirt and shorts. Even though the sun was very near setting, meaning it must be late for a summer day, it was still probably at least 90 degrees.

I looked up at the large stone building in the distance. It really was big - not just in size. There's so much to Hogwarts, beyond just the material that makes it up. It had pretty much been my home for the past six years, and I'd learned more in it than I could have in any regular muggle school.

God, I was going to be glad to leave this place.

Don't get me wrong. I loved Hogwarts. The school itself was better than I ever could have imagined when I got the emerald-addressed letter so many years ago. The excitement literally swelled inside me for the month while I was preparing to finally go to the fabled school. My mother had gone to Hogwarts, so I knew of many good things that were held there. My father had gone to Beauxbatons… still a wizard, but far away. Never-the-less, I was convinced that the best years of my life would be spent at Hogwarts.

But all of the happiness I held faded away when I put that damned hat on my head. For whatever reason, still lost to me, the Sorting Hat decided that my best place was to be in Slytherin. I had no idea how much of a hell I was guaranteed to from then on. I knew that they weren't the cheeriest lot, but I learned over the years that most of them were nothing short of evil. All bad witches and wizards, even this new threat of an ultimate dark wizard, Voldemort, had come straight from Slytherin.

So without any chance to show my honest-spirited ways to anyone, I had to put up with the taunts and jeers from the other houses. Nobody seemed to want to befriend "one of those power-hungry idiots." But I wasn't near the stereotype of a Slytherin. Sure, I had a bit of competitive side, and I strived to do well. However, there wasn't so much of a power-hungry bone in my body. So because of my pacifistic ways, I was shunned from the other Slytherins as well. Somehow I had managed to stumble through the past six years, living for the holidays - and the Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons.

Without the burden of the suitcases with me, I simply walked up to one of the remaining empty horseless carriages. Most of the students had already made their way into one up to the castle, and as usual, there were a few left without any passengers... my usual accommodations. Sensing a person on board, the carriage started to make its way up to the castle. The crunching of the wheels on the gravel was the only sound to be heard for a few minutes.

Within a few minutes, the crunching softened, then dulled as the wheels hit grass. Another few seconds, and it stops completely. I swung my legs over the edge, and they automatically started to take me up the steps to the large doors of the school. The sheer size of the Entrance Hall didn't surprise me anymore. Even though it towered over me so high that I could hardly see the ceiling, I had passed through this hall too many times to even give it a second look. My attention was, instead, brought to the left, where the Great Hall was decorated for the Sorting Feast.

Banners of each house were stretched across four long tables set out in the massive hall. The ceiling, which was gleaming crimson and gold to mimick the sunlight outside,and matched perfectly with the Gryffindor's lion-clad banners, gave the hall a shiny, welcoming feeling. I couldn't help but feel a bit happier at this while I looked over the cheerful faces at the long table, gave a quick glance up at the staff table which held the same faces as always, and started over to the Slytherin table on the far left.

I sat down at my usual seat; three from the end next to the wall. Call it sentimental, but I've sat there since my first year, and I felt as if sitting anywhere else would have been betraying it. I just sat down when a loud mass of laughter came from the Entrance Hall. I look over to the door to see the culprits… of course. Four seventh-year boys, all wearing red and gold ties, always seen together.

Leading the pack was a rather short boy. His unruly black hair stuck up in all directions, giving him an appearance of being a few inches taller. Never the less, he was still short. Quidditch hero James Potter. His almond eyes were shining with laughter as he looked back at the other three, clearly the one who had told the joke.

Right behind him was a taller boy. Also black hair, but very silky and kept, falling to just above his shoulders. Sirius Black - and although his exterior didn't show it, partner-in-crime to Potter, who both had a lot of magnetism for trouble. He still had a wide smile on his face from the laughter before. Directly behind him was a sandy-blond-haired boy, considerably quieter than the previously mentioned. He had a softer look to him, that quite often seemed to be much older than it really was. Remus Lupin. Tailing behind them all was a shorter boy, quite mousy. Short brown hair, almost always seeming nervous. Peter Pettrigrew wasn't exactly the bravest boy, but it certainly wasn't from the company he kept.

Potter turned back to the other three again. His voice wasn't quite loud enough to carry over all the way to the Slytherin table, but the laughter that followed certainly was. They continued walking towards their table, and sat down somewhere around the middle.

The very few people who were left to come slowly filtered in and took their places at their tables. The door on the side of the hall opened, and the usual first years filled in after Professor McGonagall. I was barely aware of the sorting taking place. Occasional names were placed in Slytherin, and I clapped out of politeness when the rest of the table did. As soon as the last first year was sorted "Yavin, Susan" went to Hufflepuff the gold platters on the tables were immediately filled with food. I took bits and pieces here and there, not eating too much. Although when the plates were cleared and replaced with desserts of all sorts, I certainly had more than my share of them. When everyone had their fill, the plates cleared once again.

Dumbledore, his once brown hair now almost entirely an amazing silver, stood up at the staff table. The hall fell silent. He proceeded through the usual announcements; the forest was off limits to all students… don't touch the Whomping Willow, it's a dangerous plant and it would certainly not be wise to try to think otherwise… Mr. Filch would like to remind you all that there will be no magic in the hallways between classes… and to have a good term. People around me started to stand up and to leave, so I followed suit. I stared to walk out into the Entrance Hall, when the sound of my name stopped me.

"Hey, look, it's Dubois!"

I stopped and glance over my shoulder to the caller, immediately wishing I hadn't. Potter and his Posse had decided to leave the table just as I did, and spotted me on the way out. Potter's eyes were shining again, but more of a smug satisfaction than genuine happiness. I shift my weight to one foot, yet still keep my ground.

"What do you want, Potter?" I asked impatiently.

"Oh, just to say hello to my favorite Slytherin," he replied. I wasn't fooled.

"Favorite, right," I said coolly. "Too bad I'm not like-"

"Hey, I must say I love your monotonosity throughout the years, Candace," Sirius interrupted. "I mean, really. I could understand if it was a complete bookworm Gryffindor. But a Slytherin with no personality? Why bother?"

I open my mouth in attempt of retaliation. Alright, so I fit the part of a bookworm. My long, dark brown hair was always pulled back hurriedly so it was rather messy, with a few wisps of bangs falling down to cover my eyes. Also covering my bright green eyes was a pair of small, rectangle-framed glasses, which I constantly have pushed up to the bridge of my nose. It also wasn't uncommon to find me with my nose stuck into a book. If I had been re-sorted this year, I surely would have been put in Ravenclaw. But it was because of the fact that I had nothing better to do with my time that I even started to study so much anyway. Almost ironic. However, the comment of having no personality hit me more than it should have.

Finding no comment to defend myself, I rolled my eyes.

"God. Eat dung, Black."

He smirks at me, then says, "See? She can't even say anything original. I bet I've been telling my brother to eat dung since I was about three."

He chuckled to add more insult, and Pettigrew also began to nervously laugh. Probably a subconscious attempt to brown nose. Potter was also smirking, showing support for Black. But Lupin was… wait. He had a sad look on his face. One that almost looked full of… pity! He felt sorry for me?! I felt blood rush to my cheeks from the combination of being laughed at and being pitied. However, a voice from behind my right shoulder drifted forward and caused the laughter to stop.

"You four would do best to crawl away to your own dormitories."

I turn around and find my eyes looking, inches away, into two very dark eyes. The eyes matched the long, black hair and long, black robe. Fellow Slytherin seventh year Severus Snape stepped forward towards the four Gryffindors. For what seemed like half an hour, the Gryffindors and Snape simply glared at each other, mentally shooting daggers and grasping their wands tightly in their pockets. The rivalry between the two groups was no secret. However, a quick tug of Potter's sleeve by Pettigrew brought them back to their senses.

"James," Pettigrew whispered, yet I knew all six of us could hear, "there are teachers just in the Hall. Save it for another time!"

Potter quickly thought this over, still glaring at Snape, then nodded. He turned sharply, and the four of them walked away towards where I assumed the Gryffindor common room was. I glanced at Snape, who was watching them every step of the way.

"Umm… thanks, I guess," I muttered.

For one great moment, I thought I had found a friend for this year. But just as soon as that moment came, it left again. He turned to me and sneered.

"Like I wanted to help you. I simply wasn't going to let someone as arrogant as Potter swing around his huge head. I had no intentions of helping you out, you're no more a true Slytherin than them."

Not waiting even a second after his speech, he turned away, robe billowing behind him, and proceeded up the case of stairs on the right side of the hall, towards the Slytherin dormitories. I watched in slight shock, then sighed.

Well, another 'great' year at Hogwarts has begun.