"Knowlton, Natalia," Professor McGonagall called.

Natalia went and sat on the stool, waiting patiently as McGonagall placed the hat on her head.

"Hmm… Like Potter's mind in here. Tricky one, this is. Smart enough for Ravenclaw, and kind enough for Hufflepuff. But you'd really excel in Gryffindor or Slytherin," the hat whispered in her ear. "Don't know what to make of it. Any preference?"

Natalia glanced at the Gryffindor table. They were all staring back at her. Looking at the Slytherin table, she noted their indifference. Natalia looked back down. "No preference," she said quietly.

"You don't want to say it, but I can see it here. It's obvious you want to be in Slytherin!" The hat shouted the house name. The Slytherins became a little more attentive as Natalia left the hat behind and walked to their table. McGonagall called the next name on the list and a timid first year approached the stool.

Natalia cautiously sat down between a burly boy and a petite goth. The blonde boy across from Natalia extended his hand. She did likewise; he took her hand and kissed it suavely. "Draco Malfoy. Pleasure," he said, releasing her hand and gesturing at the Slytherins beside her. "Ashley Parkinson and Gregory Goyle." Draco leaned back and introduced the students beside him. "This is Brooke Mellender. Vincent Crabbe."

Natalia nodded and smiled, hiding her struggle to remember all their names. "Hello," she greeted.

The girl with the green streaks spoke. "What year are you in?"

"Sixth" Natalia's mind scrambled to recall the girl's name. Brooke? she thought.

Brooke smiled. "Good, us too. Except for Ashley. She's a fifth year. Where were you for your first five years of school?"

"J. Rankin's School of Magick over in Canada."

Ashley stopped tapping her plate with her fork and raised her head. "You lived in Canada?"

"Yeah, I was born there."

"I've always wanted to live there." Ashley sighed.

"Ashley wants to live anywhere but here," Draco stated bluntly.

Ashley shot him a dirty look and twirled her fork in her hand. After pausing a moment, she cleared her throat. "Draco cried twice in third year."

Brooke snorted, and Vincent and Gregory tried desperately to hide smirks. "Ashley!" exclaimed Draco.

Harry observed the Slytherin table. That girl, Natalia, sat across from Wanker Malfoy. He was reaching across the table to shake her hand. No, kiss her hand. Harry felt suddenly very sick. Damn. Malfoy's going to break that poor girl's heart. He thought, but caught himself. They're Slytherins. Evil Slytherins with no brains and forked tongues and silky brown hair. I don't care what goes on with them. Harry looked down at his table and forced himself to listen as Ron rambled on about the Chudley Cannons.

"Brooke Mellender and Draco Malfoy. Please stand." They did, Draco looking a little flustered. "Thank you. Hannah Abbot and Landen Russell, please stand." Dumbledore gestured proudly at the standing students, eight in total. "Students, these are this year's prefects. You'd do well to respect them. Prefects, you may be seated."

Draco and Brooke sat down. "Congrats, Brooke! Why didn't you tell me?" cried Ashley.

"It's not a big deal, really," she replied.

"Congratulations." Gregory shook Draco's hand.

Draco rubbed his squashed hand. "Thanks, Goyle."

More congrats were passed around by other students. In a few minutes they were quieted by Dumbledore who announced the Head Boy and Girl to be Elliot Trutch and Sophia Cie. He also went over the usual rules. "In an hour will prefects please take their house to their common room and then meet Professor McGonagall back here." Dumbledore waved his hands and the tables were filled with food. "Enjoy dinner."