Author's Note: YES! Yet another chapter! My writer's block is gone! GONE! YES! Wooohoooooooooo-dances- Enjoy the chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Child of the Stars

Chapter Seven: A Challenge Of Sorts

Sadira and the others were still laughing and joking hours later when they arrived at Hogwarts. James, Sirius, and Peter had been giving Remus the cold shoulder since he became friends with Sadira, so he had simply stayed with them.

Sadira started to get nervous as she put on her robes. Her new friends kept telling her that she would be fine, but it did not help much. Her stomach was still in knots and she was still worried about where she would be sorted. Lily, Remus, and Mandara were Gryffindors, but Severus was a Slytherin.

She thought about what Lily had said earlier and it seemed to calm her down a bit.

What Lily said earlier...'Well, I personally don't think you'll be put into Slytherin. I'm not sure about Hufflepuff either. You might be put into Ravenclaw, you are very smart, but then again, you might be put into Gryffindor. Just remember, we'll still be your friends no matter where you end up.'

Sadira smiled to herself, thinking this might not be so bad after all.

The train slowed to a stop and the students started to file out. Remus, Mandara, Lily, and Severus made reassuring comments as they stepped outside. The others hurried off to the carriages as Sadira walked over to a large man holding a lantern.

"Firs' Years! "Firs years this way!" he called.

"Um, excuse me sir, but am I supposed to go with you?"

"You the transfer student, Miss?"

"Yes."

"Aye, you'll be ridin' wid me. Just head over to the boats back there."

"Okay, thank you Sir."

"Call me Hagrid," he said with a warm smile. She smiled back at him as he continued to call for the first years.

The boats had no oars so she guessed that they were driven by magic. When the other first years arrived, they all got in and started across the lake. About half way across, Sadira thought she saw something in the water. As she leaned over the side to get a better look she lost her balance and fell in.

She was completely submerged in the icy water when she opened her eyes. A giant tentacle was brushing past her stomach. She reached out to touch it, but was stopped by someone grabbing her robes and pulling her out of the water.

"You alright Miss?"

"Yes I'm fine thank you," she said with a smile. Because Hagrid had been the one to pull her up, she rode with him the rest of the way.

When they reached the castle they were met by a very stern-looking woman. She warily glanced over the students, her eyes landing on Sadira's soaked clothes. She reached for her wand but Sadira stopped her.

"Ma'am, if it's alright with you, I'd like to stay wet."

"Stay wet? Why would you want to do that?"

"Because it is comfortable Ma'am."

"Very well then." She sighed and pocketed her wand before leading them through the hall and into a side room. She left, leaving them alone in the small room.

A few of the students around her began to whisper amongst themselves. One of them, a young boy with light brown hair and grey eyes, started a conversation with her.

"Hello there! I'm Ewan."

"Sadira, it's nice to meet you."

He smiled as he looked at her. "Why did you want to stay wet?"

"Well, to me, it is more comfortable. And why not start my first year here with a good first impression?"

He laughed as the professor came back into the room.

She introduced herself as Minerva McGonagall before telling them about the sorting.

She told Sadira to wait in the Entrance Hall as the others were sorted and that they would sort her last. She wished Ewan good luck as he entered the hall. He waved at her, and then the doors closed and she could not see anyone.

Ten minutes later when the doors re-opened, she was still soaking wet. She had only dried her shoes so that they did not make squishing sounds as she walked.

She timidly stepped through them, taking long strides as she went in between the tables and up to the Professor's table.

The sound of the student's whispers were drowned out by the sound of her beating heart. She looked around for Lily. When she spotted her, she stuck her tongue out and laughed because Lily, Remus, and Mandara were practically in tears over her appearance. She saw Severus giving her a look that plainly said 'you just had to fall in the lake, didn't you?'. She then spotted Christian, the boy from the train. He smiled at her and winked form his spot at the Ravenclaw table.

As she reached the stool, McGonagall called out her name.

"Snape, Sadira."

Many people's jaws dropped upon hearing her name, including the Marauder's.

Sadira ignored them as she sat down on the stool, placing the hat on her wet hair.

'Hmmmm,' a voice said into her ear. 'You are difficult to place. Your brother is a Slytherin, yet you do not display those qualities. You are loyal and hardworking, but not enough to be a Hufflepuff. You are incredibly smart and quick of mind, but you still have much courage. So it is a choice between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor... but where...'

'I do have friends in Gryffindor, but I might have enemies there also,' she thought.

'Well then, you have made the decision. Now the question is simply, are you sure of your choice? You would excel in both houses.'

'If I have already made the decision, and I think I know what that is, then yes, I am sure.'

'You are very wise child, beyond your years. You will fit in well with the other students of your house. Just so you know, I have enjoyed sorting you. You were a challenge, and I thank you for it. But enough of that, I have to tell everyone where you will be.'

The hat stopped talking in her ear and raised it's voice so that the whole hall could hear.

Please Review! I hope you liked it. Until We Meet Again.

C.B.