"So you and Draco ain't exactly fond of each other are you?" Clara said with a smile after Harry told her who they thought she was when she slid open the compartment door. During the entire train ride, the three of them had all been joking and getting to know this new girl. Clara was a very fun girl and Harry hoped that she would be in the Gryffindor house.

Just then, Harry felt the train slow down and he shot a quick glance at the window before saying, "Were here."

It was odd, but Harry felt slightly comforted by the sight of his beloved school. Hogwarts always had a way of making him feel relaxed and at home. Now, as everyone was stepping off the train, he was back at home.

"Ugh, those creatures are ugly!" Clara squealed as she looked towards the carriages.

Ron and Hermoine just stared at Clara curiously before Ron's curiousity made his blurt, "You have to see someone die to be able to see those creatures." He gave a slight pause as if to decide whether or not to ask, but asking her won out in the end as he questioned, "Who have you seen…er…die?"

Clara stared intently at Ron for few minutes, which Harry noticed made Ron blush an odd shade of deep red, but after walking a few steps to the carriage she whispered, "My best friend".

Harry got wide eyed as Clara said this. He really did not know who this girl was, what had happened to her, where she came from. He seemed to not know anything about her, but he did know that she loved to joke. Harry noticed that within the first five minutes of talking with her. She loved to flash that smile of hers that seemed to light up a room. Other than that though, Harry thought that Clara was nothing but a mystery.

As they got into the carriage everyone seemed to be staring out the window, especially Clara who was fascinated by her new school, "Wow..."

"Different from your old school, huh?" replied Hermoine still looking out the window.

"Yeah, it's…bigger" answered Clara while she admired the school that was now her own.

They continued to chat while the carriages whisked towards Hogwarts. Soon the carriages lost their speed and everyone jumped out and sauntered into the shining halls of the school.

"Wher is Clara Dellmon'?" billowed a familiar voice in the crowd.

"Hagrid! How are you?" asked Hermoine the moment she saw her giant friend.

"Nev'r betta. Now do yer know dis Clara girl?" inquired Hagrid who seemed to be thinking of other things.

"Oh hey! I'm Clara." Clara chimed as Hagrid turned to look at her.

"Yer got'a come wit me now. We need ter put ya in a house," replied Hagrid who still appeared to be preoccupied.

"Are you alright Hagrid?" questioned Ron gently.

"Jus' a little tired tha's all," sighed Hagrid as he watched Peeves the poltergeist tease the first years. "Clara, we got ter get goin'."

"Okay, sure…" she said while waving goodbye to her new friends.

As she walked away with Hagrid, Hermoine was shaking her head, "I don't like that girl one bit. She seems to be hiding something."

Ron seemed stunned and furious that she would say that, "You don't even know her Hermoine! You only don't like her because you are nosy and she wouldn't tell you anything."

Hermoine did not like to be called nosy, even though everybody knew it was true. She was huffing as she spat, "Ron, what do you know. You only like her because you think she is gorgeous."

"Er… and your point?" asked Ron with a grin on his face.

"Ugh, you are impossible!" she said as she stomped away angrily.

"What's gotten into her?" asked Ron innocently.

"Don't ask me, half the time I don't even know what she's talking about" replied Harry as Ron and him both smiled and strolled into the Great Hall.

As Harry watched the first years being placed into their houses, he couldn't help wondering which house Clara was going to be in. He wanted to know because he hoped that she would be in Gryffindor with him. But there was no sign of Clara as the last first year was placed in Hufflepuff.

As Professor McGonagal cleared the stool and sorting hat away, Dumbledor stepped onto the stage. "My dear students, I am glad to see you all back hear for another year and some of you I am glad to see you for the first time." He paused as his eyes sparkled at everyone around him. "However, we have a new student here, who is not a first year at all. She has had to transfer to our school from America. I hope you all will make her feel welcome."

"He is talking about Clara.." added Ron who was listening excitedly. Harry could tell that Ron wanted the same thing that he did; and that was for Clara to be in their house.

"Since she was not a first year, we felt it best that she be sorted separately from the rest," replied Dumbledor who was smiling graciously at everyone. "Clara Dellmont, which house did the sorting hat place you in?"

As Clara was walking out onto the stage Harry was just as eager as Ron to know where Clara was going to be placed. She smiled, which seemed to illuminate the entire room as she said, "Gryffindor!"

The table cheered as she walked over and sat next to Harry, Ron and Hermoine. Ron just couldn't stop grinning at her and Harry kept on saying how glad he was that she was in their house, but Hermoine was silent. She did not seem to notice everything that was going on around her as she just stared at the tablecloth.

Harry didn't know what was bothering with her, but he had a feeling that it had something to do with the fact that Clara Dellmont was Harry and Ron's new friend.