They arrived at the Hogsmeade station later than evening. Erin stayed next to Hermione and Neville until they heard a voice coming over the throng of students. "Firs' years! Firs' years! Now don't be shy!"

They went toward the voice and saw a large man carrying a lantern. He was possibly one of the largest men Erin had ever seen. Sure, she had seen trolls larger…but other than that…"That all the firs' years? All right, then, to the boats."

Erin was a little surprised when George leaned in next to her. "We'll see you at the castle." He winked. Erin glanced back as he and Fred walked away wondering just what was the matter with them.

The first years followed the man down to where the lake was. "No more'n four to a boat!"

Erin stepped into one and was immediately followed by Hermione, Neville and surly looking lad. "Everyone in?" The man shouted from his own boat. "Right then—FORWARD!"

The boats turned and they caught a glimpse of a truly breathtaking and beautiful sight. It was truly magical seeing that castle rising on the cliffs above a great lake with the lights shining softly down…

The boats stopped at a set of stairs and the man told them to climb them to the top. The climbed and finally came to a severe looking woman. "I am Professor McGonagall. Welcome to Hogwarts. The start of term banquet will begin shortly, but before you can take your seats you must be sorted into your Houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony, because while you are here your House will be like your family. The four Houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. While you are at Hogwarts your triumphs will earn your House points, any rule breaking you will lose points. At the end of the year the house with the most House points will be awarded the House Cup—"

"Trevor!" Neville called out and picked up a toad. "Sorry."

"The Sorting will begin momentarily." She went through the door at the top of the stairs.

"So it's true then, what they were saying on the train. Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts." The speaker was a blonde haired boy who looked distinctly evil. Everyone was whispering Harry's name. "This Crabbe and Goyle and I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy." Ron snorted. "Think my name's funny do you? No need to ask yours, red hair and a hand-me-down robe? You must be a Weasley." Erin did not like how he said that at all. "You'll soon find out that some wizarding families are better than others, Potter. I can help you there." He put his hand out.

Harry looked at it. "I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself thanks."

Draco paused. McGonagall tapped him on the shoulder. "We're ready for you now."

McGonagall led them into the Great Hall. Fred and George waved from their table. Erin smiled back. Above them the ceiling reflected the night sky…but you could see the ceiling through it. She gathered them around a stage in the front. Up higher behind the stage were the teachers' tables. McGonagall was holding a roll of parchment. "When I call your name, you will come forward, put the Sorting Hat on your head and you will Sorted." They noticed a wizard hat on a stool then. "Abbot, Hannah."

A girl with blonde pigtails went forward. "Hufflepuff!" The hat shouted. The right hand table cheered.

"Bones, Susan!"

"Hufflepuff!"

"Boot, Terry."

"Ravenclaw!" The table second from left cheered.

"Brocklehurst, Mandy."

"Ravenclaw."

"Brown, Lavender!"

"Gryffindor!" The second from right cheered, the one Fred and George were at.

"Bulstrode, Millicent."

"Slytherin." Far left table cheered.

"Corner, Michael."

"Ravenclaw."

"Crabbe, Vincent."

"Slytherin."

"Finch-Fletchley, Justin."

"Hufflepuff."

"Finnegan, Seamus."

It took the hat a few minutes to decide. "Gryffindor!"

"Goyle, Gregory."

"Slytherin."

"Granger, Hermione."

Erin patted her shoulder. The girl just looked so nervous as went up to the stool she sat up there. "Gryffindor!"

"Longbottom, Neville."

"Gryffindor!" It also took a little time with him. He ran off with the hat still on his head.

"Lyancomp, Erin." Blushingly he handed the hat to Erin.

The black haired girl put on the hat. "Let's see…" A voice said in her ear. "A very strange one, this is. You have the courage of a lioness, the mind of an eagle, the craftiness of a snake—"

"Hey!" Erin said out loud, but only McGonagall heard her. "I am not crafty!"

"You're no stranger to work, either." The voice said ignoring her outburst. "But where do we put you? You could be great, you know…Slytherin would do well to have you."

"No." She said so firmly that McGonagall looked taken aback.

"Well, if you're sure…better be Gryffindor!" The last word was said aloud. Erin smiled taking off the hat and going to sit at the Gryffindor table. All the while Fred and George were yelling. "We got Erin! We got Erin!" They were yelling in singsong voices, like the mirth of schoolboys, of course they were schoolboys. Hermione leaned over and told the girl that all the boys had wanted her to be in Gryffindor. Erin wondered about this, but didn't comment.

"MacDougal, Morag."

"Slytherin!"

"MacMillan, Ernie."

"Hufflepuff."

"Malfoy, Draco!"

"Slytherin!"

"Moon, Jeremiah."

"Hufflepuff."

"Nott, Theodore."

"Ravenclaw!"

"Parkinson, Pansy."

"Slytherin."

"Patil, Padma."

"Ravenclaw."

"Patil, Parvati."

"Gryffindor."

"Perks, Sally-Anne."

"Hufflepuff."

"Potter, Harry."

"Gryffindor."

"Prewitt, Felicity."

"Ravenclaw."

"Smith, Zacharias."

"Hufflepuff."

"Thomas, Dean."

"Gryffindor."

"Turpin, Lisa."

"Ravenclaw."

"Weasley, Ronald."

"Gryffindor."

"Zabini, Blaise."

Albus Dumbledore got to his feet as the last student was sorted. "Welcome!" He said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts. Before we begin our banquet I would like to say a few words. And they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!"

The dishes suddenly filled with food in front them. Erin dug in heartily. She didn't join into the conversation or even pay much attention. Fred and George had exchanged seats with whoever had been on either side of the girl. "This makes our job much easier, right, Fred?"

"Right, George. It would be hard to watch over her if she was in Ravenclaw—"

"Or Hufflepuff—"

"Or Slytherin—"

"Are we supposed to watch out for Ron too?"

"I think Ron can take care of himself. Erin, however, will need constant surveillance."

She laughed. "Ok, you two, why are you taking this so, umm, seriously?"

"I don't think she knows, Fred."

"Better for us, George."

"Ok, you two, what are you talking about?" Erin asked looking from one to the other.

"Oh, fairest of ladies, we offer our humble services to thee—"

Erin don't know what surprised her more, the fact they were calling her fair or the fact they were saying this together. "Ron, do they always act like this?"

"Oh, err, uh…" Ron turned bright red.

"Percy?"

He looked up. "Yes?"

"Do they always act like this?"

"Unfortunately, yes. If they start to bother you just yell at them." He went back to his ham

"Hmm, I rather like it, but I can't imagine why you would be teasing me about being 'fairest'."

Hermione leaned forward. "Erin, they think you're cute."

Her mouth dropped as she looked from one to the other. They were grinning. "Me? Cute? But-but-I mean, I can't be!"

The feast ended with little incident. Dumbledore stood. "Ahem, just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you.

"First years should note that the dark forest is strictly forbidden to all pupils. A few older students would do well to remember that as well." He looked to Fred and George with twinkling eyes. "I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors.

"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for his or her house teams should contact Madam Hooch.

"And finally, the third floor corridor in the right hand side is strictly forbidden to all those who do not wish to die a most painful death.

"Now goodnight."

The first years followed Percy through the throng still a bit unsure about the whole thing. He looked back and saw Fred and George. He rolled his eyes. He led them through the halls to a place with nothing but staircases. "This is the most direct path to the dormitory. Oh and keep an eye on the staircases, they like to change." Percy led them up the stairs, some moving while they were on them. They went up one after another until we came to a portrait of a large woman in a pink dress.

"Password?"

"Caput Draconis." The portrait swung open and the students went in. "Hurry up, now. Come on!" They stopped in a large room filled with chairs, couches, tables and a large fireplace. "This is the Gryffindor common room. Boys dormitory is through the door on your left, girls the same on your right. You'll find all your belongings have already been brought up. Good night everyone and Fred, George you know what will happen if you try to go up there." Fred and George had been trying to follow Erin. "Now to bed!"

Erin followed Hermione, Lavender, and Parvati up the stairs. Lavender and Parvati were already jabbering away. She smiled shyly at Hermione and the other girl grinned. "I am so excited. I've already memorized our books."

"Oh." Erin said distinctly anxious. "I haven't had time to even look at mine."

"Don't worry. I've always been a bit of an overachiever."

"Nothing wrong with that." She laughed. "I always did pretty well in school. You know, Hermione, I have a feeling we're going to be great friends."

"You know, so do I." She said as we entered the room. Four huge four-poster beds were in there around a stove. There was a window between each bed, except where the door was.

Lavender and Parvati had already taken the beds on the left. "Do you mind if I take the bed nearest the door?" Hermione asked.

"No." Erin said. "I was going to ask you the same about the other bed."

With that they all undressed and went to sleep dreaming of the fantastic times they were going to have at Hogwarts.