Once again: The plot of this story is based on JKR's Harry Potter series. Our plot weaves in 2 new characters: Dave Murray and Elizabeth Fawkes. While Lizzy is an addition, Dave replaces Seamus Finnigan. It also incorporates ideas borrowed from the White Wolf storyteller game system (we won't mention which game as it will give away a big surprise, but it is wicked fun to play). Many new characters will appear in following chapters which are our characters based on the game system we played. Our plot weaves around the original plot of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. We own only our own characters and our plot. All other characters and the original plot belong to JK Rowling. Please don't sue us! :)

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SPECIAL THANKS to MARAUDER ANGEL for our 1st review. We are trying to sort out the troubles with spacing. Hope we have it licked.

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The Lord, the Lady, and Luna

Chapter 4: Sorting and Settling

As the train came to a stop, the prefects stationed themselves at the doors, guiding the others. The first years were instructed to leave their things on the train. Everything would be taken up to the school for them. As they all filed off the train, they heard a big, booming voice calling,

"Firs' years! Firs' years!" They all looked and Lizzy saw the huge, bearded man whom she'd seen before at Gringotts with Harry. Hagrid directed the first years towards the lake where there were a number of small boats waiting. Ron, Harry, and Neville were in one boat with another boy. Hermione was in another boat with two other girls and a boy, and Lizzy was in a boat with Dave and two girls who appeared to be twins. The boat ride across the lake went without incident and Lizzy and Dave soon found themselves walking up the big stairs in the castle that was Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Dave sprinted a bit ahead and got to the professor who was standing at the top of the stairs before the others did.

"Professor," he said to her.

"Yes?"

"My uncle instructed me to give this immediately either to Professor Dumbledore or Professor McGonagall," Dave said, holding out a letter.

"I am Professor McGonagall," she answered, reaching out for the letter. Dave gave it to her and she saw that it was addressed to herself and Professor Dumbledore with a note on it asking them both to read the letter as soon as possible. "We will read this as soon as the sorting is finished," she told Dave as she put the letter in her pocket.

"Um, I don't mean to be rude, Professor," Dave said a bit hesitantly, "But my uncle insisted that I get you to read it right away."

"And just who is your uncle?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"Oh, um, his name's Alastor…um, Alastor Moody."

"Oh dear, you should have given this to me yesterday then!" Professor McGonagall said with a knowing smile. She ushered him back to the other first years just as they arrived at the top of the stairs. She quickly introduced herself to the other first years, explained the procedure to them, then led them into the Great Hall. They saw four long tables with the older students already sitting there. Lizzy saw the red-headed twins and their older brother at one table. As she walked amongst the tables, quite a few boys turned their heads to watch her. The teachers sitting at the head table in front of which was a stool with an old, battered hat on it. Professor McGonagall instructed the first years to wait in front of the hat, took out a scroll, and began reading names.

"Bones, Susan," McGonagall said. A timid-looking girl went up, sat on the stool, and placed the hat on her head. There was silence for a moment, then the hat shouted,

"Hufflepuff!" The procedure continued until McGonagall called,

"Fawkes, Elizabeth." Lizzy went up and placed the hat on her head. Immediately, she heard a small voice murmuring in her mind,

"Ah, another fine mind. Very intelligent, yes. Ravenclaw? No, you're loyal, too, but not Hufflepuff. No, you're much like your Grandmother. I sense her kind of courage in you, and like her, it better be…GRYFFINDOR!" The hat said this last word loud enough for the entire hall to hear. Lizzy took the hat off and went to join the others at the Gryffindor table. The Weasley twins were eagerly beckoning her over to sit near them. She complied and sat next to them. They beamed at her, while several other boys gave them dirty looks. Lizzy noticed the looks, but didn't connect them with herself. She'd heard from Dave and several others that Fred and George were great tricksters. She figured the dirty looks were merely the result of having been caught at the wrong end of the twins' pranks.

Meanwhile, the sorting continued. Hermione was sorted into Gryffindor. The shy boy, Neville, was also made Gryffindor. An unfriendly-looking, pale-haired boy was sorted into Slytherin. Next, it was Dave's turn. Dave heard the hat's voice in his mind,

"Ah, another Murray. You are much like your father was, but I sense something different. There is great strength and courage in you. I think you belong in…GRYFFINDOR!" Lizzy cheered along with the rest of Gryffindor. She was delighted that her first friend in this new world was in the same house. Soon, it was Harry's turn. The hat took quite some time making its decision but eventually placed Harry in Gryffindor. At that, Gryffindor table erupted. They were all ecstatic that they got the famous Harry Potter in their house. While they were congratulating Harry, the sorting went on. Lizzy was a bit surprised to see two girls who were obviously identical twins get sorted into separate houses, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. Ron was soon sorted into Gryffindor also. By this time, there were only a few students left who were quickly sorted.

As everyone settled down, the feast began. Most of the students were busy talking, the older ones chatting about their summers and the first years introducing themselves to their new housemates as they ate. Dave was relatively quiet, talking only when someone addressed him directly. Lizzy on the other hand, found herself nearly overwhelmed by questions, asked mostly by the boys. The twins, who had taken up positions on either side of her, made a great show of serving her the food that appeared. The twins' friend, a fellow named Lee Jordan had taken a seat opposite Lizzy and was also trying hard to serve her but was thwarted in his attempts by the persistent attention of the twins. The older Weasley brother, who introduced himself to Lizzy as Percy, and made a great showing of his Prefect badge, tried to warn Lizzy about eating anything the twins have had their hands on.

"Last time I accepted one of their treats, I turned into a canary," Percy told her. Lizzy could not contain her giggles at the thought of a five-and-a-half foot tall yellow canary with a Prefect badge pinned to him. At the sound of her laughter, Fred and George beamed, believing they have at last found a girl who could appreciate their sense of humour.

The rest of the feast went by rather uneventfully. At the end, the Headmaster spoke to the students and then instructed the prefects to usher them to the dormitories. As they made their way up to the Gryffindor Tower, Lizzy made friends with the other two first-year Gryffindor girls, Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown. Lizzy thought that, although they were a bit giggly, they were very nice girls, and she was delighted that so far, everyone she'd met was so nice. She went to sleep feeling that Hogwarts was a very good place to be.

In the boys' dorms, the first year boys were asleep within the hour, save for David, who laid awake trying to ignore Neville's snores. Having no luck there, David decided to go down to the common room. Sitting by the fire was Percy who looked surprised to see him.

"David, why are you out of bed so late?" Percy asked concernedly.

"Neville snores! And I've been having trouble sleeping the past few weeks anyways," David replied, "Besides, it's really crowded in there. I'm not used to being surrounded by so many people."

"Well, we can't have you gallivanting around all night now, can we? Why not go back up after a while, I'm sure the snoring will stop soon."

"Not likely, mate. Neville can be worse than a thunderstorm." David paused for a moment before asking, "Can I sleep here on the couch?"

"It's not normally allowed," Percy thought for a moment, "But it's not exactly against the rules either. But only for tonight," he added before going to bed himself.

Dave curled up on the couch, closed his eyes and The Dream took hold of him again.

PLEASE review (bats puppy dog eyes at reader) :)