Author's note: Well I hope your enjoying it...although not a lot has happened yet, but it will got juicy I promise.

Hogwarts was a very interesting place to the small mousy haired witch known as Minerva McGonagall. Being eleven and being sent of to school, of course, meant that you were an adult. Oh don't get me wrong Minerva wasn't naïve she new she was still a child, but with no real home to go back to and no family to love there was really only the future to look to. Of course, one shouldn't dodle in the past. And Minerva knew she had to be responsible for herself (and she knew she was more than capable) because no one else would be.

Being all alone in such a new environment was very unsettling to most children, but not Minerva. To Minerva it was like being set free to live her life her way, and not be ridiculed for it. When Minerva had received the acceptance letter, it had been the biggest relief of her life, for she had thought she would have to go through life as an outcast, as a reject, a…freak.

Not anymore! Because now she could go to a school designed for people just like her. She was going to be a proper witch. Just like her mother had been. Of course, she had never told her foster family about this , but that was in the past. And now as Minerva followed the scrawny bent old man who had been bellowing,

"First years…to ye' boats, first years!" Her heart swelled with excitement. In all the hustle and bustle Minerva missed the stare of one young slytherian second year. By the name, she would later know, as Tom Riddle. Crossing the lake was a liberating experience in itself and Minerva was already chattering away with one round faced girl by the name of Ariel.

"So enlighten me what these house traits are again and in your opinion what's the most appropriate one?"

Minerva quizzed her brown furrowed with wonder. "Well," Said the girl obviously intimidated by Minerva's worldly question. "Umm….Ravenclaw is for the wise, and Hufflepuff is the friendly, and-and Gryffindor is the house for the bravest people, oh and Slytherian is the worst house, my father says, that's the purebloods house"
"Purebloods?" Minerva pressed, dying for as much information as she could soak up before she actually had to survive in this foreign world.

"Uh-yeah, people whose parents were magical opposed to people who are you know….," She lowered her voice, "half and half or muggleborn."

"Oh-" said Minerva her brows raised in an expression she would use frequently till the end of her days.
"That sounds a bit biased doesn't it"
"I suppose so…" said Ariel with a giggle (it was doubtful that Ariel knew what biased meant) "So which house do you want to be in?" said Ariel hopefully. Minerva paused for a minuet considering her options.
"Well," she began chewing lightly on her lip, deep in thought , "I don't think any house that deals with knowledge would be bad, but, I think that is someone was to complement me I would rather be called brave. So Gryffindor." Minerva said grinning which reveled two dimples on her rosy cheeks.
"What about you?" Minerva asked suddenly.

"Oh well my whole family's been in Hufflepuff except my brother who went to Ravenclaw…so I suppose Hufflepuff. I am not very bright or brave, but I'd like to think I am friendly." Minerva smiled sweetly. The remainder of the boat ride was in silence, but it really wasn't that awkward for they arrived at the bottom of the steps shortly after.

A young man of about 30 with auburn hair and a twinkle in his eye stood to greet them. Minerva realized at once that he was someone of great importance, and to her amazement he looked at her and beamed, a very warm beam, something that reminded her a great deal of her father though she had not seem him in years. On impulse she beamed back, I don't think you could not have smiled at this man, there was something about him. After being unloved for so many years the smile was comforting. The man chuckled slightly and then winked he even placed his hand on her elbow to help her out of the boat.

"And what is your name?" He asked

"Minerva McGonagall," She said standing up very straight and putting her hand out for him to shake.

"And you sir," she said bravely, the man chuckled again. Minerva raised her eyebrows, she didn't see anything funny with what she had asked, but then this man seemed to be a bit eccentric, she could tell just by looking at him.

"Albus Dumbledoor, I'll be your transfiguration teacher and I'm head of Gryffindor house." He said taking her hand. Minerva smiled he had a strong hand just like her father's had been, but he didn't have any calluses or ruff spots. Minerva wondered if he had servants that catered for him.
"Gryffindor?" said Minerva anxiously, "that's the house of the brave isn't it, that's the one I want to be in." Dubledoor smiled making his eyes twinkle slightly, then Dumbledoor did something that surprised the little girl to no end. He pulled her hand up to his mouth and kissed the knuckles. Minerva's eyes went wide.

"You'll do amazing things wherever you go, my dear." And with that he turned and walked to face the now gathering multitudes of students that had just gotten off the boats. "Please, please, if you will just form a line here we will begin our ascend to the entrance hall and then on to the great hall, for the sorting ceremony." There was a slight confusion and lots of whispering and then before Minerva knew it she was entering an ignoramus room. Four long tables full of older looking children with watchful eyes and eager looks. Minerva walked as straight as possible shoulders held high she looked towards the front of then room, where they were headed. There on a wooden stool was a very battered looking wizards hat, Minerva couldn't help but think it was peculiar to have a hat placed in the center of the room, as if it was on display. It then occurred to her quite suddenly that this was most likely going to play a role in the sorting, she wondered if she would have to wear it, or just look into it, or at it even. Professor Dumbledoor took the hat off the stool and the hall went silent. "Now if you'll all gather 'round, when I call out your name just take a seat on the stool and I will place the hat on your head, wait here until it decides which house you belong in." He glanced around at the first years to see if they understood. "Alright then let the sorting begin." After a brief song from the hat, which Minerva thought was highly unnecessary and time consuming Professor Dumbledoor began reading names from his scroll. "Alkins, Ariel!" Was the first one to be called and luckily for Ariel she did indeed go to Hufflepuff. Minerva could not help but notice how much Professor Dumbledoor looked at her at least 15 times before her name was called. At first, she had simply smiled back, and then she grew uncomfortable and started shuffling her feet. He must have noticed her discomfort because he stopped looking at her so much after this. "Anderson, Angela!" A nervous looking red headed girl stepped out of the crowd and sat down on the stool.

"Gryffindor!" Bellowed the hat, after a moment, the girl grinned and ran down to join the table. Minerva unconsciously found her self thinking 'hmm the first so far to go into my house'. Then after a list that seemed to have no end to it, Minerva's name was called. McGonagall, Minerva!" Professor Dumbledoor called smiling at the little girl as she took her seat on the stool. Dumbledoor then placed the hat gently on her head.

"ah yes this is what I like to see, a brilliant mind, brave as can be, diligent, kind, and ambitious, you'll be wondrous one day lass. Gone on ladies first, do you have a preference?" ….YES Gryffindor…"very well then GRYFFINDOR!"

It took Minerva a moment to realize that the hat had said the last bit out loud as well as in her head. But when she did, Minerva practically jumped off her seat she was so ecstatic. The auditorium clapped and Minerva took her seat. As she sat down next to Jeni George (another Gryffindor girl who had just got sorted) she thought out of the corner of her eye she saw someone with a flash of auburn hair gazing at her, but of course she did not look.