Hello citizens of fanfiction! I know! I know! I haven't updated in forever! I'm finally doing it though! Anyways, I've come up with a really good idea for this chapter and I hope you all like it! I promise that it's longer than the last one! Love you all!

Flyingthoroughbred (Moonis)

Aura walked into the Entrance Hall, her long, wavy, blonde hair flowing behind her back because of the wind from outside, her cheeks rosy from the brisk wind, and her eyes sparkling at the delight of finally making it to Hogwarts safe and sound. As she walked in, all talking ceased as the students looked at her, some with disgust and hate and some with awe and wonder, but all with the burning question of "Who is that?" in their eyes. The question soon transferred from their eyes to their lips and, as Aura walked through the crowds searching for Hermione and Ron, they all began to whisper and gossip among themselves.

She had just spotted the pair, when a tall, muscular, blonde boy stepped in front of her, blocking her path. Aura rolled her eyes and looked up into his face. He had striking blue eyes but they were full of malice and deep discontent. "I'm Draco Malfoy," the boy said, holding out his hand, "If you need anyone to show you around or to show you who you should get to know, I'm you're man."

As she studied his face, she realized that his eyes weren't looking at her face but a little lower, around chest height. She rolled her eyes again and glared at him, her eyes becoming the color of deep emeralds. She reached up and tilted his head up. She then let her hand fall back to her side. She crossed her arms and said, "First of all, when you're talking to me look at my face, not at my chest. Second of all, I'm perfectly capable of getting to know people on my own. In fact, I've already made three new friends. Third, if I need help to find where to go in the school I won't ask an imbecile like you, who would jump me as soon as we got into a dark corridor, to help me. I'm not stupid and I'm definitely not weak so don't try to pull your crap on me like you must do with other girls; it won't work." With that, she strode past him, her head held high to join Hermione and Ron, leaving a surprised but smirking Malfoy behind her.

Hermione was laughing when Aura reached her and Ron, and Ron was looking at Aura with a look of pure astonishment and a new found respect on his face. "That was bloody brilliant!" Hermione exclaimed, still laughing. Ron just continued to stare at her. Aura gave him a questioning look and asked, "What? Can't the new girl stand up for herself?" He blushed and told her, "Of course. I just didn't expect it from you." She laughed and replied, "No one ever does." She looked back and saw Harry still standing just inside the doorway, staring at her. She waved him over and it seemed to have some effect on him, because he soon joined them.

They stood around for a few minutes, the whispers and looks constantly buzzing around them about Aura, talking, until they heard Professor McGonnagal clear her throat. She looked down at them and asked them, "Well, why are you all standing out here like a bunch of first years? Shouldn't you be in the Great Hall by now?" The students scurried to do as she said, and filed into the Great Hall.

Aura was talking to Hermione, not paying attention to where she was going, when she felt a hand on her shoulder. "You must stay here, Miss Porticolus. You will be sorted after all of the first years in a special ceremony," Professor McGonnagal told her, pulling her out of the crowd.

Aura waved Hermione and the boys on, smiling at them. She turned to Professor McGonnagal and said, "I'm not so sure I like the sound of this special ceremony." Professor McGonnagal smiled down at her and said in a reassuring voice, "Don't worry, dear. It's just that you are the first student we've had come to Hogwarts for the first time who is not in their first year. The only special part of the ceremony is that you will be announced by Professor Dumbledore and sorted after all of the first years have been. I'm sure you'll be able to handle it after all that you managed to succeed in at your school last year." Aura smiled up at her. "I'm sure you're right Professor, but I thought what happened last year was supposed to remain a secret," she said, confused. Professor McGonnagal looked at her as if appraising her. "Surely you must know that the staff had to be told of your…adventures…last year to ensure the safety of the students. I'll explain more later in a private meeting, for I can not say anymore within the ear shot of the first years." Aura looked down the steps at the Entrance Hall floor. The first years were filling it up quickly and they all looked windswept and miserable.

Harry turned back to see Aurora talking to Professor McGonnagall with a confused look on her face. "I wonder what that's all about," he mused out loud.

"Probably the fact that she needs to get sorted, though why they're doing a special ceremony for her is complete lunacy," Ron commented, walking into the Great Hall with the rest of the school.

Hermione rolled her eyes and replied, "The reason they're doing a special ceremony is because she is the first student to transfer into this school in its entire history."

Ron looked at her in disbelief. "Oh come off it, Hermione!" he exclaimed, "There must have been someone else!"

Hermione shook her head, whether at his stupidness or in reply it's not quite clear. "Nope. There was and is no one else besides her," she replied. They walked to the Gryffindor table and sat down, soon deep in discussion about other things.

Albus Dumbledore rose from his seat when the sorting was done and beamed at the congregated students before him. "Welcome to all of the new students here at this splendid school and to all of our old hands, welcome back! There are a few announcements I would like to make before starting our feast. First, Mr. Filch has added a number of items to his list of toys and such not permitted on school grounds. If he finds one or more of these items on your person he has every right to confiscate the item or items for as long a period of time as he deems necessary. Second, first years, please remember that the forest is off limits to you. Finally, I would like to announce that we have a new student joining us this year in the sixth year class. Her name is Aureole Porticolus and she joins our school after moving to England from the United States. I trust that you all will be kind and giving while she adjusts to our school and that you will welcome her as if she is one of your friends. On that note, Miss Porticolus has yet to be sorted, so I ask that you give her and the sorting hat your full attention as she gets sorted. Miss Porticolus, will you please join us?" he addressed the assembled students. Everyone, including the teachers, turned to look at the new girl as the Great Hall doors opened and she walked down the main aisle to where the sorting hat still stood on its stool.

Just as she was about to pick it up and set it on her head, the seam along the brim opened and it began to sing in a low, warning voice.

Before you put me on,

There is something you must know,

Turmoil such as this school has never seen,

Save once before when the four founders fought,

Will come to pass in this year,

So keep your friends close to you and let me give you this advice:

This is not the time to quarrel or you may pay the price.

Aura stared at the hat for a moment, the whispers rising around her. Her brain moved wildly, jumping from one possibility to the next, but all she could think of was 'It is NOT going to happen again! No matter what I have to do, no harm will come to this school and my new friends!'

When Dumbledore cleared his throat, the whispering stopped and Aura came out of her trance like state. She reached for the hat and put it on, sitting on the little stool and feeling like a complete idiot.

'Hmmm….great knowledge, a thirst for it too….passion…bravery….enormous power and potential…..a sense of who you are….and yet you are scared too, of who you are to become …..of who you might become,' she heard the sorting hat say in her mind, 'You could do amazing things in Slytherin, my dear girl, wonderful, amazing things…..ahh…but I see that you don't want to be in the proud house….so I must put you in the only other that would fit, just as I did to a young Mr. Potter when he put me on six years ago….'

"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat yelled out with such ferocity that Aura almost fell backwards off of the stool. Luckily, she caught herself in time. She stood, taking the hat off and gently placing it back onto its stool. She turned around to see the entire Gryffindor table giving her a standing ovation. She beamed at them and went to sit down between Hermione and Harry and across from Ron.

Okay! So what'd you think! I've given you more teasers in this one and it moves along a little more! I hope you think so too! Please review! Thanks to Lizzy101 for betaing this for me! Love ya chica!

flyingthoroughbred