Elliot was fuming and the girl was still glaring at him. Leaves rustled nearby and she looked up at the trees. A large figure came from the shadows, carrying a lantern. All the children turned to see who it was. The man stepped out and stood over the students, shadowing them with his enormous coat on.

"Hello, first years. Welcome to Hogwarts. My name is Hagrid. I am the gamekeeper here and I teach Care of Magical Creatures." His voice was deep and cheerful. A bushy beard covered his mouth and shook as he talked.

"Hagrid!" Damien called from the crowd. Hagrid smiled at him and waved.

"Come children. Let's head to the boats. Don't worry about your belongings. They'll be taken care of." The kids followed Hagrid closely through the trees. As they walked, a castle came into view. Numerous towers loomed over the school and overlooked the grass. Alex stared in wonder as he looked at his home for the next ten months. A few other kids noticed it and were whispering to each other. Alex didn't notice where he was going and stopped just in time before he was about to step into the lake. He exhaled sharply when he saw his toes an inch away from touching the water. The surface of the lake was shimmering in the moonlight and caught the reflection of the caslte. Alex looked in and smiled at himself.

Everyone piled into the boats. Alex, William and Damien got into one and Jack followed them. The boat rocked as he stepped in. The others stifled back their laughter. When everyone was in a boat, the lanterns on each boat flickered on. The boats shifted off the banks and headed to the castle. Alex dipped his hand into the water and felt the cool rush of the waves. He closed his eyes and relaxed. His fingers felt something in the water. He opened his eyes and looked over the edge of the boat. A mermaid had swam up and held his hand. She stuck her head out of the water and said something, but Alex couldn't understand what she said. The other kids had turned around to see what the noise was. They stared at her as she held Alex's hand and watched to see what would happen next. The mermaid dove into the water and came back up with something in her hand. Everyone in the boat leaned forward to see what it was. She placed it in Alex's hand and closed his fingers over it. She smiled at him and retreated back into the water. Alex was staring at his closed hand. He felt the object in his palm and opened his fingers, one by one. In his hand was a gold seashell. It was pointed and had swirls at the end of the tip. There was an opening at the top of the swirl and three more holes in a line along the side of the seashell. Alex put it in his robes as a keepsake.

"Always getting the girls," William said.

Alex shrugged. "What can I say?" he said, inoccently smiling.

The boats glided along the water and landed at the other side of the lake in a matter of minutes. Everyone climbed out and followed Hagrid to the entrance of the school. The wooden double doors stood high and had the school motto written over the frame. Alex walked with his friends through the doors and arrived in a large with a grand marble staircase ahead of them. Four hour-glasses stood against the wall on the right. Each of them was a different color. Green, red, blue and yellow. At the foot of the stairs, there stood a tall, black-haired woman in emerald robes. Hagrid led the group to the stairs.

"Here they are, professor. All yours," Hagrid said to her.

"Thank you, Hagrid," she said. "Welcome to Hogwarts," she said to the children, "I am Professor McGonagall. The Great Banquet will start shortly, but before that, you must sorted into your houses by the Sorting Hat. Follow me." She led the children through th hallway to the Great Hall. "There are four houses," she continued, "Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Gryffindor. Each house has a professor as their Head of House. I am the Head of House for Gryffindor. Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher, is the Head of Ravenclaw. Professor Snape, who teaches Potions, is the Head of Slytherin and Professor Sprout, the Herbology teacher, is the Head of Hufflepuff. Now, when you get to the Great Hall, please form a line in front of the Sorting Hat. I will call your name out and you will come and sit on the stool. I will put the Sorting Hat on your head and it will decide which house you will be in. When you hear the house you are in, sit down at your house table and wait for everyone to be sorted. When everyone has been sorted, the feast will begin. As a member of each house, you must behave and earn points for your house. Points are given when a student has been good like answering a question correctly and points can be deducted if a student has been bad like breaking a school rule. Professors will decide how points are given and taken so be good and don't do anything to upset the teacher."

Professor McGonagall finished explaining everything and stopped in front of another set of double-doors. She opened the doors and stepped into the Great Hall. Candles floated in the air, illuminating the walls. The ceiling was a starry night with the moon hanging high in the sky. A long table was at the front of the room. All the teachers were stiing in the row with a long-bearded, white-haired wizard in the middle. The children proceeded through the doors and looked around nervously. The crowd roared in applause as the new-comers walked down the aisle to the Sorting Hat, which was sitting on the three-legged stool. The pointed hat was black and old. It was patched up and stitched together in a number of places. Suddenly, one of the stitches opened and the hat began to sing.

Oh, welcome to Hogwarts, the school that ticks

New students, don't be frightened by me

Step up, step up, there are no tricks

Just stand and listen to the old bat

She'll call the names proudly

Just sit on the stool and think

And I'll shout your house loudly

Whether you're brave and loyal, smart and witty

Friendly and wild, or pure and cunning

I'll decide your destined place

Each house is certainly quite stunning

So what are you waiting for?

Come and you will see

Lion, raven, snake or badger

What animal will you be?

The crowd stood up and thunderous applause filled the room. After a minute, it died down and Professor Mcgonagall unrolled a sheet of parchment.

"Rachel Abbot," she said aloud.

A black-haired girl with dark brown eyes walked up slowly and sat in the stool. Professor McGonagall put the hat on her.

"A friendly Hufflepuff, this one," Rachel smiled and walked to the Hufflepuff table.

"Agatha Berch," Professor McGonagall called.

A red-headed girl with a ponytail walked up and sat in the stool. She held on to the edge of the chair tightly, making her knuckles turn white. Her eyes were closed and her teeth were clenched. The hat pondered for a moment.

"Hmm, interesting," it said, "I think you'll do nicely in... GRYFFINDOR!"

The Gryffindor table applauded. Agatha opened her eyes and smiled as she made her way to a seat. Professor McGonagall continued with the list.

"Christopher Douglas." A brunette boy with hazel eyes came up and put on the hat.

"Very gifted, this one. Ravenclaw for sure," the hat proclaimed. The boy made his way to the Ravenclaw table, who were cheering.

"Artemis Egeus," Professor McGonagall read aloud. The girl who had the raven sat at the stool. The candlelight made her dark brown eyes gleam and gold sparkles were seen inside her irises.

"Another great mind. So creative and insightful. ANOTHER RAVENCLAW," it shouted. she took the hat off and sat next to Chris. Another girl was called, Jennifer Enman, and was placed in Hufflepuff.

"Persephone Flanigan."

A blonde-haired girl with silver-green eyes walked up.

"Ravenclaw!"

Next, Jack was called up. He sat in the stool and set the hat on his head.

"Ah, a brave and determined Gryffindor," the hat mused.

"Raymond Hunter."

"Hufflepuff!"

"Walter Knight."

"Definitely a Slytherin by heart," the hat said, when he put it on.

"Alexander Lancastler."

Alex took a deep breath and walked to the stool. The hat was placed on his head and Alex waited.

"What a mind this one has. Intelligent and witty and yet, somehow he is pure Gryffindor. Hmm, he would do very well in Ravenclaw, but, I think it would be better if he was Gryffindor." Alex smiled and walked to the Gryffindor table. He sat beside Agatha and watched the rest of the students get sorted.

"Elliot McDren."

Elliot stepped up. He put the hat on.

"Well, well, well. This is a difficult one." The hat paused for a moment. "I have come to the conclusion of...Gryffindor."

"Yes!" Elliot said, walking to the table and sitting across from Alex.

"Ava Nichols." Alex's jaw dropped and his heart skipped a beat. He couldn't believe it was her. Those beautiful purple eyes. He couldn't forget them. Ava sat on the stool and brushed her dark-brown hair behind her ear before putting the hat on.

"Yes, wonderful. Great inner strength. She is worthy to be...Gryffindor!" it said. Ava walked by Alex and brushed by his shoulder. She turned and winked at him, stting at the table.

A girl named Ziona Ringlet was placed in Slytherin and an extremely tall boy named Timothy Smith was placed in Gryffindor. Tim came and sat next to Elliot. Then, William was called up and Alex watched intently as the hat was put on.

"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat yelled. Alex clapped loudly along with the rest of the Gryffindor table. William sat down next to Alex and gave high-five. The only people left were Damien and another girl who was wearing a cloak over her head.

"Damien Wolfe," Professor McGonagall called.

He stepped up and put the hat on.

"Yes," the hat began, "very interesting boy here." A long pause followed. "Gryffindor!"

Damien came and sat down across from William and they all waited for the last person to be sorted.

"Lillia Wolfe."

The hooded girl stood there and removed her cloak, revealing icy blue hair and silver eyes. Around her forehead, a crescent moon charm was shining in the light.

"Please come up and," Professor McGonagall started to say. The Sorting Hat interrupted her in mid-sentence.

"That won't be necessary, professor." The hat turned and looked at Lillia. Lillia nodded and headed to the Slytherin table. Murmurs and confused whispers went through the tables.

"What happened?" a Ravenclaw boy said.

"Was she sorted into Slytherin?" a Hufflepuff girl asked.

"Quiet, please." The wizard sitting in the middle of the head table had stood up. " Welcome to Hogwarts, students, old and new. I am the Headmaster, Professor Dumbledore. Today, we start a new school year and hope for another exciting term, here at Hogwarts. Please enjoy yourself as we begin the feast." He waved his arms and the plates on the tables filled with food. The goblets filled with drinks and everyone began filling their mouths with as much food as they could. The sound of chatter and forks and knives was heard eveywhere. Alex picked out some chicken and mashed potatoes and carrots and poured himself a glass of pumpkin juice. He ate and ate until he was so full, he could burst. He looked over at William.

"This is great," he said, taking a sip from his goblet.

"Yeah, I know," William replied, picking some roast beef out of his teeth.

The plates of food disappeared and were replaced by platters of cake and cookies and pastries and candy.

"I don't know if I can eat anymore," Alex said. He reached for a cookie and ate it. "Maybe just one more," he said to himself. After about five more cookies, Alex sat back and wiped his mouth with a napkin. "Okay, now I can't eat anymore," he said to William. They laughed and put their goblets together. All the new Gryffindors raised theirs cups, as well. "Here's to new friends," he said, clanging his goblet with everyone. Everyone nodded and drank their pumpkin juice.

Dumbledore stood up again and eveyone stopped talking to listen to what he was going to say.

"I hope you all had a wonderful time at the banquet, but it is time for us to go to bed. Prefects, please lead the first years to the dormitories and tell them the rules of the living quarters. Good night, everyone. Get lots of rest, for tomorrow, classes start promptly at eight."

A tall blonde-headed boy came to where Alex and the rest of the first years sat.

"Hello, I am Jeremy Colfer, your prefect. I am responsible for your safety as Gryffindors and you must listen to what I say," he explained. "Come with me and I will show you your bedrooms." Everyone followed Jeremy up the stairs and they arrive at more stairs. "Careful where you step, here. These staircases switch around during the day. He was right. One of the staircases above them swung from the left to the right, making some of the girls jump back. "Don't worry about it too much. You'll always find your way around." They crossed the moving staircases and came to a portrait of a large woman wearing a pink dress. Jeremy stood in front of the painting, facing the first years. "When you get to this spot, recite the password and The Fat Lady will let you into the Gryffindor common room. Do not, I repeat, do not forget the password." He turned around and faced the painting. "Dragon dust," he said and the painting swung open, revealing a circular doorway. They all filed into the common room. Everything in the room was red and gold. A fireplace stood at one end of the room, surrounded by comfy sofas and armchairs. Tables were spread out and stairs were on each side of the room. The stair were marked BOYS and GIRLS. "The stairs lead up to the bedrooms. Under no circumstances are boy allowed into the girls' dormitories and no girls are allowed into the boys' dormitories. Well, that's it. Good night." Jeremy headed off to the stairs marked BOYS and disappeared.

The group split into boys and girls and they all headed up the correct stairs. Alex and the guys headed up and found doors with their names on them. Alex was put together with William, Elliot, Jack and Damien. They entered the room. Five four-poster beds were set up along the walls, each with a plaque showing a name. At the foot of the beds, were everyone's belongings. On top of their luggage, their were tiny mints. Alex unwrapped one and ate it. He looked at the wrapper. Pearly Whites. Cleans your teeth within seconds. It tasted like toothpaste, but it was bearable. Alex looked in the mirror by his bed. His teeth were slick and clean. Everyone undressed and put on their pajamas. They all drifted to sleep as they said their good nights and snoring was the last sound Alex heard before he closed his eyes.