Disclaimer: Bryn's mine, but most of the other stuff in this belongs to J.K. Rowling.

Chapter 3 – Hogwarts : A week later, Ambryn had packed all she'd need for school into a trunk, leaving the rest where it was. She just didn't feel like straightening up before she left. Anxiety had returned, and she couldn't stop worrying. Picking up her trunk and the birdcage that held her owl Ash, so named for the soft gray of her feathers, Bryn walked out of the apartment, locking the door behind her. She glanced at her ticket. She needed to be at King's Cross train station by 11 o'clock to catch the Hogwarts Express from platform Nine and Three Quarters. According to the book Hogwarts, A History, the platform was reached by walking straight through the barrier between platforms nine and ten. That was certainly an odd way to get onto a platform in her opinion, but then, flying buses such as those Salem Academy had weren't normal forms of transportation either, so she could hardly talk.

Bryn reached the station and boarded the train with only one mishap. While heading to her platform, a guy in his 20s slammed right into her. Before he apologized and ran off, she saw that he wore a Taking Back Sunday shirt and had a name tag that said Joe. You'd better be more careful, Joe, she thought.

Once she got on the train, she pulled out her Walkman, put in her Nightwish CD, and turned the volume all the way up. The music was so loud that she didn't notice the boy at the door until he walked in and yanked her headphones off. She glared at him. "What?" she asked irritably. He glared right back. "I wanted to know if I could sit here, but if you're going to be rude, then forget it." Bryn sighed. "Sorry. I was just surprised. Go ahead and sit down." He took a seat across from her and stared out the window, obviously trying to pretend she wasn't there. She decided to use his standoffish behavior to study him. He was about her age, with messy black hair. He wore glasses and she'd noticed when he glared at her that his eyes were green. He was fairly good-looking, but that didn't really affect her. She also caught something else. This boy wasn't happy, not at all. She figured life had hit him pretty hard recently. Join the club, she thought bitterly.

The somewhat awkward silence continued for a while, as the train rumbled along, until Bryn could take it no longer. "So, I'm Ambryn Sayre. What's your name?" He stared blankly at her for a second, as though her words hadn't registered. Finally he muttered, "Nice to meet you. I'm Harry Potter."

Bryn was shocked. Harry Potter? It was true, though; now that he was facing her, she could see his scar. Still, why was he all alone? Surely such a famous person had more friends than he needed. She said, "How come you're all alone?" He shrugged. "My two best friends are both prefects. They have to ride in a special compartment." She nodded, thinking sadly, At least your friends still go to the same school as you do. "I know how you feel. I had to transfer from Salem Academy in the U.S. and my friends are still there. Well, Sarai is, anyway. Ailin is Chinese, and her parents sent her to Kao-liang Institute over in China, so all three of us are kinda scattered." He gaped at her. "You're American? What year are you in?" She grinned. "Yeah, I'm American, and I'm a sixth year. What about you? Oh, and which House are you in? I was in Jade Hall back home, so I think I'll be a Gryffindor. They're a lot alike, you know." Bryn was babbling a little, but she was trying to keep the conversation going. She was starting to like Harry Potter. "Sixth," he told her in response to her question. "I'm a Gryffindor."

Harry wasn't sure why he was being so cheery and talkative. He had been unable to even pretend he was happy around Ron and Hermione, yet already this stranger had put him at ease. She reminded him of someone, but he couldn't think who.

Harry and Bryn had been idly talking for about an hour about school, friends, and Quidditch (Bryn had played Chaser in Salem) when a girl with bushy brown hair came in. Harry introduced the girl as his friend Hermione Granger. Hermione looked Bryn over, and it was obvious she disapproved. Bryn was used to that kind of reaction; she and her friends had often gotten such looks before. Soon Granger left, presumably to return to the prefects' compartment or maybe to patrol the corridors, and Bryn and Harry were alone again.

They continued to talk, and passed the rest of the trip that way. Once they were interrupted by Harry's friend Ron Weasley, but he merely jumped into their discussion of the Quidditch World Cup Britain had hosted two years earlier (Ailin's Aunt Xiaojun had taken Ailin, Sarai, and Bryn). All too soon – in Bryn's opinion, anyway – they reached Hogwarts, where Bryn went to the boats that took first years to the castle, where the gamekeeper, Hagrid, told her to join them because like the first years, she needed to be Sorted.

When they reached the castle, they were met by Professor McGonagall, the one who had sent Bryn's letter. She explained about the Sorting, and then took Bryn aside. "You'll be Sorted last, Sayre. Oh, and your Necromancy classes will take place in the East Tower at 7:00 in the evening on Saturdays with Professor Morta." Bryn nodded, and McGonagall swept away, leading the students out into the Great Hall.

Bryn couldn't believe all the eyes on them, but especially her. Of course, she was patently not a first year, but did they really need to stare so? Soon, however, they were all looking at the frayed black hat that sat on a stool near the teachers' table. Bryn was confused, and was completely shocked when the hat broke into song.

So once again I'm here to say

What House to place you in today

A choice best for you I make

To prepare you for the path you'll someday take

If your ambitions reach the stars

A Slytherin you surely are

If you are extremely smart

Then in Ravenclaw will be your heart

If you are loyal and true

In Hufflepuff will I place you

And if you are brave and strong

Gryffindor's where you will belong

So quickly come and try me on

And I assure you that before the dawn

You'll have a House to call your own

And the seeds of your future shall be sown!

Once the Hat was done, McGonagall began to call students forward. Bryn barely noticed the names through her sudden anxiety. She looked around the Hall and saw Harry sitting with his other friends. He gave her an encouraging smile and she was slightly comforted. Then, all at once, the last first year had been called and McGonagall called her name. She lifted her chin and walked forward, ignoring the whispers as she sat on the stool. Then the Hat slipped over her ears and she heard a soft voice in her ear. Ah, an interesting case. A bright mind for sure, and a loyal heart. You would like to make something of yourself, I see. And courage, oh my. You're a risk taker, aren't you? A puzzle, but I think – yes, that will be best... "GRYFFINDOR!"

The table on the far left exploded with applause, and Bryn took off the Hat, gave it to McGonagall, and walked over there, where she sat across from Harry. He was grinning at her, and she gave him a crooked smile in return.

As the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, gave a short welcome and the plates filled with food, Bryn's gaze traveled along the teachers. She caught the eye of one, a sallow, hook-nosed man, who glared at her with such intense dislike that she had to look away. Soon she was distracted, first by her neighbors, who were very curious about why she'd transferred, but she gave no details. Then Dumbledore spoke again, and she paid close attention to his start-of-term notices, but in the back of her mind, she wondered why that teacher hated her so much.

Professor Severus Snape was a very aggravated man. He had been denied the Defense Against the Dark Arts post again, and just when he thought things could get no worse, this girl, Sayre, shows up. It was blatantly obvious who her father was; even if she hadn't looked like him, she had the same arrogance. As if Potter wasn't bad enough.

Dumbledore was finishing up now; there was only one thing left to do. "And, we are all pleased to welcome our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor – "

A/N: Have you figured out who Bryn's dad is yet? Do you know who she ran into at the bookstore? And most important of all, who is the new DADA teacher? Well, that's up to you. In your review, vote for Lupin or Tonks (cause I can't decide; they both rock!) Oh, sorry about the sucky Sorting Hat song. I can write poetry, but I don't rhyme. I'm not so good at it.