Author's Note: I in no way own any of the characters that are part of the HPverse. They belong to JK Rowling and even if they didn't they would belong to someone else because I am sooo not talented enough to create such characters. Just thought I would let you all know. Now, on with the story!

When the train arrived, everyone filed out and went to the coaches. They saw Hagrid and waved as he went about rounding up all the first years to ride across the lake. Everyone rode in one coach so they could all talk. When they got out of the coach, one person seemed to be missing from the throng of students pouring through the main doors of Hogwarts.

"Where's Malfoy?" Harry asked as they approached the steps. "I knew the train ride here was too quiet."

"He probably had to do Death Eater stuff," Ron said.

As they climbed the steps, they heard a cold, drawling voice.

"Damn," Ron said. "I hoped we wouldn't see him."

Malfoy turned at the sound of approaching footsteps and had his breath taken away. He didn't see Potter, Weasley, or Granger, but a beautiful girl with long red hair and eyes the color of finely cut emeralds. As she walked by she smiled at him and his heart was gone. She was the most gorgeous creature he had ever seen and he wanted her more than anything. Ariel had topped the steps to encounter a boy about Ron's age with white-blonde hair and blue-gray eyes that were both striking and disturbing. Those eyes felt as though they were trying to see into her very soul and could easily read what was hidden there. This thought was off-putting to say the least to Ariel and she quickly looked away. The gang walked into the Great Hall and got seated, introducing Ariel to several people. Draco walked up.

"Hello darling," he said. "I'm Draco Malfoy. And you are?"

"Ariel Buchanan," she replied, wanting him to leave and not look at her with that haunted wanting look in his eyes. "Charmed, I'm sure."

Draco reached down and brought her hand to his lips. "The pleasure is all mine," he said. He kept her hand lightly in his own until Ron walked up and stepped between them, breaking contact. Thank goodness, she thought. That boy is unnerving. Ron got very close to Draco.

"Step off," he muttered threateningly.

"What right do you have?" Draco asked similarly. "You have Granger, don't you?"

"She's my cousin, Malfoy," Ron said, his fists clenching at his sides. "Back off, she doesn't want anything to do with scum like you."

"How are you so sure?" Draco asked, his drawling voice beginning to grate on Ron's last nerve. "We've only just me. Have you become a mind reader now, Weasley?"

Before Ron could respond, Dumbledore motioned for everyone to be seated. The first years were sorted and seated at the appropriate tables. This was done in record time according to Ron and Harry. Dumbledore stood up and everyone got quiet.

"Before the Sorting Hat is put away to begin thinking of a new song to sing next year, we have one more new student. Ariel, darling, would you come up here?"

Ariel stood up and walked to the front of the hall, conscious of the fact that every eye in the room was fixated on her.

"Ariel has transferred here from Ireland, " Dumbledore said. " I hope whichever house she is sorted into sees that she is treated properly."

Ariel sat down and Dumbledore placed the Sorting Hat on her head. The hat was quiet for a moment and then yelled,

"Gryffindor!"

Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, Ginny, and Lee all stood up and cheered. As she walked back toward the table, she caught sight of a Gryffindor who was clapping along with everyone else. He's pretty cute, Ariel thought to herself. Yet even though she thought he was cute, she didn't know what had drawn her to this boy. He didn't stick out in any major way; other than he was extremely hot. Then he turned his head and looked into her eyes. God, she thought. He has the most spectacular eyes. Those eyes could look right through you. He was thinking the same thing. Ariel sat down beside Hermione and whispered,

"Who's that guy down there?" She looked toward Oliver and Hermione's eyes followed.

"Oh," Hermione said. "That's Oliver Wood. He's a seventh year and plays Quidditch."

"Really," Ariel murmured. "What position?"

"He's captain and keeper," Hermione responded. "Why do you ask?"

"He's pretty cute," Ariel replied.

"Yea," Hermione said. "Almost every girl in Gryffindor want him, but he doesn't seem interested. It's almost as if he doesn't realize that they like him."

Ariel nodded and made a non-committal sound. Ok, she thought. So he's the oblivious type. She could deal with that. She looked up to see Oliver looking at her. She maintained eye contact for about ten seconds, smiled, and then looked away. Ariel knew how to keep them coming back for more and was going to use every trick available to see that Mr. Wood did just that.

After the feast was over and Dumbledore dismissed them, the prefects led the way to the common rooms. Once inside, everyone sort of milled around and talked. Ariel was off with Harry and the gang when Oliver came up. His plan was to talk to Harry, Fred, and George, but said plan went quickly out the window.

"Hi everyone," Oliver said as he sat down.

Mysteriously enough, the only empty seat was between Ariel and Hermione. Oliver didn't really have a problem with that. He hadn't actually met Ariel, but he knew her name from when she was sorted. He also knew that she was extremely beautiful and had an accent that sent shockwaves directly through his body. He snapped out of his little world as everyone muttered hello.

"Oh, Oliver," Hermione said. "You haven't officially met Ariel. Ariel Buchanan, Oliver Wood. Oliver, Ariel."

They smiled at each other and said hi. Hermione cold have sworn she saw sparks fly and hoped she was right. She almost giggled with delight. She would get to play matchmaker this year and she had a very definite feeling that her venture would be a success.

Everyone kept talking until Percy came down and made everyone go to bed.