WELCOME TO HOGWARTS

At Hogsmeade, the students took carriages that took them to Hogwarts. However, Hagrid led the new students towards some tiny boats at a lake. She jumped into a boat with two other girls and a boy. She sat next to a wavy hair girl.

- I'm Hermione Granger

- I'm Alexa Black

- Pleasure - she looked nice, and by the way, she was the first person that didn't look at her like a freak after saying her name. That kept her positive. She would be able to make friends after all.

As the boats started moving, everyone got so excited, but they still remained silent. From the boats they could see the dark trees of the forest that surrounded them. A glint of silver flickered through the dark trees, like a dream.

- You there! Don't be trailing your fingers in the water. You might find you don't get them all back - Hagrid was speaking to Draco. He looked at the big man darkly and started whispering with his new best friends, Crabbe and Goyle.

- God, what's wrong with him? - Alex thought that being away from home would help Draco to behave like he used to around her, but he was just acting like a little prick.

- Do you know him? - Hermione asked.

- I do…unfortunately…

Before they could keep talking, a magnificent Castle showed right in front of them. It was bigger than she had imagined. There were thousands of lights all over the place. It felt like a dream…like magic.

They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of under-ground harbour, where they clambered out onto the rocks. From there, Hagrid guided them into the castle, where they waited in the entrance hall, a grand entryway lit with flaming torches. There was Professor McGonagall, a rather-severe looking witch in an emerald cloak. She lifted her chin and looked at all the new students in front of her.

- Welcome to Hogwarts. In a moment you will pass through these doors and join your classmates, but before you can take your seats, you must be sorted into your Houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. While here, your House is, in many ways, your family. Your triumphs will earn your House points, while any rule-breaking will lose points. At the end of the year, the House with the most is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each of you…

Just then, a rather large toad springed forth croaking.

- TREVOR! - Neville jumped right in front of professor McGonagall to catch his toad, which was at the hem of professor McGonagall's robes. When he looked up and noticed, he started to walk back slowly.

- …will be a credit to whichever House becomes yours. - she continued her explanation - The Sorting Ceremony will begin momentarily.

With one final glance at Neville, she turned around and disappeared behind the big door that led to the Great Hall, where there was a brief clamour of sound from the students already waiting there.

- It's true then, what they were saying on the train - Draco pushed through the crowd, shadowed by his new goonies, Crabbe and Goyle. - Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts.

Harry Potter. Alex knew that name. He was pretty famous around the magic world. "The boy who survived". That's how they called him. During the first wizarding war, "he who must not be named" tried to kill him, and he survived. In exchange, he got a mark on the shape of a thunder right in his forehead.

- This is Crabbe and Goyle. And my name's Malfoy. Draco Malfoy. - Draco seemed proud, like he was some kind of leader and was recruiting Potter to his dumb pricks club. After hearing his name, a red headed boy standing next to Harry coughed, masking a snigger. Alex saw Draco's eyes narrow, and she knew what that meant. - Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask yours. Red hair, freckles, and a hand-me-down robe…You must be a Weasley.

Seeing the face of the red headed boy, Draco had completely guessed. Sometimes, Lucius and his friends talked about a Weasley who worked at the ministry. They always addressed him in a mean way. They clearly didn't like him, and Draco had learned from that. Alex, on the other hand, didn't care. Remus had taught her that no matter the origin, the money, or the power, everyone was equal, and everyone deserved respect. Draco looked at Harry Potter before he spoke again.

- You'll soon find out some wizarding families are better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there. - he extended his hand towards Potter.

"Just like his father…what the hell is wrong with him?". Alex didn't quite get why Draco was behaving like that. Yes, when he was around his family, he always was like that. But when it was only Alex and him, he was a completely different person. He treated her well, he was even kind. She hoped that at Hogwarts he would be just like that, but she was clearly wrong… Potter's gaze remained level when he spoke:

- I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself, thanks. - Draco's eyes glittered with rage, just like his father. Finally, he dropped his hand and turned away.

- Well, your friend is rather disagreeable, isn't he? - Hermione whispered to Alex.

- He totally is… - Alex looked at him with disappointment, and Draco caught her eyes. He knew she was mad at him, and he was starting to understand why.

Just after all that, professor McGonagall returned.

- We are ready for you. Follow me.

And just like that the big doors were wide open, and the new students were able to see the great hall for the first time. It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in mid-air over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting…The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight…When Alex looked up, she saw a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars…It was hard to believe there was a ceiling there at all, and that the Great Hall didn't simply open on to heaven.

- It's not real, the ceiling. - Hermione, who was walking right next to Alex, noticed her surprised face - It's only bewitched to look like the night sky. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History.

- Oh, I remember that book! My uncle used to read it to me sometimes, whenever I asked. It's still impressive, isn't it? - Alex looked at Hermione smiling widely, and she returned the look. "I think I got myself a new friend".

When they reached the end of the hall, they saw a wizard's hat, patched and frayed, sitting on a stool. Professor McGonagall stopped in front of it, looked at them, and said:

- Will you wait along here, please? Now, before we begin, Professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words.

An old man who was sitting right in the middle of the long table surrounded by the teachers, stood up. He was tall and thin, and had a long white beard.

- I hear he's a genius - Hermione shared with Alex.

- I have a few starts of term notices I wish to announce. The first years please note that the dark forest is strictly forbidden to all students. Also, our caretaker, Mister Filch has asked me to remind you that the 3rd floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a most painful death. Thank you.

Alex and Hermione shared a concerned look. Die a most painful death? Maybe too much for eleven years old…The rest of the new students started whispering at the words that Professor Dumbledore had spoken. Right away, professor McGonagall started talking again.

- When I call your name, you will come forth, I shall place the sorting hat on your head, and you will be sorted into your houses. - it was simple. Apparently, that old hat was going to tell them what their house was. Alex wondered how it would do it, but she was too excited - Hermione Granger.

- Good luck, Hermione! - Alex whispered to her new friend.

- Oh, no. Okay, relax - she was talking to herself as she went up the little stairs towards the stool and the hat.

- Mental that one, I'm telling you - the Weasley boy told Potter as he nodded in agreement. Alex heard and quickly turned around to shut them up with a mean look. If they thought Draco was mean, they would be surprised with Alex if they crossed her.

As Hermione sat on the stool, professor McGonagall placed the hat on her head. Suddenly, it started talking.

- Ah, right then…mmm…right. Okay. Gryffindor! - the whole Gryffindor table started cheering and applauding. Hermione seemed happy.

- Draco Malfoy. - McGonagall called Draco. He sauntered up proudly towards the stool. Before the hat could barely touch his head, suddenly it shouted:

- SLYTHERIN! - "there he goes, to make daddy proud…". Alex knew that being in Slytherin meant a lot to Draco. She could see on his face how all of his fears faded away. But what about her now?

- There isn't a witch or wizard who went bad who wasn't in Slytherin. - the Weasley boy spoke again.

"Oh, no, please, that's not true…isn't it?". All of her doubts about Hogwarts and the four houses came back to her as McGonagall kept calling new students. "Just because an apple is rotten, it doesn't mean that the whole tree is". She kept repeating that to herself. If she was meant to be a Slytherin, she would be proud of it. "It's just some preconceptions, he is wrong". When she came back from her thoughts, she saw that the Weasley boy was already sitting at the Gryffindor table, next to other redheads. More Weasleys, probably.

- Harry Potter - as McGonagall said his name, everything went silent. He walked up and sat down on the stool. The Sorting Hat was placed in his head.

- Hmm…difficult, very difficult. Plenty of courage I see, not a bad mind, either. There's talent, oh yes, and a thirst to prove yourself. But where to put you? - Harry started to whisper something, and the hat spoke again - Not Slytherin, eh? Are you sure? You could be great, you know. It's all here in your head. And Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness! There's no doubt about that. No? Well, if you're sure…better be…GRYFFINDOR!

The great hall was filled with cheers. The Gryffindors were cheering and applauding, and Alex heard two of the redheads, who seemed to be twins, "WE GOT POTTER! WE GOT POTTER!".

- Alexa Black - silence again. As she walked towards the stool, she started hearing whispers. She couldn't know what they were saying, but when she turned around to sit down, she saw it. Those stares. The same ones that Crabbe, Goyle and Neville had given her. She turned to look at professor McGonagall, who was right beside her. She gave her a soft smile and whispered "it's okay, don't worry about it". That calmed her down. The Sorting hat was placed on her head

- A Black…It's been a long time since I saw someone from the Black family. Let's see…you're clever, I can tell. You have a lot of determination, as well. There's a lot in there, but I think it's pretty clear… - this was it. The moment of truth. Whatever the choice was, she would keep an open mind, no preconceptions, no matter what others thought. - …Slytherin!

It was silent for a couple seconds, but then, the Slytherin table started cheering and clapping. Alex looked around her. Some people kept that look on their faces. Others had changed. Hermione smiled at her widely. "I guess we're still friends". She smiled back at her as she made her way to the Slytherin table. Draco was smiling at her too. He made her a signal to sit right next to him. And she did. He had behaved like an asshole, but he was her family, and for now, her only friend at that table.