Disclaimer: The fantastic characters that you are about to read about in my story solely belong to the magnificent and almighty J.K. Rowling. I just like to take the characters and twist them to my wills. Oh, if I owned them the things I would do (smirks)! The only thing of value I do own is a Pentium one laptop which the monitor doesn't even work so I have to hook it up to another one. The one I hook it up to turns blue at random and I have to beat it with my fist to turn it back to normal... Pathetic, huh?

Well now enjoy the story and on with the show!

Raises Curtain

Chapter Two: The Sorting

"Now that the sorting of all the first years is finished I would like to announce that we have a new student and she is to be placed in her house next. She is a seventh and I would like you to treat her like you would any other student," Professor McGonagall announced as the last student stepped forward. Alexandria.

Alexandria waved at Harry as she stood in front of Professor Bracknell and the hat. Everyone looked to see Harry wave back timidly and soon Professor Bracknell's (new Transfiguration professor and deputy headmistress) voice rang out in the hall. "Rose, Alexandria."

She stepped forward eagerly and sat upon the stool as she picked it up and put it on her head. Ten minutes later the hat was still on her head and the students began to get restless. "Well, then it better be…. SLYTHERIN!"

She smiled and took the hat off and put it on the stool as the Slytherin table cheered for their new arrival and Harry sighed in sadness. He really didn't understand why she was in Slytherin but there was nothing he could do now.

"I'm Draco Malfoy and you are the most stunning creature I have ever laid my unworthy eyes on," Draco said from across the room as he kissed her hand delicately. She blushed and looked away shyly.

"Thank you… Draco. It's nice to meet you too. I'm Alexandria Rose, seventh year," she said as he let her hand fall to her side.

"A beautiful name for a beautiful woman," he said turning on the old Malfoy charm and it seemed to be working as her blush deepened.

"You're too kind," she said sheepishly. "Is your f-"
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," Professor McGonagall interrupted. "Before I get into rules and regulations, let the feast begin."

Alexandria blinked as all the tables groaned as they began to fill with food and drink in front of her eyes. At her old school they would be served by house elves and that was all. Alexandria decided she would like her new school very much. "So why did it take so long for the sorting hat to get you placed?" Draco asked as she put food on her plate.

"Um… I don't know," she lied looking away from him. She knew exactly why it had taken so long. Even if it hadn't told her she would have known from the beginning why. She wasn't stupid either. She knew that every evil wizard that came from Hogwarts, even Voldemort himself, had been from Slytherin. She decided to change the subject quickly before he asked more questions. "Uh… I don't know what to drink."

"Here," he said pouring her a goblet full of a brownish liquid she had never seen before. "They only have this on special feast nights. It's called Butterbeer. I swear you'll love it." He handed her the glass and she put it to her lips and drank warily. The second it touched her lips her entire body tingled and warmed. It was fantastic!

"This is sooooo good!" she exclaimed as she took a larger sip. Draco chuckled and took a bite of his salad.

"Hello, I'm Pansy Parkinson," she heard a high pitch annoyingly giggly voice say across from her. She turned to see a pale girl with short black hair and a cold glare as she held out her hand. She took it and shook it lightly before pulling away quickly.

"Alexandria Rose," she said giving her a look that said, 'What the hell is your problem?'

"Charmed… I'm sure," Pansy replied coldly as she continued to glare at her.

"Is there something you wanted?" Alexandria asked getting annoyed with her snotty glares.

"I'm Blaise Zabini," a male voice cut in. She turned to her left to see a very good-looking boy with a proud face holding out his hand to her. She took it and shook it gently. "It's very nice to meet you."

"Wow you guys sure are friendly," Alexandria muttered as she returned to her plate. During the rest of dinner she was introduced to many members of Slytherin house and they were very polite and a little arrogant to be honest. But, the men sure knew how to treat a lady, at least moat of them.

XXXXXXX

"I swear I thought she would have been in Ravenclaw or Gryffindor," Harry said shaking his head as he watched her talk to Malfoy and the other Slytherins.

"I'm not so sure," Hermione said. "She isn't very punctual if you ask me. Doesn't seem to have the… character."

"Hermione! That was one meeting! You don't even know her!" Harry immediately jumped to her defense, which earned him a raised brow from Hermione and even Ron.

"Ron? What do you think?" Hermione asked suddenly as she turned on him. He shook his head and raised his hands in surrender.

"Oh no! You're not pulling me into this argument, 'Mione. It's between you and Harry."

"Why do you care so much anyway?" Hermione asked raising her eyebrow and trying to read him again. Harry felt very warm all of a sudden at the inquiry.

"It's just odd ok? That's it, I swear. Bloody Hell, can't a guy say something with out getting chewed out?" Harry said taking a bite of treacle tart. "Hermione, look. I didn't mean-"

"I hope you all have enjoyed your dinner!" McGonagall interrupted and the hall quickly silenced. "Welcome or welcome back to another year at Hogwarts. You must follow all rules and regulations that will be told to you by the prefects and a few more. First years are not permitted to own their own brooms and the Forbidden Forest is forbidden. Also there is a list of banned products on the caretaker's door that must be followed. For all of you who do not know, it is time to announce the new Head Boy and Head Girl." Harry saw Hermione sit up a little straighter and smile. "This year we have a new way of selecting them. If all 7th year students could come to the front please."

Hermione, Ron, and himself stood up with the rest of the seventh years and marched to the front. Harry noticed when Alexandria reached the front, McGonagall pinned a green and silver badge to her chest and smiled at the rest of the students. She flicked her wand and the sorting hat and the stool reappeared. The hall immediately broke out into whispers.

"Now," Professor McGonagall said regaining the control of the atmosphere. "Each person will place the sorting hat on their head and the hat will decide who will be the best Head Boy and Head Girl. Every one will get their chance, too. Now our first student will be Hermione Granger."

Hermione almost ran to the seat and then quickly rammed the hat on her head. After a few minutes she pulled off the hat and smiled and handed it to the next person. After everyone had gone the hat had a discussion with McGonagall and she stood up looking slightly confused.

"The hat has made a final decision. Our Head Boy, from Gryffindor is Harry Potter." Harry blushed as everyone in the hall cheered except most of the Slytherin but Harry saw Alexandria was. "And our Head Girl, from… Slytherin is Alexandria Rose. " At first there was no applause for about two seconds as people gasped and gaped or tried to understand what they had just heard. Hermione wasn't Head Girl, instead some new girl? Then the cheering began and Harry saw Hermione's eyes fill with tears and her bottom lip quiver as she clapped unenthusiastically.

"Please come forward and except your badges," McGonagall said handing out two badges she had transformed to fit their colors. Harry took his and pinned it to his chest and Alexandria mimicked the gesture after she took of her prefect badge. "I hope you enjoyed the feast. First years follow your prefects and good night. Head's follow me please."

"Hermione!" Harry yelled as he saw one of his best friends run away from the hall crying with her face in her hands. She pushed past everyone and continued running until Harry couldn't see her anymore.

"I'll go find her," Ron said to Harry. "Congratulations and good night, mate."

"'Night." Harry waved as Ron left his side and McGonagall stood before Alexandria and himself.

"Please follow me and we will discuss some things one the way," she said and turned on her heel. They followed her as she began to go into lecture mode. "Now first of all congratulations on receiving your Head Boy and Head Girl positions. Second, as thus you will have to set a good example for the entire student body and uphold the respect that the school receives.

"I expect that from you, otherwise you wouldn't have been selected for the positions. Now here are some papers you need to read and this is the portrait to you common room," she said after she handed them a scroll of parchments each and gestured to a picture. It was a picture of a lovesick couple sitting under a willow tree. A Slytherin girl and a Gryffindor boy sat smiling at each other. They chose to ignore the fact that the two people in the portrait resembled them somewhat.

"The password is phantom and only you and the staff can access the door unless you both consent to them entering. Enjoy your new accommodations and good luck for tomorrow." Professor McGonagall smiled, turned on her heel and walked away briskly.

"She seems nice enough," Alexandria said looking over at Harry. He shrugged and turned to the portrait hole.

"Phantom," they chimed together. Harry waited for her to enter and she blushed as she walked past him. Harry walked un after her and accidentally bumped into her since she had frozen to the spot with her mouth gaping. Harry looked around and understood why she had stopped.

The room was beautiful and modeled mainly in midnight blue and the couches, chairs, curtains, and any other cloth material matched it. The fabric also had twinkling stars and moving shooting ones. There were two big windows-doors on the left of the fireplace that seemed to connect to a stone balcony. There was a huge fireplace right in front of the couches in chairs that crackled and burned brightly. Above the fireplace was a picture of Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin along with gold nameplates.

"Hello!" Godric boomed to the new arrivals. Salazar glared over at the other man and looked down at the students.

"Hello. Isn't this a surprise? The Great Harry Potter and… your name?" Salazar asked moodily.

"Alexandria Rose," she said casually to the portrait addressing her. "So do y'all talk to us and give us advice?"

"Something like that my dear," Godric said smiling. "Well usually be here if you need us but if were not then just say are names and we'll appear."

"Yes since Dumbledore put that spell on us. I don't think it's quite fair actually." Salazar mumbled walking out of his portrait.

"You come back here!" Godric commanded but then followed him in pursuit. Alexandria burst out laughing and Harry chuckled at what they would have to put up with this year. He looked over to see her giving him the look he saw her give Malfoy.

"Do you like Malfoy?" he blurted out accidentally.

She blinked and turned to him. "You mean Draco?" He nodded. "He seems like a pretty nice guy and I think we're already friends." He sighed and ran a hand through is already wild hair.

"Alexandria, he's not exactly the best person to become chummy with if you catch my drift," he said wisely and a bit pointedly.

"I know. He told me you two don't exactly see eye to eye-" she began a little coldly.

"Eye to eye? We don't see face to face really." Harry said bluntly.

"Well maybe you should try harder. He's not that bad if you look a little deeper," she said icily.

At this Harry started laughing at this comment. "Malfoy and I will never get along, ever. We've hated each other since the very day we met and that's not going to change."

"Maybe if you could see beyond the past-"

"Did he tell you abut his past?" he asked standing up as his volume increased a few notches. "Did he mention anything about his sixth year to you? Did he tell you about how he tried to kill someone under the orders of Voldemort?" She didn't flinch. "Did he tell you that he was a Death Eater?" Harry said as venom drenched his words.

She went rigid and jumped up as her eyes iced over completely turning completely blue with a hint of red. Her eyes began to shine with tears as she spoke and Harry could tell he had hit a nerve. "People can't always control what they do, Harry! Maybe he didn't want to do it in the first place but Voldemort had threatened to kill people he loved or something! He might have never wanted it to happen but of course you'd never ask! You'd rather make him out to be the villain and jump to conclusions!" she screamed harshly at him.

She turned and walked up the stairs to the door that said Head Girl, stomping the whole way. She turned around and looked at Harry with a full front glare and said crisply, "Good-night." She threw open the door, walked in, and slammed it so hard that the paintings shook and cried out in surprise.

Harry sunk back on the couch and covered his face in his hands as he said, "Damn."

(A/N) Hello! Thanks for reading the second chapter! Sorry it took so long to update but I don't have the chapters pre-written like the rest of my stories. To all of you wonderful lovely readers out there, thanks for continuing to read this story! I hope you liked this chapter and keep reading! Please read and review! Here are random clips from the next chapter:

"I hate her," Hermione said with tears in her eyes. Harry and Ron turned sharply to look at her with surprise evident in there eyes. They had suspected her to be upset, angry even, but not act like this.

"I know you don't like her for… you know, but you don't hate her," Harry said sensibly.

"We'll see about that Harry," she said darkly starring daggers at Alexandria from across the room.

Well there you go! The next chapter is going to be very…interesting. Help me please! Thanks to everyone who reads and reviews!

Quinn LeAnne