Potter's Legacy
Chapter 1 – Breaking the Mold

It was hard for her to return to the Dursleys after her first real taste of freedom. Scowling all the while, Remus escorted her back to the house, repeatedly beginning tirades about her uncle and cutting himself off halfway. By the time their train arrived in Surrey, his tongue was sore from repeatedly biting it to silence himself.

Vernon had spluttered slightly when the two had appeared on the front walk, but he'd jerked the door open angrily and walked away, allowing the pair to enter. Smiling at the young girl in reassurance, Remus led her up the stairs, ignoring Vernon Dursleys shouts of confusion and anger, and right into Dudley's second bedroom. He had helped her store all of her new things, jovially telling her stories about her parents all the while. When it had come time to leave, he had insisted he could see himself out, shutting her in the room with Hedwig for company.

Upon reaching the first floor, he was met by an angry, blustering walrus of a man. Smiling cheerfully, Remus calmly informed them that he had found an extra room for Miranda, and–

"Isn't it wonderful? You can finally use the cupboard under the stairs for storage instead of for wonderful little gems like Miranda."

The large, stupid man had looked as though he were about to argue, but when Remus pulled his wand out from his sleeve and began examining it, remarking on the craftsmanship, Dursley fell silent. Smiling brightly, Remus informed the man that he would be back within a week to check on Miranda.

Whistling all the while, he Apparated away.

He reappeared in Hogsmeade, directly behind The Three Broomsticks. The smile fell away from his face and his whistling stopped. Face hardened with determination, he spun on his heel, pulling his cloak from his pocket, and walked quickly up to Hogwarts as he swung the garment around his shoulders.

Dumbledore had a great deal of explaining to do.

♠♦♠

For her part, Miranda discovered that life at the Dursleys was easier than it had ever been. Three times a day, Aunt Petunia brought up a plate of food and left it outside the door, knocking once to alert her young charge. She was allowed to remain in her new room – despite Dudley's screams and howls, for some reason, the Dursleys refused to move her. Somehow, she suspected Professor Lupin's involvement, but she wasn't sure just what he had done.

She passed her days holed up in Dudley's second bedroom, reading from her new textbooks. She had always liked reading – it was a way to escape her life and venture into a new world – but these new books were utterly fascinating. Professor Lupin – who had asked her to call him Remus when they weren't in school – had warned her not to attempt any magic without him there to supervise and warned her about the restriction on underage magic – but he had also told her that it was perfectly within her rights to defend herself, regardless of age. With a solemn expression, the man had told her to use magic to defend herself if ever she was in danger.

Remus had returned the next week, and the week after, promising also to come to help her onto the train on September the 1st. Testing out her new owl, Miranda had sent Hedwig to Remus with a letter asking for a few new books, fiction and nonfiction, to read, along with a pouch full of money. When Remus had returned in the third week, it had been with half a dozen books for Miranda. Laughing all the while, he handed back nearly all of the money she had sent him, explaining that such a sum was enough to buy a small cottage.

Miranda had devoured her books, fascinated by Transfiguration, Charms, Defense and Potions, though she was a bit wary of Divination. She had pored through book after book on the History of Magic, determined to learn as much as she could about her new world. And finally, she read Quidditch through the Ages, staring in awe at the pictures of entire teams of witches and wizards soaring through the air.

Remus arrived at seven in the morning on September the first carrying a brand-new trunk which he and Hagrid had bought for her. Laughing at the young girl's excitement, he helped her pack as he told her tales of her parents' time in Hogwarts.

They had finished by eight o'clock, so Remus, having shrunken her trunk and tucked it into his pocket, brought Miranda to a nearby diner for breakfast. They ate slowly, talking more often than eating, and finally left at ten o'clock for King's Cross Station.

He helped her through the barrier with thirty minutes to spare, wishing her good luck and helping her stow her trunk. With a wink and a smile, he passed her Hedwig's cage and departed, whistling as he went.

Miranda watched him go with a slight smile before turning to a book she'd swiped from her trunk. With a contented sigh, she settled in to read about Grindelwald's epic battle with the headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore.

♠♦♠

"Er… excuse me."

Miranda looked up from her book to see a pudgy, round-faced boy staring nervously at her. "Yes?" she asked curiously.

"I… well… My name is Neville Longbottom," he said hesitantly, "and I've lost my toad, Trevor. Have you seen him?" the boy finished hopefully.

"No," Miranda replied, and the boy's face fell. "But…" She set aside her book, marking her page with a spare bit of parchment. "I'll help you look for him, if you like."

"Really?" Neville asked excitedly. "Thanks!"

The pair searched up and down the train, stopping every few compartments to knock and ask if anyone had seen Trevor. None had, but after about ten minutes of searching, a pair of red-headed twins named Fred and George joined the search.

They found Trevor stuck under the door to the girl's bathroom, his hind legs wiggling frantically as he tried to pull himself out. From the shrieks that were sounding inside, the group quickly realized that the bathroom was occupied, and that opening the door to set Trevor free was out of the question. After several minutes of tugging, George nudged Fred and the two first years' aside, drew his wand, and quickly incanted, "Accio!" as he pointed his wand at the toad.

The shrieks stopped as Trevor zoomed into George's hand, and the door opened to show a small girl with blonde pigtails standing in the bathroom, her lower lip quivering.

"Thank you," she said shyly, staring at the group.

"Not at all, miss!" Fred said jovially, tipping an imaginary hat. "I'm Fred Weasley," he continued, "this is George Weasley," he pointed at George, "Neville Longbottom," Neville waved nervously, "and Miranda Potter. And you are?"

"Ha – Hannah Abbott," the girl said nervously, and Fred and George each took one of her hands, shaking them enthusiastically.

"A pleasure, a pleasure!" George exclaimed, and Hannah's lip stopped quivering. "Now, Neville, do you think you can keep control of that–?"

But Neville wasn't listening, and George's voice trailed off as he stared at the younger boy. Rather than paying attention to George, Neville was clutching Trevor in shaking hands, staring down the train's aisle. Quickly, Miranda turned to follow his gaze and saw a blond-haired boy speaking angrily to a frightened girl with a pair of boulder-sized boys to either side of him. She glanced back up at Fred and George, who both looked furious, and stepped quickly out of the way as the twins strode forward, drawing their wands. But no sooner had they begun to move than the blond boy shoved the girl, his two lackeys chuckling as he did so, and Miranda darted around the twins, running down the aisle as the boy's words increased in volume.

"Did you think I didn't see them?" he asked, his voice high. "Did you think nobody would notice your filthy Muggle parents? You don't belong here!" the boy shrieked, and he reached for his wand, pointing it at the girl.

Miranda jumped in between them as compartment doors began to open and immediately knelt at the other girl's side. Ignoring the boy behind her, she held out a hand and helped the girl up. "Hi," she said quietly, "I'm Miranda Potter. What's your name?"

"Hermione Granger," the bushy-haired girl replied nervously. "Are you really? I've read all about you–"

"We were having a conversation here," the boy cut in swiftly. "Do you mind?"

"You were not," Miranda replied calmly, glancing over at him. "You pushed her. That's not a conversation."

A murmur sounded through the gathering crowd as the boy stared at the pair. "Do you know who I am?" he asked finally, his voice getting higher at the end.

"I don't care," Miranda replied dismissively. She glanced at the boy curiously out of the corner of her eye. He reminded her of Dudley, if a bit smarter. Sensing opportunity, she turned to face him, ignoring Hermione's astonished look and the second shocked murmur that swept through the crowd.

"You're a simple school-yard bully, that's who you are," she said after a moment of studying him with a curious gaze. "You will not push or harm Hermione or anyone else again. Is that clear?"

"You can't order–"

Suddenly, Fred and George broke through the crowd, followed by Neville and Hannah. Walking up behind the boy, the twins each clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Draco Malfoy!" they exclaimed with false enthusiasm. "How wonderful to see you!"

"Let go of me," the boy – Malfoy – replied through clenched teeth. "When my father–"

"I don't care who your father is, either," Miranda cut in. "Leave her alone."

The crowd dispersed quickly, encouraged by the Weasley twins, and Miranda was left standing in the corridor with Hermione, the Weasley twins, Hannah, Neville, Malfoy and his two goons and a small group of students she didn't know.

"You dare – you dare–" Malfoy spluttered, staring at her, and Miranda turned away from him, focusing her attention on Hermione yet again.

"Are you all right?" she asked quietly, and the other witch smiled.

"Yes," she replied. "Thank you."

"I'll take her," a girl Miranda didn't know said quickly, and the Indian girl moved forward, taking Hermione's arm. "Padma Patil," she introduced herself quickly, and she moved off to her compartment, pulling Hermione along with her, before any of them could reply.

Malfoy gazed after the two, his eyes flashing angrily, but after they disappeared into a nearby compartment he turned back to Miranda, opened his mouth, then thought again and closed it. Turning to his two minions, he muttered, "Come on," and they practically ran down the aisle.

She watched him go with a bemused look, smiling slightly at how easy it had been to stop him. The rather pitiful boy hated being ignored, or so it seemed. That was all it would take.

The twins moved to stand behind Miranda as Hannah scampered off after Padma and Hermione, each leaning slightly on her shoulders. "Andi, my dear – do you mind if I call you Andi?" Fred asked.

"Erm… no, not at all," Miranda said bemusedly, watching him in concern.

"Yes, Andi, as my twin was trying to say," George continued, beaming at her, "that was absolutely–"

"–positively–"

"–smashingly–"

"– brilliant," Fred finished, grinning widely.

"I – I didn't–" she began hesitantly, staring at them. "What did I do? He's just another schoolyard bul–"

The twins exchanged a slightly concerned glance. Shaking their heads, they each took hold of one of Miranda's arms and steered the girl – newly christened Andi – back to her compartment, with Neville trailing along behind her.

"Let us tell you a story, Andi m'dear, about a man named Lucius Malfoy."

♠♦♠

She met an endless stream of people that afternoon – dozens of people came by simply to congratulate her for "getting one up on Malfoy". After the twenty-first visitor, the twins had left the compartment and returned with Lee Jordan, a black boy with dreadlocks who was in their year. The twins and Lee, whom Miranda and Neville both found to be quite funny, took up positions just inside the compartment doors and began threatening to hex everyone who came by. But Miranda didn't mind the visitors – it was good to get to know her fellow classmates.

Hermione Granger came, followed by Padma Patil and Padma's twin, Parvati. Miranda didn't like Parvati much. The girl struck her as incredibly shallow, and all Parvati wanted to know about was "how you get your hair so straight," all the while casting furtive looks at Hermione's bushy hair. The shallow girl left after only a few minutes, when neither Miranda nor Neville – taking his clues from his friend – responded much to her, but Padma and Hermione stayed for an hour.

At first, Hermione seemed very shy around Lee and Neville, but she warmed up to the group quickly and ended up getting into a debate with Lee and the Weasley twins over whether Quidditch would take up too much of a student's time and why it was at all interesting to fly around in the air throwing balls to each other. Miranda found herself listening very carefully to their discussion, but Neville looked a little green at the slightest mention of the broomstick-dependent game. Quietly, he confided in her that he'd never flown on a broomstick – his gran wouldn't let him – but Miranda quickly eased his fears, pointing out that neither she nor Hermione had ever done so either, having grown up in the Muggle world. This statement, when overheard by Fred, sparked a huge argument about whether Muggleborns should be required to take classes in wizarding customs and tradition to fit in better. Fred and Lee thought so, as it would help the Muggleborns to understand their new world, but George seemed more concerned that it would make them stand out more. People like Malfoy, he pointed out with a grim expression, would zero in on all the Muggleborns within the first day.

Hermione and Padma left shortly after that argument died down – Hermione seemed split between both sides, and was not handling the knowledge that "I don't even know my own opinions!" very well – and Lee left a few minutes after them to go find some of his other friends. After they had gone, Fred and George spent quite some time regaling Miranda and Neville with tales of some of their old pranks before they were pulled aside by a brown-haired boy. The boy quickly introduced himself as Cedric Diggory and said he was in their year before telling the twins that there was trouble down the other end of the train. Miranda overheard the words "brother" and "Malfoy" before the twins departed, giving Neville a stern look as they left.

♠♦♠

It was dark by the time the train arrived at Hogsmeade Station, and led by Fred, George and their friend Lee Jordan, Neville and Miranda made their way off the train, Miranda reluctantly leaving Hedwig behind on the train. They made their way quickly through the crowds until Miranda caught sight of Hagrid, looming high over the heads of the students.

"Firs' years!" the giant of a man boomed. "Firs' years over here! There yeh are, Miranda!" He beamed down at Miranda as she and Neville reached him, and quickly, Miranda introduced Neville to the kindly man. Hermione, Hannah, Padma and Parvati followed only a few steps behind. Hagrid herded the first wave of first years into the boats – Miranda climbed into hers with Neville and Hermione – and they all waited rather impatiently for the rest.

Malfoy arrived after a few moments followed by his two bookends and a bored, somewhat exasperated looking black boy. When all of the first years had gathered and clambered into their boats, Hagrid climbed into his own boat and quickly ordered them off. The boats slowly crossed the lake – looking down, Miranda saw a tentacle wave lazily at her from beneath the lake's surface – and the first years' gazed up at Hogwarts in delight.

It was a beautiful castle, made of dark stone with many towers, and lights gleaming through the windows in welcome. Watching carefully, Miranda could make out shadows moving beyond the windows, and as she watched, a row of carriages – which seemed, amazingly, to be pulled under their own power – moved up the pathway from the gates of Hogwarts to the front door. Quickly, she determined that that must be how all the older students got from the train station, and she turned her attention back to the castle itself, determined to take in every detail.

After a few minutes, the boats went under a curtain of moss, appearing in an underground harbor. The boats touched shore with a quiet thud and the students all clambered out of their boats, Hermione catching Trevor quickly as he tried to jump out of the boat. Stunned into silence, the group of first year students was led up a long, winding rock staircase to a large wooden door.

"Everybody here?" Hagrid asked gruffly. "Neville, still got yer toad? Good," he said when the students murmured in agreement. He knocked on the door, and it swung open a moment later, revealing a tall, black-haired woman with thin lips and a stern expression. "The firs' years, Professor McGonagall."

♠♦♠

They were ushered into a room off the Great Hall, where all the older students were congregated. Standing between Hermione and Neville, Miranda watched as McGonagall strode quickly to the front of the room.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," McGonagall said immediately, her mouth twisting in a sort of half-smile. "In just a few moments you will be entering the Great Hall and sorted into houses. The four houses are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. Your houses will be like your family at Hogwarts."

At this, Miranda's gaze sharpened, and she stared at the professor. "Your good deeds will earn your house points, while your misdeeds will lose them. At the end of the year, the house with the most points will win the house cup. I hope you are all a credit to whichever house you are sorted into." McGonagall's gaze lingered on a red-headed boy near the front who had a smudge on his nose, and her mouth thinned. "I will return in a moment. Wait here quietly."

No one moved until she had gone, shutting the door behind herself. Still silent, Miranda stared after the professor.

Houses? What an odd idea…. Remus had never mentioned the houses when telling her stories of her parents. "Strange," she murmured softly, and Neville glanced at her questioningly, "dividing the students as soon as they arrive…."

"It's the tradition," Neville replied, shrugging. "That's how it's been done since the school was founded over a thousand years ago." "This school has so much history," Hermione muttered, wringing her hands. "How will I ever remember it all?" "You'll be fine," Padma soothed from her place behind the group. "But–" "Quiet, please!" a voice called, and the group looked up to see McGonagall scowling slightly at them. Miranda frowned. Her first impression of the woman wasn't a good one. McGonagall seemed nice enough, but she was far too strict for Miranda's tastes. The woman in question waited, frowning at them as the last students stopped talking. "There has been a bit of a delay," she said after a moment. "You will wait here until you are retrieved – quietly. Is that clear?" "Yes, Professor McGonagall," the students chorused, the red-headed boy with the smudge fidgeting nervously. The professor eyed them all sharply then spun on her heel, marching out of the room and into what was presumably the Great Hall.

"What an odd idea," Miranda murmured again, and Neville blinked, gazing at her in consternation.

"You really think it's that bad?" he asked, and out of the corner of her eye, Miranda noticed the bored black boy who had ridden in a boat with Malfoy turn slightly, a curious expression on his face.

"It's just… odd," Miranda said again. "Splitting people up as soon as they arrive – what if you and I are in different classes? Does that mean we'll barely see each other?"

"It'd be harder, I suppose," Neville frowned slightly, thinking. "But I don't think we'd never see each other again, Andi. Gran told me about the house systems. The different houses have their dormitories in different sections of the school, that's all. Gryffindor first years all take classes together, but have some classes with Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs and Slytherins. It's just a way of breaking us down into more manageable groups."

"Of course, the best house in the school is Slytherin," Malfoy spoke up, cutting through the crowd to sneer at them, and Miranda, watching the black boy, saw him roll his eyes behind Malfoy's back. Biting back a smile, she turned back to Malfoy. "Of course, Ravenclaw isn't so bad, but you wouldn't want to end up in Gryffindor or Hufflepuff like Longbottom here, would you Potter?"

"Stuff it, Malfoy," the black boy spoke up, taking a few steps closer, and Malfoy whirled angrily, eyes flashing and face going red. "You wouldn't want to influence her too much, would you? After all, you might just convince her to try for Slytherin when she wouldn't really belong, and then we would have a traitor in our midst…"

A stunned silence followed as Malfoy tried to comprehend the other boy's logic. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity Malfoy muttered grudgingly, "Yes, yes, you're right, Zabini."

Zabini smiled, and the second Malfoy's back was turned, winked at Miranda with a grin. But a second later, his grin vanished as Malfoy turned back around. "I'm watching you, Potter," he warned, and Miranda visibly rolled her eyes.

She'd been right earlier. This boy was a lot like Dudley. Unfortunately, he was a great deal smarter, but fortunately – and somewhat amusingly – though his bark was loud and obnoxious, his bite was simply an irritating insect bite.

She grinned as she thought of her father and the Marauders that Remus had told her about. They'd have enjoyed baiting Malfoy…

♠♦♠

McGonagall didn't return for fifteen minutes. The woman was visibly anxious when she hurried into the room – as she silently observed the woman, Miranda felt her opinion of the professor improve somewhat – but the Scots simply looked relieved to note that the first years hadn't killed each other. And from the way the woman's eyes darted from Miranda to Malfoy, it seemed she had expected some sort of fight to break out between them.

"Line up single-file," McGonagall ordered them after a moment. "No talking."

Miranda stepped in between Neville and Hermione in the line, watching in amusement as Malfoy filed in near the end. He probably wanted to gain attention by being near the end like that. Shaking her head, she bit back a smile which faded quickly as she heard him bragging in a steady whisper at the back of the line.

The group was led into the Great Hall and all conversation slowed as they walked through the doors. Miranda peered around the room, looking for Lee and the Weasley twins, and found them near the end of the table with red banners and a lion – what was that? Gryffindor? She vaguely remembered some mention of Godric Gryffindor and lions from one of her History of Magic books…

She waved at the three third-years, and they waved back, broad smiles on their faces. Glancing to her right, she saw Remus – Professor Lupin, she corrected herself quickly – watching her with a slight smile, and she grinned back. She might only have visited with him four separate times, but each time she'd felt wonderfully comfortable around the man. The line halted and the first-years turned to face the students, the teachers all seated behind them. A moment later, the door opened with a bang and Hagrid rushed through, patting Miranda on the head as he passed behind them to go to his seat.

Neville and Hermione each grabbed one of her arms, pulling her upright.

"Gran would never tell me how we're sorted," Neville whispered anxiously as McGonagall placed a stool in front of the first years. "She wanted it to be a surprise."

But then McGonagall placed a ratty old hat on the stool, and Miranda stared, along with all the first years – save Malfoy, who looked surprised for a moment before scoffing and declaring that he "knew it all along, of course, my father–"

"Silence, Mr. Malfoy!" McGonagall called, glaring at the boy, and Malfoy flushed and fell silent.

"A hat," Miranda said flatly, and Neville giggled nervously. "What do we have to do, pull a rabbit out of it?"

Beside them, Hermione rolled her eyes and smiled even as Hannah whimpered. Grinning, Padma shook her head, and Zabini, a few spots down, smirked slightly.

Miranda winced as McGonagall turned to stare at her. Apparently, she'd spoken louder than she'd intended. "Sorry, Professor," she said quickly, flinching, and surprise crossed the older woman's features before McGonagall nodded sharply and turned back to the hat.

To all the first years' shock, the hat cleared its throat – it seemed to have a split in the brim which was almost like a mouth – and began to sing.

"(1)Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you want to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none),
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

Neville seemed almost relieved at the end of this song – indeed, so did most of her classmates, if the loud sighs of relief were any indication, she mused as the upperclassmen chuckled – but she couldn't see why….

There's nothing hidden in your head the Sorting Hat can't see…

Flinching, Miranda glanced back at Remus, who smiled at her encouragingly. The more she heard of this sorting, the less she liked…

"When I call your name, please come forward, sit on the stool and place the hat on your head," McGonagall began, and Neville paled. "When your house is called, please leave the hat on the stool and sit at the correct table. Abbott, Hannah!"

Hannah took a deep breath, her blond pigtails shaking bobbing slightly as she stepped forward. She walked slowly yet steadily across the raised platform, took the hat from McGonagall with shaking hands, sat down and put it over her head. Miranda, Padma, Hermione and Neville waited anxiously–

"HUFFLEPUFF!" the Sorting Hat shouted.

Smiling happily, Hannah stood, placed the hat on the stool and rushed off to the Hufflepuff table, where Miranda saw Cedric Diggory rise to greet her.

"Boot, Terry!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Brocklehurst, Mandy!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

And on it went, until…

"Granger, Hermione!"

Neville, Miranda and Padma leaned forward to watch as Hermione walked across the platform. She took the hat, sat and put it over her eyed, then waited nearly thirty seconds, the longest yet –

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Fred and George cheered at the Gryffindor table, and Hermione took off the hat and walked quickly to the table, Fred and George each shaking one of her hands energetically when she arrived. Flushed with pleasure, Hermione sat and turned back to watch the rest of the sorting, and Miranda quickly tuned the rest out until…

"Longbottom, Neville!"

Neville swallowed nervously and shoved Trevor into his pocket. Smiling, Miranda waved him forward and Neville walked up to McGonagall, took the hat and sat down.

The hat stayed on his head for nearly a full minute before it finally declared him a Gryffindor – relieved, Neville ran eagerly to the table, but he had forgotten to remove the hat form his head. Poor Neville was forced to jog back up to the Head Table to return the hat to McGonagall among gales of laughter then jog back. Embarrassed, Neville sat quickly next to Hermione, who had saved a seat for him, and turned back to watch the others.

Soon, "Patil, Padma!" was sorted into Ravenclaw and "Patil, Parvati!" into Gryffindor. Poor Neville and Hermione, Miranda thought, but she quickly squelched that train of thought – Parvati seemed shallow, yes, but she'd done nothing to deserve such thoughts…

"Potter, Miranda!"

Murmuring broke out in the great hall, and Miranda sighed and stepped forward, ignoring Malfoy's smirk.

"Potter, did she say?"

"THE Miranda Potter?"

The last thing she saw before the hat fell over her eyes was hundreds of people, all craning their necks to see her.

♠♦♠

Well, well, well, what have we here?

Er… hello? Who are you?

I'm Alistair, dear girl. Now hush and let me take a look… ah, yes… yes…

What? What is it?

You've seen great darkness in your day, haven't you, dear? And you'll see much more… much, much more. You'll need to be strong, child.

…I… I can be.

Yes, yes, I don't doubt that. Now, there's cunning, yes, and loyalty. There's courage – oh yes, there's courage… Well, that's interesting…

What? What is?

You have a rather strong desire to belong, child. Why is that?

I'd rather not speak about it.

No one speaks in here, child. It's all in your head.

Just the same…

Very well, very well, I won't pry. Don't worry, child. Now… where shall I put you?

Well…

Hufflepuff would do well, but it wouldn't make you strive to succeed, I fear. And Ravenclaw would suit you just fine, but it wouldn't be the right environment to open your mind to things other than academics. Gryffindor would work well – you're certainly brave enough – but it wouldn't do any good for your ability to think before you act to be surrounded by rash people… And Slytherin… you'd do wonders for that house, m'dear.

Do you really think so?

Well… perhaps not. Slytherin used to be a wonderful house, Miranda – ah, I see your new friends call you Andi, may I?

You may.

Thank you, dear. As I was saying, Slytherin was once a wonderful house – it wasn't so much cunning and evil, but a house of ambition, careful planning and politics. But for the past fifty years – ever since Riddle came to school –

Riddle?

That was Voldemort's real name, child. As I was saying, when he came to school, fights broke out between the Gryffindors and Slytherin quite often, and I'm afraid Slytherin became a breeding ground for evil wizards.

Then I don't want to be in Gryffindor. Or Slytherin. I don't want to start out in a brand new world bogged down by enemies who aren't even mine.

Indeed, indeed. And yet… Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw…

Is there something wrong with either of those?

Well, no, not exactly, but… You would fit in any of the houses, my dear, and you would do just fine. I just feel that…

What do you think of this whole idea?

I beg your pardon?

Sorting the students. What do you think of it?

What do I...? Lift up my brim, my dear, I've found your place. And no, you cannot argue with me.

All right… Alistair?

Hmm?

May I come speak with you again some time?

…I'd be delighted, child. Find me in the headmaster's office. Now, lift me up… Thank you…

♠♦♠

Stunned silence greeted Miranda as she peered out from under the hat's brim. Behind her, she heard a soft chuckle, and spun to see Hagrid staring at her in bemusement as Remus laughed.

"Have a nice chat?" Remus asked, smiling, and Miranda grinned sheepishly.

"Yes, actually," she murmured, and she glanced over all the teachers and students – Zabini had an amused smirk on his face, while Draco Malfoy, now perched at the Slytherin table, looked ecstatic. He likely thought she was going to be sent home – Miranda wished she knew what was going to happen, herself.

"Alistair?" the man in the center of the Head Table asked, and Miranda stared as Albus Dumbledore rose to his feet, long white hair and beard tucked into his belt, robes swishing slightly as he moved. "Have you come to a decision?"

"Yes, Headmaster," the hat replied, and Miranda looked down at the hat held in her hands.

"Which is?" McGonagall pressed.

The Sorting Hat's brim of a mouth opened wide and in a booming voice, Alistair said, "Better be…HOGWARTS!"

Yet another stunned silence followed the hat's announcement. At the Gryffindor table, Fred, George, Neville and Hermione exchanged mystified glances, at the Hufflepuff table, Hannah and Cedric stared, and at the Ravenclaw table, Padma sat up straighter.

Meanwhile, at the Head Table, McGonagall stared at the hat in consternation before closing her eyes, counting to ten, and opening them again. Remus's laughter faded as he watched the hat with a curious gaze, and Malfoy's joy had faded just as quickly. Smiling merrily, Dumbledore spoke up, "I had thought that was already well established, Alistair. What do you mean?"

"I will not put the girl into a house," the Sorting Hat replied sharply.

"Why ever not?" McGonagall asked exasperatedly.

"You know my thoughts on this, Dumbledore," the hat replied to the headmaster instead. "The girl would fit into any of the houses just fine, but none of them feel right for her."

"Then just pick one and put her there!" a man with a hooked nose and greasy black hair burst out, scowling. "You're holding up the Sorting!"

"If I were to pick a house, I might send her to Gryffindor so she could be with her new friends, Fred and George Weasley, Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom. Or I might send her to Hufflepuff, where she could be with her new friend, Hannah Abbott," the Sorting Hat replied evenly. "Or I may even send her to Ravenclaw, where she could be with Padma Patil, or Slytherin, where she could make some changes. Wherever I could place her, she would benefit others in equal ways. But none of those options would truly benefit her," Alistair said, his voice rising, and Remus's curious gaze turned thoughtful. "Do you see the problem, Albus?"

"I do," the headmaster replied pensively. He was silent for a moment before his face brightened, and he smiled jovially once more. "Well then, Miss Potter, just hop up here and we'll get this whole mess – erm, sorted out after the ceremony, all right?" He smiled, and Remus quickly conjured a chair between himself and Hagrid, gesturing to Miranda. "Ah, thank you, Professor Lupin," Dumbledore continued.

Shaking her head slightly in confusion, Miranda glanced down at Alistair the Sorting Hat – she could have sworn she saw him wink – before moving into the seat Remus had conjured for her. Remus grinned wryly at her as Hagrid patted her on the back – Miranda had to grab the edge of the table to keep from crashing forward – and they sat back and watched the sorting progress.

Her attention was caught twice more during the ceremony. When "Weasley, Ronald!" was called, Miranda sat forward to watch – Fred and George had mentioned their younger brother – and sure enough, he was sorted into "GRYFFINDOR!" just like the other Weasley brothers whom Fred and George had mentioned. A few minutes later, "Zabini, Blaise" was the last student to be sorted, and Miranda watched as he was sorted into Slytherin, but passed Malfoy by when the other boy tried to wave him into a seat. Miranda tried to pretend that didn't cause her the slightest bit of amusement, but judging by the look on Remus's face, she wasn't successful. And as Zabini reached his seat and the stool and Sorting Hat were taken away, Dumbledore stood and began to speak.

"There is a time for speech-giving," he said, "and this is not it. Tuck in!"

The students cheered and immediately began devouring the food which, to Miranda's shock, appeared out of nowhere on the tables. Without sitting again, Dumbledore turned to the teachers. "Remus, Hagrid, Miss Potter, Heads of Houses, with me, please," he asked politely, and strode across the Great Hall to a door in the back, leading the group into a small antechamber off the hall.

♠♦♠

"Well," Dumbledore asked as the door shut behind the last teacher, a short man who looked rather like the goblins Miranda had seen at Gringotts. "What shall we do?"

"Just put her in my house, Dumbledore," a short, stout, kindly-looking woman spoke up, smiling at Miranda. "I'll take care of her."

"This is Professor Sprout, Miss Potter," Dumbledore introduced, "Head of Hufflepuff and Herbology Professor."

"Pleased to meet you," Miranda murmured as Dumbledore conjured a table and chairs with a wave of his wand, sitting quickly in the seat at the head of the table. Before Miranda could even react, she found herself steered into a chair by Remus, who sat to one side of her with Hagrid on the other.

"This is Professor Snape, Head of Slytherin and Potions Professor," Dumbledore introduced the greasy-haired man sitting to his left, who scowled at her. She blinked at him, confused, before repeating, "Pleased to meet you." The man scoffed, glaring at her, and she merely raised an eyebrow as Hagrid, Remus and McGonagall glared.

"You have already met Professor McGonagall," Dumbledore smiled, gesturing the woman on his right. "She is Deputy Headmistress, Head of Gryffindor and Transfigurations Professor."

Miranda wanted to say "pleased to meet you" again, to was on the tip of her tongue, but–

"How on earth do you find time to even breathe?" she asked the Deputy Headmistress, astonished, then winced as Snape's glare intensified. "Sorry," she said quickly, and Remus patted her arm as the table chuckled, and McGonagall's lips twitched in what almost looked like a smile.

"Don't worry, Miss Potter," Dumbledore spoke up with a smile. "You are free to express your mind – and your sympathy," he added with a wink, "here. And finally," he continued, gesturing to the goblin-like man who sat at the opposite end of the table, "this is Professor Flitwick, Head of Ravenclaw and Charms Professor."

"Pleased to meet you all, but what–?" Miranda began, her brow furrowed.

"We must find something to do with you, dearest," Sprout spoke up kindly. "There has never been a student to attend Hogwarts who did not have a house."

"Well, why can't I be the first?" Miranda asked, confused, and Snape scoffed once more.

"You see?" he said smoothly. "Potter's already looking to be the exception to the rule–"

"I thought that the placement of a student was decided by the Sorting Hat," Miranda cut in. "Am I correct, Headmaster?"

"Yes," Dumbledore replied slowly, eyeing her somewhat nervously.

"And Alistair looks into a student's mind and studies his or her personality, correct?"

"Yes," Dumbledore agreed again.

"And the Sorting Hat's determination was that–" she paused, swallowing, "I do not fit into any one house, correct?"

"Simply put, yes," Dumbledore agreed again.

"So what is there to determine, exactly?" she asked.

For the third time that evening, a stunned silence greeted her. After a moment, Dumbledore's thoughtful grown grew into a smile and he burst into laughter. "Very well!" he said cheerfully. "Remus, Miss Potter will need an academic adviser, will you be up to the task?"

"Are you certain he'll be objective enough, Headmaster?" Snape cut in, scowling at Miranda, and the young girl blinked in confusion. She'd just met the man. Why did he hate her already?

"Yes, yes, Severus, he'll be perfectly fair," Dumbledore waved one hand quickly. "Would you, Remus?"

"Of course," Remus agreed quickly.

"Very well," Dumbledore replied with a smile. "Now as for quarters–"

"We could give her a room in the staff quarters," Flitwick squeaked, and Snape's scowl – if it were even possible – darkened.

"I'm not certain how I feel about her being alone like that, though," Dumbledore mused, stroking his beard absently, and Miranda frowned at him. She could take care of herself just fine… she always had…

They don't know that, a voice in the back of her mind whispered, and her frown deepened – though thankfully, it went unnoticed.

"Nor I," Sprout added, frowning.

"Then move my quarters," Remus spoke up, and everyone in the room turned to look at him, "and give Miranda a room which links to – but isn't directly in – my quarters. That way, she can reach me if she needs to, and she won't be alone, but she'll have privacy."

"Yes, yes," Dumbledore agreed, smiling. "That sounds agreeable. Minerva? Severus? Filius? Pomona? Rubeus?"

Four of the five nodded, but Snape scowled again. "Are you certain that would be safe for young Miss Potter?" he asked snidely. "What about when–"

"That will be dealt with," Dumbledore cut in, for the first time looking angry with Snape. "Calm yourself, Severus," he continued, his eyes twinkling, and a smile tugged at his lips. "There's no need to fret so over young Miranda's welfare, though your concern is touching..."

Snape's scowl grew further.

"It is decided then?" Dumbledore asked, looking around the table. "Miranda will be a house unto herself, with Remus as her adviser?"

Murmurs of agreement sounded throughout the room. After a moment, McGonagall spoke up, "What about her schedule?"

"Move her around," Remus suggested immediately, "a different house for each class. Transfiguration with the Ravenclaws, Potions with the Gryffindors and Slytherins, History of Magic with the Hufflepuffs, and so on."

"Yes…," Dumbledore agreed again, stroking his beard once more. "It will take some thought, and a bit more work, but we can get it settled. Very well," Dumbledore smiled at Miranda. "You will have your schedule tomorrow morning, Miss Potter, along with the rest of the school. Now, let us eat! Oh, and Miranda, feel free to sit at any of the house tables at each meal. And please remain behind after the feast – I will escort yourself and Professor Lupin to your new quarters."

Smiling at Dumbledore, Hagrid and Remus, and nodding politely at the four heads of houses, Miranda left the room and walked quickly to the Gryffindor table. A moment later, Dumbledore emerged.

As the professors and Hagrid reclaimed their seats, Dumbledore called for the students' attention. He quickly announced the new professor – Remus as History of Magic professor – before telling the students of Miranda's new status. A stunned silence greeted the announcement yet again before Fred jumped to his feet.

"Three cheers for the individual!" he called raucously, grinning widely, and George leapt up beside Fred, pulling Hermione and Neville with him. "Hip hip–"

"Huzzah!" Padma, Hannah, Cedric, George, Neville and Hermione called back, though Hermione, Hannah and Neville did so rather hesitantly.

"Hip hip–"

"Huzzah!"

"Hip hip–"

Miranda stared as her new friends made a near mockery of themselves. Glancing around the hall, she noticed Dumbledore smiling delightedly, McGonagall frowning, thought the corners of her mouth twitched every few seconds, and Snape scowling as Remus and Hagrid chuckled. Hannah and Cedric were grinning at the Hufflepuff table, Padma nearly laughing, and Malfoy, predictably, scowling – but it was Blaise Zabini who caught her attention. The black Slytherin boy had a slight smile on his face as he watched the twins' antics. Turning, he met her questioning gaze and, silently, raised his goblet in her direction.

Miranda smiled.

♠♦♠

It was almost like a small apartment. When she entered through the portrait of Sir Cadogan the knight, she emerged into a small living room decorated in red and gold. Through one door was a small library, decorated in blue and bronze. She had her own small bathroom in yellow and black and finally–

Her bedroom was decorated in emerald green and cream, a large four-poster bed in the center of the room. Hedwig was perched on her windowsill, watching her. Miranda moved to the window, smiling as she saw a tentacle in lake.

"We're on the fourth floor," Remus said quietly from where he stood behind her. "I'm going to turn in now, cub." He led her into the living room again and pointed out a small portrait of a wolf, a stag, a large, bear-like dog and a rat, gleaming under the moonlight. "Just say the password to get through there if you need me. Goodnight, Miranda."

"Goodnight," she replied absently, staring at the fireplace. "Thank you, Professor."

The professor smiled, murmuring the password to the portrait before stepping through and into his quarters. When the portrait had closed behind him, Miranda sighed tiredly, rubbing her forehead absently. She wasn't sure why it was prickling so – it had never hurt before…

She wandered into her room, changing into a nightdress and turning down the covers. She reached out to pet Hedwig and pulled on a robe, sitting down quietly on the broad windowsill, her knees pulled up to her chest. Eyes bright with unshed tears, she gazed at herself in the windowpane, and her eyes were drawn immediately to the lightning-bolt scar on her forehead – just like everyone else's….

Dawn was creeping over the horizon when she finally went to sleep.

♠♦♠

(1) Not mine, obviously… Credit goes to J.K. Rowling in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's (Sorcerer's) Stone.

Review if you have something to say.

Cheers,
LIZ