Here's a Key for ya!

"English"

"Elfish"

At promptly 7am, Harry, Amber and all the Potter house-elves got up and started a few last minute things, mainly packing a couple of forgotten robes, and making sure their new wands, delivered to them the day before, were on hand. At 9, Dinky, Toopy and Floop were ready to go. Amber and Harry were too, but it took another half hour before they left, because they had to say a tearful goodbye to the other elves, Harry promising to use Hedwig to write constantly.

Finally, at 9:30 am on September First, The group of 5 was ready. Dinky and her fellow elves went first, taking all their trunks with them. Harry allowed Hedwig to fly ahead, and simply took her shrunken cage. Amber had a bit more cargo, with Jobita wrapped securely around her neck, and Sunset's and Storm's leashes in each hand. Jobita's carrier was also shrunk, and lay nestled gently in Amber's robe pocket, right next to her wand. However, she made it just the same.

They ended up popping into the Hogwarts kitchen, and found themselves under the gazes of several dozen Hogwarts elves. They were gawping at the duo, for it wasn't every year you see a human able of apparating into Hogwarts, let alone doing so using the clause built into the wards for house-elves.

"Hello!" the twins chorused, causing several elves to faint. "When does the Sorting take place?" Of course, they spoke the language fluently, but they still broke up their sentence, because they were still getting used to speaking with human grammar, rather then their usual house-elf one. The Potter portraits had taken it upon themselves to teach their little descendant and his adopted sister the proper human grammar after their Hogwarts letters came through.

"Not tills this evening, sir and miss!" squeaked one. "Yous is very early yous are! All other students on train!"

Harry smiled wickedly at that. He had found his parents' portrait and got to know their painted essence, and he had long ago found the mischievous streak his father left him. Amber, too, had her moments.

"Perfect! Wes go explore!" he exclaimed, slipping back into his preferred grammar. Before Dinky or any other elf could protest, both children had vanished and were out the door.

"Well, at least theys thought to be invisible." sighed Floop.

Severus Snape had been on the way to the kitchen for a snack, when he felt the most unusual sensation. Wind from nowhere passed his leg, and he could have sworn that something bumped into him. However, when he reached down to grab at it, he didn't see anything, and his fingers grabbed only air.

Scowling, he continued on his way, and managed to reach the kitchens without any more incidents. However, upon entering the kitchen, he found three new house-elves he had never seen talking to several school elves in a language he could only guess at. These house-elves were well-dressed for house-elves, but their clothes did not have any sort of family insignia on them.

All three silenced when he entered, but did not join their comrades as the Hogwarts elves rushed to serve him in their usual manner. Severus eyed the new elves, wondering why they were simply watching the proceedings with something akin to amusement.

At lunch, several hours later, he mentioned these new elves to the rest of the staff, although he said nothing of the sensation he felt en route to the kitchens. They all started at this bit of news.

"Really? And you're sure there are no house insignias on their clothes?" asked Remus, who was the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher since Quirrel was found harboring Voldemort's sprit. Dumbledore knew he was itching to see his beloved daughter and nephew again, after 10 years mourning them as dead.

"Positive. And they didn't join the other elves wanting to serve me, either. They just watched their fellows the whole time, and seemed the most amused by the whole thing." Severus replied.

"Well, this is interesting. Perhaps I should go down to the kitchens and see these new elves for myself." mused Dumbledore.

"I have a quicker way of figuring this out." said Remus before calling, "Peanut!"

"Yous calls Peanut, sir?" asked the house-elf that popped into existence.

"Yes. What can you tell me about three new house-elves in the kitchen that do not have a house bond?" he asked kindly.

Peanut's eyes grew wide. "Theys be here to follow orders, sirs and misses. Theys have house, theys just hiding crests."

"And why would they hide their house crests?" asked Minerva.

"They say theys were ordered to look after theirs master and master's sister until their orders were rescinded. Theirs former masters and mistress also say they want master and master's sister to come to Hoggitys. They come, and theys come with to continue following orders, sirs and misses!" squeaked Peanut.

"I see." said Minerva, sounding like she didn't see at all. "Thank you, Peanut." The house-elf popped out.

"Well, this day certainly has been eventful, hasn't it? And we still have the sorting to get through." commented Dumbledore airily.

By that evening, none of the teachers had made any headway with the new elves. They had yet to even see them, outside of Severus' morning sighting. The teachers were completely unaware of Harry and Amber running around, Hedwig, Jobita, Sunset and Storm alongside them, exploring the castle, finding all 4 house dormitories, their new classrooms, and everything else. They had just discovered the Room of Requirement when Peanut popped into existence.

"Sir and Miss must go to the Entrance Hall now! Theirs classmates will be here soons! Then theys will be Sorted!" she squeaked. Looking out the window the room had given them, the twins saw a small fleet of magical boats floating across the lake, and noticed they would be arriving very soon, and so hurried off.

They made it to the Hall just in time to see a stern looking witch in emerald robes open the door and hear a gruff voice say, "The Firs' years, Professor McGonagall."

"Thank you, Hagrid. I shall take them from here." said the witch, Professor McGonagall.

Amber and Harry watched, invisible, as their fellow first years filed in, looking around the hall in pure wonder and awe. Both twins followed at a distance as McGonagall led them to an anti-chamber and told them to wait. Once she had left, the decided to make their entrance, becoming visible and merging into the waiting throng. Hedwig flew back to the Owlery, also perfectly visible, but Jobita, Sunset and Storm remained with Amber. Once they had merged, Amber made them visible too.

At first, no one really took notice of them. Then, Draco saw Sunset and drawled, "Dogs aren't allowed in Hogwarts, you know."

Several people jumped and turned around, and saw two puppies next to a girl none of them remembered seeing come in with them.

The girl exchange glances with a boy they didn't remember either before she arched a brow. Taking a deep breath, the girl tried to imitate Draco's drawl, and did a fairly good job to boot. "Do I look like I care? These two are mine, and I'm not leaving them home ten months of the year. Hogwarts needs to expand its pet list anyway. I mean, toads are so old fashioned, many people are allergic to cats, and not everyone has use for an owl."

"Point taken." Draco conceded. It was then he recognized the duo before him. "It's you!" he exclaimed. "The duo I met at Madam Malkin's! Where's your elf?" he sneered.

"Where's your individuality?" Harry sneered back. Several people sniggered.

The ghosts picked that moment to come through the wall, but neither Amber nor Harry minded much. Amber cheerfully waved at a friar and nobleman, and greeted another nobleman. When the friar asked what they were doing in the anti-chamber, Harry happily told them they were waiting to be Sorted. The ghosts moved on after that, having little more to say before McGonagall came back to collect them. She looked startled to see Harry and Amber in the group, or more specifically, to see Amber's Shilohs and Andean Cat, which had decided to make itself visible.

Neither Amber nor Harry gawked at the Great Hall ceiling, having expected it to be just what it was, and snorted as they saw the Hat.

"You have got to be kidding me. A Hat that looks like it should have gone into the thrash compacter about 10 decades ago is going to decide our future within this school? These people are nuts!" Amber told Harry incredulously in perfect Arabian.

"Yup." agreed Harry. They took notice of the stares they were getting from the school. The Hat seemed to pick up on their conversation, because it did something no one had ever heard it do, as it sang its usual song, but in a completely different language. Only two people understood this language, and they were Harry Potter and Amber Lupin. For the Hat sung in perfect Elfish.

It took several moments for McGonagall to start the sorting. Remus was practically dancing in his seat as McGonagall slowly made her way through the alphabet, and he stilled as she reached the "Ls".

"Lupin, Amber!"

Remus watched with wide eyes as his long lost daughter walked calmly up to the Hat, a look of supreme skepticism on her face. His daughter, it turned out, was the one who spoke perfect Arabian, and had the most unusual following, with a strange cat wrapped around her neck and purring contentedly, and two dogs Remus recognized as Shilohs following at her heels.

Remus' eyes filled with sudden tears, tears of happiness, and he wanted to bolt out of his seat and cling to Amber and never let go. Only Snape's and Filius Flitwick's restraining hands kept the werewolf from doing anything, not to mention the strong sticking charm Dumbledore had placed on him.

"Hmmm, interesting. My dear, you are impossible to Sort." commented the Hat, as it attempted to place Amber. "And from the looks of things, I suspect your brother will be too."

"Why?" asked Amber.

"Because, my dear, one can't really sort house-elves into any house. And you are essentially just that. You recognize yourself as an elf, as does Hogwarts. Besides which, you have the essentials for all four houses anyway. So, would you like to pick a house, or let me have you placed elsewhere?"

"I don't care where I go, so long as Harry comes with me."

"Very well then." The Hat answered. Then it opened its brim-mouth and stated, "I am afraid that this student cannot be sorted."

The Hall froze. None had ever heard of the Hat refusing to Sort a student before.

"Is there a reason why, Hat?" asked Dumbledore in a calm sounding voice, but one that still shook a little.

"If you're worried it's about her heritage, get real, Albus." said the Hat, causing several sniggers and snorts to erupt around the Hall. "I sorted her father did I not?"

"Then why do you refuse to sort her?" asked Remus.

"Because neither she nor Hogwarts herself recognize her as a person, student or otherwise. I don't really sort non-students. Besides which, she holds the qualities of all 4 Houses to begin with."

"She's not a student!" exclaimed McGonagall and Snape simultaneously.

"Neither is her brother, for that matter, although we have a while to go before we get to him. Amber is only an 'L'."

Harry came up at that point, and stood beside the stool. "Where are we to go, Hat, if we are not to be sorted?" he asked. He sounded only slightly panicked, although the Hat knew it wasn't for any reason another in his place would be panicked for.

"Calm yourself, young Potter. You are not to be kicked out. Hogwarts won't allow it. She understands were you two are coming from, and is accepting your elf heritage as it is. You can still go to classes; it will just be unusual because you will not have dorm rooms or Housemates." the Hat replied in kind.

"I sees. Then were are wes to sleep and eat?" asked Amber, removing the Hat, and gently setting it in her lap. She was relaxing completely, if the fact that she had reverted her grammar was any indication.

"House elves have their own rooms near the kitchens and Hogwarts has already taken the liberty of making you your own rooms as well. She even has just now added a connecting door so you can move from one's room to the other's anytime you feel like it."

"And our class schedule?" asked Harry.

"Already taken care of. Hogwarts and I had a chat when she started preparing for your arrival, and you'll be getting your schedules tomorrow by a phoenix. His name is Fawkes and he belongs to the Headmaster, although he will do things his own way, never mind Albus. We both understand that Albus is a maser manipulator, that is why is so upset about my being unable to sort you. He'll help you escape Albus' hands enough that you have free reign on you own life, without having to do everything he says."

"Wes can listens to his advice, but wes do nots have to takes it." summed up Amber.

The Hat nodded. "However, there is several on the staff you can talk to. The black haired man is Severus Snape, Head of Slytherin and Professor of Potions. Minerva McGonagall can be persuaded to think on her own, and Remus Lupin, the young man with graying hair will follow you to the ends of the Earth before letting Albus get his way. Remus is actually your father Miss Amber. Mr. Potter, your parents were good friends with him during their schooling, and would prefer that he take you in if your assigned legal guardian, Sirius Black, cannot. The also managed to work around the legalities concerning werewolves."

"I take it Remus is a werewolf? And Amber is one as well?" asked Harry. He got a nod.

"He is most eager to reunite with you, and was most devastated when you were proclaimed dead to the wizarding world. The both of you. Perhaps you can meet with him this weekend."

The twins agreed, and then decided to let the Sorting get on. Amber snapped her fingers and conjured a table for her and Harry, and managed to convince McGonagall to get on with things.

It seemed to take forever to actually finish the Sorting, and even then the Hat refused to leave, instead sitting with the Twins and conversing with them in Elfish. He explained, at their bequest, what happen to "Master Padfoot" and both twins were very angry. They knew Sirius wasn't secret keeper, and the fact he never got a trail to prove it—which was in his rights—made them even angrier.

"What is wrong with wizards today! You think they would know better then to trust their eyes, what with Ployjuice Potions, Animagi, Glamours and everything else! Or have they forgotten that they have magic and can make anything appear to be something else?" Amber ranted.

"Wizards are very dumb, and I'm sad to say that most only get into Ravenclaw by the skin on their teeth. Certainly Rowena would not have made such mistakes." the Hat agreed in English. He did that on purpose.

Most of the Hogwarts student body attempted to ignore it, although the whole Ravenclaw table, as well as the Ravenclaws sitting up at the staff table, bristled at the thinly veiled insult.

Amber and Harry laughed out loud, and then spent an enjoyable evening with the Hat, talking about normal things.

The only other outstanding thing that happened that night was that, once the students were dismissed, Amber and Harry disapparated. Fawkes came and retrieved that Hat so they could have a conversation of their own, and neither twin noticed or cared that they left the reminder of the school gawping like idiots for a good 10 minutes afterwards.

Nope. Amber Lupin and Harry Potter did not notice or care, instead settling down for the night together in their shared rooms.

After all, tomorrow was another day.