"All students will change into their dress robes as we will be arriving shortly. First years will report to the docks with Gamekeeper Rubeus Hagrid. All others will go to the carriages. Please leave your trunks and items on the train, they will be taken independently up to the castle. Oh, and welcome to Hogwarts." A woman's voice sounded across the train. The announcement came just as I awoke from my nap. I glanced around. The cabin was empty. Weren't Granger and Neville here earlier?

Oh! That's right.

The toad.

I remembered.

Hadn't they found it yet?

Yawning widely, I reached up to my trunk tugging out the black robes that Kingsley insisted I fold in perfect triads. I would have been just as happy enough to shove all my clothing into the trunk, but Uncle always insisted on perfection.

"Wrinkles make for shabbiness." He often told me, "And shabbiness leads to laziness."

Laziness was the worst in his book.

I shrugged on my robe, swarming in the thick black sleeves and wideness of it. He had bought all of my robes two sizes larger, so I'd grow into them better. I flapped my arms wildly, smirking as the dark folds fell several inches beyond my hands.

"I could be a penguin in this." I chuckled. Kingsley was always economic in his purchases. Not that I minded. He had taken me in even though I knew deep in his heart, he'd never desired children of his own. He always treated me as one of his own. I was grateful.

The cabin doors opened. I could hear excited whispers bubbling into the walkway as I exited with the mass exodus of students.

"-finally, we've arrived, can't wait-

"Oh! Look at the lights!"

"Wow!"

I blinked, taking in the sudden darkness as I left the train. My jaw dropped. It was massive, towering into the night, windows glittering with warm and luminescent lights. The castle seemed suspended in the clouds, held on the tops of sharp cliffs protruding from the horizon beneath. Before us, a murky darkness stretched out, wavering, reflecting the castle's image below.

The Black Lake! I realized. On the shore, I could clearly see boats waiting, each illuminated by its own lantern that burned and flickered like a firefly.

"First years! First years with me!" A loud voice rumbled. Moving towards us was a giant figure, cloaked in heavy furs with a heavy pair of boots I swore made the earth rumble when he stepped.

"Rubeus Hagrid here, follow me yer little ones!" He waved, "No more than three to a boat mind you! Let there be no sinking tonight!"

Eagerly, I headed towards the boat nearest me, jumping into it without hesitation. I slipped my hand into the darkness of the water. It was icy cold, reminiscent of my beach at home. My cheeks tilted upwards. Perhaps I could feel home here after all.

"Can we join you?" Two dark haired girls stepped forward, identical in every way except the shape of their nose.

"Please." I said, scooting over to the front of the boat.

"It's so beautiful isn't it? Mom always said so but seeing it now…"One of the twins trailed off dreamily.

"I know exactly what you mean." I replied, "This will be home sweet home for the next several months."

"I'm Padma by the way, this is my sister, Parvati!" The twin with the slightly smaller nose offered.

"Sylver." I replied simply.

The boats began to move and we found ourselves in a quiet silence. Not the awkward kind of one, but in the space of awe and contemplative reflection as we neared the towering of the castle. The lanterns flickering reflected on the murky water below as did the multitude of lights from Hogwarts.

Someone yelped loudly, followed by a large splash in the water.

Had someone fallen in? I wondered.

"Oi! Who's fallen in?" Rubeus Hagrid called, "Every year, one of ya falls in and every year, he's got to fish you out!"

The water churned and suddenly, what I could only assume was the wriggling body of the boy who fell in was hoisted up into the air by a large pale tentacle.

"It's a squid!" Padma screamed, "A giant squid!"

Just as quickly as the boy had fallen into the lake, he was plopped back into his boat, completely drenched, but unharmed. The tentacle waved in front of their boat and vanished beneath the surface of the lake.

Before I knew it, we had reached the dock, where we were swept up into a large staircase just outside two very large wooden doors with brass knockers.

"Welcome to Hogwarts (I recognized her voice as the same one who made the announcement earlier on the train). My name is Professor McGonagall, head of the Gryffindor house. In a few moments, you will all be sorted into your houses. These will be in a sense, your families during your time here at Hogwarts. Good behavior will win you points for your house and any rule breaking-" She looked rather pointedly at some of the boys who were whispering amongst themselves, "will cost your house."

She then went on to explain the differences between the great houses before opening the grand doors where all the older students were waiting. There were four long oak tables, filled nearly to the brim with students. Green for Slytherin, blue for Ravenclaw, yellow for Hufflepuff, and red for Gryffindor. At the front, the rest of our professors awaited us. I quickly scanned them. Of course there was our Headmaster Dumbledore- easily distinguished by his long silver beard. There were other I knew, the short professor Sprout, the raven-haired man in black robes who looked looked almost angry to be there.

"-better be Gryffindor or else my brothers will kill me-" A red haired boy whispered to a scrawny brunette beside me.

They began the sorting starting with the A's. Being a Bones, I knew I would be called earlier than most.

A girl with pigtails was sorted into Hufflepuff, followed by two boys in Slytherin.

"Sylver Bones!" Professor Mcgonagall called.

Boldly, I stepped forward, ignoring several comments about my baggy robes. This was it. I bit the inside of my lip as I sat down on the wobbly stool, the sorting hat thrust upon my head. It whispered to me.

Hmmmm...a good mind to be sure...wit and mischief in the works...an appreciation for art and the beauty of song and dance... ambition to shine in what you love...yet fear for how others might view your differences...well...if your sure...better be-

"Ravenclaw!" The hat yelled.

I grinned, bouncing off the stool, hopping towards where several Ravenclaw's sat, applauding me to their table.

The feast was spectacular, and I found myself joined by several others like Padma Patil and Eddie Carsomething or what not. The entire room fell silent when Harry Potter was called forward.

Ah, so that's who everyone was talking about! Harry Potter- the only known survivor of the killing curse.

My heart throbbed painfully as I thought of my family who had been murdered by he-who-must-not-be-named.

He didn't look like much. A bit scrawny and perhaps underfed. But there was something in his eyes, were they brown or green- I couldn't tell at a distance- a determination to prove himself to all the students surrounding him. I felt a strange kinship with him- after all, both our families had been killed by that terrible wizard.

The hat took a long time for him before deciding on Gryffindor causing a ruckus of screams followed by a pair of orange-headed twins screeching "We've got Potter!"

The night passed quickly in food and after what seemed only minutes. Then, I found myself staring out into the gigantic glass planed window that overlooked the lake from the top bunk of a bed wondering who I would become in the next years at Hogwarts.