A/N: Thanks to everyone who has shown interest in this story so far! Here is the next chapter! Hope you enjoy!

The silhouette of the castle rose silently into view as the group of first years rounded the corner in their boats. Astera stared in wonder at the mass of turrets and walls, barely visible against the night sky except for the for warm orange glow issuing from the hundreds of windows. It looked so inviting and purely magical. In fact, the young girl could almost feel the magic buzzing in the air, a completely different feel from Malfoy Manor. It was full of excitement and joy, rather than a foreboding sense of dark magic.

The boats continued to glide closer to the castle, sailing towards a curtain of ivy in the cliff face. Astera ducked as they sailed through into a dark tunnel, feeling the ivy trail over her, cold and slightly damp. It wasn't a nice feeling. The boats finally came to rest shortly after at a small, underground harbour.

"Everybody out!" Hagrid shouted.

Astera quickly clambered out behind Theo, stepping onto the uneven gravel of the cave's floor.

After a quiet, and seemingly clumsy, boy was reunited with his pet toad, Hagrid led the way up several flights of stairs, stopping the group before a set of huge, oak doors that towered over the first years.

"Everybody here?" Hagrid called out.

After an affirmative yes rumbled from the group, Hagrid told them to wait for a Professor McGonagall before slipping through the doors. He shut them so quickly that Astera, who was craning her neck in an attempt to see what awaited her, couldn't even catch a glimpse of what lay beyond.

As the group waited, Astera felt the nerves bubbling up inside her. The way students were sorted was traditionally a secret, kept even from the most prestigious pureblood children. Would there be a test? Would it be written, or would they have to perform spells in front of the entire school? Around her, Astera could hear the uneasy whisperings of her fellow classmates, who were seemingly all worrying about the same thing as her. At least they were all in the same boat, she thought to herself.

The sharp click of heels broke Astera out of her thoughts and she looked up to see a stern-looking woman dressed in emerald green robes stepping between the first years and the oak doors. Her hair was scraped back into a severe bun and her eyes peered over the top of her spectacles as she surveyed the group in front of her. This could only be Professor McGonagall.

"Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," she said. "The start-of-term banquet will be starting shortly, but before you can take your seats, you will be sorted into your houses.

'The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family at Hogwarts, You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room." She paused briefly, looking around at the children. "The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history, and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards.

'While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn you house points, whilst any rule-breaking will lose you house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours." She paused again. "The Sorting Ceremony will begin in a few minutes in front of the whole school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."

Astera saw the way Professor McGonagall glanced at the plump boy who had previously lost his toad. His face was flushed, his tie loose and his robe was fastened under his left ear. The boy noticed and hurriedly pulled his robe back on, almost losing his toad again in the process. Astera glanced down at her own robe and adjusted it slightly before the long creak of the doors opening had her head shooting up.

"I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait here quietly."

Then the older woman slipped through the doors, leaving the first years alone again.

Astera looked around at her fellow students and immediately regretted it. The nervous whisperings she had heard earlier had amplified. A plain girl with bushy brown hair was frantically whispering spells to herself, pacing back and forth, another two boys were worriedly talking to one another, evidenced by the friendly hand one of them had placed on the other's shoulder.

All of a sudden, Astera heard a series of gasps and shouts and spun round. A series of pearl white figures had gathered behind them, appearing to be in the midst of some sort of argument. Ghosts.

The young girl stepped back, unsure of how to react. They didn't seem to have noticed the group of first years.

"Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance –" a monk was saying.

"My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he's not really even a ghost – I say, what are you all doing here?" A ghost dressed in medieval clothing had finally noticed them.

Nobody dared to say a word.

"New students!" the friar exclaimed suddenly. "About to be sorted, I suppose?"

Astera nodded. He seemed alright, for a ghost.

"Hope to see you in Hufflepuff," the Friar smiled. "My old house, you know."

"Move along now." Professor McGonagall's sharp reprimand made Astera jump. She hadn't realised the woman had returned. "The Sorting Ceremony's about to start. Now, form a line please, and follow me."

Astera slipped into the line after Draco and Pansy, her stomach tying itself in knots.

This was the moment.

The moment she would find out which house she truly belonged to.

Would it be Slytherin, like the rest of her family? She hoped so. Whilst she didn't like most of the people she knew would become Slytherins, she didn't want to risk the wrath of her family. Merlin forbid she end up in Gryffindor. Perhaps there was a way to deliberately end up in Slytherin…

However, at that point, all thoughts disappeared as she entered the Great Hall and looked up. It was just as the book had described. The warm light of the floating candles contrasted deeply against the dark velvety blue of the star-filled ceiling. It truly looked like the roof opened up to the actual sky.

The girl was so busy admiring the roof that she didn't realise that the line had stopped, and she ran straight into the back of Draco.

Immediately, he turned round and glared at Astera, his piercing blue eyes catching her own.

"Watch it," he hissed.

Astera winced. "Sorry."

The boy turned back and strode down the aisle in order to catch up with the now-moving line, leaving Astera to quickly hurry after him.

Once they reached the front of the hall, the group spread out. Astera tried to peer between the shoulders of Pansy and Draco to see what they were crowded around. But all she could see was a small wooden stool with an old frayed wizard's hat perched on top, so worn that the pointed peak had flopped to one side.

Astera wrinkled her nose. Was this old thing supposed to test them on what house they should be in? It didn't look like much. In fact, it looked filthy and she wasn't sure she wanted to go near it.

However, she didn't get a chance to ponder this thought any longer as the hat ripped itself open at the brim and start singing. Introducing not only itself as the Sorting Hat, but also the four houses and their traits.

When it stopped, the hall suddenly burst into a wild round of applause, startling the young witch slightly. She had been concentrating so hard on the what the lyrics meant that she hadn't realised the hat had stopped singing. If she'd heard right, all she had to do was put the hat on her head to be sorted. Whilst she wasn't sure she wanted something placed on her head that had clearly been collecting dust on some shelf for many years, she did feel some of the worry lift from her shoulders as Professor McGonagall reappeared with a large role of parchment.

"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said, confirming what Astera had got from the Hat's lyrics. "Abbott, Hannah!"

A small girl with round cheeks and blonde pigtails nervously made her way up to the stool and sat down. Professor McGonagall placed the hate carefully on the girl's head. Immediately it slipped down over Hannah's eyes. There was a moment's pause…

"HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat shouted.

The girl beamed as she slipped down and returned the hat to Professor McGonagall, almost skipping over to the table on the left-hand side of the room, whose occupants were cheering wildly.

Astera watched on nervously as name after name was called. Crabbe and Goyle both ended up in Slytherin, as did Millicent Bulstrode and Daphne Greengrass. No surprises there, Astera thought glumly.

"Lestrange, Astera!"

A hushed silence spread across the room, making Astera wince. Her name had been bound to make an impact; but she hadn't realised how much of an impact.

As she pushed past Draco, she noticed that the plump boy with the toad was staring at her, eyes wide in horror. Guiltily, she looked away, knowing that her father and his wife did many terrible things before they were incarcerated. Who knows what they had done to affect this boy?

Settling herself down on the stool, she looked out at the four tables of students staring back at her in silence. A few even had their noses wrinkled in disgust. Astera looked down, bracing herself for the moment that Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on her head. Then everything went dark. Astera pulled a face at the musty old smell, praying silently that this would be quick and the tatty thing would be taken away.

"Ah, what do we have here?" a voice said suddenly, startling the young witch. Then she realised that she was the only one who could hear it. The Hat.

"Hmm, you have quite the brain there, I see a thirst for knowledge," the voice mused. "You would fit very well into Ravenclaw. In fact, I'm certain you'd thrive there."

Astera's eyes widened in panic. No! she thought frantically. She had to find a way to trick this hat into letting her into Slytherin. She had to be part of that house – for her and for the Malfoys. It would never be forgiven if she ended up somewhere else. Desperately, she fought to conceal the parts of her that were least-like the Slytherin traits, focusing on pushing memories of cunningness to the front of her mind.

"Ah," said the hat. "Very cunning indeed. It won't work with me, Miss Lestrange, I can see everything inside your head, even those memories that you're trying to hide. A nice try nonetheless. And it has made up my mind. It's going to have to be…"

Astera squeezed her eyes shut.

"SLYTHERIN!"

The girl gasped in disbelief, opening her eyes to see the table on the far right erupt in cheers. Cheers for her. She beamed happily, jumping off the stool and gingerly handing back the filthy hat before making her way over to the cheering table.

She sat down next to Daphne, having no choice, and smiled at her out of courtesy before turning back to the Sorting Ceremony.

It wasn't long before Draco joined them, followed by, to her relief, Theo. Pansy was also sorted into Slytherin and then the moment came that everyone in the room had been waiting for.

"Potter, Harry!" Professor McGonagall called.

The hall was so silent that you could have heard a pin drop.

The small boy with messy black hair and round glasses that her and Draco had bumped into at Madame Malkin's, nervously made his way up to the stool. Astera stared in disbelief. The clueless and seemingly shy boy they had met was the famous Harry Potter? She continued to watch as the Sorting Hat was placed on his head, the rest of the room waiting with bated breath for its decision. Silence.

Finally, the hat opened at the brim.

"GRYFFINDOR!" it yelled, and the table just down from where Astera was sitting burst into the loudest applause of the night. The young boy happily ran and joined them, beaming from ear to ear.

"Ugh," groaned Draco from across the table. "Of course he ends up in Gryffindor."

Astera rolled her eyes. Harry Potter was never going to be a Slytherin, was he? Instead of listening to Draco's moans, she instead turned her gaze to the table at the end of the room, filled with the teachers of Hogwarts. She instantly recognised Professor Snape, as well as the large form of Hagrid. Professor Dumbledore she also recognised from her collection of chocolate frog cards. She had about 20 of him.

He was sat in the centre of the table, clearly enjoying the ceremony as he was sat forward eagerly, his blue eyes twinkling as 'Turpin, Lisa' became a Ravenclaw.

Astera then switched her gaze back to watch Professor Snape. Her new Head of House. She almost winced at that thought. The man had never really said anything to her when they had met at Malfoy Manor, just stared at her down his hooked nose. He was a quiet man and didn't seem to like being involved in the Malfoy's dabble in dark magic, but went along with it anyway. The only thing she really knew about him was that he taught potions here, but actually wanted the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts. His classes could turn out to be quite interesting, she thought.

Blaise Zabini being sorted into Slytherin brought the young witch's attention back to the Sorting Ceremony. Professor McGonagall was rolling up her parchment, tucking it under her arm and removing the stool and Sorting Hat.

At this point, Professor Dumbledore stood up. Smiling widely, he threw open his arms.

"Welcome!" he cried. ""Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!" He smiled again. "Thank you!" He sat back down, and the hall erupted in wild applause.

Astera had heard that the Headmaster was a bit unusual, but also that he was supposed to be the best wizard in the world. She couldn't quite see that from the aging man now tucking happily into a plate of roast potatoes. But she supposed that people often surprised you in the strangest of ways. There was probably a lot more to him than met the eye.

Satisfied, the girl turned back to her table to find everyone tucking into the now full plates of food that filled the table. Her stomach rumbled. She hadn't realised how long it had been since she had last eaten. So, piling her plate with chicken, potatoes and vegetables, she tucked in.

It wasn't until Pansy let out a shrill scream that her eyes left her plate. Her head shooting up, she immediately saw why Pansy had screamed. There, in the middle of the table, hovering over the pumpkin pasties, was the blood covered silvery ghost they had seen previously arguing with the Friar outside. The one dressed in medieval clothing and had a large, curly wig.

Some of the older students next to them chuckled.

"Bloody Baron," one of the sniggering girls said. "How was your summer?"

The ghost turned to face the girl. "Same as usual, it seems. I am still the only one in this castle who can control that pesky poltergeist." The Baron seemed to roll his eyes, then he turned to the first years. "I guess these must be the new recruits?"

"This is the Bloody Baron," the girl introduced. "He is Slytherin's house ghost. You can trust him to help you in the corridors, unlike many of the other ghosts."

"That you can be sure of," the Baron agreed, and Astera was sure she saw him smile, but it was hard to tell under all the blood. "Ah, it seems I am needed." The baron looked to where another ghost was beckoning him. "Good luck first years."

He nodded at them and glided through the nearest wall.

Quite soon after, the remainder of the puddings disappeared as suddenly as they'd appeared, and the hall went silent as Dumbledore stood up once more.

"Ahem – just a few more words now we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give.

'First years should note that the forest in the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well." The wizard's gaze seemed to focus on the Gryffindor table. "I have also been asked by Mr Filch the caretaker to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors.

'Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of term. Anyone interested in playing for their house team should contact Madam Hooch.

'And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to anyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."

There were a few puzzled looks at that statement, and a few laughs, but Astera could tell that he was being serious. Something in those blue eyes told her so.

"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" he cried happily, his tone completely changed from a moment before.

The wizard flicked his wand and a roll of pale gold ribbon unfurled itself above him, displaying what was clearly the lyrics of the song.

"Everyone pick their favourite tune," Dumbledore said. "And off we go."

The hall was suddenly filled with hundreds of different voices, all singing different notes at different times and in different keys. It made Astera want to clap her hands over her ears. She joined in regardless, choosing one of the songs she had heard Narcissa play a thousand times, one by Celestina Warbeck.

Whilst she may have been one of the last to finish, it was the twins who had helped her on the train who took the longest. Dumbledore conducted them with his wand until the very last note.

"Ah music," he said with a happy sigh. Astera saw Snape roll his eyes out of the corner of her eye. "A magic beyond all we do here. And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"

The girl who had introduced them to the Bloody Baron now stood up and introduced herself to them as a Slytherin prefect called Gemma.

"Follow me please," she called in a matter-of-fact voice. "Try to keep up, you don't want to get lost in the castle at this time of night."

Astera quickly scrambled off the bench and made her way after Gemma, who was striding across the hall.

As the prefect led the first years down several passages and staircases, Astera started to wonder how she was going to get anywhere without getting lost. This castle was huge! She was glad when they finally came to a stop in front of a large stone wall.

"Salazar," the girl said firmly.

The stone seemed to melt away in front of their eyes, revealing a hidden doorway. From within, a silvery green light filtered out into the corridor.

Stepping inside, it became clear that the eerie light came from the floor to ceiling windows that looked out into the Black Lake. Astera thought that it was quite relaxing listening to the waves lap against the glass.

The room itself was very tall, and was decorated elegantly in green and silver. Plush emerald green sofas stood next to the elaborately carved fireplace, enchanted to emit green flames, and a sparkling chandelier hung from the vaulted ceiling, scattering beads of light across the room.

"Girl's dormitory is down to the left," Gemma called out. "And boys to the right. Breakfast will be nice and early at 7:30 sharp. Best to get some sleep, tomorrow will be a long day."

Astera glanced at Draco, who was already striding down the right corridor, before turning to follow behind Daphne and Pansy as they walked down the corridor to the left. It felt weird going separate ways. Part of her was a little hurt he hadn't spoken to her; or even congratulated her on making Slytherin. But she pushed that thought aside. This was her new start.

Arriving at the dorm room, the girls found five four-poster beds, each one hung with deep green curtains with silver tassels and made up with soft-looking bedding. Astera's was the closest to the door, her trunk next to her bed, along with a set of Slytherin accessories, including a tie and a jumper.

Astera could feel her eyelids growing heavy as she brushed her teeth and slipped into her pyjamas. She quickly got into bed and pulled the curtains across, not wanting to be disturbed by her dormmates. She didn't think she could face them at that moment.

Lying on her back, the girl pushed all thoughts of Draco away and recalled the ceiling of the Great Hall, the thousands of twinkling stars dotting the velvety dark sky. This was her last thought before she slipped into dreamland.