A/N: I don't own Harry Potter

This is for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Assignment #2

Task Three: Brighten Your Life. The lighting in the room can be an upgrade you never knew you needed. It could make an adjustment of dimming your fire or the spark you're seeking to liven the place up. Find the lamps that fit you and light it up.

Write about someone's day brightening for some reason.

Word Count: 1006

The train slowed to a stop and Hya felt herself jolt in her seat. She'd been sitting alone, too afraid to even try to talk to anyone. She'd already embarrassed herself by not knowing how to get onto the platform. Thankfully, she'd heard that large family talking. She wondered where they'd all disappeared to. She hadn't seen any of them on the train, but maybe they were sitting together in one of the compartments.

It didn't matter. Who would want to be friends with Hyacinth Potter anyway? She wore clothing that was three sizes too big, had hair that looked as though it had been cut with a weed whacker, and was so scrawny and skinny she looked as though she was nothing more than skin and bones. It wasn't any surprise no one had wanted to sit with her. They could probably tell she didn't belong just as much as she felt it.

She looked out the window, but it was too dark to see anything. They must have arrived at Hogwarts. Slowly, she stood, grabbing the black robes she'd bought with Hagrid. She knew he worked at Hogwarts and slowly she started feeling a little excited. He'd been the first person who'd been nice to her because of who she was and not just so her cousin wouldn't pound their face in.

Sure, sometimes Daisy liked Hya when it was convenient for her, like doing her homework for her, but most of the time, she was the one throwing the first punch. Hya stepped out of the compartment, joining the queue of students. Some of them were older and already had their house colors on their robes. Hya wasn't sure which house she hoped to be in. She didn't think she really belonged to any of them. She wasn't brilliant, or brave, or cunning, or anything. Part of her was terrified that this was all some elaborate prank and everyone would start laughing at her. She followed the other students and ended up in the cool night air.

"Firs' years!"

She heard Hagrid call. She smiled as she headed that direction. At least she'd know one person here!

"Four to a boat!" he announced. Hya stepped into the nearest one and looked at the people sitting with her. There were two other girls and a round faced boy.

"Hi, I'm Susan, this is Hannah and Neville," Susan stated, pointing to each person in turn. Hya nodded, glad to have someone talking to her at least.

"I'm Hya," she replied, smiling at them. They looked friendly at least.

"Great! Ohh, look up, there's the castle!" Susan exclaimed, pointing. Hya felt her breath catch in her chest. It was amazing and looked too real to be a prank. This was really happening! She was really going to school in a castle with other witches. She figured the boys must be called something else, but she wasn't too worried about it at the moment. Right now, she just wanted to take in the sights of Hogwarts.

"Which house do you think you'll be in, Hya?" Hannah asked, turning her attention from the castle.

"I don't know, I mean..." Hya tried to find the right words to answer. How could she tell them that she didn't think she even really belonged here?

"None of them sound like you?" Neville asked. Hya nodded.

"Don't worry, I feel the same. I wasn't even sure if I was magic," Neville admitted. "My uncle hung my out the window by my ankles... I fell, and thankfully bounced, turns out I had magic after all."

"I was raised by... um, I think the word is 'muggles'?"

"Non magic users, yes. Don't worry, Hya, you'll be fine," Susan promised as the boat hit the edge of the lake and the four stepped out making their way to the castle.

"Single file, by alphabetical order please," a witch ordered. Hya looked at her and decided she was most certainly someone she didn't want to cross.

"I'm first, I'm always first. Why does my surname have to be Abbott?" Hannah whined as Susan took her place behind her.

"At least we're still together. Neville's lost somewhere in the middle and where did Hya go?"

"Back here!" Hya called, waving from the end of the middle. She would at least know where everyone else had been placed.

"We'll see you in a minute then," Hannah called as she was called into the Great Hall. Hya watched Hannah leave, and then Susan, then a bunch of people she didn't know. She wondered why none of them had approached her on the train? She could see one of the red headed boys at the end of the line. She shrugged. He didn't matter.

Finally she heard her own named called. She stepped into the Great Hall and could feel everyone watching her. She stepped up to the front of the room, her heart pounding loudly in her chest. What if she didn't belong? What if the hat sat on her head and never said anything? She could see Susan, Hannah, and Neville sitting together under the Hufflepuff banner. She took a few wobbly steps to the stool and finally sat down. The hat was placed on her head.

"You could be brave, could be powerful," the hat commented. Hya remained silent, terrified that she wouldn't fit in where ever the hat put her.

"Ahh, that's what you're worried about then? Better be-"

"HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat announced loudly. Hya sighed in relief as she rushed to join her new friends. She could see Hagrid watching from the head table. She smiled at him and made a mental note to stop by and see him, maybe they could all go?

"Welcome, Hya," Hannah stated, sliding over so Hya could sit with them. Susan flashed her a smile.

"See, we both belong after all," Neville stated.

"Yes, we do, we all belong together," Hya answered, thinking she had finally found her home, and a potential family with which to share it with.