Chapter seven – Life at Hogwarts Begins

"Before the sorting begins, I would like to welcome Rose Monika Davis an exchange student from America. She is going into fourth year, but still needs to be sorted, so this year we will be starting the sorting ceremony with Miss Davis. So, Professor Flitwick, would you please start the Sorting?" I felt myself going red with embarrassment after the Headmistress' welcome speech.

"Davis, Rose," little Flitwick piped up. I nervously walked away from the crowd of chattering first years and sat on the stool in front of the school. I took the old wizard's hat in my trembling hands and placed it on my head until it covered my eyes.

"Ah! Hermione Granger's daughter, I'm prosuming? You sure have her brains all right, and her bravery. The question is where to put you? Not Slytherin or Hufflepuff. Maybe Ravenclaw – they could do with a student like you. I can see in your mind though that there's a certain boy in Gryffindor that you don't want to be apart from. You are the most difficult person to sort since Harry Potter. Well, if you're sure that you want to be in Gryffindor so that you can be with the boy, then I better do as I'm told. GRYFFINDOR!" Relief flowed through me when I heard the hat shout the last word to my fellow classmates. I heard shouts of happiness coming from the table to my left. I looked over and my eyes locked with James' – sapphire blue meets emerald green (A/N: I know this quote is used way to many times in HP shipping fics, but I really wanted to use it cause its so effective). I practically ran over to sit beside my best friend.

"Well done Rose," Sam patted my back.

"Congrats Rose!" Darina and Dave said simultaneously.

"Welcome to the club!" Fred shouted across the table. The sorting continued for the first years. By the end of it, we had eleven new Gryffindors, all ready to prove that they were brave enough to be placed in the house of lions.

"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. I shall save the speeches for later, but now I think it's time we all filled up on the glorious foods sent from the kitchens. Enjoy!" As McGonnagal sat down, the golden platters filled up with food and drinks flowed into the silver goblets. I had never seen a feast like this. At Salem, we had a normal dinner like a normal school that we each went up and collected from the lunch elves. I was in so much awe with all the different foods (roast beef, chicken, pork chops, lamb, sausages, bacon, steak, boiled potatoes, chips, Yorkshire puddings, vegetables, gravy, ketchup, mint humbugs, you name it) that I didn't realise my mouth had dropped open slightly.

"Are you just going to sit there and gawped at the food or are you going to eat?" James asked with a grin. I started piling food onto my plate and poured myself a glass of pumpkin juice. When all main courses were cleared, many different desserts replaced them. I had a slice of hot fudge pudding and it was to die for! I couldn't believe how good the food tasted; Hugo was going to love it here! After the desserts were cleared, McGonnagal once again stood from her chair. The Great Hall was silent for the first time all evening.

"'To our new students welcome. To our old students welcome back': the words of Albus Dumbledore. The best thing that ever happened to Hogwarts, everyone said. He died during the Second Wizarding War, as many others did. This year, we celebrate the war's 25th anniversary. To remember those who we have lost, and to welcome those who we have welcomed to our side, we will celebrate by having the Forget-Me-Not Ball on the eve of Christmas this year. More details of the Ball will be posted nearer the time. New students must be told that the Dark Forest near the Game Keeper's hut is strictly forbidden and I remind older students of the same. There is to be no dueling in the corridors during classes. If anyone would like to join their House Quidditch team, please notify your Quidditch captain: for Hufflepuff, Aliza McMillan; for Ravenclaw, Katie Chang; for Slytherin, Scorpius Malfoy; and for Gryffindor, James Potter!" Applause erupted from all four tables – obviously the captain's only found out that they were captains now, or else James would have told me.

"Why didn't you say anything James?" Sam asked his best friend with a huge smile on his face.

"I didn't know! I thought Jason would get it!" He turned to the eldest Weasley. "Why didn't you get it? You were captain last year, and the best thing to happen to Gryffindor since Oliver Wood!"

"I was offered, but I turned it down. I think I need to focus on my studies this year, or else I'll be repeating again. I suggested to McGonnagal that she give you the slot. Surprise!"

"Congratulations James! You must be the youngest captain Hogwarts has ever seen!" another Gryffindor said.

"Along with Malfoy," James said with a tone of disgust in his voice.

"Yeah, but you'll be better. I've seen you play," I said with a smile on my face.

"Thanks," he returned the smile and squeezed my hand that lay on the table. We looked into eachother's eyes.

"Oi! Get a room you two!" I let go of James' hand with a jump. Sam let out a muffled laugh.

"Very mature Sam." James glared at his best friend, who suddenly stopped laughing. "Come on; let's get to the common room." As I looked around the Great Hall, I realised that the other students were starting to head out of the room, following prefects and forming groups. "Coming Rose?" James was looking at me, as I watched the students head out the door.

"Yeah," I said as I got up from my seat. I walked with James and Sam up seven flights of twisting stairs with some that move and others with a missing step.

"Leo Fortis," Sam said to the portrait of a Fat Lady in a Pink Dress. The portrait opened to reveal a passage way. We crawled through, one by one, until we came face to face with a large circular room. There were plump red armchairs in different areas of the room. A large fire filled the room with an orange glow.

"Your dorm is up the stairs on the right. Ask one of the other students where the fourth year dorm is," James said to me as I looked at the only notice on the bulliten board ("Have you got your wand? If not, write to Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.").

"Thanks James. Night Sam," I said as I passed the ginger Weasley to go up the stairs. "Night James. See ya in the morning." I walked passed him, but he grabbed my hand and pulled me into a hug.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to do that. I don't know what came over me," he said as he quickly pulled away, blushing. I didn't care; I liked the tingly feeling I got in the pit of my stomach when he touched me.

"It's ok. Night James," I said again. I kissed him softly on the cheek and went up to my dorm.

I found it easily enough, even though a second year put me in the wrong direction. I found my trunk at the bottom of a bed that I prosumed was mine. There were three other girls in the room when I went inside: Samantha Roberts, Kate Evans and Rebecca McLaggen. They looked at me, introduced themselves (Rebecca starting them off) and I soon got to know what type of people they were, and what secrets they covered up: Samantha was quiet and stuck to herself mostly, but was big time crushing on the most popular boy in school; Kate was a brainiac who hated anyone who didn't share her love of books; Rebecca was the bubbly, outgoing girl and was secretly smart but wouldn't tell anyone. I quickly said goodnight to the girls and we all went to bed. They were probably all falling asleep thinking about me and my secrets. Luckily for me, I always keep my secrets to myself. I closed my eyes, but couldn't stop thinking about James, my so-called soul mate, my best friend, my Quidditch captain, my reason that I chose Gryffindor!