p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"When Renee stepped off the train, she dusted off her robes and then was greeted by a larger man whom Harry called Hagrid. Renee was gobsmacked but kept her distance rather close to Ron. br /"Alright First Years! Follow me!" Hagrid boomed as he led the the group of first years to a bunch of boats that were to cross the river, Renee had her doubts about this. First a train that lasted hours and now boats? br /"Excuse me…Hagrid? Is Hogwarts safe?" Renee squeaked shuffling her way to the front and she was greeted with a warm /"Of course, 'ogwarts is the safest place in the world." Hagrid replied with a glimmer in his eyes as he glanced down at the smaller girl. "Sorry, what is yer name?"br /"Renee sir."br /"Pleasure to meet yer and please call me Hagrid…All right first years! Four students per boat and then it'll be set to follow me!" Hagrid called and with that, all the first years squabbled to to find 'buddies'.br /"Renee! Come sit with me!" Hermione called and eventually grabbed the long sleeve of Renee's robe. "I figured you'd want to take a break from those boys."br /"Thanks! It'll be nice to sit with someone new." Renee grinned and Hermione interlocked their arms /"This is just so we don't get trampled on during our first few minutes of school."br /Hermione and Renee clambered into a small boat alongside two other girls who were then introduced to be Lavender Brown and Susan Bones and when everyone had settled, the boats slowly moved and began to follow the front boat to where Hagrid was sitting. br /"How peculiar." Renee heard Hermione breathe out but eventually her attention was diverted /What came into view was a large castle that had fire lights hanging around the castle giving Hogwarts an illuminated look making it look even more magical than ever. br /The boat ride itself wasn't too long and when they were greeted by a sour faced caretaker by the name of Filtch, they rushed up the stairwell to where they were greeted by an older lady. br /"If you wait here, I'll come and get you when we're ready." She murmured before turning away and disappearing behind large /"So it's true then…what they're saying on the train…Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts." A voice broke the silence and Renee struggled to figure out where the voice had come from being that Ron's head was blocking most of her view. "This is Crabbe and this is Goyle…" He continued before coming into view where a small blonde boy stood directly in front of Harry. "And I'm Malfoy….Draco Malfoy." He said smugly but Ron sniggered and quick as a flash Draco twisted his head towards Ron. "Think my name is funny do you? No need to ask for yours….Red hair? And a hand-me-down robe? You must be a Weasley." br /Renee wasn't going to stand for this, her lips tightened and she gently shoved Ron out the way. br /"Hey…leave him alone." She hissed through gritted teeth as she was now glaring directly at /"And uh….emWho /emare you?" He asked in a gentler tone which threw the girl for a brief /"Riddle…Renee Riddle and if you speak to Ron like that again…I'll make your life miserable." She said coldly before turning back to Ron. "Are you okay?"br /"Y-Yeah I'm fine. Thanks Renee. I never knew you had that side of you." He whispered trying to listen to Draco boast even more to Harry. br /"Ignore him Ron, he's not worth it." Renee tutted and then she felt a soft squeeze from behind her on her arm and Renee turned to see Hermione smiling up at her. br /br /Eventually the older lady came back and greeted them all with a smile and when she told them they were ready, Renee held her breath as the large double doors opened to reveal a large hall where tons of other students were sat at four tables looking at the first years as if they had three heads. br /"It's not real, the ceiling…it's bewitched to make it look like the night sky…I read about it in Hogwarts: A History." Hermione grinned glancing upwards and Renee tilted her head at the other girl. br /"Did you read about everything before coming here?" She asked with a small /"Definitely. Books have been one of my closest friends." Hermione replied with a bright smile and then when everyone stopped her face fell. "I hope we're in the same house." She eventually whispered now looking /"Me too. But if we're not…we'll still be friends." Renee whispered back giving Hermione's wrist a light reassuring squeeze. br /"Now, when I call your name, you will come forth, I shall place the Sorting Hat on your head, and you will be sorted into your houses." The older lady started as she began to unravel a large piece of parchment and with a quick glance…the sorting ceremony was about to begin. "Hermione Granger!"br /Hermione turned pasty white and gulped before she rose to the stool and the hat was placed on her head and with that, the hat came to life. br /"Ahhhh…right then….right! Okay…GRYFFINDOR!" br /And then the Gryffindor table exploded into a fit of cheers and as Hermione walked past, she gave Renee a bright smile. Now Renee had a small desire to be in Gryffindor with her new found friend. br /"Draco Malfoy!" br /The blonde boy from earlier swaggered up to the hat and the hat barely touched his head before being announced he was in Slytherin. br /"Susan Bones!"br /Susan was sorted into /"Ronald Weasley!"br /"Good luck Ron!" Renee whispered as Ron who was now showing signs of nerves slowly made his way up to the stool. br /"HA! Another Weasley….I know just what to do with you…Gryffindor!" br /And Renee saw the relief wash over Ron as he made his way to the table. He had his fingers crossed twice for both Harry and Renee. br /"Renee Riddle!" br /And then Renee's face flushed a dead white and her stomach tied itself in a tight knot. Her legs trembled as she made her way to the stool. She felt so many eyes on her and she wanted the ground to swallow her up to hide her from the eyes that were staring at her. Eventually Renee made her way to the stool and she felt the fabric touch upon her head. br /"Ah! A Riddle! Haven't seen one of you in a LONG time. You have conflicting traits within you making very difficult to place you….Hmmm…okay…..I see….I can see it now! SLYTHERIN!"br /Renee's heart sank and her breath felt short. Slytherin?! Her? Not only was she without her friends, she was with a snotty blonde boy and was far from honouring her mother in Ravenclaw. br /Eventually, she sat with the cheering Slytherin's feeling defeated and beyond sick, Renee wanted to cry and scream and fight her cause with this. She caught eyes with Hermione and Ron who gave her a sad smile but Renee could not muster up any strength to smile back. br /br /Renee was hardly listening at this point and then her attention was snapped back when the feast appeared in front of her. br /"Hey…you don't look so good…You should eat something." A voice piped next to her and Renee's head twisted to the girl next to her who seemed to have a friendly face and had an all round nice persona about her. "Name is Tracy Davis. You're that Riddle girl right?"br /"Y-Yeah….Renee Riddle." Renee stuttered out as she straightened her slumped over position. "Pleasure to meet you Tracy."br /"Likewise Renee. Hey listen, I know you're disheartned about being in this house. I'm the same. Not to mention, I'm a half blood. My friends are in Hufflepuff. Susan Bones? Yeah…that's my girl." Tracy explained sighing as she dipped a piece of turkey in gravy. "Me and you? We stick together whilst we're in this house." br /"Sure. Slytherin won't be so bad knowing I've got you here." Renee smiled now starting to pile a small amount of food onto the silver /"Besides, Draco keeps looking at you and talking to his friends with that smug grin." Tracy tutted and then she leant in close to Renee. "I'll make sure he doesn't do anything to you."/span/p