Surprisingly to Elara, Draco had managed to keep his mouth shut about Dean. Elara hoped he would keep it shut. She didn't need rumours going around about her being a mudblood sympathiser, a blood traitor, all because of two short conversations.

Elara held her breath when Draco joined her and her friends in the small boat they had to take to reach Hogwarts.

Why did he choose to come with us Elara wondered, she had expected him to go with his two other friends. That she would get a small moment away from him, him and that knowing look he kept giving her, like he knew there was something she was hiding.

He had the upper hand and he knew it. Elara shivered. He could really make her life at Hogwarts hell if he wished. She knew he wasnt keeping quiet out of the kindness of his heart. The Malfoys were not known for their kindness. She knew the boy wanted something from her. She just wasn't sure what it was.

Elara finally let out a sigh of relief when the boat journey ended and she scurried away from the young Malfoy boy. Daphne and Pansy followed close behind her.

"I thought we'd never get away from him," Daphne huffed out. "He really never does shut up."

"It's funny though." Pansy said with a smile. "Kept looking at you Elara," she continued frowning slightly. "What was that about?"

"I have no idea," Elara lied.

"Anyway, soon we'll be in our new dorm." Daphne said, "He can't bother us there."

Elara nodded. At least she would have somewhere to go to be away from him.

Elara remained unusually quiet while they were lead to the great hall by one of their new Professors. The woman who had sent Elara the letter. Minerva Mcgonagall, deputy headmistress.

Her worries soon ebbed away into wonder as she took in the magnificent castle around her. She wondered how she could ever not be happy in such a wondrous place.

When the eventually reached the Great Hall, Elara was shocked at how it somehow managed to outshine the rest of the castle.

Elara couldn't take her eyes off the ceiling, which looked like the sky, not even when the old Sorting Hat started to sing. She had never seen such magic before.

When the song ended pansy elbowed Elara to get her attention.

"They're about to begin." She whispered. "You'll probably be called first. Pay attention."

Elara nodded. She didn't want to look stupid when her name was called. luckily she wasn't the first as another girl, Elara had missed the name, was called up.

"HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat shouted, causing the table decorated in yellow and black to erupt into a cheer.

"Avery, Elara." McGonagall called.

Elara slowly stepped forward. Second wasn't a bad place. It meant she would be able to sit while everyone else was sorted.

She took her seat on the stool, for once everyone in the room was looking right at her and it made her shiver. She had though she would love being the centre of attention but she was wrong, it was nerve-wracking. Luckily the hat was so large it slid right down and covered her eyes so she couldn't see the sea of faces staring up at her.

Ah, an Avery. Been a while since I've had one of you.

Elara grasped the sides of the stool in surprise. She hadn't expected to hear the hat speak to her, only to shout out her house.

Where should I put you? You have a good mind, but that's not what you value. You feel a desperate need to prove yourself, you strive to be the best.

Elara didn't know what to think of the hats words, did it really have to go over her every thought, especially right then when her mind was such a mess of stress and emotions.

But isn't that the best time, isn't that when we show our true selves? The hat answered her queries.

I know my true self. I'm Slytherin, we both know it so get it over with! Elara demanded in her head.

If that's how you feel The hat said in her mind

"GRYFFINDOR!" The hat shouted across the Great Hall.

As the hat was removed from her head, cheers could be heard from the table decorated in red and gold, but it was in no way as cheery and loud as the Hufflepuff girl had gotten.

Complete and utter disbelief seeped through Elara, how could it have been possible? Had she heard the wrong house?

All she knew was that everything was wrong. Slowly she crept towards the Gryffindor table her head down, avoiding looking anyone in the eye. She had never been so ashamed with herself in her life.

She sat alone in her silence, not paying attention until a familiar name was called.

"Greengrass, Daphne."

She sat up her attention focused on the blonde girl walking up to the hat. She crossed her fingers, maybe she wouldn't be the only one.

"SLYTHERIN!" The hat shouted.

Elara watched as Daphne took a seat at the Slytherin table. Daphne looked up and caught Elara's eye, giving her a look of confusion. Elara shrugged, she didnt know what was going on either.

One by one her friends and everyone she knew was sorted into Slytherin. Leaving Elara feeling lonelier than she ever had in her life. She looked up at her friends for the fifth time, this Pansy had joined them. When Elara caught Pansy's eye the girl frowned and turned away. It was her worst nightmare come true. Even her best friend didn't want to look at her.

It wasn't until a final familiar name was called that Elara's interest spiked in the sorting again.

"Thomas, Dean." McGonagall called.

The mudblood boy. Elara wondered where he would be sorted, though she doubted he'd want to be friends anyway. Not after she called him a mudblood, she was sure his friend had explained what it meant by then, and anyway Elara couldn't have a mudblood as a friend. She was an Avery after all and Avery's didn't mix with the filth. No matter what she thought about Dean, he was still a mudblood.

"GRYFFINDOR!" The hat shouted.

Elara for the first time clapped along with her housemates, though stopped immediately when she realised what she was doing.

She looked over at the Slytherin table. Draco Malfoy was looking directly at her, a nasty look in his eyes.

Elara looked down at her knees. She couldn't face being sorted into Gryffindor and being labelled as a blood traitor. That look he had given her made her feel sick. She had a feeling that whatever blackmail plot Malfoy had been planning, was now done. He was going to tell everyone, and nothing she could do would stop him.

Once the final student, Blaise Zabini , someone Elara didn't know, was sorted into Slytherin the feast began.

Elara looked at all the magnificent food, she was staving, but felt so sick she couldn't eat. She was alone in the world, she would never be able to face her old friends, or even her own father. Nothing would be right again.

"Elara," Dean said taking a seat beside Elara, "You shouldn't be sitting alone, why don't you join us." he waved over at where he was siting with some of the other first years.

Elara looked up at him. Why was he still being so kind to her? She had been so rude both times they had met, but Elara really needed to not be alone, she wouldn't be able to handle Hogwarts if she didn't have anyone.

"Yeah," she said with a smile, "That'd be nice."

A/N I hope your are enjoying this so far. Thank you to everyone who has left a review so far, I will answer any questions in the reviews in my notes at the end of the next chapter.

Now for some questions

What do you think of the Slytherins? Have I portrayed them well?

How do you think Elara will handle being in Gryffindor?

What do you want to see happen?

Who do you think Elara should make friends with? (Excluding The golden trio because I don't want her to be a fourth member or take Hermione's place)