Unbeta'd.

Rest of the road went without any interesting happening. I might've napped a bit since Lee woke me, poking my shoulder. The twins were already sitting in the coupe; all three boys had their Hogwarts uniforms on with the proud Gryffindor lion prancing. Since I had yet to be sorted into a house I wore a simple black robe with an ugly peaked hat. I've got all my textbooks and necessary school equipments but I did not bring a pet with me – first of all, why would I, second of all, I wasn't utterly fond of frogs, bats, rats or cats or any other kind of strange beings. True, I had a spider but it was a gift and I did not insist to bring him. The only animal I really liked were dogs but it was against the rules. Shame.

When we arrived at the Hogsmead's platform an enormous, hairy man called out for the first graders – I knew from Lee that he was the keeper, Hagrid. I saw another huge creature right next to him – a dog! I was thinking whether it bites (the dog, I mean, not Hagrid) when a small red tornado thundered by me. I only realized she was a first-year-girl when she stopped in front of Hagrid with the other newbies. Lee told me that the Weasley was indeed a big family – the oldest boy, Bill was working as a Curse Breaker for Gringotts in Egypt. Charlie, the second son was chasing dragons in Romania (or was he hiding from them?), and then there was Percy who was attending Hogwarts as well. Story was, I was to meet him provided I become a Gryffindor – he was a Prefect and not exactly one hell of bloody fun. Fred and George's little brother was at his second year here and called Ronald. I've heard about the events of the last year – the case of the Philosopher's Stone and The Chosen One. With a friend like Harry Potter I bet I wouldn't be bored either. The red little tornado, I assumed, was Ginny Weasley, the only girl of the seven Weasley children. She was eleven. Six brothers, Merlin!

A grinning Lee Jordan and a not so joyous pair of Weasleys arrived.

"What happened?" They were looking sort of serious and from what I've seen so far it wasn't their natural state.

"Ron," they answered in chorus, eyes staring into nothing.

"Some details, if you please?"

"Ron. We didn't see either him or Harry getting on the train. We thought maybe we just missed them but Hermione haven't seen them, either," George said, finally looking at me.

"Hermione?" What the troll, another sibling?!

"Yup. You know she's our baby brother's other best friend… or should I say girlfriend," Fred grinned.

"She's very wiseacre…"

"…and pedantic…"

"…and a bit strict…"

"… but she's fine," they finished. Honestly, how did they do that, finishing the other's sentences?"

Meanwhile all the students got off the train which has rattled away. Fortunately we didn't have to carry our luggage anymore and I found myself in a boat, nearing the castle on the mirror-smooth lake. The trip was short and soon enough we were walking up the pebbly road leading to the castle. I've always adored architecture and so Hogwarts' towers and windows and yards made me lose my wind even examining them from afar. It was beautiful, all its cumbersome existence. I've decided immediately that I will have my own voyage of discovery even if trolls or acramantulas block my way.

Had I only known…!

# # #

I don't want to bore anyone with the rest – nothing happened, really. As soon as we reached the gates Professor McGonagall (I've learned this was her name) herded me inside with the first-graders. Cacophony could've been heard from behind a closed door – it was the Great Hall, by the description of Lee, where all the houses and the teachers ate together. McGonagall left us for a while in some kind of waiting room (the little fellows looked at me like I was a niffler or something) and then suddenly the door flew open and the freshman (with me at the rear) marched into the Great Hall. It was even more alluring than I've imagined – the hall was spacious and the enchanted ceiling was simply magical (no, that wasn't a really bad pun). The floating candles, the four long tables, the delicately arched windows – it all fascinated me.

It seemed like the others found me quite fascinating as I got strange, measuring looks and glares from nearly everyone and hush push came from every possible direction as I ambled along the way. Sure enough, I was a bit tall for a first grader but still quite small for my age.

On the three-legged chair standing on some kind of podium was an old, grey-colored hat. As I've been told it was the Sorting Hat, as a result of the name, I assumed it sorted everyone into one of the four houses. Sweet Merlin, despite I was already fifteen anxiety took over me. I imagined it was what my mother felt when I was little and I started to cook which I really liked but really sucked at and I thought I was good – hence, I've served mud-cookies and grass-soups which she had to ate.

The sorting went by alphabetic order. There was only four people ahead me, two became a Hufflepuff, one a Ravenclaw and one a Slytherin – I know, 'judge not, lest ye be judged', but still, I saw something evil in his eyes.

"Cook, Ayami-Jennifer!" McGonagall called my name. I crossed the distance with the longest steps I could provide and I quickly reached the podium. I sat down on the chair and the Sorting Hat was placed upon my head.

"Interesting, interesting! It is quite rare to have someone to-be-sort who's not a first-grader. In fact, I could count it on one hand."

That is if you'd have a hand.

"Hum, hum, this is hard. Independent and autonomous, sly and brave at the same time, though I see there are some problems with diligence… I got it. GRYFFINDOR!"

I could barely believe my ears as the Gryffindors started to cheer and clap. Lee offered me a place right next to him and somehow I found myself next to him. Soon, the ceremony was over. Not that I really cared, I was still so relieved by the fact I've made it to Gryffindor I hardly recognized a red-haired girl next to me – Fred and George's little sister became a Gryffindor as well. Ron and Harry, however, were still nowhere to be found. Sadly, I got to know Percy quite soon since he was sitting near – I immediately realized why the boys found him so boring.

The Headmaster spoke one of those boring, necessary speech which every Headmaster had to spoke and then came the part I've waited for – food! A lot of food. I've packed my plate full of grub; it would've been enough for a smaller army. I ate, Lee ate, and the twins alternately ate and worried (soundlessly) about their brother.

# # #

The stairs at Hogwarts are really funny. They move up and down and to the side as well, whenever they feel like it, one of the Gryffindors were hit on the head, for example. I still don't know how he managed to do so. While I was thinking about ways to hit your head with a bottom of a staircase so high, the line of Gryffindors seeking upstairs came to a halt and I successfully bumped into Percy. He pushed himself ahead and I stood on my tiptoes to see what was going on there. There was a painting on the massive wall, portraying a rather… full-shaped lady.

"Wattlebird," Percy told her the passwords, making the portray open up the secret door leading to the common room. It was highly comfy and homey, I thought so at least. There were squashy armchairs, rugs and pillows everywhere and a fireplace, too, where fire was lit as we stepped inside, providing pleasant heat. Percy started a monologue or something but I didn't really pay attention as I was looking for the three people I've known but I couldn't find any of them. When the crowd separated (boys and girls apart) I followed the girl-group. Since the girls in my age were all sorted into rooms already I had to share one with three first-grader girls, one being Ginny Weasley. The other two were Katharine Alexander and Linda Smith, both somewhat cute though I would've been happier to have someone of my age as a roommate.

"Hi! I'm Ayami-Jennifer Cook but please, call me AJ," I sat down on the bed next to Ginny with a smile on my face. Try to make friends, AJ, I reminded myself.

"I'm happy to meet you! I'm…"

"I know. You're Ginny Weasley. I know your brothers," I interrupted. She smiled.

"Which ones?" Well, yes, this wasn't very straight-forward so I told him that I know Fred and George. "They don't know anything about Ron, either?" she asked with hope in her voice.

"I don't know, when I last spoke to them they didn't know anything for sure," I answered, smiling apologetically.

"Oh, I see." She turned to her luggage and started to unpack her personal belongings. Meanwhile the other two girls eyed me with suspicious eyes. I did not look at them but I felt their gaze burning a black hole on my back. Every time I turned around they would swiftly look away and start to pack or smooth out their uniform. When they've played that part for the tenth time I looked at them in a hurried manner and so I've caught them 'red-handed'.

"What, what is it, why are you looking at me like that? You've never seen a girl packing?" I snapped at the frightened girls.

"No, it's just… Aren't you a bit old for a first-grader?" The blonde girl, Linda asked after half a minute of jitteriness.

"Oh, I get it. I'm not a first grader, I'll start my fourth year tomorrow. I've been attending another wizarding boarding school but I'm a Hogwarts-student from now on," I smiled at them calmly. I didn't want them to think I'll attack them in the middle of the night or something.

After I've finished unpacking I decided to go downstairs to the common room and wait for the twins and Lee who promised to give me a tour around the castle. I stomped down the stairs and hopped forcefully into one of the armchairs. I started to gaze at the ceiling until two red-haired head made their way to my sight, their owners looking down at me with a bright grin.

"Well, what's the reason for those grins?" I said, sitting up. I couldn't quite resist the urge to grin as well seeing their grinning faces.

"We've got our baby brother!"

"Really? Where?" I asked excitedly. I wanted to get to know him as well.

"Well, technically he's not here yet…"

"…he is in one sort of way but they can't come up with Harry yet…"

"…because they're still at McGonagall's office…"

"…but they will be here in a few minutes. They've stolen dad's flying muggle car and they did the road all the way here with that. Imagine it!"

"Oi, they've flew into the Whomping Willow and it beat them up nicely."

"They're fine, though!" George added quickly, seeing as I was about to ask from their well-being.

"You couldn't even deny he's of your blood!" I grinned at Fred's who were nodding furiously.

While they were telling me this and that about Ron (for example, he was terribly afraid of spiders. The twins transformed his teddy bear into a giant, hairy spider because he broke their toy-brooms) the common room got filled with people talking about Harry and Ron's journey.

When the portray-hole opened after about a quarter of hour everyone burst into claps and cheers, including me. I've tried to push myself forward because I couldn't see anything from the mass crowd of others. When I've succeeded I perceived he was a real Weasley after all. His red hair was a mess, his pale skin sprinkled with freckles (and he seemed a bit spotted, too, I guess he didn't wiped his mouth after eating). The boy next to him was much easier to recognize – black hair, fair eyes, round-shaped glasses: Harry Potter. The third kid who was practically walking in the boys' shadow was, without doubt, Hermione.

Once again I paid no attention to the conversation but I recognized praises and applauses for their dramatic entry. I didn't really care about the rest and I was tired from the early awakening so I said my goodbyes to the twins and boxed into Lee's shoulder when I passed by him, and I made my way to my room. The three girls were already lying in their beds – Linda was sunk into telling a summer vacation story to Katharine who was half asleep and Ginny was holding a black leather-covered book, writing on the yellowed pages now and then. I've changed into my pajamas (I loved them, the pant was pale-yellow and the top was pale-blue with a cute panda bear sitting in the middle) and I fell into my bed and into the sweet embrace of dreams.

# # #

I was awakened by the wrought-up rustling of the girls. One of them howled down the others, saying they shouldn't be so loud or they'll wake me up. Marvelous. They went off somewhere and I forced myself to sit up after a few minutes of tossing around. With a wave of my wand my hair was combed out and putting on my uniform I hurried down the stairs to get my new timetable handed out by McGonagall. In the common room I literally ran into Fred who was about to get me.

"Oi, good to see you on this beautiful morning! The weather is rainy, the bowtruckles are twittering… How would need more than that?" he grinned. Seriously, what was his secret?! Grinning at this awful hour…

"Yes, I'm happy to see you, too. What is it in your hand?" I pointed at the paper he had.

"Oh, yeah. Your timetable. McGonagall asked me to give it to you," he gave the paper to me and I took it from him. Our first class was Herbology then double Potions and finally a History of Magic.

"Unfortunately the Potions is with the lovely branch of Slytherins, the History of Magic, too, but that doesn't count anyway. Everyone sleeps there or don't go at all, the teacher won't remember."

"That's the class with a ghost as a teacher, right?" I asked, interested, as we headed downstairs to the Great Hall where George and Lee were waiting for us, in theory.

"Yes. Actually, it's yet another useless class you can spend sleeping or – in our case – you can try to fabricate some fancy new trick."

"I'm in it. Finally I'm ought to get some thrill, there weren't many in Beauxbatons…" When I sat next to the boys at the Gryffindor table had I only realized two girls were eyeing me quite rudely. I couldn't decide what to do with that but when they passed by us, they demurely greeted the twins and Lee. That was when I realized they didn't like where I sat. I mean, they didn't like the fact I was sitting there.

"Who were they?" I asked Lee who was currently tucking in his oatmeal.

"They?" he asked as he swallowed the last mouthful. "Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinnet. They are our classmates and they're in the Quidditch team as Chasers.

"I get it…" And after that none of us spoke, we just ate because we were a bit late already. I've eaten too much last day so I've only managed to gobble up a half toast with jam and a glass of pumpkin juice. The others finished soon after me and we went straight to the 'classroom' a.k.a. the green houses. Everyone was in already and Professor Bimba was deep in explanation of our daily task – getting rid of the Spiky Prickly Plants' dead leaves. I, for one, only saw a lot of big, greenish things with huge yellow thorns. I was paired up with Lee – he picked the leaves and I had to block the thorns. Because that bloody bastard could shoot them. Right.

We arrived to Potions class in torn robes and slightly dirty. The plant (by some inexplicable reason) wasn't supporting its own concision because it loved those stupid leaves or something – the point is, we managed to finish off as the last ones and get late. Typical, of all the plants I got the one with the bad manners…

"Well, well, Mr. Jordan! Has it took you this long to get your hair in shape?" Professor Snape asked when we fell into the classroom. The Slytherins let out a light laugh. "Or maybe you'd wanted an effective entry. Ten point from Gryffindor for being late. Now, sit."

"I'm here, too!" I stepped out from behind Lee. The professor wasn't able to see me until then.

"It seems as you're already ruining the freshgirl, should I say. You have a wonderful taste in friends, little lady. Really. Ten more points from Gryffindor."

We stepped to the twins' table grumpily. They were already working on a potion. The task was to brew a potion which gives the user endurance. I managed to get it done in the two hours we had though it wasn't easy to crack up doxy-eggs and the pixy-wings were really small and delicate.

# # #

"We should write a list about tricks?" Fred asked, whispering, careful not to wake the others sleeping around us. Upon the time we reached History of Magic classroom everyone was tired as a draft horse. Half of the class was asleep; the other half was speaking with their neighbors. I was sitting at the back with Fred, George and Lee and the last two was also sleeping but I kept Fred awake – I got hit in the face by the sweet palm of the Muse…

"Yeah! If we figure out some in our free time then we'll have ideas much more fledged and with less blooper so all in all, we'll be more successful with less detention."

"Humm, well, you have a point. We should protect the list somehow so no one could see it without the password. Like the Marauder's Map!"

"Marauder's Map?" I looked up at him with a questioning look. I've never heard from this before.

"Yes. We've stole it from Filch, the caretaker. It's a map with all of Hogwarts' floors and also the people, where they are, what they do. It shows secret passageways as well!"

"Sounds pleasing. Speaking of where they are… Don't you want so show me around tonight?" I asked with sparkling eyes. He just smiled and nodded as a sign of consent.

"I think George and Lee would be up for it, too."

"Nice! Back to the list… Maybe we should look for the spell for the password-thingy. I guess there's a library somewhere with books like this…"

"There is but we'll have to look for it in the Restricted Section where no student is allowed unless they have a permission," George joined in the conversation suddenly, looking at us dizzily from still being half-asleep.

"Yes. Unfortunately, that must be done in the evening so if you don't mind, we'll have to put off the tour," Fred said. I shrugged – I wasn't going to complain, at least we were about to do something. He took a paper and a quill and wrote a number one on the top.

"Let's start the list!" we said in unison. Soon enough the better and better ideas were falling down like shooting stars in an August eve.