I saw her rosy pink lips moving, almost as if she were talking to the hat… and then-

"HUFFLEPUFF!" roared the old rugged thing.

The Great Hall erupted in the loud cheers and whistles of Hufflepuff. As soon as the hat was lifted of Faith's head, she grinned broadly at me and trudged over to the Hufflepuff table. I clapped enthusiastically; Hufflepuff was the house of the kind hearted, exactly where Faith belonged.

After a couple more names, my name was called out.

I looked around me, there was no one else, all the First Years were sorted and now it was my turn. Everyone was staring at me, I could feel it. I was the daughter of "the-boy-who-lived" and they were curious. The teachers leaned forward slightly too, as if gaining more interest.

I strolled upto the wooden stool and sat down on it, although a bit timidly. Professor McGonagall placed the rugged old hat atop my head and a dignified yet rough voice started to talk inside me,

Ah, Ms Potter,

I see you are smart and friendly, but you most certainly don't belong in Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw.

You have a passion for achieving your goal, no matter how difficult it may be, that is a trait the Slytherins have…

You are most definitely brave and loyal but unlike your Father, you are a difficult choice Ms Potter.

Difficult indeed…well better be-

"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat roared and immediately, a loud cheers and whistles erupted from the table located between Hufflepuff and Slytherin.

I grinned widely as the hat was removed from my head. I couldn't hold the excitement and ran to the loudest table there. Tyler was whistling and Crystal was clapping wildly. They shuffled aside so I could be seated between them. Everyone was shaking my hand and welcoming me to the house. Crystal was giving me bone crushing hugs and Tyler, being protective one, glared at the boys who winked in my direction.

After McGonagall silenced the Hall and completed her yearly speech consisting of Quiditch notices, Caretaker Filch's warnings and lesson notices, food appeared out of thin air on the tables and the ghosts I saw earlier floated out from under the tables, behind the portraits and paintings and through the stone walls of Hogwarts.

We all ate our dinner with an air of happiness and excitement of the beginning of a new year. Just when we completed our dinner, a soft tap on my shoulder caused me to turn around.

"Hi Serenity, I made new friends just like you said," Faith's green eyes the exact happiness I felt at that moment, "Thank you,"

I smiled at her, "That's great!" I exclaimed. "I'm so happy for you."

Just then, I heard someone, most likely a prefect call out, "Hufflepuffs! This way please! I will direct you to your dormitories!"

Faith's head snapped to the voice and with a final smile and wave of the hand, she departed.

Nearly all of the first years from every house were being lead to their new dormitories. Some of the students, exhausted from the day's travelling retreated to their sleeping quarters with their friends. Only few from each house were left including Crystal, Tyler and me.

"Who's the girl?" Tyler asked while we were heading towards the Great Hall's doors to retreat to our own dormitories.

"Her name is Faith. I met her while the First years and I were waiting for a teacher to escort us to the Sorting Ceremony. She seemed a bit shaken up so I calmed her down a bit." I explained.

"Oh."

"Anyway, it's great that you made it into to Gryffindor!" Crystal exclaimed, engaging me in a side hug, "Now we'll be the Invincible Trio or something!"

I heard a snort next to me. I whipped my head to Tyler who was trying to unsuccessfully keep in the burst of laughter behind his hand that was presently covering his mouth.

"Gotta' problem with that oh Prankster Boy?" Crystal scowled at Tyler.

"Nope. None at all." Tyler grinned from ear-to-ear.

"Well it appears that you have a problem." Crystal challenged.

I tuned out from their little argument and focused my attention on all the paintings and sculptures. They were so gracefully painted, it amazes me.

Suddenly, I saw the handsome boy. The same boy who was glaring at me during the Ceremony. There he stood, as tall as ever, with his built body leaning on one of the sculptures with his arms crossed. I noticed he was still glaring at me.

I think Tyler and Crystal seemed to have noticed him too because now they were glaring back at him.

"Allow me to introduce myself," he strode up to me, "My name is Aryan. Aryan Julius Malfoy." He smiled, not a pleasant sort of smile you give to someone you meet, but an evil sort of smile you give when you know something unpleasant is awaiting someone you extremely dislike...

I couldn't help but notice his beauty, even with that sadistic look that has been pasted upon his face but that wasn't the only thing I noticed.

"Malfoy…" That name seemed familiar.

"Yes. Your family and my family are bound to eternal hatred." He smirked. He said it so pleasantly as if we were talking about the godforsaken weather!

I don't like this guy already…

Okay Serenity. Keep calm. Just… um…ignore him and whatever you do avoid looking at his handsome face.

How I wish a starved lion would go hurling itself at him, making sure to scar his oh-so-perfect face!

"Shove off Malfoy! Come on Serenity, let's go." I heard Tyler spit at him. I felt a firm hand grip my elbow, almost dragging me forward.

Aryan ignored him, "Serenity…" he drawled, "It means 'peace'. What a beautiful name…" he carried on.

Crystal was narrowing her eyes at him beside me, "Just tell us what you want Malfoy." She calmly said.

"We're in no hurry Mudblood but I'll tell you anyway," Aryan smirked the Malfoys' trademark smirk, "I wanted to know what you were doing with my little sister."

Sister? What was he talking about?

"I don't know what you're talking about." I stated.

"Oh come on, like you have no clue. Faith is my sister. Faith Malfoy. What were you doing with her?" he seemed to get slightly annoyed at me.

Faith was his sister? Now that I think about it, she never told me her last name. Heck, I even missed her name being called out at the Ceremony because I tuned out. But she seemed too nice to be a Malfoy; she even got sorted into Hufflepuff for goodness sake!

I looked back at Aryan, "I was comforting her. She was very nervous."

"I knew it. She is a disgrace to our family. How did she end up in that filthy house anyway?" He seemed to be in his own little world, mumbling to himself. Suddenly his head shot back up, "Whatever. You and your filthy excuse for friends are not to go anywhere near her, understand?"

Tyler came forward, "We will do what we want and when we want it, so you better get on your way to those fat goons you call friends."

Aryan smirked once again, "Whatever, I don't care." Then he came up to me and swiftly took my hand, "Pleasure to meet you Ms Serenity Potter. I will see that there will be a lot in store for your first year at Hogwarts. It will be my welcome gift to you." He brushed his soft lips against my shaking hand and with a swift of his cloak he turned and strode off to the Slytherin Dormitories, leaving me with a face the colour of a beetroot.

"That handsome git!" Crystal exclaimed after him, "I hate him!"

I don't think Crystal realised she just called Aryan handsome. I watched amusedly as Tyler scowled at her.

"He's not handsome! I'm more sexy than he is!"

As the two lovebirds quarrelled on and on, I couldn't help but wander about what Aryan had said. I will see that there will be a lot in store for your first year at Hogwarts…What could possibly be in store for me?