The Great Hall was filled with noise and people as Paige and the first years entered through the doors. Paige looked around until she spotted Hermione, Harry, and Ron. They saw her too and smiled at her. Professor McGonagall stood at the front of the staff table. Sitting next to her was a stool and an old hat. An old wizard stood and the whole room went silent.
So that must be Dumbledore. Paige thought.
"Welcome, welcome! To the students who are starting out as new witches and wizards; this year hold interesting and new things for you to learn. And welcome back to those of you who are returning to Hogwarts! We all hope that this year is equally exciting to last year, if not more. Now before we begin I will be pleased to announce that we have a new student who transferred from an American school, and that we shall all welcome her with a big British welcome. Now let the sorting of the first years and our new student begin!" The elderly man smiled and sat down as everyone clapped kindly. McGonagall cleared her throat and held out a scroll of paper.
"You shall come up to be sorted into your house once I call your names. Paige Castro." Paige walked up to the stool and sat down. She felt everyone's eyes on her. McGonagall put the hat on Paige's head. Almost immediately the hat began speaking to her.
Well now the hat said. A transferred student, I haven't gotten one like you in a long time. The hat seemed to snicker
Will you please sort me? Paige asked as kindly as she could.
Yes, yes; I was getting to that! Ahhh you have a bright mind you do! You have plenty of courage also I can see. But you also have a knack for being a trouble maker! And yet you're cunning also...hmmm let's see. Ah, there is something else I detect in you! A sort of animalistic being…do we contain a secret to ourselves do we? How very Slitherin of you!
So what if I have a secret? If you tell anyone I swear I will rip you apart! Paige snapped at the hat.
Ahh violent aren't we? And courageous; willing to exact your revenge on one of the schools most prized possessions! But I do sense a sort of loyalty within you…I know exactly where you belong!
GRYFFINDOR!
The table that Harry, Ron, and Hermione was sitting at started clapping. Paige got off the stool and joined her new friends. But she felt someone's eyes boring into the back of her head. When she was seated, she looked around at the table farthest away. Malfoy was glaring in her direction.
"I'm so happy you are in Gryffindor!" Hermione smiled happily at Paige who grinned back.
"I'm just glad I didn't get put in Slytherin!" page replied happily.
"Ron! Your sisters up!" Some pudgy looking kid exclaimed.
"That's Neville" Harry said as Ron's sister walked over to join harry and the rest of the Gryffindor's. She was a red head just like her brother.
"This is Ginny! Ron's younger sister" Hermione explained. By the time dinner was over Paige had learned a lot of names, especially the people who talked a lot to Harry. Paige had heard about him. That everyone knew him by his scar and what had happened when he was a baby. She had heard about him on the way to Hogwarts. But she didn't care that he was famous she just liked him for him. Eventually dinner ended and Dumbledore stood up, as he did, the Great Hall went quiet.
"Now that our bellies are full I would like to make one more announcement before you all head off to bed. Our dear care taker Argus Filch has asked me to tell you all that the Forbidden Forrest is forbidden to everyone. Unless you want to be badly injured or even killed, I suggest that you take heed in this warning. And now, goodnight all tomorrow awaits a day full of broadening the minds!" And with that everyone stood up and headed for the doors.
Paige was walking along with her friends to the Gryffindor tower when suddenly there was a group of Slytherins in the way. Everyone stopped talking and walking as the Slytherins stood there in front of them. Paige saw Harry move for his wand, a sort of protective movement.
"Well, well, well; if it isn't the mudblood, weaslbe, Potter, and their newest additions to the group, the Weasly sister and the mutt!" Malfoy sneered at them
"For your information Draco… it just so happens that I come from a long line of Castro's!" Paige spat back at him.
"Well then now we have a mutt blood traitor!" Malfoy sneered. Harry moved forward but page stopped him.
"Oh isn't that cute! The couples trying to protect one another!" Malfoy mocked.
"Just leave us alone Malfoy!" Harry hissed.
"Oh I don't want to hurt you! At least... not yet." Draco purred as he walked up to page. " I just wanted to warn your little friend hear that she had better watch herself from now on!" A girl behind Malfoy giggled.
"Or what? You'll sick your little pug on me? Paige smirked as the girl stopped laughing and glared. "What was your name again? Rover? Princess?"
"For your information my name is Pansy Parkinson!" The girl snapped.
"Ohh that does sound like something you would call an actual mutt!" Paige snickered. Suddenly Pansy moved forward and slapped Paige across the face, just like she had slapped Draco earlier.
"Huuh so you demonstrated the slap I gave you earlier to your Playboy Bunny didn't you?" Paige snarled. By everyone's expressions they didn't know what that was. So Paige moved forward while everyone was still confused and pushed her face into Pansy's. "You had better watch it you skimpy little brat!" She growled.
Pansy backed up a bit, looking momentarily scared but then glared at Paige.
"Oh I'm sorry did I hurt you? Well this will hurt a lot more!" Pansy swung a fist aiming for Paige's head but Paige ducked and stuck her foot out tripping her. Pansy fell on her but with a gasp. Paige leaned over her and glared down at her, all amusement evaporated from her expression.
"Again, I don't think it is wise for you to choose mess with me. I can make your life a living nightmare!" But then Pansy kicked out hitting Paige in the legs. Paige fell down too and as pansy tried to stand up; Paige moved into a crouch and leapt at her barreling into her legs. Both girls tumbled to the ground.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" A voice came suddenly from somewhere. Everyone froze. Then they all looked up to see McGonagall walking towards them.
"Uh-oh!" Harry said. Everyone looked at each other. Pansy and Paige scrambled to get up.
"Now then what is going on here?" McGonagall asked. She look furious.
"Uuumm... it depends... what exactly did you see?" Paige asked. McGonagall looked at her.
"I saw you and Mrs. Parkinson rolling on the ground like two angry cats!" She replied exasperated.
"Oh well then I was just showing pansy here a muggle wrestling move that I learned in America!" Paige said slinging her arm around Pansy. Pansy looked baffled but no one wanted to get in trouble on the first night so they all nodded
"Well Mrs. Castro I don't want to see any more of it! This is a wizarding school! Not some muggle brawling pen!" McGonagall sniffed." And get to your common rooms! It is time for you all to be in bed." Every one murmured their agreements. As McGonagall walked off Paige ripped her arm away from Pansy.
"We'll finish this very soon" snarled Pansy
"You can count on it dog face!" spat Paige
"Don't forget my warning mutt!" Malfoy smirked evilly. A threat was flickering in his eyes. Paige just glared.
"Wow! That was exciting!" Hermione said in awe as they walked to the common room.
"Well where I come from, I had to learn to stick up for myself." Paige replied rather bluntly. "But yes I do agree, it was very interesting."
When they got to the common room Hermione brought Paige up to her dormitory where another girl seemed more than happy to switch rooms. Paige changed into a tank top and a pair of men's pajama bottoms.
"What is that on your P.J's?" Hermione asked
"Oh that! That's just the Dr. Pepper logo!" Hermione gave her a confused look. "It's an American drink." She explained.
"Ohh! I see! It's like pumpkin juice!" Paige looked over and saw Hermione in a pair of ducky P.J's, wondering what pumpkin juice was but not sure if she liked the idea of drinking pumpkin juice at all. Both girls said goodnight to each other as they climbed into bed.
The last thing Paige saw before slipping into a comfortable sleep was her new friend in the bed next to hers. For once in a long time she felt like she belonged somewhere. Closing her eyes, she fell instantly asleep; wondering what excitement tomorrow would bring.