Chapter 2

Without taking my hood off, I walked into the entrance of Hogwarts, I was a little overcome. It was huge, and I was just a mere student, insignificant to the whole picture.

"Miss Isabella. My name is Professor McGonagall. I am the Transfiguration Professor. Please, wait here, and I will call you to the front to be sorted into a House." she said politely.

"Um, I'm sorry Professor...Sorted? What does that mean?" I asked.

"My dear, you must be sorted into a House. That is how things are done here...it's either Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, or...Slytherin." she said.

"I didn't know I was going to be classified into some group, what group should I be hoping for?" I asked worried.

"Oh my dear, it doesn't matter anymore...inter-house unity is very strong. Rivals that once were, are really no more." she assured me as she walked away.

I stood there for a moment, worrying, and ringing my hands. "I don't know anything about these Houses, how do I know which is the better one for me?..." With that thought I was pulled back to reality when my name was called to enter the Great Hall.

"Miss Isabella, could you please enter and take a seat in order to be sorted." I heard a loud, but soft voice say.

As I walked to the front of the Great Hall, i kept my eyes to the floor so no one could see them, and my hood covered my hair keeping my identity a secret for just a little while longer.

There was mumbling and gasping as I walked to the front. Everyone had their own idea of what would be under my cloak, but nothing could prepare them for what they would see when I took my hood off. Hoping I would not have to until later on, I proceeded to sit on the stool in front of everyone.

I took a deep breath, and lifted my chin. When I did, part of my long, curly, black hair fell out of my hood. Although I was unsure of how everyone would react, I closed my eyes, took another deep breath, raised my hands to my hood, and slide it back, revealing my identity.

Just then I heard a tiny voice in my head, "It shows great strength and pride to do what you're about to do. Go ahead, open them."

Not knowing where the voice came from, I took it as a sign of great relief...sure there were going to be people who were going to talk about it. But, I had a good feeling that I was going to be accepted, no matter what.

I finally let the breath go that I forgot I had been holding in...and then I opened them.

Every eyes in the Great Hall was on me, starring at my electric blue eyes, wondering where I had come from and what exactly I was.

I chose that moment to block them all out, and listen to what I hat was saying to me, as it was placed on my head.

"Well, well...a first of your kind to come thru these halls. Hopefully, not to be the last. You possess a wonderful magic about you. Some would say it's dark, other would say it's light and merciful. But where to put you...you have characteristics of every House. Pride and Bravery...Gryffindor would be proud to have you. Cunning and sneaky...Slytherin would enjoy you...Brains beyond belief...Ravenclaw would be for you...and being an outsider, and a longing to belong...Hufflepuff would suit you. But I am not fully convinced...To place you based on WHO you are? Or to place you because of WHAT you are? I think WHAT you are will overshadow WHO you are...although there are people who will see the real you...Well, yes...better decide fast...SLYTHERIN!!!"

There was no loud yelling, there was no cheering...I look to Professor McGonagall, and she gave me a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry my dear, you will be great, and you will do great things..." she said as she put a hand on my shoulder and showed me to the Slytherin table.

As I approached the table...everyone was still starring at me, some smirking...others smiling? I went to sit at the end of the table...but as I did...there was a boy that came up to me.

"Hello, my name is Draco Malfoy. I am Head Boy and on behalf of Slytherin, I would like to welcome you to our House. We're all really anxious to find out more about you." he said.

"Um, thanks...but really there's nothing too me. I'm just Isabella..." I said with a slight smile.

"I'm sure there is much more to you than what meets the eye, Isabella. And I'm sure everyone here wants to find out what that is." he said with a smirk and turned around to return to his seat.

"Great," I thought, "what a wonderful way to start out...but it's alright...stay calm...you don't want to scare anyone."

I sat and eat, even though I wasn't very hungry. But I totally intended to skip breakfast the next morning. I received my schedule, and proceeded to follow my house mates to the Common Room in the Dungeons.

Once I was settled into my room, and had my stuff all put away. I was greeted by a couple of girls.

"Hey, I'm Pansy Parkinson, and this is Millicent Bulstrode. We're 7th years, like you, and we just wanted to say Hi." she said.

"Hi, I'm Isabella, just Isabella. When you are what I am, you only have one name." I said with a small laugh.

That seemed to shake them...I could detect a small shudder and with that they departed.

"Haha," I laughed, "how could anyone take me that seriously...and I'm not even scary right now...this is going to be a long year. People are going to start wanted to have an exorcism done on me soon!"

As it was getting late, I decided it was time to get to bed.