The water on the lake was really calm as the first years sailed across it, only small ripples made by the movements of the boats. Amanda felt like an absolute idiot surrounded by all these kids, but she managed to make it across the lake without hexing any body. An enormous man who had a whole boat to himself suddenly stopped and climbed onto the grass at the edge of the lake, Amanda new this man was Hagrid the grounds keeper and Care of Magical Creature class. She had heard a lot about him from Malfoy, who started whining about a stupid Hippogriff called Buckbeak, who is father had made sure he was destroyed by a fellow Death Eater.

As she climbed out of her oat she lost her balance but a huge hand grabbed her elbow and pulled her back onto safe ground. She turned around to see Hagrid smiling at her " 'ey I'm 'agrid, ya' must-be Torque?"

"Yes I'm Amanda Torque, pleased to meet you Hagrid." Amanda offered her hand out to Hagrid, who huge hand shook it gladly.

"Hagrid, did you find her?" Professor McGonagall asked Hagrid, but didn't even wait for an answer. She simply saw Amanda and told her, "follow me dear don't be afraid, you are going to be sorted before the first years are." Amanda obediently followed the professor through a pair of large wooden doors that lead to a large corridor with many smaller ones adjoined to it.

Amanda could hear the voice of an older man that she presumed to be the headmaster Dumbledore talking about a new student in fifth year. 'Great' Amanda thought, now the headmaster was giving a speech on her. She only caught a few words, ' bright, intelligent and unusual circumstances.' Amanda intended to keep her family life secret but now everybody will be wondering what her 'unusual circumstances' were all about.

The doors to the Great Hall swung open and Dumbledore motioned for her to come and sit on the stool in front of him. Amanda walked up to he front of the whole school and sat on the stool all eyes were on her (many of which belonged to males who were checking her out). Dumbledore picked up the worn brown hat and placed it on the young girls head. Amanda sat there quietly, pretending to look a bit nervous while concentrating hard on the Gryffindor table and the red flags above it with pictures of lions on them. After only a few short seconds the hat shouted out, "Gryffindor!"

Everybody at the Gryffindor table stood up and applauded her. Amanda got of the stool and quickly walked towards the cheering Gryffindors. Ginny, Ron and Harry all gave her a big hug and offered her a seat next to their own. Eventually she decided to sit between Harry and Ginny who were opposite Ron and Hermione. Once or twice while everybody was looking at the first years Amanda shot looks across the room at Draco, just to check what he was doing.

The big wooden doors opened and many little first years walked into the Great Hall, with looks of fear on their faces. One by one the got sorted, this one particular girl burst into tears when her name was read out. She turned around and tried to run out of the Great Hall, "I don't want to try on the hat I just want to go home."

Some of the girl's friends were trying to hold her but she really want to get away. Dumbledore spoke over the noise, "would the Gryffindor prefects kindly escort Miss McCain and see to it that she receives a calming draught." Hermione and Ron stood up and each grabbed one of McCain's arms, and took her away to drink some calming draught.

As soon as Hermione and Ron arrived back with a calmer McCain, who was quickly sorted in to Hufflepuff. Harry was relieved when the last girl was sorted because he was famished. Everybody was pleased when Dumbledore said he was only giving a short speech.

"As we are indeed in need of yet again another Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, I will be filling the role alongside Professor Snape, who has all kindly offered to teach the NEWT classes." The cheers from the Slytherin table and groaning from the other three tables (in particular the Gryffindors) interrupted him.

"I would also like to remind the prefects, that they are in charge of telling all the first years the rules when they got back to their common room. Now enjoy"

All the tables cheered when the empty platters and bowls in front of them magically filled with all kinds of food, as Dumbledore clapped his hands.

Ginny ate her food while staring at her plate thinking, she really did like Harry but she wasn't going to sit around waiting for him to ask her out, she was going to see other people, which was her main reason for dating Dean.

"Ay 'manda, can-ya-pass-the-patatas?" Ron asked, with his mouth full of mushed up peas and carrots.

Amanda was starring into space; she didn't even notice anybody was talking to her until Ginny tapped her on the shoulder.

"Hey since your new, do you want a tour around the castle and grounds tomorrow?"

"Yeah Ginny that will be great, hey when do classes start?"

"On Monday, so we only have one more day of rest and relaxation," Ginny groaned as she went to grab a chicken wing, which disappeared before she could grab one.

Spectacular desserts replaced their dinner, huge amounts of ice cream in all different flavours, cakes with extra cream and plenty of fresh fruit with melted chocolate to dip it into.

Within half an hour Harry and Ginny were walking to their cosy warm beds, in the Gryffindor tower. Hermione and Ron were bickering like an old married couple as they led there first years up the moving staircases.

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While Amanda had to go see her head of house, McGonagall to choose her subjects and send of an owl to get her books.

"Okay you should choose about six or seven subjects, what you choose will depend on what you want to be. What to you want to be Torque?"

"Umm not quite sure, but working with large animals like dragons sounds interesting."

"Very well then, what subjects do you want?"

"Can I please do Defence Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguring, Potions and Care of Magical Creatures?"

"Excellent choices though you have to do more then four classes."

"Actually I've made arrangements with Dumbledore and he said I only have to do four subjects."

Amanda was glad she only had to do four subjects, because there was a specific reason she wanted lots of spare time but she wasn't about to tell anybody. Dumbledore was the only person at the school who knows about it apart from a few house elves in the kitchen, but neither knew the full truth.

"Ohh well is your sure, now just let me get your timetable," she waved her wand and conjured a map and a timetable.

"Thank you Professor."

"Your welcome Torque, enjoy your year and welcome to Hogwarts."

Amanda left the busy Professors office reading her timetable; it was really good she only had a few subjects each day, except on Friday when she had none and Wednesday when she only had two.

It was only eleven thirty so she decided to send Draco a message with her bracelet, 'meet me at twelve on the Quidditch grounds and don't be late." Amanda wrapped a black scarf around head to keep he wind off her face and went out onto the grounds.

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Thanks to everyone for reviewing it is much appreciated. Ohh she has a secret, love secrets they're cool! All tell me secrets, LOL.