Chapter 3

"So you want to tell me that you had nothing to do with what happened at the menagerie?" Phoenix asked.

"I did not! I swear on Merlin's beard and honor, all I did was talk that witch into giving me the cat, next thing I know the animals were going ballistic and the shop was falling apart," said Sally, slightly annoyed at her friends disbelieving tone.

After the fiasco at Diagon Alley Sally got into a lot of trouble with her mother, first for ending up in Knockturn Alley, then for being the prime suspect for the disaster caused at the menagerie, and third for taking Laila. Her mother was not taking the entire 'receiving the cat for free and the animals going crazy on their own accord' story. "Because judging from your shameful history, young lady, you are nowhere near innocent!" Her mother had yelled.

In the end, however, her mother didn't know what to do. The cat couldn't be returned since the manegerie was in shambles, and she didn't want to keep it at the house. Sally got to keep Laila, with a warning; that if anything would happen to it Sally would be responsible, and the consequences would be severe.

"There they are!" Phoenix yelled suddenly. She started pushing through the crowd of platform nine and three quarters to reach her brother Noah, who was standing with Sally's sister Skyla and two other boys. One of them had brown messy hair, brown eyes and a slight figure, Phoenix recognized him as James Potter. The other had red hair and a broad build, his name was Fred Weasley.

Those four were inseparable; they even spent the summer holidays at the Potter's house. Phoenix had missed her brother a lot and was glad to see him after a long time. As they came nearer, Phoenix heard some of their conversation.

"Oh grow up James, it's not like you've never seen snogging before," said Skyla, who sounded slightly bored.

"Yes but not Teddy! He's like my brother! And Victoire is like my sister! They grew up with each other!" James cried.

Fred was nodding vigorously in agreement, "And the old folks told him off for butting into their business."

"Oh there you are Phoenix!" Noah exclaimed, as he spotted his sister emerging from the crowd, "where is dad?"

"He couldn't come with us he had to go back to St Mungos's. There was an emergency," she said dismissively. She didn't want to think of her father, not today, but his last words were hanging over her like a noose, "don't let us down Phoenix. If you're mother were here she'd want you to be in Ravenclaw too! Remember that!"

"Well, never mind that now, wait till you see the castle! You will love it there," said Noah, to both Phoenix and Sally. He was used to their father being too busy at work.

"I just can't wait! Will you please let me join your prankster gang?" said Sally hopefully.

"Uh, that's not me, you've gotta ask James and Fred about that one. I have a reputation to maintain," said Noah, with a disapproving tone. Although Noah was a very popular person at Hogwarts, he was also a top mark student with a clean record. He aimed to become a prefect, something which their father always bragged about. He was also a chaser in Ravenclaw. James, Fred and Skyla, on the other hand were all in Gryffindor and were known for their indifference about any type of school rules.

"Is it true you made that menagerie in Diagon Alley blow up?" asked Fred.

"No way! It did not blow up the animals were just out of control," said Sally defensively.

"Oh come on Sally we all know you did it," said Skylla.

The great engine whistled signaling that it was time to leave.

"Skyla, quit telling lies! I had nothing to do with it!" Yelled Sally over the noisy crowd as people started rushing to the train and saying their goodbyes.

Skyla's and Sally's argument carried on well after they boarded the train and sat in their compartment, but the rest of the journey went on smoothly.

It wasn't until they put on their robes did Phoenix remember that the sorting ceremony was looming upon them. She dreaded it, because if she didn't get into Ravenclaw, her father would be very disappointed. She envied Sally for being so careless; she didn't care about what house she would end up in.

After the Wizarding War, the house rivalry became less potent than it used, and teachers and students were encouraged to show more cooperation. At least that's what Noah always told her. Phoenix's father did not buy any of it, however, he would always say "those are only words to keep the image of the school good, but we all know some houses are better than others."

Phoenix didn't really think her father was right, but she knew it was important to keep family traditions. So as she crossed the lake, sitting in the boat next to Sally and two other girls, all she could do was wish she would be sorted into Ravenclaw. She was in such a haze, and a complete nerve wreck, that she didn't even notice when they reached the castle.

Sally of course, had managed to make friends with the two other girls. Phoenix barely listened as Sally introduced them as Maribelle and Audi. They crossed the grounds and climbed the huge stairs leading to the great oak doors. Phoenix temporarily forgot her worry as she realized she was finally standing on the steps of Hogwarts. She was finally going to be a Hogwarts student.

A man with a round face, and big brown eyes emerged from the castle. He wore green robes and had a matching hat on. He was smiling fondly at them, "Good evening children, I am Professor Longbottom. I will be your Herbology Professor here at Hogwarts. Please follow me."

They scrambled after him, all staring wide eyed around. Phoenix felt her nervousness coming back, and the vastness of the castle made her feel worse.

"I will now escort you to the sorting ceremony, where you will each be sorted into a house. There are four houses in Hogwarts; Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflpuff. The house you get into will be like your family and home. Everything you do will reflect on its image in the form of house points. The house with the most points at the end of each year will win the house cup," explained Professor Longbottom, who was smiling as if oblivious to their uneasiness.

Phoenix tried to breathe slowly. She could feel her heart beating triple its normal rate as they filled into the great hall. She was fully aware of the entire school now focusing on them. She didn't register any of Sally's chatter. Even the hat's song seemed like a long speech to her. She desperately tried to keep the bile from rising too far up her throat.

"Now as I call each of your names, I want you to sit on the stool, to be sorted," said Professor Longbottom, jolting Phoenix back to reality.

"Amerton, John."

A burly looking boy stumbled to the front. Phoenix could tell that he was nervous. He sat on the stool and closed his eyes. Professor Longbottom dropped the hat on the boy's head.

"Ravenclaw!" The hat cried.

"What? He looks anything but a Ravenclaw," whispered Sally to Phoenix. Phoenix nodded. If that boy could be a Ravenclaw then she certainly can, she told herself.

"Alvord, Audi!"

The girl whom they sat with in the boat with went up in a more surely manner, and was quickly sorted into Ravenclaw as well. Phoenix decided to take that as a good omen.

Maribelle was happily sorted into Hufflpuff. Sorpius Malfoy's name was called next, and it was not surprising that he was sorted into Slytherin, although Phoenix thought she saw a fleeting look of disappointment in the boy's cold grey eyes.

"Potter, Albus!" There were some surprised gasps and a pregnant pause as a skinny boy with extremely messy black hair and remarkable green eyes stepped out of the crowd.

"No way! James' brother is in the same year as us," squeaked Sally in Phoenix's ear. Phoenix nodded vigorously. They didn't really know him, but if he was anything like his brother, it would be an interesting year.

He controls his nervousness very well, Phoenix noted, as he sat on the edge of the stool. The hat took a long while before it opened its mouth and yelled "Slytherin!"

No one clapped. Everyone was shocked, even the staff. Professor McGonecgal's lips were so thin they almost disappeared. Professor Flitwick hiccupped and Professor Longbottom squeaked. Phoenix felt sorry for Albus. She knew that if she wasn't sorted into Ravenclaw she would be feeling exactly like him, maybe the sorting hat could make mistakes after all.

Getting over his shock, Professor Longbottom straightened up and yelled the next name. "Panu, Narveer" and "Patil, Shaan" both got sorted into Gryffindor.

Slowly the number of first years shrunk. Right when Phoenix thought her name would never be called Professor Longbottom said, "Ryse, Phoenix".

Phoenix's throat went dry and her legs felt very heavy. She looked around at Sally who gave her an encouraging smile. She didn't know how she managed to get up the steps, or how the hat ended up on her head.

I don't think you have a good idea about where your heart really belongs. She heard a small voice in her head say. She knew it was the hat.

"What makes you think that?" She thought.

You want to be in Ravenclaw when your heart is telling you to truly consider another house.

"No! I know I am a Ravenclaw."

You will know that I am right about this one day. "Gryffindor!" Phoenix heard the hat yell the final word. Or did she?

She could see Sally's face, surprised, but she was clapping enthusiastically. She looked over at the Ravenclaw table where her brother also looked shocked.