Chapter Three

The train pulled into the school at about seven pm and Risa met up with Jake in order to get the first years off the train. Nearly all of them were stark white and nervous but both knew better in a few months they'd be cheeky little snots, without fail. Jake hated the first years ever since his second year. Risa and Jake went out onto the platform and waited for the gamekeeper, Hagrid to come and take the first years off their hands.

"Excuse me," a middle aged woman came up to them holding a lantern. "I'm sorry but Hagrid is not here, I'm Professor Grubbly-Plank I'll take the first years from here."

Risa and Jake looked at each other. Hagrid wasn't here? That was strange but as long as they didn't have to drag the eleven year olds up to the castle themselves they were happy. So when the first years came off the train Risa and Jake guided them to Grubbly-Plank and them made their way to the carriages.

When they arrived they saw the soul reapers staring at the skeletal horses pulling the carriages. Renji poked it.

"What the hell is it?" he asked receiving no answer.

"It's a threstal," Risa said coming up behind him making him jump.

"Risa you've got to stop sneaking up on people like that," Renji gasped clutching his chest. She ignored him and continued.

"Threstals are only visible to those who've seen death," she said opening the door. Renji Shuhei Ichigo and Momo got in. Risa followed. Jake took the others in another carriage.

"So now what?" Renji asked

"We go up to the school and get sorted."

"What?" Shuhei asked.

"Sorted, get put into a house, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin."

"Why do they sort us?" Momo asked.

"To build hatred and tension among the students," Risa answered quoting one of Jen's many theories. "See Slytherins and Gryffindors have this natural animosity toward each other…well Slytherins are emo and they pretty much hate everybody, but the like me, even though I'm a Gryffindor and they like Jack and that's the exception but that's because Jake is a Slytherin and Jack is a Gryffindor and because I used to date Marcus Flint."

All three boys' jaws dropped. Momo giggled. Risa changed to subject to describing the house qualities and tried to make an accurate assumption based on what she knew about them.

"Slytherin doesn't seem too bad," Shuhei said. "You said all bad wizards are Slytherins?"

"Yeah but not all Slytherins are bad wizards, you know that," Risa said, "look at Amy, she was a Slytherin as is Jen."

"Yeah but I can see Jen as a Slytherin Amy not really."

"Speaking of Amy," Renji said. "Is she coming or is she staying at the Fourth Division."

"Oh she's coming," Risa said definitely. "They brought quidditch back, we're gonna need her."

"What's quidditch?" Renji and Shuhei asked in unison. Ever since Risa introduced them to volleyball and lacrosse they became big sports buffs.

"It's a sport," Risa said, her face breaking into a grin and her eyes sparkling malignantly. "Played on brooms in the air with seven player and four balls," and with that she proceeded into an Oliver Wood worthy explanation of quidditch, the Marcus Flint version.

They continued to debate about houses and quidditch until they arrived at the castle. Momo and Ichigo stared at it in awe while Renji and Shuhei looked at the sand courts by the lake longingly. Shuhei nudged Risa in the elbow, Risa smirked back at him.

They entered the castle and met up with Jen and Jack and Jake's group. The eight soul reapers were all in first year uniforms.

"When do we get sorted?" Momo asked.

"You guys have to wait here, for McGonagall, she'll lead you inside I wish we could stay but we have to go sit with our houses," Jen said departing for the Great Hall. Saying goodbye the other three followed.

Chatter filled the Great Hall when Risa and Jack separated from Jen and Jake. Once she checked in at her proper table Risa snuck over to the Slytherin table and joined Jen and Jake. Their corner had been depressingly quiet when Marcus had graduated two years ago.

After a few minutes McGonagall led the first years and the soul reapers in. They were much taller than they were; it was a sight to behold. With everyone's attention diverted Jack snuck over to the Slytherin table.

"When I call your name," McGonagall said in her screechy voice. "You'll come up, I'll put the hat on your head and you'll be sorted. This year things will be done a little differently, since we have eight Japanese transfer students we'll sort them first…Abarai Renji!"

Renji came forward and put the hat on his head after a few moments the hat bellowed: "SLYTHERIN!"

"YES!" Risa yelled as Renji came over to their group, they high-fived they way they did whenever Renji scored a kill on their volleyball team.

"Kira Izuru"

Izuru came up nervously and several girls giggled. He put the hat on his head. It declared him: "HUFFLEPUFF!"

Risa burst out laughing and Jake slammed his head on the table.

"Hinamori Momo"

Momo came up and put the hat over her head, it fell past her eyes and within minutes the hat declared: "HUFFLEPUFF"

Risa and Jen clapped politely, Jake and Jack were silent.

"Hisagi Shuhei"

Shuhei came up and put the hat on his head. It declared him: "SLYTHERIN!"

Risa and Jake stood up and cheered as Shuhei came over and they exchanged volleyball high-fives.

"Hitsugaya Toshiro"

Toshiro came up and the hat fell over his eyes. The Hall waited for a moment before the hat declared: "RAVENCLAW!"

Risa clapped politely and Momo looked upset she and Toshiro weren't in the same house.

"Kuchiki Rukia"

Rukia came over and let the hat fall over her eyes. She was declared a "GRYFFINDOR!"

Jack was beside himself; he left the Slytherin table and greeted Rukia by the Gryffindor. There was a huge grin on his face and she giggled at the sight of him.

"Kurosaki Ichigo"

Ichigo came up and put the hat on it fell over his eyes and the hall waited again. "GRYFFINDOR!"

Risa slid over to her original table and met up with Ichigo. He grinned at her and kissed her on the cheek causing several fourth years to scowl their displeasure. Holding hands they sat down next to each other.

"Matsumoto Rangiku"

The last of the soul reapers Rangiku bounced up receiving hungry looks from several boys. The hate Fell over her eyes and declared: "RAVENCLAW!"

"Yay!" she squealed and bounced off to glomp her captain.

As the sorting of the normal first years began Risa turned her attention to Ichigo.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," she said dragging him over to a group of people. The blonde girl looked at Risa and almost squealed.

"Risa!" she squealed. "You're back from Japan!"

"Katie, you blond idiot she said she'd be back," an olive-skinned girl with long black hair said.

"You never said you'd bring back hot Japanese boys!" Katie said eyeing Ichigo. "Do you dye your hair?"

Ichigo looked at Risa for help; she rolled her eyes in reply.

"This is Ichigo Kurosaki, he's my boyfriend," she said to the group. "This is Katie Bell, Alicia Spinnet and Angelina Johnson, you know the twins already and that's their friend Lee Jordan, they're cool you can hang out with them."

"Jen's house theory?" Alicia asked. Risa nodded. The sorting was almost finished and they quieted down to Dumbledore the headmaster could speak. (Katie's eyes were over at the Slytherin table no doubt checking out Renji and Shuhei as several other girls in the hall were doing.)

"Welcome to Hogwarts," he said. "This year…"

"Ahem," a woman dressed in all pink cleared her throat as if to make a speech. Risa and Alicia exchanged glances and rolled their eyes. Dumbledore let her have the floor shocking everyone.

"This year at Hogwarts," the woman said in a high voice. "We will be making some changes." From there she launched into a speech and many students tuned out. After ten minutes she finished and Dumbledore took the floor again.

"That is Professor Umbridge, she will be teaching DADA this year, also please help me welcome three new teachers to our lineup this year, Professor Kuchiki will be teaching a few courses in Kido, another style of magic, also Professor Ukitake who will be teaching beginner swordsmanship to any student who wishes and also Professor Zaraki who will be teaching an advanced course in swordsmanship."

"Yeah," Jake yelled from the Slytherin table. Jake used to be in Kenpachi's company. Umbridge was looking at the new staff members apprehensively like she didn't approve of their subject matter.

"Also in addition," Dumbledore added. "Please welcome back Marcus Flint, who has returned to coach volleyball and Oliver Wood, who has returned to coach Quidditch."

The hall erupted in cheers mainly from the Gryffindors and Slytherins. The only one not jumping out of her seat was Risa.

The doors of the hall banged open and Marcus Flint swaggered in with a smug look on his face, close behind him a burly man with light brown hair followed and all the girls in the hall started squealing.

"Pardon me as I throw up now," Risa muttered to Alicia. As the two boys made their way to the staff table the hall quieted down and Dumbledore dismissed them. Risa pushed her way past a bunch of fifth years to find the two new Gryffindor prefects. She found two people, a boy and a girl rounding up the first years. The boy had short messy red hair and was tall and gangly; the girl had wavy brown hair pulled into a low bun.

"Ron," Risa called. "Hermione." They turned around and greeted Risa. Risa looked at Ron slightly confused.

"You're the prefect?" she asked, Ron flushed and looked at the ground. Ignoring him Risa continued. "The password's 'cactus boil' in case you don't know, have fun with them." She added pointing at the first years. "Snarky little shits."

"Risa!" Hermione exclaimed at her sempai's use of language. "You shouldn't be using that type of language!"

"Give her a rest Hermione," Ron said. "She's head girl." Risa smiled and winked at Ron and left them to deal with the first years. She caught up with Jake.

"Now what?" he asked her.

"Seventh floor," was her reply.