Hello! So sorry for not updating. I've been busy with school and a Nutcracker show I am in. My teachers don't seem to realize that people have a life outside of school. In the past 2 weeks I have had 5 unit tests and 8 quizzes. On a happy note I went to an amazing concert on Tuesday and got to meet the Killers and Passion Pit! It was amazing!

To make up for the late posting a long chapter for you. 1,169 words! My longest chapter ever! Also, I am looking for a beta for either of my stories. If you are at all interested please PM me. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I sadly do not own the writes to Harry Potter. All rights belong to J.K. Rowling.

It took a week for me to gather all that I was planning on bringing with me and to arrange to go to Hogwarts. The cover story was that my dad was being transferred to London and I got accepted into a prestigious boarding school. This was mostly true. My 'dad', I still called him that he was the only father I knew, was planning on moving to London to be closer to me.

According to Hagrid, I was way behind in my plans for attending Hogwarts. I was the age of a "Fifth Year" but I had had the abilities of a "First Year". I was to receive private tutoring from a Professor McGonagall. The plan was to get me through my OWL's, what ever they were, so I could continue into sixth year with people my age. The term had already started so my arrival would be even stranger. I would be leaving that Saturday. Hagrid was planning on taking me through the Floo network, some type of transport through fireplaces, to meet with the Headmaster. There I would be assed on my natural ability and sorted. This all sounded well and good but I had no idea what the majority of this meant. Professor McGonagall wrote to me trying to further explain the process. She said that my cousin would be able to help me adjust since he had been in a similar situation.

Saturday arrived and I was petrified. Everything I thought I knew had been shattered and I was about to venture into a whole new world, literally. I hugged my father goodbye. We planned to write often and go home for winter break, which was only a month and a half a way. Hagrid arrived at 9 o'clock sharp. He would go first taking all of mu belongings and I would follow soon after. He took some powder from a small pouch and threw it into the fireplace. Immediately the flames turned a vibrant green. Next, he stepped into the flames and shouted "Hogwarts School of Witch Craft and Wizardry, Professor Dumbledore's office!" In an instant, he was gone and it was my turn. Reluctantly I stepped into the flames scared that they would burn me and blew one last kiss to my father. I repeated the same words as Hagrid with much less confidence and soon found myself falling far first onto a hard surface. I looked up to see a large room filled with all sorts of assorted books, bottles, trophies, and other knick-knacks. There were paintings lining the walls. Upon closer inspection, I realized that the people in the paintings were moving about and conversing with on another.

"Welcome! You must be Miss Strout, what a pleasure to meet you," an elderly man called from across the office. He was dressed in strange robes and had a long grey beard. He reminded me of Santa but skinner. From the descriptions, I had heard I assumed that this was Professor Dumbledore.

"Thank you Professor. It is a pleasure to meet you too," he said kindly. From here, he went babbling on about how things work at Hogwarts and other various things about the Wizarding world. After who knows how long I lost focus and started studding various things in the room.

"I can see that your thoughts have drifted elsewhere," he said bring my attention back. "Feel free to head to Professor McGonagall's office so you can be sorted, though I have my ideas already."

"Thank you Professor," I said as I followed Hagrid out of the room. I continued to follow Hagrid as I got to see more of the castles. There were moving pictures, moving staircases, students rushing around between classes, and I am pretty sure I saw a couple of ghosts go by. Upon reaching Professor McGonagall's office, I was very anxious.

"Welcome, Miss Strout. My name is Professor McGonagall, I had the pleasure of teaching both your mother, Aunt, and now cousin. They are all very talented and I have high expectations of you."

"Thank you Professor," I said sheepishly.

"Now time for the sorting. I will place the Sorting Hat upon your head and it will assign you to one of the four houses: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw. Which ever one you are assigned will become your family. Best of luck!" she said placing the hat onto my head.

I sat there for a minute before I heard a voice inside my head. Interesting. Very bright but would not fit in Ravenclaw, kind but too strong of a personality, Slytherin a possibility. Sly and cunning you are not to mention your father's heritage. Or there is Gryffindor. Bravery, strength, and loyalty make you a strong contender. It will be….Gryffindor!

The last part was said aloud by the happy. I received a polite clap from McGonagall and a thundering clap from Hagrid.

"Welcome to Gryffindor! As your head of house, I will be in charge of your schedules, discipline, and anything else you will need. As it is almost dinner time, Hagrid can escort you to the Great Hall where you can meet your house. Congratulations!" McGonagall said.

"This way Melanie," Hagrid said once again leading me out of the room towards the Great Hall.

"Hagrid!" I heard a voice call out behind me. I turn around to see two boys and a girl about my age. The girl had big bushy hair and an equally big book in her hand, one boy had carrot red hair and was stuffing a piece of food into his mouth, and then there was a another boy with dark raven hair and vibrant green eyes. The same shade of green that I had seen in the few pictures of my mother.

"Harry, Ron, Hermione!" Hagrid shouted. "Boy I've got a surprise for ye Harry!"

"Not another fruitcake Hagrid," the boy with raven hair complained confirming my suspicions.

"Nope, meet Melanie," Hagrid said beaming. I took this as my cue and stepped forward,

"Hi my name is Melanie Strout, at least that's what I've gone by. I guess I could go by Dursely since that was my mom's name and I have no idea who my father is…"

"Wait!" He said cutting me off, "you said your mom's last name was Dursley."

"oops! I guess I skipped over that part. Yes, my mother's name was Dursley. I'm your cousin," the look on his face was of utter confusion. "Yes I know it's a shock . Trust me I know. You think life is going good then you find out that your dad isn't really your dad, your mom was a witch, you're a witch, you have a cousin, and you have to give up your life to go some wizard school in England."

"So… you're my cousin," he said skeptically.

"Yes I am."

"My mom had another sister."

"Yup."

"You're going here now."

"Uh-huh."

"Well then, welcome to the family."

"Aww thanks!" I said pulling him into an awkward hug.