Chapter 2: Girl Meets First Year

"I don't think I'm weird, Maya. I think I'm unique. He's Cory. She's Topanga. But I'm both." - Riley Matthews, Girl Meets Cory and Topanga, Girl Meets World.

I stepped off the boats which sailed across the lake and headed towards my new home for the next seven years - Hogwarts. Being the klutz that I am, I nearly fell on top of Albus Potter, who stood behind me. I fell onto the ground as Albus steps around me to help me up. "Are you alright, Riley?" He asks me.

"I'm fine, Albus," I replied. "Just a bit clumsy." He nods as we and the rest of the first years enter the Great Hall. This will be where all the major feasts, dinners, lunches and breakfasts would be held here for the next seven years. Upon entering the Great Hall, I found myself staring up at the starry ceiling as I admired the ceiling. I looked back down to see what was ahead of me - the Hogwarts Sorting Hat was on a stool as I see the amount of professors sitting on the high table staring down at us.

"Every student has an impact on this school," Professor McGongall says. "Every teacher encourages other students to their full potential. You are all part of the Hogwarts history now. Welcome, old and new. Young and Old."

"When I call your names, you will come up and sit on this stool to be Sorted into your houses," Professor Longbottom says.

"Maya Hart."

My ex-best friend walks up towards the stool and sat under the Sorting Hat. "Gryffindor!" The hat calls out. I looked surprised at this sorting. I thought Maya would be in Slytherin. But Gryffindor. But I digress, I hear a loud cheering from the Gryffindor table.

"Lucas Friar," Professor Longbottom calls out.

Lucas smiled towards me as he walks up towards the Sorting Hat and sat down beneath the hat. "Gryffindor!" The hat calls out. Another loud cheering came from the Gryffindor table.

Farkle Minkus - my other best friend goes to Gryffindor. Isadora Smackle goes to Gryffindor too. Polly Chapman goes to Gryffindor and same with Rose Weasley-Granger. "Riley Matthews," Professor Longbottom calls out.

I walked up slowly towards the stool as I felt my heart beat slowly as I sat beneath the Hogwarts Sorting Hat. "Another Matthews," the hat states. "But a different personality. A personality that shows all of the four houses, but alas doesn't suit well in some as well. You are kind, timid, clumsy, Matthews but also smart and cunning - which will show in later years. The house I choose for you is - Slytherin!"

There's a loud cheering coming from the Slytherin table as I walked towards the Slytherin table and sat beside a female prefect. I see my brother's - Elliot's face. He looked shocked and devastated. I see everyone in Gryffindor faces - they were shocked as well. "Scorpius Malfoy," Professor Longbottom calls out. I see Scorpius walk towards the stool and sat down. As soon as the hat hit his head, he calls out: "Slytherin!"

Scorpius sits in front of me as we hear who was next to be sorted.

"Albus Potter," Professor Longbottom calls out. I notice how nervous Albus looked. He looked as if he was going to be sick as he walks towards the Sorting Hat and sat beneath the hat.

I notice the Sorting Hat took a bit of time deciding what house Albus should be in. After about a minute or so, the Hat finally decided Albus's fate. "Slytherin!" The hat calls out. I see everyone's face - utter shock was on their faces. Everyone was still in shock as the next person was sorted. I couldn't believe it myself. A Potter in Slytherin. "Sit next to me, Albus," I said, sounding shock.

"Thanks," he mumbled, as he sits next to me.

"A Matthews and a Potter in Slytherin," I heard Polly Chapman say. "Unbelievable!"

The week after the Sorting went by quickly as I anticipated minus the fact I didn't make any friends as I was now officially pronounced a 'loser' now that I am friends with Scorpius and Albus. The weekend went slowly as I didn't have as much homework as the rest of the first years (apart from Scorpius and Rose) had some homework as I have chosen to complete my homework throughout the week. "How are you done with all the homework?" Albus had asked me on Saturday while Albus and I were in the Slytherin Common Room by ourselves.

"Basically do most of my homework during the week," I explained. "Perhaps I could help you, if you want."

"Sure," he said. I knew that Albus had trouble with mostly potions, herbology, defence against the dark arts, transfiguration and history of magic. He seemed to do fine with charms. During the first week, he became one of the least popular students of the school along with Scorpius and I. He got treated worse than the both of us as he was mostly bullied by Polly, Karl, Lucas, Maya and Yann. Maya, Karl and Polly actually made up a nickname during the first defence against the dark arts lesson - 'The Slytherin Squib'.

Helping Albus was actually pretty easy. Mostly he tried to do his homework as I read through most of his homework - correcting any mistakes. "How is it?" He asks.

"It's pretty good," I answered. "You need a bit of improvement in defence against the dark arts, transfiguration and potions but apart from that it is all good."

"Thank you, Riley," he adds. "Thank you for all the help."

"No worries," I said. "If you want anymore help with homework, I'll help you as much as I can, but you would have to do most of the work yourself."

"I'll probably need more help anyways," he added. I smiled as I stood up from a chair.

"I'll see you later, Albus," I added.

"Bye, Riley," he says.

Flying lessons would start the second week of the first term. Everyone was speaking about flying, but I felt I was pretty nervous - but not too nervous. On the Thursday, we had flying lessons with the Gryffindors - which caused me to sigh. I haven't spoken to Maya nor Farkle since the train. I also didn't speak with Lucas either. Lucas was always bullying Albus but also trying to flirt with me in front of Scorpius and Albus which I found was humiliating. I didn't particularly like Lucas anymore. He was rude to anyone that was in Slytherin apart from me.

I turned up early on Thursday for Flying Lessons with Madam Hooch. I helped her with the broomsticks as I see Rose who ran over to us. "Hey, Riley," she said, nicely. "How are you?"

"I'm fine," I added. Rose had always been nice towards me. We often talk without Albus and Scorpius (who started to have a crush on Rose) knowing. We weren't exactly friends but we were pleasant to each other.

As the rest of the first years from Slytherin and Gryffindor turns up I hurdled together with Scorpius and Albus, speaking together. "Well, what are you waiting for?" Madam Hooch says. "Everyone stand by a broomstick. Come on, hurry up."

I walked towards Farkle. He was one of the most unpopular Gryffindors. We are friends but we weren't exactly close - not as close as the friendship between Albus, Scorpius and I. "Hey, Riles," he said. "How are you?"

"I'm good," I replied.

"How's Slytherin treating you?" He asks.

"It's alright I guess," I answered.

I see Maya's face in front of me. I notice how she looked sad towards me. "Stick your hand out over your broom and say, 'Up'!" Madam Hooch says.

"UP!" Everyone calls out, My broom sailed into my hand as I grinned towards Maya (whose broom also sailed into her hand) as I notice her laughing happily between Rose and Polly. She sees me and smiles towards me. "YES!" Rose, Maya, Yann Fredrick and I called out.

"Come on now," Madam Hooch says. "I have no time for shirkers. Say 'UP'. 'UP' like you mean it."

Everyone else's broomsticks sailed into their hands once they say again "Up!" I hear cheering from the other students.

"Up," I heard Albus call out. "Up. UP!" I tilted my head to see Albus's broom not moving at all.

"Oh, wow," I heard Maya say. "He has no game."

"Oh, Merlin's beard," I heard Polly say. "How humiliating. He really isn't like his father at all is he?"

"Albus Potter, the Slytherin Squib," Karl Jenkins calls out.

"Okay children," Madam Hooch says, trying to distract the other students. "Time fly."

Hey guys, thought I'll let you know that my focus will be on this fanfic and Rotten to the Core fanfic at the moment. I'll try to upload as much as I can with my other fanfics - just that I've been busy, but I hope you guys enjoy this fanfic so far. Remember to fav/review.