A/N: Here's a nice long chapter for those of you who have been complaining about the shortness of them; although I must warn that the next chapter is kinda short... but the one after that is longer (which is way I haven't typed it up yet...). And thanks to Mirrellea Arbizu for all your comments! throws cookies It's lame that I have to bribe ya'll with cookies.

Now, I must say several things before we get on with this nice long juicy chapter.

Celia is kinda a take off of two people; and friend of mine, and myself. Her looks come from my friend, her personality and where she comes from come from me. I don't know if people I know are reading this and aren't reviewing (and if they are, then shame on them!) but in case they are, this will put some things into perspective about Celia. And for those of you who don't know me, well, you're not really missing much. D

I must put a disclaimer now. I don't usually do this, because of course we lowly fanfic writers don't own the characters, so I feel it pointless to say so. BUT, in this chapter (and in several to come) I use direct quotes from the 5th Harry Potter Book. So if you get that feeling of de ja vous, well, now you know why.

Ok, let's get on with it. I'm sure ya'll are tired of reading my ramblings.

Chapter 7: Gryffindor

Celia took off the Hat and walked towards the Gryffindor table, and saw a girl with bushy brown hair waving at her and patting the bench beside her.

"I thought you might like to site with people your own age," explained the girl as Celia sat down.

"I'm Hermione Granger, and that's Ronald Weasley, and Harry Potter."

Celia nodded at Harry.

"Of course I know who you are," she said smiling, " I think pretty much everybody does."

Food appeared and everyone began to eat.

"You still haven't told us your name," said Hermione, "They didn't announce it."

"Oh my gosh! I'm sorry! I'm Celia Hamelton," said the American witch as she spooned some potatoes onto her plate, "Ya'll have some strange food over here," she continued as she looked over several plates of food, "I don't recognize half of this stuff…"

Hermione giggled.

"What's so funny?" asked a slightly disgruntled Celia as she searched for an identifiable food item.

"It's just your accent, it's so different!"

"Oh not you too!" wailed Celia, "You wouldn't believe how many time I got made fun of in the North for my Southern accent. Well damnit, who cares?" Celia chuckled a little.

"I think it's cute!"Said Hermione.

"You're not the only one who's said that, but thanks," laughed Celia as she finally identified some food and dug in.

"So you're from America? Where in America?" asked Harry.

"The South, obviously, in case you didn't catch that. But no really, I'm from Charleston, South Carolina."

"I know about several of the European wizarding schools, like Beaubatons, and Durmstrang, of course, but I've never heard of any magical school in America. What was it like?" asked Hermione.

"The American Academy of Magic , you mean? Such an original name, do you think?" asked Celia sarcastically. "Well, it's in the North, almost in Canada, in a small isolated corner of New York. The building is new, though it's built on top of the foundation of several magical buildings before it. The original school was founded in 1701, by Armadiyo Mangus and-" Celia glanced warily at Hermione.

"You're not going to make me tell you the whole history of it are you?"

"Yes," muttered Harry and Ron together. Hermione glared at them.

"No. Only if you want to."

"Enough about my old school then. It's history is long and boring and thoroughly uninteresting. Tell me about some of the people here."

"Well, ok. The girl sitting next to Ron is Ginny, Ron's little sister. The twins are down there. This is Neville-"

"Oh! So you're Neville!" said Celia.

"How do you know who I am?" asked Neville cautiously.

"McGonagall mentioned that you would be able to help me with Herbology if I helped you with Transfig and Potions. I'm really plant stupid," laughed Celia. Neville grinned.

"Sure, I'd be glad to help you!"

"And down there are Lavender and Parvarti, and Seamus and Dean," continued Hermione. "I should probably warn you about the Slytherns. That's Malfoy, and his two cronies Crabbe and Goyle."

"My, the look like a rather unhappy bunch…" said Celia.

"Understatement of the century," muttered Ron.

"Do you play Quidditch?" asked Harry.

"Eh, I'm a good flyer, but throwing and catching balls, isn't really my forte, even on solid ground. But I like to play for fun. I brought my broom."

"What kind of broom do you have?" asked Ron.

"Nimbus 2000."

"Well, Harry's got a Firebolt," bragged Ron.

"Whoa! Really?! Can I take a look at it sometime?" asked Celia wide eyed. Harry grinned.

"Sure."

"Oh, and by the way, I believe you. You know, about him. I think your Ministry has gone insane for not believing you."

"Thanks. Does American in general believe me?" asked Harry.

"No, not really. There are a couple of people, but most just think you're insane," replied Celia.

"That's cheering," grumbled Harry. Celia laughed.

"Nice to know that the whole world thinks you've lost your marbles isn't it?"

Harry just groaned as Hermione, Ron and Celia laughed good heartedly.

"So tell me about the teachers. Who is that greasy character sitting next to McGonagall?" asked Celia.

"That's Snape," replied Ron with degust, "He's the Potions Master, and he's a slimy git."

"Ron!" exclaimed Hermione.

"Well, he is," muttered Harry to Celia. She grinned.

"And how about shorty?" she asked, gesturing to the rather short professor.

"That's Flitwick, the Charms Master. That's Professor Sprout, our Herbology teacher, Madame Hooch, the flying instructor, Madame Pomfrey, the nurse, Madame Pince, the librarian, Professor Sinistra, the Astronomy teacher, Professor, she teaches Ancient Ruins and-"

"Albus Dumbledore," said Celia, rather randomly, sounding slightly surprised.

"What about him?" asked Ron.

"I know who he is, of course, but somehow I missed the memo that he teaches here. What does he teach?"

"He's the headmaster…" said Hermione.

"Really? That's so cool!" exclaimed Celia. She turned back to Harry.

"I'm sorry, I just, like, totally, interrupted you. I'm sorry! Continue on please!"

At that moment Dumbledore stood up.

"Well, now that we are all digesting another magnificent feast, I beg a few moments of you attention for the usual start-of-term notices. First years ought to know that the forest in the grounds is out of bounds to students- and a few of our older students ought to know that by now too."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione smirked at this. Celia noticed the looks on their faces and whispered, "Do I want to know?"

"Probably not," Ron whispered back, "If we told you, you'd probably run back to American screaming about how insane we are."

"That exciting huh?" grinned Celia.

"Pretty much," replied Harry.

By this time, the noticed that a rather squat woman had stood up and was talking.

"Who's the toad lady?" asked Celia, grimacing at the pink cardigan that she was wearing.

"That would be Professor Umbridge," said Harry, also grimacing, "Our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

He stopped talking in time to hear Umbridge say, "Well, it is lovely to be back at Hogwarts I must say! And to see such happy little faces looking back at me! I am very much looking forward to getting to know you all, and I'm sure we'll be very good friends!"

"I have three things to say," whispered Celia, holding up three fingers, " One, if we are happy now, I sure don't want to see us when we're angry. Two, I'm afraid I can't learn from a frog. And Three, frogs are not my friends."

Harry and Ron grinned as Umbridge continues with her speech. Celia looked around. It seemed that nobody was really paying attention. Hermione was though, however, even though she was frowning. Finally Umbridge finished talking, and Dumbledore stood up to finish his announcements. Celia came back to reality just as Hermione said, " It means the Ministry's interfering at Hogwarts.

"And that's bad, right?" asked Celia.

The trio nodded.

"Ron! We're supposed to show the first years where to go!" said Hermione suddenly, looking flustered.

"Oh, yeah.. hey-hey you lot! Midgets!"

"RON!"

"Well, they are, they're titchy…"

"I know, but you can't call them midgets! First years! This way please!"

As Ron and Hermione led the first years out of the Hall, Harry turned to Celia.

"I guess that leaves me to show you were to go," he said, smiling.

"That would be great," replied Celia, returning the smile.

As they turned to leave, someone roughly knocked into Celia.

"Oh, excuse me!" said Celia as she turned to see who it was. To her surprise, she saw Ginny, looking very unhappy as she walked past her and out of the Hall.

"What's up with her? Did I do something?" asked Celia, looking puzzled. Harry shrugged.

"No idea."

Harry led the way to the Gryffindor common room. They reached a portrait of a rather fat lady.

" Damn. I don't know the password," said Harry as he looked up at the portrait.

"No password, no entrance," said the portrait.

"Harry! Celia! I know it!"

Harry and Celia turned to see Neville jogging up the corridor towards them, carrying something that looked like a cactus.

"Guess what it is? I'm actually going to be able to remember it for once!" he said waving the cactus-thing around. "Mimbulus mimbletonia!"

"Correct," said the Fat Lady as her portrait swung open.

"Thanks Neville!" said Celia as they climbed into the common room.

"Well, this is the common room. The girls' dormitories are up that way," said Harry, pointing to one set of staircases. Celia smiled.

"Thanks Harry. I think I'm going to go and unpack. See ya in the morning!" she said, making her way up the stairs. She came to the room marked "Fifth Years" and opened it. She observed all the four poster beds until she found the one with her belongings beside and began to unpack.