September 1 – King's Cross Station, London

"Hoggy Warty Hogwarts here we come!" Ginny took a seat right next to Sophie who was already fiddling through a large binder. It had to be filled with about 500 CDs arranged by genre. She was looking for great music for the train ride.

"Our final year of youthful mayhem Brother Gred," Fred said to his twin as they flopped down on the opposite side of the compartment. "Harry, did Lord Padfoot give you the Map?"

"He did say he wanted us to do our best in following in his footsteps." George added.

"That he did, Fred, George" Harry smiled.

The train was barreling through suburban areas around London, the group slowly splitting off to do separate things. Fred and George left to fine Lee Jordan, Harry and Ron decided to play chess, Hermione leaning against Harry's shoulder as she read a book. Sophie was putting Ginny's now wet (thanks to a couple of Aguamenti spells) hair into dozens of tiny tight plaits with her hands covered in a holding gel.

"By the time we get to Hogwarts, the waves in your hair will be unbelievable." Sophie told her.

Upbeat music was coming from Sophie's Discman, and the group of friends were just tucking into a small feast packed by the house elves of Black Manor, when the door opened.

"Well, well, well, what have we here?" a cold, drawling voice reached their ears.

Tall, blonde and devilishly handsome, Draco Malfoy was making his appearance on the train. His hair had grown quite a bit over the summer, and was pulled back into a low ponytail.

"Go away Malfoy," Hermione deadpanned, not even looking up from her book. "Don't you have anything better to do?"

"Who asked you? You filthy little Mudbl-"

WHAM!

And just like that, Draco Malfoy's pure blood was dribbling out of his nose. Harry'd moved so fast that no one even had a chance to stop him.

There was stunned silence for about a minute until –

"Nice punch, Pup." Sophie laughed, using Sirius's nickname for him. The entire compartment began to laugh.

Hermione stood up and whipped out her wand. She tapped Malfoy's nose while muttering a spell, and healed him instantly. Two scorgify's followed in quick succession, clearing the blood from his face, hands and collar.

"And now he has no proof that you decked him, and you can't get in trouble either!" Sophie added on.

"You'll pay for this, Potter!" Malfoy stalked off without another word.

The whole compartment erupted in laughter as soon as the door closed.

"You sure showed him, Harry! Bloody hell; that was the greatest thing I've ever seen you do!" Ron exclaimed, slapping his best friend on the shoulder.

Harry gave Ron a small smirk before declaring. "I'll do that to anyone who calls Mione that."

"And if it's a girl?" Ginny challenged.

"Simple, I'll do it!" Sophie laughed out.

The hours passed on, and Sophie excused herself to find a bathroom. She eventually found one and when she came out, she bumped into a body.

"Oh, sorry, I wasn't look-"

It was Malfoy.

"You! You were in the compartment with Potter and his sidekicks."

"Well, Ron does sort of come off as a sort of sidekick, but the girls pretty much tell him what to do from what I've seen." Sophie shrugged casually. "I'm Sophie by the way, transferring in from New York this year."

"Ah, you're new here? That explains everything. You'll soon learn how things work around here. Potter and his cohorts probably met you at the station and attempted to befriend you. You'll soon find that some families are better than others. I can help you there. Master Draco Lucius Regulas Malfoy, of the Prosperous and Untainted House of Malfoy at your service." He bowed at the waist formally.

This guy obviously ate slept and breathed his etiquette classes. Sophie thought to herself as she strove to remember her adoptive mother's constant nagging for proper behavior.

"I know some families are better than others. I'm apart of the best." She replied coolly, her head inclining slightly. "Sophia Carina Black of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black."

"I apologize for my words, both now, and in the compartment. My language wasn't appropriate for a young lady of your caliber." Still way too formal.

"You didn't seem too worried about that when we were in the compartment. Ginny and Hermione are both females."

"A muggle-born and a blood traitor do not measure up to people of our stature."

"Dude, you're an idiot. Later." She added with a jaunty wave. She stepped past him and continued on down the corridor to her compartment.

"So, that Malfoy idiot you punched just apologized to me for saying that Mudblood word in front of me." She announced as she rested her head against Harry's shoulder.

"What? Why?" Ron asked as he sipped his butterbeer.

"Because I'm a girl and a pureblood I guess. He said his language, and I quote, "Wasn't appropriate for a young lady of my caliber." What a moron, right?"

"Well, that explains everything," he said sarcastically.

"Actually, it does, big brother," Ginny objected. "Draco is only a git to people that he thinks are beneath him. If he thinks that Soph is his equal, his manners are bound to kick in."

"But I'm not his equal." Sophie shrugged.

"What do you mean, Sophie, you definitely are!" Ron protested.

"Don't insult me Ron!" Sophie laughed.

"Yes, clearly, Sophie and the rest of us girls are his superiors." Hermione laughed.

Ron threw a chocolate frog wrapper at her.

The group got changed in shifts; Harry and Ron First, then Sophie Hermione and Ginny. Sophie's Silver and green tie and house crest seemed so out of place in the cabin full of Lions. The entire group spent the last few minutes cleaning up the mess from their lunch before they were interrupted by a knock on the door.

A boy of about sixteen entered. He had deep brown eyes and dark blonde hair. He looked around the group.

"Is there a Sophia Black here?" he asked calmly. When Sophie raised her hand, he gave a small nod in her direction. "I'm Daniel Higgs. I'm a seventh year Slytherin prefect. Professor Snape sent me a note telling me that you were new and in our house."

"Yeah, that's true. I'm gonna be a fifth year." She replied.

"I'm supposed to escort you to the castle and answer any questions you may have."

"Alright. Um, I guess I'll see you guys later?" She said to the group. She followed Daniel into the throng of students, all of them laughing and talking amongst themselves. Sophie followed Daniel off of the train and into a horseless carriage where they were joined by two boys and two girls.

"This is Tracy Davis, Daphne Greengrass, Theodore Nott and Blaise Zabini. They are some of your year mates in our house." The group exchanged hellos pleasantly.

"You grew up in America?" Tracy asked. She had brown hair that just hit her shoulders and jewel blue eyes.

"New York to be exact."

"My father has a business associate in New York," Theo spoke up. He looked vaguely familiar to her for some reason.

"Really, cool."

"His name is Richard Donahue. He owns a lot of Real Estate and does a lot of development work all over the world."

"Richard Donahue is my best friend Cassie's dad. He's the coolest guy."

"Last winter he invited our family to his annual Christmas party."

"That's why you look like I've seen you before! I was there. It was a lot of fun, wasn't it?"

The entire group was very nice. They did their best to make their new housemate feel comfortable with them by the time that they got up to the castle. When they stepped out, Sophie's jaw dropped.

"I didn't see the outside of the castle last time I was here. This place is huge." She commented, sharing a small grin with Blaise.

"I think that we all have the same thought when we first see Hogwarts Castle," he offered her his arm and she was led into the great hall.

"Look at the ceiling! That is a really cool bit of magic."

"It's bewitched to look like that skies above it." Daniel commented. "If you ever get a chance, you should read Hogwarts, a History. It will tell you quite a bit about the school."

They sat down at a far table where everyone wore the same emblem on their robes.

"So we have to all sit with our houses?"

"Yes. House unity is important. "

"But what if you have friends in another house? Most of the people that I know are in Gryffindor. I can't eat lunch with them?"

"Of course not," a dark haired girl sitting a few seats down from her spat out. "Why would we want to eat with a bunch of self-righteous blood traitors anyway?"

"Blood traitors?" Sophie asked to herself. She shrugged and stared back up at the high table. Dumbledore was there, so were, Flitwick, Sprout, and Snape. There were many other teachers up there as well. Sophie let the others around her talk and catch up whilst she locked eyes with Harry and twisted her face grotesquely before cracking a grin. Harry smiled back in return, Fred and George waved from a bit further down the table, as did Neville. Soon enough, McGonagall came into the hall leading a long line of terrified eleven year olds.

"Finally," she heard Blaise comment to Theo. "I'm starving. I thought she'd never bring them in here."

The Deputy Headmistress sat the hat on a chair. The hat sang a song warning of danger in the future and warning Hogwarts that it needed to unite and band together. Sophie wasn't quite sure what to make of it.

"Harry said that the hat usually sings about the traits the founders looked for and left it at that."

"Harry? You mean Potter?" Tracy asked as she applauded the song.

"Yeah, he's my godbrother."

The girl didn't answer. It took an excruciatingly long 31 minutes and 45 seconds for the sorting to be over. Sophie kept time on her watch. By the time Dumbledore stood up and said the magical words (Tuck In!) Sophie was ready to implode with hunger. The ham sandwiches and pasta salad from the house elves of Black Manor seemed ages ago. The meal was delicious. She could see Ron stuffing his face full of mashed potatoes while Hermione looked on in disgust. She smirked and laughed a bit before taking a taste of the roast chicken. It was amazing.

An hour later, dinner and desserts were eaten and Dumbledore stood up again.

He droned on for a few minutes before a short squat woman took his place. She easily gave the dullest speech Sophie'd ever heard in her entire life. Hermione looked upset and was muttering to Harry and Ron who both looked like they ate something sour. Before she could catch one of their gazes though, they were dismissed for bed.

Sophie followed her Housemates back into the entrance Hall. She saw the Ravenclaws and Gryffindors head up a large Marble Staircase while the Hufflepuffs walked through a door and down a brightly lit corridor. The Slytherins went down two flights of stairs into a cold and slightly damp hallway. The made two turns before they stopped before a bare stretch of wall.

One of the Prefects leading the group spoke the password loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Influence" she intoned and the wall slid back silently.

Sophie filed into a very clean, elegant, green room. There were many clusters of arm chairs with small side tables dotted all around the room. Grand silver chandeliers lit the room. Towards the back were three sets of doors and to the far right stood a huge fireplace. Snape was standing in front of the fire, and all of the Slytherin students from First to Seventh year stood in front of their Head of House to hear his Start of Term Speech.

"If you are returning to this place, welcome back. If this is your first time inside these hallowed walls, allow me to be one of the only to welcome you to Slytherin House." He spoke softly; Sophie had to almost strain her ears to catch all of his words. "This house is home to those who have strong minds. They are not simply intelligent like Ravenclaw, who can only think in straight, neat, logical lines, but we have an uncanny ability to think in circles, always looking for loopholes, traps and lies. Slytherins are always resourceful, cunning, and subtle. If you are caught doing anything that does not befit this house, you will face my displeasure. " Snape looked around the room.

"Who can tell me the first rule of Slytherin House?"

A blonde girl spoke up from the back of the room. "A Slytherin IS the house."

"Correct. First and foremost, you are of this house. Outside of these walls, all of Slytherin is one unit. Any sort of conflicts will be handled in house. The rest of the school will be against you from day one because of the crest on your robes. We are all united against the rest of them. Also, all new students are paired with an upper classman as a Mentor until the time that I deem your behavior and knowledge of the school acceptable. Your mentor will teach you the other rules of this house as well as show you around the school for as long as you need it. Do not embarrass your house, your families, or me. And remember, my office door is always open to a Slytherin in need. I leave you all in the capable hands of our Prefects. Good night to you all."

Daniel Higgs stood up and took the professor's place.

"Upper years can retire for the night." Once the first years and Sophie were left, he continued. "The four doors to the back of the common room lead to our dorms, our library, and our Prefect's lounge. Only 7th years and Prefects can get access into this room. It's a privilege that few get to earn before their final year. You should strive to earn that privilege. Now, the First door leads to the girl's dormitories, the second the boy's. You all have a lounge and a bathroom that you share with your year mates, and a bedroom of your own. The name of your Mentor will be in a note on your pillow. That's all for now, I suppose. I'll see you all in the morning. Miss Black, I believe that Miss Davis is waiting for you near the doors."

Sophie followed the line of sleepy 11 year olds towards the Dorm doors. Tracy grabbed Sophie's attention and motioned for her to follow up the stairs.

"We keep the same dorms for all 7 years that we're here. We are on the 6th level. "

The stair case spiraled; every so often a landing with a door would appear. Sophie followed Tracy to the 6th floor where a solid oak door had the words 5th year ladies inscribed in an elegant cursive. Tracy pushed the door open and walked into the lounge.

Daphne was sitting in an armchair, a book in her hand. There was a larger girl standing at a book shelf searching for a title, and the dark haired girl that clearly had a problem with Gryffindors and muggles was lounging imperiously on a chaise, her book already in hand.

"Ah, you're here!" Daphne grinned. Her aquamarine eyes sparkled and set off her honey blonde hair perfectly. "Welcome to our dormitories, Miss Black." Her bubbly greeting and features reminded Sophie instantly of Cassie.

"Please call me by my first name. I get the feeling I'm going to be sick of hearing my last name in the near future."

"Than you must call me Daphne." She countered. "Over there, is Millicent Bulstrode. And this is – "

"I am Lady Pansy Parkinson of the Significant and Affluent House of Parkinson." She cut in.

"Um, hey." Sophie gave an awkward grin and a sort of wave in Millicent's direction.

"So, Sophia, tell us about America." Tracy led Sophie to a couch and pulled her down beside her.

"Um, Well, I lived in New York City, a huge metropolis with millions of people living there."

"Millions of magical people? How do you keep a magical city that large hidden from the muggles?" Millicent asked.

"Not actually, see, New York in a really huge city, there are about 7 million people living there….maybe a bit more. But the magical community in New York is probably a quarter of that. And wand-wielding magicals are probably about only 70 percent of that. The other thirty percent practice other kinds of magic like Voodoo, Santeria, Wicca, Soul Magicks that the Native Americans use, Spirit Magicks, and some other ones that I can't think of."

"So then you all are hidden in a separate part of the city?" Tracy asked.

"No, we live side by side with the non-magicals. We don't show our magic off or anything, but my neighbor was a Wall Street Banker, and our government does it's best keeping things hushed up; a lot of our news papers are printed up right next to theirs, but they think that they're just tabloids and unreliable joke newspapers like the National Enquirer, and stuff like that. We're more camouflaged than hidden. Our schools are usually classified as exclusive private schools for the academically gifted, our magical stores are in a place a lot like Diagon Alley, but for the most part, we just exist."

"Well, as enlightening as that is, it simply lets me know that I'll never visit a country like America," Pansy sniffed.

"Why not, Pansy?" Daphne asked. "It sounds like a whole different world over there."

"I will not consort with blood-traitors and muggleborns."

"What's a blood traitor?" Sophie asked.

"A pure blooded wizard or witch with no sense of pride. They willingly consort with muggleborns. They go against keeping their blood and magic pure."

"Um…so?"

The dark haired girl rolled her eyes. "Obviously, you don't know how things work around here."

"Look, I just don't see what the big deal is about blood. So what if you've had magic in your family for generations? If someone's been blessed with the Gift of Magick, then they should be accepted. A first-generation Magical only means that this single individual out of their whole family, was worthy to possess and study magic. The same goes with Squibs. Obviously, they weren't blessed with the gift, but that doesn't make them inferior, it just makes them human. Just like we are."

Rant over, Sophie left the room, walking through the only other door in the room and finding herself in a hallway. With two doors on the right labeled Miss Parkinson and Miss Davis and the two on the left marked Miss Greengrass and Miss Bulstrode, Sophie could easily determine that the door straight ahead marked Miss Black was hers.

Inside the room, everything was a jewel toned green. She sheets were silver, and the hangings around her bed were a heavy velvet, also green. The sheets and pillowcases were silk, and the blanket think and warm, a Slytherin crest embroidered in the center. A large wardrobe was on the wall to the right of the bed, a desk to the left. A door right next to the wardrobe led to a bathroom that held two shower stalls and two sunken in bathtubs, all 4 with a privacy curtain pulled back. Another two doors in the bathroom were seperated toilets, both with silencing charms once the door closed. 5 sinks were a long the wall with a mirror in front of each of them.

Everything was immaculate and honestly felt no different than the manor aside from the extra amenities. She grabbed a pair of pajama pants and a Van Halen tee a long with her toiletries and took a quick shower, letting the hot water cascade down her body. Once she scrubbed herself clean and washed her hair, she dried off and dressed. Once she was in the mirror brushing her teeth, an idea struck her. She took her wand and after muttering a particular spell, she rapped the top of her skull. Her hair suddenly had highlights, emerald green highlights that looked great on her black hair. Braiding it down her back and securing the ends with a rubber band, she was finally ready to climb into bed.

"Hiro, babe, you there?" she spoke into the mirror.

"Hey, what's up? Nice green!" he added as he focused on her.

"Thanks, did it on a whim, and it's gonna match my school uniform tomorrow."

"How was your day? How're the room mates?"

"One is really cool so far, reminds me of Cassie a little, the other two are nice enough, and the last one is a total racist."

No way, really? Like racist against who?"

"Like she's a total blood supremisist. Called me a 'blood traitor'. I almost punched her in the mouth, but I just took a shower instead."

After talking for a few minutes, she finally fell asleep.

A/N: So we've arrived at Hogwarts. Next Chapter, we have The team of Black and Potter versus Umbridge, Round 1. This is going to be fun...

Review!

Nique