After passing the long train ride with talking and the occasional joke (Avery found that Abella and Elena had two seemingly different yet similar laughs, Abella's being more with a sarcastic and mocking tone and Elena having more confidence in her's), Elena suddenly pointed out the window and said,"Look."

The other two girls turned to follow the line of her finger, and both suddenly gasped in a small breathe at the sight. Hogwarts sat on a hill, the sunshine peaking through the clouds giving it an even more majestic feeling. True it was already a castle, but this wasn't like any other castle Avery has seen before. "More like the dragon would live there rather than a princess," she thought as the castle came closer. When the coach passed the shadows of the monument and Hogwarts began to grow smaller, only then did Avery breathe out heavily as she did not realize she had been holding her breathe. Lucille meowed slightly and curled up closer in Avery's lap, the girl's fingers beginning to pet her companion once again. The other two did the same, the sudden realization of their situation dawning over them.

"It's really happening," Abella said with disbelief and wonder in her tone, the other two nodding their heads in agreement. The tracks filled in the silence that has taken over the coach, the sounds of other children talking in their own cars having the humming murmur. Avery doesn't know what to think. Her whole life is about to begin in a completely different way, something that she never considered back when she lived with Mrs. Lewis.

Just as the train stopped, the feeling of excitement and nervousness seemed to teem the air of the children on board. The three girls grinned and grabbed their luggage, the robes of their uniforms swishing and some "oofs" and "watch out" were heard before everyone lined up at the exit. The sound of the train wheels screeching to a halt reached the excited children's ears, and just as the doors opened they all ran out.

The corridors had this old smell, like some mildew and age combined together. But this was also added by the burning of candles and the slight breeze blowing through the halls as the excited students walked. Avery couldn't believe her eyes, as this all seemed to be a fairy tale to her. "An actual castle huh," questioned Elena as the three traveled in their own private group. Many students had formed into their own small groups, but those groupings made up one huge crowd of nervous children. Abella answered with,"Of course a castle you nit. Only the best for Hogwarts and its students." Avery smiled a bit as Elena huffed and pouted a bit, the two beginning to trade biting remarks and snarky words with each other. "They could be sisters with how much they fight," thought Avery. She sighs at the missing feeling of Lucille by her side, as the girls had to leave their companions with their luggage until they were sorted into a house. "Hopefully Lucille will get along with Blossom and Azazel." The thought gave her comfort as the group reached two large doors. More talking could be heard from the other side, and just as suddenly those doors opened to reveal a huge dining hall. Avery gasped in awe, the hugeness of varsity of the room making her feel smaller and much more meek. Before she could protest Elena and Abella grabbed her arms and pulled her towards a table, one that had many older students with green as a more dominant color. All of the people in the room wore the same black robes, but Avery could see how the tables were organized into the certain houses; Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Huffelpuff, and Slytherin. The differences in the students at each table caught Avery's eye, as one at a Ravenclaw table was reading a book while one at the Gryiffndor was, as it seemed to look, trying to knife fight with another Gryffindor. Avery snorted a bit at the antics and thought "Probably not my area of placement." The three girls sat in a small empty space, as many people were crowded together. Her shoulders felt squeezed and pushed too close together, but Avery did not mind as she watched her two friends interact with the other Slytherins at the table. Avery nervously answered some questions, but she did not feel quiet as comfortable here. They mostly ignored her and focused on her friends, which Avery found reasonable because Abella and Elena seemed to fit nicely among the Slytherin household. Before Elena could start a murder with some idiotic boy across from them, a huge hush fell over the hall. Students eagerly looked towards the back of the room, closer to a big set of glass windows where all the teachers and faculty were gathered. Avery felt a bit tense and tried to hide herself.

A woman who looked to be in her late seventies rose to the podium. All the students remained quiet, some hushing others. The woman smiled and began to speak.

"Hello students of Hogwarts. I am Minerva McGonagall, headmistress of this fine school. I would like to personally welcome many new faces here," Avery and her friends grinned at each other with this, "as well as many familiar faces." A majority of the older students laughed a bit and some joked around. McGonagall smiled and the hall quieted down once again. She continued, "As I was saying, this year will promise to be another fantastic year. I hope that many of you will continue working hard and give the newer students a chance to learn just as much as you have done. Now, before we begin the Sorting Ceremony and as you say ,'dig in,' I would like to say these few words; Work hard and study hard!"

With those words the hall burst into applause and cheers before people began to grab food quickly. Avery just managed to grab a roll of bread before pulling back rapidly, fearing for her hand. As she bit into it, the taste of the warm bread made her smile happily and she closed her eyes. Then the names began to be called.

Just before Avery realized what was happening, the name "Abella Bruneu" came out. Abella grinned and stood up triumphantly, many people cheering and giving her "good luck" and "best wishes." Avery and Elena leaned out to watch as their friend walked up to the stool, sat down, and waited for the Hat to call out her house. After about 15 seconds the sudden yell of "Slytherin" gave a huge cheer to the table the girls were sitting, causing Avery to almost choke on her roll before she swallowed quickly. Abella smirked and left the stool, the other Slytherin congratulating her and giving her grins. She sat besides Elena and Avery again, Elena exclaiming "Congrats!" Abella smirks wider and flips her hair while saying "It was bound to happen." Elena and her begin to banter again as Avery laughs at them.

Just as quickly "Elena Hathaway" is called out, and Elena stands up and moves towards the front. Avery and Abella watch as their friend takes her place at the stool. In about the same amount of time the Hat yells, "Slytherin!" Abella screams in Avery's ear and grabs her arms in happiness. Elena also has a huge smile and walks back towards the group of two. Abella and Elena hug tightly, and Avery cannot help but watch with some nervousness and hesitation. "I don't think this is going to be the three of us together." Avery sighs and smiles at the two as they chatter with other students, the acceptance washing over her.

There are many more names called before the name "Averia Jones" is yelled. Many students turn towards Avery as she nervously stands up and looks back at the other two. They grin and give her thumbs up and whispers of "good luck" while she takes a deep breath. The walk feels long and endless to her as students whisper and watch as she climbs the steps. When she sits down the stool feels a bit creaky under her weight, and she blushes a bit at the embarrassment. Before she can prepare herself the Hat is placed on her head. She holds in a breath as it begins to speak to her.

"Well well. Thought you would have been a Slytherin with your other two friends. But definitely not. There is a slight hint, but not enough. Perhaps Ravenclaw? You have some wisdom beyond yourself. But no, not exactly that either. I see loyalty and trust in you; you make friends with others easily, as well as see good in them. Yes yes…" Avery holds her breath and closes her eyes just as the Hat screams "Huffelpuff!"

The crowd is quiet for a moment before cheers go out at the Hufflepuff table. Avery lets out the breath and unclenches her fists while the Hat is removed. It says another word, something she does now understand but the Deputy seems to take seriously. She stands up shakily and smiles widely. Her eyes go towards her friends at the Slytherin table, sad looks on their faces but they still smile at her. Avery feels her heart clench but she waves at them before she descends the stairs. The closest Hufflepuff grabs her and leads her towards and empty space at the table. She finally laughs with relief, the feeling of acceptance and happiness washing over her. Elena and Abella catch her eye once again as she grins at them, the silent promise of friendship staying between them. All three girls smile at each other and turn back to their tables, the night continuing on in food and laughter.

After the dinner, the students were filing out in their houses, friends gossiping and older students welcoming the newbies to the school. However, before Avery could join them, she felt a hand upon her shoulder and turned around. An older gentleman met her eyes, one she recognized as a professor. She asked, "May I help you sir?" He smiled warmly and answered her with "You are Averia Jones, correct?" Avery nodded, and she just noticed her other friends Abella and Elena alongside the man. There were a few other students, some from Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. They all shared the same confused look, wondering what could have possibly happened for them to be picked. The man sighed and then stated "If you would all follow me. Headmistress would like to speak with you all." Avery gasped a bit with some other children, the fear of the headmistress being possibly angry at them gave them a fright. Before any exclamations could be said or any questions asked, the man began to walk down the hallway. Avery shared a look of confusion with her two friends, but they shrugged at her and they all walked as a group behind the man.

When two tall doors stood in front of Avery, she gulped a bit and took a deep breath. The man opened the door after knocking, a slight "come in" being heard although it was muffled. The doors revealed a nice comfy room full of books, the dim light from candles giving it a more homely feel than scary. At the desk in the farther back of the room was Headmistress McGonagall with a few scrolls out as well as some other pieces of paper. She smiled at the group as the doors closed behind them, the slight draft of cold air gone.

"Hello young ones. Welcome to Hogwarts." The students nervously giggled and some fidgeted, including Elena. There seemed to be something making her uncomfortable surrounded by all the people, but Avery had not a clue why. "Perhaps she is not comfortable around this many people," she thought. The thought was interrupted by McGonagall, who said next "I have a feeling that you are all wondering why you are here." The students nodded. "Well, this won't be a simple welcome I'm afraid. You see, I have something to ask of you all." The group began to whisper, nervous and excitement clouding over the room. McGonagall held up a hand, quieting the room. She continued with the next words that shocked Avery to the core,"We have chosen you to fight a new evil among us. You are all picked to train in secret to defeat this evil, as it has taken over an important part of the Muggle world, which we cannot get involved in. However, you are all in ways associated with the Muggles without being too known, which we want to use. This is your choice, but…" She inhaled at this, before saying, "This could mean the end of both the wizard and Muggle worlds."