AN - sorry i havn't updated for a while, exams are a burdern. Plus iv been putting this off... Anya is in Hogwarts at last.

Hogwarts – Slytherin

They arrived at a small station. Anyana gazed out of the train window; it was pitch black outside save for the lanterns that adorned the platform. Anyana had long since changed into her robes and was busy trying to coax a stubborn Eclipse back into her carry case as the train finally halted to a stop.

The train hooted signalling to everyone that they were here. The once quiet train was now a buzz with activity, eager first years were huddled in groups whilst the older students were chatting among themselves about lessons and teachers.

"Anya, come with me…first years go up to the school in the boats." Zarian called to her, he was in his robes. They were black same as hers yet he had a green and silver insigne above his heart.

Zarian noticing her looking said "it's the emblem of Slytherin…you should have that soon" he added, almost hopefully.

Anya smiled at him, tentatively and followed him through the train, she noticed that not many people stood in his way or even acknowledged him. Soon they stood on the platform; it was full to the brim with students busy finding their friends before moving up to the school.

"Come on this way…keep up Anya I've got to get up to school too you know…"

"I'm coming…patience is a virtue." Anya grumbled as she pushed her way through the crowd after him.

They finally arrived at a small dock. A man was standing at the dock with dozens of first years scattered around him; he was dressed in ragged clothes and was directing dozens of first years into lines ready to get in a boat.

"Well here you are…hopefully see you later."

"Thank you, Zarian."

"First year?" the man said to her, not even waiting for an answer he directed her to a boat with another group of first years. "Right all aboard then, please try not to fall in, I ain't coming in after you if you do".

The boats seemed to float gracefully along the water, not even needing to be rowed. The lake was vast and black, all the light they had was on the fronts of the boats. All of a sudden the night sky was lit up by million lights.

Hogwarts castle stood before them proud and strong shining like a beacon in the night.

As Anya gazed up at the castle, she was filled with warmth such as she had never felt. She was home…

The boats pulled into a small boathouse, and they all climbed out. "Right this way…" the man said once he was sure all the students were clear of falling in to the lake. He led them up a long slope and across a bridge till there was in a big courtyard. "Come on, come on keep up." He grumbled at the stragglers who stood in awe at the castle. "Plenty of time to look at that, you'll be here all year."

Up a small staircase they were stopped by a stern looking man who stood in front of two proud doors. "Welcome everyone to your first night at Hogwarts…let's hope it's not your last, but we'll have hope." Anya frowned and looked around her at the other students, many looked scared other shocked at what the teacher had said.

"Now we shall proceed into the main hall, where you shall be sorted into your houses by the sorting hat. The houses are Slytherin, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Each house has its own strength and weakness."

The doors opened and they proceeded into the great hall. Anya couldn't believe her eyes as she gazed up at the ceiling, it looked as though there was no ceiling the night sky was in plain view and candles were floating in the air. "Wow" she heard the girl next to her say, she couldn't have agreed more, this place was amazing.

"Now, spread out here please. I will call your name place the sorting hat on your head. Once you have been sorted you will move off the platform and sit at the house table." The hat in question looked old and worn and pretty much like a hat. All of a sudden however it opened its mouth and began to…sing. It sang about the different houses and what there qualities were it even boasted about never being wrong. Lastly it sang that the houses should be working together. Once the hat had finished his song the professor started to read out names.

All of a sudden Anya eyes fell upon a teacher sitting on the platform directly next to the headmaster. He had long auburn hair and a long beard, but that was not what caught her eye, it was just that, his eyes. They were the lightest blue she had ever seen and seemed to pierce into hers without any trouble. He surveyed her for a moment, and she couldn't look away. Anya felt like a mouse trapped in the eyes of a hawk, but he merely smiled at her before looking away. Anya was pulled out of her thoughts by…

"Riddle, Anya"

Time froze. She looked at the hat a bit apprehensively, that was going to be on her head.

Anya swallowed her fear and walked up onto the platform. The hat fixed its eyes upon her as did the rest of the school. She sat upon the stall and the hat was placed upon her head.

The hat gasped as it hit her head.

"Slytherin! Defiantly Slytherin"

Anya heard nothing more except the cheers coming from the right hand side. She hopped of the stall before walking over to the table and sitting down next to a cheering Zarian. He smiled at her which she returned and the cheers quietened down. She looked back up to the teachers table and at the man with auburn hair. He looked back at her, his eyes full of concern and maybe even a little fear. Before she could be sure he had directed his eyes else were and her attention was drawn by Zarian.

"I told you…welcome to Slytherin. You obviously belong here." She smiled at him. She actually belonged somewhere at last…