p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"span style="font-weight: bold;"Here's a roughly 2500 word chapter for you! Explanation at the end!/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Samantha stayed with Marco as they got out of the train, climbed down a slippery, steep and highly unsafe slope, and embarked in a fleet of small boats./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"They shared their boat with another duo, who introduced themselves as Susan Bones and Hannah Abbott./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Marco appeared to enjoy chatting with them, but Samantha did not find them especially interesting./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The boats rounded a bend.../p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"and Hogwarts came into sight. It was beautiful, a tall shapely edifice with lights twinkling in the windows that only enhanced the glory of the stars shining in the sky./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Samantha was very glad she was going to be spending the next seven years of her life here./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"A collective gasp had arose from everyone when it came into view, and Samantha knew they shared her sentiments./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"For one moment, they were united in thoughts and feelings./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"But the moment did not last. Chatter erupted, breaking Samantha`s reverie./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"A few minutes later, they were all assembled for the Sorting in the great Hall./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"A song was sung by the Sorting Hat./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"But don't judge on what you see,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"I'll eat myself if you can find/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"A smarter hat than me./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"You can keep your bowlers black,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Your top hats sleek and tall,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"And I can cap them all./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"There's nothing hidden in your head/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The Sorting Hat can't see,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"So try me on and I will tell you/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Where you ought to be./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"You might belong in Gryffindor,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Where dwell the brave at heart,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Their daring, nerve and chivalry,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Set Gryffindors apart;/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"You might belong in Hufflepuff/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Where they are just and loyal,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Those patient Hufflepuffs are true,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"And unafraid of toil;/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"If you've a ready mind,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Where those of wit and learning,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Will always find their kind;/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Or perhaps in Slytherin,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"You'll make your real friends,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Those cunning folk use any means,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"To achieve their ends./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"So put me on! Don't be afraid!/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"And don't get in a flap!/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"You're in safe hands (though I have none)/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"For I'm a Thinking Cap!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"For all Samantha`s experience with the Wizarding World, this evidently highly enchanted hat impressed her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"emIs it the same song every year?/em she wondered./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"In a moment, Professor Mcgonagall read the first name./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"It was Marco`s newfound friend./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Abbott, Hannah!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""HUFFLEPUFF!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Now it was Marco`s turn./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Belvedere, Marco!" called out Professor Mcgonagall./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Marco walked forward, trembling./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He sat down on the stool./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The Sorting Hat went onto his head./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"emHello Marco, er... Belvedere./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Hello," Marco whispered hesitantly. " Why did you hesitate over my last name?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The hat disregarded his question./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"emSensible, but not overly academic./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"emNot fearful, nor reckless./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"emspan style="font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial;"span style="font-size: 13px;"Not a deceitful bone in your body./span/span/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"emAnd power - time to break that stereotype of Helga`s House./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"emBetter be/em "HUFFLEPUFF!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"As Marco walked to his table amidst clapping, he wondered why the Sorting Hat had dodged his question regarding his last name./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"It had to be intentional./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"While he knew he was adopted, he did not know that he subconsciously knew his last name. He must have, seeing as how the hat had read it from his mind./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"This was food for thought./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He cheered as Susan, his new friend from the boat, was Sorted into Hufflepuff with him and Hannah./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Not too long after that, Justin Finch-Fletchley, the muggleborn from the train joined him in Hufflepuff./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He would have friends here./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Patil, Padma!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""RAVENCLAW!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Patil, Parvati!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""GRYFFINDOR!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Perks, Sally-Anne!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""HUFFLEPUFF!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Potter, Harry!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Finally, it was his turn!/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Harry strode confidently to the stool and put the hat on./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"It took barely a moment to make it`s decision./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"emYou?/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""GRYFFINDOR!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Exactly as he expected it would go./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He took a seat at the Gryffindor table, smiling at the cheers that greeted his arrival there./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"But the next moment, the smile was wiped off his face as McGonagall haltingly read out the next name with a confused expression on her face./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Potter-Black, Lily!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She was his sister!?/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She wasn`t lying?!/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Up to the stool Lily came./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"emI guess that fool brother of mine is very suprised,/em she thought Not his sister indeed./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She had revived from the stunners after a couple of hours, in plenty of time for the Sorting. But they had been quite powerful./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"When she recieved the hat, it went pretty much as she expected./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"emHmm, a Potter-Black./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"emI could easily place you in Slytherin or Gryffindor. Which would you prefer?/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Slytherin, please."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"emVery well./em "SLYTHERIN!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Lily sat down at the Slytherin table near Draco Malfoy./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Many people in the hall were whispering. There was even some booing, no doubt led by her brother over at the Gryffindor table./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She didn`t care./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"One person in particular was looking at her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She recognized him from Sirius` stories./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"It was Severus Snape./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Severus looked on in distaste as the Potter boy was Sorted into Gryffindor./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Just like his father, he thought bitterly./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He sat upright in shock as the next name was called./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Potter-Black, Lily!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He ground his teeth at the name of his beloved having the name of his two greatest enemies tacked on./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Now that he thought of it, he didn`t know Potter had another kid./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"For that matter, why was she Potter-span style="max-height: 999999px; text-decoration-line: underline;"Black/span?/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"But all these thoughts vanished from his mind when he saw her. He almost fell off his chair./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She was the image of her mother./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Flaming red hair./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Beautiful almond-shaped green eyes./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"And of course she will be Sorted into Gryffindor, he thought with terrible malice./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"To have to deal with that face in a Gryffindor uniform for at least the next five years and most likely longer./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He was pulled into a memory./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Standing in that line of children, waiting to be Sorted, while she waited on the stool./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The despair he felt when she was Sorted into Gryffindor, knowing that he was destined for Slytherin and that one day their paths must part./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"And his doom confirmed when he saw her eyes looking at him with a hint of sadness from the Gryffindor table when the hat called out "Slytherin" for him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He was broken out of his reverie and did fall halfway out of his chair when the hat called out, "SLYTHERIN!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Lily in Slytherin? His dreams had come true! No matter that she was so many years younger than she should be, or that she was Potter`s kid./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He frowned in anger as several Gryffindors were led in booing her by the Potter boy./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He settled back in his chair. He had no interest in the rest of the children remaining to be Sorted./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He could not stop his eyes from straying back to Lily every now and then./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Samantha was Sorted into Ravenclaw. She was not suprised./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The hat had said some very interesting things. She woud have to think them over./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She sat down between an Asian girl and an Indian girl. They introduced themselves as Padma Patil and Su Li./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"They were both from ancient pureblood families in their respective countries, but neither had any problem with muggleborns who respected magical traditions./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"In a moment, Albus Dumbledore had gotten to his feet. He was beaming at the students, his arms opened wide, as if nothing could have pleased him more than to see them all there./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"But Samantha got a slightly odd feeling coming off of him, as if she should be wary of him. She decided to wait and see./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Welcome," he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He sat back down. Everybody clapped and cheered. Samantha thought, emhe is either senile or pretending to be senile so that people will underestimate him./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"A massive amount of food had suddenly appeared on the table./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The house elves had to have done a lot of work to produce this much roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops and lamb chops, sausages, bacon and steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, fries, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, ketchup, and, for some strange reason, peppermint humbugs./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"During the feast, Samantha began to get acquainted with everyone./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Apparently, Su Li did martial arts, so they agreed to spar against each other tomorrow. Samantha was looking forwards to that./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Padma was missing her sister, who had been Sorted into Gryffindor. They were very rarely apart, but now they would be very rarely together./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""If you truly want to spend time with her," Samantha said, "You can prioritize it and arrange it with her."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Su Li disagreed. "It will do you some good to be away from her. Nobody pays attention to you when you are around her. This is your time to shine."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"It appeared that Su Li and Padma were old friends./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"When everyone had eaten as much as they could, the remains of the food faded from the plates, leaving them sparkling clean as before./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"A moment later the desserts appeared./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Blocks of ice cream in every flavor you could think of, apple pies, treacle tarts, chocolate eclairs and jam doughnuts, trifle, strawberries, Jell-O, rice pudding -/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"At this time, the Ravenclaw prefect, Penelope Clearwater, started explaining some things to the girls./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""The way the room system works," she said, "is that two girls share a room. You will have to pick a partner or let it be assigned by Hogwarts randomly. The castle itself chooses, you know; it is said to pick girls who have potential for friendship to be together in a pair."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Samantha looked around at the six other girls who were in her year./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""We have a lot this year," Penelope continued, "But one lucky duck will get a room to herself. At least for this year."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"And before Penelope could explain that comment, the desserts disappeared, and Professor Dumbledore got to his feet again. The hall fell silent./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Ahem - just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you. First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Dumbledore's twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of the Weasley twins./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch. And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Is he serious?" Samantha whispered to Penelope./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I hope not. But if it is true," Penelope continued, "Then he shouldn`t be so flippant about it. That is practically an invitation to investigate for some of the Gryffindors."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" cried Dumbledore./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"emA school song?/em Samantha thought. emThat sounds interesting. I hope it is good./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"It wasn't./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Dumbledore gave his wand a little flick, as if he was trying to get a fly off the end, and a long golden ribbon flew out of it, which rose high above the tables and twisted itself, snakelike, into words./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Everyone pick their favorite tune," said Dumbledore, "and off we go!" And the school bellowed:/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Teach us something please,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Whether we be old and bald/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Or young with scabby knees,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Our heads could do with filling/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"With some interesting stuff,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"For now they're bare and full of air,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Dead flies and bits of fluff,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"So teach us things worth knowing,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Bring back what we've forgot,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"just do your best, we'll do the rest,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"And learn until our brains all rot./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Everybody finished the song at different times. At last, only the Weasley twins were left singing along to a very slow funeral march. Dumbledore conducted their last few lines with his wand and when they had finished, he was one of those who clapped loudest./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Ah, music," he said, wiping his eyes. "A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Samantha and her fellow first years headed off with Penelope and her male counterpart. She wondered which of them would become her friends in the next seven years./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Never mind./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Ravenclaw Tower awaited!/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Dumbledore looked out over the hall as the children dispersed./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"It was going partially to plan./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Good:/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The children were all in different houses./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Marco and Samantha appeared to be standard muggleborns./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Lily and Harry already appeared to greatly dislike each other./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Bad:/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Snape was paying a lot of attention to Lily./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Very Bad:/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Lily was aware of her pureblood heritage, adopted by her godfather no less./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"How on earth did that happen?/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Dumbledore swore under his breath. Something would need to be done about that./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"And of course she had to be the one Sorted into Slytherin, where she would best be able to utilize the power of both names./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"It all depended on how well she was able to manipulate her way around. She was Sorted into Slytherin after all./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Perhaps he would be able to influence Sirius regarding that. No doubt he would be unhappy about her being a Slytherin./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"And anyway, he needed to figure out how Sirius was able to locate./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Hopefully he had not broken the compulsions!/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Dumbledore began to sweat. This could be very bad. At least everything else seemed to be in order. He would just have to tell Severus to stay away from Lily, and visit Sirius./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"That would need to be done right away. He would be available tomorrow./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Sirius Black was going to get a visit from Albus Dumbledore./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"span style="font-weight: bold;"Hello Everyone! Half of my business from last weekend got moved to this weekend, so instead of posting next Saturday, you get your chapter today./span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"span style="font-weight: bold;"The next chapter will need more research, so hopefully I'll be able to post the 12th - two weeks from Saturday./span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"span style="font-weight: bold;"In response to blucougar57, regarding the mystery behind the children: it will be revealed during the summer after second year. There is a definitive place in the storyline for it, and part of it is already revealed in Lily's chapter./span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"span style="font-weight: bold;"I hope you are all well! Reviews are appreciated!/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Samantha stayed with Marco as they got out of the train, climbed down a slippery, steep and highly unsafe slope, and embarked in a fleet of small boats./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"They shared their boat with another duo, who introduced themselves as Susan Bones and Hannah Abbott./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Marco appeared to enjoy chatting with them, but Samantha did not find them especially interesting./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The boats rounded a bend.../p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"and Hogwarts came into sight. It was beautiful, a tall shapely edifice with lights twinkling in the windows that only enhanced the glory of the stars shining in the sky./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Samantha was very glad she was going to be spending the next seven years of her life here./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"A collective gasp had arose from everyone when it came into view, and Samantha knew they shared her sentiments./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"For one moment, they were united in thoughts and feelings./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"But the moment did not last. Chatter erupted, breaking Samantha`s reverie./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"A few minutes later, they were all assembled for the Sorting in the great Hall./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"A song was sung by the Sorting Hat./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"But don't judge on what you see,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"I'll eat myself if you can find/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"A smarter hat than me./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"You can keep your bowlers black,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Your top hats sleek and tall,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"And I can cap them all./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"There's nothing hidden in your head/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The Sorting Hat can't see,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"So try me on and I will tell you/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Where you ought to be./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"You might belong in Gryffindor,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Where dwell the brave at heart,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Their daring, nerve and chivalry,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Set Gryffindors apart;/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"You might belong in Hufflepuff/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Where they are just and loyal,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Those patient Hufflepuffs are true,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"And unafraid of toil;/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"If you've a ready mind,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Where those of wit and learning,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Will always find their kind;/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Or perhaps in Slytherin,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"You'll make your real friends,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Those cunning folk use any means,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"To achieve their ends./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"So put me on! Don't be afraid!/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"And don't get in a flap!/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"You're in safe hands (though I have none)/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"For I'm a Thinking Cap!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"For all Samantha`s experience with the Wizarding World, this evidently highly enchanted hat impressed her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"emIs it the same song every year?/em she wondered./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"In a moment, Professor Mcgonagall read the first name./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"It was Marco`s newfound friend./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Abbott, Hannah!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""HUFFLEPUFF!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Now it was Marco`s turn./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Belvedere, Marco!" called out Professor Mcgonagall./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Marco walked forward, trembling./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He sat down on the stool./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The Sorting Hat went onto his head./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"emHello Marco, er... Belvedere./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Hello," Marco whispered hesitantly. " Why did you hesitate over my last name?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The hat disregarded his question./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"emSensible, but not overly academic./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"emNot fearful, nor reckless./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"emspan style="font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial;"span style="font-size: 13px;"Not a deceitful bone in your body./span/span/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"emAnd power - time to break that stereotype of Helga`s House./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"emBetter be/em "HUFFLEPUFF!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"As Marco walked to his table amidst clapping, he wondered why the Sorting Hat had dodged his question regarding his last name./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"It had to be intentional./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"While he knew he was adopted, he did not know that he subconsciously knew his last name. He must have, seeing as how the hat had read it from his mind./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"This was food for thought./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He cheered as Susan, his new friend from the boat, was Sorted into Hufflepuff with him and Hannah./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Not too long after that, Justin Finch-Fletchley, the muggleborn from the train joined him in Hufflepuff./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He would have friends here./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Patil, Padma!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""RAVENCLAW!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Patil, Parvati!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""GRYFFINDOR!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Perks, Sally-Anne!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""HUFFLEPUFF!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Potter, Harry!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Finally, it was his turn!/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Harry strode confidently to the stool and put the hat on./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"It took barely a moment to make it`s decision./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"emYou?/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""GRYFFINDOR!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Exactly as he expected it would go./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He took a seat at the Gryffindor table, smiling at the cheers that greeted his arrival there./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"But the next moment, the smile was wiped off his face as McGonagall haltingly read out the next name with a confused expression on her face./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Potter-Black, Lily!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She was his sister!?/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She wasn`t lying?!/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Up to the stool Lily came./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"emI guess that fool brother of mine is very suprised,/em she thought Not his sister indeed./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She had revived from the stunners after a couple of hours, in plenty of time for the Sorting. But they had been quite powerful./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"When she recieved the hat, it went pretty much as she expected./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"emHmm, a Potter-Black./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"emI could easily place you in Slytherin or Gryffindor. Which would you prefer?/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Slytherin, please."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"emVery well./em "SLYTHERIN!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Lily sat down at the Slytherin table near Draco Malfoy./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Many people in the hall were whispering. There was even some booing, no doubt led by her brother over at the Gryffindor table./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She didn`t care./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"One person in particular was looking at her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She recognized him from Sirius` stories./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"It was Severus Snape./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Severus looked on in distaste as the Potter boy was Sorted into Gryffindor./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Just like his father, he thought bitterly./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He sat upright in shock as the next name was called./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Potter-Black, Lily!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He ground his teeth at the name of his beloved having the name of his two greatest enemies tacked on./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Now that he thought of it, he didn`t know Potter had another kid./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"For that matter, why was she Potter-span style="max-height: 999999px; text-decoration-line: underline;"Black/span?/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"But all these thoughts vanished from his mind when he saw her. He almost fell off his chair./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She was the image of her mother./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Flaming red hair./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Beautiful almond-shaped green eyes./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"And of course she will be Sorted into Gryffindor, he thought with terrible malice./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"To have to deal with that face in a Gryffindor uniform for at least the next five years and most likely longer./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He was pulled into a memory./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Standing in that line of children, waiting to be Sorted, while she waited on the stool./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The despair he felt when she was Sorted into Gryffindor, knowing that he was destined for Slytherin and that one day their paths must part./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"And his doom confirmed when he saw her eyes looking at him with a hint of sadness from the Gryffindor table when the hat called out "Slytherin" for him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He was broken out of his reverie and did fall halfway out of his chair when the hat called out, "SLYTHERIN!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Lily in Slytherin? His dreams had come true! No matter that she was so many years younger than she should be, or that she was Potter`s kid./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He frowned in anger as several Gryffindors were led in booing her by the Potter boy./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He settled back in his chair. He had no interest in the rest of the children remaining to be Sorted./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He could not stop his eyes from straying back to Lily every now and then./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Samantha was Sorted into Ravenclaw. She was not suprised./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The hat had said some very interesting things. She woud have to think them over./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She sat down between an Asian girl and an Indian girl. They introduced themselves as Padma Patil and Su Li./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"They were both from ancient pureblood families in their respective countries, but neither had any problem with muggleborns who respected magical traditions./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"In a moment, Albus Dumbledore had gotten to his feet. He was beaming at the students, his arms opened wide, as if nothing could have pleased him more than to see them all there./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"But Samantha got a slightly odd feeling coming off of him, as if she should be wary of him. She decided to wait and see./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Welcome," he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He sat back down. Everybody clapped and cheered. Samantha thought, emhe is either senile or pretending to be senile so that people will underestimate him./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"A massive amount of food had suddenly appeared on the table./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The house elves had to have done a lot of work to produce this much roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops and lamb chops, sausages, bacon and steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, fries, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, ketchup, and, for some strange reason, peppermint humbugs./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"During the feast, Samantha began to get acquainted with everyone./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Apparently, Su Li did martial arts, so they agreed to spar against each other tomorrow. Samantha was looking forwards to that./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Padma was missing her sister, who had been Sorted into Gryffindor. They were very rarely apart, but now they would be very rarely together./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""If you truly want to spend time with her," Samantha said, "You can prioritize it and arrange it with her."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Su Li disagreed. "It will do you some good to be away from her. Nobody pays attention to you when you are around her. This is your time to shine."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"It appeared that Su Li and Padma were old friends./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"When everyone had eaten as much as they could, the remains of the food faded from the plates, leaving them sparkling clean as before./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"A moment later the desserts appeared./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Blocks of ice cream in every flavor you could think of, apple pies, treacle tarts, chocolate eclairs and jam doughnuts, trifle, strawberries, Jell-O, rice pudding -/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"At this time, the Ravenclaw prefect, Penelope Clearwater, started explaining some things to the girls./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""The way the room system works," she said, "is that two girls share a room. You will have to pick a partner or let it be assigned by Hogwarts randomly. The castle itself chooses, you know; it is said to pick girls who have potential for friendship to be together in a pair."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Samantha looked around at the six other girls who were in her year./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""We have a lot this year," Penelope continued, "But one lucky duck will get a room to herself. At least for this year."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"And before Penelope could explain that comment, the desserts disappeared, and Professor Dumbledore got to his feet again. The hall fell silent./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Ahem - just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you. First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Dumbledore's twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of the Weasley twins./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch. And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Is he serious?" Samantha whispered to Penelope./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I hope not. But if it is true," Penelope continued, "Then he shouldn`t be so flippant about it. That is practically an invitation to investigate for some of the Gryffindors."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" cried Dumbledore./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"emA school song?/em Samantha thought. emThat sounds interesting. I hope it is good./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"It wasn't./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Dumbledore gave his wand a little flick, as if he was trying to get a fly off the end, and a long golden ribbon flew out of it, which rose high above the tables and twisted itself, snakelike, into words./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Everyone pick their favorite tune," said Dumbledore, "and off we go!" And the school bellowed:/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Teach us something please,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Whether we be old and bald/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Or young with scabby knees,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Our heads could do with filling/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"With some interesting stuff,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"For now they're bare and full of air,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Dead flies and bits of fluff,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"So teach us things worth knowing,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Bring back what we've forgot,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"just do your best, we'll do the rest,/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"And learn until our brains all rot./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Everybody finished the song at different times. At last, only the Weasley twins were left singing along to a very slow funeral march. Dumbledore conducted their last few lines with his wand and when they had finished, he was one of those who clapped loudest./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Ah, music," he said, wiping his eyes. "A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Samantha and her fellow first years headed off with Penelope and her male counterpart. She wondered which of them would become her friends in the next seven years./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Never mind./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Ravenclaw Tower awaited!/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Dumbledore looked out over the hall as the children dispersed./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"It was going partially to plan./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Good:/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The children were all in different houses./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Marco and Samantha appeared to be standard muggleborns./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Lily and Harry already appeared to greatly dislike each other./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Bad:/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Snape was paying a lot of attention to Lily./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Very Bad:/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Lily was aware of her pureblood heritage, adopted by her godfather no less./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"How on earth did that happen?/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Dumbledore swore under his breath. Something would need to be done about that./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"And of course she had to be the one Sorted into Slytherin, where she would best be able to utilize the power of both names./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"It all depended on how well she was able to manipulate her way around. She was Sorted into Slytherin after all./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Perhaps he would be able to influence Sirius regarding that. No doubt he would be unhappy about her being a Slytherin./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"And anyway, he needed to figure out how Sirius was able to locate./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Hopefully he had not broken the compulsions!/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Dumbledore began to sweat. This could be very bad. At least everything else seemed to be in order. He would just have to tell Severus to stay away from Lily, and visit Sirius./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"That would need to be done right away. He would be available tomorrow./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Sirius Black was going to get a visit from Albus Dumbledore./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"span style="font-weight: bold;"Hello Everyone! Half of my business from last weekend got moved to this weekend, so instead of posting next Saturday, you get your chapter today./span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"span style="font-weight: bold;"The next chapter will need more research, so hopefully I'll be able to post the 12th - two weeks from Saturday./span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"span style="font-weight: bold;"In response to blucougar57, regarding the mystery behind the children: it will be revealed during the summer after second year. There is a definitive place in the storyline for it, and part of it is already revealed in Lily's chapter./span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"span style="font-weight: bold;"I hope you are all well! Reviews are appreciated!/span/p