They didn't manage to find Neville's toad before they reached Hogwarts. He was more than a little upset, but Hermione managed to calm him down with a few words of encouragement. He couldn't have gotten far, and someone was sure to find him and return him before long.

They followed a huge man, who James said was Hagrid, down to the boats. With instructions of no more than three to a boat James got in one with Draco and Hermione, much to the dismay of Theo and Blaise.

"Oh, hush you two," Daphne said as she climbed in with them. "There was only room for one of you, and you know how they get about being separated."

"But why did James get to go?" Theo whined. "He's only known them since the train ride. We've known Draco since we were babies and Hermione as long as we can remember."

"And we play quidditch with them," Blaise added.

"You lose horribly each time you do," Daphne said. "And which one of you wanted to go and listen to them talk about how excited they are?"

It had been the main topic of discussion for those two for months. Mostly for Hermione since she could still hardly believe that she was going. And Draco was ecstatic that she was coming along with him. Neither of them were fond of the idea of splitting up for a whole year.

"But what if you'd gone with them?" Theo asked.

"Then we could have at least gone with James," Blaise said.

Daphne shook her head. Some of the time she couldn't believe that she was friends with those two. She sat in silence until they saw the castle, and the ripples in the reflection of it underneath them.

"Amazing," she breathed.

"I didn't think it was going to look like that," Theo said. "And I must have seen the picture at least a thousand times."

"If only because of Hermione," Blaise added.

"I hope that she doesn't get sorted into Ravenclaw," Daphne said.

"Me too. We'll never win at quidditch if she and Draco are split up," Blaise said.

Theo groaned. "And just think of all the point we'll miss out on."

"And Draco will be all mopey," Daphne added.

They all shuddered at the thought. Draco wasn't easy to deal with when he was upset. He was better than he had been, but the only one who seemed to be able to get through to him at that point was Hermione.

When they hit ground Hagrid held up a toad and asked if anyone had lost one. Neville ran up.

"Trevor!" he yelled

"Might want to keep an eye on that one," Hagrid said.

They reached the steps up to the castle not too much later. Everyone was in awe as they walked up the walkway into Hogwarts. They stopped in front of a door where a green robed witch was waiting for them.

She introduced herself as Professor McGonagall and explained a few things about the houses. She then suggested that a few of them might want to smarten up before she left for a few minutes.

"Do I look smart enough to be here?" Draco asked Hermione.

Hermione giggled and smacked Draco on the arm, appreciating his pun far more than anyone else. "You know that's not what she meant."

"Draco," both Theo and Blaise groaned.

A few ghosts floated through the wall arguing about someone. Peeves was the name the students gathered. But some of the ghosts seemed rather exasperated with him.

"Oh look," the lady ghost said. "First years. Probably waiting for the sorting."

"If any of you happen to wind up in Hufflepuff I'd be glad," one who looked like a friar said. "My old house you know."

"Or in Ravenclaw," the lady ghost said.

They floated off through the other wall. The children all stared up at that. Not many had seen ghosts before.

Professor McGonagall came back and ushered them into the great hall. Everyone looked around in awe and wonder. It was better than books described it. And no one really trusted the word of their parents if they had gone.

"I didn't think that there was a hole in the ceiling," James said.

"There isn't," Draco said. "It's enchanted. But don't ask too many more questions about it or we won't be able to keep Hermione quiet."

James thought that was silly. Why would anyone want to keep her quiet when she obviously had the answers. He knew right then and there that he wanted to sit with her so that she could explain the enchantment on the ceiling. But he didn't know where she was going to wind up.

He considered the possibilities. He didn't think that he was brave enough for Gryffindor, even if that was where his parents had been. And he did think that Hermione was going to wind up in either Ravenclaw or Slytherin.

He was jolted out of his thoughts when a crumbly old wizard's hat split its top from the brim and began to sing. He most certainly hadn't been expecting that.

When the song ended the sorting started. Professor McGonagall called out names alphabetically and put the hat on their heads after which a house was called out and the students walked over to their new house.

He didn't like the way the Gryffindor's seemed to boo when new students were sorted into Slytherin. Especially the two twin brothers with red hair over there.

Hermione and Draco both got sorted into Slytherin. As did Theo, Daphne and a few others that James hadn't met. He froze a moment when he heard his name.

"Potter, Harry," McGonagall called.

The entire hall fell silent. There had been a steady drum of silence as others were sorted, but that name drew all attention. Everyone wanted to see what the famous Harry Potter looked like and where he would go. Even if the Gryffindors were obviously confident that he would wind up in their house.

It seemed like the silence went on forever as James climbed up to the stool and let Professor McGonagall put the hat on his head. His sorting dragged on, mostly because everyone was so invested. It really only took a minute or two.

"Slytherin!"

The Slytherin table erupted in cheers that rivaled Gryffindor's. Most of the others had been expected. Crabbe and Goyle wouldn't have been as accepted anywhere else. And Pansy was Slytherin to the core. Even Hermione hadn't been much of a surprise. At least not to those who knew her.

But to get someone who had helped defeat the Dark Lord, that was incredible. Perhaps it might help dispel the idea that all Slytherins were dark wizards. Which they knew they weren't. But most people didn't seem to believe that.

"So, why'd you call yourself James?" Theo asked.

Draco rolled his eyes. One of the reasons he'd learnt to love the muggle world, apart from rugby, was the anonymity it could give. He wasn't always glad to be recognized as one of the most rich people in wizarding Britain. The muggles had no idea.

Hermione patted him on the arm, though curious as to why he'd pick James.

"It's my middle name," Harry/James said. "And it was my dad's name."

"I don't think calling yourself James Potter is going to do you any favours," Blaise said. "That was your dad's name."

"James Evans," he said. "My dad's first name, and my mum's last. And none of the fame."

"Well James," Blaise said, "do you want to sleep next to Theo, or me?"

James froze for a second. "What?"

"Do you want to sleep in the bed next to Theo's or mine?" Blaise asked again. "It's a perfectly normal question."

"I didn't know we were allowed to pick?" James said.

"Of course you do," Draco said. "I know Hogwarts is different from your home, but it can't be all that bad. You'll get used to the new bed soon enough."

James shook his head. There was a determined frown on his face.

"Look, if you want to sleep next to Vince or Greg we'll let you," Theo said. "But Vince snores something awful. I wouldn't recommend it if I were you."

Hermione snorted. "That's an understatement."

"You never had to sleep in the same room as him," Draco said.

Theo and Blaise groaned. Draco and Hermione could banter for hours. They had known that for years. But they hadn't expected it to have started so soon after being sorted. Even if they were glad that they were both in the same house.

"Last time he fell asleep in your library Astoria asked your mother where the thunder was coming from," Daphne said.

"Wasn't that the time he got a cold?" Draco said.

"Nope," Blaise said. "That was the month before."

"Also, not the point," Pansy added. "Vince snores like a lawnmower."

"What's a lawnmower?" Vincent whispered to Greg.

"Ask Hermione?"

"Hermione, what's a lawnmower?" Vincent asked.

Hermione sighed before trying to explain a lawnmower. She didn't have much success.

"It's a muggle grass cutting machine," James explained.

Hermione shot James a grateful look. She had tried to explain muggle technology to both Greg and Vincent many a time. She hadn't had much luck. Though evidently even Pansy could grasp the idea behind a lawnmower.

"They make really loud noises," Draco added.

"Okay." Vince shrugged and went back to eating.

"You won't have to worry about me not sleeping," James said. "Dudley did worse than that most days. He liked to jump on the stairs to wake me up."

"I beg your pardon, but how does jumping on the stairs wake anyone up? Unless they're really loud," Draco said.

Hermione's mind was whirling. She was just as confused as Draco. People didn't usually jump on stairs to wake someone up. It was highly ineffective if done on purpose. But strangely great when done on accident.

"Dudley isn't exactly quiet at anything," James mumbled. "And he was jumping right above my bed."

All the jaws dropped. "What?" was the consensuses at the table.

"I slept in the cupboard under the stairs," James mumbled.

Draco looked affronted. "Well, you aren't going back," he declared. "We have more than enough rooms for you to have your pick of at my house."

"He could come live with me," Theo interjected. "Sure, my house isn't as grand, but I still have a whole wing to myself. There's plenty of space."

"Or with me," Blaise said. "We travel a lot, so you'd have to deal with that. But it's not bad. Just ask Hermione."

James looked around at all the offers. He hardly knew these people. But he felt safe, secure, and protected. But more importantly, he felt wanted. He knew that the Dursleys weren't particularly fond of him and would have loved to get rid of him. But for some reason they hadn't.

"What does Hermione have to do with that?" he asked.

"I go to Greece every Christmas," Hermione said. "Though this year, we're considering staying here. At least for the ball."

"Which you could probably attend even if you went to Greece. We could just portkey you back," Theo said.

"I know it's possible," Hermione said. Her face was glum. "But my parents hate traveling like that. They say it's disconcerting."

"They aren't exactly wrong," Draco said. "And especially since you guys don't do it very often. But Father says that international portkeys are a pain to set up. So, it might be best if you left after the ball."

"Ya-ya isn't going to be happy about this," Hermione said. But secretly that was the outcome that she was hoping for.

"Ya-ya?" James asked.

"Her grandmother," Blaise explained. "They go visit her every winter. Evidently the summer is too hot."

"It's Greece," Hermione said. "You might like Italy all times of the year, but I don't. Also, my hair gets unmanageable."

James looked at Hermione's hair and barely stifled a laugh. It was incredibly curly and bushy. She'd obviously attempted some modicum of control because it was tightly braided. But it was threatening to pop out on her.

"And it doesn't in the winter?" Theo teased.

Hermione rolled her eyes but smiled softly. "It might, but it's not a burden when it's on my neck at that point."

They chatted and ate, eventually deciding that Theo would sleep next to James and that they would all give him plenty of time, at least a week, to decide what he wanted to do about the summer. There were too many options for him to make a decision after just receiving them. And he didn't know who he was going to get along with.

When everyone was stuffed Dumbledore stood up. He gave a speech about what was expected. And reminded them of certain dangers.

"I wonder what he's hiding?" Draco said to Hermione once they were being led to their dormitories.

"It was so obvious. And who do you think will figure out what it is first?"

"I think Gemma might already know," Draco said.

They both looked at the prefect. Gemma was probably one of the most cunning people they had met. But they admittedly didn't know the prefects from the other houses. Maybe someone else had an idea.

"So," Hermione mused. "How long should we wait before we bring it up?"

"Probably a month."

"A month before what?" Theo asked.

Hermione gave Draco a look. They knew that if they shared it with Theo and Blaise it would get to Daphne in a week. And then it might be a fortnight before Pansy managed to wheedle it out of her. But it would happen. And then the rest of the house would know.

"Before we can discuss grades," Hermione said.

"Oh great," Theo muttered, "more competition."

A/N: so to those of you who requested longer chapters, they do take longer to write. I am working on it. And I've been writing other stories as well so bear with me. I'm busy. Very much so. Had doctor's appointments. It turns out I've got some sort of inflammatory disease that is currently targeting my eyes. Hopefully with the steroid eye drops we can keep this in check. Feeling blind isn't much fun. But I am learning braille. So it's less boring. Thanks for all your kind comments. I'm just a little slow.