Welcome back my lovely Potterheads!

First, RedShirt1453: I totally agree - I did come on strong with romance. Do not fret, though. When planning this story, I heavily outlined and already agreed with your point - the real romance doesn't start until their fourth year, actually. There will also be a reveal as to why I came on so strong, because that scene was already planned and is going to come up again later on, which plays into why the young prickish ferret was actually nice to Susanna. So yes, came on strong - but for a reason. I solemnly swear. But also, 50 points to your house for your astute observation and constructive criticism. And Siriusly, please feel free to remind me if I'm not sticking to my outline of fourth year being the pairings time to rise - there will be a few tidbits of nice!Draco in the mix before that, but no romance.

Ok, done with the puns. I promise.

Okay, the Sorting Ceremony. The moment of truth. Also, new nicknames for Susanna. Someone seems taken aback when they see her, like they're seeing a ghost (three guesses who).

Quick warning, little-bitty heads up: so, as established, Susanna is a ballerina, basically all her life - she probably started at 2. Now, also established - her mother controlling her diet far more than Dudley's. Now, I was a ballerina for 14 years. For those of you who may have danced intensely or recreationally, you might relate to me when I say some dance teachers and your own mind have a way of affecting how you see yourself in the mirror, especially when you're a preteen. In all the time I a ballerina, I wasn't anorexic or bullemic, but I did have body dysmorphia and a fear of eating too much because of it. Now, Susanna's neither anorexic or bullemic, but there's small allusions to body dysmorphia that will be tackled during the first year. We saw a bit of referencing to her concern about eating when she had the sweets last chapter, so this brings all that self-consciousness to light. I promise this isn't graphic nor does it take over the whole plot, but this was something I considered greatly when creating this character. So, TRIGGER WARNING, but it's handled far more gracefully than my own situation, and given all the care and love from myself, Harry, and Ron. Again, no bullemia, no anorexia, potential mild body dysmorphia she learns to overcome over her first year. It'll pop up now and then later on of course, as that's all an uphill battle, but it's nothing extreme, nothing graphic. I try to write these mental health issues with hope and love at the forefront, because as someone who suffers from a plethora of mental health issues that's what I need to keep strong, and the Harry Potter series especially carries so much hope in it already. And some of you may be thinking this is an issue an 11-year-old wouldn't face. I assure you, plenty of us have. So be respectful in your reviews, and remember just because you didn't experience it, doesn't mean other people haven't, too. They have. And if I see some shady-ass-rude comments, I WILL block AND delete. I've got no time for that.

Alright, enough of that. You get the picture, just wanted to make sure people were properly warned and all.

I hope you guys enjoy this update! As always, I only own my OC - the rest is JK Rowling's!


When Hagrid lowered his gigantic fist, the door swung open, revealing a witch in emerald-green robes. Her black hair was pulled into a low bun, and her pointed green hat made her appear even taller than she was. Her face was stern, her glasses catlike, and it looked like she hadn't smiled in years.

"The firs' years, Professor McGongagall." Hagrid announced, and the woman nodded.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here." Her voice was strong and laced with a thick Scottish accent. She pulled the door open even wider, and the entrance hall that awaited them was as big as Number 4 Privet Drive. Flaming torches decorated the stone walls in a way nearly-identical to Gringotts.

Had the wizarding world not heard of electricity? Hopefully Hogwarts at least had toilets. If they had them on the Express, they should have them in this old castle, right?

The stern professor led them across the stone floor, the first years following like nervous little ducklings on their first outing to the pond. Susanna could hear laughter and loud conversations coming out of the right doorway, and she began to shift her weight as the anxiety grew in her gut. Now she really was glad she didn't eat that handful of Bertie Bott's in one go.

Luckily for her stomach, Professor McGonagall showed the first year students into an empty chamber instead, just off the hall. Everyone was packed in together like sardines, and Susanna took Harry's hand when she noticed his breath getting uneven. Knowing it to be her, he squeezed twice in thanks.

"Welcome to Hogwarts." The woman began. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you'll be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like you family within Hogwarts."

"I bloody hope not." Susanna whispered in Harry's ear, and he bit his lip to hide his snort.

"You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room." The woman cleared her throat, staring around at the nervous faces. "The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn you house points, while any rulebreaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours. The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting." Susanna caught the woman staring past her head, and turned to see Neville's clock was fastened under his ear. Ron's nose still had the smudge, and Harry's hair was - as usual - everywhere. "I shall return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly." She stalked out of the room, and Susanna looked at Neville.

"Here, your cloak's crooked. Is this okay?" She reached out her hands to help him and he nodded, round face flushed as she fixed him. "I'm happy you found your toad."

"Oh. Thank you. Susanna, right?"

"Yes. You're welcome, Neville." With a smile she turned around, and saw Ron rubbing at his nose. Tall for his age, he had to lean down to talk to the shorter redhead.

"Did I get it? Please tell me I got it." She checked him over and nodded. "Great. One less thing for my brothers to tease me about.

"How do you exactly do they sort us into houses?" Harry asked over the quiet conversations around them.

Ron shrugged, frowning. "Some sort of test, I think. Fred says it hurts a lot, but I think he was joking."

"A test. A bloody test?" Susanna whispered harshly, and her face was ashen. "I'm doomed."

Behind her, Hermione was busy talking fast and loud about every spell she'd read about, and was asking around which one she'd need. Harry looked like he was about to faint, Ron looked green, and Susanna was shaking with nerves.

"Hey, Hermione? Not helping." She found herself saying. "Really not helping. Please just stop."

Hermione's mouth clamped shut at Susanna's words, and the redhead hoped she hadn't sounded as sharp as she thought she did. Still, Ron's and Harry's complexion was finally returning to normal, and Neville was muttering a small thanks to her back.

Alright, Susanna, deep breaths, she thought to herself. Deep breaths. A test could mean anything. She read the books. As long as it has nothing to do with stars, she'd be fine. Deep breaths.

Screams from the other first years behind her made Susanna jump, breathing now erratic. She spun to grab Harry and pull him out of potential harm's way when ghosts began floating through the walls. They didn't spare a single glance to the huddled, shaking first years as they spoke to each other.

A monk was arguing with a ghost wearing tights, a ruff collar, and curled wig.

"Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance -" The monk was saying it, but the other ghost wasn't having it.

"My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he's not really even a ghost - I say, what are you all doing here?"

Susanna almost answered, but no sound would come out of her mouth, so she promptly closed it lest the ghosts notice.

"New students!" the monk - Friar - smiled, clapping his hands briefly in excitement. "About to be Sorted, I suppose?" Susanna nodded with a few other students, but had apparently been rendered mute. "Hope to see you in Hufflepuff! My old house, you know!" The Friar grinned down at them.

"Move along now." Professor McGonagall's sharp voice ordered, and Susanna looked over to see she had reentered the chamber. "The Sorting Ceremony's about to start." The ghosts floated off, and a bare smile crossed the woman's face. "Now form a line, and follow me." The stern look returned, and the students filed into a single line. Susanna in front of Harry, behind a sandy-haired boy, and she shuffled with the rest of her classmates out of the little chamber and through a pair of double doors.

The Great Hall was exactly as it was named - great. Thousands upon thousands of candles floated in midair. Students sat at four long tables, watching the entering first years with amusement while glittering goblets and plates of gold were set in front of them.

At the very back of the hall, a large table was fashioned to face the students. The teachers and faculty sitting there stared down at the new students with interest. Susanna kept her chin up and her shoulders back, Madame Dulaine's thick french accent ringing in her ears. "Stand straight, Suzanne. Look ahead, not down."

She did glance further up than ahead, and was taken aback by what she saw. The ceiling looked as though it didn't exist, the starry night sky filling her eyes.

Not wanting to trip over the boy in front of her, she looked ahead once more. Professor McGonagall was ascending the platform the staffs' table rested on. Someone came forward and placed an old four-legged stool next to the woman, as well as a pointed wizard's hat. Patched and ragged, it looked as though it'd seen better days.

When the stool was positioned where she wanted it, Professor McGonagall set the hat down on top of it, and gestured for the new students to gather around the base of the platform. "I don't understand," Harry whispered in his cousin's ear, "do we have to try and pull a rabbit out of it?" Susanna snorted down at the floor, shoulders shaking while she covered her mouth to hide the sound. "Suze, look."

Susanna did as her cousin commanded, mouth dropping a bit when she saw the hat had straightened, two patches folding like eyes and a rip at its brim opening as though it was a mouth. Then, the hat began to sing.

"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,

But don't judge on what you see,

I'll eat myself if you can find

A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall,

For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head

The Sorting Hat can't see,

So try me on and I will tell you

Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

Their daring, nerve and chivalry,

Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff

Where they are just and loyal,

Those patient Hufflepuffs are true,

And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

If you've a ready mind,

Where those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin,

You'll make your real friends,

Those cunning folk use any means,

To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!

You're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

The Great Hall burst into loud applause when the Hat finished its song, its words playing in Susanna's mind. Did she have a mind ready enough for Ravenclaw? Was she just and loyal, like a true Hufflepuff? She knew she was cunning, just like Slytherin house was described. And as for Gryffindor… was she brave at heart? Was she enough for any house?

"So we've just got to try on the hat?" Ron asked, and Susanna snorted at his put-off tone. "I'll kill Fred, he was going on about wrestling a troll."

"Sounds fun… and very dangerous." She amended when Harry glared at her, shaking his head. "I promise you, there will be no troll-fighting on my end."

"Still, don't you think it's asking a lot of us? The hat, I mean." Harry whispered. Ron gulped and Susanna nodded. "Great. That makes me feel loads better."

"Sorry, next time I'll lie." Susanna muttered just as Professor McGonagall was stepping forward, a long roll of parchment in her hands.

"Now, when I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on stool to be Sorted. Abbott, Hannah!" She called the first name on the list. Susanna groaned, and realized they'd be Sorted in order of last name, not first, which meant she'd be placed in a house before Harry and Ron.

The pink-faced girl with low blonde pigtails shakily pressed through the group and walked up the steps. She sat delicately on the stool and pulled on the hat. A moment passed, then -

"HUFFLEPUFF!" The hat shouted.

The table on their right cheered, welcoming Hannah to their house with handshakes and hugs. The Friar smiled down at her, and the blonde grinned bashfully. When the applause died down, Professor McGonagall read the next name, "Bones, Susan!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!" The redhead scuttled off to sit next to Hannah Abbott, the two girls introducing themselves.

"Boot, Terry!" McGonagall called.

"RAVENCLAW!" The boy joined the cheering table second from the left, shaking hands and nodding smartly.

"Brocklehurst, Mandy!" became the second Ravenclaw to be Sorted. "Brown, Lavender!" was called, and the girl became the first Gryffindor of the night. The table on the far left exploded, and Susanna watched anxiously as the girl sat down, wishing she was in her place as her name got closer to being called.

"Bulstrode, Millicent!"

"SLYTHERIN!" The large girl proudly made her way to the table on the far right, and they all looked rather terrifying. Not because they were all huge, but the way they held themselves. It reminded Susanna of who she used to be, and she couldn't do that again. She couldn't go back to before.

"Chang, Cho!"

"RAVENCLAW!"
"Corner, Michael!"

"RAVENCLAW!"
"Cornfoot, Stephen!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

"That's a lot of Ravenclaws." Ron mumbled.

"Crabbe, Vincent!" One of Draco's… friends… was called up. The hat didn't hesitate.

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Davis, Tracey!" went to Slytherin as well.

"Dursley, Susanna!" Professor McGonagall called. Susanna made a choking sound, and Harry helped gently urge her forehead.

"Love you no matter where you end up." He whispered to her before she walked through the crowd, careful not to trip over her robes.

Breath. Look ahead, not down. Chin up, back straight, shoulders back, Susanna told herself. When she reached the stool she turned to sit, but paused for a moment.

A pale man with a large, crooked nose and greasy black hair was watching her. His black eyes were blown wide and his mouth had formed a thin line.

Confused but aware she didn't want to be the First-Year-Who-Made-A-Scene, Susanna sat down on the stool and placed the hat over her head, holding it so it didn't slip all the way down.

"Ahh, yes… hmm… right. There's so much doubt in your head, isn't there, Susanna Dursley? So much you're afraid of… yes… but that fear, it doesn't hold you back, does it?" The hat asked, and she wondered if the others could hear it before remembering the other Sortings were silent except for the announcement.

"Suppose not." She finally mumbled.

The hat chuckled, amused. "Quite a funny little thing, aren't you? And daring, yes, I see that nerve. Always leaping without looking, always the first to protect, even before your change…"

"Dudley's my brother. My twin. Have to take care of him." Susanna responded, feeling the hat in her mind, seeing her memories.

"And you do... hmm, all that loyalty, and yet… all those lessons learned already. That courage… yes, the courage to change, to keep… moving. Forward. There's only one place for you, isn't there? GRYFFINDOR!" The hat shouted, and Susanna tore it from her head, unafraid of how messy her pigtails had become. She ran to the cheering table on the far left, smiling and shaking hands with a few of her new housemates - including the Weasley twins. Lavender Brown - who was sitting across from her - smiled pleasantly, relief clear in her eyes that she wouldn't be the only new Gryffindor.

Susanna sat next to Percy Weasley and turned to watch the rest of the Sorting. "Entwhistle, Kevin!" was placed in Ravenclaw, "Finch-Fletchley, Justin!" was placed in Hufflepuff, and "Finnegan, Seamus!" was Sorted into Gryffindor. He sat down beside Lavender Brown, smiling happily.

"Goldstein, Anthony!" was called next, and was promptly placed in Ravenclaw. "Goyle, Gregory!" was called after him, and Draco's second friend made his way up to the stool. Seconds later he was a Slytherin, and Susanna watched as the Malfoy boy walked closer to the platform, his entire posture changed. He looked just like he had when they first met.

As if sensing her gaze, Draco turned his head to the left. Their gazes met over slowly-filling tables, and he managed a small, sad smile before looking back at the platform. Susanna's eyes wandered away from him and towards Ron and Harry, who were talking quietly.

"Granger, Hermione!"

Susanna watched the bushy-haired girl shakily approach the stool before primly sitting down. The hat paused for a few moments. "GRYFFINDOR!" It announced, and she happily made her way to the table. She paused when she saw Susanna, but the redhead waved her over and pat the spot next to her.

Four more names were called before Neville made his way to the stool. He fell once, but managed to pick himself up and drop down on the stool.

The hat took far longer for him than it did for Susanna. When it finally landed on "GRYFFINDOR!" Neville was so excited he left the platform with the hat, and had to return it to Professor McGonagall as the Great Hall broke into laughter. The red-eared Neville sat next to Seamus, and he relaxed when Susanna gave him a thumbs-up.

Two more names were called before "Malfoy, Draco!" swaggered towards the platform. Susanna was having a hard time matching the boy on the train to the boy Harry met at Diagon Alley. And yet the way he spoke to Ron… Draco Malfoy was someone she'd have to keep clear of.

That sentiment was made all the easier moments later, when Draco had only just sat on the stool. He barely lowered it over the top of his head when the hat announced, "SLYTHERIN!" He smugly pulled off the hat and walked toward Crabbe and Goyle, body oozing smugness. That was it, then. No use… thinking about it anymore.

Susanna only half-watched the following Sortings, mostly focusing on Harry.

Five more were Sorted before her cousin, the last two fraternal twins. Both rejoiced when Parvarti Patil joined Padma at Gryffindor, and then Professor McGonagall cleared her throat.

"Potter, Harry!"

All at once, the Great Hall erupted into sharp whispers.

"Potter, did she say?"

"The Harry Potter?"

You'll be fine, Harry, Susanna whispered to herself, and sent him two thumbs up as he sat down on the stool. Their green eyes stayed connected until the hat slid down to the tip of his nose.

She watched in agony as he seemed to sit there, and sit there, his Sorting taking nearly as long as Neville's.

Crossing her fingers in hopes he'd be Sorted into her house, Susanna held her breath as finally the hat straightened.

"GRYFFINDOR!" It shouted, and Susanna was the first to jump up, the loudest to cheer as she practically vaulted out of her seat, her cousin rushing to her. They hugged as the Gryffindors roared like the lions they were. Percy managed to shake Harry's hand while the twins jumped and shouted, crying, "We got Potter! We got Potter!"

"We did it, Freak." Susanna whispered, the cousins still hugging.

"As if there was any doubt, Freak." Harry teased, and they finally broke apart. Hermione wordlessly slid down so the cousins could sit together and Susanna thanked her.

As they sat, the applause finally seemed to die down. It would be four more Sorted before "Thomas, Dean!" joined the Gryffindors, then Harry and Susanna were holding hands as "Turpin, Lisa!" sat with the Ravenclaws and Professor McGonagall called their friend's name.

"Weasley, Ronald!"

"Looks a little green, doesn't he?" Susanna whispered worriedly, noting the other redhead's complexion.

"No, he looks fine. Wasn't he always that color?" Harry asked, his tone as heavy as his cousin's.

There really was no reason for them to worry, though. Not even a second later, the hat yelled, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Ron seemed to float down from the platform to Gryffindor table, and happily hugged Harry and Susanna before running around the table to sit between Lavender Brown and an older student. Susanna grinned across at her fellow redhead, and he grinned back.

"Zabini, Blaise!" was made a Slytherin, and then Professor McGonagall was rolling up her scroll as the stool and hat were taken away, ending the Sorting. Susanna's stomach grumbled as she stared at the empty tableware. It felt like it'd been a lifetime since she ate the sweets from the trolley.

Harry nudged Susanna, and she looked towards the faculty table to see Professor Albus Dumbledore rising from his seat. Mouth in a wide grin and arms thrust open, he looked as though he couldn't be any happier to see them. "Welcome!" Professor Dumbledore cried. "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!" As he sat down, the Great Hall broke into applause and cheers. Susanna awkwardly joined in, completely befuddled.

Harry seemed to have had a similar reaction. "Is he… a bit mad?" He asked Percy Weasley, leaning in front of his cousin.

"Mad? He's a genius!" Percy declared. "Best wizard in the world! But he is a bit mad, yes. Potatoes, Harry? And the pork chops are always quite juicy, Susanna." Percy told the cousins.

In perfect sync, Harry and Susanna looked from the redhead prefect to the plates before them. Only they were no longer empty. No, instead, they were filled to the brim with all sorts of delicious food. Susanna wondered if her father would be more understanding of the wizarding world if he'd been allowed access to this sort of feast while Harry and herself received their letters.

There were platters of roast beef, roast chicken, the juiciest pork chops Susanna had seen - her mother's always came out dry and bland - lamb chops, sausages, bacon and steak. Large golden bowls were filled with boiled potatoes, roasted potatoes, chips, peas, carrots, and corn. There were plates of Yorkshire pudding, tureens of gravy and ketchup, and even small bowls of peppermint humbugs - which, yes, the latter did confuse Susanna.

Harry, who'd practically been starved by her parents for eleven years, made sure a little bit of everything covered his plate until not a bit of gold could be seen. He dug in and groaned happily, his cousin smiling as he ate his fill. For all the food Susanna wanted to eat, her mind was too easily taken control of by her mother's and Madame Dulaine's words.

"Take pride in your body, girl. Your face is looking a little puffier than normal." Madame Dulaine seemed to snap at her as she almost added a couple of boiled potatoes to lay beside her eight chips, four more than she should have taken.

"Susan, if you eat any more than that, we'll have to buy you new leotards!" Her mother chided her as she took two slices of roast chicken, the rest of her plate full of peas, carrots, and corn.

"Sure you've got enough?" Ron asked her, voice teasing. She paused and blinked, wondering if her friend had said it or if her mother was across from her, scolding her for taking more than she should.

"What, is it too much?" Susanna asked, tone completely serious.

Ron paused, and blinked. "No. No, not at all. You sure you don't want more?" He asked practically shoving a whole lamb chop down his throat, bone and all.

Susanna wrinkled her nose. "After witnessing that, no. This is enough. Disgusting, Ickle Ronniekins. Learn how to eat." The other redhead merely rolled his eyes, and Susanna forked some veggies into her mouth, winking at him.

"Oi, who said you could call my brother that, Dursley?" One of the twins asked, leaning over Percy too glare jokingly at the girl.

"No one. Try and stop me, Weasley." She glared back, and then snorted when the twin went cross-eyed. "Which one of you was responsible for the 'yellow rat' spell? It was thoroughly entertaining and exceedling unuseful."

"That'd be me, Susie-Q."

"Don't take all the credit, George. I helped with the rhymes."

"Indeed you did, Fred."

"Hey, George." The twins stopped and looked over at the redhead girl. "The first jinx I learn, I'm using on you."

"Why? What did I bleeding do?"

"'Susie-Q'? Really?"

"Uh-oh, Georgie's in trouble."

Susanna grinned dangerously. "I don't know why you're acting like that, Fred. It'll probably take some time to figure out which one of you is which. I might accidentally mistake you for George." Susanna took a bite of chicken, then shrugged teasingly. "Just a thought."

"Uh-oh. Freddie, it looks like Susie-Q could be Gryffindor's latest troublemaker."

"I don't suppose Susie-Wusie wouldn't mind some extra guidance from us?" The Weasley twins stared back at her, but before Susanna could respond, Ron jumped in.

"No, absolutely not! The world doesn't need more of you!" Ron argued. Susanna snorted.

"He's right. Sounds like a very bad idea."

"Quite right, Susanna. Your first year here is very important. I'd advise you to focus on your work, really build the foundation of your education here." Percy added to the conversation, missing his brothers mocking him behind his back. Susanna hadn't though, and she bit her lip to hide her laughter as she nodded.

"Yes." She managed to mouth at the twins. They grinned and winked back before returning to a conversation with dreadlocked boy - Lee Jordan, if Susanna remembered correctly.

"I'm watching you, Susie." Ron warned. Susanna almost complained about all the nicknames the Weasleys seemed to be throwing her way, but was distracted when Harry piled two pork chops on her plate.

"Oi!" She yelped.

"Shut up. They're really good, and your mum isn't here to give it to Dudley instead. C'mon, it's a special night. You can go back to your healthy diet tomorrow." Harry teased, but it was only on the surface. Susanna could feel the worry exuding from her cousin, and smiled in thanks.

It's not that she was like some other ballerinas - she'd heard horror stories from the older girls. She didn't have a problem with eating, or not-eating, that is. Maybe she would've, if things were different. If she was still dancing all year round. And while she was grateful she was… healthier… than her twin, sometimes she wished she knew she could eat more than just the small plates of salad and occasional meat her mother would serve her. She wished she could tell her mind to listen to her body instead of the voices of her mum and ballet instructor. Harry had been right, on the train. She really could eat anything, if given the chance. And she had, when she ate all those sweets earlier. Still, a large part of her wish she hadn't. The voices weren't helping the guilt.

They could go away, she thought, with time they'll go away.

So she took a breath and ate her first bite of pork chop. Then a second, then a third, and soon she was happily eating more of what she wanted rather than what she thought she needed.

It's a special night, it's a special night, she reminded herself, Harry grinning when he saw her taking some bacon.

"That does look good." Susanna startled, and looked over her shoulder to see the ghost with the ruff hovering over her and Harry, staring sadly at Harry's medium-rare steak.

"Can't you -" Her cousin began, but the ghost shook his head.

"I haven't eaten for nearly four hundred years." He informed them. "I don't need to, of course, but one does miss it. I don't think I've introduced myself? Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington at your service. Resident ghost of Gryffindor tower."

"I know who you are!" Ron shouted, pointing at the ghost. Susanna snorted at his lack of tact. "My brothers told me about you - you're Nearly Headless Nick!"

"I would prefer you to call me Sir Nicholase de Mimsy-"

"Nearly headless?" Seamus Finnigan asked in a thick Irish accent. "How can you be nearly headless?"

"Like this." The miffed Sir Nicholas grabbed his left ear and tugged down. His whole head swung off his neck till his left temple touched his shoulder. Whoever had attempted to behead him clearly botched it, because there was a thin layer of skin effectively treating Sir Nicholas's head like a door hinge.

Susanna groaned and discreetly shoved away her plate, once again losing her already lackluster appetite. The git of a ghost looked pleased as he sung his head up, and Susanna nearly threw her plate at Seamus for ruining her supper.

The ghost coughed, and smiled down at the first years. "So - new Gryffindors! I hope you're going to help us win the house championship this year? Gryffindors have never gone so long without winning. Slytherins have got the cup the last six years in a row! The Bloody Baron's becoming almost unbearable. He's the Slytherin ghost." Sir Nicholas nodded towards the table to the far right, and Susanna gulped when she saw a gaunt-phased phantom with blank eyes covered in what must've been blood, only his was silver. The Bloody Baron was floating next to Draco, who seemed as displeased and horrified as those sitting at the Gryffindor table. Harry snickered beside her.

"How did he get covered in blood?" Seamus asked, and Susanna threw him a disbelieving look.

"I've never asked." Sir Nicholas hummed, tone delicate.

Second helping only half eaten, Susanna decided to ignore her plate, stomach finally calming down after Sir Nicholas nearly pulled off his head. Nearly Headless indeed, she thought bitterly as Ron continued to shove his face with food, Harry close behind.

Finally, when everyone else seemed to have had their fill, the platters and plates cleared, tableware shiny - it was like food had never touched them!

Moments later, pudding was served. There were blocks of ice cream that looked as delicious as the ones at the shop in Diagon Alley - and in every flavor she could imagine. There was apple pie, treacle tarts, chocolate eclairs, jam donuts, trifle, strawberries dusted in powdered sugar, Jell-O, rice pudding, cauldron cakes, and so much more.

Susanna reached for some eclairs and jam donuts, as well as a few strawberries to at least appease her mother's voice, nevermind the fact they were covered in sugar anyway. Harry was helping himself to the treacle tarts, having apparently fallen in love with them.

"I'm half-and-half." Seamus was telling any first year that would listen. "Me dad's a Muggle. Me mum didn't tell him she was a witch 'til after they were married. Bit of a nasty shock for him!" They all laughed with the Irish boy.

"What about you, Neville?" Ron asked when the laughter died down.

The plump boy was still smiling, and he shrugged before telling his tale. "Well, my gran brought me up and she's a witch. But the family thought I was all-Muggle for ages. My great uncle Algie kept trying to catch me off my guard and force some magic out of me - he pushed me off the end of Blackpool pier once, I nearly drowned." Susanna blinked, more than worried for the boy. "But nothing happened until I was eight. Great uncle Algie came 'round for dinner, and he was hanging me out of an upstairs window by the ankles when my great aunt Enid offered him a meringue and he accidentally let go. But I bounced - all the way down the garden and into the road. They were all really pleased. Gran was crying, she was so happy. And you should have seen their faces when I got in here. They thought I might not be magic enough to come, you see. Great uncle Algie was so pleased he bought me a toad!" While the others laughed and Neville bit into a cauldron cake, Susanna watched him.

I'm sure that wasn't the only reason your gran was crying, she thought, before finishing her last bite of eclair.

Hermione was leaning in front of Harry and Susanna to talk to Percy about lessons, particularly her interest in Transfiguration. "You'll be starting small, just matches into needles and that sort of thing. What about you, Susanna? Have any subjects interested you?" Percy asked the Dursley girl, who drank from her goblet of water before nodding.

"Sorry. Yes, actually. Potions."

"Potions is a difficult class, particularly the professor in charge. Have you done the reading ahead?"

"Mhmm. Nearly five times. Herbology looks fun, as well. I'm hoping all the years I had to garden with mum will help." Harry suddenly hissed, and Susanna turned to look at her cousin. "Harry, what's wrong?"

"N-nothing." He rubbed at his lightning bolt scar, then looked at Percy. "Who's that teacher talking to Professor Quirrell?" Her cousin asked, and Susanna too looked at the other redhead with interest.

"Oh, you know Professor Quirrell already?"

"Yes, we met him at Diagon Alley." Susanna told Percy.

"I see. Well, it's no wonder he's looking so nervous. That's Professor Snape - Susanna, he's the Potions instructor." Susanna looked up at the faculty table, to the same greasy-haired man who stared at her during her Sorting. Professor Quirrell indeed looked intimidated by his neighbor, even his purple turban was vibrating with fear. "He doesn't want to, though - everyone knows he's after Quirrell's job. Knows an awful lot about the Dark Arts, Snape."

Harry and Susanna continued to stare at the Potions professor, but he never glanced at the cousins again. Eventually they returned to their dessert and conversations, until at least everyone was sleepy and full. The plates and food disappeared, and the Great Hall once again fell silent as Professor Dumbledore stood.

"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." Old Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he stared down in the direction of the Weasley twins.

"Don't even think about going." Harry hissed at her.

Susanna mocked offense. "I'm not that stupid."

"Susanna Jane Dursley."

"You suck the fun out of everything, Harry." She hissed back at him.

Professor Dumbledore cleared his throat. "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 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 most painful death."

Harry was one of the few who laughed, and Susanna elbowed him when she realized that fact. He awkwardly cleared his throat and turned to Percy. "He's not serious?" He asked the older Weasley.

"Must be." Percy frowned in thought. "It's odd, because usually he gives us a reason why we're not allowed to go somewhere - the forest's full of dangerous beasts, everyone knows that. I do think he might have told us prefects, at least."

"Dangerous beasts'? What kind of dangerous beasts?" Susanna asked with great interest, but fortunately for Harry's sanity, Dumbledore cleared his throat once more.

"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" At this, some of the other Professor's smiles seemed to become more forced. She noted Professor Snape appeared especially ready to call it a night.

Professor Dumbledore pulled out his wand and flicked it. A long golden ribbon flew out of it, rising high above the tables and twisting into large, floating words. "Everyone pick their favorite tune, and off we go!"

The rest of the Great Hall broke into song, and Susanna found herself covering her ears as she sang in a much lower volume:

"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, hoggy warty Hogwarts,

Teach us something please,

Whether we be old and bald,

Or young with scabby knees,

Our heads could do with filling,

With some interesting stuff,

For now they're bare and full of air,

Dead flies and bits of fluff,

So teach us things worth knowing,

Bring back what we've forgot,

Just do your best, we'll do the rest,

And learn until our brains all rot."

Everyone finished the school song at different times - including Susanna, quite a few hurried the lyrics along in favor of it just ending. Unfortunately for all but an amused Professor Dumbledore, the Weasley twins had elected to sing in the tune of a funeral march. Slow and drawn out, Susanna would've admired their style if she hadn't been so ready to just fall into bed.

Dumbledore conducted their last few lines, and when they were finished clapped the loudest, eyes wet. "Ah." He wiped at them. "Music. A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"

"Gryffindor first years, please follow me." Percy rose, and the ten new Gryffindors followed the tall prefect out the Great Hall, other first years following their own prefects as well.

Susanna and the others were led up the marble staircase, all moving sluggishly thanks to the feast they'd just devoured. Susanna supposed all those stairs would mean she'd work off what she ate, but at the present time she only felt as though they'd never reach their dormitory. The people in the portraits around them moved like those on the Chocolate Frog cards, pointing and whispering. Percy led them up another set of stairs, pausing when a staircase moved from one landing to another.

"This is the school's Grand Staircase. It's the most direct path to the dormitories and classroom corridors. As you've noticed, the staircases do indeed like to change, so it's best you remain patient or else you'll find yourself lost. Ah, here we go."

He led them up the set of stairs, then they paused once more. Susanna looked up to see a pair of walking sticks floating midair ahead of them, and Percy sighed heavily. "Peeves. A poltergeist." He whispered to the first years. Susanna nodded tiredly, rubbing at her eyes even as the walking sticks came closer. "Peeves, show yourself!"

Something blew a loud, rude raspberry, and Susanna jumped.

"Do you want me to go get the Bloody Baron?" Percy asked, and Susanna was briefly reminded of her mother.

There was a loud pop, and a little man appeared. His smile was as wide as the Cheshire Cat. He had dark eyes and was floating cross-legged, walking sticks clutched in his hands. "Ooooooh!" The poltergeist released an evil cackle. "Ickle Firsties! What fun!" He swooped towards the small group, and they all ducked.

"Go away, Peeves, or the Baron'll hear about this, I mean it!" Percy shouted.

Peeves stuck out his tongue, then vanished into thin air - perhaps he was a human Cheshire Cat after all. The walking sticks fell on Neville's head, and Susanna winced at the sound.

"You want to watch out for Peeves," Percy warned as they set off again, like that hadn't been obvious, "the Bloody Baron's the only one who can control him, he won't even listen to us prefects. Here we are."

Percy waited for the rest of the group to catch up on the seventh floor landing. Hanging in front of them - as large as a door - was a portrait of a fat woman in a pink silk toga and a glass goblet of red wine in her hand. Her hair was pinned up and decorated with a thick crown of grapes and leaves, grapevines trimming her portrait and a Greek or Roman building painted in the background, high over a field of grass and trees.

"Password?" She asked.

"Caput Draconis." Percy responded, Susanna making sure to remember is as the portrait swung forward, revealing a large, round hole in the wall. Everyone scrambled through - Seamus and Susanna helping Neville get a leg up - and gathered around in the middle of a big, round room. It was cozy, the walls covered in different portraits and faded red and gold wallpaper. There were cushioned chairs, comfortable-looking couches, tables and chairs scattered around the walls, large windows where the moonlight peaked through, and a roaring fireplace.

"Welcome to Gryffindor Tower. Where we're standing is the common room. Your dormitories will be found up the spiral staircase behind me, up one floor. Boys on the left, girls on the right. Now, I suggest you all head up to bed and get a good night's sleep. Breakfast starts at 7:30 in the Great Hall, and the prefects as well as our Head of House will hand out your timetables. Goodnight, and welcome to Gryffindor." Percy Weasley dismissed them, and the rest of the group scurried up the spiral stairs hidden behind a stone arch.

"Coming, Susie? Harry?" The cousins were pulled out of their stupor by Ron as he waved them over from the stairs. They followed him up, marching slowly until they reached their floor. "I'm tired enough to sleep through the week. G'night, Susie. Try not to throttle Granger, eh?" He teased, and she rolled her eyes.

"I wouldn't. Go to bed, Ickle Ronniekins." She teased. He glowered at her then grinned, tripping through the door into his room.

"Bet your ready to sleep in a room without having to share with me, right?" Harry asked, and Susanna scoffed.

"Oh, yes. I've always longed to share a room with four other girls, instead. I'm sure they'll be a cakewalk compared to you, you needy git."

Harry snorted, and pulled her into a hug. "I'm just across the landing, Suze."

"I know. Goodnight, Harry. I'll see you in the morning. 7:30 sharp." He hummed in agreement and they separated, Harry closing the door behind him. Susanna sighed and walked into her own room to find it'd somehow already dissolved into chaos, the girls clearly wanting to unpack their belongings.

Susanna found her own four-poster bed, the red velvet drapes soft to the touch.

Hades was curled up by her pillow, and purred into a stretch when Susanna scratched behind his ears. He hissed when he noticed the girls, who were nearly as loud as the streets of Diagon Alley.

"Shh, shh my love. It's okay." She picked him up and let him nuzzle into her chest.

"What's his name?" Hermione asked, sitting down on the bed to the left of Susanna.

"Oh. Hades."

"Hmm, fitting." Susanna nodded, too tired to hold a conversation.

"Yeah. It is. Sorry, if he hisses at you. He's still getting used to other people." Susanna warned.

"Of course. Well, goodnight. Would you like me to wake you up for breakfast tomorrow? I have a reliable internal clock. And my wristwatch has an alarm, too."

"Oh… yes, thank you, Hermione. Goodnight." Susanna watched as the girl climbed under her covers and closed the curtains, effectively ignoring the rest of the dorm.

The other girls were giggling, packing away their clothes. Susanna set her kitten back down on the bed and opened her trunk, mouth open when she saw her plain uniform had changed. While her skirt and vest remained dark grey, the latter's trimming was scarlet and gold, matching her ties. Her black robes - which originally had the Hogwarts crest - now had a Gryffindor badge in its place. A scarlet and gold scarf was folded over her desk chair, a matching pair of gloves laid on top.

"Susanna, right?" She jumped and turned, Lavender Brown suddenly behind her with the Patil twins smiling from their beds.

"Uh, yes. Lavender?"

"Yes. So… how do you know Harry Potter?"

"Oh." She blinked at the sudden question. "He's my cousin."

"You're not a Potter." Lavender stated.

"No. Dursley. Our mum's were sisters."

"Oh!"

"... Yes?"

"Would you mind introducing us?" She asked, and the Patil twins nodded.

"We've just… heard so many stories about him. He's incredible, isn't he?" Padma asked, weaving her long hair into a plait.

Susanna grinned. "He's the best, really. Um, I'm going to unpack." She awkwardly gestured to her trunk, and Lavender jumped.

"Sorry! I'm just, I mean -"

"We're excited." Parvarti finished. "That's all."

"No, it's fine. I'm just tired."

"If you all wouldn't mind, it's late!" Hermione announced from behind her drapes. Lavender made a face while the Patil twins rolled their eyes and snorted, but Susanna nodded in agreement. As Lavender and Padma giggled on the latter's bed and Parvarti went to brush her teeth in the bathroom, Susanna breathed out deeply.

Two hours later she was under her covers, the drapes pulled back and the moonlight shining through the large windows on either side of her bed. Hades snoozed by her head, curled up on her pillow, and Susanna envied the little kitten, because sleep was eluding her. It felt strange, not hearing her brother's and father's loud snoring. They'd been replaced by small breathes and the occasional snorts and mumbles, all far too quiet.

With a grumble of irritation she rolled over to her left, away from her sleeping Hades, and counted the patterns reflected on the floor from the window, the dullness lulling her into a dreamless sleep.


Woohoo, we made it! Yes.

Alright, first, I hope you all saw her Sorting coming. Personally, I also wrestled with her being in Hufflepuff or Slytherin. Obviously I didn't go for either, as she seemed a bit too Gryffindor for Hufflepuff and I don't think would've found herself fitting in well, even with all the friends. As for Slytherin, well, maybe if she'd been as awful still as her brother, yes, just because she was so self-preserving before her change - again, not all Slytherins are bad, she's just become a different person. Also, consider the fact she's a Muggle-born. While I don't doubt a few members at the time were and totally headcanon other Slytherins keeping them safe during 1997-1998, I also considered who'd be in her year, and that just seemed too rough.

Also, not usually a big fan of self-inserting into fics, but this is Harry Potter, and let's be honest we've all dreamed about what our lives would be like if it were all real. One must not tell lies and all that. But, the things Susanna hears her mother and ballet teacher say are close to things I heard when I was her age. Not saying it for pity, but in case anyone says it's not realistic - don't worry, thanks to lots of therapy and time I've gotten better. Again, be respectful of my writing, especially this chapter. That's all, and I'll see you in the next update! And please, make sure to take care of yourselves.