Santana nervously stood next to Hermione who was recounting spells she had learned already.
What if something went wrong. If somehow they knew her name. Would Albus Dumbledore execute her in front of the whole school?
"We're ready for you now.", Professor McGonagall had returned and led them into the great hall.
Her legs didn't want to move but Hermione dragged her along, bouncing and recounting facts Santana didn't fully listen to. Hermione went to Gryffindor while she was still contemplating her choices in life, she had almost completely missed the spectacle the students made about one mysterious Harry Potter and shortly after a girl with two braids went to Hufflepuff, she almost got a heart attack when the Professor called her name.
"Santana"
She could have cried in relief. They didn't know. Or at least they didn't want to make a spectacle in front of everyone. Her hands shaking, she went to the old stool and sat down.
The hat was too big and slid almost completely over her nose. Only the tip looked out underneath the rim.
"What do we have here?", a voice inside her head called out. "Curious, curious."
She took a shaky breath. No one knew. They couldn't.
"You would do great in Slytherin, you know. All the ambition, the drive..."
She longingly thought of Hermione, her first friend.
"You could easily follow in your fathers footsteps among the snakes."
Santana startled and almost fell off the stool. Of course, it was reading her mind! All her plans were for nought, she would be sent back or worse, they would kill her.
"Surely not. The Headmaster makes sure to protect every student under his care."
But she wasn't a student. Not yet. Not really.
"Ravenclaw would suit you well. You strive to gain knowledge."
Oh, were they just ignoring that she was a Grindelwald now? Inside Santana hysteria slowly threatened to take over.
"I am not permitted to tell a single soul whatever I find inside a students mind."
She let out a shaky breath. Her secret was safe. For now. Until someone else breached the confines of her mind. She could pave her own path.
"Not your fathers footsteps then?"
Absolutely not, no. Not if she could help it. That's why she came to Hogwarts, why she took that risk that seemed more foolish by the second.
"Not to worry. I know exactly where to put you."
She just wanted friends. And a normal, boring life.
"Boring? Perhaps not, but you can find many friends in GRYFFINDOR!"
Finally she breathed out a sigh of relief. She was safe. For now. And she could stay with Hermione, her first ever friend who was clapping at the table clad in red and gold.
She allowed a small smile to overshadow her anxiety and walked to the other Gryffindors where she sat next to Hermione.
"You took ages but I did too!", she whispered before she turned back to watch the rest of the students get sorted.
Santana was able to relax her tense muscles a little until Zabini, Blaise went to Slytherin and an old man with the longest beard she had ever seen rose from a chair that looked more like a golden throne. A queasy sensation spread in her stomach almost as though she was falling. Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts and defeater of Gellert Grindelwald rose and looked down at the students.
She swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry as a desert.
"Welcome!", he said and spread his arms. "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!"
Confused, Santana stared at the man that had gotten hundreds of her fathers followers killed and imprisoned.
He was even smiling, blindingly so. Where was all that intimidating power? Was that truly the man that had duelled Gellert Grindelwald to a standstill multiple times until he had finally defeated him?
He seemed so old. Frail. Insane.
"He's a bit...", a boy with black hair a few seats further down began.
"Mad?" The red haired prefect said. "Yes, but he's a genious!"
Santana lowered her gaze to the table where dozens of different dishes had appeared.
Things were fine for now. Even if this insanity was just an act, the hat had said she was safe. She only needed to take care that it remained that way.
"Professor McGonagall didn't call you by your full name.", a small red haired boy next to the black haired one remarked.
"I don't have one.", Santana said stoically.
"Oh, I'm sorry.", he quickly looked away from her.
"What does that mean, you don't have one?", Hermione asked confused.
"I just don't have one."
"When you're disowned you loose your family name. So everybody knows you're a nobody.", an older girl chimed in. She kept her gaze down. "Sorry."
Santana just nodded. Things were going well so far. No one wanted to even look at her. They would most certainly not question anything about her family histroy.
"I'm half and half.", said a boy named Dean and continued to explain how his mother had surprised his father after their marriage with the existence of magic. Santana drew her brows toghther. She didn't know the statute of secrecy had become more strict than her father had warned.
She listened interestedly to the conversations and introductions at the table. During dessert, Hermione made conversation with the prefect and asked about the courses.
"When are we learning elemental spells?", her voice was full of curiosity.
"Elemental spells?", he looked at her with wide eyes. "Never. That's very dangerous magic. And you most certainly should never try it on your own."
He looked at her with what he probably wanted to be a very strict look but his wild locks and the glasses that were sliding down his nose ruined that.
He saw Hermiones disappointed face and quickly added: "If you're really interested in learning more dangerous magic and duelling, you can always become an Auror after your NEWTs."
Hermione lit up at that and questioned him about NEWTs and Aurors.

When they finally went to their common room – it was in a tower! - Santana was almost asleep on her feet. She crashed into her bed without even changing into her night clothes.
The stress of the day that fully dissipated now allowed her to fall asleep almost immediately.
She was safe. Albus Dumbledore was non the wiser. Neither was her father. And she had a friend.