"Have any of you seen a toad? A boy named Neville lost his." A young girl appeared in the doorway of the group's compartment as Tori was talking about the Gringotts break-in with Angelina.

Tori shook her head, looking the first year, who must have been extra excited since she was already in her school robes. "No, sorry. We'll keep a lookout though." The girl nodded and moved on. "It's terrible." Angelina continued. "Most people reckon it's You-Know-Who."

"What would he be doing now? Nothing was in the vault, and he's been gone for years." Alicia was seated the farthest away from Lee and his new 'pet'. Tori didn't blame her.

"Well, Harry Potter's at Hogwarts. Don't you think he'd want revenge?" Fred piped into their conversation. Tori gasped. "Don't say that! That's terrible!"

"I'm just being honest, I mean think about it." Fred protested, but Tori shook her head. "Dumbledore's here. Nothing bad can happen if he's here."

✧ ✦ ✧

"You okay?" Fred asked Tori as they were seated in the Great Hall. The Sorting Ceremony was about to start, and Tori felt extremely nervous.

"Thinking about Dove." She replied, watching the teachers up by their tables. She didn't know what house Dove would be placed in, and she certainly didn't know what house she wanted to be placed in.

"She'll be fine," Fred told her. Tori looked at him, "How can you be sure? We don't know what's going to happen..."

"Well, it seems like we're going to find out..." George pointed to the long line of first years entering the Great Hall. Tori looked through them to find Dove standing by some blonde-haired boy.

They watched as the first years stopped in front of the teachers and as McGonagall placed to Sorting Hat down. Tori remembered her Sorting ceremony, it was a nightmare.

The Sorting Hat began to sing its song about the four houses, and she saw Ron glare at Fred. "I told him we had to fight a troll," Fred explained, causing Tori to roll her eyes. The hat finished its song, bowing to the four tables. Tori clapped loudly, watching the crowd of first years shiver with anticipation.

Professor McGonagall began reading the list of students, watch each and every one of them pop on the sorting hat. "Boot, Terry!" was a Ravenclaw, so did "Brocklehurst, Mandy." "Brown, Lavander" was the first new Gryffindor.

"Finch-Fletchley, Justin!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

Tori greeted Seamus Finnigan as he sat down diagonally from her. "Granger, Hermione" was sorted into Gryffindor as well. Tori smiled at her while shaking her hand. "Longbottom, Neville." Must have been the boy who lost his toad. He got so excited to be in Gryffindor, he ran towards the table with the hat still on his head.

The boy Dove was standing by went by the name of "Malfoy, Draco." Tori knew the Malfoys, they had been over a couple of times before. The hat barely touched his head before it screamed, "SLYTHERIN!"

A couple of more people went up until "Potter, Harry!" Was called. Whispers filled the great hall and George started to boast that they had already met him. The hat sat on his head for a minute or two, seeming to be in a great debate.

"Better be— GRYFFINDOR!" The table jumped up with cheers and screams as they all shook Harry's hand. The twins started chanting "We've got Potter! We've got Potter!" Over and over again. They once all settled down and Tori regained a pit feeling in her stomach.

"Silvers, Dove!" Professor McGonagall called. Fred put a hand on Tori's shoulder as Angelina smiled softly. Dove looked pale, sitting upon the stool. The hat was placed in her head, but Tori could hardly hear what it was saying over her heartbeat.

"SLYTHERIN!" The hat shouted. Avalon rose up from the table, pointing at Dove. "That's my sister!" He yelled. Tori weakly clapped, unsure why she was surprised. Of course, Dove was a Silvers through and through.

"It's fine." She muttered to Fred, who didn't look convinced. She watched Ron, who looked like he was going to be sick, he sat upon the stool and the hat was placed on his head.

It only took a few moments for the hat to shout, "GRYFFINDOR!" Ron looked relieved and ran off to sit next to Harry. "Excellent, well job, Ron!" Percy patted his brother on the back. Tori grinned at that the youngest Weasley boy as Dumbledore approached his stand, spreading his arms wide like he wanted to give them all a hug.

"Welcome! 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!" He sat back down as everyone clapped and cheered.

"Is he- a bit mad?" She overheard Harry ask Percy. She didn't hear Percy's reply. Dumbledore had piled food onto the silver platters in from of them. The feast had begun, Nearly Headless-Nick had watched the students sadly, expressing how he did miss eating. "Geez Ron, mind saving some chicken for the rest of us?"

Ron smiled with a mouthful as Tori took some for herself. She was talking to Angelina about quidditch. "Reckon we'll find a good enough Seeker like Charlie?" Tori shook her head, taking some pudding. She was about to reply when she heard Lee yell something. "WHAT?! You didn't tell me?!" George shushed him, glancing around at the unbothered students around them. Tori raised an eyebrow but Fred gestured for later.

Once the feast had ended Dumbledore had stood up once more. "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 forest that on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well. I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used 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."

Tori furrowed her eyebrows, making an unsurprised face. Of course, something like that happened. It's Hogwarts. "Now before we leave, the Hogwarts song!" Dumbledore pulled out his wand. "Sing at whatever tune you'd like. One, two, three!"

"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts," Tori followed the words as they appeared, choosing a similar tune to a Christmas carol. She had finished it around the same time as most of the school, but the Weasley twins finished their funeral march version last with Dumbledore conducting their last notes.

"Ah, music to my old ears." He wiped his eyes, dismissing the older years first. Tori managed to get away from Alicia and Angelina to catch up with the twins. "You want to tell me what Lee's little outburst was about?" She demanded, her hand on her hip.

George looked at her sheepishly, "I might have told Lee about the Marauder's Map..." Tori rolled her eyes, a bit surprised that they hadn't told him sooner. "Does he know he has to shut his trap?"

"Yeah. He's demanded to see it tonight. Guess that means we're running off to another secret passageway."

Tori sighed. "You two are going to get me expelled one of these days."

the amount of time it took me to write this chapter since i had to go from the book & the movies to writing. i'm insane.

also. guess who might have a carpal tunnel injury from writing this book???

my body hates me