He was a short, dark-skinned boy, with wavy combed black hair that had a few strands popping out at the back. His dark brown eyes were worried and scared. He held his wand and few books in his arms.

"Is this the Hufflepuff dorms?" He whimpered politely, "I was told I could stay here until they could do my last-minute sorting."

"Who're you?" asked Gloria.

"Pardon me," the little boy cowered, "My name is-"

"Gregory!" a prefect walked in, "Did you forget how to get in?"

The boy was startled, and Luro and her friends turned around to face the older student.

He chuckled, "Alright, I'll cut you some slack. But if you end up not a Hufflepuff, I do hope you forget!"

The prefect then proceeded to open the doorway.

"Thanks," Gregory smiled weakly, then rushed in. The prefect shook his head and walked in after him, leaving the trio looking blankly on.

"Hey Luro," Tobias turned to her, "Is that the new kid you said you bumped into earlier?"

"Y-yeh, I believe so," she said back to him.

"Strange kid," commented Gloria. She shrugged it off, "Well, come on! We've got homework to do."

Luro groaned, "Yes, the inevitable homework." She sighed and trudged through the entry with her friends, then laughed at herself.

"Hello, Mrs Hufflepuff!" Gloria smiled. The portrait over the fireplace raised her golden cup and waved. Tobias saluted, and Luro quivered her hand. The portrait smiled at them all.

Tobias sat himself in a vacant one of the comfortable chairs, inviting the girls to sit beside him. They plopped their equipment on the table and got straight to work. They laughed and groaned as they helped each other, trudging through their pile of work.

After a while, Gregory came up to them.
"H-hi, I'm Greg," he stuttered, "D-do you mind if I s-sit here? The other seats a-are full." He twitched nervously.

The three other children looked at each other, and Gloria spoke up.

"Well sure!" she exclaimed, "We've got room!"
She pointed to an empty seat across from her. Gregory carefully pulled the chair out and sat down in it, taking out his own homework.

"Is it okay if I-"

"Hey," Tobias interrupted, "We don't bite. You go ahead and do your thing; and we'll help if you need it."

"Yeah," agreed Luro.

Gregory smiled weakly, then became immersed in his work. Luro and her friends ended up asking him for help; he paid attention a lot in class.

**************

"Guys, we shouldn't be here."

"Sshhhhhh!"

"Ooh, look, look!"

"It's past bedtime..."

"No wonder you're not a Gryffindor, Tobes."

"I TOLD YOU IT'S-"

"Quiet guys, they're starting!"

The sorting hat was placed on the scrawny, black head. It thought but for a moment before saying out loud, "Ravenclaw!"

"Alright, Gregory, there's your house! We'll get a prefect to introduce you in the morning."

"I knew it!" whispered Gloria from their hiding place. She turned to Tobias, "Pay up!"

"But we never bet-"

"Gimme the moola!" She insisted.

"Guys, calm down," Luro hushed them, "They're coming!"

A couple of professors walked past the children, unaware of their presence. Luro and Tobias had to shove their hands over Gloria's mouth to stifle her laughter. After the professors and Gregory had gone, they released their hands to unleash a good amount of held back giggling.

"Oh, Gloria," scoffed Luro.

Gloria pouted, and the three of them got up to sneak back to their home room.

****************

Gregory raised his tired head to see three familiar figures approaching him.

"What are you three doing here?" He yawned, "We're supposed to be in bed."

Luro and her two friends stopped in surprise. Before they could make anything up, Gloria, being Gloria, released her excitement.

"You're a Ravenclaw!" She whisper-yelled. Luro sighed into her hand and Tobias slapped his head.

"You - you were spying on me?" Gregory moaned.

"Well," Gloria laughed awkwardly, "More like watching you without your permission..."

"We'll just be heading to bed now," Luro smiled with gritted teeth, pushing Gloria to their dormitory.

"Good night!" Tobias added, heading to his own.

Gregory tilted his head, then shook it and went back to sleep.