While they stand there waiting for Professor McGonagall, the Transfiguration teacher and head of Gryffindor house (Lee told her all about the teachers at Hogwarts so she knows who each one is), to get back and bring them into the Great Hall to be sorted, a blonde-haired boy decides to start trouble. Lilah watches in slight amusement as this boy, who is obviously used to getting everything he wants, gets his offer of friendship rejected by Harry Potter. Lee told Lilah the story of Harry Potter and she feels bad for him, losing his parents so young. She looks over to where Neville is standing and smiles at him and sees that a toad is sitting in his hands. Lilah moves closer to him to see the toad.

"What's your toad's name?" She asks him softly.

"T-trevor." He stutters.

"Hello Trevor. You are very cute." Before Lilah or Neville can say anything more, Prof McGonagall appears and take them into the Great Hall. Lilah walks beside Neville and looks up at the ceiling with a look of wonder.

"Doesn't that look cool?" She nudges Neville, who nods his head. They all stop about 5 feet from the big table with the professors sitting at it. In front of them, is a stool with a hat sitting on it. Much to Lilah's surprise, the hat opens his mouth and starts 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 folks 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 entire school claps their hands and Lilah raises an eyebrow. Prof McGonagall starts to call the names and Lilah kinda tunes it all out and zones back in when she hears, "Lilah Jordan". She walks up and sits on the chair and before the hat gets dropped on her head, she locks eyes with her cousin who gives her a bright smile.

'You are an interesting kind of person,' a voice whispers in her ear. 'You are kind, intelligent, eager to prove yourself, and very courageous. But where to put you? You would like to be with your cousin eh? Very well, BETTER BE GRYFFINDOR!" The hat shouts and the Gryffindor table cheers and Lee looks at her so proud and he makes room for her right next to him and pulls her into a hug.

"Yay! We are both Gryffindors!" Lee says. The twins quickly congraulate Lilah for getting into Gryffindor. The other new Gryffindors include Seamus Finnagan, Dean Thomas, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Lavaender Brown, Neville Longbottom, and Parvati Patil. Food appears on the table in front of Lilah and her eyes go wide. The third years around her all softly laugh at her reaction.

"So Lee, is this your little sister?" A dark-skinned third year asks.

"No, my little cousin. My mum and her dad are siblings. Lilah, this is Angelina Johnson and the girl next to her is Alicia Spinnet, and the girl on Alicia's other side is Katie Bell. Katie is a second-year and Ange and Alicia are third-years." Lilah nods her head and tunes into the conversation being held by her fellow first years.

"Me dad's a muggle, Mam's a witch, bit of a nasty shock for him when he found out." Seamus was saying.

"I can imagine." Lilah says, dryly. Dean and Seamus both look over at her.

"What about your parents?" Dean asks Lilah.

"They are both muggles but my uncle, his dad," Lilah gestures at Lee who was half-paying attention to her, "is a wizard so I kinda knew about magic growing up."

"My mum is a muggle and I don't know my dad so I have no idea if he has magic." Dean says. As the food fades, a elderly looking man stands up.

"Welcome to our new students and welcome back to our older students. Some school rules to go over. The Forbidden Forest is forbidden. Mr. Filch has a list of banned objects hanging outside his office. The third floor corridor on the west side is off-limits to all students. Quidditch tryouts will be held next week so see your common room bulletin boards for more information. Have a good night." Lilah follows the first years and the prefects to the common room. The prefects warn them not to forget the password and that is changes every couple weeks and the new password will be up in the common room on the bulletin board.

Lilah, instead of heading up to her dorm right away, sits on an armchair, staring at the fire. Lee, who sees that Lilah is sitting by herself and looking kinda sad, walks over to her and sits on the arm of her chair.

"Hey, what's wrong?" He asks, poking her in the shoulder. She looks up at her cousin with tears shining in her eyes. Lee pulls her into a hug, she rests her head on his shoulder.

"I just sometimes wish that my parents sucked at their job, just so they could be home more. I hate that I rarely get to spend time with them, without them either thinking about a case or leaving to deal with a case. I spend more time with Uncle Liam and Aunt Sophia and don't get me wrong, I love your parents but I just wish mine were around more." Lee rubs her back while she rants about it. She falls silent and Lee is at a loss of words to comfort her.

"I wish I had some great advice for you, Lil but I don't. All I can say is that it sucks and I wish that it was different for you but just know that Mum, Dad, and I are here for you, no matter what. I know that techincally you are my cousin but you feel more like my little sister." Lee feels Lilah's grip on him tighten.

"Thanks Lee-Lee. I think I am going to head up to bed. Night." Lilah says as Lee presses a quick kiss to her forehead and lets her go.

"Night Lil." The other girls are asleep when Lilah gets upstairs so she takes a quick shower and tries to go to sleep but it takes her a while to fall asleep.