Chapter 3

The month flew by, filled with planning and studying. I was very excited and relieved when the 31st of August came. I could go to Hogwarts tomorrow! It was a hard night to sleep, but finally September 1st got here. I grabbed Salazar and my cauldron full of stuff. I finally went into King's Cross station, then it occurred to me. I don't know how to get to the Hogwarts train. I look around, trying to see anything that might seem familiar, then I see people with owls on their trolley, so I follow them. I watch as they reach a wall, then walk right through it. So I did the only sane thing. I walked through the wall too. I expected a crash, but there wasn't one. The sign said Platform 9 3/4, so I assumed that it was definitely not a muggle thing. It had to be the way to Hogwarts.

I looked around and saw that there was a train, so I walked towards it. I didn't know what to do with my cauldron, so I took with me and found an empty compartment. I just waited and watched out the window. Other people arrived and got on the train. The train started to get full, but my compartment was still empty. And it still was when the train started. I was already dressed in my robes, so I didn't have to worry about when to change.

I was used to my compartment being empty, so I was surprised when Draco and his gang barged in. I ignored them. Until they grabbed my cauldron. I turned to glare at him and get it back when I saw who was standing behind them. He was here, and he was not happy. "Professor Snape wants to talk to you." Draco smirked. Then he and his goons left me and him alone. He closed the door and muttered a spell. Nothing happened, but he seemed satisfied.

"What were you thinking? You could have died. Why did you leave?" I was trembling, but I managed a reply. "I couldn't stay another moment, sir." He glared at me. I shrunk back in my seat, filled with fear. "Why was that?" I knew that I shouldn't answer, so I didn't. He glared at me, then he seemed to hear something. He was still mad at me, so I was expecting pain, but he just left, leaving orders to Draco to give me back my stuff. He walked in, dumped out my cauldron, then left it on the seat farthest away. He smirked and left. Salazar asked if I was alright. "Yes, I am fine. If he ever does anything, please don't attack him. Even though you have grown, you are still to small. Alright?" He didn't look very happy about it, but he agreed.

My compartment was still empty by the time we got to Hogwarts. I grabbed my stuff and followed a voice telling us, the first years, to follow him. He was a giant, or at least half giant. I got into a boat, and mine was the last one to be filled. They all wrinkled their noses at me but I ignored them. There was only so much I could do to smell good after living on the streets for a month. I was very happy when I first saw the castle. I don't know what to think, so I don't.
When we got out, we followed the giant up the stairs, where we met a woman who told us that we were about to be sorted. There are four houses. Slytherin, the ambitious. Gryffindor, the brave. Ravenclaw, the wise. And Hufflepuff, the loyal. I hoped for Slytherin. There was an old hat on a stool at the front of the room. The woman, who said her name was Professor McGonagall, started calling names. "Henderson, Ivy." I went up and sat on the stool. Professor McGonagall put the hat on my head.

"Well, well, well. And where do you want to go." The hat asked. "Slytherin. Please." I answered quickly. "That would be a disaster! No, any house but that." "No, I can't do any house but Slytherin! If you put me in any other house, I'll.."  I didn't know what to say. "You'll what, leave. You know that you would regret that. And you can't switch houses either. I think that you would fit in Gryffindor." "NO! I can't do that! Please! Slytherin!" "Why?" "Because! I would die in any other house. But in Slytherin, I at least have a chance." "I-I can't put you in there. Salazar would be furious." "I don't care! I am far more worried about him. You know who I am talking about. I need to be in Slytherin."  I reached up to take the hat off. "Fine, but they will kill you. I hope that I don't regret this. SLYTHERIN!" Finally, I thought. I lifted the hat off my head and gave it to McGonagall. Then I walked over to the Slytherin table.

I was proud to be a Slytherin, and grateful.