A Different Life

The door swung open. A tall witch with a stern face and glasses stood in the hall, dressed in green robes. "The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.

Professor McGonagall nodded. "Thank you, Hagrid. I will take it from here." She led the first-years to a room next to the Great Hall and proceeded to give her customary speech about the four houses of Hogwarts, how your house was like your family, and that the house with the most points would be awarded the House Cup at the end of the year. Then she said that she would return in a couple of minutes so that they could be Sorted and advised that they take the opportunity to tidy up. Her gaze lingered on Ron, who had a smudged nose, and Neville, whose cloak was fastened under his ear.

When McGonagall had left, Beth nervously retied her red hair ribbon and then fiddled with a lock of her black hair. She really wanted to be in Gryffindor, the house her parents, adoptive parents, Remus, and Dumbledore had been in, though she didn't have any objection to the other houses. Well, she didn't want to be in Slytherin because of Quidditch, but if she was Sorted there, it wouldn't be the end of the world. Sirius might have a fit, but then he'd calm down and support her. Besides, there needed to be more decent Slytherins, besides Daniel, Professor Snape, and Professor Slughorn, the Potions teacher before Snape. Well, Snape wasn't exactly nice in public, but he did have a soft side, and he was one of the good guys.

Several gasps and a small scream interrupted Beth's thoughts. She turned to see about twenty ghosts floating in, all arguing about something. From the conversation, it seemed to involve Peeves the Poltergeist. Then the Gryffindor ghost, Sir Nicolas de Nimsy-Porpington, more commonly known as Nearly-Headless Nick, noticed the students. The other ghosts turned to look at them and the Fat Friar, who was the Hufflepuff ghost, said that he hoped to see some of them in Hufflepuff, his old house.

Professor McGonagall returned then and led the first years into the Great Hall. Beth looked around in awe, for she had never seen the Great Hall during the school year, only during the summer. Up at the staff table, Dumbledore nodded in her direction. Beth returned the nod and then looked at Professor Quirrell. He originally had been the Muggle Studies teacher, but had taken a sabbatical for the past two years to gain real-life experience in Defence Against Dark Arts. He was the Defence teacher that year and Beth wondered what his classes would be like. He looked distinctly odd in a purple turban, and he had a nervous look on his face as he whispered something to Professor Snape.

Beth turned her attention to McGonagall, who set a frayed, dirty, patched hat on top of a three-leaded stool. There was a few seconds of silence, then a rip in the brim opened and the Hat began to sing about the four houses. So that was the object that would look at your qualities and decided what house you were best suited for, Beth thought.

When the song ended, the students burst into applause and then Professor McGonagall unrolled a scroll. She called the students up one by one alphabetically for them to be sorted. First was Hannah Abbott, a gril with her hair done in pigtails. She was Sorted into Hufflepuff. Next was Susan Bones, the niece of Amelia Bones, who was Natalia's superior. Beth had met Susan before and with Hermione, had spent some time with her. Susan had never really become a close friend, but she was on good terms with them and occasionally they exchanged letters.

Susan was Sorted into Hufflepuff and she hurried off to join Hannah. Third was Terry Boot, who was in Ravenclaw. Mandy Brocklehurst joined him Ravenclaw, but Lavender Brown became the first Gryffindor. Fred and George catcalled as Lavender headed for the Gryffindor table. Millicent Bulstrode ended up in Slytherin, not to Beth's surprise. Beth wasn't surprised either when Crabbe, Goyle, and Tracey Davis were also sorted Slytherin.

Sometimes the Sorting Hat took longer with a student. Seamus Finnigan sat on the stool for almost a minute before he was finally declared a Gryffindor. When it was Hermione's turn, she ran to the stool and eagerly jammed the Hat on her head. Beth was certain that her friend would end up in either Ravenclaw or Gryffindor, because she was both clever and brave. After several seconds, the Sorting Hat called out, "GRYFFINDOR!" Hermione grinned and hurried to the Gryffindor table, pausing long enough to whisper to her friends, "Hope you get in Gryffindor too, guys."

Neville stumbled on his way to the stool. He also sat for a long time before the Hat called out, "GRYFFINDOR!" He looked delighted as he took off the Hat and went to join Hermione. On the way, he gave Beth and Ron a thumbs up.

After Ernie Macmillian was sorted into Hufflepuff, it was Draco Malfoy's turn. Draco slowly made his way to the stool, a slight frown on his face. He sat on the stool almost as long as Neville. Finally the Hat shouted out, "RAVENCLAW!" There was complete and utter silence at this declaration. Beth glanced at Professor Snape and saw that he looked shocked. Draco took off the Hat and made his way to the Ravenclaw table, neither pleased or displeased, but thoughtful. There was some weak applause as he sat down, and one of the prefects, a stunned look on his face, shook Draco's hand.

The Sorting continued. Theodore Nott and Pansy Parkinson ended up in Slytherin. Padma Patil was in Ravenclaw and her twin Parvati ended up in Gryffindor. After Sally-Ann Perks, Professor McGonagall called out, "Potter-Black, Bethany." The shock over a Malfoy being in Ravenclaw changed to surprise over Beth. There were whispers about the Girl-Who-Lived and several people asked why her last name was 'Potter-Black', for it wasn't common knowledge that Sirius was her adopted father.

Beth calmly made her way to the stool and set the Hat on her head. A little voice in her ear said, "Well, this is interesting. You have the qualities of all the houses, and you really have no objection to any one of them. Well, there is the problem of having to play Quidditch for Slytherin, but otherwise you wouldn't mind being there. So where should I put you?"

"Wherever you think it best, sir," though Beth in reply. "Though I would like to be in Gryffindor because my best friend is there, along with another friend."

"Are you certain?" asked the Hat. "You would fit well in Gryffindor, but you could fit just as well in Slytherin or Hufflepuff."

"Yes, I'm sure," answered Beth. "I would really like to be in Gryffindor."

"All right then," said the Hat. "If you're sure, then I will place you in - GRYFFINDOR!"

The last word was shouted out to the entire hall. Beth took off the hat, a happy grin on her face, and headed for the Gryffindor table, pausing long enough to whisper, "Good luck, Ron." Ron nodded in reply and Beth sat down, finally noticing that she was receiving the loudest cheer yet. Fred and George cheered, "We got Beth Potter-Black!" and Percy shook Beth's hand.

There were four people left to be Sorted. Lisa Turpin was Sorted into Ravenclaw, and Dean Thomas, a black boy even taller than Ron, was Sorted into Gryffindor. Next was Ron. His face looked very pale under his freckles. The Sorting Hat declared him to be a Gryffindor and he looked relieved as he took it off. Beth joined in the cheers and Percy said pompously, "Well done, Ron," as Ron sat down. Last was Blaise Zabini, who was Sorted into Slytherin.

Professor McGonagall took the Sorting Hat and stoll away and Professor Dumbledore stood up. With the words, "Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!", the feast began. Beth, who was always accustomed to having grace said before eating, quickly whispered, "I thank you Lord for your bounty and please bless my family, friends, and me. Amen," before filling her plate.

While eating, Sir Nicolas looked on as Beth cut her steak and said wistfully that it looked good. He then introduced himself and Ron exclaimed, "My brothers told me about you! You're Nearly-Headless Nick!"

The ghost began to say that he preferred Sir Nicolas, but Seamus interrupted to ask how he could be nearly headless. Sir Nicolas, looking annoyed, replied irritably, "Like this," and then seized his ear and pulled. It was obvious that someone had tried to behead him but hadn't done a proper job. Pleased by the looks on everyone's faces, he resettled his head and then said that he hoped Gryffindor would win the house cup this year, for Slytherin had won for the past six years.

After everyone had their fill of the main course, the leftovers disappeared, to be replaced by dessert. Beth took some treacle tart and a small bowl of strawberry ice cream. The talk turned to families and Seamus revealed that he was half and half. His father was a Muggle and his mother hadn't revealed that she was a witch until after the wedding. It had been quite a shock for Mr. Finnigan. Beth explained that she had been adopted by a witch who later married her godfather and that she had added her adoptive father's last name to her old one.

As Neville told the others that he was brought up by his grandmother and that his family thought he might have been all-Muggle for ages, Beth looked at the staff table again. Professors Quirrell and Snape glanced at her, and as they did so, she felt a flash of pain in her scar. She gasped and clapped a hand to her forehead. Hermione turned to look at her and asked in a whisper, "What's the matter, Beth?"

"Nothing, my scar just hurt for a second," responded Beth. "I'll write to Mum and Sirius tomorrow and ask about it."

Hermione nodded and Parvati then asked about her parentage and how she was friends with Beth. Hermione answered, "I'm Muggleborn, Parvati. And Beth lives on the same street as me and we went to the same primary school."

Soon the remains of dessert disappeared and Professor Dumbledore stood up to give his announcements. He told everyone that the forest on the gorunds was forbidden, that Quidditch tryouts would be held the second week of school, magic was not allowed in the corridors, and that the third-floor corridor was off-limits to anyone who didn't wish to die a horrible death. Beth wondered about that last bit until Dumbledore announced that the school song was to be sung. She picked the tune of "God Save the Queen" to sing the song to.

Finally only the Weasley twins were left singing to a very slow funeral march. Dumbledore conducted the last few lines for them and when they were done, said, "Ah, music, a magic beyond anything we teach here! Well, bedtime now. Off you trot!"

The prefects were responsible for showing the first-years to their common rooms. Percy took charge of the Gryffindors and led the way out the hall and up the stairs. On the way, they ran into Peeves. Percy had to threaten to go to the Bloody Baron, the Slytherin ghost, before the Poltergeist would leave. As they continued, Percy warned about Peeves. Not long after that, they reached the Gryffindor common room. A portrait of a fat lady dressed in pink asked, "Password?"

"Caput Draconis," replied Percy and then the Fat Lady swung forward to reveal an entrance hole. They all clambered through (Neville needed a leg up), and then Percy pointed out the staircases to the boys' and girls' dorms. Beth and Hermione went up the girls' staircase and entered the door labeled "First-Years." Their trunks had already been brought up and the two girls selected beds. Lavender and Parvati appeared second later and took the remaining two beds. Beth felt tired, so she brushed her teeth, changed into her nightgown, and went to bed, bidding her dormmates 'good-night." She soon fell asleep, without any dreams.