Second Chances

Chapter Two: Sorting and Tutoring

As soon as Catherine stepped into the castle, a teacher whisked her away to a large gargoyle statue. He said, "Lemon sherbet," and the gargoyle moved, revealing a spiral staircase. She walked up the stairs, wordlessly stopping outside a wooden door.

Catherine stood nervously outside of the Headmaster's office.

Oh, god! What have I gotten myself into? What if he heard about what happened on the train? I can't get kicked out before I even start school here, can I? Wait a second! I never worried about getting into trouble before why am I worrying now? Probably because I never really had friends who cared about me before. Okay, there were the people in my gang, but they didn't help me when I really needed them. They weren't there when Brad...

"Come in."

The Headmaster's voice cut into Catherine's thoughts. She opened the door and walked into a large room. The walls were covered in pictures that were moving and around the room were very strange objects. She was busy staring at them when the Headmaster's voice cut into her thoughts once again.

"Please, take a seat Catherine."

Catherine turned and looked at the Headmaster. He was tall, with a long white beard and twinkly blue eyes. She felt an aura of power around him and decided against acting like she did with the chief of police. Sitting in the chair that he offered, she waited for him to talk first.

"Before we Sort you into your house, I thought that I might explain to you what will happen this year. Since you have had no previous schooling in magic, and I assume that you would like to be in classes with students your own age?" She nodded and he continued. "I have talked it over with the teachers and they have agreed to assign you a tutor. This tutor will catch you up on what you have missed over the years. Each professor will assign the top student in his or her class as your tutor. I have full confidence that your tutors will bring you up to date in these classes in no time. Do you have any questions?"

"Yea, I know this is totally off topic but who are the pictures of and why are they moving?"

He chuckled, "The pictures are of the past headmasters and headmistresses of Hogwarts. In the wizarding world, the pictures capture part of the subject's personality allowing them to move. Now, if you have no more questions, we will move onto your Sorting." He pulled an old hat off of a shelf behind his desk and placed it on her head.

Catherine heard a little voice in her ear, "Hmm, most unusual. A transfer student? From America or more specifically, New York City."

Hey, how did you know that? Catherine thought.

"I can see into your mind."

Does that mean...

"Yes, I can see your past. It was very painful for you, wasn't it?"

Okay, I would appreciate it if you didn't mention that right now. The past hurts you know.

"Yes and you certainly have the scars to prove it."

Stop intruding into my memories! I don't want to deal with what happened right now.

"Touchy, touchy Miss Catherine. Fine," the hat huffed, " I will continue with your Sorting. I can see that you don't seem to care about what others think. You are very strong and courageous. Not many people would have done what you did on the train."

Someone needed to shut him up... Harry was going to, I just got to it first.

"Modesty... that's a good trait. You disregard any rules but your own, which by itself could put you in Slytherin. You have a hard time trusting people and making friends. Slytherin would be a bad choice, not many there are trustworthy. I shall place you in GRYFFINDOR!"

Catherine winced as the hat shouted out the last word. She handed Dumbledore back the hat.

Looking at the hat, she scowled and asked, "Was it absolutely necessary to shout the last word? There is no one here but the pictures, the Headmaster and me. I really would like to keep my hearing if that's alright with you."

Dumbledore chuckled and took the hat. He reached into his pocket and threw some Floo Powder into the fireplace saying, "Minerva McGonagall." Soon, Professor McGonagall appeared and walked out of the fireplace.

"I have a new member of your house Professor. This is Catherine; please help her feel like she is at home in Gryffindor. Now, if you will both please excuse me, I have some business to attend to."

Professor McGonagall led Catherine through the corridors, explaining what she expected of Catherine as a student and as a Gryffindor. When they stopped, they were in front of a huge portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress.

"This is the entrance to the Gryffindor Common Room, the password changes every so often so make sure that you know when it changes. If you have any questions, feel free to see Professor Dumbledore or myself. Right now, the password is elauaugh." The portrait swung forward and Catherine walked into the Gryffindor Common Room alone.

She heard a shriek from her right and suddenly three people were hugging her at once. Catherine grinned as Hermione kept repeating, "You're in Gryffindor, you're in Gryffindor!" Ron just grinned insanely and Harry started introducing her to the other members of Gryffindor, telling them the story of what had happened on the Hogwarts Express.

Catherine could see respect mixed with awe in their faces and smiled.

"Don't worry, I wont do that to you unless you really piss me off. Anyway, he's a cocky little bastard. He is just lucky that I don't know any magic yet." After hours of swapping stories with her new housemates, Catherine yawned, " I'm going to head up, where is my dorm?"

"You are staying in my dorm. Follow me, I will show you where it is," Hermione said while walking up a staircase.

Catherine followed her to the dorm and looked around. Like the common room, the main colors were scarlet and gold. All of the four-poster beds had the girl's trunks at the foot of the bed. Recognizing her trunk, Catherine opened it and took out her toothbrush and pajama's. She walked to the bathroom, brushed her teeth and changed. Leaving her toothbrush in the bathroom, Catherine collapsed on her bed, exhausted. She immediately fell asleep as soon as her head touched her pillow.