Heirs of the Founders

Heirs of the Founders 4

Tom's New Home

The three girls were quiet for the rest of the ride to Hogwarts. Then there was a voice that went throughout the train.

"We will be arriving at Hogwarts in five minutes. Please have your luggage ready. It will be taken to the school for you."

"Oh, we'd better get into our robes!" Raye gasped, grabbing her trunk and pulling her robes out.

"Good of them to take our luggage for us," Serena said as she put her robes on. "I think I over packed!" Sshe grinned at her large trunk with things poking out.

"I'd say you did," Raye said with a laugh.

"Well, my Mum says it can get really cold up here," Serena said, "I guess I just wanted to be prepared."

"That's good," said Amy, "it may take a couple of days for your parents to send things you've forgotten."

When train pulled into Hogsmeade station, the girls stepped out and looked around curiously. Raye was hopping up and down to get a look of Hogwarts in the distance.

"Oh, I can hardly see it!" She grunted.

"Arabella Doreen Perkins!" Said an angry male's voice.

"Uh oh," Serena mumbled.

Jed Perkins, Arabella's brother, pushed through the crowd to Serena. "What are you doing here? Do Mum and Dad know you're here?"

"Look, Jed," Serena began.

"You know you're not supposed to be at Hogwarts, Arabella!" Jed shouted, grabbing her hand. "Back on the train!"

"Wait!" Serena cried.

"Hey, you let her go!" Raye shouted, stepping to Jed. "Her name's not Arabella!"

"I think I know my own sister when I see her, thank you!" Jed snapped.

"But her name isn't Arabella," Ami insisted, "it's Serena."

"What?" Jed grunted, looking at the two girls and Serena. "Serena?"

Serena closed her eyes and showed her true self. Jed dropped her hand. Raye and Amy stared in shock. Serena smiled coyly.

"Hi Jed."

Jed's mouth dropped and didn't seem to work. "Serena--what--what is going on here?"

"Arabella was upset that she didn't get accepted to Hogwarts," Serena explained. "So I rode the train looking like her."

"Were you intending on going through all of Hogwarts looking like my sister?" Jed demanded.

"No, I offered for the first year," Serena said, "but she didn't want me to. So I told her I'd go for the train ride instead."

"So Arabella knew you were going to do this?" Jed queried, throwing his hands in the air.

"Yes, she didn't tell you?" Serena confirmed.

Jed shook his head.

"I'm sorry," Serena said softly. "I thought she was."

"It's all right," Jed moaned, "well, the train ride's over now so you don't have to pretend to be Arabella anymore. Go on now; the groundskeeper is already leaving with the first years."

Serena nodded and Jed walked on to get a carriage. As Serena turned back to join the first years, her new two friends were looking at her in surprise.

"What was that about?" Raye questioned.

"Why didn't you tell us you were a Metamorphmagus?" Amy inquired.

"Meta--wha?" Raye mumbled.

"I can change how I look," Serena explained. "My best friend Arabella Perkins is a Squib, so, I came on the train looking like her."

"So this is what you really look like?" Raye asked, looking her over.

"Yes," Serena replied, frowning at Raye. "Why, you think I'm ugly or something?"

"No!" Raye exclaimed, aghast. "You're really pretty! I just think--your buns look like meatball."

"Meatballs?" Serena questioned, turning pink as she touched them.

"I think it was nice what you did for your friend," said Amy as they followed the groundskeeper to the boats.

"Well, it was the least I could do," Serena sighed. "Poor Arabella, she really wanted to come."

"She'll come to accept it soon," Raye said optimistically. "My mum did."

"Really?"

Raye nodded. "She learned that she didn't need magic to keep surviving or to lead a normal life. Or course, magic it makes it all easier, especially if that's the only life you knew. My Mum doesn't have enough magic to use a wand but it doesn't matter. See, she knows about Runes and Divination and stuff like that, and she's still a good cook."

"Well, if you're a Squib," Serena moaned, "do you live like a witch trying to be a Muggle or a Muggle trying to be a witch?"

"You live like a Squib," Raye answered. "I mean, that's what you are. But you don't have to be bitter about it. You're not a Muggle and you're not a witch either, but that doesn't mean you're useless."

"I tried telling her that," Serena insisted.

"She's still hurt," Raye said, "but she'll be fine in time."

They walked over the hill and saw the grandness of the castle. Everyone "oohed" and "ahhed".

"Isn't it he most beautiful thing you've seen?" Serena asked the other girls.

"Oh no!" Raye grunted. "I forgot my camera on the train!"

"Come on," said Ogg the groundskeeper, "this way. Everyone into a boat."

The three girls clambered into a boat followed by a girl with black pigtails and thick spectacles. She looked really pale and nervous.

"Hi," said Serena, "what's your name?"

"Myrtle Mason," the girl replied in a small voice.

"Nice to meet you," Serena said brightly. "I'm Serena Moon."

Myrtle nodded.

"And I'm Raye Potter."

"Amy Fawcett."

Once all the first years were to a boat, the groundskeeper yelled, "Forward!" and the boats began sailing toward the castle. Myrtle grabbed the edges of the boat.

"Have you ever been on a boat before?" Raye questioned.

Myrtle shook her head.

"Don't worry," said Serena, "we'll be all right. We won't capsize."

Myrtle didn't reply or incline her head. She just stared out to nothing.

"Are you all right?" Amy asked softly. "You look nervous."

"We're all a little nervous," Serena admitted.

"I'm not nervous," Raye declared.

Myrtle's pale face now looked green. She put her hand to her mouth and gagged.

"Oh, you're really nervous, aren't you?" said Amy in concern.

"How nervous are you?" Raye asked.

"Oh no," Myrtle moaned, turning around to vomit over the side of the boat. Raye, Serena and Amy leaned back to give her space. The other first years groaned with disgust. Some agreed that they felt like throwing up themselves. A few laughed, the loudest being from a girl in the back.

"Did you see?" she cried. "Couldn't even last the boat ride! Pathetic!"

Raye turned around to see who was speaking. She couldn't really tell through the darkness, but saw a girl with long curly blond hair.

"How rude," Raye muttered and turned back to Myrtle. "Feel better, Myrtle?"

"No," Myrtle groaned, raising her head a bit and pushing her glasses on her nose.

"Maybe you will after the sorting when we eat."

Myrtle gasped and hung her head over the boat side, dry-heaving.

"Oh, bless," Amy whispered, "poor thing." Amy patted her robes, searching for something that might calm her nerves and gasped when she realized all her medicine was still on the train.

"You want to go to the school healer when we get there, Myrtle?" she asked.

"No thanks," Myrtle groaned, wiping her mouth with her sleeve, still hanging over the boat side. "Do I have sick on me?"

"No," the girls replied in unison.

"That was the third time I got sick today," Myrtle muttered.

"Are you really nervous?" Amy asked. "You might be coming down with something."

"No, I haven't got the flu," Myrtle answered, "It happens when I get really nervous. I get sick. I got sick when I got my letter too and when I went to get my things."

"I hope you'll get better control of your nerves for school," said Raye, "there won't be anything left of you if you keep throwing up."

"I can't help it," Myrtle moaned, "I don't know anything about magic! I thought all that stuff was make believe."

"You're Muggleborn?" Serena asked.

"What's that?"

"It means both your parents are Muggles," Amy explained. "Muggles are non-magic folk. My dad's a Muggle but my mum's a witch. That makes me a half-blood."

"Oh," said Myrtle, "yes, my parents don't know anything about magic either."

"Relax, Myrtle," Amy insisted, "you'll do just fine. A lot of Muggleborns came out successful."

"Yeah," Serena agreed as the boat hit the other side of the lake. She and Raye each grabbed an arm and helped Myrtle out of the boat. "My dad's Muggleborn. He's the owner of a wizarding pub in Wales. You should stop by sometime."

"All right," said Myrtle with a bit of color returning to her face. "You're right, I really shouldn't be acting so stupid. Getting sick and everything, really." She sniffed.

"Don't be so hard on yourself," Amy told her.

"Yeah, cheer up," Raye insisted, patting her on the back. "Be brave!"

"I don't know how," Myrtle moaned.

"Sure you do," Raye said, "just tell yourself you can do it and you will. Now smile!"

Myrtle gave a small smile. They waited for the groundskeeper and the rest of the first years.

"Got a little seasick, did you?" sniggered the curly blond that laughed earlier.

Myrtle moaned and looked at the ground.

"You'll be sick if you don't shut your mouth," Raye muttered.

The girl smirked and twisted her curly hair around her finger.

"All right, come on," the groundskeeper growled, "this way."

The groundskeeper brought the first years to a door, knocked on it and it opened a second later. There in the doorway stood a wizard with auburn hair and a long auburn beard. Tom Riddle stepped back nervously and avoided the man's eyes.

"The first years, Professor Dumbledore," said Ogg.

"That's Professor Dumbledore!" Raye hissed excitedly in Serena's ear.

"I heard," Serena mumbled, wiggling her finger in her ear.

"Thank you, Ogg," Professor Dumbledore said with a smile. He nodded to the first years. "This way, please."

Dumbledore led the first years around a corner, up the stairs and they stopped in front of the front doors of the Great Hall.

"Ah, welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor Dumbledore. "I will take a few moments before you enter the Great Hall to be sorted into your houses. The houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Your house will be like your family. The house with the most points at the end of the year will receive the House cup. To achieve these points you must earn them but you will lose them if you do not follow the rules."

His bright blue eyes rested on Tom for a while. Tom looked at the strings on his sleeve.

"Please wait here," Professor Dumbledore said warmly. "I will come back for you when we are ready."

Professor Dumbledore walked away and the first years stood restless. The curly blond haired chewed loudly on her bubble gum and blew bubble after bubble. She was standing next to Tom Riddle. Raye rolled her eyes.

"That man scares me," Tom said to the blond haired girl.

"My father says he's a fool," the blond muttered, popping her gum.

"Professor Dumbledore?" Raye demanded as she turned around. "That's why you don't like him? Because you're afraid of him?"

Tom narrowed his eyes. "I wasn't talking to you, I was talking to her." He nodded to the blond girl.

"So mind your own business, won't you?" the girl demanded.

"Professor Dumbledore doesn't look scary to me," Raye insisted and she looked at the other students. "Does Professor Dumbledore frighten you?"

The students shook their heads.

"See?" Raye said. "There are other things to be more afraid about than teachers."

The girl rolled her eyes and blew another bubble.

"And your gum blowing is really starting to annoy me!" Raye pulled out her wand.

"Raye, no!" Serena gasped.

But instead of hexing the girl, Raye punctured the girl's bubble with the tip of her wand. The girl screamed as bits of bubblegum exploded on her face and hair.

"You got it in my hair!" she snarled, wiping her face.

"You'll live," Raye muttered, "next time, chew your gum softly. You look like a cow chewing its cud."

Myrtle and a few others laughed.

"Oh, what are you laughing at?" the girl demanded, glaring at Myrtle. "Hurl girl?"

She and some of the people she sat with on the boat guffawed, making throw up motions. Myrtle gasped and smoothed her robes.

"Leave her alone," Raye said, "or I'll do more than just burst your bubble."

"I'd like to see you try!"

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah!"

"All right, you dirty little tart!" Raye exclaimed.

"Stop!" Serena commanded, grabbing Raye's arm. "We've just got off the train. Let it go."

"Oh come on, let me do it!" Raye growled. "She deserves it, low down rotten twit! Picking on people for no reason!"

"She'll get hers someday," Serena said. "Calm down, don't be such a hothead!"

"I think you've already given it to her, actually," said Amy, noting the bits of gum left on the girl's face and hair.

"For now, maybe," Raye muttered, glaring at the blond girl, "but I've got a feeling she's going to cause more trouble."

The girl grinned as she put another stick of Drooble's Best Bubble gum in her mouth. She's doing it just to annoy people! Raye thought angrily.

The students became quiet when Dumbledore returned.

"Right then, everyone in one single line and follow me," Dumbledore said brightly. The students all got a single line. The first years entered the Great Hall. Serena nudged Amy and pointed to the ceiling.

"Look!" she said excitedly. "We've got an enchanted ceiling at our Pub too!"

"Does it change?" Amy asked.

"Yes," Serena replied, "but once in a blue moon. My dad sometimes forgets to change it." She looked at the staff table and noticed a large man waving at her. Serena smiled and waved back.

"Hi, Professor Slughorn!" Serena beamed. She lowered her voice to whisper to those around her. "He's one of our regulars! He says my dad's ale is the best around!"

The first years assembled themselves so they were facing the four house tables. Jed Perkins sat at the Gryffindor table, shaking his head at Serena. Next to him was a girl with short black hair and a stern face. Serena was glad that she wasn't the one who found her pretending to be Arabella. Professor Dumbledore placed an old and frayed wizard hat on a stool.

"What's that for?" Myrtle asked Raye.

"It's going to sort us," Raye answered.

"But how?"

"Shh," said Raye and pointed at the hat, which suddenly started singing.

"You must wonder what kind of hat is this,

This hat you see, can show you much bliss.

I'm different than all other hats,

I'll separate mice from rats.

Just call me the Hogwarts Sorting Hat.

Where is it that you ought to be?

Just wait a while and you shall see.

Are you brave and daring?

Is there a lion inside you somewhere?

Gryffindor may be the place you'll be staying.

Tell me, are you loyal and just?

Someone easy to trust?

That would make you a badger in Hufflepuff.

Do you love studying and learning things anew?

Is there a bright light in your head shining through?

Let your brain fly with the eagles of Ravenclaw.

Or is there something else of devotion?

Do you have drive and motivation?

Come, ambitious one and join the snakes of Slytherin.

Don't know who you are just yet?

Give me a moment and I will bet,

You will find where you belong

And so now ends my song!

The Great Hall erupted with applause. Professor Dumbledore began unrolling a scroll. "When I call your name," he said, "I will place the Sorting Hat on your head and when it has placed you go to that House Table."

"Bobbin, Ian!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Bones, Victor!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

Watching the sorting made the others feel nervous about waiting, especially Myrtle.

"Oh no," Myrtle mumbled, "Raye, I feel nervous again!"

"Just calm down," Raye muttered through the corner of her mouth. "You don't want to get sick in front of these people, do you?"

"I'll just hold my breath," Myrtle whispered, "maybe it'll go away."

"No, don't do that!" Raye hissed. "You'll pass out!"

But Myrtle took a deep long breath anyway. Dumbledore continued calling people and they went to get sorted.

"Dolohov, Anontin!"

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Fawcett, Amy!"

Amy Fawcett walked calmly to the stool and sat down. She heard the hat's voice in her ear.

"What amazing wisdom I find in you," he said, "Perhaps the wisest I had to sort out of them all."

"Why thank you," Amy whispered.

"You have wisdom rivalry to that of Rowena...RAVENCLAW!"

Raye and Serena clapped loudly. Ami walked over to the Ravenclaw table, looking relieved.

"I had a feeling she'd go to Ravenclaw," Raye said to Serena. "She was just perfect for it!"

"Yeah," Serena replied, "I know." She looked to Myrtle, who was still holding her breath. "Myrtle!"

Myrtle was turning blue but did not dare open her mouth to take a breath. Raye jerked her. Myrtle gasped.

"I think...it's...helping!" she sputtered.

"Just remain calm, all right?" Raye insisted. "All you have to do is sit there and the hat will sort you itself. You won't have to do a thing."

"But what if it decides I belong nowhere?" Myrtle asked.

"Shh!" a person behind them hissed.

Dumbledore called more people through the 'F's and "G's". Myrtle looked paler still. Raye thought for sure she'd throw up again.

"Hornby, Olive!"

The rude blond girl flipped her blond hair and cat walked over to the stool. Raye rolled her eyes. Olive chewed on her gum and blew a large bubble as the Sorting Hat began sorting her.

"SLYTHERIN!" the hat shouted after ten seconds.

"Why am I not surprised?" Raye scowled as Olive walked to the Slytherin table with her nose up in the air.

The sorting went on. Myrtle kept swallowing and speaking to herself to remain calm. Dumbledore called through the "J's the "K" the "L's" the "M's"---

"Mason, Myrtle!"

"Oh no," Myrtle mumbled.

"Go on," Raye said, giving her a slight push.

Myrtle stepped away from the group but tripped on her way to the stool. Olive Hornby laughed at her. Myrtle's pale, sick face turned slightly pink as she pulled her face back up and straightened her glass. She rapped her fingertips nervously on her knees. It took a while for the hat to say anything.

"Come on," Raye muttered, crossing her fingers in the pocket of her robes. "Put her someplace where she could work on her confidence. Like--"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Myrtle flinched and she sat stunned on the stool. Dumbledore removed the hat from her head. She slowly stood up and walked to Gryffindor table. Raye was clapping and cheering.

"Way to go, Myrtle!" Raye exclaimed.

Myrtle gave her a weak smile and sighed. The sorting was over; now she had to see if she could do any of this magic stuff.

"McKinnon, Marlene!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Meadowes, Dorcas!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Moon, Serena!"

"What?" Tom Riddle mumbled, staring at Serena as she went to the stool.

When he met Serena on the train she didn't look like that. She was the same girl he spoke to in Ollivanders; the girl who paid the difference for his wand. That explained why she seemed to know him. Was this really what she looked like or another disguise? But this was what she looked like when he first met her. He couldn't take his eyes off her. She was so pretty.

The Sorting Hat spoke to Serena the second it was placed on her head.

"What incredible loyalty I find," said the Sorting Hat. "You are the sort of person that would do anything for your friends. I haven't sorted anyone with such a loyal and just mind. There is also a bit of bravery. There was someone just like you and that was Helga...HUFFLEPUFF!"

Serena grinned and walked to the Hufflepuff table to sit with Joseph Diggory and the other new Hufflepuffs. She knew this was the place where she needed to be. She knew the moment she got Helga Hufflepuff with her Chocolate Frog.

"Morgan, Gwendolyn!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Mulciber, Troy!"

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Nott, Ryan!"

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Pepper, Octavius!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Podmore, Sturgis!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Raye looked around her and groaned. When was her name going to be called? She was getting tired of standing. She knew she would be sorted into Gryffindor but she wanted it to be official.

"Potter, Raye!"

"About time!" Raye grumbled, walking over to the stool to be sorted. She sat down and looked expectantly at the Gryffindor table.

"My, don't you have a lot of courage," the hat whispered in Raye's ear. "You're a lot like someone I knew. Brave and strong he was, just like you. You want adventure and you will have it in...GRYFFINDOR!"

"Yes!" Raye breathed, jumping up excitedly and rushing over to the Gryffindor table. She sat next to Myrtle. "We're both in the same house!"

"The hat said I was brave," Myrtle mumbled. "I don't feel brave."

"Don't worry, you will," Raye insisted and she turned her eyes to the sorting.

"Riddle, Tom!"

The tall dark haired boy walked to the stool, looking calm yet anxious. He sat down on the stool and took a breath as Dumbledore placed he hat on his head. Tom pulled the card of Salazar Slytherin out of his pocket. Salazar was not in his frame but Tom held it tightly. He began moving it nervously in his fingers. He heard the hat speak to him almost immediately.

"You thirst for power and greatness more than anything, just like someone I used to know. You like to demonstrate your power to others, no matter how much it scares them. Oh yes, I wouldn't be surprised if you were the heir of Salazar SLYTHERIN!"

Tom looked down at the card again and this time Salazar's face was there, nodding to him. Tom nodded back, clutching the card. He stood up slowly and went to the Slytherin table. He knew he was in the right spot. He just knew. It was like Salazar's picture was trying to tell him the whole time.

"I knew he'd go to Slytherin," Raye frowned.

"He's really handsome," Myrtle breathed.

"Myrtle!" Raye exclaimed, flinching. "He was just sorted to Slytherin! Slytherins and Gryffindors don't get along."

"He's still handsome," Myrtle insisted.

"Rosier, Benard!"

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Scrimgeour, Rufus!"

A boy with a lion-like face and tawny hair walked to the stool. Raye stared at him in awe.

'He looks like a lion!' she thought, unable to blink. 'He's got to be in Gryffindor!'

Raye was right. Within ten seconds the hat shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Raye scooted so there would be room for Rufus. He smiled, thanked her and looked back at the sorting.

"Thruston, Alvin!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Vance, Emmeline!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

The sorting was finished with Emmeline. Dumbledore rolled up the scroll and sat at an empty seat at the staff table. The bald man in the middle stood up.

"May the feast begin," he declared and the food appeared on the platters. People dug right in. Myrtle however just sat quietly.

"Try and eat something," Raye told something.

"I don't know if I should," Myrtle mumbled.

"You'll feel better," Raye insisted. "You don't want to go to bed hungry."

Tom sat transfixed at all the different things to eat. He had never been at a meal like this before. He was among the many orphans that ate the same slop day after day. He was tired of it. Now, he could have roast beef, and chicken, potatoes, sausages. He wasn't sure what to try first so he put a bit of everything on his plate. For the first time ever, he didn't' feel like a poor orphan, a little nobody.

Olive Hornby stuck her gum on the side of her plate and put small amounts of roast beef on her plate. She boasted to the other students about her family and other things.

"Serena," asked Edward Macmillan, "my dad's been to your Pub. He said that you're a Metamorphmagus."

"That's right, I am," Serena replied, closing her eyes and changing the shape of her eyebrows.

"That's impressive!" Edward exclaimed.

"Thanks," Serena said, "I would sometimes make funny faces for the little kids when they're acting up."

Amy didn't talk much at the Ravenclaw table except about what she expected class to be like. The Ravenclaws shared her thoughts.

Myrtle was finally able to nibble on some food and get her nerves under control. Raye got her to talk about herself so that she'd relax.

"Well, my father is a gardener," she said, "I help him sometimes."

"Then you should have no problem in Herbology," said Rufus Scrimgeour. "All you'll be doing is trimming plants and things."

"There are magical plants?" Myrtle asked in surprise.

"Of course," said a black haired third year girl. "All sorts."

"Wow," Myrtle whispered, "I wonder what we'll start on next. You know, changing things sounds interesting too."

"Transfiguration," said the girl, "my personal favorite."

"Who are you?" Raye asked.

"Minerva McGonagall," she replied.

"What year are you in?" Raye asked.

"Third year," Minerva replied looking at Raye as if she should already know.

The dinner was replaced with desserts. Tom, already full with all he had to eat, just sat there and stared. There was so much to choose from. He took a deep breath and looked at the enchanted ceiling. He felt so at home. He was miles away from that terrible orphanage. He wouldn't have to return for it for nine whole months and it felt like an eternity away. Tom smiled and looked back at all the different puddings.

"So, Tom," Olive said, taking a tiny bite of her ice cream, "tell me a bit more about yourself. You've been so quiet."

"I'm afraid there isn't much to tell," Tom replied as he decided on a dish of trifle.

Olive laughed. "Oh, you're a man of secrets, aren't you?"

"Yes," said Tom, "perhaps."

Olive looked quite enthused. She dipped her spoon into her ice cream, smiling. "Interesting."

Tom savored every bite of his trifle. He could so get used to this. Everything was just perfect. He only wished he knew who his parents were. Would they be proud of him?

A short bald man stood up once everyone had their fill. "Welcome to Hogwarts, especially new students. I am Armando Dippit, your Headmaster. I know that you all must be weary after the train ride so I will be brief."

At this, Serena stifled a yawn. She didn't realize how tired she really was until Professor Dippit said so.

"I must remind you that no magic is permitted in the corridors," Professor Dippit stated. "Course schedules will be passed out tomorrow at breakfast by your Heads of Houses. Quidditch tryouts start next week for anyone interested. I am sorry to say that the first years would have to wait until next year.

"Now then," Professor Dippit said, "off to your dormitories."

Prefects of the four houses came to their feet, calling to the others. Hufflepuff's prefect, a plump girl with light brown hair smiled at the lot.

"I'm Pomona Sprout," she said, "Hufflepuff House is just this way."

Pomona led the first year Hufflepuffs out of the Great Hall and down a staircase. Serena saw Tom walking down to the dungeons with the Slytherins.

'I wonder how far the others have to go,' Serena thought.

--

The Gryffindors and Ravenclaws took the same route to the towers. Raye called to the prefect.

"Hey, just how far is Gryffindor house?" she asked.

"It's on the sixth floor," the prefect replied.

"How are we supposed to find our way back?" a boy behind Raye asked.

"Call for Sir Nicholas," said the prefect. "The Gryffindor Ghost. That's what he's there for."

The Gryffindors and Ravenclaws came to a fork. Raye waved at Amy as she hung to the right with the other Ravenclaws.

Once Raye, Myrtle and the other girls came into their dormitory, Myrtle seemed to be calmer.

She went to her bed where a little white kitten lay asleep.

"Snowflake!" she said.

"Oh, how cute!" said Emmilene Vance.

Myrtle let the other girls hold and scratch Snowflake behind the ears. Myrtle sighed and changed into her nightgown.

"You feel better, Myrtle?" Raye asked. "You've got more color in your face."

"Yes, thanks," said Myrtle, "I guess that now I'm here it's starting to sink it. I still don't know what to expect though."

"Relax," said Gwendolyn Morgan, "you can't expect everything there is about magic in one day."

"I guess," Myrtle stated, "it's just weird, growing up thinking magic was only in fairy tales and here I am."

"Oh, you're Muggleborn too?" Gwendolyn questioned.

Myrtle nodded.

"Well, we'll be in the same boat then," Gwendolyn said, "I know probably less than you do."

The girls climbed into their beds. Raye yawned goodnight to her dorm-mates and closed the curtains of her four-poster. Wondering what her first day would be like made her too sleepy so she fell right to sleep and dreamed about it instead.

--

Abraxas Malfoy, the Slytherin Prefect, led the first year Slytherins to the Slytherin common room. Tom knew this was where he was supposed to be. The large room was decorated in green and silver, with the crest of Slytherin on the walls. Tom went with the other first year Slytherin boys to the dorm room. His trunk was already next to a bed.

"I wonder what we're starting tomorrow," said Bernard Rosier. "Maybe Potions, the classroom is right here in the dungeons."

"I really don't care what we start on," Tom stated. "I'm just glad to be here."

"Me too," Ryan Nott smiled, "it was getting boring at my house."

Tom reached into his trunk and pulled out his frayed pajamas. When he put them on and crawled in to bed, he was too excited to even sleep. He was afraid if he fell asleep after getting to Hogwarts he'll wake up and find himself back at that horrid orphanage. Tom lay there quietly, looking around the room with his head on his arms. He knew that he was always special and now, finally, he was going to see all what he was made of. He was going to prove himself to the whole world.

Tom grinned, fantasying what his life was going to be like now. "Welcome home, Tom."

It was an hour until he fell asleep and dreamed about being the greatest sorcerer that ever lived.

TO BE CONTINUED