Blue Eyed Girl

Hagrid led them into the entrance hall where they were welcomed by Professor McGonagall. She told them all about the sorting ceremony and the houses as they tried to warm themselves. A few minutes into her speech she finally noticed their appearances.

"Oh dear, caught in the storm were you?" she asked. A few of the first years nodded sadly.

"Alright then, stand by the fires until we're ready for you." She turned to walk back into the Great Hall when she spotted Roxanne.

"Hello again, Miss Moore. How was your trip?" she asked as she walked over to her. A few of the first years looked over curiously.

"It was very nice, thanks," Roxanne replied.

"Good, good. I just wanted to inform you that Professor Dumbledore would like to introduce you to the school, so you will be sorted last," she told her.

Introduce me to the school?! I didn't really want to draw that much attention to myself... I think I'll pass on that, Roxanne thought to herself. "Oh, uh...I don't know, Professor..." she replied nervously.

"Nothing to worry about, dear. You'll be fine," Professor McGonagall said almost distractedly as she opened one of the great wooden doors that separated them from the rest of the school.

"Alright, everyone, it's time! Follow me," Professor McGonagall said. The first years gathered behind her and she began to walk into the Great Hall.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Meanwhile, in the Great Hall, Seamus and Dean sat down at the Gryffindor with their friends. They chatted about their summers and different things they had done. Then Ron Weasley said, "Hey, I heard there's a new student this year, a sixth year."

"Yeah, I heard that too," Lee Jordan replied, "a girl."

"Really?" Fred and George Weasley asked at the same time. "Something interesting finally happening around here," Fred added somewhat sarcastically. Interesting and unusual things always seemed to take place at Hogwarts. Ranging from a basilisk roaming the school's pipes, to an escaped convict on the loose, to the Triwizard Tournament being held, but none of these things ever piqued Fred or George's interest quite like the news of this new student.

"It's true," Seamus interjected, "Dean and I sat with her on the train."

Everyone turned to Dean and Seamus and began talking at once.

"Really?"

"You did?"

"What was she like?"

"What did she look like?"

Dean laughed at the response Seamus received, "Yes, really," he said.

"We did," Seamus added.

"She's an American. She seemed pretty nice," Dean answered.

"And she was easy on the eyes, if you know what I mean," Seamus grinned.

A few people opened their mouths to ask more questions, but Professor McGonagall opened the door and began to lead in the very wet looking first years.

"Jeez, did someone get fed up and throw 'em in the lake?" George whispered.

Fred chuckled, "That's what I would've done."

Hermione Granger glared at both of them and said, "They obviously got caught in that sudden downpour. Honestly, you two are terrible."

"Thank you," George smiled.

"We're here all year," added Fred.

Hermione rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to the drenched students.

"Where's the new girl? Isn't she going to be sorted?" Harry Potter asked curiously.

"She'll probably come along eventually. I don't remember there ever being this many first years," replied Ron. "Oh wait, is that her?"

And sure enough in walked a girl who looked much older than the first years, probably about sixteen. She shivered as her sodden black robes clung to her body. Her dark hair was stringy and curling because of its dampness. Nevertheless, she was one of the most beautiful girls any of them had ever seen. Her silvery eyes took in her surroundings in awe and amazement. She looked over toward the Gryffindor table and smiled as she recognized Dean and Seamus. Other boys who witnessed this jealously looked over at the two boys. The silence was replaced by whispers of girls asking each other, "Who's that?" and most of the boys just stared.

When the students finally reached the front of the hall, they crowded around Professor McGonagall who had just placed the Sorting Hat on its stool. The hat sang its song and Professor McGonagall started calling the first years one by one in alphabetical order. The sorting went fairly rapidly and the number of students standing in front of Roxanne quickly decreased. She grew more and more nervous as each student was sorted.

Why does Professor Dumbledore need to make a big deal about this? Why can't I just be sorted like everyone else, Roxanne thought to herself anxiously.

After the last first year was sorted and Roxanne was left standing next to Professor McGonagall, Dumbledore stood up and the Hall grew silent once again.

"Good evening, students," Dumbledore began. "On behalf of the faculty I would like to welcome you all to another fine year at Hogwarts. As you may have noticed, we have a new student joining us this year," he said as he smiled at Roxanne. "Her name is Roxanne Moore and she is coming to us all the way from the United States. I know you will all make her feel welcome," he motioned for her to sit on the stool and put on the Sorting Hat as he sat down. As she did so, the hall remained eerily silent, so silent she could hear the water dripping from her cloak hit the floor. She was certain everyone could hear her heart pounding in her chest. She placed the hat on her head and heard a small voice in her ear.

"Ah, so you are the new girl everyone has been so excited about," the voice said. "Now where to put you? Hmm...how about GRYFFINDOR!"

The Gryffindor table erupted with excited shouts and applause as the students at the other tables (mostly male students) frowned in disappointment and protested.

Roxanne smiled at the reaction, relieved. She was pleased by the response she received from her new house. She made her way to the Gryffindor table and sat down at an empty space next a girl with straight brown hair and a friendly face.

"Hi," said the girl to Roxanne, smiling, "I'm Katie Bell."

"Nice to meet you," Roxanne replied.

"Here, I'll do the introductions," Katie said. She introduced Roxanne to almost everyone at the table. Roxanne's head was spinning from all the information that had just been thrown at her.

"It's very nice to meet all of you," she said, smiling, "and please forgive if I don't remember all of your names."

"That's alright," said either Fred or George (she was already forgetting), "our own mother doesn't even know our names sometimes."

"Yeah, so you can refer to us as 'Hey, you!'" said the other twin.

Roxanne laughed, and food magically appeared on the tables. She was rather surprised at this, but when she saw everyone else dig in, she joined them.