A few minutes after leaving the train, the three 3rd years showed Ana where to leave her things to be transported to the castle. They all came up to the carriages.

  “Interesting choice of transport,” Ana says.

  “Well what else would you expect from a magical school, other than carriages pulling themselves?” Ron states.

  “Ah, I see. Most students wouldn't be able to see them. They're not pulling themselves, they are being pulled by Thestrals,” Ana expins.

  “Thestrals?” Ron and Hermione ask.

  “Thestrals. Magical creatures that can only be seen by those who have seen and processed death,” Ana expins.

  “Move it along already! You already got your nap today from what I’ve heard, Potter,” Comes a voice from back in the slowly forming line of students.

  “STUFF IT MALFOY!” Ron excims.

  “We should go,” says Hermione, before the group climbs in the carriage.

  “What was that about?” Ana asks.

  “Nothing. Just a bully being a bully,” Hermione states.

  “Someone to watch out for them,” Ana says, as she thinks, *I wonder which kind he is.*

  “Not ‘just a bully’. He’s had it in for us since first year after Harry refused to be his friend,” Ron states.

  “Oh? Sounds like a long grudge for something as simple as that,” Ana says curiously.

  “He’s a racist prick with a stick up his arse a meter long,” Ron expins.

  “Racist?” Ana asks.

  “He thinks wixen born from non-magical parents are ‘lesser’ than those born of ‘pure blood’,” Hermione expins darkly.

  “I take it your parents are non-magical,” Ana says to which Hermione nods in confirmation.

  “I'll watch out for him,” Ana says.

  “Shouldn't be too much of a problem unless you're sorted into Slytherin,” Hermione says.

  “Oh my mom told me about that. Something about a talking hat deciding which dorms I'll be in for my time here,” Ana says.

  “Yeah, houses, you’ll probably spend most of your time around your housemates. There are four different houses, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravencw and Slytherin,” Ron expins, “Gryffindor is for the brave, Hufflepuff is for the loyal, Ravencw is for the smart, and Slytherin is for the stuck up pricks.”

  *So not a totally unbiased opinion of this Malfoy guy then,* Ana thinks.

  “Ron, don't mislead her like that. Slytherin is defined by Ambition or Cunning. Different sources say different things,” Hermione adds helpfully.

  “Something to think about then. Is there any way of knowing which house I might go into?” Ana asks.

  “Not really. The hat reads your mind and determines which house is best for you,” Hermione says.

  *Well isn't this hat in for a surprise*

  “It does take your opinion into account,” Gsses quietly says.

  “Really, nobody mentioned that before and it's not in any of the books,” Hermione says curiously.

  “Well, when it was sorting me it initially wanted to put me in… another house at first. I told it I didn't want to go to that one and it put me in Gryffindor. That's why it took so long,” Gsses expins.

  “Really? That's nice at least. Good to know those who have opinions on a house can get out of it if they want,” Ana says gncing at Ron.

  “What house did it wanna put you in anyway? You seem like a perfect Griffindor given what we've been through,” Ron asks.

  *He really is terrible at reading social cues,* Ana thought.

  Gsses looks nervous and quietly says, “Slytherin.”

  “Blimey! You, a snake. Can't imagine it would've been fun,” Ron says, surprise on his face.

  Gsses shrinks back into his seat a little before Hermione says, “Guess we'll never know.”

  The group settles into a somewhat comfortable silence until they arrive at the castle a short while ter. On getting out they are greeted by an old woman in emerald and bck robes with a rather stereotypical pointed hat on her head. “Lilliana Grim, yes?” She asks, looking at Ana.

  “That would be me, indeed, ma'am,” Ana says in response.

  “I'm Professor McGonagall, deputy headmistress, head of Gryffindor house and Professor in charge of transfiguration. If you would come with me. We must go to the first years as you don't have a house and this no seat for the feast as of yet,” McGonagall states.

  “Could she not sit with us until she gets sorted? She'd look a bit out of pce with the first years,” Hermione asks.

  “Sorry Miss Granger, but the rules for the feast are solid on this. Students may only sit at the table assigned to their house, and Miss Grim doesn't have one as of yet,” McGonagall says.

  “I guess I'll see you all another time,” Ana says.

  They walk off towards the school and it's only now Ana gets a good view of it. A castle, a very big, very old castle with several towers pointing into the sky. Even from where she is she can feel the magic radiating off of it. “Wow,” Ana says, stopping to process what she's experiencing. McGonagall waits for her to recover with an amused smile on her face.

  “This pce certainly is something,” Ana says as the two continue on their way.

  “It certainly is, the first years take boats across the ke. It's a much better view in my opinion,” McGonagall says.

  “Oh, right. It might be prudent, since you're the deputy headmistress, to let you know that Dementors tried to attack students on the train,” Ana says.

  “I had been told, the new Defense against the Dark Arts professor informed the Headmaster and I. He’s new, so I didn't get the names of who was attacked. You don't happen to know, do you?” McGonagall says.

  “The Dementors attempted to attack me and those three I was with, Hermione, Ron, and Harry,” Ana states.

  “Those three. The school year hasn't even started yet,” McGonagall says, exasperated, “you seem to be handling the encounter better than they did.”

  *It seems those three must get into a lot of trouble if they have reputation known even to the head of their house*

  “I've had previous experience with them. My mother has had to deal with them fairly often,” Ana says.

  “Oh? Is your mother an auror assigned to Azkaban then?” McGonagall asks.

  “Did the headmaster not tell you who my mother is?” Ana asks.

  McGonagall just purses her lips before saying, “Not specifically. Regardless, I'll be sure to add 20 points to whatever house you end up in for protecting those three. Very brave and difficult thing, standing up to Dementors.”

  “I’m sure that’ll raise opinions of me. Thank you professor,” Ana says.

  When the pair enters the castle Ana stops for a moment seemingly concentrating on something.

  “Is there something wrong Miss Grim?” McGonagall asks.

  “How old is this castle exactly?” Ana asks.

  “About 1000 years. The school was founded in 990 AD,” McGonagall says.

  “Ah, that expins it. Must just be the many years of magic I got a sense of when we stepped inside,” Ana says.

  “Quite the magical senses you have there, you will do well in Runes and Arithmancy with that,” McGonagall says.

  The two continue on their way until they come across a group of 11-year-olds in front of a very rge set of doors. “Now students, welcome to Hogwarts. In a few moments we will make our way through that door and I will then call out your names in order. When your name is called you will make your way to the center stage where there will be a stool and a hat. This is the sorting hat, you will put the hat on and it will call out which house you are to be sorted into. If it takes a little bit don’t be armed, the longest hat stall we have is 34 seconds,” McGonagall expins, “Miss Grim, as you are a transfer student your name will be st. Now if we are all ready.”

  The first years and Ana gather up orderly behind Professor McGonagall and after a few seconds the doors open (by magic of course) and they walk into the Great Hall. Inside are 4 tables filled with students each wearing a uniform with their house’s colors. At the opposite end of the room sits two tables. A very ornate table sits on an upper level and only has 5 seats, likely for the heads of house and headmaster. On the lower level is a less ornate table with seats for the rest of the staff. In front of both of those sits a very pin stool and a raggedy hat. The room is also filled with floating candles to provide light enough for everyone to eat and see. The ceiling is the truly magical part of the room. The walls appear to simply disappear into a beautiful view of the night sky.

  After the new students have a moment to take in the room, the hat seems to pick itself up and begins to speak. “Well, what are you all waiting for? I've got students to sort and you've food to eat,” it says.

  After a moment Professor McGonagall recovers from her apparent surprise and begins calling out the names of the first years. Observing the process Ana notices that the hat's “mouth” moves as though it is talking, but nobody seems to be able to hear it. Most students take about 15 seconds, although there are a few who are sorted with the hat barely touching their heads.

  Once all the first years are sorted, Professor McGonagall says, “Now we have a rare occasion this year. A new student not starting in her first year. Lilliana Grim would you please.”

  *way to make me the center of attention. Well I was gonna be anyway, I guess,* Ana thinks as she walks up to the hat.

  When Professor McGonagall pces the hat on her head Ana feels a presence enter her mind. A voice, presumably the hat's says *you're not as put together as the rest are you?*

  *I suppose not in what would be considered a normal fashion,* Ana responds, *It works for me. Be careful poking around, some of me likes to bite.*

  *Thank you for the warning,* The Hat says, as its presence begins moving through Ana's mind, *Now let's see, plenty smart, very intelligent. You'd do fairly well in Ravencw, but let us see what else is in here. Brave, but not in the way one would expect from a Griffindor. Loyal to those you choose, but not friendly enough for Hufflepuff. Oh quite clever and… ah ah. I see what you were talking about.*

  *That's where she got off too. I was wondering where she hid. Don't worry, just let her rest and she won't bother you,* Ana says, mentally petting the part of her that enjoys violence.

  *Alright then. Now where was I? Oh yes, your cunning and vindictiveness are quite strong,* Ana’s sadistic tendencies grin at that, showing a mouth full of sharp teeth, *I think you'd make a good addition to…* The Hat says before shouting, “SLYTHERIN!!”