1st September
(3rd person PoV)
Almost all of the first years were dreading making a fool of themselves in front of their potential friends and family by being unable to get onto the platform...

Autumn was no exception to this; she had recently been dropped off outside the station by the matron and (as she had never met someone who is also magical that she can remember) was extremely nervous to meet the people that she would be living with for the next seven years. Closing her eyes, Autumn approached the seemingly solid brick wall, only for it to melt away around her. Pushing her trolley with her newly acquired dark phoenix(disguised as an owl) in its silver cage; books piled high on top of the bulging trunk.

As she re-opened her eyes, she was swallowed up in the crowd of families rushing around to get their children on the scarlet train in time.
After Autumn boarded the said train, she was almost immediately offered a compartment to herself as most of the other students were already wary of her family history. Instead, she decided to roam the train before sitting in a compartment with the young Malfoy and two other boys from their age, both purebloods if their company was anything to go by.

"Hello? Oh it's you.. what do you want?"

"I don't know maybe a seat in a compartment that isn't full of idiots?" Autumn lied, desperately wanting them to buy it.

"Who are you then? Are you a pure blood like myself?" 

"No but my mother was and my father was a famous half blood." I responded truthfully.

"If your father was so famous what is your name?" The young Malfoy sneered.

"I'm Riddle. Autumn Riddle. I know who you are though. You're Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle. My father knew your families quite well."

We sat in a companionable silence while they stared at me in awe. This silence was broken by Draco yet again speaking his mind. "What house are you going to be in? I'm going to be in Slytherin!"

"I don't know much about my parents but I think my father was a Slytherin but my mother was a Gryffindor, like her youngest sibling and his friends. So basically I have no clue..."

"Well I'm gonna hold out hope that you will follow your father's footsteps but if you don't know much about your parents then who or what were you raised by?" The arrogant Malfoy inquired.

"I was raised by Muggles in an orphanage similar to my father but they actually felt like my family after years. However I heard that your mother requested guardianship over me."

That final sentence shut the Malfoy up as he rose from his seat to shake my hand then sauntered out of the compartment.

Time skip to school 

All of the first years were called up towards the games keeper, Hagrid, as Draco, Vincent and Gregory all muttered something about "Disgusting half-bloods" and "entitled mudbloods".

Two glares came their way, on from Autumn and another from a complete stranger whom the Malfoy and Riddle heirs barely recognised yet had met before. They seemed to sense the two nasty looks as they were silent then forward.

Autumn boarded the boats per the half-giant's orders silently, now looking at her feet sheepishly as she did not want any trouble on the first night at her new school. Only looking up from her feet and the bottom of the boat when she heard the three purebloods that she met merely several hours earlier boarding the boat after her. They had decided to associate with her. The person who must have sounded like a stalker on the train. She decided against speaking and acknowledge their presences with a curt nod only to be polite towards them, knowing I would probably insult and annoy them further than she had previously.

The sight of the castle was welcomed by everyone in the boats as the journey felt too awkward for almost everyone as they mentally sighed in relief. The young Malfoy heir was greeted coldly by a weasel and had even extended his friendship to Harry Potter, the boy he now remembered. Both groups of soon-to-be friends were gathered around closely until a stern voice broke through the noise.

"Students come with me please." Professor McGonagall said voice full of exasperation. All of the new students had queued up in anticipation for the sorting to begin when the dishevelled old hat (which looked as if it was made millennia ago) burst into a joyous song.

"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your tops hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell brave of heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindor's apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuff's are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And you won't get in a flap!
You're safe in my hands(though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!!"

They all waited semi-patiently for their names to be called and sure enough, "Malfoy, Draco" is shouted when silence is restored into the room due to the rather loud tendencies of many students. As soon as the old, dusty hat touches his head, there it the immediate shout of "Slytherin!" Smirking proudly, he struts walk towards the house table.

Autumn involuntarily shudders as her new acquaintance made his way over to Slytherin, where rumour said all evil sorcerers belong. She had stopped paying attention to the sorting so that she could focus on her surroundings and refrain from insanity. Clouds in the enchanted ceiling swirled over Slytherin as if awaiting a powerful presence. the Gryffindor table was silent except when a new house member joined them whereas the Hufflepuff table was constantly applauding no matter which house a first year entered. The Ravenclaw table was peculiar in comparison to the others' rather loud behaviour, they clapped politely if a first year was sorted into their house a the prefects were planning what seemed to be a welcoming party.

Hearing her name being spoken, she snaps from her mind back to reality. With a reluctance heard from the professor's voice, "R-riddle, A-au-autumn." could be heard from no more than five metres away. This brought a smile to Autumn's face as she sat with perfect posture on the wooden stool and was greeted by a voice inside her already full head.

'Hello young Riddle-Lupin. I remember sorting both of your parents when they were here. No request? No prejudice? How unusual.. well do you have any friends yet?' The voice asked.

'Not really, I have acquaintances in Slytherin however they do not class me as their friend so neither do I.' I replied in the same manor, with eyes on me from everyone in the hall. 

'Well then I'm not sure you could be a Gryffindor, Hufflepuff would be nice for you too. Ravenclaw would suit your curious nature and Slytherin was in your ancestors culture. You switch between them all so maybe you are a mix. A curious yet cunning soul that is brave and compassionate, you shall capture the interest of many. You are different from the rest at least from what I can see. You are powerful yet humble and you try to be what your parents would have wanted. You my dear are hard to place. You would do well in Ravenclaw and soar above your peers yet in Slytherin you may belong, Gryffindor would do you kindly and support you. Hufflepuff is also in your nature. My dear you will do great things.' The voice said before shouting, "This girl I can not place. She is a Gryffindor and a  Hufflepuff but is also both a Slytherin and a Ravenclaw!"

(re-written 8/4/2020)