Finally, the train stopped, signaling they have reached this mysterious school called Hogwarts. Cortney stuffed her bag in her suitcase, before leaving the train. Butterflies filled her stomach. ' Is it too late to go back ?.' Cortney asked herself.

" RIGHT THIS WAY FIRST YEARS! THIS WAY PLEASE! " A familiar voice called. " COME ON NOW! FIRST YEARS DON'T BE SHY! COME ON NOW HURRY UP! " Cortney ended up walking next to Harry.

" Hello Harry and Cortney," Hagrid said to them.

" Hello," they greeted.

" Whoa," Ron said looking up at Hagrid.

" RIGHT THEN! THIS WAY! COME ON TO THE BOATS! " Hagrid said waving his lantern. They followed Hagrid down to the boats. Cortney was in a boat with De'lexi, Joseph, and Milan. The boats pulled away by themselves taking Cortney by surprise. Soon the beautiful castle came into view, everyone looked at it in admiration.

"It's magnificent," Cortney breathed, her big brown eyes were basically glowing as she looked at the castle. She glanced up and saw the stars dancing in the night sky. Soon they walked up many steps to the castle. Once they entered this big room, they were greeted by an elder lady with a big pointy hat.

" Welcome to Hogwarts," the lady greeted once they stopped. " Now, in a few moments you'll pass through these doors and join your classmates. But before you can take your seats, you must be sorted into your houses ".

" Houses? " Joseph whispered.

" I know just as much as you do," Cortney whispered back.

" There are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin," McGonagall continued. Cortney silently giggled.

" What? " Milan whispered.

" Hufflepuff sounds like Jigglypuff," Cortney whispered. Milan nudged her gently as he held back a smile.

" Now, while you're here, your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you points, any rule-breaking.....and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup ". There was croaking, down at McGonagall's feet was a toad.

" TREVOR! " Neville shouted forward and grabbed his toad. He looked up to find McGonagall giving him a very stern look as he back up. People laughed at him. Cortney bit her tongue so she wouldn't laugh. She felt bad for the guy but he was really rude to her earlier. His cheeks went red in embarrassment.

" The sorting ceremony will begin momentarily, I suggest you smarten yourselves up as much as you can while waiting." she continued glancing her eyes at the smudge on Ron's nose and Neville's cloak.

"I shall return when we are ready for you, please wait here" and with a swoosh of her cloak, she was inside the doors.

" Jigglypuff? " De'lexi asked.

" Yeah," Cortney said.

" Weirdo," De'lexi commented making Cortney laugh.

" So it's true then," a platinum blonde boy said. Looked like he had chicken fat in his hair pushing

" So much blondness," Milan whispered the others nodded in agreement. Malfoy walked up to Harry followed by two large boys.

" What they were saying on the train. Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts," the boy stated. Everyone began whispering his name. " this Crabbe and Goyle," he gestured to the boys behind him. " And I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy ". Cortney looked at Neville. He had this I told you so look on his face. Ron stifled a laugh. Draco glared at him. " Think my name is funny do you.....No need to ask for yours. Red hair, and a hand-me-down-robe, you must be a Weasly," he sneered. Draco turned back to Harry. " Some wizard families are better than others Potter, don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort, therefore I can help you out ". Draco stuck out a hand. Harry stared at him before looking back up at Draco.

" I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself thanks," Harry said. Draco's smile dropped.

" Rejection," Milan whispered. The three silently laughed. The elder lady tapped Draco on the shoulder. He turned surprised before walking away glaring at Harry.

" We're ready for you now," she said before leading them into the Great Hall. Today was just full of wonder. The Great Hall looked like a dream to Cortney, none of this seemed real. All the other students were already there, watching them walk in. Cortney up to see that dark sky, filled with dancing stars.

"It's not real, the ceiling. It's bewitched to look like the night sky. I read about it in Hogwarts a History," Hermione informed them.

" Fun fact of the day," De'lexi said. The professor had them stand between two tables for a moment while the Headmaster Dumbledore was going to give a speech.

" I have a few start-of-terms notices that I wish to announce." He paused a little before continuing.

" First off please note that the Dark Forest is strictly forbidden to ALL students." He paused again while looking at the first years and Fred and George.

" Also our caretaker Mr. Filch asked to remind you that the 3rd-floor corridor to the right side is out of bounds for those who don't wish to have a slow painful death thank you ." He finished. Cortney's eyes widen. As Dumbledore sat down to watch the ceremony. On a stool was an old rugged hat.

" Oh, you may not think me 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 top 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 the brave at heart,

Their daring, nerve, and chivalry

Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal,

Those patient Hufflepuffs are true

And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in 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 folks use any means

To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!

You're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a Thinking Cap! " burst the hat into song everyone clapped while the first years looked amazed.

" It talks and sings bewitched ceiling, what's next ghosts? " Cortney whispered to De'lexi.

" When I call your name, you shall come forward, I will place the sorting hat on your head and you shall be sorted into your houses," the lady instructed holding up the hat. " Hermione Granger! "

" Oh no! Ok, relax," Hermione muttered to herself.

" Mental that one, I'm telling you," Ron said to Harry. The hat was placed on her head.

" Ahh, right then, Hmmm right okay, GRYFFINDOR! " The hat shouted. Hermione ran to the cheering table.

" Draco Malfoy! " Draco calmly walked up.

" SLYTHERIN! " The hat shouted before even touching his head.

" Susan Bones ! " a girl with red hair and freckles stepped up.

" HUFFLEPUFF! " The hat shouted a few moments later.

" Ronald Weasly! " Ron cautiously walked up, sitting on the stool. The hat was placed on his head.

" Ahhh! Another Weasly. I know just what to do with you GRYFFINDOR! " Ron's face filled with relief as he went to go join his brothers.

" Neville Longbottom! " Neville nervously went up. There was a bit of silence as if Neville tried to change the hat's mind.

" Definitely not Slytherin, maybe be a Hufflepuff? No, I suppose not, okay..... GRYFFINDOR! " Neville went to join his house, only having to go back up to return the hat.

" Joseph King! " Joseph went up shakily.

" HUFFLEPUFF ! " shouted the hat. Joseph happily joined his house.

" De'lexi Martinez! " De'lexi nervously went up.

" RAVENCLAW ! " shouted the hat.

" Cortney Lestrange! " Cortney froze her spot. Milan gently pushed her forward making her stumble. She lightly sat on the chair. She gripped the edges so tightly that her knuckles turned white. The hat began talking quietly to her.

" A good heart, but determined and ambitious, maybe Hufflepuff, maybe... SLYTHERIN! " Cortney let out a breath she was holding and went to her table, sitting next to Draco.

" Kierra Fletcher ! " a dark/light girl went up.

" SLYTHERIN ! " the girl sat across from Cortney.

" Milan Saleung! " Milan went up.

" GRYFFINDOR! " He happily went to his table.

" Harry Potter! " Everyone began whispering his name again. Harry went up sitting on the stool.

" Hhmm, difficult, very, difficult, plenty of courage I see, not a bad mind either, there's talent oh yes and a thirst to prove yourself, but where to put you? "

" Not Slytherin, not Slytherin," Harry whispered repeatedly.

" Not Slytherin eh? Are you sure? You could be great you know it's all, here in your head, and Slytherin will help you on your way to greatness, there's no doubt about that? No? Well if your sure, better be.....GRYFFINDOR! "

" WE GOT POTTER! WE GOT POTTER ! " the Weasly twins cheered as he joined their table shaking hands. 

Professor Dumbledore stood up and went to go speak. Again the hall went silent." Welcome to Hogwarts ! Before we begin I would like to at a few words, Here they are : Niwit ! Blubber ! Oddment ! Tweaked ! " he announced " Thank you " then he sat back down and the feast began.

" Holy meat! I might go vegetarian! " Cortney exclaimed when the food magically appeared. Kierra laughed. A finger tapped her shoulder, she turned and saw Draco smirking.

" Crabbe and Goyle this is my cousin Cortney," Draco said. The three shook hands exchanging hellos.

" Your his cousin ? " a girl next to her asked. Cortney and saw a girl with dark brown hair in a bob, and dark eyes.

" Yes," Cortney said slowly as if she was questioning it. Kierra gave her a suspicious look but the girl took no notice.

" Pansy Parkinson," the girl introduced herself.

" Cortney Lestrange," Cortney said. The words felt foreign on her tongue.

"It's the bloody baron," a girl at the table pointed. They looked up and saw a ghost swinging its sword down the table. It looked like blood everywhere. Cortney looked behind her and saw all sorts of ghosts. She looked over at the Ravenclaw table making eye contact with De'lexi.

" You had to ask," De'lexi mouthed. Cortney laughed. She then looked over at the Gryffindor table to see a ghost tip his head off his neck. It was attached with a little piece of skin. Unfortunately, Cortney saw the insides. She made this disgusted/what in the world look. The head was back on and the ghost floated away. Milan looked over at Cortney and started laughing. The people around him looked over and laughed. Cortney turned back around and pushed her plate away.

"I'm not really hungry anymore," Cortney said making them laugh. Soon they were leaving the Great Hall. The perfects and Head boys and girls lead them to their dormitories. As they were leaving Cortney tripped over her own feet, causing her to fall into someone. They both fell to the ground. 

" I'm so sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going," Cortney apologized.

"It's alright," the person said. The person was a boy with an Irish accent. Cortney looked up to see a boy her age and year. He was short but not as short as her. He had short brown hair and fantastic blue eyes.

" Cortney Lestrange," Cortney introduced sticking out her hand.

" Seamus Finnegan," the boy said grabbing her hand. They pulled each other up. 

" See you tomorrow ! " the two coursed before going into opposite directions. Cortney caught up with her house just as they were entering the dormitory.  She stopped next to Kierra examining the room. The room was dark and cold. There were two levels of bookshelves edged around a balcony. It was full of green, silver, and black. Most of the seating was black.

" Our dormitory is located under the school's lake, and Professor Snape the Potions Master is the head of the house," the Head boy explained. They went up to their dorms. Cortney found all her stuff at the foot of her bed. Her eyes widen at the sight. The girls all got ready for bed.

" See you tomorrow," Pansy said blowing out the last candle. Most of the girls except Cortney fell asleep. Cortney laid wide awake on her back. She was absolutely terrified of what tomorrow will bring. She thought about everything that has happened that day. How did she become so clumsy today? How did that boy Neville know more about her than she did? And how she missed everyone back home terribly. Around midnight Cortney fell asleep.