Harry and Hermione both left the room, closely followed by the matron, and I sat up a little straighter as Professor McGonagall focused all of her attention on me.

"Welcome to Hogwarts, Miss Riddle," she said, surveying me carefully. "Now, before I give you the usual introduction, there is something that Professor Dumbledore has asked me to make clear."

I felt certain I knew where this was going. And sure enough-

"It has been decided that you are here on a one chance policy. Therefore, if word reaches myself or any of my colleagues about bullying, theft, or anything else of that kind relating to you, you will be expelled immediately, and will not be able to return at any point."

She gave me a look as if to say, 'Is that clear?', and I hastily nodded.

"The headmaster has also asked me to impress upon you that the use of Dark Magic within the castle or its grounds will not be tolerated," Professor McGonagall continued.

I couldn't help but make a mildly annoyed face as she said this, though I quickly went back to a neutral expression as soon as I realised what I was doing. Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow.

"Is there a problem, Miss Riddle?" she asked, her lips drawn into a tight line. I immediately recognised this as a sign of anger, and knew that I had to proceed with caution.

"No, Professor," I said, once again speaking a little softer than I would've liked. "I'm just not in the habit of using Dark Magic, so being warned off it is a little odd for me."

Professor McGonagall's eyebrow raised even further at this; I could tell she didn't believe me, but she carried on with her speech nonetheless.

"Once you step into the Great Hall, you will be called upon to be sorted. There are four houses - Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin." Her tone of voice clearly indicated that she was expecting me to be in Slytherin, just like Mother and Father wanted. "Whilst you are here, your house will become like your second family. You will have classes with your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend time in your house common room. Any triumphs will earn you house points, and any rule-breaking will lose you house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points will win the House Cup, a great honour.

"You have been put in the third-year classes for now," she continued, "but as you have been learning magic from a younger age than most students, Professor Dumbledore has agreed that you may be moved into one of the older years' classes if necessary."

I was going to say something about how I was actually likely at a lower level with magic using a wand than my peers, but quickly decided better of it, and just nodded instead.

"This means you need to choose which of the elective classes you are going to take," she said, putting a quill and an ink pot in front of me, as well as a piece of parchment with five classes listed on it. "You may take two or three, but no more, and no less. When you have decided, cross out the classes you will not be taking, and circle those that you will."

I quickly looked down and read the list.

Arithmancy

Care of Magical Creatures

Divination

Muggle Studies

Study of Ancient Runes

"May I have a few minutes to think about it, Professor?" I asked, glancing back up at her.

She merely nodded, and I set my mind to work.

Muggle Studies is out immediately. Merlin knows what Mother and Father would do if they found out I'd chosen to take that...

I took up the quill and scratched that class out, then began to doodle absentmindedly on the corner of the page as I thought over the other options.

Arithmancy is to do with complex number patterns and things, not at all the sort of thinking I'd be good at, so that's out too, I thought.

I stopped my doodles for a moment in order to put a cross through the first class on the list, but quickly went back to them again as I continued to think through the options.

I'd quite like to only take two electives, since I'll probably need to keep up my extra practice with the first- and second-year spells, plus the spells Father won't allow me to learn, like the Patronus Charm. I still need to work on being able to conjure it when there's actually a Dementor nearby... so, I need to drop either Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, or Study of Ancient Runes.

I mulled it over for a minute or so, but got nowhere. Eventually, I decided to go for the approach of 'which would annoy Mother and Father the most without getting me tortured for it?', and therefore crossed out Study of Ancient Runes. It probably wasn't the smartest way to choose my classes, but a thrill of excitement rushed through me as I circled Care of Magical Creatures and Divination. I'd just made a decision for myself, without really worrying what Mother and Father's reactions would be!

Is this what it's like for people with normal families? I wondered, as Professor McGonagall took the parchment back. Do they just decide things, without first having to explore every single possible outcome of that decision?

"You will be given your timetable tomorrow morning, during breakfast," Professor McGonagall said, interrupting my musings. "Do you have any questions?"

I had many - things like 'how do I find my way around?' and 'is there any way I can stop my Mother and Father's owls reaching me?' - but I knew better than to ask. Asking an adult questions only ever got me hurt.

"No, Professor."

"Very well. Please go and wait outside with Mr Potter, and send Miss Granger in here."

I nodded, exiting the room before she had a chance to change her mind and hurt me. Harry and Hermione were waiting just outside the door, and I gave them both a slight smile.

"Your turn, Hermione."

She walked into the office and closed the door.

I wondered impatiently how long this conversation would take, but it was only a few minutes before Hermione emerged again, followed by Professor McGonagall. The four of us made our way back down the marble staircase, and into the room Harry, Ron, Hermione, and I had been heading towards before, which, when we entered, I realised must be the Great Hall.

It was almost impossibly large, with its ceiling enchanted to look like the sky outside - though just from looking at it, you probably wouldn't realise there was a ceiling there at all. The room was lit by thousands and thousands of candles floating in mid-air over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. The tables were all laid with glittering gold plates and goblets, which some people were looking at hungrily, as though they could just will food into existence, and at the end of the room was another long table, this one full of professors.

I quickly put on my emotionless mask as everyone turned to face us, whispered conversations breaking out across the hall. Anxiety filled me.

Harry and Hermione went to sit with Ginny, Ron, and Neville, but Professor McGonagall motioned for me to follow her to the front of the hall, where the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, was standing. He was an old wizard, with several feet of silvery hair, an equally long beard, and half-moon glasses framing his piercing blue eyes. I felt a little uncomfortable as he looked at me, an unreadable expression on his face, before holding his hand up for silence.

"As you can see, we have a new third-year student starting today," he said. "I'm sure many of you already know who she is, but for those of you who do not, her name is Ivory Riddle."

The whispered conversations started back up immediately when he said my name, getting louder and louder as people told their friends all the different stories they'd heard about me. Professor Dumbledore waited a minute or so, then held his hand up again. As with before, everyone fell silent.

"Professor McGonagall, please get the stool and the hat."