I heard nothing. Absolutely nothing. No cheering from the Gryffindors. Just shocked silence. I removed the hat and looked into my brothers eyes. All I saw was disbelief and confusion.

"THERE HAS TO BE A MISTAKE!" Draco bellowed, standing up. Professor McGonagall walked up to me.

"I know this must be a shock for you, but can you please go sit at the Gryffindor table so we can continue the sorting?" she whispered in my ear. Embarrased, I got up and sat down at the Gryffindor table. My brother was still protesting. A teacher with greasy black hair pointed his wand at Draco and he immediately shut up. Well, he was still talking but he made no noise.

The sorting continued, but who went where, I'm not sure. I was in shock. What would happen? What would my parents think? Would they take me away? Or maybe they'll disown me...

Suddenly the Gryffindor table all stood up cheering. Bringing me back to reality, I saw Harry Potter come over, looking extremely relived. He sat down next to me.

"You okay?" he asked me. I looked up. He was actually talking to me.

"You're talking to me? I thought you and Ron hated me because I'm a Malfoy," I said.

"You just proved you're different than him," he said. I hung my head in shame.

"I should be in Slytherin.I belong in Slytherin," I moaned.

"I think the hat disagrees," Harry grinned at me.  I gave him a slight smile. Maybe Gryffindor wasn't going to be so bad.

"Weasley, Ronald." Professor McGonagall called. Ron stumbled up to the hat, looking green.

"GRYFFINDOR!" The hat shouted. Ron looked very relived. He walked over and sat dow beside Harry. People who I assumed were his brothers congratulated him.

"Zabini, Blaise," was made a Slytherin. Professor McGonagall rolled up her scroll and took the Sorting Hat away. I looked down at his empty gold plate. I realized how hungry I was. I hadn't eaten anything on the train. Albus Dumbledore had gotten to his feet. He was beaming at the students, his arms opened wide, as if nothing could have pleased him more than to see them all there.

 "Welcome," he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!"

He sat back down. Everybody clapped and cheered.

"Is he -- a bit mad?" Harry asked a Weasley uncertainly.

"Mad?" said the Weasley airily. "He's a genius! Best wizard in the world! But he is a bit mad, yes. Potatoes, Harry?"

Harry's mouth fell open. The dishes in front of us were now piled with food. I suppose living with muggles, he wasn't used to magic yet. There roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops and lamb chops, sausages, bacon and steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, fries, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, ketchup, and, for some strange reason, peppermint humbugs.

I ate and ate and ate, even if I felt like throwing up, I was starved.

If that makes any sense. 

At last, dessert was finished and Professor Dumbledore got to his feet again. The hall fell silent. "Ahern -- just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you.

"First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well." Dumbledore's twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of two twin Weasleys. "I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors.

"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their houseteams should contact Madam Hooch.

"And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."

"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" cried Dumbledore.

Dumbledore gave his wand a little flick, as if he was trying to get a fly off the end, and a long golden ribbon flew out of it, which rose high above the tables and twisted itself, snakelike, into words

"Everyone pick their favorite tune, " said Dumbledore, "and off we go!"

And the school bellowed:

"Hogwarts,

Hogwarts,

Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,

Teach us something please,

Whether we be old and bald

Or young with scabby knees,

Our heads could do with filling

With some interesting stuff,

For now they're bare and full of air,

Dead flies and bits of fluff,

So teach us things worth knowing,

Bring back what we've forgot,

just do your best,

we'll do the rest,

And learn until our brains all rot."

Everybody finished the song at different times. At last, only the Weasley twins were left singing along to a very slow funeral march. Dumbledore conducted their last few lines with his wand and when they had finished, he was one of those who clapped loudest.

"Ah, music, " he said, wiping his eyes. "A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"

We followed the eldest Weasley, whose named I learned was Percy, to a painting of a very fat woman.

"Password?" she asked.

"Caput Draconis, " said Percy, and the portrait swung forward to reveal a round hole in the wall. We all scrambled through it -- Neville needed a leg up -- and found ourselves in the Gryffindor common room, a cozy, round room full of squashy armchairs. Percy directed us girls through one door to our dormitory and the boys through another.

I climbed the stairs to my dorm. The bushy haired girl was in Gryffindor too, as well as a ginger girl, a girl whose name I think was Pavarti, and another girl who I think was Lavender.

"You're Jessica right?" the bushy haired girl asked me. I nodded. I didn't care about being called Jinx. It was only a matter of time until my parents figured out I was in Gryffindor.

"I'm Hermione Granger. You're that Draco boy's twin, aren't you?" she asked. I nodded again.

"It must be hard, being away from your brother like that."

I nodded again.

"My twin is in Ravenclaw," who I think is Pavarti says. I looked up at her. She knows what I'm going through.

"I'm the first Malfoy to ever not be in Slytherin," I said glumly. "I'm a disgrace."

They all look at me sympathetically. I pulled on PJ's and climbed into bed.