A professor named McGonagall led us up to large wooden doors. I could hear talking from inside and laughing as well. Claire was excitedly holding my hand, which I was not happy about. McGonagall opened the large doors and ushered us inside. I could see all the tables lined up. Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Gryffindor, were all seated in their correct houses, waiting for us to be sorted. Everything quieted down and McGonagall pulled out a dusty old hat. Then... it started singing.

"A thousand years or more ago,

When I was newly sewn

There lived four wizards of renown

Whose names are still well known:

Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor,

Fair Ravenclaw, from glen,

Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad,

Shrewd Slytherin, from fen.

They shared a wish, a hope, a dream;

they hatched a daring plan

to educate young sorcerers

Thus Hogwarts School began.

Now each of these four founders

formed their own house, for each

did value different virtues

in the ones they had to teach.

By Gryffindor, the bravest were

prized far beyond the rest;

For Ravenclaw, the cleverest

would always be the best;

For Hufflepuff, hard workers were

Most worthy of admission;

and power-hungry Slytherin

loved those of great ambition.

While still alive they did divide

their favorites from the throng,

yet how to pick the worthy ones

when they were dead and gone?

'Twas Gryffindor who found the way,

He whipped me off his head

the founders put some brains in me

so I could choose instead!

Now slip me snug about your ears,

I've never yet been wrong,

I'll have a look inside your mind

and tell where you belong!

Now, let the sorting begin! Ackerley, Stewart," the professor said.

"RAVENCLAW!" the hat announced after a moment. The little boy smiled and ran over to the Ravenclaw table. He was greeted with cheers and smiles. I scanned the Slytherin table for Draco and found him staring directly at me. I smirked and he gave me a wide smile in return. I zoned out as two other names were called, both in Hufflepuff, and then searched for Granger, Potter, and the Weasel. They were watching with mild interest and then found me staring at them. I gave a weak smile before turning back to McGonagall.

"Baddock, Malcolm!"

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Branstone, Eleanor!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Cauldwell, Owen."

"HUFFLEPUFF."

"Creevey, Dennis!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Loveland, Claire," I held my breath as she walked up. It didn't even touch her head when it yelled...

"GRYFFINDOR!" Claire, I'm never talking to you again. She smiled weakly at me and skipped over to the table. She sat next to that stupid Creevey kid.

"Loveland, Leah," she called. I walked up with my usual confidence and sat down. The second the hat touched my head, I felt it jump.

"Oh, dark magic runs through your veins, but you've got the guts and brains. Where to put you? Gryffindor...?" the hat thought for a moment. Oh, please not Gryffindor. 

"Hm, not Gryffindor? Well, then you ought to be... SLYTHERIN!" the hat cheered. I smiled at Draco, and then sent a worried glance at the Trio. I walked over to the Slytherin table and was greeted with friendly smiles and clever smirks. Ah, it's good to be home. I sat next to Draco and he gave me a one-armed hug. 

"Welcome to Slytherin, Leah," he smiled.

"Thanks," I laughed. A girl with brown hair and brown eyes stalked over and sat down in front of me.

"Hi, I'm Pansy Parkinson," She smiled. I smirked in return.

"I'm Leah Loveland," I said. A boy to my right tapped my shoulder.

"Blaise Zabini, at your service," he said with a charming smile. I nodded in response with a small smile on my face. I felt the inside of my left arm tingle; he was pleased.

"Silence!" an old man, I'm assuming Dumbledore, yelled across the Hall. We all shut up and looked at him with interest.

"I only have two words to say to you, tuck in!" he said as food magically appeared. I heard Potter say 'hear, hear', but I was starving and paid no attention. I don't know what I stuffed my face with, but it was good, and Draco harmlessly made fun of my eating habits.

"How much do you eat?" he laughed.

"Hush you, I'm hungry!" I laughed back. He smiled and 'tucked in' to his own food. We finished with smiles on our faces and I locked eyes with Potter. He gave me a sympathetic smile and I smiled 'sadly' in return. Pansy saw the exchange and sneered.

"What's up with you and Potter?"

"I have a plan to... take him down. Trust me, I'm not happy about it," I glared. She nodded in approval and turned back to drool over Draco, or in her words, Drakie poo. Oh my. Dumbledore stood up again and smiled at us.

"So, now that we are all fed and watered, I must once again ask for your attention, while I give out a few notices. Mr. Flich, the caretaker has asked me to tell you that the list of forbidden objects inside the castle has been extended to include Screaming Yo-yo's, Fanged Frisbees, and Ever Bashing Boomerangs. The full list comprises some four hundred and thirty seven items, I believe, and can be viewed in Mr. Flich's office if anybody would like to check."

"Jesus," I whispered to Draco. He smirked and nodded.

"As ever, I would like to remind you all that the forest on the grounds is out-of-bounds to students, as is the village of Hogsmeade to all below third year. It is also my painful duty to inform you that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year."

I haven't ever attended school before, but I was looking forward to Quidditch. I wanted to kick Potters ass.  Dumbledore kept speaking, purposefully oblivious to the whispers of the entire student body.

"This is due to an event that will start in October, and continue throughout the school year, taking up most of the teachers' time and energy. I have great pleasure to announce that this year at Hogwarts-" he stopped short. The doors slammed open with a crash of thunder for added dramatic effect. In walked who I assumed to be Barty, polyjuiced to be Moody.

"May I introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher? Professor Moody," he said into the shocked silence.

"As I was saying, we are to have the honor of hosting a very exciting event over the next couple of months, an event that hasn't been held for over a century. It is my great pleasure to announce that the Tri-wizard tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year!" I looked blankly at Dumbledore. This should be a fun experience for me.

"You're joking!" said some random kid. Everybody seemed to find this funny.

"I am not joking Mr. Weasley," Dumbledore smiled. Must be one of Ron the weasel's brothers. Dumbledore went on explaining that there was a high death toll and there'd be two other schools joining us, blah, blah, blah... I don't exactly care.

"Draco, do you want to enter?" I whispered. He looked over at me skeptically.

"Are you listening? He just said only students of age can compete," he said with a frown. I looked around and saw many sullen faces. I nodded and looked around the hall. Granger looked worried, and Potter and Weasley looked excited. Dumbledore finished his speech and I sprung up.

"Draco, I've gotta talk to the stupid trio, so I'll meet you in the common room!" I whispered and he nodded before sneering at me and walking away. I glared back, trying not to smile. He understood.  I sauntered over to the trio who engulfed me in a group hug.

"We are so sorry you're in Slytherin!" Granger cried. I tried smiling back but before I could I heard two voices say,

"Group hug!" and yet again I was tackled. I fell back onto my ass and scowled.

"Sorry, love," one twin said.

"Yeah, we didn't mean to knock you over," said the other. I smiled and they both gave me a hand up.

"It's alright. I'm Leah Loveland," I said.

"I'm Fred, and he's George," said the two redheads. Weasels.

"I'm Ginny," smiled a new girl, walking over... another Weasel. God, they're surrounding me.

"Hi, everyone," I laughed.

"Anyway, it's awful you're in Slytherin," Potter frowned.

"Well, it'll be easier to prank them," I smirked. They all laughed and the Weasel put his arm around me.

"I think we'll get along just fine!" he smiled. I smiled back and ducked away.

"I should get going though, I'm exhausted!" I said with a yawn.

"Of course, get some sleep," Granger nodded.

"Goodnight!" they all called as I turned away. Before I could fully walk out of the Hall, someone pulled me back.

"Ms. Loveland, can I have a word with ya?" Moody asked.

"Of course Professor," I said smoothly. He took me up to his office where we sat down, Barty just staring at me for a few moments. As I was going to ask him what he wanted, I gasped as my mark burned and he scratched his as well.

"He's calling you," Barty said, licking his lips. I nodded and took some floo powder to see what my father wanted.