The inside of the castle was just what Megan had imagined from the descriptions in the book. The pictures with characters jumping from one to another, the huge stone stair cases moving left and right, up and down... after climbing a few flights of stairs, they found themselves looking up at a figure at the top of the stairs.

"Here are the firs' years, professor McGonagall." Hagrid announced.

She was a tall middle-aged woman with a very piercing look, but Megan was sure she wasn't as nasty as she looked. She wore a long set of emerald green robes and a matching pointed hat with a feather at the tip of it. She had a certain elegance about her but different from Megan's innate grace.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I can take it from here."

He nodded, winked at Megan and went back down. She felt a pang, not knowing where to find him. As if he could read her thoughts, he added:

"I'll be a my cabin, in the grounds, if anyone needs me. C'mon Mira."

"Very well, Hagrid."

Megan's heart soared. He lived in the castle area too, so he would never be very far. She smiled at him, and he winked at her again. She felt relieved. Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny all seemed friendly, but it was nice to have a familiar face around, even though she felt a slight pang at seeing Mira go.

"Welcome to Hogwarts, everyone." said Professor McGonagall. "You shall join the others soon, but before doing so, there are a few things to go through with you. Now, you're aware that there are four houses in this school. And during the seven years you'll spend here, they will be like your family. But remember this: What affects one affects all. Hard work will be praised by house points, rule breaking will cost you house points, and these house points are collective. So if one person loses even one point, the whole house loses that same point."

A few glances were exchanged.

"There are a few rules we most firmly insist upon." McGonagall went on. "No students are allowed in another house tower except in case of an emergency. No magic is permitted outside classrooms and certainly not on another student. And the forest outside the school is forbidden to all students. Now, wait here a moment and I'll come and get you."

She marched off. Megan was about to ask Hermione whether she had the same feelings as she did after having read Hogwarts a History when a voice called her.

"Megan Potter?"

There were a few gasps and whispers. Megan looked up. It was the blond boy from earlier.

"Who wants to know?"

"I'm Malfoy. Draco Malfoy. I think we got off on the wrong foot."

Megan held his stare coolly, her eyes guarded.

"How can I help you?" Megan asked politely.

"I was actually thinking how to help you. You don't want to go meddling with the wrong sort. I can guide you there."

He glanced pointedly at Ron and Ginny when he said "wrong sort". He held out his hand. Megan glanced at it and said coolly:

"I think I'll take a chance at telling the wrong sort for myself, thanks. I don't think names say very much about a person. It's always better to get to know them. But some people are of the kind you don't want to get to know."

Malfoy's eyes narrowed. But he said nothing and walked off. Just then, Professor McGonagall arrived.

"They're waiting for you. Follow me."

A little hand grasped at Megan's, who froze a second in surprise. It was Ginny. Megan smiled and squeezed it. She was feeling terribly nervous herself, but it was nice to think she wasn't the only one.

"It'll be fine." she said.

And they were off. Up the last few stairs and into hall.

The great Hall was incredible. Beautiful doors opened before them and as they entered, everyone gasped. There were five tables: Four lined up across the room, each with either a lion, an eagle, a badger or a snake, which were, Megan guessed, the four house tables, and a fifth over looking the rest, which was where most of the teachers sat. Then, at the far end, she recognised Hagrid and beamed at him. He smiled and winked at her. She smiled back and looked around.

The light was provided by hundreds of candles floating above their heads, and making the gold plates and goblets glisten. But the most amazing feature was the ceiling, dark and twinkling with the thousands of stars high up there. She had read something about it in Hogwarts a History but the real thing was rather different. The first years gathered in front of the fifth table. Professor McGonagall stepped forwards and stood behind a stool with a tattered old wizard's hat on it.

"Now, I shall call your name and you'll come here to sit on the stool, to be sorted into your houses. Hannah Abbot."

A young girl with long blond hair tied into a long plait stepped up. She sat down and McGonagall placed the old dusty hat on her head. Megan frowned slightly, perplexed. Surely they didn't determine the house by how the hat fit someone...? Indeed they didn't. Just then, without professor McGonagall touching it, the hat wriggled and came to life. Megan felt Ginny's hand tighten on her own. Megan put her free hand over hers.

"Hm... ah, yes. I know where you'll fit very nicely. Hufflepuff!"

She smiled and hopped off the stool before hurrying by a group of girls on the Hufflepuff table. Susan Bones was also made a Hufflepuff.

"Oh, so that's how they do it..." Ron said.

"Yeah, the hat's magical." Harry answered. "It tells you which house you're best suited for."

Soon, the students began going up and down the steps. Megan did agree it seemed simple enough, but would have felt more comfortable without everyone watching. Some of them, the hat decided immediately. Others, he thought about it a little bit first.

"Granger Hermione."

She stepped up confidently.

"Ooh, I see. A bright mind, very bright. But courage, and determination. You'll be perfect in Gryffindor!"

She quickly stepped down for the next student to be sorted.

"Neville Longbottom."

The young boy who had accidentally bumped into her earlier stepped up, slightly uneasily. He sat down.

"Hm... a keenness in learning, hum, interesting... A lot of insecurity... hm... I think I know where you should go. Gryffindor!"

He managed to get down and to the table without falling. Megan gave him an encouraging smile. Draco Malfoy went to Slytherin. His sorting was quick. The hat barely touched his head before shouted "Slytherin!" and he walked to join his classmates. He was smugly proud of his sorting, by the look of it. The names went on. Finally, Ginny was called. She backed a little. Megan slowly released her hand and gently pushed her forwards. She was placed in Gryffindor. Ron was next.

"Aah, another Weasley. I know what to do then. Gryffindor!"

Megan had wondered how they had both been born the same year while clearly not twins. But it turned out that they were, only not identical twins the way Fred and George were. And Ginny hadn't been expected at first. Ron had told Megan his mother had only found out they were two several months after. They both went to the table and sat down. Megan gave them a warm smile. Just behind the Gryffindor table was the Hufflepuff table. And her eyes met Cedric's. And for a few seconds it was like all the rest had vanished. She could see nothing but his silvery blue eyes and friendly smile.

"Harry Nelson!"

He was also placed in Gryffindor. And it went on. One by one, the students were sorted. Finally, it happened.

"Potter Megan."

In two words the atmosphere changed dramatically. The respectful silence became expectant, eager. And Megan felt suddenly very nervous. She glanced around her, not sure what she was looking for... and her eyes met Cedric's again. He nodded very slightly. Encouraging her. She knew it could sound foolish to put your faith in someone you hardly knew, but she trusted him. And if he was confident, she could believe it. So, with her natural grace that any model would die for, she stepped up to the stool and sat down. The hat slid onto her head and her sorting began.

"Hm... now this is difficult, very difficult... a heart full of strength and courage... a bright mind, too, I see... and talent, oh, yes, much talent. And a wish to be accepted..."

Megan waited, her heart thumping. She wanted to look at Cedric but was afraid he would be uncomfortable or worse, think she was weird. So she stared firmly ahead.

"But where to put you...?"

Not Slytherin... Not Slytherin... Not Slytherin... Please... Not Slytherin...

She wasn't sure why but she knew Slytherin was not where she would fit in.

"Are you sure? You could be extraordinary, they could help you to greatness! No? Oh, yes, I think I see where you'd be best placed..."

It stayed silent, gauging its effect. Megan dared not breathe.

"Gryffindor!"

Megan felt as if she had just let go of a heavy weight. She had been so scared of Slytherin, she wasn't sure why... she just had a bad feeling about them. She gracefully stood up and handed the hat back to professor McGonagall, before heading to the table where Hermione, Ginny, Ron, Harry and all the other Gryffindors were waiting.

"Welcome to Gryffindor, Megan!" Hermione greeted her.

"Thanks."

Those little words were the nicest anyone had ever said to her.

"Megan, pleasure to meet you, I'm Percy Weasley."

The tall red head Megan had seen that morning held out a hand.

"Oh, uh, likewise." Megan said, shaking it.

Hermione was about to say something when the tinkle of a knife on a glass brought their attention to the teacher's table.

"Your attention, please."

The elderly man with a long white bear and small spectacles stood up. Megan recognised him from her books. He was Albus Dumbledore, current Hogwarts Headmaster. If anyone had an intimidating presence, he did. He was pretty much a living legend. He was said to be the most powerful wizard in the world. Megan wondered why he was in a school for young wizards if that was the case.

"First, I would like to welcome you all to Hogwarts. Next, I would like to inform you that both the dark forest and the third floor corridor are out of bounds to all students. Older students, kindly remember that as well. Please, dig in."

Megan frowned. They hadn't been brought anything. She looked round to the table and gasped. Trays of chips, sausages, chicken, pumpkin juice, pork chops, ham, rice, potatoes, green beans, peas, carrots... all sorts had appeared on the table. She only then realised how hungry she was. She put a little of anything she could reach on her plate. Everything was fabulous.

"Slow down, you look like you haven't eaten in weeks," Ron teased.

"Nothing like this," she said.

They talked and ate with much animation. Hermione was chatting away about how she couldn't wait to get started. Megan was a little less sure of herself, but she had to admit she was pretty excited too. She just hoped she could at least not look too much like an idiot... but if this was anything like her old schools, she figured there would probably be others with just as much difficulty as her.

When it was time for bed, they followed their Prefects to Gryffindor tower.

"Your things are already there, don't worry." Percy informed them.

They then reached a portrait of a fat lady wearing a large pink dress. She looked at Percy loftily and said:

"Password?"

"Caput Draconis." Percy said clearly.

She nodded and the portrait swung backwards to let them in.

"Whoa..."

"Now, do not divulge your password to anyone other than a Gryffindor and don't forget them. Or you could be stuck out here for a few hours."

They stepped into a large round room decorated in gold and red. The Gryffindor colours. There was a large chimney with a blazing fire. The wooden floorboard were covered in thick rich red carpets.

"Now, boys dormitories are upstairs to your left, girls, same to your righ. Boys are not permitted there, however. Have a good night."

They separated. Ron and Harry waved goodnight to the girls who waved back.

"I don't ever want to leave if I get to eat like that every day," they heard Ron saying as they vanished up the stairs, making them laugh.

"I don't want to leave at all..." Megan whispered more to herself than anyone.

She felt more at home than she had in all her life at the Dursleys, that was for sure. She followed the other girls up the stairs to the dormitory. Several were whispering. Megan had noticed quite a few Slytherin girls had sniggered.

"Why is it everyone seems to look at me...?" she asked.

"Because you're so pretty," Ginny said.

"Thanks, but I doubt it." Megan said laughing.

"I don't," Hermione said. "I think it's partly that. But you're right, I think the main reason is you're famous."

It was the weirdest feeling, being famous without really understanding why.

"... I wouldn't really have thought being an orphan was reason enough to be famous..." she said.

"It's the fact you survived," Hermione replied. "Anyone who survived He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is obviously special."

Megan was left speechless by that simple comment. It was just that no one had ever called her special before. They then pulled the door to their dormitory open and were all amazed. Large four-poster beds with thick scarlet curtains and gold lining stood in a circle, their trunks set at their feet, and a large heater in the centre, presumably for winter. There were large windows between the beds with the curtains drawn. The room was stone. Indeed, their trunks and Gryffindor garments such as a scarf, a hat, and a tie. Megan was both nervous and impatient for the following day. It was so she wasn't sure she could get to sleep. But the long trip had tired her out, so she quickly pulled on her pyjamas and slid into bed. It was wonderfully comfortable. She managed to lie on one elbow to look at Hermione.

"I'm glad we met, and you too, Ginny."

"Right back at you," Hermione smiled.

"I'm just glad I know someone besides my brothers here..." Ginny smiled.

They laughed and soon fell asleep.

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Shh! Let's not disturb Megan on her first night at Hogwarts! Do you think she's a Gryffindor? Vote if you do, and comment which house you would have seen her in!

Things are looking up for our friend Megan! Or are they? Will she manage to keep up with learning all things magical, potions and the like? Let's find out by clicking to the next chapter!