Maddie stands before the Fat Lady. "Password?" The painting asks, uninterested.

"Did you say password?" Maddie raises her eyebrows. Lena didn't say anything about a password.

"Oh, come on. Why, child, would you disrupt my beautiful singing if you don't even have the password to enter?" The painting glares at her, "Probably not even a Gryffindor, I bet."

"I have a tie," Maddie hoists it in the air, hopefully. The painting chuckles, "What does that prove, huh? You are not a Gryffindor."

Maddie grits her teeth, "Look: I wish you were right, I should be a Slytherin. Not a Gryffindor. But, right now, all I want to do is climb into bed and end this day. And since I, sadly, am a Gryffindor, to do that, I need to get into the Gryffindor common room! Now please let me in!"

"What's all this ruckus this early in the morn'?" Professor McGonigle shows up in a night dress. "Sorry, headmistress." Maddie apologizes.

"Oh, miss Chan. I'm glad your alright. So, what's the trouble?"

"Um, the password for Gryffindor... I'm afraid I don't know it yet."

"Oh, I see. It's 'expecto patronum'."

Maddie repeats it to herself. "Wait? Isn't that the patronus charm?"

The professor grins, "Someone's been doing their reading. 5 points for Gryffindor."

Maddie thanked her and stepped into the common room. She wasn't sure which staircase led to the girls' dormitories. She first tried the one to the left, first door. Asleep were nine girls and there was a bed ajar on the end. That must be mine, she thought.

Her things were already waiting for her, along with her cat, Ivy. She purred softly as Maddie entered the room. She silenced the cat and made her way to her trunk. She ruffled through her folded clothes until she found a set of pajamas. She unbuttoned her robe and began to change.

Just as Maddie was closing her trunk, she noticed a striped tie on the floor. She knelt down and smoothed the tie out. It's the wrong color, she decided, red doesn't suit me. At least not like green does.

Maddie stood and looked at the tie again. A tear slowly crept down her cheek. She wiped it away and kicked the tie beneath her bed. Not tonight. She wouldn't worry about it anymore tonight.

--

It was half past three, and Maddie realized the millionth reason she wanted to be a wizard: so the other girls wouldn't toss and turn when they heard her soft whimpers. She checked her spell book for a charm. Wand in hand she muttered, "muffliato", several times. Nothing happened.