There was a smattering of applause from the Hufflepuff table, much quieter than before. Everyone looked shocked.

Regulus looked like he was about to pass out. Kitty couldn't imagine the look on her own face. Both Violetta and Rowle looked shocked, but they quickly covered them with looks of indifference.

Kitty could still see the regret in Violetta's eyes.

Numbly, she stood up and walked to the Hufflepuff table. Everyone was still staring at her. The only people smiling were her brother Sirius and James Potter. Narcissa looked down at her table.

Kitty sat down next to the girl she thought she remembered was Yemi Yasef and the chattering resumed. Everyone was whispering about the youngest Black daughter- just as they had whispered about her brother two years ago. Sirius gave her an understanding look, but she turned away from him.

"Many headmasters have given long and powerful speeches on the days where new students join us." Professor Dumbledore had stood up, and the Great Hall became silent. "I could do the same. However, I much doubt any of you would listen to it, no matter how great a speech it is, and I am rather hungry. So congratulations new students and let us eat."

A giant feast appeared on the tables: turkey, fish, fruit. There was even Kitty's favorite: éclairs. But she didn't feel hungry.

"Aren't you going to eat?" Asked the girl next to her.

"I'm not really hungry," Kitty said.

"Nonsense. You've got to eat something."

At the girl's friendly persistence, Kitty picked up an éclair and bit into it. The girl laughed. "My name's Yemi," she said. "Yemi Yasef."

"I'm Kitty."

"So what do you think about being Sorted into Hufflepuff?" Yemi asked.

Kitty shrugged. "Well, I certainly didn't expect it."

"Me neither. I thought I was going to be a Ravenclaw." Yemi paused. "I don't think I mind it so much, but I don't think it's fair what people say about Hufflepuff, that they're underachievers. I don't think that's true."

"My brother was a Hufflepuff." A boy said from down the table. Kitty realized he was Jack DiGievo, the boy from the train. "He said the underachiever stuff is a load of rubbish."

"If we won the Quidditch cup or the House cup then they would stop saying that." Yemi persisted.

"True," Jack said thoughtfully. "Well, I'm going to try out for the House Quidditch team next year."

"I thought that Hufflepuffs weren't supposed to be competitive," Kitty said.

"Don't believe everything you hear."

"You know, I don't know what my parents are going to think about this," Yemi said. "My mum was a Gryffindor and my dad was a Ravenclaw. Maybe my little brother will get into Slytherin- then we'll have a full house set!"

"My mother isn't going to be happy," Kitty said.

Even right now, she was fraternizing with a mudblood. She knew it was wrong, she shouldn't be doing it. But Jack wasn't rude or mean or anything that Wallaburga claimed muggleborns were.

Maybe Wallaburga was wrong.

If she had been a good daughter, she would have walked away. Actually, if she was a good daughter, she would have been Sorted into Slytherin.

But she hadn't. She was a Hufflepuff, and she couldn't walk away now.

***

"Prefects!" Dumbledore's voice called out, once everyone had finished their meals. Kitty had eaten a bowl of soup, as well as some fruit and three éclairs. "Please lead the first years to their dormitories! Everyone else, please remain. I must go over a rule change from last year, which the prefects and first years have already been informed of."

"What rule change?" Kitty asked Yemi as they followed the prefects out of the hall and down a set of stairs.

"Something about the Forbidden Forest. Remember that the letter said we couldn't go in there? Well, apparently students could last year."

Kitty shivered. "I don't know who would want to."

"Probably the Gryffindors."

The group of first years and prefects stopped in the kitchen. "Attention!" Called the prefect in the front. "Please listen!" Her golden hair was curly and messy.

"This is the entrance to our common room," one of the male prefects announced.

Kitty immediately scanned the area but she didn't see a door.

"You will tap this barrel to the rhythm of Helga Hufflepuff. Don't get the rhythm wrong or choose the wrong barrel, or you'll smell like a pickle for days."

The blonde prefect demonstrated the password and the barrel's lid swung open. The prefects all climbed inside and the first years followed them.

Kitty gasped involuntarily. Regulus had told her all about the Slytherin common room, with the lake above it, the gleaming green light, and the exquisite furnishings. She had heard Sirius taking about the comfortable Gryffindor common room, with its warm fireplace, views of the grounds, and cozy furniture.

But there was no way either of the common rooms could be as wonderful as the Hufflepuff common room. The other first years murmured happily.

They were clearly underground, but above-ground circular windows offered a view of the star-sprinkled sky. It was pleasantly warm, especially near the big fireplace. Above the mantel was a picture of Helga Hufflepuff, smiling at them.

"Wow." Yemi breathed from beside her. "This is amazing."

"Alright," called the prefect. "Off to the dormitories, if you will. Your trunks are waiting for you."

The first years began climbing through the circular entrances, but Kitty and Yemi halted. A voice had very clearly said their names.

"Hello?" Kitty asked the empty common room.

"Hello!" Kitty and Yemi scanned the room but still saw no one. "At your feet."

They looked down to see a plant, sitting in its pot. "Did you just speak to me?" Kitty asked.

"Yep! I'm the plant of prophecy! I'm not the only one that talks- the daffodils sing. But not at night."

"How did you know our names?" Yemi asked.

"Hello? Plant of prophecy? I foresaw you, of course. By the way," it said to Kitty, "expect a howler from your mother tomorrow."

Kitty gulped.

"Well, plant, it was nice to meet you, but I think we had better go to bed," Yemi said, looking sideways at Kitty.

"Very well. I hope to see you tomorrow."

As they climbed through the circular doors, Yemi whispered: "Did a plant really just talk to us or did I imagine it?"

"It was real," Kitty assured her. They stopped at the third door, which had a sign reading First Year Girls. "I think this is us."

They walked inside to find three girls already inside. One jumped up immediately and shook first Kitty's hand and then Yemi's.

"Hi! I'm Faustina Kites, but you can just call me Tina."

Faustina looked a bit like Yemi, except her skin was a shade darker, while her hair was a shade lighter. They both had the same dark eyes, though, and both girls had their hair braided.

In contrast to Yemi, though, who was wearing an elaborate gold necklace and had a blue star painted on her cheek, Tina was already in her pajamas, which had ducks on them.

The other two girls introduced themselves as Taya and Aludra, twins. Both had the same high cheekbones, jet black hair, and button noses.

"You can tell us apart by our freckles and our eyes," Taya said. "My eyes have gold in them, and Aludra's are silvery. And I have a freckle right on the tip of my knows and she doesn't."

"Let's just hope the teachers don't figure that out," Aludra said, her eyes sparkling mischievously.

"You have such pretty hair," Taya mused. "Can I braid it tomorrow?"

"Sure," Kitty said. So far, all the Hufflepuffs had been very easy to get along with, even if some were almost overwhelmingly friendly.

"And your blue eyes are so pretty," Aludra said.

"Hey, did anyone claim this bed?" Yemi asked from the corner.

Tina shook her head. "Nope. It's all yours."

"Yours is the one in between me and Tina," Aludra said to Kitty, pointing.

"Good," Kitty said, standing up. "I'm exhausted!"

Quickly, she changed into her nightgown and slid under the cozy patchwork quilt. Yawning, she called out "Good night!"

As she did so, she regretted it. It had been completely natural- would these girls think that it was weird?

A chorus of good nights answered her, and it wasn't long before she slipped off to sleep.

Her dreams were happier than they'd ever been.