*Edited*

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The large golden doors swung open, revealing rows of students. Rosalie twisted her head around, attempting to take in everything as she followed the others. Four long wooden tables held many students, shining silverware before them.

The professor led the students right down the middle of the four tables, the ceiling catching almost everyone's eye. It displayed a cloudy night sky, hundreds of lit candles hovering below it, high above their heads. It was a perfect copy of the outside sky, astonishing Rosalie.

"It's not real, the ceiling. It's just bewitched to look like the night sky. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History." Melanie heard Hermione explaining to another student.

Professor Mcgonagall led the students to the base of few stairs at the front of the room that led to a stool with a ragged hat. "Will you wait along here, please?" She directed the students with the roll of parchment in her hands. She waited until the rest of the students had filled in.

"Now, before we begin, Professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words." The professor announced, turning to the single table stretched behind her. Teachers were seated along it, and the man that Rosalie recognized as Albus Dumbledore from the card, stood from a large golden chair.

"I have a few start of term notices I wish to announce." Professor Dumbledore began. "The first years, please note that the Dark Forest is strictly forbidden to all students. Also, our caretaker, Mr. Filch has asked me to remind you that the third-floor corridor, on the right-hand side, is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a most painful death. Thank you."

Rosalie blinked at his words, before turning and examining the man, Mr. Filch, by the entrance of the room. A cat sat by his feet, and Rosalie did a double take when she realized that the cat had red eyes. Turning back to the front of the room, she waited for the professor to begin speaking.

Professor McGonagall unrolled the parchment. "Now, when I call your name, you will come forth, I shall place the Sorting Hat on your head," she lifted the brown, ragged hat, "and you will be sorted into your houses." She looked at the parchment. "Hannah Abbott."

A girl with blonde pigtails stumbled up to the stool, sitting down. The hat fell past her eyes, but it quickly made its decision.

"Hufflepuff!"

The Hufflepuff table cheered, welcoming the girl as she joined them.

"Hermione Granger."

As Hermione passed Rosalie , she heard the brown-haired girl mumbling to herself. She honestly couldn't blame the girl. She wasn't sure she wanted to go up there in front of everyone, either.

"Mental, that one, I'm telling you." Ron spoke to Harry in front of her.

The girl sat on the stood, the professor beside her placing the hat on her head. Rosalie watched as the hat moved for a few moments, before suddenly shouting out, "Gryffindor!"

The Gryffindor table jumped up, cheering loudly, and clapping. Hermione jumped off of the stool once the hat was removed, skipping towards the cheering table, a smile on her face.

"Draco Malfoy."

The blonde boy stepped nervously up to the stool, taking a seat. Before Professor McGonagall even had a chance to place the hat on his head, it shouted, "Slytherin!"

A smirk rose onto Draco's face, moving proudly towards the table that was now cheering.

"Every wizard who went bad was in Slytherin." Rosalie overheard Ron whispering to Harry.

"Susan Bones."

A girl behind Rosalie sat down on the stool. Just before it announced anything, she noticed Harry touch his forehead, groaning.

"Harry, what is it?" Ron asked, both redheads looking at the boy between them with concern.

"Nothing. Nothing, I'm fine." Harry replied, his gaze trained on a professor at the table.

"Are you sure that you're alright? We could go to a teacher if you're in pain. They must have a doctor or something of the sort here," Rosalie offered.

"Thanks, but I'm fine now," Harry replied. Rosalie followed his gaze, laying eyes on the Professor Snape Fred and George told her about on the train. The black-haired professor moved his gaze from Harry to Rosalie , their eyes locking.

A sharp pain stabbed Melanie at her temple, right where her scar was. She stifled a gasp, holding the side of her head with her hand. Before long, the professor's gaze was hidden by a man with a turban, who turned to face the students, and she found the pain vanishing as quickly as it had come.

"Hufflepuff!" The hat announced, Susan smiling, joining her table, hugging a few students who leaned in for a hug, welcoming her.

"Ronald Weasley."

The boy on the other side of Harry slowly approached the stool, sitting down even slower. Ron jumped when the hat cried out, beginning to talk quietly to him.

"Gryffindor!" The hat shouted after a few moments, and a look of relief passed onto Ron's face. Rosalie smiled, happy that he got the house that his family had been in, and the house he so desperately wanted.

"Neville Longbottom."

The boy that had claimed his toad earlier at Professor McGonagall's feet came forwards. The hat sat on Neville for several minutes, mumbling quietly to itself and Neville. Finally, it made its choice.

"Gryffindor!"

Neville ran off with the hat, and had to quickly give it back before taking his seat amid the laughter from his actions. He himself grinned at his own silliness, laughing with the twins and Hermione.

"Harry Potter."

Rosalie noticed that all the students began moving around, mumbling to themselves, and Professor Dumbledore sat forwards. Rosalie looked over at Harry. Thanks to Fred and George, she knew as much about him as nearly any other witch or wizard, though, unlike others, she didn't care about the fact that he was very famous among the wizard world.

The boy stepped up slowly, turning to look at the students behind him. When his gaze passed over Rosalie, she gave him an encouraging smile and nod, which he smiled back before sitting on the stool.

Once the sorting hat was placed on Harry's head, it began mumbling to itself. Rosalie, as close as she was, was even too far away to make out what it was saying to the boy. Harry began whispering to the hat. After a minute or so, it finally shouted out, "Gryffindor!"

The Gryffindor table jumped up, cheering and clapping louder than ever. Even the teachers clapped a bit louder than they did for the other students, smiling. The Weasley twins chanted, "We got Potter! We got Potter!"

"Rosalie Po—Dursley."

Rosalie frowned when the professor nearly announced the wrong name, but shrugged. She stepped up to the stood, butterflies in her stomach as she sat down. The hat was placed onto her head, and it began talking.

"Oh, yes. I've been waiting for you. Hmm, I can see that you aren't aware yet; that's alright. You'll find out when the time is right. Your mind is full of mysteries, but your heart is very strong. Hufflepuff would do, as you are extremely loyal, and exceedingly strong-willed. You value hard work, give dedication to the things you love and do, and you have more patience than an eleven year old would be expected to have."

Rosalie waited for the hat to announce that she was a Hufflepuff, but it changed course.

"No, no, that won't do. You're bound to change in the years to come, and therefore Hufflepuff won't do. Perhaps Ravenclaw? You are incredibly wise, and you long to read and gather more knowledge. No, there are too many possibilities that await you that will require much more than the Ravenclaw aspects.

"No, no, but Slytherin. Now, Slytherin is another path. You're very ambitious, and resourceful. Despite his abilities and powers coursing through you, many yet to be discovered, though some have been uncovered, you are too similar to your mother and father, containing much mischief, and plenty of love."

Rosalie let out a sigh of relief. Slytherin was ruled out.

"Now, Gryffindor. That is truly a different story for you. You are incredibly brave, more so than I have seen in a very long time. Obviously you are daring, and you have more nerve than a girl such as yourself ought to own. That will come very handy in the future, though it could also hassle you and hinder you. Chivalry is also there. Now, you are not the ideal Gryffindor student. However, you place other lives before your own, and you always will, especially in the future.

"Despite your complex mind, I believe that I have found a place for you among us, and you will be very pleased with my decision. This house just may work, despite the fact that you contain aspects from every house. Yes, I believe it will do, especially with the fact that you so desperately wish to belong there. This house will help you in the years to come, remember that. Yes, I believe that you belong in GRYFFINDOR!"

Rosalie jumped when the hat shouted her house, relief coursing through her body as she stood. The Gryffindor table cheered for her, Fred and George standing up. She took her seat, smiling at Hermione, Ron, Harry, and the twins, who all grinned at her, welcoming her.

"Luna Lovegood."

Rosalie smiled when Luna climbed onto the stool, nearly sitting on her blonde hair. She spoke with the hat quietly for a minute or so, before smiling as it announced her house.

"Ravenclaw!"

As Luna passed by Rosalie, the two girls exchanged a smile and wave.

Once the rest of the students had been sorted, including a pair of twins, Padma Patil and Parvati Patil, who were placed into Ravenclaw and Draco's friends, Crabbe and Goyle, who joined him at Slytherin, chattering rose up among the four tables, everyone discussing who had been placed into their houses, and getting to know the first years.

Professor tapped her spoon against her glass. "Your attention, please."

As the talking died down, Professor Dumbledore rose from his chair. "Let the feast begin."

He raised his hands, and suddenly every empty dish and cup on the tables filled with food. Rosalie noticed Harry's flabbergasted look, explaining how she felt perfectly. She hardly knew what to put on her plate first. Her hands traveled towards many different selections as she took in all of the choices.

The many choices included carrots, peas, steak, gravy, chicken, roast beef, pork chops, lamb chops, fries, cheese, all kinds of pasta, spaghetti, ham sandwiches, pea soup, beef stew, lamb stew, tomato soup, onion soup, vegetable soup, chicken noodle soup, goulash, several stews, baked beans, apples, grapes, a variety of fish, rolls, ketchup, butter, mashed and baked potatoes, cottage pie, several casseroles, chili, macaroni and cheese, Yorkshire pudding, fries, and much more. Rosalie was completely surprised by the many different options, as she had never not been required to cook, and she had never had so many foods waiting for her.

She piled her plate tall, intending to enjoy the supply of food before her while she could. As she finally began to eat a drumstick, she listened to Harry's conversation with Percy, another Weasley, and a Gryffindor Prefect.

"Percy, who's that teacher talking to Professor Quirrell?" Harry asked him.

"Oh, that's Professor Snape, head of Slytherin house." Percy replied.

"What's he teach?" Harry questioned.

"Potions. But everyone knows he fancies the Dark Arts. He's been after Quirrell's job for years." Percy told Harry.

As Ron reached for another drumstick, a ghost's head rose out of the pile, resulting in everyone around jumping back. Rosalie dropped the piece of steak she was getting, startled. Her hand brushed through the hair of the ghost as she recoiled, and the feeling only made her jump more. It was almost as if she had plunged her hand into a bucket of icy water, though it remained dry.

"Hello! How are you?" The ghost turned to Ron. "Welcome to Gryffindor."

Once it said that, ghosts began to float in through the walls and the floor, resulting in cries of shock, before turning into laughter. The ghosts ranged from younger to Rosalie to older than Professor Dumbledore, and they were all dressed in various outfits, matching whatever time period they died in.

She was startled by the sudden appearances of the ghosts. Both Professor McGonagall and the twins previously told her about them, but nothing prepared her for seeing them for the first time, especially not the feeling of touching them.

"Hello, Sir Nicholas. Have a nice summer?" Percy asked the ghost.

The ghost rose up, turning to Percy. "Dismal. Once again, my request to join the Headless Hunt has been denied." He turned, floating away as the others stared after him.

"I know you. You're Nearly Headless Nick!" Ron exclaimed, resulting in the ghost turning back.

"I prefer Sir Nicholas, if you don't mind." The ghost retorted.

"'Nearly' headless? How can you be nearly headless?" Hermione questioned, clearly apprehensive. Rosalie felt nearly the same way, only with a bit more curiosity.

"Like this." Nicholas reached up, grabbing the right side of his head and pulling, the head coming off and swinging, remaining just barely attached, resulting in all of the students grimacing and gasping. With this, he floated away.

When everyone had filled themselves up with the foods available, the dishes cleaned themselves, before desserts appeared. Jell-O, puddings, brownies, pies in every flavor, blocks of ice cream in every flavor, rice pudding, all kinds of tarts, eclairs and doughnuts, trifle, sugared strawberries and cupcakes filled the dishes before them.

Later on, the houses followed their Prefects to their common rooms. Rosalie followed her new friends after Percy, out of the Great Hall and after the Ravenclaws before splitting ways.

"Gryffindors, follow me please. Keep up. Thank you." Percy called out. "This is the most direct path to the dormitories. Oh, and keep an eye on the staircases. They like to change." Percy gave the students a few moments to take in the moving staircases and moving portraits that hung from the walls before moving on. "Keep up, please, and follow me. Quickly now, come one. Come on."

The students were greeted by the portraits, who welcomed them, curtsying and bowing and lifting goblets and cups and hats towards them. Several of the people in the portraits walked straight through one portrait to another, astonishing the students, in order to keep up with them as they walked on.

They stopped in front of a large portrait with a quite fat woman with a silk pink dress on. "Password?" She questioned.

"Caput Draconis." Percy replied. The woman lifted a gloved hand, before her framed portrait swung aside, revealing a common room behind it. The students gasped in awe, and Rosalie found herself following quickly after Ron, eager to be inside. From what she had heard from Fred and George, it was very homey and lovely, and she was excited to see it for the first time.

"Follow me, everyone. Keep up. Quickly, come on." Percy spoke, leading them into an open room draped in red and gold. A fireplace burned in a corner, a comfy-looking couch and several plush chairs surrounding it. Little tables with wooden chairs and books were placed in the corners, carpets covering the wooden floor. Several more plush chairs gathered in a circle, and lanterns uncovered the corners, a few portraits on the walls.

The students looked all around them, gathering around Percy. "Welcome to the Gryffindor common room. Boy's dormitory is upstairs to the left. Girls, the same on your right. You'll find that all of your belongings have already been brought up." Percy directed them to the stairs, before allowing them to go forwards.

Rosalie, along with the other Gryffindor girls, climbed a set of spiraling stone stairs, turning to the door on her left. She pushed the door open, revealing a room with many beds inside. They were obviously in one of the towers. Deep red curtains hung around each bed, gold designs on them. Their belongings sat around each bed, , rocking chairs, extra blankets and pillows, tables, windows, window seats, and shelves all around them.

The girls quickly changed into their night clothes, before snuggling beneath the warm covers. However, despite the many comforts surrounding her, Rosalie found herself unable to succumb to sleep. Instead, she chose to sit back on one of the window seats, resting her back against the stone as she gazed out of the window, moonlight covering her, and the light shimmering on the water below her.

Wanting to feel the cool night air and hear the water below, she opened the two windows, before noticing a small shape flying towards her. She peered out at it, and only once it flew into the room, settling at her feet atop some books did she realize it was Pipper, seeming to sense that her owner was feeling lonely and needed comfort.

Rosalie gently stroked Pipper's feathers, earning a coo and a look that she felt was an owl version of a smile. Despite the fact that sleep eventually did linger at her mind, she had too many things to focus on instead.

All of the things that the Sorting Hat had said to her, learning about her aspects from someone who could look into her mind. The fact that, with a single letter, her entire life changed, revealing a world she never could have dreamed of existed, did in fact exist. The mystery of her parents and the rest of her family, what had happened to them? Rosalie wasn't sure she wanted to know, but after a few minutes pondering the mystery, she agreed with herself that she wanted to know.

She wanted to know more about her family, especially her parents, perhaps beginning with a picture. Professor McGonagall had said that she looked like her mother, only sparking her curiosity even more.

Finally, Rosalie succumbed to sleep, buried beneath the heavy, warm covers of her bed.