It wasn't that she wasn't looking forward going back to Hogwarts, but saying goodbye to her father this time was harder than it had ever been before, and she had good reason to be reluctant too; with the current Muggle world war in full force every second that her father spent in London was a dangerous one. But she believed in him, and she believed in the word of the Ministry of Magic, when they said that they would protect their people should the Muggle war get out hand. Her father pulled away from her and put his hands on her shoulders and smiled, "Don't worry about me, Arianna. The Ministry will take care of things. You focus on your studies, and don't forget to send me an owl or two...". 

She nodded stifly and wiped a few tears off her cheeks before heading toward the train. She walked down the asile, pushing past students, searching compartment after compartment until she finally found the compartment that her friends had all piled themselves into. She squeezed into the compartment and sat between Dylan and a red headed Ravenclaw who she'd never met before, and they waved and waved as the train sped off. Long after the train had sped off and Kings Cross was no longer in sight, Arianna could still be seen staring out the window, worrying about whether she would see her father again.

*SNAP!* Dylan snapped his fingers in front of her face bringing her back to the reality that she was on the Hogwarts express once more and that Angela had been pelting her with chocolate frogs and Liquorice wands. "It's good to see you again Arianna," declared Angela from the other side of the compartment, her mouth full of chewed up chocolate frog. Arianna's stomach threatened to hurl her breakfast onto the floor at the sight, Angela had never been one for table manners, a fact that Arianna's stomach couldn't ever get used to. "Letters just don't seem to do you justice you know, it's always more enjoyable talking to you in person. How's your father?"

Arianna picked at a liquorice wand and stuffed a tiny piece into her mouth, chewed and swallowed before opening her mouth to speak, "He's good, he's more than a little worried about the Muggle war right now though, I mean...we do live in the middle of London, and any day now there could be another bombing. But that's his home, he's hardly going to just pack up and leave...I mean...where would he go?" her voice sounded chocked as if she were holding back tears as she spat the words out. The compartment had grown quite silent and it was an uncomfortable silence that she wished she could run away and hide from. She stufffed a piece of liquorice into her mouth and this time Dylan broke the silence.

"So, where's that Prefect badge that Angela was telling me all about?" he asked with a grin.

The sudden realisation that she wasn't wearing it hit her and her hand dove at once into her pockets searching for it. She pulled it out after a minute or two of searching. It sat there, like a gleaming badge of honor in the palm of her hand. Everyone in the compartment leaned forward to take a good look at it and Arianna almost felt embarrased by all the attention.

She was pinning the badge onto her robes when the red head posed a question, "Who then I wonder, are the other Prefects for our year? For example, who is the other Ravenclaw Prefect, does anyone know?"

The question hung in the compartment, eagerly awaiting an answer, but none came. Dylan shook his head, "I have no idea...I guess we'll have to wait and see who they are when we get there..."

~

The candles in the Great Hall were twinkling and bathing the entire room in a comfortable yellow glow. Students were laughing and talking as they were finally settling into their first evening back at what most of them called their second home. The teachers were seated at the head of the Great Hall, conversing about school topics and the current political status of both the Muggle world and the Wizarding one; many would also be talking about the current status of the Muggle war that was raging across the globe at the current time. 

Arianna was sitting comfortably between her two best friends Angela and Dylan, and sitting across from Alice Goodman and Charlie Perrimon, whom were also good friends of theirs as well as classmates. Arianna was looking around the room and her eyes fell upon the Slytherin table and into the eyes of a dark haired handsome looking teen, he would have been perhaps the same year as herself if not older. She felt mesmerized and drawn to his gaze which he broke a moment later leaving her feeling almost starstruck. She shook her head and turned back to her food, before she felt someone poke her arm. She looked up startled to see Alice smirking at her. "You off day dreaming already love? Come on, at least leave it for the boring classes," she said with a wink and Arianna giggled. "So," continued Alice, "Did you hear the rumors about this year....there are rumors of a supposed ball to be held for fourth years and up."

Angela suddenly looked interested, "Really?" she piped up, "and have you heard when this 'event' will take place?"

Alice shook her head and pouted, "No, but I suppose that they'll announce it when the time is right, yes?" And everyone partaking in the conversation nodded in agreement. 

Suddenly the students began to sink into silence as the giant doors of the Great Hall opened and Professor Merryweather led the first years down the center of the Hall. Arianna couldn't help but giggle to herself when she looked at the terrified looks on the students faces, she had been terrified too when she had been in their place. She had to talk herself into remaining calm because she'd been so terrified. Professor Merryweather placed the tattered old Sorting Hat on the stool and stepped back, and the hat burst into song;

"Oh you may not think I'm pretty,

But don't judge on what you see,

I'll eat myself if you can find

A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall,

For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head

The Sorting Hat can't see,

So try me on and I will tell you

Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

Their daring, nerve, and chivalry

Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal,

Those patient Hufflepuffs are true

And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

if you've a ready mind,

Where those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin

You'll make your real friends,

Those cunning folks use any means

To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!

You're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

The smiled and then fell silent and the sorting commenced (Alanaria to Gryffindor and Jared to Hufflepuff).  Angela poked Arianna in the ribs and she jumped with a start, "What!" she hissed.

Angela held her hands up as though to prove innocence, "Calm down girly, no need for all that fuss. I just wanted to ask you what subjects you're taking this year, to see if we'll be in the same classes or not...." her voice trailed off as Marry Bogart was sorted into Ravenclaw. She begin giggling and had to stiffle her giggles in her sleeve. She recovered a moment later, "We have someone in our house with the last name Bogart!" she declared rather loudly and rudely causing a couple of people to look in her direction. Arianna flushed with embarrasment and she poked Angela in the arm, "Shush, you're attracting too much attention...don't be so rude." she said bluntly and then turned back to the sorting while her friend continued giggling behind her.

The last of the sortings were, Mary Forthwirth to Gryffindor, Tony Abott to Hufflepuff and Gendry Halffoot to Slytherin. The Hall once more fell into silence as Headmaster Dippet rose from his seat and declared, "Now that we are all sorted, let the feast begin!"

And as soon as he had said the word, food began to appear on the tables in front of them and my, what a spread it was. Legs of lamb, whole roasted chickens with vegetables and gravy, mashed potatoes and boiled vegetables. There was bread rolls and butter, pumpkin juice as well and tea and coffee for those that drank such beverages. The Hall was soon full of the sounds of happy chattering and the sounds of knives and forks clanking against plates.

As the last of the food began to disappear from the plates, Headmaster Dippet rose once more from his seat and approached the stand in front of the teachers tables. The Hall fell into silence as he raised his hands into the air. "The very best of evenings to you!" he declared with a smile. "Now that you are fed and watered, I have prepared a little welcoming speech. To our new students, welcome, and to our old students...welcome back! Another year full of Magical education awaits you; it will be very much the same but also different at the same time. There are a few delightful changes that I am happy to announce, including a slight change to our staffing for this year. Now, I am pleased to introduce two new members of staffing this year to replace those who have decided to leave us. I would first like to welcome Mr Christian Warrington, who will be serving as your new Ancient Runes teacher. Welcome Mr Warrington!" He led a round of polite applause, at which Chris looked both embarrased and pleased about.

"Now, our other new member of staffing is Miss Lorelei Zuhan who will be taking over as your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

There was another round of applause as a pale black haired woman rose from the table and bowed to the students before seating herself again. Arianna shuddered, I don't like the look of her, she thought to herself.

Dippet looked around the Great Hall looking extremely happy, "Now...your beds are awaiting you, as warm and as comfortable as you could possibly wish, and I know that your top priority would be to be well rested for your lessons tomorrow. Let us therefore say goodnight."