"Colette!" Parks yelled, banging on my bedroom door.

"One minute!" I called back. I was packing my books into my trunk, I had stayed up late that night finishing them. Ever since I had gotten them, I spent every spare minute reading and commiting as much as I could to memory.

After all, once I got to Hogwarts I would most likely be spending my free time exploring the castle or sketching by the Great Lake with Parks the way I used to with the lake near my manor.

I smiled at the owl my parents got me for my 11th birthday. He was a pure white snowy owl, and I named him Frost. I grabbed his cage and my trunk before swinging my door open and greeting my friend.

"What house do you think you'll be sorted into?" She asked enthusiastically.

"Good morning to you, too," I replied with a smirk. "So great to see you."

"Yeah, right, 'morning," She answered brightly, rolling her eyes playfully. "So, what house?"

"I dunno which house," I said. "Most likely Slytherin. But Hufflepuff sounds nicer and us Torsneys are known for being sorted into Gryffindor, like the Weasleys."

She scoffed. "Weasleys, what a bunch of blood traitors."

My eyes widened in shock. "Just because your parents are pure-blood supremacists doesn't mean you have to be." I reminded her in a soft whisper before starting down the stairs with my things and motioning for her to follow.

She followed me, smiling in apology before talking again. "Well, I for one would be too ashamed to show my face anywhere if I was sorted into Hufflepuff out of sha-"

I whipped my head around quickly cutting her off before blurting out "There's nothing wrong with Hufflepuff! There's less shame in being sorted into a house known for its kindness, loyalty, and open-mindedness than one known for dark wizards like Voldemort and his Death Eaters!"

My hand flew to my mouth in shock of my words. I closed my mouth, turning around and rushing down the rest of the stairs. I could see the portraits lining the walls staring at me as I went past, some staring at me with pride in their eyes and others glaring in scorn.

I turned at the last step to see Parks staring at me standing still with tears threatening to spill from her eyes. I would've said sorry, but I wasn't in the slightest. I knew that I'd hurt her feelings, but I'd meant every word of what I said and I wouldn't take them back even if I could.

She took a deep breath and came down the stairs quickly. The portraits all started whispering among themselves as she met me at the last step and smiled as if nothing had happened.

"Since your bangs haven't grown past your jaw, making your hair look weird, we're both getting short haircuts," She rambled, abandoning all attempts of House conversation. "You're not getting bangs again but I am. We're both getting our hair cut to our chin so that it's all even. Your mom found the charm to do it."

She ordered my house elf to bring our bags to the front door before quickly snatching my wrist and dragging me to the kitchen. Ever since I was introduced to Snow White by Harry's mom, I'd insisted on calling my elf 'Dopey' after my favorite dwarf from the story. His name was Trash when we'd adopted him, so he openly accepted the new nickname from 9 month old me.

I shot him an apologetic look before trying to walk—run seems more accurate—at Parks' pace. We entered the kitchen to see my mom holding her wand and smiling at me.

"Hi Mrs. Bridget!" Parks exclaimed at the same I said "Morning, Mom!"

"Morning girls! How are you both?" She retorted brightly.

We replied "Great!" In unison, and for the first time that day I truly meant it. Parks and I weren't fighting—almost—and I was nothing but eager and excited for the rest of the day.

"Did you explain the haircuts?" She asked Parks warily.

"Yes!" we replied in unison again.

"Okay," my mom said with a wide smile. She performed the charm on each of us non-verbally before picking up a pair of scissors.

"I'm only cutting your bangs?" She asked Parks.

"Yup." She replied as I moved toward a mirror hanging on the wall just outside the kitchen to admire my new short hair.

I heard a sharp snip of scissors before returning to the kitchen. My mom handed me a black fabric headband and handed an identical white one to Parks with a smile.

She handed me a small pouch of galleons, containing around 35 coins, and handed us both large plates of pancakes adorned with syrup, chocolate, and fruit. We both eagerly took the plates into the dining room and ate as quickly as we could in a rush to depart for the Platform before 9:30 so we could arrive at 10:45.

We side-apparated with our parents to the Diggory Estate since we would be taken with Amos and his son Cedric to the Platform.

"Cedric's a Hufflepuff and he's a fourth year," Parks informed me when we'd arrived at their front door. "Behave for Mr. Diggory." Our mothers warned as Amos arrived at the door.

"Why, hello," Amos exclaimed when he saw us. "Nice hair, ladies." Our parents waved and Disapparated, and for the first time I missed my long hair. Oddly enough, the man's demeanor and compliment mixed together made me uncomfortable.

"Thanks!" Parks replied with a smile.

"Well, come in!" He said, stepping out of the doorway and waving us in.

"Nicolette Torsney." I informed him, tugging nervously at my hair as I stepped in.

"Pleasure."

"And I'm Pansy Parkinson!" Parks enthused as she crossed the threshold with both our trunks behind me.

"Just put those there." Amos told her, pointing to a spot near the door.

"Okay." She said, putting the trunks where he was pointing. She handed Frost in his cage over to me once she was done. The clock on the wall informed that the time was 9:42.

"Cedric's almost ready, then we'll be off." Amos informed us before walking off, presumably to get his son.

"I packed the record player, you know." She informed me once Amos was out of sight.

"Good, because I packed about 30 records in my trunk," i replied with a wink. "I hope we get the same dorm!"

"Me too! I hope we both get Slytherin! I heard the common room is under the Great Lake, and you can see the water ripples along the walls and floor! How cool would that look?"

"Very," I agreed with a laugh at her enthusiasm. "And Hufflepuff has circle windows and doors with flowers everywhere and yellow walls! But Slytherin silver will match my grey eyes!" I added that last bit when her face fell. She immediately brightened up.

"And green looks really good with my black hair!"

I rolled my eyes.

"Your white hair too!" She added.

"Yeah, alright." I chuckled.

Cedric and Amos walked up a few seconds later.

"We are taking a charmed car to the station. I got the idea from our neighbors the Weasleys." Amos informed us with a smile.

We grabbed our trunks and walked to the car. Cedric opted for sitting in the back with me while Parks sat up front in the passenger seat.

He had grey eyes like me, but his brown hair was a medium shade nowhere near what mine was. He was about 5' 8", but he was only 14, so he would obviously get much taller. Nevertheless, he was only 5 inches taller than me since I was really tall for my age. I hit my growth spurt at 8, and no other girls my age have seemed to have hit theirs yet.

"Hey, Nicolette, right?" He asked, smiling at me as we buckled up our seat belts.

"Yep, and you're Cedric." I replied with a grin, holding Frost's cage in my lap.

"First year?"

"Mhm."

"What house do you think you'll be sorted into?"

"Hufflepuff or Slytherin most likely, but Gryffindor is a possibility."

"Which one do you want?"

"Hufflepuff, she won't shut up about it!" Parks shot from the front.

"Really?"

I chuckled light-heartedly and nodded. "What's it like?" I asked.

"Cozy, like a cottage." He whispered quietly enough so that only I could hear. "Your description to your friend was accurate as possible."

"You heard that?"

"Yep."

"Do you like your House? At Hogwarts, I mean."

"A lot. It's way better than everyone else seems to think."

"I think it's pretty great."

"So do I! Do you mind if I call you Nicky?"

"Not at all."

"We're here!" Amos called from the front.

"Okay!" Cedric and I replied in unison.

We both chuckled. "You're pretty cool, Nicky." He told me.

"You too, Diggory." I replied.

"Cedric," he corrected as we got out of the car. "Only my professors and the Slytherins call me Diggory."

"I still might get sorted into Slytherin."

"Still, call me Cedric."

"You know what, I'll call you Ced."

"Nice, a new nickname!"

We grabbed our trunks out of the trunk. He grabbed his broom from his dad and we walked to the Platform together with our hands full.

"I'll go first." I said. I checked to make sure no muggles were watching before stepping through to the Platform, quickly followed by the other 3. I spotted a large group of redheads in front of us. 

"Behave Cedric. See you on Christmas! Don't forget to write! I'm going to go say hi to the Weasleys! Bye girls!" Amos called, heading toward the group of redheads.

"Bye!" Ced called after him.

Parks spotted Draco Malfoy, and ran up to him."

"Bye, Ced," I said, looking up at him. "See you later, hopefully in the Hufflepuff common room if, fingers crossed, that's where I'm sorted."

"Hope so too, and I'll see you in the Great Hall tonight when the hat sorts you. Bye, Nicky." He replied, joining some of his friends and boarding the Hogwarts Express.

Parks ran over to me and we boarded the train together. Draco motioned for her to join him in a compartment with only one more seat left open. I told her to take it and went ahead. I saw a compartment with only one person, a familiar looking green-eyed boy. He said I could join him as another boy appeared behind me. I sat next to Harry after he scooted his trunk over and motioned for me to take a seat. He introduces his owl as Hedwig to me quickly before the boy at the entryway clears his throat.

"Excuse me, do you mind? Everywhere else is full." the boy asks us.

"No, not at all." Harry replies as the boy steps in and sits across from him.

"I'm Ron, by the way. Ron Weasley." the boy—Ron Weasley—said.

"Nicolette, Nicolette Torsney." I replied with a smile before lazily reaching into my bag and grabbing out a treat for Frost.

"I'm Harry. Harry Potter." Harry says before his owl Hedwig hoots at my treats. I hand him a few of the treats to quiet down his owl before I notice the reaction of the boy sitting across from us.

"So-so it's true? I mean, do you really have the...the..." Ron studders as if in shock, gaping at Harry's forehead that is fully concealed by his hair.

"The what?" Harry asks.

"Scar...?" Ron whispers back,

"Oh." Harry lifts up his bangs and shows Ron his scar as I grab out a novel from my bag.

"Wicked."

I hear the trolley witches' cart roll up as I quietly doze off. When I woke up, I saw both boys devouring chocolate. I notice Harry's glasses are broken, and I fix them with a charm quickly before deciding to change quickly.

After I return, I talked to Harry a bit about how I knew him when we were babies, and he unsuprisingly remembers none of it.

Ron pulls out a rat and introduces him as Scabbers. We all agreed he was quite pathetic as a pet.

"Fred gave me a spell as to turn him yellow. Want to see?" Ron asks Harry as I turn back to my book.

"Yeah!"

"Ahem. Sun-"

A girl with bushy brown hair dressed in her robes appears at the doorway.

"Has anyone seen a toad? A boy named Neville's lost one." she asks us.

"No." Ron replied quickly as Harry and I shake our heads in agreement.

"Oh, are you doing magic? Let's see then." She says to Ron, sounding a bit stuck-up about it.

Ron clears his throat before beginning his spell again. "Sunshine, daises, butter mellow, turn this stupid fat rat yellow!" He commands, pointing his wand at the rat. He shrugs when the spell zaps the rat and nothing happens, and begins shoving his face again with food.

"Fred scammed you." I muttered as the girl geared up to reply to his spell-casting skills.

"Are you sure that's a real spell? Well, it's not very good, is it? Of course I've only tried a few simple spells myself, and they've all worked for me. For example-" She cuts off after looking closely at Harry. "Holy Cricket, you're Harry Potter. I'm Hermione Granger...and you are...?" She turns to Ron.

"I'm...Ron Weasley..." He mutters through his full mouth. "Nicolette," I mutter as if she hadn't been ignoring my existance since she showed up.

She wrinkles her nose at Ron, ignoring me completely. "Pleasure. You two better change into your robes. I expect we'll be arriving soon," Hermione tells them before getting up and leaving. She turns around abruptly and turns to Ron before saying, "You've got dirt, on your nose, by the way, did you know? Just there." She points at his nose before leaving, causing him to grow flustered and scratch his nose.

When the train stops at Hogwarts, I say goodbye to the boys and find Parks.

A man that I recognize as being Hagrid, the Hogwarts groundskeeper, yells, "Right then! Firs' years! C'mon n'w, don' be shy! C'mon n'w, hur' up!"

"Right then." Hagrid speaks up again as the first years near him. "Thi' way to ther boats! C'mon n'w, fol'w me!"

Through the dark night, I can see a numerous amount of rowboats floating in the vast, dark waters of the Great Lake. As Parks and I walk up to the boats, we can see the outline of the Hogwarts castle. We ride in a rowboat together up to the school.

Once we arrive, a stern woman named Professor McGonagall tells us to wait to be sorted. It seemed nobody knew about sorting, so I said what Cedric told me about a hat sorting us. We head into the Great Hall to be sorted.

As we enter the hall, Professor McGonagall turns to us and says, "Will you wait along here, please? Now, before we begin, Professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words."

A man in long purple robes with a ridiculously long gray beard and half-moon spectacles rises from a large table heading the hall and clears his throat.

"I have a few start of term notices I wish to announce. The first years please note that the dark forest is strictly forbidden to all students. Also, our caretaker, Mr. Filch,"-he points to a ragged-looking old man holding a red-eyed cat-"has asked me to remind you that the 3rd 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." Dumbledore sits down to polite applause and a curt nod from McGonagall.

"When I call your name, you will come forth, I shall place the sorting hat on your head, and you will be sorted into your houses." she announces.

The hat that sits on a stool in front of us then splits at a seam and loudly sings a song about the house, and I wish more than ever to be sorted into Hufflepuff and not Slytherin. Once the hat finishes, the entire hall bursts into raucous applause for about a minute as the first years talk quietly among themselves.

"I hope I'm sorted into Gryffindor." Ron says loudly. A few people agreed.

"I hope I'm sorted into Hufflepuff." I claim at the same noise level as Ron. A few people gasp in surprise, but Parks merely snorts and says "We know you won't shut up about it." "Why?" A few people ask. I shrug, "It seems like a cool house, and I agree with all it stands for. Besides, I heard what the common room and dorms look like, and they sound cool." A few people nod and murmur in agreement as the first person gets called. It's a girl, and the other kids glance at me as she gets sorted into Hufflepuff.

Harry gets sorted into Gryffindor, and Parks and Draco get put in Slytherin.

When I get called, Draco yells "it's the Hufflepuff!", getting a few snickers. "So what?" Ced, Parks, and Harry reply at the same time. I smile at Ced as I sit down and the hat gets put on my head. 'Hufflepuff,' I think. 'Please.' It's completely silent for a few seconds before it yells the dreaded name.

"Slytherin!"

All the first years gasp, and the green-clad students start cheering with a few yells of "Another pure-blood." as I walk up to the table and sit next to Parks. I see Ced frowning towards me from his table, but he immediately smiles and waves when he sees me looking at me.

Ron gets sorted into Gryffindor, and I look longingly at my new friends sitting and joking amongst each other for the rest of the feast. After the sorting, I can't eat a single bite. Once Dumbledore dismisses everyone for the night, I trudge up to the common room after the Prefects. The Hufflepuffs walked some of the way with us down to the dungeons. Ced walks next to me and whispers, "The silver will match the grey in your eyes, Nicky. Or so Pansy says."

He walked away with the Hufflepuffs as I entered the Slytherin common room, looking after him wistfully. I follow Parks up to our new dorm, taking the bed closest to the bathroom and falling asleep without bothering to meet my roomates or unpack.