"Ron, do you mind if we sit with you on the train?" Alyssa asked, "We don�t know anyone else. Oh, by the way my name is Alyssa Porter and this is Faith Broderick."
"Sure," Ron said, smiling, "My friends Harry Potter and Hermione Granger will be sitting with me to."
"Not a problem," both girls replied and then at the same time, their eyes widened and they said, "You�re friends with Harry Potter?"
"Yup, he�s one of my best friends." Then he changed the subject as they got on the train and Ron waved out the window to his mother. Then he looked at Alyssa closely. "Bloody hell Alyssa, you look just like Harry!" Ron exclaimed.
"Really?" Alyssa asked, "I�ve always thought I kinda looked like him."
Ron led them down the train until they came to the last compartment.
"This is where we always sit," Ron stated as they stowed their trunks and cages, then sat down, "Harry and Hermione will be here soon."
Sure enough a minute later Harry and Hermione walked into the compartment.
"Hello," Harry and Hermione said at the same time, "Who�re you?"
"I�m Faith Broderick and this is Alyssa Porter. We�re transferring from the Salem Institute in America."
"Welcome to Britain and to Hogwarts," Harry said politely.
The five kids talked for the rest of the trip Ron turning his interests to Alyssa and Faith making a close connection with Harry and Hermione. As soon as they were almost there they all changed into their robes. When they pulled into the station Harry, Hermione, and Ron told Alyssa and Faith what to do. They then all hopped into one of the carriages and rode up to the school.
"What are those things pulling the carriages?" Alyssa asked curiously.
"Ya, what are those ugly things?" Faith added.
"So you can see them too," sighed Harry and at the confused look on the girls faces he continued, "They�re called thestrals. Only a person who has seen someone die can see them."
"That makes sense," said Alyssa quietly, "Last year someone was killed at Salem and I saw it happen."
"Is that why you can see them Faith?" Ron asked curiously.
"Yes. That night was awful. It was worse since it was my sister. That�s why I�m coming here from now on."
The kids sat in a tense, uncomfortable silence for the rest of the ride to the castle. When the carriages pulled up all of the students got out and went up the steps. They all entered the Entrance Hall and Alyssa and Faith followed the crowd to the Great Hall. Professor McGonagall was waiting at the door.
"Ms. Porter, Ms. Broderick please come here." They walked over to her. "I am Professor McGonagall. Since you are new here you must be sorted into your houses. The first years are also sorted, though you will be before them. Let us enter the hall."
The girls stood in the back with Professor McGonagall until the first years arrived, looking cold and scared. McGonagall left the room and came back with a tattered old hat on a stool.
"Follow me," she said and walked forward through the hall. Alyssa and Faith went first, getting curious stares from all of the house tables. McGonagall placed the stool in front of the teachers� table and the hat burst into song. As soon as the song was through the whole hall gave it a loud, long round of applause.
"Students," Professor McGonagall said loudly, "These two girls are transfers from the Salem Witches� Institute in the United States. Alyssa Porter please step forward."
Alyssa came forward and sat on the stool. The Professor placed the hat on her head and she heard the Sorting Hat muttering in her ear.
"Yes, yes," it muttered quietly "Another hard one to place. Smart, brave, daring, and bold, among other things. For you Ms. Porter I choose� GRYFFINDOR!"
Alyssa heard the hat shout the last word to the whole hall. The table on her far right started clapping madly, while the two in the middle clapped politely. The one on her far left didn�t clap at all. Then Professor McGonagall removed the sorting hat from her head and she went to find an empty seat at the Gryffindor table.
"Faith Broderick, please step forward," McGonagall said curtly.
As soon as Faith put the hat on it said to her, "You�re easy� GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor table erupted with cheers again and Faith went to sit down with Alyssa, Ron, Harry, and Hermione. Neither girl paid much attention to the sorting of the first years as they were looking from table to table seeing everyone for the first time.
As the feast began, a girl next to Alyssa put out her hand and said "Lavender Brown, 6th year. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you to Lavender." Then another girl on the other side of Lavender stuck out her hand too and said "Parvati Patil, also 6th year. We see you�ve meet Hermione. There�s also another Gryffindor 6th year. You�ll meet her later."
The three girls talked all through dinner, sometimes talking with Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Faith. Then, as they stood up to leave Professor McGonagall came up to them and said, "Ms. Porter I need to have a word with you. If you girls will also come so you can bring her back to your dorms later that would be wonderful." Lavender and Parvati nodded and then they followed the teacher as she hurried to catch up with Harry.
"Mr. Potter I need a word with you. Please follow me."
_____________________________________________________________
previous
home