Chapter One

She was late, and now was not a good time to be late. The wind whipped at her cloak, and the rain pelted down so hard that it hurt. The sky was too dark for this time of evening. She struggled to reach into a hidden pocket of her cloak, and pulled out a battered silver pocket watch. Yep, she was definitely late. From her vantage point on the little hill, she could see the dark outline of the castle. Not long now. A lightnening bolt flashed overhead. But, oh Merlin, she was late. And that is never good, especially on a first day of school. She pulled the cloak tighter around her body and pushed on through the storm.

Inside Hogwarts, the mood was much more pleasant. Whilst the ceiling showed the storm that raged outside, the Great Hall was awfully cosy. Fires had been lit, and the thousands of candles lent the place an air of warmth. Of course, when your belly is being filled with amazingly rich food, and being washed down with equally amazing drink, one can be happy, warm and content almost anywhere.

"Sirius that was awful!" came a sleepy voice.

"What can I say? I like my food, and it clearly likes me" said Sirius, patting his belly as he finished off the last of the pumpkin juice. "Yes I am aware that you like food Sirius, you nearly ripped my arm off to get to the mashed potatoes!" said Lily Evans, trying to sound angry, but failing. "Urgh, I'm too full for this crap, Sirius" she continued, slumping across the table. "Maybe I can help?" said James Potter, his eyes glittering, as he reached across and put his arm around Lily. "Merlin, Potter, I'm too stuffed to even bat you away" said Lily, stifling a yawn. "I wish Dumbledore would hurry up with his speech, he seems to be taking forever!" Remus Lupin looked up from the textbook he was reading, having propped it up against a jug, "he does seem to be waiting for something, doesnt he?"

At the top of the Hall, along the staff table, the teachers were talking to each in low voices. Dumbledore, sat in the very centre, seemed to be fixated on the door.

Peter got the attention of the Maruaders by asking "did you notice that McGonagall didn't put away the Sorting Hat?" Several of the Gryffindors heads swivelled towards the stool, and Peter was right. There, just as it had always sat, was the dirty, frayed Hogwarts Sorting Hat. "I wonder what they are waiting for?" mused Lily. "I dunno, but its not the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. That's her there, next to Professor Sprout" said Sirius thickly, as he had just taken a massive bite of a piece of pie, "I mean.." he swallowed, "it has to be. She's the only one I don't know. And a bit of alright she is too, isn't she Prongs?" James' ears turned slightly pink, as Lily looked to him. "um.. I guess she is pretty enough, but not as pretty as my Lily!" As Lily turned away to speak to one of her girlfriends on her right, Remus whispered "good save, James, good save". James grinned at him.

As the remnants of the feast gradually vanished, the student populace started to get a little agitated. Normally, at this time, Dumbledore would have said his ramblings about the Forbidden Forest, Mr. Filch's dire warnings about magic outside the classrooms, and introduced the new Defence against the Dark Arts teacher, and they could all head to bed to chat, or sleep. But he made no move. He just sat, watching the door of the Great Hall, with the air of someone who is waiting for a bus that they are not sure will ever get there. Professor McGonagall shifted in her seat, and whispered something to the Headmaster, who shook his head softly, smiling slightly.

"Oh Merlin, I'm so late, this is going to be awful. Just... awful" thought the very soggy figure that had just entered the Entrance Hall, leaving a trail of mud and water behind her as she moved towards the doors to the Great Hall. She could hear several hunderd voices, all droning together, as though a great swarm of bees inhabited the room. She attempted to empty out some of the water that had accumlated in her shoes, and tried to wring out her cloak, but felt her chapped hands sting at the touch of the cold water. She sighed, took several deep breaths and pushed open the door.

The babbling of talk stopped almost instantly. She kept her eyes down, and pulled her sodden cloak around her, even more tightly. She could feel the entirety of the Hall staring at her pathetic figure as she strove to move between the long tables. Slowly, the whispers began, and then soon almost all students were striving to get a better look at this person, who could have come from the Black Lake, for that was how wet she was.

"Silence!" said Professor Dumbledore, and as one, the students shushed. "I'm so very glad to see you my dear" he continued to the dark figure in the cloak, "I had begun to worry". Even those students sitting closest to this interaction did not hear her reply, but Dumbledore chuckled. "Not to worry, I'm sure we can arrange something for you. Please sit." He conjured a chair next to him, and the Hogwarts students watched the figure sit in it, and could almost hear the sigh of relief.

"As I mentioned before the feast, welcome back to Hogwarts, ladies and gentlemen. I wish to congratulate our new first years, and hope that they will be a credit to their Houses. Once again, I remind you that the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds, especially to some of our older students" James and Sirius tried to maintain a lock of mock indignation but ended up grinning at each other. "Also, this year, I have the pleasure of introducing Professor Mira Gilly, who will be teaching Defence against the Dark Arts". Professor Gilly stood awkwardly, as the hall polited clapped. Lily clamped her hand over Sirius mouth to prevent him from wolf whistling. "She's a teacher!" she hissed, as Sirius opened his mouth to complain, but then thought better of it.

"And finally, we come to our reason for staying beyond the usual feasting hours." She could hear the entire hall had fallen deathly silent, hanging on Dumbledore's every word. She groaned inwardly. "This year, Hogwarts has the distinct honour of hosting a student exchange. This year, we will host a student from another magical school, whislt next year, that school will host one of own. May I introduce to you, from Cloch Gorm School for Young Magical Folk, Miss Violet Ryan!" Dumbledore began clapping, but he was the only one to do so. Violet sighed, stood up and took her cloak off.

Down at the Gryffindor table, the Marauder's had been playing a game, turning each other's hair different colours whilst Dumbledore had been going on with his usual speech. But then, they noticed the new girl, standing up there beside Dumbledore, looking utterly lost and sopping wet. "That poor girl, she's soaked" whispered Lily to Pria Hawthorne, the only other Gryffindor 6th year girl. Pria nodded emphatically, "I wonder where she is from?". The four Maruder's suddenly began talking about what house she should be in, and where she was from, what she was like, "Boys! Be quiet and might here!" came Pria's reprimand.

Violet looked up at Professor Dumbledore, and then looked to the school body. "Thank you Professor Dumbledore." Instantly the Hall was filled with buzzing whispers

"She's Irish! Did you hear her accent!"

"So thats where Cloch Gorm is.. I thought it was in Scotland!"

Violet raised her voice slightly as she continued on "My name is Violet Ryan. I will be attending classes here, with your 6th years. I understand that I am to be ... Sorted?" Dumbledore nodded as Professor McGonagall moved towards the Sorting Hat. "I hope that this year will be rewarding both to myself and the school, and I want to thank you for your hosptiality" And this sorting better not take long, I'm famished, she added inwardly.

Professor McGonagall motioned for Violet to sit on the stool, and in one movement, dropped the Hat on Violet's head. A small voice inside Violet's ear, startled her. "Oh yes, hello. I never thought I'd see the day.. But forging magical ties and such, always a good thing! Now, where to put you... mmm.. no, not there... You would fit nicely in Slytherin, shame... Hufflepuff... not quite right... ah yes.. this is better... GRYFFINDOR!" Violet handed the hat back to Professor McGonagall, who pointed at the clapping, cheering table at which Violet expected she was to join. She sat at the very top, and wished that she could just sleep.

"And on that note, its time for bed. Prefects please lead the first years to their dorms, everyone else, welcome back!" came Professor Dumbledore's voice, over the sounds of benches being dragged across stone, as the students rose, as one, to go to bed.