Author's Note: This is my first fanfiction story, so I am a little nervous about it. I plan to update this story once a week. Suggestions or Comments to help improve are appreciated. The characters in this story may be a little OC. Thank you for taking the time to read this note. I would love to hear your thoughts. Please review and follow and perhaps favorite.

Beta's Note: Hello Everyone! You'll probably get my thoughts only when the literature becomes too intense. All I can say is that don't mind the depressing parts. I promise it'll get better. Cheers!

Acknowledgement: A big shoutout to my beta, the rainy Abe.

Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J. K. Rowling.

Daphne Greengrass watched as the trees whipped past, completely lost in her musings. Beside her Astoria was a bubble of nervous energy. Their compartment was empty save for them and Daphne almost preferred it that way. She wondered where Tracy was; probably with her older sister. Daphne briefly considered heading out to look for them, but decided against it. She didn't really want to start the year by running into certain other people. She was jerked out of her daydreams when she felt Astoria hiccup beside her. Concerned she turned to her to see her sister on the verge of tears.

"Tori, are you okay?"

"Not really..." Astoria replied without meeting her eyes.

"Do you feel sick?" Daphne asked placing a hand on her forehead. She did fell a little clammy. "Should I go call someone?"

"No, Please Don't.", Astoria said vehemently holding her; as though to stop her from moving," I'm just a little nervous, that's all."

"Nervous? About what? ", Daphne asked genuinely confused. Astoria unlike herself, was an outgoing person. She made friends quickly and was well liked by her peers. Daphne couldn't see any reason why Astoria would be nervous of the upcoming year.

Astoria looked conflicted, and after a long moment of fidgeting, she answered in a meek voice, "The Sorting." She finally met Daphne's eyes and continued, "I'm really nervous about the Sorting."

Daphne remembered her own Sorting; While the hat had been conflicted for a while between Ravenclaw and Slytherin, and her Sorting had taken slightly longer than most, she didn't see it as a particularly bad memory. She could see however, that the idea of Sorting terrified Astoria and decided to approach the topic gently. " Is there a particular reason for being nervous. I don't know how much you know about it, but I assure you it does not hurt one bit."

"I'm scared that I might not be sorted into Slytherin. Our family has always been Slytherins for as back as we can trace it. What if I'm not?" Astoria said in a tone of despair.

Daphne smiled at her," Tori, we do not really care if you go to another house. Father and Mother won't disown you just because you are sorted somewhere different, and I have no problem with you being in any other house either."

"Even if I go to Gryffindor." , Astoria countered.

"Seeing you right now, you're not exactly the epitome of bravery; so I doubt you'll end up there. But I assure you, we won't treat you any different ." Daphne could see Astoria visibly relaxing at this. " If it helps, from how much I know about you, I'd be willing to wager you will end up in Slytherin after all."

" You really think so?"

"Yes Astoria, I truly do." Daphne replied sincerely. "In fact, I'll even go as far as to save you a seat beside me", she suddenly found herself engulfed in a tight hug. Smiling she rubbed her sister's back. Seeing the cabin door open , she gently separated herself from her sister to see that the lunch trolley had arrived. " Come now, I'm sure all that worrying has made you a little hungry."

Daphne spent the rest of the afternoon answering Astoria's questions. The two sisters enjoyed each other's company while they talked about topics ranging from the subjects to the boat ride that Astoria would experience shortly.

Their conversation was interrupted when the cabin door opened for the second time, to reveal Cho Chang. Daphne's mood immediately turned dark as she saw her. Chang had made it her goal to make Daphne's life as miserable as possible, and was one of the chief reasons why Daphne's life at Hogwarts wasn't as fun as it could be. She had spread rumors about Daphne in her first year which had seen her alienated from most of the other houses, and even her own housemates tended to treat her with contempt. It didn't help matters that Daphne was something of an Introvert, and did nothing to stop these rumors or seek any vindication. Tracy was the only one remotely close to her, as they were childhood friends, having grown up together. Daphne usually spent her time studying and doing her best not to be noticed. However this was impossible when Chang was around.

But before she could say even a word to Daphne, a familiar voice of indifference interrupted her, "Chang, would you mind not taking up the entire corridor. Some of us need to go through. ", Chang scowled at being interrupted, but she knew that she could not say anything at the moment. She threw a final smirk at Daphne, before walking away.

Blaise walked into the cabin, annoyance clear on his face. He held up a hand as Daphne began to say something. "I didn't do it for you." There was an unspoken rule among the Slytherin to stand up for each other and seem united to the other houses. In truth however, Slytherin had their own fair share of arguments. Daphne pursed her lips before sitting back down.

Noticing Astoria for the first time, Blaise asked, " Who is she?"

" This is Astoria, my little sister. She's starting Hogwarts this year." Daphne explained.

"You don't look like sisters." Daphne knew this to be true; while she had inherited straight blond hair from her mother, Astoria had the brown curls of their father. In fact the only trait that the two shared were their blue eyes." I hope that your sister can stand up for herself, unlike you."

Daphne pursed her lips but said nothing to deny the accusation. Astoria seemed confused by the sudden change in her demeanor. While she was thankful to Blaise, she wished that he would leave.

Her wish was answered when the Express suddenly slowed down. Blaise looked around confused, "We can't be there yet." , before abruptly leaving the cabin .

" Daphne, what did he mean?" Astoria asked.

Daphne sighed while wondering how to explain her own predicament to Astoria. But before she could formulate a response, the train stopped with a jolt, making both of them fall against the chair. Almost immediately the lamps went out too.

"Daphne, Is this normal?", Astoria asked, beginning to panic.

Daphne shook her head, before pulling out her wand to cast a lumos. The light immediately lit the cabin throwing creepy shadows on the wall. She turned to Astoria. Her face thrown into sharp relief by the light, clearly betrayed her fear. Daphne wanted to assure that it was fine but she couldn't because she herself was unsure.

She heard someone rattle the cabin door and immediately stood pointing her wand towards the door, while shielding Astoria with her own body. The door finally gave way and opened.

Standing at the doorway, illuminated by Daphne's wand, was a cloaked figure that towered to the ceiling. It's face completely hidden by a hood so dark, it almost seemed to be made of shadows. Astoria whimpered behind her and grasped Daphne's robes tighter. Daphne recognized the entity and felt dread when she realized that she was facing a dementor.

The Dementor, drew a long, slow, rattling breath, as though it was trying to suck something more than air from its surroundings.

Daphne suddenly felt cold. Her skin immediately broke out into goosebumps. Behind her Astoria began to cry. Daphne felt the chill in her heart, as she was besought with unimaginable despair. She felt as though she would never feel happy again. In the span of a few seconds she visited the very worst of her memories.

She saw herself being pushed around by a group of Ravenclaws, including Chang. She saw herself being tripped and falling. She remembered the pain of her bruises, with her tears threatening to leak out. She remembered returning to her seat in the library after going to retrieve a particular book, only to find her notes destroyed. They had drawn and scribbled on the notes and had gone so far as to even burn some of them. Needless to say they had ensured that they were impossible to fix, even with magic. Daphne saw herself work late into the night alone, to redo them; a solitary figure kept company only by her shadow, casted by the lone candle flickering on the desk. She saw herself at the owlery; her place of solace; where she came after a especially bad day to cry. Away from prying eyes. Away from teasing smirks. She saw herself staring at the ground far below. The nights there were cold and the only noise was the wind and the occasional hoot from one of the owls. She saw herself sometimes contemplate that one step which could end her troubles. She would stare at the ground for hours, tears leaking from her face. But she was too much of a coward to go through with it and returned to the empty common rooms. Running up to her dorm, she would quickly change and fall into her bed, exhausted by her tears.

The Dementor withdrew as the door slammed shut after it. The incident should have lasted a few minutes at most, but Daphne felt that it had gone on for hours. She fell to the seat, completely spent. She realized that her cheeks were wet, a stream of silent tears flowing from both her eyes. She hugged Astoria who wasn't much better as she stared outside the window. The stormy dark skies reflecting her heart.

After a few minutes she heard a commotion. She could discern Malfoy's voice. Her cabin door was opened yet again to reveal him. Looking almost maniacal, he shouted in a gleeful voice, "Potter's been kissed by a Dementor.", before running off in search of other Slytherins.

The news didn't affect Daphne much who had much more pressing matters in her mind. The rest of the trip passed in a fitful silence.

Upon stepping unto the platform, she heard Hagrid's booming voice calling the first years. Astoria did not want to part from Daphne, but after a forced smile and a promise to be at the feast, on Daphne's part, she went to join the other first years. Daphne stared after Astoria as she ran to the boats and turned to see Tracy. Tracy hugged her without a word and Daphne felt slightly better. Her mood further improved after eating some of the chocolate that Tracy offered her. The two Slytherin's then went ahead to find a carriage.

The great hall was more subdued than normal, as they waited for the Sorting to finish. Daphne was sitting on one end of the table with Tracy across from her, an empty space on her side, for Astoria as promised. Astoria, herself was waiting for her name to be called, while whispering fervently with the other first years. She caught Daphne's eye and sent her a pained smile which she returned with an encouraging one.

Looking down the table she saw Malfoy chatting with Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy. Remembering his earlier comment, she turned towards the Gryffindor table, her eyes scanning it for a mop of black unruly hair. She couldn't find Potter but she saw Granger and Weasley looking miserable. Her attention was drawn when she heard Astoria's name being called and turned to see the hat being placed on her sister. Almost instantaneously the hat shouted "Slytherin!".

Astoria seemed as though a great weight had been taken off her shoulders as she turned to Daphne and flashed her a brilliant smile. Daphne beckoned her to the empty spot beside her. Astoria began to come towards her but was caught by the other Slytherin first years and forced to sit with them. She sent Daphne an apologizing look before being coerced into taking a seat. Daphne didn't particularly mind as she was happy for her. As it was she was used to eating with only Tracy for company.