"Up you go." Longbottom said, putting the hat on the head. A voice whispered in here ear.

"You know, I always take your request into account...
You show the smarts,
Not to mention the wit and creativity.
Better be.... RAVENCLAW!"

I cheered and waved Thalia over to our table. "Congrats!" But in the back of my head, I didn't want to congratulate her. She only took a few seconds. It took me almost ten minutes to become Ravenclaw. Halfhearted clapping, weird looks from the older ones... Not quite fitting in, not quite as smart and perfect as the others.

A small smile reached her face and she rushed towards the Raven claw table, with a skip in her step as she sat down, her eyes wandered the faces along the tables of each house. There were so many people in this school.

Thalia smiled shyly at the girl and whispered "Thanks... I.. I really wanted to get into Ravenclaw." She looked down at the table in front of me.

Professor McGonagall stood up form the teacher's table and walked behind the owl shaped podium, her hands risen in welcome.

"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. For those who don't know me, I'm Professor McGonagall, the Headmistress. We have a few minor announcements we need to address before we begin our feast. Mr. Filch has requested me to announce that exploding quills, Billywig tops, and fake wands have been added to his list of 547 banned items. If any of you would like to read that list, it's posted on his office door. Must I remind you that Hogsmeade is off-limits to any student under the third year, and no students are allowed in the Forbidden Forest. Also being said, the Fifth-Floor corridor is, once again, off limits because some student keeps enlarging it." she looked pointedly at Will, who smirked. "That is all, let the feast begin." she sat behind the teachers table as food appeared on the before-empty golden plates.

Thalia's eyes followed the Professor's look and she saw a black haired boy. Raising an eyebrow, she wondered 'What on Earth did he do.' She glanced down at her empty plate and her eyes wandered the many types of food that filled the table. Pushing her plate away, she blew the blazing orange hair from her face.

Will sat at the Slytherin table, engaging young Scorpio Malfoy in conversation.
"So, how's your dad? My dad's known him at the Ministry ever since Kingsley Shacklebolt backed down from the post." Will was saying.
"Father's doing well. He's quite stressed about the fact that my Mother's health is declining though." Scorpio said, his voice quiet.
"I heard about that. I hope she gets better." Will said.
"So why was McGonagall glaring daggers at you?" Malfoy asked.
Will smirked.
"I'm the one who's enlarging the swamp."

Thalia stared into the distance, right to the other side of the hall, her mind fulled with thoughts. She sat patiently, waiting to be taken up to the dorms.

After pudding, the food on the plates disappeared, the plates themselves left spotless.
"Prefects," McGonagall said, "please lead your first-years to the dormitories."

Will sighed and stood up. "First-years, get over here." he said in a bored tone. The eleven-year olds crowded round him like a pack of puppies. "Follow me." he said, heading down to the common room. They stopped in front of a brick wall. "Moonstruck." Will said, and the door to the common room slid open.

Thalia entered the Ravenclaw common room and immediately decided to run up to the dorm. Hitting the bed, she buried her head in the pillow, smiling into it. Hogwarts was going to be so much fun.