Reaching Hogwarts...

After spending almost half an hour with the Slytherins, Sia decided that she should go back now.

"It has been quite long since I have been here. I should take my leave now," Sia looked at her two friends as she got up.

"Can I come with you?" Astoria asked as she looked at her eagerly.

Sia stopped for a second on hearing that. She and Astoria had hit it off immediately, just like she had with Ginny. The little Greengrass was just so loveable that anyone would like her.

"Um," Sia hesitated as she turned to look at Daphne.

Astoria followed suit and looked at her sister with puppy eyes, "Please."

Daphne sighed, "Return before we reach. You have to change your uniform later."

"Yup," Astoria said as she led the way out of the compartment.

The two girls quickly made their way toward Ginny's compartment.

The two saw another girl with dirty blonde hair sitting across from the redhead.

They entered the compartment, and Sia took a seat beside Ginny, with Astoria sitting across from her.

Before Sia could start the introduction, Astoria spoke with a smile, "Hello, I'm Astoria Greengrass. Nice to meet you."

Ginny, too, extended her hand for a handshake with a smile on her face, "Ginny Weasley. Pleased to meet you."

The blond also said with a dreamy look, "Luna Lovegood."

"I'm Sierra White. Glad to meet you, Luna," Sia said with a smile as she looked at the infamous girl.

Luna was gorgeous. She had pale silvery eyes with dirty-blond hair. The dreamy look in her eyes made her seem distant and lost, which might unnerve some people. But Sia just found it very cool. She had her wand stuck behind her left ear as she held a copy of 'The Quibbler' in her hand.

The girls talked for the rest of the ride, sharing stories about themselves and their likes and dislikes. The four were very different, but somehow they clicked together. It might be because of the shared nervous feeling that they all were experiencing. Or it might just be that opposites attract each other.

When the trolley lady came, the girls ordered a generous amount of sweets which kept them company for the rest of the ride.

Before half an hour of reaching the Hogsmeade station, Astoria made her way back to the Slytherin compartment with a promise of meeting at the station.

Soon the rest also changed into their Hogwarts robes before they got another company. This time two tall redheads barged into the compartment. They banged the door behind them while panting. After catching their breath, they shared a glance and burst out laughing.

Ginny and Sia looked at the boys as Luna continued reading her magazine that she had taken out mid-journey. While Sia looked on with curiosity, Ginny glared at her brothers.

After calming down, the twins finally noticed that they had company.

"Hey, Sia. Nice to meet you again," Fred said with a smile.

"And please stop staring, Ginny. We know we are handsome," George continued with a smile.

"Narcissists," Ginny muttered.

The two brothers grinned, clearly having heard the comment. They did not stay there for long. Something about having some important work with their best friend. They took their trunks and left the compartment.

When they got close to the station, a voice echoed through the train, "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes. Please leave your luggage on the train."

Hearing this, the three left the luggage and got off the train a bit after it stopped.

After getting down at the station, they heard Hagrid's voice through the light mist and rain, "First years! First years over here!"

After more calling and waiting, Hagrid finally led them to the lake bank. Everyone oohed and aahed on seeing Hogwarts for the first time. Sia, too, stared at the beautiful sight ahead of her.

Hogwarts was a vast castle with many turrets and towers. It stood perched atop a high mountain, with its windows sparkling in the starry sky. It had a mysterious yet mystical feel to it.

"No more than four in a boat," Hagrid called, bringing the students out of their daze.

The three girls walked towards a boat and helped each other get on. Astoria took the fourth seat after the girls waited for her for a minute. There weren't many students, to begin with, about forty. So it was a bit easy for the girls to find each other.

"I'm nervous," Astoria said.

"Me too," Sia slightly smiled at her.

The girls could not bring themselves to hold a conversation longer than this for the rest of the ride.

Sia stared at the lake as the boats sailed in sync, making a beautiful sight. It reminded her of the cover page of the first book of the series. She was left in a daze when she had first seen it.

The boats reached the cliff, and Hagrid called out, "Heads down."

Everyone was so unfocused that when he shouted, everyone followed without a thought. After a while, they understood it was because of his height, and they need not bow.

The little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They sailed along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right underneath the castle until they reached a kind of underground harbor, where they clambered out onto rocks and pebbles.

They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the massive, oak front door. Hagrid knocked on the door after checking if every child was present.

The door swung open at once. A tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes stood there with a stern face.

Just one look and Sierra swore she never wanted to get on this woman's wrong side.

"The first years, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid introduced them.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here," with that, Professor McGonagall pulled the doors wide open.

Sia stared at the grand entrance hall that stood in front of her. Torches lit the hall like most magical buildings, and the ceiling was too high to make out. A magnificent marble staircase stood facing them that led to the upper floors.

Professor McGonagall showed the first years into a small, empty chamber off the hall. They crowded in, standing closer together than they would usually have done, peering about nervously.

After everyone quieted down a bit, Professor McGonagall started, "Welcome to Hogwarts. The start of term banquet will begin-"

Sia muted her words as she started looking around the room. The four friends were standing at the back of the crowd, so no one noticed her lack of attention.

After about five minutes, McGonagall finished the introduction, "I shall return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly."

She left the chamber, leaving everyone fidgeting in nervousness. Students started murmuring and talking to each other in whispers as if someone would scold them for talking.

"I don't believe it, but my brothers said that sorting is scary. I don't know which house I'll get into," Ginny said, though she did look a bit bothered by it.

"But my sister said I should not worry about sorting much," Astoria said.

"I hope I don't get into Gryffindor; their common room is infested with Nargles," Luna replied.

"Let's not worry about sorting right now. No matter which house we get sorted in, let's be friends and support each other," Sia smiled as she tried to calm the girls.

"Yes," Astoria agreed with a smile.

Ginny and Luna, too, nodded their heads in agreement.

Just then, the ghosts walked into the small chamber through a wall. Everyone jumped while Sia looked at them with fascination. Pearly-white and slightly transparent, they glided across the room, talking.

"Ooh. First years!" a fat-looking monk said, whom Sia guessed was the Fat Frier.

She observed the other ghosts. One of them dressed in ruffs and tights, Sia guessed he must be Nearly Headless Nick. Another ghost whom Sia recognized immediately was the Bloody Baron. He stood alone at the back of the crowd with a gaunt face and wide, staring, black eyes. There were silver bloodstains on his robes, and he carried chains.

The ghosts talked with the students for the next five minutes before McGonagall interrupted them, calling the new students for the Sorting ceremony.

The students followed her outside the chamber through the double doors into the Great Hall. Immediately the students gasped, and 'ooh's' and 'aah's' could be heard.

It was just splendid and grand. Even Sia murmured a 'wow' at the sight of the Great Hall. Thousands of candles were floating in midair, lighting the hall. The students sat on four long tables laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the front, another long table was present on a raised platform, where the teachers sat.

Sia looked up at the infamous Hogwarts ceiling, which was said to be bewitched to look like the sky outside. Today the weather was quite clear, giving them a beautiful view of stars dotting the night sky.

Sia was brought out of her daze as Professor McGonagall placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years and then placed a pointed wizard's hat on top of it.

The students were standing in front of the staff table with their back to the teachers. Hundreds of students stared at them as they stood in front of them.

After a few seconds passed, a rip near the brim of the Sorting Hat opened, and it began to sing.