Beth

The train started to brake, and I shushed Dan and Cat, who had been teasing each other endlessly.

"Guys!" Felix hissed. "I think we're here."

I looked out the window and saw the Hogsmeade platform.

"I think so too." I replied, trying to sound level-headed. Truthfully, my heart was pounding like a jackhammer and I felt like I was soaked from my sweat.

The train came to a complete stop, and we heard footsteps coming from outside the compartment, presumably to unload onto the platform.

Cat, Dan, and Felix rose out of their seats almost in unison.

Cat looked at me. "Beth? Are you coming?"

"Um, yes. Sorry." I stood up and followed her and the boys out of our compartment.

Dan led us out onto the platform, where I could hear a gruff voice calling out like a merchant.

"First-years, this way! This way for all first-years!"

Cat jumped up and down in joy. "That's Hagrid!"

"Who?" I asked, confused as to her excitement.

"Hagrid, the gamekeeper! How do you not know who he is?" Cat expressed her strong disbelief.

Dan blinked. "I'm surprised too, Beth. Did you grow up in barn?"

"Dan!" Cat smacked his arm chidingly.

"No, I grew up in a church." I hissed under my breath.

"What was that?" Cat asked me, unawares.

"Nothing." I said, a bit quickly.

"Come on, guys, or Hagrid and the other first-years will leave without us!" Felix distracted Cat and Dan's attention away from me.

"Oh, right!" Cat grabbed my hand and her brother's and dragged us towards a huge figure in the darkness.

I stole a glance to Felix, who had been following us.

Thank you, I mouthed the grateful words to him, and he gave me a small nod in exchange.

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Apparently, Hagrid was a half-giant, half-man enormous being with beady black eyes, a long unruly beard, and a kind smile. He led the first-years into these small boats and had us get in pairs to row out to Hogwarts. I decided to go with Dan and Felix went with Cat. Felix and I had agreed that if we had let them pair up together, they'd probably crash the boat with their unending arguing.

When we were out on the lake, Dan looked up at the Hogwarts Castle with awe in his gaze. I kept my head down and moved my paddle rhythmically. The Castle seemed to welcome me in open arms, as it did with every one else. The disposition I felt from this place made me nervous. I don't want to be here. I don't want to hurt anyone.

In due time, we reached the shore. Hagrid led all of the first-years up to the Castle entrance. Once we were inside, a slender woman who introduced herself as Professor Liana led us up to the great hall whist explaining the history of the houses of Hogwarts.

I was only half listening to the lecture, because, for one, I didn't really care which house I got into, and secondly, I was still a tad bit overwhelmed by everything happening.

"Now listen up and quiet down, all of you." Professor Liana's voice called out, and I snapped out of my thoughts and paid attention to her. "As I was saying, when I place the Sorting Hat upon your head, the Hat will determine whatever Hogwarts house you'll be put in. And while you stay here, your house will be like your family. Now follow me, students." The Professor walked into what was probably the Great Hall, judging by the hugeness of the room.

The first-years followed Professor Liana down the Great Hall and stopped just short of some steps leading up to a stool with a ragged hat resting on it, and behind the stool was a long table with all the teachers and professors seated at it.

Professor Liana walked up the steps and stopped next to the stool. She turned to the students to address them. "Now, I will place the Sorting Hat upon your heads and then you will be sorted into your houses." She unrolled a scroll and looked at the names listed.

Professor Liana called out a bunch of names of peers I didn't know to go up to the Sorting Hat. One thing I did notice though, was that while they were placed in either Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw seemingly at random, so far none of the children had been placed in Slytherin. With each name called and sorted into everything but Slytherin, I saw the Headmistress grow more and more worried and tense. How strange.

"Catriona Jedan-Smrt!" Cat's name being called snapped me out of my thoughts.

Cat nervously inched closer to the podium and sat down on the stool. Professor Liana placed the hat on her head.

The hat seemed to ponder for a moment, before yelling out Cat's house. "Ravenclaw!"

The Ravenclaw table burst into cheers and claps as Cat skipped gleefully towards them.

"Daniel Jedan-Smrt!"

Dan strut up to the podium and sat down on the stool. The professor repeated the process of placing the hat of Dan's head, and the Hat immediately decided.

"Gryffindor!"

The Gryffindor table cheered for their newest member, like the Ravenclaws had for Cat. Dan sat down with them, looking mostly excited, but also a little crestfallen that he'd been separated from Cat.

Professor Liana called up more students I didn't recognize, and the Sorting Hat sorted them all. Still no Slytherins, though.

"Felix Sage!"

Felix approached the stage, and sat down. The Hat was placed on his head, and he was sorted.

"Hufflepuff!"

Two or three names later, I was called up. I saw I was the last person called. But with a surname like mine, that's a bit towards the end.

"Bethalyn Ulv!"

I dragged myself up the steps and I sat down in the stool. The Professor placed the hat on my head.

Ah, so a lycanthrope, eh? Interesting. The Sorting Hat's scratchy voice spoke in my head.

Don't worry, Bethalyn Ulv, I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't think you had the will to make others change. Not many others have this. You'll need to be strong in the coming months.

"Slytherin!"

Sorry it's been a few weeks since I've updated this, I had a horrible case of... writer's block

DUN DUN DAAAAA

thnks for being patient with me, I really appreciate it.

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