Then, she began wandering around, lost of course, looking for someone to help her. *Should I just sit down? I think I'm in Gryffindor, but I don’t know... Who can help me??* She asked herself, as she wandered around.

As Amy was wandering around the castle, lost and confused, she saw a cute, nice boy she met in the carriage. His name was Jian, and he was talking to another stranger, a dark-haired boy.

Amy approached the two and said, "Hi Jian! It's great to see you again! You haven't been sorted either, right?" Then, to the dark haired boy she said, "Hi there! My name is Amy, and I'm a new fourth year."

Her body was still thawing from the strikingly cold weather, and her teeth chattered quite loudly. She couldn't wait to get inside and have something hot to drink, and maybe even change into warmer clothes. She would have to write back home, and request sweatshirts, and jackets. *No one ever told me it was going to be THIS cold!* she thought.

Before Nimue could lead the boys into the Great Hall, another girl approached them and introduced herself as Amy. She evidently already had met Jian.

"Hello, Amy." interjected Nimue, "I am Elizabeth Hawkwood, the Fourth Year Prefect for Gryffindor House. I think I saw you when we were in the Leaky Cauldron earlier today. Do you need to be sorted by the Hat as well or was your House decided before you came?"

She noted the girl's teeth were chattering, "You look cold so we should go inside the Hall, you'll soon warm up in there."

With that she encouraged Jian, the quiet Piotr and Amy to follow her.

Jian gave Amy a polite nod. He was taken aback why the very enthusiastic way she greeted him with. It was also very surprising that she had not hesitated in shaking his hand back at the carriage. Western girls were very odd, he decided.

He proceeded to follow Nimue into the Great Hall.

Nimue led the three new students to the table where Nathaniel and Raphael were seated.

"Hello again." she said to them, "I understand this is the staging area for those older students being sorted. Hupi Jian and...." the pale boy hadn't spoken to her but she suddenly recalled the name Sarah had mentioned last June after his visit. "Mr. Rachinov are also both to be sorted after the First Years."

Jian nodded and politely executed a half-bow to the two boys seated. They looked remarkably alike. He fleetingly wondered if they were brothers. He remembered one of the boys to have approached their group back at the Leaky Cauldron this morning. The one called Nathaniel had introduced himself and then had quickly fled.

"Good evening," he greeted them.

Piotr remained totally silent from the moment Nimue arrived, and now that they were inside, he remained so. He rarely saw the point in talking to other people, unless it was about something that he personally found interesting. Other people's conversation could be *so* dull.

Perhaps, he realised with something of a jolt, he was becoming more like his father than he was prepared to admit. Ivan Rachinov was the same. He would ride roughshod over any conversation that was not totally centred around him, and as for his mother, well, she was so timid that she barely input into any discussion at all. Almighty Andrei, of course, was outgoing and cheerful and did everything he'd been told to do.

~Almighty Andrei is a doormat, Piotr. Remember that. The only time people will ever walk over me is when I'm six feet under. ~

The boy fixed Nimue with a silent, violet-eyed gaze. He could sense her uncertainty, taste the bitter tang of it, and he allowed himself a moment's amusement by treating her to one of his most devastating and oddly alluring smiles.

For the briefest of seconds, his eyes glowed with a strange inner hue, turning them almost magenta. "You are most kind, Miss Hawkwood," he said, the smile still on his face. "Perhaps we will have the opportunity to talk again in the near future?" It was an open-ended question, but he sounded *most* convincing.

Nimue found that her earlier feelings that Piotr was 'creepy' had melted away with that smile. She could now appreciate what Sarah had found so attractive about this boy. She was surprised the Ravenclaw girl wasn't doing more about it.

He had the most wonderful eyes. Part of her brain informed her this boy was using 'glamour' on her but she found herself ignoring this directive and just basking in it. "Of course," she said quietly, "we will after all be seeing each other every day."

She tore her attention away from him and turned to Amy. "Right, you did say you had been sorted. Shall we go and introduce you to your other House members?"

Very little was happening to pull Raphael from his reverie, a almost frenetic stream of thoughts about the sorting, unable to think, unable to move... something intruded for a second and pulled Raphael from a brink of blackness that... that... that he'd been looking into. Black spots cleared from his vision.

"Good evening," greeted another youth, this time after a short bow, looking at both him and Nathaniel... intensely. Interested in him. Had he really bowed? Raphael started to think about the black spots that still refused to totally clear: perhaps he had hit his head. It wasn't meant... to ache... that much... he rubbed his temple with his left wrist, and did his best to grasp a smile and place it in view for the other boy.

Then from behind him, Raphael saw an exchange between Nimue and... another boy. Piotr, Sarah had called him. Russian. He's Russian and his name is Piotr. He was smiling at Nimue, smiling softly, and she was smiling back. There was...

Nimue moved away suddenly, going towards another girl that Raphael didn't know. For an instant, all Raphael saw were Piotr Rachinov's bright eyes, smiling softly. And with them came a draining sensation, as all the dislike Raphael had already harboured drained away from him. Perhaps he wasn't that bad after all.

Something in Raphael rebelled against the idea, a tiny voice in his mind, labelling Piotr as 'creepy', a bit weird, and to be watched. The voice in his mind... it was soft, a little unsteady... coming up from depths within him... and the illusion that Piotr had slipped to Nimue disappeared. Raphael found that his initial assessment perhaps was right: to be watched.

He found himself moving. Towards the pale man. Wanting to rise up. Wanting to strangle him. Wanting to rip the life from him. With a shudder Raphael pushed down that darkness, and tore himself away from looking at Piotr, afraid, and looked at Jian Hupi, inviting him to sit down, saying something meaningless to him about the sorting that in truth Raphael didn't think about, or remember after.

His mind was on someone else. His mind was on the Ravenclaw table.

Sarah kept stealing glances in the direction of Raphael and Nathaniel. She was confused about her feelings for the two boys but happy nonetheless.

She was less happy to see that Piotr had joined their table. She felt less inclined to look in that direction so often in case she caught his eye or worse that he got an idea she was looking at him. She'd seen how he'd toyed with Nimue as though he were delighting in turning whatever power he had over people on and off like a light switch for his private amusement.

She could hardly wait for the Sorting to begin - as more and more students sat down at their House tables, surely the entrance of the First Years couldn't be that far off.

Nathaniel nodded politely as Jian Hupi joined their little cluster. So it seemed that he and Raphael weren't the only fourth years to need sorting after all. That was a small relief.

He saw Raphael watching the Ravenclaw table, and wondered if the Hat would oblige their wishes, or whether they were bound to oblige it.

Jian nodded back at Nathaniel. Jian's eyes then skimmed over the length and breadth of the Great Hall, wondering why most of the boys his age had long--or longish--hair.

He noticed that no one else there was bald. He felt a momentary sense of being naked. However, he looked the way he did because of the simplicity and sacrifice he had chosen to live his life by.

He took a seat beside the other boy, the one who had half-muttered an invitation for him to sit down. This boy, he noted, looked sort of ill, his eyes darting in and out of focus. To the ordinary eye he would look like someone extremely nervous but Jian knew better.

"Excuse me," he said to the boy, "are you well?"

"Am I well?" repeated Raphael dully, looking at the newcomer. Looking down at the floor, he thought of the sorting. "I think I'm just nervous," he said to Jian, lying. "My name is Raphael," he said, trying to slow his heartbeat, trying to calm down.

Jian did not believe him one bit, but he nodded all the same. "As you say, Raphael," he said evenly.

He decided that the other boy was most likely nervous about the Sorting. Jian himself had apprehensions, but he would cross a desert without bringing water first before admitting these. What would the brothers think if he wasn't Sorted into Gryffindor or Ravenclaw? Would they deem him unfit to be one of them?

Jian wanted to be in Gryffindor. Would the Hat take heed of this? He had no answer.

What had he said? 'As you say'? Raphael looked at the newcomer curiously, wondering... A glance at Nathaniel told him pretty much what he needed to know. Yes, he did quite probably look like a gibbering idiot - his knuckles closed so tightly over... over... that they had gone pearl white. His face probably was the same - white as a sheet, impossibly shaking, eyes blurred and unfocused...

...across the room he saw the familiar visage of two blue eyes, sitting in the shadows of the doorway, for just a second. He could have been shouting 'you look like a nutter' and it wouldn't have been more obvious then what Raphael saw in those blue eyes. Perhaps... perhaps if some bit of him could step away, be something separate, be panicky on it's own terms, the rest could function...

"Okay," said Raphael, forcing some humour into his voice. "Alright. I'm scared stupid. It's nerve-racking," admitted Raphael, one youngster to the other, and while somewhere underneath there was a surge of panic and loathing at the lie, Raphael found that he could force good humour on himself, even... perhaps... to the point where he'd start fooling himself. He thought for a second. "What house... do you want to be in?"

To this particular question, however, Jian had a ready answer. He had long since trained himself never to admit what he wanted to others. That would disgrace the Mian-Ju-Tao's creed of sacrificing one's desires for higher enlightenment.

"Being in Hogwarts School, my friend, is an honour already. I wish for nothing more, yes?"

*********

Magnus had been slightly disappointed that the carriage had become so full. An opportunity to test his "magnetism" after the summer break had escaped him. So he had settled back into his seat and, apart from keeping face by showing his usual enthusiasm for meeting the fairer sex, had brooded quietly to himself.

Bad weather also always made him broody. It spoiled his hair, and that was most definitely not good. He had lots to brood about, having spent the summer back in Sweden with his guardian, the Minister of Magic, Joakim Karlsson. He had been confined more or less to quarters as Karlsson hadn't wanted any unfortunate repeats of the incidents of the previous year, and there had been quite a few IMPs (Important Magical People) visiting the ministry with their families.

But, on the bright side, he was now free again. Free to "mingle" to his heart's content. Of course, Arcadia would continue to be the main target. She'd better not ignore him again. He was surprised that he had survived without any retribution at the end of last term. Perhaps the girl's revengeful streak was more hype than substance. Still, best to be at least alert to potential attack.

He grinned to himself. This was going to be so much fun.

So lost was he in his own thoughts that he didn't really notice that the carriage had drawn to a halt and that most of the occupants had already disembarked. Pulling his cloak around him, and given his hair a last smoothing out, he stepped out, looking around for familiar faces.

********

Drake decided that, since he wasn't a student anymore, it'd be best for him to just go inside the castle, and so he did. Inside, he realised that he didn't know where to go to. Nobody had told him what to do once he arrived. He sighed and felt a bit neglected.

Then he decided that it would probably be best to search one of the teachers and ask for instructions. He started to pad along the corridors in the direction of what he dimly remembered to be Professor McGonagall's study.

Luis stood uncertainly at the middle of the sea of students excitedly chattering their way to the Great Hall. Several upperclassmen, some of them who came into Hogwarts with him during his first year (now Seventh Years), looked him over curiously.

He looked at his robes and straightened the Slytherin crest pinned on it. He was back. For the moment, he was safe. Even if he was pathetically heartbroken. He did not have the time to play the brooding hero.

His keen eyes swept over the crowd and he saw a group of girls with a boy. From where he stood he could see the lot of them bearing the Slytherin crest. Third or Fourth Years, most likely.

He walked up to them and cleared his throat. "If the ladies and the gentleman would pardon me, I'm Luis Verga. Lucky to be back at Hogwarts and resuming my magical education by being a Fourth Year Slytherin."

He gave all of them a charming smile. He was glad that he was tall--it made him look a little bit impressive. A little bit like Snape.

"Er... hello," Peesey said not waiting for Tish to answer. "Er.. I'm Peesemould, also of 4th Year Slytherin, pleased to meet you?" He said a little "miffed" at this boy's superior tone.

"Anyway, did you have nice holidays?" Morticia asked Peesey.

"Hmmm," he said turning from the boy "yes, my holidays were O.K, a bit boring maybe. But otherwise O.K" He dropped his voice to a whisper "Who's this cocky kid?"

Winifred smiled back at the new addition to their group. He was handsome and quite tall quite unlike the other fourth year boys. She wanted to ask him how old he was, but at the risk of sounding stupid, replied with a standard greeting. "Hi. My name is Winifred Fanel, fourth year Slytherin as well," she said, "I wonder when the feast is starting, I can't wait to see all the new Slytherins."

Luis returned Winifred's smile, along with a knowing twinkle in his gray eyes. "A pleasure to meet you, Miss Fanel," he said. "I have to agree when you say that every new school year always merits something to look forward to. I myself feel the same way right now."

"Do you suppose we should head into the Great Hall? The feast should be starting soon," Winifred said, trying to cover her nervousness.

He turned to address the boy and gave him a polite nod and a friendly smile. "Hello. Likewise pleased to meet you."

Peesey smiled back at Luis. "Hmmm, maybe we should, everyone else seems to be going that way" Peesey returned Winifred.

"Let us be on our way, then." Luis inclined his head to the Great Hall. "We can't keep the masses waiting, can we?"

A lazy smile spread across his features as he quickly scanned the student population of Hogwarts, effectively hiding his anxiety at being left academically behind by people his age. He was going to be laughed at, and he was prepared to take it all like a real man. Sissies belonged six feet under.

His black robes billowing after him, he strode towards and into the Great Hall.

"Hmm," Peesey sneered at the boy "I suppose" he followed him in taking metal note of how his robes did that billowing thing.

Niki took this opportunity to sneak off surreptitiously. She didn't want to hear Tish explain everything that had happened over the summer--everything that she, Niki, already knew. And maybe things she didn't, but never mind that...

She looked around the crowded room, finally catching the eye of... Randal Fudge.

********

The carriage that Randal had been riding in pulled up at the castle a few minutes earlier. He had graced Arcadia and Oriana with a smile as he alighted from the carriage. "I will see you girls later." Although he really hoped that he could avoid Arcadia for a while. He knew that she was going to try and weave some spell over him soon.

As they reached the school and Randal left, Pantalaimon stood in front of Oriana stopping her rushing away.

"I do hope you still remember the little 'task' I asked you to do for me? I do expect it done soon.... very soon. I would hate our wonderful friendship to come to an end, a messy end, so soon. You wouldn't want that would you?" Arcadia kept her 'sweet smile' as she said this

Randal wandered into the castle and towards the great hall. As he entered the school he saw the students milling around. Niki was standing on her own. He decided that maybe he would try to make more of an effort to talk to some of his fellow Slytherins.

"Hi Niki!" Randal smiled at her. "How are you? Did you have a good holiday?"

"No," Niki said cheerfully, "but it makes good conversation fodder, so I don't really mind... How was yours? Lots of work in the Ministry?"

Randal grinned. "Yes, I suppose it does. Yeh, Dad had me running around all over the place doing menial tasks for him. Sometimes I just wish he'd pick on my sister instead. But then I guess we all know why he doesn't."

He glanced around. "Should we be heading for the great hall do you suppose?"

"I expect so," Niki said glumly. "The Sorting is soon." She didn't want to watch...it made her feel bitter. But she had no choice, so she would watch, and like it.

Randal started to lead the way to the great hall. "Why so glum?" he asked her. "Do you not enjoy the sorting and the beginning of term feast?"

"No, not really..." Niki sighed. "I ate too much on the train and I ... don't like the Sorting." She crossed her arms in front of her, hugging them tightly to her chest, and shrugged. "Don't know why."

Randal wasn't sure that he believed that she didn't know why. Niki appeared to be depressed about everything. Randal was not sure why, but maybe she didn't want to tell him anyway. He sighed.

Turning to face her again, he looked at her seriously for a minute. His yellow eye sparkling in the light of the torches that were fixed to the walls. "Look Niki, if you want me to shut up and shove off just tell me. Other wise if you want to tell me what is so bad then I am happy to listen. The choice is yours."

With that he walked the last distance to the Slytherin table and sat down.

Niki followed him and sat down. "So...how 'bout those Cannons?" she said brightly.

Randal looked at her slightly confused. "Cannons?" Randal looked confused. "I have to admit I have no idea what you mean."

Niki shook her head. "Quidditch team. Never mind." She cast around for some other topic of conversation. "Erm. Are you taking any of the new lessons this year?"

Randal grinned. "Ah, well I'm not one for following Quidditch I'm afraid. Lessons for this term? I'm still not 100% sure. I thought the hidden talents sounded interesting, or possibly myth magic and folklore."

Reluctantly, Alpha entered the Great Hall. Since last year when she was sorted herself, she had ambiguous feelings about the Sorting. Well, she just had to sit through this ordeal, she thought.

She sat next to Niki. "Hello Niki, Randal" she said gloomily. "How are you all?" Everyone could notice this was just an obligatory question, she didn't expect an answer.

The train ride was fine, the carriages ok, but the Sorting... Alpha looked around to see if she could escape while Miss Eezy, proudly sitting on her shoulder complained.

Randal smiled at Alpha as she joined them. "I'm fine thank you. You?" As she joined them however, Dumbledore spoke and the sortings began.

**********

Amy was extremely glad that Nimue had led the group inside, because she was very cold, and wasn't dressed properly. "Oh, my last name is Lambert," Amy answered Nimue's question. "And I would love to meet some of my house members," she replied, and smiled. Amy was beginning to feel much more welcome at Hogwarts.

Nimue smiled at the boys and wished them all good luck and then led Amy to the Gryffindor table and seated her in the section where the other Fourth Years were seated. She greeted her Gryffindor classmates who were already there.

"Hi, this is Amy Lambert who had been sorted to Gryffindor before today."

Shinrei had sat down at the Gryffindor table beside Madison and Yvette. She was glad to be in the company of her roommates--they were energetic, bubbly girls who never failed to make her smile or at least take her mind off the more serious, troublesome aspects of her life.

Nimue was now leading Amy, the girl she met in the carriage, to the table. "Konban wa, Amy-san, Nimue-san" Shinrei replied to Nimue's introduction. "Kindly join us."

Yvette grinned, and resisted the urge to clap her neon pink gloved hands together. A new student? Those were always fun... Be nice, she reminded herself. This girl's new.

"Hey, Amy! I'm Yvette. You're going to have so much fun in Gryffindor!"

"Thank you very much!" Amy said to Nimue, extremely grateful for her help. Amy took a seat next to a few other fourth year Gryffindors, and began conversing with them. "Thanks," Amy said with a kind smile to both Shinrei, and Yvette. "I hope I have a fun year!"

Amy then replied to Yvette with a slight laugh. Something about Yvette puzzled Amy. Perhaps it was her bright pink coat and gloves, or her extremely cheerful manner. Whatever it was, it made Amy feel more comfortable at the table. *It probably is the coat and the gloves* she thought to herself.

Nimue was glad that Amy was settling in and that Shinrei was also joining in more.

"Have you heard?" she said to the girls but to Yvette and Madison especially, "Elia Concinni won't be returning this year. Apparently the Aurors Widows and Orphans Committee have arranged for her to attend a private school."

Elia had always been somewhat reclusive and the previous year she had been traumatised by the arrival of Niki Pheidippides, whose Death Eater Mother had been responsible for the death of Elia's Father - an Auror. Though her classmates hadn't been aware of it - this had led Elia to some desperate acts.

Nonetheless, Nimue suspected there was more to Elia's leaving than just the need for her to be in a less stressful environment. Elia had exhibited the ability to make herself seem invisible, a rare talent and a useful one. Had Elia been recruited by one of the Ministry's Departments? Nimue knew that it was unlikely they'd ever know for sure. Marvo probably would know but he wouldn't tell them - just drop the odd maddening hint.

At the mention of Elia Concinni, Shinrei's thoughts began to drift. She did not know the girl well, only saw her face, knew her by name and lodged in the same room with her during the previous term.

She glanced around the Great Hall. Gods, she needed to talk to someone. Someone who would understand her predicament. Someone to help lessen the shock of Kanjou's marriage proposal and the even bigger shock of her very sudden acceptance of it.

But Kami-sama...none of them really knew the ways of the life she had led with Clan Kossawa. She forced her thoughts back to the present discussion. "So I suppose we would be having a new roommate for this term then?" she asked, directing her attention to Yvette, Madison and Nimue.

"Elia won't be here?" Yvette repeated in dismay. She'd gotten to know Elia quite well that sort of thing happened when you shared a room with someone for three years. "Poor girl! Another school? I'll have to get her address. Maybe I can owl her something...Chocolate Frogs, those always cheer me up...and maybe a Quiberon flag..."

She settled back in her seat, and rubbed her gloved hands together to make them feel a bit warmer. Climate changes really weren't fun. However, first days were always fun.

Loud and as oblivious as she normally seemed, the French girl had a tendency to notice things. Like Shinrei's distraction. She leaned over to her, and whispered to her in an almost inaudible voice, "You're nearly as distracted as I am cold. If there's something weighing you down, you can tell me about it later..."

Her voice returned to its usual volume, and she looked around with a dazzling smile. "Of course we'll have a new roommate this term! Amy!"

Grey eyes darted to look at Maddie and Nimue, and once again she flashed her wicked grin. "Amy, you're going to just love all my decorations. I even got another poster!"

"Thank you, Yvette-san," Shinrei said in reply to the other girl's offer of telling her what was *weighing her down.*

She seriously considered the idea of telling someone about how very confused she felt. She needed to voice all these feelings out. But...doing such a thing would not be honourable. It would indicate that the reasons for her decision were unclear. That was something she would never do to the Clan and Kanjou--give them "second thoughts."

Honour above all things. Shinrei smiled at Yvette. "This is nothing. I am but distracted as there is a new student I am hoping would be Sorted into Gryffindor House. A healer and a martial artist, Yvette-san."

She gestured across the Great Hall to the table where the new transfer students sat and indicated Jian Hupi. The Sorting had already began; Shinrei surmised the older students were Sorted after the First Years.

"You're hoping he'll be Sorted? Into Gryffindor?" Yvette's grey eyes widened for a moment, and then she winked at Shinrei. "I think I'm starting to understand..."

She peered at the boy. "Oh, Shin, you have good taste in guys, too!" She giggled, and settled back to watch Amy. Anyone who liked England MUST be partially insane.