Harry stood, almost awe struck, staring at the creatures that had always pulled the carriages. My team and I had learned early on that none of the innocent children here could see them. They had never seen death.

And after last year, Harry had.

My ear perked at the sound of someone purposefully striding towards us. I casually glanced over my shoulder at Ron, his ears turning red as his eyes left my form and trained on Harry.

"Where's Pig?" he asked, moving next to Harry.

"That Luna girl was carrying him," Harry said quickly as he faced Ron. "Where d'you reckon—"

"—Hagrid is?" Ron finished for him. "I dunno. He'd better be okay..."

My eyes spied Draco Malfoy, no doubt in a foul mood, shove a few second-years out of the way as his 'posse' looked on and laughed. As they boarded the carriage, I gave Sai a look.

He grimaced. "Do I have to?"

His reply was Hermione appearing through a crowd of students, panting. "Malfoy was being absolutedly foul to a first-year back there. I swear I'm going to report him, he's only had his badge three minutes and he's using it to bully people worse than ever… where's Crookshanks?"

I gave Sai the eye and he deflated dramatically. He made a single handsign and his Ravenclaw badge soon became a Slytherin one.

"You owe me," he claimed as he stomped his way over to Malfoy's carriage, no doubt to make his like living hell.

I liked the thought of that.

"Ginny has her…" Harry said, watching Sai leave their group and then turn back to me with an arched brow. He glanced to the side, catching sight of Ginny emerging from the crowd, Crookshanks struggling to free itself from her arms. "There she is."

"Thanks," Hermione said, taking the annoyed cat. She gave us a look, as if she did not want to share a carriage with us. "Come on, let's get a carriage together before they all fill up."

She took off towards the nearest unoccupied carriage as Ron complained, Ginny following her. Seeing as she was his responsibility, Naruto followed as well, throwing a grin over his shoulder.

I wasn't stupid. I knew that, like the train compartment, there would not be enough room for all of us in the carriages. We had previously decided that only one of us would be in the carriage while the others used the darkness to conceal ourselves and run alongside the carriages.

Naruto lucked out and got the cushy job.

"What are those things, d'you reckon?" Harry asked Ron, nodding towards the almost horses as other students seemed to ignore them.

His curiosity had gotten the better of him, but it would do him no good asking Ron.

"What things?"

"Those horse—"

Luna approached them, holding Ron's owl's cage in her arms; the time owl was buzzing with energy, as usual.

"Here you are," she said with a lazy smile. "He's a sweet little owl, isn't he?"

"Er… yeah… he's alright," Ron replied, his mouth twitching. "Well, come on then, let's get in… what where you saying, Harry?"

"I was saying, what are those horse things?" he repeated as they walked towards the carriage Hermione, Ginny, and Naruto occupied.

A hand rested on my shoulder for only a moment. Neji was letting me know that they would begin patrolling now. I nodded—he knew that I would at least walk Harry to his carriage before joining suit.

"What horse things?"

"The horse things pulling the carriages!" Harry said loudly, his impatience getting the best of him. Ron gave Harry a perplexed look.

"What are you talking about?"

Harry went to grab Ron's arm but I intercepted. I didn't need Ron to think Harry was being to lose it. Ron, of course, gave us a weird look as I held Harry's hand in mine.

Harry looked surprised, but I did not think he disliked it. But that could simply be because I didn't want to see it if it was there.

"He can't see them, Harry," I explained, dropping his hand and taking a few steps to the creature staring me down with white pupil-less eyes. I held out a hand and touched it, rubbing its neck.

Ron looked bewildered, glancing between me and what was empty space for him.

Now he probably thought I was mad, too.

He gave us a look, muttering under his breath.

"Shall we get in, then?" he asked Harry uncertainly.

Harry nodded, looking a little better than a moment ago. I pulled my hand away from the beast and it almost looked sad that the extra attention disappeared. But then, if I was invisible to the majority of the world… I would savor any moment I had with someone who could see me.

Harry stepped up next to me as Ron disappeared into the carriage, Luna following behind.

"Get in the carriage, Harry," I said softly, turning from the creature.

He furrowed his brows, and I could see he was doing the math on how many seats there were in the carriage.

Exactly six. And with Hermione, Ginny, Naruto, Ron, Luna, and himself—it made six.

His hand found my wrist, looking around for another carriage that had a few spaces open. "We don't have to go with –"

I smoothed the smile from my face—it was a nice thought that he wanted to go with me. His hand tried to trail lower to my hand again and I pulled away, giving him a brief smile.

"But you do, Harry. Go be with your friends. I'm just a guard, remember? I can guard you from outside."

He gave me a look. "Outside? You can't possibly be walking?"

I shrugged, trying to urge him towards the carriage. "I did last year."

I sensed an argument with the way he tensed and pushed up his glasses roughly. "Last year I didn't know."

I shook my head, figuring I'd had to disappear from his sight to make him board the stupid thing. It wasn't right that I had butterflies in my stomach.

I tried to use a look on him that usually got me my way with my team, but it didn't seem to be very effective. I heaved a sigh and side stepped him when he reached for my arm again.

"I'll see you in the castle, Harry."

In his eyes, I'm sure it looked like I disappeared. Like I had never been there.

…

We followed the carriages, moving silently like wraiths, only the moving beasts ever seeming to notice our presence. But then, we'd never been able to hide from them. It was as if they could see everything.

Sometimes, if I travelled close enough to Harry's carriage, I could catch snippets of the conversation, Hagrid's disappearance being the main topic.

As the carriages began to pass through the tall stone pillars topped with winged boars, the gates to the school grounds, we each landed on a carriage silently, hunkering down to avoid anyone seeing us. Otherwise, we'd be running through the grass and the light the castle threw off could be disadvantageous to us.

The carriages pulled to a stop, students slowly moving towards the school. I slid down from the carriage on the opposite side and let out a small breath. That had always been the hardest part. Getting in without anyone seeing.

I moved around the large beasts, patting them as I did so, and easily picked out Harry. I was at his side in a matter of moments, grinning up at him when I startled him.

He ran a hand through his disheveled hair before continuing on.

The Entrance Hall was lighted with torches, the sound of eager students' footsteps bouncing off the walls as the students crossed the stone floor for the double doors to the right, leading to the Great Hall.

Harry did not notice as I again separated from him, carefully weaving through the students. My team soon joined me, each with shifty eyes as we'd feel much more comfortable to be watching our charges than waiting to be Sorted.

We easily found where the first-years were being held until they were allowed to be herded into the Great Hall, spying Ino, Shikamaru, and Hinata with our clones.

We all executed the replacement jutsu, our clones moving quickly around the corner to disappear in a cloud of smoke, no one wiser, as we took their places, now looking ourselves. Well, considering my still blonde hair, mostly ourselves. Ino's look told me she had expected me to fix it on the train.

Hinata, however, gave us a look. She, of course, would know.

Naruto looked sheepish and quickly pecked her on the cheek apologetically.

Professor McGonagall gave a typical speech, follow the rules, no using magic on others without supervision… and then picked up a stood that an ancient looking hat sat on and demanded that everyone follow her.

We entered the Great Hall, and it was a much different experience than hiding in one of the corners or on the ceiling, peering down through the illusioned sky.

Four tables ran the length of the hall, each with their House colors decorating it. Goblets and plates set the tables, each with space for their new members that had yet to be Sorted.

My eyes caught Harry's and I noticed the empty space next to him. His face said he expected me to be Sorted into Gryffindor.

Which is what I wanted.

Talk in the Great Hall faded away as we were lined up and the stood was set down, facing us.

There was silence until the hat burst into song.

In times of old when I was new

And Hogwarts barely started

The founders of our noble school

Thought never to be parted:

United by a common goal,

They had the selfsame yearning,

To make the worldʹs best magic school

And pass along their learning.

ʹTogether we will build and teach!ʹ

The four good friends decided

And never did they dream that they

Might some day be divided,

For were there such friends anywhere

As Slytherin and Gryffindor?

Unless it was the second pair

Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?

So how could it have gone so wrong?

How could such friendships fail?

Why, I was there and so can tell

The whole sad, sorry tale.

Said Slytherin, ʹWeʹll teach just those

Whose ancestry is purest.ʹ

Said Ravenclaw, ʹWeʹll teach those whose

Intelligence is surest.ʹ

Said Gryffindor, ʹWeʹll teach all those

With brave deeds to their name,ʹ

Said Hufflepuff, Til teach the lot,

And treat them just the same.ʹ

These differences caused little strife

When first they came to light,

For each of the four founders had

A house in which they might

Take only those they wanted, so,

For instance, Slytherin

Took only pure‐blood wizards

Of great cunning, just like him,

And only those of sharpest mind

Were taught by Ravenclaw

While the bravest and the boldest

Went to daring Gryffindor.

Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest,

And taught them all she knew,

Thus the houses and their founders

Retained friendships firm and true.

So Hogwarts worked in harmony

For several happy years,

But then discord crept among us

Feeding on our faults and fears.

The houses that, like pillars four,

Had once held up our school,

Now turned upon each other and,

Divided, sought to rule.

And for a while it seemed the school

Must meet an early end,

What with ulfill and with jighting

And the clash of friend on friend

And at last there came a morning

When old Slytherin departed

And though the fighting then died out

He left us quite downhearted.

And never since the founders four

Were whittled down to three

Have the houses been united

As they once were meant to be.

And now the Sorting Hat is here

And you all know the score:

I sort you into houses

Because that is what Iʹm for,

But this year Iʹll go further,

Listen closely to my song:

Though condemned I am to split you

Still I worry that itʹs wrong,

Though / must ulfill my duty

And must quarter everv year

Still I wonder whether Sorting

May not bring the end I fear.

Oh, know the perils, read the signs,

The warning history shows,

For our Hogwarts is in danger

From external, deadly foes

And we must unite inside her

Or weʹll crumble from within

I have told you, I have warned you…

Let the Sorting now begin.

The hat became motionless, as if it had never performed, and applause broke out as did muttering and whispers.

It sounded a lot like advice, and a warning.

Professor McGonagall did not allow the whisperings to continue, however, and got right down to the Sorting. It was not until all the first-years were Sorted that Dumbledore stood and made the announcement everyone had been waiting for.

It was rather obvious as we towered over the first-years that we were a bit too old to be Sorted.

"My students and lovely faculty members. We all remember last year, as we welcomed students from foreign schools to join us for the Tri-Wizard Tournament. This year, will be similar as we create lasting relationships with our new friends from the East. They have travelled a long way to learn our ways and I certainly hope that you will help them settle into our culture. May we all learn something from each other!" He seated himself again and waved a hand out towards McGonagall, giving her permission to move on.

"Haruno, Sakura."

My name was butchered, but I moved forward none-the-less, catching the looks thrown my way from Harry's friends and strangely Draco Malfoy. He leered my way, smoothing his sleek blonde hair.

I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes.

Much like the first-years before me, I seated myself and McGonagall lowered the hat onto my head, the brim sinking to my ears.

And then Inner boomed.

GET OUT OF MY HEAD.

How interesting… It is a pleasure, I'm sure.

I panicked, looking around me as Inner and the hat warred.

So you've been watching over us all this time, eh? Qualities of a Gryffindor, no doubt. Loyal to a fault.

This is an invasion of privacy!

Hush, Inner. It'll go faster if you calm yourself!

So there are two of you. Odd. One is definitely the one in control. However, I can see that if the louder one was in control you'd be much different. Cunning and sly, Slytherin qualities.

Put me in Slytherin and I swear that I will make shoes out of you.

But you are also smart, smarter than most. But somehow I cannot see you getting far in Ravenclaw. So it comes down to Slytherin or Gryffindor.

At this Inner seemed to calm slightly.

Slytherin… That blonde kid is in it. I wouldn't mind getting to know him…

NO. There was no way I was going to allow myself to be put in Slytherin! I had a job to do! I had to watch over Potter!

But Inner overpowered my thoughts, the one place I could not control. I felt the hat's mouth open and I inwardly screamed.

"SLYTHERINNNNNN."

Dun dun dun! Just want to take this time to say review, please! I need some feedback. I posted yesterday and got lots of views but only a few reviews (to you who reviewed, I love you tons!). I need about... 10 reviews (or more!) before I update again. (I mean, come on guys, I updated the day after I posted a chapter. And Sakura's in Slytherin! You guys have got to be freaking out!)

See you all next time~

Jane Swan.