Hey! Long time no update! Thanks for being patient with me. I've been working on this for a while. So now we have Callista's Sorting and her father trying to figure out her past. What will happen? Read on to find out. Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I am just a broke college student.

It was good to be back at Hogwarts, Arthur decided as he looked around the Great Hall. For all that he complained to his parents about classes and professors and the rules, coming back to Hogwarts always felt a little like returning home. And now Callie would be here with him, just as they had always dreamed. It had crushed Arthur to turn eleven and have to go to Hogwarts and be Sorted with his twin. He never thought they'd be in the same house; Callie was too much a gentle and imaginative soul for Gryffindor, but he wanted to share the experience with her.

Now, six years later, Callie would be sorted too. Arthur kept glancing back at the door of the Hall, eagerly waiting for his sister to walk through the doors. Hermione sighed loudly, distracting him.

"Honestly, Arthur, they will be here any minute," she reprimanded. "Staring at the door won't make anyone arrive faster."

"Lay off, Mione," Ron defended, always the loyal friend. "His sister came back from the dead, and now she'll be at Hogwarts with us. I think the bloke has a right to be excited."

"She was never dead," Arthur insisted. "She was just gone. There's a difference." He had always hated it when people said Callie was dead. She had never been dead. He would have known somehow.

Ron shrugged, not bothered by the distinction. "What House do you think she'll be sorted into?"

Arthur had to think about that question. He loved his sister dearly, but she was hard to read these days. The Callie he had grown up was gentle, charismatic, and imaginative, and while his twin was still all those things, she had also acquired an aerobic tongue and a tough skin. Really, Callie could probably go into any of the Houses, even (shudder) Slytherin.

"Maybe Ravenclaw," Ginny suggested, joining the trio's conversation. "I've never seen Callie anywhere without a book, and I know she doesn't like that Luna is by herself in that house."

"Callie would be good in Hufflepuff too," Neville stated, startling everyone around him. He had been following the conversation for a while now, but he didn't feel the need to speak up. Ginny did enough talking for the both of them. "She's kind, friendly, and good with plants."

Before Arthur could voice his opinion, the doors of the Great Hall swung open. The first years piled into the Hall as per usual, but behind them were ten girls. The youngest were no older than 12, and the oldest of them was probably Callie. She stood in front of them all, head held high, hair perfectly plaited, a neutral expression on her face. Arthur was reminded of a momma lion protecting her cubs, and for the first time he couldn't help but wonder if he and Callie would be in the same house after all.

"I guess we're about to find out," he whispered to his friends as Professor McGonagall stepped up to read out the names of the first years. He just hoped that, no matter what, his sister stayed safe. And away from Slytherins, of course. And boys. That last one was wishful thinking, but could you blame him? He was an older brother after all.

Callista barely listened to the Sorting Hat's judgements, not much interested in the fate of kids that weren't her responsibility. No matter what Houses they were in, her girls could depend on her, and they knew that. Callista had done too much for them to not know that. Instead, she tried to figure out exactly where she belonged.

She wasn't a Gryffindor, that was for sure. Callista could be brave; in fact, she often had to be, but she was never brave for bravery's sake. She was brave to survive, and she'd be a coward if that meant her survival and the survival of the people she cared about. It would nice to be in the same house as Artie, Ginny, and Neville, but Callista had a feeling the Gryffindor foolhardiness and ego would begin to grate on her after prolonged exposure.

With Gryffindor out, she began to consider Ravenclaw. It was an obvious choice for her; she loved to read and learn. More than that, it was a safe option, one without any controversy. From what she had learned from Luna, Ravenclaws were free to befriend anyone they liked. They were a more neutral house, and that was something she could appreciate. On the other hand, she didn't like how they had treated her best friend. Luna reluctantly told her how the older students had stolen her belongings and her homework when she was younger, and her peers often referred to her as "Loony" Lovegood. Anger over Luna's treatment aside, Callista could not live in a house with such closemindness. Callista was book smart, yes, but she was also street smart, and she knew that it didn't always translate the same way.

Slytherin was an option for a fleeting moment before she remembered that she was Callie Potter now, not Callista Gerszewski. Callista Gerzewski, a poor Polish girl from Knockturn Alley, could have been sorted into Slytherin without a fuss, but not Callie Potter. Callie Potter was the twin sister of the Boy-Who-Lived, the daughter of Head Auror James Potter. Callie Potter being sorted into Slytherin would cause waves, and Callista wasn't willing to draw such attention to herself. She was cunning, charismatic, and willing to do anything to survive, and if that meant pretending then that was what she would do.

Decision made, Callista listened as McGonagall finished the last first year's name and clear her throat. "It is my pleasure to announce that Hogwarts will be joined by ten new transfer students. When your name is read, please come up."

All her girls, even Becks, seemed nervous. Callista smiled at them, trying to reassure them everything would be all right. Nothing could hurt them here. She had friends in nearly every house, and they would keep an eye on them for her.

"First, the second year transfers. Genoveva, Adelaide." Sweet, quiet little Addy went and sat down on the stool, her hands shaking. Callista had protected her and Freja the most since they were the youngest, not letting them fully entertain clients yet. She had made sure they both went to good foster families.

"Hufflepuff." Addy smiled at her friends and hopped off to go sit at Hufflepuff. The sorting wasn't a shock to any of them. Addy had a heart of gold.

"Klein, Freja." Freja stomped up to the stool, sitting down defiantly. Callista pitied the house that would have to rein in Freja's fiery spirit. She never backed down from a challenge or dare, and her temper was almost as fiery as her hair.

The Hat took a minute to deliberate where Freja should go, but Callista thought she knew what that decision would be. "Gryffindor." Called it, Callista thought wryly to herself. Freja's defiant look didn't change as she took a seat at the Gryffindor table, arms crossed. Arthur shot a look at Callista, eyebrows raised. She just smirked.

"Third year transfers. Manko, Emilia." Emilia walked gracefully up to the stool, crossing her legs gently as she sat down. Milia, nicknamed Queenie by the other girls, always seemed like a crown should be perched on her head. She was as proper as could be, and Callista knew that marrying right was important to her. She was slightly standoffish but never unkind.

The Hat wasn't even on her head for a second before stating, "Slytherin." Milia outwardly revealed nothing, but Callista knew she must be pleased. Her family was a minor Pureblood family in ruins. They would appreciate the contacts having a daughter in Slytherin would bring.

"Fourth year transfers. Barnes, Diana." Diana seemed to float to the stool, always lost in her own world. Diana was one of the girls Callista particularly watched out for because she hadn't been able to protect her. Not from Teufel's men. Madame had been so mad that Teufel would dare hurt one of her girls. They all nursed Diana back to health for a month, but she was never quite the same.

The Hat seemed to take a while Sorting through Diana's head, and Callista felt her protective streak rising up. If that battered old scrap hurt Diana in any way, she would send it to Jace's mom to clean with. "Ravenclaw." Callista sighed with relief as Diana sat down by Luna at the Ravenclaw table. She would have someone to watch out for her there.

"Soulis, Ruta." Every step Ruta took towards the stool was calculated, practical. She was the pragmatic to Diana's dreamy, the dark hair and exotic features to Diana's blonde hair and classic British features. The two girls were best friends, and Callista knew Ruta would go where Diana went. She had been the only one to really get through to Diana after the attack.

"Ravenclaw." Ruta immediately sat down next to Diana, smiling reassuringly at Callista. Callista knew that meant Ruta would take care of any of their girls in Ravenclaw. Ruta's mother beat nature was second only to her own.

"Fifth year transfers. Orloff, Sofya." Sofya's hips swayed back and forth as she walked, sitting down on the stool with a man-eating grin. Sofya was not Callista's favorite person to try to manage. Sofya had been sold to Madame by her uncle, and she threw herself into the brothel life wholeheartedly. Sometimes Callista thought she even enjoyed it. God help the teenage boys of Hogwarts with Sofya Orloff out on the prowl.

"Slytherin." Orloff took her place at the Slytherin table, winking seductively at the boys sitting nearby. Callista had to stop herself from rolling her eyes.

"Romanski, Malina." Malina had a good heart, but she was much too enamored with Sofya to think for herself. She would do anything to please the other girl. "Slytherin." Malina obediently took her place next to Sofya, smiling shyly at those around her.

"Sixth year transfers. Jolie, Colette." Colette walked slowly up to the stool, still weak from her terrible illness. Callista had to stop herself from going and helping Colette. She knew the other girl would never forgive her if she did. Still, despite her weakened state, all the boys stared at her. Callista was convinced she had some Veela heritage. Colette was never much interested in boys, however.

"Ravenclaw." Colette grinned and sat down next to her girls, taking a small sip of water. Callista hoped she remembered to take her potions after dinner. Maybe she would remind her.

"Seventh year transfers. Lebowtiz, Rebekah." Becks made a face, her hair turning orange. Callista squeezed her best friend's hand reassuringly before letting go. Becks managed to make her way to the stool without tripping over her own feet, a common occurrence, and sat down with a thump. Callista didn't doubt for a second what house Becks would be in.

"Gryffindor." Becks sighed with relief and almost fell off the stool in an effort to get to the Gryffindor table. She grinned at Callista as she sat down next to Artie, and Callista smiled back. Becks would be taken care of there.

"Potter, Callista." Callista held her head up high as she walked to the stool. She had faced scarier things than a ratty old hat, and she would not let it phase her. She could feel eyes on her, but she ignored them. She sat down and kept her face blank as Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on her head.

Well, the Hat rumbled, it seems like you have already decided where you should be, Miss Potter.

I've given it some thought, Callie told the Hat. There are certain things I hope to accomplish here.

Ambitious and resourceful, the Hat mused. Are you sure you do not want me to place you in Slytherin? You would flourish there.

Too obvious, Callista disagreed. I wouldn't want to give all my secrets away at once. Besides, in Hufflepuff they will think I am a helpless lamb.

The Hat seemed to be amused by that. From what I can see, you are anything but that, Ms. Potter. Very well then.

"Hufflepuff." Callista smiled triumphantly and went to sit next to Addy at the Hufflepuff table. Her brother and her friends cheered for her, even Seth as he got dirty looks from his fellow Slytherins. She did think she would do well in that house, but she was also exhausted. Callista wanted a break more than anything, and she knew she could trust the people in Hufflepuff. More importantly, she knew she could lie to them. There were some things she wasn't ready for anyone, not even her family to know. Not now, maybe not ever. For now, she would bide her time and keep an eye out. Trouble was coming, and Callista wasn't sure what way it would be coming from.

James Potter rubbed his eyes with his hand, weary from looking at these files all day. So far, he and the other Aurors had been tracking all of the Madame's connections: her clients, her suppliers, the people she lent money to, etc. Her brothel had been a hot bed of activity, and it would probably take a few months just to sort through it all. That, however, was not what was troubling him.

There had been ten girls, including his daughter, working in that brothel. James had made it his goal to find out how they all had ended up there. A few were bought by Madame from sex traffickers. Luckily, Larisa Tretyakov had kept meticulous records, probably to use as blackmail later. They had all those men's names, and they were working on finding them and closing down their "business". A few of the girls had been lent to Madame to pay off debts or bring in some kind of meager income for their families. It made James sick to think of fathers lending out their daughters for purchase. What kind of man did that to his child?

The rest were either orphans or runaways who Madame manipulated into working for her with the promise of food and a warm bed. It was not a bad promise in Knockturn Alley, where the poverty level was high. James could understand where those girls had been coming from, and it saddened him that there were no other options for them: either be a prostitute or starve to death. He resolved to change that; his family had enough wealth to do so. But first, he had to figure out how Callie ended up there.

She had told him that her family was gone in their first interview, but she hadn't given him any details. It was clear that Callie held seniority over the others and had a great deal of the Madame's trust. She had been working there since she was eleven years old, she had told Sirius and James that first day. That was six years in Madame's brothel, six years that should have never happened.

James stared at the files piled on top of his desk. He wasn't finding any new information, and he was desperate. Sighing, he grabbed his cloak from the chair and headed out of the office. It was time to pay Larisa Tretyakov a visit.

Jostanos: Hmm… That would be interesting. I do think Asher and Grace are a little young to be worrying about that though!