Of Shadow And Sky

Talking Hats and Pink Things

A/N: I apologise in advance to all Slytherins. I have nothing against you, I'm just running off of Harry and Ron's preconceptions of the house.

Alex looked down at the glassy black water of the lake, anxiety growing like Thalia's last attempt to make a calming draught - it had doubled in size and was still growing last they had heard from Lou Ellen and the Hecate cabin. They had all gotten changed, and much to Thalia's horror, the girls had been given skirts. It felt like a school based anime where the girls fought in their uniforms. She was about to push Percy into the boat to stabilize it when Draco came up behind her.

"Don't worry about going by boat."

She squeaked and spun around, fist cocked to throat punch the person who had crept up on her. Thankfully, Draco had enough sense to duck. "Don't sneak up on me like that!"

He just chuckled. "I'll try to remember that. Just don't lean too far in the boat, and if you fall out the giant squid will put you back in the boat."

"Giant...giant squid?"

She looked back at the lake and rather thought that the squid would be less friendly to demigods who weren't a child of Posidon. It took a bit of effort on Percy's part, but they all eventually got into the boat. Maybe it was a good thing Percy was the son of Posidon, because he was able to ensure that the boats stayed stable - and she was sure he sped things up a little bit. Regardless, only one first year fell in, and true to what Draco had said, the squid plopped the kid into his boat.

Of course she was only vaguely aware of the splash, because her attention was suddenly captured by the large castle that stood tall just before them. The flying buttresses, towers, and arches were gorgeous. Percy must have read her mind because he started chuckling.

"Annabeth is wearing off on you."

"Shut up, Kelp Head."

The other three just laughed as they disembarked and climbed the stairs to where a very strict woman in emerald robes waited for them. She explained the four Houses, and that they would be sorted. First the younger students, then the transfers.

"So how do you think this sorting thing works?"

"The Sorting Hat places you," Alex answered vaguely, her eyes on the paintings.

Percy looked at her blankly. "How do you know?"

"Know what?"

Nico stared, dumbfounded. "You said we get sorted by the Sorting Hat. How do you know?"

"I-I don't know. It just...came to me."

It was true. She had no idea how she knew that a hat would decide where they would go. Before she could answer another question she got a massive headache, and the huge doors opened to let them in. The first years trooped in, followed by Alex and the others.

The hall was amazing. The walls stretched into a ceiling that looked exactly like the sky with candles floating along the tables. Four tables were turned vertically, each draped in red, green, yellow, or blue, and the fifth sat at the far end of the hall where the teachers were able to watch the students. It was at the stairs to the staff table where Professor McGonagall waited with the Hat. And Alex really didn't want to put it on. It looked as if it had seen better days.

She was so lost in thought that she hadn't  heard her name called. It was only when Thalia pushed her forward that she realized all the first years had been sorted. Blushing, and ignoring the growing pit in her stomach, she sat down and let the Hat be placed on her head.

"Hm. Well this is interesting."

She squeaked. "This is in my head, right? Nobody else can hear this?"

"Of course. This will be private. Now, where to put you? Intelligent...rather distracted lately, aren't we. Oh? Well yes, that would do it. Oh dear. You seem to be missing nine years of memories. Oh well. You're really rather cunning with how you took out that gorgon...Oh my."

"What?"

"Well, I think I know where to put you. SLYTHERIN!"

The Hat shouted the name, and Alex walked over to the green table. Draco waved her over, and shifted so that she could sit between him and Blaise. She smiled lightly, and tried hard not to blush.

"Welcome to the best House in the school," he whispered.

She watched as Percy was sorted to Hufflepuff, Nico into Ravenclaw, and Thalia into Gryffindor. Now it made sense, she mused. Hecate sent four of them because then there would be one in each house. It was brilliant. As she was scanning the hall, she noticed the frowns on Ron and Harry's faces as they looked at her, and she rolled her eyes. Of course, she snorted softly. The house rivalry.

"So, what do you think of Hogwarts so far, Alex?"

"It's beautiful. A friend of mine at home would be head over heels for the architecture."

The girl across from her sniffed. "It's not *that* impressive. I'm Pansy Parkinson, by the way."

"Alexandra."

Pansy looked her over. "Alexandra what?"

"I don't know," she blushed faintly. "As far as I know...I don't have a last name."

>>>>>>>*;o;*<<<<<<<

Harry frowned as Alex sat down next to Malfoy and Zabini. Rationally, he knew that just being in Slytherin didn't make her evil, it was her seeming to be so cozy with Malfoy that made him worry. They knew next to nothing about the Americans. Hermione seemed to read his mind.

"Oh for Merlin's sake, Harry. She's not evil. She's far too nice."

Ron just snorted. "She could be acting."

"She's not, so don't you dare bully her," Thalia snapped, eyes flashing.

"I still think we should be careful," Ron muttered.

Thalia glared angrily at Ron, and refused to talk to him for the rest of dinner. From where he sat, Harry could see Percy talking amicably with Hannah Abbot, and Nico talking with Luna Lovegood. They seemed to integrate without much problem. He was almost jealous.

"She's getting real buddy buddy with Malfoy," Ron muttered to Harry.

"Maybe we should just lay off of that for now," Harry whispered, eyeing Thalia, who was glaring. "Otherwise I think Thalia will kill us."

"You're right, I will."

She glared at Ron, and ruthlessly speared a piece of chicken.

<<<<<<<(o_o*)>>>>>>>

Alex frowned as she scanned the staff table. They all looked so austere...except for the pink-clad woman at the end of the table. She was short, squat, and she certainly was not blessed by Aphrodite. Quite the opposite actually, it looked like Aphrodite had a grudge against the woman.

"That is Dolores Jane Umbridge," Draco said quietly. "She works at the Ministry, but I heard from father that she's going to be our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor this year."

"She looks like she fell into a vat of pink paint."

Pansy let out a snort of laughter, but Alex narrowed her eyes. So, she worked at the Ministry, but was teaching? The woman was a bureaucrat, and the moment she started talking, Alex felt an intense dislike for the woman.

"I hope we can be good friends."

"Seriously? What are we, five?"

Blaise frowned too. "Alex is right. That Umbridge woman is talking to us like we're children. She's not going to get students on her side treating us like we're stupid."

Alex tuned back into what Professor Umbridge was saying, and judging by the looks on Percy, Nico and Thalia's faces, they felt the same. Umbridge was going to be a problem.