"Can I call you Tori? You know Tori, I'm a great friend."
"I don't get it, why are you being nice to me?"
"Maybe I don't want to see you friendless."
When Victoria Silvers, who comes from a long line of Slytherins, is sorted into Gryffindor her life...
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There was a pleasant feeling of anticipation in the air that day. Nobody was very attentive in lessons, being much more interested in the arrival that evening of the people from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang; even Potions was more bearable than usual.
When the bell rang early, Tori hurried up to Gryffindor Tower, deposited their bags and books as they had been instructed, pulled on their cloaks, and rushed back downstairs into the Entrance Hall. The Heads of houses were ordering their students into lines.
"Weasley, straighten your hat," Professor McGonagall snapped at George. "Miss Patil, take that ridiculous thing out of your hair."
Parvati Patil scowled and removed a large ornamental butterfly from the end of her plait. "Follow me, please," said Professor McGonagall, "First-years in front... no pushing..."
They filed down the front steps and lined up in front of the castle. It was a cold, clear evening; dusk was falling and a pale, transparent-looking moon was already shining over the Forbidden Forest. Tori stood between Fred and George, staring outside. Students glanced around at each other, wondering how the other schools would be arriving.
"How d'you reckon they're coming? The train?" Fred whispered, glancing down at his watch. "It's nearly six."
"I doubt it," Lee shook his head, leaning against one of the pillars.
"How, then? Broomsticks?" Tori suggested, looking up at the starry sky. "I don't think so... not from that far away..." Alicia appeared next to them with Angelina.
"A Portkey? Or they could Apparate – maybe you're allowed to do it under seventeen wherever they come from..." Angelina suggested. "You can't Apparate inside the Hogwarts grounds, though," Tori said.
They scanned the darkening grounds excitedly, but nothing was moving; everything was still, silent and quiet as usual. Maybe the foreign students were preparing a dramatic entrance...
And then Dumbledore called out from the back row, where he stood with the other teachers. "Aha! Unless I am very much mistaken, the delegation from Beauxbatons approaches!"
"Where?" Many students asked eagerly, all looking in different directions. "There!" yelled Tori's friend Hazel Doe, pointing over the Forest.
Something large, much larger than a broomstick – or, indeed, a hundred broomsticks – was hurtling across the deep blue sky towards the castle, growing larger all the time...
"It's a dragon!" Shrieked one of the first-years, losing her head completely. "Don't be stupid... it's a flying house!" said another.
Their guess was closer... as the gigantic black shape skimmed over the treetops of the Forbidden Forest, and the lights shining from the castle windows hit it, they saw a gigantic, powder-blue, horse-drawn carriage, the size of a large house, soaring towards them, pulled through the air by a dozen winged horses, all palominos, and each the size of an elephant.
