Chapter 7 ~ Hogwarts.

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''Max, are you sure? I mean, you've been home taught all your life, it'll be weird for you.'' Ginny Potter questioned her daughter's request yet again.

''I know, but I'm not planning on being that social. The reason I want to go is for my O.W.L.s, I just think I'll benefit if I do the whole year at Hogwarts rather than popping along at the end of the term to do my exams.'' Maxine repeated. So far the debate was going well, with Ginny Potter barely resisting and her father opting that Maxine attended that year.

''I think it's a good idea Maxie, now that Lily's not at home and you've got O.W.L.s coming up.'' Harry agreed. ''It'd do you some good, too, give you some social experience.'' He shook his head sadly. ''You've been hidden away for to long.''

Maxie felt a slight flush come to her cheeks, but turned to smile at her foster father. Ginny Potter was looking quite surprised at her husbands support of the idea, but knew that she couldn't deprive Maxine of it if her husband agreed. With a sigh, Ginny declared;

''Oh, alright then. We'll go to Diagon Alley tomorrow.'' Ginny got no further, as she was awarded a sudden hug from her adoptive daughter accompanied by a grateful smile. Mrs. Potter smiled at Maxine warmly and laughed, before turning to her husband. ''You'd better speak to Mcgonagall though.'' 

Harry grinned at his wife's decree and replied cheerily; ''Will do'', and with a crack, apparated away, presumably to Hogwarts to speak to the headmistress.

Ginny looked at the Maxine before her, noticing the difference. She seemed more joyful, more relaxed. There was always a tense feeling when Maxine was in the room, there'd always been unwelcome responses for the girl, but now she seemed peaceful, at ease. Well, also excited, as she bounded out of the room to get her trunk ready.

''I'll miss her.'' Ginny thought to herself. ''But I think it's for the best.''

***

Maxine wasn't as happy as she'd been when her wish had been granted, following her father through the castle. Her body was now racing with nerves; she'd underestimated the amount of people she would have to socialise with, however minorly she did it. She had been kept away most of her life, obviously the crowd that she'd seen swarm into the great hall had upset her stomach. She now had the feeling that there were slugs crawling around in it.

Her and her father were heading for the headmistresses office, where she'd be sorted privately, seeing as they couldn't really hold another ceremony for just one new student; a fifth year at that. To be honest, Maxine didn't really care what house she was in, as long as it wasn't Gryffindoor. Yes, a strange wish, but however much she would have loved to see Lily and Albus more, the idea of being in the same class with James and his gang of judgemental friends.

Her father halted as they came to a statue of what seemed to be a Hippogriff or something like that. There was no time for Maxine to be confused, for Harry simply walked to stand in front of the creature, dragging her there also, and said clearly; ''Murray Mint'',and a set of steps appeared, upon which they stood, the stairs rising into the air as the statue went up, a pillar of stone supporting it.

''Harry, Harry, how good to see you!'' Minerva Mcgonagall greeted her father warmly as he stepped of the stairs and into her hug. Though aged by 20 years or so, the woman had barely changed, the longer lifespan of a witch coming into play. Yes, her hair was now all grey, and there were a few more wrinkles, but Minerva Mcgongall was not much different. Those very wrinkles on her sharp face bunched up as she smiled at Harry, and then Maxine, who could see interest and curiousity on the Headmistress' face as well. 

''And you must be Maxine, Harry's adoptive daughter.'' Mcgonagall greeted Maxine with equal warmth and Maxine felt a liking towards the woman. She'd been more welcoming than others. Teacher's reactions to her history were the least of Maxine's problems, it seemed. The students, however, were going to be harder to deal with, Maxine knew.

Mcgonagall led Maxine over to a chair, and fetched the sorting hat. Harry gave her the thumbs up, but Maxine could tell what he was thinking. He thought she was going to be a Slytherin, a definite Slytherin. How she would love to prove him wrong.

Mcgonagall placed the hat on Maxine's head and at once Maxine became glad she hadn't had this done in the Great Hall. Better an audience of two than over two hundred.

''What - a Lestrange!'' Maxine jumped as the hat's voice entered her head. 

''Yes.'' She thought, quickly recovering. ''Deal with it.''

''Alright, alright, don't be so feisty little Madam.'' The hat replied. Maxine felt a slight blush but then remembered she was talking to a hat. It isn't a good idea to let that bother you.

''Well, we've got some Slytherin in here, but plenty of bravery and hard work, yes. Quite compassionate, and definitely quick-tongued, I've found that out already.'' The Hat muttered in her head. Maxine let it, she just hoped it wouldn't find traces of anything Grimm in there.

'Ooh but look at this mind! Yes, you love to learn Missy.'' The hat continued. ''Mmmm, you have it all - wit, creativity, brains. Feisty, you've just secured yourself a place in-RAVENCLAW!''

The hat shrieked it's decree, which echoed around the room. ''Really.'' Maxine thought to herself as she removed it from her head. ''You'd think it was starring in a pantomine regarding volume levels.''

Mcgonagall was smiling, as was her father, but Maxine could see they were both extremely surprised, though trying to mask the feeling. The headmistress took the hat away and she got up to hug her father, who, by the looks of it, was about to head off. He returned the embrace tightly.

''I'll miss you.'' He told her. ''See you at Christmas, yeah?''

Maxine remembered Nick's warnings, but couldn't bear to refuse at that moment. ''Yes.'' She answered. She'd have to think of something when the time came. Meanwhile, Mcgonagall had put the hat back on a shelf, and her father pulled out of the embrace to follow the headmistress down the stairs once more. Another hug followed at the point where they turned off in different directions; Harry to exit the castle, Maxine to follow Mcgonagall to the Great Hall. With a sad wave, Harry departed.

Mcgonagall smiled at Maxine once her father had disappeared round the corner. ''Ok, let's go.'' The headmistress began to lead Maxine through a network of corridors, then down some strange, moving staircases. Maxine had begun to sweat, not only were the thick black robes she was wearing made her overheat, she was also having a small internal panic attack. She wouldn't know anyone in Ravenclaw, and she'd never been good at socializing. God, she was in deep shit.

Finally they arrived at the large, impressive entrance to the Great Hall. Maxine had hoped that she could just slip in unnoticed, but unfortunately Mcgonagall had not picked that up.

''Everyone!'' Maxine would have loved to facepalm as the Headmistress stood at the entrance announcing Maxine's presence. ''I'd like you all to welcome our new student, joined a little late; Maxine Lestrange!''