The Great Hall was filled with voices and laughter, as usual. It quickly got quiet when Professor Dumbledore approached the podium. 

"Students, we shall have a new student this year that will be coming today. Her name is Alyson Scott. I want you all to make her feel welcome here at Hogwarts. I know it is a little unusual to receive new students in the middle of the year, but she's one little exception. She should be arriving any second," Dumbledore announced.

Murmurs and gasping rang throughout the room. Again, conversation quickly died out as the big doors to the Great Hall opened up, only to cause disappointment all around and reveal Hagrid. He let out a jolly laugh and the doors closed behind him.

"Expectin' someone else?" Hagrid asked in a loud voice.

"Hagrid.." Dumbledore looked at him questioningly because he was the one who was supposed to escort her here. 

Hagrid turned and opened the door slightly to let in a slightly pale, black-haired girl. Her hair was in a loose bun. She was wearing black robes, void of any indication of what house she was going to be in. She kept her head down, so no one could really see any of her features.

"Ah, welcome Alyson May Scott, everybody!" Dumbledore said.

Everyone started clapping and whistling.  

"Now we are going to have a short and simple sorting for Miss Scott," he said as Professor McGonagall took out the Sorting Hat.

Alyson walked towards to teacher's table and the sorting seat and hat, but she walked so gracefully it looked like she was dancing or floating, yet she always kept her head down. She sat down clumsily because the seat was small. As the hat was placed on her head, she sat up straight and held her head high, revealing her beautiful and shocking  blue eyes. And when she did this, everyone was silent and paid extra close attention to her. 

"Alyson May Scott," the Sorting Hat started, "Daughter of Paul Scott and May Williams. What a pleasure to sort you..."

There was a short pause. Her eyes sparkled and there was a small smile on her face.  

"You don't talk much, I see. I'll make this short."

There was another short pause.

"HUFFLEPUFF!" 

The room erupted yet again in applause, though it was loudest at the Hufflepuff table. As the inside of her robes turned yellow and instead of walking to the Hufflepuff table, she walked quickly to Dumbledore. He had to bend down, so he could hear her whispers. The room quieted down for the third time that day. No one could hear what she was saying, so muttering started yet again. And those who needed a little work on talking quietly could be heard. 

"What is she saying?"

"I don't know... maybe she's asking to change houses? I mean who wants to be in Hufflepuff?"

"She's pretty!"

"Nothing special...."

Harry Potter couldn't stop staring at the girl.

"Hey mate, are you alright? You haven't said a word since she came in here." Ron Weasley said.

"Yeah, it's just that...she looks familiar. I don't know from where though..." Harry replied.

"What I don't understand is how she is able to get into Hogwarts in the middle of the year." Hermione Granger said. 

Everyone was so caught up in talking, most of them missed her stepping down from the teachers’ section and her exit. Harry didn't, he didn't take his eyes off of her for a second since she got here and as she quietly and quickly walked towards the exit, she glanced around the room and met his eyes. Her pace slowed slightly and the same small smile that appeared during the sorting came out again, and she raised her hand and waved slightly at him, but then turned before he could wave back and left. So when Harry felt himself waving back at no one, he felt foolish. 

"Where'd she go?" One of the many people who was busy talking shouted out.

"She just left." One of the few who actually saw replied.

"And she just waved at Harry!"

People turned to stare at Harry.

"Must be cause he's famous."

"Or maybe they know each other!"

"Harry, are you sure she looks familiar?" Hermione asked.

He nodded and other Gryffindors sitting around him started questioning him about her, but didn't get much information.

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Three Hufflepuff girls went to their rooms to see a fourth bed with a trunk in front of it.

"Was that there this whole time?" one of them asked.

"Um..I don't think so.."

"It's probably Alyson's. We should talk to her. It must be hard adjusting to Hogwarts in the middle of the year. Where is she?"

They looked for an hour and didn't find her. They all just gave up and thought maybe it wasn't Alyson's trunk and bed. They all went to sleep and woke up again to an empty bed, clean and made. They all just shrugged and got ready for class.  

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It was Monday, and Gryffindor had Herbology with Hufflepuff. Everyone was excited to see the new girl in class. So you can imagine their disappointment when the bell rang, signaling the start and there was no sign of her, but about 5 minutes into the lesson, Professor Dumbledore entered with Alyson trailing behind him. 

"Excuse me, Professor Sprout, here is Miss Alyson. I am sorry she's late, she was with me during breakfast and we lost track of time." Dumbledore said.

"Sorry..." Alyson said and hurried off to an empty spot to stand next to Neville Longbottom.

The first word the current Hogwarts students heard her speak was "sorry." 

-----------------------------------

A few weeks passed and Alyson soon became friends with her roommates, but didn't really talk that much to anyone. Her arrival soon became a forgotten event except for Ron, Hermione, Draco, Ginny, Fred, George, Cedric and especially Harry. Why them? They all felt and wondered the same thing. 'Where have I seen her before?' It was dinner and Harry, Ron, and Hermione were discussing one of their most recent favorite topics, Alyson. 

"This is just maddening! We must have been all there at the same time for us to feel like we know the same girl." Hermione concluded.

"How about we just ask her?" Ron wondered with his mouth full.

Hermione rolled her eyes and looked at Harry.

"Can you believe him? Just ask her?" Hermione said in a that's-such-a-stupid-idea tone. 

"Actually, I didn't think of that. Why can't we?" Harry asked her.

"We can't just ask her! We just can't!" she said, throwing up her arms in frustration. 

"Why do you, girls, have to make things so hard?" Ron asked.

"Well-" Hermione was cut short before she got mad at Ron by Harry.

"Come on, Ron, let's go over to the Hufflepuff table."

Harry and Ron stood up and started walking over; Hermione, not wanting to be left behind, followed reluctantly. Alyson turned, looked at them, and smiled and waved. Just as they were about to reach her, Cedric Diggory, one of her fellow Hufflepuffs, turned and started talking to her. 

~ Alyson's POV ~

I was eating dinner when I saw Harry, Hermione, and Ron walking towards me. I smiled and waved, but before they could reach me, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned to see Cedric Diggory, smiling.

"Hello. Your name is Alyson, right?"

I nodded.

"My name is Cedr-"

"I know who you are." I cut him off.

Cedric looked surprised.

"You know that's the first time I've heard you talk."

I smiled.

"Well I was just wondering...this might sound weird, but..." he trailed off.

"I was at the World Cup during the summer. Your dad, my dad, and Ron's dad," you motioned towards Ron who, with Harry and Hermione, stopped walking when Cedric started talking to you, "are friends. I guess that's why I look so familiar, now would you mind telling the same thing to those three?  I think they're wondering the same thing. Oh, but tell Harry that I'm sad he doesn't remember me, I know him from somewhere else too. Now would you excuse me, I believe I'm going to receive some mail soon." 

Cedric could only nod and got up to tell Harry, Ron, and Hermione the same thing. Just as he stood, owls came flying in. Just like some other people, you received a letter and a small package but imagine everyone's surprise when a blood red owl came soaring in and dropped two letters in my hands, then as quickly as it came, left. I stood up and left the room with my mail in my hands. I smiled and got to my room quickly. 

The first letter read:

Dearest Alyson, 

How is it over there at Hogwarts? Me and your mother hope you're enjoying yourself. I know it must be hard trying to adjust to a new school in the middle of the year. Hope you're making new friends. I'm sorry we had to move away from your old ones. Please forgive us soon. We had to move for the better. I love you.

Dad

I never really understood why my parents wrote separate letters but the second letter said: 

Dear Aly, 

Is it nice over there? Must be. This is where I went to school... I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, or even more. I made amazing friends here, I know you can do the same. I'm sorry we forced you to make this transition so quickly. I know it's probably unhealthy for you to be moved so many times. Your father and I miss you already. We love you!

Now and Forever Your Mom,

Mommy

I took a blank parchment and started writing with my quill.

Dear Daddy and Mommy,

Thanks so much for the letters. It means a lot to know that you two care and miss me. I miss you two too. I love you, things are fine here…

You daughter,

                    Alyson

 The third letter was in Bulgarian but you could easily read it. 

Hello Aly,

I miss you already, I'll be there soon. I'm one of those who were selected to come to Hogwarts. Seeing you again at World Cup was amazing. It's surprising how different you looked. Thanks for telling me that you were going to Hogwarts, and sending me that letter, now we can talk to each other again. I missed that. Thank you for being there and supporting me. I think I wouldn't have caught the snitch if you weren't there. I sent you a little something. It should help us when we're training over there, if you wanted to start training with me again, like old times. I heard the water was warmer than what we used to train in. See you soon.

With Love,

       Viktor

I laughed slightly as I opened the package to reveal a bikini. 

"I'm not using that...." I said to myself. 

I took another sheet of parchment and started writing in Bulgarian. 

Hey Viktor,

Can’t wait to see you again, and I would love to train with you again, but I’m not too crazy about your gift. I’ll wear what I have, but thanks anyway. I miss you too, it’s nice to talk to you too. Sorry I write so little, while you write much more. I’m just sleepy, can’t think.

Love,

Aly

I got ready to go to sleep and put away the letters until the morning when you can go to the owlery and send the replies. Once I hit that pillow, I fell asleep.