Part One:

Chapter One

September 1st 1971, King's Cross Station

Iris Clearwater had woken up with a grin. She had brushed her teeth with a grin, ate her breakfast with a grin and crossed the barrier onto Platform 9 ¾ with a grin because today was the day she'd finally be getting on the famous train heading to Hogwarts. She had dreamed of the moment the second she had received her acceptance letter. "Remember to keep on eye on your brother, Iris." Her mother, Freya had reminded her in a low tone as they stood before the train. There was a small smile on her face because her mother had known that Deimos had been listening in.

"But she's years younger than me!" the fifth year boy complained with an exasperated look upon his face. Iris was beginning to see that he was becoming so much like their father, in looks, right down to the dark curls and questionable smirk, as well as personality. "I should be watching out for her!"

Both Iris and her mother chuckled, "I was only teasing, dear." their mother had admitted, "However, you should both look out for each other." The siblings nodded in understanding, but Iris could not keep her eyes off the train as if she were afraid it would leave without her. Freya noticed the eagerness in her daughter's eyes and smiled softly. She wrapped them both in a tight hug, quickly, before letting them go in the same manner. "Well go on!" she encouraged, laughing a bit as they just stood there. The children gather their trunks and head towards the train. "You better write!" Freya called after them as they boarded.

Iris blew her mother a kiss before ducking off down the aisle behind her brother. "I'm going to sit with my friends, are you going to be okay?" he asked, glancing at her over his shoulder with hazel eyes that were identical to her own. He wasn't worried about her being on her own, she was quite good at making friends. Especially considering Augusta Longbottom, of all witches, thought Iris was a hidden gem.

She flashed Deimos a grin, "Go ahead, I'll find some other first years to be friendly with." she said, further assuring him. Her brother nodded and quickened his pace.

"Be careful, little sister." he added before walking into a compartment.

The eleven year old girl continued to walk down the aisle, quietly contemplating on which compartment she should choose. Finally, deciding that she had walked enough, she turned to the compartment on her right and entered, "Do you mind if I sit with you lot?" she had asked, politely before looking up because she was having difficulties with her trunk.

When she looked up, she seen three dark haired boys and a redheaded girl, who looked to be seething. Thankfully, they all appeared to be first years as none of their robes had specific house embellishments. One of the boys, the only one with glasses on, grinned and patted the empty seat beside him, "Please do!" he exclaimed, his tone very friendly. The boy then proceeded to get up and help Iris put her trunk on the rack above their heads. Once they had secured the trunk, he held out his hand. "James Potter." he greeted, kindly.

Iris shook it, smiling back as she took in his untidy black hair, confident smirk and hazel eyes. "Iris Clearwater."

Letting go of his hand, she glanced at the others. The girl still seemed to be angry and Iris was quite curious to know why, especially on such a day. Then, there was the boy seated on the same side of the compartment as the redheaded girl. He was very pale with chin length, greasy black hair and a stoic expression. Last was a smirking boy, seated on the other side of James. There was something familiar about his silver eyes that she couldn't quite place, the glint in them though was clear to be that of a troublemaker's. She took her seat next to James, and gave them all a kind smile. "Who might the rest of you be?"

"Sirius Black." the silver eyed boy offered, looking her way. She suddenly knew why his eyes were familiar. She had seen similar pairs adorned on female members of the Black family many times at the High Teas with her mother. They happened to be the only women at the teas that she wasn't able to charm. Iris simply nodded in greeting, unsure if the boy would behave and think in the same manner as his relatives. She hoped not, as they happened to be quite nasty people.

Her eyes rested on the girl with a hopeful light in her eyes, causing the redhead's expression to soften. Iris was yet to meet any girls her age, aside from just then. "I'm Lily Evans." she introduced and then nodded to the boy beside her, "And that's Severus."

There was an uncomfortable tension, obviously created before she stepped into the compartment. Iris eyed them four warily, partially glad to see that she wasn't the cause of it. "Well thanks for letting me join you. My brother left me to fend for myself." she exaggerated with a little chuckle. "He's a fifth year which means no time for little sisters."

It seemed to break a bit of the tension because James sits up, he seemed to be the most chit chatty of them, beside herself, of course. Her father had always told her she was a talkative girl, no matter the company. "Oh yeah, what house?"

The attention seemed to be on her, "Ravenclaw..." she revealed, rolling her eyes. "Deimos is a bit of a know it all."

Sirius snorted, "Which house do you reckon you'll be sorted into?"

Iris shrugged, honestly not sure. Her mother had been a Hufflepuff and her dad, a Gryffindor... There really was no telling seeing as her brother was sorted into an entirely different house. "Couldn't say for sure, however I don't think it matters, really."

All three boys furrowed their eyebrows in disbelief at her words. Lily looked a bit relieved. "Thank you, these two were just degrading poor Sev for wanting to be in Slytherin." she muttered, glaring at James and Sirius.

A Black that didn't want to be in Slytherin? After casting a wide eyed look of surprise over at Sirius, she sighed. So that's what it was about. She knew quite well from her lineage studies that Potters were descended from Godric Gryffindor himself, no wonder James was at Severus for wanting to be in the rival house. "The houses are a bit subjective. Gryffindors could be cunning, Slytherins could be brave..." Iris explained her reasoning, though no one seemed to be buying it except for Lily, who was now grinning widely. It was quite clear that the girl had no predetermined house nor did she seem to care very much where she'd end up.

"Finally, someone who isn't thick." Lily sighed in relief, though she appeared to be half-joking. All of the boys spouted looks of offense, only causing Iris' laugh to ring out through their compartment. Boys were so predictable, completely miffed when a girl took a hit at their egos. Lily promptly patted Severus' hand in reassurance. "I'm only kidding, Sev." she said, softly. They must have been friends prior to the train ride.

The boy was wearing a frown, eyeing Iris with uncertainty. "Clearwater?" he inquired as she noticed the color of his eyes, very dark, almost black. "Any relation to the head of the Department of Mysteries?"

Iris grinned, proudly. "That's my father."

"Wicked!" James declared, thoroughly impressed. He then puffed up his own chest in pride before he boasted, "My father's head of the Aurors, you know!" Iris had a notion that James was a tad bit arrogant, however so far she hadn't found it to be overwhelming as all boys seemed to have that trait. Gods know that her own brother, Deimos did.

The only one who didn't seem to know what was going on was Lily, "What does that mean?" she asked, confusion and agitation written on her face. It wasn't until then that Iris had even considered Lily being muggleborn.

"Aurors are like magical policemen." she explained to Lily, who then nodded and gave her a grateful smile.

Severus gave her a look. "How would you know, aren't you a pureblood?" he shot at her, his tone was off, almost as if he were accusing her of being such.

Iris shrugged, trying to sound as nonchalant as she could because his question made her a bit uncomfortable. "Well, yes, but my mother always takes Deimos and I to the muggle cinema in London... You learn a lot from them."

"Muggle cinemas?" James echoed, Sirius looked intrigued as well causing the girl with the cinnamon colored hair to smirk, forgetting her troubling feelings about Severus, who asked her absurd questions about trivial things like blood status.

She bit her lip, trying find a way to explain properly. Even she hasn't understood films and cinemas completely. "You go there to see films." she tells them both, enthusiastically. "It's brilliant, they're like watching books."

Iris and her new acquaintances spent the next few hours discussing a variety of different things ranging from muggle gadgets, which was graciously explained by mostly Lily, to wizarding customs such as Quidditch, a subject James and Sirius chatted about with excitement. They had talked so much that Iris had lost track of time. Her eyes had almost popped out of her head when she seen the castle through the train car's window. "Merlin, look!" she exclaimed, jovially and the others just about pressed their faces to the window.

Being escorted to the castle was a blur for Iris. She only stared up at the magnificent castle in awe. Hogwarts... She was finally there. The entire journey only seemed dull once they made it into the Great Hall, shortly after Professor McGonagall had spoken to them about the Sorting. Iris had been taken away by the floating candles, but the ceiling was by far the best thing about the room. It was filled with stars, hundreds of them, adorned by nebulae and many other things she didn't even have names for.

"Amazing!" Lily had breathed by her side.

A girl with hair like corn silk appeared next to Lily, "Isn't it, though?" she had said with just as much awe.

Both Iris and Lily nod in agreement, but their attention is quickly stolen when the Deputy Headmistress begins to call out names, beginning the Sorting. Iris stepped on her tiptoes because she was unfortunately too short to see from so far back. What she saw made her giggle. For years, Deimos had teased her about what the Sorting actually was. He'd fabricate a number of different horror stories, but when she seen the old talking hat Iris only thought about what a giant liar her brother was.

The first two called were boys, one who was blonde and red faced was sorted into Hufflepuff, the other with the last name, Avery was put in Slytherin. When Sirius' name was called Iris watched closely as she was curious to see where he'd go, mostly because he seemed adamant about not being in Slytherin when they talked on the train.

Iris could tell he was nervous as he sat on the stool while McGonagall placed the withered hat on his head. After a full minute, the hat cried, "Gryffindor!" and Sirius made a scene before heading to his respective table by throwing both fists into the air as if being placed in Gryffindor was a victory. Iris supposed that for him it was and laughed along with everyone else.

"Clearwater, Iris!"

Her heart stopped, she could have swore, but she made her way to the front, then slowly sat on the stool. She felt the hat touch her head and a voice fill her ears. "Another Clearwater?" it said, amusedly. "I have fun with you lot... So unpredictable." A full second passed and Iris began holding her breath. "You're quite clever, aren't you, but no, Ravenclaw won't do and you're too selfless for a Slytherin... You get into an awful lot of trouble, girl, don't you? Merlin, more than you should! There's only one place to put you, Gryffindor!" it cried.

Iris grinned, widely and hopped off the stool. Before heading to her own table, she looked to the Ravenclaws and spotted Deimos. He gave her a thumbs up which she returned before taking her seat next to Sirius. He seemed overly happy.

"What will your parents think of your sorting, Sirius?" she questioned, pulling his attention away from the Sorting. Iris had half suspected the answer, but wanted to hear it from him.

The dark haired boy snorted, but his smile remained. "They won't be pleased." he admitted.

She met his silver eyes in confusion, "Then why are you grinning so much?"

"They won't be pleased." repeated Sirius. There was a mischievous glint in his eyes, causing her to laugh. Sirius wasn't like any Black she had ever met.

This is been something I have been playing with for a long time, now. Please tell me what you think! Thanks for reading!