Notes: Hi there! Welcome to my first ever fanfic. As you can see, this chapter is narrated by Lily Potter, but as I said in the description, the narrators and main characters for the rest of the story will be Hugo Weasley, Lorcan Scamander and Eva Barnes (my OC). I guess I just decided I wanted to use Lily to introduce the characters and to get the story rolling :) Please review or flame after you have read, and don't worry, I am expecting critism of my appaling writing, so don't be afraid to flame! Rated M for what will probably come later :)

Prologue

Lily tried to keep up with her brother, Albus, as they made their way through the bustling corridors of the Hogwart's Express, but she had soon lost him in the crowds of excitable students. Great. Now she was left with no-one but a miserable and terrified Hugo for company, trailing behind her as if he was trying to hide in her shadow. She knew the prospect of living away from home for months made most first years worried, but poor, shy little Hugo was really taking it to a new level.

She sighed, they were clearly too late to find an empty cabin. She knew her brothers and cousins would not want them getting in the way when they were with their friends, and besides, there was little chance of finding them in the overcrowded train. There was no choice but to sit in a cabin with someone they didn't know. Hugo wouldn't thank her for that.

She peered into some nearby cabins, looking for fellow first years, when she noticed two blond boys that she recognised. Lorcan and Lysander, the twin sons of one of her Father's closest friends; Luna Lovegood. However, as close as their parents may be, Lily did not much like the twins, they were, well, really weird.

However, it was too late now, for they had spotted her too.

"Lily! Hugo! Come join us!"

That was Lorcan, waving his hands at her, whilst Lysander just sat, staring in that creepy way of his. Even if you did not know them, they were easy to tell apart, despite their identical features, for Lorcan kept his hair short and neat, whereas Lysander's rather resembled a shaggy, untamed bush.

"Hi" Lily said, knowing she sounded less than enthusiastic, and not caring at all. She heard Hugo give a nervous laugh behind her, before following her into the cabin.

Well, this would be fun, she thought, grimacing and taking a seat opposite the twins. Hugo looked more ready to cry in a corner than participate in a conversation, and she knew from experience that Lysander was more of a disturbing-stares-rather-than-talking kind of person.

"Looks like we're setting off" She said into the silence, as smoke started to drift past the window and the train jerked into action.

"Yeah" Lorcan said, not sounding particularly bothered. "Are you ok, Hugo?" He continued, watching Hugo, whose eyes had widened and skin paled dramatically. Hugo gulped and nodded, but Lorcan didn't look convinced.

"He's just nervous" Lily said offhand, wanting desperately to tell Hugo to stop acting like a blubbering five year old. "So... what house do you want to be sorted into?" She asked, trying to steer the conversation away from Hugo.

Lorcan glanced sympathetically back across at Hugo before replying.

"Ravenclaw, I guess, like our mother. But I wouldn't mind Hufflepuff or Gryffindor either. I guess you two are both for Gryffindor?"

"Sure" She replied confidently. After all, her whole family had been, so there was no reason to think she wouldn't. "I do wonder about Hugo though, sometimes" She said, disdainly, watching him pathetically try to fight off tears. She had always secretly thought he might be better off in Hufflepuff.

Lorcan raised his eyebrows slightly, but didn't comment. Lily became suddenly aware that Lysander was watching her unnervingly again.

"Yes?" she enquired, with a challenging note in her voice.

His gaze slid slowly down her in a way that made the hair on her arms stand on end, before coming to rest on the small owl cage which sat on her lap.

"That is an interesting owl. May I see it?" He asked, his gaze never wavering from the cage.

She wanted to refuse, but couldn't find an excuse which would seem reasonable, so reluctantly handed it over. The owl was unusually small, it was true. She had been an eleventh birthday present from her parents, and was currently her most treasured possession. Therefore, she watched in outrage as Lysander whipped her owl out of its cage, holding her upside down by the leg, and watched her struggle with an eerily detached expression.

"What are you doing?" Lily screeched at him, at the same moment that Lorcan yelled "Stop!"

However, before Lily could reach across to save the owl, Lysander had her back in the cage and was calmly passing her back across. Lily angrily snatched the cage back from him and gave the dirtiest glare she could muster. To her fury, he seemed completely oblivious of anything, humming quietly to himself, and serenely watching the passing scenery. Lorcan shifted around in his seat, looking ashamed, and Hugo was managing to look confused, embarrassed and terrified all at the same time.

Lorcan was just opening his mouth to apologise for his brother's behaviour, when a small tap at the door mercifully distracted them all. The door slid open, and a girl of around their own age stood watching them shyly. She had hair as deep black as Lily's, and skin the colour of honey, and Lily couldn't help but swallow a small pang of jealousy; the girl was rather pretty.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, but I couldn't find anywhere to sit. My name's Eva by the way"

A short silence followed, causing Eva to look unsure of herself. Lily made it clear she was in no mood to talk to the newcomer, by continuing to glare at Lysander, so finally Lorcan felt obliged to speak up.

"Hi Eva" He began, and to Lily's astonishment, he seemed to be colouring up a little; for unflappable Lorcan this was most unusual. "You can sit with us if you like. Are you first year too?"

"Yeah" She replied, smiling gratefully at Lorcan, and taking the empty seat next to him, opposite Hugo.

"I'm Lorcan, and this is my brother, Lysander" Lorcan continued, enthused by Eva's easy smile. "And this is Lily Potter and Hugo Weasley."

The lack of reaction at Lily's name surprised her, she was used to seeing eyes widen in shock, and her father's name being whispered around. She normally found this irritating, but she had become so accustomed to it, it now annoyed her more when people didn't respond.

"So, your muggle born then?" She demanded, not bothering to hide her irritation.

"Yes" Eva replied, looking suddenly nervous. Lily felt Lorcan kick her under the table, and caught him frowning at her.

"Don't worry, it's not important" Lorcan said, trying to reassure her, while Lily rolled her eyes at the ceiling. She didn't think the pureblood bullies in Slytherin would see it the same way.

"So you know what happens when we get there then?" Eva asked, nervously.

"Sure, we get sorted into houses, then we eat. Nothing to worry about."

Hugo started biting his nails and hyperventilating slightly at this statement. It was clear he did not agree with Lorcan on the no worrying front.

By the time they arrived at Hogwarts, dressed in their oversized robes and ready to sail across the lake, it was clear Eva and Lorcan got on like a house on fire. Even Hugo seemed almost comfortable, and appeared to have forgotten most of hid worries, as he contributed a few words to the easy conversation. Lysander was still staring out of the window and did not seem even to have noted Eva's presence. Lily was still in a bad mood, and had decided she did not much like Eva, and determinedly did not join the conversation, save for a few snide remarks aimed at Hugo. Eva was just too nice for a normal human being, and Lily didn't like the way Hugo and Lorcan's attention now so clearly centred around her.

Across the lake, Lily has to try to block out her Eva's overly dramatic gasps of astonishment, and Hugo's enthusiastic explanations of everything in sight. You would think the girl had never seen a castle before.

On entering the Great Hall, even Lily was amazed. It was so big, so grand and she found herself staring up at the enchanted ceiling was so big, so grand and she found herself staring up at the enchanted ceiling along with all of them.

"First years, please line up over here" came a crisp voice from behind her. A great deal of jostling around took place before the hat finally called out the first name;

"Barnes, Eva!"

Eva, nervous to be first, made her way up to the infamous stool. No sooner had the hat touched her head did it call out "Gryffindor!"

Lily narrowed her eyes as the hall burst into applause, and Eva made her way, smiling, to the Gryffindor bench. No way should that girl be in Gryffindor, she was too airheaded.

It seemed like forever, standing there, watching the terrified first years go up one by one, until the sorting hat finally came to her.

"Potter, Lily!"

She was suddenly, inexplicably, nervous as she sat on the stool and had the ancient hat placed on her head. But surely she had nothing to worry about...?

"Ah... another Potter..." The hat whispered in her ear. "So like your Mother and Father, and yet, so different. I'm going to have to tell you what I once almost told your Father..."

Lil froze. It couldn't be...

"...Slytherin!"

No-one applauded. Everyone knew who she was, or rather, who her Father was, and it was clear no-one had expected this. She looked down to the Gryffindor table where her brothers and cousins sat, stunned, except for Albus, who had a resigned and almost sad look on his face, as if he had known this were coming.

Well, she thought, there was nothing for it but to walk across the hall and join the Slytherin ranks. She suspected they wouldn't be pleased to have her. She was unaware that everyone was watching her, or that the sorting had continued, she was too busy thinking about, despite what he had told his favourite, Albus, last year, how disappointed her Father would be.

She was barely watching as Lysander was sorted into Ravenclaw, and then, another shock, Lorcan into Gryffindor. It was rare enough for siblings to be sorted into different houses, but identical twins...

And then, as Hugo, last one left, joined the generations of Weasleys in Gryffindor, proving her suspicions wrong. This was so not fair; there was no way snivelling, pathetic Hugo deserved to be in Gryffindor ahead of her. She knew she was brave enough, she knew she could fight off trolls and dragons and dark lords just like her father had done.

She sat for the whole feast, and for a long time afterwards, with angry, envious thoughts stirring in her mind.

Notes: Let me know what you think with a review...? Chapter one coming soon :)