Prologue:
I still remember my first day at Hogwarts. It was a warm, September day when we all drove down to the train station together. I can remember how tightly I gripped my mother's hand as we ran at the wall between stations 9 and 10, like I had seen my brothers do for years. I remember the long, almost unbearable train ride, spent thinking about my new school and all my new stuff we had bought at Diagon Alley. Most of all, I thought of my new owl and my new wand, yew, dragon heartstring, nine inches, that I couldn't wait to use. Then came the chilling bout ride, where the boats moved themselves and then, the school itself. It was tall and imposing but I couldn't help thinking it looked like the end of my boredom.
We were herded in the building, up the stairs, and in to the Great Hall. We waited, barely able to contain our excitement, for our name to be called. Kids were called and houses were assigned. I heard my cousin, Hugo's name being called and turned to watch. No sooner had he sat down on the stool, then the hat shouted out Gryffindor and he joined his sister, Rose. Soon, I was one of the only ones left. I glanced over to the Gryffindor table and saw my brothers, James and Albus, congratulating the newest addition to their house.
"Potter, Lily" I swallowed the lump in my throat and trudged up the steps. Hopping up on the stool I put the hat on and waited. The Sorting Hat paused and shouted out one word. One word that would haunt me for years.
"Slytherin."
Silence.
Chapter One:
Four Years Later
"Let us have another wonderful year filled with learning and fun." Headmistress McGonagall finished her welcoming speech and found her seat. Blah blah blah. It was the same thing every year, new students, new subjects, same old boring life. I buried my nose back in my sketchbook and let the sounds fall away.
I was sitting at the end of the table, nobody beside me or across from me. I wasn't hungry, seeing the first years being sorted, how their faces would light up when they found where they belonged. I couldn't help thinking about my own time being sorted. I didn't find the place I belonged. I found the place that made me an outcast.
My own house shunned me; after all, I was a Potter, a born Gryffindor. Most of them didn't outright hate me but every one of them avoided me. As for the other houses, they thought I was a potter gone wrong. My brother, Albus, is Head Boy this year and two years older than me. He would rather not publicly acknowledge me for fear of his perfect reputation. Which is fine by me, I would rather not talk to him anyways. My oldest brother, James, just graduated from Hogwarts, which means this year can only be better than last year. James was a prefect and used his power to lord over everyone, especially me. He is arrogant and loves to think of me as his dumb little sister. He tells everyone that I am a result of my dad's scar, his one connection to the dead Dark Lord, and he is afraid for his life, living under the same roof as me.
They both are gifted wizards. James can perfect his spells in a fraction of the time it takes his classmates, he just catches on quick. Albus is a potions genius. He also aces herbology. Me on the other hand? You would think with two of the most powerful wizards for parents I would have some special power too, like my brothers. I don't. My father says it's because I don't apply myself. What would he know? He's always been powerful.
I was jarred out of my thoughts by a shove from the side that had me off the bench and on the floor in seconds. I heard a giggle and looked up only to see what I expected to. Violet Wynnstrum. I glared.
"Nice to see you too, Violet." She went back to her food and I went back to being a mere annoyance.
I felt the bench dip down as someone sat in the forbidden spot beside me. I looked over to see wide shoulders, expensive robes, and white-blond hair. It took me a minute to place him. I don't pay much attention to others and the only reason I knew him was because he was a prefect. Also he is all my brother has been talking about. He is Albus' sworn rival. And apparently dating Violet, of course.
"Vi, stop messing around and let's go back to the common room. I'm tired." He glanced around and that's when I put a name with a face. Scorpius Malfoy. Violet immediately hopped up and grabbed his arm. She sneered at me. I knew what she was doing; she was marking her territory as well as showing off her rich, trophy boyfriend. She flipped her long black hair, he started walking, and she flounced away.
