Chapter One

September

"May I have your attention, please?" an aged witch called from the staff table of the Great Hall. The loud roar that filled the large room slowly died down as the headmaster, Professor Albus Dumbledore, moved to stand behing the ornate golden podium.

"Thank you. I have a few start of term announcements I wish to announce. First off, the forest surrounding the castle is strictly off limits to all students.

"Second. I would like to welcome our new professors this year. I am pleased to announce that Professor Remus Lupin is returning to Hogwarts as our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." Dumbledore paused, amused, as the hall was filled with cheers from the students that had previously had the werewolf as a professor. The headmaster waited until the noise had died down before continuing.

"Before announcing our next professors, I have a few words I wish to say." The room fell silent, the students listening with rapt attention.

"Sixteen years ago, it was believed that Voldemort had murdered a very talented witch and wizard. Likewise, a single year ago, it was thought that Bellatrix Lastrange had also killed another very talented wizard.

"But in reality, these three never died." There was a soft roar of whispers running through the hall. One boy in particular watched the headmaster, heart in throat, scared to believe what was being said. "Sixteen years ago, Lily and James Potter were forced to leave their son, Harry Potter, and go into hiding. A year ago, Sirius Black was forced to do the same, and leave his godson." Dumbledore waited until the whispers died down before speaking again, his eyes on Harry as he did so.

"I would like to welcome Lily Potter as our new Muggle Studies professor..." Lily slipped into the hall from a door behind the staff table, taking her seat beside Professor McGonagol. "I would like to welcome James Potter as our new Charms professor, as Professor Flitwick has retired to simply teaching Magical Music..." James took his seat beside his wife, eyes scanning the students for their son. "I would like to welcome Sirius Black, an innocent man-"

"Only innocent of the crimes I was accused of," Sirius snickered to James as he passed behind him on the way to his seat. Remus rolled his eyes at his husband.

"-as our new Care for Magical Creatures professor," Dumbledore finished, shooting Sirius a look. There was some scattered applause, and a few cheers from the Weasleys as the headmaster waved towards the new teachers. Lily smiled softly as her eyes met those of her son's.

"And finally, we have a late coming student joining us this year. Having been taught by her parents since she was young, Kaylee Black-Lupin-Potter, sister of Harry James Potter, will be starting as a fifth year this year. Unlike many late coming students before her, Kaylee has chosen to be sorted here, in front of her classmates, instead of privately with only a select few wiitnesses. Kaylee, if you will..." A girl stepped, trembling, up to where the stool from the sorting still stood, the old and worn Sorting Hat still resting on top of it. Behind the staff table, Lily's hand was gripping James' tight enough to bruise as the headmaster settled the hat onto their daughter's head.

"I was wondering when I would get to sort you, Kaylee," the Sorting Hat said out loud to the entire room. "You are twice as difficult to sort as your brother was." James winced as Lily's fingers tightened. Harry bit his lip, watching raptly, remembering his own sorting. "This is very difficult...You have a brilliant mind, yet you are very sneeky and cunning. Brave, but shy, and very compassionate...Hmmmmm...I have never had this much trouble sorting anyone before..." Harry watched his sister, waiting, praying that she wasn't sorted into the snake-bearing house. At the Slytherin table, Draco Malfoy admired the girl, hoping she was sorted into his house, hoping for the chance to get to know her better. "I don't believe I have ever done this before but...She belongs in all four houses!" Kaylee's eyes widened as whispers filled the room. As soon as Dumbledore lifted the hat from her head, the girl bolted out of the Great Hall. Both Lily and Sirius started to rise to go after her when James and Remus stopped them.

"Look." The two rising turned in time to catch Harry slipping out of the hall to find his sister.

Kaylee sat at the top of the Astronomy tower, arms wrapped around herself as she shook.

"She belongs to all four houses!"

The words echoed in her ears, louder than the wind surrounding her. The sorting was bittersweet to her. On the one hand, she was in the same house as her brother, the one person in the world she wanted to get to know, and accept her. On the other hand, she was also in the house against him, making her fear that her chance to know him was over before it began.

"First the crap at home and now this...I don't want to be different anymore. I want to be normal for once...or as normal as I can be..." She sat there in silence for a few minutes before a voice cut through the wind.

"Looks like we have more in common than just our parents." Storm grey eyes met emerald green as Harry moved closer to the girl. Kaylee didn't move or speak as the older boy sat beside her. "I come up here when I need to think." Storm-silver eyes scanned the sky.

"I've always felt safer, and calmer, the higher up I am," she whispered. "Drives mom insane...Dad just laughs..." The two fat in a calm silence for a few minutes.

"How does this work out?" At the girl's confused look, Harry elaborated. "Our parents and Sirius being alive...you being here..." Kaylee shrugged.

"Voldemort was never smart to being with. He should have worried when he got to the house in Godric's Hollow and Mom and Dad weren't there. As for me..." A smirk that would make Salazar Slytherin himself proud crossed the girl's face. "Magic is a funny thing when combined with fate, love and Firewhiskey." The boy blinked for a moment before laughing. "Papi and Daddy knew where Mom and Dad were for a while, and one night...fate decided to play with Cupid. Needless to say, Mom and Dad aren't the only ones whose DNA I carry." Harry thought about his sister's words for a moment.

"Sirius and Remus..." The girl nodded.

"Yep! Daddy and Papi, respectivly." Another silence fell between the two again. A cold breeze swept over the school grounds, and Harry caught Kaylee's shiver out of the corner of his eye. Kaylee's thought were interrupted when a warm cloak and arm were draped over her shoulders. She offered a shy smile as she pulled the cloth tighter around her, and snuggled into her brother. After a few minutes, Harry stood.

"We should get back." Kaylee hesitated before nodding. The girl took the boy's offered hand and stood before following him back down to the Great Hall.

A pair of cool blue-grey eyes followed as Harry Potter led the new student to sit with him and his friends. A nudge to his side caused the owner to glare at one of his friends from under bright blond bangs.

"What are you plotting, Draco? The Malfoy heir smirked.

"I'm going to have Potter's sister for myself."