Ok, I suppose I should do one of those disclaimer things. I am not—I repeat I am NOT J.K. Rowling. She is a genius. I am not. These characters her hers and hers alone. Only Beatrix is mine. Also, I am 100 American. I am not versed in British lingo and slang, so if I use an American slang word just tell me the correct version and I'll change it. Same with the Magical Society lingo and slang.

Chapter I

The train shuddered and bounced uncontrollably. A young girl sat curled up in a corner of an empty compartment, reading. She would smile occasionally and grip the covers through an exciting part. Suddenly, there was a dull scraping sound as the compartment door was slid open. The girl snapped the book shut and shoved it into an inner pocket of her robes.

The person entering stopped short. "Sorry. I thought this was empty," he said, turning to go.

"No, you don't have to go!" she said, sitting up. "I was just reading an old book of mine and I could use the company."

The boy sat down across from her. "First year?" He asked her.

"Yea, but I'm not really nervous. I have—for lack of better description—'inside information,'" She said staring out of the window.

The boy, in turn, stared at her. She looked familiar, but he could not put his finger on it. There was no doubt she was beautiful; it was not only her appearance but her seemingly unending stock of self-confidence. He could think of only one other person who was just as beautiful as this girl. He blushed very slightly as he thought of Lily Evans.

"Are you okay?" She said unexpectedly.

He jumped. "Of course," he said, too quickly to be believable.

She smiled and held out her hand, "Hi. I'm Beatrix Potter. But most people call me Trixie."

The boy shook her hand but frowned, "Potter? I wasn't aware that he had any siblings."

"James? No, he's an only child. I'm his cousin. He supplied my inside info on Hogwarts before I came of age."

The atmosphere in the compartment became frosty after that. Neither of them spoke for the next ten minutes.

Finally, Trixie broke the silence and said very quietly, "Severus…you're…not going to hold that against me? Me, being a Potter?"

"How do you know my name?" He burst out suspiciously.

"It's not too hard to figure out. James is constantly making fun of you at home. By the way, you didn't answer me."

Severus looked down biting his lip. He sighed and said, "I won't…as long as you don't hold it against me that I'm an enemy of your cousin's."

Trixie smiled widely and said, "You have yourself a deal!"

"Is there a certain House that you wanted to be in?" Severus said, trying to make conversation.

"Well, to be honest, no. Everyone expects me to be in Gryffindor with James and the others but I have a natural tendency to do the opposite of what everyone wants me to do."

That answer seemed to be pretty final so he tried again, "What were you reading?"

"You don't want to know."

"Come on!"

"I'll tell you what, if I get into your house, I'll tell you, but you have to promise not to laugh or think I'm weird or anything."

"That's not possible. I couldn't laugh at you…"

A commotion outside the compartment caused them both to look up. Thinking quickly, Trixie pulled out an Invisibility Cloak and threw it over Severus.

In piled four thirteen year old boys. All of them were talking and laughing. "Hey, Trix! What are you doing in here all by your lonesome?" asked the tallest one with tousled hair.

"Reading," she said, holding up her book. "You missed a spot, James. There's a patch of hair that refuses to stand up straight."

"You're reading that stupid book again, Trix?" said Sirius Black. James had pushed him down into the seat next to her. Thankfully, no one had sat down in Severus' spot.

"How would you know if it was stupid? You've never read it, Black!"

"Come now, Trix. Don't pick fights with your future husband," James said. Trixie thought she heard a stifled gasp from Severus' corner.

Trixie scoffed and Peter Pettigrew twitched convulsively in the farthest corner. She knew why too. Trixie knew, for a fact, that Wormtail harboured a very secret crush on her since forever. Unfortunately for him, the very thought of Wormtail even touching her was revolting.

"Please guys, I'm trying to read. I just got to the good part. Now go hang out with the popular crowd where you belong."

"Come with us, Trixie! You're my cousin and soon-to-be Sirius' girlfriend. You're as good as in!" James said. Trixie thought she heard something that sounded like a stifled gag come from the seemingly empty corner.

"I'd rather vomi—I mean, read," she said with a forced smile.

"We're almost there, dear," said Remus Lupin as he gave her a pat on the back.

"Your welcome anytime, sweetheart," said Wormtail, as they all filed out. Trixie grimaced and gagged when the door had slid shut.

Severus threw off the cloak and shot up. "You can't seriously like him!" He exploded, going red in the face.

"Who? Wormtail?"

"No! Black!" He said with a look of utmost contempt on his face.

"Well, I don't know when it became any of your business, but no. Never in a million years. Sirius is an ass."

"But…"

"Forget what James said! James is delusional, he believes that I have the world's biggest crush on Sirius and sees what he wants to see," she said.

Severus sat back down and took a deep breath, "Sorry," he whispered, not meeting her eyes.

"Why?"

"Well, I…um…I think…never mind."

"Okay, whatever. Um, we're almost there. I'd better gather up my stuff."

As Trixie pulled her trunk down from the shelf above and was preparing to exit the compartment, Severus stopped her. "Hey, I, um, I hope that your in my House."

She smiled and said, "I'll ask the Hat, when I get there."