Lily Luna Potter was finally on her way to Hogwarts. She had watched James and Albus leave and she missed them, but she had joined her dance company and her life had taken off. She had danced when she missed them, and danced when she didn't. Lily had traveled to competitions, and she was the baby of the dance team at only eight, but the older girls had braided her hair and told her stories, so she didn't get lonely. She had won tons of competitions and become a semi-celebrity.

Then her Hogwarts letter had arrived. She begged and pleaded, but her parents said that school was more important that dance. She saw their point, but dance was part of her, so when she had to give it up, the lack of dance faded her. She had been an energetic, untireable hyper girl who took second helpings at every meal. Now she had maybe a quarter of the old energy, and she ate like a bird. But she was still Lily, still red haired Lily with eyes the wrong shade of blue, not the eyes of her granddad, but eyes that were the same blue as the sea. So she acted like her old self, and no one knew the difference. But she had gotten sick of it and rebelled. And there was still no competitive dancing, but she stretched every morning, and danced for at least an hour everyday. It was a compromise, and Lily danced best for herself anyway. So she became the person she is now, energetic, but not carefree, rebellious, but the perfect child on the surface, and manipulative only to the point of getting people to leave her alone. She was a strange girl, or so most people thought.

Lily was jolted out of her reverie by cousins wanting her to come sit in their compartment and play Exploding Snap. She played ten games, cheated for eight of them, and won them all. Then the topic of the sorting came up. Every cousin, sibling, and close friend Lily had was in Gryffindor. Lily and her best friend Hugo, who was also a cousin born three months after Lily, were teased mercilessly about being in Slytherin, until Lily, the master of reverse psychology, said "Maybe I will be in Slytherin. From what you said, it seems to be a good house. I mean, I could get in with the future Dark Lord, and then when fights break out, stay out of them, so no matter who comes out on top, to them I was not against their cause, just a coward. It seems win-win."

The compartment went silent. James stood and advanced on Lily. "No Weasley/Potter could ever be in Slytherin. Ever. And if you fell like that, that staying out of issues is best, and that cowardice is excusable, than you are on your way there. I have to say this right now. I am not brother to a Slytherin. Remember that at the sorting." He walked out of the compartment. All the others followed, and Lily was left alone to think.

-O-O-O-

When Lily saw Hogwarts, she was amazed. The castle was huge, and there were lights in every window. The Magnificent front doors were open, and from what she could see of the inside, it was just as cool as the outside. But Lily kept her face blank, because she never showed emotion, except for when she danced and swam.

When she and the other first years got off the boats and went into the great hall, they were met with a strange sight. A round, balding man was fumbling with a plant that looked like a lily, apparently trying to put it in a pot without touching the blossom.

He shoved the plant into the pot none to gently, and turned around. "Hi, I'm Neville Longbottom, ht e Herbology Professor, Head of Gryffindor, and deputy headmaster."

"Uncle Neville," Hugo yelled.

Neville ignored him. "In a minute, you will be sorted into four houses according to interests and abilities. These houses will be the people you eat, sleep, and take meals with for your entire seven years at Hogwarts, so do try to get along. That being said, follow me." The line of first years walked into the great hall, and examined the hat, Suddenly it burst into song.

Oh, when Hogwarts was in grave danger, 'bout twenty years ago,

People used houses to pick out friend from foe.

But that was wrong and I said then, as I say today,

The houses are all equal, and some from all have gone astray.

But all houses have done tons of good too,

They share the school, and share the world and only one is right for you.

There is Hufflepuff for those who work and stay in 'til the end,

Or Ravenclaws, whose extraordinary knowledge is a Godsend,

Gryffindor for those who jump into the fray,

Or Slytherin for those who know how to win the day.

All the houses are equal, and unified they could,

Try at any goal they like, and succeed they would.

People clapped, and then the sorting began. The first name to be called was Rowan Ackerly, who went to Ravenclaw.

Lily zoned out, and began thinking about the Hat's song. It had said that it was wrong to judge by House, and Lily agreed. It had also said that all houses were created equal, and that the houses were sure to succeed if they collaborated. She agreed.

"Potter, Lily Luna"

Lily stepped forward, placed the hat on her head, and sat down on the stool.

Well, well. You are nothing like your family, miss Potter. A loner, a dancer, and a girl who gets what she wants, but only gets left alone, her dance, and clothes. Hmm...

Who are you?

Me? I'm the Hat.

You read minds? Cool! Can you teach me?

Sure. Just breathe and out, than concentrate and cast a 'Thea'. You can find out about those in the library. Do it once a year, and it stays all year. Hmm... No Hufflepuff for you. You would cause mass suicide, or partake in a mass murder. And... Welllllll... Any one of the other three... but

But what?

Well, Gryffindor, it just isn't right for you, but you are a Weasley/Potter, and I would hate to split you off from your family.

Lily contemplated this, then remembered the Song. She glanced at the Gryffindor table, with all of her cousins, than at Hufflepuff, where she didn't belong, than at the other two, and decided.

Put me where I belong, it doesn't really matter, but if you can really read my mind, I meant what I said on the train earlier.

Then you belong in SLYTHERIN. YES, FINALLY ONE OF THESE PEOPLE GOES WHERE THEY SHOULD WITHOUT AN ARGUMENT. AND I WASN'T THREATENED ONCE. WAHOO1 I said that out loud didn't I?

Yes, yes, you did.

Lily stood up, and walked, danced almost, to the Slytherin table. There was no applause.