First thing's first: I do not own Harry Potter in any way, shape or form. If I did, certain people would not have died during the final book. Ugh!

Anyway, this story is a collaborative effort by myself and my very good friend - we'll just call her Eva (and you can call me Iris). This is our attempt at inserting ourselves into the wonderful world of Harry Potter – except this fic starts the year before the trio arrives to Hogwarts, so we'll be seeing a lot of Fred, George, Percy and Charlie in this fic. Hopefully it will take place over Eva and Iris's seven years of Hogwarts. Trust me, Eva and I are Harry Potter dorks with much time to kill. There is a very good chance we can get far with this. Okay, wow, enough rambling! Here you have chapter one.

"Bugger!" thought Eva as she passed another yet full compartment. She really didn't feel like sharing with a whole crowd of people. She knew her father would be disappointed but she really couldn't find it in herself to care. After about ten minutes of not finding an empty compartment, she found one that only had a girl with blonde hair who was reading a book about werewolves. Eva figured it couldn't be the weirdest person she'd ever meet and gave in.

"Hey, uh I'm Eva Sinclair. Do you mind if I sit with you? Everywhere else is kinda full." The girl looked up from her book and smiled. Blonde with blue eyes how typical, thought Eva. She liked people who were beyond normal in looks because she wasn't, chocolate hair and eyes, same as half the world.

"Sure. I'd rather have company. I'm Iris Felix. It's nice to meet you." Eva smiled at her and sat down across from her.

"So werewolves? That's an interesting read. You're a first year right? I am. Do you know what house you gonna be in?" asked Eva.

"Oh, I don't know. I'd like Gryffindor though, or maybe Ravenclaw." answered Iris a bit shyly.

"Really? I'm gonna be a Slytherin for sure. I think I might get disowned if I'm not." Laughed Eva, "You see all of my family has been in Slytherin. Well my older brother was in Ravenclaw, but that's a respectful house according to my father."

"You're from a pure-blood family then?" asked Iris a little nervously "I'm from a regular family of wizards."

"In other words, you're mixed? Muggles and wizards in the family?" asked Eva. "Don't look so nervous, I'm gonna kill you because you're not pure-blood."

"I didn't think you were gonna kill me, I was just under the impression that pure-blood families hated the non-pure ones."

"True but I'm not like that. The pure-blood mania is over-rated. I don't do all that." Eva said.

Just then the candy trolley pulled up. "Anything from the trolley, dearies?" the elderly woman asked. Eva bought some chocolate frogs and lollipops. While Iris only bought the Chocolate wands. Iris explained to Eva she loved chocolate that it calmed her when she was nervous.

"We should probably change" said Eva. "I figure we'll be there soon."

"Yeah, you're probably right."

After they changed a prefect came around to inform them that they'd be arriving soon. He then ran off after 2 redheaded boys who seemed to be twins. They had made something explode in a Slytherin compartment. Eva sensed trouble in those two while Iris voiced her thought for her. Eva found Iris easy to talk to and get along with and could only hope they ended up in the same house or that they at least had classes together. When they arrived at the station all the first years were guided into boats. Eva saw the twins again; they were running away from another prefect. One of them noticed Eva staring at them and winked at her. Eva fought the urge to giggle after all these boys were Gryffindors and her father would never accept that. So she turned and followed Iris to the boats.

Iris, however; was oblivious to Eva's thoughts as she was caught in the amazing surroundings of Hogwarts. Iris got in the same boat as Eva, she was utterly amazed by the sheer presence of the castle at a distance. Once they arrived at the shore, Eva and Iris stuck together like they were wrapped in spello-tape. When they finally got to the entrance of what Iris figured was the grand hall she had read about, they were met by a professor.

"Hello students. I am Professor McGonagall; it is a pleasure to welcome you all. In a few short minutes, you will be sorted into your proper houses. You will then sit with your house-mates." She said and with that she turned around and guided them all to the Grand Hall. Iris was fascinated with the floating candles, so was Eva but she'd never admit it. Eva looked around, she saw the Slytherin table and it looked cold, kinda like her house did when her Father or brother weren't home. She admitted that she didn't wanna be there but she would never disappoint her father or worse, her grandmother. After her mother's death, Eva's grandmother dedicated herself to Eva and her older brother, Albert Henry. Eva was so caught up in her thoughts she almost didn't hear Iris's name called. Iris looked nervous.

"A smart one, you would do well in Ravenclaw but your bravery would make you suitable for Gryffindor," said the sorting hat to Iris. "You don't mind where I put you, do you? Hmmm, I know exactly the House for you! GRYFFINDOR!"

The Gryffindor table exploded with applause. Eva couldn't help but feel let down, Iris smiled apologetically to Eva. She did feel bad but still had hope Eva would be in Gryffindor too. When the time had come and Eva's name had been called. Eva couldn't help but feel nervous, she was so conflicted. This was too much stress for an 11 year old.

"Hmmm, well your very difficult to place, young lady. A perfect match for Slytherin but bravery runs thick in your veins, the heart of a Gryffindor. You're clever and cunning, however and would do great things in no other House but SLYTHERIN!"

Her fate was decided much like anyone else's. She was now a Slytherin. Just what her family wanted, but Eva couldn't help but feel a little sad. She saw the twins again and couldn't help and notice that one of them was frowning. Iris smiled at her sadly, too as the Slytherin's welcomed her and they introduced themselves to her. Her family would be happy but why wasn't she?

Iris smiled sadly at Eva as she went to sit with the Slytherins. Despite what Eva had said about her entire family being in the notoriously evil house, Iris had still held out hope that the two would be together in Gryffindor. Now, that hope was crushed.

"Oi! Pass the mashed potatoes!"

Iris turned to see one of the red-headed twins staring at her expectantly. She quickly looked down and saw that the famous Start-Of-Term Feast had begun, and all four House tables plus the teachers' table was now laden with every type of food imaginable!

Iris smiled and handed the red-head twin the bowl.

"You'll have to excuse my brothers," another red-haired boy sitting across from her said. He appeared to be slightly older than the twins. "They get absolutely ravenous when any type of food is placed before them. I'm Percy Weasley, by the way. And those two are my obnoxiously annoying brothers, Fred and George."

Iris smiled sheepishly. "Iris Felix."

"Welcome to Gryffindor, Iris. If you ever need anything, feel free to ask."

"Hey! That's not fair!" one of the twins complained, jumping into the conversation.

"Yeah!" the other twin chimed in. "When we were first years last year, you never offered us any help!"

"It's because you're both hopeless cases," Percy spat, turning back to his food and ignoring his brothers.

"You know what, George? Come to think of it, I don't think he's ever offered help to anyone before," the twin named Fred said.

"Well, except that Penelope Clearwater girl," George said. "But that's only because…"

Suddenly both twins' faces lit up with huge smiles. The one closest to Percy – Fred – began to nudge the older brother with his elbow. Iris was confused, but didn't say anything.

"No," Percy asserted, probably a little louder than he should have. "No, that's not the reason."

"Oh, come on, Perce," George teased. "You've only had your eye on Penelope Clearwater for a year and a half now. Everyone knows."

"Yeah," Fred chimed in. "And Iris isn't too bad looking herself. Sounds like someone over there has a little bit of a cr-."

"If you two do not shut up," Percy hissed, "I'm going to personally make sure that mum sends you both extra itchy sweaters for Christmas this year!"

The two gasped. "You wouldn't."

"Try me."

There was silence at the table for a moment, then Fred spoke. "Come on, George. Let's go find Lee." And with that the twins rose and found other seats further down the table.

"Sorry about them," Percy apologized. "They can be such children sometimes."

"It's okay," Iris admitted. "I kinda like them."

With that, Iris tucked happily into her food.

Eva watched the scene between Iris and the red-headed boys from where she sat at the Slytherin table. If she was being totally honest with herself, she was slightly jealous of her new friend. She wished she was sitting beside the blonde chatting up the red-haired boys.

"What are you doing staring at their lot?" a fellow Slytherin boy asked Eva. "Ugly, self-righteous gits. You'd do best to say away from them. They think they're all noble, but at the end of the day, it's the pure-blood Slytherins that win out. Trust me. You've been sorted into the best House there is. You'll do well amongst us."

Eva turned back to her plate and ate quietly.

By the end of dinner, each girl had made a few friends. Their bellies were full, and they were led to their separate Dormitories – Iris's being behind the picture of the obnoxious Fat Lady and Eva's being located behind the stone gargoyle in the dungeons.

By midnight, Eva was just drifting off to sleep in her cozy bed when she heard a faint tapping coming from somewhere high above her. Being deep under Hogwarts, the ceilings in the dungeon were fairly high up. Just at the top, Eva could make out a tiny window that allowed the tiniest rays of moonlight into her Dormitory. Just through the window was a brown and white owl, tapping furiously at the glass.

Curiously, Eva pulled out her wand and whispered, "Alohamora," causing the small window to click open. She was thankful her brother had taught her a few spells before she came to Hogwarts.

The owl soared down, dropped a note onto Eva's bed then soared back out the window. The bird was so silent, not a single girl in the room woke. It was perfect.

Eva grabbed the note and read it:

Eva,

Sorry to see we were sorted into separate Houses. If you would like, we could still be friends. I have Potions class first tomorrow. I don't know what you're schedule is like, but I'll save you a cauldron next to mine just in case you have Potions as well. I'm fairly good with Potions, so if you need any help, just let me know. See you tomorrow.

-Iris

P.S. The owl's name is Fester. He's mine, but feel free to use him to send messages if you need to.

Eva smiled as she tucked the note away where the other girls wouldn't find it. First year wouldn't be so bad especially if Iris was still willing to be her friend. Eva checked her schedule and found that she did in fact have potions first class too. She gave a thought to what the other Slytherins would say but she cared so little for it, that it didn't bother her at all. She tucked herself back into bed with a smile on her face, glad that she wouldn't be so alone.

Feedback is always appreciated. Eva and I like to look at the reviews and see what you guys think. We appreciate your honest opinions and laugh at any flames. So let us know what you think!