Chapter One

Carina's Third Year

As we went through the barrier between platforms 9 and 10, we were met by the sound of a train whistle. I grinned, knowing that in a few short hours, I would be back at the place I truly belonged; Hogwarts.

All around us, parents were saying goodbye to their children; mothers were crying as if there was no tomorrow, fathers were patting their children on the back, the children were either crying with their mothers, or trying to get away from the embarrassing scenes.

My family, however?

My mother was fawning over my younger brother, Scorpius. She wasn't crying, however. No, my mother was too proud to cry in front of an audience. However, she was sweet and caring enough that it was easy to tell that she wasn't far from letting the first tear drop.

As my mother was going through her 'first year at Hogwarts' speech, I saw father's gaze fall on someone away from us. I followed his gaze, and saw the man that everyone in the Wizarding Community knew of; Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived. At first I was in awe, I had only seen him a few times in real life (although I had seen him several times in the newspaper), but then my face turned into a sneer as I saw the boy who was standing beside The Chosen One; James Sirius Potter.

James, sensing that someone was watching him, turned and met my gaze. His face, too went into a sneer.

However, before either one of us could walk up to the other to make a snarky remark, my father grabbed my arm, leading me away from the gaze of James Potter, and away from my mother and younger brother.

"Now, Carina, I want you to listen carefully to me," father began, "This is Scorpius' first year here. I know your first year here was difficult,"

"That was an understatement," I interrupted.

Father gave me a stern look, clearly frustrated that I interrupted him, but chose to continue in what he was saying.

"I know your first year at Hogwarts was difficult, and I want you to do everything within your power to make sure he doesn't go through the same tormenting that you did, too."

"So, you more or less want me to make sure that nobody teases him? Make sure he doesn't fall into the wrong crowd? Show him the ropes? Spy on him? Do all that fun big-sister stuff?"

Father broke into one of the signature Malfoy smirks, before nodding. "Exactly. I want you to put your cunningness to good use, and keep an eye out for your little brother."

"Alright, I can do that."

Then father wrapped his arms around me – something that he rarely did in public – and kissed my temple before saying "I love you, Carina. You're my baby girl, I want you to have a good year, and stay out of trouble."

"I'll try," I said, smiling.

That was good enough for dad, as he nodded before leading us back to where mum was still smothering Scorpius.

"Alright, Astoria, I think you've squeezed our son enough," Dad said, smirking.

Mum wiped her eye (she apparently had already started shedding a few tears), and pulled me into a hug.

"All of my babies are leaving us, Draco!"

"Mum, we're fine. Please, release me," I said, groaning.

Mum released me from her bone-crushing-embrace before telling me more or less the same thing father did, before Scorpius and I boarded the train. After finding a compartment, we sat down and watched as the scenery changed through the window.

"So, Scor, what house do you want to get in?" I asked after the food trolly passed.

Scorpius shrugged before saying "I suppose I'll get sorted into Slytherin, besides, it's what all of the rest of our family has been sorted in."

"I didn't ask you what you thought you'd get sorted in, I asked what you wanted to be sorted into,"

Scorpius furrowed his eyebrows in thought before saying "I suppose I'd like to get into Slytherin, but if I was to choose a house besides Slytherin, I would choose Ravenclaw."

I nodded in approval, as that was the same thing I had thought when I was a firstie. What could I say? My brother had good taste in stuff like that, much like his older sister.

…~oOo~…

A few hours later, we pulled into Hogsmead train station.

By this time, Scorpius was scared out of his wits. However, everyone else was oblivious to this. Me?

Well, what kind of a big sister would I be if I wasn't able to recognize the signs when someone in my immediate family was frightened? Not a very good one, I'll tell you that.

However, in this aspect, I was a good older sister.

"Scorp," I pulled him aside before he joined Hagrid with the rest of the first years.

"Yes, Carina?"

I gave him a hug before looking down at him and saying "Scorpius, you realize that no matter what house you are sorted into, mum, dad and I will love you regardless. You're a Malfoy, we're proud and strong. Show everybody how strong you are. I love you."

Surprisingly, instead of saying 'yeah, yeah, now let me go!' he hugged me back before standing on his tip-toes to give me a peck on the cheek and said "I know. I love you too, sis. Now I really have to go,"

I agreed and let him go before joining my friends in the carriage.

"What was that all about?" Fabian Zabini asked.

"Just giving Scorpius a quick pep-talk,"

"By giving him a hug? Honestly, Carina; if people didn't know any better, they'd think you're turning into a softie," Isaac Nott said.

"Oh, shut up, will you?" Alicia Pucey said, hitting Isaac on the bicep. "I think it's sweet that she's looking after her brother like that. Isaac, you certainly didn't ask William if he was alright as he got off the train just then,"

"Of course not," Isaac scoffed, "He's a Nott. He can handle himself."

"Well excuse me for being an over-protective older-sister. Besides, you guys don't have the same things to worry about your younger siblings like I do with mine."

There was a moment of silence, and I instantly regretted what I said.

Nobody in Slytherin ever talked about the war against You-Know-Who. Ever. Too many descendants of Death-Eaters were in that house for people to bring it up.

And, of course my friends were smart enough to catch what I insinuated.

"So, how was everyone's summer?" Alicia finally asked, breaking the silence.

Oh, thank Merlin for subject-changers.

…~oOo~…

We were all gathered in the Great Hall, sitting at our respective tables, waiting for the First Years to walk in and the sorting to begin.

We were all murmuring amongst ourselves to pass the time.

I couldn't find the enthusiasm to engage myself in conversation because I was overwhelmed with excitement and nervousness for my brother.

Despite what people outside of my family would say or think, my family were, and are very close-knit. My father risked his life to save his parents from being killed, my grandmother risked her life to save my father's life countless times, and my grandfather protected his family in his own way.

We Malfoy's hold our own. We protect our own. I felt a responsibility for my little brother, Scorpius was a very strong boy for his age, and he wasn't naïve; he knew that there would be teasing, he knew he would be disliked and very well hated by other students just because of our last name. However, it was my job to make sure to protect him from it as much as possible.

"They're coming!" Alicia whispered excitedly from beside me.

I turned around in my seat to look at the first years walking down the middle of the Great Hall.

Some were in awe of the enchanted ceiling (I couldn't blame them) or the mere size of the room, some were excited and practically jumping up and down, some had looks of pure fright on their faces, and some (like my brother), kept a calm demeanor.

When Scorpius walked past the Slytherin table, I gave him a thumbs up and grinned at him. He caught me looking at him, and gave me a smile in return.

It wasn't long before all the first years were at the front of the Great Hall, standing in front of the old rickety stool that stood on a tiny platform.

"When I call your names," Professor Longbottom said, "You will come up here, sit on the stool, and I shall place the sorting hat on your head. Alright? Alright."

I spaced out as he started calling random names, and the sorting hat screaming "RAVENCLAW!" or "HUFFLEPUFF!" or "SLYTHERIN!" or (worst of all) "GRYFFINDOR!" until he called the name "Rose Weasley," that caught my attention alright, my attention and the rest of the Great Hall's.

The daughter of two members of the Golden Trio being sorted was a big deal. I was just intrigued as to whether she would be sorted in Ravenclaw, or the age-old house of Gryffindor. I shouldn't have wasted my time, as the hat screamed "GRYFFINDOR!" and the entire hall (save for the Slytherin's) erupted in clapping.

I zoned out again until I heard the name "Scorpius Malfoy," and once again, the Great Hall became silent. Scorpius walked up to the hat with a determined look on his face, and sat down on the stool.

We waited a moment or two after the hat was placed on his head until it screamed "SLYTHERIN!" then I jumped up and started clapping, screaming, whistling, all of the things I would consider embarrassing, had it not been for my little brother.

My brother sat down a few benches away from me, but he turned to grin at me and I gave him a thumbs up and mouthed "I'm so proud of you," which caused his grin to become even bigger.

A minute later the name "Albus Potter," was called.

The Great Hall became so silent, one could have dropped a quill on the ground and it would have sounded like a herd of Hippogriffs. Potter's little brother walked up to the stool and sat down.

When he sat, I was able to get a good look at his face; he looked a lot like James, only his face was kinder, not full of mischief or meanness like his brother's was.

We all waited several minutes for the hat to make his decision, and when he did, it surprised everyone. "SLYTHERIN!" there was a moment of pause, before James screamed "WHAT?!" and the Slytherin's erupted in screams and cat-calls mixed in with our clapping.

I was too stunned to do anything except look at the boy in shock; the Chosen One's son was placed in MY HOUSE?! A Potter in SLYTHERIN?! The poor kid… I watched as the newest Slytherin addition sat next to my brother and introduced himself to him.

I smiled as Scorpius started a conversation with the boy, pleased that he might have made a friend already, even if it was a Potter.

A few other kids were sorted, and then the feast began.

"Can you believe it?" Fabian said, "A Potter in Slytherin!"

"I feel bad for him," I said, taking a bite of my chicken.

"Whatever for, Carina?" Alicia asked, puzzled.

"Because," I replied, "Imagine how you and your parents would react if you had been put in Gryffindor,"

Alicia looked at me in horror and said "I would have been disowned,"

I nodded and said "Exactly, now I don't think Mr. and Mrs. Potter would do that, but just think about his family. They were probably counting on him being a Gryffindor, just as our parents wanted all of us in Slytherin. Plus think of him! He's probably in shock, the poor kid. I just feel for him."

Fabian and Alicia nodded in agreement and Alicia said "When you put it that way, I can understand why you'd feel bad for him. But it's time to go to the Common Room now," and she was right, for the food had disappeared (I had been so busy explaining my concerns for the Potter boy that I hadn't even noticed it when Scorpius and the other first years left for their dormitories), and the Great Hall was emptying.

I nodded and got up from my seat, following the rest of the remaining Slytherin's to our Common Room.

I won't lie and say that I'm sure I'll be getting positive feedback for this story, or that this was a good chapter because I'm not and this wasn't. I'm quite nervous for this chapter, and this story period, and I think this chapter was quite suckish, really. Anyways... all I can ask of you is to consider this story, and give me your honest feedback. I want the good, bad, and the ugly so long as there is constructive criticism somewhere in there.

-Arctic Winters