The sun was shining brightly in the sky and birds were singing in the trees. On the first of September, King Cross was unusually crowded. Lots of people were trying to make their way through small groups, looking for their trains, scared of missing it. In that crowd, two heads could easily be spotted, even by muggles… a small girl of eleven years old, with flashing red hair and pale blue eyes, was wandering off in every direction and her mother, with bright pink hair that was shocking most people once they understood she was a mother, was running after her, an annoyed look on her face.

"Lily Molly Lupin, will you stop disappearing and hurry up a bit?" she shouted through the crowd so that her daughter could hear her. "Your brother is already getting on board and I've already told you, the train does not wait for students who are late!"

Lily gave her mother an annoyed look, sighed and gave her her hand. Tonks dragged the small girl with her, almost running toward platform 9 ¾. They went through the gate together to find Remus who was holding a small crying girl in his arms.

"Where's James?" asked Tonks, taking the sobbing child in her own arms.

"Already in the train," said Remus with a small sigh before smiling at his other daughter. "And you, young lady, are you ready to go?"

Lily smiled and nodded vigorously.

"Which house do you want to get sorted into?" asked Tonks.

"I don't care, I just wanna be with James. Can I go now?" she asked pleadingly.

Tonks kissed her softly and stroked her cheek.

"Yes you can," she said sadly.

The small girl hugged both her parents tightly and kissed her little sister.

"Come on Marie, you'll be able to come in only five years," she said cheerfully before jumping in the train.

A few seconds later, a window of the train opened and Lily popped her head out, waving at her parents.

"I love you!" she said happily.

"Love you too Pumpkin pie!" answered Tonks. "Be good, and don't get yourself – or anybody else – in trouble with your power!"

"What's the fun of having powers if you can't use them?" she asked plaintively.

The train started moving and Lily waved at her parents until they were out of sight. Left alone with their crying daughter, they looked at each other, a bit sad and worried, and then Remus took Tonks' hand, squeezed it gently and they both went away with their youngest child, who would unfortunately leave them as well too soon.

Back in the train, Lily was trying to find her brother. She was running from one compartment to another, bursting into conversations and looking from left to right. Finally, she pushed a door open and saw him. He was sitting with a small girl with short blonde hair, who looked as excited as Lily herself, though shyer. Beside the small girl was a taller boy with mid-length black hair, who, unlike his sister, wore an annoyed look.

Lily sat beside James and looked at the two people sitting in front of them, looking very curious. James noticed it and nudged her in the ribs before giving her a "it's-rude-to-stare" look. Lily rolled her eyes and smiled at the strangers.

"Hi," she said cheerfully. "I'm Lily Lupin, and this is my brother James," she added, pointing at him. "We're starting at Hogwarts this year. And who are you?"

"I'm Emily Jones," said the small girl shyly. "And I'm new too. This is my brother, Frederic."

"Which year are you in?" asked Lily.

"I'm entering my third year," he said, not sounding very excited.

"Which house are you in?"

"Hufflepuff."

"Oh, is that the one with the badger?"

James nudged her again, looking a bit uncomfortable.

"Stop asking question Lils!" he whispered.

"Why?" she asked, her eyes widening before she turned to Frederic. "Am I bothering you?" she asked innocently.

Frederic looked at her for a while and then smiled.

"No, it's okay," he said.

Suddenly the door flung open and teen girl entered the compartment, her chin slightly up, a smug look on her face which made her look very plain. Otherwise, with her rosy cheeks and chestnut brown curly hair, she could have been really pretty. Apparently, Frederic thought so too, since he looked as if he wanted to disappear right through the floor.

"Oh, hello Freddy," she said, making him cringe.

"Hi Josie," he mumbled.

"Sorry to disturb you… I didn't know you were… babysitting," she said with a little smirk.

She gave another look around as Frederic turned red and closed the door behind her. For a moment, there was a very uncomfortable silence, and then Lily looked up at Frederic, screwing up her face. Her red hair turned brown, curls appearing here and there.

"So you like brown hair?" she asked casually.

Frederic turned even redder and his eyes widened as he looked at her.

"How did you do that?!" he asked, astonished.

Emily too was looking at her with big eyes, full of surprise and also admiration. Could this little girl, who was her age, know such magic already?

"Lily!" said James, shocked. "Mum told you not to do that!"

"She said not to get in trouble with it," cried Lily, her hair switching back to red. "And I didn't do anything wrong."

She turned to Frederic and noticed he was still looking at her with huge eyes.

"I'm a Metamorphmagus, like my mum," she explained. "James is one too."

"What's a metamorph… something?" asked Emily.

"It means she can change her appearance at will… she could look exactly like you if she wanted to," said Frederic with an envious look.

Lily smiled at him as the door opened again. A tall girl, who was wearing the traditional black wizard robes, plus a blue and bronze tie, popped her head in and smiled.

"Hi kids. You might want to change into your uniforms, we'll be getting there soon."

She winked and closed the door. Lily looked at Frederic, an excited look on her face.

"Are we really getting there soon?" she asked.

"I think so yes," he said, taking a look at the now dark sky outside.

The four of them changed into their school robes and not too long after that, the train stopped moving and they all got out. Frederic hugged his small sister and wished good luck to Lily and James before disappearing in the crowd.

"First year, follow meh!" roared a voice.

Lily's eyes widened at the sight of the enormous man in front of them.

"Yeh two are Remus and Tonks' kids, aren't yeh?" he asked when he saw them.

"Yes sir," answered James as Lily took his hand.

"Then come with meh children," he said, leading all first years toward the lake, where they got in small boats.

A few minutes later, they arrived in front of the school and Lily's mouth fell wide open as she squeezed her brother's hand, which she was still holding.

It was so huge and beautiful! Her parents had tried to describe it to her but they had both given up, saying it wasn't possible to describe it and that she would find out by herself. At the time, Lily had been quite annoyed by her parents' refusal to tell her what Hogwarts school looked like, but now she understood.

All first years entered the school and stopped at the sight of an old woman with grey and white hair, which had once been black. She was wearing a long and dark glimmering purple robe and her face was very strict, though Lily could guess that she was quite nice.

"Follow me children," she said, entering a small classroom.

Everybody indeed followed her and found themselves squeezed all together in the tiny room.

"My name is Professor McGonagall and I am the headmistress of Hogwarts School," she announced.

Lily's eyes widened. The headmistress was in charge of welcoming the students?

"When it'll be time, we will all go in the Great Hall, in line, and I don't want any talking, understood?"

She glanced around the room with a stern look at those who had been whispered and they immediately turned a deep shade of red.

"There are four houses in this school, as you should all know; Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin."

Lily and James both shuddered at the same time. Most of their family, especially their uncles Harry and Ron, despised the house of Slytherin and they had heard a great deal about it.

"Now, follow me!" said Professor McGonagall as she got out of the classroom and entered the Great Hall.

All the other students were already sitting, waiting for the feast to begin. McGonagall lead the first years to the front of the room and then made them stop as she stood by a small three-legged stool on which was an old ragged hat. The Sorting hat. Excitement rose in Lily again. A small line appeared on the hat, as if it had a mouth, and a clear voice filled the Great Hall.

"Many decades ago, many centuries

Lived four witch and wizards; hear their story

They had a wish, they had a dream

As bright and light as the moonlight gleam

To build a school, to make a home

For children to live, hidden from some

And so beside a lake, beyond the forest

A house was erected, a place to rest

Children arrived, eager to learn

All different in their hope to earn

Pure, half and muggle born

All together, and yet all alone

And so an idea in the founders' heads rose

To put them all in separate houses

According to their abilities and differences

They taught them all to follow their senses

Brave Gryffindor seeking for courage

Slytherin searching for pureness through the age

Hufflepuff's loyalty taking her house's lead

And to enter Ravenclaw, intelligence you'd need

And so to decide who was worthy of them

A bit of magic came off from their head

A thinking hat, all ragged outside

But trust me children, I'll see what's inside."

For a few seconds the hall was filled with applause and then Professor McGonagall cleared her throat.

"When I call out your name," said McGonagall. "Come and sit on the stool."

She started calling out names, starting with "Bloom, Melissa" who got sorted in Ravenclaw. For a while, Lily paid no attention to the sorting, as she was looking around the Great Hall. A long banner was hanging from behind what seemed to be the professors' table. Lily recognized it quickly as Hogwarts banner and she looked at the four other banners which were floating in the room. A red and gold one with a lion, a green and silver one with a snake, a blue and bronze one with an eagle and a yellow and black one with a badger. Lily didn't know why, but the last one seemed quite interesting to her. Then, when the name of "Jones, Emily" was called out, Lily turned to see the small shy girl with whom she had been sitting in the train.

Emily walked slowly toward the stool and sat on it, her face white and her whole body shaking until the hat shouted:

"Gryffindor!"

Emily jumped off the stool, quite glad it was done and over, and ran to the Gryffindor table. Two other children were sorted (both in Slytherin) until finally, Professor McGonagall called out James' name. As shyly as Emily, James approached the stool and sat. It took a while for the hat to decide where he would be sorted, but after about five minutes, it finally shouted:

"Gryffindor!"

Proud of her brother, Lily barely heard her name being called out. Excitedly, she ran to the stool and waited for the hat to sort her, confident that she would be with her brother. But then…

"Hufflepuff!" shouted the hat.

Lily stared blankly as the name of Hufflepuff echoed in the Great Hall. Disappointed – not of being in Hufflepuff, but of not being with James – but cheerful of nature, she jumped off the stool and walked to the Hufflepuff table.

Frederic smiled at her and Lily noticed there was an empty seat beside him. He had obviously been keeping it for his sister, just in case, but he offered it to her and she gladly took it.

When the sorting finally ended (by "Wallace, Matthew" being sorted in Slytherin), Professor McGonagall sat in the middle of the professors' table and food appeared out of nowhere on the tables.

Lily froze for a second but she quickly shook her head as hunger called her back to her senses. She reached for the food and gladly filled her plate, eating in a manner that was weirdly similar to her uncle Ron's. Soon after the desserts had disappeared, Professor McGonagall rose to her feet and silence filled the room.

"Welcome to all of you," she said loudly. "Welcome to a new year of Hogwarts School. As always," she said with a sigh. "The forbidden forest is out of bound for every single student in this school, and I don't care if it looks like the perfect place to make love potions," she added, glaring sternly at a bunch of giggling girls from Ravenclaw.

"For those who wish to join the Quidditch team of their house, the trial will be held accordingly to your team Captains. And now, it's time to say goodnight. Please follow the prefects of your houses, they will give you the password for your Common Room," she said, waiting for the students to get up. "Well, off you go!"

Everybody got up and each followed a different direction, all the new students wondering where they would find their Common Room. Lily followed a tall and chubby boy, who was one of Hufflepuff's prefects, and as they were going through the most amazing staircase she had ever seen, Lily wondered if she would even be able to remember which way to take to reach her common room.

After ten minutes of wandering in the corridors, they all stopped in front of a wall. Actually, it was a curtain, but there was obviously a wall behind it. It couldn't be a wall, since the curtain didn't reach the floor and a door would have been visible behind it.

Then, the prefect pushed away the curtain to reveal a portrait. A beautiful portrait of a very pretty woman, with long blonde silky curls and a creamy skin. From the look of her clothes, she seemed to be a lady who would have lived a few centuries ago. She was wearing a beautiful yellow dress and a long black cloak was covering her shoulders. With her white hands, she was holding a golden cup… with a badger on it…

Black and yellow… badger… Lily gasped and looked at Frederic, who was still standing beside her.

"Is that…" she began, pointing at the painting.

"Helga Hufflepuff," said Frederic. "Or so it would seem. The only found that portrait last year. It was hidden in a room of the castle… surprising that nobody had ever found it before," he said, raising an eyebrow. "They thought that the rightful place to put her would be here."

"What about the others?" asked Lily. "Rowena, Godric, Salazar…"

"I've never heard of portraits of them being found," he answered simply.

Lily opened her mouth, probably to ask another question, but the prefect started talking again and she decided to keep her question for later.

"So here is the Common Room everybody. This year, the password is… Sunflower?" he said, looking at the portrait quizzically.

Helga shrugged her shoulder and the portrait flung open, but Lily could swear that she had heard a small giggle when she went through the small hole that was hidden behind the painting.

As she entered the Common Room, she gasped again. The walls were painted in a flashy yellow colour, but it was not disagreeable or anything like that. There were no windows since they were in the basement, but black velvet drapes were hanging here and there on the walls. In one corner of the room, there was a huge fireplace, and all around the room, there were black seats and sofas on the dark yellow carpet. All the furniture – tables, bookcases, etc – was also black with small yellow engravings, most of the time a badger of a big "H".

Lily smiled happily and followed the prefect who was showing the first years where the dormitories were, but then, as she noticed that Frederic was going toward the stairs, she turned around and ran to him.

"Hey," she said cheerfully.

"Hey," he answered, smiling. "So, what do you think?" he asked, looking around the room.

"It's beautiful," she said, her eyes sparkling. "I'm glad I was sorted in Hufflepuff."

"That's good, because I thought you were disappointed at first."

"Oh, I was," she said sincerely, as usual. "But only because I realized I wouldn't be in James' house."

"Don't worry, you'll still get to see him," said Frederic, smiling. "You'll have a lot of classes with Gryffindors; Hufflepuffs always do."

Lily smiled at him and they remained silent for few minutes before Frederic pointed at his dormitory.

"I'm gonna go to bed now. Have a good night, Lily," he said.

"You too," she answered happily.

They both went their way and Lily ran up the stairs before pushing open the door of the dormitory she was sharing with five other girls. Four of them were already asleep but the other one was sitting on her bed, staring at the ceiling, her arms wrapped around her knees. She had long pale blonde braided hair and her eyes, which seemed to be brown, were sparkling with tears.

Lily, feeling a bit uncomfortable, which was unusual, changed into her nightdress and got into bed, but after a few minutes, she got back on her feet and went beside the little girl.

"Hi, I'm Lily," she said nicely.

The little girl looked at her for a minute and then lied down on her bed, covering herself with the yellow quilt.

"Leave me alone," she mumbled from under the quilt.

Taken aback, Lily went back into her bed and shook her head. A few minutes later, she was already falling asleep, dreaming and hoping that the years to come would be as great as the first day she had spent at Hogwarts, but dreading it would go too fast.