Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or the song (if I include one)

A/N: I'm doing it…I'm doing a prequel to Everlasting Sacrifice. I might as well…it'll certainly give more background and the like and it's not like I don't have enough to do already…so what's one more story? Yep…I'm doing it…this is the tell-all and hopefully I'll make it likeable enough for the lot of you! I already have a semi-background story to Everlasting Sacrifice, called Severus's Suffering which I wrote and recommend to those interested. And note, this is prequel, so the actual story Everlasting Sacrifice is already up on Fanfiction and I recommend that one too for you if you like this one, alright? (Of course, if you only started on this one…Everlasting Sacrifice has spoilers for this story and kinda vice versa…)

I'll do a chapter on the tree of portals eventually, but here are some warnings about what'll be in this…

Warning: Pokemon (maybe, I still remain undecided on that one), Card Games, other cheesy crap. Don't read if you don't like and don't flame because I warned you and you have no reason to hate me…you've been warned.

Everlasting Sacrifice: Beginnings

Chapter 1: New Journeys

KatherineAnneForest

Today I'm finally getting to go to Hogwarts! I'm so excited about taking the train, which I'm only doing because I had stayed with Lily, my best friend over the summer. Lily's two years older than me, she's thirteen but we've been best friends for a while. I'm eleven, an up and coming Guardian of the Portals who wants to go to Hogwarts to learn magic and the like. I hope I get sorted into Gryffindor, that's Lily's house and that would mean we could spend a lot of time together.

"So Cat, are you nervous?" she asked as we waited to get on the train. We had recently gone shopping for our supplies, my supplies for first year and Lily's supplies for her third year.

"I'm excited Lil, hey, who're all these people?" I asked, looking around and Lily laughed.

"You always want to know everything…" she said, "Why don't you just read their minds and find out?"
"I don't like reading minds when I don't have too…you never know what you'll find," I said, wrinkling my nose, "Besides, I won't make friends by going up, saying their name and telling them I had read their minds…"

"Oh, that's right! You have a plan, eh?" she asked teasingly, "You want to have friends from each school house, right?"

"Yep," I said and then felt myself pushed to the side as a kid bumped into me, "Hey… c'mon, watch where you're going?"

"You watch it," the kid replied and I saw it was a boy, "You're the one standing there spaced out!"

"Snape that's not nice!" Lily said scolding and he glared at her. He had black hair, deep black eyes and kinda pale skin. He wasn't bad looking though…I thought he was kind of cute. His hair was a little longer than shoulder length and if it got any longer he would either have to pull it back so it wouldn't get in his face or cut it off so it wouldn't get in his face.

"I don't care," he said.

"I'm sorry," I said in an effort to release the tension I felt brewing in the air, "I was spacing out…"

"Cat, you don't have to apologize," Lily said as Snape glared at me before stalking off onto the train, "Severus Snape, that's his full name, and he isn't the nicest character. He's in Slytherin…"

"Do you think he could be my first friend from Slytherin?" I asked and she looked at me like I was insane.

"Cat, he knows a lot of curses and he isn't nice…most Slytherins are not nice," she said and we heard the train whistle blow, "We better get on the train."

"Uh-hu," I said, "I'm looking forward to this…"

"You came on the train with me every time I was leaving Hogwarts…Cat the entrance to your home is on the grounds…" she said with a sigh.

"But this time I'm going to the actual school, not going home for the year waiting for summer and you to come…" I said with a giggle and rushed on, carrying my case with my things, "C'mon, we want to get a good seat, right?"

"No, not necessarily a good seat, just one out of the way of trouble…" she said with a half grin, "And then you should start reading through your books…some of the teachers give quizzes to see if you read them on the first day…"

"They do?" I asked with wide eyes, "Seriously, that's not fair!"

"I'm just kidding hon," she said, her eyes full of a teasing glint, "You're so gullible sometimes…"

"No I'm not…you take advantage of my trust…" I said tossing some of my hair of my shoulder in a faked agitated expression.

"And you take advantage of everything," she said, "Not to mention you're brash, headstrong…"

"You don't need to list my faults unless you want me to list yours," I said and she smiled.

"Alright then, let's find a seat…" she said and we made our way onto the train. I couldn't wait for the school year to begin!

…

I saw the car that the boy Severus Snape was sitting in and I wanted to sit by him and find out more about him. I don't know why I was intrigued but my interest and curiosity.

"Are you sure you want to be alone Cat?" Lily asked me as we arrived at a cabin where a few of her school friends were, "I don't mind you here you know that…"

"I know…but you should catch up with your friends from school, I had a whole summer with you and we'll see each other a lot at school, right?" I asked.

"Of course," she said, "If it's what you want…but don't go causing trouble and beating up on the boys…if you do I'm not helping out…"

"There goes my fun," I said laughing and she smiled at me sadly.

"Grow up," she said with a sigh.

"Na-uh," I said, "I'm already grown up you know, I just act like a child to make me feel better…"
"That's right, how could I have forgotten," she said, "Well then I'll see you later!"

"Yep, see you Lil!" I said and began to make my way back to where that boy was. I arrived at the cabin and opened the door meekly.

"Something I can help you with?" he asked cruelly and glared at me, "It's you…what do you want?"

"Can I sit here?" I asked.

"Why don't you sit with your friend Evans?" he sneered, "I'm sure she'd make better company, I don't think I'll like you if you hang out with trash like that."
"She's not trash and I think you'd make very interesting company," I said, edging my way in and setting my bag down on my seat opposite from him.

"Ah, so you think I'm interesting?" he asked, "Well bugger off I don't have time to entertain…"
"You don't have to," I said simply, biting on whatever bait he had thrown out, "I can simply observe you and you'll be interesting enough that way…" He shifted uncomfortably. What…he hadn't expected me to fight back or take offense?

"You have a tougher shell than I first thought," he said, "But don't get on my nerves or else I might have to curse you…"

"Alright, Lily said you knew a lot of them," I said, "Maybe you could teach me a few?"
"I don't think someone of your level of magic could cast a decent curse," he said, "Besides, what do I have to gain?"
"I'll teach you a few of my potions," I offered, "Although I'm sure someone of your magic level couldn't handle them…"

"Must you be annoying? By Merlin if you end up in Slytherin it will be a sad day indeed," he said, "We don't need fools and idiots in our house."

"I'm assuming that means if I end up in Gryffindor, Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw we'll be mortal enemies?" I asked, "Because the rest of them must be full of fools and idiots, correct?"

"Exactly," he said, "Maybe you aren't so dumb…"

"Maybe you're just slightly closed minded," I replied with a smile and offered my hand, "My name is Katherine Anne Forest."

"Severus Snape but don't expect me to shake," he said and I lowered my hand, "So…you are a new student then…"

"Uh-hu," I said, "I'm very excited…"

"I might as well warn you if you don't get sorted into Slytherin you better make friends fast in the upper class because we'll make your life a living hell…" he said, "Foolish girls like you are prime for teasing and harassment…"
"Thank you for the warning," I said, "But why warn me if it's fun for you?"

"I like to see people squirm uncomfortably," he said, "At the mere thought of being tormented by the Slytherins most of the other students run in fear…"

"I'm not afraid," I said and dug into my backpack for some items, "See?"
"What are those things?" he asked looking at my cards.

"Summoning cards," I said, "So don't make me mad…"

"That's laughable," he said drawing out his wand and pointing it at my face, "I could curse you before you even do whatever the hell a summoning is…"

"I'm pretty curse resistant," I said offhandedly and put the cards away with a slight chuckle, "Not to mention I'm not a fool…"

"You have yet to prove it…" he said.

"Snape, there you are! We've been searching the whole train for you!" a voice said. I turned to look towards the door and saw a blond haired boy slightly older than me peeking in the door, two other guys with him.

"What do you want right now Malfoy?" Snape asked as the boy invited himself in. He regarded me for a minute and then turned back to Sev.

"Who's she?" he asked.

"A new student," Snape said.

"Ah, I see," he said, "She is pretty…" I blushed at that and realized I had to move my stuff so the other two boys could fit in and sit down.

"What do you want Malfoy?" Snape repeated and Malfoy put up his hand in mock innocence…at least that was how it looked to me.

"Can't I come and visit just to visit?" he asked.

"Not normally," Snape replied dryly, "Is there a purpose to this visit?" Both of them seemed to be ignoring me and so did the other two boys that had followed Malfoy in. Malfoy whispered something into Snape's ear that I couldn't hear or understand and he smirked.

"Got that?" Malfoy asked.

"Of course I did," Snape replied, "Now go away…"

"Leave you with a pretty girl…no way," Malfoy said, and turned to me, "I'm pleased to meet you; I am Lucious Malfoy a Slytherin…"

"Well that's kind of obvious seeing as how you're talking to a Slytherin," I said, pointing to Severus, "And you wouldn't be talking to someone from another house, would you?"

"Ah, you're a serpent that can bit back," he said with a grin and I shifted at the mention of snakes. I hated snakes, really, really hated them.

"So…what do you want with me?" I asked dryly.

"Meet my associates, Crabbe and Goyle," he said, "They're good friends of mine…"
"…" I didn't say anything as I looked over them. They looked more like they'd be used for brute force rather than magic battles or anything like that.

"Lucious…leave," Severus insisted.

"What, have you already made her your girlfriend?" Malfoy asked, and then turned towards me again, "You're pretty enough…tell you what, you agree to date me and I'll protect you…"

"Number one, I could be a Gryffindor for all you know and number two even though you have some good looks, I can see your personality doesn't match them," I said.

"Number one you act very much like a Slytherin," he said, moving to sit by me and everyone moved and I even shifted closer to the window uncomfortably, "And number two that wasn't a request…besides you hardly know me…"
"I think you were already asked to leave, why don't you do that now?" I asked standing and reaching into my pocket.

"You haven't answered me," he said.

"I thought I already did," I said and pulled out a card, muttering a spell under my breath. Malfoy and company scrambled for the door, obviously afraid as the card began to glow white.

"A summoner?" he asked, "I see…a wild stallion that needs taming…you better hope you become a Slytherin or I won't be nice with you!" With that he dashed out of the room and I sat back down. Snape however was staring at me quite intently.

"What?" I asked as the card transformed into a butterfly and landed on my hair, "You asked them to leave and if people don't leave willingly sometimes tricks work just as well…"

"You're different than anyone I've seen…" he said and then grabbed my pack and started digging through it, pulling out a sketchbook. I grabbed my back away as he began flipping through the sketchbook.

"Hey, I never said I would let you see that!" I exclaimed as he was paging through it.

"You're an artist…" he said, somewhat in awe, "But this is a weird sketchbook… what's with all these pictures of handshakes and names?"

"There aren't many of those, yet," I said, "They're my friends. We shake over the sketchbook and then they're imprinted in it…friends forever…" An idea hit me as I was thinking about how to grab it back from Snape without getting any pages torn out in the process.

"That's dumb," he said.

"Why don't you shake over a page with me?" I asked, "Then we'll be friends…"
"What makes you think I want to be friends with you?" he asked and tossed the sketchbook back in my lap. I opened it up to a clean page and held it and my hand out for him to shake over it.

"Please?" I asked, "It's not much, just a handshake…"

"I repeat, who said I want to be friends with you?" he asked.

"I want to be friends with you," I said with a smile on my face.

"Fine then, if you promise to shut up for the rest of the trip," he said and I nodded my agreement. He thrust his hand out and shook mine over the page of the sketchbook and a pencil drawing began to form of our hands shaking in the middle of the page…kinda diagonal as a picture of his face and shoulders appeared above that and his signature appeared near the bottom.

"There, now I'm your friend and you're mine…I promise to always protect you!" I said and he grabbed the sketchbook once again to look at it.

"That's some magic…" he said, "Where'd you get this?"
"I made it," I said simply, "Enchanted it myself…can I have it back now? If you want me to be quiet the rest of the trip I'll need it back…"

"Here you go, it's probably not worth as much as you make it look," he said, "And if you're not going to tell me where you got it, that's fine…" I sighed, he didn't believe I had made it and it used to be just an ordinary sketchbook I picked up in a muggle art store for eight dollars. He was odd…one minute he seemed so cold and the next he was non-caring and the next he could almost be considered friendly. He must have some sort of a past. I relaxed into the seat and clutched my sketchbook against me. I should get some rest…I was too excited though…I wonder what was in store for me!

Sirius Black

"So, you hear about Lily's friend now?" Remus asked, "I heard she's here now…on this train coming to Hogwarts…"

"How would you know about Evans' friend?" James asked with an amused gleam in his eye, "What…seriously, how do you know?"
"She always talks about her during potions," I said, "That's what I've been hearing… she always talks about this great friend who's amazing at creating potions…but then again…anyone could do it…"

"Actually, what confuses me is since Lily was muggle born and she has a friend who does potions…and she wouldn't have known an wizards or witches most likely before she came to Hogwarts," Remus said, "I'm interested to meet this person…"
"So Lily knew a witch before she came here?" I asked, "I don't get it…"

"Well," Remus said, "If you really want to meet her I saw her in one of the cars as I was trying to find the desert trolley…" Peter, James and I turned to him.

"Why don't we meet this friend of Evans," James said, "Maybe she could tell me more about her…"
"You and your crush," I teased, "Is she pretty?"
"You're the one who's going to turn out to be a lech," James said, "Besides, if she's Evans' friend she has to be pretty…"
"There's a problem though…" Remus said, "She's in a cabin with Snape…"
"Meet Evans' friend, make Snivilus' life hell? Sounds like a plan to me," James said.

"I don't think it's going to be that easy…" Remus sighed, "But I might as well… are you coming Peter?"

"No…I wanted to finish reading this," Peter said, holding up his potions book, "I can't fail another exam…"

"Got that right," I said, "Alright then, we won't be away long…"

"…" Remus looked away, rolling his eyes, "Trouble is brewing…"

…

"…" I peered into the cabin window to see Snivilus and a girl snoozing on their seats.

"I'm surprised he's not studying," James said, "You'd think…"
"She is pretty," I said, "Very cute…"

"Are you going to wake her just to say hi?" Remus asked. I watched for a moment before nodding and opening the door. The girl woke quickly and blinked at us.

"Sorry, didn't mean to wake you," I quickly said and she smiled weakly.

"Yes you did, you were coming here to see me, weren't you?" she asked.

"Well, yes…" I said, "That's partially it…"

"Come on in then," she said, "I'm sure Sev wouldn't mind…"

"You're on a nickname basis with him? Geeze…what'd he promise you…the world or a host of curses to be his friend?" James asked as we all went in and sat down. Remus calmly sat down next to the sleeping Snape and James sat on Remus' other side while I sat down next to the girl.

"What? No, he didn't promise or threaten anything…I kinda like him," she said, "Well, aren't you going to introduce yourselves?"

"Ah yes…" I said, wondering for a moment why Snape hadn't woken up…he wouldn't be one to show weakness in front of us, "My name is Sirius Black, that guy with the glasses and gorgeous hair is James Potter and the bookworm next to him is Remus Lupin. We're known as the Marauders of the school…there's a forth member who's named Peter Pettigrew but he's in our cabin reading at the moment."

"Oh, you're the mischief makers Lil told me about," she said, "Well then, I'm pleased to meet you, my name is Katherine Anne Forest…"

"How old are you and how long have you known Evans as a friend…best friend or otherwise?" James asked.

"I've know Lil for a long time," she said.

"Okay Forest, are you muggle born?" I asked.

"Uh-uh," she said, shaking her head and I pondered this, "Well…what's that got to do with anything?"
"It's just that Evans talks about you a lot during potions class…so she must have known wizards and witches existed before she came to this school because obviously this is your first year…we're just trying to sort things out," Remus said gently, smiling at her.

"Oh, well, Lil always believed in the supernatural," she said, "I just confirmed it for her and then her letter to Hogwarts confirmed she was a part of it too…"

"Um…yeah," James said, "Wow, I'm surprised Snivilus hasn't woken up yet…"
"Snivilus?" Forest asked, "You mean Snape? I thought you wouldn't want to wake him if you were only here to see me…"

"What…you used magic to keep him asleep?" I asked.

"Something like that," she said, "What…don't tell me…were you going to pick a fight or something?"
"What made you think that?" I asked, scooting slightly closer to her, to which she scooted a little ways away.

"He's a Slytherin, and you're Gryffindors…I'm going to assume you're all in the same year because of the fact Lil mentions you and him once in a while…" she said, "And let me guess…you don't get along…"

"How'd you deduce all that just from…?" Remus began to ask but she cut him off.

"I read your minds," she said, "Being a psychic, I was sensing your presence before you entered the room and this feeling of impending doom fell over me and I thought I better check it out and woke up, read your minds and made sure Sev stayed asleep…"

"Huh, what did you just say?" I asked and Remus began laughing.

"You have quite the sense of humor," he said, "I'm surprised all Evans has told you about us!"

"Who said Lil told me any of this?" she asked.

"That's the only way you could have known," he said pointedly, "Well I'm going back to the cabin…you might want to change before you wake 'Sev' up because we're almost at Hogwarts…"

"Oh, alright, I'll see you later Remus!" she said, and we watched good old Moony head back towards our cabin.

"I'm going too," James said, "I'll find out about Evans later…coming Sirius?"

"Just a minute, I'll be there in a little bit…" I said and he shrugged and left, tossing me one of his 'I know what you're going to do but don't screw it up if it messes up my chances with Evans' look. I turned back towards Forest who looked at me with a cocked eyebrow. She was very pretty and she seemed easy enough to get to go on a date.

"So…what do you want?" she asked.

"You know…I knew when I first heard you were Evans' friend you'd be pretty, but I never figured this pretty," I said and scooted closer, noting she had no where else to scoot so she was stuck where she was unless she stood up altogether, "So…I mean, c'mon, I know you won't want to date someone like Snape…so what do you say? Do you want to be my girlfriend?"

"Huh?" she asked, "What brought that up? Is it just because of how I look? I haven't even been sorted yet…won't you feel like an ass if you date a Slytherin?"
"Your looks make it forgivable," I said, shrugging it off, "Besides, if you agree now it makes your chances better when you do get sorted, if you end up with the protection of me and my friends…"
"I think having Lil's protection is all I need not to mention my own," she said, "I can take care of myself…"

"No, I'm not saying you couldn't…but it's nice to have someone look over your shoulder…" I said.

"So then your fee would be I need to go out with you?" she asked. How'd…wait… well, I guess she'd see it that way…

"Um…" I began, and decided to ignore that, "So, yes or no?"

"No," she said and I stood, "Sorry…"

"No problem," I said, "I know how to win girls like you over…"
"You're only thirteen," she said sarcastically, "How would you know?"
"That's a secret," I said, "I'll see you later then, eh? Oh, do you have a nickname or something? Forest is a nice name and all…and so is Katherine…but they're both too long for my taste…"

"I'm called Cat," she said.

"Like the animal?" I asked and she nodded, "Cool…I'll see you at school then…" I blew her a kiss and walked out. I'd win her over yet…she wasn't any different from the other girls who had crushes on me…except she didn't have a crush yet… but I knew that would quickly change and she'd be all over me…yep, she wasn't any different…

Cat

So those were the Marauders that Lil had told me about? Wow, they were kinda strange…I changed quickly and lifted my spell so Sev could wake up normally. The boy Sirius was kind of cute and so was James. But it was blaringly obvious, even from that first encounter alone that he liked Lil…she never talked about James like she had a crush though…but it could happen, I think.

"How long have I been asleep?" Sev asked, waking up.

"I don't know," I said, "But we're almost at school, so you might want to change…"

"I'm already changed," he said, "All I have to do is out on the wizard's cloak and then I'm done…"

"Oh, alright then…" I said, noting his outfit. It was black save for the white shirt I saw underneath it all, black seemed to be his color and he did look oddly good in it.

"So, we're almost there?" he repeated softly and rubbed his eyes. Wow…all of a sudden he was acting friendly.

"Yep," I said, "Well, I'm going to go find Lil to be with her for the rest of the train ride…"

"Why…you've finally had enough of me?" he asked dryly.

"I wouldn't know where to go and besides, you probably would want to go and find your friends, I don't want to be a hindrance to that," I said, getting up and collecting my bag.

"What friends?" he asked.

"That boy Malfoy and the others…" I said and noted a small glimpse of sadness in his eyes before it faded back to the coldness I had seen before, "Aren't you friends with them?"
"I don't know if I'd call them friends," he said, "But so long…I don't want to run into you at Hogwarts…try to avoid me, alright?"
"Uh…um…no?" I answered, "I wouldn't want to…we're friends…"
"Oh right, that stupid sketch book thing," he said.

"You know what?" I decided to myself, "I'll stay…"

"Suit yourself, it doesn't matter," he said, digging a book out of his own bag and opened it up to read it. I sat down again and pulled out the sketch book I had put away and a pencil and began to draw a picture of Sev as he was reading. He didn't notice as I worked and I'm glad. I'm a little embarrassed about my own work when I sketch, that and besides, he'd probably ask me to tear out the page and burn it anyways…

…

"So, I'm finally entering this school as a student…" I said in awe as I approached the doors with the other first years, "I can't believe it!"

"Sorting ceremony's going to be good," one of the students said, "My brother told me about it…"

"I heard we had to wrestle a troll," another student chimed in.

"Wow…this is going to be interesting," I said as the doors opened. What was going to happen in my first year at Hogwarts? I hoped I was sorted into Lily's house and then I couldn't wait to start my classes! This was going to be so much fun!

TBC

A/N: So…do you think I should continue with it or not? It's the background to everything…some should recognize the flashback about the sketch book, although it isn't exactly the same…if you read Everlasting Sacrifice I mean. Well, you all know the drill, read and review; constructive criticism is alright but no flames! If the characters are slightly OOC than I apologize…I don't know exactly how they'd be in their first years especially because the only scene we've known Lily and James from was from the fifth book and from what was said by others. Alright?
Read and Review please!