A brief introduction:

Greetings!

This is the prequel I've been waiting for JKR to write since the last HP cook. Granted, I'll never match her standard, but I'll try anyway. So! Basically, it's a marauders era fic with an OC. I know, I know. Ew, an OC ~~

But seriously, I'm trying to make everything pretty cannon. I have bits and pieces of the whole thing written, so sorting through it all will be a long process, but I HAVE chapters one and two!

I think that's all I have to say, so please enjoy!

(And I mean if you want to, y'know, comment or something... that'd be swell.)

oOo
Emilie Knight

oOo

"Go on, Liz. Just step through."

"But its a wall."

"Lisette," I laughed, "Just do it. I'll be right behind you."

She bit her lip, clutching her backpack. I gave her my best I'm-your-older-sister, I've-never-led-you-astray-before look. She held out her hand for me to take. I smiled and obliged.

"Okay, let's go." I walked casually towards the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Lisette looked up at me once more and I winked at her before leaning on the barrier.

We stepped through together onto Platform 9 ¾. I was just as awed as my sister by the sheer size of the station. The Hogwarts train, shining red, was whistling its last call and brought my attention back to my sister.

"It's time to get on the train. See them, over there? I think they're first years. Go say hello."

"But, Em," She protested, panicking. "Can't I stay with you?"

I smiled, "Go. I'll see you soon, but for now, make some friends in your year. I'm going to go talk to Dumbledore when we get there, but I might see you after dinner. I'm sorry I'll miss your sorting, but you'll be fine. Just let the Hat decide."

"What about you? You've never been sorted either, right?"

"But I'm not a first year," I tapped her nose. "Don't you worry about me, I'm sure Dumbledore has a plan."

"But, Em," she whispered, "What if they don't put me in Slytherin? What if I'm not good enough for Slytherin? Daddy will…"

"Father won't be able to do anything about it. I'll take care of it. Besides," I leaned in conspiratorially, "You're far too good for Slytherin."

She grinned and nodded. I ruffled her hair before taking her trunk up into the train for her. "Be good. I'll see you soon, love." I kissed her forehead and watched as she skipped off towards a group of girls her age.

"What a good big sister you are," A greasy voice echoed from behind me and I stiffened. Composing myself, I turned.

"Lucious. A pleasure, as always."

"On the contrary, the pleasure is mine. I didn't know you were attending Hogwarts this year."

"Yes, when Lisette got her letter, Father gave me permission as well. There isn't much more for me to learn from books alone, after all."

"I see. Do you know which house you will be placed in?"

"I'm not sure," I said uneasily. "No one really knows where they will be placed, Lucious."

"Well, I know what my fingers are crossed for. Are you looking for a compartment?"

"Not yet. But maybe I'll find you later," I lied. His smile hardened.

"Please do. I wouldn't want you to be stuck with… lesser company."

I made my exit quickly and jumped back onto the platform, shaking off the shivers. Lucious Malfoy's parents were close to my father, so I knew him all too well. He was sly and cruel, and most importantly, his bloodline was as pure as ours; everything my father liked in a potential suitor.

Although I had no intention of bowing to my father's will in that matter, I also had very little room to disobey as long as Lisette was still living under his roof. That was, after all, the reason I had refused to attend a boarding school for so many years. Without me around to take the brunt of Father's anger and control-freakery, Lisette might have had to endure it. I shuddered at the thought; Lisette was so innocent, it was terrible to imagine the effect he would have on her.

I picked up the cage that enclosed my owl. He was a light brown horned owl, with big yellow eyes… I called him Pyxis; he was a gift from the Potters. Mrs. Potter had been a friend of my mother's from Hogwarts; after she died, Mrs. Potter always made a point of inviting Lisette and I over for dinner. She knew that our parents marriage was arranged, and my guess is that she knew enough about my father to understand some of our situation, even though I never told her anything.

He seemed to think so as well; he had put a stop to our visits a long time ago. I still kept in touch with them via mail, though; hence, the owl.

I reached for my trunk as well, but it disappeared just before I closed my hand around the handle. I looked up, surprised.

"Hey! I've been looking for you!"

I broke into a grin. "James!" He bear hugged me with his free arm; I winced, but I was so glad to see him I couldn't bring myself to push him away.

"I haven't seen you in so long, I almost didn't recognize you," He laughed, releasing me. "You've gotten all girly - when did that happen?"

"So rude!" I exclaimed, "I didn't ask you when you stopped sounding like my sister, did I?"

"Ouch," He clutched his heart. "You're words are like knives, Emilie!"

I smirked and held out my hand. "Truce?"

He shook on it and then hugged me again. "I'm so glad you're here. We haven't heard from in so long; we were worried."

I avoided his eyes. "It couldn't be helped. I'm sorry for troubling you."

"Em, I've been meaning to ask for a while, but-"

I never got to hear his theory; he was cut off by the train whistle. While we were catching up, just about all of the students had gotten onto the train, leaving us behind. I checked my watch; we were going to miss the train if we didn't hurry.

"C'mon," he grinned as he dragged me by my hand to the door. Just as he clambered in after me, the doors shut behind us. "That was close."

I agreed. "I'll take that; you don't have to carry it for me."

"And what kind of gentleman would that make me?" He asked, feigning indignation. I rolled my eyes.

"You, a gentleman? I don't think I believe you."

He scoffed. "Knives, Emilie. Watch how you use those words of yours."

"Oh, hush," I reached up on my toes and ruffled his hair the way he used to when we were kids. He batted my hand away and looked up suddenly.

"Moony! Pads! Wormtail! There you are!"

I turned to see three boys approaching us. I cast a glance at James, who looked pleased to see them.

"What do you mean, there you are? We're the ones who've been looking for you! You disappeared. We thought you might have missed the train, mate," Sirius Black laughed; he hadn't noticed me yet.

"Nonsense. But anyway, I found her!" James replied cheerfully.

"Found… her?" The shortest seemed confused by my presence.

"I didn't mean to steal him from you. I'm Emilie, it's nice to finally meet you after hearing so many stories. You must be Peter, right?" The boy nodded.

I waited for him to shake my hand, but he made no move towards me. Seeming to sense his friend's misunderstanding, the russet haired boy stepped forward. "I'm Remus, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure is all mine, Remus." I replied, caught off guard by his manners. James only told me about their shenanigans, so it was hard to imagine them acting normal. "And of course, it's good to see you again, Sirius," I finished turning to face him.

I had just seen him a few weeks previous at a party. All of the major pureblood families were there; James and the Potters excluded. James' parents were apparently too supportive of blood mixing to be invited. I secretly applauded their courage, but I would never let on to Father.

He nodded in reply; he almost seemed wary of me. I didn't have time to consider this, though, as James opened the door to the nearest compartment with a slam. He took my trunk away from me again and tossed it into the overhead compartment, pulling me in behind him.

"Em, sit down; stay awhile. I want to hear about your summer! And how is Lisette? I see Pyxis looks well," He motioned to my owl. I laughed.

"He still hates me, but we get along well enough. He likes Lisette, though… and she's doing better, thanks for asking."

"Lisette?" Remus inquired.

"My sister. She's a first year, I explained. I saw Sirius' eyes furrow.

"I didn't know you had a sister," He said slowly, as though thinking through it.

"Her health is delicate, so she doesn't normally accompany Father and I. She's been better lately, though," I lied. I had no reason to explain any farther; I could tell Sirius wasn't convinced as his eyes bored into mine; I stared back evenly. He wouldn't dare ask anything more, would he?

James seemed slightly confused by my response; he knew Lisette was not ill. I had told him about Lisette's nightmares in one of the many letters we exchanges. Since our mother's death, Lisette had suffered bouts of withdrawal, akin to depression. Those had subsided, but even so, the nightmares continued. She described them as abstract fears and uncontrollable sensations of fear. It worried me that she was so afraid of anything, but it was more concerning that she felt this fear over nothing in particular.

"I didn't know you two knew each other," James said to Sirius and I.

"Our parents are close," I replied simply. I hadn't really spoken to Sirius without my father around, so it was hardly true for me to even say that he knew me.

"Really? I had no idea," He exchanged looks with Sirius, but I couldn't tell what it meant. Remus was watching as well, and his reaction was even stranger. He turned to me abruptly and changed the subject.

"So, which stories did James tell you about us, exactly?" Remus asked, suspiciously. I reluctantly tore my eyes from Sirius. "You said before that he told you about us, but…"

"Only the good ones," I assured him. "That story about Peeves and the water balloons? That was priceless. Oh! The fireworks in the common room - that was my favorite."

"Ah, that was a good one," James said, eyes sparkling. He seemed to have finished communicating with Sirius, who was now staring broodily out the window. I shrugged it off; he couldn't possibly know anything. I needed to stop being so paranoid.

I did, however, need to leave. James and his friends were very close, and I knew that most of them (namely Sirius) would not appreciate entertaining an outsider.

oOo

Sirius

oOo

"I should go find a compartment," The Knight girl said, standing. She stumbled a bit as the train turned - she caught herself mostly, but I reached out automatically to steady her. I noticed that as I gripped her rib cage, she gasped. I thought she was falling again, but she was just doubling over, almost as if she were in pain. I hadn't hurt her, I knew that much; I had been gentle despite the fact that she was an elitist snob.

"Em, are you alright?" James asked.

"Fine," She stood hastily as though nothing had happened. "I just lost my balance."

James pulled her back into the seat next to him. "Are you sure? It looked like you hurt yourself. Besides, you should stay."

"Oh no, no," She insisted. "I don't want to intrude. I think Lily and Alice might be expecting me, so, I'll get out of your hair," She smiled reassuringly.

"Don't be ridiculous. I haven't seen you in ages! Plus, your trunk is behind the others. It'd be a pain to take everything out, and then rearrange to put it all back… It's like a puzzle, you know. Nothing ever fits quite as well the second time. It's like that with my suitcase too. The same stuff gets packed up at the end of the year, but it just doesn't quite seem to work out as well. Anyway, what I'm saying is, you should just stay here," James ended his long, drawn out spiel with a cheery tone.

"But, James," Peter interrupted timidly, looking scared. He never had been comfortable around girls.

I really didn't want her to stay; I had very rarely spoken to her, but her family was very well respected by the Pureblood community. That meant that they were rich and cruel - surely, it would have rubbed off on his eldest daughter, who had always carried herself with the uptight dignity - arrogance, as some might call it - associated with a Pureblood name such as "Knight." Regulus was also very fond of her; that only added to my negative opinion of her. That was all I needed to know to be certain that she was not someone I wanted around.

It was the Pureblood way, after all; fake a smile, then stab anyone who you consider to be of lower status with a very expensive blade. Then marry your cousin.

My thoughts were interrupted as none other than Lily Evans and Alice Longbottom threw open the door. Alice squealed and launched herself at Emilie Knight. "You're here! You're really here!"

Emilie laughed, but the noise was strained. As Alice sat down next to her, I saw Emilie clutch at her side. No one else seemed to notice; James was gaping at Lily, and Remus was actually making conversation with her. Peter was too busy pulling at the hem of his shirt; a nervous habit he took up, especially around girls.

I blinked, and she had re-composed her smile and posture. How very Pureblood of her; maintaining a smile even while in pain.

"You know her, too?" Remus asked.

"I've known Alice for years. She, James, and I used to play together as children," Emilie offered. "Lily and I met over the summer through Alice."

Her family would never associate with blood-traitors like the Potters or Longbottoms. Then again, there wasn't much treachery until recent years, what with the rise in blood mixing and fal of Pureblood influence. On another note, I was surprised that she recognized me at all. I mostly only heard about her through Regulus, who had something of a crush on her. She had no reason to remember me.

And even more curious - why was she injured? Surely she didn't get up to much roughhousing with her ill sister. That was another incongruity - how had I never heard about her sister? Sure, she was younger, but our parents were ridiculously friendly. I'd been to her manor dozens of times before, and I'd never heard a word about her.

"Sirius, mate, give me a hand," James tossed a bag to me. Distracted for a moment, I stood on the bench and tucked it behind Peter's trunk, along with the rest of the girls' things. There was no sense in sending them away now; James was too busy alternating between ogling Lily and trying to make her laugh.

Evans was, of course, as cold as ever; meticulously keeping up her caustic replies. She, Remus, and Emilie, however, seemed to be having a titillating conversation about some muggle author. I tuned them out in favor of Alice's tale about a vampire she met on the Night Bus; that was much more entertaining than muggle chick lit.

It wasn't long before the train made its final stop at the Hogsmeade Station. James was still clinging to his newly discovered childhood friend, and I noticed with some surprise that Remus had taken to her as well. In general, Remus got along with everyone. It was odd, though, for him to speak so openly with anyone, even James, Peter, and me. He usually more reserved - he had opened up to Lily at some point, but for him to include this new girl was just too suspicious.

She was a Knight! What was he thinking? If she ever found out about his furry little problem…

I scoffed; Remus had no idea what he was getting himself into with that girl.

And so we made our way up to the castle; everyone fawning over the new girl while I fumed, marveling at the way she had so easily wrapped the others around her pretty little finger with her false smile.

oO End of Chapter One Oo