Author Note: This chapter has been re-writed!

I let out an almighty yawn. I had no idea of what time was or how long we had been in that train on the way to Hogwarts. All I knew was that the jet lag was kicking in. Man, from America to England…who would have known?

There were other schools in America, so why travel all the way to a different country? Apparently by choice of all my relatives. 'Oh, the girl is the chosen one! Take her to the best school there is!'. AKA: Hogwarts. Honestly, I hated that everyone got so excited over this. I knew the story of my family. One day all the magic power was gone. It disappeared without trace in a family of pure bloods. Squibs everywhere. Everyone panicked and they even arranged weddings with pureblood's families so maybe one day it'd come back. But! That was centuries ago. Seeing it was no use, the Kane's started to marry whoever they wanted to, no matter how angry those 'Nazi-pureblood-fanatics' thought about us. We still took part in the world of magic. We gave our best.

Then suddenly I came along.

I swear there's no prophecy, no choice by god, no unholy pact with the demon. I just happened to be a witch. Did I ask for that? No. Was it neat? YEAH! Sometimes it was a drag. Aunts and uncles, all around the world, pressuring me to do my best and be the best. It was just freaking luck! Thankfully, my cousins showed me the good side of a world filled with dragons, flying broomsticks and potions. I remember what my cousin Haruto had said before I got in the train:

"Be yourself. If someone bothers you about your blood status you're allowed to kill them. As long as nobody finds the body, it's all right. Just try to have fun, don't get too stressed over tests and what's most important: Stay. Away. From. Boys."

Big Brother Haruto, always there to give good advice. I was going to follow it. Keep calm, be happy and, if necessary, curse someone. For the moment, I'll take another nap.

"Do you want anything, sweetheart?" The loveable lady from the candy trolley asked. Bless that woman and her sugary filled wonders.

Maybe the nap could wait. I took at least seven chocolate frogs. I wasn't too fond of the all flavored beans. Somehow I always managed to get the worst ones. I also bought toffee. Because, why not?

"Excuse me, have you seen a toad around here?"

Again another interruption. I stopped before I bit off the head of the frog and I turned to see a girl about my age. I looked under my seat and around the compartment.

"Nope. No toads around here." I said and she sighed.

"Thanks anyways. If you see it search for a boy named Neville Longbottom." She asked for and I gave a thumbs up.

"Got it. The name's Alexis Kane. " I said and tended a hand for a shake which she took politely. "Call me Alex."

"Hermione Granger." She said and I rose an eyebrow, hearing the name for the first time. "Not meant to be rude, but your accent…"

"American. Chicago to be more specific." I told her and she nodded.

"I had a feeling. I won't bother you anymore, sorry. See you at the ceremony." She bid goodbye and I did the same with a gesture of the hand.

"She seemed nice…Now. Where did the goddamn frog go to?!"

After what seemed like six hours, the train stopped. I had my uniform already. More or less. I shall never know how to properly get a tie done, this fact knows it even Cody's pet-friend-Jarvey asshole. I stepped down from the train and looked around through the crowd. I saw Hagrid, the school's gamekeeper, calling for first years. I had met him in a shop at the Diagon Alley. He helped me to pick a book from the shelves since I was so short. We had chatted for a while and I could tell he was kind, gentle and good guy. It was easy to spot him. I made my way through. He noticed me and gave a small wave in greetings.

"First years, hurry up! We don't want to leave anyone behind!" He called and I stared at the large lake in front of us, then at the boats supposed to take us to the castle.

"This doesn't look safe at all." I muttered but got inside one.

No rows needed since they moved by magic. They crossed through the dark surface of the lake. It was September, so I thought it was cold like a Eskimo's butt. My theory was proven to be correct since I fell in. How? Let' say…more magic.

"Cold! Cold! COLD! Hurts, damn it!" I paddled to get back to the boat.

"Here! Take my hand!" The boy whom I had shared it with stretched his arm towards me.

I was shivering. From the cold and the fear. The robes almost took me to the depths of the water and who knows what lives down there. I gave a sneeze. First day and I had already made a fool of myself. What a great start.

"T-thank you." Another sneeze. "I don't think we've met…"

"Seamus Finnegan." He said and he eyed me concerned. "I think you should go to the infirmary when we get there."

"And miss the feast waiting for us?! Uh-uh! No way! I'm half Russian, I can stand this!" I finished my statement with a sneeze which almost sent me back to the water.

"Your lips are blue."

"…Don't care..."

On the boat travel, Seamus and I started to become friends very quickly. It's what one must do when recently enters a new environment. You must catch the first person who smiles at you and never let go of them. When you're a kid, that's how things work. When you're an adult, things change. At that time I was eleven years old-a sweet and innocent eleven years old girl who hardly heard the 'f-word'. I'm telling you this from my more mature, badass perspective, so you can guess that I survived that year at school to become a more…fucking awesome person. Yet, I must confess something. No matter how much I say that it was an 'awful' year, no matter how many times I complain about it, after all this time, I miss that peaceful year.

Back to my first day at Hogwarts, Seamus had introduced me to his other friend, Dean. The three of us talked about typical kid's stuff: Our favorite candies, favorite Quidditch team, expectatives of this year, who had the longest wand…What? You never compared your wand with other kid's? What kind of childhood had you?!

"Please, don't be Slytherin, anything but that. Let me be in Ravenclaw, Huffelpuff even, just NOT Slytherin!" I prayed as we walked through the large and impressive corridors of the castle.

"What about Gryffindor?" Seamus asked and I eyed him by the corner of my eye.

"Like I'd be put in Gryffindor, man. I'll tell you, the world hates me. See this wand?" I said and took it from my sleeve, having it tied securely around my wrist by a safety cord (Cousin Arturo's idea). "Backfired spell on the first, attack of a werewolf on the second and the third a banshee…If I was already doomed with my very own set of bad luck, this is not going to help."

"If you end up in Slytherin, we'll put flowers on your grave every week, don't worry." Seamus said dramatically and I placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Why, thank you! That makes me feel a lot better!" I put my sarcasm mode on.

After moving through more corridors, the bunch of helpless and confused first years reached a set of stairs. At the end of it, an elderly woman with glasses and the typical witch hat was waiting for us.

"Welcome to Hogwarts." She greeted. "Now, in a few moments, you'll pass through these doors and join your classmates. But before you take your seats you'll be sorted into your houses: Gryffindor, Huffelpuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. In the time you'll be here your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you points and your rule breaking will make you lose points. Also, not wearing the uniform properly will cost you points, Miss Kane."

I felt all eyes on me. I probably didn't look too well. My clothes were completely soaked, from the shirt to the trousers, the tie was still undone and my hair was a mess. I rose a hand shyly.

"I fell from the boat, professor." I excused myself.

She gave a heavy sigh. With a flick of her wand, everything was fixed. I was completely dried, my tie had the perfect knot and my hair was perfect. I gave a smile and a nod in thanks. She continued her speech.

"As I was saying, at the end of the year the house with the most points will be awarded with the house cup."

"Trevor!"

Her speech was cut off once again. Nobody of us had noticed, but a fat toad had also been listening with us on the stairs. His owner, Neville, retrieved it before it escaped again. That had to be the toad Hermione had told me back at the train. He returned back with his toad, embarrassed for basically throw himself to catch his pet in front of everyone, including professor McGonagall. Before leaving, she told us that the sorting ceremony would begin shortly. We only had to wait.

"It's true then, what they're saying on the train. Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts."

Everyone turned to a blonde boy who had the most smug, arrogant, pureblooded Nazi aura around him. I couldn't help but make a face at him. I was struck with the feeling that he was bad news and that it wasn't a good idea to be near him. More with my blood status. About what he said, Harry Potter being a classmate this year, I honestly…didn't care too much. Not that I didn't know who he was, oh no, Harry Potter was internationally famous. Claimed to be the one who survived against Voldemort…I had discussed about this with my cousins and we all shared the same opinion. It was great that he had survived, but it's not like he was a 'prodigy' or something. That didn't mean he was above anybody. In general, my opinion about the boy who lived was 'meh'. The only thing that mattered to me was if he was going to act like a proud asshole or a humble dude. For the moment, the only asshole I saw was this Nazi spawn right here:

"These are Crabbe and Goyle. I'm Malfoy. Draco Malfoy."

I hear a snort coming from a redhead up in the front. I tried to be more discrete but I made a similar sound so he noticed. Honestly, who names his son 'Draco'?! It sounded like a villain from a cheap novel.

"Think my name's funny, do you?" He accused. "I've no need to ask yours."

I took a glance at the boy who kept his head down.

"Red head and a hand-me-down robe? You must be a Weasley." He spat to the redhead and he turned to me. "But you? Who even are you?"

"Alexis Ivan Kane. Problem?" I announced crossing my arms, unafraid of the prick.

He rose an eyebrow. He looked back at his two minions and they let out a laugh. I tightened my fist. Seamus apparently noticed my pissed off look for he held my arm tightly in case I decided to jump and bite off his head, which was a very tempting thing. He turned and his eyes widened in fake surprise.

"Is that so?! You're really a Kane?!" He asked and I huffed. "I believe there's been a terrible mistake. You see, only wizards and witches are allowed here. You and your forever doomed squib family should stay where they belong."

I nodded. Yeah, yeah, whatever. I wouldn't get angry with this brat. There had to be many others in the school too so I preferred to not waste my time. But, god, did I want to gouge his eyes out. I took deep breaths and calmed myself down.

"Go back to America, you mutt."

Now, I can tolerate the word squib, since that was what my whole family was. Just, there's that tiny, minimal word which triggers me off. I was aware of my mixed blood and that I had genetics from all around the world. Mocking that last fact was a very, very bad choice. I had received lots of mocking and bullying from other kids, about it. We weren't talking about magical children. Muggles knew that I was a cross of several races. It was in my blood, but it wasn't shown in my physical appearance. I wasn't blonde or blue-eyed like my Russian grandparents, neither tanned from my mother's native American roots or even Asiatic. I was…average. Black hair, brown eyes and a slightly twitched nose were the traits I shared with all my cousins.

Mutt was a word the purebloods used to refer to us specifically. It was hated and never tolerated in our family. I was no exception.

"Come here, you bloody daddy-boy!" I growled but Seamus held me back with help from Dean.

"Alex, stop! You'll get in trouble!" Seamus warned me.

"I don't care! You freaking chalk-head! You're so dead, you hear me?!"

"Who do you think you are? Talking to me like that. Wait until my father hears about a Kane attending to Hogwarts." He sneered, raising his chin with arrogance. "See? You'll see that other families are better than the others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there."

Malfoy stuck his hand out towards the boy with glasses as a signal of friendship. I could only watch, eyes ignited with fury, trying to calm myself to not commit murder on my first day. I still didn't know the castle. I couldn't hide the body, like Haruto told me.

"I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself, thanks." Harry declared. I was firmly convinced then, that he was one I could get along with.

"How does it feel to be rejected, Drake?" I smirked and he narrowed his eyes at me.

"Shut up, you mutt. Quit barking already. I still don't know how you even dare to talk to me."

"Read my lips: shove a Nimbus 2000 up your tight, pure bloody a-"

"Is there any problem, Mr. Malfoy, Mrs. Kane?"

McGonagall showed up, scroll in hand and we both shut up. I tried to stop trembling from rage, lowering my head. I still could see the pureblood raising his head with an innocent smile.

"No problem at all, professor." He chirped.

I hated him…I hated him so fucking much! I couldn't stop fuming and growling under my breath as I trailed behind the other first years. I decided to stay at the very back to be the furthest away possible from that kid. Seamus and Dean decided to stay in the front, getting the idea that I might end up punching something or someone at the smallest chance. I kept my hands inside my pockets glaring at the stone floor. Then, the doors of the great hall opened.

"Damn…" I awed, all grumpiness forgotten.

Four large tables, filled with students from all ages. A single corridor open for us to head towards the front, just under the eyes of teachers and the true and only headmaster: Albus Dumbledore. The ceiling was very tall, bewitched to show the night sky. Candles floated above the heads of everyone. I could feel everyone's eyes on us. We felt so small being there.

"Now, before we begin, professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words." She announced.

To sum up what he said: Stay the fuck away from the Dark Forest and the third floor corridor since you could die painfully and even if you returned from there, Filch will skin you alive. Great, I guess?

"When I call your name, you will come forth. I shall place the Sorting Hat on your head and you'll be sorted into your houses." McGonagall explained holding an old, brown, big witch hat.

The first one was called, who happened to be Hermione. She sat on the stool and the hat was placed on her. It looked ridiculous. To everyone would look ridiculous, I guessed since we were very little. Then after some seconds of silence, the hat shouted:

"GRYFFINDOR!"

I almost got a heart attack when it's loud booming voice spoke. Everyone started clapping, while Hermione walked happily to the Gryffindor table. Lucky her. Then, Mr. Nazi, came to the stall. The hat didn't even need to touch his chalk head to sort him into the house of the snakes, Slytherin. There was no need for a hat to tell me so, it was pretty obvious.

"Alexis Kane." She called and I paled.

I tried to make way through the crowd. I reached the front with a nervous smile on my face. Shaking like a leaf, I sat on the stool, grabbing the edges. I looked up slightly before the hat covered my head to my eyes, making me unable to see the Great Hall. Suddenly, a voice spoke to me.

"Hmm. Interesting, very interesting indeed. Very difficult. A strange mix you are."

"Thanks Mr. Hat, I get that a lot." I thought sarcastically and it laughed.

"I didn't mean to offend you, oh no! Quite on the contrary actually. I can see you're clever, very clever. I see courage, a lot of determination inside you. Kindness too. Yet you're lazy, mischievous and cunning. Revengeful even. You could be up to the challenge in SLY-!"

"Are you crazy?! Don't put me there, I'll be killed!" I exclaimed and it gave a chuckle once again.

"I expected you to say that. Then it'll be…GRYFFINDOR!"

My eyes were uncovered and I jumped from the stall in excitement.

"Yes! MOTHER OF GOD!" I fist bumped all the way to the table ignoring the glares I got form that single table.

I let myself collapse on the table, next to Hermione. Oh, my god, I couldn't believe I was actually in Gryffindor from all the houses. I was almost doomed for a second there but now I'm with the lions. Oh, praise that old hat!

"Thank you. Thank you!" I hushed whispered to an unknowing god with my hands in praying position and I heard laughs.

"Somebody was desperate to not be put in Slytherin." A voice said in front of me and I cracked one eye open to see a pair of red-headed twins, very similar to the boy Malfoy mocked.

"What gave it away?" I asked and they laughed a bit louder.

"'Don't put me there, I'll be killed?', maybe? You were muttering 'Don't be Slytherin' under your breath the whole time. Didn't you notice?" The one at the left said and I blushed.

"Welp…I certainly didn't notice. Yet, who cares about that now? The thing is that I'm far away from them, on safe Gryffindor land." I grinned happily and they nodded.

"Welcome to the house, strange American girl." They tended a bro-fist in front of me and complied extending my arm the best I could.

The sorting ceremony kept rolling when the whole room went silent. Time for the famous Harry Potter to be sorted into the a house. He visibly gulped, feeling pressured, but sat on the stool nevertheless. McGonagall placed the hat on him and…silence. It was a long time silent. I could see him mouthing similar words to mine: 'Not Slytherin'. I almost laughed out loud. After what felt like ages, it shouted:

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Damn it!"

I hit my knee, jumping so startled. I was more distracted in holding my aching leg than welcoming the celebrity to the house. It's not like we wanted him anyways. Nah, the twins shouting 'We got Potter' at the top of their lungs didn't mean anything. Neither the cheers and clapping or desperate hand-shaking. We didn't give a crap about Potter, not at all. Geez, my knee was going to have a large bruise after that.

More sorting took place, getting my new friends in my house. I wouldn't have cared if they were in another house, but that way we'd see each other more often. Then, after the ceremony, McGonagall called for attention. Professor Dumbledore stood up.

"Let the feast begin." He announced.

As the words left his mouth, the tables filled with food. My eyes widened and I looked at him. Holy shit, that was handy. I wanted to learn whatever spell he used to get all of this. Man, no more crappy cooking at Christmas with my cousins, no more Chinese food and no more pizza left over! I tapped my hands repeatedly on the table.

"Oh, yeah! Now we're talking!" I laughed, reaching for a piece of chicken when another boy aimed for the same piece. "All right, you can have it. Us, renegades should stick together, right?"

"It's you! Man, it was bloody awesome how you stood up against Malfoy. You have some guts. I'm Ronald Weasley." He introduced tending the hand which wasn't holding the chicken.

"Alexis Kane, but just call me Alex. So, half blood I presume?" I asked but he shook his head.

"Pure blood. It's just that his family is wealthier than ours." He awkwardly said and I couldn't help but glance at the bastard we talked about in disapproval.

"Great. Not only a jerk but a rich jerk." I took a large bite of potatoes and holy hell, were they good.

"I know, right? It's terrible how they treat half bloods! They think they're always above everyone." Hermione joined the conversation and I nodded agreeing.

"You bet! If he ever mocks any of you, give me a call. I'll put him in his place. Does anyone know any nasty spell I can cast on him? Or a place where I can buy spiders? Large ones, if it can be possible." I asked.

"We know a few. Oh, I don't think we've introduced ourselves. I'm George." One twin said.

"And I'm Fred. If we're talking about pranking and messing with Slytherin, you can count on us." The other remarked with mischief.

We heard coughing and I turned my head to my left were another red-head, with a PREFECT insignia on his robes. I flinched. The others didn't seem to mind him. They only smiled innocently.

"Hello, Percy, how are you doing?" Fred asked.

"I'll be watching you closely this year so don't you dare to attempt pranking any student. Just because we're siblings doesn't mean I'll be gentle with any of you. Specially if you're trying to pull a first year in your shenanigans. Listen to my advice and stay away from them." Percy warned me pointing a stern finger at me and I nodded cautiously.

"Yes, sir-Wait. Siblings? You four are brothers?" I wondered pointing to Ronald, Fred, George and finally Percy.

"Exactly. There's also Charlie and Bill, also Gryffindors, but gone long ago. Charlie works with dragons in Rumania while Bill is a curse breaker at Gringotts." George told me and my eyes widened. "Oh, and our little sister Ginny. She'll attend Hogwarts next year."

"Wow. And I thought I had a large number of relatives…" I muttered looking down at my plate.

"How many?" Ron asked and I huffed.

"Too many, Ron, too many…"

We kept chatting. Apparently, Seamus was a half blood too. At some point, even the almighty Harry Potter decided to join in. I discovered that he was a nice kid and was only trying to fit in. The poor guy had just discovered that he was a wizard and was so lost in our conversations about magic that I pitied him. Then, suddenly, a transparent floating head appeared on our plate. Didn't know we'd have such a surprise on the menu.

"Hello! How are you?" He greeted cheerfully. "Welcome to Gryffindor!"

More and more ghosts started to appear. From the walls, floor, the tables…Floating figures over our heads laughing and greeting new students.

"Someone ought to call the Ghostbusters…" I joked but only Harry and Hermione got the joke. "Nobody? Come on, nobody here watches muggle cinematography?"

"Hello, Sir Nicholas. Had a nice summer?" Percy was completely okay chatting with the spirit.

"Dismal. Once again, my request to join the Headless Hunt has been denied." He told us in a frustrated tone.

I rose an eyebrow. If it was Headless Hunt, wouldn't he need to be, well, headless? His was in place so unless he took it off I doubt he'd join. Realization crossed Ron's features.

"I know you. You're Nearly Headless Nick!"

"I prefer Sir Nicholas if you don't mind." He retorted offended. Wow, he was a bit sensitive today. Wait. Did he say 'nearly headless'?

"Nearly headless? How can you be nearly headless?" Hermione asked also not so sure about what would that mean.

"Like this."

The goddamn ghost grabbed his hair and pulled to a side. The head almost came off, revealing the flesh of a severed neck in its full glory. I could tell some of us gagged at the sight. Hello? There are children trying to eat here!

"It's not like I wanted dessert anyways." I declared pushing my plate forward, feeling bile rising to my throat. Dear god…

After the dinner we were escorted to our dorms. To reach the door we had to go through what I call hell. Staircases that change. As I knew and expected, I tripped and fell back.

"Ow! Ouch! D'ow! AGH!"

"Oh my god! Alex, are you okay?!" Hermione shouted while other students stared at me wide-eyed.

"No…damn stairs…"