Ivy Potter hugged her mother tightly before stepping onto the first step of the Hogwarts express. Her little brother gave her a sad smile and she leaned out to ruffle his hair. "Bye! I'll write every weekend!"

Her father grinned. "Don't do anything I would do."

She laughed and tried to ignore the fact that her mother was holding back tears. "See you at Christmas!" And she turned her back quickly to them, not wanting to catch their contagious emotions. She walked up the steps slowly, now a little nervous. She wanted to look back, but she knew that if she did, she'd run right back into her mother's arms. So Ivy climbed aboard the train and headed down the corridor filled on either side with students shouting and laughing with one another.

Most of the compartments were full, and she neared the back before a hand reached out and pulled her inside. "Ivy!" The owner of the hand turned out to be Oliver Weasley, her distant cousin that she'd met at family reunions. With him she recognized only one of the three girls.

"Poppy!" she greeted excitedly. She hugged the other Weasley - also a distant cousin, but a good friend to Ivy as well.

"And I've somehow become the third wheel, even though I was the one who brought you both here."

Ivy laughed. "Sorry, Ollie. It's good to see you, too." She initiated the odd secret handshake he'd taught her when they were seven and had demanded she remember for every reunion after.

She looked back at the two girls who also occupied the compartment. "Are you two first years as well?"

Oliver and Poppy turned to look at them too, questioningly. Apparently they hadn't gotten around to any introductions. "Yes." The girl who spoke up was cute and her bright smile was welcoming. She had blonde hair cut short to a bob, and big eyes that were a warm brown. "I'm Florence. Florence Zabini."

The girl sitting across from her looked up from a copy of Hogwarts, A History. She had curly brown hair and pretty blue eyes. "Hello. I'm Elizabeth Abbot. You can just call me Eliza."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Ivy."

"Wait, are you Ivy Potter?" Eliza asked curiously.

"Er, yeah. Why?"

The girl lit up. "Wow! I know it's been a while since it all happened, but I'm a huge fan of your great-grandfather's. I read his family tree and saw that one of his descendants would be in my class. This is pretty amazing."

Ivy raised her brows. "Right. . ." Her father's - Richard Potter's - father's - James Sirius Potter's - father was Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived. He was the famous boy who defeated the Dark Lord and saved the Wizarding World. The family legacy was a tad bit overwhelming.

"I thought it might be you because of the signature red hair and green eyes! Your family is legend - I mean, everyone in the Potter family has done great things. I can't wait to see what you do."

"No pressure," Ivy muttered.

"Maybe we should put a cap on the 'Potter' talk," Florence suggested. "How excited are you all for the first year at Hogwarts?"

"I can't wait to attend all the classes!" Eliza exclaimed. "My parents have told me about them, and I think Transfiguration will be the best. Or maybe history. Or Defense Against the Dark Arts. . ."

"I can't wait to watch quidditch games!" Poppy spoke up. "I'm going to join next year. Can't let the boys have all the glory."

"I can't wait to find all the secret passageways out of the castle," said Oliver mischievously. "In my family, that's the greatest thing you can accomplish. And they won't tell you - you have to find them on your own." They all laughed, and then the others turned to Ivy curiously.

"I just want to find what everyone in my family finds in Hogwarts."

"What's that?" Florence wondered.

Ivy inhaled deeply. "Home."

-later-

The five eleven year olds walked into the castle together, following the crowd. Ivy faintly heard a professor explaining the four houses - but of course, she already knew them. And she knew the best one - Gryffindor. The house most all of her family went, and the house she was sure to be sorted into. She was pulled out of her thoughts when the large double doors opened to reveal the dining hall.

She'd heard it described, but nothing could compare to the actual sight of it. Four long tables full of cheerful students, the ceiling that was enchanted to look like the night sky, the floating candles lighting up the room - and the table at the end of the hall with all her soon-to-be professors. She immediately recognized the middle-aged woman seated at the center; she was Professor Knight, the first muggle-born Headmistress of Hogwarts. Ivy idolized her.

The group came to a stop near the professors' table, and a man came out holding a stool and an old hat. She knew what that was too - the Sorting Hat. The accessory that would tell her which House would be hers for the next seven years. She felt the excitement bubbling up inside of her.

"Elizabeth Abbot!" was the first name to be called. Ivy watched eagerly as the pretty brunette was quickly sorted into Ravenclaw. She had to stop herself from jumping up and down while the rest of the first years took their turns going up to sit on the stool.

"Word is you're the reigning Potter."

Ivy quickly turned upon hearing the voice in her ear to see its owner - a blond boy with a seemingly permanent smirk etched into his face. "Reigning Potter?" she asked hesitantly.

"Yes. You're the oldest Potter at Hogwarts. Well, only. And I'm the reigning Malfoy."

His tone annoyed her. "Is there a point to all this cryptic talk?"

"It has been a long standing tradition that the reigning Potter and Malfoy battle for power of the school."

"Why?"

He looked at her like she'd grown a third arm. "Why?" He looked back at the two goons who flocked his side and then let out a chuckle. "You're funny, Potter. Only one can be the head of the school."

"Wouldn't that be the Head Boy or Head Girl?" Ivy rolled her eyes. "Whatever. And why would I be battling you? What did the Malfoys accomplish?"

"How dare you -"

"Julian Malfoy!"

The boy, apparently Julian, narrowed his eyes in a death glare before he stalked up to the front. Ivy watched with her arms crossed as he sat and the Sorting Hat was placed upon his head. As soon as it touched his pale blond hair, the hat cried out, "Slytherin!"

"Figures," Ivy muttered.

Next a pretty girl named Mollie Marsh was sorted into Hufflepuff. Willow Montague was another Ravenclaw, and both Beatrice Mulciber and Victoria Nott became Slytherins. Before she knew it, the male professor was reading, "Ivy Potter!"

"Ooh, its your turn! Good luck!" Poppy breathed.

"Try not to focus on the fact that everyone is now silent and staring at you, V." Oliver's grin stretched from either side of his face.

"Thanks, Ollie," Ivy muttered sarcastically.

She stepped up, her stomach dropping as she plopped down onto the little stool. She looked down at her hands in her lap, now well aware that the entire dining hall had stopped their chattering to watch her specific sorting. She felt the hat being placed on her head and gripped her fingers together tightly.

"Another Potter!"

Ivy gave a little jump when she heard the little voice in her ear. She should have been expecting it from all the Hogwarts stories, but it still came as a shock.

"But you're not like the others. . . maybe a bit like your great-grandfather. There's a thirst to prove yourself. Fierce loyalty to those you love. And a burning desire to become greater than all those before you . . ."

Ivy blinked in confusion and fear. It was like the magical object had reached in and pulled out the deepest darkest passions that she had buried away long ago.

"Well," said the Sorting Hat after a moment. "I think it's quite obvious."

Ivy held her breath.

"SLYTHERIN!"