I stepped on the train after saying very stoic good byes to my parents. I'd taken this trip half a dozen times before, it was nothing new. But for my little brother, it was. I, unlike many others I knew, didn't tell my younger sibling horror stories. He was very well prepared, and that's what he needed to show. I figure I owed him that much for keeping most of my mischief secret for years.

Down the train we walked, Julian behind me. "Zee," he tugged on my jacket. I didn't stop until I found an empty compartment for him. I pushed the door open and stepped aside so he could get in.

"Now, you stay here. Don't make that face at me!" He slumped down in a seat. "Sit up straight, you're here to learn and to show how much better we are than those bloody mudbloods." I looked up and down the train, it was beginning to fill up. "I've got to go, I'll be at the end of the train. And remember, here I'm Ezie, not Zee." He nodded and I gave him a quick smile before pulling my trunk along to the end of the train where some of my housemates waited for me.

"Hey Doshon!" I looked up to see Draco Malfoy, a friend of the family. At one point, I had a bit of a crush on him, but it soon ended. We'd never even discussed the idea, and that kept things much simpler between our families. I stepped into the compartment and pulled my robes out of my trunk before stowing it away. "Isn't Julian starting this year?"

I nodded and made sure I had everything for my uniform out. I glanced at Draco, he had his on already. "Yeah? What of it?" I shoved Draco to get him to turn around. I started changing as the train pulled out of the station.

"Mind if I go give him a bit of a scare?" I smacked him upside the head after pulling my shirt and vest on. I'd worn my skirt, socks, and shoes onto the train. He turned around with a slight look of hurt on his face. I tied my tie, waiting for him to start whining. "And why not?"

I grabbed my robe and pulled it on over everything else. "Because I don't want him to be a little scaredy cat like everyone else. He's got an advantage right now. I pulled my short black hair back with two green barrettes and glanced at my reflection. I could see the food trolley starting it's way. "Damn, I forgot to give Julian his money." I shoved a few gold coins into Draco's hand. "Get me my usual." I rushed out of the compartment and up the train.

I ran into Crabbe and Goyle on the way. I told them Draco was in the last compartment, and they stumbled off looking confused. I pushed open the door to my brother's compartment and found a rather large surprise. "Well well, if it isn't Potter, Weasley, and Granger."

"What do you want Doshon?" Potter asked and Weasley rolled his eyes. Granger's frizzy head was stuck in a book, as always.

I sneered. "That's none of your concern." To my little brother I said, "Here, for the food trolley." I shoved a small pouch in his hand fill with half a dozen golden galleons in it.

Weasley started laughing. "You're related?" Potter joined in. "Feel sorry for you mate, I really do!"

Julian jumped up, but before he could come to my defense, I pushed him back down. "Well, at least I can pay for food on the trolley and I don't hang around filthy mudbloods." That really shut them up. Weasley went red, and Granger's head buried further into her book. I turned on my heel leaving Julian with them alone.

For most of the journey, I spent sulking and listening to Draco try and explain something to Crabbe and Goyle. It got annoying after a bit. Draco kept repeating himself and I decided to go for a bit of a walk. I didn't want to go and see my brother again, so I wandered the corridor aimlessly. After the Weasley twins left last year, it was harder to walk alone. There was always someone rushing to the bathroom after being pranked on.

I stepped out of the train and onto the back. Most of the times, a teacher was out here, just to make sure no one got hurt. There was no teacher out today, and I'm sure there were dozens of protection spells on it anyway. The wind blew around me as I leaned against the railing. The English countryside rushed by, along with the occasional small cottage. The sky was beginning to darken, and I knew we'd all be inside the Great Hall within the next two hours. Behind me I could hear the door open and close as someone walked out to join me. I waited to see if they initiated conversation.

"Zee," the small voice of my brother could barely be heard over the wind and the sound of the engine. "Ezie!" I turned around reluctantly. "You know, i-it's not m-my fault. Th-they came in on-on their own-"

I gave him my best 'big sister' smile. "I know. I just don't like their holier than thou attitude. Potter acts like he's some saint, and his two side kicks act right along with him." I clutched my robes tighter around me; the air had started to chill. "Come on, you'll catch cold if you're out here much longer." I pulled the door open for him.

He walked halfway in before stopping and giving me a meaningful look. "They act just like you and Malfoy do," he said, barely audible, before walking back to his compartment. I stood there, speechless for a moment. He basically just said I was as bad as Potter! Whose side was he on anyway?

I sauntered back to the compartment, my mind racing. The rest of the ride I spent staring blankly at the wall across from me.

It wasn't until the train jerked to a stop that I woke from my trance.

I glanced up and saw Draco sneering at me. I then decided to ignore everything my brother had said. I was older, smarter, and therefore wiser than him, right?

Draco pulled me up and we walked out of the train, discussing 'dark' things loud enough to scare some of the younger years. I stood on my tip-toes to watch Julian start across the lake.

"Doshon! Hurry up!" I turned to see Draco in a carriage, waiting for me. I grinned; Ezie Doshon was back at Hogwarts. Into the carriage I hopped. Draco and I talked about what house Julian would be in. "He should be a Hufflepuff. He's so loyal to his big sissie!" He sneered and I shoved him.

"He will not! Almost all of my family has been in Slytherin, he's no different." I looked at him smugly before saying, "And besides, Jules is just like me."

Draco put on a fake baby voice. "Jules and Zee, just like twins." I pushed him. So yeah, we both had black hair, though mine was just a bit past my ears, green eyes, mine smaller than his, and he was five feet tall, just half a foot shorter than me. "Except Zee's a little bitter about her little scar, now isn't she?" So I had a scar starting at the bottom of my right ear running down my jaw line about three inches. I've got a scar, can I be famous now?

"Sod off Malfoy, before I hex you." He faked fainting and we both started laughing. The carriage stopped and we stepped out, still laughing. A few second years looked at us odd, and we jumped at them, just for fun. It was good to be back.

Everyone filled into the Great Hall to wait for the yearly sorting. The first years walked in, and I was pleased to see my brother walking confidently, unlike most of the others. The old sorting hat sang it's song and the sorting began. A good thing about having a last name like mine meant that it would be called soon.

"Anderson, Kathryne!" A shy looking girl stepped up to the stool and took a seat as the hat was put on her head. The hat called out 'Slytherin' and she grinned, giving thumbs up to a blonde haired girl still waiting.

"Bockman, Matthew!" An Asian looking boy hopped up onto the stool, and was announced a Ravenclaw almost immediately.

"Doshon, Julian!" My head shot up. I watched my little brother sit on the stool and the hat be placed on his head. It took a few seconds before shouting it's answer.

"Ravenclaw!"

I jumped up in total disbelief. No way was my little brother a Ravenclaw. As soon as I stood, Draco pulled me down. I looked up at the head of my house, Severus Snape, as Draco hissed in my ear, "Not now!" Snape seemed to be telling me the same thing.

"Henson, Stefany!" I returned my attention back to the sorting, and I must have missed two or three first years being sorted. I watched as 'Anderson, Kathryne''s friend was sorted into Gryffindor. Hah, being friends with a Gryffindor won't get you anywhere in Slytherin.

I sat through the rest of the ceremony composing the letter I would write to my parents, in my head.

'Dear Father,

As you have probably heard, Julian has been sorted as a Ravenclaw. I am going to talk with Professor Snape and Headmaster Dumbledore about this within the next day or so. It would probably help if you came to speak with them as well. Give my love to mother. I hope to see you soon.'

Yes, that would do.

While I was thinking, Dumbledore had stood up and was asking for silence. "Well, that was one of the most unusual sortings I've seen yet. Blood is thicker than water, or so they say. I am sure that these next few days will be eventful." I crossed my arms across my chest. Well duh it's going to be eventful; no one here has seen what I can do. "Everyone, new and old, will see some new things happen." He want on to say the same old things he said every year.

It took me a few minutes to realize that the food had materialized on our plates. I ate without much talking. I wasn't in the mood to talk really. Afterwards, Julian walked up to me and asked what I thought. "How could you end up in Ravenclaw!"

He just stared at me. "Who cares what house I'm in? I'm actually glad I'm not stuck in Slytherin like everyone else." He stopped to think. I let him. "Don't tell father."

I laughed. "Yes, I'll not tell father, right. Have you gone off your rocker? Of course I'm going to tell him.But I'll give you a chance to tell him yourself. I'll be sending an owl off before classes tomorrow." With that, I just walked away. I could see my four poster bed, just waiting for me. As soon as I was in my dorm room, I just collapsed on my bed and fell asleep without even changing out of my school uniform.