"'Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart!' Like my dad." The boy with messy black hair pantomimed an imaginary sword, and Severus Snape bit back a laugh. A slight snort escaped however, and the boy rounded on Snape.

"Got a problem with that?"

"No," said Severus, sneering slightly. "If you'd rather be brawny than brainy."

"Where're you hoping to go, seeing as you're neither?" The other boy who'd been sitting in the compartment with them smirked.

The first boy smiled, but a sudden thought seemed to strike him. "So why'd you say Slytherin then? Everyone knows Ravenclaw's where the smart people go. Slytherins always get in trouble for hexing people."

"Do they now?" Severus mumbled, his attention only half-focused on them. He was more concerned with Lily.

Lily however, was listening to the boys. "What do you mean, hexing people?"

"Anyone who doesn't meet their standard for 'purity.'" The boy with long black hair rolled his eyes. "It's a load of dung, if you ask me, but my family hates anyone who's got nonmagical blood, and even some purebloods. Slytherin's full of people like them."

"That's awful!" Lily gasped. She turned to Severus. "Severus, I don't think we should be in Slytherin!"

"Lily-" Severus began, but his friend was on a roll.

"What are the others Houses like?" She asked the two boys. "My name's Lily Evans, by the way, and he's Severus Snape." She gestured to Snape, who shrugged.

"James Potter." The messy-haired boy replied.

"Black. Sirius Black." The other inclined his head to Lily.

"Seriously?" Severus sniggered.

"No, just Sirius." Sirius replied with a barking laugh. "'Sides, your name's just as funny as mine."

"Anyways…" James cleared his throat. "Like I said, Ravenclaw's the House for all the smart people…