I hate myself but I just can't seem to get really into my other fics right now for some reason. So I'm reverting to my admittedly terrible habit of starting another fanfic. I'm so sorry.

What's on the menu this time, you might ask? Another crossover! The good news is that I'm only planning on a handful of chapters for it so hopefully it will go quickly? I'm planning on working on half and half POV, hopefully divided fairly equally between Kagome and James.

Summary: They hate each other. Despise one another, really. So how is it that they've somehow ended up together?

-;-

First Year

The first time that James Charlus Potter saw Hogwarts, he knew that he was going to love it. The magnificently tall turrets that towered above them, the aged stone with the ivy, moss and various other plants greeting them as the small boats floated beneath a covered archway. He and a couple of other boys he'd met on the train were all equally astounded by the sights that they were being bombarded with. Sirius Black, who he was fairly certain that he'd met a couple of times before when his parents had taken him to Diagon Alley, and Remus Lupin were both sitting with him in the small and actually quite rickety boat.

As the boats all docked in the dark cavern beneath the school, Sirius already had a look on his face that was something akin to complete awe.

"Wicked." He continued to mutter under his breath as the group of nervous First Years made their way up to the Great Hall.

They were ushered into a side room just outside the Hall, with a professor named Sprout- the Herbology professor and the one who would be "taking them into the Great Hall in just a moment."

It was sometime during this point that James caught sight of two girls who were speaking softly to one another nearby. The one, a redheaded and quite freckly, looked a bit as though she were about to be sick. The other, dark haired and smiling with a pair of rather large glasses on her face, appeared to be comforting her. A Muggleborn and a Pureblood then, James mused.

As if sensing that they were being watched, both girls blinked and turned their gazes over to him. Quickly, he averted his gaze, though now he could feel their stares as well as Sirius' amused one, boring holes into him. Before anyone else could interrogate or stare at him, Sprout returned, bearing a warm smile on her face as she ushered the group into the Great Hall.

This time, Remus was the one to be murmuring something under his breath as they passed beneath the enchanted ceiling- admittedly one of the most amazing things that James had ever seen in his rather short life. Sirius elbowed James good-naturedly and did a surprisingly well executed imitation of Remus's enamoured expression. It couldn't have been better, however, if Remus hadn't caught sight of the pair laughing and threw them a dirty look before joining in on the laughter.

Sprout waited for them at the front of the hall, a hat held in a fist and a handful of sheets of parchment tucked under an arm. Smiling encouragingly at all the students and First Years in front of her, she sat the hat down on the stool that James hadn't noticed at first glance and stepped back. And then the thing opened a mouth hidden within the folds of the fabric and began to sing.

It was one of the most hilarious and yet strange things that James Potter had had the chance to encounter since his birth. Talking hats just weren't in the norm for him, no matter how magical he was.

Following the song, Sprout began reading off names from the sheets of parchment. Each student called ventured up to have the hat placed upon his or her head, and then was Sorted into one of the Houses.

Sirius' name was called, and immediately he shrank back, nervousness written all over his face. He'd explained on the train that he didn't want to be a Slytherin- his entire family had been, and look at what kind of reputation they had now. He really didn't want to be called a Dark wizard.

However, he plastered on a blank face, nodded to James and Remus, and walked up to be Sorted.

James had to hand it to him- Sirius stubbornly managed to stay composed until the hat opened its mouth and bellowed, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Silence. From what he understood, everyone had to be in shock. A Black, Sorted to Gryffindor? It hadn't happened in close to decades.

Thankfully, the Gryffindors snapped out of it first, breaking out into a rather enthusiastic cacophony of whoops and cheers as Sirius hopped off the stool, handed the hat to Sprout with a cheerful smirk, and jogged over, whooping just as loudly as the rest of them as he took his seat.

The ice had been broken with a start like that, and the Sorting commenced. Remus, like Sirius, joined Gryffindor, as well as Lily Evans, the redheaded girl he'd seen earlier.

The only other strange name that had been called out was a Kagome Higurashi. Shifting to look at the small figure, James was startled to note that it was the dark haired girl that had been comforting Lily Evans earlier.

She took a seat. Sprout placed the hat on her head. After several long moments, and several more following that, and even more following, people began to murmur.

Finally, the hat opened its mouth and cried out-

-;-

Kagome Higurashi knew that she was an oddity among the rest of her fellow First Years the moment she'd stepped off of the small boat that had glided smoothly over the large, calm lake. Going by looks alone, there was only one other boy who looked as though his ancestry were from Asia like her. Adding on her surname and she was sure to be the odd one out.

Huffing, she blew her bangs out of her eyes and adjusted her strangely large glasses, wondering why she hadn't just agreed to go with the sight-correction potion she had been offered while in Diagon Alley. Her mother had smiled at her when she'd stubbornly refused, but now she was beginning to understand why.

All was well so far, she supposed, turning to the girl next to her. Lily Evans. She'd been separated from her friend- Severus? – and was fairly distressed about it. She leaned over.

"I'm sure he's up ahead." She assured, a faint accent still fairly evident in her tone. There was only so much the English lessons could do for her, after all. "Don't worry Lily, we'll find him."

"Thanks, Kagome." The redhead smiled gratefully. "To be honest, I think it's mostly 'cause I'm nervous."

She smiled and shrugged a shoulder. "Hey now, we're all a little bit nervous. Everyone seems to be really bent on making sure we don't know how we get Sorted."

Lily laughed, nodding.

"Yeah, I guess you're right." She flushed.

Kagome's neck prickled, and she glanced up to see a pair of curious hazel eyes watching her and Lily. Lily blinked and looked over as well before frowning.

"That's the one that made fun of Sev." She scowled. "He told me when we met up on the train."

Kagome snorted, shaking her head. "He practically reeks of old money." She said dryly. "C'mon Lily, we're leaving."

The other girl nodded and followed Kagome into the Great Hall.

All throughout the Sorting Hat's song, Lily was still looking for Severus and becoming more and more concerned. As students shifted though, Lily finally honed in on one particular dark haired boy and sighed in relief as she went to go stand by him. Kagome smiled at the girl before crossing her arms and watching as the Sorting began.

She knew all about the Blacks- she knew about some of the more well-known wizarding families from her studies- and could respect the shaggy haired boy for his divergence from the rest of his family.

Lily was Sorted before she was, and the redheaded girl was quickly Sorted into Gryffindor- the house well-known for the bravery of its members. Several other students Kagome had met briefly were also Sorted there, with a couple going to the other Houses.

"Higurashi, Kagome." Madam Sprout intoned clearly, her name perfectly pronounced. It was a pleasant change from some of the people she'd met who very obviously mangled her name recently.

She walked up to the front of the room, took her seat, and was engulfed by the absolutely humongous hat as it was placed on her hair.

"Hello, child of the Miko". A voice said in her mind.

Er, hello. She thought in reply.

"And where shall I Sort you, I wonder?" The Hat continued, the tone strangely soothing. "No doubt you would fit well with any House. You are brave for choosing to leave your home to come here, that is certain. You are intelligent and know what you want, but you seem to have more loyalty than you know what to do with."

Aren't you supposed to Sort me? She asked curiously.

"Well yes, that is the final outcome, but what would you like, little witch?" the Hat replied.

Well…somewhere that I can be myself, I suppose. Kagome thought, beginning to think about what she wanted. And somewhere where I can learn and not be teased for my name or my heritage.

"Is that all?"

I think so. Kagome said.

"Very well. I think you would do best in...HUFFLEPUFF!"

Kagome didn't realize that the last word had been shouted to the Hall until applause broke out. The Hufflepuff table erupted into cheers and smiles as the Hat was lifted from her head, and Madam Sprout beamed at her.

"Welcome to Hufflepuff, dear." She winked, shooing her over to join her Housemates.

She took her seat between a slender brunette and a dark skinned boy, both of whom welcomed her warmly before quietly beginning to make introductions. They didn't seem to waste time, Hufflepuffs. By the time the Sorting was complete, she was on a first name basis with everyone in her new House.

"Welcome, new students."

The Headmaster stood from the Head Table, hushing the students.

"I welcome returning students to Hogwarts. To the new students, we wish you a happy beginning. Hogwarts is your home. Should you need assistance, your Housemates will be there for you. They are your friends and your family while you are here. Do well, and your House will be rewarded. Should you cause trouble, your House will lose points. But enough of that, you are all tired and hungry from the day. Let the feast begin!"

Dumbledore sat to applause as food appeared on the tables, the students beginning to eat. Kagome tried a little bit of everything there was to try. Many of the dishes she hadn't seen before, and had to have it explained to her before she tried it.

By the time the feast had ended and all the notices given, Kagome was more than ready to head to bed with the rest of her Housemates. In fact, she didn't even remember when her head hit the pillow- she was sound asleep.