Disclaimer: I own the plot and most of the characters, but some characters and places are all a creation from J.K. Rowling.
I hope you like it! This is kind of an introduction chapter, so it may be a bit slow. No flames please, only constructive criticism!
I only realized this after having written a few chapters, but just so you know, in this story Molly and the first years are 10 at the beginning of the first year and turn eleven as the year goes by, not like the real books, where they are eleven and turn twelve. It's too late to change that now, because it wouldn't fit the story, so I'm sorry! Honest mistake!
Chapter 1: Red house
"Molly, we're late!" I heard my mother shouting through my bedroom door. I groaned and rolled over. It was way too early for my liking.
"Molianna Greengrass, you get up this instant or you'll miss your first day at Hogwarts!"
I woke up immediately. How could I have forgotten? This was the day I'd been waiting for since I could remember. I'd been ecstatic when I got my letter three weeks ago. I had gone with my mom to buy all my supplies and wouldn't stop talking about Hogwarts to my younger brother and sister. There was NO way I was missing my first day.
"All right, I'm up!" I called back. I showered and dressed quickly before I checked my reflection in the mirror, and gave a satisfied nod. I wasn`t looking too pale or sleepy, and my perfectly straight hair was flawless, as always, just like my mother's. I put a headband on, straightened my skirt and went downstairs.
My mom was helping Vivi cut her pancakes and Roddie was eating messily as usual, while my father read the paper, oblivious to everything else. I sat down beside him as Ceci, our house elf, served breakfast on my plate.
"It`s ten thirty already, eat quickly!" my mom barked. I did as she told me, even though I had everything packed, so we still had time. Honestly, I love my mother, I can tell her everything, but she has a scary temper.
When we were ready, dad grabbed me, mom grabbed Roddie and Vivi, and we apparated into a secluded street. I felt a little nauseous, as every time we did side-along-apparition, and I could tell my siblings did too, but I didn't say anything and followed my dad. "A respectable pureblood never shows weakness" I heard my father's voice in my head say.
We went into King's Cross Station and I was quite confused. My mom had told me the platform of the Hogwarts Express was 9 ¾, but I couldn't find that number anywhere. She walked to platform nine and I followed with the rest on my family, wondering where it was.
"Fiori, over here!" we heard someone call. I turned and saw Aunt Mari, mom's twin sister, walk over to us with her husband. Running behind them was Alice Prewett, my cousin and best friend, with her two eight-year-old brothers, Fabian and Gideon.
"Molly!" Alice screamed so loudly everyone in the platform turned to look at her, and attacked me with a bear hug. I was embarrassed, though I was happy to see her. I could practically hear my father muttering "A Greengrass doesn't show emotions in public".
"Hey Alice, calm down!" I told her "you know my dad doesn't like that" I muttered. Alice looked at me sheepishly and started talking about how excited she was.
I guess I should tell you a bit about my family. My father, Roger Greengrass, is a pureblood, Slytherin through and through. As such, he should have had an arranged marriage, but his betrothed died before they became of age, so later he married my mother. They never talk about the other girl. My mother, Fiorella, is also a pureblood, but she was born and raised in Italy. She and her twin sister, Mariella, transferred to Hogwarts in their fourth year, where they met their respective husbands. My mom was sorted into Ravenclaw, and met dad when they were head girl and head boy together, and Aunt Mari was sorted into Griffindor, where she met my uncle, William Prewett. They are still best friends, which is why Alice and I were raised practically together, but my dad doesn't like that very much. He doesn't get along with my aunt and uncle.
My parents have always told me mudbloods are inferior to us, but that they are still magical, so we shouldn't hurt them, just avoid associating with them. "A lady must be polite to everyone" they always say. Alice's parents, on the other hand, have always told her we're all equal and she should be friends with everyone she likes. That's about the only thing Alice and I don't agree on, and probably never will, so we never talk about it. I mean, of course I should be friends with anyone I like, but why would I ever like a mudblood? They are just not the same as us.
Even though we're the best of friends, her brothers don't spend time with my brother at all. Roderigo (Roddie for short) is seven, only a year younger than them, but they've never connected. I guess since they are twins and always together they don't need another friend, so Roddie feels left out when with them, and usually plays with my sister, Vivianna, who's five. They are really good friends.
"So, girls, ready to get on the Hogwarts Express?" asked mom. Alice and I nodded eagerly. I couldn't wait to find out how to get on the right platform.
"You just have to run between platforms nine and ten. Don't worry, you won't crash" she said taking in our incredulous faces "Here, show them dear" she told my dad. My dad obliged, took Roddie's hand and trotted directly to the wall. Just when I was horrified, expecting them to hit it, they disappeared!
"Cool" breathed Alice "We have to try it, come on!" she told me. I was still in shock, but I nodded and grabbed my trunk. Of course nothing would happen to us! We were magical after all! I should have trusted my mom. As we ran I started getting nervous. What if it failed just now? Would we get hurt too badly?
Before I had time to panic, I felt the oddest sensation, and the next second we were standing on a completely different platform, with a red train ready to go. I was awed. This is it. I'm finally going to Hogwarts I thought.
Before I knew it, everyone was giving good bye hugs. "You make us proud, little princess" my dad told me "You better get sorted into Slytherin…or Ravenclaw" he added after a look from my mom. I laughed. Of course I would get sorted into Slytherin or Ravenclaw! Where else would I go? If I ever got sorted into Hufflepuff I'd kill myself! I guess Griffindor wouldn't be too bad, Aunt Mari and Uncle Bill had been there and they were really nice, but my dad would be furious anyway and I would rather avoid that. Plus it would probably be full of mudbloods.
"I'm going into Griffindor for sure!" exclaimed Alice. I cringed. I hadn't thought about separating from Alice when I got to Hogwarts. I hoped we would still be friends, even if we were in different houses.
"Let's go, the train is about to leave" I told her quickly. We said a last good bye to our family and went inside. Everyone was finding compartments, running everywhere and catching up with my friends. It was crazy, not at all what I was used to, but I liked it. I couldn't help the grin forming in my face. "Emotions show weakness" I remembered suddenly. I chastised myself and made the grin turn into a distant smile. Only a minute and I was already forgetting the conduct code! I should work on it harder.
"We have to find a compartment!" Alice said "Come on!" I followed her through the train, nodding at the few people I had talked to from the social gatherings of the high society, when I stopped at the sight of my other two best friends.
Mia Zabini and Theresa Nott were so focused in their talk that they didn't see me at all. I paused, thinking of Alice. Would they like her well enough to sit in the same compartment? I guessed they would, especially if I told them she was my cousin. Plus we hadn't seen any empty compartments yet, and I didn't want to sit with someone I didn't know.
"Mia, Tessa!" I said loudly.
"Hey!" said Tessa happily "we were wondering when we would see you, come in!"
"This is my cousin Alice" I said, purposely avoiding her last name "Alice, this are Mia and Theresa"
"Nice to meet you" she said shyly. I could feel she was uneasy.
"Same to you" said Mia enthusiastically "you guys look a lot alike!" It was true. We both had the same big eyes, small nose, rosy cheeks and full lips than our mothers. We were also the same height and had a flawless complexion and perfectly straight hair, though Alice's barely passed her shoulders and mine went down to my mid-back. The only obvious differences were the colors: Alice had our mothers' blue eyes and Uncle Bill's dirty blond hair, while I had my father's brown eyes and our mothers' red hair. Also, Alice's face was a lot rounder than mine.
"Yeah, our mothers are identical twins" Alice told them proudly, seemingly having got over her shyness "so, what were you talking about?" Just like that, we all started talking and I relaxed and smiled. It looked like she fit in perfectly well, for now at least. I didn't think Tessa and Mia would mind too much if I talked to her in Hogwarts, even if she turned out to be a Griffindor. Everything's going to be fine, I'll have a great time I thought to myself none of my friends will get mad at me.
Before lunch everything started to go wrong. I was focused on the game we were playing, when I heard someone open the door and two boys walked in. One had bright red hair, just like mine.
"We were kicked out of our compartment by some third years, mind if we sit here?" he said.
"Get lost Weasley, find a seat with your Griffindor friends" said Mia snidely. I knew it was the wrong thing to say, judging by Alice's face.
"Excuse me, but I will be one of his Griffindor friends as soon as I get sorted, and if you're gonna insult us then I might just well leave. You coming Molly?" said Alice fiercely, standing up. I hesitated. If I stayed with Mia and Tessa, I would ruin my chances of being friends with Alice. If I went, Mia and Tessa would be mad at me. I wouldn't be in the same house as Alice, which would make it difficult to apologize. What if we could never be friends again? On the other hand, I had a high chance of being in the same house as Mia and Tessa, and I didn't want the only people I trusted in my house to hate me. Plus, I didn't know those boys. What if one of them was a mudblood? I'd rather stay away from them.
"I'm staying here with my friends" I told Alice making my decision. She would forgive me eventually, she always did, though right now it didn't look likely. She glared at the three of us and left with the boys in tow.
"How come you didn't tell us she wanted to be in Griffindor?" Mia demanded. I hated that she didn't understand me. Sure Griffindor may not be the best house, but I would love my cousin no matter which house she wanted to be in.
"So what? That's her problem" I replied "she's still my family and my best friend".
"The fact that she wants to be in Griffindor doesn't take away the fact that she's nice" said Tessa simply "for all we know she might not even get into Griffindor". I admired Tessa sometimes. She was always so smart and mature.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. She was pretty nice" admitted Mia reluctantly "she IS a pureblood though, isn't she?"
"Of course!" I scoffed. What else would she be? Like I would voluntarily be friends with someone who was anything else.
With that, Mia calmed down and returned to our talk. I was happy that my friends had accepted Alice, but I was still worried in the back of my mind. Was Alice too mad at me? When would I be able to explain to her?
When we arrived, the three of us followed the impressive giant man that was calling for the first years and climbed into a boat, who was only occupied by a very cute boy with brown hair and eyes. For some reason he seemed familiar, but I didn't know him.
"Hello, my name's Damian" he said politely. I noticed he had a nice accent and smiled warmly at him.
"I'm Molly, and this are Mia and Theresa" I replied "it's nice to meet you".
"Same to you" he grinned, and I blushed.
We rowed through the lake for what seemed like ages, before the giant showed us Hogwarts, and I was blown away. I'd seen pictures and heard stories of it, but it looked a thousand times more beautiful in real life. It was magnificent. I couldn't stop looking at its many towers, and almost didn't notice when we reached the land and Damian helped me out of the boat.
"Welcome students, I'm Professor McGonagall and I'll take you to be sorted" said a stern looking woman. She scared me a little, but I was too giddy with anticipation to notice. Where would I end up? The girls were sure they'd go into Slytherin, but I wasn't. I wasn't ambitious or cunning like Mia. What if the hat put me in Ravenclaw, like my mother? I would be without my friends.
I will be fine I suddenly decided I'll make friends, win points, and I will be confident about myself. I'll make my parents proud.
Everyone was whispering excitedly, and looking either at the hat or at the ceiling, which made me really nervous despite my pep talk to myself, and they only stopped talking when the hat started to sing. I couldn't even make out what it was saying; all I could suddenly think of was my sorting. What if I get sorted in Griffindor, or worse, Hufflepuff? How will I make my parents proud then? How will I avoid associating with mudbloods and make friends at the same time?
I was interrupted from my musings when everyone started clapping. I clapped hurriedly too, telling myself not to panic. It was just a hat, after all.
"Abbott, Grace!" called Professor McGonagall. A pudgy girl with pigtails ran to the hat and put it on. It had barely touched it when it yelled "Hufflepuff!" She returned it to the stool happily while everyone clapped and skipped to the table.
"Black, Bellatrix!" called the professor. I knew her; the Blacks were a very respected pureblood family. Tessa, Mia and I didn't like Bellatrix at all. She was too arrogant and mean.
"Slytherin!" yelled the hat. As she sauntered to the table I cringed. If she was there (not that I didn't expect it) I would rather be in Ravenclaw. I whispered this to Mia and Tessa and they laughed.
A bunch of other people was sorted in all four houses and I was getting anxious. Please let it be over soon I wished.
"Frayers, Damian!" called professor McGonagall. Damian stepped out from in front of me and sat on the stool, the hat covering his whole head. I was curious as to where he'd go. The Frayers were also a respected pureblood family, which explained why he had seemed familiar. I'd probably seen him at social gatherings before.
"Ravenclaw!" shouted the hat after a while. Great! Now I hoped to be in Ravenclaw more than ever.
"Greengrass, Molianna!" called the professor. I felt like my feet were frozen, but with an effort, I walked to the stool and put the hat on my head.
"Interesting... you come from a Slytherin family, yet would rather be placed in Ravenclaw. Friends are not the best way to decide, trust me" I could hear it say "funny, I can`t find any traits that would make you do good in either house…you are extremely loyal to your friends, compassionate and hard working…brave too, with a sense of justice…I think the ideal house for you would be Hufflepuff".
I could feel horror filling my whole body. There was no way I would be happy in Hufflepuff, my parents would be terribly disappointed. Please, anything but Hufflepuff I begged it quietly.
"But it would be the ideal house for you! I see, you hate it too much to do good there. Well, if you really don't want to go there, I believe you would also do good in…"
"Griffindor!" it shouted.
Did you like it? R&R please!