Chapter One - The Sorting

There was absolute silence.

It was the kind that pressed against your ears, with more force than the loudest of noises. The only movement was the dust that floated in the air, reflecting off rays of light as it found a place to settle. It wasn't ready to be disturbed yet, the ceiling was not a perfect reflection of outside, instead of dark skies and clouds there were smudges of blue that blurred at the edges from where the magic needed to be restored. The first sound came faintly, rising in a rush of quick clacks, shoes on stone. It grew steadily, beating its rhythm until it bounced against the door not able to get any closer.

The doors burst open but the beat did not falter as two people marched in, fracturing the quiet and throwing the peaceful dust back up into the air. The leader was a man, stout and plump with a moustache tickling under his nose. His face was stained red and beads of sweat trickled down his forehead, dripping on his red robes. Behind him, a woman raced to keep up with him wearing a similar frown of desperation. Her hair was pulled back into a bun and her emerald robes dragged across the floor.

"Professor Nook will you stop and let me explain?!" The woman demanded in a firm and definite voice. She halted, and he slowed to a stop a few meters away from her before turning and inhaling a great gust of air.

"No, you had your chance Minerva. I am done listening to your excuses."

"They are not excuses Albert, it needs to happen. Albus won't change his mind-"

"Neither will I! I have no idea what you two are playing at. Dangerous games, very dangerous, and I will have no part in them." Albert balled his thick hands into fists and shook them, barely able to contain his anger.

"It is not a game, what would you have me do, cast them aside like broken toys?"

"I expect you to act like a mature adult, not some dreamy eyed teenager. Bringing them here, what are you thinking? I've heard the rumours, we all have and if they're true this will only bring pain and destruction to this school and all of us in it." Minerva pursed her lips into a thin line, the first hint at wrinkles popping from her skin.

"Do you really believe Albus would have done it if he thought it would put us, and more importantly his students, at risk? You sound like a fool." Albert opened and closed his mouth several times, unable to answer her with a valid retort. Minerva took her chance and tried to calm the man down. "Please, listen to me. You have known me for over ten years, I would like to think that I have earned some of your trust."

"You have, but-"

"Then let me assure you," she interrupted, "that bringing them here is the only solution. They are children Albert, not murderers; it isn't their fault that they are caught up in all of this. Goodness, they don't even know about it!"

"I understand that," the man deflated, his belly sagging through his robes, "but…I can't risk it. I have a family of my own to think of. If the rumours are true, then he'll find out, and he'll come after them. You know it, and I know it. What will you do then? When he attacks and slaughters innocent people because you let them in."

Minerva sighed, rubbing her fists together as she thought about her answer carefully. Of course it had occurred to her, but she had never believed in a man as much as she did Albus Dumbledore. "If it goes wrong, and he comes to kill them then we will handle it. We can't live on a 'maybe' or a 'what if', not when young lives are at stake. They are important, that's why he wants them after all. They weren't born from evil; if they were we would never take them on. Everything about them is pure and good, if we let him destroy that, then what kind of people are we?"

For a while, neither spoke as they made their decisions and waited to see how it ended. Albert scratched the back of his head and hairs stood up on end, finally he looked up at her. "I believe that you will do everything you can, and you truly think this is for the best. But I'm sorry Minerva, I cannot be here to live on a hope that it will end well. That is my final decision."

"I understand Albert, I knew how much I was asking of you when I told you."

"It isn't your fault, I can recommend someone who may be able to take my place? He knows a great deal about my subject, you could say I trained him."

"Will he be accepting of the situation?"

"Yes, I would say so. He's a strange man, maybe even fearless if there is such a thing. I'll send you his details when I get home." There was an awkward pause, both knowing what was to come but neither wanting to say goodbye.

"Thank you for all you have done for me, you have been a true friend." Minerva wiped her eye lightly, and his heart panged knowing he had caused her pain.

"No, thank you." He hesitated, watching dust cover the far right table decorated in a green runner, "Be careful. However pure you say they are, everyone is capable of change, especially here."

They were the first to arrive at the train station, and consequently had their pick of where to sit. It was eerie as they made their way to the back and slipped into the last compartment. After placing their bags on the racks they slid the door shut with a snap. Each sat opposite another, staring as though looking at a reflection in a mirror. Slowly, a smile spread across one girls face, displaying a row of gleaming white teeth, the other girl mimicked her.

"This is it, we're going, it's happening."

"I know, I feel like pinching myself. It can't be real." Leah Higgs peered out of the window, watching as teenagers walked through the wall with their families, and sighed. Her breath caught on the glass and clung to it in a thin mist, she had never been happier in her entire life. Her sister, Belle slumped back in her chair, arms resting by her sides as she tried to take it all in. Beside them sat two boys, silently watching them but not sharing in their unbridled enthusiasm.

Sixteen years of being trapped in the middle of nowhere, no friends or neighbours, not even a pet to keep them company and now they were off on the biggest adventure of their lives.

"Oh Merlin, I'm sure I just saw somebody's hair turn blue!" Leah exclaimed, clamouring uselessly to get a better look at the girl who had vanished into the crowd. "Maybe she's a metamorphmagus, I'd love to be able to change how I look whenever I want to."

"So would I, then I wouldn't have to look like you." Belle grinned at her sister who didn't react in any way to her mocking comment. Truthfully they weren't that similar, not really. The four siblings were undeniably related from their bone structure but had subtle differences; Leah and Harvey shared chestnut hair whilst Belle and Warren had a blonder sheen. But then, Belle and Harvey had soft green eyes, and Leah and Harvey had bright blue. All alike, but not the same.

"What time is it?"

"Not time to leave yet, if that's what you're asking." Warren grunted, becoming ever more frustrated with his sister's excitement. Leah's jaw dropped and she stared disgustedly outside.

"What is it?"

"This boy is hanging from the clock by his hood because some moron has cast a spell to put him there. Oh no, he looks so embarrassed." Leah tugged on her hair, a habit she had picked up whenever she was unable to help or was worrying about something.

"He probably deserved it," Warren shrugged, kicking his feet up on the seat opposite him.

"Don't be cruel," Belle warned, "stop watching Leah, you'll only get upset about it." Belle pulled a book from her bag and held it out for her, "Read this, it'll distract you."

"No thanks, I won't be able to concentrate."

"Fine, I'll read it." Belle flipped the book open and buried her nose in it, ignoring her sister as she shouted, "He's let the boy down, and he's fallen in a heap on the floor. Everyone is laughing. What a bastard!"

Sirius Black couldn't stop laughing as he watched Severus Snape dangling from the clock, his feet kicking out furiously in an attempt to free his hood. "Get me down Black or I swear to Salazar you'll pay for it!" This only made matters worse for Snape, Sirius roared at the comment and slapped his feet so he swung like a pendulum, and other students had slowed down to watch.

"Started without me I see?" A familiar voice said, and Sirius stopped laughing to look at his friend.

"Prongs, when did you get here?" Sirius slung an arm around him and slapped his back, forgetting all about Snape.

"You couldn't help yourself, not even to wait for me?" He smirked at the boy who had turned crimson and chuckled softly.

"Sorry but I've been waiting all summer for this. Needed to stretch my magic and make sure I still had it."

"You alright up there Snape? Have you missed us?" James grinned as Snape tried to find his wand in his pocket, a spell twisting on his tongue. With a wave from Sirius, Snape dropped like lead to the ground, followed by an uproar of laughter.

"Don't try anything Severus, you wouldn't win." James warned as Snape raised his wand at the boys. He faltered, weighing up his chances in his mind. "Make the right decision." James added, the threat hovering in his eyes. Pulling his robes into place with a quick slap, Snape grabbed his luggage and strode towards the train, splitting the crowd as he went. "Coward," Sirius grumbled, shaking his head at the retreating figure.

"We had best get on; I reckon Mooney and Wormtail will be waiting for us."

They boarded the train whilst catching up on their holiday. Sirius, as usual, had endured long days of rejection from his family, a stark comparison to James who had enjoyed not one, but two holidays.

"I should have invited you, I'm sorry."

"Eventually your family is going to have to learn to cope without me, it is better this way." Sirius smirked at his joke, but the guilt didn't leave his friends face. "Come on mate, cheer up. We're back now!"

"I suppose," they trundled down the corridor, heaving their luggage behind them as they headed for the last compartment as always. James slowed as they neared and heard voices inside, "I think they're already here."

Throwing open the sliding door Sirius shouted "Who's missed me?" Four pairs of eyes stared blankly back at him.

Sirius coughed, a shadow of embarrassment tinting his cheeks as the strangers gawped at him. "Oh, uh…Sorry I thought I knew you."

"Well you don't, so piss off." Warren folded his arms, unimpressed with the entrance.

"Who do you think you're talking to?" James snapped, sticking his head in the door to see who had spoken.

"Well it wasn't you."

"Cut it out Warren," Harvey muttered nudging his brother's foot and giving him a stare that came across more judgmental than threatening.

Sirius swept his eyes over the other faces; belonging to two girls who had shrank back in their seats. One was trying to hide her face in a book, the other stared at him with a raw boldness. Sirius definitely didn't know these people, but they looked too old to be first years. He'd have remembered a girl glaring at him the way she was.

"Right, this is awkward, why don't we introduce ourselves?" James shoved Sirius aside and smiled in his charming way. "I'm James Potter, this is Sirius Black." He waited for someone to answer him, all eyes turned to the brunette boy.

"I'm Harvey Higgs, this is my brother Warren," the rude blonde boy, "and my sisters Belle," the girl with the book, "and Leah."

"Wait, you're all related?" Now that he knew, Sirius could see it. Their noses were straight, their cheekbones pronounced on their faces, giving him the same dazed look.

"Wow that must have been a fun birth." Sirius snorted, receiving a death glare from Warren who apparently hated him already. There was a pause in which nobody was sure what to do, eventually Warren stood up.

"As exciting as this all is, I'm done."

"Where are you going?"

"For a walk up the train, it's getting a bit crowded for my liking." He shoved past Sirius and James, making sure to dig his elbow in when possible.

Leah gave a pleading glance to Harvey who sighed, "Fine, I'll go see if he's alright." Begrudgingly, he followed his brother out, careful to be polite as he sidled past them. This left the two girls, Sirius and James alone.

Leah tugged at her bottom lip with her teeth, wondering what to do in this type of situation. Sirius was watching her with an impatient stare, but she didn't know what he was waiting for. "Uh, you can sit down if you want." She gestured to the empty places, hoping they had better places to be.

Apparently they didn't.

Taking a seat, James clapped his palms together and leaned his arms into his knees, studying them. "What's your story then?"

"Sorry?"

"You're new aren't you?"

"Unless your eleven years old with hormone issues," Sirius added through a smirk.

"No, we aren't eleven," Leah answered, glowering at Sirius as if he were a pile of rubbish. "We'll be starting in the sixth year."

"That's our year!"

"Whoopee," Sirius snorted, consequently receiving another dirty look.

"You were home-schooled then?"

The girls exchanged secretive glances, this time Belle answered, each word rehearsed. "Yes and no, we have no parents so were raised by a woman who adopted us. She is a witch but doesn't like using magic, when she found out that we were all witches and wizards too she took it upon herself to train us the proper way."

"What's the proper way?"

"Basically we learnt nothing that she deemed to be 'lazy magic'. Cleaning, cooking, mending clothes, things that you can do without magic, with patience."

"You guys are so lucky," Sirius exclaimed with more sarcasm than was necessary, "I've always wanted to know how to chop vegetables by hand! I hear it's amazing, tell me did it take you long to master?"

James managed to stifle his laugh, but Leah was already tired of his jokes at their expense. "What is wrong with you? Were you dropped on your head as a baby? We've been isolated from the world our whole lives and we know more about respect than you. Do you not give a shit about anyone but yourself?"

The spark in his eye diminished as she gawped at him, waiting for an answer. "Leah he was only joking."

"Well I didn't find it very funny, did you?" Belle shook her head, but her lips remained taught at the tension between her sister and the boy.

When it was clear that Sirius wasn't going to respond, James coughed and let out a short forced laugh. "So, your quadruplets, that's interesting." Belle gave him a reassuring smile, but Leah had not yet broken eye contact with Sirius.

"Who's a quadruplet?" A voice asked as the door once again opened, finally persuading Leah to tear her eyes away. The girl was pretty with green eyes and a shock of red hair, the moment he saw her, James leapt up from his seat.

"Lily, hi," he croaked out as his hand subconsciously flew to his wild hair and tried to flatten it to his head, the effort caused him to bang his elbow on the wooden doorframe.

"Smooth mate," Sirius muttered as James rubbed his arm briefly.

"Hello boys, how was your summer."

"James lost his trunks in a swimming pool and had to walk to his villa with only a small towel to cover his manhood." Sirius answered immediately.

"Fuck off Sirius!" James snapped, his ears burning as red as the girls hair, she laughed lightly and flickered her eyes down his body and back up.

"Is that true?"

"It's isn't not true," James admitted bashfully, scowling at Sirius with as much hatred as he could muster. "Seriously mate, I tell you one thing in confidence and you blurt it out first chance you get."

"Technically, the first chance would have been the moment she walked in but I held off for you, because I'm a good friend."

"Oh yeah, you're the best." Lily's attention had wandered to the girls as the boys squabbled and she suddenly stood up tall and stepped forwards to greet them.

"I'm Lily Evans, it's nice to meet you."

"I'm Belle and this is my sister Leah."

"Yes, yes, we've been through this already. They have two brothers as well, Harvey and Warren." Sirius finished before turning his attention back to James, who was still seething at him.

"Really? How fascinating. I've never met quadruplets before, or triplets for that matter." Leah decided immediately that she liked Lily; she was warm and welcoming, like Hogwarts had opened its arms to them through her. "I wonder if you'll all be in the same house. That would be brilliant."

"I don't know, we haven't thought about it much, we've been too excited about going." Belle replied, closing her book and placing it back into her bag.

"Please don't make your first judgements by these two, they aren't the best Hogwarts has to offer."

"We can hear you, you know."

"It's a fantastic school," she continued, ignoring James' remark, "and the Headmaster really is a genius. The best one the school has ever had, and there have been a lot of them." Lily glanced at her wrist and the girls were surprised to see a muggle watch draped around it.

"I'm sorry, I have to go and meet someone."

"Who?" James asked having decided to forget his anger, "Don't tell me it's Snivellus."

"I've told you not to call him that, you really should grow up, you're in the sixth year for Godrics sake." Lily rounded on James whose face had fallen into a trouble frown.

"I can call him what I like, honestly Lily he's such a loser. It's pathetic how he follows you around; he needs to get a life, and some other friends."

"I'm not having this again, not for another year." Lily stood, her tone harsh and unfitting with her soft features. "If you want to be my friend you stop this immediately. I'm serious James."

"Actually I think you'll find I'm Sirius." The joke did not go down well and had blatantly been used too many times. Leah felt a pang of sympathy for the girl as she growled at the boys and stormed away, leaving them in another awkward silence.

"If you're going to listen to her I'm glad I got my prank in while I had the chance, I should have left him swinging on that clock." Leah snapped her eyes to him, remembering seeing the boy from out of the window. Belle shook her head slightly, warning her not to have another outburst.

She conceded for her sister's sake, but at that moment she made a clear and definite decision.

She hated Sirius Black.

"Where the fuck are Remus and Peter?" Sirius asked as they strolled into the Great Hall and took their seats on the Gryffindor bench. The Higgs family had left them to be sorted with the first years, much to the delight of Sirius.

"I don't know," James answered, "maybe they missed the train."

"As if I'd leave you two to fend for yourselves, you wouldn't survive." They looked up at the boys who were taking their seats opposite them. The one who had spoken was tall and slender with faded brown hair and tired eyes, beside him sat a short boy with teeth too big for his mouth and a bustle of sandy hair.

"There you are, where have you been?" Sirius greeted, grinning at the sight of his other friends.

"We were at the front of the train talking to Marlene Denver."

"You mean you were stuck with her, Merlin that girl can talk, why didn't you tell her to piss off, Remus?"

"She isn't that bad, just a little enthusiastic." Remus offered, shrugging his shoulders.

"He's too polite to do it," Peter explained, scratching shallow circles into the table with his long nails. Before the conversation could continue, the doors to the hall reopened and Professor McGonagall strode in, followed by a tidy line of first years, quivering with anticipation.

"Not many this year are there?" Remus commented.

"No, it's all these rumours about You-Know-Who. People aren't as willing to send their kids to a school that could be a target, even with Dumbledore as Headmaster." James sighed as he relayed the information, his eyes finding the Higgs quadruplets straggling at the back of the line.

"Who are they?"

"Our new best friends," Sirius laughed, waving at Leah who scowled back at him. Remus frowned in confusion and James explained their train journey as Professor McGonagall began to read off names from her list.

The Higgs' were last to be sorted, and by that point people were beginning to get irritated, as stomachs begged to be filled.

"Higgs, Belle." McGonagall announced and Belle stumbled forwards, refusing to look any of the students in the eye.

Remus smiled as she twisted her fingers on her lap nervously; there was an expression on her face that felt familiar. An insecurity that he recognised as his own, she was worried that people would not accept her. The sorting hat did not take long to decide her fate; the rip opened wide and bellowed "RAVENCLAW."

Remus couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, he had been interested in meeting the girl, but perhaps he still would.

"Higgs, Harvey."

Harvey was not nervous when he replaced his sister, and once again the hat took only moments to decide. "HUFFLEPUFF."

Another cheer filled the hall as the yellow house hurried to welcome him to their table, practically fighting over who got to sit beside him.

"Higgs, Leah."

Sirius watched as the sorting hat was slipped over her eyes, if he had to guess he would say she was a Ravenclaw like her sister, she was definitely not nice enough to be a Hufflepuff. Another hasty choice followed, "GRYFFINDOR."

All around him people stood to cheer with more enthusiasm than any of the first years had received, but he did not move as Leah walked over to them, her eyes flitting over to her family, all apart. By this point the students had realised what was happening, and even McGonagall was trying to catch Dumbledore's eye, a nervous twitch in the corner of her mouth. If Warren was a Slytherin that would mean that the siblings had been divided completely.

"This has never happened before, has it?" James asked as the cheering died down. Leah had opted to sit with Lily further down the table.

"Not as far as I know, families tend to stick together. Sometimes you'll get one or two in a bloodline that break from the path, like Sirius, but never like this." They found it fascinating and disturbing all at once, how was it possible that four people, all brought up together in the same environment, with the same blood, could differ so greatly? It didn't make sense to him and made him uncomfortable.

"Higgs, Warren." The hush was instant as Warren slumped down. He couldn't have looked more bored if he tried. McGonagall had managed to grab Dumbledore's attention and he smiled at her calmly and gave her a nod that was barely visible. The hat touched his head. Three seconds passed by and the hat had its answer, "SLYTHERIN."

It was like every student had been told they'd won a thousand galleons each. It wasn't just Slytherin that roared, it was everyone, they were on their feet cheering as Warren took his place. Even those, like Remus, who found it peculiar, were basking in its rareness. The Sorting Ceremony was usually dull; this was an unexpected thrill that had them all shaking with laughter. Four siblings, four houses Sirius, James, Remus and Peter exchanged a look that asked the same question, what did this mean? And was it important?

Dumbledore rose, his silver beard almost touching the table even though he stood. "Welcome students to another year at Hogwarts, and may I add what an exciting way to begin. Now you have all been sorted, we can enjoy our well-deserved feast, but first a few notes for our newest students."

Leah looked to her family who were looking back at her with the same puzzled expression. They had not been prepared for this, separate houses, all divided. How was that even possible? They were so similar, or at least she thought they were. Yes Belle had always been smart, and Harvey kind, and Warren cunning, and she would even stretch to call herself daring, but not enough for this, surely? She didn't even hear what Dumbledore was saying, the magnitude of her loneliness hung over her like a rain cloud ready to burst.

They wouldn't sleep in the same house dormitory, wouldn't have the same friends, and wouldn't have much time to meet all together. A yearning for their quiet cottage clawed at her insides, she wanted to be back in the home that she had been so happy to leave, just hours before. At least there they were together, it was a cruel joke.

The food appeared and Lily looked at her, concern swimming in her eyes. "Are you OK? I'm so sorry; everyone was being really insensitive, cheering like that."

"I'm fine, I know why they did, we didn't expect it either."

"Didn't you have any idea?"

"No," she admitted, "We thought we'd be together, like always. It was stupid."

"Not stupid, I understand, I thought it too. Try and eat though, you need it."

Leah stared at the plates full of delicious choices but didn't pick up a single item. Glancing back at Belle, she saw her chatting to another girl, smiling shyly. Warren was shovelling food into his mouth, characteristically unaffected by the turn of events, and Harvey was passing food around like it was his duty to make sure they were all fed. They were fine, they weren't injured or dead, she had to remember that.

If she was lucky things would barely change, the bond of her family was too strong to break over something as insignificant as school houses.

Wasn't it?

A/N: This idea popped into my head the other day and I couldn't wait to write it down and publish the first chapter! I'll be updating once or twice a week as the chapters will be longer than my other fan fiction story.

Please let me know what you think as I know the Marauders isn't covered as much as the Harry Potter and beyond eras. Would love to hear some feedback.

Hope you have enjoyed it!

Rose