*Disclaimer*

I do not own the brilliant world of Harry Potter; that right belongs to someone much more talented than I – J.K. Rowling

A/N: I am fully aware that his name is Hugo and not Hugh, I just thought that the spelling of 'Hugh' was better than the spelling of 'Hu' for his nickname. P.S. I know the title kind of sucks, I'm the worst at coming up with titles; just ask ever English teacher I've ever had.

Chapter 1

She was finally where she had dreamed of being for as long as she could remember, ever since Teddy would visit with all his stories of Hogwarts. The Hogwarts Express bumped and rattled along the tracks, the steam engine roaring in her ears. Lily Potter sat in her seat, bouncing more than the train in her excitement. Her long red hair swished around her, and her emerald eyes shot around the compartment. Her cousin, Hugo Weasley, gazed dreamily through the window. He was the typical ginger haired, freckly, pale Weasley with hazel eyes. No one ever had their doubts about his heritage. Lily had cried herself to sleep a lot of nights over the last year. Hugh and her always did everything together, the first time they rode a broom, played quidditch, broke their arms, and they always explored the attic of Uncle George's joke shop together, but he got to go to Hogwarts a year before her. He and Al sent her owls every week, and somehow convinced James to pitch in every so often, but it wasn't the same as being with them. She could forget all those nights now, she was going to Hogwarts.

"Will you cut it out?" Albus moaned. Her brother was lying across the bench on the other side of the compartment. His robes were sprawled over his face, "I can hear you bouncing from over here."

"Sorry," Lilly squeaked.

Al sighed, sitting up. His robes fell from his face, to reveal a carbon copy of their father. The only difference was Al's jet black hair was combed neatly on top of his head. "Don't worry about it, just relax. You'll be alright." Lily usually liked Al better than James as a brother. She always had fun with James, but he always teased her and got her into trouble. Al was much more kind, but sometimes he was too boring. Truth be told, she had been surprised when he had been pronounced a Gryffindor, she had pegged him for a Ravenclaw like their cousin, Rose, for sure.

Their mother had asked Al to keep an eye on Lily until she was settled. That was why he dutifully sat at the opposite end of the train compartment instead of laughing with his friends. It wasn't that he minded so much, he would have all year to catch up with them, but Lily's bouncing was starting to make him train-sick.

"What if I'm put in Slytherin though? James'll never let me hear the end of it."

"You won't be put in Slytherin." Al nearly rolled his eyes but then remembered that just two years ago he had the same concern.

"What if I'm in Hufflepuff?"

"Hufflepuff isn't that bad," Al coughed.

"James said it's just the place that people go when no one else wants them."

"Not really though. Hufflepuffs are kind and loyal. They make the best of friends, truly. Besides, Teddy was a Hufflepuff."

"He was?"

Al smiled, "I guess you were too young to remember."

"Fine, but I still want to be in Gryffindor where the brave of heart go," Lily smiled at the thought. Hugo looked like he was going to be sick. "Maybe you should open the window Hugh?"

"Yeah, good idea." Hugo slid the window open just a crack and the breeze rushed in.

The cold air filled the compartment, and the three shivered, but at least Hugo was regaining some colour. When their teeth started chattering, Al got up and picked up his robes, "We should change anyway, we must be getting close."

When they regrouped back at the compartment Al and Hugo were wearing their Gryffindor robes and Lily had put on her generic Hogwarts School robes. "Nearly there?" she asked, bouncing on her toes despite Al's annoyance.

"Yes, we're nearly there."

"But how can you tell?"

"You're just going to have to trust me."

The train lurched, cutting its speed; they were making their approach now. Lily squealed and sat quickly in her seat as if that would make them get there faster. "Come over here," Al waved, staring out the window. Lily ran over to him and looked out the window. The castle was just appearing from behind a tall hill. It was magnificent, even the returning students stared in awe.

"I'm kind of wishing I read 'Hogwarts: A History' now," Lily joked. Her aunt, Hermione, had given her a copy but she just used it to keep the window in her room propped open.

"Don't, it's terribly outdated. If you really want to learn about Hogwarts I suggest reading 'Hogwarts Through Time: A Complete Guide'. It's a good read, but Mum doesn't like it in the house." Rose had come to make sure they had their robes on. She stood proudly sporting her Ravenclaw robes, the blue and bronze emblem shown clearly on her chest.

"Why not?" Lily asked, she didn't think there was a book out there that her aunt would blacklist.

Rose narrowed her eyes, and thought for a moment. With a quick glance at Al, she shrugged as though it was nothing. "Guess it just doesn't strike her fancy. Anyways, I'd better get back to my compartment. See you in school." She gave Hugo a look like she smelled something she really didn't like, and then hurried off to meet her friends.

The train rolled to a stop a few minutes later. The trio hurried to get off the train.

"Firs' years! Firs' years over hear please," a familiar and comforting voice boomed above the students' heads.

"Hagrid!" Lily cried and ran off to say hullo to the family friend.

"Lily wait, don't run off!" All chased after her.

"Hullo you two," Hagrid greeted them with a smile, "have a nice summer?" The half-giant was getting old. His bushy beard was more grey than black, and his face was creased with age, but he was just as big and strong as ever and his eyes still held the same glint of life that Harry remembered from when he went to school.

"It was alright, James lit Mrs. Black on fire again." The Potters kept the old house at Grimmauld Place, but didn't normally live in it. It wasn't exactly sellable what with the Black family tree permanently painted on one of the walls, and a portrait of a woman who screamed insults secured to the wall with some sort of irreversible sticking charm. The children loved it though; it was so full of old knickknacks and mysteries that every time they visited they discovered something new.

"I don' imagine tha' was very pleasant. Where is your brother?"

"Who knows," Al answered with a shrug.

"Who cares," Lily laughed, receiving a scolding look from Al.

"Right," Hagrid huffed, "well, you'd better be off, Al. I'll make sure Lily's all right."

"Thank you Professor, see you later."

Hagrid went back to calling all the first years over, and when they were the only ones left standing by the tracks, he led them into the boathouse.

"All right, everybody get in. Three to a boat please." Hagrid helped a few of the more hesitant students into their boats, and they took off, across the lake.

Lily found herself in a boat with two other girls. "Hullo, I'm Cal. Well, it's Calandra really, but everyone at home just calls me Cal."

"Lily," they shook hands, "you've got a lot of siblings then?"

"Five, all brothers," she groaned, "you?"

"Three brothers, but one isn't around much."

"How about you, what's your name?" Cal asked the girl sitting next to them. She huffed and crossed her arms.

"Gee, I sure hope I'm not in her house," Cal mumbled to Lily.