A/N: I wrote this chapter and the next before the 7th book came out, and my fan-girlishness has been renewed by the release of the 7th book. So I've decided to actually start this story for real.

But, since this came before the 7th book, there are some SLIGHT differences.

1) Lupin and Tonks survived.

2) The children's names don't match up exactly like the Epilogue. Harry's kids are James Sirius (he goes by Sirius in this story, because I like Sirius) and Lily. Ron and Hermione have one kid named Benjamin. And Lupin and Tonks have 3: James, Marcus, and Rachel. Draco and Pansy's kids are Laurentia and Caelum. There are probably some others, but those are the important ones.

3) A few smaller details about the actual battle.

4) Other things that I don't remember right now.

DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter is NOT MINE.

Chapter 1- Sorting

I stood nervously among the other students. We were all too scared to say anything. If anyone spoke, it was to whisper about the upcoming event. I wrung my hands on my soft dark robes. I remembered buying them with my mum and dad.

I nearly jumped out of my shoes when a loud shrill voice said, "First Years, you are about to enter the Great Hall. From here, you will each be sorted into your houses. These houses will be like your family for the duration of your time at Hogwarts. The houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin."

There were a few whispers exchanged as students told each other which house they wanted to be sorted into. I held by breath. Both of my parents were in Gryffindor. Gryffindor was known for its courageousness though. If I was shaking in nervousness for the sorting, then how would I be courageous enough to actually get into Gryffindor house?

I sighed. I remember that my dad said he wouldn't care what house I got into. But I know he was praying I didn't get Slytherin. I was praying that too. If I did though, I know he would still love me the same.

"Now students," the professor addressed us, "follow me."

The great doors opened. I heard almost every first year gasp. The ceiling was nonexistent, so it seemed. The Great Hall might as well have been outside because it was as if they had taken a piece of the sky and put it in Hogwarts.

A few students tripped because they were too busy looking at the ceiling to see where they were going. I stayed surefooted, only because I was in the front of the crowd, directly behind the professor.

We walked up through the center of the Hall, through the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw tables. I saw some of the older students wave at family or friends from among the First Years.

I saw a few familiar faces at the Gryffindor table. There was my cousin with curly red hair sitting with a few of his fellow second year friends. He was grinning and waving wildly at me. I saw two fourth years who looked extremely alike, with sandy blond hair. The girl smiled and nodded, shy like her dad. The boy waved and made a goofy face, outgoing like his mum. A sixth year prefect, whose hair changed throughout the year, also smiled at me, after scolding his little brother for making the goofy face.

Even though I was only related to the one with curly hair, they were all like cousins or siblings to me. I prayed I would be sitting with them in a moment.

When we reached the front of the room, I glanced down the row of teachers. I saw a very familiar face: Remus Lupin. He grinned at me and nodded. I felt a wave of comfort wash over me. Lupin was practically an uncle to me, or a grandfather, since he is so much older.

Lupin, I knew, was head of the Gryffindor house. McGonagall could no longer be head of the house, since she was Headmaster. Remus was yet another reason I wanted to be in Gryffindor.

The professor that led us into the Great Hall unrolled a scroll. I didn't recognize the professor. She read the first name, "Atkins, Hannah."

And so the first years were sorted. I waited patiently. I was in the last half of the alphabet, unfortunately. I heard one or two familiar names. Christopher Longbottom was sorted into Gryffindor.

I heard the professor announce, "Malfoy, Laurentia." I knew exactly who that was. I think almost everyone else did too. Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson's daughter. My father pretty much hated Draco, even though he won't admit that he hates anyone.

Malfoy never had to go to Azkaban, since he was forced into serving Lord Voldemort. But Malfoy was still a selfish, dirty-rotten, pureblood, muggle-hater…or so my cousins said.

My father told me that the sorting hat didn't even sit on Malfoy's head before it shouted "SLYTHERIN!"

I expected the same with Lauren. The ragged black hat was placed on her head. The black made her platinum hair seem almost white. I was surprised to see fear in her eyes as the hat was placed on her head.

I realized this sorting was taking longer than others. A few other students had noticed as well. The hat finally shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"

I wasn't even aware that my jaw dropped. A Malfoy was just sorted into Gryffindor. I realized then that the entire Great Hall had gone quiet. Draco Malfoy's crimes were no secret, and his fame as a dark Slytherin wizard was widespread.

The realization struck through me again. A Malfoy was just sorted into Gryffindor!

Lauren's eyes widened in an emotion I couldn't place. A few of the professors were staring shocked at the girl. The professor in charge of sorting seemed to have her wits about her though. She pulled the hat off of Lauren's platinum hair.

The small girl hopped off of the stool and slowly made her way to the Gryffindor table. I watched for their reaction to her. She was visibly scared now. The sixth year prefect stood. "James Lupin," he introduced himself, shaking her hand.

She nodded and shook his hand. When Lauren sat, she was finally greeted by applause, all from the Gryffindor table. A few Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs clapped weakly, still in shock. The Slytherins were dead silent. I saw a Slytherin with bleach blonde, platinum hair seething, looking like he would explode with anger.

The sorting went on. After Lauren's brief excitement, my own anxiousness returned. Then, finally, I heard, "Potter, Sirius."

I held my breath as I approached the chair. The Great Hall quieted some. After all, I was the Son-Of-The-Boy-Who-Lived-And-Then-Killed-You-Know-Who. I sat on the chair, nearly slipping off. The professor gave me a smile before she dropped the hat on my head.

It nearly covered my eyes. "Ah ha…" The hat started. "I remember your father. Hmm. But what's this? Another Weasley? A Weasley and a Potter!" The Hat laughed.

"You have your father's courage, but you terribly want to measure up to him, don't you now? You're sharp like him too. Ravenclaw would suit you there. You have your mother's loyalty, but Hufflepuff just wouldn't suit you.

"You're destined for greatness, young Potter. Like Mr. Black, your namesake. Like your parents and grandparents. Hmm. Slytherin often produces the greatest of wizards, Mr. Potter. But you would never fit in there would you?"

I whispered, "Not Slytherin." Just like my father had many years ago.

"Truly there is only one place you truly belong, isn't there, Mr. Potter? Okay then, GRYFFINDOR!"

I nearly grinned my head off. I turned my head to Remus-or Professor Lupin. He was smiling as well, though he didn't seem surprised. He nodded, acknowledging me in his Remus-way.

Gryffindor burst into applause. I nearly ran over there. My cousin made a space for me. "Great going, Sirius!" Benjamin, Ben, Weasley said to me.

His red hair is a trademark of the Weasleys. My little sister, Lily, has red hair also. But Ben got his curls from his mum, Hermione Granger, a muggle-born. "Really though," Rachel Lupin whispered, "Was there any question?"

"If Sirius Potter didn't end up in Gryffindor, it would've been crazy," Marcus (Mark) Lupin, Rachel's twin, said.

The sorting went on. I didn't hear anything else though because my head was buzzing with excitement. I was happier than I had been in a long time; I was in Gryffindor House now.

When McGonagall started her speech, I tuned in, listening for any important information. She talked about illegal corridors and toys (most of which were from Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes). The old codger, Filch, was still at Hogwarts. He still had his list of illegal items. I was sure my invisibility cloak would be on that list, as well as some of my things from my Uncle George.

Finally, the food bloomed on the tables. We all dug in happily.

"Well, we all know Sirius' story, what about the rest of you?" Rachel asked the section of first years.

"I'm Aiden." The boy next to me said quickly. "Aiden Wilson. Muggle-born. Me dad nearly fainted when he saw my letter. My mum was actually excited."

Aiden turned to the girl next to him, waiting for her to speak. "I'm Abbey Craig. My mum's a witch, but my dad's a muggle."

The rest of the first years introduced themselves. Some started chatting with one another about their parents and families. I could already see friendships start to form. I tried to learn everyone's name though. Seamus Smith. Derek Robinson. Alyssa Parker. Evan Hughes. Hailey McNamara…

I noticed that Lauren Malfoy was skipped, only because she was dead still. I didn't hear the some other of my classmate's names because I was looking at her. She looked afraid. She had one piece of toast on her plate, which she had abandoned after one bite. Was she afraid of the Gryffindors?

It was odd that a Malfoy had been sorted into Gryffindor. Gryffindors were courageous and strong. This girl looked anything but courageous. She was a scared, out of place Malfoy.

Aiden jarred me out of my thoughts. "Hey, Sirius, so what's the big deal about you? I keep hearing about the Potters, but I don't really know what's up," he said with food in his mouth.

"Have you heard of Voldemort?" I asked. Ben heard me and winced. (The poor kid was too much like his dad)

Aiden nodded. "Only a little. He was, like, an evil wizard, right?"

"Yeah, he killed my grandparents. Do you know what the killing curse is?" I asked him.

Aiden shook his head, looking fearful.

"If you get hit by it, you're dead. No second chances. No going back. It kills you on the spot." Aiden stopped eating, listening to everything I said. "Voldemort killed my grandparents with it. My one-year-old dad was an exception. When the curse hit him, it rebounded back on Voldemort himself. This caused Voldemort to fall, but only for thirteen years. He came back and wanted revenge on my dad."

Aiden nodded. "Then what?"

"Voldemort had broken his soul into seven pieces, seven horcruxes. This is why, when the curse rebounded off my dad, it didn't kill Voldemort. So in his seventh year, my dad destroyed all the remaining horcruxes. Then went after Voldemort. My dad has this scar that runs from here," I pointed to my left hip, "to here." I dragged my finger across my chest to my right shoulder. "The only things left for us to remember Voldemort are my dad's curse scar, on his forehead, and that scar across his chest."

"What did your dad kill him with?"

"The killing curse."

Aiden nodded, looking at his plate. "How did muggles not know about him?"

"They did, in a way. There were tons of unexplained deaths and disappearances at the time, during the wizards' dark days. The muggles knew, but they didn't understand."

Aiden looked back at me. "How did your dad survive when he was a baby?"

I felt stupid for the answer. My dad told me that he didn't understand the importance as a kid either. "Love," I said, remembering the lesson my dad learned and tried to pass to me. "My grandmother sacrificed herself for my dad. It protected him from anything."

Aiden nodded. "Sorry. About your grandparents, I mean."

"It's alright. I never knew them. I've got great family though. What about you? Any interesting stories?" I asked, smiling.

"Hah! I don't think anything could rival the stories of the Potters."

"Eh, it's not that great."

Aiden shook his head. "My dad is an accountant, he does taxes and stuff. My mum is a teacher. See, no evil wizards."

I laughed. "Sounds normal. You would not believe what I would do for some normality."

Aiden took a bite of his muffin. "You have no idea how BORING normal is."

"Trust me, I don't think Hogwarts has had a boring year in its history."

He nodded. "Thank Merlin for that!"

I started talking with all the people around me and I knew I would love Hogwarts.