Arran followed her brother as they navigated Kings' Cross. Her short stature did not help her when trying to keep Severus in sight, but before she knew it they had arrived at the barrier. She took a deep breath to clear her nerves. Despite her brother having attended Hogwarts last year, she was still nervous about what it would be like to actually be there. Learning the magic and exploring the castle herself.

"Come on Arran," Severus told her. "We don't want to miss the train and I still need to find Lily."

"I'm here, I'm here. It's not my fault I'm short and that you had a growth spurt."

"Midget." He laughed.

Arran scowled. It was true. Although both their parents and Severus were quite tall, Arran was short for her age. Her scowl disappeared as Severus pushed his trolley through the brick wall in between platforms 9 and 10. He vanished at the same time that he would have hit the wall. Tightening her grip on the handle of her own trolley, Arran ran at the wall, her eyes squeezed shut as, despite herself, she braced for an impact that never came. As she opened her eyes, she gasped in wonder.

Living in the muggle world had never bothered Arran. Her parents had never been ones to set rules on when she and Severus came and went from the house. They had basically grown up walking around Spinner's End and, as they got older, Cokeworth. The only magical place she had gone was Diagon Alley, and that had been amazing. All of the shops, the streets bursting with magic. Everything had amazed Arran and Platform 9 3/4 was similar. Everywhere she looked, there were signs of magic. The older students, 7th years, were using magic, some already studying for exams. Cats, owls, and toads were running around or screeching in their cages. Returning students were catching up with friends they hadn't seen all summer. Families were saying goodbye. Mothers and Fathers crying as their children prepared to leave for months. Arran closed her eyes and breathed in. She could feel the magic, a silent thrumming in her soul. Smiling, she followed Severus as he walked through the crowds.

They finally reached the train and between the two of them, were able to lift both their trunks up onto the train. Once they were on the train, Arran left Severus to find Lily Evans, his best friend, while she searched for a compartment of first years. It only took her a few minutes to find one. Inside were three people, two boys and a girl. One of the boys had brown hair and light blue eyes while the other had black hair and gray eyes. The girl had blond hair and pale green eyes. Arran smiled as she entered the compartment.

"Do you mind if I sit here?", she asked. The girl shook her head while the other two shrugged.

"Hi, I'm Arran Snape." Arran said, deciding to break the silence they seemed to be sitting in. Luckily, the girl didn't seem to mind.

"Hello, my name's Valarie Greengrass,", the girl said. "That's William Shafiq," she pointed to the brown haired boy, "and that's Regulus Black," a gesture to the black haired one.

"So, are you a pureblood?", William asked. Arran bristled.

"No, I'm a halfblood. Is that a problem?"

The three first years glanced at each other. Arran waited for the order to leave. She wasn't stupid, she had recognized the names as families in the Sacred 28, but she usually liked to talk to someone before reaching conclusions. Especially, when it was assuming a child was the same as their parents.

"Actually, it doesn't.", Regulus finally said. Her eyes widened, but she said nothing about it instead changing the topic.

"So, do any of you guys like Quidditch?"

The four of them talked for the rest of the ride. All of them stayed away from topics that were "political" and simply talked about kid stuff. Things like Quidditch, what they were looking forward to at Hogwarts, their hobbies, what houses they wanted to be in. The trolley lady came after about an hour and they all go sweets. Arran and Regulus both got Peppermint Toads and Chocolate Frogs, Valarie got Sugar Quills and Bertie Bott's, and William got Chocolate Frogs and Cauldron Cakes. The next time the compartment door opened it was a prefect telling them they should get changed. Arran and Val, as she insisted they call her, left for the boys to change and then they switched, allowing Arran and Val to change.

At last, the train arrived at Hogwarts, or more specifically Hogsmead. As a group, they left the train and followed the voice calling first years. Arran saw Severus and Lily, who she had finally met that summer, heading with the returning students. He gave her a half-smile as their eyes met before turning away. She didn't miss the glance another returning student gave Regulus, most likely an older sibling, although Regulus didn't return the smile. Before she knew it they were loading themselves into the boats at the shore of the Black Lake. Arran and Val sat at the front while Will and Regulus sat behind them. She listened as their guide, the gameskeeper Hagrid, told them what was happening. Before long, they saw the castle for the first time.

It was breathtaking. A huge castle that sat on a hill over the lake. It had three large towers and a few smaller ones, all reaching toward the dark sky full of stars. Many of the windows were lit and cast a yellowish glow into the quiet night. That along with the moon and stars visible over the lake was a beautiful picture. Arran wanted to paint it the minute she took everything in.

Ever since she was a kid, Arran had had an ability with the arts. She had played the piano in school and had loved to draw, paint, and sketch since she could start taking in the beauties of the world. At that moment, she was incredibly glad she had remembered to bring the few pencils and sketch paper she had.

Once they had docked and everyone had gotten out of the boats, Hagrid lead the first years into the castle. There they met a stern looking women. She was dressed in green robes with a similarly colored witch's hat. Her black and gray streaked hair was pulled back into a bun and her piercing eyes swept over the group. After thanking Hagrid, she addressed the first years.

"Welcome to Hogwarts. I am Professor McGonagall, your Transfiguration teacher and Head of Gryffindor House. The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses, " Professor McGonagall said. "The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room. There are four houses, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to which ever house becomes yours. "

"In a few minutes I will return for you and the Sorting Ceremony will begin," she ended.

Arran looked around and saw many of her peers looked very nervous, some even frightened. Her new friends were some of the only ones that didn't look nervous, except for Regulus, who was quite pale.

"I wonder what house we'll all be in," she wondered aloud.

"Slytherin, definitely," Will said and Val nodded along. Regulus was quiet, but she put it down as his nerves.

As some of the students near the front began taking with some ghosts that had just entered, Arran thought through each house. She was quite sure she wouldn't be in Gryffindor. Despite begin brave-ish, she didn't think she was very outgoing or chivalrous or reckless. Hufflepuff was also out, she was hard-working yes, but not very truthful, in fact she was a very good liar. That left Ravenclaw and Slytherin. To be honest, she didn't have any problems with them. She was certainly intelligent and bright as well as being cunning and ambitious. She supposed that Slytherin had a slight step up because Severus was in it.

By the time she was done musing about the houses, McGonagall had reappeared and told them to follow her.

They entered the Great Hall and, for the second time that day, Arran was struck by the beauty of magic. The hall was very grand with five tables, four facing the grand windows opposite the doors, and one perpendicular to them on a slightly raised platform. It wasn't until she looked up though, that she gasped. The ceiling was enchanted to look like the sky outside. Hundreds of candles were also floating above them, creating a star-like look. She barely noticed that they had reached the steps up and had stopped when she heard a voice break through her thoughts. It was a hat that was speaking, singing really.

Over a thousand years ago,

on a certain day.

The Founders spelled me to know,

where each student should stay.

The Founders four enchanted me,

to split each class into four.

According to the traits I see,

and what lies in the students' core.

They might be brave and reckless,

so they go to Gryffindor.

Or they could be cunning and ambitious,

and go to Slytherin.

Then there is the third of Hufflepuff,

that claims those of honest and good heart.

And for those made of intelligent stuff,

their adventures in Ravenclaw will start.

So put me on and let me see inside your mind,

and see the traits you possess.

And all hat I can find,

then your house I will profess.

The hall burst into applause, and Arran joined them pondering what it had said. She smiled as she thought that just a few years ago, the idea of a singing hat was ridiculous. She wanted to continue looking around, but at that point the Sorting had started.

"Archer, Mason!" Professor McGonagall called. A tall boy with blond hair made his way to the stool and the Professor lowered the hat on his head. After a minute the had called, "HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Black, Regulus!" Regulus made his way from Arran's left up to the stool. He sat on the stool for over three minutes until the hat called, "SLYTHERIN!" He made his way of the stool to the Slytherin table that was cheering and clapping. Arran tuned out the next few students until "Greengrass, Valarie!" was called. After a minute, she too was sorted into "SLYTHERIN!" Once again, the table jumped up to welcome Val to their house. She sat down across from Regulus. The next person that Arran payed attention to was Will. He joined Val and Regulus and the table less than a minute later, taking the seat next to Regulus. He gave Arran a small smile as he passed. Then it was here too.

"Snape, Arran!" She made her way past the remaining students to the stool. Her hands were shaking very slightly, and she curled them into fists to stop them. She took a seat and then the Hat was lowered onto her head. She jumped as a voice sounded in her head.

"Hmmm, very interesting..." the Hat said(?). "You are correct, Gryffindor and Hufflepuff don't suit you..."

"Wait, are you reading my mind or simply viewing my thoughts?" I thought back.

"Ohh, so you are smart are you? I can see your thoughts, your experiences, and part of your future..." the Hat replied. "At least I can feel what would happen depending on which house you were put in...now let me see..."

"You are an intellectual that is true, but I see something else inside you...a talented liar are you. Very sly and cunning...yes it better be SLYTHERIN!" the last word was shouted out to the hall. I smiled as the hat was lifted off my head and headed for the table, taking a seat next to Val. Serverus, farther down the table, gave me a small smile and a nod before turning back to his friends. A few of the older students reached out to congratulate me. Regulus gave me a half-smile and said:

"Welcome to the snake pit."

Dinner past quickly and Arran tuned out Dumbldore's speech on start of term notices. Afterward, the prefects lead the first year Slytherins down to the dungeons. They stopped at a dead end wall.

"This is the entrance to the common room," the prefect said. "Just say the password and the door will open. It changes every two weeks, so make sure to check the notice board inside. Girls dormitory is on the left, boys on the right. Salazar."

The wall melted away to reveal a doorway. The prefects entered first and then the first years slowly entered. Val and Arran were among the first to enter. Arran let out a gasp. It was amazing. There was a slight green tinge to the room and when they first entered there were two doors across from the entrance, presumably the dormitories. To the left was a large space with two fireplaces with coaches and chairs around each. The furniture was made of black leather with green and silver carpet throughout the room. The tables scattered around the couches were made of glass and dark wood. On the left was a staircase that turned up to go over the entrance door and leading to an upstairs area. The upstairs loft had bookcases and tables and chairs for studying and homework. Around the every wall but the one with the dormitories on it, were tall ceiling to floor windows that looked out into the murky lake.

Arran and Val made their way into the girls dormitory with the two other first year girls. The dorm room was the first around the corner and had a silver one on the dark wood. Inside were four four-poster beds bedecked in green and silver. There were three windows on each side, with the beds in between. Opposite the entrance was another door that lead into a bathroom. Each bed had a small dresser at the foot and a side table to the left.

All four girls were too tired to do much more than get ready for bed. Arran turned to her left to look out a window. Thinking through her day, she smiled as she thought of the three friends she had made, the adventures that were sure to come, and for the first time that day, Arran was not nervous.

AN:

Hey, welcome to my first fanfic. I started reading fanfiction a few years ago and have been creating worlds in my head for Harry Potter ever since. I hope you enjoy it and please leave a review, good or bad, I'd love some comments on my writing.

Notes on this FanFic:

This will be a Regulus/OC fic and will hopefully go through their entire years all the way through DH. Since I probably won't get a chance in the actual fic, Arran has dirty blond hair and black eyes (like Severus). Her wand is yew and unicorn hair, rigid, 11 3/4 inches. Also, I'll probably be skipping over second and third year and combine them into one chapter and this will be the only first year chapter. I feel like nothing really happens that will define the characters until their fourth year (Marauders' fifth). I will try to update every week, but they may be a bit sporadic.

Disclaimer: All rights to the amazing J.K. Rowling, except for my OCs. Parts of McGonagall's speech are from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

Thanks for reading!