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Lily pulled Severus by his arm, a frown on her face. She couldn't believe the gall of those boys. They were so rude. Her name might have been Lily, but she was feeling more like a rose, her thorns prickling. If all people at Hogwarts were that rude, maybe she'd just drop out of Hogwarts and go to secondary school with Petunia.

She and Severus made their way down the passage, peeking into the different compartments and looking for a relatively empty carriage. Near the end of the carriage she found a compartment with only one girl in it.

"Let's go in here," she said to Severus, tugging on his sleeve. They enter together and the girl looked up at them with wide blue eyes.

"Can we sit here?" Severus asked, standing up a little taller. The girls grinned at them with white teeth showing.

"Of course," she said, gesturing to the empty seats. "I'm Alice. Are you two first years as well?" she asked as Lily and Severus sat down across from her.

"Severus," Severus answered, nodding.

"Lily. What house are you hoping for?" Lily asked. If this Alice girl was as pretentious about houses as those boys, she didn't want to sit in the same compartment as her.

"I'd like Hufflepuff. It seems nice — a house with everyone with a lot of motivation and love, according to my mother," Alice answered with a smile. "But I'm really fine with any of them."

Lily let out a little hum. In her book, Alice had the stamp of approval — so far. Lily looked into Alice's blue eyes and takes her in. Her blond hair fell in neat curls on her shoulder as if she spent hours carefully putting them into place. Lily took note of the fact that she looked pretty but as if she didn't want to be.

She'd like to know more.