"Anything off the trolley dears?" asked a middle-aged woman with brown hair in a long ponytail as she pushed a squeaking sweets trolley past the compartment.

James grinned at her. "Five of everything!" he exclaimed before pulling out a small sack that jingled, coins rattling around inside. Peter helped pass around treats to the group as James passed down three galleons to the lady who smiled and pushed the trolley down the corridor.

"Thanks James," they all chimed as filled up on chocolate frogs, licorice wands and butterbeer. Remus pulled out a stack of playing cards and taught the group how to play five hundred rummy to pass some of the time.

"So what house do you think you'll be sorted into?" Remus asked the group as he called rummy and pulled the pile towards him, laying down three fives in front of him.

"I bet I'll be in Slytherin," Sirius cringed. "Almost my entire family has ended up in there." The group grimaced. Every bad witch and wizard came from Slytherin.

"I think I'll be in Hufflepuff," Peter said. "I don't know why, but I think it'll suit me. Plus the name sounds funny."

Everyone snickered. "I bet I'll be in Ravenclaw," Lupin said. "Wit beyond measure is a man's greatest treasure."

"Gryffindor, for sure. Just like my parents," James beamed.

"It's a toss. Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw," Evy sighed. If only she knew which would be better. She saw herself as a Ravenclaw like her dad and Tabby, but choosing to be a Ravenclaw meant turning her back on her mother's house. Something about that made Evy's stomach churn with guilt. She should want to be a Hufflepuff like her mother.

"Well, we don't really know for sure, do we?" Remus said, frowning as Sirius laid down three aces.

"One thing I know for sure is I'm kicking your arses in this game. Great idea Remus!" Sirius smirked.

"Excuse me?" a red headed girl with bright green eyes and freckles splattered across her nose and cheeks popped inside their compartment. "Have any of you seen a boy? About this tall, black hair? His name is Severus. He went to get us some food but then he disappeared.

James' jaw dropped as he stuttered, trying to find words. "Catching flies James?" Evy asked. She had seen that look before. Plenty of guys gave her sisters that same look.

"Sorry, haven't seen a boy named Severus," Peter said, smiling at her. Remus shook his head no.

The girl sighed. "Oh drat! I don't know where he's gone to."

"What's your name? If we see him, we'll let him know you were looking for him," Sirius suggested.

"I'm Lily. Lily Evans" she smiled. "Thanks, I guess I'll see you guys at the sorting."

"Bye Lily," Evy waved as Lily turned on her heels and bounced away.

"I think I'm in love," James said, finally gaining back his ability to speak.

"Way to make a first impression fish face," Sirius said. He hung his jaw low, his tongue lolling out to the side, imitating James. James punched him in the shoulder.

"Hey guys, people are walking around with their robes on. I guess we should put ours on," Evy suggested, standing up.

The all changed into their robes. Evy shook the sleeves, which were so long they brushed her fingertips. The material was old and worn, but comfortable. She kicked the edge of the robe with her sneakers. The black robe trailed behind her when she walked.

"Did you shrink?" Sirius asked her as she walked in circles, trying not to trip over her long robe.

"No. My robes used to belong to my sisters, but they were always a little taller than me. Usually my mom hems our clothes, but she was too sick this summer, and… well, I'll fit into them some day." Evy trailed off. She didn't want to talk about her mother right now.

Peter put a gentle hand on her shoulder. "It's alright. I know a spell for this sort of thing. Want me to try?" His blue eyes twinkled and made Evy smile. She nodded, blinking back tears.

Peter pulled out his wand and muttered an incantation that Evy didn't understand. He traced his wand from the bottom of Evy's sleeve and up and inch. He pulled his wand away and the material seemed to shrink, then disappear before their very eyes. The fabric now tickled the edge of her wrist, the perfect length. He did the same to her other sleeve and the bottom of her robe. Though it was still a bit baggy, at least now Evy would not trip and fall on her face as they walked into the school.

"Wow, thank you!" Evy gushed. "Where did you learn to do that?"

Peter blushed. "My mom used to make dresses. She taught me a few charms. She died in a car crash a few years ago."

"Aw, I'm sorry to hear that Peter," Evy said, wrapping her arms around his round middle in a tight hug.

Peter shrugged and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. He wrapped an arm around her and gave her a soft pat on the back. He looked bewildered. The others tried not to laugh.

The train chugged to a sudden halt. Evy let go and the five of the glanced out of the compartment window.

The navy sky outside was lit with twinkling stars, but the school remained hidden. Loud bustling could be heard throughout the train as students filed out through the corridor, chatting and laughing. After several minutes, the five of them made their way out of the train and onto the platform.

"First years, over here!" a booming voice echoed around the group. "First years, this way." An extreme tall and robust man with a bushy brown beard, wild brown hair and warm, chocolate eyes stood of to the side, waving his hands and smiling. A pack of young students huddled around him. Some were gawking at him. Others were too nervous, bouncing on the balls of their feet. The group of five scared but excited first years went to join the throng of new students.

"Is that all?" The tall man asked no one in particular. "Right. Well, you lot. Listen up now. I'm Hagrid, keeper of keys and grounds here at the school. We're going to get a move on, but first some rules." Hagrid stood tall, straightening his back. Some of the nearby students backed away. His voice boomed over them like thunder.

"No pushing or shoving each other. Stay in the boats. Can't have the giant squid getting to you lot on your first day. I'll be dropping you off at the front gates. Professor Adeleby will meet you lot there. Until then, stay in a group. Some parts of this here school are a bit dangerous if you don't know where you're going or what you're doing. So stick close to me. Any questions?" He asked.

No one made a sound. Two students turned a horrid shade of puce green. Lily looked pale. Evy's stomach churned, threatening to spew to the chocolate frog from earlier.

Hagrid turned in his big boots and marched off, waving for them to follow. Like ducks in a row, they marched to the edge of the lake where a few dozen boats waited for them. "No more than three to a boat," Hagrid instructed. "Quickly now!" He barked with an excited smile.

Evy jumped into a boat, Sirius and James close behind her. "Think he's going to eat us?" Sirius asked, eyeing Hagrid who was getting into a boat by himself.

"Nah," James answered, "he's a gentle giant. At least I hope so."

With a whoosh, the boats began to move on their own. The group was silent as the small wooden ships sailed across the black water, waves rippling past them. Soon they rounded a large rock, and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry came into view.

"Wow," Evy whispered into the night air. The castle was more immense, more incredible than she had ever dreamed. Her sisters' descriptions couldn't do the amazing castle any justice. Lights flickered through hundreds of tiny windows on dozens of tall, stone towers. The night sky was a brilliant backdrop for such a magical place.

Within minutes, the boats pulled into the dock and one by one, the first years filed out onto the grounds. They hiked up a small path, stopping in front of two towering, closed doors. Hagrid gripped the heavy iron circles and knocked. The sound echoed. No one said a word.

The doors opened and an elderly wizard stood in the shadows. "Come," his scratchy voice could barely be heard. The wizard turned and the first years followed him inside. Hagrid was the last one inside. He closed the heavy doors behind him and walked down a hallway, away from the students.

The wizard continued to guide the students, his emerald green robes billowing behind him like a cloud. He was not much taller than the first years, but his white hair and creaking walk showed his old age. He halted in front of another set of large, wooden doors. Turning to face them, the torchlight caught his face. His weathered skin looked loose and tired. His pointy beard reached down to his mid-chest. Beady, black eyes were half-hidden underneath a pair of bushy, gray eyebrows. "I am Professor Adeleby," he croaked, "Head of Slytherin house and professor of Herbology."

Professor Adeleby scanned over the first years, looking into every one of their faces, trying to place them and figure out who might be in his house. "In a few moment, the sorting process will begin. Each of you will sit beneath the Sorting Hat and be selected into your house. Your house is your home while you are here. Good behavior earns your house points. Bad behavior loses points. And remember, no professor her is afraid to deduct points from any house." His grim voice hung over the students like a rain cloud, threatening to pour down on them at any moment. Some students trembled in front of the frail, old wizard. "Now, let's go," he huffed and opened the door.

The first years walked in two rows through the Great Hall. Older students looked at them with curiosity. Evy scanned the tables, trying to find her sisters. She saw Tabby smiling at her. She gave Evy a brief wave, but Evy felt too scared to wave back. Instead she turned her head. Beth smiled at her. Their mother had been so proud when Beth had been placed in Hufflepuff. Maybe Evy could make her mother proud too, even if she didn't really want to be a Hufflepuff.

The students stopped in front of a long U-shaped table where professors and staff sat, watching the students. Some smiled warmly while other frowned or scratched their heads. Other whispered amongst one another. Hagrid watched from the edge of the table, his eyes twinkling with amusement. An old pointy hat sat quietly on a stool in the middle of the room. Then, without warning, the old hat burst into song.

Evy was mesmerized. The Hat twitched and sang with a voice of its own. She had seen magic in her house before, but nothing quite like this. The Hat gave a history of Hogwarts and its houses, describing how its existence came to be. In a way, it was like the founders were still selecting each student that came through their walls. But what if none of the founders wanted her? Now Evy shook with worry.

The Great Hall burst into applause once the Hat finished its song. Professor Adeleby unrolled a long roll of parchment and began to read off names. One by one, students began to move up to the front and sit on the stool beneath the hat that the Profesor held in his gnarled grip. "Black, Sirius," he barked.

Sirius looked pale as he strode up to the stool. He turned to face the school and closed his eyes as he sat down. Professor Adeleby placed the hat on his head. For several moments it was silent. The Hat remained quiet for twice as long as it had for anyone else so far. Evy squirmed. "Gryffindor" it decided. The Gryffindor table hooted and cheered. When Adeleby lifted the hat, Sirius looked green. He had said before most of his family had been in Slytherin. Were any of them Gryffindors?

More names. More sorting. More applause. Then "Evans, Lily," Adeleby coughed. Red headed Lily was trembling as she climbed onto the stool. James leaned over Evy's shoulder to watch more closely, his breath dampening the back of her neck. Evy would have told him to back off if she hadn't been so nervous. "Gryffindor," the hat roared. More applause from the Gryffindor table. Evy glanced over. By now Sirius' pale pallor had disappeared. He actually smiled now as he waved Lily over towards him.

"Graham, Eveline," Adeleby said.

Evy shuffled one foot in front of the other, trying not to puke and remember to breathe at the same time. She felt faint. She grabbed the edge of the stool with a tight, clammy grip as the hat was placed on her head so low that it shielded her eyes. "Hm, interesting one heare" a voice in her head echoed. The Hat! "Two sides to every coin I say. Hufflepuff in one family. Ravenclaw on the other. You'd do well in either house. One sister in each house too. Yes, I remember them all so well. But you. You Eveline, seem so different. Destined for more than a Hufflepuff. Too stubborn to be a Ravenclaw. Oh where to put you my dear. I think I know."

"Gryffindor!" The Hat shouted. Evy almost fell off of her stool in shock. Gryffindor? But her parents… they had planned… No one in her family had been a Gryffindor! How could she? What would her parents say? The hat was lifted from her head and she strode towards the table that was cheering and hollering. Panicked, Evy looked for her sisters. Tabby was shaking her head, her mouth wide in shock. Beth was tears in her eyes, but she was smiling. What were they thinking? Was this alright? Were they happy or upset?

"Way to go, Evy," Sirius said, clapping her on the back and dragging her next to him. Lily beamed at her. "Great to see another familiar face in Gryffindor," she said to Evy. Evy forced a smile, her stomach tossing like a ship lost at sea.

One by one, their classmates were sorted into houses. Remus was the next to join the Gryffindor tables to lots of cheering and pats on the back. Evy hugged him as he sat down on her other side. Three more Gryffindors girls joined the table, then Peter and James sat down.

"Oh, there he is," Lily murmured. Severus Snape, a lanky boy with long, slicked black hair and a pointy nose walked up to the hat. He brushed his robes aside and sat on the rickety stool. "Slytherin," the hat announced. Snape smiled and waltzed toward the Slytherin table as they cheered for him, but Lily's face fell. "Oh," she said, her shoulders drooping.

"Cheer up Lily pad," James said. "You'll still see your friend in classes."

"It's not the same," she mumbled. James, Sirius, Remus, Peter, and Evy all looked at one another and sighed a deep, unified breath of relief. At least they were together.

***Hi everyone! Thanks for reading! I hope you're enjoying the story so far. I have so so much to write and I'm so excited to write my first fanfiction after reading it for years. Please review and/or message me and let me know what you think, what is good or bad, what can be improved, what you'd like to read, etc. I'm always open to ideas! Thank you!