Chapter 2: Making Acquaintances

'Oh hello,' smiled Sage Malfoy as she dragged her sister into the compartment where her parents friend's children were. 'Do you mind we if sit here?'

'Hey,' replied Alice brightly, 'sure you can. Come on you lot, make room.'

They all grumbled and budged and eventually all seven kids were settled in an uncomfortable silence.

Scarlet, not being as confident as her sister, nudged Sage who sighed and got the hint. We aren't wanted here, please say something.

'So…'began Sage, smiling and waving her hands to gain the attention of the compartment. 'What houses do you think you'll be sorted in?'

Scarlet mentally rolled her eyes. She has to ask the most obvious question in the world, Harry Potter, the boy who lived, the chosen one's children…Gryffindor! Neville Longbottoms daughter though? Father always said that Neville an idiot with the slight brave stupidity of a Gryffindor, but then mother would say Neville is brave- I guess Alice will be a mystery until the sorting. But Sirius Lupin, who is the spitting image of his dad, is bound to be a Gryffindor, Sirius, James, Lily and Severus…all Gryffindor, they are best friends, too bad mother never let us meet them before.

'Gryffindor definitely,' said James, nudging his sister Lily, who shook her long red hair and grinned, 'absolutely!'

'I'm hoping I'll get into Gryffindor too,' smiled Severus, ' mum was a Ravenclaw but I'm not nearly smart enough for that, 'Dad would kill me if I were in Hufflepuff, and I really am far too lazy for all that studying, so yeah, Gryffindor, fingers crossed.'

'Too right you are,' laughed Sirius Lupin, 'just like his dad Severus is, I on the other hand, don't really act like either of my parents, I hate studying like my dad and my mum is way too clumsy.' He smiled and paused, 'I'm a Gryffindor, definitely!'

They all looked to Alice who smiled and poked out her tongue, 'No idea actually, my dad was in Gryffindor, so I'd love to be one…but mum was a Hufflepuff, I think their actually betting on which house I'm in.'

The others chuckled and rounded onto Sage and Scarlet. 'So…' began Severus, 'how about you two? Any ideas on what house you're going to be in?'

'None whatsoever,' Sage sighed, 'Our mother was a Gryffindor so it could be there, but she was told that she'd do well in Ravenclaw and Scarlet is just like her. It could be either really.'

'What about your dad? What house was he in?' frowned James looking from twin to twin. 'Uh…' Sage began, not wanting to give the five people reason to instantly dislike her.

Scarlet was the one who finally spoke up, 'He was in Slytherin, our parents had this kind of forbidden relationship thing going on during the war. Our mother says he's changed, which I can't really give an opinion on because I didn't know him before, but if anything, and he'd kill me if he heard me saying this, I reckon he is a Gryffindor at heart, just... with spunk.'

The compartment was filled with silence, and after a few seconds, Scarlet was starting to doubt her choice to tell them about her father, until Sirius and Severus burst out laughing together. James and Lily sniggered and Alice chuckled softly to herself. Scarlet could hear Sage breathing a sigh of relief, and then grinned, 'But I'd like to be a Gryffindor.' Sage's eyes lit up and she beamed, 'me too, it sounds by far the best.'

They all started chatting together after this revelation and after a while they calmed down and Sirius shrieked, 'Oh no.' They all looked worriedly at him and Lily frowned while asking, 'Siri, what's wrong?'

'It's just, we don't stand a chance of getting onto the Quidditch team, not all seven of us, I bet there are already players and besides, first years never make the house-team.'

Scarlet and Severus laughed, but James and Lily interrupted.

'Excuse me? Our dad made the house-team in his first year, the youngest seeker in a century,' James smiled and Lily rolled her eyes, 'and,' she whispered, making everyone strain their ears to hear her, 'It was the first time he'd ever ridden a broom.' James flashed his eyes and smirked, 'and I suspect that we have all ridden brooms before, so that puts us one ahead.'

'Well, that and…' Scarlet added, smiling gently, 'I don't play Quidditch.'

'What?' shouted James, Lily, Sirius in union, 'How about you Sage?'

'Duh, of course I do.' Sage said rolling her eyes at the look of relief of her new friends. 'I d-don't either…' stuttered Alice, 'you know I don't, not after that time with the rememberall.' She shuddered, recounting the story of how her dad had told her to be careful on her new broom, telling her about his first time, breaking his wrist and having his rememberall taken. Then once he had gone, she had whacked her rememberall into a tree with a beaters bat and while flying up to get it, lost her balance and fell to the floor.

As the time passed by, the lady with the food trolley tottered by, and they all bought masses of sweets.

Sitting down, Sage chomped through some Cauldron cakes while Severus was picking out the Bertie Botts every Flavour beans he thought to be a good flavour.

Scarlet, James, lily and Sirius were swapping Chocolate Frog cards when Scarlet gave a squeal of excitement. 'What?' James and Sirius questioned.

'Oh look, I've got the Golden Trio, all three now. The set is said to be worth loads, all three are really rare.'

'Golden what?' Lily questioned, 'Do you mean the Great Golden Trio? Meaning my dad, Severus' dad and you mum?'

'Yes, look!' Scarlet pushed the cards into Lily's hands as she marvelled at her Dad, Uncle and 'good enough to be an' Aunt.

'Listen to this,' she smiled,

'Harry James Potter, 1980-present. Son of James and Lily Potter, otherwise known as the boy who lived or the chosen one. Mr Potter is widely known to have defeated the dark wizard, he-who-must-not-be-named, twice. He remains the only wizard to have survived the killing curse. He is well known for his extensive work finding Death Eaters as head of the Auror Department. Mr Potter currently resides in England with his Wife Ginevra and their two children.' The picture of Harry winked and hurried out of view, before they turned their attention to the other of the Golden Trio.

'Ronald Weasley, 1980-present. Son of Arthur and Molly Weasley. Mr Weasley, along with Mr Potter and Miss Granger (now Mrs Malfoy) are what is widely known as the Golden Trio. Mr Weasley is well known for his hand in helping Mr Potter defeat he-who-must-not-be-named. He is well known for his love of chess, and being a fan of the Chudley Cannons and remarked upon as one of the greatest aurors of our time. Mr Weasley lives with his wife, Luna and their son.' The picture of a tanned and freckled Ron sidled into view before giving a small wave and several bows. The cards soon lie on top of Harry's as all of their attention turned to the final member of the Golden Trio.

'Hermione Malfoy (nee Granger), known affectionately as, "the brains of the Golden Trio." Mrs Malfoy, is widely known for her part in the defeat of he-who-must-not-be-named. Mrs Malfoy, alongside her future husband, created a potion which destroyed You-Know-Who's Horcruxes. Mrs Malfoy is the founder of SPEW, and now teaches Transfiguration at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where she is also head of Gryffindor house and Deputy Headmistress. Mrs Malfoy resides in England with her husband and twin daughters.' The picture of Hermione refused to come into view, and even after some prodding and poking, mostly on Sirius' part, they gave up and settled the card on top of the other two.

'Oh no,' Scarlet breathed, looking up at her friends, who wore similarly shocked looks on their faces.

'Didn't you know?' James asked, handing back the three cards, 'I mean, that your mum is teaching here?'

Sage and Scarlet both shook their heads vigorously and groaned, 'I can't have my mother as a teacher,' Sage said.

'Why not?' asked Alice and Severus in confusion,
'It'd be cool,' Sirius added.

'Our father won't want to be home alone, and I think I'd die of embarrassment, imagine if they kissed in the halls or something,' Scarlet sighed before looking out of the window.

The group shared an awkward look, but Scarlet had realised they were closer than they'd thought, 'Hey look, I think we are nearly there, let's put our robes on!'

After the kerfuffle of putting their robes on carefully over their normal clothes, (the girls pointedly refused to change with the boys there and made them leave the compartment while they put on their robes) the train started to slow down and finally came to a screeching halt. Leaving their trunks they joined the noisy crowds and left the train. They all stuck together and eventually Sage heard the calling voice, 'First Years, over 'ere, come on, First Years!'

James and Lily spun round and bound up to the calling voice, 'Hagrid!' they exclaimed happily, before waving to the others as they all set off towards the lake.

One boat ride later, and Severus looked very green, 'Never again,' he mumbled as they climbed out, 'that thing makes me sick, and I think I saw the squid.'

'Never mind that,' said Alice sternly, 'look at the castle, it's beautiful.'

Sage certainly agreed with that, it was beautiful, the turrets and windows glistening in the moonlight. A soft 'oh,' came from the children as they looked up at the castle for the first time.

They trudged up to the castle and stood inside the entrance hall; they could hear the other students, who were already in the next hall, which by judging the doors, would certainly be the great hall they had heard their parents talk about.

The old oak doors opened slightly and out slid a female professor, 'Oh,' Sage and Scarlet breathed as their mother stood before them, dressed in a set of maroon robes.

'Welcome to Hogwarts,' she began, smiling at the new first years, 'I am Professor Malfoy, and I am here to take you into the Great Hall. While at Hogwarts you will be split into four houses, these are Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. While here you house will be like your family, you triumphs will earn you points, while any misbehaviour will lose you points. At the end of the year the winning house will win the house cup, a worthy honour I assure you. So now please follow me, and let the sorting begin.'

A/N: Hopefully that reads a little better now it'd updated. R+R people!