Chapter 1

Icy

"I'll show you mine, if you show me yours first.

Let's compare scars, I'll tell you whose is worse.

Let's unwrite these pages and replace them with our own words."

I took a deep breath and slowly walked to the front door. My heart was beating so fast I thought it was going to burst out of my chest and hop away into the sunset. Today is the day I find out if I'm a Squib, or if I'm really one of the family. I know I'd get hell from my brothers if my letter isn't there. I crossed my fingers with my left hand as I reached down with my right to pick up the post. I was too scared to look through it quite yet, so I carried it to the kitchen, where the other four members of my family were eating breakfast.

My mum and dad automatically looked up as they heard my footsteps enter the room. James and Albus were snickering next to them, no doubt making a bet on whether or not I was holding my Hogwarts letter in my hand. My eyes flickered down to the stack of post, which consisted of three envelopes, the top one being a letter from the Ministry of Magic addressed to Mum, and two other unknown envelopes, one of them possibly being my acceptance letter.

"Lily, darling. Is it there?" Mum asked softly. I looked up and saw a hint of the sparkle in her eye, the sparkle that meant trouble. I smiled at her and took a deep breath before distributing the post. The letter to Mum, a howler to James from one of his daft friends, and a letter addressed to me... from my honorary cousin Lysander. I looked up to Dad sadly.

Dad took a deep breath and smiled at me despite it all. I smiled back at him even though my vision was already becoming fuzzy. Mum stood up and wrapped her arms around me lightly, whispering sweet nothings in my ear. Passed my tears I vaguely made out Al handing James a galleon and scowled at him. Such sweet older brothers. Dad saw them too, and shook his head at them with an icy glare. Al looked down in shame. James just smirked at me.

I sighed and pushed Mum's arms off of me before grabbing my letter from Lysander and making my way to the basement where my room was located. I shut the door softly behind me and leaned against it, weakly ripping open the envelope I held in my hands. I didn't want to look at the letter, not really. Not now that I knew I wouldn't be seeing Lysander in the fall. But I opened it anyway.

Dear Queen Lily,

Congratulations! You have been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!

I expect your owl no later than the next two days, Queen Lil. Or else.

I miss you, Cuz. See you soon!

I smiled sadly and tossed the paper to the floor. He wouldn't be getting that owl anytime soon. Not when I was feeling like this. The disappointment was just too great, and he didn't deserve that sadness when the year's just starting. I sighed and slid to the floor, my back against the wall, a headache just starting when someone knocked at my door. It was Dad, so I moved from my spot on the floor and opened it to see his sympathetic face.

He sighed and put a hand on my shoulder. "Lily, darling. I know you're disappointed. But, you see, it's not all bad." He pushed his way into the room and sat down on the bed. I sat next to him and laid my head on his shoulder. He reached into his pocket. "I have something for you here. I was going to give it to you even if you didn't get your letter, so here you go."

He pulled out a small black box, about the size of a necklace box, with a green bow tied around it—my favorite color. I took it from him gently and looked it over. It just seemed like an ordinary necklace box. I hoped he didn't get me anything too expensive. I tugged on a string of the bow and unraveled it, pulling the ribbon away from the black box. I opened in slightly and saw parchment. Definitely not what I was expecting. I picked it up, and on the front, scrawled in emerald ink, was my name.

Lily Luna Potter

The Big Bedroom In the Basement

2646 Basset Drive

Godric's Hollow

England

I gasped and looked at my dad, a grin a mile wide plastered on my face. I tried to form words, but I couldn't. "It came yesterday," Dad explained. "They must've sent it off early. So, I thought I'd surprise you."

I shook my head and chuckled at him. That certainly wasn't the way to go about it. I turned my attention back to the envelope and turned it over, eagerly tearing at the wax seal to get to the papers inside. When I finally pulled out the letter, I smiled at the words on the paper.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Ms. Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on September 1. We await your owl no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

**********************************Swing Life Away***********************************

When the train finally came to a stop, I reached over and held onto Al's hand for dear life. He gave it a small reassuring squeeze, and I know now that I had never appreciated either of my brother's company more than in that moment. Al coaxed me out of the seat and James grabbed my other hand, leading me off of the train. They told me that, as a first year, I took a different route to the castle, so they couldn't be with me the whole way. But, upon exiting the train, I found my cousins Hugo, Roxanne, and Lucy, all waving excitedly. We were the last four in the family to go to Hogwarts.

I reluctantly let go of my brothers' hands and headed over to the small group of family. Roxanne threw an arm around my shoulders and told me about everything she had learned already. Hugo was bouncing from foot to foot in anticipation. Lucy was the only one who looked anywhere near as uncomfortable and nervous as I was. I gave her a small smile and took her hand in my own and gave it a small squeeze, much the way Al had done for me. She gave me a meek grin as a thank you.

It was great, though, because I thought Hugo was going to wet himself when a large man hollered at all the first years on the platform. I'd already come to know this man as Hagrid from the few times Dad had spoken of him. I knew Hugo knew of him, too, but his large build and booming voice were a bit of a surprise. Hugo once admitted to me that, when he first met Hagrid, he was fearful of becoming the man's dinner. I still laugh at him about that.

All of the first years gathered around Hagrid, who threw a special smile towards our little group of family—I suspect all the red hair gave us away as Weaselys and Potters. He proceeded to take us down a narrow, rocky path. Lucy found it hard to keep her footing, so I kept her hand in mine the whole way down to keep her from slipping. She didn't need that kind of humiliation her very first day. But, as we rounded a final corner, the large castle came in sight.

I'd seen it in Mum and Dad's photographs, but those were nothing compared to the real thing. It was magnificent, to say the least. Towering spires, and illuminated windows, with old balconies and weathered stone that showed just how strong the piece of architecture was, and how long it'd been standing. I gaped in awe at it until I felt a shove from behind me. Hugo was pushing me forward and pointing. In the sparkling lake in front of us were many, many small wooden boats. Hugo and Roxanne pushed Lucy and I into one and sat down on the other side.

I was so in awe of it all that I barely noticed when we finally stopped. Hugo and Roxanne had to shove me out of the boat, causing me to nearly fall. I did not appreciate it. Lucy sniggered slightly, so I pointed out that I had to practically carry her down the path. She stopped laughing.

It was at this point that one of my favorite honorary uncles,—I have a ton of blood and honorary family. Once I even forgot Louis's name and called him Teddy. He still hasn't forgiven me—Neville Longbottom, the Herbology professor, took us into some small, not-very-magical room to wait it out until they were ready to take us in for the Sorting. I already knew the Sorting was going to be nerve wracking. I'd never be able to live up to my brothers. James was a picture-perfect Gryffindor who was never in trouble—more like "never got caught and blamed everyone else"—and Al was a studius Ravenclaw who'd never gotten below an E in his life—actually, he bribed his Potions professor his second year. I was probably going to a end up Hufflepuff who got a T on her N.E.W.T.S.

So, when Uncle Neville—I mean, Professor Longbottom—finally returned, it was Lucy's turn to take my shaking hand. She led me out into the Great Hall, Roxanne and Hugo chatting behind us, with the rest of the first years in front. As amazing as I knew the Great Hall would be, I kept my eyes on the floor, because I also knew how many people were going to be in there staring at all of us. Lucy gave my hand another squeeze as we came to a stop. I finally looked up to see Uncle Neville with a list in his hand, standing next to an old hat on top of a stool. He met my eyes and gave me a small smile.

Cue the singing. It was both interesting and extremely odd to see a hat sing, but also somewhat entertaining. However, I didn't really wish to hear that song ever again.

Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,

But don't judge me on what you see,

I'll eat myself if you can find

A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall,

For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can top them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head

The Sorting Hat can't see,

So try me on an I will tell you

Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

Their daring, nerve, and chivalry

Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal,

Those patient Hufflepuffs are true

And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

If you've ready a mind,

Where those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin

You'll make your real friends,

Those cunning folk use any means

To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!

You're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a Thinking Cap!

Lucy was next to me giggling. I nudged her and scowled as Uncle Neville began calling off names. In alphabetical order. I'd have to go before anyone else in my family, and that thought just about made me faint. When he finally got to the P's, my hands were shaking once again, and I thought my heart was going to explode. "Lily Potter!" Uncle Neville called from the stage. I gasped and squeezed Lucy's hand much too hard. She pushed me towards the stage.

I made my way up to the stage and reluctantly took a seat on the small wooden stool as Uncle Neville placed the Sorting Hat on my head. He gave me a sympathetic smile as he did so. It didn't surprise me when I heard a raspy voice in my ear. "Well, well, well. Another Potter. Should I put you in Gryffindor like most of your family?" At the sound of the hat's voice, I finally looked out to the large crowd in the Great Hall.

At one end of the room, I recognized the canary yellow and black of Hufflepuff. The Sorting Hat began talking again. "I'm not going to put you there. Don't worry." I moved my eyes to the next table. The blue and bronze and my brother Al's face made it obvious it was the Ravenclaw table. "Would you like to go to Ravenclaw with your brother? You'd do well. Though you're a bit of a troublemaker." My eyes moved to the next table, which was almost completely surrounded by all of my red-headed family, all wearing crests of scarlet and gold. "Gryffindor would be a good place for you. It certainly did well for the rest of your family. Albus excluded of course. He was almost as hard to place as you."

I let my eyes wander to the final table. Most of the students at this table weren't paying attention, they were simply conversing, most likely about how disappointing the first years were. The silver and green crests caught my eye, since green was my favorite color. But what made my heart pound was the one boy who was paying attention with an icy stare of silver-blue eyes under a slightly wavy mess of blonde hair. I gasped softly and couldn't tear my eyes away. He looked rather bored, to be honest, but he didn't look away, either.

"SLYTHERIN!" I heard the Sorting Hat shout above me, and I was finally able to tear my eyes away. The first thing I saw when Uncle Neville pulled the Hat away from my head was the cold, disapproving stares of my brothers.

A/N: Well, hello. Andi here. This is my first HP fic. Yes, Scorlily is my OTP. Deal. Thanks very much to TraitorousFreshman15 for being my beta!