I stepped into the Gryffindor common room the next morning to see my brother and his friends jumping on the scarlet furniture.

Lily came down the stairs after me and looked at the boys in complete and utter joy.

"I want to hug whoever did that to them," she said, grinning from ear to ear.

"I'd let you hug me, but touching people has never been my thing," I said, smiling.

We stood there together, surrounded by the rest of the Gryffindor house who were slowly pouring out of the dorms. The boys who were still jumping as high as they could to reach their shoes that were dangling from the ceiling.

"You must be Cassie. Sirius talks about you a lot," said Lily, keeping her eyes on the boys.

"All exciting things, I'd hope."

She nodded, "Definitely exciting things."

Both of us laughed as my brother fell off the sofa and groaned in frustration.

"You two look awfully similar, you know?"

"I've been told," I said, nodding.

Regulus and I were twins, yet he seemed to take after our mother in looks with brown eyes and hair that was far more manageable than Sirius or I's. Sirius and I were far more like our father in looks. Calm grey eyes and taller, slimmer stature.

Aside from taking the looks of our parents, Sirius and I shared one thing that no one in the Black house had. An actual likeable personality and morals.

Sirius finally grabbed one of his shoes from the ceiling and there was a cheer as he hit the floor holding the single shoe up in victory.

I made an effort not to look at Peter. It was kind of embarrassing to watch him. He did kind of look like a beached whale trying to flop back into the water. James and Remus, on the other hand, had been lucky enough to reach at least one pair of their own shoes.

It was sad, really. A school full of magic and none of them had thought to try a single spell.

I pointed my wand at the ceiling, "Relashio."

All the shoes came falling to the floor, hitting the heads of innocent bystanders and Peter, who yelped and flopped onto the floor.

"We could have gotten them," James told me, looking upset that he'd been defeated by someone younger than him.

I rolled my eyes, "Obviously."

Sirius wrapped an arm around my shoulders, "My baby sister hasn't been to a single class and can already get a bunch of shoes off the ceiling for me."

"I guess it's the least I could do, considering I put them up there."

He hugged me, and I flailed around begging him to leg go.

"She really is my sister," he cried in happiness.

I pushed him off me, "You don't need to announce that to everyone."

With all four of the boys finally wearing shoes, Lily and I followed them down to the Great Hall for breakfast.

I ate a yogurt parfait while Sirius continued to try and shove bacon or sausage patties into my mouth.

"Sirius!" I yelped as he threw bacon at me again.

James leaned across the table, "So Sirius, I was thinking, what if we get jinx Sniveles' cauldron during potions? So it constantly overflows or lights on fire or something?"

"James, I like where your head's at," said Sirius, a sinister grin on his face.

I banged my head on the table, "You're going to get yourself expelled, Sirius!"

"Don't act so excited to see me leave, Cassie."

"James, I really don't like it when you bully Severus," said Lily sadly.

"But Lily, listen," said James, turning towards her. "It's so easy to pick on him! He deserves it too! You hear what he says about Muggle borns."

"I certainly do not!" she huffed, turning away from him to talk to another second year girl.

"Black and Black," Professor McGonagall handed both of us our timetables. "Evans, Lupin, Pettigrew, and Potter."

"Potions with the Slytherins, Defense Against the Dark Arts with Slytherin, Transfiguration with Hufflepuff, flying lessons with Ravenclaw," I read aloud.

"We've got a break during that period. Why don't we come and watch you fly?" said Sirius, nudging me.

"I'd really rather you didn't," I said. "Last time you watched me fly you threw a rock at me and broke my nose."

Sirius went red and looked back down to his schedule.

"You know that they're having tryouts for a new Seeker and Chaser this year, right?" said Remus, still reading his schedule with a calendar pulled up next to it.

"That's an idea!" James clapped his hands together. "What do you say, Black?"

"No thanks," muttered Sirius, a spoon dangling out of his mouth.

"I meant other Black," James corrected.

I raised an eyebrow at him, "Me?"

"Yeah! I'm planning on trying out for Seeker. Why don't you go for Chaser?"

Sirius perked up, "Yes! Do it! Please?"

"Why should I?"

"Because Regulus is trying out for Seeker on the Slytherin team," Remus told me, scribbling something onto his schedule.

I nodded hesitantly, "I suppose I'll try out, then."

Remus threw his bag over his shoulder, "Good then. Well, if you're going to Potions now, I'll walk you. I need to have a word with Slughorn."

As Remus and I walked away, I looked down to the schedule in his hand. It was covered in sketches and abbreviated words.

"Why'd you write all over your schedule?" I asked.

He seemed caught off guard. Remus looked down to the piece of parchment.

"Oh… It keeps me on track. Visualizing it helps I guess."

We walked down the stairs and into the dungeon. I took seats in the back of the room, while Remus went to the desk in the front where a potbelly man was standing. "Ah! Mr. Lupin! I'm so glad to see you. I must say, I expected you to come for it in a few more days… but while you're here."

He pulled out a mason jar of a silvery liquid, "I believe you know how much to take."

Remus nodded, "Thank you, Professor."

"Mr. Lupin, if you don't mind me asking. Why come now instead of getting it during your hour?"

Remus seemed nervous, glancing around the room of first years who weren't paying any attention to him. He swallowed when he came to the conclusion that no one there cared what he was doing.

"My friends are quite nosey. Wouldn't leave me alone if they saw you give me this."

Slughorn laughed and patted Remus' shoulder. As Remus left the classroom, the potion in hand, he smiled at me, "Good luck on your first day, Cassie."

"Thank you," I said, smiling back.

The second he was out of the classroom, I started rummaging through my bag.

"What is that?" asked a dark skinned boy sitting in front of me. His face was contorted in obvious confusion as I stuck my entire arm into the small bag.

"Undetectable extension charm," I explained, pointing my wand into the black rucksack, "Accio, potion book." Five book shot out of the bag and landed on my desk.

"Do you have the entire library in there?" the boy asked me.

"Inheriting a home library from my cousin when she died might have come in handy," I muttered.

I began flipping through the pages of the books stacked high on the desk next to me. I pulled some parchment out and began scribbling notes down. No one sat next to me, which I was grateful for.

I read over the list almost five times,

Invigoration Draught

Swelling Solution

Draught of Peace

Dreamless Sleep

"Ah, Ms. Black is already studying and we haven't even started the new school year yet, how impressive," called Professor Slughorn from the front of the classroom. "Ten points to Gryffindor for sheer readiness to learn," I blushed and looked back at my parchment.

Regulus was glaring at me from his table of Slytherins.

"Today I want to start out with something simple and fun just to give you a little taste of what my class is going to be like. The Pepperup Potion. Who can tell me what the Pepperup Potion does?"

No one seemed to know the answer.

Slowly, avoiding Regulus' gaze, I raised my hand, "Yes! Ms. Black?"

"It cures simple illnesses, like a cold. It does cause the patient's ears to admit a bit of steam for several hours after taking it, though."

Professor Slughorn clapped his hands together, "Another ten points to Gryffindor."

The dark skinned boy in front of me turned around, "I think the library you inherited was a little more than handy."

I smiled a little.

The next half hour went by quickly, but I quite enjoyed every second of the potion making process. It was a delicate process, and I couldn't help but find every step intriguing.

Halfway done my potion was clear and emitting black steam, just like the instructions said it would be. The boy in front of me, on the other hand, was backing away from his potion. It was a sickly green green color and boiling bubbles were exploding everywhere.

I stepped around my best and looked at his work space. I sighed, slicing a Mandrake root into small pieces.

"You're not supposed to put the entire root in at one time! It should go in little bits every few times your stir it! Honestly, I don't think Potions is going to be your best class," I told him.

"I can't imagine why you'd say such a thing," he retorted.

By the end of class very few people had the perfect orange potion they were meant to have.

"Both of the Black twins have done wonderful jobs, ten points to both houses."

Regulus glared at me. Despite the fact that it made me physically sick to see him seem to hate me so much because of my house, I smiled at him.

"Good job."

He looked away from me and started telling another Gryffindor girl that her potion looked like it was more likely to send you to the hospital rather than cure a cold.

After class had ended, Professor Slughorn asked for Regulus and I to stay behind.

"You two are obviously very gifted in the magical arts. I'd like you both to come to something I like to call, a Slug Club Dinner Party."

I glanced at Regulus before saying, "I'd love to."

"I'll go," Regulus agreed.

The Slughorn clapped his hands together, "Oh how wonderful! I'll see you both Saturday night at dinner time."

Regulus didn't say anything else before striding out of the classroom, meeting up with his newfound friends.

"Thank you, professor," I said, smiling. I started to walk away but stopped short. "Actually, I have a question."

Slughorn looked up from his lesson plan, "Yes?"

"What did you give Remus before class started?"

He flushed, torn between whether or not he could tell me. His eyes twitched nervously around his desk, and he stammered when he tried to answer.

"I mean, I'm only asking because I know that Remus is incredibly intelligent. I wanted to know what potion could be so difficult. I really enjoy challenging myself, you see."

Professor Slughorn lit up. He laughed so hard his potbelly shook.

"Well Miss. Black. As much as I love how eager you are, that is between Mr. Lupin and I. You can ask him if you feel inclined to, but I'm afraid I can't tell you. Now, you better head to your next class. Don't want to be late on your first day, do you?"

I nodded, walking away from his desk. I looked down at my hand when I was out of his view.

On a small piece of parchment, in messy writing it said;

Draught of Peace for R.L.

Powdered Moonstone

Syrup of Hellebore

Powdered Unicorn Horn

Powdered Porcupine Quill

Essence of -

I didn't have time to finish reading. Someone had walked past me, knocking me in the shoulder. I stumbled into the person on the other side of me.

"Watch where you're going, Black," spat a boy with long greasy hair and a large nose.

"Oh, sorry Severus," I muttered.

Sirius had told me all about him. Well, in very nasty and rude words anyways. Him and his friends hated Serverus Snape with everything in them. Why that was, was unclear. All I knew was that it drove James mad that Lily Evans was friends with him.

I looked down at my watch. I only had two minutes to find the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. I scanned around for anyone in my year, but I seemed to be alone in the corridor.

"Dammit," I muttered to myself.

"Lost?"

I jumped, turning around. Professor Dumbledore was standing directly behind me, looking at me down his pointed nose.

"Oh, uh, yes. I don't know where the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom is."

"Well, I was just heading that way, why don't we walk together?" he suggested, smiling gently at me.

I nodded, nervously and we set off up the stairs together.

"So, Miss. Black. How are you and Regulus getting along since you've been split apart? I suppose it's the first time you've really been apart?"

"Well, he's very angry at me right now. I'd like to say I think it's going to pass, but he's still angry that Sirius got put in Gryffindor. So are our parents. He has the same mindset as them. He looks up to our parents and I guess I look up to Sirius more than anything… Sorry, Professor. I guess I'm rambling."

"Don't be sorry. Sometimes we need to reveal our inner thoughts. Even though it may not be to a familiar face, it still helps. As for your brothers, I think it's wise of you and Sirius to hold a more open mind than your family. Not that their values or opinions are incorrect, mind you. It's more that, sometimes straying from an already created path can be more valuable to us in the long run, even if we feel lost during the journey."

I thought about his words for a moment before he stopped walking, and I followed suit.

"Speaking of journeys, I see that this one has ended. Here we are. Welcome to Defense Against the Dark Arts with Professor Carther. I hope to see you soon, Miss. Black. In the meantime, it does not do to fret on the minds of others."

I entered the class and sat in the back of the room. I was now way more confused than I had been not two minutes earlier. Sirius wasn't kidding. Professor Dumbledore, though incredibly smart, was also a bit strange.