A/N: So, it was around this chapter that I deleted the story on accident, all those weeks ago. I remember crying- I had four reviews already, and I felt so special. I will remember those forever.

I forgot to re-type the dedication to millie-mae in my last chapter, because she was the first one ever to review my story. Hugs to you forever!

Disclaimer: As I am obviously not the very awesome JKR, none of these characters except OCs belong to me. Darn.

The doors flew open. Standing in the center of the doorway was a middle-aged witch with emerald green robes and her hair pulled into a tight bun. Elizabeth thought instantly that this was someone she really didn't want to get into trouble in front.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I'll take them from here." Hagrid nodded and disappeared into the castle. The sound of his boots clunk-clunk-clunking into the Great Hall echoed through the entrance hall. The students looked fearfully at the woman.

"If you'll follow me, please." She turned and led them into the castle, through the entrance hall, and into an antechamber. Once the students had quieted down, she said, "Welcome to Hogwarts. I am Professor McGonagall, deputy headmistress and Transfiguration teacher. In a few minutes, you will be sorted into your Houses. There are four different houses, one for each of the four founders of Hogwarts: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Your triumphs will earn your House points, while rule breaking will lose you points. At the end of the year, the House with the most points will be awarded the House Cup, a great honor. I suggest you smarten yourselves up while you wait." Her eyes fell on James and Sirius, who were both still sopping wet. She shook her head, then said, "I will be back momentarily." McGonagall left, closing the door behind her.

The students broke into nervous chatter, all wondering what they'd have to do to be sorted.

"I heard we had to wrestle a troll!" A tall boy said.

"My brother said something about a banshee!" A curly-haired girl cried.

"I've been reading about magical monsters- maybe it'll be a vampire? Or a werewolf?" The redhead said. Remus jumped.

Peter put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, Remus. Werewolves are really dangerous. There's no way they'd let one into the castle." Remus paled visibly. "Did I say something wrong?" Peter asked.

"N-no, I'm just n-nervous..." Remus stuttered.

Severus smirked and whispered something to the redhead. The girl immediately relaxed, and she actually laughed.

Professor McGonagall returned after a few minutes. She pointed her wand at Sirius and James, whose clothes dried immediately. "If you'll follow me..." She led them out of the room and into the Great Hall. Immediately, Elizabeth looked up. The ceiling was just like her mother had described. The sky was navy blue, shot through with streaks of crimson and violent orange. As she watched, several clouds drifted across the ceiling.

Elizabeth brought her gaze back to earth, looking around the Great Hall for the first time. The four House tables stretched almost to the far wall, stopping several feet from the head table. Professor McGonagall stopped the first years in the space between the tables, and Elizabeth was able to get a good look at what the rest of the students were staring at.

Sitting on a stool in front of the head table was a ragged and dirty hat. Elizabeth eyed it dubiously, wondering how a hat was supposed to sort them. Her mum had never said, insisting it was traditional not to tell new students about the process. Suddenly, the hat twitched, a mouthlike rip in the brim opened, and the hat began to sing:

A thousand years or so ago
The founders four all stood
Deciding on the perfect way
To choose students like they would.

Their time on Earth was nearly up
And they would soon be gone,
So Gryffindor enchanted me
And so I carry on

Dividing students year by year
Just the way I should.
In Gryffindor, the brave and bold,
In Hufflepuff, the just and good.

For Ravenclaw, the wity and wise,
And Slytherin, the cunning and ambitious.
Then Slytherin, he cut the ties
Leaving the three suspicious.

And so, since then, the Houses four
Remained ever divided.
But I see many darkened years
Where they must soon stand united.

So come now, children, tarry not
And put me on your head.
I will divide you, just like always,
Though I fear it means our end.

The Hall was silent for a full ten seconds, then the students began to clap, shooting nervous looks at the Hat and at each other. Elizabeth glanced up at the head table, where the teachers were murmuring to one another.

"What do you reckon that was about?" Sirius muttered to Elizabeth. "I mean, has it ever warned people before? I don't like these dark times it mentioned..."

Dark times. Elizabeth slipped her hand into a deep pocket and fingered her wand, where the ebony unicorn's tail hair resided. Could it be that the unicorn and the Sorting Hat were warning them of the same thing?

Professor McGonagall unrolled a large scroll. "When I call your name, you will come forward to be sorted into your houses." She cleared her throat. "Auberey, Elizabeth!"

Elizabeth's knees suddenly turned to jelly. She didn't want to go first! No thank you! She looked around nervously. Remus gave her a small smile, James and Peter grinned at her and Sirius gently pushed her forward. She stumbled. There were some snickers from the students and Elizabeth flushed. She could feel her face burning as she sat on the stool and put the hat on her head.

"Ah, yes. I can see great intellect here, and a desire to do well in school. There is also much loyalty to your friends, though you have known them only a few hours. And there is a bravery in you- yes, I can see that you will be very brave indeed. There is a great destiny ahead for you, though I cannot see it clearly. Yes, with bravery like yours, you should be in GRYFFINDOR!"

The Hat shouted the last word out to the entire Hall, and the table decked in red and gold with a Gryffindor banner hanging above it exploded into cheers. Elizabeth pulled the Sorting Hat off, grinning from ear to ear, the Hat's words already forgotten. She caught her friends' eyes and the grin widened. She hurried over to the Gryffindor table and collapsed next to a seventh year Prefect girl with wispy brown hair.

"Congratulations," the girl said. "Welcome to Gryffindor. I'm Cassandra Gordon."

"Elizabeth Auberey," Elizabeth said, holding her hand out. "Nice to meet you." She smiled at Cassandra. She seemed nice. Elizabeth turned to watch the Sorting.

"Bennett, Ryan!" A swarthy boy stepped forward nervously, but it took the Hat only a moment to decide.

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Black, Sirius!"

Sirius strolled casually to the stool, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. Elizabeth noticed McGonagall's nostrils flare, and she suppressed a laugh.

Sirius sat on the stool, the Sorting Hat over his eyes.

"Hmm, another Black, eh? So far, I've only ever put your family into Slytherin... So where should I put you? I sense great intellect, but not much respect for studying, so Ravenclaw's out of the question... there is both daring, bordering on recklessness, and an intense loyalty to your friends. You definately belong in GRYFFINDOR!"

Sirius whipped the Hat off his head, stood, and bowed deeply in the direction of the Gryffindor table, where Elizabeth was cheering loudly. McGonagall rapped him sharply on the shoulder with the scroll and be hurried to sit next to Elizabeth.

"Two down, three to go," Sirius said as he took his seat. He checked his sleeves and was pleased to see that the cuffs had turned red.

"Shh!" was all she said in reply.

They turned to watch the sorting.

"Lupin, Remus!"

Remus' already pale face became even paler, causing his scar to really stand out. He walked stiffly up to the stool and sat down. He was so small that the Sorting Hat covered his head completely.

"Oh, yes, another Lupin. I remember sorting your father, John. Are you going to follow his footsteps and go into Ravenclaw? I see a keen mind and a love of learning. What's this...?" Remus could tell from the Hat's change of tone that it had just discovered that he was a werewolf. He clenched the stool tightly, praying that the Hat wouldn't shout it out for the entire school to hear. "Great Godric! Why would I ever do that?" It sounded amused. "I should like to think not! But there is great bravery in you- that you would not normally be welcomed to Hogwarts, yet you came here anyway... I think that decides it then! GRYFFINDOR!"

Remus let out a great sigh of relief as he went to sit with Sirius and Elizabeth. The redhead, Lily Evans, was sitting on Sirius' other side, looking like she desperately wanted to move. Elizabeth grinned at Remus, and he grinned back, relieved that his secret was still safe. For now.

"Pettigrew, Peter!"

Peter tripped over his robes as he made his way up to the stool. When he put the Hat on, it got stuck on his ears, allowing him to see the students watching him apprehensively.

"Pettigrew, hmm? It's been a while since I've had one of you. Now, where should I put you? Not Ravenclaw or Slytherin, certainly. But there isn't much bravery or loyalty as far as I can see, really..." The Hat began muttering to itself. Peter gulped. What if his fears were about to come true? What it he had to go home because there was no place for him?

Whispers began to sweep the Hall after some time, and Peter repeatedly heard the word 'Hatstall'. Peter didn't know what a Hatstall was. Maybe it meant students had been sent home before. His palms began to sweat. He looked at his friends, wondering if they would miss him.

"Your friends?" The Hat said. It thought about this for a while. "Yes, with the help if your friends, I am sure you could go far. But make sure you know where your loyalties lie when the time comes to make the choice." 'What choice?' Peter wanted to ask, but he never got the chance. "GRYFFINDOR!"

Peter handed the Hat to Professor McGonagall and ran to the seat across from Sirius, Remus and Elizabeth.

"Go, Peter!" Sirius yelled, punching him in the shoulder.

"Thanks," Peter grumbled, rubbing his arm. "What's a Hatstall?"

"It's when the Sorting Hat takes at least five minutes to sort somebody," a brunette next to Elizabeth said.

"Was it really that long?" Peter shook his head. "Wow."

"Shh! It's James' turn!"

James was the last of his friends to be called up. He'd watched as they were all sorted into Gryffindor, along with the cute redhead girl from the train, Lily Evans. Now he was doubly sure be wanted to be in Gryffindor, though he wasn't sure why. Maybe it was because of Lily, but she was just a cootie- infested girl. A cootie- infested girl with hair like flames and green eyes that sparkled in the candlelight...

James' thoughts were interrupted by McGonagall. "Potter, James!"

James walked confidently up to the stool and sat down. The instant the Hat touched his head, it bellowed, "GRYFFINDOR!" James ran off to sit next to Peter.

"Welcome to Gryffindor, mate," Sirius said.

James snorted. "Yeah, big welcome from a bunch of first years. But hey, thanks anyway."

They watched the rest of the sorting impatiently. When "Zambrose, Melissa", had been made a Hufflepuff, and Professor McGonagall had taken the Sorting Hat and stool away, Professor Dumbledore stood up. "I have only two words for you," he said, smiling at them, "Dig in."

The food was exquisite. Elizabeth heaped her plate full of food until she had a small mountain sitting in front of her, and began inhaling it. After she and the boys had gotten seconds, they began to talk again.

"So what're your families like?" James asked, swallowing his pumpkin juice. "My parents are both purebloods, and they're really nice. Dad works for the auror office, and mum sometimes writes for the Daily Prophet."

"My parents are purebloods too, but they just live off the large fortunes they inherited," Sirius said, stabbing his knife into his steak, "So they spend their time trying to mold me and my little brother, Regulus, into perfect little Slytherins." He shook his head in disgust.

"Wait... Regulus? And your name's Sirius... Are all your family named after stars?" Remus laughed.

"Pretty much. I have a great- aunt named Cassiopeia, and two of my cousins and an uncle are also named after stars or constellations. Figures my parents would name me after the Dog Star..."

"Hey, if the shoe fits," Elizabeth muttered. Everyone laughed. "So what about you, Remus? I met your dad in Diagon Alley, but never got to talk to, well, either of you, really."

"Dad works for the D-department of the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures," Remus said. He stared out the window, lost in thought. His hand came up to touch the scar on his face.

"So what about your mum?" Peter asked.

Remus shook his head as though to clear it. "She's a muggleborn. She used to be a Healer at St. Mungo's, but quit when I was bi-" He cut himself off, then continued. "When I was born."

The mistake didn't go unnoticed by Elizabeth. "That's not what you were going to say," she accused.

"Yes, it was!" Remus argued, color rising in his cheeks.

"Was not!"

"It was a slip of the tongue!" Remus cried. Several heads turned their way.

"Liz, let it go. Like Remus said, it was a slip of the tongue. Happens all the time- I'm sure you've done it before, too," James said, putting his hand on her shoulder. Elizabeth nodded, but remained suspicious. She knew that's not what Remus was going to say. There was something he wasn't telling them. Sirius shrugged at her.

"What about your parents, Peter?" Remus said, clearly trying to turn the conversation away from himself.

"Well, I know both of my parents are purebloods, but my dad died when I was six. Mum is a diplomat between our Ministry of Magic and the one in Germany. She's away a lot, but since I don't have any siblings to get into trouble with, it doesn't really matter. Elizabeth?"

The food disappeared and was replaced with desserts. Elizabeth helped herself to fudge pie. "Well, my dad's a muggle, and he flies aeroplanes. Those are big metal bird things," she added in response to James', Sirius' and Peter's inquiring looks. "Mum's a muggleborn, and wanted to work with dragons when she graduated, but she married dad instead. Oh, and I also have a little brother named Christopher. He'll be starting Hogwarts when we're fourth years."

They finished dessert in a companionable silence. When the plates had cleared, Professor Dumbledore stood up. The Hall immediately fell silent. "Before you all go on up to bed, there are a few announcements to make.
"First years should please note that the Forbidden Forest, is, in fact, forbidden, and several older students should take note as well. Magic is not to be done outside of the classrooms, and Fanged Frisbees are now number one hundred and four on the list of banned magical items. You may check the list on our caretaker, Mr. Filch's office door. Also, a new Whomping Willow has been planted on the grounds. It is very dangerous, and you are to stay away from it at all times unless you wish to be whomped.
"Finally, I would like to welcome Professor Randal Dranseau, who will be taking the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Good luck, professor!"

The students clapped loudly as a tall, thin man with a well- trimmed goatee stood and acknowledged them with a smile. Elizabeth thought he'd be a good teacher. Her mothe had told her stories of all the Defense teachers she'd had, the good, the bad, and the downright insane. Elizabeth hoped Dranseau would be a good teacher.

When it was time to go to bed, Cassandra led them up to the Gryffindor common room, gave the password 'Hexproof' to the Fat Lady, and showed them to their dorms.

There were three other girls in Elizabeth's year: the annoying redhead, Lily, and her two giggling friends, Sarah Clark and Victoria Shoots. Elizabeth immediately claimed the farthest bed from them.

"Hi." Sarah, who had the potential to be a muggle model when she was older, came over. "You're Elizabeth, right?"

"Yes," Elizabeth said grumpily. She'd had a long day and wanted to go to bed.

"Why we're you hanging out with Potter and Black?" Victoria asked. "Lily said they're prats." She tossed her long, dark hair over her shoulder.

"Well, maybe you should get to know them before you judge them. We got into an argument on the train, and Lily here-" she shot Lily a nasty look, "decided to leave. End of story. Really." She climbed into bed. "Now, good night." She yanked the hangings shut (pink, ugh!) and ignored them.

Elizabeth supposed the other girls stayed up talking, but she soon drifted off to sleep. Her dreams that night were very strange. Professor Dumbledore, wearing the Sorting Hat, lunged at her from the shadows. "Beware!" he hissed, and dissolved into smoke. The smoke morphed into several familiar shapes- herself, James, Lily, Sirius, Peter, and Remus, standing in a line, watching her.

The smoky Elizabeth suddenly disappeared, simply obliterated from existence. Next were Lily and James' in a flash of green light. Then Sirius disappeared in a cloud of black smoke, shot through with jets of red light. A flash of silver appeared at Peter's throat and he fell, merging with the shadows that covered the ground.

Only Remus was left. The dream shifted. He was now standing on a hilltop at night, his face turned to the full moon. A net of green light hit him directly in the heart and he collapsed next to a woman with pink hair... Elizabeth screamed. She screamed in shock and fear until her throat hurt and still kept screaming.

"Wake up! Wake up!" Someone was slapping her face. Elizabeth forced her eyes open. Lily was standing over her, her hand raised to slap her again. When she saw Elizabeth was awake, she lowered her hand. "Are you okay?"

"Why were you slapping me?" Elizabeth tried to sit up, but Lily forced her back down.

"You were yelling your head off and flailing around. Scared us to death..." Lily trailed off. Elizabeth's dream came rushing back at her, full force. She began to tremble. "Hey, it's alright, everything's fine," Lily whispered, patting Elizabeth's back comfortingly. Elizabeth couldn't bring herself to meet Lily's gaze.

"I- I'm fine. Just let me go back to sleep," Elizabeth said. She pushed Lily's hand away and rolled over. When she fell back asleep, her dreams were painless. When she woke up the next morning, she'd begun to think she was only imagining it.

Little did she know that these dreams would cause much pain and suffering in the future. Just not her future...

A/N: Dun dun dunnnn! Give you guys a hint as to why she's not a Marauder in JKR's world? I hope so!

Chapters four and five will be revised, and that's all I'm going to fix. Enjoy!

Until next time,

-Dndchk