Saturday 2nd September 1972

Gryffindor Table, 09:00

Lily watched her sister from two tables away and sighed. Chryssie was looking more than a bit lost and overwhelmed over at the Ravenclaw table. Oh, she wished she could just go over there and give her a hug but that would probably embarrass her.

"Upset she didn't get into Gryffindor?" Marlene asked, reaching for the jug of pumpkin juice.

"No... well, yes. Not really?"

She didn't know what to think. She hadn't realised that she had been expecting Chryssie to get into Gryffindor until she got Sorted differently. Even though she knew siblings could get sorted differently, look at Marlene and her siblings - they were all over the place when it came to Houses. But she had still wanted Chryssie to be with her. So, they could enjoy Hogwarts together. They had always been together before now. And she always looked out for Chryssie.

"It's better not having your siblings anywhere near you in school if you can help it," Marlene informed her importantly. "More bother than they're worth."

Lily rolled her eyes. Marlene was being dramatic. She really did get on well with her siblings, despite all her complaints. Maybe it was because she and Chryssie were only a year apart and she was closer to her. Marlene had quite large age gaps between her and her siblings, only Ciaran being close in age. It was different when you were basically the same age.

"It would be easy to sit around with her if she was in Gryffindor," Lily said.

She missed Chryssie last year. It was hard going from seeing someone every day to only seeing them at the holidays.

"It would have been the same at the Muggle school your other sister goes to, wouldn't it?" Marlene asked, cutting up a slice of bacon.

Lily shook her head.

"No, we would have been in the same House. Muggle schools don't have a Sorting Hat so they stick family members in the same House."

"Weird."

Lily looked over to her sister again. She looked like she was involved in a conversation around her, other first years Lily assumed, even if she wasn't doing much talking. Chryssie was more of a listener in new situations.

'Grrrr,' went her stomach. It smelt the eggs she had piled on her plate.

Deciding that she would grab her little sister after breakfast Lily pulled her plate closer and finally dug into her breakfast. Yep, that's what she'd do.

Entrance Hall, 09:30

Chryssie rubbed at her head. She hadn't even been at Hogwarts for one day and she already had a headache. There were just so many people and they made so much noise. She had just had to excuse herself, saying she needed the toilet. Which she did need to, just not as urgently as she had made out.

"Chryssie! Over here!"

Instantly, Chryssie relaxed and smiled as her big sister came running over to her.

"Lily -oof!"

Lily had engulfed her in one of those massive hugs of hers. The one where you basically got squeezed to death as you were lifted off the ground.

"Lily... too... tight..."

Her feet met the ground again when Lily released her. Chryssie wriggled, trying to get rid of the feeling of being squashed. She looked down at herself and frowned. Her robes were all crumpled now.

Lily noticed this at the same time and automatically straightened them for her. Chryssie slapped her hands away, blushing and looking quickly around. She didn't want anyone to see her getting babied by her big sister.

"Lily," she complained.

"Sorry," she sheepishly apologised and looked her up and down.

"What?" Chryssie couldn't help but ask defensively. "I'm fine."

Lily shook her head and smiled. "Blue and bronze look good on you."

"You're happy I got into Ravenclaw?" Chryssie asked in surprise. "You're not mad I didn't get into Gryffindor?"

Lily shrugged. "Sure, I would have liked it if you got into Gryffindor. But it's not like you had a choice where to go."

That was true. Though, Chryssie didn't exactly consider herself smart enough for the "smart House".

"It's in a tower just like Gryffindor," Chryssie said happily.

Ever since she'd heard Lily talk about going to school in a castle, she'd wanted to live in one of the towers. Like a princess from her old fairy tales only much more amazing.

"You're lucky you're starting over the weekend," Lily told her. "Gives you plenty of time to settle in and explore."

Chryssie gave her a doubtful look. She didn't know that, all this waiting around until Monday was making her anxious about her lessons.

"Want me to show you around? Inside? Or maybe you want to see the grounds? It's really nice outside today and the grounds are amazing-"

"Lily!" Chryssie interrupted her sister's rambling.

It worked, for once.

"Yes?" she said expectantly.

Chryssie shifted uncomfortably on her feet, suddenly a bit nervous.

"I'm okay."

Lily gave her a baffled look.

"Huh?"

Oh, this was going to be difficult. And awkward. She coughed.

"I, uh, I'm going to go exploring with some of the girls from my dorm," she said in a rush, like pulling off a plaster.

Confusion was written all over Lily's face until the words hit home and then something flashed in her eyes. Upset? Annoyance? Chryssie was sure.

"Oh, of course you are," Lily said, shaking her head like she was trying to clear it.

"Is that okay?" Chryssie asked hesitantly, she felt like she had somehow managed to hurt her feelings.

"Of course, it's okay!" Lily replied brightly. "More than okay. It's great! I'm glad you're making friends."

Well, she wouldn't go that far but Chryssie supposed it would be a good way to make friends.

"If you need any help, any help at all, just come and find me, yeah?"

"Definitely," Chryssie agreed and then a thought struck her. "Um, where's the Gryffindor Common Room?"

She couldn't very well find Lily if she didn't know where her House slept!

"It's in one of the towers," Lily told her. "I'll show you when you have a moment."

That sounded good. A more pressing need grabbed Chryssie's attention.

"Lily?"

"Yes?" came the very eager reply.

"Where's the toilets?"

Slytherin Common Room, 14:00

Regulus sat himself carefully on one of the luscious green chairs. Not one of the ones by the fire, of course. Those were prime spots, the older years got them. He was being very careful as he knew the eyes of the House was on him. Well, anyone who actually used the Common Room was watched. In was the public area of the House, where you made an impression. But he was a Black. The younger Black but still a Black. He was always going to be watched. Especially since Sirius, well, everyone already knew what happened to Sirius.

Thankfully, he was left alone - he was only a first year after all, no matter what his family name was. That meant that he could at least pretend to ignore the not so subtle states and take in his surroundings.

The Slytherin Common Room was just as his parents and cousins had described. Beautiful lush furniture, tastefully arranged, paired with dark coloured wood and silver accents. He wasn't quite sure what he thought of the massive window that was obviously looking out to under the Lake, they were in the Dungeons after all. Bella had described it as amazing but Regulus was a bit wary around water. He knew that the window couldn't come crashing in (of course it wouldn't), but watery depths were still a little bit, just a little bit, terrifying to him. Seeing fish swim by was pretty, pardon the term, cool. He'd never seen a fish so close before that wasn't descaled and on his plate. Fish were really shimmery. However, what was even better was the regal portrait of Lord Salazar Slytherin himself - completely resplendent in robes of deep forest green and shining silver. The perfect image of such a magnificent person. Though, personally, Regulus would have trimmed the beard. Just a little.

"Hello, Regulus."

Regulus startled slightly as someone sat next to him. Oh, it was Leila Lestrange.

Leila always freaked him out a bit. She was always looking at him like a cat ready to pounce. It unnerved him. And he lived with Mother.

"How are you settling in?"

He suspected that he was going to get asked this a lot and predicted that it was going to get annoying extremely fast.

"Perfectly."

Any other response wouldn't be acceptable. Leila arched an eyebrow.

"Good."

Regulus felt like she wanted him to say something more but he didn't have anything to say. To her, anyway.

Gryffindor Second Year Boys Dorm, 17:00

"This year's going to be great!" James announced, his head inside his wardrobe.

He was still putting clothes away, despite already being back for a whole day already. Sirius still couldn't believe how messy his friend was. He didn't understand how anyone could be so messy. James already had clothes randomly scattered around his bed.

"We're no longer silly first years," James continued happily. "We know our way around..."

"Speak for yourself," Peter muttered, ducking his head down.

Sirius had to bite back a laugh, though it came out as a snort. Peter had gone up the wrong staircase and had somehow ended up somewhere with a painting of a very loud knight on a wall. Who apparently wasn't very good at directions either as he had brought Peter to a different part of the castle where thankfully a Hufflepuff Prefect had taken pity on him and brought him to Gryffindor Tower.

"- it's going to be fun!" James finished.

"The work is going to be harder this year," Remus told him.

"Pfft," James dismissed. "We'll be fine. We all did well last year, right?"

Sirius nodded in agreement. He had been pleased with his marks. Annoyed that he had been three marks off beating James for first place in Transfiguration but overall happy. He'd done well. Possibly the only thing that had eased his father's annoyance at him.

"So, we'll be fine this year."

"I don't think that's how it works," Remus trailed off and shook his head.

Sirius shrugged. He wasn't too worry about school this year either. It wasn't like it was their OWL or NEWT years.

"And I've been thinking about a load of pranks we can do," James announced, brandishing a book he pulled from his robes.

"You wrote them in a book?" Sirius asked incredulously.

"How else was I supposed to remember them?"

"Maybe a list?"

A list would be just as handy in Sirius' opinion. Actually, it would be better - it could be rolled up and stashed away somewhere.

"That's nowhere near as fun."

"More subtle though," Sirius pointed out.

James turned the book over in his hands and tilted his head at it.

"Think the embossed cover was too much?"

Sirius eyed the leather-bound book with the words 'Pranks, Jokes and General Mischief' embossed across the front.

"Just a bit." James' face fell. "It's a very nice book though," Sirius assured him.

"Just not exactly good for secrecy," Remus pointed out.

James pouted at that.

"I'll put a dust jacket on it or something," he decided, though not exactly looking too pleased with the idea.

"Maybe there's a spell that makes it say something different?" Peter suggested.

"But I want it to say that," James protested.

"Not when everyone can see," Sirius argued. "Other people should see something else and that's more important than us seeing what it really is."

"Maybe there's a way to do both," Peter said diplomatically.

James and Sirius turned to stare at the smaller boy who gave a nervous grin.

"That would be cool," James said slowly.

"There's bound to be a spell like that," Sirius continued. "There's a spell for everything."

"Except transfiguring food," James reminded him.

"Obviously."

He, James and Peter all turned to stare at Remus expectantly.

"What?"

"Is there a spell that would change the words depending on who looks at it?" Sirius repeated impatiently.

Hadn't Remus been paying attention to them?

"I don't know."

Sirius gasped dramatically.

"How could you not know?"

A pillow was thrown at him.

"Goof," Remus retorted. "I don't know everything."

"Say it isn't so!" James said, joining in with a grin.

"Idiots."

Remus was very good at the eye roll Sirius had noticed. Well, he used it a lot anyway. At them. Sirius didn't know what that said about them.

"We should figure out if there is one," James said.

That sounded like something worth researching to Sirius. Much better than homework anyway.

"Would it be a charm?" Sirius wondered.

Just because it was something interesting to figure didn't mean he wanted to spend an age at it. So, it would be better if they knew where to start looking.

"A ward, maybe?" was Peter's doubtful suggestion. "Like the 'Notice Me Not' one?"

"Is that even a ward?"

Remus made an annoyed noise which made them all look at him again.

"Yes, we can figure it out in the library. Can we go down to dinner now?" Remus asked impatiently. "I'm starving."

"Does this mean you're going to eat more actual dinner than desert?" Sirius couldn't help but tease.

Remus seriously had a sugar addiction. He would eat a minimal dinner only to pig out on dessert. Sirius was amazed that the boy had absolutely no fat on him. Mother always said too much sugar made you fat and made you look awful. Well, that was the reason she gave when she never gave more than a tiny portion of dessert. Remus was proof that she was just trying to get rid of everything fun.

"You better," James said.

Everyone turned to raise an eyebrow questioningly at him.

"You're so pale!" James said defensively, poking Remus' side. "You need vitamins. Vegetables."

Remus pulled a face at that. Sirius didn't blame him, vegetables were disgusting. A necessary evil, but still disgusting.

James caught the look and rolled his eyes.

"You have to eat vegetables."

Monday 4th September 1972

Potions Classroom, 15:30

Regulus shoved his textbook into his bag and bundled together his quills. It had been a rather boring lesson as it had just been an introduction to Potions; the equipment and why stirring properly mattered. Stuff he already knew from home (obviously). That was the annoying thing about having to cater to those raised non magical, there were just so many things that they had to be brought up to speed on which held everyone else back. Ridiculous in his opinion.

"Ah, Mr Black," Professor Slughorn greeted in a jovial manner as he approached Regulus' bench.

"Professor," Regulus responded warily, wondering what the man would want.

"How are you finding Hogwarts so far? Your first full day over already, huh?"

"It's going well, sir."

Regulus was wondering why he was being asked this now. His one to one with him had been scheduled for next Thursday, where he assumed this sort of discussion was going to take place. What was Slughorn's motive?

"Settling into Slytherin okay?"

Was it just him or was there emphasis on the word Slytherin there?

"Yes, sir."

Short, polite answers were best if you had to figure out where the conversation was going. Which he didn't know.

"Good, good. It's a shame about your brother, you know," Professor Slughorn continued, shaking his head dejectedly.

Now Regulus was really on edge. It was never a good thing these days when Sirius was brought up.

But Slughorn broke into a grin and wagged his finger at him "I almost had all of you Blacks. I'm never going to forgive Minerva for taking one of my set."

Relief swept through him. He wasn't going to get a lecture on how Sirius had been a disgrace. He'd had enough of those, thank you very much. It looked like Slughorn was just annoyed about a broken pattern? An incomplete set? That made them sound like objects instead of people.

"Oh well," Slughorn continued, oblivious to Regulus' thoughts. "Four out of five isn't a bad record."

Regulus froze at the mention of five Blacks. No one ever mentioned five. Not ever. Oh, they had done at one point, before he was born. But not now. Now there were only four Blacks. Only four worth mentioning. He wasn't even convinced of the eldest one's name, it had been completely burned off the tapestry.

She had signed her name as Andy on the one and only letter he had received from her. The one he hadn't replied to. He hadn't shown it to his parents either, just like the letter instructed. It had felt wrong to. But it was also wrong to reply, so he didn't.

He had never asked Sirius if he'd ever received such a letter. He was too scared to.

"Well, I shan't be keeping you," Professor Slughorn dismissed him.

Regulus practically shoved the rest of his belongings into his bag and walked probably faster than what was polite out of the classroom.

Thursday 7th September 1972

Charm's Classroom, 11:00

Dora was trying hard to walk fast - running somewhere never really ended well for her - as she didn't want to be late for class. She just had the slight problem of not knowing where her next class was. Somehow, she had lost track of her classmates so they couldn't help. Thankfully, a Prefect pointed her in what she hoped was the right direction.

Then she saw Hufflepuff robes. And a first year in said robes. Good, she wasn't late then. She hurried to catch up.

You would have thought that she would have learned her lesson by now. Honestly...

Dora tripped and collided with another girl in Ravenclaw robes. They both went tumbling to the ground with a shout. Well, Dora did, the other girl squealed. Loudly.

"I'm so sorry!" Dora apologised, picking herself up and offering a hand to the other girl. "Mum always tells me I'm so clumsy I could trip over air and I guess she's right."

"It's okay," the other girl said, brushing red curls out of her eyes and taking her hand.

Dora gave a tug and nearly fell over again. Thankfully the other girl had steadier feet and grabbed her before she went down again. They both grinned at each other awkwardly and Dora was sure her pony tail had turned red in her embarrassment, as red as Chryssie's cheeks.

"Sorry," she repeated as everyone laughed around them.

This was definitely not the way you were supposed to introduce yourself to people.

"It's okay -?" the other girl trailed off in a question.

"Dora. My name that it. Actually, it's Nymphadora but I hate it and go by Dora instead because it's at least part of my name because mum won't let me change it and-"

"It's okay, Dora," the girl repeated, adding Dora's name. "I'm not hurt."

"That's good."

It would have been awful if she had hurt her. Definitely not a good way to make friends. Enemies maybe and she didn't want any of those.

"I'm Chryssie," the Ravenclaw introduced, offering her hand to shake -which Dora took.

Huh, Chryssie didn't sound exactly right. Dora was sure that a different name was called out at the Sorting.

"Hey, you're the other girl with a funny name," Dora said happily, finally remembering. "Chrysanthos or something."

"Chrysanthemum," Chryssie corrected, pulling a face.

Dora nodded sympathetically.

"Your mum name you? Mine did."

"Both actually. Their dad's favourite flower and mum loves fancy names."

Ouch. That was rather unfortunate.

"Not as bad as Nymphadora," she joked.

Nothing was as bad as her name in her opinion. It was just horrific. Chryssie giggled.

"Mine's pretty bad, though," Chryssie pointed out.

"We can be the badly named girls," Dora said. "Rueing the day we got named."

That got another giggle.

The classroom door opened and a small head popped out.

"Come in, children," the man who must be their teacher squeaked.

"Want to eat lunch together?" Dora suggested as they walked into the classroom.

She quite liked Chryssie. She seemed to be good fun and it looked like Chryssie thought the same, if the way her eyes lit up was anything to go by.

"Oh, yes please!"

Gryffindor Common Room, 19:30

"Does he have to be so loud?" Lily asked irritably, glaring at Potter across the Common Room.

Marlene looked as well and saw Potter, Black, Lupin and Pettigrew all chatting together. She couldn't hear them except for Potter's loud laughter every now and then.

"He's not that loud," she said diplomatically.

Lily just made a scoffing noise but didn't completely disagree. Alrighty then, apparently, she was in a bad mood. Great.

Personally, Marlene didn't know what Lily had against James Potter but she wasn't going to ask. She didn't want to be ranted at and Lily seemed to be the type of person who would rant. That, and she personally didn't think Potter was that bad. Both of their families were labelled as "bloodtraiters" so he couldn't be too awful in her opinion.

"Well, some of us want to work." Lily huffed.

Marlene raised a sceptical eyebrow.

"In the Common Room? On a Friday? Really?"

Lily didn't even answer her this time and just buried her head in her Charm's textbook. They didn't even have Charms homework. Somebody was in a bad mood.

Saturday 9th September 1972

Slytherin Common Room, 14:00

Severus watched as the older students flocked around a first year. Not just any first year, Regulus Black. The second son of basically the most important family in the Wizarding World. The one that wasn't a disgrace. Though, as much as Severus disliked Gryffindors (except for one), he still didn't understand how being sorted into Gryffindor made you a disgrace. Annoying and loud and full of bravado, sure. But disgrace? That seemed to be a bit much. But there seemed to be an awful lot that he didn't understand about these Pureblood families.

He'd have to get his mum to explain it to him. When she was in a good mood. Or, at least not in a bad one. He didn't know much about her family but they had definitely been Pureblood. Hence the whole chucking her out of the family for marrying a muggle thing.

"And this is Severus Snape," Prefect Malfoy said smoothly, interrupting his thoughts.

Severus looked up only to see Prefect Malfoy and Regulus Black standing in front of him. There was a frown on the younger boy's face like he was trying to recall something.

Severus knew it was because of his last name. It wasn't a pureblood one. Or even a magical one. He'd had his fair share of those looks over the past year. It was infuriating. It was demeaning. But that didn't matter because he was just a half-blood.

"Now, don't let the fact that he is a half-blood distract you from the fact that he is a talented Potions student," the Prefect continued.

He even gave Severus that smirking grin of his. Trust Lucius Malfoy to give you a compliment and put you down in one fell swoop without being obviously insulting. A real skill of his. A proper little conniving politician as his dad would say.

"Hello, Prefect Malfoy, greeted Severus in a bored tone, it wouldn't do to sound overly curious, and then turned questioningly to Regulus Black, "and-?"

Malfoy quirked an eyebrow at that. He knew what Severus was trying to do.

"Regulus Black," Regulus replied, holding his hand out to shake.

Severus gave him a critical look. Very good. The Black didn't even look disdainful at offering him his hand. Very well trained.

"Hello, Black."

Malfoy put his hands on Regulus' shoulders and smiled.

"Just introducing young Regulus here to everyone who needs to know."