Prologue

18th March 1971

The sun shone through brightly on an unusually warm day in Cheltenham, and Allegra Quinn was in her bedroom rifling through her Quality Quidditch Cards trying to find Aidan O'Connell, chaser for the Ballycastle Bats.

'Merlin, I could swear it was in here somewhere..', mumbled Allegra. She'd assured Sadie Farley she had the O'Connell card to swap for her Katrina Korn card, it was all Allegra needed to complete the full Holyhead Harpies collection.

'Allegra,'

There was no response.

'Allegra,'

'In here, it's in here..' Allegra muttered, and then,

'Allegra! Down, now!'

Allegra started, at the same time she found the card she'd been looking for, a broad smile now making its way across her face. She grabbed her bounty and made her way to the stairs, bounding down them loudly.

She sped into the kitchen, hit with a strong smell of brownies. One of the many plus sides of having a potion maker for a mother was that those brewing techniques were often transferred to some very tasty baked treats.

'I called you three times Allegra, you didn't even answer, I've told you before about that,' Athena de Montmorency sighed to her daughter. Allegra at least had the decency to look disappointed in herself.

'Sorry mum, but I really needed to find the card, Sadie's expecting it, otherwise I won't get Katrina Korn, and I've been looking for her for ages!' Allegra explained to her mother, as if completing the Holyhead Harpies card collection was a matter of life and death.

Athena smiled faintly, she knew only too well how long her daughter had been waiting for that particular treasure.

'Are those peppermint brownies? They smell amazing,' Allegra grinned, hoping by complimenting her mother's baking she might get away without a telling off, if there was one thing she hating more than anything else it was disappointing her mother.

Athena shook her head and chuckled lightly turning around to the fresh brownies sitting on the kitchen counter, just waiting to be cut. Allegra perched herself on the kitchen table, legs dangling, watching her mother cut the brownies into small squares with her wand. She was very pretty, her mother, although Allegra did acknowledge she was probably quite biased. Long honey brown hair that fell to her waist and twinkling eyes than shone hazel or brown depending on how the light reflected on them.

'Well darling, brownies aren't the only thing you've gotten this morning,' Athena turned around to face her daughter and lifted a white envelope out from her apron pocket, handing it to her daughter.

Allegra let out a small gasp and took the letter from her mother and turned it over, she had been waiting for this since she'd turned eleven 3 days ago - her Hogwarts letter. The truth is, she'd been waiting for the letter for as long as she'd known about Hogwarts. Raised in a pure blood family with a father that worked for the Ministry of Magic and a mother who tested and made potions, both had attended Hogwarts themselves as Ravenclaws. Her mother and father had told her almost everything to do with the school and she was practically fizzing with excitement to start.

'Does daddy know?' Allegra asked her mother.

'I sent an owl to him this morning, I think we might have a nice celebratory dinner tonight, what do you think?' Athena smiled to her daughter, who nodded eagerly at the suggestion.

Finally, after so long, she would finally be going to Hogwarts. Allegra jumped off the table and hugged her mother around the waist, all thoughts of Katrina Korn's Quality Quidditch Card went out of her head.

1st September 1971

'Henry, over here, now!'

'Oi Michaels, did you have a good summer?'

'Yes mother, I promise I'll write every week this year.'

The sound of hundreds of children and parents who'd piled onto Platform 9 3/4 could be heard as Allegra's parents Athena and Conleth were fussing over her.

'And do you have your hairbrush?'

'Yes mum,'

'And all your textbooks?'

'Yes dad,'

'Your potion making kit?'

'Yes mum,' sighed Allegra, 'I double checked everything this morning.'

'Alright, alright, I just don't want an owl tomorrow morning saying you've forgotten your toothbrush or something.' Athena stated.

'Now, now it wouldn't be like Allegra to forget anything, would it?' Conleth asked, trying and failing to suppress a grin, his Irish accent holding a chuckle.

Allegra rolled her eyes but smiled brightly to her father. She had spent the summer dreaming of boarding the Hogwarts Express, but now the time was here Allegra felt decidedly nervous. Her whole life she had spent with her parents, she'd seen them almost everyday, even when attending muggle school. As Athena worked from home she was always there when Allegra arrived back in the afternoons and her father returned from work at 6 on the dot. Now for the first time she was facing being away from them for weeks, months.

Athena must have sensed her nerves as she pulled her daughter into a tight hug, Allegra breathed in her mother's faint rose perfume and a wave of sadness rolled over her. Allegra tightened her grip around her mother's waist as her father placed a hand on her shoulder. None of them said anything, but there was no need, everything had already been said.

Allegra knew she had been very lucky growing up, living comfortably as an only child with two parents that doted on her, holidays in her mother's native Milan with her grandparents and trips to Galway where her father's family still lived and where Allegra had been born and raised for the first 7 years of her life.

Now she was going somewhere entirely foreign, having to make new friends without the safety of her parents. Tears sprung to her eyes and she buried her head further into her mother.

'It's alright darling, it's alright,' her mother soothed whilst stroking Allegra's hair.

Athena knelt down and faced her daughter.

'You're about to go off and have the best adventure of your life, meet new friends, learn magic. It's going to be the best seven years of your life, and by the time you've been sorted, eating your dinner, you won't look back.' Athena said softly. Her mother looked so certain as she said it that Allegra couldn't help but believe her, she smiled weakly.

'And don't forget, if you're not in Ravenclaw you'll be disowned,' Conleth said with a twinkle in his eye. Athena slapped him lightly.

'Conleth!' Athena's light Italian accent was full of disapproval, but she knew her husband was teasing.

'Allegra knows I'm joking,' he bent down towards his daughter, 'we don't care where you're sorted, as long as you're happy.' Conleth kissed Allegra's forehead, as a shout came advising there was five minutes until departure.

Allegra's parents pulled her in for another hug before she bounced into the compartment her father had already placed her luggage in. She sat down holding a copy of Magical Drafts and Potions, waving out the window to her parents as the train finally, slowly pulled away.

'You'd better be in Slytherin,' said Severus.

'Slytherin?'

'Who wants to be in Slytherin? I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?' a boy with messy hair and hazel eyes asked the boy lounging on the seats opposite him. He had black hair that fell to his jaw and grey eyes.

'My whole family have been in Slytherin,' he said.

'Blimey,' the messy haired boy said, 'and I thought you seemed all right!'

The boy with grey eyes grinned.

'Maybe I'll break the tradition. Where are you heading, if you've got the choice?'

Messy hair lifted an invisible sword.

'Gryffindor, where dwell the brave of heart! Like my dad.'

Lily held back a roll of her eyes, this boy was very arrogant. Clearly Severus agreed as he made a small, disparaging noise. The boy with messy hair turned on him.

'Got a problem with that?'

'No,' said Severus, 'if you'd rather be brawny than brainy -'

'Where're you going, seeing as you're neither?' the grey eyed boy cut in.

The boy with messy hair roared with laughter, Lily flushed and stood up, eyes narrowing at each boy.

'Come on, Severus, let's find another compartment.'

'Oooooo...'

The two boys imitated her and one of them tried to trip Severus as he passed.

'See ya, Snivellus!' a voice called as Lily huffed with Severus behind her.

They trudged along the train, Lily leading the way, before finally coming across a compartment that was empty, save for a young girl eating some type of cake, reading a book.

Lily turned to Severus and nodded her head to the compartment, 'here?' Severus shrugged.

Lily opened the compartment door, 'Hello, do you mind?' she asked.

The girl turned her head from her book, she had pretty brown eyes and light brown hair that had been tied into a loose plait down her back, she smiled and nodded.

'Thanks! We've just had to escape our last compartment, two very rude boys,' Lily huffed as she took a seat opposite the pretty girl. Lily was still red faced and explained what had happened in their previous compartment before realising she hadn't even introduced herself.

'Oh I'm sorry! I've just nattered on about how rude those two were without even telling you my name! Lily Evans, and this is Severus Snape.' Lily turned and pointed to Severus, who nodded to the other girl.

'Lily's a pretty name, I'm Allegra Quinn, nice to meet you,' Allegra smiled at Lily and Severus.

Allegra's Irish accent was almost as pretty as her eyes Lily thought.

'I take it you're both first years?' Allegra looked between Lily and Severus.

Lily nodded enthusiastically.

'I didn't even know I was a witch until I met Sev,' Lily said. Allegra's eyes widened and for a second Lily flushed, worried she was going to say something rude, Severus had warned her not all wizarding families accepted people like her, muggleborns.

Instead, Allegra asked, 'do you have your own telephone? I've always wanted one!'

Lily laughed, 'Yes. Well it's my parents, but I can use it.'

'Cool,' Allegra said, awe in her voice.

'So your parents are wizards?'

Allegra nodded.

'Yes, they both went to Hogwarts, both sorted into Ravenclaw. In fact everyone that's ever been in my family were sorted into Ravenclaw,' Allegra said thoughtfully.

Lily turned to Severus, 'Which one is Ravenclaw again?'

'Known for their intelligence,' he murmured, looking at Allegra. 'Better than Gryffindor anyway.'

Lily nodded again.

'Are you excited to start?' Allegra asked.

'Oh yes! Sev and I have been reading our books all summer, I can't wait to get started on Transfiguration, it sounds fascinating.' Lily enthused.

The trio continued their discussion the rest of the journey, Lily and Allegra enthusiastically, Severus interjecting every so often, his answers mostly directed towards Lily.

The train rattled on, towards Hogwarts.

Allegra was relieved to have met some first years, even if the boy, Severus, wasn't particularly talkative. In fact, he seemed almost, possessive wasn't quite to word she wanted to use, but protective of Lily. However, it was obvious they were good friends, and Allegra chalked it down to Lily being muggleborn, perhaps he was more conscious of some wizards beliefs towards people of her birth.

Lily however, Allegra had liked straightaway. She had very pretty green eyes and Allegra was ever so slightly jealous of her red hair. Allegra found herself secretly hoping her new friend would be sorted into Ravenclaw.

The group of first years were led by a rather stern looking witch named Professor McGonagall into the great hall, four long tables full of older students.

Allegra gasped and could barely take her eyes off the ceiling, which showed a beautiful, cloudy night sky. Her parents had never described that before.

The first years settled in front of a tattered old hat sitting on a three legged stool. Allegra felt queasy, and wished she hadn't eaten those two cauldron cakes on the train. She looked round and saw Severus had went even paler, if that was possible, whilst Lily was fiddling with her hands. A girl with tight curly brown hair was standing beside Allegra and caught her eye, they both grimaced, and Allegra was glad she wasn't the only nervous one.

The hat suddenly burst into song and Allegra jumped slightly, bumping into the girl beside her who gave her a small smile.

When the hat finished it's song, Professor McGonagall stepped forward again.

'When I call your name, you will put in the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted,' she said.

'Andrews, Donna Marie!' Donna was a blonde haired girl who looked as nervous as Allegra felt.

There was a slight pause, then the brim of the hat opened wide -

'RAVENCLAW!' Donna scuttled off to the table which had just begun to clap.

That's the table I'll be going to thought Allegra. For some reason this thought didn't warm her.

'Avery, Zephar!'

'SLYTHERIN!'

'Axerian, Trevor Paul!'

'RAVENCLAW!' the hat shouted.

'Bell, Henry James!'

'HUFFLEPUFF!'

The table on Allegra's right burst into cheers and claps.

'Black, Sirius Orion!'

Allegra recognised the name Black, her father had told her that family was pureblood obsessed. The hat seemed to take it's time and Allegra could almost feel the buzz of tension in the room, finally -

'GRYFFINDOR!'

Cheers and claps erupted, but Allegra noted the Black boy seemed slightly shocked as Professor McGonagall lifted the hat from his head, but he soon recovered and strut off to the table still clapping as he said down.

The sorting continued, and suddenly Professor McGonagall said, 'Evans, Lily!'

Lily pushed her shoulders back and walked up to the stool, the hat was placed on her head and barely a second later it shouted, 'GRYFFINDOR!'

Lily hurried towards the Gryffindor table and looked back sadly at Severus. Allegra caught his eye and sent a sympathetic look, he looked down at his scruffy shoes.

'Fawley, Anna Louise,' became a Ravenclaw and 'Henson, Nora Jane,' became another Gryffindor.

Allegra paid attention again when 'Potter, James' was called. Her mother had worked with his father for a short time and Allegra knew James casually.

'GRYFFINDOR!'

Allegra was not surprised at this, and James made his way over to the Gryffindor table, she noted Lily gave him a dirty look and wondered if this was the boy she had complained about on the train.

All too soon Professor McGonagall said, 'Quinn, Allegra de Montmorency!'

Allegra put her head back and tried to walk as confidently as possible towards the hat. She sat on the stool as the hat was placed over her head and a voice suddenly said, 'Another Quinn, eh. Hmm interesting, interesting.'

Just put me in Ravenclaw and get it over with, thought Allegra. 'Ravenclaw?' asked the hat, 'hmm well yes that would be the obvious choice, keen mind and sharp wit, however..'

However, thought Allegra, what about however, her whole family had been sorted into Ravenclaw, which other option was there?

'Maybe Gryffindor, you have bravery, yes, and a certain amount of recklessness, but where to put you?' The hat went quiet again and Allegra thought, somewhere in the back of her mind that it might be nice to be different, Quinns and de Montmorencys had been sorted into Ravenclaw for generations.

'Yesss,' the hat said again, 'yes I know just what to do with you,' then, to the rest of the hall, 'GRYFFINDOR!'

Allegra felt dizzy and blinked rapidly before making her way to a cheering Gryffindor table. She didn't know whether to be pleased or not. Ravenclaw was safe, it's what she knew, what she expected.

Lily made a space and beamed at her as she made her way over.

'Upright, Helen,' was being sorted into Slytherin as Lily whispered to Allegra, 'I had my fingers crossed you'd be sorted into here,' Allegra smiled and nodded.

James Potter looked over, 'well Quinn, I didn't expect you to be sorted here,'

'I'm just full of surprises,' Allegra muttered.

The boy Black snorted, 'yes, like the surprise of that absurd name.'

Beside her, Lily gasped angrily.

Allegra turned on him, 'as opposed to initials that spell out SOB? Really?' she snapped and turned her attention back to the sorting. It didn't take much sleuthing to work out the other boy Lily had been talking about, and it seemed she was right, thought Allegra, rude git.

'Snape, Severus!' was called and Allegra felt Lily tense up beside her.

'SLYTHERIN!' the hat shouted almost immediately, Lily sagged slightly and Allegra sent her a sympathetic look.

Finally, the sorting finished with 'Zeb, Anil,' who became the last Gryffindor, and suddenly a feast appeared at the table.

The table burst into chatter and Allegra grabbed anything she could get her hands on, roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, carrots, gravy. Allegra gulped down pumpkin juice and thought she could get used to this.

Allegra and Lily were joined by four other girls in their dormitory. Nora Henson, Phoebe Hawthorne, Marlene McKinnon and Amalia Shafiq.

After slightly awkward introductions the girls began talking about classes the next day, Marlene McKinnon joked they may get to classes only if they all woke at five in the morning and had a very extensive map. The girls laughed and shared in the chocolate Amalia Shafiq had brought with her.

Really, Allegra thought as she got herself ready for bed, her mother had been right, this was the start of a new adventure.