Check it out! This is the longest post ever! 4600 words just for you! Previous entries were not even half this amount. This is to last until June 20th. I'll be going away tomorrow. I'll miss you all! Muackx! Thanks for all your reviews!

Chapter 26 (and a few other chapters... really I think I should call it Post 26 instead of Chapter...)

I felt a sharp jab in my heart and it shattered to pieces. My brain could hardly register the moment. I couldn't believe it... I was sure... But... It can't be! No... My thoughts were drowned by a sudden wave of applause and a series of whistles and ape-like calls from the right side of the hall.

"No..." my weak voice said, downhearted and dejected.

The hat was suddenly whipped off my head and I hesitantly got to my feet. The Slytherin table seemed so far away. I couldn't bear to look towards the Gryffindor table... I couldn't bear to see Sirius', James', Remus' and Peter's face when they see me... a Slytherin. A nasty scheming Slytherin.

I collapsed into the long bench, right inwards to allow space for the first years. Thankfully, the one next to me was a girl.

She had strawberry blonde hair, wire straight and silky running down her back towards her waist, bright green eyes, fair skin and a highly arrogant look about her.

"Hi," I uttered quietly, wanting to start off on the right feet. I better accept it.

The girl raised her carefully plucked eyebrows. "Hi," she replied.

"Reine."

"Christella Trepe," she said proudly.

I managed a weak smile and proceeded to watch the first years being sorted.

"You didn't seem too happy to be sorted into Slytherin," she said matter-of- factly.

"I er..." I didn't know what to say. What should I say?

"Well, you should thank the sorting hat for placing you in Slytherin... it's the best house there is. None of those undeserving filthy Mudbloods and Half Bloods..."

"They're not filthy..." I muttered.

"What did you say?" she retorted. "Friends of them are you... Well, I say you'd better change your attitude if you want to be accepted at all here..."

She glared back at me with narrowed eyes and turned away.

Luckily, the last of the first years had been sorted and the house tables were already filled up. An old elderly wizard with a long white beard stood up and raised his arms welcomingly to the school, a smile spreading across his lips.

"Welcome to yet another school year," he said, pronouncing every word clearly. "This isn't the time for long speeches, so all I have to say is tuck in!"

There was a small laugh of approval and suddenly, food appeared on the empty silver plates and goblets. The gentle clinking of forks and knives against the glass echoed throughout the hall, while the students chatted happily with friends. The smell of delicious cooked food wafted throughout the hall, enough to whet anyone's appetite.

But I didn't feel like eating... I felt so horrible inside... Just a few heads across, two tables away, were the Gryffindors. I could see Sirius, James, Peter and Remus laughing and joking. I felt hurt... have they forgotten about me already? Trying my hardest not to look at them, I spooned some soup and stared down at it.

Christella let out an annoyingly high-pitched fake laugh next to me, flicking her golden hair back vaingloriously. My eyes wandered towards the Gryffindor table again. I wanted to look away, but they seemed fixed there.

James was leaning backwards in laughter while Sirius talked animatedly. Peter had his mouth full with potatoes and holding back his laughter at the same time, while Remus was looking at him in disgust.

And then it happened. Sirius's eyes locked with mine. For a second, we both didn't move. I hoped he could see the disappointment in my eyes, but a split second later, he was smiling again at his friends. Unsure of what had really happened, I stared back onto my plate and continued to eat.

Did Sirius just pretend he didn't see me? Did he think of me differently now that I'm a Slytherin? I knew he hated Slytherins...

I didn't know anything anymore.

I stepped down the trapdoor in the dungeon floor. I looked sadly around at the room. It was large but not homey. The sofas were jet leather black and hard, there were no windows as were underground, the carpets were a sinister green and silver with sprawling snake-like patterns on them and the fireplace provided no warmth.

The second to seventh years headed towards the sofas and some of them down the spiral staircase while the Slytherin prefect, the same person who met us at the train was explaining about the common room to the first years.

He brushed his head of oily hair back as he droned on about boys and girls dormitories.

"Well welcome to Slytherin house," said a gruff voice behind my back.

I whipped around and instantly backed away into a nervous first year, who yelped almost losing grip of his toad. It was Avery.

"Don't have your little bodyguards to protect you now, is there doll?" He asked casually, smirking as he paced leisurely around the spot.

"Whatever," I muttered making to walk off to the common rooms, where I can be in the safety of the girl's dormitories. I tucked my arms close to myself.

But he grabbed my shoulder jerking me back into place with ease.

"Let me go before I call a prefect," I warned, frowning at him.

He guffawed heartily but didn't let go of my arm. I tried to pry his fingers away but they were as stiff as pliers. I pulled my arm hard, but he just laughed. It had come to the worse...

I withdrew my wand and pointed it at his Adam's apple, tip just an inch away from it. It bobbed up and down slightly when he gulped.

"Let. Go." I warned.

"Now do you really want to curse me in front all of these prefects?" He asked slyly, stroking a finger against my cheek again. At this again, the gallantry vanished as quick as the wind. I turned around, hands covering my cheek, shivering. I ran away. He didn't hold me back that time.

I flew down the stairs, my eyes suddenly blinded by hot angry tears. I didn't want to be in this house... I wanted Gryffindor... or at least somewhere else where I don't get disturbed by people or get pushed away. It was so wrong. I didn't know how I fit into Slytherin... I wasn't like any of them!

I felt a strong sudden urge to destroy the Sorting Hat. To tear it up into a million pieces and set it on fire! I opened the door right at the foot of the staircase and ran in. I was then standing in front of many doors, each with a silver plaque with the words 'First Years', 'Second Years' and so on. I marched into the 'Seventh Years' dormitory and slammed the door behind me.

Looking around frantically for my bed, I spotted my trunk at the foot of one.

"Look!" hissed the other girls to their friends, but I just threw myself onto my bed and wrenched the hangings shut to block out the stares.

I buried my face in my pillow to drown my angry sobs. I wanted to give everything I owned just to be given a chance to change houses. I took deep breaths to calm myself down, then I flipped on my back and stared at the dark green canopy.

"Has that crybaby stopped bawling yet?" Came a snobbish voice when the door clicked open.

"Yeah, Christella couldn't bear be in the same room with trash like her," added another voice.

And suddenly my anger exploded like a dam in my chest, I pulled open the hangings so hard I heard a small tear.

"I'm just here you know!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.

"Oh I'm sorry," said Christella, putting a hand on her chest and pretended to look sorry. "Did we hurt your feelings?"

I growled. "You're such a b----- you know that!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.

Christella's smug smile faded and she looked at me with burning hate. We stared furiously at each other for a while before she turned on her heel, flicked her hair and sashayed off to her bed.

I was in the courtyard... sitting on a bench. Remus was next to me, talking.

"Remus, come," said Sirius giving him a meaningful look.

Remus turned away from me and looked at Sirius. We were having a conversation... but I didn't know or remember what it was about.

"What's the rush?" Remus asked irritably.

Sirius's dark eyes darted from me to Remus but he didn't answer.

"Yeah, Remus, hurry up," called James suddenly appearing from nowhere.

"You go on ahead if you have to," said Remus.

Sirius sighed heavily and marched toward us. James followed close behind.

"You don't want to be seen hanging out with her," Sirius said coldly, not troubling to keep his voice down.

I couldn't seem to reply. I wanted to say something back, but it was as if my mouth had glued itself shut. I just stared upwards at him. He suddenly looked taller and more impressive, looking down at me.

"She's a Slytherin," said James casting a suspicious look at me. "They're bad business... you shouldn't be mixing around with one... They're all the same..."

"But I'm not!" I shouted, but no sound came out of my mouth.

"Yes," agreed Sirius. "The sorting hat must have seen something in her... or she wouldn't be in Slytherin... she should mix around with her own kind..."

"She'll drag you to the Dark Side eventually... that's where they all end up..." hissed James.

"You're right," said Remus, getting up.

And suddenly Peter was there, laughing sinisterly. They stared down at me, looking menacing and merciless. And one by one, they turned their backs and walked away, dissolving into mist.

"Slytherins and Gryffindors don't go, Reine," Sirius said simply with a shrug and turned, and like his friends, disappeared into smoke. His last words echoed over and over, as though we were in a cavern... echoing over and over...

And suddenly I felt a sharp jolt in my chest and I awoke. I was sweating, my face and neck were wet and my night gown stuck to my skin. I kicked the sheets away and opened the hangings to allow some wind. My dream... What was it? I just had it at my fingertips... It was slipping away so fast.

I knew it was troubling me... This dream... And then I remembered. Sirius, James, Remus and Peter were there... The Marauders. Sirius... and James, they were saying how they shouldn't befriend me anymore... They didn't want me as a friend anymore...

My logical self snapped back. It was a dream! Just a dream! A figment of my mind... I sighed as I pulled my fringe away from my eyes. A dream... Then why did it trouble me so?

I soon fell back to sleep. Into another nasty dream. The same one I've been having for quite some time now. A nightmare. And every time I woke up, I was in cold sweat, the thought fresh in my mind as though it had happened yesterday, my screams echoed in my head accompanied by his pleasured laughs.

I'd always end up crying. I sobbed bitterly that night on my bed. I felt dirty. I didn't feel pure anymore. I wish I could just end my life right now...

I checked my timetable for the first day of school. First two periods, Herbology with the Ravenclaws... then Transfiguration with the Hufflupuffs... and then we have Lunch. After lunch, double Potions with the Gryffindors and that's it for the day.

I looked at myself in the full-length mirror in the girls' dormitories and sighed. I looked at myself from head to toe. I had worn a hair band over my hair and let the rest down, around my neck was the green and silver snugly nestled under the white collars, on the front of my jet-black robes, the Slytherin crest stood in contrast. It was green, with a silver coiled snake in the middle with the words Slytherin in a banner under the snake.

I swore to myself, after yesterday, to be strong and face what came by. I wouldn't let being a Slytherin ruin my only year at Hogwarts... I won't.

My first class of Herbology went fine, I answered a few questions winning several points for Slytherin and earning jealous glares from Christella and her friends.

It seems Professor McGonagall teaches Transfiguration. She's quite good a teacher, firm yet kind. But she is a bit strict. The Hufflepuffs are a shy and quiet lot, they seem content at keeping low profiles during classes.

After lunch, all the Slytherins could be found waiting along the Potions corridor careful not to get any thing dripping onto their crisp black robes, chatting to one another, their voices echoing against the dungeon walls as they laughed, taunted and made fun of other people. Others were gossiping, I was sure Christella and her best friend, Raleigh were talking about me.

There they were, Peter stumbled into view from the bend with James close behind him, laughing heartily. Sirius and Peter strolled a distance behind them, chatting.

I leaned against the dungeon wall, waiting. One, for the class having Potions right now to be dismissed, and two, for the Gryffindors.

A group of them arrived soon later, chatting heartily with one another, excited at the first day of school. They stopped mechanically at one area along the corridor, well away from the Slytherins. I spotted Remus looking troubled yet deep in thought. He was standing quietly a little way from the Marauders, deeply immersed in his thoughts.

His eyes never moved, they were secretly fixed in one position.

I turned to see where he was looking at. Just a distance away...

Lily Evans?

When I looked back, he was wearing a slight smile. Soon it disappeared and he gave a huge tired sigh.

Just then, there was a shuffle of many feet and everyone streamed through the doors into the Potions classroom.

My Potions teacher, Professor Valentina, was a woman with evenly waved ebony-black hair to her waist, a pale young smooth face, lips as red as a rose and heavily penciled eyes that gave her a sort of gothic look. Under the long inked lashes were cold, stony gray eyes the colour of the winter sky. She wore a long black robe that hugged her figure loosely and a black beaded cotton scarf graced her silken neck.

She was pretty, but reminded me a lot of vampires, they way her pale skin contrasted her inky black hair which reflected the little sunlight from a small window, dismissing the possibility that she might not be human.

"Today, I shall start the year by teaching you one of the potions that would most likely come out in the NEWT Potions practical... Truth Potions," she said with a voice as smooth as her skin. She sounded slightly sinister, and it was nothing short of cold. Se paused, as her dark eyes swept across the room, taking in every face.

"I don't expect most of you to be able to concoct a successful Truth Potion..." she cooed gently, her eyes darting to someone near where Peter was sitting. "Even those who are gifted at potion making," she said, a smile playing with the ends of her blood-red lips. "will find it truly a challenge..."

"Now, who knows another name for the Truth Potion?" She asked the class, looking around at the Slytherin half. A hand shot up at the Gryffindor end, at the front row. She appeared to not have noticed so I hesitantly raised my right arm. She spotted it right away and flashed a smile.

"Yes?"

"Um," I muttered unsurely. "Veritaserum?"

"Excellent, ten points for Slytherin," she said enthusiastically. "Yes, Veritaserum is also another name for the Truth Potion, but less seldom used. If this should come out in the Potions theory, both answers will be accepted. Right, let's get to work shall we..."

"This will be individual work. Instructions are on the blackboard, further details may be found in your potions textbook, page 27," she said, waving her wand across the board. Instantly, white chalked letters began appearing on the board like little spider webs, making out numbers and words.

"You may begin," she instructed.

There was a shuffle of movement as everyone brought out their cauldrons and readied their ingredients. Many students went over to the student store cabinet to retrieve some ingredients needed for the potion. I read the instructions on the board before beginning. I had never seen a more complicated potion.

I collected the ingredients I needed from the store cupboard. Fluxweed, Lavender roots, Peppermint leaves, Scarab Beetles and a dozen others. I dumped everything on the wooden table and began work.

I caught myself casting frequent glances at the Gryffindor end... more specifically at Sirius Black. He was busy concocting his potion, chopping his roots feverishly and often glancing up at the instructions.

Add in pounded Scarab Beetles. I poured the bowl of bluish sand-like substance into the cauldron and it glowed an aquamarine colour. I reached over to slice the Lavender roots when I heard giggling and whispering from the girl next to me.

I didn't know her name but I had seen her in the Slytherin common room yesterday together with her twin sister. She had shoulder-length blonde hair mingled with natural browns, but had traces of green streaks, while her twin had green tips instead. She giggled again while the girl next to her, her sister, whispered feverishly, but loud enough for me to hear.

"You know how that Christella fancies Sirius Black..."

My heart skipped a beat and I strained my ears to catch every word while still concentrating on my potion.

"Yeah, like she already has a boyfriend right? Jake isn't it?" whispered the other.

"Tina, you know perfectly well that Christella is just using him, I don't think she likes him a bit, he's just rich," said the other matter-of- factly. "You know how that spoilt brat likes rich guys who can shower her with wonderful gifts?"

"Totally," agreed Tina while she stirred her potion hard with both hands. Her potion seemed to have become a thick paste. "But Black isn't that rich is he?"

"Well, I heard... from Regulus Black," she added. "He ran away from home... he hasn't got two knuts to rub together!"

"Really, Ren? Why does she want him then?" Asked Tina quizzically.

"What else, but to make everyone else jealous," said Ren as though it was the obvious thing in the world. "Just because Black is one of the most good- looking and popular people at Hogwarts. Duh!"

"Right! Right... Hey I got an idea..." Tina whispered, lowering her voice.

"Miss Florencia?" Called Professor Valentina almost sweetly. "Are you working on your potion?"

"Yes, Professor," the two replied in unison and returned to stirring their potions.

I dipped the last ingredient into my cauldron and it simmered. The last step was to bring it to the sunlight for approximately 7 seconds. I picked up my cauldron by the handle, careful not to touch the hot base and brought it to the windows, where one or two students were already gathered with their cauldrons.

I held it up to the ray of golden sunlight while I counted seven seconds. The potion turned clear like water, but with tiny gas bubbles. I brought it back to my table, filled my flask with the potion and corked it.

"Excellent," she crooned just behind me. "An excellent colour. Bring it to my desk when you're ready. Remember to write your name on it."

I nodded, scribbled my name on the flask and headed to the front of the class while Professor Valentina glided towards the Gryffindors. I placed it in a box which was filled with only one other.

On my way back to my seat, I saw Professor Valentina criticizing the Gryffindor's work.

"What is this Mister Pettigrew?" She demanded, the softness in her voice forgotten. She picked up the ladle, scooped a spoonful and let it trickle back into the cauldron. "What colour is it?"

"Green," muttered poor Peter timidly, cowering under the woman's acid stare.

"Green!" she snapped. "Did you not add the pounded Scarab Beetles?"

Peter glanced up at the black board and winced.

"Re-do it!" She barked. She turned towards Remus' cauldron and examined it, waiting to find a fault.

Just at the corner, I thought I saw someone dart sharply towards Sirius. But when I took a second look it was gone. Everyone was normally struggling to concoct their Truth Potions correctly.

"Mr Black..." said Professor Valentina in a soft dangerous voice.

"Yes, Professor?" Sirius muttered through gritted teeth, feverishly stirring his potion and adding various ingredients.

"Why is your potion so runny?"

"I don't know..."

"How many ounces of Lavender roots did you add Mr Black?"

"One half like it says on the board!" Snapped Sirius, still staring determinedly downwards.

"Don't you use that tone with me," warned Professor Valentina. "If you had added in one half, it wouldn't be so runny!" She growled in a voice that didn't suit her face.

"Miss McKinnon?" She caught me walking past.

I turned hesitantly and faced her. "Yes, Professor?"

"Why don't you teach young Mr. Black here how to concoct Veritaserum seeing as yours is perfectly done?" She said gently, smiling.

I didn't want to. Sirius looked murderous, one arm stirring the potion feverishly while the other held the Potions reference book. His hair was messy, as though he had been gripping it in frustration and his face was shining with sweat from the simmering cauldron.

I nodded hesitantly and she swooped over towards me. She placed one pale hand on my back and ushered me gently towards Sirius. When I stopped next to me, he gave me a vicious glare before returning to concentrating on his potion.

"There is no way to un-do the mistake, Mr. Black," Professor Valentina spat acidly. "There's still time to start over, Miss McKinnon will help you."

"Whatever," muttered Sirius furiously under his breath but Professor Valentina heard it.

"What did you say?" She demanded. "I shall not allow such rudeness in this class, Mr. Black! You should be thankful I'm giving you another chance."

"Yes, Professor," Sirius muttered.

"I will check on both of you later then," she said a lot happier, taking out her wand and clearing the cauldron with a flick.

She glided away to supervise other people and Sirius burst into furious mutters, complaining about absolutely everything. He opened up his book on the table and flipped roughly through the pages, making one of them tear. He swore loudly and continued flipping towards page 27.

I was debating with myself whether I should talk to him or not. He seemed on the verge of exploding. His hand seemed to be shaking as he diced his Fluxweed into unequal pieces.

"D-do you need help?" I offered timidly, talking slowly and carefully.

"No," he growled, keeping his eyes down.

"If you're mad at me..."

"I'm not mad at you!" He barked as he threw the Fluxweed into the cauldron.

"Why are you acting like such a jerk then?" I blurted, taking the Lavender roots and chopping them. Hard.

"If you think I'm such a jerk, maybe you shouldn't hang around me then?" He suggested sarcastically. "Like all the other Slytherins."

I kept quiet and continued slicing the roots. I weighed them carefully before pouring them into the bubbling cauldron.

"I didn't mean it that way..." I muttered.

"Listen, you're a Slytherin, I'm a Gryffindor, we're different," said Sirius exasperatingly.

"We were fine before I was sorted into Slytherin..." I pointed out miserably.

Sirius didn't reply but worked on pounding his scarab beetles hard. The rest of the time was passed in uncomfortable silence and when the potion was almost finished and left to boil, I sighed, put down the knife on the table and left without saying anything.

There was nothing I could do anymore... I returned to my seat just as Professor Valentina called for attention.

"Class, please finish up on your Truth Potions and place them on my desks before you leave," she instructed. "We shall be testing them tomorrow."

A while later the bell rang and everyone cleared up their cauldrons and ingredients. I swung my sling bag over my shoulder and trudged out last. I had the rest of the afternoon off and nobody to spend it with. Most of the students headed for the courtyard, while the more hardworking ones went to the library.

I headed back to the dormitory, thinking of finishing up my homework. When I got there, the common room was almost empty. I settled on a table in a corner alone and swung my bag onto the table. I glanced once around the common room for any sign of company. There wasn't a single soul in sight except for a dust-coloured cat on the sofa.

After completing a few pieces of work, more people entered the common room, not much but a few. The Florencia twins too, entered, giggling to each other as usual. They settled at the other end of the table I was at and began talking to each other.

And again, they didn't seem to mind that I could hear them. Probably it was just nothing... or maybe they thought that someone as insignificant as I am hearing their secrets wouldn't make much of a difference.

"So, what we do is..." said Tina excitedly. She drew out a piece of parchment and an eagle feather quill.

"We write a sappy love-letter to Christella, saying it was from Sirius..." she said grandly as though revealing the secrets of the universe.

"And she'll reply to us..." continued Ren. "Thinking that we're Sirius... oh it'll be hilarious!"

"Okay... let's begin," said Tina, her quill poised over the parchment. "Hmm... My dearest Christella..."

"I didn't know how to do it... But I realized that this was my last chance to tell you..." said Ren.

I glanced over at them, but they were too absorbed in writing the letter to notice.

"Ever since I laid eyes on you, Christella... I have fallen into love's trap... Every time waiting, for a chance to say how much I truly loved you... I want to spend the rest of my life with you Christella, to love you, and care for you... I live to be with you," giggled Tina maliciously as she wrote down in cursive writing.

I knew I should say something. But I didn't want them to know I was interfering. So I kept quiet and pretended I wasn't listening. Soon after, they left the common room and I was alone again. I packed the rest of my books and parchment into my bag and brought them downstairs to the dormitories.

I went up to the common room again and decided to head over to the grounds before dinner.

I stepped out to the orange red sky. The sun was just setting beyond the horizon, just behind the small village of Hogsmeade. I went up to the highest point of the hill and settled down on the grass, staring out straight into the distance.

The sun that set here was different somehow... Or maybe it was the absence of someone who was there with me the last time I watched it set. I thought back at that sweet memory. But that's what it is... just a memory. I still couldn't guess why Sirius hated me now... just because I'm in another house. Slytherin. I just I had to go on without him... silly crushes will be forgotten. I'll put it behind me... it was just a little crush, that's all... just a crush.

I could use a friend right now... I sat there, not waiting, just trying to get in touch with my thoughts and my feelings.

I was just about to get up when I heard footsteps.