A/N: Well, dear readers, here is chapter 2. Enjoy.

Chapter 2

Leah made her way back to the compartment she shared with James. She was putting the final touches of her prank against her brother into place. With Serena's knowledge of the secrets tunnels around Hogwarts, Leah figured that her plan would work perfectly.

She walked into the compartment and found her brother talking with another first-year she didn't recognize, which wasn't really surprising; the Potter family was well known and admired, but several families had still fled, fearing another war would destroy the existence they had survived. This boy's parents were probably one of them.

"Hello, brother dear," she said and flopped down onto the seat beside the boy.

"Find anyone?" James asked.

"Friend or foe?" she asked, grinning.

"Who?"

"Malfoy, Snape, and Rosier first and after that I found Serena talking to Black."

"That's nice," James said. "Leah, this is Remus Lupin, Remus, this is my ever insane but otherwise wonderfully clever sister, Leah."

"Flattery will get you no where, James Potter," Leah said before looking at Remus. "It's nice to meet you, Remus."

"Likewise," Remus said.

"So what are you and Serena plotting?" James asked, interrupting them.

"That's for us to know and for you to find out-after we've done it, of course," Leah said. "You'll learn soon, little brother."

James glared at her.

"Who's Serena?" Remus asked.

"Our cousin," James answered. "She's in Slytherin, but Leah here doesn't seem to understand that she's supposed to be the enemy."

"Key words, James; supposed to be."

"Yeah, okay," he said off-handedly. Leah grinned.

~~~

When the train arrived in Hogsmeade, James, Remus, and Leah got off and followed the rest of the first years to the area where a half-giant was calling them over. James caught a glimpse of Sirius Black from Leah's description of him.

James looked around for his sister while they were guided to the boats that would take them to Hogwarts. He saw her getting on a boat with a red-headed girl, Black, and someone else James didn't know.

He didn't know much about the Black family, except what his parents had told him and Leah which was that they were all dark wizards and were most likely following this new Dark Lord Voldemort. James suddenly felt ice drop into his stomach while he got onto a boat with Remus. Black, the heir of the Black family was near his sister. He could hurt her.

Despite the playful animosity between James and his sister, that was all it was, playing. They would never seriously hurt the other for any reason and they were extremely protective of each other. James would do anything to protect his sister and he knew that Leah felt the same.

"James, look," Remus said.

James looked up and caught his first glimpse of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

~~~

Leah purposely separated herself from James and Remus once they got off the train. She heard the classic words that any Potter would respond to.

Mudblood

She caught sight of Snape and Rosier taunting some red-headed girl. Leah pushed past a few others to get there.

"Go back home, Mudblood," Rosier said.

"Why don't you go home, Evan?" Leah asked.

"Go away, Potter," Snape said. "This isn't about you."

"Maybe not, Snape," another voice said. Leah recognized Black at once. "But I doubt that you'd want to piss off Serena Lewis by cursing her cousin and once of her friends. From what I hear, she could make your life in Slytherin miserable."

Snape sneered at Black before he and Rosier left.

Leah looked at Black, but he wasn't even glancing in her direction but instead getting on a boat. Leah sighed and looked at the girl.

"Thank you," she said. "I'm Lily Evans."

"Leah Potter," Leah answered. "That was Sirius Black," she added, pointing towards Black. "Let's go."

~~~

Sirius was nervous. He'd just made a fool of himself and in front of a Potter, no less. He'd helped save a Muggle-born girl from Slytherins. He knew that Snape and Rosier wouldn't forget that anytime soon.

He'd helped a Muggle-born and a Potter by threatening Snape and Rosier.

He prayed that he wouldn't be put into Slytherin.

The first years got off the boats and were lead by the half giant into the school where a stern looking witch in emerald robes was waiting.

"The firs' years, Professor," the man said.

"Thank you, Hagrid," the Professor said. She turned to the students. "My name is Professor McGonagall. In a few minutes, you all will join your fellow students in the Great Hall for dinner, but before you can sit down you must be sorted into your houses. The houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin.

"While you are at Hogwarts, your house will be like your family. Good deeds will win you house points, while any rule-breaking will cost you points.

"Try to make yourselves presentable and I will return for you in a moment."

Professor McGonagall turned and left them. Sirius looked around. Most of the prospective Slytherins were grouped together. Potter and the Muggle-born girl had disappeared, but Sirius didn't care about that.

Even though he couldn't stop thinking about it.

He sighed in relief when McGonagall returned and lead then into the Great Hall where all the other students were waiting and talking. Sirius had never felt more nervous as hundreds of eyes watched him.

There was a three-legged stool upon which a decrepit looking hat sat. Suddenly, the hat burst into song, startling Sirius.

You come before me today

Ready and willing to meet your fate

Do not worry young ones

I will put you where you belong

May it be Slytherin

With those cunning and sly

A place to make real friends

Or perhaps Ravenclaw

With those of intelligence

And a ready mind

Maybe even Hufflepuff

Where loyalty is abundant

And hard work is always loved

But perhaps even in Gryffindor

Where the brave dwell

Because courage is always in the air

So young children

Place me on your heads

And I shall tell you where you belong

It is difficult to separate you

In such times of trouble

But separate you I must

So put me on

And let the sorting begin!

There was silence in the Great Hall for a split second before everyone started applauding. Once the noise had died down, McGonagall began to call names.

"Applegate, Jeffery."

A blond haired boy nervously stepped forward and sat on the stool. McGonagall place the hat on his head and after a few seconds the hat yelled out.

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Baines, Alex."

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Black, Sirius."

Sirius heard the whispers as he walked forward. He saw Potter out of the corner of his eye and she was giving him a slight smile-or perhaps she was smiling at her new friend. Sirius believed it was the latter.

McGonagall placed the hat on his head.

"Well, young Black, I've met many of your family before. All of them in Slytherin, but that is not the place for you."

"Really?" Sirius asked mentally.

"Tis not," the hat continued. "No, there is a much batter place for you, a place where you will make your best friends…"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

The hat was taken off his head and Sirius jumped off the stool. There was a moment's silence in the Great Hall as Sirius began towards the Gryffindor table.

And Sirius knew why it was quiet. He was a Black and he was placed in Gryffindor.

Hell wouldn't even begin to describe what his mother would do to him when she found out, but he didn't care.

~~~

Leah was incredulous, but inwardly happy. Sirius Black was a Gryffindor. It had shocked her, but she remembered the event before they had gotten on the boats. His actions had been the actions of a Gryffindor.

"Can you believe it?" James whispered harshly. "A Black, in Gryffindor."

"Shut it, James," Leah warned. "He's a good person."

"No one from that family is good, Leah."

Leah spun to face him. "He helped me save Lily from Snape and Rosier. He's a good person and I swear to Merlin that if you give him a hard time in front of me, I'll curse you so many times that not even mum will be able to help you. A person's family does not always describe the person."

James stepped back as if she had slapped him. Of course, slapping him may have done less damage. "Fine, Leah, ruin your life and be his friend."

Leah glared at him and turned back to the sorting. Lily was made a Gryffindor and sat down across from Black at the table.

After a while, James was called and put in Gryffindor. Leah noticed that he didn't sit anywhere near Black, but next to Remus Lupin and she sighed as she walked up to the stool after her name was called.

"Another Potter, that makes two of you this year. I hope the professors know what they're in for." Leah could swear the hat was laughing. "So I shall place you with your slightly arrogant brother.

"But remember, young Potter, darkness is coming and the alliances you make this year will affect your entire life. So off you go to…

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Leah got off the stool and walked over to the table. James looked at her, but she only glared at him. In her mind she suddenly made note of something else for her prank as she sat down next to Lily and across from Black.

"Well," Lily said, "that certainly wasn't what I was expecting."

"Never is," Leah answered.

After the sorting was finished, McGonagall removed the Sorting Hat and the stool from the Great Hall. When she returned, Dumbledore stood up.

"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. Now is not the time for speech making so I have only two words for you; Friendship, trust."

And the Great Hall was suddenly alive with chatter when food appeared on the tables and everyone began to eat.

"That is so great," Lily said, grinning. Leah smiled and began to eat.

"So, Sirius," Lily began. Leah watched them. "I never got to thank you for earlier."

He looked up and straight at Lily then at Leah. "You're welcome, though I'd imagine Potter here could've taken care of Snape and Rosier by herself."

Leah glared at him. "And what is that supposed to mean?"

Sirius grinned. "I talked to Serena."

Leah realized that Serena would have warned others about her pranks. Oh well, that just made things more fun. She smiled and the three talked throughout the rest of the meal.

After everyone was well past full, the food disappeared and Professor Dumbledore stood up again.

"I have just a few things to say before you all go off to bed for the night. House Quidditch trials will begin in three weeks. If you are interested, see your Head of House. First year students will be wise to remember that the Forbidden Forest is off limits to all students. Also, this year, a new tree has been planted which Madame Spout calls a Whomping Willow. If would be wise to stay away from it if you wish to retain your limbs." Dumbledore smiled. "Now off to bed with you!"