Night of 1st September 1971

The train ride to Hogwarts was pleasant for Elizabeth. When they arrived, it was dark out. It was a bit chilly as well. The first years were instructed to get onto the boats to travel across the black lake to Hogwarts.

Elizabeth ended up getting a boat with Lily, Phoebe, Marlene, and Mary.

Elizabeth was nervous though. What if she didn't make it into Slytherin? She would be an embarrassment to the family. And she refused to be an embarrassment! She couldn't be! She would make her parents proud. She'd be sorted into Slytherin and live the life that she was destined to have.

"Elizabeth? Are you alright?" Lily asked.

Elizabeth nodded. "Yes, of course. Just a bit nervous I suppose."

Part of making her parents proud would be not associating with mudbloods. Half-bloods were tolerated, but Pure blood was the best. But Lily seemed so nice, she didn't want to be cruel to the girl.

"She's probably worried about getting in the right house, right?" Phoebe asked.

"I will be in Slytherin. I have no doubt in my mind." Elizabeth said, trying to be confident.

If she wasn't in Slytherin, her parents would hate her. Alex, Andy, Anastasia, and Charlotte would hate her. Sirius would hate her! Nobody would care or love her anymore.

Elizabeth was pulled out of her thoughts when they arrived on the other side of the black lake.

Professor McGonagall greeted and led the first years into the beautiful and magical Great Hall.

"When I call your name, come and sit on the stool so the hat may sort you." Professor McGonagall told the first years.

And so she started to call names. She was going in alphabetical order with last names.

Elizabeth was lost in thought for most of it. Only paying much attention when it was somebody she knew.

"Sirius Black!"

Sirius sat on the stool and the Sorting Hat was placed on his head. 'He's nothing like his family, but for the sake of him not being severely punished, I hope he's Slytherin. At least for his own protection.' Elizabeth thought.

The hat was on his head for a couple moments, until it shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Elizabeth could tell Sirius was scared now. She knows he's trying to be brave and not seem scared, but she's known him long enough to tell his emotions just by looking at him.

Sirius went to the Gryffindor table. Elizabeth could see Sirius's cousin, Narcissa, and her boyfriend, Lucius Malfoy, glaring at him. They wouldn't dare attack him now, but he would likely have to watch his back now.

Elizabeth wanted to run over to him and hug him, she wanted to tell him that everything would be alright. But she didn't and she was trying to understand why her caring for Sirius kept growing stronger and stronger. It didn't make sense.

A few names that Elizabeth didn't know were called, soon it was Phoebe Collins's turn.

Phoebe sat on the stool and the hat was placed on her head. The hat was barely on her head before it yelled, "RAVENCLAW!" Sending Phoebe to the Ravenclaw table.

Elizabeth thought the name Collins was familiar, but it finally hit her. They were a decent Pure Blood family, until one of the girls married a muggle and pretty much ruined that. Their perfect image was tainted by one girl's choice to marry a muggle. But Elizabeth didn't know much other than that.

Elizabeth was torn. Did she really want to be in Slytherin? Would she fit into Slytherin? She didn't feel like a Slytherin. With the Pierce name, it would be expected to be in Slytherin, but she didn't feel like she'd fit in there.

Her mother, Christine Pierce, who was born into the Spencer family, was a Slytherin and her family has been Slytherin as well. Spencers and Pierces had been in Slytherin for years.

"Lily Evans."

Lily went up and the hat was placed on her. The hat exclaimed, "GRYFFINDOR!" And she went to that table.

Elizabeth knew before the hat touched her head that Lily wasn't going into Slytherin like her greasy friend wanted. Muggle-borns didn't go to Slytherin. Salazar Slytherin himself would turn over in his grave if that happened. Hell, he might come back from the dead to protest it.

"Remus Lupin."

The skinny brown haired boy from the train went to the hat and was sorted into Gryffindor.

"Mary MacDonald."

Mary went and the hat was placed on her head. "GRYFFINDOR!"

"Marlene McKinnon."

And of course, the hat exclaimed, "GRYFFINDOR!"

A few more names were called and then the hat called the name that Elizabeth was dreading the most, her very own.

Elizabeth got on the stool and the hat was placed on her head.

"Ah, another Pierce. Where to place you?" The hat said to Elizabeth. "I could put you in Slytherin, with the rest of your family, or perhaps I could change things up a bit."

'Slytherin would be the easy choice.' Elizabeth thought.

"Yes it would, but who said anything about easy? You are more than just cunning. There's intelligence. There's loyalty and of course bravery." The hat spoke.

After a moment, the hat whispered to Elizabeth, "You'll thank me for this another time." Then it screamed, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Elizabeth was in shock. Pure shock. This had to have been a mistake. But it wasn't. She broke the family tradition. She would be the family disappointment. She got off the stool and sat at the Gryffindor table, she sat beside Sirius of course.

He put his arm around her back. "We'll be okay. You'll be okay. This isn't the end of the world for us."

"I hope you're right." Elizabeth said in a whisper.

Then it was James Potter's turn. Of course he was sorted into Gryffindor. Another boy, Peter Pettigrew, who Elizabeth thought was one of the boys in the first train compartment, was sorted into Gryffindor. Peter didn't look brave, but Elizabeth didn't either.

Elizabeth was a snake in the lion's den and she prayed she wouldn't be picked on by others just because of her name. She wanted to survive and get through these seven years.

Eventually it was the greasy boy's turn and he was sorted into Slytherin. Lucius Malfoy happily welcomed him. Elizabeth made a mental note to avoid Snape at all times just for that mere reason. It was no secret that Malfoy was in the dark arts and he'd likely get Snape in it.

Elizabeth glanced over to the Slytherin table, hoping she wasn't getting horrible glares from her siblings. Alex smiled. Andy appeared to smile and so did Anastasia.

Elizabeth hoped that was a sign that they didn't hate her. Severus Snape glared at her until Lucius Malfoy stopped him, Liz knew he didn't do that out of the goodness of his heart though.

Elizabeth felt Sirius's hand gently take hers. "I promise we'll be alright. Don't worry." Sirius said, trying to comfort her once again, likely sensing that his best friend was still really worried.

Elizabeth smiled a bit. Sirius did always know how to make her feel better.

Soon the sorting was over and the feast began. The table was loaded with food. Even a rich Pureblood like Elizabeth hadn't seen such a feast in her entire life!

Elizabeth didn't want to gorge herself on the food, so she only got a small amount of food. Enough to take the hunger away, but not enough to keep her up with a horrible stomach ache.

The skinny brown haired boy, Remus Lupin, piled his plate. Poor thing looked starved anyway.

The arrogant Pureblood in Elizabeth was thinking back to the last names of these people and figuring out if she could be friends with them. She didn't want to disappoint her parents. Especially her father. The thought of disappointing him made her scared.

Elizabeth forced herself to stop thinking like that. She would have to write her mother and father the next day about her sorting. Christine would be kinder than Ben, Elizabeth already knew that.

But that was tomorrow. Eventually, the feast was over and it was time to go to the dormitories for the night.

"First year Gryffindors, come with me!" Gryffindor Prefect, Frank Longbottom said.

The first year Gryffindors followed Frank as he led them to their portrait entrance.

"The password to get in is bravery. Please do not forget it because if you do, you'll be locked out and nobody wants to be locked out." Frank explained.

They all stepped in and the common room was beautiful. It looked cozy, especially with the burning fireplace.

"Girls will go with Prefect Alice Fortescue," Frank said, gesturing to the older girl.

"Come along girls. I'll show you to your dorm rooms." Alice said with a warm smile.

The girls went up the stairs to their dorms. Alice had a list of names and which room to take them.

Eventually, Alice got to Elizabeth.

"Alright, Elizabeth Pierce, Mary MacDonald, Lily Evans, and Marlene McKinnon follow me please!" Alice said.

The four girls followed Alice into what would be their shared room for the next seven years.

"Your trunks and everything is by your bed. If you need anything, please do not hesitate to ask! Have a good and safe night." Alice said and left.

The girls stepped into their sections of the room. They ended up taking turns for the shower, then went back into their section of the room and closed the curtains to change.

"Goodnight." Lily said to the girls.

The other three girls said goodnight as well.

Elizabeth layed in bed, her eyes closed. She knew she'd have to write to her parents about the sorting, but she didn't have to worry about that at that very moment. She would need her rest and strength to do it.

But somehow, she felt like she'd be alright.