September 1971 - First Year - Age 11

Any anxiety that Esme had previously before she had boarded the train, the few hours she had spent with James and Sirius had pushed it to the back of her mind completely. The three were all pushing and shoving each other in an attempt to get to the front of the crowd before they entered The Great Hall for the sorting ceremony.

"I'm Donahue, so I'll be before you two!" She exclaimed, side stepping the two wrestling boys and moving in front of them.

"Unlucky Donahue, I'm Black so I guess I'll be taking that place." He brushed himself down and took a haughty step in front of her, grabbing her by the top of her head and pushing her back a step.

James groaned; "This might be the first time I've ever regretted being a Potter. You two will already be sat at the Gryffindor table well before I will be. You better save me a seat!"

Sure enough, Sirius had been the first in his family to break tradition and he proudly pumped his fist in the air as the Gryffindor table erupted with applause when the first student of the year was placed with them.

Soon after, Esme took her seat in the stool and listened to the hat as it whispered in her ear. Sirius held her gaze the whole time, dramatically gesturing that he was saving the seat next to him for her and clasping his hands together in a praying motion.

Again, the Gryffindor table broke out into applause as the sorting hat announced Esme's house. James gave her a fist bump on her way to her table and as she sat down, Sirius grabbed her shoulders, shaking her wildly as he cheered with the others.

It was another two students before the huffy girl from earlier, Lily, was called up. Sirius elbowed Esme in the ribs, making sure she was paying attention. "Look!" He insisted.

"What else do you thinking I'm watching?" She asked him sarcastically, shoving his elbow away though she couldn't help but grin back at him. He had a rather infectious smile.

"Gryffindor!"

"Very interesting. I'd like to know how this one plays out!" Sirius muttered to Esme whilst they both clapped along with others.

Esme watched the small, sad smile she gave to the Severus boy before nervously making her way over to the table, sitting down opposite Esme.

Name after name was called and eventually, after a small and rather terrified looking boy called Peter took his seat next to the lanky and pale looking boy named Remus, it was finally James' turn.

As expected, he got his wish and he confidentially strolled over to the table, acting as though he hadn't been worried at all. He daren't mention to anyone that the hat had mentioned the idea of Slytherin.

"As expected." James announced when Severus was sorted into Slytherin.

"Looks as though they've sorted Slytherin by the amount of grease they've got in their hair this year." He continued, grinning proudly as he managed to gain a few laughs from some of the older students of Gryffindor.

Esme laughed along but felt a little guilty when she saw how uncomfortable Lily looked. She was now alone and without the one person she seemed to have taken a liking to.

"Oi..." Esme hissed across the table as the feast began and everyone began talking amongst themselves excitedly. She nudged Lily's foot with her own under the table, causing her to look up.

"It's just a house...who cares. It's where you sleep and who you have classes with. That's it." She told her quietly, giving her a reassuring smile.

Lily looked at her, seemingly unsure if she wanted to trust the girl she had already fallen out with only hours ago.

"Yeah...you're right..." Lily nodded, smiling back at her timidly. She supposed she was going to have get used to her one way or another- they would be sharing a dorm after all.

January 1972 - First Year - Age 12

"You'll never guess what me and James have just learnt in the library." Sirius announced, falling down next to Esme at lunch. They had arrived late and as a result there wasn't much left so Sirius began picking at what was left on Esme's plate.

"Pack it in!" She complained, her mouth full as she slapped his hand away.

"Pack it in" Sirius mocked her northern accent, laughing at her as he poured himself a drink.

"I'm more worried about why you two were in the library at all." Remus remarked.

Peter snickered at Remus' words but stopped immediately when James and Sirius shot them both a glower.

Remus' smile didn't disappear as he sensed the humour behind it but Peter being Peter, he was still terrified he was going to upset Sirius or James and as a result be kicked from the friendship group he had managed to join.

"As we were saying..." James continued, taking a break to down a cup of water.

Whilst Esme was focusing on James, Sirius attempted to slide his hand in from the side to grab some more food.

Without even looking, she slapped at his hand again. He was far too predicable which said a lot considering they had only been friends for four months.

"Yeah, so...me and Sirius were in the library and we happened to be talking about our lovely half breed here..." He gestured to Esme fondly who rolled her eyes at the dig. It was what most of Slytherin called her.

"-and we thought, while we were there...we may as well do a little digging about Veelas..." Sirius jumped in.

"We skipped the boring parts, but do you want to know what the best part is?" James turned to Remus and Peter who were looking back at him curiously.

"It means in a few years, she's gonna be fiiiiiit" Sirius lengthened the word for as long as he could, only stopping when James hit him with a half eaten bread bun.

"Idiot. We agreed I could say that part!" James exclaimed.

Meanwhile, Esme's felt the blood rising to her face. She was absolutely horrified at the thought of any of these boys finding her remotely attractive either now or in the future.

"Shut up." She growled, ducking her head down and shoving a forkful of food into her mouth.

"I wouldn't worry about it, you've got a good few years being a freaky little half breed yet..." James laughed.

"Then maybe I'll allow you to be my girlfriend in fifth year." Sirius waggled his eyebrows at her despite the fact she wasn't even looking at him.

"Why? No one said anything about you becoming fit in a few years." She shot back.

"Well that's already pretty obvious. I mean, look at me now! I can only get better from this point."

"I'm going!" She announced, rising to her feet and pulling her bag onto her shoulder as the group of boys continued to roar with laughter.

"Finally!" Sirius cheered, pulling her plate in front of him and throwing a cherry tomato into his mouth.

He called after her once more as she stormed down the Great Hall, the tips of her ears now beginning to match the shade of her face.

"Don't worry about it, Es! You could be full Veela and I'd still be the better looking one! It won't ever be your burden to bear."

"Still insist on being friends with a group of boys?" Lily asked her, having left the same time as she saw Esme leave. She was practically running to match her friend's pace.

"If any of them ever find me attractive in any way. That's the end of that friendship."