Emma's heart was in her throat. She barely noticed Dumbledore's speech, and had lost her appetite. Even bearing in mind that her Dad had said to enjoy the feast as much as possible - and she and James took these mock challenges very seriously - the supposedly delicious start-of-term food tasted like cardboard in her mouth. She was dimly aware of Regulus trying to talk to her, but he soon desisted upon seeing her gaze fixed upon the Gryffindor table, and settled for giving her a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.

Regulus, for his part, wondered how Sirius was feeling, but it seemed that he and James were laughing and joking like no tomorrow.

'How am I ever going to talk to James again?' Emma asked suddenly. 'He's going to hate me. He probably already does.'

The boy felt slightly affronted at that. Was Slytherin really so bad? He was in Slytherin, wasn't he? But he pushed those feelings aside - after all, he was used to doing that sort of thing - and thought about it. He had seen James's look after his twin's Sorting, and he didn't seem angry, only worried, and maybe surprised, but so was everyone else. So was Regulus, for that matter. He felt an odd twinge of jealousy. He wished his brother cared about him as much as the twins seemed to; Sirius had barely glanced his way. He was just about to offer these words of comfort when the food vanished. The Great Hall immediately went silent.

'I hope you've all enjoyed this meal. I know I did!' Dumbledore patted his belly, much to the first-years' surprise. 'Prefects, lead our new students to their respective dormitories. As for the rest of you: off to bed!'

'Follow me, first-year,' a tall bossy-looking girl said, before sweeping off towards the exit.

Emma followed her dejectedly, still worrying. I brought this upon myself, she thought. I wanted to be somewhere without James, and now he'll probably never want to speak to me again...

'Emma! Emma!'

She would have recognised that voice anywhere.

Sure enough, James's tousled head appeared, breathlessly squeezing itself through the mass of Slytherin students.

'Emma!' he said again when he got closer. 'I want you to know: you'll always be my sister. No matter what House you were Sorted in.'

'Even if it's Slytherin?' she asked in a small voice.

'Who cares?' James asked joyfully. 'I heard that that the Slytherin common room was in the dungeons. The Gryffindor one is in the tower, so more coverage of the castle to discover its secrets!' His face took on a dreamy expression.

Emma's face broke into a grin, the first in hours, and she grabbed her brother to hug him as tightly as possible.

'Tell me your timetable tomorrow!' he lowered his voice, 'and there's still Dad's present. Don't unwrap it without me.'

And with those words, the eleven-year-old's worries vanished. She hurried after Regulus and the gaggle of first-years disappearing around the corner.

'Find James then, I take it?' he asked, taking in her beaming appearance.

'Yup!'

They fell into a comfortable silence as they descended into the candle-lit dungeons. The prefect stopped in front of a seemingly normal alcove in the corner of a side passage.

'Whomping Willow.'

The alcove's wall slid into the ground to reveal a spiralling staircase. It led into a rectangular room with low ceilings, lit only by a flickering fire in the middle of the back wall. There were huge windows on either side, reflecting an eerie green glow into the room. Above the fireplace was a huge banner of a snake, and what Emma supposed was the symbol of Slytherin, as the name was etched into the bottom of the fabric. Similar cloth was draped on the side of the stone walls, presumably to keep the chill out. The first years stared awestruck as a ghost rose from an armchair, saluted, and drifted off through a wall.

Emma instantly liked it. Regulus would later say that it was the soothing sound of the lake lapping against the windows, but Emma personally thought it was the old squishy leather armchairs and sofas grouped around the fireplace. The prefect showed them the way to the boys' and girls' dormitories before sweeping back out the way she came.

As Regulus turned to say goodnight, Emma felt a wave of guilt rush over her. Here she was, bemoaning the fact that she was in Slytherin and away from her brother, and Regulus was in the same situation. Except that Regulus actually wanted to be here. How is he not insulted right now?

'Listen, Regulus,' she started sheepishly. 'I'm sorry for hating on Slytherin. It's just that James and I have never been apart. We even share the same room at home! Though I am trying to work on that... But anyway, I wanted to say thanks for being a good friend. I mean, we haven't even known each other for that long but -'

She was cut off by Regulus laughing at her. 'No it's fine. We can be friends.'

'Cool. Well, good night I guess. See you tomorrow.'

By the time she made it up to the first year's dormitory, the other girls were already getting ready for bed. The bed closest to the window was empty, except for a trunk, and she suspected that the other girls didn't really want a view of the giant squid in the morning. They stopped what they were doing as she walked in. A girl with almost luminous white skin and long red hair plaited down her back was the first to act.

'Hi I'm Alecto. I guess we're roommates now. We,' she gestured to herself and the other two girls, 'all got to know each other already. No need to ask who you are: Emma Potter, right?'

'Yeah no need to ask who you are,' repeated a sneering girl with short brown hair. 'How did you fool the Sorting Hat?'

'Um, fool the hat?' Emma asked, frowning.

'Yeah. We all know you're just a blood-traitor spy. Don't expect to get cosy here or anything,' the girl retorted, before Alecto rounded on her.

'Shut up, she's a pure blood like us. Just because her family's in Gryffindor... Emma here obviously knows where her loyalties lie.'

Emma didn't know whether to thank her, or get angry at her. Her loyalties? She had been in Slytherin for not even one day! Though she knew how seriously the Houses were taken...

'At least she's not a half-blood,' the mean girl faltered under Alecto's fiery stare.

'Hey! Half-blood is better than none,' said the last girl in a sing-song voice. 'Ignore Helen, she's an idiot. We grew up together, she's not actually that bad once you get to know her. I'm Lucinda by the way, Lucinda Rosier.'

Whilst Emma digested all of this information, the other girls, having satisfied their curiosity, all got into bed, drawing their curtains closed for privacy, and it was over as quickly as it had begun. She realised that most of the Slytherin house, if their reputation was to go by, would have a similar reaction to Helen. Potters didn't belong in Slytherin, and she'd better not forget it. As if to prove her point, a flash of colour caught her eye on the inside of her school robes.

Though the neutral Hogwarts insignia had automatically changed to green and silver upon her Sorting, there was an inside pocket with a little gold lion sewn onto it. Inside has a note, folded into four.

This is how much we're sure of you getting into Gryffindor! I can't wait for your first owl to tell me how you found the common room. Some of your best years will be spent in that tower!

Love Dad

I'm sorry dear, your father really is full of himself. I sewed the lion on there so that you'd remember to be brave. I remember my first night at Hogwarts - after the initial excitement, I began to feel very homesick. So this way, you bring a little bit of home with you. I've done the same for James.

Love Mum

Tears sprang to Emma's eyes, and she shredded the paper in a fit of rage. Like she could believe her mother's story. She knew that her dad had begged her mum, and that her mum had probably capitulated, thinking there was no harm to it. After all, her house Ravenclaw was very close to the Gryffindors. Emma doubted either of them would believe where she really ended up in. Closing the curtains around her, she curled up in a ball and cried herself to sleep.

The next morning saw her blearily pouring cereal into a bowl while trying not to yawn. She had taken an extra-cold shower that morning to wake up, but the restless night still showed. Luckily, most first years couldn't sleep on the first night anyway, usually from excitement.

James had made sure to appear at the Slytherin table to wish her a good morning, and prove that he didn't care about her House at all. He told her about his new roommates: Remus and Peter, and how an instant friendship had formed between the four of them. He said that she would like them, and would like her to meet them for lunch if it was a nice day. The unspoken agreement was that they should eat lunch with their respective Houses if not. They saw that they had Potions and Charms together, and the Quidditch practice was for all years anyway. James moaned in a typical James fashion about having to learn broomstick basics again, but Emma was looking forward to flying. She had learnt that first years weren't allowed to fly unsupervised and she knew that she would miss it.

When Regulus appeared at the Slytherin table, his eyes slid to James and then to the Gryffindor table. He blanched for a second, and the twins followed his line of sight. There, between the heaps of bacon and eggs, was Sirius, staring murderously at James. The latter sighed, and swung his legs over the bench.

'Catch you later, Ems',' he winked, before sauntering off to his friends.

Regulus rolled his eyes, but made no pretence at trying to eat anything. Trying to take his mind off it in return for his support from the night before, Emma suggested that they made their way to their first lessons of the day.

The rest of the week passed without much incident, but on Saturday Emma realised that she had to write to her parents. She decided to sit by the Black Lake, feeling odd seeing it from above water this time. Soon, a pile of crumpled parchment was by her side, and she was throwing pebbles into the lake in frustration.

Dear Mum and Dad,

Guess what? I'm in Slytherin -

Dear Mum and Dad,

I don't know if you already know this by now, but I'm -

Mum, Dad, I'm in Slytherin -

In the end, she copped out altogether.

Hi Mum and Dad,

How's your week been? Hogwarts is good, the sight from my room is amazing! (no lies there) I was disappointed that first years weren't allowed their own broomsticks, but I guess you've already got mine and James's back by now. Luckily Fluffy's still here, keeping the end of my bed warm, and looking out for potential intruders! So far my favourite class is Potions, or maybe Charms. I made some new friends, Regulus Black, I think James might have told you about his brother Sirius, and a girl called Alecto Carrow. She's really nice, but she doesn't understand why I like Potions so much. She thinks that Defence against the Dark Arts is the most interesting subject.

The weather's nice here, I'm writing from the Hogwarts grounds. There are no holidays for Halloween, so we'll see each other at Christmas.

Lots of love from

Emma

Hopefully, they wouldn't notice the gaping hole in her letter.

The next day was Sunday: the traditional day normal post came in - a little dig at the Muggles. Every owned owl came in, post or no post, because treats were served in little bowls at breakfast for them. Emma made her way to the Gryffindor table where her brother was joking with Sirius.

'Hey James,' she smiled. 'Mind if I borrow Elewyn?'

'Sure, no problem,' he replied, gesturing towards the snowy owl greedily eating out of Sirius's hand.

Sirius stiffened as she gently tied the roll to the owl's leg and told her the destination. Emma looked at him questioningly. 'Did she dig her claws in?' Elewyn had a nasty habit of doing that before taking off.

'No,' he replied coldly. 'I just don't take kindly to Slytherins sitting at my table.'

'Watch it, that's my sister!' James warned, before turning to Emma. Why don't we go and see what Dad's gift is, now we have the time?'

'But, I -' she tried saying as James steered her into the Entrance Hall. 'What was that for?'

'Just before you arrived, Sirius got a Howler from his parents. He's in a bad mood,' her brother explained, then shifted awkwardly. 'I think it'd be better if we came to see each other outside of the Great Hall. Some of the Gryffindors have told us stories about the older Slytherins, and... well... it's not exactly pretty.'

Emma was hurt and surprised, and James seemed to see that, because he tried again. 'Look, I'm really sorry. You're my sister, you always will be, but I'm scared the Gryffindors will get riled up if they see someone from Slytherin appearing at our table. The Great Hall is supposed to be some kind of "truce" place, and they think it's being ruined and... I don't want you to get hurt. You know, the old Gryffindor act before you think thing.'

His attempt at a joke stung even more. They weren't James and Emma anymore, they were James the Gryffindor, and Emma the non-Gryffindor, and it had only been a week. A couple of students were looking at them curiously, and Emma realised she had tears in her eyes. She cast around for something to take her mind off it.

'Wait, if Sirius got a Howler, how come I didn't hear it?'

James coloured at that. 'Well, he got it but -'

He was interrupted by a shriek, and they hurried into the Great Hall to see a mass of students craning their head to look at the Gryffindor table.

'SIRIUS ORION BLACK! WE GAVE YOU A CHANCE TO REDEEM YOURSELF, YOU ONLY HAD TO GET SORTED, FOR MERLIN'S SAKE, AND YOU MANAGED TO RUIN EVEN THAT! DID YOU THINK ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES TO YOUR FATHER AND I? WE'VE BEEN ASKED WHETHER WE MISTREATED YOU AND DROVE YOU INTO THE ARMS OF THOSE MUGGLE-LOVING TRAITORS. WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED IN YOU, AND DON'T YOU DARE SAY IT WAS THE HAT'S DECISION. EVEN THE POTTER GIRL MANAGED TO HONOUR HER PURE BLOOD BY GETTING INTO SLYTHERIN. WE WILL BE HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS WHEN YOU GET HOME, MARK MY WORDS. AND DON'T YOU DARE SPEND TIME WITH ANY MUDBLOODS WHILE YOU'RE THERE.'

James and Emma looked at each other with horrified expressions. A Howler was rare, and this one seemed extreme. Plus, Sirius's mother hadn't exactly been the most tolerant person of what must have made up half of the student body. Glancing towards the Slytherin table, Emma noticed that Regulus had sunk as far into his seat as humanely possible, whereas Bellatrix, his cousin, was looking particularly smug. No doubt she was the one to inform her aunt of her cousin's transgressions.

When the angry woman mentioned Emma, she reddened. No doubt her father was feeling the complete opposite of Walburga Black's words. But she hadn't expected half of the Gryffindors in the room to turn around and stare at her in disgust. So far, she had flown under the radar with them, as they were preoccupied with Sirius, but no doubt that would change now. Her gaze flickered towards James, who was looking half-bemused, half-protective, as though he sensed a danger but didn't really know what it was yet.

But the worst was Sirius. He slowly got off the table and walked stiffly over towards the twins.

'Have fun with my family,' he said scathingly, before pushing exiting the Hall. 'One wasn't enough for you, was it?'

'Emma,' James began, but his sister cut him off.

'Go after Sirius, James. He probably needs you more than me.'

And I can't hide out in the Slytherin common room if you're following, she added privately to herself.

James rushed off after his friend, and Emma made her way down to the dungeons as quickly as she could without running. However, a group of older Slytherins blocked her path before she got to the entrance.

'Slytherins only, Potter,' a tall blond boy stated coldly.

She wordlessly pointed to her badge, but a heavy-set fifth-year boy slammed his arm across the passageway when she tried to get past. Startled, she jumped, and the rest of his group laughed.

'Aww, is wickle Potter scared without her brave Gwyffindor brother?' the girl she recognised as Bellatrix Black taunted.

'I don't know what you're talking about,' Emma replied, her heart beating quickly.

'Simple,' the brawny boy said leeringly. 'Either you're with us, or with them.'

Emma stared at him.

'You have to spell it out for her, Rodolphus,' the blond boy smirked. 'After all, Gryffindor blood runs through her veins.' He turned to Emma. 'Sorry, Rodolphus is only good for flexing his muscles. What he means is, we've seen you gallivanting off with the Gryffindors. Now, I'm a fair-minded man, so I'll excuse you for now. But we're your family now. That means that everything you do reflects upon us. I understand if you want to see your brother, but make it private. We wouldn't want people having the wrong impression now, would we? How could a Slytherin ever trust you if you're secretly Gryffindor at heart? So make a choice,' he leaned closer and whispered in her ear, 'and remember who can get to you when you're sleeping at night.'

The eleven-year-old stammered a reply and ducked under Rodolphus's arm into the common room. She heard the older students laughing, but none of them tried to follow her. Luckily, most students were either at breakfast or enjoying the last few days of summer in the grounds. Though it was a warm day, the fire was lit.

I suppose the sun can't reach under the lake, she thought to herself, sitting down on the rug and hugging her knees to herself. This wasn't supposed to have happened. She felt sorry for Sirius, but she felt more sorry for herself. Hogwarts was supposed to be a magical place, the best seven years of her life. A chill went through her that had nothing to do with the temperature of the room, and to her dismay she started crying.

A few minutes later she felt a tap on her shoulder.

'Hi,' Regulus was awkwardly squatting next to her, wringing his hands. 'I remembered you saying that you liked Quidditch on the train.'

She quickly, if not graciously, wiped her face with her sleeve and took a deep breath. To his credit, Regulus didn't react. She was grateful for it.

'But McGonagall said first years weren't allowed,' she frowned.

'The way I see it,' Regulus grinned, 'we're only not allowed if people see us.'

Emma felt a grin forming on her face despite herself. Her troubles forgotten, she scrambled up excitedly and followed him to the grounds, where they pretended they were second years picking up a broomstick for practice. Luckily Madam Hooch was occupied with some new Bludgers, and didn't look too closely at them.

'Now we just need to find somewhere we can't get caught,' Regulus said.

'The Forbidden Forest!' Emma exclaimed at once. At his shocked look, she went on. 'No one will think students are sneaking in on a Sunday morning. It's usually at night and stuff.'

Regulus conceded that she had a point, and they snuck around the gamekeeper's hut into the woods. Emma had never been in the Forbidden Forest before, but she had imagined it to be dark and gloomy, with giant spiders everywhere, and lots of other mythical creatures. She supposed they all came out at night, because they soon came upon a sunny clearing, and the forest was just like the one behind her house: a slightly damp smell and toadstools everywhere.

Though the broom was only an old Shooting Star and kept on flying to the left, she didn't care. She was free - or as close to free as a witch could get - and the slight breeze felt good on her face. They flew around in circles so that the leftward flying didn't matter, and as all young wizards do, they tried to make a sort of tornado with the air currents, loop around to end up exactly where they were before, and generally had a good time. When Emma finally landed, she had forgotten all about the morning's incident and she was breathless from all the laughing. Her stomach grumbled noisily, reminding her that they had missed lunch. As they raced each other back to the castle, she thought that maybe being in Slytherin wasn't so bad after all.