Next update will be on Sunday, sorry: exam time! Hope you'll all understand - here's another long chapter. Also, my first review! Thanks queenofthefallenfics, you made my day!

Time seemed to fly by after that. Emma quickly learned that the older Slytherins were probing for weaknesses in everyone, and they didn't seem to hold a grudge against the fact that her family was in Gryffindor. As long as she didn't give them a reason to hate her, they didn't. In fact, she and Narcissa became friendly, if not friends, and Lucius sometimes helped her with her transfiguration homework, in exchange for her running errands for him. One thing the first years had picked up on was that everything was an exchange, and everything was allowed. Show your weakness, and someone will find a way to use it. Show a strength, and you'd suddenly find people clamouring to be your friend.

Those were the times she missed James and his straightforward honesty. Besides, his knack for picking up transfiguration spells might have helped her. McGonagall loved him, and whereas another might have got detention, he was merely let off with a stern warning. Several times.

Emma was better at Potions, which quickly became one of her favourite subjects, and she quickly became one of Slughorn's favourite students. He paired her with Lily Evans and if their potions were perfect, he let them keep them afterwards. Needless to say, Severus Snape wasn't very pleased. The older Slytherins were pressuring him about his friendship with a Mudblood, and a Gryffindor to boot, so he didn't see much of Lily as it was.

The girls in her dormitory soon became her closest friends, though she got her revenge on Helen by turning her shampoo pink. Nobody suspected her, and it was put down to a faulty delivery. In fact, the ones giving her the hardest time were the Gryffindors. Though the hatred between Slytherin and Gryffindor was legendary, they nursed a special hatred towards Emma, who thanks to Sirius was now known as a traitor to her family, even though no one chose where the Sorting Hat placed them. Thankfully James ignored his stupid friend, and they discovered the invisibility cloak their father gave them in the Astronomy Tower one night. After that, two nights a week they would pick a place in the castle to explore, and laugh at Filch getting annoyed with Mrs Norris over "nothing".

One October night, they discovered the kitchens. House elves bustled around, making sure that they stuffed themselves with pumpkin pastries, treacle tarts, and hot chocolate filled with tiny marshmallows. James excitedly told her that it was Sirius's birthday soon, and Emma drew the cake James wanted to surprise his best friend with. Though they didn't get along well, she wanted to help James, and she secretly hoped that Sirius hating her was just a show. When James talked about him he seemed like a completely different person. The cake was in the shape of a roaring lion. The house elves made it so that it wouldn't crumble, James bewitched it to shake its mane, and Emma found a charm that made it talk. They burst out laughing on the first try: James had been trying to imitate Sirius's voice, and the lion somehow ended up sounding like Peter Carson, a rather dim-witted Hufflepuff boy they swapped stories about. James decided that it just would not do, and they devoured the whole cake in a single evening. The second attempt was put off for several days, as they both came down with a "stomach ailment" that had Madame Pomfrey shaking her head in disappointment.

And then suddenly, the Christmas holidays were upon them, and it was time to go home. Their mother was ecstatic, telling them how the house hadn't been the same without them. Sirius and Regulus both agreed to ask their parents if they could come for the New Year's. In the carriage on the way to the train, Sirius joked that their mother would be ecstatic at the opportunity to try and marry him off to a pureblood other than his cousins, and they all laughed at that, even Emma. She caught Sirius's eye, and for a split second there was an understanding between them.

On the train, Emma sat with Alecto and a few other girls from the first year. They reminisced about the past four months, and marvelled at how the year passed so quickly. Emma and Alecto amused the others by using a couple of charms they had learnt, taking advantage of their magic before the start of the holidays. Emma was in the process of turning Alecto's chocolate frog yellow when the Slytherin prefect slid open the compartment door.

'Listen up everyone!' she started, before frowning. 'Alecto, I wouldn't eat that chocolate frog if I were you.' The frog had turned a murky colour with a yellow tinge. Needless to say, it did not look appetizing. Alecto started to speak before the prefect cut through with a wink. 'If I don't hear about it, I can't deduct points. Anyway, I was just going to say that we're almost in London. You lot had better get changed quickly.'

'Aww,' whined Sophie Parkinson, looking sadly at her robes. 'I was hoping to show off my new Slytherin badge to my parents.'

'Me too,' agreed Lucinda. 'They'll be so happy and besides,' she tossed her hair over her shoulder, 'green's always been my colour.'

Everyone laughed, and started pulling their trunks down to stow away their robes.

'Um…I forgot my jumper in James's trunk,' she said.

'I find it so weird that James has your jumper,' Lucinda said. 'I mean, how did it end up there?'

'Well, we shoved our stuff into the trunks at random when we arrived at Hogwarts,' Emma said, putting on a guilty look.

The rest of the girls laughed and shook their heads, but Alecto gave Emma a knowing look. She and Regulus alone knew that Emma had hidden her school House from her parents up until now. Sliding open the compartment door, she made her way down the train, peering at the compartments. She was so occupied that she bumped into someone without looking.

'Oh sorry,' she said automatically.

'Save the apology,' Severus Snape said with a sneer. 'You may have everyone else fooled, but not me.'

'Um, what?'

'Strutting around the school like you own it. You're so like your brother you make me sick. How did you do it huh? Pretend you're a Slytherin?'. He lowered his voice. 'What are you doing for the others to let them give you special treatment? Tell me!' He grabbed her wrist, and Emma gasped, trying to squirm out of his grasp. 'How come you're allowed to hang out with a Gryffindor? Fine, don't tell me. How long do you think you can last until everyone realises that you're just a pathetic, treacherous Gryffindor and -'

'And what, Snivellus?'

Sirius Black, of all people, was standing in the doorway, twirling his wand, looking like he hadn't a care in the world.

'I think he was just about to say that he needed to wash his greasy hair,' James appeared, a lop-sided grin on his face.

'You know what James? I'm in a generous mood. Why don't we give it a wash for him?'

'Excellent idea, Sirius.'

'Scourgify!' they both yelled in unison, and bubbles started appearing among Severus's lanky locks. When he tried to rub them out, they only multiplied. He cursed and headed towards the bathroom, shooting them a filthy look over his shoulder.

'Thanks,' Emma said, turning towards Sirius.

'I needed something to do,' he shrugged. 'I was bored.'

They both knew that he wasn't just bored. So Emma just gave him her most sincere smile, and internally forgave him for everything he said at the start of the year. Though she was slightly embarrassed at James coming to save her yet again, and coming to tell him her worries, yet again. But she couldn't turn back now. Neither of them could ever hide anything from each other. James was already giving her his "worried brother" look, but he knew better than to ask about it in front of Sirius.

'So,' Sirius said, slinging an arm over her shoulder. 'What brings you to our side of the train? Come on, let's introduce you to the rest of the gang.' He pointed to a short, plump boy. 'That's Peter. No not the Hufflepuff Peter, this one's cool. And this,' he pointed to the other boy with floppy brown hair, who waved at her shyly, 'is Remus.'

'Hi,' Emma said awkwardly. She knew them from sight, but not much more. She wanted to get to know James's friends, but if they were already in London she had about fifteen minutes before they arrived. 'Hey James, you have my jumper.'

This was what she loved about her twin. He took one look at the school robes folded neatly in her arms, understood, and said nothing. He took out a jumper that was clearly his, but it would fit her anyway so it didn't matter, and declared dramatically that it was his brotherly duty to make sure she got back to her compartment safely. His friends all laughed, and they emerged into the slightly more private corridor. Emma pulled on the jumper, which was ironically red with gold snitched stitched into the sleeves. At least her dad wouldn't suspect anything until they got home. Hopefully. She had carefully ignored any House-related topics in her letters, and had tactfully replied to inquiries with answers such as "you were right about the moth-eaten armchairs! The one to the left of the fire is my favourite". True, but not true.

'You still haven't told them,' James said quietly.

'I thought it would be better face to face,' she replied.

Her twin looked at her with the special look reserved for idiotic replies. They both laughed, but it soon died down.

'They'll be fine about it,' he reassured her.

'Yeah maybe Mum, but can you imagine Dad's face?'

The whistle blew as the train entered the station.

'Looks like I won't have to imagine.'

'So?' Charles Potter asked excitedly as their mother left to check on the food. 'Let's see you in your House robes!'

They were sitting in the living room around the fireplace, watching - and occasionally helping - their mother make her speciality: Sunday roast. Even though it was Saturday. It had always been James and Emma's favourite meal, and the Hogwarts roast didn't quite come up to scratch. All the car ride home, the twins had babbled about their lessons, funny stories about spilled potions and wrongly-cast spells on classmates, just Hogwarts in general. Their parents had laughed in all the right places, and quickly established what was whose favourite class: James loved Transfiguration like their mother; they both enjoyed Charms, and Emma shared a talent in Potions with Charles.

Their father had joked that his lessons had all paled next to Quidditch, so they would have another discussion in their second year about the positions they wanted to play. When James and Emma had both immediately replied chaser, and teased each other about the goals they would mark against each other, Charles had assumed they were talking about tryouts.

Now, James bounded up the stairs and Emma traipsed after him, wondering what to do. James suddenly stopped in the hallway and turned to her, but she ushered him back into his room. She knew how much being a Gryffindor meant to him, and how long he had held it in just for her. Besides, she had an idea. Well, half an idea. She stared at the robes with their snake sigil and green lining folded in the top of her trunk, and took a deep breath.

'Mum!' she yelled. 'Mum I can't find my trunk!'

'It's on your bed honey,' Natalie called back up to her.

'Well it's not anymore! Where did you put it?'

As expected, her mother came grumbling up the stairs. When she spotted Emma standing next to her trunk, she frowned furiously and opened her mouth to scold her, but quickly shut it and the door when she saw what her daughter was wearing.

'Oh Emma,' she sighed, and the eleven-year-old burst into tears, running into her arms.

'I'm so-sorry,' Emma sobbed. 'I di-didn't know how to tell you, and Dad -' she sniffed noisily. 'I don't know what Dad would say. I didn't want to ruin it for James. I didn't do it on purpose.'

Natalie Potter sighed and pulled a tissue out of the box on the bedside table. As her only daughter blew her nose, sniffling all the while, she wondered not for the first time about the effect that the Houses had in Hogwarts. Of course, it helped you find friends with similar basic personality traits, and studies showed that you integrated better but…The problem was the rivalry. She herself had been subject to a Hufflepuff-Ravenclaw competition, but Gryffindor and Slytherin were different. And then this. Charles wasn't the only one to carry on a House rivalry into his older years. Looking at her daughter, she had to hide a smile thinking about the ruse to get Natalie into the room. There was a lot of Charles in her: proud, unwilling to show fear. She wondered why her daughter wasn't in Gryffindor. Then again, Emma was always the quiet, cautious one compared to James. She thought about the little girl's words: I didn't want to ruin it for James. They had waited so long to have children, Natalie was glad that she had twins. She was worried at first: she had heard of the rivalry, the fighting and problems with twins, but James and Emma were like two parts of one person. They seemed to have a sixth sense on how to help each other, and that comforted her when she sent them off to Hogwarts. She hoped that the House rivalry wouldn't tear them apart.

After a little while, Emma's sobs subsided, but it took many words of comfort before she went downstairs. By that time, James was holding up an imaginary sword in his favourite Gryffindor expression, and telling his dad all about his exploits with the Fat Lady and her silly passwords. When Charles noticed Emma standing in the doorway he got up off of the sofa.

'There she is! Found your robes then? Come here and give your old man a good look.'

James watched awkwardly from the side, wanting to help but not knowing what to do. Emma had put on a brave face after her moment of weakness: she didn't want her dad thinking she had inherited no Gryffindor traits at all. She walked up to her father, who hugged her and twirled her around, laughing. It was only when he set her back down that he noticed the colour on the inside of her robes.

'Emma,' he said in a strangled voice. 'I think they mixed up your robes.'

'Nope!' she said, opening one side so that he could see the lion sewn into the side. 'I'm in Slytherin Dad. Didn't I mention it in my letters?'

'You most certainly did not.'

'Emma,' her mother warned, but now that it was out in the open, Emma felt a reckless giddiness take hold of her. It was surreal.

'What's the matter Dad?' she teased. 'You thought I'd be in Gryffindor just because James is?'

'They've made a mistake,' he said, shaking his head. 'No child of mine could possibly be in Slytherin. They're not good enough for you.'

'Well apparently the Hat thought they were. Maybe I'm just not good enough for you.'

'Maybe,' Charles agreed, before he realised what came out of his mouth. 'Emma, I didn't -'

'Mum!' James said loudly. 'The stove's on fire.' And so it was.

'The onions!' Natalie moaned, rushing over to her wand.

In the end dinner was saved, but the damage had already been done thanks to Charles. James was quiet all throughout dinner, and Emma picked at her food. It was quickly over with and as the children went up to bed Natalie shot a reproachful look towards her husband.

'You could have handled that better,' she started.

'I know.'

'She's our daughter Charles. Not some thick-headed prejudiced meat-head from your old school days. She's the same person she was this summer. The children she's been sorted with aren't responsible for the crimes committed by our generation and Grindelwald. They probably don't even know about the Muggle hatred. Emma doesn't. All she knows is that she's scared her father doesn't love her anymore because of a two thousand year old Hat.'

'I know,' Charles replied, a little angrily.'

'You need to fix this.'

'I know,' he sighed, running a hand through the messy hair their children had inherited. His was completely grey now, a reminder of how late in life they had their children. Both knew they had to make every year count.

As Emma was about to turn off the light, she heard a knock on the door.

'Can I come in?' Charles asked, ducking his head through the doorway.

'You already have,' she grumbled, but she was secretly hopeful.

He sat heavily on the end of her bed, folding a blanket that she had kicked into a pile.

'I won't say I'm not disappointed you're in Gryffindor. I won't lie. And I have to admit that Slytherin is a shock too. But you know Emma, I'll let you in on a little secret. The reason that most Gryffindors and Slytherins hate each other is because they're reminded of themselves. Gryffindors put on a brave face and pretend they're never scared. Slytherins are too proud that they need help once in a while. And both are fiercely loyal to their House. But a Slytherin will never admit that they're glad a Gryffindor tried something first, and a Gryffindor will deny the fact that they want to succeed just as much as Slytherins do. I'm just sad that I won't be able to share the same Hogwarts experience as you, that's all.'

Emma thought about this for a little while. Then she reached under her bed and pulled out a silvery cloak. 'We can share this.'

Charles laughed, and ruffled his daughter's hair. It had grown during the first term, almost to her shoulders. Yet another difference between her and James. He hoped that the differences would stop there.