Chapter 5

(1971 September 1st continued)

Before Emily could respond a soft knocking on the compartments door interrupted their short-lived conversation.

Emilia couldn't see past the red of the closed blinds. Jumping from her spot, she went to open the compartment door. Before her hand had even touched the handle, she came face to face with two people.

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry! You didn't respond so I assumed it was empty!" A girl with hair colored as bright as a fire, stood before Emilia. Again, before Emilia could even speak, she was immediately cut off.

"Sev and I will just find another compartment, we saw that there were open ones down the way. Real sorry to interrupt."

The girl was about to make a dash down the hall, but before she could make it very far, she had collided with a different boy who emitted an almost animal like squeak. Emilia heard another long string of apologies from the red headed girl, and some additional high-pitched noises that resembled "it's okay."

Sticking her head outside of the compartment, Emilia, saw the girl and her companion helping up a rather stout looking boy. His shaggy, mousy brown hair fell just short of his eyes, Emilia smiled.

As the girl from before and her companion had already run off (Emilia caught the boy muttering something about the girl's clumsiness, and the reaction of the girl- which was to lightly shove him into the wall), Emilia went to grab the boy's bag that had fallen to the ground.

"You lookin' for a place to sit?" Emilia asked the boy.

"Uh- oh ye- yea. I haven't been able to find a-a free one yet. I'av only just gotten on though, I ne-nearly missed the train with me mum and gran…." Both his stammer and his affliction for rambling due to his social anxieties did not go unnoticed by both Emily and Remus.

"Well you can come sit with my friend and I." Emilia gestured to the two of them, as well as the opened compartment door.

"W-with you?" The boy's eyes, although seemingly impossibly, widened more than they had already. Standing now in the door of the compartment, Emilia handed him his bag and offered her hand to help with his trunk.

It didn't take much more convincing, as the boy was already scrambling into the compartment.

After a couple of hours, the three children had found themselves happily snacking on some candy that Emilia had bought from the trolley (with a few sickles she had stored in her trunk). They talked freely, and although the boy, whose name was found to be Peter Pettigrew, was rather shy, he too began to open up to the other two children.

"What house are you two hoping for? I don't really mind where I go as long as I got friends like you two!" Peter seemed almost euphoric as the other two merely smiled and looked at each other.

With a shrug Emilia responded with "I dunno. Probably Ravenclaw. I 'av a few family members that were in Ravenclaw, and I do enjoy reading and that seems pretty Ravenclaw-ey."

"Did you just say 'Ravenclaw-ey'" Remus let out a short laugh- Peter was quick to join in as he too added "And I'm guessing Remus would be in Ravenclaw too because his name starts with R and that's pretty Ravenclaw-ey too right?"

Conversation was quite similar for the majority of the ride until they were once again interrupted by a short and curt knocking on the door, before it quickly slid open.

"Hullo, you lot look like first years correct?" Without really waiting for an answer, a rather tall and lean, older looking boy began to talk.

"We're getting close to Hogwarts and you all should be getting dressed into your robes soon here. There are both boy's and girl's Lavatories at the end of the trolley if need. Once you exit the train, you will meet the grounds keeper, who will lead you by boat to the castle. Good luck at the sorting- I am Chester Coy, head boy and former prefect of the noble Ravenclaw house." Nodding at the three as if they were one, the boy turned on his heels and left as quickly as he came.

After the door of the compartment had shut with a soft click, Emilia stood and began to retrieve her robes from her trunk.

"I'll go try to find those lavatories he mentioned. You lot can get dressed in here and I'll just knock when I'm back."

"Alright Em, sounds good." Already assisting Peter with the same task of finding his robes, Remus nodded as his best friend.

As Emilia wandered down the hall, it was easy to find the toilet, as it appeared a short line of other younger girls had already formed. Sighing quietly, she inched her way closer to the wall, as to not take up space in the hallway for oncoming traffic.

After letting her mind wander while staring at the patterns on the wall opposite of her for a few moments, Emilia's gaze shifted to the few people that had begun to line up behind her. While the line seemed to be moving quickly into to what looked to be like a single stall taking up the space of a compartment, there were still about 5 people ahead of her.

Glancing at the person whom stood behind her, Emilia's eyes caught those of the most vibrant emerald green that she had ever seen.

"Oh hey, you're the girl who knocked earlier." Emilia nodded at the red head.

"Oh yea! I'm sorr-"

Really before she could continue another long ramble of unnecessary apologies, Emilia was the one to cut her off.

"It's no problem really. In fact, you and your friend could have sat with Remus and I. We only ended up having one other join us, and I don't really know many other people on the train." Again, giving the other girl a reassuring smile Emily stepped forward as it seemed another girl had exited the lavatory.

"Well that's very kind of you. If I had known that we would have met such bad company in the compartment that we had chosen, I would have picked yours. Some boys were being really rotten to my friend and I, but we've been stuck with them all train ride. I didn't want to be rude and leave you know?"

Nodding with both understanding and sympathy, Emilia again shuffled forward before speaking.

"I can understand what you mean. I'm sorry your company hasn't been too kind too you. We met a boy named Peter- the one you accidentally knocked over. He's quite nice. Oh- by the way, I'm Emily." Reaching out her hand for the other girl to shake, her counterpart smiled sheepishly, as her cheeks were flooded with red.

"I'm Lily. Lily Evans terribly sorry I haven't introduced myself yet. My friend was Severus, whom you saw earlier. Hey if you talk to Peter, do you mind apologizing to him one last time from me? I feel awfully terrible for pushing him over still."

Giving a small laugh the memory of the incident, Emilia nodded. By now, she found herself at the front of the line about to enter the restroom.

"I'll see you at the sorting. I've got to get dressed quick. Sounds like we'll be there soon, and there's others after you that need to get dressed! Talk to you later Lily!" Disappearing into the compartment Emilia smiled to herself in the mirror before her.

Quickly stripping down to put on her robes and plain uniform, she took a deep breath in before straitening her black tie and exiting the compartment. She found herself with Remus and Peter once again, just 10 minutes before the train stopped at the station.

When the train had finally came to its stop, Emilia couldn't help but grab Remus' hand for reassurance as thoughts of uncertainty began to run through her mind, and a knot began to form in her stomach. They were almost, unofficially, officially at Hogwarts. They just needed to exit the train station, go by boat (?) and enter Hogwarts for their official house sorting.

It probably wasn't the time for Emilia to mention that she still couldn't swim well and had an awful fear of drowning.

Through the hustling, large crowd, and intense excitement, Emilia, Remus and Peter had managed to both stay together and follow the large man named Hagrid to the boats. Along the way another boy named Anthony had joined the group. He had buzz cut hair and a toothy smile that seemed to be permanently plastered on his face. The lot didn't seem to mind each other much as all their attention was focused on the castle that would be appearing before them any minute now.

While the sounds of water lapping up against the charmed boats was prominent, the foreboding muttering felt like it was amplified to be even louder. After a long day, all the children were excited to finally reach their destination.

Like magic, the castle appeared before them. Nearly every child gasped in excitement and Remus looked to Emilia, who didn't quite catch his gaze, as she was staring wide eyed in amazement at their new school. He couldn't blame her, as he too was finding it hard to control the excitement that welled within his stomach. It was difficult to process the scene before them. Floating lamps illuminated the dark lake below them, the boats magically propelling themselves forward too.

The boat ride wasn't long, but from the size of the lake it surly should have lasted longer. Nevertheless, the children soon found themselves docked and stepping carefully from boats. No matter how wet their shoes should have been, something, was keeping their toes from freezing over. Emilia gripped Remus' hand, as hers began to clam up.

The Giant led the first years to the castle doors.

Stumbling forward the crowd was shuffled from the protection of the giant to that of a rather stern looking witch named Professor McGonagall. Peering above from her wire glasses she ushered the group through the main entrance and to the large doors of another hall. Emily could hear chattering coming from the other side. From her readings, and the stories she knew what was to come. Past the doors was the great hall, and at the front of that, was where they were to be sorted.

She didn't listen to the introduction that the witch gave, nor the instructions either. With each passing moment her face became hotter and her heart began to pound harder and harder. Her hand never left Remus'.

In a blink of an eye (or at least it felt like that), she found her self at the front of the great hall. Hundred of eyes on her- well actually just the first years in general- as the sorting had begun.

Adols, Ambers, Biks, Black, Boccoms… Fiddo.

Her hand slid from Remus' and unable to feel her body as it was shaking so violently, she found her way to the front of the group. Clambering up to the stool, sitting on it and feeling a reassuring hand on her shoulders, the hat was placed on her head.

It took only a moment really- it felt like ages and yet the hat only whispered the beginning of a sentence in Emilia's ears before erupting with the name of her new home.

Some students clapped, but her house let out the loudest cheers. Emilia was numb. Walking forward she was welcomed with many head nods as the clapping continued. Finding her way to an empty seat, she sat.

The sorting continued. Glancing down, her black tie had changed to green and silver. And somehow that was that. Her friends didn't join her that night. In fact, Remus was only able to give her one desperate glance, before being swept up by his fellow house mates, and all of his new-found friends. He was greeted by Sirus Black, and later James Potter and Peter Pettigrew followed them. He looked happy- probably the happiest he had ever been.

Emilia was happy for him; however, she was only eleven, and as she sat across the hall, with the perfect view of her best friend, and the many friendly faces that she had met on the train, tears began to well in her eyes. She couldn't control it, and it was quite an embarrassing scene, as older students either sneered or sympathetically nodded her way. It took not just until the end of the sorting, but until the end of dinner, when Headmaster Dumbledore gave his goodnight parting speech, for somebody to speak to Emilia.

"Come on now. You're here quit the sniveling and follow us back to the dorms."

While the unfamiliar boy's words held no sympathetic meaning, nor softness, his eyes showed more understanding then Emily expected. Nodding quickly, she wiped the tears from her eyes, grabbed one last pastry before quickly following in line with the other first years. She never did quite learn who that boy was, nor would she ever remember him really.

As expected the dorms to the house of snakes was located deep in the dungeons, below the black lake, and the only way to enter was to prick your finger on the sharp gem located at the bottom center of the portrait to the right of the entrance. Once your blood had been recorded you were able to come and go as you pleased for the rest of your Hogwarts years. It really just functioned through recording your dna as the muggles do, but being the Slytherin house, blood would be the preferred method. Surly a pureblood wizard wouldn't just spit on a gem- that would be tacky. So here they were, first years trembling as those with faint of hearts pretended the sharp pain didn't have an effect, and the older Slytherins watched and greeted their new members, as they entered through the doorway.

The whole process didn't take long, and Emilia soon found herself towards the back of the group, when everyone had gathered in the common room.

Most of the older students had since gone to bed, a few stayed to watch.

The prefects gave their speeches, directed them to their respective rooms, and like snakes let out of a box, they all split off for bed in a mad dash.

Emilia said hi to her new roommates, everyone was cordial enough- and only quickly changed before going to bed.

For the first time in a long time, she felt hopelessly and completely alone.

Emilia awoke far before her roommates, and even before the sun. Unable to sleep much longer she rose and quickly gathered her items to begin the day. Something stopped her though. She set her toiletries down and her fresh uniform and rummaged around her trunk for some muggle paper and pen.

Sitting on her bed she paused before writing her letter.

Dear Nicholas,

Remus and I weren't sorted in the same house. I've been put in Slytherin. I feel as lonely as I have ever felt. I hope in your travels that you have stayed safe. Tell Tiki and Rafi I say hi.

Love,

Emilia

Her eyes only scanned it for a second before she called for Ava. Not really sure how one sends a letter from the bottom of the lake, she followed her barn owl who flew to the door of her dorm, giving her almost a patronizing stare. Opening the door, she disappeared down the hall. Assuming the letter would reach its destination, Emilia continued to get ready for the morning.

By the time she had finished showering her roommates were just beginning to rise for the new day.

"How did you get up so early? I can barely roll out of bed. Usually my house elves need to drag me out of it!" Suddenly exclaimed a girl with brunet hair.

Before Emily could respond, another cut in.

"Oh for sure, me too! Me mum always gets on me for being a proper lady and how a proper lady must never be late, but what I don't understand is having to get up so early all the time."

Smiling at the other girls Emilia spoke. "I couldn't sleep and find it better to just get up then to lay in bed. I'm headed to the great hall for breakfast if anyone would like to join me."

As it seemed, none of the other girls were nearly prepared for the day, as they scrambled about, muttering how their house elves are usually there to assist them, and that they weren't really even sure where everything was packed in their enchanted trunks.

Shrugging to herself, Emilia grabbed her new school bag before leaving for the great hall.

It wasn't that difficult to find her way, as the Slytherin common room seemed to be tucked away in some corner of the dungeon. Only one staircase could you see your way up to the 7th floor. That was the very same one to take to the great hall.

She didn't see many others aside from the professors and a hand full of older students at each house table. As hers was the furthest from the entrance, Emilia had a moment to fully appreciate the view before her. Light trickled in from the large glass windows, and above her was a nice and blue sky, despite the fact that the sun was still rising in an pallet of oranges and reds outside. Taking a seat at one of the table somewhere towards the middle, Emilia began to eat a few poached eggs and toast. It wasn't long before people began to trickle in at an increasing rate, and the hall was soon full.

Emilia received her schedule, and once again was left in relative solitude as she ate her breakfast scanning through what her day would look like.

Monday

9:30-10:50am Herbology (w: Ravenclaw) 1hr 20 m.

11:00am- 12:15am Charms (w: Ravenclaw) 1 hr 15m.

2:00pm – 3:30 Transfiguration (w: Gryffindor) 1 hr 30m.

4:00pm – 5:00pm Flying lessons (w: Hufflepuff) 1hr

Tuesday

9:30am- 11:00am Potions (w: Gryffindor) 1 hr 30m.

11:15 am- 12:30 History of Magic (w: Hufflepuff) 1hr 15 min.

2:00 pm- 3:30pm Defense Against the Dark Arts (w: Ravenclaw) 1 hr 30m.

3:45pm -4:45pm Herbology (w: Gryffindor) 1 hr

Wednesday

9:30am -11am Transfiguration (w: Gryffindor) 1hr. 30m

11:15am-12:30 Defense Against the Dark Arts (w: Ravenclaw) 1hr 15m.

2:00pm- 3:30 Flying Lessons (w: Hufflepuff) 1hr 30 m.

3:30pm – 4:30pm Charms (w: Ravenclaw) 1hr

4:45- 5:45 Herbology (w: Ravenclaw) 1hr

Thursday

10:00am- 12:15 Potions (w: Gryffindor) 2hr 15 min

1:30pm- 2:45pm History of Magic (w: Hufflepuff) 1 hr 15 m.

3:00- 4:00 Defense Against the Dark Arts (w: Ravenclaw) 1 hr.

11:00pm -12:00am Astronomy (w: Gryffindor) 1 hr

Friday

11am-12:00pm Charms (w: Ravenclaw) 1hr

2:00-3:00 Flying Lessons(w:Hufflepuff) 1 hr

3:15-4:15 History of Magic (Hufflepuff) 1hr

Note: All students are expected to utilize the following given map, to come be at class on time. Meal times are as follows:

Breakfast: 7:00am -9:00am

Lunch: 12:00-2:00pm

Dinner: 4:30- 6:30pm

Please speak to your head of house or a Prefect if you are facing any troubles.

Smiling to herself, Emilia was excited for her first day of class. As it was a Thursday, Emilia was pleasantly surprised to find that her classes did not start until 10:00. Noting that it was only 8, she finished her food quickly before returning to her dorm room.

Her room was completely empty upon her return. Taking a moment to organize her trunk, she grabbed all her books for the day and her parchment and quill. Deciding to read for the remaking hour and a half before she had to leave for Potions, Emilia actually began to look through her potions book, writing down a few first day notes while she was at it.

Entering the potions room alone, Emilia had found herself at her class in only 5 minutes. Turns out potions was just down the hallway from her common room. Entering quietly, she was greeted by the shout of a familiar voice.

"Em! I was looking all over for you this morning. I've saved you a seat."

Sitting in the front row was Remus, smiling at her with his lopsided smile, his statement was followed by a few childish giggles and taunts as his new Gryffindor friends watched Emilia go from startled to excited.

"Sure thing Rem."

Sitting behind him were both the two boys that he had sat with earlier- Sirius Black and James Potter. To the right was Peter alone, but facing the other 4.

"How was your morning Remus?"

"It was great! I'm rooming with all of this lot, and they could barely drag themselves out of bed. Had to basically round them all up and might'av well just put on their socks and shoes for them!" As his comment had set off a series of mild assaults from his new-found friends, Emilia stifled a laugh. Shaking her head at the lot, she watched as more and more Gryffindor and Slytherin first years entered the potions room. She recognized a few people from the train, but the rest were a all fresh faces. She knew she would learn their names soon enough.

Just as it turned 10:00 a rather round looking man, with very pink cheeks came bounding in. Clapping his hands together and walking to the front of the room he began to speak.

"Good morning, good morning first years! As many of you know, I am Professor Slughorn. I am the head of the great house of Slytherin, but none of you Gryffindors worry, I have a soft spot for those who are brave at heart. It takes a certain type of person to stomach the intensity of many of the potions that you will be brewing with me in your 7 years. Today's first lesson will be rather dry, but suppose that's all right as we need to go over many basics for the school year!"

Professor Slughorn rambled and for the majority of the class went over safety precautions, random facts, and expectations before diving right into their first potion. Emilia and Remus worked like a well-oiled machine. Their objective wasn't very difficult, as their task resembled a muggle science project. They just need to add various ingredients at certain times to make it change colors, and textures. They were to record their results after each stage (written on the chalk board), and bottle up a small flask of it.

It was no surprise that come the end of the class, many of the first years were sweating, and somehow Remus and Emilia were completely composed, and had completed their task to perfection.

"Ah well who might you two be?" Professor Slughorn had somehow snuck his way up from behind. Emilia turned to respond.

"I'm Emilia, that's Remus."

"You're in my house Emilia, aren't you?"

"Yes Professor." Bowing her head, both her and Remus watched him lift each vile to his face and examine it closely before reading their little chart that they made.

"This is perhaps the best first lab I have seen in quite a while. Congrats my children. 5 points to Gryffindor and Slytherin." Professor Slughorn walked to the front of class, conjuring a basket for the others to put their vials and notes into for a grade.

Beaming at each other, the children began to pack up quickly for lunch (it felt like they just had breakfast, yet Emilia's stomach rumbled with hunger).

Throughout the day Emilia met many other first years and while she didn't see Remus or his friends for the remainder of the day, she knew that she would have Astronomy with them that night.

Their classes went by in a breeze and as quickly as Thursday had ended, Friday came to a close as well. By the time it was Saturday, Emilia had been exposed to more magic, and more people then she would have thought. So excited with her new school, by the time Saturday came she had completely forgotten that it was the night of the full moon. She would be transforming in the Womping Willow.

At 9:00pm the two children met at the entrance of the great hall. It was almost curfew and most of the students had gone back to their rooms. Standing tall, was Dumbledore awaiting for the school healer to accompany the two to where they would be transforming.

Leading the 3 out of the castle as quickly and discreetly (perhaps he cast a notice me not charm) as possible, the group soon found themselves in front of large tree that's branches were twisting and swinging violently as if it was in a storm that nobody else could see.

Silently, Dumbledore lifted his wand and cast a spell. Instantly the tree fell still, and he led the way through a small tunnel that began at the bass of the tree (impossible to see while it was moving.)

After walking through the dark and cold underground tunnel, the children soon found themselves in makings of a house. It looked like a rather old and run down home, but a home nonetheless.

"Your parents informed me that you two have transformed together before. This will be no different and we will be leaving you two here for the night."

With sadness in the children's eyes, they just nodded. By the time the other two had left, the children began to explore the home that they were in. It only took another hour before the excruciating pain had come, and the children's screams had turned into howls. Despite the fairy tale they had been living for the past few days, there were still monsters in their closets- or rather (much more obviously), with in themselves.

A/n thank you for reading. More to come for their first year.