Edited 5/8/2019
As Harry finished his rounds with Hermione his mind was still trying to process the kiss he'd received and whether or not he was looking too much into it, it was with these hormonal teenage thoughts that the pair opened the door to their cabin to see a tired looking Lillith holding a sleeping Iris.
The small redhead looked like she'd been crying while the elder Potter sister seemed to be teetering between deep sadness and fiery rage, looks of concern were mirrored by both prefects as they entered the room and closed the door.
Each taking a seat next the ravenette witch Harry began stroking Iris's cheek as he asked, "What happened?"
Spitting out a grated whisper Lillith was obviously struggling to control her anger, "Malfoy and his cronies showed up, they tried sexually propositioning me...then Iris..."
Hermione and Harry gasped at this for completely different reasons, Harry in shock that even Malfoy would go that far, Hermione because she knew her Lady well and had no idea were they could hide bodies on the train.
Looking back and forth in sudden confusion Hermione wrapped an arm around Lillith's shoulder and quietly asked, "Where are the bodies, did you hide them already?"
Harry snorted at the 'joke' but Lilly only shook her head, "Didn't touch them, scared the hell out of them yes but they clambered out of the cabin just as the Head Girl was making her rounds..."
Trailing off Lillith remained quiet for a time as she slowly rocked her little sister back and forth, just like her Auntie Bella use to do for her back home when she was young. That thought took her back, her Aunt had been dead five years her time, it had taken a hit squad of fifty Aurors and Hit Wizards to pin her down and even than she was the only one to walk away. Blood loss...what a way for a War-Witch to die...
"What are we going to do? If he made the threat before he may act on it just for spite, and you know his father can get him out of almost anything," Harry stated, Lillith had an idea of what she could do she just wasn't sure if it was a good idea or not.
Turning to her twin she smiled sadly, "I...was wondering, do you still have dads invisibility cloak?"
Paling a bit Harry coughed quietly before hastily whispering back, "How do you know about the cloak?"
Lillith let a single eyebrow raise and just stared at him, eventually he scoffed and rubbed his face in his hands displacing his glasses, jamming them back into place he nodded quickly, "Yeah I have it, why?"
Leaning back into Hermione's embrace she let her head fall back onto the rest and closed her eyes. "I'm going to need to borrow it for a few hours sometime this week, if what I plan works out you and 'Mione will be the first to know, deal?"
Torn between being contrite about her knowledge of the cloak and concern for both his sisters he was about to snap out something when he caught Hermione's gaze, he stared into those fathomless chocolate diamond orbs a moment longer then gave in.
"All right, all right, but you better be careful."
Lillith snorted disturbing Iris a bit but the girl remained asleep, "Don't worry Harry I won't damage your precious cloak ok?"
Eyes narrowing in confusion he shook his head slowly as he threw an arm around her mirroring Hermione's gesture, "My cloak? No I want you to be careful because I don't want anything to happen to you, you're my sister and I love you, I'm just worried you're going to bite off more than you can chew and get yourself hurt."
Blushing a bit at this revelation Lillith buried her face in Iris's hair and whispered, "Oh."
They remained silent the rest of the trip which thankfully remained uneventful, ten minutes out from Hogsmeade station they awoke Iris and changed, none of them were happy about this seeing as they all preferred their muggle attire. As the train rolled to a halt Lillith took Iris's hand in her own and Harry followed suit, as they followed Hermione out into the station they received several odd looks but no one commented on the sudden civility between the Potter twins.
Yet, at least.
"Firs' years teh me! Firs' years teh me!" Seeing the hairy half giant brought an instant smile to Lillith's face, he'd died her fifth year when Umbitch had the ministry raid the castle, it was the same night that the Auror's nearly killed Minerva as well. She fought back the tears that welled up thinking of her gentle friends ignoble death at the hands of MacNair's killing curse, if her bodies former renter had done one thing right according to Hermione it had been befriending this Hagrid. So feeling no trepidation the pair approached the jovial giant who perked up upon seeing them,
"Lilly, Harry! It's good ta see ya boh'," giving them an appraising look as they held onto the petite redhead between them he couldn't help but laugh, "Looks like ya two finally fixed things up between ya eh?"
The twins both smiled and nodded as Harry spoke up, "It ends up things weren't as bad as I thought they were, we'll explain everything later, but first we'd like to introduce someone to you. Iris, this is Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Game Keeper of Hogwarts, Hagrid this is Iris Potter, our little sister."
Iris released her siblings hands and performed a perfect curtsy as she quietly said, "Pleased to meet you sir," while staring up, and up, and up at the smiling man before her, letting out another laugh his massive hand came down and gently patted Iris on the head.
"None o' tha' sir business with me lassie, I'm friends with yer brotha' and sista' and yer mum and da, it's just Hagrid ok?" Smiling and nodding in return Iris allowed the giant of a man to guide her with the rest of the first years, as she turned to face her siblings they mouthed 'Good Luck' at the same time causing her to giggle.
Hermione coughed to get their attention and jerked her head back to the thestral drawn carriages, "Shall we?"
Nodding the pair eache hooked an arm around one of Hermione's and picked the smaller witch up as she gave an indignant "Humph!" that was ruined by her amused smile.
As they neared the carriages a couple in Slytherin robes stood in their path, the female, Daphne Greengrass nodded slowly as she emotionlessly stated, "Potter, Granger, Potter."
Inclining her head slightly as conditioning from a near decade in the snake pit took hold Lillith released Hermione's arm and stood strait, her face becoming an impassive mask.
Daphne allowed an eyebrow to raise while the young man, Theodore Nott smirked slightly before continuing, "Miss Potter we'd like a word with you, alone if you would."
Harry was about to 'Pull a Gryffindork' when Hermione began walking still holding onto his arm, as she passed the pair she nodded dragging the confused wizard along with her.
"That one is well trained, she knows how the game is played," Daphne conceded her dark blue eyes never leaving Lillith's gaze, Theo motioned for the two young ladies to follow him over to where the house elves were unloading trunks onto the landing. Taking a breath he pulled his wand out which automatically had Lilly's aimed at his chest and her knife at Daphne's throat, rather than taking offense the pair smirked and exchanged a knowing look.
Giving the Gryffindor a cheeky grin he drawled out, "No worries Potter, just security charms," eyeing him cooling Lilly slowly lowered her weapons nodding her consent. Theo quickly cast the spells than sighed relaxing a bit, "All right here is what's going on, Daphne and -,"
"-Tracey as well," Daphne quickly cut in.
Theo nodded waving his hand absently, "Right right, Davies too, we've noticed that you've...changed, or rather you're letting people see the real you, would we be correct in assuming this?"
Lillith mulled over how to approach this question but eventually shrugged and nodded, smiling he looked to Daphne to continue.
"Long made short Miss Potter, we want no part in your coming confrontations with Slytherin, while we have to show a united front outside of the common room please note that there are just as many factions and divides in our house as there are in the ministry. We are vilified the school over simply for the colors we wear and the ideals we cherish, so we're stuck in a quandary when forced to support idiots like Malfoy to keep up the facade of house cohesion."
Lillith sighed and shocked the pair as she crossed her arms and muttered out, "The house is all we have, we are villains simply for having the gall to claim what is rightfully ours, do not give our enemies the knowledge that can divide us, we may not have to like each other but we must make them think that crossing one Slytherin will draw the entire snake pits to ire..."
She looked incredibly sad as she finished espousing Professor Snape's first year speech, smiling at the gobsmacked pair she asked, "You want me to know that you three have no part in whatever the junior Death Muncher is planning, pure neutrality correct?"
Theo swallowed heavily not quite knowing how to take the witch in front of him breaking their plans down so expertly so he just chose to simply mutter, "Yes."
Looking back and fourth between the pair she jerkily nodded, "All right, you guys are in the clear, get going I can't have anyone see me walking from the train with you, Gryffindork's are practically xenophobes when it comes to Slytherins after all." The pair exchanged one final look before nodding and walking away.
After they had walked a good distance Daphne broke the silence, "Well that was..."
Fishing for a word Theo threw out, "Unsettling?"
Nodding slowly Daphne took his hand as they approached a carriage held by Tracey, the dark haired girl looked at the pair expectantly, Theo got into the carriage and helped Daphne up. Sighing he let the calm veneer fail as he shuddered slightly, meeting Tracey's worried eyes he smiled lightly, "We're good, everyone else though? Well..." he left it at that.
Lillith tapped her chin thoughtfully before she called her family's house elf,
"Binky!"
A moment later there was a crack and an excitable little elf in a maids outfit began hopping up and down, "Yes Mistress Potter!?"
Smiling down at the little creature Lillith quickly asked, "Did you plant the potions as asked?"
The elf nodded quickly while smiling still, nodding Lillith took a scrap of parchment from her pocket as well as a muggle ball point pen, quickly scribbling a note she handed it to the elf. "I'd like you to remove the potion and hairs from Theodore Notts trunk and stick that parchment in the empty vial, can you do that without getting caught?"
Hopping again the elf affirmed the request, "Of course Mistress Potter Binky can be doing this for you," thanking her the elf than vanished, Lillith left the station and took up a brisk pace as she hopped into the carriage held by Harry and Hermione both of whom looked worried. Flashing them a grin she kicked up her legs to rest her feet on the empty seat opposite of her.
Staring out the window a moment she let out a long held breath as the carriage began to move, "It is going to be an incredibly interesting year you two...I'll explain more after the feast just...give me time to think..."
Nodding the pair of prefects gave her concerned looks but returned to their own conversation leaving the ravenette witch to her thoughts.
Iris was in a bit of a befuddled mood, after her encounter with Malfoy and what Lillith described as 'A crash course on how to screw with everyone you hate' she had initially felt emotionally drained, on top of that after being forced to separate from the twins she'd had an information overload from all the wondrous sights she had seen. So it didn't really surprise her that she didn't remember much between the boat ride and her name being called in the sorting, speaking of which...
"Potter, Iris!" The stern looking Scotswoman stated, gulping nervously she walked up to the stool and climbed up on it, as the tatty old hat was about to be dropped on her head she couldn't help but grin when she saw Lilly and Harry giving her thumbs up and supportive smiles. It was a bit disconcerting how the hat was so big that it covered her eyes, she figured the person who it had been made for originally must have been quite large.
"Quite large indeed my dear, as big headed as they come actually, although you'd never get Godric to admit it," she gasped at the voice in her head, voices in her head?! Oh no! Only crazy people hear voices in their hea-
"Haha! Just like your mother little one, don't worry I'm quite disconnected from your mind, I'm simply a visitor that decides were to best sort you, now lets take a look," Iris had the most disquieting sensation that someone was rooting around her mind like it was a messy car boot, after a few moments the voice returned. "Yes, you're highly intelligent, almost as well off as your friend Miss Granger, hmmm you would do well in Ravenclaw but you're far too much like your parents, you want to use your knowledge not hoard it. Quite loyal, quite loyal indeed, and very hard working you have taken to your sisters lessons quite well, but your loyalty isn't to your house or friends, it is solely to your family. Clever, oh oh so clever and ambitious, you'd do well in Slytherin as well but I sense some fear in you," the images of her encounter with Draco came unbidden, the hat was a bit nonplussed seeing the elder Potter sister throw around Sorceress levels of ambient magic to defend the redhead.
The hat decided to shrug this off for now, weirder things had happened at Hogwarts in its time than a previously hopeless girl coming into her power so it continued where it left off, "No no, not Slytherin, too much of Riddle's influence there right now, hmm. You're brave and courageous, you were willing to take the risk of letting your sister back into your heart after so many years of neglect and the love you share with your siblings has clearly shown you that victory favors the bold, there can honestly be no other choice for you then,
"GRYFFINDOR!" As the hat bellowed her home for the next seven years she was greeted with thunderous applause, as Iris made her way to the other nervous first years she yelped when she was intercepted by the Potter twins.
"None of that young lady," Lillith chided.
Harry nodded quickly and added, "You have all the time in the world to get to know your years mates."
"But right now you get to spend your first Hogwarts feast with the best!" Lillith continued, Harry picked up right after that.
"The bravest!"
"The most humble!"
"The most noble!"
"And oh so beautiful!" With Harry's final statement Iris was in stitches as she was placed between her excited siblings at their bench, looking around at the semi-stalled ceremony she was worried a moment when she noticed the slight smirk on the Scottish woman's face and the twinkling blue eyes of the Headmaster, looking about all the smiling (and somewhat confused) older Gryffindor's, and back to her grinning siblings Iris decided that this year was going to be her best year ever.
Albus Dumbledore was tired, he was tired of everyone looking up to him, everyone running to him when things went pear shaped, and then blaming him for their blunders when they failed to heed his advice, truth be told he didn't want any of the positions foisted upon him by the wizarding world outside of running his precious school. It was this mindset that made him so look forward to every new school years sorting and feast, seeing all the young and excited first years gawking at the splendor of the Great Hall, all the old friends gathering together and catching up, and to see how his personal favorites had grown over the summer.
That was when he spotted the young man meant for greatness, the Boy-Who-Lived, Harry Potter as he entered the room arm in arm with his estranged twin, the sight managed to startle the aged headmaster so badly he nearly choked on his lemon drop. He watched the girl with a keen eye, taking note of her body language, demeanor, general attitude, and found it all disturbingly familiar, it took him up to young Iris getting sorted to finally put his finger on it. Lillith Potter was acting like Harry, but in a more subdued manner, how interesting, there were a few rational theories to explain the sudden change, some of them good, some of them very much the opposite, but as the sorting hat declared young Iris for Gryffindor the following scene stayed his hand.
As the Potter twins excitedly snatched up their little sister and placed the giggling girl between them he couldn't help but smile, as the small redhead met his eyes she threw him a grin than turned back to her sister with a loving look on her face, shrugging it off for now Albus decided to leave it be. Whatever changes had occurred to Lillith Potter over the summer had been for the better, he'd simply observe for now and only interfere if it was necessary. It was with that thought he went through his yearly speech, when he explained the Triwizard Tournament there was of course excitement, but then he had to add the part that truly had him wary,
"It is...with many reservations that I must inform you all that in the ministries infinite wisdom-" hopefully the sarcasm hadn't been too thick there, "that there will be no age limits on who may enter. Now I must warn you all this is not a challenge for the faint of heart or the weak of will, eternal glory you very well may earn but there is a price. This Tournament has been suspended for centuries due to the egregious death count of champions...and spectators come to think of it."
Some of the excited faces were looking scared, good, hopefully he'd keep the foolish and headstrong from getting themselves killed before they finished puberty. Clearing his throat once more the Great Halls doors swung open as a gorgeous woman in a black floor length dress entered as she chattered to herself while scribbling notes into a muggle notepad, doing his best to hide his smirk he paused his speech as the woman approached the head table.
"No no no the equation needs a square root, can't have any remainders, lets see, we could use whipped cream to counter the acidity of the cockatrice blood but the fumes would cause a nargle infestation and that's just not good for anyone, lets see I-" she paused and looked up from her pad seemingly surprised to have the entire school staring at her. Turning to the very bemused Headmaster she cocked her head to the side sending her long wavy hair flowing.
"Oh dear am I late?"
Gently laughing he extended his hand towards the slightly barmy witch, "Students allow me to introduce you to your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Bellatrix Lupin!"