September, 1971

My entire body froze when I heard the verdict. I could faintly hear my siblings cheer for me—Ghislaine being the loudest despite being a Hufflepuff. But I couldn't move. It was only when Professor McGonnagal nudged me to get off the stool that I was knocked from my stupor.

I slid off the stool, but I wasn't thinking clearly. It was this that caused me to turnsd around and grab the sleeve of Professr McGonnagal's robe, making her face me.

"There must be a mistake," I said, loud enough for the Slytherins to snicker. "I can't be in Gryffindor."

Professor McGonnagal looked at me with kind—sad—eyes. "I'm sorry but the hat made its verdict. Now go sit with your housemates."

I didn't want to go sit with the Gryffindors but McGonnagal had already called out the next name and I was left shuffling over to the Gryffindor table. I sat down beside Lily, who gave a sympathetic look. I had told her on the train my desire to be Slytherin. I wanted it so bad but now all my hopes were crushed.

As the names rolled by—quicker than they had before—I only paid attention to certain ones. Lydia was sorted into Hufflepuff, causing her to beam with happiness and skip to the Hufflepuff table. The other three boys from the train—Jame, Peter, Remus—were all sorted into Gryffindor. One boy named Severus Snape—I only pais attention because Lily cheered when his name was called—was sorted into Slytherin, looking quite proud of himself.

When the sorting ended, we had the feast but I couldn't eat. All I could do was stare at the Slytherin table. I was supposed to be there.

"Hey, why do you want to be Slytherin anyway?"

I looked over at the speaker—Sirius Black. His tone suggested curiosity but I wasn't in the mood so I snapped back, "Oh, just sod off, Black."

His three friends covered their smiles while Sirius Black just looked insulted. I looked away but I still could hear as he muttered some choice words under his breath. I didn't care. I knew I should've been nicer, but he was Gryffindor and no matter what the hat said, I was Slytherin.

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When the feast ended, we were all led back to our dorms. When we arrived, I went with Lily and Marlene—who was also sorted into Gryffindor. I unpakced all my things in silence, but I noticed Lily and Marlene's stares. I didn't care if they were worried or anything else, but I just wished they would stop staring. Finally, Lily did and she asked,

"Are you okay? I know you wanted to be in Slytherin."

I nodded. "I'm fine."

"Gryffindor really isn't that bad, you know," Marlene said. "I heard great things about it."

I didn't say anything but just listened as Lily and Marlene tried to cheer me up. I was grateful. Really, I was, but I only really paid attention when Lily said,

"...I'm glad to be in Gryffindor. I must really belong here, because I heard the Sorting Hat never makes a mistake."

I frowned and looked at her, sitting legs crossed on my bed. "What? He never made a mistake? Not even once?"

Marlene smiled. "Nope! So that must mean you belong here!"

I nodded and smiled, making it seem as though I've finally forgotten about being Slytherin. Lily and Marlene must've thought so, because they stopped talking about the Sorting and decided to focus on their classes. But I didn't really participate. Instead, I wondered about the Sorting Hat. I didn't beleive the Sorting Hat never made a mistake. He must've and I was determing to find out about it.

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October, 1971

For the first month of classes, I was extremely busy. Not only was I always rushing to do my homework, but I was also in the library half the time, looking for any evidence that the Sorting Hat made a mistake. I still hung out with Lydia, Lily, and Marlene—we were like four peas in a pod—but when I had free time, I searched. It came to the point that the only section left unexplored was the restricted section and I had no idea how I would access it.

"Reesa?"

"Hmmm?" I looked over at Lydia, who was sitting beside me at the Hogwarts garden. Marlene was there with us but Lily was spending time with that boy, Severus.

"Are you okay?" Lydia asked with concern. "You seem distant."

I gave her a large, convincing smile. "I'm fine. Really."

"At least one of us is fine," Marlene said. "You would never believe what happened. Before I came here, I was with Lily and Snape. While we were walking in one of the corridors, those darn boys came out and played a nasty prank on Snape! They made his nose like ten times bigger!"

I frowned. "What boys?"

"Oh, you know, Potter, Black, Lupin, and Pettigrew," Lydia said. "I can only imagine how angry Lily was. This is like the fourth prank those darn boys have played in just this month! I mean, who do they think they are?!"

"They sound horrible. Have they ever been caught by a professor?" I asked, the gears shifting in my brain.

Marlene shook her head. "Nope. Lily tries to tell on them but there is never any proof that they were the ones that did it. It's so weird!"

I kept a disgusted look on my face, just like Lydia and Marlene had, but secretly I was thinking. If those boys never got caught and if they were really as mischievous as they sounded, then maybe they knew how I could get access to the restricted section.

A smile springing to my face, I grabbed my book bag and said goodbye to Marlene and Lydia before rushing off.

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I had tried to find those bous all day, but when I actually succeeded I had to rush off to class. I kept on telling myself that I still had the rest of the school year to talk with them, but I wanted to do it as soon as possible. If I found proof that the Sorting Hat made a mistake then maybe I could convince Professor McGonnagal that I truly belong in Slytherin and that the Hat made a mistake with me as well.

But it would seem I wouldn't be able to talke with them just yet. So as I made my way back to the dorms—it was quite late—I tried to think if where I would be able to find them. But when I reached the door to the dorma, I heard footsteps and no other than Peter Pettigrew came running up the stairs go enter the dorms as well.

"Peter," I said, causing him to stop in his tracks.

He looked behind him to see if I was talking to someone else, and when he realized I wasn't, he frowned. "Yes?"

"I need to talk with you and your friends, like as soon as possible," I told him.

"I'll nees to speak with them first," Petere informed me, looking rather uncomfortable.

Before I could reply, he said the password and rushed into the dorm, out from my line of sight. Sighing, knowing I did all I could, I also entered the dorms.

I quickly went to bed and when the next day sprung, I couldn't help wonder if Peter and his friends have agreed to speak with me. I thought about this as I tied my ash-blonde hair into a ponytail and as I rushed off to class.

I was heading to my first class of the day—half wondering where Lily and Marlene were—when I stepped in something. Frowning I looked down and lifted my foot. Just as I done so, I screamed when whatever I stepped on exploded, causing bright red and gold paint to splatter all over me.

I looked down at my uniform in horror and I grabbed my wand from my robe to see if maybe I could get rid of it, but then I couldn't remember any spells to take care of such a problem. It was then that I heard laughing. Infuriated, I turned around to see Sirius Black, James Potter, Peter Pettigrew, and Remus Lupin come out of hiding.

The latter two looked shy and uncomfortable, but the first two were laughing so hard I thought they would die. But I was still angry and I gripped my wand tight, pointing it at Sirius and James.

"You imbeciles!" I shouted, causing the boys to laugh even harder.

"This is wonderful!" Sirius exclaimed. "A wannabe Slytherin covered in Gryffindor colors. By the way, perfect spell, Remus."

Sirius and Remus high-fived each other but I was getting angrier and angrier. "What was the point of this!?"

"You said you wanted to meet us," James told me, who finally stopped laughing. "Well, here we go."

"Couldn't you meet with me like civiled people!" I asked them, looking down at my paint splattered robes with disgust. "And now I will be late for class!"

"You could always skip," Peter suggested from behind James.

I shot him look, causing terror to flood his face. Content, I turned to Sirius and James, who seemed to be in charge. I pointed my wand at them as I said,

"You are a disgrace to this school and I hope you fail your classes!"

I was having trouble thinking of a worse insult, but it seemed to be enough for Remus and Peter's eyes widened with shock.

Not wanting to deal with them any long, I put away my wand and spun on my heel, walking to my classes. If I had to show up paint splattered, so be it, but there was no way I was going to let those boys get away with it.

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So that was chapter two! I realize I made a mistake with the first chapter, writing 1981, instead of 1971. I apolgize, but I hoped you liked it! Please rate and review and don't worry, there will be more Cerisa and the Marauders next chapter ;)