On the Hogwarts express, Harry sat in a compartment with Ron and Hermione and a sleeping teacher. Professor R.J. Lupin wore frayed robes but had his face hidden behind his cloak so they couldn't see his face.

Harry told his friends all about Aunt Marge and Lucy. They were both speechless at the fact he had a sister. He'd barely seen Lucy in the two days leading up to their departure and hadn't found an appropriate time to tell Ron and Hermione about her.

"How long have you known?" Hermione asked.

"Only two weeks," Harry replied. While Hermione showed her curiosity in the matter, Ron wasn't scared of showing his skepticism.

"It's true, she had proof. You'll see at the sorting." Harry was a little disappointed in Ron but remembered his own initial reaction and let it go.

Halfway through the train ride, something strange happened. The train stopped and the lights went off. Harry felt an odd, cold feeling in his gut.

"Hello?" Someone had opened their compartment door. It was Ginny Weasley.

"Come in – ouch!" Ginny had accidentally stepped on Hermione's foot.

"Sorry," she sat down beside Ron, who was staring out the window curiously.

They were soon joined by Neville Longbottom who stepped on nearly everyone's toes. Followed almost immediately behind him, was Lucy. Harry wished Ron could see her and finally believe him but it was pitch black on the train.

"Harry?" she whispered quietly, her voice shaking.

"Yeah, come in," he helped Lucy over to his side.

"What's happening?" she asked nervously.

"Donno," Harry replied.

Suddenly, a long shadow crept up to the compartment door. A being wearing a black cloak drifted in. It stretched out a grey, scabbed hand. Harry felt cold and heard a scream in the distance. He felt weak and sick. He closed his eyes, letting the miserable chill to overcome him.

When he opened them again, he was on the floor of the train, cold sweat trickling down his face.

"Are you alright?" Hermione held out a hand and Harry took it. The lights had come back on and the train was moving again.

"What happened? What was that?" Harry asked.

"It was a Dementor. Nasty creatures that suck the happiness out of people. They guard the Azkaban prison. They were searching for Sirius Black." Professor Lupin had awoken.

"Who was screaming? There was a woman," Hermione and Ron shook their heads.

"No one was screaming," Hermione said.

"Here have some chocolate," Lupin passed big pieces around to everyone. "I'll be right back," He left. Harry looked around. Ginny was still shaking, Ron and Hermione looked more worried about Harry than scared, Neville was breathing deeply as if he'd just run 10 laps around a track, and then there was Lucy. She had her knees pulled up to her chest and was sobbing uncontrollably. Harry put a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him; eyes red.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly. She nodded unconvincingly. Then she burst into fresh tears.

"She had trouble breathing when the Dementor was here. And then when you passed out, she couldn't stop crying." Ron explained.

Harry ate his chocolate; it made him feel a lot better. Neville and Ginny had left to go sit with other people and Lupin soon returned.

"How is she?" he asked, nodding towards Lucy. She wasn't crying anymore but was hiccupping. Her long red hair covered her face.

"A little better." Harry replied. Lupin put a hand on her shoulder and she looked up.

"Have some chocolate," he offered. She took it and nibbled some. Lupin sat across from her and Harry moved over closer. She rested her head on his shoulder while silent tears continued to roll down her face.

"Don't scare me like that again, Harry." She choked out. Harry nodded.

"I won't," he squeezed her tightly.

"Promise?" she looked up at him.

"I promise," he replied, vowing to himself to try to keep the promise this time.

***

Harry was sorely disappointed. He had missed the Sorting two years in a row. And although the one in his second year hadn't meant much to him, Lucy was being sorted this year and while he said he believed her, hearing her last name would confirm everything. But Professor McGonagall had dragged him and Hermione away before and when they came back; Professor Flitwick was carrying the Sorting Hat away.

They two of them hurried over to where Ron sat, quiet white. Harry frowned at him, wondering what his problem was. It couldn't have been from the Dementor as Ron had calmed down and was now safely inside the castle.

"Harry, she is, she is your sister." He stammered. Harry nodded.

"I know, that's what I've been trying to tell you," he said.

"Well, I saw her on the train and thought she looked like what your mom looked like in that one picture you've got. And then she went berserk because she thought something was seriously wrong with you when you fainted on the train. But just now, at the sorting. I can't believe it Harry! Her name is Lucy Potter." He babbled.

"Of course her name is Lucy Potter. What else would it be?" Harry smiled at Ron's amazement. Before Ron could ramble on again about how incredible it was, Lucy bounded over to them.

"Guess what Harry? I'm in Gryffindor! Just like you, and mom and dad." She beamed at him, a different girl than the one on the train only two hours ago. She'd fallen asleep on Harry before they'd arrived at the school.

"That's great, why don't you sit with us?" he offered.

"Oh, well I was invited by another girl, Natalie McDonald, to eat with. Tomorrow at breakfast though I'll sit with you." Lucy hugged him and then went to sit with another girl who was already chatting to several other people…

"Hey Lucy, so are you excited to be in the same house as your brother? My sister's in this house as well, Mary. I guess I'm kind of excited to be in the same house as her but we live in the same house all year round so maybe I'll get tired of it. Do you think you'll get tired of your brother? I think a brother would be worse because it's a boy you know? Sister's are much better!" Natalie rambled on, hardly letting anyone get a word in edgewise.

Lucy simply nodded a reply to everything she had blurted out. The other people sitting around them were Jimmy Peakes, Romilda Vane, Oliver Wood, and Alicia Spinnet. Lucy knew Oliver and Alicia were on the Quidditch team because that's all they wanted to talk about. Romilda had dark hair and eyes and was very sweet. She was really interested in learning about Lucy's life story but rather disappointed when Lucy told her she knew almost nothing. Jimmy, on the other hand, was a short blonde boy who was broad-chested and who joined in ferociously in the conversation about Quidditch.

"You don't say much do you?" Natalie asked Lucy, putting food into her mouth before starting to speak again. "I kind of like it. I get to say what I want and not have to wait for someone to finish speaking. I won't have to interrupt you and I hate interrupting people." Lucy doubted whether Natalie actually hated interrupting as long as she got to speak.

Before long, it was time for bed and Lucy and Natalie followed Percy up to the Common Room. Lucy climbed into the four poster bed and snuggled into the warm sheets. She was happy at Hogwarts and she hoped she would be as content as she was at that moment forever…

***

The next day was the first day of classes for Lucy. She ate breakfast with Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

"What classes do you have today Lucy?" Hermione asked politely. Lucy waited for her to continue, already used to Natalie's way of conversation.

"Transfiguration, double Potions, and Herbology," Lucy read off her timetable. "And you?" she asked.

"Arithmancy, Charms, Muggle Studies, Divination, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Ancient Runes." She rattled off. The group looked at her, incredulous. "What?" she asked.

"Don't you think you're taking on a little too much, even for you?" Ron asked. Hermione shook her head.

"Besides, it's my choice, isn't it?"

"How are you going to do two classes at once? It's not possible." He continued.

"Well I'll figure out a way, now excuse me," she stood up and left, towing her heavy bag with her. Ron and Harry exchanged a look and they both shrugged. The three of them ate in silence for a few minutes but then Lucy got up to leave.

"I don't want to be late for my first class," she reasoned. She started to walk towards the Entrance Hall but turned back and walked over to Harry. "I don't think I can do this," she said, her face etched with worry. She sat down again.

"Yes, you can. It won't be that bad and you've got that friend already." Harry encouraged. But Lucy didn't believe it.

"Harry I really don't think I can do this." She said. "Can't I just come to class with you?" she asked. Harry looked at Ron. Lucy really was scared of going to class. He thought she'd be excited, but maybe she was like him; putting on a brave face for everyone around but on the inside, scared to pieces.

"C'mon then, let's go to class," Harry stood and Ron followed his lead. They both walked in the direction of Lucy's Transfiguration class. For all she knew, they could have been heading to the boys' History of Magic lesson.

They arrived at Professor McGonagall's room and Harry pushed Lucy forwards. She stared at him, incredulous. "You really expect me to go in there by myself?" she asked, her voice a tiny squeak. Harry nodded.

"Go on, it's really easy, you just walk in and choose a table and then you learn. Go learn Lucy!" he motioned her to do as he told.

"No thanks, I'd rather not learn," she defied him. "I'd rather go to class with you," her voice was filled with defiance. Harry rolled his eyes. This was going to be harder than he thought.

"No, you have to go to your class, get going or we'll be late," he pushed her towards the classroom. But she was stronger than he'd anticipated and wouldn't enter.

"I don't want to, now let me come to your class," she argued, all ideas of being scared had vanished and the boys were left with a rebellious 11 year old who wanted to get her way. Before Harry or Ron could think of another strategy to get rid of her, Professor McGonagall walked over to her classroom.

"Good morning Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley. Shouldn't you two be off to your own classes, they'll be starting soon." She told them briskly. "Come along Ms. Potter, take a seat and get out your books." Lucy was all of a sudden taken by the wrist and practically dragged into the room. She glared at Harry.

"I'll get you for this!" she murmured. She really didn't want to leave him.

***

After their morning classes, Ron, Harry, and Lucy met in the Great Hall for lunch. Hermione had headed straight for the library.

"Did you make any new friends Luce?" Ron asked, already getting used to Harry's little sister. Lucy shook her head.

"Just Natalie?" Harry asked.

"Natalie sat with some other people," Lucy poked at her food; seemingly disappointed that she was alone in class. Harry nudged her.

"Don't be upset, who don't you make more friends? Natalie doesn't have to be the only one." He suggested.

"Why would I need more friends? I've got you," Lucy reasoned. "Oh, and Ron and Hermione," she added, smiling at Ron.

"Oh," Harry looked around awkwardly. It was one thing to be a brother but another to be your sister's only friend.

"Well I'd better go and get a start on my homework," Lucy excused herself and left. The real reason she'd left was to get away from the awkward direction the conversation was heading. She felt bad about leaving them but how could she tell them that she didn't know how to make friends? All her childhood, the only friends she ever had were her adoptive sisters; Marissa and Kate. People just didn't like Lucy and didn't find her particularly friendly.

Well they clearly don't know how not to judge a book by its cover. She grumpily thought to herself. But she did have Harry. He would make everything better. And Ron and Hermione were very nice. Harry could make friends for her. He'd succeeded many times, and she'd failed just as many.

She stood behind what she'd said before: Why did she need more friends when she had Harry? It only made sense.

***

Lucy was beginning to cry. The homework that Snape had set them was much too difficult to do. She had been working on it for nearly an hour and hadn't even finished half. If she didn't finish it soon then she wouldn't have enough time for McGonagall's homework and she was already tired enough. The pressure was enough to make anyone crack!

"Hey Lucy!" Harry sat down on an armchair beside her. "Watcha doing up so late…" he trailed off as she wiped away some tears. "What's wrong?" he asked, cupping her chin in his hands.

"N-nothing," she replied, picking her quill up and blotting it with ink.

"C'mon, something is obviously wrong. You can tell me," he looked her in the eyes. She stared back and finally gave in.

"It's my homework, I don't understand it and there's so much," she explained.

"Do you want me to help?" Harry asked. She gave him a bemused look. "Okay, so I'm no Hermione, but I'm pretty good at doing homework. Besides I'm 2 years older than you," Lucy thrust the paper into his hands. He read it over twice.

"How about adding examples of potion and elaborate on the ingredients and their use," he suggested. And together they finished Lucy's homework and essay. They actually had fun together.