AN: AU/Ages are tweaked to fit the story. This could probably have been broken up into a few chapters (one for each of the breaks), but I'm too lazy. Thank you for those who have read and reviewed.
Disc.: Only borrowing on the characters… I did not create.
Sorting Events
"I swear to Merlin that you purposely do this every year!" Ginny snapped at James as she glanced at her watch. It was nearly eleven and they had just arrived at King's Crossing. James shot his mother a look as he picked up the pace and pushed through the barrier ahead of her. Lily had already begun loading her trunk on the train, struggling to get the heavy trunk in place. A person swooped down and hoisted her trunk. Lily looked up to see the same boy that had knocked her down in the bookstore. She went to say thank you when James elbowed his way past the boy, knocking him aside.
"Potters do NOT need the help of Malfoys," James told Lily in no uncertain terms and snatched his sister by the hand, leading her away from the compartment she had chosen. Lily glanced back at the scowling boy before she turned her attention to her brother.
"He was only helping me," Lily hissed as she jerked her hand from her brother's grasp. She went to say more but her mother gathered her up in a bone crushing hug.
"I can't believe my baby's going off to Hogwarts," Ginny said kissing her cheek.
"Mum, please," Lily whined as she struggled.
"Let me hold you one more minute, Lily," Ginny begged. "I won't see you again until Christmas."
"If you're lucky to survive," Albus coughed. Ginny shot her middle son a look before she finally released her daughter.
"Now, I want you two to keep an eye on Lily," Ginny said quickly as the clock chimed eleven. "She's your baby sister and you need to keep an eye out for her. Do not tease her too much and try to be nice, ok?"
"Yes Mum," the three said. Lily endured on final kiss from her mother, a hug from her aunt and uncle, and yet another last kiss from her mother before Lily was allowed to sprint to the train as it begun to roll away. Lily sought out her brothers and cousins, squeezing into their compartment. Lily felt claustrophobic after a while and decided to wander around a bit.
"Behave," James warned her as she left. Lily stuck her tongue out at him as she closed the compartment door.
Lily wandered around for a bit, aimlessly looking here and there. She didn't know anyone really, so she didn't chit chat with many people as she walked. Mainly she just looked at the other students and got a feel for people. She, for as loud as she could be, sometimes became really quiet when she was taking things in and absorbing her surroundings. She aimlessly wandered forward through the cars, not really paying mind to the different cliques here and there.
"You're in the wrong car," a voice said from behind her. Lily frowned as her eyes fell on the older boy from earlier.
"I didn't realize that they were assigned, aside from the prefect's car," Lily said as she looked up at him. He was tall, like James, and he held for her the same annoyance and contempt that James sometimes held for her when she was being particularly annoying.
"Officially, no," Scorpius said as he opened the door back the way she had come. "But unofficially, yes. This would be the Slytherin car. You are Gryffindor, obviously. Scamper back to your fellow lion heads."
"I think not," Lily said bravely as she attempted to continue down the corridor.
"I think so, sweetheart," Scorpius said in a condescending tone as a thick boned girl stepped out of a compartment, before Lily, blocking her path. "See, as Elena Goyle would be glad to explain to you, we Slytherins take pride in keeping the trash out."
"Then why are you here?" Lily retorted without thought. A stain of heat rose to Scorpius' cheeks but he maintained his composure.
"Your comebacks are quicker than your brothers," Scorpius said. "Let's hope your brains remain sharper and you remove yourself from Slytherin territory."
Lily went to say something more but James appeared with a frown and dragged her out of the compartment by her arm. Lily had to admit, she was glad that he had removed her from the situation, though she would never say it. She had her mother's spunk and stubbornness, of which was both a blessing and a curse. She never was able to back down from a fight. James berated her about being where she had no business being.
"I'm sorry," Lily said simply as James stopped talking to take a breath. He sighed and smiled, yanking one of her braids gently.
"Just watch yourself around Slytherins," James begged. "They are sneaky, underhanded, devious witches and wizards that are dark, evil, vile excuses for life."
"Gee, James," Lily murmured. "You'd think they'd not be allowed to school with the normal folks, as evil as you make them seem."
"Just be careful, will you?" James begged. "Now come on and get changed. We're nearly there."
Lily watched her brothers head-off to the horseless carriages while she joined the other first year students following the monstrously large game keeper and teacher for the Care of Magical creatures. It was easy to follow him as he towered over the first years like a giant oak tree. In teams of four, the first years climbed aboard the tiny wooden boats and started the slow ride from the shore to the castle across the lake.
"What house are you in?" a boy asked as he crossed his arms against the chill of the lake. Lily looked at him and shrugged.
"I guess we won't know until the sorting, right?" she replied. He nodded.
"Officially, no," he said. He extended his hand. "I'm Shale Zabini. I already know I'm going to be in Slytherin. How could I not be, you know?"
"Lily," Lily replied shaking his hand. "Lily Potter." Shale Zabini's face fell slightly and he slowly retracted his hand.
"You're a Potter?" he asked. Lily nodded and Zabini leaned away from her slightly. "You'd be a Gryffindor, surely. Just like your brothers and cousins, and all who came before you." Lily made a face at him.
"You say that like it's a bad thing," Lily countered. Zabini shrugged and focused elsewhere in the boat. Lily sighed and the four sat in silence. Lily couldn't help but be impressed with her first view of the castle, its menacing shape looming against the starry sky. The first years queued up and were lead by Professor Longbottom into the foyer just outside of the Great Hall.
Lily glanced nervously to her family sitting and talking loudly with the other Gryffindors at their table. They barely glanced her way as she and the others were marched forward in a straight, tight line towards the front of the Great Hall. Head Mistress McGonagall stood there her eyes scanning over the obviously nervous first years. They huddled together so as not to be picked off from the pack.
The fateful stool was brought forth and placed atop it was a very badly burned and worn brown hat. Lily and the others stared at it with great curiosity. As if alive, it began to sing. The song, quick and filled with warning and innuendo spun Lily's head into a dizzying state of confusion. Professor Longbottom stepped forward with the list, winking at Lily before he begun with the top of the list. One by one, the forty first years were whittled down to a handful, and Lily's name was called. Lily glanced to her brothers, hoping for a sign of support, but they were laughing and carrying on with another kid at their table. She sighed as she sat upon the stool and the hat was placed upon her head.
It was dark, the hat being so much larger than Lily's head slipped over her eyes. It smelled a bit of burnt leather and of smoke, and there was a hint of sweat and blood. Lily thought that perhaps the hat would just sit upon her head and people would laugh because not only was she small for her age, the hat wouldn't place her in a house at all. Panic welled up in her as she thought that she really was brought here by mistake and that she really was a squib like her brothers teased.
"I see a thirst for greatness here, Miss Potter, a desire to prove your worth and to be known," the hat finally whispered so that only Lily could hear. "I see pure talent, a disregard for norms, and a bit of wit and cunningness, a will to do whatever it takes to succeed. There is a drive to be your own woman. I know just where to put you."
"You do?" whispered Lily.
"Slytherin," the hat shouted to the Great Hall. A deafening silence fell over the Great Hall as Lily slowly removed the hat and handed it to the stunned Professor Longbottom.
"No!" exclaimed the two male Potters, standing up from their seats. "She's a Gryffindor! She's a POTTER for Merlin's sake!"
"Misters Potter, sit down at once," Professor McGonagall exclaimed. The two boys sat down immediately and Lily looked up at the woman uncertainly. "Miss Potter, please go join your house."
It was the longest walk Lily had ever made. She could feel the eyes of the patrons of the Great Hall drilling into her as she made her way to the Slytherin table. She barely took her eyes off the floor, just sat at the first empty seat. She didn't listen to the fair few left get sorted, just stared down at her hands and tried to figure out what had just happened. Shale Zabini sat down next to her.
"Welcome to Gryffindor hell," Shale teased. "Honestly didn't see that coming."
"Me neither," Lily said quietly as the headmistress addressed the student. Lily listened carefully as Professor McGonagall went over the rules for students, reminding them that Mr. Filch would be ensure the rules were followed. She followed up with the standard adage that the Forbidden Forrest was off limits. Lily couldn't help but giggle when she saw her brothers both slump down a bit with their cousin, Hugo, when this was mentioned.
Lily glanced at the others Slytherins nervously as she doled out a little bit of food on her plate. Her appetite was practically nonexistent as she felt as if eyes were on her. She glanced at Shale's plate and wondered if he would actually be able to eat that much food. A third year who was sitting across from Lily practically stared her down. Lily glanced at her a few times before the girl finally spoke.
"You're a pure blood, aren't you?" the girl asked accusingly. "How far back?"
"I don't know," Lily said frowning.
"Ease up, Nott," Scorpius said. Lily's eyes left the glaring girl to land on his face, several seats down from her, falling on Scorpius' bored looking face. "Potter's one of us now."
"We all know she belongs with her brothers and the rest of them over there in Gryffindor," Nott said haughtily. "This is obviously a mistake."
"Is not," Lily piped up. The girl, Nott, looked from Scorpius to Lily's little face.
"You're dripping with innocence," Nott accused.
"No, I'm not," Lily said a little more forcibly. A smile curled Nott's lips and Lily felt a little nervous behind that smile that the older girl sent her way.
"We'll see," Nott said quickly before returning to eating her food. Lily swallowed nervously before returning to her own food. Before long the tables were cleared and the students were full. The prefects stood and started to lead the students from the Great Hall to the various common rooms. Lily walked slowly with Shale Zabini, following the Slytherin prefects until they had descended into the bowels of the school. Lily glanced back, stealing one last look at her family, as they parted for good.
The Slytherin common room was cool and damp, cast in a green glow from the lamps surrounding the room. One large, thick plate glass section of the wall gave an unusual view of the lake, and Lily was almost eager to break ranks with the four other first year Slytherin girls to see the Mermaids and other sea creatures. She was certain that she was the only one her family for generations who had this opportunity to see the Slytherin common room, her house common room. Shale waved at Lily as he followed the boys off to the left of the low, stone ceiling common room. Lily walked into the first year girls' dormitory.
"I'm Kate Rosier," a girl with dark hair said as she extended her hand to Lily. Lily shook it carefully. "Must be heck of a shock to you, isn't it, being sorted here. I mean, my mother and father would have had a fit if I was sorted in Gryffindor. Our family has been a Slytherin family for generations."
"Have you?" Lily asked. The girl nodded.
"Don't let people tell you that you don't belong here," Kate told her. "Everyone is placed in the house they belong in for a reason. Whatever the reason, you're not a Gryffindor. You're a Slytherin."
"I think it's a mistake," another girl piped up from her bed. Lily glanced over at the light haired girl who was already changing into her sleep clothes. "There is no reason that she should be here. Her family's strictly Gryffindor."
"Well, I'm here," Lily said as she jerked her shoes and socks off and rummaged through her trunk to find a pair of shorts and a tee shirt to sleep in. She jerked off her clothes and dressed in her sleepwear, ignoring the other girls. Lily frowned as she pulled back the green velvet bead curtains, thinking that it really had to be a mistake. Her whole family was in Gryffindor. What would her parents say when they found out? What if they made her come home? Lily nearly started to cry. Instead, she climbed into her bed and pulled the drapes closed around her.
Lily did not sleep well that night, worry and anxiety setting in as the shock wore off. She tossed and turned, wondering and worrying if her parents were going to be disappointed in her. She knew that they were reassuring with Albus the previous year and his worries about being a Slytherin, but ultimately she knew that everyone expected the Potter children to be Gryffindors. Their parents, Ginny and Harry, were as were their grandparents on both side were. It was just the way it was supposed to be. Sighing, Lily shoved her covers back and jerked open the curtains. She slipped her feet into her slippers and headed out into the common room with her potions book.
Slipping into the chair closest to the fire, she didn't notice that she wasn't alone in the common room. Another person was lost in his own thoughts, sitting in the shadows. Startled slightly, he watch from the shadows as Lily settled in with her book until her eye lids closed and she fell asleep. Moving swiftly, the boy walked from the shadows, draping one of the Slytherins' famous green and silver woven blankets over her before retreating back to his own quarters.
Lily glanced at her reflection in the mirror the next morning, her school uniform perfectly pressed and in place. Her fingers touched the silver and green details. She brushed her hair from her face and pulled on her bag. She joined the other first year Slytherins, huddled together and looking mighty small compared to the older Slytherins heading out of the common room. Lily felt the icy dousing feel as she walked straight through the Bloody Baron.
"God, this place creeps me out," Lily shivered. Shale fell into step next to her, laughing.
"You're the third person I've seen walk through him," Shale said as the two of them headed out the portrait hole together.
"Thanks for warning me," Lily said smirking. She shivered again, this time out of coldness. "Is it going to always be this cold down here?"
"You'll get used to it," a voice said. She looked up as Scorpius passed by her. He raised an eyebrow at her, almost in a skeptical contempt. She watched as he faced forward and continued down the hall.
"Merlin, my legs could never keep up with that guy," Shale said shaking his head. "I'm way too short for a boy."
"Look at me," Lily laughed. "We're about the same height."
"Yeah, but it's ok for you to be the height of a house elf," Shale said frustrated. He shook his head again. "I hope that I get taller eventually. My dad was tall."
"Both my parents are relatively normal sized, and my brothers are tall," Lily said. "And I am not as short as a house elf!"
"Well, maybe not, but still," Shale said scratching the back of his head a moment.
"I'm starved," Kate said, pushing through the two. "Come on, let's eat and get our schedules."
Kate, Shale, and Lily entered the Great Hall and immediately Lily was separated from the two other Slytherins, accosted by her brothers. Lily looked at them in surprise. She hadn't really expected them to corral her away from the Slytherin heard quite yet to berate her for being the odd child out and being sorted Slytherin. James looked tired and held a letter in his hand. He talked to her in low, hushed tones.
"Mum and Dad say you have to stay where you were sorted, Lily," James told her quietly, waving the note in her face.
"Of course I'm staying where I was sorted," Lily said indignantly. "I was sorted there for a reason. For whatever reason, I'm Slytherin material and not Gryffindor material. Dad told Albus that he'd be ok way with him being Slytherin. Why wouldn't he be ok with me?"
"He would… is, it's only…" James said. "I can't look out for you now."
"No one asked you to," Lily said frowning.
"I'm your big brother. It's my job to watch out for you and Al," James said. Lily rolled her eyes.
"I'm hungry," Lily told him. "I'm heading back to my house table. Have a good day, James."
"Just be careful, will you?" James insisted. Lily rolled her eyes again but nodded, pulling free of her brother and leaving him standing there. Lily didn't look back at him, instead took her seat between Kate and Shale. She piled on the scrambled eggs and toast, grinning at Shale who had three times as much on his own plate.
Professor Perkins walked by the first years; his gaze cold and vacant as he handed out the schedules to the first years. They were happy to have Flying Lessons after lunch, caring very little that they had Potions with Professor Perkins first thing after breakfast, followed by History of Magic, Charms, and Herbology. After lunch, they had flying lessons, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, and Astronomy. The first years inhaled their food and they abandoned their table loudly, intruding on the conversations of the others as they rowdily headed out of the Great Hall, causing the other Slytherins to frown at the their newest members.
"Someone needs to explain the behaviors fitting of a Slytherin," Nott said pointedly to the rest of the group. The others nodded.
Lily yawned in potions, thinking that class couldn't be more boring. She was wrong as she joined her other classmates in History of Magic, and started to doze off a bit. Shale laughed as Lily's head jerked when ancient Professor Binns in his ghostly ways touched Lily's shoulder. Lily kicked him under the desk they shared, causing him to yelp. Kate giggled and the three of them earned the first detention of the new school year, to be served on Friday night. The three groaned in protest but Professor Binns continued to teach as if nothing else had continued.
Charms with Professor Artemis was with the first years of Gryffindors, and Lily couldn't help but feel a little awkward at the fact that she was sharing a classroom with the house that by all practical means should have been her house. She glanced over the ten Gryffindor students and for the first time ever she felt judgmental towards them. They didn't seem as good in her eyes as her fellow Slytherins. She slumped down in her chair, suddenly feeling guilty for being that way. She knew that realistically she wasn't superior to them, but she felt that twinge of doubt that maybe she had more rights to be there than some of the other students. It was those feelings that made her feel guilty.
She remained quiet as she walked with Kate and Shale from the Charms classroom to the Greenhouses. Professor Longbottom was there at the door to greet them and he smiled at Lily warmly, having seen her as a child outside of the school grounds. This was not unnoticed by the other students in her house. Her sassy roommate from the night before, Darla Goyle smirked and scooted closer to Lily, Kate, and Shale. She waited until Professor Longbottom had headed back to the front of the room and had started teaching before she opened her mouth to speak.
"Now is as good of a time as any to prove your loyalty to the house of Slytherin," Darla said. Lily looked at the others in her year. They all averted their eyes, and Lily knew she was on her own.
"I have to prove my loyalty?" Lily said frowning. Darla nodded holding out a tuber root for Lily. She looked at it, uncertainly.
"Getting detention for talking in History of Magic is not proof," Darla challenged menacingly. Lily knew that she was going to regret it. She took the heavy, potato shaped root that they were supposed to be planting in the large clay pots. Without another word, Lily threw it as hard as she could at a Gryffindor boy. The root bounced with a thud off the back of his head and the Slytherins all snickered, looking back at their pots of dirt.
"Hey!" the Gryffindor boy cried out, rubbing the back of his head as he looked around. He glared at the Slytherin group, but aside from their giggles and snickers, he couldn't pin it on any one Slytherin student. He turned back to his own pot and ignored the Slytherins. Darla raised an eyebrow at Lily and without another word; Lily snatched another tuber root out of the basket and threw it with all her might at the Gryffindor boy again. It bounced off his head and landed in the middle of the table.
"Lily Potter," Professor Longbottom said loudly, startling the hum of the class as they worked. "Detention."
"But," Lily protested. Professor Longbottom shook his head.
"Friday," Professor Longbottom told her.
"I already have detention Friday," Lily told him. He wasn't able to mask the look of surprise and disappointment.
"Saturday then, straight after breakfast," Professor Longbottom said. "And ten points from Slytherin."
Lily slumped down in her chair and spent the rest of the lesson focus on her pot of dirt and the tuber roots. She frowned at the dirt pot, but didn't say or do anything further. The last thing she wanted to do was get any more detentions. She had, already, surpassed her brothers in how early they had gotten their first detentions. She groaned and slunk further in her chair, hoping that the class would speed by and that she could finally just go to lunch. She was starved, which was the general consensus between Kate, Shale, and her.
"Oi, Potter, come here," a voice called out as the three went to open the Great Hall doors. Shale and Kate stopped to look as Lily turned to see Celeste Nott from the night before and Scorpius Malfoy heading toward them.
"Scram," Nott snapped at Shale and Kate, who scuttled away terrified by the bigger, stronger girl.
"Yes?" Lily said as she tried to stand taller, still barely breaching the top of Scorpius' shoulder.
"We need to have a little talk with you about your behavior," Nott said to Lily in a very intimidating voice.
"What of it?" Lily asked as she fought to keep the shaking fear from her voice.
"You have already managed to score yourself two detentions and lost our house 10 points," Scorpius said as he crossed his arms. "This is the first official day of the new school year and you aren't behaving very Slytherin."
"What are you talking about?" Lily said crossly. "I hit a Gryffindor twice in the back of the head with a tuber root." Scorpius smirked as Nott disappeared behind her hands as she shook with laughter. She couldn't handle it and entered the Great Hall.
"Why did you hit the Gryffindor?" Scorpius asked amused.
"Because, Darla Goyle told me to, and anyways, he's a Gryffindor," Lily defended. "Isn't that what we do? Hate Gryffindors because they are Gryffindors."
"You're sadly mistaken," Scorpius said smirking at the girl. "We don't go around hitting Gryffindors in the head with tuber roots in the middle of class. It's fine, you want to prove that you are a Gryffindor hating Slytherin, but you have to know your time and place, kid. You can't go costing the house points because of your behavior."
"I'm sorry," Lily mumbled as her cheeks burned bright red. Scorpius put his hand on her shoulder and kneeled down to make eye contact with Lily.
"Look, I understand what it's like to be stuck in someone's shadow. We're all fighting to carve out our own place in the world," Scorpius said in a hushed voice. "You have been given a grand opportunity here, to escape the house of your ancestors. It is an opportunity that most of us would kill to have the opportunity."
"Ok," Lily said.
"Now, go in there and behave," Scorpius smirked. "Just don't get caught misbehaving. We Slytherins never get caught."
"What's going on here?" James demanded as he came across his younger sister and his enemy.
"Nothing," Scorpius said as he withdrew his hand from her shoulder quickly and stood up to face James.
"It doesn't look like nothing," James said as he bumped his chest against Scorpius. Lily pushed James away.
"It's none of your business," Lily snapped at James. "Its Slytherin business."
"Let's go Lily," James said.
"No, James," Lily said shaking her head. "You go. When Malfoy and I are done, we'll go."
"Lily," James protested. Lily crossed her arms; frustrated, James shoved through the doors.
"You know, he's only looking out for you," Scorpius said grinning at the girl's spunkiness.
"I don't need a big brother," Lily said crossly. She looked at him. "Are we done here?"
"You understand, no?" Scorpius asked.
"Yes, be sneakier," Lily said as she stalked into the Great Hall and took her place between Kate and Shale. Lily got three bites before it was time to head off to the next lesson. She groaned and shoved a biscuit in her mouth as she slung her back pack on over her shoulders and followed the other two out to the Quidditch Pitch where Professor Wood stood in all his glory.
"So, you know how to do this?" Kate asked nervously. Lily nodded and continued to chew her last bites. She swallowed.
"My mum is a professional Quidditch player," Lily said. "It'd be obscene if I didn't have a bit of flying in me."
"Too right," Shale laughed.
Most of the first years whom had never flown on a broom caught up to the ones who shouldn't have already been able to fly but did. Professor Wood had them up flying in small, low circles. Lily felt dizzy after a bit and landed. Professor Wood flew over to Lily, who was looking a bit pale.
"Potter, is there a problem?" Professor Wood asked as he stopped in front of her. Lily was loosening up her green and silver tie.
"I was feeling a bit dizzy," Lily said. Professor Wood raised his eye brow. He nodded and pointed her over to a bench.
"Take a rest and then back up in the air," he said before joining the others. Lily hated that she was sitting out and feeling a bit faint. She didn't rejoin the others flying instead waited until they were released. Professor Wood called her aside as the others prepared to leave.
"Yes, sir?" Lily asked as she stood there.
"Your father was on my team back in our days at Hogwarts and your mother is a Professional. Your older brother very well could be the next Quidditch star of Hogwarts," Professor Wood said quietly. "I understand that you got handed the raw deal being sorted into Slytherin over Gryffindor, but you have to drop the attitude and make the best of the situation."
Lily went to open her mouth to say something sassy but she didn't. She caught Shale and Kate signaling to her to be calm and watch herself, so she snapped her mouth closed and nodded. He towered over her as she nodded.
"Yes sir," said Lily as she hoped it came off as innocent sounding as possible.
"You may go," Professor Wood said dismissing Lily. Lily joined her two classmates grumpily.
"I'm already sick of people acting like I got the raw deal with being sorted Slytherin," Lily said grumpy.
"What happened with the flying?" Shale asked. Lily shrugged.
"I guess since I didn't eat, I was weak," Lily said. She ignored the hunger she currently felt, and the weakness she thought might consume her. "Come on. We're going to be late for Defense Against the Dark Arts with Professor Hinson."
"What's there to defend?" Shale muttered but grinned and joined Lily and Kate as they ran back to the castle. From D.A.D.A class, they headed to Transfiguration with Professor Cho. Lily was thrilled that dinner was before Astronomy, which was always held late at night. She, Shale, and Kate ate like the food was going out of style. So much so that the older Slytherins found the first years unrefined and disgusting. Looking around, Lily could see that other first years at their table were eating just about as ravenously as she was.
"First years," the fifth year prefect, Dante Malone, said quietly so that only Slytherin first years could here. "You shall start your lessons of Slytherin Sophistication shortly after dinner, prior to you going for your Astronomy lesson. You are unrefined, disgusting first years. When we are done with you, you shall be elite."
"Swell," Shale grumbled. Lily laughed, covering it up with a large gulp of pumpkin juice. The prefect glared at the two first years but said nothing more to them. Meal time ended, and the Slytherins returned to the common room. Lily, Shale, and Kate looked at each other as each first year sat and the elder Slytherins started molding the first years into appropriate models of Sophisticated Slytherin.