(A/N Hey guys, update time! I know it's shorter, but most of this story is already written, it's chaptered and everything, and I don't want to screw with it. If my memory serves me, then the next chapter is waaay longer. Anywho. Enjoy! )

The train ride had been... Interesting. The Marauders sitting in our compartment was a tad strange, and I caught Remus and Rissa glancing at each other a few times, but other than that, it was normal. Well, normal as it can be with me and Shan around. But, really, we four kind of just caught up as the boys yammered on and on about Quidditch (except Peter, who I couldn't help be notice was staring at Shannon's chest. Damn pervert. I wanted to hex him into oblivion).

Once we were in the Great Hall, and Rissa was with her fellow Huffies, Shan and I couldn't resist. It was time to prank someone. And by someone, I mean the Marauders. Had to let those boys this was our territory now, right? So, when the Professors weren't paying attention, we decided the boys deserved a make-over.

The first to be hit was Sirius, since he'd threatened my little Kerry. His hair was suddenly bubblegum pink, his muscles replaced with some severe flab, and every time he tried to open his mouth, he screamed, "I won't be nasty to The Lockets!" Of course, the oaf had no clue what he was saying. We did, however. That was our name, the Lockets.

You see, when we'd first met, we'd been inseparable. And, since that was the case, we decided we needed a "thing", something no one else did. So, we each had a friendship locket, given by another anonymous girl. I personally had gotten Rissa's. Each of our lockets were unique. Mine was a silver heart on a bulky silver chain. Along with it was a light blue peace sign. I have never taken it off, literally. Rissa's was star shaped, red and yellow, on a golden chain. Kerry's was shaped like a rose, the petal and stem included. It was pink and green, sweet and innocent, just like her. And Shan's was a simple golden oval on a red chain with a scarlet "S" written in cursive. Each of our lockets had a picture of us all together, when we were young, arms around each other and laughing. The other side of the locket could have whatever picture our hearts desired in it. I didn't have another in mine yet, but everyone else did. Shan's pic was another of just she and I. KerrBear's was her mother, Trendyce. I still hate that woman... Rissa's was of a moon.

I feel I need to explain Rissa's second picture. See, her dad passed away recently, and he was a werewolf. Mr. Vandyke refused to be photographed, so the best thing Rissa had to remind herself of him by was a moon. To this day, she still will stay up on full moon nights, just staring at the beauty and horribleness of the big, open moon . She says it helps with closure, but I think that's silly. She misses him, and the moon makes her think of him. She's afraid to let go, but that's just fine. She was really close to her father, even if he was gone all the time on military missions.

Anywho, back to the prank, shall we? The next boy to be hit was Potter, who was suddenly in his underwear, doing an Irish Jig on the table, while his feet turned to potatoes, and his voice got all squeaky.

Remus! Your turn! Well, first, his head was getting hit by his rather large book, and his eyes turned white. His skin went green, and he started to serenade Rissa, who looked both amused and pleased. Yep, I could totally hear wedding bells in the future.

Last was plump little Pete. We decided to go easy on the stutterer and simply have him attacked by his own two feet. It was quite a sight, watching him try to run and be hit by his foot at the same time.

Naturally, the entire hall bursted out laughing, and the Professors looked to the Slytherin table. Life is sweet.

But, all too quickly, our fun came to an end. Dumbledore reversed our spells, though I could tell he was repressing laughter himself. The Marauders looked bewildered, obviously already forgotten their "American Competition". Idiots.

Then, I heard little footsteps, and turned to watch as the first years came tumbling into the Great Hall. I picked Kerry out of the crowd, and waved to the tyke, who smiled sheepishly and looked around the room nervously. No wonder, since she was Muggle-born, this had to be fairly new to her.

Memories started to flow back to me...

"Schmitt, Samantha!" McGonagall called, and I scowled. "Sammy!" I yelled as I made my way to the wooden stool. The teacher growled something I couldn't hear, then PLOP! The hat was whispering things in my head.

"Not a bad mind, very good memory, and knack for grades, eh? I think Rowena would've been extremely happy with you in her day! Oh, but your sly too, a trait that is well known for the Slytherins! Huh, maybe not, since your shaking your head so fast I nearly fell off! Calm down girl! Okay, Slytherin is off the table, I promise. Hufflepuff might be a nice place for you, when I think about it... But, wait, there's that courage, well, better be...

GRYFFINDOR!"

I grinned excitedly as I went to my House table, Rissa cheering, still in the crowd of un-sorted first years. A seventh year boy made room for me to sit, and I don't think I could've been happier...

McGonagall was at the front of the room, giving the entire school body some speech, but I wasn't paying attention. All of a sudden, however, the sorting hat was singing it's song:

"I'm old and I'm patchy,

I'm big and scratchy,

But I can read you like a book!

I can go beyond your 'just looks'!

I will tell you where you belong,

Don't worry; You'll be in your house by the end of this song!

Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, Gryffindor!

One of these houses is where you will soare!

Now place me upon your little heads,

And I will be able to tell your dread.

I'll place you correctly, and then, you'll see!

Just how happy at Hogwarts you'll be!"

(Sorry, I tried...)

So, I waited... and waited... and waited... Until they finally reached the "O's", where Kerry Oliver was. We got a few Gryffies by now, there was about ten new Slytherin, maybe five Ravenclaw, and a Huffie or two. This was it, however, Kerry's moment to shine! She walked up to the stool, and McGonagall dropped the hat on her little head. I saw it contemplate for a bit, until...

"SLYTHERIN!"

Shan jumped from her chair, and she looked mad. "What in hell do you mean Slytherin? My sister is NOT a Slytherin!" Her little outburst caused a good many pure-blood snobs to hiss profanities, but that didn't stop me. I, too, was furious. How on Earth could that little girl, so sweet and innocent, be a sneaky snake?

"I object!" I yelled, also standing from my seat. Kerry, still on her stool, giggled wildly.

"Overruled!" The sorting hat called out. "Slytherin is where the girl will stay. Go to your table. Now." Kerry stopped her giggling very abruptly, and looked to Shannon and I with her eyes pleading for us to save her.

"Wait a minute!" Shan and I screamed in unison, causing everyone in the hall to fall silent. I walked up to the hat and my little friend, Shan at my side. Rissa made a motion to stand, but a kid beside her kept her down.

"Kerry Alexandra Oliver," I started, staring at the hat, unaware that all eyes in the room were boring on me. "Has never done anything Slytherin like! She's never been sneaky, she's not sly! And she's a muggle-born. I don't think a muggle-born has ever been in Slytherin. I believe you've misjudged her!" I glared at my new-found enemy, and it seemed to glare back.

"Yeah!" Shannon added, still fuming . "I can barely call her a Loc-" She was abruptly stopped by my hand clamping over her mouth. If those Marauders figured out who the Lockets were, they'd come after us for sure. Shan seemed to understand this, and nodded.

"SHE GOES TO SLYTHERIN!" The hat called out angrily. McGonagall suddenly ushered Kerry to her new table, where kids looked ready to pick on her. I growled as Professor Slughorn escorted me to my own table, as the rest of the sorting went on smoothly. I was boiling underneath my skin. This wasn't over, or my name wasn't Samantha Melony Schmitt.