Another chapter here!

Finally, the train was slowing down as it was nearing the station in Hogsmead. Suddenly, Cassiopeia felt a nudge and she blinked with confusion. Obviously, she had fallen asleep during the ride.

"Get up, midget." Bellatrix's cold voice said and Cassiopeia frowned.

"I'm not a midget." She retorted. Bellatrix could have been much older and cruel but Cassiopeia wasn't afraid to contradict her.

"Of course you are. Now get your things and get off or you'll be on your way back to London, midget." Bella said. Cassiopeia realized she was right – she needed to get off the train. Her sister wasn't there anymore (she probably was with other prefects) and the others were already shuffling out of the compartment. Cassiopeia shuddered with the thought she had been asleep while surrounded by these people but she didn't have time to dwell on it. She quickly grabbed her things and left the compartment. She was one of the last ones to get out of the train and with her mind still foggy from her recent slumber, she stumbled while getting out.

"Firs' years! Firs' years, over 'ere!" a booming voice called and she suddenly saw a very big man with a lantern. She figured she was supposed to follow him, as were the rest of the first years. While walking with her classmates-to-be, she noticed she really was a midget. She was by far the smallest one in here. But before she could think about this unfortunate matter further, she noticed a girl in front of her. Even in the dark Cassiopeia could see she had a fiery red hair. The girl was obviously looking for someone, as she was looking around frantically and every now and then calling a name.

"Sev!" the girl called out but as an answer, she got a booming laughter.

"Lost Snivellus, did ya?" a boy with messy jet-black hair asked her cheekily and fell into step with her.

"Leave me alone." The redhead snapped at him.

"Oooo, that wasn't very nice." The boy teased her. "Tell you what: just dump him and come with us. We will go by boats and we need one more person to go in ours." He suggested and the girl snorted.

"As if I wanted to be in one boat with such a cowardly bully." She said and obviously, she struck a nerve.

"I'm not a coward!" the boy snapped back.

"Yes, you are! You can only insult people who can't really defend themselves, and for no reason!"

"I'm not! Take it back!" he said angrily.

"I won't!" the girl said fiercely.

"As you wish." The boy said and suddenly pushed her. With a yelp, the girl fell into a lake. Seeing her in the lake make the boy roar with laughter and another boy, obviously his friend, joined him. But seeing the girl's struggle to get back on the shore, Cassiopeia went to the very edge and reached her hand to the girl.

"Come on, take my hand, I'll help you" she said and the girl grabbed her hand gratefully. But at that moment, Cassiopeia felt a pair of hands on her back and before she knew it, she was falling into the lake as well. As she resurfaced from the water, spluttering, she heard the red-haired girl shout at the two boys on the shore, who were laughing hysterically.

But what made Cassiopeia freeze for a bit was that the friend of the messy-haired boy was Sirius Black. He had obviously no idea who had he just pushed into the lake but when his look landed on her, his eyes went wide with recognition. For a while it almost seemed that he would move and help her up but next moment, he shrugged and together with his friend they left to find a fourth party for their boat. As another girl saw their vain struggle to get onto the shore, she rushed to their help and finally, both girls were out of water.

"Thank you" the redhead said to the girl and then she turned to Cassiopeia "And you, too. I'm sorry you got into this as well." She said and Cassiopeia shrugged.

"That doesn't matter. Who was that boy?" she asked curiously and the redhead shrugged.

"I don't know. My friend and I met him shortly on the train but he and his friends acted as prats so we went to find another compartment."

"And where's your friend now?" the other girl asked and at that, the redhead sighed and looked around desperately.

"I wish I knew. We were separated by the crowd. Oh, dear, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Lily Evans." She said and reached her hand for both girls to shake.

"I'm Mary McDonald; it's nice to meet you." The other girl responded and then they both looked at Cassiopeia.

"Cassiopeia Amaryllis Elderidge." She introduced herself, by her full name just as her parents always required of her.

"It's a, uhm, beautiful name." Lily said hesitantly, while Mary chuckled.

"It sounds like an incantation." She pointed out and Cassiopeia couldn't help but grin.

"You're right. I never liked the name." she said.

"Well, it's a bit long." Lily admitted. "Would you mind if we just called you Cass?" she asked and Cassiopeia thought about it, but then she smiled. She had never had a nickname before, just like she never had any friends.

"I like it." She answered. Then she realized that these girls were probably Muggle-borns and the thought of what her parents would say if they had seen her right now made her shudder. But then, she realized her parents weren't here and Aurora wasn't here either and she decided to do something not allowed for once.

"So, what House do you think you'll be in?" Mary asked while they were making their way to the boats.

"I hope for the Slytherin. Sev said he would be in Slytherin for sure and I would really like to be with him." Lily said and Cass frowned slightly. Another person aspiring on being a Slytherin. She really did know how to draw these people, didn't she? It seemed as if she was meant to be a Slytherin and associate with Slytherins.

"Well, I, for one, would really want to be anywhere but Slytherin. My brother's a fourth year and he told me that the Slytherins are one creepy lot dwelling on the pure blood." Mary said as if she had read Cass' thoughts.

"Really? Surely not all of them are like that. I mean, Sev isn't. Who would judge people by their parents anyway?" Lily wondered.

"My whole family does." Cassiopeia said gloomily and both girls looked at her with surprise.

"I should have known by your name that you're one of the purebloods. Look, we didn't mean to offend you or your family but the truth is-" Mary said but Cass interrupted her.

"I never said I thought they were right." She pointed out and Mary fell quiet again.

The ride over the Lake came smoothly. Lily managed to find Severus Snape and so the fourth of them were in the same boat. However, Cassiopeia couldn't say she liked the sallow black-haired boy very much. Something was just not right about him and although she didn't want to judge anyone by their looks, she could easily imagine him among those Slytherins.

The first look at the Hogwarts castle was stunning. All of the chattering children fell quiet and watched the castle with held breath. Cassiopeia thought she had never seen anything more beautiful than the view of the million lights of the castle blinking in the dark. The castle was huge, with many towers and it was giving out an aura of old wisdom and majesty.

In the entrance hall, a tall witch was waiting for the first years. She had a pointed hat and a stern look, which was stabbing every student. Cassiopeia recognized immediately that this teacher was not to be taken lightly. As the teacher's look fell on her and Lily and she noticed their wet robes, she clicked her tongue and with a wave of her wand, Cassiopeia felt herself getting warm again and in a second, both her and Lily's clothes was dry again. Every student was waiting anxiously for the Sorting and everyone had their own theory what the Sorting would be like. Some of the students were thinking they'll fight a huge troll or manticora, other's thought they would get some kind of a task, others said they would have to do magic. Cass herself thought they would be sorted according to their blood. At least her parents told her so but they refused to tell her more, just as did her sister. So when Professor McGonagall told them they would only have to put on an old hat, most of the students were surprised.

As the first years were standing in front of the Great Hall, she couldn't help but feel self-conscious. The whole Hall was watching them intently and everytime the Hat sorted someone, the said table erupted with cheers and clapping.

"Bangs, Ophelia" Professor McGonagall read from a parchment and a blond girl stepped forward, sat down on the stool and put on the old hat.

"RAVENCLAW!" it exclaimed and a table decorated by blue banners erupted in cheers.

"Billings, Jack!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Black, Sirius!" Professor McGonagall said and Cass saw the black-haired boy step forward. Suddenly, all of his haughtiness disappeared and he seemed to go to the stool as if going to the gallows, though he was heartily trying not to let his emotions shown. But when Professor McGonagall put the hat onto his head, he gulped before listening as the hat was telling him something the others couldn't hear. So far, he was sitting there the longest time of all the students; the hat had clearly hard time to sort him, although many of the students didn't understand what the big deal was – Sirius was a Black, of course he belonged to Slytherin.

"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted and suddenly, the whole Great Hall froze. No one clapped, no one cheered. Sirius seemed to be shocked at most. With wide opened eyes, he sent a fleeting look to the Slytherin table, looking almost fearfully at their astounded faces and he gulped when he saw the angered shock on his cousins' faces. Only then, a clapping could be heard and everyone saw Professor Dumbledore clapping his hands vehemently. Soon, the whole Staff table joined him, as did the Gryffindor table, although their clapping was still rather weak. As if in dreams, Sirius took off the hat and walked to the Gryffindor table, not daring to look to the Slytherin table anymore.

The Sorting continued and soon enough, it was Cassiopeia's turn.

"Elderidge, Cassiopeia!" Professor McGonagall called and Cass walked to the stool as well, feeling almost as nervous as when she had had to tell her parents she had broken a three-hundred-years-old window in their mansion. That evening had been bad.

As soon as the Hat touched Cass's head, she could hear a tiny voice in her head.

"Oh, another one! This year seems very interesting, indeed." The hat said.

"Uhm, if you don't mind me asking, what's so interesting?" Cassiopeia asked the voice.

"It's interesting because so many traditions are broken" it answered and Cassiopeia furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "All of your family had been in Slytherin. But I'm not so sure you belong there." It said and Cassiopeia's heart skipped a beat.

"I-I don't?"

"Well, of course, you are cunning and smart enough to be in Slytherin. But I don't think Slytherin is the route you are supposed to take." It said.

"Uhm, yes, well…I don't think so either. I mean, I don't even like green after all. And I hate snakes. Once one of my cousins brought a pet snake with him, and he suddenly wrapped it around my neck. I shrieked and then got punished because I embarrassed my parents in front of their friends and-" Cassiopeia didn't even realize she was babbling, she was both nervous and excited from what the hat told her.

But the hat interrupted her. "Yes, well, if it is so, I will send you somewhere else." It said and for a tiny moment, Cass thought she heard a hint of amusement in its voice (if it was possible for hats to be amused at all) but then she realized something.

"But- but what will my family say?" she asked fearfully.

"That is up to you to deal with. You will have to stand your ground. After all, where do I plan to send you, only brave at heart are. You will have to prove your place sooner than some. Or if you wish, I still can send you to Slytherin. You'll have the peace with your family and maybe a chance to prove yourself to your parents and follow their footsteps." The hat said and Cassiopeia sighed.

"No. I don't want to follow my parents' footsteps." She said sadly.

"Just as I thought. That is why your place is in GRIFFINDOR!" it yelled and it was almost as when Sirius Black had been sorted. Quiet.

"Merlin's pants!" Cassiopeia said when she realized what had just happened, not even realizing she said it aloud in front of the whole Great Hall. Her surprised remark relieved the tension in the Great Hall and some of the students laughed and finally began clapping their hands. Even Dumbledore seemed to be chuckling when she was passing by the Staff table and for a second she thought she had seen him giving her a subtle wink. When she arrived to the end of the Gryffindor table, where the places for the new first years were, she saw Sirius moving up the bench to make space for her. Rather reluctantly, she sat down next to him and rather than looking at him, she was curiously looking around (although careful that her eyes didn't wander to the Slytherin table, knowing she would meet some furious glances). But then she felt his eyes on her and she finally looked at him. But as she saw him staring at her, something in her snapped and she suddenly remembered how he had pushed into the lake and she felt a wave of anger. So she did what she had never done before – she stuck her tongue at him, surprising both herself and him. But then he snickered.

"What an attitude of a pureblood princess Elderidge" he said with amusement, earning a huff from Cass, as she crossed her arms on her chest.

"I'm not a pureblood princess!" she snapped.

"Well, obviously. What was it supposed to mean anyway?" he asked and she eyed him reproachfully.

"What? Have you already forgotten what you did to me just an hour ago?"

"What did I- oh, the lake incident?" he asked.

"Yea, exactly, the 'lake incident'." Cass said angrily.

"Well, don't get so worked up about it. I'm sorry, alright?" Sirius said.

"Why did you do it?" she asked instead of an answer and he shrugged.

"It was nothing personal, I swear. Truthfully, I didn't even know it was you, I only recognized you when you emerged from the water."

"Yeah, but you didn't help me out of there then either." She pointed out.

"Well, I thought that someone like you could get out of a stupid lake easily. And see, I was right – you're here" he gave her a smirk and Cass had to look away, otherwise she would have laughed and she was supposed to be angry at him. But then both her and Sirius's looks wandered to the Slytherin table and what they saw, wasn't very pleasant. The glares from some of the students they received were downright frightful. Especially when Bellatrix did a clear gesture: 'you're finished'. Quickly, Cassiopeia tore her gaze from the table and in the corner of her eye, she saw Sirius do the same.

"Was it meant to me or to you?" she asked him quietly.

"Mostly me, I guess." He admitted. "But you're in trouble as well."

"Don't I know that?" Cass murmured. At that while, Lily Evans was being sorted and Cass was curious to see where would she end up.

"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat called and Cass saw Lily head to their table sadly and she sighed. Cassiopeia was glad to have Lily there but at the same time, she knew that the girl wanted to be in Slytherin. Resigned, Lily sat down next to Cassiopeia.

"You'll be fine, Lily. Maybe he won't be in Slytherin." She tried to console the redhead but she heard a snort next to her. Before Sirius could say something, she jabbed him into his ribs without even giving him a look.

"You think so?" Lily asked.

"I think I'm the living proof that everything is possible." Cass smiled. A while later, after Mary MacDonald was sorted to Gryffindor as well and was now happily sitting next to Lily, it was Severus Snape's turn to be sorted. But when the hat cried Slytherin as soon as it touched the boy's head, Lily looked sadly down and a tear was making its way down her cheek.

"I'm sorry, Lily." Cass said and Mary joined her.

"Yeah, me too. But it doesn't mean you two can't stay friends, right? I mean, who says that Slytherins and Gryffindors can't be friends? It's just a stupid prejudice." Mary said.

"That's rubbish. Slytherins and Gryffindors can't be friends. Ever. That's almost an unwritten rule." A boy with the messy black hair, who had pushed Lily into the lake, spoke up and Cassiopeia gave him an angry look. What did it matter that her sister had told her basically the same thing; she and Mary were trying to cheer Lily up and he just goes and ruins their efforts at once.

"And who the hell are you?" Cass asked him and he gave her a cheeky grin.

"James Potter." He said

"Well, Potter, thanks for you 'tactful' input, but seeing as it's none of your business – sod off!" Lily said angrily.

"No need to snap on me, I was merely pointing out a fact. The Hat knows where everyone belongs, trust me. But there again, everyone would know where Snivellus belongs just by one glance at him." He said and both he and Sirius laughed.

"Which part of 'sod off' did you not understand?" Mary barked at him. But before the tensed situation could transform into a full-blown fight, the Sorting ended and Professor Dumbledore stood up from his seat to begin his speech, so everyone went quiet.

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