Disclaimer: Still don't own any of it! Apart from this story :)

It's another hour before we emerge from Ollivanders clutching a small bag containing my wand (willow and unicorn hair, 10 inches nice and supple if you're interested) My Dad sighs and runs a hand along his tired face, "Well I've never known someone who had to try 30 wands before," He says with a laugh.

I blush and swat a hand at him "Oh be quiet," I mutter shamefacedly. My oh so caring father merely laughs at my embarrassment.

"Come on then we need to get your school robes," My Father steers me towards a large shop labeled Madam Malkins.

The small bell above the door jingles slightly as we push it open to reveal racks upon racks of neatly hung robes. In the back corner there's whole sections dedicated to Hogwarts. There are five different racks of uniforms sorted into different colours, blue, red , yellow, green and one for plain robes.

"Why are they different colours?" I whisper to my Dad, my brow creased in confusion.

"Its the different houses Honey, we'll just get you a plain one today, and the school will send me an Owl telling me which one you get sorted into then I'll buy you a coloured one," He says pushing me into the back corner. "I'm going to get your potions stuff, so just tell Madam Malkin what you need, and I'll be back in a moment."

I nod and watch him back out of the shop before making my way over to a short, rounded lady with a strand of grey hair poking out of her red velvet hat. "Another one for Hogwarts?" She asks, before I can get a word out. I nod and shuffle in the direction she points me.

Around 10 minutes later she appears brandishing a tape measure and a pretty brunette girl around my age.

After she's finished taking both our measurements I decide to at least attempt a conversation with her.

"Hey," I mutter leaning closer towards her "I'm Lily Black, I start first year in September." I flash a friendly grin in her direction.

A grin that doesn't quite reach her icy blue eyes appears on her face. "Ally Stroker, I start when you do,"

"Cool maybe we can be friends? It would be nice to have someone to sit next to on the train," I say warmly, not thinking anything of admitting that I don't know any wizards.

She suddenly looks appalled and recoils from me as if injured. "You aren't a Mudblood are you? I mean I just assumed… because your surname was Black your parents were wizards…" She sounds appalled. I wish I knew what a Mudblood was.

"Oh well my Dad's a wizard, well he went to Hogwarts so.." I trailed off realising I'd actually never seen my Father do any magic.

The grin returned to the brunettes face, "That's OK, then I'll meet you on the platform, and we'll get sorted into Slytherin together! This year is going to be so good," she laughs. And before I can ask what Slytherin is Madam Malkin comes back carrying two bags.

"Right! Miss Black," She says handing me one of the brown paper bags, "and Miss Stroker," She says handing my new friend the other.

Ally beams at me flashing a pair of bright white teeth in my direction, "I'll see you on the platform Lily," She says before turning on her heel and bounding out of the shop.

0o0o

A few hours later when me and my Dad are safely back inside our District 12 shack I remember what Ally said. "Dad what's a Mudblood?" I ask innocently turning to face him.

My Dad freezes and turns around to face me slowly. "A Mudblood Lily is a really bad word for someone whose parents aren't witches or wizards, but they are. You should never use that word... Ever. If you want to talk about someone who is of non magical descent you should call them a Muggle Born. It's much nicer. Where did you hear that anyway?" He asks.

"There was a girl in Madame Malkins, I asked if we could be friends, and she asked if I was a Mudblood. I said no cuz I'm not. Am I?" I say with a smile. "She said we could get the train together, and we would be sorted into Slytherin together," I grin, then frown "what's a Slytherin?"

My Dad sighs and runs a hand through his hair, "Slytherin, is a one of the houses at Hogwarts, it's known for being full of bad guys, but I was in Slytherin and I know some incredibly decent Slytherins, so if that's the house you want to be in then don't let anyone else tell you otherwise.

I smile at my Dad, and am about to ask what the houses are when he beats me to it with another question. "What was the girls name anyway?" he asks frowning.

"Ally Stroker why?" I ask confused as to why the girls name was such a big deal.

"I was just wondering wether I went to school with her dad, I did by the way. Robert Stroker, nasty piece of work. Huge as well. Wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of him," he shudders as if remembering a time when he did get on the wrong side of him.

"Oh. Was he in Slytherin too?" I ask frowning.

"Yeah he was, but there were just as many bad guys in all the other houses, too. You just go where you want." He smiles at me encouragingly.

"Do you get to choose what house you go to?" I wonder out loud, the frown still on my face as I try to process all the new information.

My Dad laughs as if I've said something humorous, which maybe to him I have, "Nah there's something called a sorting hat, and it decides which house you're most suited to based on your individual qualities,"

There's a pause in our conversation as I try to figure out what all of this means. "Oh ok, so I can't just be in Ally's house I have to actually belong there?"

"Exactly, and Ally might not necessarily be a Slytherin anyway," My Dad smiles again (he's been doing that a lot recently.) "To bed then Buttercup, big day tomorrow and we have to be up early," He says pushing me in the direction of my bedroom.

"School doesn't start for another 2 days Dad," I remind him.

"Yes, but we have to head to London tomorrow. I've managed to get a car from the ministry, but it's gonna take a while to get there," He clarified, giving me another small push in the direction of my small, damp room.

Deciding that any more attempts at conversation tonight would be futile, I decide to just give in to my fathers requests and make my way to my room. After all, today had been exhausting.

Thanks for all your reviews keep it up please :)

Also if your interested I have the first chapter of my original fic Split uploaded on Fiction Press so if you wanna give that a review it would mean the world :)