Living with two brothers is a lot of fun. Not. Since I am the only girl and the youngest, they think they can boss me around. Tomorrow is the day I can finally board the train and be free of parental and brotherly supervision. I suppose I should be excited but there are some irritating things, buzzing around my ears lately.

"…Number 3. Don't go anywhere near boys, especially those older than you. They are the source of much evil going on at broom closets."

Ah, yes. It's the James and Albus' lectures and rules about what they demand I should follow to the letter. I try brushing them off but they follow me around, this time with their wands on their mouths, magnifying their voices to make sure I listen. The only thing they're accomplishing is getting me deaf before I could step a foot inside Hogwarts.

"Rule number 4. Do not even think about going to any Houses other than Gryffindor. Gryffindor is the best!"

"Don't listen to him, Lily. Slytherin is the best route to go. All of our cousins are in Gryffindor. I'm telling you, it's very hard to escape their notice!" Albus advised me.

"No, you listen to me, Lil," James insisted, not wanting to lose. "Think about the advantages of having me and your cousins around you. We could all be there for you."

"The problem is, they are always there," Albus countered. "There is always a Weasley in the common room, at the grounds, at the library, they're literally everywhere. Then when you come home for the holidays, bam! Still there!"

"Hmm. I could use a new set of crowd," I thought aloud. "Cousins will always be cousins anyway, even if I'm at a different House."

"No, Lily-bear," James scolded me, and then continued in a low, eerie voice, "Trust me. You'd want to keep close to us at all times. You wouldn't know what dangers are lurking around the castle. Once, Fred got lost at one of those creepy stairs and went inside an abandoned room. What he saw chilled him to his very core that he couldn't talk about it afterwards!"

"That's because he doesn't have anything to talk about," Albus scoffed, breaking the scary atmosphere. "He always tells us made up stories about this and that. You have nothing to worry about, Lil. It's all safe and you know how to defend yourself anyway."

He's right of course. When I first got a wand a year ago, dad drilled me into mastering basic defensive spells, even major jinxes. He especially took care for me to know how to do a navigation spell in case I got lost, and a spell to 'scare the crap out of annoying boys'. I still don't know what it does but when I practiced it with Hugo, he scampered off and berated my dad for teaching me wicked things, then told Aunt 'Mione, still sobbing, to scold my dad some more. Dad sheepishly told me that I was supposed to use it when an unrelated boy dares to kiss me. My mom laughed her head off then whacked him at the back of his head.

"Rule number 5. When someone bothers you, point them to me and I'll take care of them," James said grimly, cracking his knuckles.

"What makes you think I can't take them on myself?" I asked, insulted. Just because I'm a girl and younger than he is, it doesn't make me any less capable of defending myself. "You make it sound like there are a lot of bullies at school."

"Oh, there are bullies," confirmed Albus, furrowing his brows. "If I didn't have Scorpius, I'd be all alone."

If I remember correctly, many believed that Scorpius was Voldemort's son, so he's kind of a loner. Now that the issue has been cleared, he's rumored to be Uncle Draco and Aunt 'Mione's son. Dad says that people just like to gossip and that it will all go away soon enough, particularly when Rose finally agrees to be Scorpius' girlfriend. After all, half-siblings shouldn't have any romantic feelings for each other.

"Were you also bullied?" I asked James.

"Er…"

"He's one of the bullies, Lil," Albus was almost proud to say.

"But aren't bullies bad?" I asked.

"Better be the bully than be bullied," James responded sagely while Albus nodded.

A loud bang suddenly interrupted our conversation. The door yawned wide open and outside of it stood mom, her arms crossed.

"Don't listen to them Lily. What are you boys telling your sister? Shame on you," she snapped at them.

"How long have you been listening?" asked an alarmed James.

"Long enough to know that you are a bad influence," she answered. "Go and help your father de-gnome the garden. You too, Albus."

"But mom!" protested Albus. "I still need to pack my things!"

"I told you to do that yesterday!"

"I was going to but James-"

"Come on, Albus," cut in James, while looking at mom sideways. "Let's help dad then I'll help you pack later…" He grabbed Albus and strong-armed him towards the garden. Subtle. Really subtle. Does he really think mom doesn't already know that they've been sneaking some firewhiskey from Diagon Alley? Where does he thinks it disappears to?

As I suspected, mom's got this glint in her eye while watching James retreat, meaning she does know about it and will deal with it later.

When they were gone, mom turned her attention towards me.

"Now, you, young lady. Don't believe everything James tells you. Bullies are bad people."

"But Albus said James is one."

"Well don't copy his example. He only targets anyone that bad-mouths Albus and Scorpius. But he doesn't hurt them too bad," she said. " -I hope," she added under her breath.

"Why do they hate Albus?" I asked.

"They don't hate him, Lily-bear. They just don't like him because he's different," she explained. "But it's all in the past now. After they got over him being a Slytherin and after they concluded that there's nothing wrong with befriending Scorpius, they stopped being so mean to him at school."

"Why, is there something wrong with Scorpius?"

"No, there isn't. He's actually a brilliant student and a good influence to your brother."

"Then is he really Aunt 'Mione's child with Uncle Draco?"

"What? No!" she laughed out loud like it's the most ridiculous thing she's ever heard. "If you only knew…"

"Knew what?"

"Oh, nothing. Just reminiscing…" she smiled. Then she looked at me sincerely and said, "I want you to be your own person at school, not what your brothers want you to be. Know that your father and I will be proud of you regardless of which House you may be sorted into and which friends you choose to be with. Just don't do bad things at school but don't be afraid to explore a bit. I want you to be happy during your stay at Hogwarts like I did when I was young."

Just like that, my fears- thanks largely to the conversation I had with my brothers- about going to school far away from my parents, diminished somewhat. I'm determined to make new friends and do a lot of things that would make my brothers seethe with jealousy. My excitement flared up again. I really am going to be an official Hogwarts student tomorrow!

"I hope I don't get lost in the castle. James said that the castle is so huge, you could get lost with all the stairs and all the changing pathways…" I said worriedly. I don't think Fred was just making up stories about getting lost and getting sucked inside a large cavern with a big pile of basilisk bones.

"It is huge. You just have to be careful where you go. I won't worry about it if I were you. You'll get used to it in time and you have your brothers and all your cousins to help you," mom reassured me. "Dominique is the Head Girl. You could always go to her for help, and if she's too busy, you could always turn to Fred and Molly. I heard they were selected as Gryffindor prefects this year."

"Poor Fred. He thinks it is a disgrace to be a prefect. I hope Hugo and I are in the same House. Roxanne and Lucy, too."

"My goodness, I forgot that you're the same age as Roxanne and Lucy! Exactly how many Weasleys are populating Hogwarts right now?" my mom wondered.

"Well let me see. There's Dominique in her final year at Hogwarts, Louis in sixth year, Fred and Molly in fourth, Rose in third, so that's five. Add in Hugo, Roxanne and Lucy, who's coming as first years with me, makes eight Weasleys. Wow. Adding James and Albus, I already know 10 people at school and I didn't even start yet!" Now that I think about it, having familiar faces would be a relief. I won't look too out of place because I'll have somebody to talk to.

"15. You know 15 people," my mom corrected me. "You should include Scorpius, the sweet boy"- mom has a soft spot for Albus' best friend- ", his twin sister and brother, remember them? Lyra and Rigel Malfoy? They are so identical, you wouldn't know who's who if not for the gender difference. And the Scamander twins, Lorcan and Lysander."

"I don't know…" I hesitated. "Scorpius only ever talked to me once or twice before and the Malfoy twins are kinda stand-offish. I think the Scamander twins are alright, though."

"At least you are familiar with a lot of kids. You know, your father didn't know anybody when he first went to school. Good thing your Uncle Ron was in the same compartment when he boarded the train."

"I know, I know. Uncle Ron told me the stories over and over. They talked, instant BFF's, then came the troll then, bam! Instant BFF's with Aunt Hermione…"

My mom chuckled. "By the way, remember to write every week."

Here goes the reminders again…

"Okay," I answered anyway, knowing that this is hard for my mom. I overheard her talking with my dad these past few days about having no more babies around the house and how it would feel empty now that all of us are going away.

"And remember to brush your teeth before bed. If you get toothache, you know Aunt Hermione will hunt you down and take you to her parents," she added, at the verge of tears, which she quickly blinks away.

"I know, mom," I held her hand gently.

"And no dating till you're in sixth year."

And there goes the moment. "Ugh. You're just like Dad, James and Albus!"

"Promise me."

"Alright, I promise," I swore tiredly. That's the fourth time someone made me promise that. At least mom consented to dating at 16. My dad and my brothers told me to wait till I'm thirty.

"Did you pack your things?"

You could imagine my mom going on and on, instructing me about anything and everything. I already heard it from dad a week ago, just a little bit on the stricter side and more about repelling boys. My brothers gave me the same lecture just a few minutes ago and I am so confused about what I'm really allowed to do.

I sighed, feeling a headache coming on. I'll just do whatever I have to do when the time comes.

I wonder if having a lot of relatives in the school is more on the plus side. I mean, being the youngest, I might be subjected to stricter supervision. I'm worried that they will have their eyes on me and know when I screwed up or worse. They might tattle about every little thing I do to my parents and I might have to watch my back often. Not that I plan on creating trouble. But when I do get in trouble… Eh, I don't think I have a lot to worry about. Hugo, Roxanne and Lucy are also starting school this year and they're more trouble than anyone would care to admit.

After all, I'm the most level-headed, normal person in our family so I'm probably gonna be alright. If anything, I'm probably going to be the one keeping my cousins in line. Merlin knows my older cousins, especially my brothers, are almost always up to no good.

I guess, I'll just be the normal, average, fly on the wall. I bet my parents will be proud of me when I come home during the holidays without causing any incidents.

Fingers crossed.

A/N: For further reference, here's the list of students worthy of note, which may or may not be a big part of the story:

1st Year: Lily Luna Potter, Hugo Weasley, Roxanne Weasley, Lucy Weasley, Lorcan and Lysander Scamander (fraternal twins), Carina Lyra Malfoy and Rigel Malfoy (girl/boy twins, identical)

3rd Year: Rose Weasley, Albus Potter, Scorpius Malfoy

5th year: James Potter, Fred Weasley II, Molly Weasley II – Fred and Molly are Gryffindor prefects

6th Year: Louis Weasley

7th year: Dominique Weasley- Head Girl

Hogwarts Alums: Victoire Weasley (graduated 2 years before), Teddy Remus Lupin(graduated 4 years before)