A/N: This is my first ever Fan Fiction! Yay! So this story is basically about the kids of Harry/Ginny/Ron/Hermione/Draco etc. when they're at Hogwarts. Just saying, some of the characters are my own creations and do not follow J.K.R's family trees, for instance in this story Neville and Luna are married. So anyway, I hope you enjoy reading my story, I'll update as often as I can, (I can't guarantee how often that will be) and, um, yeah enjoy it! :D

Disclaimer: I don't own J.K Rowling's work or any of her characters, or anything else. This story is completely non-profit.

Chapter one:

The Sorting Ceremony

Eleven-year-old Abbie Longbottom jumped excitedly onto the scarlet steam train, her red pigtails bouncing about on her shoulders. This was it! She was finally going to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! She waved enthusiastically to her mum, Luna, who was gracefully smiling and waving back, her long, blonde hair flowing out behind her. Abbie's father, Neville, taught Herbology at Hogwarts, so he was in the teachers' carriage of the train.

Once platform nine-and-three-quarters had sped out of view, Abbie entered the hall, which was filled with the sound of chattering children who hadn't found a compartment to sit in yet.

Over the top of all the chatter, she heard a very familiar voice chanting, "You're going to be in Slytherin! You're going to be in Slytherin!" Abbie's heart leapt as she recognized the voice of one of her very best friends, James.

"Oh, shut up! I will not be!"

James was obviously teasing his younger brother, Albus, about what house he'd be sorted into. James himself was thirteen, a third year, and in Gryffindor. Abbie ran (which was hard with all the people standing around in the thin hall) to where their voices were coming from.

"Oh, Hi, Abbie!" Albus replied, as Abbie sat down.

"Hi!" James grinned. He had a naughty smile and scruffy black hair.

"So!" Abbie leaned forward. "I hear someone will be in Slytherin?" She sarcastically questioned, tilting her head to one side. Albus shifted in his seat and his ears turned pink. Albus looked a lot like his brother, except he didn't wear glasses and his hair sat in its place, not sticking up at the back. James was rolling about laughing. Abbie sat upright again, smiling.

"I was joking! I've heard that you do have some say in the house you're put in, so you obviously won't be in any house you don't want to be in." Albus looked relieved, but his ears still hadn't changed colour.

At that moment, the doors slid open and three people came in: Nicole Scamander, a third-year girl with wavy, shoulder-length hair (James sat up a bit straighter when she walked in), Rose Weasley, (also a third-year, and the Potter's cousin) who had lots of red, curly hair, and another girl who none of them had seen before. The new girl had straight black hair in a neat plait, and a kind smile on her face. Nicole sat next to James and introduced the girl to them.

"Hey, guys! This is Courtney. She's a first year. Can she sit with us?"

Instantly, James agreed, and the others nodded in agreement, too.

"How've you been, Rose?" Abbie asked happily. She loved being with her friends again.

"I've been good. Hugo was in an awful temper this morning. He wanted to come too. Of course, he's still ten like Lily," Rose replied, sighing at the thought of her little brother. James nodded and added, "Lily's nine, actually. Well, almost ten. She hasn't been very happy, either. She hates that this year she won't have Albus or me to run around with now that we're both going to Hogwarts."

"I have a sister. She's in sixth year at Hogwarts," Nicole informed Courtney. "Her name's Helena. We're really close!"

The talk continued, and everyone in the compartment felt content.

The train had started zooming past wild forests and bush land when the Trolley Lady, a short old woman with flyaway grey hair, slid open the compartment door.

"Anything from the trolley, dears?" She asked feebly, as though she had asked the question hundreds of times (which Abbie thought she probably had). Albus and James instantly jumped up.

"Chocolate frogs!" ordered James.

"Pack of Droobles and a chocolate cauldron, please?" asked Albus, a lot more politely that his wildly grinning brother.

Abbie asked if she could share the chocolate frogs James had ordered. After all, he did get far too many, but he refused. Abbie shared Courtney's chocolate wands instead. Abbie noticed that James offered Nicole six of his twenty six chocolate frogs. Rose rolled her eyes and winked at Abbie.

Courtney and Abbie were fast friends by the time they reached Hogwarts. They talked merrily as they walked slowly away from the platform. They waved goodbye to Rose, Nicole and James, (because they were third years, they rode the horseless carriages up to the castle) and walked towards the looming figure of Hagrid, the gamekeeper.

Hagrid smiled down at them through his beard.

"All righ', Abbie, Albus? An' who's yeh new friend?" Hagrid boomed.

"This is Courtney, Hagrid," replied Albus. Hagrid nodded, and then started to shout, "Firs' years, this way! C'mon, now! Don' want to be left behind, do ya?"

All of the first years followed Hagrid to the huge black lake. Abbie shivered. Her dad, Neville, had told her to be careful of a giant squid that lurked in the depth of that icy cold water…

The students jumped into hundreds of boats that bobbed on the surface of the glassy water, three to a boat with one holding a lantern. The small, wooden boats sailed smoothly without any steering. Abbie strongly suspected magic was behind this. Soon, the little wooden boats bumped softly against the dock, creating small waves on the surface of the water.

Abbie and Courtney ran to catch up with Albus, who had been in a different boat. When they reached him Abbie whispered, "Isn't it amazing?" Albus looked up at the vast castle the girl was looking at. It had big turrets and towers, and a huge forest bordered one side. Abbie's mum had told her about how fantastic the castle of Hogwarts was, but never had Abbie imagined something so magnificent!

Albus shrugged, "Oh, it's just a bunch of rubble. I wanna get inside!"

"It is not a bunch of rubble! Why'd you say that?" exclaimed Abbie.

"Er, that's what James told me it was like after his first year... But I guess it is pretty cool!" Albus grinned.

"C'mon now! Move along!" Hagrid's voice came from right behind them, making the three kids jump.

"Isn't it fantastic?" Hagrid bent down and muttered to Albus, Abbie and Courtney.

"You bet! Lucky you, being able to live here…" Courtney murmured. Abbie thought that she must be thinking of her home, because her eyes were glazed and she had a slight frown on her face.

All the students filed into the huge castle, too filled with awe to talk. Professor McGonagall stood in front of the Great Hall doors explaining that the students would be sorted into Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw. She then swung open the doors behind her, and the sorting began!

"Good luck, Abbie!"

"Good luck!"

"Let's hope you don't get Slytherin!"

All of Abbie's friends encouraged her as she made her way to The Stool at the front of the line of students.

Siting on the stood, Abbie felt slightly terrified as McGonagall placed the tatty black Sorting Hat on Abbie's head.

Darkness.

Silence.

A booming voice, (bigger and wiser than Hagrid's) and excitement as without a hesitation Abbie Longbottom was placed in Gryffindor.

As she slipped off the stool and headed to the Gryffindor table, Abbie heard Courtney's name being called out: "Courtney West, please!" Professor McGonagall announced.

Sitting down between Albus (thankfully in the same house) and James (who was paying no attention to the Sorting, as he was in the middle of a conversation with Nicole), Abbie watched excitedly. Something strange happened when the hat fell over Courtney's eyes. The Sorting Hat gasped, 'hmmm-ed' and announced, after the longest pause yet,

"Sly- Gryffindor!"

There was a murmur of confusion, then a roar of cheering from Gryffindor house.

Smiling, (though was that worry upon her face?) Courtney squeezed next to Abbie. The sorting finished, and everyone expected the feast to begin. But instead, a magical, humongous ribbon curled out in midair in front of the teacher's table. Then, Professor Flitwick stood up.

"We will now sing the Hogwarts song. Choose whatever tune you like!"

Then, to all the first years' amusement, (and to James's embarrassment) words scrawled themselves along the ribbon and all the students and teachers alike began to sing:

Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,
Whether we be old and bald,
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling,
With some interesting stuff,
For now they're bare and full of air,
Dead flies and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we've forgot,
Just do your best, we'll do the rest,
And learn until our brains all rot.

The students cheered and the first years laughed, though James exclaimed, "Finally it's over! Such an embarrassment to the school having to sing that…" Albus laughed at his brother's 'stupidity' "It's just a bit of fun!" he exclaimed. "Besides, you didn't even sing!"

James glared at his brother. "I did sing it! I just sang so softly and quickly you didn't notice!"

Now Professor McGonagall stood up and she announced, "Now that we have finished the Hogwarts Song, let the feast begin!"

Now James whooped, and Albus slapped his hand over his brother's mouth. "Shut up, you'll embarrass yourself more than the song did!"

Luckily, the feast distracted both boys from the argument that was sure to come. As food appeared on the plates, an audible "Wow!" came from every first year. It's true, the feast wowed everyone. The students, the teachers, and even the caretaker!

But, if the students thought that their dinner was good, the dessert was nothing compared! Pudding, trifle, ice cream, cake, jam doughnuts, crème caramels, chocolate and other delicious delicacies appeared after the dinner. Everyone ate and ate until they had stomach aches! Then the students stood up and followed the prefects to their common rooms. Teddy Lupin (godson of Harry Potter and a prefect) told them the password to get in. Then, the first-years managed to make it to bed, before they fell asleep, dreaming about the moving staircases and talkative portraits.

Abbie woke up early the next day to find that one of the dormitory beds was empty. As she made her way downstairs, she found Courtney sitting in one of the comfortable chairs in front of the fire.

"Hey!" Abbie exclaimed, sitting next to her friend. Courtney jumped, obviously in her own world.

"Oh, hi Abbie… Err, nice sleep?" Courtney somehow seemed uncomfortable.

"Yeah I slept fine… Whatcha doing up so early?"

Courtney shifted in her seat choosing her words carefully.

"I guess I… Um…"

Abbie didn't know what to think. Courtney seemed to be hiding something. That was for sure.

"Abbie, I…"

At that moment, Albus wandered down looking extremely tired.

"I… Have to go to the bathroom…" Standing up, Courtney dashed out of the portrait hole, the way out of the common room.

"Albus! She was about to tell me something!" Abbie scowled.

"How was I to know? Anyway, when's breakfast?"