a/n Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Harry Potter, you recognize it, it's JK's. This is my first time posting anything so let me know if there is anything I can do to improve. Hope you enjoy!

September 1st 1991

Eleven year old Ascella Marlene Black was nothing if not determined. Some might call it rebellious even but she'd be damned if she was going to end up sorted into the same house as her parents. Stupid Gryffindor's. Being in that "noble" house had only gotten her mother killed in the war against Voldemort and landed her father in prison. No thank you that wasn't for her. They could take all their bravery and stuff it as far as she was concerned.

Ascella was currently sitting in a compartment alone on the Hogwarts Express, her arms crossed and glaring at anyone who dared try to sit with her. Ted, Meda, and Dora had just kissed her goodbye wishing her well; Meda with tears in her eyes. They seemed to think she was a shoe in for Gryffindor. Well she'd show them too.

Anyone who'd known Marlene McKinnon would have been struck by how much her daughter looked like her. It was true, they were almost carbon copies of one another, from the thick, wavy blonde hair and flawless skin to the pert nose and full lips, but at this moment, with her father's steel grey eyes flashing, her face pulled in haughty rebellion no one would doubt she was the daughter of Sirius Black.

Unfortunately her glares and haughtiness weren't enough to keep the tall, handsome, dark skinned boy from entering the compartment moments after the train had left.

"Zabini," she said darkly.

"Black," he replied just as darkly sitting down on the bench opposite her as close to the door as she was to the window. They were quite literally sitting as far away from each other as the compartment allowed. It still wasn't far enough for Ascella.

She tried shooting him her death glare, the one that sent even Dora running, to indicate he should leave. He ignored her and calmly pulled out a book. She harrumphed at him. He merely raised an eyebrow, eyes never leaving his book.

The next half hour passed in similar fashion until finally Ascella couldn't take it anymore.

"Leave," she said shortly. His golden eyes flicked towards her as he flipped a page.

"No."

Ascella's eyes flashed, the only indication on an otherwise calm, if brooding, exterior that his comment had annoyed her.

She leaned back lazily, still watching him read, her lips pursed as if in thought. She and Blaise Zabini weren't well acquainted but they knew of each other. They'd met at various parties thrown in the wizarding community, most notably when his mother had been married to her 5th husband; he'd been both a professional Quidditch player and good friends with Ted in school. Ascella was still convinced the mother was involved in the Quidditch "accident" that had killed him. His mother was as beautiful as she was vain. Zabini had inherited his mother's good looks as well as her vanity. Naturally he and Ascella had never gotten on and Ascella's quick tongue had never shied from making him aware of it. Just as he hadn't shied from insulting Ted, her muggleborn guardian.

Zabini finally looked up. When his eyes met hers she grinned faux sweetly.

"Don't get any ideas about us becoming friends," she said icily. He snorted. He did even that attractively. Ascella would bet her chocolate frogs collection he'd practiced it in the mirror.

"Obviously not," he sneered before returning to his book. Satisfied Ascella spent the rest of the journey drifting in and out of sleep or gazing out the window resolutely. Her anger from the morning had faded but her resolve had only strengthened. Both she and Zabini declined the trolley lady's inquiry about sweets. When the afternoon turned into evening Ascella kicked Zabini out so she could change into her robes. Exiting the train a little while later she couldn't help but muse that though she disliked him he hadn't made a bad traveling companion; at least he'd been quiet.

"Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" Ascella looked in the direction of the voice. She soon caught sight of the biggest man she had ever seen in her life. Though she'd been expecting it, Dora had told her about Hagrid after all, she still stumbled in surprise. She wasn't the only one of her fellow first years to do so. She couldn't help but think that her cousin hadn't done the Hogwarts Gamekeeper quite the justice his size deserved.

Not wanting to be left behind Ascella and her fellow first years recovered and trudged along behind Hagrid. Upon reaching the lake they all got the first view of the castle reflecting back at them in the water. Several of those around her gasped in awe. Even she had to admit she was impressed, her eyebrows lifting in wonder.

Hagrid then directed them towards the fleet of boats bobbing in the water by the shore, telling them no more than four to a boat. Ascella climbed into a boat with a sandy haired boy and a tall black one. They were soon joined by a pretty brunette. When the boats took off of their own volition Ascella saw the black boy and the girls eyes widen in wonder. Muggleborns she thought smiling to herself, or at the very least not raised in the wizarding world. She couldn't imagine what it must be like for them to be seeing magic like this for the first time, to finally understand what their weird bursts of magic had really been while growing up.

Soon they entered a cove beneath the castle and were trudging up the sloping lawn to a massive oak front door. They were ushered through to an expansive entrance hall, complete with a glorious marble staircase. They were met by a stern looking witch, whose grey hair was pulled back in a severe bun. Professor McGonagall. Dora had warned her to never get on her bad side; Ascella had of course taken this as a challenge.

After her welcoming speech they were left briefly. It seemed some of the students were whispering about something excitedly but Ascella couldn't be bothered to find out what. She was too busy readying herself to convince the hat that Gryffindor was the last place for her, well the second to last as there was no way she was going to be in Slytherin, a bunch of bigoted, selfish snobs there.

McGonagall soon came back and escorted them into the Great Hall. She looked up at the ceiling with interest, wondering just what enchantment they had used to make it look like the sky outside. She barely managed to keep from rolling her eyes, though, when she heard a bushy haired girl announce that it was enchanted and that she'd read about it in Hogwarts, A History. Of course it was enchanted, Ascella thought, and was it necessary to announce where she'd read the information?

When they reached the front of the room McGonagall began reading names off a long piece of parchment. Ascella paid little attention to the names being read but she soon heard "Black, Ascella." She stepped forward confidently, despite the hushed whispering that had accompanied her name being called. Among wizards the surname Black was well known, though a Black hadn't attended the school in a generation. She sat on the stool. McGonagall placed the hat on her head and she was plunged into darkness as it slipped past her eyes.

It only took a moment before the hat spoke into her head. If Ascella was surprised she didn't show it.

"Hmm, yes you are too easy," it said. Sensing it was about to open its brim and shout Gryffindor she thought defiantly back at it. Don't. Even. Think about it.

The hat seemed surprised when it thought back. "Hmm, oh yes I see you are very determined not to end up there... Perhaps you take more after your father's side than I'd thought... You want to restore the old family... hmm?"

Ugh. No. Put me in Slytherin and mark my words I'll march out of this room and feed you to the Giant Squid.

Slightly alarmed the hat told her that wouldn't be necessary. Finally he asked if she was sure about Gryffindor. Oh she was sure.

"Well if you're sure," it thought at her, "then it'll be - RAVENCLAW!" The hat shouted out the last word to the crowd. The table just right of center erupted in cheers. She primly took the hat off and sauntered over to her house table. She was welcomed by the older students as she slid demurely onto the empty bench at the end, her back to what was clearly the Slytherin table. Take that parents, she couldn't help but think satisfied.

The rest of the sorting passed with Ascella ignoring it; instead she looked around the Great Hall, at her fellow students, and at the staff table. She caught sight of a greasy haired Professor staring daggers at her. She smiled in return before looking away. The only time she paid any attention back to the sorting was when she noticed the excitement that had descended over the entire hall. She'd looked around in alarm until she noticed how intently everyone was staring at the front of the room, some even craning in their seats to get a better view. She followed their eyes and until hers landed on a skinny boy with messy jet black hair, glasses, and the most striking green eyes she'd ever seen. She'd missed the boys name but clearly everyone seemed to know of him. Some famous person's son she figured as the hat fell over the boys eyes. She watched with the rest until "GRYFFINDOR!" The table on the far side of the hall erupted in deafening cheers.

Ascella smiled when she caught sight of a flash of red. It was the Weasley twins who were currently chanting something loudly looking pleased. She'd met the troublesome duo on more than one occasion. Which reminded her that Ronald would be starting this year as well. Sure enough when she turned back to the front she caught sight of his long nose and shocking red hair. He, unsurprisingly, got Gryffindor just like the rest of his family. Finally once Zabini had been placed in Slytherin (no surprise at all there), the aging Headmaster Albus Dumbledore stood and told them to "tuck in," and so when the food appeared she did just that, all in all very satisfied with her day.