Author Note: This is a story I first wrote back in 2008 and uploaded here. In the past four years or so I have only written original stuff, but this story has a place in my heart and I thought that if at least it was back up on here then some readers might enjoy it. It mostly follows canon, but it does go off in places, some characters look slightly different to those in the films and books. I hope you enjoy it, if not, thanks for trying!

Prologue

Allegra and Blaise waved goodbye to their fathers as the Hogwarts Express pulled away from the platform. They were finally on their way to start their first year of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, something they had been waiting for for as long as they could remember. There had never been any question of going elsewhere. They weren't even sure there was another school to go to. Every wizard they knew had been to Hogwarts, and they certainly did not intend to be any different.

"Finally," Blaise grinned at Allegra, flicking his dark brown hair out of his face, "let's go inside." Allegra followed Blaise into the cabin quickly, there were so many older children out in the corridor that she was afraid of getting in someone's way. Blaise had already found one of his friends on the platform, and he was sitting in the cabin watching them down his nose.

"Hurry up, Blaise," the blonde boy snapped at him. Allegra had never had much time for the boy, on the few occasions she had met him previously he had been rude and obnoxious. Allegra felt his eyes on her back as she lifted her owl's cage onto the seat beside her. "You're meant to put your owl on the hooks," Allegra turned to Draco first, and looked up at where he was pointing. Up above the window were four hooks with just enough space in between each to fit the average sized owl cage. Draco had put his owl on the closest hook to his seat. He had obviously stood on the bench to get it up that high.

"I can't reach up there," Allegra stated. There wasn't much chance she could reach the hooks, let alone lift her owl up and onto one, even if she did stand on a bench. Draco scanned his eyes over her with a sneer and once he had decided that she was indeed too small to reach, turned his gaze to Blaise.

"I know we're going to be in Slytherin, Blaise, I don't know how we couldn't be. Everyone in our families have been, and my father said that it would be criminal to put us anywhere else. We wouldn't be reaching our potential."

Allegra wanted to roll her eyes. She had unfortunately met Malfoy's father once during a stay at Blaise's mother's house. He had been a scary man who seemed to think a lot of himself, something Draco had inherited. Draco's icy blue eyes made contact with Allegra's emerald ones.

"Where were your mum and dad?" he asked.

"They were both in Gryffindor."

Draco immediately looked at her with such disgust that she would have been hurt, had it been anyone else. Blaise had warned her many times to ignore him.

"Oh, well -"

"She could be in Slytherin," Blaise defended, "she's just like me."

"Let's hope so." Draco stuck his nose in the air and looked out of the window. Blaise smiled at her, and Allegra returned it. She turned to her bag to find a book, fully intending to ignore Draco Malfoy for the rest of the trip.

Luckily for Allegra, Draco had left with two repulsive boys shortly before they arrived, leaving Blaise and Allegra to get off the train alone. They stepped out together onto the dark platform and into the throng of students. Blaise sensed that Allegra was nervous about getting left behind, and so took hold of her robe sleeve to tow her along behind him.

"Firs' years! Firs' years!" Blaise dragged her towards a huge man holding a lantern high above their heads. "C'mon, follow me!" The two of them joined the crowd following the large man down a slippery dark path. Allegra clung to Blaise's arm, the last thing she wanted was to slip over in front of her new classmates. The path opened up to reveal a large black lake, reflecting the moonlight and castle all around them. "No more'n four to a boat!" Blaise hurried into the closest boat, then turned to help Allegra get her little legs over the edge. Two other girls followed them, both pale white from fright and eyes wide with awe.

"Everyone in?" The large man shouted, receiving no reply. "Right then - FORWARD!" Suddenly the boat jolted forwards and then glided over the water like black ice. They sailed beneath the cliff face, pulling up at a small harbour. All the first years followed the half-giant up a small stone path, until they reached a courtyard and a huge wooden door, far bigger than Allegra had ever seen before. The door swung open at once to reveal a witch in emerald green robes, her black hair bundled tightly on the top of her head. She stood back and the first years filed into the entrance hall and took in the surroundings in no more than hushed whispers.

"Welcome to Hogwarts, I'm Professor McGonagall. The start of term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn you house points, while any rule breaking will lose them. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours. The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you're waiting." She looked pointedly and a few of the students who looked as though they hadn't dressed themselves before.

Allegra ran her hands through her long dark brown hair and tried to prevent her fringe from being too bouncy. It had a tendency to do whatever it wished. "I shall return when we are ready for you, please wait quietly." Professor McGonagall slipped into the Great Hall.

"I'm nervous," Allegra admitted at a whisper in Blaise's ear.

"It'll be fine," he reassured. "I'm sure we'll both be in Slytherin." Allegra smiled, but she couldn't help remembering Draco's taunts on the train. He didn't seem to think she'd be in Slytherin. Suddenly twenty or more ghosts shot through the room and several people shrieked.

"Muggleborns," Allegra muttered with a smirk to Blaise, a ghost was nothing new to them.

"Now, form a line," Professor McGonagall had reappeared, "and follow me." The first years bustled into something that somewhat resembled a line. The tension became extremely high and Allegra could feel her heart thudding inside her chest. She followed Blaise into the huge hall.

Candles floated above four long tables and above them, the night sky floated below the roof of the hall. The tables were littered with glittering silver and gold cutlery, goblets and more. Allegra turned her attention to Professor McGonagall, at the front of the hall, who was setting out a small four legged stool and the front of the line. On top of the stool, she placed an old fashioned leather wizard's hat. The whole room waited patiently, staring at the hat, then it opened its mouth wide, and it began to sing. It sang about itself, the four houses and who belonged in each. Allegra couldn't decide between Gryffindor and Slytherin, she knew she wouldn't be patient enough for Hufflepuff, and not wise enough for Ravenclaw.

McGonagall stepped forward with a long piece of parchment.

"When I call your name, you will come to the front, put the hat on and sit down on the stool. Abbott, Hannah!" A small girl stumbled out of line, put on the hat - which fell down over her eyes - and sat down. Barely a moment passed before the hat shouted: "Hufflepuff!" A table to Allegra's right cheered, and Hannah jumped up and skipped to the table. Allegra watched a few more, anticipating her name. Her surname was Boone, so it would be her turn any moment. Blaise had until Z to wait, she wasn't sure which she would have preferred.

"Boone, Allegra!" Her heart leapt to her mouth as she felt her cheeks flush. Blaise shot her a smile of encouragement as she quickly walked to the front, picked up the old worn hat and placed it on her head. As soon as she sat down the hat fell down over her eyes, which she actually preferred, rather than having to stare out at the rest of the school.

"Difficult," Allegra jumped a little as a deep voice spoke into her hear, despite her father's warning. "Slytherin or Gryffindor, that's the question ... I'm not sure that you're cunning enough for Slytherin, although I can see it in you ..." Allegra stayed quiet in waiting. "GRYFFINDOR!"

Suddenly the hat was removed from her head and she felt her fringe fly wildly as it was released. A table to her right cheered, and she walked quickly to join them. She was congratulated by various people she'd never seen before, however she could see Ron Weasley's older brothers only a little way up the table waving frantically at her. She sighed in relief and happily waved back. At least she knew some people in her house already. She relaxed to watch the sorting.

"Granger, Hermione!" A girl with bushy fly away hair sat down on the stool.

"GRYFFINDOR!" Allegra cheered along with her new house mates, and smiled at the girl when she slid onto the bench next to her.

"Malfoy, Draco!" She hadn't had to wait long for the name she recognised. Draco strutted up to the stool. The hat had barely touched his head when it shouted, "SLYTHERIN!" Draco wore a smug smile as he sauntered over to the Slytherin table. Allegra was glad that she wasn't in his house, despite how keen Blaise had been for them to be all together.

The next name she recognised caused her to gasp. "Potter, Harry!" The girl next to her swished her bushy hair and looked at her.

"Why is everyone whispering?" She asked, and Allegra realised that Hermione must be a muggleborn.

"Harry Potter is a famous wizard, he lived when You-Know-Who attacked him!"

"No, I don't know who -" Hermione was cut off by the hat shouting, "GRYFFINDOR!" and the table erupted with applause. Harry walked, glowing bright red, to sit opposite them. Allegra tried not to stare at Harry's forehead. When she noticed that he was looking uncomfortable, she turned her attention back to the sorting.

Soon, it was Ron's turn. Ron was another friend who she'd met at a young age, and had spent almost as much time at his house as she had spent with Blaise, although not so much recently. "Weasley, Ron!" She watched eagerly in hope that her friend would follow all five of his brother's footsteps. The hat didn't have to think for long, it soon shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!" Allegra clapped and grinned as she watched Ron walk down Harry's side of the table. She noticed that Harry also looked happy that Ron had been sorted into Gryffindor.

"Do you know Ron, too?" she asked with a smile.

"Yes - well, I met him on the train." Ron took a seat next to Harry, squeezing in between Harry and another black haired boy with large front teeth.

"Allegra!" Ron grinned, "I'm so glad you're in Gryffindor!" Allegra nodded, the hall was falling quiet again for the next sorting.

"Zambini, Blaise," Allegra watched as Blaise sat down on the stool. The hat thought for a moment and then shouted, "SLYTHERIN!" Blaise grinned and took a seat next to Draco. When the hall had fallen quiet again, Allegra caught his eye. The smiled sadly at each other. They were very aware of the house rivalry between Slytherin and Gryffindor, would they be able to stay friends?

"Allegra, mum was looking for you on the platform, Ginny was really upset that she didn't get to see you." Allegra turned her gaze away from Blaise and onto Ron.