Disclaimer - I do not own Harry Potter.

Slytherin's Potter

Chapter One: A Potter? In Slytherin? No Way!

Lily took in deep breath as she watched her family disappear from her compartment window. She'd been dreaming about going to Hogwarts since Teddy started, and now she was going. But she couldn't quell the nerves that were fluttering through her stomach. She wasn't used to being away from home for very long.

"So are you guys excited to join Gryffindor?" James asked happily. He and Fred had been the ones to find an empty compartment for the family. Lily sat by the window, and Hugo sat between her and Rose, and across from her were James, Fred, and Albus. The rest of the family had gone off with friends. Honestly, Lily wished that Louis had stayed around. Being the calmest one of the family, she always felt at ease with him.

Hugo looked a little green as well. "Yeah, I guess," he mumbled. He took in a gulp. "What happens if I don't make it into Gryffindor?" he asked hesitantly.

"Then we disown you," James answered seriously. But then him and Fred looked at each other and laughed. Lily rolled her eyes.

"Quit teasing them!" Rose scolded. She turned toward her brother. "If you don't make it, then you don't make it. It doesn't matter. You're still are family."

"Yeah, we'll still love you," James assured with a smile.

"Besides," Albus told them, "I was afraid of the same thing. And I'm a Gryffindor."

"And you two are the most Gryffindor-like of us all," Rose told her brother.

"Yeah, every Potter has been a Gryffindor, and only a few Weasleys have ever been in any house other than Gryffindor. Even Teddy was a Gryffindor!" James bragged.

"And while we're on the subject of newcomers," Fred spoke, "Rose and Albus, how excited are you about finally being able to go to Hogsmeade?"

Albus grinned. "It's going to be awesome!"

"You're only so excited because you two never snuck out there with us," James teased.

Rose gave him a stern look. "You two could have been caught."

Lily sighed and looked out the window next to her. The argument droned on, but she ignored it. Before she ever got her letter, Lily always gushed and imaged how she was going to be a Gryffindor, just like her parents. She had dreamed about planning pranks with her brother in the Gryffindor common room. But she started to worry once she received her letter. Lily started to think about her own traits and personality, and now she was no longer sure if she would be a Gryffindor. She liked to think she was smart, that she was fair, and that she was resourceful. Those were all traits of different houses. But when she had told Hugo her fear, he pointed out that she was more brave and loyal than anything else. Sadly, this didn't completely quiet her fears.

The trolley came to their compartment around noon. Lily bought a few Chocolate Frogs. She ate the frogs, and threw the cards to Hugo. He was a faithful collector, so any card Lily got, she gave it to him. But soon Lily grew restless, and had to leave the compartment to stretch her legs. She rejected the offers of others to go with her. She wanted to just walk, and to maybe find Louis.

Louis was one of the rare Weasleys to not make it into Gryffindor. Last year he was sorted into Ravenclaw, but he seemed very proud of it. He didn't care at all that he wasn't in Gryffindor like the rest of the others. From what Lily was told, he was very popular in his house, so she wasn't surprised to find him in a compartment that was full of other Ravenclaws. Some were even older than he was, but he seemed to be the center of the group. She started to turn, but the door opened behind her, and Louis stood there.

"Hey, Lil!" he greeted. She could see the others all peering out to see her. She could also hear whispers about the 'youngest Potter'. "What's up?" Louis asked. He ignored the whispers, and everyone else behind him.

Lily shrugged. "Nothing, I thought I'd see what you were doing, but you're talking with your friends, so . . ."

"It's ok," he interrupted. "Just wait one moment, and I'll walk with you." He turned around, and said something she couldn't hear to his friends. Then with a smile he turned around, and closed the compartment door behind him. "Let's walk."

They walked up the train, making their way around other kids that were out of their compartments as well. They didn't speak, but then Louis pulled them into an empty compartment. When he closed the door, he sat down next to her, and was silent.

Lily looked at him. "Louis, were you scared when you were put in Ravenclaw instead of Gryffindor?"

Louis shook his head. "No. I knew that it wouldn't make a difference to the others. I mean, Victoire was a Hufflepuff, and we all love her."

"But, everyone else around your age was put into Gryffindor," Lily commented. "You weren't afraid that you wouldn't be able to see them as much? Or that you would lose touch with them?"

Once again, he shook his head. "Victoire told me that she hung out with a lot of kids from other houses. And as we both know, she moved in with a Gryffindor last year. I just figured that if she could do it, then so could I."

"So you just sucked it up and went for it?" Lily clarified.

Louis gave a smile. "That's one way to put it. Having doubts?"

Lily sighed. "Kind of. It's just that I'm not sure if I'm Gryffindor material anymore. What if I end up in another House?"

"Well, then we'll have to work around our schedules to have talks like this one," Louis replied. He put a hand on her shoulder and smiled brightly. "Look, Lil, if you end up in a different House then me, or than the others, then it won't matter. I know that I'll still make time to hang out with you."

"Really?" Lily asked hesitantly.

He gave a chuckle. "Of course I will. You're the only one I know that prefers Crystallized Pineapple to any type of chocolate," he teased.

Lily finally laughed.

The train ride to Hogwarts was a long one. Lily talked with Louis for quite a while, but she eventually wandered back to the other compartment. She and Rose kicked the boys out so that they could change into their robes, and when they got off the train. Lily finally saw someone that made her forget all about being sorted.

"Firs'-years! Firs'-years this way! Over here!" Hagrid called. He held a lantern in one hand, and his other giant hand was waving the newcomers over to him and the boats. Lily and Hugo ran over toward him.

"Hiya, Hagrid!" they both greeted excitedly. Standing next to him, they just brushed the height of his waist.

Hagrid looked down and smiled at them. "Well, hey there! Great to finally see you two here. You'll have ter come down ter me hut sometimes."

"Totally!" Hugo agreed with a smile.

"Well, hop in. We got ter get goin'. A lot ter do tonight," Hagrid told them with a smile.

They both smiled widely as they joined two other kids in a boat. All the first years were silent during the ride, until they could see the castle. Then whispers and gasps and murmurs erupted from them.

"Woah," Hugo murmured.

"It's beautiful," the other girl in their boat whispered.

"And big," Lily mumbled.

When they finally reached the dock, Hagrid led them up to the marvelous castle. But then he led them to someone that Lily recognized easily. Her 'uncle', Neville Longbottom.

"Here they are, Professor Longbottom," Hagrid told him. "Ready ter follow yeh."

Lily grinned. It would be hard getting used to calling him Professor Longbottom instead of Uncle.

Neville grinned. "Good then. Please, follow me, first years."

He led them away from Hagrid and into the grande entrance hall. Lily marveled at the size of it. He led them past a large, closed door, where Lily could hear a loud murmur of voices. She imagined that it was the Great Hall the others had talked about. Neville led them into a small room off the hall, where they all crowded in.

Neville stood in front of them. "Welcome, first years, to Hogwarts. My name is Professor Longbottom. Now, I will soon take you into the Great Hall, but before you sit down, you have to be sorted into your houses. Now, the sorting is important. Houses are like family. You sleep in the same dorms, eat at the same table, and have classes with them.

"The houses are named Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, and Hufflepuff. While here, all houses will be competing for what is known as the House Cup. To win, each house collects House points, and the one with the most points is the winner. Good deeds will earn you points, and trouble making will lose you points." He paused to look at them all.

"Now, I'm going to leave for a moment, and I will come back once we're ready. Now, take this time to maybe clean up or socialize. It's your time," he ended. Then he moved toward the doors, the kids parting for him to move easily through them. Once the door closed after him, a tension covered them.

"I don't think I'll ever get used to calling him Professor Longbottom," Hugo muttered into Lily's ear.

Lily smiled and nodded. "I like Uncle Neville much better."

"Maybe he'll let us get away with it," Hugo said quietly.

The two were quiet after that, and no one else spoke either. It was a relief when Neville came back to get them.

"We're ready now," he said with a smile, and he led them back out into the entrance hall. Then he pushed open those grand doors, and led them through the Great Hall. The older students were all murmuring and watching them. Lily ignored them, and looked around. This room was just as grande, and its ceiling was amazing. It looked like the actual night sky. She was sure it was magic, but she knew it had to be powerful. They were stopped just before a long table where the staff was sitting. In front of the table was a stool with an ugly looking hat on it.

Lily, and the other first years, jumped when it started to sing. Lily listened carefully, but all the hat seemed to sing about was the difference of the houses. She had heard enough about that from her brothers and cousins. But when it finished, all the older kids and staff clapped. Then Neville stepped forward with a long scroll.

"When I call your name, you put on the hat and sit on the stool," he explained. "Angel, Clay."

A boy with dirty blonde hair stepped forward, and sat up on the stool. His cheeks were a deep red color, and his hands were fidgeting with his collar. Neville placed the hat on his head. There was a moment of silence, followed by the hat's shout of,

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Claps followed, and a lot cheers from what had to be the Gryffindor table. Lily could see most of her family sitting there. Neville took the hat off the boy's head, and the boy stumbled his way over to the table to sit down.

"Avery, Xavier!" Neville called next.

This boy had a sharp face with inky black hair. The only nervousness Lily could see in him was his eyes. His eyes flitted around the room, not stopping on anything in particular. When the hat was placed on his head, his eyes disappeared behind the fabric.

"SLYTHERIN!" the hat yelled.

Now the loud cheers came from the other end of the room. There claps from the other tables seemed much quieter for this kid. After this kid sat down, the routine went the same.

"Baddock, Hunter."

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Belle, Hannah."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Bones, Izzy."

"SLYTHERIN!"

Lily started getting bored, and they were only on the B's. But when "Carmichael, Ginger" became the first new Ravenclaw, Lily looked for the loudest table cheering. There she found Louis, clapping for their new housemate. He caught his cousin's eyes staring at him, and he smiled. A little of her fear disappeared.

More names were called, and soon Hugo was as bored as she was. The only person they recognized was Stacy Finnigan, who went to Gryffindor. They had no interest in anyone else. But soon the P's came, and Lily and Hugo were a bit more alert.

"Page, Jon." This was a tiny boy, who seemed very uncoordinated as he walked up to the stool.

"RAVENCLAW!"

Lily didn't move her eyes from the hat as she waited for her name. She didn't have to wait long.

"Potter, Lily," Neville called.

Whispers broke out among the other students. As Lily walked by some of the older ones, she caught a few.

"Another Potter."

"Another Gryffindor, you mean."

"Gryffindor gets another star."

Lily ignored the whispers then. She was determined to not be compared to her family. When she hopped onto the stool, Neville gave her a small smile before placing the hat on her own head. Then her vision was blocked by the musty fabric.

"Ah, another Potter, eh?" the hat mumbled. Lily did her best not to jump at the sound. "Well, I must say you are different from your brothers. Your mind isn't plagued with the word 'Gryffindor'. You seem very . . . hesitant about what house you want to be in. So where to put you?"

Closed her eyes, trying to keep her mind blank. She didn't want to give the hat any ideas. She wanted to be placed based on who she really was.

"Very bright, no doubt. Very witty. But also very courageous and loyal. Famous Gryffindor qualities. Very ambitious, resourceful, and a bit cunning. You know how to get things you want. But you work hard, you play fair. Where to put you?" it repeated.

Lily was starting to lose patience as this thing decided. The nerves in her stomach felt like they were going to explode out.

"Hmm . . . well you don't want to be compared to your brothers and cousins. You want to be different. Unexpected. I know just where to put you for you to achieve that. SLYTHERIN!"

A stunned silence fell from the room. And as the hat was pulled from her head, Lily kept her face expressionless. She was thankful to receive her mother's acting skills. Once she dropped from the stool, claps and cheers came from only one table. The Slytherin table. Not to mention jeers.

"Take that, Gryffindor!" one boy shouted.

"We got a Potter!" one girl trilled.

Lily ignored it, and didn't look at Neville, or any other table but her own. She sat down next to a calm girl who took no notice of her. And she was silent. But a tall boy with smooth brown hair leaned over another new first year, and held out his hand to her.

"Welcome to Slytherin, Potter. I'm Tyson Derrick, the seventh year prefect," he introduced.

Keeping her face neutral, Lily shook his hand. "Hello, Tyson. Thank you for the welcome," she told him. She wasn't sure if she was happy to meet him, so she kept out of her reply. But Tyson didn't seem to mind. Instead he leaned back into his chair with a smug smile. Lily turned back to the sorting. Another P was sorted into Slytherin, Lola Pritchard. She sat across from Lily, and didn't say a word.

"Pucey, Jace."

A short and skinny boy stood forward. Lily bit her lip. He had to be the shortest boy there, but that wasn't what stood out about him. It was his ears. His bright blonde hair was shaggy, and both of his ears poked out. And when the hat was placed on his head, his ears kept it from falling over his eyes.

"SLYTHERIN!" the hat called.

Among the claps, Lily noticed the girl sitting next to her leaning across the table, and whispering to Lola Pritchard. "Great, we get him of all people."

"It looks like he could fly away with those ears," Pritchard giggled. The other girls giggled as well, but it all stopped when Jace Pucey sat down on the chair to Lily's right. Lily wanted to glare at the other girls. The boy hadn't even sat down and he was already being mocked.

Lily watched the rest of the sorting with an impassive face. When Hugo was called and sorted into Gryffindor, she caught his eyes. He gave her an apologetic look as he went and sat down at the Gryffindor table, where he belonged. It was then that Lily noticed that the cheers from her own family members had quieted down after her sorting.

The sorting ended with "Wood, Connie," joining Gryffindor. Lily knew her a little, and wasn't surprised at where she was put. Neville then took the stool and hat away, and the man in the middle of the staff table, most likely the headmaster, stood up.

"Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! I am of course the headmaster, Professor Brown," he said, his voice booming across the hall. "Now, let me just say one thing before we eat. Enjoy!"

Lily finally cracked a smile at the man, and then the food appeared, and talking began. Lily started to fill her plate. Now that her nerves had calmed a bit, she had a lot of room to be hungry. As she ate, she listened to the conversations around her.

"I knew I would be a Slytherin," the girl next to her said. Her expression was very superior, and her head seemed to automatically be raised high. "Every one of my family has been a Slytherin. It was only expected."

Lily wanted to scoff at her reasoning. She herself was proof that family didn't matter when it came to choosing houses.

"Well, my family's been a bit scattered," one girl mentioned. Lily had seen her before, but just couldn't place her. "My mother was a Hufflepuff. And I don't know him personally, but I was told that my father was a Ravenclaw."

"I don't think family matters," Lola Pritchard told them. She looked at Lily. "I think Lily here is proof."

The girls seemed to expect her to talk, so Lily swallowed the food she was eating. "Actually, my cousin Victoire was proof first. She was a Hufflepuff."

"Well you're the first when it comes to the Potter family," the huffy girl next to her pointed out.

Lily gave a nod. "True. But what does it matter?"

She kept her head high. "Nothing, just pointing out facts."

Lily raised a brow. She had the feeling that this girl was trying to get a rise out of her, so she ignored her, and turned back to her food. But Lola Pritchard continued to talk.

"It doesn't matter," Lola told her. "We're just doing our best to get to know each other." She looked at the girl next to Lily, and then back at her. "We might be failing on getting along though."

Lily grinned. "Just a little."

She and Lola didn't talk after that, but were silent for the rest of the feast. When everyone had finished eating, the booming man stood up again.

"Now that we are all fed, I would like to make a few announcements. First, I want to welcome the new students to Hogwarts, and to welcome the older students to a new year. Also, first years should note that the forest is strictly forbidden. Also, Mr. Goyle, our caretaker, wants me to remind everyone that magic is not allowed in between classes. And that he has a list of forbidden items, and he would like you to check for any new items.

"Also, Quidditch tryouts will be soon, and you should contact your House captain if you want to try out. Now, finally off to bed. First years, follow your prefects. They will show you the way," Professor Brown finished.

Everyone stood up, and the older students all rushed out of the Great Hall. The first years stayed behind to follow their prefects. Lily noticed that Tyson was not the one that was showing them around. Instead it was a bulky boy with short, greasy black hair.

"I'm your fifth year prefect," he told them in a bored voice. "My name's Adrian Flint. So if you ever have questions, then I guess you can ask me, or one of the other prefects. Now come along."

He waved them forward, and out of the Great Hall. Lily caught the Gryffindor first years being led up the stairs. Unlike them, Adrian Flint led them downwards. It was silent as they walked through the dim dungeons.

"Now, as a note, portraits talk, so don't let them mislead you if you get lost. Our Head of House is Professor Slughorn. He teaches Potions," Adrian listed off. "Don't worry about Goyle's list. He never cares if a Slytherin is caught with something they shouldn't have."

Lily raised a brow. She had only heard a story or two about Goyle from her parents. But from her brothers, they told her that he was a git who favored Slytherin House.

Finally, Adrian stopped at a flat, stone wall. "This wall leads to our common room. Our password is 'Salazar'."

At the word, the stone wall slid out of the way, and Adrian Flint led them inside of the Slytherin common room. It was a low underground room. It was lit up by hanging green lamps, and a fireplace. The walls were the only rough thing about it. The furniture was plush, and in a weird way the room was elegant. Once they were all in, the wall slid shut.

"Now, the dormitories are just up there. The boys on the right, and the girls on your left. Now, your things are in your rooms, and just remember this. As Slytherins, we are better than the others, and we take pride in that. So winning the House and Quidditch Cups are important, and we all will work hard to win them. Now go to bed," Adrian told them.

Lily rolled her eyes at the words of Slytherin superiority, but she followed the other girls up to the girls' dorms, and found the door that read "First Year Girls". They all went inside and found that their things were by their new beds. They were all feeling a little tired, so they started to change for bed.

"So, Potter," one of the girls addressed, "how are you taking to being in Slytherin?"

Lily let out a breath through her nose as she climbed up onto her bed. Her sleep clothes differed from the other girls'. Unlike prim and proper clothing with dark colors, Lily was wearing a pair of shorts and one of James's bright red shirts.

"Call me Lily," she told the girl. "And as to your question, ask me in the morning." With that, Lily closed the hanging of her bed, and settled down to sleep. She sighed as she closed her eyes. She herself wasn't sure how she felt about being a Slytherin yet. Mainly, she was wondering what her family thought of her now. Hugo at least seemed the same, if only a bit sorry for her.

She was praying that Louis meant what he said.