Platform 9¾ of King's Cross Station was busy, bustling with young witches and wizards and their parents. The Hogwarts Express sat ready on the train tracks, being loaded with luggage and children. It was a surprisingly comforting environment, despite the absolute chaos that it was. The station was filled with families saying goodbye for the next few months, with a large variety of people in the station.

"You two better not disappoint me this year," Lucius Malfoy told his children. The Malfoy twins were both starting at Hogwarts this year. "Don't ruin this family's reputation. Especially you, Lilianna." The young girl was silent. "You both need to be sorted into Slytherin. Do not toss our name into the ground. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Father," The twins replied in unison.

"Now hurry up and get on the train."

The twins did as they were told, silently picking their trunks up and hefting them into an empty train compartment. As the train began to move and pull away from the station, Lili watches her parents turn and walk away before the train was even out of sight. She sighed heavily.

"You shouldn't worry about what Father says so much."

She turned to face her brother, who was sitting on the other seat in the compartment. "How can I not, Draco? You and I both know that I won't be sorted into Slytherin. Mother and Father will disown me."

"Oh, don't think about it like that. You're still their daughter and you're still my sister."

"Thanks, I guess."

--

When the train arrived at the station across from Hogwarts, every student filed out. Lili stepped off the train, accidentally bumping into someone.

"Sorry," She apologised quietly.

The girl Lili bumped into turned around. "Ah, it's no worries. Accidents happen, right?"

"Right."

"I'm Rayne, by the way. Rayne Wilson."

"Lili Malfoy.

"You're a bit quiet for a Malfoy, aren't you?"

"Ah, well..."

"Come on, Lili," Draco sayed gruffly, pulling his sister and dragging her after the gamekeeper Hagrid.

"See you later, Lili!" She heard Rayne call after her, though she didn't dare turn back to face the other girl. Not with Draco beside her.

--

The first years all stood outside the Great Hall, waiting to be let in and sorted. An older woman stood in front of them, explaining how the sorting process would work. Lili didn't pay too much attention, much more focused on how Draco was eyeing some boy. She only realised that the woman had gone when Draco moved over to talk to the boy.

"It's true then, what they were saying on the train. Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts." Lili moved to be closer to her brother. "Oh. That's Crabbe and Goyle. And I'm Malfoy. Draco Malfoy."

"Draco, leave him alone," Lili said, though her voice was a little quiet. The boy beside Harry coughed, clearly masking a snigger. Draco glared at him.

"Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask yours. Red hair, freckles, and a hand-me-down robe? You must be a Weasley." He turned back to Harry. "You'll soon find out that some wizarding families are better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort."

"Draco, please. Don't be rude." Lili's voice was louder this time, more comanding. Draco looked at her, then left Potter alone. It was obvious that there would be a bitterness between Draco and Harry.

The woman returned. "We are ready for you."

--

The first years now stood in the middle of the Great Hall, crowded around a chair. The woman held a brown leather hat, which had just been singing. "When I call your name, you will come forth, put on the hat and be sorted. Hermione Granger."

Hermione walked up to the chair and sat down, the hat being placed on her head. "Gryffindor!" The hat called out, and Hermione moved to sit at her respective table.

"Draco Malfoy," The woman called out. Lili made a mental note to find out who the woman was.

"Slytherin," Lili heard Harry's friend say, and of course he's right. The hat didn't even need to touch Draco's head before his house was called out.

"Lilianna Malfoy."

"She'll be in Slytherin too," Lili heard before she walked up, though she knew it isn't true. She could feel her heart pumping faster and faster as she sat down, glancing at Draco while the hat was placed on her head. She could feel all eyes on her, everyone expecting her to be sorted in Slytherin along with her brother. The hat was silent at first, as if thinking where to put her.

"Hufflepuff!" The hat called out, and Lili breathed a sigh of relief. She stepped down and cautiously approached the Hufflepuff table, trying to spot a free space. She saw a boy pull a chair out for her, and she quickly went to sit next to him.

"Thank you," She said quietly.

"No problem," He whispered back. "Call me Cedric."

"Oh, okay. Um...call me Lili."

She jumped slightly when a couple cheers rose from the Gryffindor table, turning to see a ginger set of twins congratulating Harry's friend. As a slight blush crawls over her cheeks, she assumed they were all brothers.

"Harry Potter." As the woman announced Harry's name, the Great Hall went quiet. No surprise. Everyone knew about Harry Potter. And now he was at Hogwarts. Harry walked up to the chair, the hat being placed on his head. Everyone watched in anticipation as the hat seems to have a quiet conversation with Harry.

"Gryffindor!" Of course.