"Can we sit here? Everywhere else is full."

I looked up from the transfiguration textbook to see two boys, one with messy hair and glasses, the other with long black hair. They looked to be around my age, and I figured they were first years like myself.

"Sure." I said, moving the crate beside me aside so that they would have room.

"What's in the crate?" The boy with long hair asked. "Sorry, forgot to introduce myself. I'm Sirius."

"No last name?" I asked, quirking an eyebrow. He flushed slightly, and swallowed, the other boy looking at him curiously.

"I'd like not to be identified with my family." He responded, and I nodded, accepting that he didn't want me to pry.

"And you?" I said, turning to the bespectacled boy.

"James Potter." He introduced, his tone loud and arrogant. I wrinkled my nose, and turned back to the textbook in my hands.

"You never answered my question." Sirius blurred out. "What's in the crate?"

"Oh!" I said, slightly startled by his loud outburst. "Oh, this is my cat, I wasn't sure if anyone would be joining me in here so I left her in the crate incase anyone was allergic or something."

"Ok. I'm not allergic, you can let her out if you'd like." Sirius said, leaning back casually. I looked at James for confirmation, and he shrugged.

"Do whatever you'd like."

"Okay..." I said hesitantly, before opening the crate and setting my book down, gently lifting a sleeping tabby cat from the crate. I set the cat down on the bench beside me and grabbed the crate, pressing a small button on the bottom. The crate then proceeded to fold into a tiny cube which I slipped into my pocket.

"That's wicked! Where'd you get that?" James exclaimed, his eyes wide with interest.

"I dunno, my mother just bought a crate and enchanted it." I replied, absentmindedly stroking the head of the cat.

"What's the name?" Sirius asked. "Of your cat?"

"Her name is Eliza." I said, just as the compartment doors were thrown open again.

"Do you mind if we sit here? The other people in our compartment were being bloody gits." A fiery redheaded girl spoke angrily, a dark haired boy standing awkwardly behind her.

"We can make room, right?" I said, glancing at Sirius and James. They nodded, and struck up a conversation, ignoring the newcomers for the most part.

"I'm Lily Evans, and this is Severus Sna-" the redhead girl began but was rudely interrupted by Sirius.

"Snivellus? What kind of a name is that?" He laughed, and James grinned.

Severus sneered. "Well, if it isn't Sirius Black. So tell me, what's the latest thing you've done that has disappointed your family even more?" At this, James narrowed his eyes, and I gasped, knowing who Sirius's family was. Then again, who hadn't heard of the Noble House of Black?

Sirius flushed angrily, pulling out his wand. "Don't speak about my family, Snivellus." He warned, all traces of amusement gone.

"Hey, stop it!" Lily scolded, her tone stern. "They said no magic on the train!"

"Whatever." Sirius scoffed, putting his wand away, and turning back to James.

"Sorry about them." I apologized to Lily and Severus. "I'm Cas. Are you allergic to cats by any chance?"

---

When we finally arrived at Hogwarts, it was pouring rain and I was thoroughly annoyed and wishing that I had never let Sirius and James sit with me. They'd been making fun of Severus the entire train ride, and hadn't shut up at all. James had also spent a good portion of time bragging about how he would be in Gryffindor.

"First years, first years over here!" A large, burly man called in a gruff voice. He towered over me, and I found myself slightly intimidated by his massive size.

"Right, now everyone load up into the boats." He instructed. "Three per boat, ya hear?"

Lily, Severus, and I clambered into a boat, and watched in awe as it began to magically row itself across the Black Lake. Sirius and James were in another boat with a tired looking boy, the poor soul.

By the time we'd reached the shore, I was soaking wet, partially from the rain and partially from the waves in the lake.

"Now you lot wait here for Professor McGonagall." Hagrid, as I'd learned the man's name to be, instructed. I watched as he turned around, walking away and out on the grounds.

Soon enough, a stern looking woman with dark brown hair pulled back into a tight bun appeared.

"This way." She called.

We all followed, drenched to the bone and shivering. My teeth chattered and Professor McGonagall seemed to finally realized that we were all freezing. She waved her wand silently, and I instantly felt the warm relief of being dried. Soon enough, it was as if I'd never gotten wet in the first place.

As we walked through the castle and to where I imagined the sorting would take place. Both my mum and dad had been in Gryffindor, and I was expected to go there as well, so I zoned out as Professor McGonagall briefly explained the houses.

When we finally reached a set of large doors, I was beginning to get nervous. What if I wasn't sorted into Gryffindor? My parents would be disappointed for sure. The thought itself made me queasy.

We filed into the Great Hall, as McGonagall had called it. In my opinion it was a rather pointless name, as the room wasn't a hall at all. However, I was soon captured by the floating candlesticks and ceiling reflecting the outside weather. Lightning flashed and I jumped, startled.

Professor McGonagall instructed us to wait until our name was called, and walked forward, placing a stool in the middle of all the tables and then placing a hat on top.

"What's the hat for?" Lily asked, and I remembered that she was muggleborn and wouldn't know about it.

"It's the sorting hat." I explained helpfully. "IT decides what house you're in. It looks through your mind and memories to see your qualities and stuff. Oh look, it's starting it's song!"

Sure enough, the hat was singing, talking about the different qualities each house possessed and the founders. Soon enough, it was time for the sorting to begin.

"Abbott, Parker!" McGonagall barked, and a stout girl walked up to the stool on wobbly legs. The hat was placed on her head, and when no sooner than five seconds had passed, it screamed:

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Aurthur, Thomas!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Black, Sirius!" The annoying boy walked up to the stool, fidgeting nervously.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

A silent hush fell over the entire school, and Sirius paled, hesitantly walking over to the Gryffindor table, where nobody had moved to clap. His head was hung, and I found myself sympathetic for the boy.

"You're a filthy blood traitor, Black, ya hear?!" Someone shouted from the Slytherin table, and Sirius seemed to deflate even more.

"Well, seeing as the hat is never wrong, I believe that Mr. Black will make a fine Gryffindor." Dumbledore spoke, stepping up to the Podium. "Mr. Malfoy, I'd advise against dissing other students at this school unless you'd like numerous detentions."

At Dumbledore's words, the Gryffindor table erupted into cheers, and Sirius smiled as he sat down, cheered up immensely.

"Elise, Cascade!" McGonagall called, resuming the sorting. A few people chuckled at my unusual name but I paid them no heed, walking up to the stool, holding my head high.

Ah, a very brave young witch. Both your parents in Gryffindor. Hmm, you'd like to go there, I see. You would do well in Gryffindor, but also in Ravenclaw and Slytherin. You're very intelligent and yet also extremely cunning, ambitious, and resourceful. Well..better be in,

"SLYTHERIN!"

The green and silver table cheered, and I forced a small smile, dreading the looks of disappointment that would be on my parents faces. I sat down at the end of the table, and watched as Lily was called up next.

"Evans, Lily!"

No sooner had the hat touched her head when it screamed, "GRYFFINDOR!"

The table once cheered, and I clapped along with them, ignoring the funny looks I received from the fellow Slytherins. I zoned out the rest of the ceremony, barely noticing when James was sorted into Gryffindor with a huge grin.

"Snape, Severus!"

"SLYTHERIN!"

At this I cheered, grinning as he sat down beside me with a smile.

"Hello again, Severus." I greeted, glad that we were in the same house. I'd prefer it if it was Lily rather than him, if I was honest, but he was still friendly enough.

"Hey." He responded. The sorting soon concluded, and after a quick speech by the headmaster, food appeared in front of everyone.

"Dig in!"