"It's raining cats and dogs out there," Alicia groaned as we headed towards the exit of the train.

I looked out a window to see rain pounding against the window. 

Biting my lip skeptically, I said, "I hope my camera doesn't get damaged... or my album for that matter. Oh, someone reminds me to waterproof my bag when we get inside-"

"Who cares about that?" Angelina retorted, turning around to give me a quick glare. "It's my hair I need to worry about."

Rolling my eyes at her ridiculous comment, Lee came to my defense.

"Angelina, no offense, but I care about the camera and the album."

"Why?" Angelina snapped.

"Calm down, Angie," Fred whispered in her ear.

"Well for starters it holds a ton of memories," Lee argued easily. "Plus, it probably cost more than all of your hair products combined."

I heard Angelina gasp slightly at Lee's light jab. As it turns out, he and Alicia don't exactly fancy Angelina hanging out with us either.

"She's too controlling," Alicia admitted to me earlier. "Plus she's a bit snobby."

"She's also changing, Fred," Lee pointed out.

As we exited the train in our uniforms, I pulled the bag my camera and album inside it closer to my chest. I jumped off the train just to splatter mud all over the place. And by all over the place, I mean all over the back of Angelina.

"Are you serious!" She stretched at me.

I tilted my head gave a fake sympathetic frown. "Sorry, but I thought you would be more worried about your hair."

Her eyes narrowed at the evil smirk I flashed her way. She, as a response, looped her arm into Fred's and dragged him away from a group.

"What a manipulative bitch," I hissed as the four of us followed far behind Fred and Angelina.

"You never told us why you hate her," Lee pointed out, his arm draped across Alicia's shoulders.

I shrugged as my heart pounded faster. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw George smirk waiting for my answer.

"Uhh, you know," I said casually as I could, "she's... she's taking away Fred and... and she's a... a bitch to me for no reason. And... and -"

"Well she's only a bitch to you because she's imitated by you," Alicia said as we got closer to the carriages.

I let out a loud 'psh' before saying, "What's so imitating about me, huh?"

"Everything for someone who is attempting to date Fred," Alicia admitted. "Your the only girl in Fred's life not including his family. I thought you two were dating before I became friends with you two."

"Oh, really," I said surprised. A smile tugging at the corners of my lips.

"Yup," she told me. "I was quite surprised when I found out you two weren't dating. You two would be like the hottest couple in Gryffindor."

I blushed. "Eh, I guess so. Not as hot as you two though, huh?"

We all chuckled slightly as Lee's and Alicia's cheeks became red. I looked ahead to see Fred helping Angelina into a carriage.

"Come on," I said, speed-walking towards them. "I don't like the idea of them alone in a carriage with one of those teepee things on it."

"Why?" Lee asked.

"Well, we all admitted to not liking Angelina. Right?" I asked.

"Right?" they said back skeptically.

"Well then do you want her hanging around with us... then she can't get any closer to Fred," I pointed out.

"True," George agreed.

"Come on," I grumbled, walking quickly towards the carriage.

I boarded the carriage before the others did and witnessed the couple almost kiss. So I coughed loudly in order for them to know I was interrupting and they jumped apart. Fred's cheeks turned slightly pink as Angelina glared at me.

"Do you want something?" She snapped.

"Yeah, I want to sit in a carriage with my best friend," I smiled.

"Well, you can't-"

"Have a seat here," Fred cut in.

I smiled sweetly. "Thank you, Fred."

Sitting down right next to him, the three others filled the seats across from us. Angelina crossed her arms and legs and pouted the whole time we were in a carriage. I shook my head and let out a breath of annoyance towards her. Then whenever she huffed, I would move my head to its side in order to make my neck crack.

"Stop popping your knuckles, it's bad for you!" Fred gasped grabbing my fingers.

Breathing out a laugh, I told him, "That was my neck you heard pop."

His face contorted into disgust and I gave a snort in response.

"That's a bit disturbing," Fred said.

I shrugged. "So's your face, but you don't see me complaining."

"You're a big old meanie."

"I've been bullying you ass since I could talk, and you just realized I was mean?" I laughed.

He laughed along with me.

"Fred, did you hear the Backstreet Boys new song?" Angelina asked pulling his uniform.

"Who are they?"

"They are this," I said before pretending to barf with vivid noises.

"No, they are not!" Angelina screeched.

"Who are they?" Fred repeated.

"Pop boy band," I shuddered.

"They can dance," Angelina sneered. "What can your heavy metal music people do?"

"Please don't make me laugh too hard," I said, pretending to hysterically laugh.

Angelina gave me a satisfied smirk. "Because your bands are so pathetic they can't do anything on stage?"

My laughing immediately ceased as I shot her a deathly look. "Okay, for starters, I don't listen to heavy metal. What I listen to is rock... classic rock. And yes, you're right... they don't dance. But how could they when they are playing their own instruments?! I'd like to see you lip singing boys do that."

She gasped in hurt and put a hand to her chest.

"What Olivia is trying to say," Fred started to explain looking at me sternly, "is that she likes bands who play their actual music, better than just people who sing their songs. I happen to agree with her."

Angelina clenched her jaw and let out a loud distressed noise. Luckily for her, the carriage had stopped so she just barged out of the carriage. But in my imagination, she fell out of a moving carriage and into a bunch of mud.

Fred's hands released mine and he began to stand up to follow her. But I, being the person I was, grabbed his hands and threw my 'sexy' legs on his lap so he would sit down.

"You don't have to go running after her," I noted. "You're not dating you know."

"Yeah, but still-"

The three others quickly scurried out of the carriage to leave the two of us alone.

"But still, what?" I asked raising an eyebrow. "Fred she's shit towards everyone, especially me when we are nothing but nice to her. So it's not my fault when she throws a fit about her hair or about my opinion on bands. Which is also your opinion by the way."

"Look, Liv, I finally have my chance with the person I like!" He argued. "It's like your telling me you don't want me with her."

My mouth opened to say something against him, but then I would be lying. And lying to Fred was not something I liked to do. 

He was looked me deep in the eyes, his face noticeably close to mine. If we weren't talking about his damn crush I would kiss those stupid lips of his.

"Fred, I'm not saying that," I sighed, running my fingertips through my hair. "I want you to be happy. Why wouldn't I? I mean I love you... like a brother of course. But I just don't want you to hurt yourself."

Fred smiled softly at me. "I love you too, and I love you even more for caring about my decision."

He began to lean in, causing my heart to pound faster. My mind began to think of what he could possibly be doing until his lips landed on my forehead. A regrettable sigh left my lips as I stood up. 

"Come on," I said jumping down from the carriage.

Fred followed me from behind, the two of us pulling on our hoods to walk in the rain. I made sure to pull my cloak over my body and bag tightly. 

"Race you to the Great Hall!" I challenged Fred as we walked up to the pathway leading up to the castle. The run looked like about ten yards.

"You're so on," He smirked, getting into position.

"Okay. Ready?" I asked as we stood next to each other.

"Ready."

"Go!" I yelled.

I ran as quickly as I could, which wasn't too easy. The ground was mushy and I was wearing a damn skirt. On top of all that, Fred was naturally a faster runner. 

As we neared the entrance, Fred was about a couple feet in front of me, but that was about to change. What happened next seemed to move in slow motion.

Fred's front foot hit the mud, but it twisted and he slipped. He fell into the mud face first and I quickly ran to the agreed finish line. A place that was secured from the downpour of rain, so I started laughing as Fred picked his mud covered face from the ground.

"I'm not sure what just happened but I must say, I'm glad I waited for the two of you here," George laughed along with me as Fred wiped off the mud from his face.

Then splat. Water was thrown at my head.

My mouth dropped open and I spun around on my heel. There, floating in the air and cackling was Peeves.

"PEEVES!" I yelled. "WE HAD A TRUCE!"

"That was last year, Olive," he sneered while chuckling.

I stuck my tongue out at him just to earn one back. Then he took out a bunch of water balloons and started pelting them at the kids who were watching us run, and were now proceeding into the Great Hall.

"Peeves! Stop hitting them!" I yelled trying my best to block the kids.

"No! And you can't make me!" He yelled throwing another ballon.

"But the Bloody Barron can!" Came a different, more strict woman voice.

Looking over my shoulder, I saw the head of my proud house of Gryffindor walking over to Peeves with one of her fingers pointed out at him. Professor McGonagall was a very strict looking lady, however, if you get on her good side she's not half bad. She was my favorite teacher, to bad she didn't teach my favorite subject.

But then she slipped on the water from the water balloons. Her arms waved around in the air until they latched around poor Hermione's neck.

"Oh! Sorry, Miss. Granger," Professor McGonagall apologized before standing up straight again.

"Peeves, I'm not fooling this time! Stop terrorizing the students! You are soaking them!" She yelled at him.

"Well, it's not like they weren't wet already!" Peeves shouted.

This was true. We were all still soaked from outside.

"That's not the point Peeves! Now leave before I get the Bloody Barron," McGonagall commanded.

Peeves eyes narrowed before he blew a wet raspberry and few off.

"Thanks, Professor," I smiled gratefully.

She gave me a smile back as well as a curt nod. "Welcome back, Miss. Reid."

I smiled and she nodded before walking outside.

"I will never understand how you got her to like you," Fred laughed walking up behind me.

When I faced him, I saw the mud that outlined the edges of his face.

"You still got a bit right there," I sighed, twirling my finger at his mud stains.

"What?" He asked, wiping his cheek. "Did I get it?"

I shook my head laughing. "No."

He wiped his face again. "How about now?"

"No," I chuckled. "Here, let me get it."

I pulled my sleeve up and started to lightly rub where the mud is.

"There, good as new," I sighed as he watched me deeply.

I stared back into his caramel eyes. The golden amber that was more towards the middle of his eye that became a dark brown towards the outside. 

"You guys going to come in or what-" George's voice interfered.

After blinking a few times, I clearing my throat and turning away from Fred.

"Oh, did I interrupt something?" George chuckled at our blushing faces.

I awkwardly rubbed the back of my neck and looked at Fred to see he was doing the same thing as me. He even looked up at the same time as me.

We both blushed again.

"I'm... I'm just going to go sit with the Lee and Alicia," I stuttered.

I held my bag close to me and rushed into the chattering hall. The ceiling of the Great Hall looked like it did outside, cloudy. There were four vertical tables in front of a shorter, horizontal table where the teachers sat. At each of the four tables sat a house of Hogwarts. I took a seat at the table where the students were wearing gold and maroon because I was also wearing this color. These are the colors of Gryffindor.

I sat across from the happy couple. They would whisper in each other's eats then giggle or Lee would kiss Alicia's neck sending her on a laughing fit. Jeez, not even a day and they were acting like this. My nose scrunched up as I watched them.

"Do you guys have to do that... in public?" I asked.

"Well, we're sorry if we like each other," Alicia groaned.

"Yeah, we would be fine if you had a boyfriend and showed your affection," Lee admitted.

"How about I get a boyfriend when you two break up then snog him all the time?" I suggested with fake excitement in my voice.

They both sat there awkwardly, not looking the other in the eyes. But when they did look at each other, they smirked at each other then started giggling and flirting again.

I rolled my eyes and watched as the twins entered the Great Hall. Even though I waved for both of them to come sit, only one joined us.

"George, where - where is Fred going?" I stuttered angrily.

"Next to, Angelina," he said skeptically, putting his butt down on the bench.

I rolled my head on my neck and listened to each cracking noise of made. This was my anger tick. Whenever I got agitated, this is how I dealt with it other than screaming.

I mean we just had a freaking moment, and what does he do? He sits with her.

"I think he'll come over here for dessert, though," he quickly added, sensing my anger.

"Oh yeah, that totally helps," I snapped, my words dripping with sarcasm.

"You know why you are so aggravated?" George said, pulling out his wand as my eyes shot daggers at him. "It's probably because your soaked. I know how you get when your socks are cold."

"George, I really don't think it's that-"

"Calefactio," George whispered.

Suddenly, I felt every ice-cold clothing on me warm up like a furnace.

"Thanks," I murmured, pulling my wet hair into a ponytail.

"No problemo," he said before using the spell on himself.

"Hello, Miss. Reid," the proper voice of Sir. Nearly Headless Nick greeted.

"Hello, Sir. Nicholas," I sighed, giving him a fake smile.

"What has happened?" He asked me. "Where is that joy you would bring every year?"

"Hormones," I told him while glaring at a laughing Angelina.

"Ahh, who is the fellow?" He asked me.

"One who will never see me the way I see him," I said.

"What a tragic love story," he sighed shaking his head. But that only caused his neck to split. Nick groaned in frustration and put his head back into place. "I'm sorry, but I must finish this conversation another day. As you see, I have many people to see in such little time. Farewell, Miss. Reid."

"Bye," I sighed.

"How come everyone and everything can love you so easily?" George asked.

"What can I say I'm a very likable person," I said giving him a very fake, toothy smile. "But not everyone loves me."

He sighed realizing who I was in reference to.

"I'm sorry, but it's so much harder when I see him with another girl. At least when he's single I know I would have a chance. But seeing him with someone, seeing him make someone else laugh, it just hurts," I sighed. "And you want to know what else hurts?"

"What?"

"That there is no damn food for me to eat while I'm depressed!" I whined.

"Oh god, get the woman food or take cover," George exclaimed, hiding behind his cloak.

Smiling, I rolled my eyes.

"Ha, you're smiling," George said, poking my cheek.

Again, eye roll. However, without the smile. 

Then the Great Hall's doors opened and in walked in Professor McGonagall leading a group of first years. They were more soaked then what I was before. Though, I couldn't help but notice that one of the first years was wearing Hagrid's overcoat mouthing the words 'I fell into the lake!' with a big smile. Wow, kids these days.

Professor McGonagall placed a chair in front of the staff table. Then she placed the sorting hat on top of it.

With one mere look at the raggedy old hat, I began to flash back to my own first year. 

***

SEPTEMBER 1, 1989

"Reid, Olivia Ann," Professor McGonagall called out.

I looked up from my twirling thumbs and towards the Gryffindor table, where I made eye contact with my sister.

She raised her eyebrows as if she was saying 'Well, are you going to go up?', which caused me to nod to myself.

"Liv, go on," Fred encouraged.

"Uh huh," I muttered.

"Better be now, or it'll be never," George snickered.

Their pairs of hands pushed me forward from behind as a mean to begin my journey. As I finished making my way up to the stool, I glared at the twins. Both who were smirking back at me.

I sat on the stool and felt the hat fall over my eyes.

"Well then," the hat's voice said inside my head. "You'll definitely be causing a lot of trouble with those two."

The hat seemed to jerk my head over to the direction of the twins. I tilted my head back ever so slightly in order to see the two redheads give me simultaneous winks.

"Yes, lots of trouble... Might as well be, GRYFFINDOR!" The hat cried out.

Grinning widely, I hopped off the stool and headed towards Gryffindor's table.

"Please take me off," the hat's voice requested. "Your thoughts are starting to bug me." 

I blushed and went back to the stool where I took off the hat. Then I sat down next to my sister, Charlie Weasley, Percy Weasley, and their friends. Well, Percy didn't have many friends so it was mostly Courtney's and Charlie's friends.

"Hey, you made it munchkin!" Charlie laughed ruffling my hair.

"Well, obviously," Courtney laughed. "Otherwise she wouldn't be here."

"I'm surprised you are not in Slytherin with all your sarcasm," Charlie laughed.

"I'm surprised you are not in Hufflepuff," Courtney said.

"And why is that?" Charlie asked cocking an eyebrow.

"Because you're as dumb as a doornail," Courtney said.

The kids around us started to 'ooo'.

"Why are we ooo-ing?" Fred asked as he sat down next to me.

"Courtney called Charlie dumb," I giggled putting my chin in the palms of my hands. "And yay! You're a Gryffindor as well!"

I flung my arms around his small frame as he silently thanked me and turned to the rest of the group.

"The truth finally comes out!" Fred snickered.

"Hey, I'm not dumb!" Charlie protested.

"Tell that to your grades," Percy said.

We all gasped, Fred and I clutching our hearts and as we leaned back.

"Why are we gasping?" George asks sitting down beside Fred.

"Percy was included in making fun of Charlie's dumbness," Fred and I said.

George gasped and fell into the same position as Fred and me.

"What?" Percy asked. "I can't be included in these things?"

"Nope, not really," I laughed.

"And why is that?" Percy asked.

"Cause... you are Percy."

"I'm not sure what that is supposed to mean."

"You tell me," I said moving three fingers in front of his eyes.

"First years," Percy huffed shaking his head.

"Third years," I mocked Percy.

***

The crinkles on the hat formed a mouth and a pair of eyes before it began to sing.

"A thousand years or more ago,
When I was newly sewn,
There lived four wizards of renown,
Whose names are still well known:
Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor,
Fair Ravenclaw, from glen,
Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad,
Shrewd Slytherin, from fen.
They shared a wish, a hope, a dream,
They hatched a daring plan
To educate young sorcerers
Thus Hogwarts School began.
Now each of these four founders
Formed their own
house, for each
Did value different virtues
In the ones, they had to teach.
By Gryffindor, the bravest were
Prized far beyond the rest;
For Ravenclaw, the cleverest
Would always be the best;
For Hufflepuff, hard-working were
Most worthy of admission;
A power-hungry Slytherin,
Loved those of great ambition.
While still alive they did divide
Their favorites from the throng,
Yet how to pick the worthy ones
When they were dead and gone?
'Twas Gryffindor who found the way,
He whipped me off the head
The founders put some brains in me
So I could choose instead!
Now slip me snug around your ears,
I've never yet been wrong,
I'll have a look inside your mind,
And tell where you belong!" The hat sang.

When great hall erupted in an applaud, the top of the hat went up and down as if it was bowing.

"That hat must be so lonely," Alicia sighed, clapping her hands.

"Yeah, why don't you enchant a scarf to tell people's sexualities. Then the hat would hang out with that," I laughed.

"God, you and your dirty mind," Lee said shaking his head.

"But you love me!" I giggled.

"No, he loves me," Alicia laughed, "he tolerates you."

I waved a dismissive hand in the air. "Everyone tolerates me."

"How come you get so depressed when we mention you and liking people," Lee asked.

I looked over at Fred then back at them. Alicia noticed my eye movement.

"It's a girl thing," she explained to him before mouthing a 'You're talking to me about this later'.

Groaning, I slammed my head on the table. I in no way wanted this secret of mine getting out. The only ones who knew were strictly the people who I knew could help me. His twin brother and snoopy little sister. 

"Now, when I call your name take a seat on this stool and I'll place the hat on your head," Professor McGonagall explained, pulling out a scroll. "Once you are sorted, take a seat at your house table."

"Ackerley, Stewart."

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Braddock, Malcolm."

"SLYTHERIN!"

"That makes sense for him. I mean your destined to end up there with the name Malcolm," I laughed.

"You're evil," George snickered.

"Not as evil as that kid's name. But hey, evil runs in the family," I said looking over at my sister.

She was sitting down on the other side of the table, her body leaning into her boyfriend's chest. His name was Dominic Richards. Dominic was known for his iconic grin that could make anyone else smile. The pair of them has been dating for three years. Three solid years. I was a bit surprised someone could tolerate Courtney for that long, but who am I to talk.

But the two of them... they were going to be together forever. I know this for a fact. Dominic asked for my parents' blessing in proposing to Courtney over the summer. It was agreed that they are young, but hey, he'll have a full-time job as Aurors by the time they graduate. There are ups for our dad being head of the Aurors Department. Plus, Courtney's internship at the Hospital is only a year long before she starts with a part-time job there.

"Branstone, Eleanor."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Cauldwell, Owen."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Creevey, Dennis."

"There is another one of those to add to the Harry Potter fan club?" George asked.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"I guess so," I chuckled.

I tried to pay attention to the rest, I really did, but I might have nodded off a couple times.

"Jeez, can't you stay awake?" Lee laughed at my bobbing head.

"Nope," I yawned.

"Montgomery, Nate."

This particular kid strutted up to the stool with a cocky demeanor. It wasn't until I noticed his long hair was when I gasped. 

"What?" Alicia asked.

"It's Tubby!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Shit!" I moaned, hitting my forehead with my palm.

"Hey there, Honey Bunny," Tubby's voice said.

"Go run along!" I groaned, rubbing my face harshly.

"Nah, I like the view," he told me.

Looking through my fingers, I saw him sitting next to Lee and wink at me.

I scrunched up my nose. "Well, if I look at my view any longer I might vomit."

His cocky grin faltered into nothing before he gulped and looked away.

"Wake me up when the food gets here," I yawned, placing my head on George's shoulder.

Within seconds, I had passed out completely. Nothing woke me up until...

"Wake up!" George yelled into my ear.

"Ahh!" I yelled, spazzing out and slapping his face.

"Bloody hell!" He cried holding his nose.

"Cry baby," I murmured finding a golden plate, silverwear, and goblet I front of me.

"Am... am I bleeding?" He questioned, touching below his nostrils then looking at his hands.

"Nope, stop being a Malfoy," I laughed shoving him playfully.

"Nah," George said loading his plate with food.

"Fine, enjoy being a wimp," I teased also loading food onto my plate.

"Okay, I guess that forces me to go back to being a Weasley," George sighed.

"I want to be a Weasley," I mumbled to myself.