Lydia Potter woke up earlier on September 1st. It was her favorite day ever since she turned 11 and received her letter from Hogwarts. The young witch was the happiest she had ever been and even allowed her brother James to show her around the school, despite being embarrassed by him and his friends. Even though she had a great relationship with her brother, Lydia did not agree with the way James treated other students outside his inner circle, particularly Slytherins.

- Already awake, sweetheart? - Her mother Euphemia asked in a soft tone

The redhead smiled and nodded her head in excitement. - It's Hogwarts day, mum! - She exclaimed, causing her mother to chuckle.

- Well dear, try not to wake your brother. You know he gets quite cranky when you wake him up.

- I'll try. - Lydia kissed her mother's cheek and walked into the bathroom to shower.

During the summer, Lydia Potter had a growth spurt. She was no longer a child and had entered puberty. James refused to see his sister as a girl since to him she was a friend he hadn't chosen. He even made her promise not to get a boyfriend, almost using the Unbreakable Vow. Ridiculous, she thought.

Lydia couldn't help but smile as the warm water hit her body. She felt happy and confident about her return to Hogwarts. Last year, she learned about Animagi in McGonagall's class and became the youngest registered Animagus, much to her brother's delight. James was happy for Lydia and even took her out for a celebratory butterbeer with Remus Lupin.

After the shower, Lydia walked into her room and put on a short sleeved white dress that hit her just below the knee. She wanted to show how much she had grown. Her aunt Lisette took her shopping during summer on a Muggle store and the young redhead was mesmerized.

- Sweetheart, I made breakfast! - Euphemia yelled from the kitchen.

Lydia ran downstairs and sat across from her father. - Where's James?

James Potter poked his sister and grabbed the syrup. - Already missing me, Lyd? - The young wizard teased and Lydia rolled her eyes. - I was thinking you could sit with me and my friends on the train. - James took a bit of his french toast.

- Do you honestly think I want to sit with you and those blokes? - Lydia sighed while spreading jam on her toast. - All you do is make fun of me and my friends.

- A: Your friends include Snivellus, Regulus and that ditzy Irish girl. - He rolled his eyes and Lydia stuck out her tongue. - And B: I promise not to make fun of you.

Lydia looked at her brother and sighed dramatically. - Fine, I'll sit with you on the train if that's so important to you, Loser. - She giggled and James used his wand to make her toast float.

- Immobulus! - Lydia chanted and her toast froze mid-air. The witch smirked and James rolled his eyes so hard that his glasses moved a bit.

***

Platform 9 3/4. Lydia stared at the letters with a huge smile plastered on her gleaming face. It felt like going back home to her. Hogwarts was home to both Potters for completely different reasons. James enjoyed the social part, while Lydia thrived in all her classes, including Muggle Studies. Both Potters were well known and they would eventually leave their mark after graduating.

- OI! - James snapped his fingers in front of Lydia's face, interrupting her thoughts. - Are you coming or not? - The young wizard asked in annoyance.

Lydia kicked him on the shin and he groaned in pain. Fleamont shook his head and separated his children. - That wasn't very nice of you, Lydia. - Mr. Potter rarely got mad at his children's antics. He considered them somewhat endearing and how they showed affection for one another. - And James... Be kind to your sister. - Fleamont whispered on his ear. - She knows more spells than you do. - He winked at his son and the boy nodded.

- Sweetheart... - Euphemia looked at her daughter. - Do you mind staying with us for a bit? - Lydia nodded and James crossed the magical border that would lead him to the Platform 9 3/4.

- What is it, Mum? - The redhead asked in worry.

Euphemia hugged Lydia and kissed her rosy cheek. - Please, watch out for your brother. - Fleamont gently put his hand on his wife's shoulder. - We know he is a bit of a handful but he means well.

Lydia smiled and grabbed her mother's fragile hand. - I promise I will try to stop James from doing anything remotely moronic.

- That's my girl! - Fleamont teased and placed a small kiss on his daughter's forehead. Lydia waved to both her parents and crossed the magical border to meet with her reckless brother.

***

James Potter was quite protective of his younger sister. He had noticed how boys seemed to look at her differently and he hated it. He promised to jynx any bloke who tried to woo her.

- My sister is almost arriving. - James said while impatiently looking at his watch. - I must warn you that she looks different.

Sirius Black wiggled his eyebrows in amusement. - Is that so? - The boy asked in a tone that infuriated his friend.

James adjusted his glasses and pointed his right index finger to Sirius. - Lydia is NOT for you! - He turned to all his friends. - NONE OF YOU ARE ALLOWED TO DATE MY SISTER!

All their heads turned as soon as the redhead crossed the border. - Is that your sister? - Peter pointed to the girl.

James nodded. - She looks stunning. - Sirius admitted with beaming eyes. The  Potter boy glared at his friends.

- Lydia! - A blonde girl yelled and strutted towards Lydia, followed by another girl, who looked quite mousy. The blonde hugged Lydia and then eyed her up and down. - You look so pretty and chic like the french would say. - She smiled.

- Thank you, Addison. - Lydia smiled and winked at the other girl. - How are you Poppy? - The girl smiled and shrugged. Suddenly, the three girls are interrupted by the boys. - What? - Lydia asked, annoyed by the interruption.

James cleared his throat. - You promised to sit with us and the Hogwarts Express is about to leave.

Both girls widened their eyes. - You're going to sit with your brother and his friends? - Addison asked in shock and Lydia nodded.

Everyone boarded the train and, for the first time, Lydia felt nervous and anxious. Why did James ask her to sit with him?

***

James, Sirius and Peter lead Lydia to an empty compartment and checked to see if someone was snooping. - Why are you acting paranoid? - The young witch asked.

- I have something really important to ask you. - James sat across from his sister and adjusted his glasses.

Peter looked at the girl. - Chocolate? - He offered shyly.

Lydia declined politely. - It must be important if you're willing to sit with me. - The girl smirked and Sirius winked at her.

James cleared his throat. - This is a really important matter and cannot be taken lightly. - He looked closer at his sister. - You are a registered Animagus...

- The youngest registered Animagus. - Lydia added proudly.

- Yes, the youngest registered Animagus... - James rolled his blue eyes. - The point is... We want you to teach us how to transform into animals.

Lydia widened her blue eyes. - You're joking, right? - She stared at the three boys in shock. - Being unregistered Animagi is illegal and it can revoke my status. - The redhead gestured dramatically. - And, you know... WE CAN ALL GO TO AZKABAN! - She yelled and stormed out.

While James and Peter looked at each other in shock, Sirius sat back and grinned. - Well, that could have gone worse.

***

Lydia was utterly upset at her brother's willingness to get in trouble. He didn't even give her a reason for his request.

- A Knut for your thoughts. - A handsome and tall boy said to Lydia.

She looked at him in awe. - Reg... - She immediately hugged him and the boy smiled. - You never wrote to me. - The girl pouted.

Regulus Black was the younger brother of Sirius, but unlike him, Regulus was sweet and sensitive. - I apologize for that. - His piercing green eyes locked with her blue ones. - To be perfectly honest, I started about a thousand letters, but none was good enough.

- Why not? - Lydia asked curiously.

- You make me nervous, Lyd. - Regulus confessed. - I'm not used to talk to pretty girls like you.

Lydia blushed and, before she could answer, her friends interrupted them. - Lyd, come sit with us! - Addison demanded.

- We can talk later. - Lydia smiled at the young boy and he nodded.

The redhead followed her friends and sat next to Poppy. - Were you just talking to Regulus Black? - Addison asked with a raised eyebrow.

- He's quite handsome! - Poppy interjected.

Lydia smiled and nodded in agreement. - I've been friends with Regulus since first year. - The redhead replied. - And yes, he's very handsome. - The girls giggled and talked about their summer until the end of the journey to Hogwarts.

This is my first chapter of this new story. Hope you all enjoyed. I'm a big Harry Potter fan and this means a lot to me.