Author's note: welcome to this story. I have just begun a new story here. It's my first Harry Potter story. Please give feedback in the comments. I will upload three pilots in the coming weeks. I plan to update this once per week.

1 September 1992

"Mind yer heads!" came a gruff shout from the front of the floating column of boats. The massive head belonging to that voice stooped under the dark stone ceiling that seemed to appear out of nowhere. As the vessels containing the new first-year students propelled themselves under the arching stones Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a little redhead girl saw the torches nearby spontaneously combust as the first boats approached it. As her own boat moored to a stone-carved jetty underneath the castle she looked around at the impeccable stonework of the dungeons. It was such a difference to the wooden homes she was used to, or the limestone shops in Diagon Alley, or the marble halls of Gringotts and the Ministry atrium. This was a castle of history.

"Beautiful, isn't it, Ginny?"

The little girl sparked a sudden tint of red in her face, as she realized the other three kids, two girls and a boy, had already left her boat. She quickly recovered though and accepted the outstretched arm of her best friend. Although, if anyone else had watched, they would not have thought the arm, hanging almost limply beside the waist of a highly blonde girl, showed any sign of reaching out. These girls had known each other since birth though, and not even the fact that the blonde girl was looking bemusedly into the water some ten feet away, would make her doubt her sincerity.

"Thanks, Luna," she said. Grabbing her arm, she hoisted herself onto the stone floor.

"E'rybody out of the boats then? Good! Follow me, then, First Years. Mind the steps."

And thus the column of people went up the stairs until a severe voice said "Thank you, Rubeus," and the column came to a halt facing an emerald green dress with an austere head above it.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," she addressed the children, her eyes flicking over each and every one of them in turn. "I am Minerva McGonagall, the Deputy Headmistress and will be your professor in Transfiguration. In a few moments you will join your classmates in the Great Hall, but first you must be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. While you are at Hogwarts your House will be like your family; your triumphs will earn you points, any rule-breaking and you will lose points. The House with the most points at the end of the year will receive the House Cup. Follow me."

Professor McGonagall turned around, and like a family of ducks the first-year students followed. Luna grabbed her friend's hand and squeezed softly, her absentminded state not even wavering. It felt more as a sign of comfort than of anxiety . The new students all stopped huddled together before a stool carrying a tattered old brown hat. The Great Hall silenced itself.

The hat started mumbling:

"I... May be old.

But I... Know you..."

After a long break it continued:

"Gryffindor... Brave... Valour..."

Another long break...

"Slytherin... Ambitious... Goals..."

The hat was quiet for almost thirty seconds...

"Huffle... Puff... Work... Loyal... Ty..."

Another long break...

"Raven... Claw... Wis... Dom... Thirst... Know... Ledge..."

Then came a whisper slightly higher...

"I... Will... Sort...YOU..!"

The Great Hall was silent. Several first years started looking around. The two young girls holding hands shared equally surprised looks when they noticed the looks of surprise, no, anguish bordering on fear from the staff table. Every single eye, other than the first years', was on the Hat. After a minute of complete silence, Professor McGonagall seemed to recover herself from her stupor and addressed the first year students.

"Ahum," her voice was surprisingly controlled, "now, when I call your name, you will come forward. I will put the Sorting Hat on your head and you will be sorted into your House. Abbott, Irma."

The girl had a smile on her face as she sat on the stool. Professor McGonagall placed the hat on her head. For a moment it appeared as if the hat was sighing, almost falling asleep, until it shouted with remarkable strength in its voice: "Hufflepuff!"

And on it went. One by one the two girls saw their classmates getting sorted, most of them extremely nervously. The hat had its sleepy air broken only by the shouts of whatever house its wearer was sorted into.

"Lovegood, Luna"

The hands unclasped and the ethereal blonde stepped forward with a smile on her face. Taking a little longer than before, at last the hat shouted "Ravenclaw!". She winked to her friend, and under enthusiastic applause her uniform changed to match the blue and silver of the Eagles.

About ten minutes later only three youngsters were left.

"Weasley, Ginevra"

The ginger girl sat on the stool and the rim of the Sorting Head slid past her eyes, making everything dark.

It remained quiet for a few seconds. Then she heard a voice:

"Slytherin!"

A small applause rose from the Slytherin table. As she moved to sit at her new House table, she saw her robes change to match the green and silver of her new family.

Her new family... 'Well,' she thought, 'not unexpected, but still, I wonder how mum and my brothers will take this...'

Ginny quickly shook hands with the other first years next to her. She tried to get eye-contact with her brothers for some support. She found Percy quickly, and was relieved to find an encouraging wink sent her way. Fred and George sat watching with dumbfounded expressions, staring at her. She could not find Ron. After Weatherby, Rosalind became a Hufflepuff and Wood, Peter sat at the Gryffindor table, the headmaster rose.

Right at that moment a sound like an avalanche burst through the hall. Everybody turned and saw about a hundred grey rocks falling into the Gryffindor hourglass marking the House points. It was followed by shouts of outrage from the table in red, even managing the twins' gaze upon their sister to falter. The Slytherin table jeered and the other two houses simply stared dumbfounded at the continuing series of extraordinary happenings this evening. The Sorting Hat had gone utterly mad, a Weasley was sorted into Slytherin and Gryffindor was down a hundred points before dinner even started!

Albus Dumbledore gave a wry smile and the students quieted down immediately.

"I know you are all famished, but first I would like to make a few start-of-term announcements. First years, I would like to remind you that the Forbidden Forest is strictly forbidden to all students. Furthermore, our caretaker, Mr. Filch, has asked me to remind you all that it is not allowed to perform magic in the corridors. Lastly, I would like to introduce our new Defence against the Dark Arts teacher, ...

"Crash," another one hundred rocks fell into the Gryffindor hourglass.

"... Gilderoy Lockhart!" He ended quickly after the noise of the rocks had died down, and an excellent feast immediately appeared on the long house tables. Professor Lockhart had attempted to stand up, evidently expecting applause, but quickly sat down again when the food appeared and the headmaster hurried from the Head Table.

Ginny was famished and quickly assaulted the chickenwings, barely noticing how Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall hurried out of the Great Hall, the latter with fury radiating from her tight-lipped face, the former with an awkwardly amused expression.

As the first year Slytherin girls entered their new dormitories, all five of them were animatedly gossiping about the night's events. Ginny especially was bombarded with questions after it became known that it was her idiot brother and his friend who had tried and failed to safely fly a car to Hogwarts.

"What were they thinking? Are they always like this?" Asked Elisabeth 'I SAID LIZZY!' Audbutton.

"Well, ..." Ginny started.

"Do you think they planned all this? Was it to look cool or something?" Interrupted Cecilia Selwyn with a look of incredulity that Ginny did not immediately say "no, of course not", even overcoming her initial aversion to the 'blood traitor' with ease for this delicious scandal.

"Uhm ..." Ginny attempted to think.

"You guys have a flying car? How ..." Ginny thought there was an edge to Anne Burke's voice she did not like much. She spoke up irritatedly.

"Well, Ronald is an idiot, but I would never think Harry would do something like this. I mean, he his usually so intelligent!"

"You know Harry Potter?" Cecilia practically screamed, "Tell us, tell us all about him. Did he really kill a teacher last year? Is he really so wealthy he could buy Hogwarts? Is he really as dreamy as everyone says? What's he like?"

Though this tangent was certainly unexpected, at least they were no longer discussing highly illegal tampering with cars…

"Please Cecilia, like any of us could ever get our hands on Harry Potter," said Anne. "I heard he keeps a muggleborn witch around all the time."

"Oh, he really is, all of that and more, Cecilia," said Ginny, ignoring Anne. 'She had a point though,' Ginny thought, 'he does keep unnaturally close to Hermione.' A rumble in her stomach that had nothing to do with the feast hit her suddenly, and she continued, smilingl a little too happy:

"He's always got that look, you know. Wild hair, beautiful green eyes like a fresh pickelled toad. He's a bit small perhaps, but stronger than he looks..."

"Now, I'd love to have a personal conversation with him," Cecilia smirked and winked. "Besides, there is no way he could marry a mudblood!" The other four girls winced at the word, but she ignored them, "He's the heir of an Ancient and Most Noble House. It is unheard-of! I say he's free game!"

Despite the phrasing, Ginny's rumble suddenly eased. It was left unspoken, but the five of them would find themselves competing from now on.

11 July 1978

Regulus Black was never really ambitious on a career level. Even though he had spent five full years in the green and silver, and was a favourite of his Head of House, he was still just Regulus. He was loyal, sure, and brave and intelligent as well, and yet the Sorting Hat had needed only seconds to place him in the House of his forbearers.

It certainly was not because of his blood, his older brother being a prime example of that! But what would have made him so distinctly Slytherin, if it was not his ambition. When push came to shove he was ruthless, without a doubt, but there was little cunning mixed in. What if he had to sort himself? Honestly, he thought he'd make an exemplary Hufflepuff. Was he not loyal, true and diligent?

Well, the Sorting Hat had never made a mistake they say, even though some students did not know they had certain qualities at the time, only believing it themselves years, even decades later; the Hat knew before their first lesson. It did give him some confidence. After all, was the Gryffindor Albus Dumbledore not a model Ravenclaw during his time at school? Not everyone so blatantly showcased their house qualities as Sirius and his band of gangsters. Thank Merlin for them being done with Hogwarts.

A small pop woke him from his thoughts.

"Master Regulus, sir. Dinner is ready!"

"Thank you, Kreacher. I will be down in a moment. How is my mother doing? Has she come out of bed already?"

Regulus looked down on the wrinkled mess of the pale house elf. He may not be the prettiest of the bunch but he was fond of the servant.

"Mistress is still being quite weak, Sir. Master has still not returned and I am being afraid for her. She still won't eat."

"Father should be home within the hour, Kreacher. Why don't you focus on Mother. I think I will manage dining alone," said Regulus.

Kreacher bowed low, and after a grateful and whispered "Off course, Master" he disappeared with a slight pop.

Some time later, as he was halfway through his dinner, he heard the familiar whoosh of the hearth, announcing Father's return. Father sat down, and a stern baritone called "Kreacher!". The sixteen year old son noticed a twitch of discomfort on his Father's face as the Elf popped in. "In two hours we will be visited by several notable figures. Ready the library for a private conversation. There will be six total."

"Of course Master. Would Master prefer Ogden's or something from the cellar?"

"Make it the '27 Sankt Sylvester."

Kreacher bowed and disappeared.

"Well, my son," Father started, "How have you been using your holidays today?"

"I've started preparing for my N.E.W.T.'s, Father. I have finished my homework for Transfiguration and Def... I mean Applied Magic Studies. And, well, I've started work on the, uhm 'work' the new Divination professor set us. Since professor Ixalubco retired last year, I knew that we would have some sort of replacement. But this? She's called Trelawny, apparently some fourth generation offspring of a seer, but I wonder... Her homework consisted of keeping a detailed diary for the month of July, combining tea leaf readings and dreams, with celestial observations, then use August to rate our classmates in order of 'likelihood of befalling an untimely demise'. So, that is what I did. Guess what, apparently I rank highest so far. And it is still July!"

Regulus could not withhold a chuckle. Father barked in laughter, during two spoonfulls of soup.

"Trelawny, you say?" Asked the old man now, his face contorting in a thoughtful expression. "Never heard of the name. You're sure she's related to a seer?"

"Yes, Father. I received an owl from professor Slughorn saying something about a Cassandra Ollivander née Prewett, the famous seer in the 1800's. Apparently the headmaster was looking to stop having Divination courses altogether favouring Magical Law, but she was the only applicant. I guess she did make an impression then."

"Ah, of course. But she still sounds like a complete fraud."

"Well, I am quite curious for her lessons. You never know."

"Any change?" The voice of his Father deepened even further, hints of depression laced the words, clearly marking the change of subject.

Regulus' voice stifled slightly as he continued, "Mother is still not well, Father."

A grunt escaped the head of Lord Black. Lord Orion Phineas Black was deep in his eighties. It had been quite a miracle when his wife gave him two sons so late in life. Of course, the first one was never spoken about anymore. His room was boarded up and his wife had stricken him from the Family Tree in the drawing room. But him leaving last year had aged the old lord, and the Lady Black had spent more than half of the days in bed and had not shown herself in public ever since. Regulus had not seen a single smile in no. 12 Grimmauld Place since then. The barks of his Father were mirthless, the paintings stopped joking, preferring to stay silent and any guests were quickly overwhelmed with the deathly atmosphere that penetrated every inch of the house.

"Who will be visiting us tonight, Father?"

"You'll see," Lord Black stated with a slight gleam in his eye.

Little over an hour later, the wards rang through the house, notifying them of impending visitors. Regulus, having changed his clothes to a formal dark green robe welcomed the guests into the library. There were three that he knew very well. His cousin Bellatrix came in first, followed by Severus Snape and Bartemius Crouch jr. Last came an old balding man, his head bearing but a few dozen long blond hairs, but with definitively regal features. He immediately recognized him from the Daily Prophet. This was sir Theodore Bagnold, the aged head of the Department of Magical Transportation, husband to the current Minister of Magic and currently Britain's only wizard knight.

Regulus led his guests into the library, where the refreshments were waiting and six very comfortable chairs were set in a circle. When at last Severus sat down, his Father entered and Regulus made to leave, he was halted by a stern voice.

"No, you stay, Son. You'll be of age soon. It's time you joined in on family affairs."

Regulus started to feel proud and a little intimidated at the prospect. It had to come someday of course, with Sirius gone he was next in line.