Beyond House And Blood

1 First year: New Beginnings

     The night air was thick with anticipation as the new students filled into the Great Hall. The enchanted ceiling sparkled with starlight, casting an ethereal glow over the nervous first-years gathered before the staff table. Evelyn Potter, eyes wide and heart pounding, looked around, absorbing every detail. Hogwarts had felt like a dream growing up, listening to James's stories about his first year. Now, it was her turn.

     The Sorting Hat ceremony was already underway. Each name called sent a student to a new house, and as her name, "Potter, Evelyn," was announced, the Hall fell silent. Whispers rippled through the students-another Potter, but would she follow James into Gryffindor, and be a troublemaker like he is? She took a deep breath and sat on the stool, the Hat placed over her head.

     "Ah, another Potter! Your brother did well here," the Hat murmured in her ear. "But I see something different in you. Cleverness, curiosity.... a deep thirst for knowledge...." Evelyn held her breath, hoping, in some way, that the Hat would sense her desire to carve her own path.

     "Better be..... RAVENCLAW!" it announced, and the Ravenclaw table erupted in cheers. Evelyn's face lit up, and she joined her new house, stealing a glance at James, who gave her a thumbs-up from the Gryffindor table, looking both surprised and proud. She take a seat next to the fellow first-years, and spotted a small, quiet but intense boy next to her.

     "You're a Potter. I'm Crouch, Bartemius Crouch Jr. You could just call me Barty." the young boy introduced himself with a polite nod, sensing they might get along. Their conversation got cut off when a familiar name was announced, "Black, Regulus." A slender boy with pale skin and sharp, grey eyes stepped forward. 

     Evelyn recognized him from brief family gatherings with the Pure-bloods, including the Blacks, though they never spoken much. He had a composed , serious air, the opposite of his boisterous older brother, Sirius Black. As Regulus sat on the stool, the Hat barely touched his head before it shouted, "SLYTHERIN!"

     A ripple of whispers spread through the hall. While Sirius was known for his rebellious choice of Gryffindor, Regulus seemed the perfect fit for Slytherin. Evelyn watched him join his house with quiet pride, glancing at Sirius, who was already laughing off the reaction with his Gryffindor friends.

     After the feast, as the first-years were being shown to their dorms, Evelyn found herself being alone in the hallway, caught in the excitement of exploring Hogwarts on her own. She spotted Regulus lingering by one of the arched windows, gazing out over the castle grounds. The autumn night cast a soft glow over his face, and he seemed deep in thought.

     "Regulus," Evelyn greeted him softly, hoping not to startle him. He turned, his expression guarded. "Potter, right?" he replied, raising an eyebrow. His tone wasn't unfriendly, just reserved. She nodded. "James's sister. But.... I'd prefer if people called me Evelyn."

     "Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be at the Ravenclaw Tower?" he asks, turning his back at her. "I could asked the same thing to you. I'm just trying to get my mind off some things. You seem... bothered by something. Care to share?" she asks, taking a seat next to him, admiring the scenery outside the castle at night. The bright stars, and the comfortable breeze at night makes everything seems surreal, almost magical.

     "Just... thinking.." silence fell between them, it's not an uncomfortable, it's more like an understanding silent, enjoying each other company. after a while, for the first time, a faint smile crossed Regulus's face. "It's nice," he said quietly, before excusing himself to join his Slytherin classmates.

     The encounter stayed with Evelyn, and she thought about Regulus often in the weeks that followers. Their interaction had been brief, but she sensed something familiar in him-an urge to carve his own path, even if it wasn't as obvious as Sirius's.

     The first few weeks at Hogwarts were a whirlwind of classes, homework, and new faces. Evelyn quickly found herself in her element, eagerly diving into her studies. Ravenclaw House was filled with clever, curious minds, and Evelyn relished every moment of learning. She also struck up an easy friendship with her fellow Ravenclaw, Barty Crouch Jr., who seemed to share her enthusiasm for knowledge.

     Evelyn's weekends often included sneaking into the Gryffindor common room to see James, who had already joined forces with his mischievous friends: Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew. Though she enjoyed their company, she was careful not to lose herself in James's orbit, determined to build her own friendships and identity.

     Regulus, on the other hand, was adjusting to life in Slytherin. Unlike his brother, he felt comfortable in his house, appreciating its values of ambition and legacy. His reserved nature didn't lend itself easily to making friends, but he found himself gravitating towards Evan Rosier and Pandora Rosier, two sharp-witted students with a knack for Slytherin traditions.

     The academic year rolled forward, both Evelyn and Regulus continued to excel in their studies. Occasionally, they crossed paths in the library, where Evelyn would catch Regulus deeply absorbed in a book, his brow furrowed in concentration. She wanted to approach him but held back, sensing he valued his solitude.

     Their first Potions class together was an unexpected turning point. Professor Slughorn, eager to make his lessons engaging, assigned partners at random. Evelyn found herself paired with none other than Regulus Black.

     They exchanged a brief nod of acknowledgment neither particularly talkative. as the class progressed, it became clear that both of them were naturals at brewing. Evelyn focused on the fine details of the instructions, while Regulus worked with an impressive precision and confidence.

     "Chopped clockwise, then three counter-clockwise stirs," Regulus muttered under his breath, focused on the potion. Evelyn glanced over, impressed. "You're pretty good at this," she said, offering a small smile. "So are you," he replied without looking up, though she noticed a slight blush on his cheeks. "It's nice to work with someone who knows what they're doing."

     They finished the potion perfectly, earning points for both Ravenclaw and Slytherin. as they cleaned up, Evelyn felt a sense of camaraderie with Regulus-a quiet understanding that, despite their different houses and backgrounds, they were similar in more ways than they realized.

     Winter settled over Hogwarts, and the castle was blanketed in snow. One evening, Evelyn was returning to the Ravenclaw Tower when she spotted Regulus alone in the courtyard, bundled up against the cold. She hesitated before approaching, her breath fogging in the frosty air. "Regulus," she called softly, and he turned, looking surprised.

     "Potter," he acknowledged, though there was no annoyance in his voice this time. "I thought you'd be with James and his... friends." She shook her head. "Sometimes it's nice to be on your own." She gestured to the snow-covered grounds. "Want to walk?"

     After a brief pause, he nodded. They strolled through the quiet grounds, talking about classes and the challenges of living up to family expectations. Regulus shared his frustrations about always being compared to Sirius, and Evelyn listened, offering quiet support.

     "You don't have to be like him," she reminded him gently. "You can be whoever you want." Regulus glanced at her, a flicker of gratitude in his eyes. "Maybe it's easy for you to say that, being a Potter and all," he replied. "But... thank you."

     As they parted ways that night, both Evelyn and Regulus sensed they had forged a connection-one that, despite their differences, would grow in the years to come. They may have been from opposing houses, but their shared desire to stoep out of their siblings' shadows bound them together in an unspoken bond.