Chapter Text
Dear Ms. Evans,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Iris Evans stared down at the parchment she held in her small hands. It was as if all her dreams were coming true and the little eleven year old just couldn't wrap her head around it. The shock had yet to completely dissipate when she felt the paper torn from her grasp. Sapphire eyes snapped up to look at her eldest sister and watched as her features contorted into something akin to disgust.
"So," Petunia huffed, shoving the letter into the chest of her youngest sister, "they want you too."
"Tuni maybe-"
"You and Lily are nothing but a bunch of freaks!" The older girl hissed bitterly with her nose turned up.
"Petunia!"
This time her innocent gaze fell on Lily, standing at the top of the staircase and looking down at her sisters with a displeased look. The older girl walked hurriedly down the stairs and placed a comforting hand on her little sister's shoulder, giving the girl a gentle smile but fixing their older sister with a stern look.
"You know you shouldn't say such mean things." Lily scolded.
"It's not my fault that the lot of you are freaks and that school of yours wants nothing but a bunch of weirdos!" Petunia shot back.
"Is that why you practically begged Professor Dumbledore to allow you to go to the school?" Lily countered.
Petunia only scoffed then turned her back on the red haired girls and walked into the living room. Meanwhile Iris clutched her letter with a desperation Lily knew only her little sister to possess. The elder red haired girl gently eased the parchment from her sister's grasp then read through its contents before giving Iris an encouraging smile.
"We need to tell mother and father." Lily said, grabbing the smaller girl's hand and pulling her through the small house.
"But what if they aren't pleased?" Iris defended, nervously biting on her lower lip.
"Nonsense!" The thirteen year old Gryffindor chirped merrily, "They will be just as happy as they were when I got my letter."
Iris wasn't so sure but still she kept faith in her older sister and allowed her to pull her into the kitchen where both their parents sat. Lily placed the acceptance letter on the table between the two adults and stood beside her sister with a wide grin.
"Oh darling," Mrs. Evans began, being the first to notice the paper, "has your letter come already?"
"Yes but mother, that isn't my letter." Lily answered.
"What do you mean Lily?" Mr. Evans inquired, picking up the parchment and reading it through.
Lily nudged her sister, urging the younger girl to speak up. She seemed happier than anyone at the moment about the news of her sister's acceptance. Perhaps it was so she had someone to share all her knowledge with? Or maybe it was so she would have someone other than Severus to speak to about the wizarding world, someone who would understand things better from her perspective.
"That is my letter." Iris announced, "I've been accepted to Hogwarts."
"Oh darling!" Mrs. Evans exclaimed, a smile that rivaled Lily's crossing her face as she stood from her seat and embraced her youngest child.
"Two witches?" Mr. Evans chuckled, taking Iris into a tight hug, "Who would have thought?"
"I told you they would be happy!" Lily laughed as their parents took turns hugging and congratulating her.
~*~
"So Iris is a witch too?"
"Mhm." Lily assured, "Isn't it wonderful?"
"I never thought she would be special."
"Severus!" The young girl scolded her friend.
"Well, just look at her." Severus said in defense, gesturing to the younger girl who stood by the creek.
"Looks can be misleading Sev." Lily pointed out.
The boy with inky black hair rolled his onyx eyes and stared between the two sisters. He had known Lily was different from the moment he laid eyes on her, but Iris was just....Iris. But Hogwarts didn't make mistakes so there must be something about the younger sister he just didn't see.
"I wonder where she'll be sorted." Severus wondered out loud.
"I haven't told her about that yet." Lily confessed, her green eyes shifting from her friend to her little sister, "Petunia was so mean to her earlier that I didn't want to frighten her further."
"That may be so but you should give her a warning." He suggested.
"You mean we should give her a warning." Lily snickered then called to her sister, "Rissy come here!"
"Do I have to?"
"Come now Severus," Lily laughed, "it isn't as though I'm asking you to sleep in Gryffindor tower. I only want your help explaining the houses to my sister."
She saw him visibly flinch at her comment and it only made her smile widen. Iris was by them then, giving Severus no chance for a witty remark before the blue eyed girl was sitting in front of them. Once again, for the umpteenth time since he had met the Evans sisters, Severus noted how close the girls resembled one another but he knew all too well that their personalities did not hold that same resemblance.
"Severus and I want to tell you about the four houses of Hogwarts." Lily explained as she watched the curiosity in her sister's eye grow from dull to vibrant without even a blink of her eyes.
"Let's begin with Gryffindor, that way we get the worst out of the way." Severus stated.
"Severus." Lily warned, "Gryffindor is the house of the lion, known for being courageous, chivalrous, and determined"
"Not to mention harassing other students and-"
"Hufflepuff, the house of the badger, is known to favor those hard working, dedicated, and patient." Lily continued, sending Severus a sharp look as she cut him off.
"Believe me, that's the last place you wanna end up!" The raven haired boy laughed mockingly.
"Ravenclaw, the house of the eagle, they value intelligence, knowledge, and wit." She persisted without paying her friend any mind, "Last there is Slytherin-"
"Thank you for leaving Slytherin for last as if that's the worst place to be sorted!" Severus huffed.
"The house of the serpent, values ambition, cunning and resourcefulness." Lily finished then looked over to Severus with a frown before settling back on her sister, "Any questions?"
"A couple." Iris said with a nod and looked at Severus, "Firstly, I know Lily is in Gryffindor but what house are you in Severus?"
"I thought that would have been obvious." The young teen replied with a roll of his eyes before humoring her, "I'm in Slytherin of course."
"Alright then." Iris acknowledged then looked back at her sister, "Now what happens if I'm not any of those things, what will happen to me?"
"Then you're forced to work at the castle for wasting everyone's time!"
"Severus!" Lily shouted, finally reaching the end of her patience with the boy.
"I don't see why you needed my help," Severus said with a shrug as though he had done nothing wrong, "you seem to be doing perfectly fine on your own."
"You will be sorted Iris, have no fear of that, but only the hat can decide where it is you will be sorted to." The older girl assured her sister.
Iris looked between the two older teens in front of her, mulling over where it was she would like to be sorted to were she given a choice. Her sister seemed to understand as she only looked at the younger girl with a knowing smile but her friend beside her looked more annoyed than anything. But Iris paid neither of them much attention as she continued to play around in her thoughts until finally reaching a decision.
"I think I'd like to be in Slytherin." Iris announced with a smile.
Lily's face immediately fell upon her declaration but Iris could have sworn that she saw the faintest of a smile cross Severus's face but it was gone so quickly that it could have just been her mind playing tricks on her.
~*~
Diagon Alley took on a whole new perspective now that she was here shopping for herself as well as her sister. It was a surreal feeling, knowing that she too was a witch and able to buy whatever it was she wanted from these shops and explore the world of magick. How many times had she dreamed of this?
"Where should we go first Lily?" Iris inquired as her sapphire eyes bounced around eagerly.
"Well," Lily began, putting a finger to her chin as she thought, "I suppose we should get you a wand. It is essential for magick after all."
So Ollivander's was the first stop to be made, for there was a new witch that was ever so excited to get her wand. The two young girls had left their parents at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour for Lily knew all too well that it was easier to shop, for supplies on her own rather than risk losing her parents amongst the crowds of witches and wizards, and were off to gather their materials. As Iris followed Lily into the wand shop she was amazed by the sheer amount of boxes that seemed to consume the walls of the small shop.
"Ms. Evans," A disembodied voice said from somewhere within the labyrinth of cases, "back so soon?"
"Hello Mr. Ollivander." Lily greeted with a bright smile, "I'm here for my little sister Iris."
"Ah I see!"
A man with wild white hair stepped from behind one of the shelves, wearing a smile as wide as Lily as he stared at the young eleven year old. His eyes seemed to analyze her as he approached one of the many shelves and snatched one of the long boxes from its place. Ollivander then joined the two girls in front of the counter and held out an open box to Iris.
"Try this my dear girl." He instructed, "Holly and unicorn hair, 10 ½", excellent for charms."
Iris took the long piece of wood, staring at it hesitantly before giving it a little swish as she had seen Lily do. Unfortunately things didn't go as planned. That innocent swish she had given the wand caused glass to shatter all around them and Iris yelped in surprise before she practically threw the wand back at Ollivander who only gave an acknowledging nod.
"Don't fret Iris," Lily assured, "that happens to just about everyone."
"So it does." Ollivander agreed as he searched the many shelves before returning to the two girls and offering another wand, "Willow, 13", phoenix feather core."
Once again Iris took the wand and gave it a swish though this time a gust of wind erupted through the store and left objects scattered all around. With a sigh the eleven year old placed the wand on the counter top, staring at Ollivander as though expecting him to tell her she would never be a witch and throw them out of the store. But much to her surprise, and utter relief, the old man seemed to smile gleefully as though happily accepting the challenge she presented.
Once again the white haired man hurried off into the array of boxes, returning after a few minutes with yet another wand case in his hands. Iris gave Lily a skeptical look as the man approached them and received an encouraging smile in return.
"Rosewood, 11 ¾", with a dragon heartstring core." He informed them as he held out the wand to Iris, watching the young girl take it and give it a swish as she had done the others.
None of this was going the way she had imagined it would and she was on the brink of tears by this point. Iris had taken and swished over fifteen wands. Lily had already left to get the books she would need for her third year, allowing Iris to have her first year textbooks, from Flourish and Blotts, and had picked up the ingredients for potions class she and Iris would both need yet still Iris had yet to find the wand that suited her.
"What if I don't find the right one?" Iris asked her sister as Mr. Ollivander searched the store for the umpteenth time for another wand.
"There is always a wand for every witch and wizard Iris." Lily answered, "The wand chooses the witch, that just means you haven't found the right wand yet."
"What if I never do?"
"Of course you will!"
"Blackthorn 12 ¾" with a dragon heartstring core." Ollivander announced as he came back from between the shelves, handing the wand over to Iris.
With hesitation, Iris swished the wand yet again but this time instead of a misfortune taking place as it had the last seventeen times this wand began to glow. Various shades of blues and purples seemed to shimmer with a light gold undertone and lit up the area around Iris. A smile split her face as she stared down at her wand, feeling her bond with the object almost immediately.
"It's perfect." Iris whispered, still transfixed on the slowly fading colors emanating around her.
"I told you that you would find your wand!" Lily cheered happily.
"Excellent!" Mr. Ollivander exclaimed with a single clap of his hands.
After paying for the wand, Lily looked over the supply list. There was no need to go to the robe shop for Iris was to use Lily's old robes, luckily her younger sister wasn't that much smaller than she was at eleven, so that meant that Iris only needed a pet to call her own.
"We need to go to the Magical Menagerie." Lily announced, folding the parchment once more and handing it to Iris.
"What's that?" The younger girl asked with bright eyes, excited to know what she would experience next.
"Well you'll be needing a pet." Lily laughed, "You're allowed to bring either a toad, owl, or cat."
~*~
"You really shouldn't have him out here." Lily warned.
"But Shiver loves the sun!" Iris defended as she continued to stroke the little grey cat that lay in her lap.
"What kind of a name is Shiver?"
"Severus!" Both girls exclaimed happily, it had been two weeks since they last saw their friend.
"Is someone going to answer me?" The boy inquired, crossing his arms and leaning against the tree.
"Iris's cat has a problem that causes him to shake though it makes him look as though he's shivering." Lily explained.
"So your cat is broken."
"He is not broken!" Iris huffed, sapphire eyes narrowing on the older boy, "He's perfect."
"Nothing in this world is perfect." Severus lied.
"Play nice you two." Lily snickered as she watched the two quarrel.
Severus rolled his eyes and took his usual seat beside Lily as the trio fell silent. They all stared out across the creek, watching the way the afternoon sun reflected off of the mucky surface. Each becoming lost in their own thoughts.
"What's it like?" Iris wondered out loud, eyes staring beyond the little world she called home.
"Better than anything you could ever imagine." Severus answered with a small smile.
~*~
The day had finally come, it was finally time for her to take the first step into a world beyond anything she could ever have imagined.
Iris checked, doubled checked, and then triple checked her trunk making sure there was nothing she was forgetting. She had almost felt like an idiot for doing such but catching Lily out of the corner of her eye doing the exact same put her nerves at ease, if only slightly. Petunia stood in the doorway the entire time, sneering at the actions of her two younger sisters while shooting bitter insults from time to time.
"Tuni," Lily finally snapped, her third year nerves being as on edge as her first year sister, "if you have nothing nice to say then please leave us alone!"
Petunia seemed just as taken aback by this as Iris but the younger girl was better at concealing her surprise and continued to organize her trunk for the fifth time that week. Petunia only did what Petunia did best; roll her eyes, scoff, then turn her nose up as she walked away.
"One day she's going to walk right into a wall when she does that and I will not apologize for laughing." Iris muttered, placing her robes on top of her textbooks.
"That isn't very nice Rissy." Lily scolded though was failing to hold back a giggle as she did so.
"Perhaps not," Iris agreed, staring down into her trunk with an analytical stare, "but it is true."
When the girls heard their father calling from downstairs Lily could see Iris visibly tense. The first time was always the hardest but once her sister adjusted to life at Hogwarts things would become easier for her, Lily was sure of it.
"Here we go." Lily chirped, shutting and locking her trunk as Iris did the same.
~*~
"Write to us everyday!" Mrs. Evans said as she embraced her youngest daughter.
"I'll try." Iris promised, weakly hugging her mother in return.
"Make sure to take care of your sister." Mr. Evans instructed Lily.
"Always." Lily assured.
The train's whistle blew and the two sisters hurried aboard the red steam engine. Lily lead Iris into an empty compartment and the girls were just able to wave one last good-bye to their parents before the train was carrying them away.
"Is it alright to be nervous?" Iris asked as she and Lily took their seats across from one another.
"You'd be a rare case if you weren't." Lily laughed softly then fixed her sister with a gentle look, "But seriously, everything will be just fine."
"Making some new friends now that Snivellus left you, huh Evans?"
Lily frowned, knowing exactly who their new company was. Iris though, driven by her curiosity, turned her head to see four boys standing in the doorway to their compartment. She quickly turned her attention back to her sister as the four unwelcomed boys took the seats beside them.
"Lily-"
"Don't tell me that this small fry is your sister?" A boy with shoulder length black hair remarked, noting the auburn hair the two girls shared.
"I don't see how that's any of your business." Lily retorted sharply.
"Now Evans, the summer was so long and we missed you so try to play nice." A boy with glasses chirped making Lily push herself closer to the window as he took a seat beside her.
"Lily-"
"Pay them no mind Iris." Lily ordered, her attention shifting to look out the window.
"Her name is Iris?" The black haired boy barked, "Now we know she's your sister."
"Lily who are they?" Iris asked, finally able to complete a sentence.
"No one important." The older girl answered dryly.
"Why are they in here?"
"Because we wanted to see our dear friend Evans here." Glasses boy answered.
"James," The smallest boy of the quartette said, "where do you think she'll be put?"
"Gryffindor if she's lucky." The one named James answered, "What do you think Sirius?"
"She seems more Hufflepuff to me." Sirius answered as he eyed the younger girl.
"Lily," Iris sighed, "how do we make them go away?"
"Ouch, so cruel." James mocked.
"Unfortunately you can't." Lily answered with a sigh of her own.
"Wonderful."
"Careful," Sirius said, "with an attitude like that you'll end up in Slytherin."
"Iris please don't encourage them."
This seemed to amuse the boys, watching Lily attempt to keep her little sister from interacting with them. Throughout the train ride the boys continued to find ways to wind the girls up, managing to get a few snide remarks from the younger sister every now and again.
"Well this was fun girls." James said as he and his friends stood up when the announcement came that they were approaching the station, "We should do it again sometime."
"Why y-"
"Easy Rissy." Lily cooed, placing a hand on her sister's shoulder.
"She's a spunky one." Sirius laughed as he followed his friends out of the compartment.
"I don't like them." Iris huffed as she pulled on her robes and glared out into the hall of the train, "Are they always so-"
"Obnoxious?" Lily finished, straightening out her own robes, "Yes."
"I won't have to see them again will I?"
"If you're lucky, no." The older girl answered as she guided her sister from the compartment.
"Lily, you know I'm never lucky!" Iris whined, stepping off the train and into the brisk Scottish air.
"Then prepare yourself." Lily urged then turned to face her sister, "Now you have to go with Hagrid, all the first years do, and I'll see you in the Great Hall."
Lily then gave her sister an encouraging smile before hurrying after the other students, leaving the younger girl alone on the train platform. Iris stood there for a moment lost in her own little world until realizing a moment later that she wasn't alone in her confused state. There were many other eleven year olds just standing about unsure of what they were to do next.
"First years this way!" A giant of a man, presumably Hagrid, hollered.
The remaining children quickly followed after the man as he began leading them away from the station and into the darkness of a night lit only by the lantern he held.