Petal in the Snake Pit

Author's Note:I hope that all of you that are reading this story enjoy it!

I am sorry if there are some grammatical/spelling mistakes. I wrote this in short spurts, and I know that it isn't perfect...but it's something; and I thought perhaps someone would enjoy it. So yeah. Also, this is my first chapter...and it's merely an introduction! I swear that this story will get much better and wayyy more entertaining!

*** The quote that inspired me: Lord Byron:"But time strips our illusions of their hue, And one by one in turn, some grand mistake casts off its bright skin yearly like the snake."

Please review! Reviews are love...and my reason to continue writing. ~ Luvies, Tori

Story Disclaimer: This is my disclaimer for the duration of this fanfiction. Anyways, I own absolutely nothing and I don't know a soul. All of the characters belong to the awesome J.K. Rowling...unless of course, they're figments of my own imagination. However, the story line is all mine. Thanks so much!

The Sorting, aka The Beginning

He smoothed back his silvery white hair as he pulled away from his mother's embrace. "I'll see you round for Holiday then." He smiled warmly as his father clapped a hand on his shoulder and his mother nodded as tears pooled in her eyes.

"We love you Scorpius..." She smiled as her husband wrapped an arm around her slender frame and pulled her close.

"Don't forget to write!" Her red hair sat on her shoulders as she scolded her two eldest sons while embracing them in a joint hug. She had already kissed them both about a dozen times, something which had elicited snickers from Ron and George a few feet away.

"We will Mum." Trilled James with a lazy smirk, his shirt coming untucked, and his hair disheveled.

As George yelled challengingly from the distance, "Just try and beat my detention record, eh!" A grin engulfing his face as Angelina slapped him upside the head and Ginny sent him a glare.

"And those one-lined notes of things you send don't count..." She eyed both boys as they burst into laughter and hopped onto the train platform. "And please don't get into so much trouble this year. You especially James!" She gave him a very Molly Weasley-like stare before continuing. "You're a prefect now..."

"Heaven knows why they chose him..." Albus eyed his older brother with a slightly contemptuous smirk.

Ginny rounded on her youngest son much like her mother had disciplined her brothers. "Your brother is a wonderful boy with many amiable qualities, Albus Severus Potter! And since he is prefect now, I expect both of you to behave accordingly...! Understood?" She eyed her two sons that had shared a bemused look before smiling at her full of false sweetness.

"Of course Mum." James smiled sweetly as he gave Ginny one last quelling hug. "And we'll look after Ickle Lily-kins too." He winked affectionately at his younger sister as she faux-glared up at him. "Don't worry." He craned his head towards George's family before beckoning Fred over. As he hopped onto the train he called back to Harry. "See you in a few months Dad..."

"Okay Mum. See you for break!" Albus smiled darting away with Rose and Dominique before his parents (mum) could make any more requests or shower him with more kisses and tears.

Harry focussed his attention solely on his baby after waving his sons off. She had always been a bit different than her brothers and cousins. She'd always had a spark that no one else could quite match. And she'd always been more mischevious than her brothers, but she was cunning...and oh-so charming. Hence the reason she'd rarely gotten into any trouble. And as he watched her grin at Roxanne and Hugo mischeviously, and he knew that his little wild card wasn't about to change...

"I love you Daddy!" She smiled as she threw her small arms around his waist in a tight hug. "Make sure Mummy doesn't get too sad or lonely without us." She whispered softly into his ear as he lifted her up.

"Of course. She'll be fine. Don't you worry, flower." He smoothed her dark auburn hair down and kissed her head. "Try to stay out of trouble..." He smiled at Ginny as he hugged Lily tightly before setting her back on the pavement.

"Oh, my baby." Ginny teared up as she hugged Lily closely to her. "All grown up; and so beautiful." She smiled as Lily beamed back up at her. "Have a good first year sweetheart." She pulled away as Harry wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "And, try to not get into trouble..."

"I never get into any trouble..." She laughed as she smiled at her parents, Hugo bouncing on his feet beside her. Her hair resmbled her Grandmother Potter's, only it was darker, holding black strands. Her eyes were a rich blue-green color and she was petite.

"Of course you don't!" Ron grinned as he ruffled her hair. "You inherited my capacity to not get caught."

Ginny couldn't supress the snort that came from her mouth as she shook her head at her brother. "As if...Sorry to burst your bubble Ronald, but your detention records say other wise...".

"Thanks to someone..." Ron shot Harry a boyish grin as Hermione lightly slapped the back of his head. "Oooouch!"

"Have a good year sweetie!" Hermione hugged her niece and son one last time. "And, Owl us soon." A dreamy grin engulfed her face. "We can't wait to hear about the sorting and classes..."

"You would be concerned about academics..." Ron rolled his eyes with a good-natured smile.

The train whistle blew as students scrambled up the compartment steps shouting 'goodbyes' and meeting up with friends.

"Oh, well, see you soon dear." Ginny kissed Lily once more before Lily scrambled up the steps.

As the train lurched forward Lily traveled down the compartments in search of her family that she had lost in the crowd of students. It wasn't so much that she couldn't take care of herself on the train as it was that her family expected everyone to sit together. As she mulled this over and peeked into each window she unknowingly ran straight into someone and hit the floor in one fluid motion. She groaned as she sat up and reached for her wand that had rolled out of her pocket. "Sorry..." Her voice was clear and soft as she noticed a hand in front of her.

"No, it's okay. I'm sorry. We both should've been paying a bit more attention." He scanned his meticulous outfit for any damage as he offered her his hand. He watched as she softly grasped his hand and stood facing him an innocent/shy smile on her face.

"Lily!" Her voice was high-pitched in worry and disdain as she sidled up to her youngest cousin. "Malfoy..." She said crossly as she wrapped an arm around her cosuin's small shoulders and turned her round walking her off. "Lily, what in Merlin's name are you doing...? Haven't you listened to anything my Dad has said?" Her voice was thick with disgust as she began lecturing Lily on being safe and staying out of trouble.

Scorpius stood for a moment and watched as his insufferable classmate, Rose Weasley, berated a girl that he could only guess was the famous little Lily Potter. A girl (that from his brief first impression) didn't seem anything like her family. Not nearly as haughty or impulsive...and seemingly kinder. But no doubt she'd end up a Gryffindor like the lot of them and she'd soon-enough hate him and the rest of his house, if she didn't already.

"Ugh, I thought they'd never stop lecturing me." Lily groaned as she stood beside her cousins along with the other first years waiting to be placed into boats by Hagrid, seemingly unconcerned as to what was currently happening.

"Total gits...Always butting into our business just because we're younger." Roxanne nodded in agreement as she played with a strand of her black hair. "Well, I'll see you both at dinner then."

"See you then!" Lily smiled as she elbowed Hugo, who managed something along the lines of 'nyeah.' Roxanne waved smiling before catching up with her fellow second-year classmates (Louis Weasley included)at the carraiges.

"Fred said there's a chance we won't be Gryffindor...What'll I do then? I can't tell my Dad I got into Hufflepuff ... or worse ... Slytherin." He gulped nervously, his face paling before continuing. "I mean I suppose Ravenclaw would be...okay, but it's no Gryffindor..." He shuddered nervously as Hagrid lopped over.

" 'Ello, Lily...Hugo..." Hagrid grinned as he shuffled over to where a wry Lily stood staring at a nervous Hugo. "Excited for yer first year?"

"Of course, Hagrid." Lily grinned widely at him as Hugo scrambled into a boat casting anxious glances at Lily. "Hugo's a bit nervous..." She said watching her cousin a tid bit embarassed by his behavior. "About the sorting and all..."

"Ah, well each house is good in it's own way." Hagrid smiled as he ushered Lily into Hugo's boat. "See you at the feast." He smiled fondly as the boat floated down the water bobbing slowly.

Lily smiled and chatted animatedly with Alice Longbottom as Hugo bit his nails nervously until Professor Longbottom appeared and started explaining the sorting. For the first time, she felt insanely nervous about which house she'd be in. She felt as if her stomach was going to drop to the floor; and suddenly the room seemed much smaller and as hot as a mid-summer day. She spotted her extended family immediately, seeing as how an entire section of the table was filled with interspersed red-headed Weasleys, golden-blonde hair belonging to Dom and Louis, and the coal black hair of Fred, Roxy, Albus, and James...but that didn't calm her nerves as they turned their grins towards her.

The Sorting Hat smiled wickedly before starting it's song in a lilting tune. "I'm the Sorting Hat! And sorting shall I do. I'll sort out your ickle minds and find the place for you! Perhaps you'll go where the boldest have gone before, a place where daring and bravery lie. As a Gryffindor these will always be in supply. Or maybe you'll be a Hufflepuff where the just and loyal dwell. In Hufflepuff you'll find helping hands and caring hearts to tell. Maybe you're full of wit and clever to the core. If so, there's no better place than Ravenclaw where your talents are sure to soar. Or perhaps you're made of ambitions, determination, and a cunning spirit. Slytherin's the home for you if these are your merits. So try me on for your fit! Don't be wry, you'll be fine. I'm the Sorting Hat, and I'll know the place for you!"

The Sorting Hat's song ended; and students' names began being called forward by Professor Longbottom. "Pucey, Alexandrite." She watched as one-by-one students leapt from the stool and joined thier excited houses. "Weasley, Hugo." She felt her breathing stop as the hat barely touched her cousin's head and yelled "Gryffindor!" She could hear her cousins and brothers cheering louder than everyone else. Hugo was smiling wider than she'd ever seen him smile before, practically skipping to the table of red and gold. And her heart stopped as Fred cheered loudly, "Oi, Hugoooo! Atta Weasley! No worries Lily, we're still saving you a seat..." Laughter was heard from the self-assured Gryffindor table on the far left side of the hall, as her face went quickly from a blush to ghostly pale.

Scorpius listened to the Sorting Hat's song before zoning out, only cheering and refocussing his attention when a new Slytherin was sorted. He was busy sharing a hushed conversation with his cousin until he heard the commotion that only the Weasley's could start. He turned his attention to the youngest Potter, as her name was called.

She gripped the edges of the large stool as she sat down. The large hat flopped over her head; and a voice startled her. Ahhh...another Weasley-Potter! The Hat's excited voice echoed through her ears. Hmm, but you're different...oh so different...brave and loyal like the rest, yes. But you have something more. You're clever, determined, and ambitious. A desire to prove yourself...And an uncanny ability at self-preservation... She felt her palms go sweaty as the hat continued to think and talk. I'll send you to a place where you'll meet your truest friends...You best be a "Slytherin!"

The Great Hall went silent as everyone's attention focussed on her, the famed daughter of Harry Potter...the newest Slytherin. She bit her lip as her family stared on in confused horror. As her feet touched the stone floor the Slytherin table erupted in cheers; and the Gryffindor table went up in protest. Her family of Gryffindors jumped up as they began furiously shouting that "the damned hat had gone senile in its old age and made a huge mistake..."or something of the like. However, she let a small, confident smile fall onto her lips as she sauntered across the hall from her family and to a table full of new faces.

Scorpius couldn't help but feel the tiniest surge of excitement as she strode over to their table and took the empty seat next to him. But he reminded himself that his excitement was purely because of the victory this was for him against the Weasley-Potter clan.

The Hall quieted again as Headmistress McGonagall stood up slowly in shock. "Here, here! The Sorting Hat doesn't make mistakes. Now, if you please, we have more students to be sorted unless you want detention on the first night!" She eyed the Gryffindor table before sitting back as Neville called up the last students to be sorted.

Once the sorting was over, Professor McGonagall quieted the hall and gave a short speech detailing a few rules and general expectations before food magically appeared on the tables; and students began digging in with abandon and conversations started up again. However, this didn't keep ghosts, students, and professors alike from not-so-discreetly gawking at Lily whose black hairbow had switched to emerald green after her sorting.

"Hello!" A fouth year with long straight mahogany hair grinned across the table from her. "I'm Adora (Greengrass) Nott, welcome to Slytherin." Her thin-lipped smile broadened as Lily smiled shyly or nervously (she wasn't sure which) back at her.

"Nice to meet you." Lily smiled as she caught sight of her brothers and cousins staring at her a mix of emotions playing acorss their faces. She did her best to ignore them, sending a frown their way once, as she stooped her head lower and tried to concentrate on the conversation at hand.

"Anyways, this is Donovan Flint, third year..." Adora talked in a low hushed voice as food began to appear on the table, apparently not caring whether there was food or not, unlike her companions. "And this is Laurel Parkinson, second year...and her twin brother, Thor" She rounded on the boy that had helped Lily earlier with a genuine smile. "And this is my cousin, Scorpius Malfoy. Third year."

Lily began to relax ever so slightly as the Slytherins began to fall into converstaion around her; and secretly sent slight-smirks in the direction of the Gryffindor table. "Nice to meet you all." The boy named Donovan sent her a wink as Scorpius slowly sat his roll down and turned towards her.

"So...a Potter sorted into Slytherin...That's new." He smirked slightly as he took in the girl beside him. He couldn't help but notice that she picked at her food and her eyes kept shifting towards the table farthest across the hall. "They'll get over it, you know." He smiled, whispering conspiratorily, as she looked towards him startled. "But until then you have us..." He nodded towards Adora who was talking to the Parkinson girl with a certain amount of disdain.

"Right...thank you again, Scorpius." Lily smiled slightly before hopping up with her fellow first years to follow their prefects to the dungeons.

This was going to be an interesting addition to his years at Hogwarts, Scorpius thought with a smile as he watched Lily chat with some other first year's and sent a smirk towards the livid Gryffindors beside him. He had been right, Lily Potter was different...in the best way possible.

So, I would love to recieve reviews! If I don't recieve any (or just a couple), I won't be continuing this story. I write better when I know I have readers. Thanks for reading!