(00 : TWO HOUSEHOLDS . . .
BOTH ALIKE IN DIGNITY)

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     KING'S CROSS STATION WAS BUSTLING with families — some were emotional, wrapping their little ones in hugs and peppering them with kisses, others were stern, lecturing their child about what they should or shouldn't do. From afar, an eleven year old redhead watched as an older couple ruffled their son's curls and enthusiastically wished him luck. Juliet cringed at the sign of affection, lugging her bags behind her as she boarded the Hogwarts Express without needing to say goodbye to anyone.

     She came alone.

     Arin and Eliana Fawley had faith they didn't need to hold their daughter's hand through life — Arin was an important ministry worker and had better things to do with his time, whilst Eliana abhorred the idea of being in such proximity with filthy muggles. Juliet understood why they couldn't come with her, but that didn't quell the fluttering in her stomach as she found an empty compartment.

     "Do you need any help with that?"

     Upon hearing an unfamiliar voice, Juliet jumped and spun round. If it hadn't been for a pair of lanky arms shooting out and pushing her luggage back, she would've been crushed by her suitcase. Although she was relieved, she froze, narrowing her eyes at the boy in front of her — he looked to be around her age with thick-framed glasses and messy hair. The only issue was, she couldn't place his face and Juliet was familiar with all the pureblooded children after attending balls and dinner parties galore.

     "I'm good, thank you," she said, remembering to keep her manners until she knew his blood status. "I didn't quite catch your name . . ."

     "Oh, James!" He stuck his hand out. "James Potter."

     Juliet stared at his hand, wondering what her mother would say if she took it. The Potters were pureblood, but not part of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. "Juliet," she covered her hand with her sleeve to be safe. "Does that mean you're a muggle sympathiser like your parents?"

     Unsure what to make of her bluntness, he shrugged. "Well I'd say there are much worse things you could be in the world."

     "Like what?"

     Although James opened his mouth, it was the ever irritating voice of Sirius Black that answered as he waltzed into the compartment. "I don't know, maybe a pureblood supremacist that doesn't know how to form their own opinions," he replied mockingly before turning to James. "Mind if I sit here?"

     James nodded whilst Juliet was aghast at Sirius, knowing he thrived off getting under her skin after she embarrassed him greatly at some engagement party or another. "Well, I mind. I was here first," she huffed, "and I don't see how you're better off than I, Sirius. Toujours pur, right?"

     "Ah, I'm sure we can find another compartment, mate," prompted James, taking a liking to the dark-haired boy from the offset. "I don't fancy spending my time with people who think everyone else is beneath them. You might want to get down from that high horse before someone pushes you off, I doubt you'll make many friends with an attitude like yours." His pointed tone dispersed the second he left the compartment, immersing himself in an animated conversation about Quidditch with a laughing Sirius instead.

     Whether it was friendly advice or a warning, it was that moment Juliet Fawley knew one thing for certain — she did not like James Potter.

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     Despite what James Potter thought, Juliet was adamant she'd make friends — only with the right sort. She didn't want a disgraced pureblood and blood traitor in the making to be her friends to begin with. However, making friends proved a lot harder than she thought when nobody approached her compartment again. Being an only child, she was used to being alone, especially with such absent parents, so she resolved that she'd find friends when she got to Hogwarts. At least being a pureblood meant she knew some of the older students — Evan Rosier and Narcissa Black were both entering their fourth year.

     By the time Juliet finished half a box of sugar quills (her mother never let her eat sweets at home) and was half way through Newt Scamander's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them in a bid to get a head start, the castle was in view. It was beautiful. Even as the rain hammered down, she didn't care because she had made it to Hogwarts at last.

     "Firs' years! Firs' years over ter me!" an oaf of a man called out as everyone filed off the train, beckoning the youngest students to follow him.

     He was such a huge man that Juliet thought it was safest to stick to the middle crowd, so she didn't get too close nor did she get lost at the back. Shaking a little from the cold, she made a conscious effort to keep her smile and seem welcoming as they rounded a bend to an expansive lake. On the lake, there were several boats and she ended up sharing one with a pair of twins and snivelling brunette girl that she didn't make much of.

     "Everyone here?" The man she later learned to be Hagrid checked, unloading the eleven year olds off the boats and up a flight of stone steps where the door swung open on his knocks. "Good, the firs' years, Professor McGonagall."

     The stern-looking woman showed the first years to an empty chamber at the back of the hall, talking them through the houses before the Sorting Ceremony. Juliet knew about this from her parents — that was one conversation they did have with her because it was important she was put in the right house. That was Slytherin, naturally.

     Once the first years were all lined up, the professor put a stool at the front and an old hat that burst into song. Juliet rolled her eyes, despite everyone else clapping. It seemed rather immature for a hat to sing. Albeit, even old McGonagall seemed a little happier as she cleared her throat and started to read names off some parchment.

     "Aubrey, Bertram!"

     The hat shouted, "RAVENCLAW!"

     And so the sorting went on, Juliet would occasionally move up the line, but her interest was only caught when Sirius walked up to the hat, lacking his usual swagger. His face seemed pained until some long seconds passed and the hat declared him a Gryffindor.

     The hall went dead silent. Everybody knew Blacks belonged in Slytherin.

     Maybe ten seconds passed before a first year still in the line exploded in rancorous applause and cheers — it was none other than James Potter! Juliet felt the hatred in her heart double at his show. There was a reason nobody clapped for Sirius and it was because Gryffindor was the worst house full of foolhardy idiots. Encouraging his behaviour was wrong and yet, what did she expect from the same boy that spoke to her — an elite pureblood — like she was no more than muck on his shoe?

"Potter," she hissed from her place in line, "Slytherins are not above hexing first years, remember that next time you support such mutiny."

"Merlin, Juliet, you're eleven and talk like an old woman. One that probably locks kids in ovens at that." He puffed out his chest, spotting another red head watching with inquisitive eyes. "Sirius broke tradition, so you can too. Slytherins are a rotten bunch and they can hex me all they like, I won't be ashamed of standing up for a friend."

His cockiness was suffocating — and why would she lock kids in ovens? He belonged in St Mungo's, for sure. "That was me being nice," she insisted, a little offended. "I highly doubt you could take on an older student and drawing that much attention to yourself is painting a target on your back."

"Watch me," he smirked, a list of pranks already crumpled in his robe pockets.

     Her blood was still boiling by the time McGonagall called for, "Fawley, Juliet!"

     When she took to the stool, the overly large hat dropped over her eyes and she waited, half-expecting to be declared a Slytherin the second it grazed her head. Yet, a voice in her head appeared, deliberating the young girl's merits. "Hmm," it murmured, "I sense a great deal of bravery in you, but you're so afraid of your potential. You need someone to push you in the right direction."

     I'm not a bloody Gryffindor, she thought bitterly.

     "Ah, no, you're most certainly not," the hat agreed. "Not a Hufflepuff from that kind of impatience either. Ravenclaw could be a good fit, perhaps, I sense you have a sharp wit and find pleasure in knowledge."

     But I don't seek it out, she rebuked. In an effort to sway the hat, she focused on the memory where she tricked her dad into buying her some sweets from Honeydukes without her mother knowing. I'm ambitious and cunning, really.

     "Resourceful too, trying to trick this old hat like that," it seemed amused at how she tried to manipulate the magic, "better be — SLYTHERIN!"

     A table adorned in green and silver cheered as she took a seat at the table, a sigh of relief escaping her lips. Potter, who was still in the line, met Juliet's bright eyes and tilted his head, curious. At this action, she lifted her chin a little bit higher, proud of the green on her robes. But, Potter ended up being equally as proud of the red and gold he adorned on his own. From that moment, they became part of two rival houses — both alike in dignity — and enemies in a petty school war. But, there were far worse wars ahead.

Fate may have wanted to keep them apart, but James Potter didn't listen to anyone. Not even fate. 

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A.N: The next chapter will be picking up from sixth year and that's when things can really get interesting, but I always like to read the Sorting and get a vibe for the character from the start. We'll be able to see if and how Juliet's blood purity opinions have changed. This is based loosely on Romeo & Juliet, so expect each chapter to be titled after a quote too.  As someone who never wrote Harry Potter fanfiction before, I'm a little nervous, but hope you'll all stick it out for Juliet and James.