Chapter One: Winter The carriage ride to Platform 9 3/4 was a long and tedious ride. My mother whose long silvery hair was blowing into my face, sat next to me discussing the education I would be receiving at my new school, Hogwarts, with my uncle, Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster at Hogwarts. Their long discussions of their old days at Hogwarts gave me no interest of where I would be going. I only thought, why did I have to go to Hogwarts? Before my father died when I was just turning nine in the winter, he put me in a pre-education school at Durmstang since I was seven, I have been taught by various professors, simple level one and two spells, mainly, daily spells that would be used in daily life. I was just doing fine at Durmstang. Now I am to go to Hogwarts. My mother forced me to go... "Winter Allison Sarah McKnight, you will go to Hogwarts and that's FINAL!" I remember her yelling at me. It was her school, not mine. I wanted to go to my father's school. My school, Durmstang.My mother shook me out of my train of thought. "Honey, we're here!" she exclaimed. ":We're at Platform 9 3/4! One of the many steps to Hogwarts! Oh, you're going to love it there!" I tried to smile. "Hurray..." I said sadly. I looked outside my window. This is my future and I have to live with it. "I hope you enjoy your stay at Hogwarts, Winter," my uncle said from across the seat. I nodded as a reply. "If you are unhappy, I could make some arrangements for you. "Thank you, uncle," I said to him with awe. He was the only one that knew how I felt. The carriage pulled to a stop in the drop off zone. The ghostly driver opened the door on my mother's side. She exited with Uncle Albus. I sighed, grabbed my book bag and left. The platform was filled with young witches and wizards loading their things as well as departing form their parents. My uncle summoned one of the train men to load my things onto the train. My mother went to talk to other mothers who were departing from their children."Winter," my uncle called. "I hope you have a good train ride. I'll see you at the school.""Goodbye," I said. I waved a little to him hoisting my book bag onto my shoulder. He left me, disappearing into the crowed. My mother saw him leave and walked up to me."Winnie," she said, calling me by my pet name, "I really do wish you have a good time at Hogwarts like I did. I'll miss you and I know you'll miss me too." She pulled out a small box from her purse. "This is a special locket that will protect you wherever you go. A friend of mine gave it to me but you seem to need it now more than ever. Inside the locket you'll find a picture of father and I. Have a great time at school. I love you, Winnie." She gave me the box.I opened the box to find a heart shaped silver locket. "Oh, thank you, mommy!" I said. "I'll miss you, so much." I hugged her. soon we departed leaving me standing alone at the platform. I made my way near the walls of the platform, not ready to enter the train. I had plenty of time before the train left so I decided to examine the locket.Two snakes were etched into a heart. Who could have given this to mother if not father? But wait! Father's family crest are the white ravens. Who could have the crest of the snakes? I opened the locket to find a picture of my mother and father as my mother said it was. I closed the locket and sighed. Then I was given a big push from behind causing me to fall forward hitting my shoulder against a stone column."Hey!" a boy cried. I turned around to see my attacker. It was a boy around my height with platinum blonde hair and gray eyes. He looked at me. "Um, sorry."I stood up straight and rubbed my bruised arm. "It's okay.""But I hurt you," he said. He looked at me with concern."I'm fine, really," I said. I grasped the locket tightly."I'm Draco Malfoy," he introduced himself, "I just came through the portal. I didn't know you were standing there."I smiled. "It's okay, I understand. I'm Winter McKnight," Igreeted. I pocketed my new locket and grabbed my bag off the floor.Draco smiled. "Hey, um , do you want to sit with me in the train?" he asked.I nodded and gave him a smile. "Sure." We became friends then and there. My first friend at Hogwarts. We headed for the fourth cart of the train. On our way there, I tried to start a conversation with him but the loudness of the crowd made my voice disappear. "What!" Draco yelled."Never mind!" I yelled back."What!""Never mind!" I yelled back even louder.He grabbed my hand so we would not get separated. We entered the train and into an empty compartment. He sat next to the window putting his pack beside him. I sat across form him doing the same.Draco started to talk. "So tell me about yourself, Winter."We started talking and suddenly the door opened.