A/N: I own nothing in this story except for my OCs. The Harry Potter universe belongs to J.K. Rowling, not me.

This is my first fanfic, thought I'd give it a try.

Chapter 1

September 1st was as normal as any other day could be. That was, normal for everyone other than the witches and wizards of Great Britain. For them, it was the start of a new term at Hogwarts.

"Mum! Why can't I go?" Ten-year-old Magnus Greystaff tugged on the sleeve of his mother. He was short for his age, with messy brown hair that covered his hazel eyes, which were currently busy watching his sister push a trolley with her trunk and owl.

Mrs Amalthea Greystaff looked down to her son and chuckled. He had inherited her impatience and short stature, but not her golden curls and stormy eyes. Magnus' looks could be attributed to her husband, Mr Prometheus Greystaff, who looked almost identical to his son. "Magnus," she said, "you're only ten. Alex is already eleven and can attend school." Upon seeing his crestfallen face however, she quickly added, "You'll be able to go next year, Magnus."

The family made their way across the platform, towards the ticket barrier between platforms nine and ten. "Remember what I said Alex," Mr Greystaff said just as they stopped. "Don't be afraid. Just head towards the barrier, and go at a run if you're nervous." The ginger girl nodded, and started running. For a moment, it seemed like she would collide with the wall, but she instead disappeared into it. The rest of the family followed, and they emerged onto the platform.

A scarlet steam engine stood next to the bustling platform. A sign above read Hogwarts Express and an iron archway stood where the ticket barrier ought have been. Everywhere you looked, there were parents saying goodbye to children who promised to write during the school year, friends catching up on the summer, and cats and owls looking onto the scene as trunks and other possessions were moved around.

The family of four stood on the platform, the two children gazing on in amazement at the scene before them. Magnus turned to his older sister. "Promise you'll write to me?"

"Of course!" replied Alex. "You're my favourite brother."

"I'm you're only brother."

"I know. And boy, I'm gonna miss you, little bro. C'mere." Alex bent down and pulled him into a hug. "I'll write to you as much as I can Magnus. Twice a day if you want me to. Good?"

"Yeah." His eyes started to glisten as Alex pulled away from the hug.

"Hey," she said, her voice softening. "Don't cry Magnus. I'll be home for Christmas! Meantime, I'll write to you." Her brother sniffled and nodded.

Their parents, who had been watching the exchange between the siblings, started to make their way over. "You better make your way onto the train before it leaves without you."

"I know, dad. I'll write to you two also."

"I'll be expecting your letters Alex."

Mrs Greystaff, who had been silent the whole time started to speak. "Be good Alex! Don't be ashamed of who you are, and know that your father and I will always support you. And remember, if you need anything, just owl us."

"Thanks mum." Alex smiled as she picked up her trunk and cage. A whistle suddenly sounded.

"Hurry on Alex!" cried her mother.

She started to head towards the train and glanced back to her family. They were all waving goodbye at her as she clambered onto the train. Alex had barely got on when the train started to move. "Remember, make new friends and be nice to people. No boyfriends!" her mother called after her.

"I'll be fine mum. I promise. I'll see you in winter," she shouted to her. She watched as Magnus ran after the train until there was no more platform left to do so. Soon, she could no longer see him.

The bustling and laughing on the train reminded her where she was as she suddenly realized she didn't have a compartment. Alex walked down the corridor, glancing into every compartment she passed. But all were full.

She had nearly given up hope when she spotted one nearly empty compartment. The sole occupant was a boy, a first year like her. He had cropped blonde hair and bright blue eyes. "Can I sit here?" Alex questioned. "Everywhere else is taken."

Startled, he looked up to see her standing awkwardly in the doorway. "Of course," he replied. "I'm Nick." She seated herself across from him, shoving her trunk away as she did.

"I'm Alex. It's short for Alexandria."

Silence dominated their compartment. "Are you a Weasley?" he asked, finally gathering the courage to talk to her. Alex cocked her head to the side, as if asking him to clarify. "I mean you have ginger hair, and I thought-"

She interrupted him before he could say any more. "Oh! It's ginger? Must have done that wrong, sorry. Hold on." Alex screwed her eyes up as if trying to remember something long forgotten. Suddenly, her hair became short, barely below her ears, and was no longer ginger. Instead, it was a black as dark as midnight, and her eyes were a piercing gold. "That's much better," she exclaimed, looking at her reflection in the window.

"Wow! How do you do that?" Nick's blue eyes sparkled with curiosity as he gazed on in wonder.

"I'm a metamorphmagus. That means I can change my appearance at will," Alex replied, amused by the wonder evident in his face.

"Can I be one?"

"Sorry. We're rare because we are born with this. You can't learn it or anything like that." Nick's face fell, but before she had a chance to say something, their compartment door opened, revealing a girl with bushy brown hair and large front teeth.

"Have any of you seen a toad?" Her voice was bossy as she asked them this. Both shook their heads. "Oh well. Neville lost his and I'm helping him look for it. I'm Hermione Granger, by the way."

"Nick."

"Alex."

"Well, I better get going. Tell me if you see a toad. Pleasure meeting you," Hermione said, already opening the door. She left, leaving them in silence. Alex opened her mouth to speak, but the compartment door opened yet again. This time, it wasn't Hermione. Instead, a pale blonde boy stood in the doorway, flanked by two larger, unpleasant looking boys.

"Can we help you with something?" Nick asked, glancing at the three boys.

"Is it true that you're Harry Potter?" the pale boy asked, a slight interest shown on his face.

"I think you've got the wrong compartment," Alex told him. She frowned and tried to rack her brains. The blonde boy seemed familiar.

"These two," he said, gesturing behind him, "are Crabbe and Goyle. I'm Draco, Draco Malfoy." Alex suddenly knew why his name was so familiar. His family was one of the many pure-blooded families that had supported You-Know-Who.

Nick didn't notice all the thoughts going through her head. "I'm Nick Holloway," he said, introducing himself.

His introduction shook Alex out of her thoughts, and she quickly did the same. "I'm Alex Greystaff." A spark of recognition came into Draco Malfoy's eyes.

"You're from one of the old pure-blood families aren't you?" he said. "You can certainly do better than his company. I can help with making friends with the right sort of wizards."

"I think I'll be fine without your help," Alex said, staring him down as she did so. "You should leave now."

"I don't think we'll be doing any such thing. Will we boys?" He looked towards Crabbe and Goyle, and they both shook their heads. Alex screwed up her eyes in concentration. She grew taller and her golden eyes intimidating. Malfoy visibly gulped. "We'll be leaving now!" he squeaked, already out of the compartment. As soon as they left, Alex reverted back to her normal height, and her eyes softened.

"Thanks," Nick quietly said, not looking at her.

"For what?"

"For not leaving me once you realized I was muggle-born."

Alex laughed. "You clearly don't know me if you think I'm not going to be friends with you just because of that." She cracked a grin, which Nick returned.

"So, what's your family like?" Nick asked, finally deciding that he liked Alex.

"My mum and dad are both wizards. Mum was in Ravenclaw and dad was in Gryffindor. I've got a younger brother, Magnus. He can be annoying sometimes, but most of the time he's pretty sweet. My grandmother on my dad's side was a metamorphmagus. What about your family?" Alex had as much interest in his family as he had in hers. He was the first friend she had made that was her own age. Most of her other friends were at least two years older.

"I have an older brother, Thomas, in Gryffindor, so it was much of a surprise when my letter came. My dad is a policeman, and my mum is a teacher. They want me to be in Gryffindor like my brother, but I don't know what house I want to be in. Do you?"

"Nah," she said with a grin. "I have a feeling grandfather would be disappointed if I didn't get into Ravenclaw though. He says I have the brains, but I'm fine with any house."

They talked for a while. Alex taught Nick about quidditch, and he taught her about football. Time passed, and it was soon half-past twelve. A smiling woman opened their compartment door. "Anything off the cart, dears?" she asked. Both occupants jumped up. They bought Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, Chocolate Frogs, and Cauldron Cakes.

They were having a great time swapping stories and Chocolate Frog cards, trying different flavours of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, and laughing at each other's antics. Soon, it was dark outside and the train became slowing down. They swapped their muggle jackets in favour of their black robes. The train came completely to a stop, and they looked at each other.

"Friends?"

"Friends."

A/N: Like I said, this is my first fanfic. Reviews would be deeply appreciated. Not that you HAVE to leave one, but it would be nice.