Notes:

I want to thank Sean and Philip for bunkering down and weathering this storm with me.

Without them there would be no new stories or updates.

This is my first attempt at a HP fiction, ever, so feel free to leave constructive criticism.

The story is going to be seventeen chapters and will be updated every Thursday and/or Sunday.

Disclaimer - The works and world of Harry Potter is the property of J.K. Rowling.

Platform Nine and Three-Quarters

Gorran, clad in what looked to be a child's knitted cardigan that reached well below his knees, surprisingly clean considering that he was a house-elf, scrambled through the clusters of Muggles criss-crossing all throughout the train station. He took extra care not to bump into any of them even though none of them would actually be able to see him, as Gorran for the moment was invisible and planned to stay that way till he reached his destination, so as not to cause a fuss.

A house-elf parading through Kings Cross on a Tuesday morning, the Muggles wouldn't know what to do with themselves and Gorran would put his family in trouble with the Ministry of Magic, simply the thought was enough to turn the creature's stomach, so he promptly hobbled down the platforms nine and ten.

Clutched tightly in his gnarled old hand was a train ticket, white with golden letters, he had mistakenly left it in the Muggle -.. Thingamabob… auto-mobile! - That had delivered them to the train station earlier, with his young mistress' nerves and accompanying horde of luggage, it had slipped his mind and the ticket had been left behind.

Staggering over his stunted old legs, Gorran finally reached the barrier between platforms nine and ten and in a blink, he had walked right through the brick walled barrier, the Muggles passing by none the wiser.

Coming out on the other end, a beautiful scarlet steam engine welcomed him, the sign overhead reading Hogwarts Express, 11 o'clock. Smoke drifting over the heads of witches and wizards, young and old crowding the platform, hoots from owls and the scrapping of trunks could be heard over the babbling masses as the house-elf, now fully visible, zigzagged his way through the dense forest of legs and sweeping robes.

'Excuse me, pardon me.' He apologized in a most respectful tone, bowing his head as he went along, careful not to bump into anyone or anything.

And there on the wooden and iron-wrought bench where he had left her, sitting with her ankles crossed modestly one over the other, hands folded neatly in her lap and with a straight back, sat Gorran's young mistress Lydia.

'Mistress, Gorran has it, mistress!' The elderly house-elf waved the ticket triumphantly over his head as he drew closer, the young girl looked up at hearing Gorran's voice and a small smile curved the corner of her tiny mouth. She stood up, straightening her cream bow blouse and ran a hand down her shamrock green high-waisted trousers, her blonde hair braided over one shoulder, looking quite impeccably dressed for such a young lady. No one would have guessed that this particular girl, with her immaculate clothing and hair had been brimming with nerves, clutching her portmanteau as if her life depended on it only ten minutes earlier.

Mrs Avery, the young lady's mother had sent a long letter of encouragement, only a few days prior, which Lydia had read and re-read till she knew the words by heart. Gorran could see the corner of said letter sticking out from the young mistresses trouser pocket as she stood to greet him, picking up her green bow messenger bag and cream crepe jacket, folding the later over her arm.

As the house-elf drew to a halt in front of his mistress, Lydia took the ticket from Gorran, looking him over fondly, noticing that he looked quite frazzled.

'There is still plenty of time, you needn't have strained yourself Gorran.' The clock above them showing a quarter to eleven.

'I have already found a compartment.'

Together they went over her things, making sure that nothing had been left behind or was missing, when duly satisfied that every article of clothing, every book and extra quill was in order, Gorran helped his young mistress with getting everything on-board the train.

While Gorran worked some of his own special brand of magic to get the several heavy portmanteaus stacked neatly on top of the young mistresses trunk, Lydia held on to her carry-on bag and was reprimanding Czar, a cinnamon coloured ferret and as so happened her pet. Czar had been a spontaneous gift from her older brother Devon whom had graduated Hogwarts that very year, being seven years her senior.

To cheer his sister up, as she had been quite disappointed knowing they would never attend Hogwarts together, Devon had presented Lydia with a fuzzy baby ferret during the summer after he had returned home. The pair had bonded instantly and to Gorran's chagrin, the ferret even slept in the young mistresses bed like a perfect little angel. That is not to say that the little rascal never disobeyed, quite the contrary, Czar quite seemed to enjoy causing trouble and Lydia put up with his folly – for the most part.

It was one thing to put up with Czar going bonkers once in awhile at home, jumping and running around or hoarding mothers silverware in some remote corner of the house. Quite another when he disappeared on a crowded platform in the middle of London, luckily he'd reappeared soon enough munching on some unwary spider he'd caught.

'Now behave yourself, or I will have no other choice than to put you back in your cage Czar.' In response the ferret made a sort of chortling noise as he curled himself around Lydia's shoulders, pressing himself against her neck, innocent as can be – The little imp.

Knowing full well when she was beat, Lydia chose to ignore the ferret and walked on to the train, heading for the empty compartment she had scoped out earlier at the back. On her way there she had to press herself up against a wall as two girls ran past in the corridor, luckily Lydia didn't take up much room and could easily squeeze past, jacket, bag, ferret and all.

When everything was settled in the compartment Gorran stood there looking a bit lost, rubbing his gnarled old hands together and staring at the carpet, big fat tears forming in his eyes. Lydia herself could feel a lump in her throat and the nerves from before were making a reappearance, setting down her bag and jacket on the seat closest to the door she squatted down to an eye level with the house-elf.

'I will miss you..' She said, looking her tender age of eleven, a child going away for the first time. At times it was easy to forget that Lydia was so young because she carried herself like an adult, had for quite a few years now.

'Gorran shall miss the young mistress something terrible. If... if she could perhaps.. not to interfere with school and and.. letters to young master Devon or Mistress Avery, perhaps.. she could send a letter to Gorran once.. once in awhile?' The elderly house-elf looked up from the carpet and wiped away a tear with the sleeve of his cardigan, his large eyes hopeful.

He did not look forward to returning home to the empty Avery family home now that Lydia would be away at school, with young master Devon away for his internship and Mistress Avery hospitalized at St Mungo's, as she had been for some time. It would be so dreadfully empty for the coming year as Mrs Avery had sent a letter ahead of Lydia to Hogwarts, asking that Lydia remained at school during holidays.

'Of course I will write you Gorran, every week, same as mother and Devon. I promise.' Lydia smiled gently, her own green eyes cloudy with tears.

'Young mistress is very kind to Gorran, he shall drop by and inform Mistress Avery at St Mungo's after he's seen young mistress off.' Taking Lydia's hand between his own he gave hers an affectionate pat before turning and as quickly as his stunted old legs could carry him, hobbled away.

Lydia stood alone in the compartment, well not entirely alone, Czar nuzzled his whiskers against her neck comfortingly before he went back to his nap. With a deep breath the young girl shook off her nerves and walked over to fold her jacket neatly over her green bag, she didn't want it to become wrinkled even though it would be a while before she could wear it again.

-o0o-

School rules were as follows, all students attending Hogwarts were required to wear the school uniform, which in this case consisted of a plain white buttoned shirt, your house-tie, a charcoal grey knitted v-neck jumper, a cardigan or a sleeveless jumper, for Lydia she would be wearing a plaid skirt with stockings or tights, plain black shoes, a black silver fastened work robe and a black pointed hat.

If Devon was to be believed, once all the students had been sorted into their houses, their clothes would magically transform, adding the house colours on their ties, jumpers and the emblem of your house on all three sets of the black robes. Lydia doubted it just... magically happened, she knew that Hogwarts, like all wizarding schools around the world employed house-elfs to work the kitchens, the laundry and whatever else needed tending to in a large scale castle such as Hogwarts, and it was far more probable that they were responsible for the students change of wardrobe.

She had also been informed that during the evenings if they were in their own common room, or weekends and holidays (for those that choose to remain at school for whatever reason) students were allowed to wear their own clothes, if they had no further classes to attend. So Lydia, on the incentive of Mrs Avery, packed almost her entire wardrobe from home, her mother often telling her that a lady never knew what she might need.

There were of course other items Lydia as a first year had to bring with her, books being the most important in her mind, so it had been a great disappointment to her when she'd spotted some of Gilderoy Lockharts books being required for the school year. Lydia had received one of his books as a Christmas gift the previous year and it had left her repulsed, she very much doubted that the rest of them could hold any sort of educational usefulness.

Thankfully there were other books that held far more valuable information, such as Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi and because Lydia had refused to leave the shop without it, The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection.

Lydia had crossed them off her list while shopping in Diagon Alley a fortnight ago with her brother Devon, he had tugged her around all over the place to get everything on the list of required textbooks and materials for the school year.

When it had been time for Madam Malkin's, Devon had told the mauve dressed witch that they wouldn't be needing any gloves, making Lydia frown as it had been one of the specifically mentioned items on the list of things she needed. Not wanting to cause a scene in the shop Lydia hadn't argued and stayed silent while Madam Malkin took her measurements, it wasn't until they were out on the street again, Devon burdened down with yet another package, that she voiced her concern.

'It specifically states that I am to bring one pair of protective gloves, dragon hide or similar.' She had read off of her list.

Devon had only smiled and told her that she had to wait till they returned home, he'd put her mind off the subject rather quickly by telling her they'd go by Ollivanders for her wand next.

Mr Ollivanders had greeted Devon by name as they'd entered his shop, he was well known to remember every wand he'd ever sold, and sized Lydia up where she stood while a measuring tape took her measurements, before dashing around his shop in search for the right wand.

Devon himself carried a wand made of Beech with Raven feather whilst their mothers wand was made of English Oak with Phoenix feather at the core, Mr Ollivanders had informed them, and her father.. The elderly man had paused there and looked at the two siblings standing in his shop, his silver eyes glistening in the dim light.

'Well, your father.. Blackthorn and Lethifold fur if I recall, mhm.. I didn't sell that particular wand myself but... yes..' Mr Ollivanders had smiled at Lydia and told her in his soft voice. 'I sense something quite different for you young lady.'

In the end it had been a wand of Rowan and Dragon heart-string at the core that chose Lydia, twelve and three quarter inches, surprisingly swishy. She had gripped it firmly and felt a warmth spread through her as rapid as a flame and she'd smiled then, even though her father had been brought up in conversation, she'd smiled because she knew she was different, a Rowan wand with Dragon heart-string had chosen her.

When they had returned home, Devon had pulled her aside as Gorran had taken all the packages and items up to her room, books wrapped in brown paper and string, packages of parchment, quills and ink, a splendid copper cauldron and a new cage for Czar, her ferret, just to mention a few. The house-elf having no trouble with the task, using his own special brand of magic to get every item up in the air and following him obediently up the stairs, all in a neat line.

Her brother had waited till Gorran was out of sight before he'd winked and handed her a pair of greyish purple gloves he'd had hidden, saying how they had belonged to their grandfather Nott, Mrs Averys father.

Their mother had sometimes told her children of her side of the family, and Grandfather Nott was well favoured, he had had a very good hand with all manner of beasts. In his early years he had even owned a small farmhouse in Hogsmeade. Mrs Avery had had an older brother as well, but she didn't like to speak of him, it always made her sad and so Devon and Lydia usually avoided the topic of their mothers extended family.

'A lot better than Dragonskin if you ask me and you've always said how you like purple.' Devon had teased as she'd pulled the beautiful gloves on, inspecting them and finding to her surprise that they fit perfectly, so even though Devon had teased her, Lydia frankly didn't mind and had flung her arms around her brother, hugging him tightly while he'd laughed and pretended to choke.

-o0o-

A whistle sounded and Lydia quickly sat down, not wanting to be jarred and stumble by the train setting in motion, she sat down closest to the window as her bag and jacket took up the seat closest to the door and looked out on the platform at parents and siblings saying their goodbyes. She could even see two students hanging out from a window, kissing their mother goodbye, all of them with red hair. The mother looked quite distressed however and she kept looking back towards the entrance of the platform where a tall, balding man with the same red hair stood with his wand out, mumbling to himself, a small crowd having gathered around him.

Had something happened to the entrance?

Her thoughts were quickly interrupted however when the door to the compartment slid open and a brown haired boy with an olive-complexion tucked in his head. 'Seats taken?' He asked in a mild accent she couldn't place, Lydia shook her head, tongue-tied with nerves for the seventy-eight time that day.

The boy didn't seem to have noticed however because his chubby face split into a smile and proceeded to push the door all the way open before squeezing through, he was a rather large boy with thick eyebrows and dark eyes. In tow came another boy, this one with wild wavy black hair, half the size of the first boy and skin dark as chocolate with brilliant blue eyes. They were both dressed in Muggle clothes, the larger boy had on an ill fitting tee and baggy jeans while the black haired boy had on a jersey of some sort with the word Arsenal written across his chest.

Before Lydia had managed to get her tongue sorted and introduced herself, as was only proper, the boys were already buried deep in a conversation about something called... football, paying her no mind.

Must be a Muggle sport.

The door had slammed shut behind them and while the compartment was pretty soundproof you could still hear people walking past on the other side, two voices drew her attention and when she spotted who they belonged too through the glass, the red-headed twin boys from before, Lydia all but pressed her ear to the glass..

'Long as they get out.' One of them said.

'Think, being stuck there for hours... days-' Said the other.

'Weeks!' They both chorused, followed by splitting grins. 'Wicked.'

Lydia didn't catch much more of their conversation only that apparently it was just like.. someone called Ron, to get into the most unique set of troubles. As the twins walked past she nibbled on her bottom lip, what if Gorran was stuck on the platform as well? Mother would start to worry if she didn't hear from him, Mrs Avery knew the train departed at eleven o'clock sharp and would be expecting him soon after.

Try as she might to come to a logical solution Lydia still worried, Gorran was after all a magical being, it was possible that he could just transport himself off the platform, she'd seen him do it plenty of times around the house, house-elfs were in no need of floo powder to get from one place to another. Then again, if the red-headed balding wizard had been trying magic, seeing as he had had his wand out, it didn't seem to have worked and so the worrying feeling in the pit of her stomach wouldn't go away and stayed with her for the rest of the afternoon.

Around midday a smiling, dimpled woman slid open their door and asked if they wanted anything off the trolley, the brown haired boy purchased some Bertie Bott's Every-Flavour beans while the black haired boy wanted pumpkin juice and cauldron cakes, to which Lydia wrinkled her nose, she couldn't stand pumpkin juice.

'Anything sweet for you dear?' The squat old witch asked Lydia kindly.

'Three chocolate frogs, please.'

Maybe I'll get Indira Choudry or Babayaga the Hag this time.

After paying the trolley lady and unluckily getting three cards she already had, Lydia went back to the blueish-grey book she'd pulled out from her bag for some light reading during the journey, it was one of the books on her supply list – Magical Theory. She found it quite a fascinating read and found it hard to put down while the train charged along and the two boys different discussions hummed in the background, they had now gone from discussing that thing called Football to apparent players for different teams.

She was only half listening when an odd shrill sound made her look up from her book, it sounded like a.. she couldn't exactly place it, the boys hadn't seemed to notice but by chance Lydia looked out through the window just in time to see a... flying blue vehicle of some sort up in the clouds.

Have I gone stark raving mad?

Blinking, not believing what she was seeing, Lydia closed her book and scooted closer to the window and there it was. Floating alongside the train was a pale blue auto-mobile of all things, it didn't stay in eyesight for long though as it reared up through the clouds a few minutes later.

Living in a world filled with magic you were prepared for most things, sweets that mimicked frogs, dogs with two tails and even Ashwinders, which were serpent like creatures born from dying embers in a witches or wizards fireplace. Then every once in awhile something crossed your path that made you question your sanity, flying vehicles being one of them. The only object that belonged up in the air as far as Lydia was concerned were brooms.

Tearing herself away from the window, as she could no longer distinguish anything up in the deep-purple sky, auto-mobile or otherwise, she could only see the mountains and forests the train passed by and so Lydia went back to her book though she found it harder to focus on its content.

Not long after, Lydia had barely had time to read through a chapter of her book, an older student already dressed in her uniform with light brown curls tumbling down her shoulders, with the green and silver Slytherin emblem on her robe, slid open the door telling them that they'd better get dressed as the train was nearly there and would be arriving at Hogsmeade Station shortly.

'And leave your luggage and pets, it will all be taken to the school for you.' True to her word, as the Slytherin girl had closed the door to their compartment and was walking away a voice rang out through the train.

'We will be reaching Hogsmeade station in five minutes time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately.'

It was all a bit of a rush after that, the boys she had shared the compartment with said goodbye to her, the brown haired boy even giving her a wave, which she returned, it was only polite, the ride could have been a lot worse Lydia told herself.

As she opened her bag and started unfolding her school uniform something silver caught her eye and Lydia smiled, it was her favourite hairpin, though it belonged to her mother. Gorran must have packed it for her because she had left it behind as they were leaving, not wanting to take one of Mrs Avery's jewellery-pieces with her without having asked.

Doubting she'd have time to fix her hair and change wardrobe Lydia tucked the hairpin in one of the front pockets of her robe, telling herself not to forget it was there, before dashing out of the compartment to dress in her school clothes for the very first time.

It is all going rather smoothly.

Czar however, as she had already know he would, refused to be left behind, when she tried to get him in to his cage he crawled under the sleeve of her robe and scaled her arm up to her neck, peaking out defiantly under the collar. In the end Lydia ran out of time, hearing the doors to the train open, and tucked Czar in to one of the hidden pockets on the inside of her robe and told him to stay put or she'd give him nothing but slugs to eat for a month – Czar hated slugs.

He did make her robe bulk out slightly but not too plainly and then as she was huddled with the rest of the students on their way out of the train, no one would be able to tell she had a ferret hidden in her pocket. Moving with the crowed Lydia stepped out on to a tiny, dark platform, the chilly night air hit her face and hands the moment she stepped outside and she quickly tucked her hands in to the folds of her robe, which thankfully was warm and comfortable.

A large lamp came in to view and a booming voice ran out over the heads of the students gathered outside the train.

'Firs'-years! Firs'-years over here! Mind yer step!' The voice belonged to a giant of a man, dressed in a black overcoat and a face almost completely covered by a long, shaggy mane of hair and a wild, tangled beard. Because of the light from the lamp the giant was holding, Lydia could make out his eyes, glinting like a pair of black onyxes.

C'mon any more firs'-years? A'right then, follow me! Mind yer step now!'

Slipping and stumbling, all the first-years, Lydia included, followed the giant with the only visible light-source down a steep narrow path, there were thickets on either side of the path and Lydia couldn't make out anything other than a branch poking out here and there with a handful of leafs. While they were walking she could see some of her fellow students having opted for simply pulling their robes over the clothes they had been wearing previously, the brown haired boy she'd shared the train ride with being one of them.

They had only a short distance to go, according to the giant when the girl behind Lydia suddenly fell forward, having caught her toes on one of the roots that snaked across the path and braced her hands on Lydia's back, pushing her forward in to the boy that walked in front of them both.

Receiving a dirty look from the boy, Lydia glared right back at him before looking over her shoulder at the girl that had accidentally pushed her, the girl in question had managed to straighten herself up and meeting Lydia's eyes, started whispering one apology after the other.

The girl was very pretty with dark caramel skin and large brown eyes, her curly hair had the colour of warm honey and reached just below her shoulders.

'There's no need to apologize, are you all right?' She wasn't about to badger the girl for tripping, it could have happened to anyone.

'Yeah, fine and dandy. Can't believe I tripped though.' Blushing, the girl began dusting off the hem of her robe.

'Well, at least you're back on your feet and not tumbling down in to the lake.' Lydia commented and smiled as the girl looked up, looking like death warmed up.

'Oh gosh.. that would have been terrible, wouldn't it. Having to walk in front of all those people soaking wet!' The girl had a heavy Welsh accent and Lydia couldn't hold it back any longer, the girls expression and the high pitch her voice had taken at the possibility of falling in the lake made Lydia burst out laughing and the Welsh girl soon joined in. The pair of them walked down the rest of the path with careful steps, clutching their sides while giggling under their breaths.

'I'm Amanda by the way.'

'Lydia.' They exchanged fond smiles and somewhat awkwardly shook hands as they walked.

'Are you sure you are a-...' Lydia stopped and stared.

There was a loud 'Ooooh' amongst the first-years as the narrow path had opened up at the edge of the great black lake. Perched high on a mountain on the other side of the lake was Hogwarts, its windows sparkling like stars on the night sky, the castle vast with more turrets and towers than Lydia could count.

'No more'n four to a boat!' Boomed the giants voice and Lydia noticed the fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore and as the first-years started clambering in she looked over at Amanda and raised an eyebrow, to which the girl smiled and gave a nod.

They both pursued the same boat and were accompanied by two twin girls, who looked vaguely familiar to Lydia. They both had straight brown hair, parted to one side with identical green bows in their hair and long narrow faces.

'Everyone in?' The giant shouted, seated in a boat by himself. 'Right then – FORWARD!'

The fleet of boats moved off all at once gliding across the water, which was smooth as glass, the brightly lit windows of the castle reflected in the dark surface of the lake. Everyone was in silent awe, staring up at the great castle overhead, it towered over them as they sailed nearer to the cliffs it stood on.

'Heads down!'

They all bent their heads and the boats carried them through curtains of vegetation and seaweed which led them in to a wide opening in the cliff face. Forward the boats went along the dark tunnel until they reached what looked like a harbour carved out from the very rock cavern, lit by torches. There they had to climb out on to rocks and pebbles as the giant kept an eye on them and when everyone was out of the boats, they slowly started to drift out the way they'd come.

Following the giant as he started to lumber on they clambered up a passageway of steps, these also carved right out of the rock, winding up the cliff wall to at last end and the first-years came out on smooth, damp grass in the shadow of the castle. Together they walked through a courtyard of sorts and then up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, oak front door.

'Everyone here? Right then.' The giant raised his gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.

xXx

The first chapters are going to be reminiscent of the books, mainly because I doubt the first-years experiences every year differ from one another on a larger scale. They attend a school which is set on rules and traditions spanning back many years, classes and surroundings are bound to be familiar.

Can anyone guess which house our girl will be sorted into...?