Disclaimer: I own no one but Loren. The rest are owned by J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros.

Chapter One

"Excuse me, can I sit in here? All the others are full," a young girl, no more than 11, asked. She was on a train headed to school.

"Sure, come in," the boy, around the same age as her, said.

The girl walked in and sat on the seat across from the boy. She had long, wavy dark blonde hair and bright blue eyes. The boy had light brown hair and blue eyes as well.

"I'm Seamus, by the way. Seamus Finnigan," the boy, Seamus as she now knew, said. He extended his hand.

"Loren Samuels," she replied, shaking his hand.

"When did you get your letter?" Seamus wondered.

"End of July. You?"
"Same time."

"I didn't expect it! I didn't even know I was a witch!" When Loren said that she was a witch, it came as no surprise to Seamus. He was one as well; well, a wizard actually. Everyone on the train was one or the other, and the school they were on their way to was Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

"There was questioning about whether I would be one. My dad's a muggle, but my mum's a witch. So it could've gone either way."

"What's your accent? Scottish?"

"Irish," he answered, rather annoyed.

"Sorry. I've just never heard it before. I've never been out of America."

"America?" Seamus seemed shocked. "I thought you sounded strange! I've never been there! What's it like?"

The two talked and talked all during the ride. Finally they arrived. The joined the other First Years in boats that they rode up to the castle itself. When it was in full view, Loren and Seamus, who were in the same boat, looked to each other in awe. Their jaws stayed dropped when they got inside and looked around at everything. The surprises didn't stop there. They were all gathered on a large stairwell when someone said loudly, "Looks like Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts." A murmur spread through the group. Even Seamus and Loren, who both had at least one muggle parent, knew about Harry Potter. They looked all around for him, but couldn't find him in the crowd. Before they had time to ask any questions, they were led into the Great Hall by Professor McGonagall.

They were about to be sorted into Houses. Loren and Seamus were hoping to be in the same one, as they had become friends during the trip, and they only knew each other.

McGonagall went in alphabetical order; so Seamus was first of the two. He was placed in Gryffindor. Then came a girl named Hermione Granger. Also Gryffindor. Then, the boy who had announced Harry Potter's presence, Draco Malfoy was put into Slytherin. Then was the famous Harry Potter. The Gryffindor table was deafening when he was sorted into their House.

Later in the alphabet was Loren. She got onto the stool and had the Sorting Hat placed on her head. After some thinking, the hat announced, "Hufflepuff!" The Hufflepuff table applauded and cheered. Loren was happy to be in a House at Hogwarts, but she couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed that she wasn't with Seamus.

Closer to the end of the alphabet was a boy named Ron Weasley; Gryffindor.

Being in two separate Houses didn't stop Seamus and Loren from being friends. Over time they became very close and tried to spend as much time together as they could. They even gave each other their House passwords so they could meet in each other's common rooms.

They were now in their Fourth Year. As Seamus lived in Ireland, and Loren had moved to England to live with her grandmother, they saw very little of each other during the summer. So they were both very excited to be getting back to Hogwarts.

On September 1st Loren's grandmother drove her to King's Cross.

"So dear, you have everything you need? Your books? Wand? Broom?"

"Yes Grandma, I have everything," Loren answered. Her grandmother was a witch as well, so her parents felt it right that she should live with her during her time at Hogwarts.

"What about Lucy's food?"
"What, you think I'm gonna let her starve?" Lucy was Loren's cat that she had gotten her second year. Loren looked back at her pet that was in the backseat in a carrier. She was small and gray with green eyes.

Finally, they arrived at the station. Loren practically leapt out of the car as soon as it had stopped. She quickly helped her grandmother put all her belongings onto a trolley and went in.

To get to the platform for the Hogwarts Express, Platform 9 ¾, she had to run into the barrier between Platforms 9 and 10. She had been scared to do it her first couple years, but now it was normal. He grandmother followed right after her.

As she loaded her luggage on, she heard a familiar voice call out, "Loren!"

She whipped her head around and saw her best friend Seamus standing a couple yards away. A huge smile grew on her face and she ran to him. They collided and wrapped their arms tightly around each other. They stayed like that for a few moments, then pulled apart, still smiling.

"I missed you so much!" Loren exclaimed, putting her arm around his shoulders. Seamus put his arm around her waist and they started to the train door.

"Then how come you only sent half the letters you did last summer?" Seamus asked, with a fake offended tone.

"Sorry, I was working."

"Like, a job?"
"Not like a job job, but I had to make money. So I was doing a lot of babysitting."

They climbed onto the train and made their way into a compartment.

"So is the babysitting why you couldn't come with me and Dean to the Quidditch World Cup?"

"That, plus my parents came to visit that same weekend and I haven't actually seen them in person since last summer."

"Well, I saw the Weasleys there and Percy was going on and on about some top secret event that's happening at Hogwarts this year."
"Really? Did he say what it is?"

"Nothing. Now I'm even more excited to get back."

First chapter. What do you think? Please no hate in the reviews.