Diclaimer: I do not own Harry potter or any of the places/characters/plot etc etc.

The character, Lawson William Daley is of my own making although he has appeared in another users fanfiction with permission from me. I didn't steal him, I was the one who created him.

Part One

There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.

~William Shakespeare, Hamlet

There were people everywhere, always moving as the smoke from the trains washed through the air along with the scents of rubbish and sweat. A small but muscled looking child with dark curly hair and piercing blue eyes wandered aimlessly around platforms 9 and 10, checking his ticket every now and then in a feeble hope that the numbers would somehow change. Lawson looked down once more his faint hope was crushed as the now crumpled ticket still proclaimed "platform 9¾".

He sighed, heading to a space near the wall where he could rest without being crushed by the people bustling about. Why did I think it would change anything He thought as the memory of his mother leaving washed over him I'm still a freak. He reached the spare patch of wall he had spied, clutching his battered trunk that contained his meagre belongings, secondhand robes a couple of battered school books he'd managed to get cheaply and various other belongings his new school required him to take. I was going to fit in, I was going to belong… but it was all just a stupid dream, a joke ending in a ticket to a train that had no platform.

And then, as he leaned against the wall that was situated between the platforms 9 and 10, he fell through it. Straight through and onto his backside. Ouch he though as he glanced around to see a group of girls giggling at him. As his faced turned a bright red he quickly scrambled up and took in his surroundings. The platform that he had accidently come across was filled with families bidding goodbye to teenagers of all ages. But the thing that had captured Lawson's attention was the sign proclaiming PLATFORM 9¾ . I've made it He thought proudly as he scrambled onto the departing train with a beaming smile.

The train was quite crowded and for most part all the compartments were full. A few late comers were wandering along, looking for somewhere to sit, just as Lawson was, whilst everyone else hung out the windows and shouted last minute goodbyes to their families as the train began to pull out of the station. Lawson passed compartment after compartment of friends laughing and talking, some older ones crying as they were reunited after being apart for the whole summer. He felt distanced, as if he were watching a movie, as hope and fear washed over him making him momentarily forget the loneliness and rejection he felt.

"What are you staring at short ass" someone in the compartment in front of him sneered.

Lawson refocused, realizing that he had unknowingly been staring. Taking in the scene he saw two boys, both with light brown hair and deep brown eyes sitting opposite each other. They looked to be related although one was clearly older, looking to be about 16 whilst the other around 14, and appeared to have a more stuck up attitude. Next to the younger boy was a younger girl who looked to be about 11, the same age as Lawson, with shoulder length spikey brown hair and soft grey eyes.

All three were staring at him as the older one said "I said what are you staring at short ass" and stood up angrily.

He's big but clumsy and in this small space I could easily take him Thought Lawson as he recalled fighting boys like him back in old school. Muggle school Lawson corrected himself as he recalled being told that's was non-magic folk were called.

"sorry" Lawson muttered as he began to turn away "I just can't find anywhere to sit".

"What about sitting with us?" the girl said with a grin. "I'm Evelyn and these are my infamous brothers Connor-" she nodded to the younger one "and Darcy" she said indicating the older one who was still standing.

"Darcy sit down, he's obviously not here to poke fun at us, by the looks of it he doesn't even know who we are." Connor turned and winked at Lawson "Connor O'Donnell Malfoy, pureblood, at your service" he said as he gave a little bow.

Is being a pureblood good? thought Lawson as he said "Lawson William Daley, what's a pureblood?". The three Malfoy's froze, horrified, and stared Lawson in shock. "mudblood" Hissed Evelyn.

Part Two

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."

~ William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

The silence was unbearable. The air was hot and still, bristling with unspoken words. Lawson didn't really understand what was happening, only that here in this place where he was meant to have fit in he was somehow an outcast. He was different. Mudblood, She had said. What makes me different from them?

The Malfoy siblings simply stared, unable to break the silence because of the unspoken law of magic. Since a young age their parents had raised them (and most of the wizarding world were the same) to hate and look down upon muggle-borns as if they were monsters. But now, as Lawson stood infront of them they were forced to question everything they'd been taught. If we weren't able to tell the difference, then is there really one? Evelyn pondered He talks like us, he walks like us, he looks like us. He can even perform magic like us and we have to hate him because of who his parents are?

Connor was the first to respond "get out" he said sternly, looking questioningly at his beloved brother and sister. Evelyn nodded despite her early thoughts; the family believes that she had been brought up to respect over-ruling her sense of judgment.

There was more silence as Lawson, who did not understand the hatred but respected their wishes anyway, slowly backed out of the compartment. He was turning to shut the door when he heard a soft "no" from Darcy. The other two Malfoys looked at him sharply and Lawson froze, unsure of what to do.

"But he-"started Evelyn.

"I said no" replied Darcy angrily "come in and sit Lawson"

Lawson tentatively sat down, shutting the door behind him and placing the battered suitcase at his feet. "Why?" Connor asked his brother.

"Lawson's blood may be different, impure if you want to put it that way. But he is just like us" Darcy turned his head and looked out the window, staring at something far away that none of the others could see "Ever since we came to Hogwarts we've been treated as outcasts because our father-" Evelyn gave him a sharp look "-because of what he did.

We've all been outcasts because of our parents and Lawson is just the same, outcast because of what his parents are. People just can't seem to grasp that we are different people to our parents. Half the first years thing im going to-"

"Darcy" growled Connor in a warning tone.

"Any way" said Darcy, refocusing on the scene unfolding inside the train. "My point is that Lawson is the same as us and we should treat him like it, because believe me, between the four of us there'll be enough discrimination going round to upset an army. We'll just have to stick together"

The rest of the train trip passed rather uneventfully with the four chatting about hogwarts subjects and what-not. It was getting dark when Evelyn glanced out the window and exclaimed "I can see it, I can SEE Hogwarts!"

Review please? I'll love you forever!

This is my first fanfiction, sorry if this chapter is a bit short. I promise the next one will be longer.