The carriage jerked as the red train sprung to life. Krys smiled to herself, remembering how her Father used to tell her how he rode on this magnificent steam engine and the rolling hillsides would frame his conversations with other diplomats from around England.

He never felt the need to tell her that it was the Wizarding kind that he used to associate with.

But here she was now, an Australian 16 year old thrown into the deep end because she had been accepted into some magic school after her Dad had spoken to the Headmaster and he saw potential in her as a witch.

What did she know of magic? To her it was just a myth utilised by children show writers in order to get more viewers. By god, she had spent the majority of her childhood years planning to become a Pilot for the Air Force, that was her goal and she was damn near to completing it. Krys didn't receive much warning for this, only being told a few weeks before the British schooling term began.

Back in Canberra Year 10 was almost completed for her, and when her parents told her that they were sending her off to a boarding school, well of course she started jumping through hoops – She had been pleading to them for years to enrol her in a Military School and going there for her final years seemed the dream.

Magic was a few letters of Military in her mind.

It was a bit of a blur to her how she could even get into this school at her age, from what she had been told by her Dad, acceptance letters were generally sent to 11 year olds and they'd begin that year and learn all their basics. It wasn't uncommon to be a muggle-born receiving one of these but at her age she felt a little out of place.

Still deep in her thought, Krys had failed to notice other students had started to pile into the carriage she had partaken. They filed through the narrow corridors and a red headed boy, looking a few years older than she poked his head in.

'This spot taken?' He enquired. At this, Krys snapped her head round and rather formally stated 'Negative.' He smiled at her and went to go enter the cabin.

'Fred! Found a space yet?' A voice that sounded oddly familiar to the boy in front of her resounded down the carriage, causing Krys to tilt her head slightly. An arm roped around the red headed boy's neck and he was joined by his mirror image.

'Appears I have, 'the first boy replied, 'But I am unsure if our presence is welcomed or not.'
Krys threw her arm in gesture towards the seat, 'Sit if you want.'
The twins sat down across from her, and gave her a quizzical look. After a while, Krys rolled her eyes and broke the silence.
'Is there a problem?'
'You're not from here, are you?'
Krys sighed softly, she had expected there to be questions being the new kid and all. She had just hoped that she could've had a few hours to gather her thoughts.
'What gave me away?'
'It could be your strange eyes' one stated,
'Or your personal demeanour' the other continued,
'or it could be the strikingly obvious accent that you are pulling across.' The first one concluded.
Krys held back a laugh, 'Yes. I am not from here. But before we continue, I think it best I introduce myself.' She extended a hand to the twin seated on the right 'I'm Krystal Richards, but please call me Krys.'

The twin on the right shook her hand, 'George Weasley, 7th Year student.' He let go, and swiftly Fred took her hand, and lifted it up to his mouth and kissed it lightly, 'Fred Weasley, same as him.' Fred released her hand and Krys gently laid it back in her lap.
'I will be in the Fifth Year-'
'Oh a transfer student!' George interrupted. Krys shot a nasty look his way,
'Not exactly no. I will be starting in my fifth year, yet it will be my first year studying magic.'
'I didn't think there were any magic schools in Australia.' Fred stated
'How did you know I was from Australia?' Krys asked.
'Again... The accent…' Fred spoke slowly
'Oh. Right. That thing.' She turned her head towards the window, her curls falling over her cheek helping to hide the red that had just risen from her neck.

'Ohhhhh have we hit a soft spot with the new girl?' George laughed. His laugh was interrupted by a low growl emanating from under where the twins were seated. The two looked towards each other, and together they both looked under to see a pair of yellow eyes looking back at them. Krys laughed, and clicked her tongue twice. The creature emerged from between the Weasleys' dangling legs.
'WHAT THE HELL IS THAT.' George yelled out, causing Krys to laugh even harder. A cat, the size of a Labrador presented itself in the middle of the cabin. Cheetah like markings stained its pelt, and a large black bob lay at the end of its tail. It walked up to Krys and rested its head in her lap.

'This,' She started to scratch him behind his ear, 'is Kopa. He's a Savannah Cat.'
'Cat? That's a bloody lion!' Fred exclaimed, his brother nodding in agreement.
'Close, but not exactly. Kopa is part Serval, part Siamese.' Krys explained. 'He's harmless, well most of the time. He's quite protective.'
'Never would've guessed…' George mumbled.

Silence fell over the three, Kopa had made himself more comfortable after jumping up besides Krys and nestling in her side, head tucked into the crease of her elbow. A few hours passed and the quiet was interrupted by the knock at the door from the Lady with the Trolley. She popped her head in and enquired if any of them wanted anything from the trolley, Krys politely declined and George signalled to a green package that Fred had just pulled out of his jacket pocket.

Opening the bag, a few gumballs rolled out onto the bench between Fred and George. Curious, Krystal looked at them, and Fred smiled.
'Would you like one?' He offered, holding out the bag. Krys leant in to take one but was stopped by a new voice entering.
'I wouldn't if I were you,' a rather bossy voice intervened. Standing in the door way was a female, with rather bushy hair already changed into her robes. Pinned to her chest was a golden badge with a 'P' inscribed on it.

'Ah Hermione, how nice of you to join us!' George remarked, patting beside him on the seat for her to sit down.
'No thanks,' she curtly declined, 'I'm just observing the train making sure no trouble is a foot. Being prefect isn't as easy as it seems.' Hermione turned to Krys, 'I'd advise you to not accept any form of treat from these two. Bit of a hand-' she stopped midsentence 'Is that a Jaguar…?' she trailed off. Kopa turned his yellow eyes in her direction and a low growl emitted from his throat. 'Are they even allowed at Hogwarts?' The twins felt a rant coming on, so they just sat there quietly, as Krys looked on impatiently, 'Students' are only allowed to have a toad, owl or cat. If McGonagall or Snape see that they're going to flip out! I've never seen you around her before so you must be new. But oh well, that's not my problem to deal with.'
She smiled as she turned to leave, Fred mimicking her with his hand causing Krys to laugh. Hermione's head whipped around, 'Is there something funny?' She snapped, shooting daggers at the Aussie.
'Oh no, not at all.' Krys smiled a fake smile in her direction, 'It just seems that one of these gentlemen has the same opinion of me. Oh and also, he has a name.' At that, Kopa sat up proud and tall beside Krys, coming eye level with Hermione, 'His name is Kopa. That is all.' And at that, Krys swatted her hand in the direction of the door, and with a huff the newly appointed prefect left them in peace.

'Don't think she appreciated that...' George mulled over,
'Very little sense of humour she has.' Fred sighed. Krys wanting to know more on this Hermione who had just attempted to tell her how to live her life.
'Who is she?'
Fred answered this one 'Her? Oh Hermione Granger, fifth year. Very intelligent witch from her kind.'
'Her kind?'
'Muggle borns, not that we have anything against them.'
'I'd hope not, seeing as I am one.'
'Wait!' George interrupted, 'you're muggle born and you're now starting fifth year right of the top?'
'It wasn't easy, I assure you. I had to sit something called a W.O.M.B.A.T. and I'll be expected to attend remedial classes for my first few weeks or months depending on how quickly I catch on.'
'Strange case you are, our little Aussie companion.' George winked. Fred just smiled and resumed looking out the window.