A/N: Ok, so I finally got this story into a fairly sensible form, bear with me on this though as it may be slightly (or very) disjointed as I originally only planned to write it as a series of one shots, but I got…um…carried away. Also, not sure how regular updates will be as I am very easily distracted, but here goes.

Obviously (and unfortunately) I own nothing Harry Potter related, just my OC Faith. Some characters may be OOC (and in part this is the point, at least later on, go read my profile for better explanation :D) but I tried my best, and will admit I struggled in this to get the balance right with Neville's shyness vs. becoming friends with Faith.

Anyway…to the story! :D

Chapter One: The Adventure Begins

She had been looking forward to this day for so long now, practically her whole life, especially since summer last year when her two 'older brothers' had come back from their first year, full of stories of poltergeists, pranks and secret passages and promises that she could join them in their mischief making when she too started at Hogwarts.

Faith smiled as she thought of the boys she called her older brothers, Fred and George Weasley, the crazy, boisterous tricksters she had known for practically her whole life. She remembered the day they had given themselves the honorary title of 'big brothers'.

It had been a lazy day in the summer before the twins went away to Hogwarts. The three of them were laid in one of the fields between the Burrow and the Warren (as they had dubbed the farmhouse in which Faith lived), basking in the sun, when Fred had burst out with

"You know what Faye, I've decided you're our little sister"

Faith just looked at him questioningly while George added "He has a point, we do see you virtually everyday, you might as well live at the Burrow"

"and you look like one of us" Fred pointed out

"Yeah, I look so much like a pair of ridiculously tall male twins" Faith replied sarcastically

"I meant your hair and freckles and you know it, but yeah as of now we are your big brothers and completely prepared to do our duty in punishing anyone who tries to harm you, in any way at all"

"This punishment involves explosions and lots of sticky gloop right?" Faith had asked, grinning at the twins

"Well, of course" George answered

"that, and the physical violence" Fred added, trying and failing to adopt an innocent expression.

Faith smiled at the memory, like the twins really needed any encouragement to play with explosions and gloop, both were practically an everyday occurrence in their lives and Faiths too when they were around. Her smile widened when she realised that now she too was going to Hogwarts she'd be able to join in with the pranks there as well as the ones at home, gloop was most likely going to become a central part of her life and she couldn't wait!

Suddenly realising that she was once again day-dreaming about Hogwarts and all the new adventures and possibilities it held, instead of actually getting ready to go, Faith shot up off her bed, abruptly snapping back to reality. With dreams of castles and ghosts still on her mind she set about getting ready for what she was sure was going to be an interesting day.

The next thing Faith knew she was clattering out of the front door clutching her shrieking Barn Owl, Sage, in his cage in one hand, with her wand sticking out of her back pocket and a small messenger bag containing her camera, spare films and sketch book (which contained, amongst sketches and doodles, many plans for new pranks) slung around her body. Her little brother followed her out of the house, telling her the many reasons why he should be going to Hogwarts (as he had been doing for the past ten minutes none stop).

As they clambered into the car, which had already been packed with the rest of Faith's luggage and where their father was waiting in the driving seat, Faith's excitement grew. As soon as her mum was in the car too they would be off, she would be starting her journey to Hogwarts, starting her adventure!

By the time Faith and her family reached the barrier that lead to Platform 9¾ at a little after half ten, she was so excited about the coming trip that she charged through it as fast as she could, totally unaware of any muggles who might have been watching. Arriving on the platform the first thing she saw was the great, crimson steam engine giving out so much smoke that many of the people at the other end of the platform had become just shadowy figures.

Her family arrived at her side, having crossed the barrier in a somewhat calmer, more sensible manner, her parents smiling at their surroundings in a nostalgic way (both had been there many times before, her father on his way to school, her mother seeing off her brothers) and her little brother wide eyed and amazed by what he saw around him.

"Wow, wow, wow" he squeaked excitedly "I wanna go! Can I go mum? Please, please, please!"

"No sweetheart," their mother replied, "You'll have to wait until you're older, then you can"

"Aww, you're lucky Faith" he sighed, then stood looking sorry for himself.

Faith smiled at him as they started to move towards the train, she was going to miss the little bundle of energy, even if he was a pain in the neck most of the time.

"Now you behave yourself at Hogwarts Faith" her mother told her "I know you're going to be with the twins, but don't cause too much trouble. Have fun though honey" she added with a smile.

"And don't forget to write" added her father.

Faith nodded, impatient to be on the train and on her way to Hogwarts.

"Bye, love you!" she said in a distracted way, hugging both parents in turn and then her brother, whispering in his ear "I'll send you a desk or something so you can have your own Hogwarts" this caused him to giggle and her parents to look at them questioningly.

With that she clambered onto the train and dragged her trunk and Sage's cage into the nearest compartment which, she noticed already contained another unattended trunk. Leaving her luggage on the floor and the cage resting on a seat by the window she ran back to the window near where her family stood.

"I'm going to Hogwarts!" she shouted excitedly, trying to jump up and down while also leaning out of the window and very nearly hitting her head on the frame.

"We know darling" her mother said, smiling at her daughter's excitement "Just remember what we've told you"

"See you at Christmas!" shouted her brother.

Then the guards whistle was blowing and the train began slowly chugging forwards, now Faith's family were among the many shouting their 'Bye's' and 'I love you's'. Faith waved out of the window as did many other students up and down the train. Then, as the platform disappeared from view she made her way back to the compartment where she had stowed her luggage.

Entering the compartment she noticed a sandy haired boy, who looked about the same height as her sitting opposite Sage's cage, 'so this is the owner of the other trunk' she thought. She giggled slightly noticing the boy and the owl were apparently in some sort of glaring contest.

"Er, please stop trying to fry my owl with the power of your mind" she joked, catching the boy's attention.

"Oh, sorry, but I'm pretty sure it's evil and is trying to do exactly the same" replied the boy smiling at Faith to take the sting out of his words.

"He" Faith said returning the smile "this is Sage, Mr Temperamental Owl, but he's a softie really, aren't you boy?"

She stuck her fingers between the bars of the cage and the owl immediately nuzzled his head up to them.

"Oh, and I'm Faith, Faith Higgins" she turned, moving her hand out of the cage, much to the disappointment of the owl, and sticking it out for him to shake.

"Seamus Finnigan" replied the boy, shaking her hand "You a first year too?" he asked.

"Yup, and I can't wait to get there, my brothers have told me so much about it!"

"I know, same. I mean, not the bit about your brothers obviously, but I can't wait to get there, I've heard so many stories, hey d'ya know if we really get taught by ghosts?"

As they talked Faith got settled in, moving Sage and then her trunk (with Seamus' help) into the luggage rack, then settling into the seat which Sage had previously occupied.

About five minutes later, as Faith and Seamus arrived at the topic of Quidditch, someone also arrived at the compartment door.

"Hi, er, is it alright if I join you?" the tall, dark skinned boy asked, catching their attention.

"Yeah, 'course" Seamus said "I'm Seamus Finnigan"

"Faith Higgins" Faith said, smiling.

"Dean Thomas" came the reply.

Faith and Seamus helped Dean move his luggage into the overhead rack, then they all settled back down. Soon they were talking, laughing and joking as if they were old friends, telling each other about their families and backgrounds. Faith found herself thinking 'I'm glad I grew up with both the wizarding and muggle world' as she listened to Seamus trying to explain the rules of Quidditch to Dean for a good five minutes, before just giving up with Dean looking more confused than when he had started and Seamus declaring "Well you'll find out when we get to Hogwarts anyway".

Conversation then moved back towards topics all three of them could understand. Seamus told them the story of his mum breaking the news to his dad (a muggle) that she was a witch. Dean described an incident at his muggle primary school involving some classmates who had been bullying one of his friends and the sudden, unexplainable appearance of a lot of manure, "I guess that had something to do with me then" he added with a smile.

Faith then described some of the better tricks, pranks and experiments she had helped Fred and George carry out, finishing up with the story of how they had managed to send one of the gnomes from the Burrow's garden flying right over the roof, leaving all three of them in fits of laughter.

"You should have seen the look on their brother Percy's face at this terrified gnome flying past his window!" Faith spluttered out through her laughter "he looked like he didn't know whether to scream or come down and murder us!"

"Wait, I thought you said the twins were your brothers?" asked Dean when they had all calmed down "Wouldn't that make him your brother too?"

"We're not blood relatives or anything" Faith explained "but we grew up together, so they've decided I might as well be their sister."

"Well that makes sense, sorta" Dean said, still looking puzzled.

"Yeah, that's the best you'll get outta those two I'm afraid."

"I can't wait to meet them though!" exclaimed Seamus "They sound great, should make this year even more interesting!"

"Aye" said Faith "interesting is one word for it, not the one my parents or their mum would use, but you know" she shrugged "Anyway I'm gonna go see if I can find them, I promised I'd say hi before we got to the castle."

"Ok, don't worry, we'll watch the evil owl!" joked Seamus.

"Sage isn't evil, and he better be alive and in one piece when I get back!" Faith threatened, heading for the door "See you in a bit!"

"Bye" shouted the boys as she closed the compartment door.

Faith wandered down the corridor of the train, peering into the compartments at various groups of students, on the lookout for that distinctive hair (although, all things considered, looking for chaos would have probably been more effective). She spotted Ron sitting with a dark haired boy with glasses and waved as she went past.

Finally, at what felt to Faith like it should be the very back of the train (but wasn't) she found the twins sat with a dark skinned boy with dreadlocks. Fred was out of his seat, waving his arms about, obviously re-enacting something, though Faith had no idea what.

She slammed the compartment door open and bounced in shouting "I'm here!" which certainly got their attention.

"We noticed" said George.

"You're not very good at stealth are you?" added Fred.

"Course she isn't, you remember…"

"…The incident with mum's vase? Yup"

"Yeah that and all the others."

"Hello to you two too" Faith said sarcastically.

Throughout all of this the other boy in the compartment had just sat looking back and forth from Faith to the twins with a confused expression, but now he spoke up.

"I guess you three know each other then?"

"Oh yes, how rude of us" started Fred, in his best impression of a posh accent.

"We should introduce you" continued George.

"Lee, this is Faith Higgins, crazy person, neighbour"

"Assistant with pranks and honorary little sister" finished George, standing and swinging his arm around Faith's shoulders "Faye, this is Lee Jordan, spider man, Quidditch commentator"

"And our other partner in crime." added Fred.

"Spider man?" questioned Faith.

"Oh, have you not met his pet?" George grinned down at her.

"D'ya want to?" Lee asked "She's in there" he pointed to a box in the luggage rack above his head.

"No thanks, she can stay in there." Faith looked at the box with a worried expression.

"Aww, Faye I didn't realise you were as terrified of spiders as ickle Ronnie!" Fred mocked.

"I'm not," she glared at him "but nothing should have that many legs, it's not natural."

The boys laughed at this but left the spider where it was, much to Faith's relief and they all settled down into the seats.

"So, you enjoying Hogwarts so far sis?" Fred asked.

"We haven't got there yet" Faith reminded him.

"Ah yes, but the experience starts right here on the Hogwarts Express!" he said dramatically.

"Oh, so that's what all the arm waving was about is it? Part of the interesting experience of crazy wizards."

"Heh, I like her already" chuckled Lee.

"You would, and no, that was a description of my new prank idea, your suggestion that I'm mad offends me" Fred said, feigning hurt.

"Yeah, but she's not far wrong" pointed out George.

Faith stayed in the compartment with the twins and Lee for the next half hour or so discussing, among other things, plans for new pranks to try out that year. Shortly after Faith had made the twins promise once again to include her in their antics George said jokingly:

"I thought you'd be sick of us after all these years? Why d'ya wanna hang around your big brothers?"

"Yeah" added Fred "S'matter, is the little firstie scared of all these new people?"

"How could I possibly be sick of you two when you're always so nice to me?" Faith relied sarcastically "And no, of course I'm not scared of the new people, actually I've already met two really cool 'firsties'. Talking of which I should probably go check my owl's still in one piece."

"Cool, and they're threatening little Sagey?" asked Fred.

"Na, Sage was being his usual difficult self." she explained, making her way to the door. "See you guys at Hogwarts, hopefully I'll be sorted into Gryffindor." she added, looking genuinely concerned at the prospect of the sorting.

"You will be" George assured her "You're a Weasley remember!"

"Meaning we'll disown you if you're not" threatened Fred, but he smiled at her reassuringly.

"Bye!" shouted all three boys in unison as Faith left the compartment, earning them a questioning look and the parting comment "I thought you were twins not triplets?" as Faith closed the door, waved and then headed back towards her original seat.

So far back along the corridor Faith heard a commotion coming from one of the compartments, peering through the open door she saw a blond boy and two big, burly boys picking on a plump boy who stood just inside the door and seemed to be trying to back his way out of it.

"Where are you going?" questioned the blond boy "Stay, don't spoil our fun" his voice was cold and cruel.

Faith immediately felt sorry for the boy standing just in front of her, so, without another thought she stepped into the compartment behind him.

The boys did not immediately notice her, as she was slightly shorter than the boy in front of her, and therefore obscured from view. They certainly noticed her though when she loudly announced:

"There you are, I've been looking all down the train, c'mon my big brothers are waiting for us."

All eyes were now on Faith, three pairs glaring and one just confused. The blond boy was the first to speak.

"What do we have here? A little lady, come, sit. I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy and this is Crabbe and Goyle" he said in an imitation of warmth and good manners that was spoilt by the cruel smirk on his face.

"No thank you" Faith replied coolly "I don't make a habit of socialising with people who pick on my friends. C'mon they're waiting" she added to the still confused boy before her. Then she grabbed his arm and dragged him out of the compartment door and some way down the corridor.

Stopping and letting go of his arm she turned to the boy.

"Hi, you looked like you needed saving" she smiled "I'm Faith Higgins."

The boy briefly returned her smile, before blushing and looking down at his shoes.

"Yeah, I did, thanks" he mumbled, then glancing back up added "I'm Neville Longbottom."

"Nice to meet you Neville. So what were you doing in there with the 'lovely' Mr Malfoy and his cronies?"

"Not looking for an ambush that for sure" Neville smiled slightly "I was looking for my toad, he escaped just after we set off, he's always doing it. You haven't seen him have you?"

"No, but I'm sure he'll show up" she said kindly "Why don't you come sit with me and my friends and wait him out? He'll soon realise where he's better off."

"Thanks, but I think I'm gonna keep looking, there's too many cats and owls around to let him wander."

"Ok, well when you do find him the offer still stands" she grinned "And talking of owls, I really should go and check on mine, he doesn't really get on with my new friend, so one of them has probably attacked the other by now." She shrugged.

Neville nodded and smiled.

"Bye then" he said, then added to his shoes "I'll come sit with you when Trevor shows up."

Faith smiled at his shyness "See you in a bit then!" she said before heading off down the corridor.

When she arrived back at the compartment she found Seamus again trying to explain the rules of Quidditch.

"You still at that?" she asked "well at least it keeps your mind off animal cruelty" she added with a grin.

"Hi, we thought you'd got lost" said Dean.

"No" Faith said, settling back into her seat "Just got a bit carried away planning stuff, oh and I got to play hero on my way back" she added, then explained about her meeting with Neville and Malfoy.

The next few hours passed quickly and comfortably with Faith and her new friends getting to know each other better. Neville never did show up, making Faith wonder if he hadn't found his toad or if she had intimidated him, after all she wasn't exactly known for being a calm, peaceful, subtle person (something she blamed on spending too much time around the twins). She hoped she'd meet him again soon, if only to apologise for said intimidation, after all he had seemed like a nice person, if a bit shy.

In what seemed like no time at all the train was slowing as it made its approach to Hogsmeade Station (and Faith was still in a toilet cubicle fighting with her Hogwarts robes, having forgotten she needed to change until the last minute). As she left the cubicle and began to weave her way back to the compartment, dodging all the people who had begun to gather in the corridor Faith heard a voice ring through the train.

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

When she reached the compartment a minute or so later, greeted by a Dean and Seamus who were nearly bouncing with excitement, she stowed the clothes she had changed out of and her messenger bag (which had sat next to her all the way there) in her trunk. Then she lifted Sage's cage down from the luggage rack.

"Oh no, evil owl's not coming with us." Seamus pointed out "he's luggage."

Faith glared over her shoulder at him "I know, I'm saying goodbye, he's gonna be in the Owlery so I might not see him for a few days."

Faith heard Seamus mutter something that distinctly resembled "Thank goodness for that" but ignored it, turning her attention instead to the owl.

"Be good Sagey, Ok?" she told him, stroking him through the bars of the cage "No sulking and no biting! I'll come see you as soon as possible."

Just as she said that they felt the train grind to a halt. The boys jumped up from their seats and the three of them hurried to join the crowd in the corridor.

"Here we go" Dean said, grinning.

"Yup, the adventure begins!" replied Faith.