Welcome to Serpens Arcana. This is a multi-chapter fic featuring the adventures of Irina (OC), Scorpius Malfoy, Rose Weasley, and Albus Potter. Hopefully, the story will be better than my summary.

I won't be putting in any more author's notes, however I will sometimes be answering questions on my profile, so look on there once in a while.

Please review, whether it's concrit or praise, I appreciate it, and it often motivates me to write. Thank you.

Disclaimer: I own the plot and any original characters, but the Harry Potter world belongs to Rowling.

Chapter 1: Platform Nine and Three Quarters
Published: 2/14/2013
Irina

I blinked, my eyes watering at the steam billowing in the air, mixing with the early September fog. The platform was crowded with other students and their parents, but all of the faces were strange and unfamiliar. I clutched at Mama's waist and buried my face in her arm, so that I could breathe something other than the disgusting black smoke from the train. The Hogwarts Express, the witch had called it.

"Stop clutching," Mama said in Russian, gently prying me from around her. "You're going to be fine, Irushka. Look around at the platform! You've never been in London before, have you? Isn't this so exciting?"

"No," I replied stubbornly, hiding my face in her coat sleeve again. My voice came out muffled. "It's weird, and I want to go home. Where's Papa?"

"Irina, you know he couldn't come see us off because he had an urgent business meeting," my sister's voice said from beside me. She had to shout to be heard over the hooting of the owls, meowing of cats, and shouting of other witches and wizards.

"I don't care!" I finally pulled away from Mama and glared at her. "He should have come to see us! Doesn't he care that we're going to a whole new school? Isn't he worried, or something?" My voice cracked at the last word, and I blinked the tears out of my eyes.

To my relief, Mama didn't seem to notice. "Irushka, he told you last night, he's terribly sorry that he couldn't come. But he's in New York right now, meeting with the American Minister of Magic, and he really can't skip this meeting, it could be a turning point for his business." She stroked my face gently with a warm hand. "But he promised he'd write to you tomorrow morning, and asked you to owl him back as soon as you got his letter. You too, Mira," she added, addressing her last words to my sister.

"Of course, Mama!" Mira piped. "Thanks for taking us here, since Papa couldn't come. I'm glad you didn't have to leave us with that McGonagall lady, she was a little intimidating."

Mama sighed. "I know. But she seemed nice enough, and if you have any trouble, she asked you to go to her, or your Head of House."

"What's a Head of House?" I asked immediately. "You didn't tell me anything about that!"

"Never mind, I'm sure someone will explain at Hogwarts," Mama said swiftly. "But -"

A loud whistle sounded from somewhere up the platform, and there was a sudden flurry of movement all around us. I jumped at the sudden noise and hugged Mama again, afraid of getting jostled and shoved around by the crowd. Through the confusion, I spotted a boy standing a few dozen paces away, with several other people who must be his family. He looked straight into my eyes - his were a startling emerald green - and smiled a little, before looking away at an older man who must be his father. I immediately felt a prickle of jealousy; it looked like his whole family was there, while I only had my mother.

"Oh, dear, I think that's the whistle for getting on the train!" Mama exclaimed. "Look, I've already asked one of the conductors to stow your luggage, so you'll be fine. If you need anything, I'm sure you can just ask at the front of the train, but just in case, I packed some stuff for you -" she pried my arms away again and bent down to pick up two leopardskin bags, one black and gold (Mira's), one silver and maroon (mine). "Mira, I gave you some money and three books, and I want you to stay with Irina and buy both of you girls some lunch, alright? Irina, I have a book for you, and I also packed that snake game you love so much -"

"Snakes and Dragons," I corrected her immediately, taking my bag from her.

"Yes, that - so you should be fine. Try to make some new friends, girls, okay? Mira, I know you're going to be in third year, so it'll be a little harder for you, but you're a very nice girl and I'm sure they'll all love you. And even if some of them don't, at least you're ahead by magic, right? So you shouldn't have much trouble."

"Okay, Mama," Mira responded, tugging at the hem of her bright yellow Muggle shirt. It was the only sign of nervousness I could see from her; she was usually very calm and composed, but quiet. Her dark red hair was in a neat braid that fell down to the middle of her back, and her green eyes were lined with very thin lines of eyeliner, a Muggle invention that she loved. Mira liked Muggle stuff a lot, especially their clothes; she also wore jeans and sandals. Me? I'd already changed into my black school robes.

"You'll be fine, won't you? Good. Just behave yourselves, study hard, and owl us at least once a week!" Mama gave each of us a quick hug. Her brown hair was coming out of her ponytail, which usually happened when she was stressed. "Have fun at Hogwarts!"

"Thanks, Mama," I said, swallowing hard past the lump that had formed in my throat. This was it, then. I was leaving behind my family, and pretty much everything I had ever known, to go to a new wizarding school.

"Come on, Irina," Mira called. She was already a few steps away from me. I gave Mama one last fleeting look, then hurried to my sister, as we both boarded the Hogwarts Express.