Disclaimer: Everything belongs to the JKR except my OC's. But hey she can have those too if she really wants them.

A/N: Welcome to my first fanfic! This is a Hogwarts AU full of OC's. Basically the stories of Harry Potter are actually like wizarding folk lore, so like the details about the castle and everything are right, but the characters are mostly different since the stories of Harry Potter happened (if they happened) like hundreds of years ago. At least that's how I envision it. A lot of the wizard kids don't even know that JKR has published the Harry Potter series.

Note to Self: Don't piss off the older kids.

I left my family at the airport back in St. Louis. It wasn't too long or too sappy, just a few tight hugs was all I needed to let them know I would be missing them while I was at Hogwarts.

"Bye Anya!" my brother Wyatt called after me as I boarded. I waved all the way until he was out of sight.

A plump, graying old witch named Hilda Blackwell met me when my plane touched down. She had been nice enough to volunteer to take care of me until I could board the Hogwarts Express the next day. After stopping for some ice cream, we went shopping in Diagon Alley for everything I would need. She kept asking what it was like to be a young American wizard flown all the way across the pond to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She said she was stunned I'd gotten in; apparently there were competent wizarding schools back in the States. And wow, she said, I would have a hard time fitting in. Thanks for the boost of confidence Hilda.

I said I didn't know why or how, just that my dad had gone to Hogwarts so that's where I was headed, following in his footsteps and all. Yes, I knew about the house system at Hogwarts. No, I had never been to Britain before. Yes, I already had my wand. That one left her astonished; she didn't even believe me until I pulled it out of my backpack. Alder with phoenix feather core, eleven inches, slightly springy. This set off a whole nother round of inquiries. I swear, this witch could not give me one second of silence. I guess I really shouldn't complain, I mean she was nice enough to show me around, take me shopping.

With all my books bought, my robes folded up in my bag, and my wand tucked firmly into my back pocket, Hilda put me up for the night in the Leaky Cauldron, promising to be back bright and early to take me to King's Cross.

As she promised, Hilda was back, and chatting all the way to the station. I didn't get a word in edgewise until she positioned me with my cart 10 paces from the wall between platforms 9 and 10. "Now go ahead and take your run," she said.

"What? Are you kidding me?"

She looked at me confusedly. "I- I thought you knew… Platform 9 ¾ is right through here."

I just stared at the solid brick wall. There was no way. Was there? "Can you prove it?" I asked, only curiosity in my voice.

Hilda, a little put off at my reaction, simply reached back and pushed her hand through the wall, all the way up to her elbow, then quickly wrenching it out when a crowd of Muggles passed.

I nodded nervously. "Oh, uh, alright." I started pushing forward tentatively, inching toward the wall, ready to slide through.

Hilda stopped me. "No, no, no. You have to take a run at it. My magic is very pronounced, so I can put my hand through no problem. But you," she smiled and put her hand on my cheek, "you little wizard, are not strong enough. Back up and take a running start."

I nodded, backed up, and began mentally preparing myself to run full-out at a brick wall. This is mental. Right as I was about to plunge into another world, I sneaked a glance at Hilda. She was gazing at me happily, a proud glint in her eyes. "Uh, thanks, Hilda," I said. She beamed. "I really appreciate everything you've done for me."

For once, the portly witch was at a loss for words, so she just nodded as I ran hard as I could at the wall, still convinced this was mental. What if the wall didn't let me through? I would probably break my face on the bricks, send my stuff everywhere, and look insane. I shut my eyes at the last second, bracing for the worst.

The worst was apparently slamming into another person's cart on the other side, sending both of our stuff flying.

"WHAT THE HECK?" shrieked a girl's voice. I assumed it was the owner of the cart. A tall girl, probably a fourth or fifth year, whipped around to glower at me like I'd just murdered a baby squirrel or something. Raven black hair hung violently straight to just above her elbows and her skin was pale and fragile-looking, like she never went outside. Her eyes however, told me she was far from fragile, and she could beat me up any time she pleased. "What is your PROBLEM?"

I'm really not such a great talker while being screamed at by strangers who look like they want to rip my throat out. And geez, with her burly biceps and wide shoulders, she probably could if she wanted to. "I-I'm sorry. It was an a-accident."

My stuttering apparently only annoyed her more. Her dark eyes flashed as she looked down her nose at me. "Well? Pick them up." She gestured to her random items strewn about, probably knocked out of her knapsack in my stupidity.

Inwardly I rolled my eyes, but outwardly I stooped to gather up her stuff. Apparently even witches read pointless vapid magazines. With her trunk firmly back on her cart, I stood and presented her with her stack of stupid magazines and a leather-bound book I had the feeling was a cheesy diary. Dear Diary, today I made a first-year cry when I kicked his puppy and I didn't even have to go out in the sun to do it! What a wonderful day.

"Here," I said, not without a little resentment.

She smirked and knocked the things back out of my hands, scattering them once more around the platform. "Pick. Them. Up," she snarled again.

I stared, confused. "Why'd you do that?"

"I-It was an accident." Was she mocking me?

My anxiousness was quickly being replaced by exasperation with this chick. Who did she think she was? Right when I thought we would have a problem, another girl emerged from behind the first, this one closer to my age and kinder looking. She stooped down, gathered up the stuff, and set it neatly on top of the older girl's trunk. "There you go, Sara," she said, smiling sweetly. "No harm done."

Sara just made a face and stalked off with her cart, her thin black hair swinging behind her. The younger girl turned back to me, and I got a better look at her. She was about my size, with hair and eyes the same color as Sara. However, her hair was longer and messier, with soft curls. Her eyes were also much warmer and weren't trying to melt a hole in me. Her face was similar to the other girl's, but not quite as angular. They actually looked like they could be sisters.

"I'm Mariah Kniffen," the girl said, sticking out her hand. "Sorry about my sister." Boom, I was right. "She's always cranky on the first day, but it was even worse this morning because Harley accidentally made her cereal explode." She giggled and I smiled back, wondering if I was supposed to know who Harley was.

"I'm Anya Skelton. I really didn't mean to run into her like that, it's just my first time through that weird wall thing."

He eyes widened as I spoke. "Are you American?"

"Yeah, I-"

But she cut me off. "Oh that is so cool. You'll have to tell me everything about America!"

"Sure," I said, and started to gather up my stuff. I didn't have a lot, just my trunk and a backpack with my robes and some money in it.

Mariah stooped down to help me gather up my odds and ends and right my trunk on the cart. "Oi," she gasped. "This thing's heavy. How're you gonna load it up? Your dad here?"

I shook my head. "My family is back in the US, I'm here on my own. I, uh, kind of don't know what I'm doing," I added sheepishly.

Mariah grinned at me and started rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet. "Can I be like your mentor then?" she asked quietly, like it was an extremely important question. I could tell she was trying to be serious, but her grin stretched from ear to ear and her eyes were practically popping out of her head.

I grinned back; it was contagious. "I would love a mentor," I whispered back. "Since I obviously do everything wrong when left by myself."

She grabbed my arm and literally jumped for joy. "Yay! I have a cute little mentee!" She went to pinch my cheeks, but I playfully swatted her hands away. This girl was so friendly and easy-going, it was hard not to feel like we were already good friends. "First things first," she said, taking on a business tone, "we need to get that trunk put away, and you and me will not be able to do it. Come with me." I grabbed my cart and we set off through the crowd, Mariah weaving and ducking expertly. I could hardly keep up. When she finally stopped, I just about ran into the back of her.

Standing on my tiptoes to peer around my trunk, I could see that we were next to the train, where kids were loading their trunks into a side compartment of the train. Mariah turned and winked at me and then walked over to a tall, muscular-looking blonde boy who had just tossed his trunk in like it was nothing. "Umm, excuse me?" She looked up at with big innocent eyes, and her voice dripped with sweetness. "Can you help us load my friend's trunk? It's awfully heavy."

The boy, who was good-looking by the way, broke into a grin. "Of course." He ambled over to me and it was all I could do to smile at him instead of squeaking awkwardly. He was very handsome, and he had that older-boy sort of charm about him. "So," he said, hoisting my trunk up with a grunt, "you girls first-years?"

"Yep," Mariah chirped. I nodded.

"You'll love it. I'm a fifth year. Name's Kolton."

"I'm Mariah."

"Anya."

Kolton tossed my trunk in and brushed off his hands. "Well, see you two around." With a dip of his head and another dazzling smile, the boy turned and sauntered back through the crowd.

As I stared, Mariah sidled up next to me and pretended to faint against my side. "Wow, what a hunk," she sighed. I shot her a wry smile. "What? Everyone has to have a babysitter crush."

I scrunched my nose. "Babysitter crush?"

"You know," she said, waving her hand in his direction, "that handsome boy way too old that'll never happen but you fawn over him anyway?" She sighed dreamily again. "I think I found mine."

I rolled my eyes and shoved her shoulder playfully, just as the train whistle sounded.

She shook her head, and grabbed my arm calling, "That's our cue!" as she began dragging me toward the train. Merlin help me.

A/N: Sooo? Did anyone like it? I know it's not that action packed but I hope you liked it anyway. More action will come later.