A storm was approaching , faint lighting could be seen flashing across the dark night skies. A woman in her late twenties was running for her life, a three year girl running hand in hand with her through the forest, hoping to seek refuge there away from the death eaters trying to hunt them. In such a rush moment, the little girl tripped on a branch shouting "Mummy! "

"Samantha! " The woman immediately turned back and picked up her daughter, brushing off the dirt on her daughter's dress.

"You alright, sweetie?" The little girl gave a nod and clung on tight to her mother.

"There she is! Get her!" Death eaters are catching up to the mother and daughter, trying to kill her on their lord's orders.

"Stupefy!"

"Protego!"

"Avada Ke-"

"Petrifcus Totalus! "

The woman shot down the death eaters one by one , heading towards a big bush and hiding behind it. Putting up protective spells that could only stall for little time, she turned to her daughter who started to speak after the chasing frenzy died down moments ago.

"Mummy, where is Father, Natalie and Lexi? Are they alright? Why are there people trying to kill us? " Questions in the girl's mind were all pouring out. Even though she was only three, her heart was pounding in fear wondering if they can survive this chase to the death.

"Sam, your father is bringing them to a safe place, we will be meeting up with them soon. Those people are death eaters , working for an evil wizard, they are chasing us because we choose to not serve the evil wizard in the name of good."

The woman answered, her dark brown eyes filled with fear and panic for her daughter. What if they cannot survive?

No! Even if she cannot survive, her daughter must, she cannot die so young. Taking off her necklace with a red gem orb, she placed it around her daughter's neck, knowing the orb can keep her daughter safe.

"This ring has been in my family for many years, it will protect you since you carry the blood of the family. Be safe, Sam, be a good girl." The woman spoke as she stroked her daughter's head.

"And whatever you do, promise to keep it safe and grow up to a good person. Pinky swear? " The little girl hooked her pinky around her mother's and gave it a nod.

"Now, no matter what happens, stay absolutely quiet. Mummy is going to deal with those jerks. " The woman held on tightly to her wand, preparing to face those death eaters even though she might lose her life."

"Where are they? I remember seeing them heading towards here. " A death eater exclaimed.

"Don't fret. I know how to lure the woman out." Antonin Dolohov, a cruel death eater answered. "Come out here woman! You can run but you can never hide, Anna James! You can never escape the dark lord. Don't you want to know how are your two dear friends, Fabian and Gideon Prewett doing right now? " Antonin shouted out into the forest.

Hearing the names of her two best friends made her come out from hiding without a thought. "What did you to them?!" She shouted, sending a glare to Antonin and his lackeys. "We just finished them off awhile ago, they put up quite a great fight but apparently not great enough. THEY ARE DEAD! GONE! Hahahaha! What are you going to do without those two bodyguards of yours?" He gave a cackling evil laugh and smirked.

"You are going down! Reducto!" Anna started throwing spells at death eaters, overwhelmed with grief of the loss of her best friends. A sudden feeling of anger and determination overcame her, she wanted revenge for her friends. Channeling all her energy despite her exhaustedness after the long hours of being chased, she held up her wand. A big gale of wind blew and she shouted out a spell.

"Sectumsempra!" She aimed the spell at Antonin, creating a big gash to appear on his left arm.

Blood oozed out of the cut, Antonin grabbed onto his arm and looked arm with rage at Sora. He shot a stunning spell at the tired and breathless Anna who dropped to the ground with a loud thud. The rain was pouring on heavily and thunder was booming loudly.

"You will regret doing to this me woman! I am going to give you a little taste of what your dear friends experienced. Crucio!" He mercilessly tortured the woman, whom tried not to scream outy loud and withstood the pain to not make him fell high and mighty. "I am going to send you to your friends now! Nobody can save you, not even your husband!" The woman felt helpless, turning her head to the side where her daughter was hiding, she locked eyes with their daughter through a small hole in the bush. Her daughter saw everything that was happening, she muttered 'I love you' to her daughter .

The little girl heard a 'Avada Kedavra' and saw a flash of green light in her sight. Her mother's scream filled her head. The thunder was never louder at that moment and bright lightning flashed. The girl cupped her ears and cried silently, closing her eyes tight and wished for everything to go away.

"Don't think I do not know you are hiding in the bush, little girl. You have seen what happened to your mother and now it is going to happen to you!" Antonin snarled and pointed his wand to mutter the spell at the shivering girl in the torrential rain. However before he could say the spell, he was surrounded and outnumbered by members of the order.

The little girl opened her eyes and saw her Uncle Remus reaching out for her. She immediately ran to his arms and felt her eyes closing. Her heart was pounding, witnessing the death of her mother took a great toll on her. She cried more tears just thinking about it, subconsciously clutching onto her mother's necklace.


Sam's eyes shot open, the dream still felt so real after 8 years. Her face was stained with tears; she brought up her fingers to wipe them away. Her mind was still on the dream, "Mum, Dad." She turned to her bedside table and picked up the photo frame.

The photo showed a fairly young Asian woman with long flowing chestnut hair that looked like her. The woman smiling widely was tugging onto the arm of a handsome young raven hair man who seemed stoic, trying to make him smile for the camera. The man gave a faint smirk instead and the looked away from the camera.

A smile formed on her face, her father was not the friendliest person in the world but he died as noble hero in the first wizarding war 8 years ago. Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted when someone shouted from the first floor.

"Samantha Daisy James! You have only two hours to get ready before the Hogwarts Express leaves you behind!" That is Alexis, my younger sister by 2 years, spunky, straight-forward and sarcastic. She is the outgoing, outspoken and daring one out of the three James sisters.

After freshening up and getting casually dressed, I walked downstairs to the dining room. I cannot help but smile at the sight. Lexi is trying to make toast but two burnt toast popped up from the toaster and she gave a glare to the toaster while Natalie being the responsible, motherly and eldest sister that she is setting up the table.

My grandma, Sue was cooking up breakfast while grandpa, Hans was reading the daily prophet like always. My grandparents are my mother's parents, my father was an orphan raised by a guardian.

Nat, Lexi and I have been sent to be raised under our grandparent's care since our parent's death.

"Morning! Oooh, waffles for breakfast! Lexi, can you pass me the orange juice?" I greeted.

"Ah! Here comes our new witch soon going off for her first year of Hogwarts! Feeling excited?" Grandpa asked with a grin. I gave a nod and sat down beside Natalie at the table.

"It is going to be fun at Hogwarts for you, my dear." Grandma said.

"I remember the day when your mother first went to Hogwarts, She was so excited she practically could not sHansp all night and almost missed the train the next day." She chuckled while saying.

"It is so unfair, you and Nat are learning magic and have fun while I am stuck here for two years before I can join you girls." Lexi gave a pout.

"Lucky for Hogwarts, it can have two years of peace before you come and be up to mischief and create trouble." Natalie commented.

All of us laughed and agreed while Lexi gave a glare before breaking out into a grin and laughed too. After breakfast, I went up to the big bedroom that we three sisters share together to get ready and brought my trunk down.

Grandpa got the car ready, and helped me and Natalie with our trunks. I slide into the seat of the car while Grandpa start up the car's engine and our entire family is heading for King Cross Station.

While the car is filled with chatter , I looked out of the window of the car. My heart is pumping with excitement at the thought of finally going to Hogwarts! I wonder if I could meet someone special just like how mum and dad first met each other at Hogwarts too.

I am nervous for what is to come and am scared of all a sudden, what if I cannot make friends? I am not as lively and fun like Lexi or cool and level headed like Natalie. I am pretty much average and normal I think; the boring one out of the James sisters in short.

My thoughts stopped as soon as the car almost made its stop. "We are here!" Grandpa exclaimed. Natalie and I got our trunks on trolleys and made our way to platform 9 ¾ , the platform where the Hogwarts Express would be at. Now is there really such a platform?

With sweaty and clammy palms on the handles of my trolley, I followed Natalie who confidently led the way. Natalie is a fifth year Gryffindor now although we often joked that she should be a Ravenclaw.

She is the top of her year but she is not a nerd, I assure you. She is also made prefect this year, she always had been capable like that. It is going to be stressful for her this year, I guess I cannot rely on her too much this year.

We were approaching this wall between platform 9 and 10 that will lead us to platform 9 ¾ as told by my older sister. Suddenly, big group of people with exceptionally bright red hair came into my line of vision.

Two tall boys that seem like the eldest were busy talking while another one with curly hair and glasses was sticking his nose into a book. What interests me is a pair of twins, talking with many hand gestures and wide smiles on their faces. They seem pretty excited.

A slightly plump woman with shoulder length ginger hair is holding hands of a young boy and a much younger girl accompanied by stocky and slightly balding man. Wow, to think I thought my family is big.

"Hey Bill, Charlie!" Natalie called out.

The two tall gingers turned their heads to her direction and welcomed her in a big hug.

"Hi Percy!" Natalie greeted the curly haired boy and I swore he blushed. It seemed like he was crushing on her.

"Arthur! Molly! So nice to meet you! " Grandpa greeted two adults who had the same bright red hair from behind me.

"This must be Fred and George, your sons who are entering Hogwarts for their first year too." He pointed to the twins.

"Yes! So nice to meet you again, Hans and Sue!" The man, Arthur replied. He turned his gaze to me and had a shocked expression took over his face. His wife had the same expression as well. I looked at them with a curious gaze, why are they looking at me with that expression?

"Oh my! You look so much like Anna. It is like seeing her in person again when she was younger. You are Samantha, right my dear? " Molly asked. I gave her a polite nod, wow I look just like mum?

"Your mother was an amazing woman." She added with a tender smile.

"You are a first year too right?" I nodded again. "My son Fred and George will be in the same year as you, I hope you can look out for each other at Hogwarts. Those two can be a bit of an handful. You can call me Mrs Weasley by the way." Mrs Weasley smiled warmly.

"Fred, George, get over here and meet someone!" She waved over to the pair of twins.

"Hi! Samantha right? Mum told us." One of the twins asked me. I nodded.

"Hi! My name is George! I reckon that I am the better looking twin!" Another twin popped out from behind the first twin and introduced himself.

"And I am Fred! Sorry Georgie, but I am the better looking twin! " I smiled at them, I noticed that George is a bit taller, so I better keep that in mind if I were to be able to distinguish them.

"Hi." I said meekly. I hope I don't come off as rude. I admit I am shy and quiet but it is how I am first like to new people, can't blame me right?

"Okay time to leave for the train everyone!" Mrs Weasley announced. I turned to hug Grandma and Grandpa and placed kisses on their cheeks while hugging and teasing Lexi to wait patiently for another two more years.

"I will try." Lexi said with a sigh. "Sucks that we cannot go until another two years later huh?" She elbowed and asked the young ginger boy beside her who is probably the same age as her. The boy was surprised by her outspokenness and friendliness but gave a nod and 'yeah'.

I turned my trolley towards the wall and saw the older Weasley kids running through the wall to get to the station. I gulped, have I mentioned I was a little bit gutless as well? Natalie already ran through the wall and I was next. I smiled and said a final goodbye to Lexi and my grandparents and the Weasleys . I turned back in front with a horrified face. Crap! I cannot do this!

Suddenly, I found myself in between Fred and George who started running towards the barrier, pushing me along as well. What do they think they are doing? The wall was just right in front and I closed my eyes and ran along with the twins. I thought I might face the impact of the wall but I didn't.

Whew! I made it alive! I opened my eyes, looking for the twins.

"What did you do that for? Oh my gosh, I thought I was about to get a heart attack! What if I was not ready and hit the wall instead?" I questioned them.

"Sorry, we took you off guard, didn't we?" The one I thought was George said.

"No need to apologise George, if she stood there any longer, we might have missed the train! You didn't get hurt anyway, you are a witch! It's not like the wall won't let you through! We helped you for crying out loud!" Fred commented sarcastically.

"Why you are so…" I retorted to only get cut off by George.

"Come on, if you two don't stop fighting, we will really miss the train. Fred, be nice." George stated.

"Sorry George, I was being a little rude." He gave an 'It is okay' look and I smiled.

"And Fred, I am so NOT sorry, you jerk. What kind of guy are you being mean to a girl? " I retorted. I had to bit back my laughter as I could see the frown forming on his face.

"Bye George!" I smiled and when I turned to Fred, my smiling face turned sour. I hopped onto the train and walked along the aisles, dragging my trunk, hoping to find a compartment. Where is Natalie, shouldn't she guide her sister on the first day of school? So much for her being the responsible sister.


Turning my head left and right, I was hoping to find someone friendly looking enough to seat with and hopefully to be friends with. It seems like I have no luck there, after fifteen minutes of passing compartment by compartment! I stopped by a compartment where there was laughter erupting from it. Curious, I peeked through the window pane.

It was Fred and George sitting with a short tanned boy with dreadlocks. I was hesitant to ask if I could join them but I really do not want to face Fred. After passing a few more compartments, I saw a girl with bright blonde hair, fair with beautiful gren eyes sketching on a book.

Should I ask for a seat? Oh what the heck, I thought. My legs are aching and she seems nice.

Cautiously sliding the door, I stuck my head out and clear my throat. "Umm hi? I- I was wondering if I can join y- whoa!" The train just started moving and I was jerked into the compartment, falling to the ground along with my trunk.

She gasped in surprise but soon held out her hand.

"Are you alright? And sure you can join me." I grabbed her hand and jumped back on my feet,

"Thanks! Samantha James. Pleasure to meet you!" I introduced myself.

"Madeline Reins. Glad to make the acquaintance." I know this might sound too straightforward, but are your parents Dylan and Anna James?" I nodded, curious to know how she knew my parents.

"I have heard of your parents, great aurors especially your father. My father told me he was one of the greatest aurors of his time, defeating ten strong death eaters at once!" She said in awe.

"You like drawing? You seem pretty good at it." I commented as I caught a glimpse of her sketch.

"Yeah, I love art all my entire life. I hope I can have a future with it. I was actually afraid I won't make any friends; you see I am an only child. So it has always been just me alone for the past eleven years."

"I grew up as the middle child with two sisters. Even so, making new friends is entire scary thing by itself. Don't worry, I will be your friend." I gave her thumbs up.

We chuckled, chatted, shared many stories and got to know one another more. I have a feeling Madeline and I could be great friends, we instantly clicked and I opened up to her easily.

This seems like a great start for my first year at Hogwarts!