"Mom, there's no way they're going to buy this. I look completely like myself," Anna said to her mom about her new outfit. "It's Europe, not West Chester."
"You're supposed to be yourself, just not the 'other', special part of you. And we haven't lived in West Chester in 7 years, how do you even remember?"
"San Francisco is awesome until you realize you have no friends, no boyfriend, and you spend your days killing demons by blowing them up with your hands. That's when you start to sulk."
"Look, I know that going to a boarding school, Hogwarts at that, is gonna be a big change. And hiding your powers from everyone is gonna be weird too, but this isn't your choice. It's an assignment. You had that premonition for a reason and now you gotta find out what the reason is."
"Mom, I can't go to London. I had a hard time hiding my powers from the mailman! How am I supposed to become friends with these people with this on my shoulders in a different country where they call the bathroom the loo for crying out loud." Anna started to panic.
'I can't do this, there's no way.'
"Yes, honey you can do this. And Hermione's one of them. She'll help you out okay?" her mom replied.
"Ma, stop reading my mind please?" Anna looked at her mom incredulously.
"Fine. Then stop reading my feelings."
"I was not! Phone."
"Phone?"
The phone began to ring. "Oh, phone. Hon, you finish packing and Josh will shift you there in a few minutes."
"Fine. Tell Donna I said hello.
"Do- the phone, right. Will do."
Harry awoke at the Burrow the day that they had to leave for school feeling very excited, but very depressed. This was his final year at Hogwarts! His final year. That was a very scary thought.
"Ron, wake up, were late."
Ron opened his eyes and blinked repeatedly. "Yeah, what else is new." Ron took his time waking up and then he asked, "Hey, you know that new girl that Hermione's been talking about all summer?"
"The one that's transferring from a wizarding school in America. Yeah, what about her?"
"I just wonder what she's like is all. I mean, now that Hermione's going to have 'other' friends besides us, we won't be the threesome anymore."
"Sure we will, I mean we'll still be best friends. Just plus one. And we aren't Hermione's only friends, you know."
Ron ignored the last bit of Harry's statement and continued, "I wonder if she's heard about you. I mean, you know…about your…uh…story?"
"I dunno. America's really far away. There's a chance she hasn't, and there's a chance she has."
"Yeah, well we should get downstairs we have to leave soon."
"Yup."
Harry and Ron both got dressed, gathered the last of their things and met the rest of the group in the kitchen where everyone was eating a breakfast of bacon and eggs.
"Ron, Harry, nice of you to join us!" Mr. Weasley said from the head of the table as they walked into the kitchen.
"Morning dad, mum."
"Morning Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Weasley. Where's Hermione? She was here yesterday wasn't she?" Harry asked.
"Yes, dear, she was," Mrs. Weasley replied, "she went ahead to the train station to meet up with her friend from America. Anna, I think is her name."
"Yes, it's Anna," said Ginny who just joined them, "I met her the other day in Diagon Alley when Hermione and I were shopping. You were in the bookstore, Mum."
"Oh, yes, I remember. I didn't get a chance to properly meet her, she seems nice though. Pretty, too." She looked at Harry and Ron accusingly as she said this; almost like saying 'You boys better keep your hands to yourself.'
Harry blushed slightly; especially since Ginny saw the look her mother gave her ex-boyfriend. Ron just looked annoyed.
"Ok, so let's go, everyone!"
They all filed outside and into the company car that Mr. Weasley rented rather sneakily from the Ministry.
Anna walked through the barrier that separated Muggle London and the Hogwart's Express.
"Herms!" Anna squeaked when she spotted Hermione and ran towards her friend. The two hugged until Hermione jumped back and looked at her outfit.
"Oh, wow, Anna, you look great, but you're not wearing that on the train are you?"
"I think I am, yes. Besides, my job is to make an impression, after all." She was wearing a very tight black top and a jean miniskirt with sandals. "You don't look all that bad yourself. Trying to impress someone?"
"Maybe," Hermione replied. She was wearing tight jeans and a pretty pink top.
Hermione and Anna laughed at each other's stupid jokes while they pushed and pulled their things onto the train.
"We're, like, really early. We could have any compartment we want!" Hermione said excitedly.
"Good, I thought this was just a really really small school." They looked at each other and laughed again.
Hermione sighed. "I don't know how you're gonna get any work done with us two laughing all the time. Just wait 'til you meet Harry, Ron, and Ginny. They'll all love you!"
"Yes, well most people do!" They started laughing again. Both were laughing so hard that tears were coming down their cheeks and so they didn't hear someone slide open the compartment door and step in.
"Granger, and uh…guest…This is my compartment. Get out now."
"Malfoy! How dare you show up here! After what you did last year! You should be in jail! Either that or with your father." Hermione looked at him like she was daring him to retort.
"Hey, Herms, should I blow him up?" Anna asked innocently.
"Discretion, Anna. Discretion. Be careful." Hermione looked at her friend with a serious expression on her face.
"Oh, yeah. My bad. So who is this jerk anyway?" she said looking meaningfully at Malfoy.
"You obviously are new here. My name is Malfoy. Draco Malfoy. And what is your name?"
Anna answered, "Bond. James Bond." Which sent Hermione into fit of giggles.
"Your name is James?" Malfoy asked stupidly looking at her like she was scum.
"Ha, no my name is Anna Haliwell. But I wish it were James." Like a timer, Hermione began laughing again, after just managing to suppress her previous giggles.
"Whatever, take the bloody compartment."
"Okey Dokey then!" Anna said. She then poked Malfoy in the chest repeatedly until he as pushed out of the compartment and began laughing with Hermione.
"Is he usually like that?" Anna asked.
"Oh yes," said Hermione. "Although, he's usually flanked by two huge gargoyles of boys. I suppose they gave up on him after what happened last year. I told you that story right?"
"Yeah, and I'm still having nightmares." Anna shuddered. "He really is an awful person, isn't he?"
"Only the worst."
The two friends continued to chat about nothing significant for a while until the others arrived and the compartment door opened again. This time, Harry, Ron and Ginny walked in.
"Hey guys! How was your trip?" Hermione asked.
"It was fine," said Ron who was eyeing Anna suspiciously.
Anna cleared her throat.
"Oh, right. Anna that's Harry, this is Ron, and this is Ginny. Everyone, this is Anna." Hermione said, pointing to each one of her friends.
"Hey," they all said in unison.
"Hermione's told us a lot about you," said Ginny. "What's San Fransisco like?"
"It's okay, I guess. Big, with you know people and buildings and such. It's just home to me."
"Cool."
"Yep."
"So…" Hermione decided to try to kill the awkward silence. She made a mental note to thank Ginny for being nice and welcoming, and to smack the two lunatics who kept looking at her like she was an alien. "So, guys, are you gonna stand there and stare at Anna or are you gonna sit?"
Ron and Harry both peeled their eyes from her looking startled.
"Thanks, Herms." said Anna. "Oh, I forgot to tell you, I was sorted into Gryffindor when I went to see the Headmistress over the summer."
"That's great!" said Ginny.
"Yes! This means we're bunking together!" Hermione squealed.
Anna beamed at them all. "So what do you guys do for fun around here?" she asked as they all sat down. Hermione, Ginny and Anna on one bench, and Rona and Harry on the other.
"You know, the usual. Quidditch, Hogsmeade weekends and stuff," Ron answered. He was obviously trying to seem superior, because when Anna answered, he looked very put out.
"Quidditch! Ha, I love quidditch!"
"Do you play?" Ginny asked.
"Yeah," she said, "but I'm not that good."
"Are you kidding? You're the best chaser I've ever seen! Next to Ginny, of course."
Ginny pretended to look offended. "Of course!" she said. "We should all play one time! Harry seeks and Ron is a keeper."
"Cool, that would be really fun! Hey, Herms lemme talk to you outside for a sec.?" Anna replied.
"Yes, of course." Hermione and Anna both got up and walked outside of the compartment slowly sliding the door closed behind them.
"Herms, I just wanted to say that I'm really glad that your friends are so great, they're really making me feel at home." Anna said as soon as they were outside.
"Aw, I'm really glad, and I'm really glad that you're here! This year is gonna rock!"
"Yay!" Both girls smiled at each other and headed back inside.
While they were gone………
"Harry, what do you think of her?" Ron asked.
"She seems nice…" Harry replied.
"Yeah, but there's something weird about her…"
"She has a name you know. It's Anna. I like her." Ginny butted in.
"Look, Ginny, it doesn't matter what you think because…well because your…well your you." said Ron.
This time, Ginny really was offended. "Just because you think you're king of the universe Ronald, doesn't mean that you are."
Ron shot Ginny a look of loathing, just as Hermione and Anna walked back in. The next hour of the train ride passed rather quickly, Ginny and Anna really seemed to hit it off, while Ron and Harry only half-heartedly participated in the small talk. About an hour and a half into the train ride, Hermione stood up and looked at Ron.
"Ron we should go now."
Ron looked up from the Chudley Cannons book he was reading. "Why?"
"Prefects duties. Come on, we have to go." When Ron didn't make a move, she smacked him on the back of his head.
"Ouch! What the hell was that for?"
"For being an idiot. Now."
"Fine, geez. You didn't have to hit me, you know."
To Anna, Hermione said, "We should be back in a few minutes. Depending on whether or not this moron actually helps and doesn't hurt."
Ron and Hermione left the compartment and began walking slowly around the train.
When Ron began to say something to Hermione, she cut him off.
"Not now, Ronald, I'm too angry with you."
"Angry with me? For what? I haven't done anything!"
"Oh, yes you have. All I ask is for you to be kind to Anna and here you are treating her like she's some kind of evil alien! She is a nice girl, Ron. And you are a jerk." Hermione turned on her heel and stormed off into the general direction of the compartment. She stopped dead when she heard someone screaming.
"Ron!"
"Hermione, it's coming from our compartment. Go!"