Quite obviously, I own nothing.

"Come on, little sister, you're going to be late." A soft chuckle sounded from behind Dominic as she was dragged through Kings Cross station by Jonathon, her older brother. At sixteen, he towered over eleven-year-old Dominic, and he looked a bloody menace in his full Goth getup. It was the only thing he could wear in public that didn't get him overly funny looks for being fully covered in the summer. Because of his sensitive skin, he had to pile on the layers and sunscreen, and wear special sunglasses to protect his sensitive eyes from the sun. Such was the curse of being a vampire. She supposed he was lucky he was a pure-blooded born, instead of a turned, because otherwise he wouldn't be able to go out in the sun at all.

Their parents followed behind the two, her father pushing a trolley with her trunk on it, as well as a good sized messenger bag that Dominic would be keeping with her on the train. There was also a strange basket Jonathan had retrieved from the neighbors just as they were leaving, and had refused to tell Dominic what was in it. Her mother was laughing at her adopted son's antics, shaking her head lightly. They reached platforms 9 and 10, but absolutely nowhere could Dominic see a platform 9 ¾. Nervous, she checked her ticket again. Sure enough, the words:

"The Hogwarts Express

Platform 9 ¾

September 1st

11:00 A.M."

were written on it, and for the first time, Dominic began to wonder if this was all some kind of ridiculously elaborate practical joke.

"Excuse me, Miss?" Dominic looked up to see her brother addressing two girls, one of which appeared to be about Dominic's age, the other a couple years older. They were both pushing trolleys with trunks similar to Dominic's, and the elder had an owl caged on top of hers. Both girls were looking up at Jonathan with wide eyes, as though the prospect of being addressed in a crowded train station was alarming. Dominic noted a man and woman not far behind them giving Jonathan weary looks. "Can you tell us how to get to Platform 9 ¾?" Relief seem to sweep through entire family, and the younger girl gave Dominic, who was not ashamed to say that she was hiding behind her brothers long legs and billowy trench coat, an appraising look.

"Your first year, too?" Dominic nodded, smiling shyly at the other girl. She positively beamed back at her. "I'm Astoria. Astoria Greengrass. This is my sister, Daphne. Those are my parents." Astoria looked at Dominic as though she was expecting something, though Dominic couldn't guess what until Jonathan tugged her forward by her hand, sighing.

"Go on, then," he coaxed. Dominic shifted. She didn't like having attention on her unless she was on stage in a group, anonymous.

"Um. I'm Dominic Anderson," she managed to murmur out, "and this is my brother, Jonathan, and my parents." This last bit was said a bit louder as she gestured to the others, eager for the attention to no longer be on her. Astoria grinned at her. Daphne cleared her throat.

"Well, now that that's settled, follow us to get to the platform." They did, and Astoria reached out and took Dominic's hand, pulling her along as both sets of parents fell into step next to each other.

"So," she heard the other man say, "You're muggles." She heard a soft chuckle from her father as her mother responded.

"That we are, Mr. Greengrass. Might I say that your daughters both have lovely names. Not that I don't love Dominic's name, but it wasn't what I would have chosen for her." She must have received confused looks to the comment, because she continued, "Both her and Jonathan are adopted, you see. We didn't get her until she was three, and then it was too late to change her name without causing the poor child a great deal of confusion. She's always been a delight, and it wasn't a surprise at all when we found out."

"Well," said Daphne, cutting off the adult's conversation, "This is it." They were standing in front of a brick wall between platforms 9 and 10. Dominic looked up at the other girl like she was completely nuts, until Astoria tugged her forward, pushing her into the wall. She was about to turn and knock the girl on her bum when she noticed that there was a giant, bright red train in front of her. She turned around just in time to see Astoria walk through the wall behind her. The girl grinned and winked at her.

"I'll go get us a compartment," she giggled, heading towards the train, weaving through the throng of people around it. Dominic looked back at the wall as Jonathan, followed by Daphne and the four adults all came through. Daphne frowned at her.

"Where's my sister?"

"She said she was going to get a compartment." Daphne rolled her eyes.

"Of course she did." She turned and headed off in the same direction as her sister, her parents following behind her. Dominic and her family followed as well, and together the group found Astoria fairly quickly. Dominic and her family loaded her things on the train, and she took the messenger bag. Jonathan handed her the basket.

"Don't open it till the trip starts, okay?" He looked over at Astoria. "Look after her if you can, will you? She doesn't make friends easy." Astoria grinned and nodded at him. The whistle blew, signaling that students needed to get on the train or they were going to be left behind. Dominic accepted kisses from her family and followed Astoria onto the train.

"I managed to get us a decent compartment, follow me." Dominic nodded, and soon found herself sitting across from Astoria in a pleasantly roomy compartment that should easily fit 6, along with Daphne. She sat the basket from her brother down on the floor, and pulled the messenger bag over her head before letting it land lightly next to it, looking out the window just in time to see the station disappear from view, and suddenly they were speeding through the English countryside. A few moments passed before the compartment door was opened and a thin, good looking black boy around Daphne's age was standing there. Dominic noted that he was well dressed, his clothing made of high quality fabric, as he leaned out the door and murmured something to whomever was behind him. He turned to Daphne.

"Do you mind if we join you? Everywhere else is full. I'm trying to keep Draco from terrorizing first years for their seats." Daphne giggled, blushing, and shook her head. Astoria rolled her eyes. He settled into the seat next to Dominic, directly across from Daphne and smiled at her, as two others followed him into the compartment. One was a blond boy with flashing grey eyes and what looked like a permanent sneer plastered across his face, the other was a pug faced girl with dark hair and eyes, who grinned at Daphne and settled in next to her. The boy settled into the seat next to the door. The ride continued in relative calm as the four upperclassmen talked about classes, students, and teachers; and what they thought would happen to the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher this year. Dominic learned by listening in that the blond boy was called Draco Malfoy, the girl was Pansy Parkinson, and the good looking black boy was Blaise Zabini. At one point during their conversation, she noted a chain with a small, green gemmed pendant hanging from his neck.

She picked up her bag, flipping open the top and began to shift through it. She pulled out a tin, shook it once, and realized that it was her cookies. Smiling happily, she tugged the top off and picked one up, biting into it. Peanut butter chocolate chip. They were the cookies that Dominic and her mom had made a couple days ago. Dominic loved them. She held the tin out to Astoria, who look surprised, but took two, handing one to her sister. Dominic moved the tin in front of Blaise, drawing his attention. He looked down at her.

"For me?" he asked. Smiling in what she hoped was a disarming manner, she nodded, and when he took a cookie, she leaned around him to offer to Pansy and Draco. They looked at each other and shrugged, each picking up a cookie. She gave them the same smile she'd given Blaise before settling back into her seat. She set the bag back on the floor and looked at the basket, which had shifted slightly. Frowning, she passed the tin to Astoria, who held onto it while Dominic undid the clasp holding it shut. Lifting the lid, she gasped in delight. Inside was a small, black and white puff ball of a kitten. It was mostly black, with a white belly and paws, and Dominic could hardly see its face and ears for the long, poufy hair that seemed to stand straight up. Gently, she lifted the small cat up, cradling it to her chest as she picked up the note that had been in the basket with it.

Sis,

Congratulations on going to your new school, I knew you were meant for something special.

This is Pixie. He'll also answer to a series of 3 clicks. (Yes, it's a male, I had him checked when I got him.) I know you always wanted one, but with Mom's allergies, it wasn't possible until now. That's why I had the neighbors keep him until today. The shop owner said that he's just weaned from his mom's milk, so don't worry about a special diet or anything. His hair should settle down soon, but I should warn you: He licks. All the time.

Again, good luck at school, make us proud.

Johnny Boy

Still grinning, she looked up to notice that the other occupants of the compartment were staring at her. She shifted, uncomfortable with the attention, and jumped slightly when something rough passed over her hand. She looked down just in time to see the kitten licking her hand like it was the most delicious thing ever and gigged. Astoria stood, moved the basket from in front of Dominic, and knelt in front of her. Gently, she reached out and stroked the kitten's head, and soon, it was emitting loud purrs that vibrated through its entire body and Dominic's. Both girls giggled at the tiny creature. It was undeniably adorable. Soon enough, the girls asked the boys to leave (or at the very least, turn around) so they could change, and did the same for the boys. Draco said something about finding Crabb and Goyle and left. The remainder of the group settled back into their seats and passed the cookie tin around. Pansy and Blaise both remarked that the cookies were good, and asked Dominic where she got them, raising their eyebrows when she murmured that she'd made them herself.

"My parents have house elves, so I'm completely useless when it comes to anything domestic. I do draw though," was Pansy's response, and Daphne and Astoria both admitted to the same home situation.

"Mom taught me to embroider, actually," said Daphne, "and I find I rather enjoy it. It's relaxing." Astoria shuddered. "She's no good at it, keeps sticking herself with the needle. Seems to like knitting okay though." The last comment received a small shrug, and the conversation moved on. "What hobbies do you have, Blaise. You don't seem to play Quidditch much." Blaise shrugged.

"I like to write, and I play piano when I have the opportunity." Daphne grinned at him, her eyelashes fluttering slightly.

"I'd love to hear you play sometime." Dominic and Astoria looked at each other and went back to petting Pixie. Once or twice, Blaise reached over and stroked the tiny cat's head, earning a few extra loud purrs for his efforts. Dominic smiled up at him. She was a firm believer that cats knew good people from bad, and anyone that had the approval of her cat was okay in her book.
Suddenly the train stopped. Dominic frowned at the confused looks on the older students faces. Were they not at the school yet? Pixie let out a strange yowling sound, and attempted to burrow as far into Dominic as he could. She curled around him, an unsettling chill creeping into her bones.

She heard a terrible, horrified whisper of "Dementors" from Pansy, and then one of Blaise's arms wrapped over her shoulder, pressing himself to her as close as he could. She stiffened, not use to the touch of others, until she noticed Daphne and Pansy gathering close, Daphne wrapping herself protectively around Astoria, who was huddled into Dominic's knees, and Pansy pressed herself close to both Daphne and Blaise. A dark figure opened the compartment door, and a voice Dominic didn't know filled her ears.

"No, I don't want to hold it, get the damn thing away from me. I never want to lay eyes on it again. No doubt it's a monster, just like it's beast of a father."

Then the voice was fading and the black cloaked figure was gliding away. She heard a panicked cry from further down the train, and her stomach tried to revolt as Blaise pulled away from her and picked up the cookie tin.

"These will have to do," he murmured and started handing a couple to everyone. Still cold and stomach still rolling, she tried to refuse them.

"Just eat a couple," Pansy coaxed kindly from around her own cookie, "the chocolate in them will make it all better. I promise. Whenever my mum and I go to visit my uncle in Azkaban, she always gives me chocolate afterword and I feel better. The biscuits are all we have right now, so we have to make due." If only to make them all stop bothering her, she took a couple and nibbled on them. Pansy was right, as soon as she swallowed the chocolate, warmth settled back through her, but her stomach didn't settle. She checked on Pixie and found the kitten to be asleep, so she placed him back in the basket she'd received him in. As the door opened and Draco and two larger boys came into the compartment, each taking two cookies before Blaise covered the tin and placed it into her bag for her after nod of approval, she decided against telling these strangers that the problem hadn't been the Dementor, but the newfound knowledge that her birth mother wasn't dead, that she'd simply not been wanted. After all, nice as they seemed, what was to keep them from hating her as well.