Chapter 1

As the Hogwarts Express pulled away from the platform 9 3/4, Phoebe slid the compartment door closed, turned around, and was confronted with the usual chaos that came with the train journey.

Laura had craftily shot a jelly-legs jinx at Michael, who had unluckily fallen on Max's great ginger cat, Terrance. The hairy beast had leapt, hissing and squealing, upon Blossom, who was now wrestling it away from her face. As if this wasn't enough, Chambers and Norman (who were actually called Jack and Chris, but no-one really referred to them as that) had engaged in a very competitive game of exploding snap, which left Chambers dangling from the ceiling with BTB's underwear wrapped around his head.

It was now that Phoebe sighed, but thought 'It's good to be back'. With a swift flick of her wand, everyone froze. "I leave you alone for 5 minutes and chaos breaks out! Honestly, what on earth would you do without me?"

The gang exchanged knowing looks and sank to the floor. With a little giggle Phoebe sat herself between Blossom (who had managed to remove the cat) and Maddy, who was stroking the soft purple fur of her pygmy puff, Nigel.

A few hours into the journey, after the sweets trolley passed, the teenagers, weighed down with hundreds of sweets, began discussing loudly their favourite subject. Quidditch. "The cannons were on fire this summer - when Moran was banned I thought we were finished!" Announced Chambers with a look of pride on his face.

Suddenly there was a smashing of bottles, as Max sunk to the floor. He peered up from the wreckage looking glassy eyed and confused. Then he surveyed the group, and found who he was looking for... Springing to his feet, he clambered across to where Maddy sat, and began bowing at her feet, kissing her hands. "I LOVE YOU!" He screamed.

It was too late. The gang had collapsed in fits of laughter, despite, and no doubt encouraged by the utterly horrified look on Maddy's face. "Classic!" BTB spluttered through the tears streaming down her cheeks. "One of my best yet" stated Laura smugly, with a satisfied grin. "You!" Maddy sprang across the compartment (quickly followed by Max who was now singing a love song to her) and began screaming and hitting Laura, who had just melted in a pool of laughter.

Phoebe, tears cascading down her face, trying not to choke through her laughter, stumbled to her feet and walked over to help her partner in crime. "Nice one, Pain" she choked, after restraining an hysteric Madeleine using a full body bind jinx, and pulling Laura to her feet. "But, you know, there's a slight problem with your pairing..." She winked. "Dammit!" replied her twin, with a grin "we need to rectify that, Panic..." Everyone else looked on bemused at the display of a 'twin moment' - they didn't even bother trying to comprehend them anymore, as there was just no point.

Blossom chose that moment to let out an ear-piercing shriek, and began talking incredibly fast about her favourite (muggle) obsession. Anime. Apart from Max, the only one capable of understanding her, everyone ignored her, until it got to the point of her voice being so shrill that they just couldn't handle it - Michael lazily flicked a silencing charm at her, and they all breathed a sigh of relief. She, of course, was furious, but contented herself with shooting him a burning glare, as any physical assault she attempted, due to her size, would cause her more harm than him. Max, who had been distracted by Blossom's rant, went back to grovelling at the frozen Maddy's feet.

Sighing, Jacob got up and strolled over to Maddy, whilst shooting a counter curse at Max (said person immediately went red but laughed with the rest of them good naturedly), then turned to her. "Now, if I unbind you, please think rationally about attacking Laura, because her 'twin' happens to be Phoebe, a remarkably bright witch who happens to know a lot of spells, and I don't think she'd appreciate that. Am I right?" Phoebe smirked, saying "Glad you've all learnt that by now." Jacob then continued in a stage whisper "Besides, you can get your own back at a later date..." Maddy, after being 'unfrozen', did not attack Laura, but sighed and sat down. Of course, she became her usual bouncy self, asking, "So, kids, did we all have a good summer?"

They engaged in the mundane chit chat about their summers, Michael announcing that his dad had bought him yet another dragon egg, and had set fire to the kitchen. Again.

As the sun set over the hills, casting long shadows in the golden autumn light, the gang watched bright windows of a looming castle float into view.