*Please Note* These horses are my real life horses, Blade has an issue called 'loose stifle' in both back legs from being driven in a carriage too young, which means that his back legs can dislocate at anytime, having had him seen to by vets he cannot be left unridden for more than 3 days without causing his legs to weaken, each time they dislocate they cause him pain, the longer he is left the more chance it will be that his legs will become so weak he will have to be PTS, even when he has injured his legs I have to hand walk him every day to keep his strength up, this is the reason I used to be able to get my horses to Hogwarts, because Blade simply cannot be left unridden. I used my real life experiences from moving to Egypt earlier this year, leaving my mum with our 10 horses and 10 dogs (now down to 9 sheepdogs). I was sending her money each month and she was riding Blade every couple of days whenever she could just to keep him strong, but it eventually became too hard for both of us and I either had to bring Blade to Egypt with me, or leave. I had to leave Egypt (which was lucky really as the people weren't terrifically nice there) but I miss Egypt every single day, I just did what is right by my horses. So I hope this now makes more sense as to why Dumbledore would allow my horses to come to Hogwarts :)

Chapter 1 ~ The Letter.

"You have to go to Hogwarts, there are no ifs or buts!"

"But mother, I can't, I cannot just leave them for a year without work!"

"Turn them away, they'll be fine!"

"No, they won't and you know it!"

"You think I can't look after them?"

"I think you can, but you cannot exercise them enough or handle them if they get hot!"

"I will manage."

"No, you won't, you've seen what happens when he is left, I was lucky to have him out on loan these past few years, same with the others, it's too late now!"

"I'll find them loans."

"What if you don't?"

My mother was silent for a minute as she contemplated this; she sat down in a black arm chair by the open fire and watched the flames dance inside of the fireplace.

I tapped my foot and looked around the room, we were in the living room, a spacious long room with a fire place large than myself at one end and book cases at the other, with large windows lining the walls to let in enough light to read all day long. Now in the failing light it looked as eerie as ever and I disliked it. I tapped my foot louder whilst I waited for my mother's reply. One of my sheepdogs lifted their head blearily from the pile of dogs by the fire and watched me sleepily.

She finally looked up after what seemed and age and just stared at me.

"What do you want me to do Krissy? I can't let you just not go back to Hogwarts, you HAVE to go, that is it."

"Speak to Dumbledore, do something make him understand."

"Maybe we'll have to sell them." Instantly she knew she had said the wrong thing as I exploded before her. Once it was over she opened her eyes again.

"And further more, all MY horses passports are in MY name so you legally cannot sell them."

My mother sighed and looked back at the fireplace. "I'll ask Dumbledore if he has any advice."

"That's better." I said through gritted teeth and stalked off, purposefully knocking clumps of mud out of my riding boots as I walked away, I heard small noises as my mother flicked her wand in resignation and cleared it up.

I came out into a large hallway and walked down it until I came to a heavy oak door; I pulled it open and came out onto a stone paved terrace and down the steps onto a gravel pathway.

"Lumos." I said quietly and a bright light appeared from the end of my wand I had just produced from a pocket inside my robes as I continued on down the gravel walkway, the crunching under my boots familiar and comforting.

I headed towards a dark shape, as I got closer they became defined into large wooden and stone buildings. I stopped and looked at them, not for the first time in complete adoration for them. The biggest building was a large indoor school with a small gallery, on the outside of the arena was a stable block my mother used for her horses, and then next to it was a feed barn, tack room and a club house for when I wished to spend all day out here, it even had a small bed and a pull out sofa bed for when friends came to stay. A small way a ways was a large post and rail fence that stretched as far as the eye could see and another building, a wooden shelter for the horses.

I always wondered why more witches and wizards didn't have horses, they were a large part of our heritage as much as they were muggles' and much more exciting (at least to me) than brooms.

I heard a soft nicker as I approached and one of my mum's horses hung their head out the stable door, blinking in the bright light of my wand.

"Sorry Melody." I cooed and whispered 'Nox' to my wand, once extinguished I tapped the lanterns around the stables and they filled with a small flame, slightly illuminating the area.

I rubbed her head and smiled as I walked past, a few of the horses were lying down, some were nodding off and others were still eating.

I made my way over to the fence line and whistled quietly, before long a head poked out from the shelter and looked around, upon seeing me they blew out from their nose and came over, a large brown shape in the darkness with a white star on their forehead, with a black forelock hanging across it.

"Hello Bladey boy, did I wake you."

He snorted gently as if in response and nudged me gently, I lay my fingers on his soft nose and stroked him gently. As I closed my eyes I felt him shift underneath me, I looked up to see his ears pinned back as a pair of blue eyes shone out in the flickering light from the lantern by the shelter.

"Valken." I called out and the eyes stepped out into the light, little black ears flicked forwards and a startling white face. The horse trudged across the space between us and came to a stop next to Blade, leaning on the fence and snuffling my robes.

"Hello boys, mum wants me to leave you two here and go back to Hogwarts, can you believe it!" I paused and they look curiously at me, ears forwards and eyes bright. "Sometimes I'm sure you understand me," I jibed and playfully pushed at Valken's nose, "I love Hogwarts, but I can't, I just cannot leave you two here, especially you Blade, if you aren't kept in work the damage to your legs will get so much worse."

I looked up at Blade, a large 15.2hh bright bay Irish Trotter I had rescued so many years ago, he had 3 white feet, a crooked white star that always reminded people of Harry's lightning scar. I grimaced, stupid Potter, people had taken to calling my horse 'Potterboy' and it annoyed me to no end, comparing my horse to a Gryffindor. Besides, Blade was much more handsome than that half blood.

I turned to look at Valken, smaller at 14hh, he was a grey and white Gypsy Vanner with blue eyes, my pride and joy. He was my dream horse and I had rescued him only a year ago, but I loved him like nothing else.

I could hear noises inside the shelter and three more heads poked out, blinking drearily in the light. A small, 11hh grey and white pony stared intently at me, as if trying to x-ray my person for food, and two heads appeared above her, seemingly stuck together, one chestnut pony with a flaxen mane and tail and a white face, the other black with a white blaze and one blue eye. Cherokee, whom I had rescued from slaughter as a wild pony 2 years ago, Dusty, my foal from my mum's mare Melody, now 3 years old and being ridden, and Sierra, my standardbred cross I had rescued from the wild who was the same age as Dusty and glued to the hip with her. I laughed and turned my back on them before I got mugged, no way was I leaving them again, the girls could be turned away, all being young and small, hardy little cob types who liked relaxing. But Blade had serious damage to his legs from carriage driving and had to be in constant work to keep the muscles of his hindquarters strong. I sighed, this was going to an interesting few days.

"Krissy, come here please." Came the voice of my mother from the dining room as I walked past the door, I back stepped and walked in the doorway and grabbed the frame, hanging myself there.

"Yes mother?"

"I have a letter from Dumbledore."

"You do?! What does it say? Can I stay, can I do my school work here?"

"No."

"No, what, let me see."

I ran in and past the long dining table to the head of it where my mother was sitting, my father was next to her reading the Daily Prophet and seemed to be taking no notice whatsoever. I snatched the letter from her hand and read in earnest.

Dear Anne,

I completely agree that Kristina cannot miss a year at Hogwarts, every year is important but the 4th year is especially so. I am sorry about the situation and though I have had contact with horses before, I do not profess to know much about them, you are the expert here.

If you say they cannot be left for so long alone I must take your word for it, so I have spoken to our groundskeeper Rubeus Hagrid and he has agreed to allow Kristina's two horses to stay at Hogwarts for the duration of the year. I know you are a suitable distance away that you can ride to the castle so you may send her belongings on ahead and she may bring the horses to the castle herself.

I hope this is the answer you were looking for,

Professor Albus Dumbledore

I re read the letter at least 5 times before turning to stare at my mother.

"Looks like you are going to Hogwarts after all."

I launched myself at her and started gabbling about how happy I was and how amazing this would be and then ran outside to tell my horses, causing nine sheepdogs to come careering out after me barking. I couldn't believe it; Blade and Valken were coming to Hogwarts with me.