Chapter 1: New Beginnings

I stood on Platform 9 3/4 with my large, loud family. Excitement bubbled in the pit of my stomach. This was it. This was the day I was going to Hogwarts!

I woke up really early this morning, taking extra measures with my hair. It was a rich auburn color, and sometimes could be quite untamed and wild if not brushed properly. I glanced down at my outfit. I had opted for dark blue jeans and a white Beatles t-shirt. What can I say? Muggles might not know much, but they sure know how to make music. I am the number one Beatles fan on this planet.

"Can you believe it, Rose? We're finally going to Hogwarts!" Albus's excited voice broke through my thoughts. Albus Severus Potter, son of Harry James Potter and Ginerva Weasley Potter was my cousin and best friend. He had the famous ever-messy Potter black hair and electric green eyes. He looked like a replica of his famous father with the round glasses he was forced to wear.

"I know, Al! I'm so excited! I wonder what classes they have to offer..." I replied.

"Tsk-tsk... Just like Aunt Hermione, Rosie. It'll be a wonder if you don't get into Ravenclaw," Al said.

"Ravenclaw! I'm going to be in Gryffindor, just like dad and mum. And your dad and mum. And pretty much all of the Weasleys except Victorie."

"Please, Rose. Everyone knows you're going to be in Ravenclaw. They'd be daft if they placed you anywhere else!"

I was cut off from my furious retort to Al by an ecstatic voice, "Rose! Rosie!"

I turned around and grinned. "Lina!" I cried.

A mass of black hair attached to a coffee-skinned body tackled me. "Easy there tiger," I said jokingly.

"Rose! It's been so long! I haven't seen you in, like, 3 days! I was stuck with Lucas and Rosa for company! Though I don't really mind Rosa, she's a darling. Lucas on the other hand..." Lina ended menacingly. Paolina Donata Zabini was my other best friend. She was tall and willowy with long black hair, big gray eyes, and coffee colored skin. She was honestly the prettiest girl I've ever seen. She was the child of Luna Zabini and Blaise Zabini. Lina had an identical twin, Lucas Antonio, a little sister, Rosa (who was 6), and a little twin brothers, Mateo and Zane (who were 10).

"Ugh, I feel sorry for you Lina. Having to deal with Lucas on your own? That's just torture," I said sympathetically.

"I know, right? Sometimes, I just want to–"

"Let's stop there, shall we, Lina? So tell me, how are Aunt Luna and Uncle Blaise?" I asked.

"Oh, Dad's fine, but Mum had a cold, so we had to carpool with the Malfoys." Her face screwed up in distaste as she pointed to a blonde boy. He was wearing a dark gray t-shirt with a picture of the album cover of Let It Be on it. I immediately decided he couldn't possibly be that bad.

"Hey, Lina, he can't be that bad. He does have a Beatles shirt on, after all," I said. "At least, he can't be worse than Lucas."

"Hey, Rosie-Posie! How was your summer?" an annoying voice spoke behind me.

"Speak of the Devil," I muttered, "Lucas Antonio Zabini, if you call me by that horrible name one more time, I will hex you into a galaxy far, far away, if you catch my drift. You can spend time with another Luke."

He yelped and hid behind his twin. Lucas Antonio Zabini was the polar opposite of his sister. He had blond hair and baby blue eyes with pinkish skin. His sole purpose in life was to annoy the heck out of me, and I did not appreciate that. Thankfully, he was very scared of my superior magical abilities.

"Albus! Rose is threatening me again!" Lucas ran off toward Albus. Merlin, how Al could stand that boy was a wonder.

I could distinctly hear my dad say, "That's my girl! Show 'em how it's done, Rosie!" before my mother slapped him upside the head, laughing.

Lina grabbed my arm. "Ready to go, Rosie?" Lina asked softly.

I shoved back the tears that were ready to fall. "Ready," I whispered.

Hand in hand, we stepped onboard the Hogwarts Express.