A/N I do not own Harry Potter, so anything recognisable is, regrettably not mine.

Friends

Emilia sat down by the window contemplating her situation. She didn't know what to think or feel. A new world had suddenly opened up in front of her and she had no idea what to do.

All of a sudden she jumped as she heard a large bang. A boy had roughly pulled the door of her compartment open. Surprised out of her reverie, she looked up at the boy.

He was red cheeked and breathing rather hard. Emilia noted his black hair and startling green eyes. The boy saw her looking at him, realised what he must look like and blushed slightly – not that Emilia noticed, as it didn't really change the colour of his cheeks.

"May I sit down?" he asked tentatively.

Emilia looked at him curiously. She could not recollect a time when anyone had asked if they could sit with her. It was just not done. Then again, she usually had her bodyguard with her, and he was rather imposing.

Realising that the boy required an answer, she said "Yes, certainly." and watched as the boy let out a sigh of relief as he sat down on the seat opposite her.

"I'm sorry for barging in on you like that, it's just that my brother is being quite annoying and I wanted to get away from him and this was the first compartment that wasn't full that I found and … sorry."

"What for?" asked Emilia with a smile. "By the way, my name is Emilia, Emilia Rodwins. What is your name?"

"Urm, I'm sorry for rambling on like that and my name is Albus Potter, although everyone I know calls me Al. Also, if you don't mind me asking, are you muggle born, half-blood, or pure-blood?"

"If by muggle born you mean that I don't have magical parents, then I am muggle born. What are your parents like Al?"

Emilia looked at Al and suddenly wished that she had a nickname. Her family had never been prone to giving each other nicknames.

Al felt a sense of relief that she didn't know who his parents were. It meant that he didn't have to be defined by them, at least for a little while.

Vaguely he replied "They're annoying a lot of the time but I love them and I know they love me."

Suddenly Al laughed. When Emilia asked him why he laughed – after admitting that it had made her jump, Al said:

"It's just that this is the most formal conversation I've had since Mum and Dad made me go to that dull ministry party – and all I'm trying to do is become your friend. And on that note, do you have a nickname I can call you by; Emilia is a bit of a mouthful, and you are calling me Al after all."

She looked at him in astonishment. Nobody ever truly wanted to be her friend – again they were slightly deterred by her bodyguard. Furthermore, he said that their conversation had been quite formal. True she didn't know much else, but this was one of the most relaxed conversations she had had with someone who was not Scorpius.

Deciding to try and communicate this, Emilia said "I'm sorry for sounding formal; it's just the way I was brought up. Also I don't have a nickname since my family aren't really into that. Finally, are you serious about wanting to be my friend?"

Albus grinned and said "I'm not Sirius, I'm Albus." However, seeing Emilia's uncomprehending face he explained, saying "It's a family joke. And yes I am serious about wanting to be your friend. Do you really not have a nickname? What do your friends call you?"

"I don't have friends." Emilia knew this was a bit of a lie. She had Scorpius, but he didn't really count for obvious reasons – she didn't really want to give away that piece of herself yet anyway, everyone at her new school would know soon enough she expected.

Albus frowned for a moment, but not wanting to make the girl uncomfortable, decided to not comment on her bald statement.

"What about Em? Or Millie? Or –"

"Mia." She said interrupting. She had always loved that name, and she knew that her name could be shortened to it.

"Mia it is." Albus concurred, smiling widely.

Both of them started as the compartment door banged open yet again, revealing a boy that looked rather similar to Albus.

Albus sighed. "Mia, this is James, the brother I told you about. James, this is Mia, my new friend. What do you want James?"

James smirked and didn't answer. Instead he commented "What are you doing making friends with her? She's much too pretty for you."

At James' words, Albus turned to look at Mia, and took in her waist-length chocolate brown hair, kept out of her face by a blue ribbon, which matched her sapphire eyes. He was about to reply to his brother when he heard Mia respond instead.

"Excuse me, Al is friends with me. Thank you for complimenting me, but there is no reason to be rude to Al in the same breath. I believe he was asking why you came into our presence with such haste."

James looked at Mia in surprise, speechless. Al was having trouble trying to control his laughter. He didn't think he'd ever seen his brother looking that gobsmacked.

Finally James came out of his shock and replied. "Well, Rose wanted me to tell you that you should change into your robes now. And before you say anything Al, yes I know we haven't even nearly got to Hogwarts, but Rose can already do the bat bogey hex and she made me promise to tell you."

Before the pair had a chance to say anything to this, James had left; evidently feeling that he had fulfilled his obligation.

Albus let out his laughter and said, "I see what you meant about formality!"

Mia was also smiling and said "That was me using my weapon. My parents taught me to kill with kindness. In other words, be both cutting and polite at the same time. It's a very important tool in my circle."

Albus grinned in reply, "We probably should put our robes on in case Rose comes down to check on me. Before you ask she's my cousin and is VERY rules-conscious." He also filed away the comment about her 'circle' that she had made.

As soon as they had finished changing, the trolley lady knocked at the door asking if they wanted anything. Mia looked unsure so Al got up and ordered enough for them to share.

This included fizzing whizzbees; Bertie Botts every flavour beans; and of course chocolate frogs, which were Albus' favourites.

They spent the rest of the journey eating their sweets and talking about random topics, such as sport – Albus regaling her with tales of quidditch; and food, Mia listening in delight as he told of what the food served at Hogwarts was like.

They finally came on to the topic of houses. Albus was surprised that she knew about what the houses involved, but Mia showed him the book that she had been reading: 'Hogwarts: a History'.

"What house do you think you'll be in then?" asked Al curiously.

"I have no clue. The only one I don't really believe I could happily belong in is Slytherin. I am not ambitious or cunning at all. I am used as a pawn by my family and have no desire to be used like that – even to further my situation, or to use someone else for that same purpose. I don't deny that ambition is not a bad trait to have, but I simply do not have it."

Al looked slightly unnerved by this outburst. It was the most personal thing Mia had said, and it also made him want to be in Slytherin even less.

"My brother was winding me up before about the fact that I would get into Slytherin, but what you said makes sense. I don't have any ambition either. People think that I have everything because of my surname, but I don't want it to be like that." Al smiled weakly, "Plus, I want to be in the same house as you, and from what you said, I don't think that will happen if I'm sorted into Slytherin."

"I want to be in the same house as you as well." Out of curiosity Mia asked Al, "What house do you think I should be in?"

"Well, from the way you talked to James before, I would say Gryffindor, for sure." Al replied, grinning.

Sometime later, the train slowed down and they looked each other nervously, realising that they were finally there.

A/N I hope you enjoyed reading. This is my first fanfic, and I would greatly appreciate any reviews. Well done to anyone who recognised that Emilia's surname - Rodwins - is an anagram of her actual surname, Windsor.