disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII. Final Fantasy and all its characters belong to Square Enix. I don't own Harry Potter either, for that belongs to J.K Rowling

Before first year!

Robes… check

Wand… check

Textbooks… not having a lot of luck with that

Aerith looked around the shop looking absolutely lost; it wasn't because she couldn't find the books she needed. It was just too crowded here. Not that she had a problem with people, but she felt some staring at her. Sizing her up, as if they were trying to figure out what house she'll be in and if she would end up dragging her house down.

Or it's because you're a mudblood, she thought hearing the word mudblood in some of the conversations she overheard. Conversations she knew where about her since she could see their mouths move every time she walked passed.

Lost in her thoughts, Aerith didn't realize she was walking until she crashed into someone.

"I'm sorry, "Aerith said as she hastily tried to gather her books and the books from the person she had bumped into.

"It's alright," a female voice said, and the first thing Aerith saw was her black fingernails. Then the girl's blood red hair… then her blood red eyes. Something about the girls appears made Aerith fall back in fear. The girl reminded Aerith of a vampire, and because of it, she was afraid that the girl before her was going to take a huge bite out of her neck. Plus the goth-like clothing didn't help her fears, why would a girl who looked Aerith's age be wearing clothes like that. The dark clothes weren't something eleven-year-olds usually wear.

"I know, my choice of muggle clothes and my physical appearance tends to scare the crap out of people. I promise I won't bite, "she said, with a half smirk on her face, "My name is Willow Valentine, but you can call me Wil."

"I'm… I'm Aerith... Aerith Gainsborough," she replied.

"You a first year like me?" Wil asked once they both gathered their books and got off the ground.

"Yeah. I'm really ex-"

But before Aerith could finish, she paused when she heard it… that dreaded word. Like Aerith, Wil paused her emotionless features turned into anger. Is she like me? Someone with muggle parents, Aerith thought.

The next thing she knew was that Wil got between her and a group of boys wearing the Slytherin colors. And Aerith noticed how Wil tensed when she saw them, and it almost looked like Wil was glaring at the silver-haired boy in the middle of a group.

And the way his cold gaze met Wil, Aerith could tell that there was history between them. But, she doubts that she knew Wil enough to ask about that.

"What are you wearing," the silver-haired one asked Wil, who moved until she was directly in front of Aerith attempting to hide her.

"Clothes… what else would I be wearing?"

"Not muggle rags like that."

Wil rolled her eyes and was about to say something else, but the silver-haired boy moved Wil out of the way.

"Leave her alone, Sephiroth!" Wil growled trying to get back to Aerith, but the other two boys held her back, "she's a student like us!"

"That filthy mudblood isn't a student yet," Sephiroth said, "and if it were up to me, she and the others wouldn't be allowed to attend Hogwarts… and you bring shame upon our family and the Slytherin house talking to such filth."

"You mean you're family!" Wil growled finally breaking free of the bigger boys, "I'm not apart of your family… and I won't be in Slytherin. So, I'll ask you one more time, leave my friend alone!"

Aerith froze when she watched Sephiroth take out his want, intent to cast a spell on Wil and her, but before he could finish his spell, a huge brown book hit his forehead and caused him to fall back.

"Sorry, I slipped off the self," a voice said, and Aerith looked up to see a blonde boy who had the bluest eyes Aerith had seen. Even though his blonde bangs mostly covered them up. Spiky hair, bangs that appeared to cover his face, and a ponytail… it looked like his hair didn't know what style to take on… his clothes were the same way. He didn't know if he should wear robes or muggle clothing, so he wore a mixture of both.

And it seemed like as fast as he appeared, he was gone.

"Get him!" Sephiroth said, as both he and his goons finally left them alone to go after the strange boy.

/

When Zack finally found his friend, Cloud was bleeding, and his clothes were torn.

"Did you get into another fight?" Zack said going into his "older brother" mode, "are you trying to get expelled before school starts?"

The blonde didn't say anything; he didn't want to say anything. Even towards his childhood friend.

Zack Fair was a Gryffindor third year, and with his good looks and charming personality he was one of the more popular guys at Hogwarts. And for Cloud Strife… well, he thought that he would be left behind. He was just a first year who didn't know what house he was going into, or knew which house he wanted to be. Even if he did get into Gryffindor, with Zack, he didn't know what would happen. The age difference and different classes… Cloud doubted he would be able to spend much time with his oldest friend. And it because of that, he wished that they would end up in different houses.

Cloud wanted to grow into his own person, and he didn't want to be a shadow. It's why he wanted to save those girls from those bullies, even though they beat the crap out of him when they caught up with him.

"Come on," Zack said, "you need to learn how to break out of that shell. You know I'll be gone after four years, and you'll be forced to endure school alone."

"And here I thought you'd stay and teach for a while," Cloud smirked, "because you're so miserable without me."

/

Aerith didn't know what to expect when she got to the train station. She had no one to guide her… and she didn't that Wil would be here to help her. After that incident with Sephiroth, Wil left in a hurry. Aerith hasn't seen after, and it's been close to a week since their encounter. But no matter how many times she went back to Diagon Alley for some last minute shopping for school, she never saw Wil.

After claiming she was Aerith's friend she left...left without saying another word to her. Was Wil afraid of what her family would do to her? That Sephiroth said that she brings shame unto her family, were those two related in some way. Cousins? Perhaps.

"Damn it Yuffie! Get back here!" A voice ran out, and two girls ran past her. One was this tiny girl with short black hair, and the other was…

"Wil?" Aerith asked, making the redhead skid to a halt.

"Aerith!" she exclaimed, "I thought you would be on the train already? And I'm sorry I left without a word, but my dad was waiting for me. And based on your first reaction to me… you might have run for the hills if I would have introduced you to him… I'm not trying to make excuses for leaving you so abruptly but…"

"Hey! Willow! Come on! Cid told us to hurry back!" the black haired girl said.

"We wouldn't have had to come back if you didn't drop your doll," Willow called back, before turning back to Aerith, "do you need help with that? We don't have much time before they close off the platform… wouldn't want you to hit the wall…But I'm glad that I found you."

Aerith didn't need to say anything, because Wil was already pushing her cart… or forcing Aerith to move.

Still, Aerith smiled at her new found friend.

/

Though Yuffie was still too young for school, she waved goodbye at the two girls as they looked out the window.

"So… is Yuffie you're little sister or another relative?" Aerith asked once the train started moving.

"Our families have always been close, and she used to sneak off and spend some time with me. Said I was the closest thing she had to a sister."

"Do you have any siblings?"

"Sadly, you met my only sibling," Wil said, "Nasty boy from Slytherin. I'm thrilled we only share a mother, and that my dad fought so hard to keep me. Have you ever been on a train before? You look both amazed and nervous."

Aerith nodded, "until my letter came, I never left my village. So, the train is a new experience. Well, everything from the past few days has been both fascinating and odd, but I feel like the whole magic thing is too much."

"Don't be scared; you'll get used to it someday."

"Aerith Gainsborough!"

Aerith gulped, it was finally her turn to be sorted. This is one of the things that kept her so restless on the train. Wil tried to calm her, but after a few hours she gave up and fell asleep.

"Don't be afraid… just breathe…" Wil whispered.

And with a deep breath, she began walking towards the women who held the sorting hat in her hands. Once Aerith sat down the hat was placed on her head.

"Oh… this one is easy… Hufflepuff!"