Chapter One: The Train Ride

I do not own anything in this story, except for the characters of Nellie Agathe Veebak, Lydia and Violet Brown.

"There he is Nells!" cried my best friend Lydia, clutching her Teen Witch magazine, which for the 4th year in a row, had Harry Potter grinning and waving on the front, seemingly proud that he was on the cover of Britain's top magazine.

But I, Nellie Agatha Veebak, knew that the real Harry Potter could care less about Teen Witch. I jumped up from my seat, careful not to drop my thick copy of Teen Witch's Potter Profile, the largest magazine I have ever bought. In fact, it cost me exactly 2 galleons, 7 sickles and 3 knuts just to buy it firsthand from Flourish and Blotts. Getting to the cabin door was a struggle past Lydia, and two new friends she made getting on the Hogwarts Express. That girl makes friends faster then Harry makes fans. Well, almost.

"Harry, come sit with us!" cried a second year in the cabin next to us, pushing her friend out of the way to make room for poor Harry, who was trying to get by with his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.

Oh, what I wouldn't give to be Hermione right now. Rumor is that Harry and Hermione spent weekends together around the lake last year, studying and who knows what else.

"Um, excuse me," my fantasy was cut short by the most adorable voice. My heart started to beat faster then the train. "but you're standing on my cloak." Harry gestured, trying to pull his cloak from under my new school shoe.

I looked down, feeling ashamed of myself. "Great first impression Nells." I thought. "You ruined your only chance to talk to Harry Potter." I was feeling ashamed of myself, when Lydia pulled me from the semi-empty hallway, where a couple of Harry admirers stood.

"Nells, I'd like you to meet Violet Brown. Violet's sister is Harry's age." Lydia explained.

My mouth dropped open. "Really? Your sister is going into 4th year?" I squealed, only to be glared at by a couple of tough looking 6th years.

"Yes." Violet replied. "My sister, Lavender, is actually in Gryffindor. And, you know what else?" she said, bouncing on the padded seats.

"What?" I asked. Maybe she was close, personal friends with Harry!

When I was 9, for a couple of months, Teen Witch said that Lavender Brown and Harry Potter were Hogwarts most successful couple. But then again, they also said that he was also dating Ginny Weasley, who, according to the Horoscopes in the back, will never be compatible with Harry, while my horoscope clearly said: "Best match: Harry Potter.". My train of thought was lost when Violet squealed.

"And she even got me a signed poster of him!!" she cried. I was immediately jealous, and from the look on Lydia's face, she was too.

"Can I have it?" I asked stupidly, knowing she'd say no.

Violet gave me an odd expression and continued "Why would you want a signed picture of Ron Weasley?" she asked, puzzled.

"Wait, you like Ron Weasley?" Lydia asked.

Lydia liked the "Bad Boy" types; for her, Ron was too good.

Violet nodded eagerly and pulled down a few rolled-up posters, held together by a Muggle rubber-band.

"All these are posters of Ron that I'm going to put up in my dorm." I leaned over to look, but before I could get a clear view of his infamous freckled grin, I heard the word "Candy." In a second, I got up, taking my lightning-bolt coin purse with me.

"Two chocolate frogs and a box of Every-Flavor Beans, please." I asked the kind, white-haired witch. I looked up and standing on the other side of the cart was Harry Potter. He looked up and waved. I waved back, only to hear a group of girls giggling behind me. I spun around, only to discover a very pretty Asian girl, joined by a group of friends. She was waving too, and I felt instant embarrassment.

"I definitely want to be in Gryffindor; it's where Ron is." Violet said cheekily to Lydia, who was facing the cabin door windows. I slid to my seat, successfully avoiding any questions.

"Where do you want to be, Lydia?" Violet eagerly asked, but Lydia was still staring out the cabin-door window.

"I don't know, I..." she paused. The door to the cabin slid open and a boy of about 14 years of age walked in, his blond hair slicked back and Slytherin badge glowing proudly on his chest. Lydia suddenly regained interest and stood up.

"Hey." she said softly to the boy. "Are you lost?" she continued, brushing her arm on Draco's.

Obviously having lost his concentration, Draco stared at Lydia, who could have passed for a 7th year, and looked nothing like a measly 1st year that she was going to be.

Draco cleared his throat and said, "Um, yeah, I'm looking for my…my…my Goyle and Crabbe."he tripped over the words, still watching Lydia.

"Would you like to help me find them?" he asked and lead her out of the cabin. Ignoring the strange happening, Violet turned to me and said,

"You look like you should be in Gryffindor." she told me, studying me confused face, having just lost my best friend to Draco Malfoy.

"Really?" I asked, remembering my run-ins with Harry earlier. "Because I don't feel all that brave right now."