.Chapter One.
Welcome To Hogwarts



Once he got aboard and sat down, Harry looked out the windows of the train. The sun was beginning to set, and the wind howled as it gently passed by. His attention was pulled from the frosting windows, by the opening of a door and a girl's soft voice speaking to Hermione and Ron. "Excuse me, could I sit with you? I don't quite know where I'm going or what I'm supposed to do."

Hermione's eyes glimmered. "Of course you may." Hermione said, thinking this girl seemed nice, and Hermione was always willing to help someone out, or educate them whenever possible. "I'm Hermione Granger, by the way." She spoke somewhat officiously.

"Nice to meet you Hermione. Thank you for letting me sit with you all. I'm Alexia Relso." She spoke kindly, and gave a warm smile. They could tell she was new, lonely, and didn't know anyone.

"I'm Ron." He spoke up, "and that's Harry." The three waited for her reaction to it being Harry. Harry Potter. But they got nothing. They knew she didn't know what she was doing now. Not knowing about Harry Potter? That's rare. That's never, in the wizarding world.

"Where did you come from? Is this your first year here? What year are you?" Hermione asked a million questions at once. Harry turned to her and laughed. Ron looked at her, and rubbed his forehead. Hermione could be a bit ... eccentric.

"I'm from Pennsylvania, in the United States." She said, as they noticed her strong American accent, more than before. "I've never been here before, and I didn't even know I was a witch, until ... well ... until yesterday. Hagrid came to find me and take me here. He's been a great help." You say, taking a breath.

"Oh, yes. Hagrid is great. All the kids love him. Well, we do at least." Hermione giggled, as she gave Alexia a signal to continue on.

"And, I think he said something about me being in the fourth year or something of the sort." She spoke, curious to know what the others were in.

"Us too!" Hermione said, excitedly.

-----

A bit later, after they had eaten some snacks and changed into their robes, the train pulled up at Hogwarts. The four stepped off the bus, and gathered in a group with the rest of the students. "You should go talk to Professor McGonagall." Hermione said, standing on her toes and pointing to a lady with glasses sitting on the brim of her nose and pointed black hat. It looked to Alexia like one of the hats the people in the US wear on Halloween.

Before Hermione could get out another word, or Alexia could walk away, a boy with blonde hair turned around. "Well, well, well ... what do we have here? A new student?" Draco said, smirking and facing Alexia and Hermione. "You a mudblood too?" He asked, looking her up and down, trying to use his intimidation routine.

"A mudblood?" Alexia asked him curiously.

"Yes, a mudblood." Draco spat.

"A muggle is what we call the people without magic, therefore a mudblood is dirty blood. It isn't pure blood, not born into the wizarding world." Hermione said, slightly hanging her head but continuing to glare at Draco.

"Yes, a mudblood. Hermione sure knows enough about that." Draco smirked.

"Oh. No, I'm not a mudblood." Alexia said, beginning to realize that the term was offensive to those that were.

"Then why are you coming here late? Wouldn't your parents have sent you right away? You don't look like a first year." Draco asked, getting agitated as normal.

"My parents are dead." Alexia spoke sadly, looking up at Draco who was taken aback by her honesty. Harry's ears perked. What a tragedy for this poor girl, but he could relate to her, and he intended on talking about it with her. "But that was a long time ago. I, I don't like to think about it. Anyway ... I'm Alexia." She said, sticking her hand out and introducing herself to Draco.

He laughed at her, "I'm Malfoy. Draco Malfoy."

"Nice to meet you Draco." Alexia said, looking over to see Professor McGonagall still standing there as the train continued to empty out.

"Nobody calls me Draco." He said matter-of-factly. "It's Malfoy." He spoke sternly, looking directly at her.

Alexia turned to Hermione and said she was going to go ask Professor McGonagall for help and to see what she should do. She smiled warmly at the group.

"See you later, Alexia. Good luck!" Hermione called out.

"Bye Hermione, Harry, and Ron! See you later Draco." She laughed a bit knowing Draco didn't want to be called that. Hermione grinned as well as the two boys laughed aloud.

Draco looked at Alexia walk off, and then focused his attention on the other three. He glared at them, and turned around in a snit, causing them to laugh harder at Draco. He pretended not to hear.

"Excuse me." Alexia said, along with another girl, creating an echo.

Professor McGonagall looked at the two girls and smiled. "Ah, yes. You must be our two new fourth years." Alexia and the girl looked at each other, and smiled politely. "Follow me."

The two girls did as told, and Hermione, Ron, Harry, and Draco watched them walk off. "Hey, I'm Piper." The other girl said to Alexia.

"It's nice to meet you, I'm Alexia." Professor McGonagall, Alexia, and Piper walked into her classroom to hear the rules, and to have any questions answered that they may be wondering. Piper and Alexia had been in awe at how beautiful and amazing the school seemed to be.

After a few minutes, Professor McGonagall led them to the Great Hall, "Now, you'll be sorted into your houses. Good luck girls." Professor McGonagall said, and pushed them a little closer as the doors opened. All eyes were on them, as they saw the first years coming up behind them.

"Hello girls. You must be the new fourth years. Welcome to Hogwarts. Now, Piper, why don't you take a seat, to be sorted." Dumbledore said, reassuring her with his eyes. Alexia looked up and noticed that Professor McGonagall had already gotten to her spot at the tables in front of her. Piper began to walk forth, as she gazed at the large room, with the beautiful windows and decorations, her old school was nothing like this.

Piper took a seat on the stool in the center as she blushed a light shade of pink, everyone was staring at her. The hat was placed on her head, and began to talk. Piper and Alexia were both taken aback by this. "Ah, pure hearted, and kind. Strong. Gryffindor." The hat spoke, chanting the last word. A roar of applause came from the Gryffindor table.

"Alexia?" Dumbledore said, welcoming her to come be sorted. "Good luck." He smiled at her, like he knew her secrets. A part of her believed he did.

"Alexia, pretty name, pretty name, pretty name for a pretty girl." The sorting hat spoke quickly. "Ah, this is a tough one. I, I haven't seen one like it since, well since Harry Potter." There was a growing tension as he said the words. Alexia looked at Harry, confused. "Don't worry my dear. You'll understand soon." The hat spoke, reading her thoughts. "Loyal, Sweet, Ambitious, Determined, Intelligent ... hm, quite difficult, quite difficult indeed. Gryffindor or Slytherin?" The hat said to itself, as both groups got quieter. A gasp was heard throughout the crowd. "Gryffindor or Slytherin?" The hat slowed down its speech. It stalled for a minute, "Gryffindor!" It shouted out in approval, as the hat was removed and she took a seat next to Hermione, unable to hear anything from the loud chants.

Professor McGonagall looked at Dumbledore and smiled, as he gave her an approving nod.


Author's Note: This is the first story I have written for Harry Potter, so hopefully it turns out alright. Also, I have yet to read the books (which I intend to read over the summer), and I may not know all the correct terms so please don't hold that against me. This is, afterall fiction and my work, so hpefully you can enjoy it nonetheless. Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: I personally hate disclaimers. You all know that I do not own the characters of Harry Potter, I simply own the fictional characters of Alexia and Piper. Enjoy.