Author's Note: Hey guys! I'm experimenting with this new character and I would really love to hear some feedback. It doesn't matter if you say "This is great!" or "This is complete crap!" I really want to know what you guys think of this, it will definitely help me in the future, so please review! Here's Chapter 1, enjoy! :D

Marianna's POV

Marianna Windsor stared wide-eyed at the steaming red engine in front of her. She felt an overwhelming surge of excitement and fear. She had never met anyone who had attended Hogwarts. In fact, it had been less than a year ago since she had been told of the existence of the wizarding world. She glanced up at her father, who was admiring the Hogwarts Express with a smile and the same expression of amazement Marianna had on her face just a few seconds ago. It seemed like such a short time ago when he had sat her down in their living room back at Privet Drive, twitching uncomfortably in his seat, since he finally told him the truth about her and her family.

"Marianna, my dear," he said, taking her little hands in his. "Have you been noticing rather…peculiar events happening around you? Like, things breaking without you touching them, or things reappearing in completely remote places?"

She nodded quietly. She knew her father was thinking of when the flower vase suddenly exploded during breakfast a couple of weeks ago, and that time that all his shoes had mysteriously appeared on the rooftop.

"Well," he continued in a strained voice. "I think the time has finally come to tell you something you have every right to know. Your mother-" he paused and sighed, looking intently into Marianna's deep blue eyes. "your mother was a witch, Marianna. And that means you are a witch too. "

Marianna stared back into her father's eyes in search of some sort of hint that he was teasing her. She found nothing but extreme honesty, and even sadness. "A—a witch?" Marianna mumbled quietly. She cleared her throat in an attempt to be more audible. "But…how is that possible?"

"Your family from Claudine's side has a very long line of witches and wizards. They are one of the most recognized pure-blood families (that means from entirely magical relatives) in France. When we were both very young, she came on vacation to Britain. That's when we met." He gave her a moment to process the information he had just given her. And to think that was only the beginning.

"We fell in love and got married," Marianna let a small smile spread on her lips and her father chuckled and smoothed her hair. "Her family was very supportive of her decision, they didn't mind that I was a Muggle, as the wizards call us. But the other pure-bloods in France didn't agree. It wasn't safe for us there anymore, so we moved back here to my home in England, shortly after you were born.

"Things were going smoothly, we were safe and happy, your brother was born…but then Vol—" he cleared his throat a little too loudly. "A very, very dark wizard started coming after us, and your mother, protecting you and your brother was—" He couldn't continue. Marianna saw him choke back a sob. She felt her insides tighten and her own tears cascading down her face. Her mother didn't die of illness, as she had believed for seven years. She had been killed. At only ten years old, Marianna understood her father's pain. He had kept this bottled in for so long but he had to remain strong for Marianna and her little brother, Maximilian. She curled up against her father's chest and cried; cried with her heart and soul, her frustration of having her mother taken away from her, the miserable void she felt seeing other girls with their mums, the unconditional love she had for her father, how she would do anything to protect him and her brother from any harm all thrown into that moment. Marianna felt her father wrap her arms around her in a tight embrace and could feel his chest began to shake. She knew that in that moment, both of them tangled into each other, she was safe.

Marianna's dad pulled away just enough for her to see into his red-rimmed eyes. He continued smoothing her honey colored hair. "The world is full of bad people, Marianna. But it also has the most loyal, pure, righteous people, and I know you're one of them, just like your mother. We have to protect ourselves and those whom we care about the most from evil. We have to defend ourselves."

Marianna nodded slowly as she wiped away a tear from her cheek. "So what do I have to do?"

Her father looked at her questioningly and blinked. "Excuse me?"

"To fight, what do I have to do to fight against evil?" She answered.

Her father let out a laugh and hugged her. "As much as I know how much you want to fight against evil, my brave little warrior, that will have to wait. But, there is a way you can learn to control and how to use your powers."

Marianna looked back up to her father is surprise. "There is?"

"Yes, there is." Her father said. "A school, here in England, called Hogwarts teaches young wizards like you about their powers and how to control them. The students are recruited at eleven years old and I thought that this was the right time to tell you what you really are."

A clear, shrill whistle brought Marianna back to Platform 93/4. It was the warning whistle; the Hogwarts Express departed in ten minutes. She turned to face her dad and brother. "I'm so proud of you, Marianna." Her father said softly, bringing her in for a tight hug and kissing the top of her head. "And I know for a fact your mother would feel the same way."

"Dad, can't I go with Marianna to Hogwarts this year? I promise I won't tell anyone I'm only ten years old!" Maximilian pleaded to his father.

Both Marianna and Mr. Windsor laughed. "Ten next month and I'm afraid you can't, Max. The staff at Hogwarts probably isn't fooled that easily."

Maximilian sighed dramatically and looked longingly at the Hogwarts Express. "Don't worry, Max. Only one more year and you'll be able to come with me." Marianna said nudging him.

"Yeah, I guess you're right. Plus, Dad and I are going to have loads of fun without you!" He said and chortled.

"Don't listen to him, Marianna, we are going to miss you incredibly." Mr. Windsor said.

"I'll miss you two, as well. You will miss me, won't you Max?"

Max looked down at his shoes. "Maybe…yeah, a little."

"Only a little?"

"Okay, probably more than a little."

The second warning whistle rang through the air. "Better get on the train already sweetheart." Mr. Windsor gave Marianna one final farewell hug and helped her with her trunk on the train. "Goodbye, love. Owl us when you get there."

"Of course. Love you, Daddy. Goodbye, Max! I love you!"

It was 11:00. The Hogwarts Express rumbled to life and began slowly moving forward, gaining speed. Marianna looked out the window, still in the middle of the corridor, to her two family members rooted at Kings Cross. They were both waving at her with smiles on their faces and it took everything Marianna had in her not to cry as she waved goodbye back.

Marianna was dragging her trunk along behind her, trying to find an empty compartment. Just as she was looking past a compartment populated by laughing girls, something bumped into her hard, knocking her down to the floor. "Hey, watch where you're going!" said a voice above her, presumably belonging to who she crashed into. She looked up to see a boy with white blond hair and gray eyes. When their eyes met, something in his expression changed. "I'm sorry, I just…didn't see you." He offered his hand to help her up, but she lifted herself up without help. "Sorry…" he repeated.

"It's alright, just don't go barking at people like that. People normally don't appreciate that. Are you a first year?" Marianna inquired.

"Yeah, I am. You're one too?"

Marianna nodded.

"Oh, maybe we'll have some classes together, or maybe even be Sorted into the same House. I'm Draco Malfoy, by the way."

"Yeah, maybe. I'm Marianna Windsor." Marianna was quite tired of standing up, and wanted to continue in her empty compartment quest. "So, I guess I'll see you around, Draco."

"Oh, yeah. Bye," he said really awkwardly.

Marianna left without another word. She was getting quite desperate. It seemed as if all of them were full, so she stopped in front of one that had two boys, one redheaded and the other with jet black hair, of about her age talking amicably inside. She slid open the door and poked her head inside.

Harry's POV

"I'm sorry, but can I sit here? All the other compartments are full."

Harry and Ron both looked up to see a small girl with honey colored hair and deep blue eyes carrying a trunk much too big for her. Both boys shook their heads and muttered that they wouldn't mind. The girl smiled and said "Thank you," with a smile.

She was wrestling her trunk through the compartment's narrow doors when she stopped and looked at Harry. "I'm really sorry, I don't mean to be rude or anything, but have we met before?" Her deep blue were examining Harry.

Harry winced internally. It was probably another witch who had heard of the 'famous Harry Potter', but he didn't want to be thought of like that. He just wanted to be Harry. He took in the girl standing in front of the doorway. She certainly was very pretty and did look very familiar, Harry thought, but he just couldn't think where he'd seen this girl.

Before he had a chance to formulate a response, the girl was already speaking. "Wait...you're not the nephew of the Dursleys, are you? You don't live with them on Privet Drive?"

Harry stared wide-eyed at the girl. Of all the insane things this girl could say, those were the last ones he had expected. "H-how do you know that?"

The girl gasped. "You are their nephew! Oh my, what are the odds?" she said laughing as she plopped down on the seat next to him. "I live on Privet Drive too! We're neighbours!"

Harry was speechless. He glanced back over to Ron who had the same shocked expression on his face as Harry was sure he had on his. "Y—you live on Privet Drive?"

"Yes," she replied with a smile that lighted up her whole face. "Who knew, this whole time another wizard was living across the street from me! Unbelievable!" She exclaimed.

Harry chuckled. "That would probably be a good way to describe it, yeah." Privet Drive: probably amongst the list of the dullest places on Earth was residence to two underage wizards embarked on wizarding school. Yes, definitely unbelievable.

"Oh God, I'm being so rude. I still don't know your names. I'm Marianna Windsor."

"Harry Potter."

"Ron Weasley."

"Pleased to meet both of you."

"Answer me something," Ron said, a little confused. "If you and Harry were neighbours, how come you almost hadn't seen him before?"

"Well, my dad is actually really protective, so he won't let me and my brother out of the house unless it's with him." Marianna stated.

"Yeah, and my aunt and uncle just won't let me out of the house." Harry said.

Ron laughed a little to himself. "Right, so basically you guys are prisoners back home."

Both Harry and Marianna laughed. "That's one way to look at it." Marianna said.

"Well, in my case, it's the only way to look at it. Those people are maniacs. It basically took an army of owls and a giant to able to get here." Harry chortled.

"By any chance, your cousin Dudley wouldn't happen to be a wizard too? I have, unfortunately, gotten to know him. I know he's your family and all, but I detest that boy."

Harry shook his head vigorously "The Dursleys literally run away from magic. And don't worry, it makes two of us. If I could change the fact that the Dursleys aren't my relatives, I would."

The three of them started chatting quite pleasantly, and then the compartment door slid open once more, this time revealing a girl with a bushy head of hair who asked in a somewhat bossy tone "Has anyone seen a toad?"

Harry didn't know exactly why, but he had a good feeling about his next years at Hogwarts.

Draco's POV

Hogwarts Castle was by far the most amazing building Draco Malfoy had seen in his life. And that's saying something, he thought, since I live in a pretty amazing mansion myself. On either of his sides were his friends, or what he considered friends, Crabbe and Goyle as they were herded into the Great Hall along with the other first years to begin the Sorting Ceremony. Draco looked around, feeling quite nervous, and spotted Harry Potter standing alongside Ron Weasley. He felt a great surge of anger. Draco could not think of a single reason why someone would choose the dirt-poor Ronald Weasley over him. He recalled the offer he made to Potter less than an hour ago that had been not-so-kindly rejected and huffed insolently.

Behind Potter and Weasley was the girl he knocked to the ground on the Hogwarts Express, Marianna, conversing enthusiastically with a bushy-haired girl and admiring the enchanted ceiling. Draco had to admit, Marianna was a very pretty girl. He silently hoped she would be Sorted into Slytherin, where he was quite sure he would be placed, since the Malfoy family is a Slytherin legacy.

Professor McGonagall, the Head of Gryffindor House, stepped forward, visible to all the Great Hall, and unrolled a long list. She held up the patched, dirty Sorting Hat and called the first name on the list.

Draco watched impatiently as fellow first years were being called up front and Sorted into their houses. Hannah Abbott had been placed in Hufflepuff, Terry Boot a Ravenclaw, and Lavender Brown in Gryffindor, and Crabbe had obviously been placed in Slytherin.

"Granger, Hermione!" called Professor McGonagall. The bushy haired girl stiffened, but Marianna nudged her forward. "Gryffindor!" shouted the Sorting Hat seconds after it had been placed on her head. Hermione walked with a huge smile on her face as she was greeted on the Gryffindor table. After her, Goyle's turn was up and he, unsurprisingly, was Sorted into Slytherin.

Draco was starting to get anxious when his name was finally called. He marched up to where McGonagall stood and sat down on the wobbly, four-legged stool. The Sorting Hat had barely touched his white blond hair when the it declared him "Slytherin!" Draco strode to the Slytherin table with a satisfied grin, where he was greeted with loud cheers. After all, he was a Malfoy.

The Sorting continued, and once again, he was starting to get impatient. First years kept on being Sorted, until finally came Potter's turn. The Great Hall broke out in murmurs. "Harry Potter?" "It can't be the Harry Potter…" Despite himself, Draco was actually curious as to where he would be placed. Maybe in Slytherin…

He watched through narrowed eyes as Harry stepped onto the stool and McGonagall put the Sorting Hat over his head. "Hmm, difficult, very difficult…" the Sorting Hat voiced. "You have the qualities to be in Slytherin," Draco saw Harry shudder slightly. "But not Slytherin, eh? Well, then it must be…Gryffindor!"

The Gryffindor table exploded. Joyful hoots and pats on the back welcomed Harry as he toppled down in the seat next to Hermione with what Draco thought looked like a relieved expression.

Finally the line of students waiting to be Sorted was thinning and Weasley was up. He was Sorted in Gryffindor, too. His army of brothers cheered loudly and Draco looked away in disgust.

"Windsor, Marianna!" announced McGonagall.

Draco's head shot up to see the girl with honey colored hair walk over to the stool on shaky legs. As the Sorting Hat was placed on her head, her deep blue eyes scanned the room wildly. Let her be a Slytherin, let her be a Slytherin, let her be a—"Gryffindor!" the Sorting Hat announced. Draco let out a small sigh of disappointment, watching her sit excitedly between Potter and Weasley. Both of them congratulated her, smiling, and the Granger girl leaned forward and hugged her. At that moment, Draco felt a jealousy he wouldn't dare admit, even to himself. She's a Gryffindor and Potter's friend, he reminded himself. Whatever, she's not even that pretty. Right?