Chapter One

Perrin

Warm Welcome

All through the train rumors were spreading like wildfire, the famous Harry Potter was apparently on board of the Hogwarts express, ready to start his first year at the magical school for young witches and wizards.

"Let's go meet him!" My best friend Alura suggested, giggling with excitement of meeting a celebrity.

"Might as well." Jane, my other best friend said, giving in. I sighed and reluctantly stood up, grumbling about having to move. Alura skipped out in front with Jane behind her, semi-excited. I followed and we only had to walk for a little while till we found a carriage with people in it, since all the others were at the front of the train and we were at the back. As we reached the doorway one of my other friends, Hermione Granger, exited.

"Perrin!" She exclaimed, racing forward to grabbed me into a bear hug.

"Hello Hermione." I chuckled as Alura danced impatiently for me to return so she could enter.

"How are you?" I grinned at her before shrugging.

"Same old, same old." I muttered, nodding towards Alura over Hermione's shoulder.

"I'll catch up with you later." I nodded and rejoined Alura and Jane, they both charged into the carriage, only to smack into the closed door. I sighed and helped them from the floor as two young boys opened the door.

"Hello?" The red headed boy asked as he stared at us.

"Hi Ron, this is Alura and Jane." I huffed as I dragged them to their feet. "They really wanted to meet Harry." Harry groaned and sat back down. "Sorry, they're really persistent."

"H-h-hi, sir." Me, Harry and Ron cracked up.

"Sir?" Harry gasped through his laughs. "Really?" This seemed to alleviate some of Jane and Alura's nerves as they smiled.

"As Perr said, I'm Jane." Jane said.

"And I'm Alura." The bubbly eleven-year-old said, following the example of her slightly older sister.

"I'm Perrin Cooper." I say, holding out my hand to Harry who gladly shook it. Ron grinned at me and I joined in.

"Hows Ginny?" Harry's eyes swiveled to us, he clearly knew who Ginny was.

"She's well, excited to be starting Hogwarts next year. Percy's being a prat, the twins are as annoying as ever, they set off another stink bomb at dinner. Not much word from Bill but plenty from Charlie. He says it's really cool in Romania." I smiled before catching him up on my summer.

"Mum and dad are well, so is Carol, she's still on her trip in Australia so she didn't get to see me of though. Ran into the Malfoy's in Flourish and Blotts, god that was frustrating. Have you seen my mother and Lucius in a battle of pretending their friends while insulting each other silly? I swear, my mother almost hexed him a new one when he mentioned…Griff." Her eyes were downcast as she said the last word and Ron gasped.

"That slimy weasel! What were you and Malfoy Jr. doing during this?" I chuckled at Harry's 'What The Bloody Hell Are They Talking About' face.

"The same, but without the 'pretending to be friends' bit." Ron laughed and Harry had finally given up on trying to understand us.

"Um, excuse me, but… what exactly are you talking about?" We turned to stare at him before bursting out laughing.

"Well, it's a really long story. My family has known both the Weasley family and the Malfoy since our grandparents started school together. They also knew the other famous pure blood family's, The Longbottoms, The Blacks, The Lestranges, etc. etc. but when my parents were born, my mother was 'friends' with Lucius Malfoy and my father befriended Ron's mum, Molly. Every time Dad gets together with Molly, which is often, I get to see Ron, and whenever mum gets together with Malfoy, which is slightly less infrequent mind you, I have to see Malfoy Jr. or Draco as his parents lovingly named him. My sister Carrol left for a trip to Australia a little under a month back, and she didn't make it back in time to say goodbye to me before I left for Hogwarts. Griff is my older brother who's in the hospital from when Bellatrix Lestrange, sister of Lucius's wife Narcissa, cursed him." Harry whistled.

"That's…" He trailed off, clearly unsure of what to say.

"Confusing?" Ron suggested, laughing at Harry's misfortune of asking the question that he too, had once asked, though it was about a different subject.

"We better get changed into our robes!" Alura squeaked, staring at the little pocket watch that her parents had given to her, with an identical one given to Jane. She dragged Jane from the compartment and back towards theirs, leaving me alone with Ron and Harry.

"It was really nice to meet you Harry, and Ron, give Hermione a chance, she's really quite nice." And with that I left the room, going to change into my bare robes.