1971

King's Cross Station. I could hardly believe I was standing here waiting to board the train that would finally bring me to Hogwarts. I had been dreaming about this day ever since I could remember. And it was finally here. I felt giddy and couldn't help the smile that was growing on my face as I looked around. Everywhere on the platform I could see older students laughing and embracing their friends, parents wishing a good year ahead and first-years such as myself looking nervous but excited. I looked up at my father as he smiled comfortingly at me.

"Are you excited?" He asked as if he didn't already know the answer to that.

"I'm afraid I might burst." I whispered, making him let out a loud laugh.

"Only my daughter would say such a thing." He played jovially and bent over to look me in the eyes. "I want you to have fun, ok? But don't forget to write 'cause you know I'll miss you." I giggled and nodded my head.

"One letter per month, promises."

Dad sighed as if that was too little but he had a smile on his face and I knew he'd be alright. Especially now that he had Morgana to look after him; I controlled myself not to roll my eyes at the thought of my dad's new girlfriend who he still pretends is only his work colleague and friend. He really thinks me that naïve.

"I should go." I decided to say before my tongue got the best of me. "I don't want be the last one inside." I explained.

"That's fine." Dad smiled and hugged me. "I'll miss you lots."

"Of course you will." I laughed cheekily. "But I'll miss you too, don't worry." Dad laughed and helped me with my trunk.

"Have fun." He said as I started to climb the stairs. "But not too much." He pointed his finger with that Dad stare. "Make me proud."

"Always do!" I smiled looking at him behind me and waved one last time.

Ever since I could remember I was told stories about Hogwarts, about how magical it felt to be there, the things I'd learn, the place in itself. My parents met when they were both attending Hogwarts, it is the place where they fell in love and it's always going to be special to me because of that. When I was younger Mum used to tell me tales of their love before sending me off to bed, about how she didn't like him at first and he thought she was just too proper but it all didn't matter after a while. Hogwarts had been like a dreamland to me ever since.

I was walking through the train, passing by compartments that seemed full of people who already knew each other and I was starting to get a bit nervous. Was I the only who wouldn't know anybody? I was aware that I wouldn't know any of classmates because I went to a normal muggle school and none of Dad's friends had kids my age but I was hoping to be able to find some other lonely first year like myself. Almost in the back of train was when I found a compartment that seemed good enough, inside was this one girl who looked small enough to be a first year too.

"Hello, mind if I join you?" I tried to smile my best winning smile as I went in.

"Not at all." She smiled and beckoned me. "Please, come in."

"I'm Tatjana. Tatjana Minett." I introduced myself as I settled, sitting opposite her.

"Miranda Everett."

Miranda was blonde with fair skin and light blue eyes and she was dressed rather posh, with an A-line dress in a light green color and a cardigan over top, Mary Janes on her feet. She reminded of the girls I used to see on my old Charm School brochure, very proper looking.

"You don't know anyone around here either?" I laughed as I made myself comfortable.

"Just my cousin but she went to the toilet, I think." She shrugged.

"You're lucky. I don't know anyone and I don't even have any cousins."

"Aura is my only cousin, she's my age but we don't live very closely." She explained.

"But still you're starting Hogwarts together, it must be cool."

"For sure, we hope we'll both be in Slytherin." She nodded eagerly. "Where do you want to be sorted?" She asked politely.

"Not sure, to be honest. I guess either Slytherin or Ravenclaw." I shrugged.

I had been thinking about the Hogwarts' houses for the last couple of days, but I still wasn't sure where I wanted to go. My mum was in Slytherin, just like most of her family before her, but dad was a Ravenclaw. Mum never really liked talking about her house but dad always told me stories about how you had to be extremely intelligent to be a Ravenclaw and for a while I desperately wanted to be good enough for his house. Nowadays I'm not quite sure smart is all I want to be, plus it'd sure be nice to share a Hogwarts house with mum.

Just then another girl walked into our compartment and easily I realized she must have been Miranda's cousin because they looked very much alike, except this girl had a darker shade of blonde on her head and her eyes seemed darker as well. She sat down next to Miranda and looked at me curiously.

"This is my cousin, Aura." Miranda introduced us. "This is Tatjana, she's a first year like us."

"Aura Erskine."

"Tatjana Minett." We shook hands.

"She's hoping for Slytherin too." Miranda said. "My dad is going to flip if I'm not in Slytherin." She continued with a laugh. "Everetts always go to Slytherin." She explained to me.

"My mum was in Slytherin too, but dad was in Ravenclaw." I said.

"My parents were both in Slytherin but my mother's family is usually in Gryffindor or Ravenclaw, mum was the odd one out." Aura explained her side.

The ride to the castle was very nice, I'd say. Miranda, Aura and I spent most of the time talking about what we thought Hogwarts would be like. I had never spent so much time talking with a kid my age that was also a witch. Having attended a muggle school, both my parents not having any living relatives - meaning no cousins - and none of dad's friends with children having kids my age it was a struggle for me to be able to talk about the wizard world with someone my own age. I realized a few weeks ago I knew not even one wizard or witch my own age, it was astounding. But Miranda and Aura knew plenty, as they've told me.

"Are you not pureblood?" Miranda frowned at me as she asked.

"Nope." I shook my head a bit. "I'm half-blood."

Literal silence. Aura had a polite smile on her face and Miranda was frowning at me as if I was a very complicated math problem. And you know I like to think of myself as someone who is not dumb. I wouldn't say I'm the sharpest tool but I am not dumb. A part of me already suspected they were pureblood from the way they were both dressed but I think it was the fact Miranda seems baffled about my bloodline that is making me realize just how pureblooded they are. Mum used to call them pureblood inbreeds when she seemed to be particularly upset, I think it was one of the reasons she never liked talking about her family or her Hogwarts house.

You see, mum was a pureblood who fell in love with a muggleborn. She chose to marry him and her family and friends completely ostracized her as if forgetting she ever existed, simple as that. Mum never told me what was her maiden last name and Dad still refuses to, saying and I quote that my mother never wanted me to "associate myself with those slimy bastards". It was like she wanted to forget them as much as they wanted to forget her. If I'm honest, sometimes I feel curious to know what family she comes from. I don't know if she had siblings, if I have cousins... All I know is her family is one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight and I only know that because one of my older nannies told me.

The rest of the train was a bit tense even if we tried to make small talk. "Oh I love chocolate frogs." "Your necklace is rather pretty." It wasn't the same innocence as before, it was clear to each of us that we would not become friends regardless of our politeness to avoid the sore subject. Nevertheless I enjoyed greatly the scenery I could see through the window.