Platform Nine and Three-Quarters was busy as ever as the scarlet steam engine puffed away in the station. Families were saying farewell to their children as they boarded the train. There were trunks and robes, cats, toads, and owls that hooted loudly in cages. One student in particular, a tall, skinny eleven year old girl was all by herself. She had long blonde hair that she pulled into ponytail at the back of her head. Her large, round, bright blue eyes seemed to stare at everything, trying to take it in.

She had no parents with her; she had no pets, nor anyone to tell her where to go. She was dragging her large trunk with the initials 'D.M' on the side as she tried to find her way around the train. She was searching for an empty compartment when she ran headlong into a taller blond boy who sneered.

"Watch where you're going you filthy little mudblood!" he sneered. A girl in the compartment next to them heard him through the open door. She stood and strode into the hall. She was short, and had long black hair.

"What," she snapped, "did you call her?"

The blond boy sneered at the question. "I called her a mudblood, which is what she is. The poor, pathetic excuse of spawn of muggles."

"And it's purebloods like you that give us all a bad name." the black haired girl snapped. She was clearly getting angry.

"Lucius! No self respecting pureblood would waste energy on a mudblood or a blood traitor! Why don't you come back to the compartment?" An unnatural red head shuffled around to the front of Lucius Malfoy. She glanced in the direction of the terrified blonde girl and the shorter Asian girl defending her.

"Really?" Lucius sneered. "Get out of my way, Hulsë."

"Lucius, it's not worth it," she pleaded, pressing her hand against the blond boy's chest.

"Hulsë, this piece of Mudblood filth ran into me. She needs to apologize!"

"I-I-I-I'm s-s-sorry-"the blonde girl stuttered, absolutely terrified.

"Don't apologize to him!" the Asian snapped.

"Sorry!" the blonde squeaked.

"Stupid mudblood-" Lucius started, but then the red head turned around and seemed to snap.

"Enough with the mudblood torture! Look at her! She has no idea what's going on! Lucius, just go back to the compartment!" Hulsë was glaring at Lucius now.

"Yes, Lucius, leave her alone." The Asian girl seethed.

Lucius Malfoy threw his hands into the air and turned around. "Fine, Hulsë, join the Mudbloods and muggle lovers!" he called over his shoulder. The gang of students that had gathered began to disperse. The short Asian girl rounded on her heel to face the blonde.

"Don't pay attention to Lucius Malfoy. And don't do anything he says. He's just a big bully who thinks he can get away with anything." The Asian said. She glanced over her shoulder at the red head who hadn't left. "And I don't suppose you have anything to say? Like an apology?" the Asian seethed.

"Calm yourself, Porter," the red head said, walking forward.

"I'm still waiting."

"For what?"

"You called her a you-know-what. Apologize."

"….a mudblood? But that's-" One look from Porter, the Asian girl, cut off whatever excuse Hulsë had been planning on giving.

"What's a mudblood?" the blonde asked as she stood.

"It's a really foul name people like her use for someone who is Muggle-born. Like you." Porter snapped, jerking her head in the direction of Hulsë. "But none of it matters. Your blood is as red as mine….and hers."

"My blood is not red," Hulsë said quickly. "It's emerald. That's the way it is for all Slytherins." She stepped forward, hand outstretched.

"I'm Faith Hulsë, of Hulsë Perfect Potions." Porter eyed the hand, distrustful. But the blonde took it with a shy smile.

"Dorcas Meadowes."

"For a Mu-muggle-born, you're hopeless."

"Nice catch," Porter sneered. She glanced at Dorcas who had relaxed. She sighed. "I'm Shizune Porter. Of the Ravenclaw line."

"So you'll be in Ravenclaw then?" Faith Hulsë asked.

"Obviously." It was more of a sneer. "And you'll be in Slytherin I suppose?"

"Obviously."

"Er….what are you talking about?" Dorcas asked, hauling her trunk into the compartment Shizune had come from.

"What do you mean?" Faith asked.

"Ravenclaw…and Slytherin?" Dorcas asked as she sat in the compartment. The other girls joined her.

"They're the houses. Well…two of the houses. There are four. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, my family's, and…Slytherin." At this, Faith Hulsë smirked.

"Oh. And…how do you…end up in a house?"

"You get sorted."

"By a hat," Faith snickered.

"A hat that Rowena Ravenclaw enchanted." Shizune sneered.

"Oh. Which houses are good?"

"Slytherin."

"Ravenclaw and Gryffindor."

The answers were simultaneous. Both girls looked at each other with suspicion. Then Shizune turned to Dorcas.

"You'll never get into Slytherin. You're a Muggle-born. Ravenclaw is for the exceptionally smart. Gryffindor is for the brave at heart. And Hufflepuff is…"

"Hufflepuff is a bunch of nobody's." Faith said with a roll of her eyes.

Dorcas suddenly looked crestfallen. "I'll probably be in Hufflepuff."

Shizune tsked. "Don't be so quick to assume. You might end up in Ravenclaw with me, you're smart! Or Gryffindor!"

"Not Gryffindor, you're not exceptionally brave," muttered Faith under her breath. "Or stupid."

Shizune rolled her eyes and changed the subject by asking about Dorcas' family. Dorcas seemed to relax with the familiar topic of conversation and smiled wider as she talked animatedly with the pretty Asian. Ignoring the snide, under-her-breath comments from Faith, the conversation was lively enough to last the rest of the trip.

The train finally began to slow until reaching a halt. As the girls stepped off the train they heard a deep voice bellow.

"Firs' years over here! Firs' years!"

The girls all followed a giant of a man to boats waiting at the edge of the lake. As the boats propelled themselves towards the towering castle in the distance, Shizune grinned at Dorcas.

"Welcome to Hogwarts."