I'm not entirely finished with this story yet, but this is the first chapter- or rather, prequel. The story takes place in a span of twelve months; hence, twelve chapters. Enjoy the first segment!

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

On the Train

The train whistled. The scarlet engine chugga- chugged on the tracks, with the faces of mothers and fathers smiling and waving passing through the windows. Her own mother watched her stonily with her arms crossed, leaning against the wall.

The girl could hear the squeals of delight from everyone as they passed by her compartment. The usual "How do you do's" and the "How was your summer's" were being passed between everyone as the trading of summer adventures began.

The door slid open suddenly. "Heather?"

The girl looked up from the window, eyes empty and cold. Her long brown hair tumbled down her back in soft waves.

"Yes?"

"Can I sit with you?"

The girl gestured to the empty seat across from her. He sat down. His bright curly hair nearly matched the Gryffindor tie he had already changed into.

"How was your summer?"

"Fine." Heather glanced at his chest. "Prefect?"

He puffed his chest out proudly, like a prideful hen. "Yes I am." The shiny badge glittered as though he just polished it.

"How wonderful." Heather rolled her eyes. She wondered what he was doing there, in her compartment.

"My youngest brother starts this year," He said, possibly hoping for a conversation. His blue eyes were bright with hope.

"Fantastic." He caught the sarcasm in her voice and winced.

"How was your summer?" He asked nervously again. Heather didn't answer; instead, she stared at him. He coughed awkwardly, making her lower her eyes.

"So, are we going to resume our usual schedule?"

"I don't know, are we?" Heather turned her stare onto him. She raised an eyebrow.

"I- uh, yes." He leaned forward on his knees.

"Then why did you even ask?" She sounded bored. She leaned forward, also, mimicking him. They were inches apart, not daring to move or say a word. There was a tense silence. She could feel his warm breath on her cheek, sending sensational shivers down her spine.

The door slid open once again, revealing a tall girl with blonde curly hair in the doorway. She looked in shock from the boy to Heather. They sprang apart when they both recognized the girl.

"Percy Weasley, you sly dog! Were you, how they say, 'making a move' on our sweet Heather?" Erica Mayfield snorted as Percy turned red. She smiled mischievously as she entered the small compartment and slid the door closed. Erica flopped herself down on the compartment, her House crest flashing neon yellow and inky black at Heather. Percy scooted slightly away from Erica.

"Now, you two continue your conversation!" Erica winked at Heather. "I won't listen. That much." She laughed. Percy sat up straighter and adjusted his tie.

"Now, Heather, how does this Thursday sound?" Percy was still fixing his tie, not quite meeting Heather's eyes. Heather leaned forward on her knees and propped her chin in her hands.

"I guess." Was her enthusiastic reply. Percy's puffed out chest faltered a little, as did the cockiness in his eyes, but he pretended she didn't sound like she wanted to rip the hair out of her head. He was about to reply when the door to the compartment opened again. He turned red when he realized who it was.

A girl with shoulder length auburn hair peered in and asked, "Have you two kissed yet? God!" She stood in the doorway with her hands bossily on her hips. She glanced at the red boy and the calm girl. She grinned heartily at Erica, who grinned back. They obviously planned this, dammit.

"Alyssa," Heather called out on her friend, and rolled her eyes. Percy turned even redder.

"We were just discussing something private. I'll leave you be." Percy stood and awkwardly held his hand out to Heather. She shook it gently, her eyes never leaving his. The girl at the door moved aside so he could leave. "I expect to meet up soon, Heather." He said without turning around. Alyssa Dann came into the compartment with wide eyes. She sat down, with Erica across from Heather and Alyssa next to Heather.

"Tell. Me. Everything." Alyssa put her chin in her hands."What did I miss?" Heather yawned and stretched her legs across the seat.

"Nothing. Where's Tina?" Heather absently played with a strand of her hair. Her gray eyes appeared empty, but to the trained eyes of her three best friends they could tell she was the absolute tiniest bit amused.

"'Where's Tina?' You were talking privately with your future husband and that's all you have to say?" Alyssa exclaimed. She sighed. "I don't know where she is, probably with that boy she's been owling all summer." Alyssa was never the one to wait patiently for news. "Now tell me- what happened between you and Percy Weasley?"

"Nothing happened. He was just asking if-"

"You'll marry him. I'm right, aren't I?" A petite Asian girl with short black hair appeared in the doorway. She grinned at the three girls sitting and promptly sat down next to Alyssa. She had already changed into her Hogwarts robes. Her Ravenclaw tie was knotted loosely under her chin.

"Yes, Tina, you're absolutely right." Heather said sarcastically. Tina squealed and punched Erica on the arm. "You owe me twenty Sickles!"

"Tina, she was being sarcastic." Erica rubbed her arm. "That hurt," She pouted. Her fair skin already formed a bruise in the short seconds.

"Something DID happen between them, though." Alyssa commented. Her expression turned into one of an airhead.

"You could just feel the sexual tension!" Erica grinned. Tina cackled into her palm.

Heather couldn't help it. She grinned ever so slightly from the ridiculousness of it all.

Tina gasped. "She's smiling! Quick, everyone think about what stupid thing you did to make her do such a dastardly deed!"

Erica tapped Tina's arm. "I believe you owe me ten Sickles."

Alyssa grinned. "I can't you believe you two bet on Heather smiling!"

"Correction: if she would smile before we got to Hogwarts." Erica poked Heather. "Now back to Percy. Are you going to kiss him this year? What did he really want?"

"Nothing. Just if we were going too continue our study sessions. And I don't see him that way." Not that I would tell anyone if I actually did, Heather said to herself.

"But you're the smartest in our grade! Why would he offer to help you? Unless if..." A devilish smile appeared on Erica's face. "He fancies you."

"No shit, Sherlock." Tina muttered. She rolled her eyes.

"Whatever. Percy has a bit of a crush on you. And you have one on him. Don't even try to deny it!" Erica added to Heather's angry expression. "Just accept it, Heather."

"Yeah, why else would he even make you do the study sessions?" Alyssa wondered out loud.

Heather has been wondering this since her first year herself.

And that's the prologue! Read on for more(: