(A/N) Alright! A few disclaimers before I begin this story. First of all, I don't own Harry Potter or any characters originally designed by J.K. Rowling – a blanket statement for all future chapters and stories.

Secondly, I've decided to change a few canon things. It never made sense to me that they started their magical studies at age 11 and were in the work force at 18. Seeing no math, science, or language, ever at Hogwarts, it just leads me to believe that those who graduated were pretty much illiterate. As a fix, I've decided to make Hogwarts start at age 15 (when muggles begin high school) and finish up at the age of 22 (when normally would finish college). Giving a more adult age group to a story that deserves it. I will not be changing the main story lines of any of the main books, but I think having an older starting age and whatnot will make the entire experience of fighting a dark wizard a little more believable than an 11 year old defeating a wizard with Voldemort attached to him. If a character is 3 years older than Harry, they will remain such – and so on.

I'm not going to give much away as far as where the story is going to go other than that. I appreciate reviews (it's how I make my story better) and would love to hear your theories or ideas! I'm trying a new approach that I haven't seen before and I hope you guys enjoy it. Thanks!

Chapter 1

Harry Potter sat alone in a compartment at the back of the Hogwarts Express. Not only had he been late, but all the other compartments with first years in them seemed to be filled. It's not that he was afraid of being by himself. Countless nights sleeping under the stairs at the Dursley's had made him quite comfortable in silence. The crash course Hagrid had given him in wizarding world practice and etiquette seemed to be fairly true. They kept to their own. The train wasn't even moving yet and Harry was hesitant to say the least. On the bright side, he wouldn't be at Privet Drive for quite some time.

A knock on the door broke him of his reverie. A tall girl with waist length, wavy, strawberry blonde hair slid open the compartment door. The beautiful girl immediately made Harry spring to attention. She hesitantly walked through. She had striking blue eyes and a slim face. Following her through the door was another female. Standing around the same height with straight blonde hair that reached halfway down her back and exciting green eyes stepped beside her.

Harry was used to most girls simply ignoring him. Ever since he was interested in girls, he would always seem to be ignored. Of course, his cousin Dudley never did much to encourage a girl getting to know him. At age 15, he still hadn't had a girlfriend or even his first kiss. He idly fantasized about the two very beautiful girls standing in front of him. They weren't super models, but each pretty in their own way. Susan was slender with a beyond average bust line. Most girls would kill for a figure like she had. Daphne had a more athletic build. She was a few centimeters shorter than Susan, but also quite a bit firmer. He could tell she was incredibly in shape.

"I'm Susan Bones, and this is my friend Daphne Greengrass," the girls with reddish locks introduced. Daphne muttered a slight hello. This pulled Harry from his fantasies. "We were wondering if we could join you? It seems the rest of the compartments are full..."

Thinking it better to be with complete strangers than no one, Harry nodded. Cute strangers was a plus. "I don't see why not." He responded shoving some of his things from the bench to the floor. "My name is Harry Potter."

There was a collective gasp from the duo. Harry had grown accustomed to this in the limited time he had spent in the wizarding world. When he was out with Hagrid, people kept asking to see it. He simply pulled the bangs from his eyes to reveal the iconic lightning shaped scar on his forehead.

"Auntie was telling me that you were in the same year as me. I just never thought to believe her!" Susan exclaimed as she sat down. Seeing the look of boredom and such on the face of the young wizard, she toned down her surprise. "I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?"

Something wrong? No. It wasn't as if Harry knew any better. "No. I'm just not sure I deserve all the nonsense they say about me. I was a baby when I 'saved' the wizarding world," air quotes following. "I'm just Harry."

"Ok, 'Just Harry,' we'll try to remember that," Daphne said sitting down across from the bespectacled boy.

Daphne and Susan had been childhood friends. Susan's Aunt Amelia and Daphne's Aunt Cecilia had been school mates fifteen years prior. Susan had lived with her aunt since her parents had died in the war with Voldemort. Amelia was largely thought to be the brightest witch of her generation. At the age of 29 she was one step away from becoming the next head of the law enforcement arm of the Ministry of Magic. She was rarely in the house, so on days when she would be gone for particularly long periods of time, she would send Susan to spend time with Cecilia.

Mr. Greengrass, a marked man in Voldemort's ranks, was killed during the first war. Not in battle. Bereft with grief after partaking in the raid of the Potter home, Richard abandoned the cause. Seeing young Harry Potter, the same age as his Daphne. He had played a large role in making this child an orphan. In grief he tried to remove the mark, instead, Voldemort removed his head.

After his death, Cecilia moved in with her widowed sister-in-law, Adriana. For the first months of Daphne's life, she received more care from her aunt than from her grief-stricken mother. Both Susan and Daphne had many things in common, just on a familial level. Their common background gave them a great deal of closeness that most relationships never reach.

Susan and Daphne were very aware what the tabloids were saying about Harry Potter. He didn't look anything like the hero that every major paper had painted him to be. He appeared malnourished and ragged. Honestly, he looked like an unsure fifteen year old boy. They knew he grew up with muggles. From the looks of it, not the best muggles.

"Did you have a good summer, Harry?" Daphne asked, but already suspecting she knew the answer. She'd seen that expression in the mirror so many times. Defeat.

Turning away from the pastures flying by the window of the train, Harry responded, "It was alright, I suppose." Short. To the point.

"Well aren't you excited to get to Hogwarts? What house do you think you'll be sorted into?" Susan continued, noticing the look as well. He needed a talk. He just didn't know it yet.

Harry had no idea. He barely knew anything about Hogwarts. "Honestly, I haven't a clue. I don't know much about the wizarding world. Up until four weeks ago, I had no idea I was even a wizard!"

"Well, then we'll help you!" Susan suggested. "I figure I'll be sorted into Hufflepuff. That's where my entire family has been sorted for generations. My Aunt Amelia was a Hufflepuff. She finished her schooling three years early. I don't think I'll be able to do that." Once Susan started to talk it was hard to shut her up. Harry was only half listening. They seemed nice enough, though.

"I can't imagine I'd be put anywhere but Slytherin. As much as I'd like to be in the same house as you, Susan, I don't think 'Puff is the place for me."

"I heard my parents were in Gryffindor. But I don't know a whole lot about them." A small croak disrupted his thought process. The compartment door had been left ajar and a small toad was now hopping its way under the bench. Raising an eyebrow, Harry bent down and grabbed the small amphibian off the floor. He knew that frogs were allowed as pets in the school, so he figured this one must belong to someone.

"I wonder whose frog this is?"

"Your guess is as good as mine," Daphne replied candidly.

The snack trolly came and went. Harry sat the frog next to him as he bought what was left off the cart for his new friends. He held up his hand full of gold coins to the lady working the cart, still having no knowledge of the money system. The girls looked at each other, seeing the mound of gold pieces he just pulled out of his pocket. They hadn't seen money like that. Especially from a boy the same age as themselves.

They sat around for the next half hour or so talking and getting to know one another. Apparently, Daphne was a quidditch fan and had played chaser for her primary school team and Susan liked to knit and garden. Daphne liked transfiguration and Susan liked charms. All of this meant next to nothing to the young boy, but he tried his best to contribute to the conversation. They talked about wizarding cards, exploding snap, and wizarding chess.

Quite suddenly, a stocky boy with short brown hair arrived outside their door. Hurriedly, he slid open the door. "Has anyone seen my fr- TREVOR!"

"This must be your frog," Harry said as he handed the squirming frog to its owner.

"He never stays put. I look away for one second and he's gone. Thank you for looking after him. I've been trying to find him for the past hour." the boy placed the frog back in his bag and sat down, visibly exhausted.

Harry sat down and his hair shifted to one side revealing the scar to the newest inhabitant of the compartment. "You're Harry Potter."

This was going to get old rather quickly. Everyone knew who he was. He was at a distinct disadvantage. "It would appear so..." Harry responded partially annoyed.

Snapping to his senses, the boy quickly corrected himself, "I'm Neville Longbottom." Susan and Daphne both knew of Neville. He too had lost his parents during the last war. The worst part was they were still alive. Death Eaters had driven them insane and left them to rot in St. Mungo's.

The group quickly introduced themselves and were starting to talk further when an older boy came to the door telling them to get ready. The train was about to arrive. Gathering their belongings, they shuffled out into the corridor with the rest of the students and waited for the train to come to a complete stop.

Stepping off the train, they were greeted by a giant of a man trying to corral all of the first years. Harry knew him to be Rubeus Hagrid. "Firs' years!" he called through the early evening fog. Harry, Neville, Daphne, and Susan, all wandered over to Hagrid.

"'ey! 'arry!" the giant called out as he saw his small companion. "Glad to see you made it in one piece!" Seeing the three teens around him, "I see you made some friends. I know you. You're Neville Longbottom. You look just like your dad." Turning his attention he recognized Susan as well, "And I'd be remiss if I didn't know a Bones when I saws one. My name is Hagrid. I'm the groundskeeper and keeper of keys at Hogwarts," he said extending his massive hand to each in turn.

"Sorry, I'd talk more, but I've got work to do. Head down to the lake and jump into a boat. That's how we'll be getting to the castle tonight."

All the younger students found their way to the giant as they were ushered to the bank of the river and into small boats with lanterns. Neville, Harry, Daphne, and Susan, all crowded into one boat as they were given an introduction to the school by the groundskeeper. He told them of the impending sorting and the magic of the castle.

In an instant they were standing outside the Great Hall being greeted by Minerva McGonagall. "My name is Professor McGonagall. I am the transfiguration professor and head of Gryffindor. In the next few moments you all will be sorted into one of four houses," she informed in a light Scottish accent. "Named after the founders of our school, Salazar Slytherin, Helga Hufflepuff, Godric Gryffindor, and Rowena Ravenclaw. Whichever house the sorting hat places you, please move quickly to join your new house's table. No one can eat until everyone has been sorted!" she added with a slight grin.

They were soon ushered in and Harry could hardly believe all the things his eyes were telling him. There was far too much to ever completely understand in the first few moments inside this giant school. He trusted his new friends to help him adjust, be he was still reticent of what was to come.

The rest of the school looked on as Professor McGonagall put a stool and patchy hat in front of the teachers' table. To Harry's amazement, the hat began to sing. Seemed like it sang for hours before it finally asked for the first student.

McGonagall began reading off the names of students in alphabetical order starting with, "Hannah Abbott!"

The hat was placed on her head and with little hesitance, the hat announced "Hufflepuff!"

Susan Bones was also a Hufflepuff. Several others were called. A girl named Hermione Granger was sorted into Ravenclaw. Daphne was placed into Slytherin, as she had suspected. Neville Longbottom was also placed into Hufflepuff.

"Draco Malfoy," was the next name read off.

The hat didn't even bother being placed on the boy's head. Before he even reached the stool, the hat declared "Slytherin!"

Finally, Harry's name was called and a hush fell over the entire room. Harry nervously walked up to the stool and placed the hat on his head. He heard someone talking in his head.

Yes, yes, yes. Great potential in this one...

Harry was caught off guard. Umm, who is this?

The Sorting Hat, of course. Such a strong will you have. So many traits but toiled with uncertainty. You could thrive in any house. You would do well in Slytherin. Even Gryffindor. Where do you think you should be?

What are you asking me for? Aren't you the Sorting Hat?

Well then. Aren't you an impatient one.

After quite the deliberation the sorting hat finally decided, "HUFFLEPUFF!"

Harry's robe gained the emblem of a badger and the trim turned golden. He sat down next to Neville and Susan, glad to be in a house where he at least knew someone.

The final name called was Ronald Weasley. A red haired boy that tripped over himself nervously as he made his way to the hat. Another quick decision as he was put into Gryffindor.

There were cheers as the sorting finally concluded. Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster, got up to address the students as dinner appeared in front of them. "Welcome to another year of learning at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!" There was a hearty round of applause and cheering as Dumbledore waved them down and continued. "A few things to keep in mind as we begin this year. As always, the forest on the outskirts of the grounds is Forbidden, as the name would imply. Also, Mr. Filch has posted a list of banned items in every common room." Many students blanched at the name of Argus Filch. He was despised among most of the older students. "And, finally, the corridor on the third floor is off limits."

Finally finishing the clerical parts of his speech, he continued on to the heart of what it meant to be at Hogwarts. "This year, unity is important. I'm sure many of you have heard rumblings that danger is once again afoot." Murmurs went throughout the crowd. "In that light, we must strive to better unite our school. I challenge each and every one of you to get to know your classmates from other houses. You never know, you might find your best friend in Hufflepuff. Maybe you'll find your wife in Slytherin." Many made gagging noises at this reference. "In the days to come, we must learn to rely on one another."

Sitting down, the feast came to full roar. Most students were surprised by the request of the headmaster. Inter-house mingling had never been encouraged.

After the feast, they were quickly ushered to their new common rooms by their prefect Mervyn Wynch. They walked down to the basement followed by the first year Slytherins. They broke away form each other as Susan and Daphne said quick goodbyes and headed to their new homes.

The group stopped at the portrait of a knight. "Ah ha! These must be the new students... looks to be a strong crop this year!"

"Arthur, you would be correct. What is the password for this term?" Mervyn asked, trying to keep his patience.

"No one ever wants to just talk to me. I get SO lonely..." he moaned.

Rolling his eyes, Mervyn decided to play along, "Alright, what would you like to talk about?"

"I don't want to talk to you if you feel like I'm not worth the time! The password is honos. Now be on your way," he said sticking his tongue out at the now disgruntled prefect.

"Well he sure is interesting..." Harry commented to Susan.

Susan chuckled as they all began filing through the now open door. They were greeted by black and yellow throughout the well lit common area. Overstuffed chairs, couches, tables, and even a fireplace. Harry figured he could get used to this. "Most of the houses have similar paintings in front of their common rooms as well," Susan responded. "We just seem to have gotten a particularly senile one."

"Boys downstairs, girls upstairs!" Mervyn commanded as they shuffled to find their new rooms. Harry and Neville wandered all the way down the staircase to the bottom to find the first year dormitories with the rest of their classmates. Susan's was placed at the very top of the staircase. They couldn't be further away from one another.

Neville started unpacking his trunk and placed Trevor on the nightstand. He chose the bed next to Harry's. "I'll be happy when I don't have to walk up and down all those bloody stairs..." Neville whined. He was a bit overweight and was visibly winded from the trip.

"I'm sure it'll get better, Neville," Harry tried to tell him. He didn't really mind. He was happy to just have a real bed to sleep in for the first time in his life. Not only that, he had clothes that fit, an owl to deliver his mail, and even a wand. The more he thought about it, the less scared he was and more excited he became about the new things in his life.

Life was certainly going to be interesting at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

(A/N) Normally, my note will be at the end of each chapter, but I had a lot to setup before the story even began. PLEASE review the first chapter. I'd love to hear your ideas!

Honos Wolf