Albus and Rose had settled into a compartment near the end of the train, before the newly added private carriage for non prefect sixth and seventh years. After the war, there had been an increase in the amount of children following the refusal of muggleborns for a year, and a following baby boom in the wizarding world. There had then been an extra carriage added which had become the private carriage for non prefect seventh and later sixth years, who would probably prefer to not be bothered by younger years or the prefects. It was made an official private carriage six years previously, but had always held the rights to be. The amount of new muggle borns had stayed roughly the same, now that those who had been kept from going were through Hogwarts. Albus and Rose were not alone for much longer before a short blonde girl asked to sit with them. They both said it was fine and introduced themselves, once they'd helped her load her trunk onto the rack above.

"I'm Chuckie." The girl said "Well, my name is actually Veronica, but I've been Chuckie to everyone except my grandfather and substitute teachers since I was about six. I won't ever answer to anything else."

"Hi, Chuckie. I take it you're muggleborn." Rose said, eyeing the girl's muggle clothes, and assuming from the offhand comment about substitue teachers, that would only relate to muggle schooling.

"Halfway, but some of the purists might see me as muggleborn, my mum is a muggleborn witch and my dad is a halfblood muggle."

"Halfblood muggle?" Rose asked, confused, glancing at Albus who sat quietly looking out the window. When he was in one of those moods, it was best to leave him alone.

"Son of a squib and a muggle. He learned about both worlds and likes to joke about his heritage using the magical world's terms. He was ecstatic when I got my letter, my mum was a bit apprehensive seeing as she missed out on her third year in the war. But it's all different now, so she doesn't feel as bad letting me go."

"I think it'd be easier just to say halfblood, if anyone cares enough to ask." Rose said with a smile

"So why is the last carriage private?" Chuckie asked and pulled her satchel from her trunk and sat down again

"The sixth and seventh years use it because they don't want to be round us kids." Albus said, speaking for the first time since he'd introduced himself "It also means the prefects doing rounds have less to worry about. It's a bit cringy having to tell people off that are your own age, so they just stick their head round the door every so often when they get to this end and make sure no-one's killed or maimed anyone."

"I'm surprised fifth years haven't complained to get space of their own as well by now." Rose said

"It's a privilege for non prefect sixth and seventh years" Albus replied "McGonagall had to draw the line somewhere, besides, it's only one carriage, imagine trying to squeeze the best part of three year groups in there. The fifth years aren't high up enough on the food chain to challenge prefect authority. Victoire said they mostly just connect between the two years to work out study groups and tutoring for individual N.E.W.T. Level subjects."

"That and stay away from us annoying brats." Chuckie put in with a knowing smirk

The three laughed lightly and fell into a comfortable quiet, occasionally exchanging small talk and getting to know one another. The trolley came by as they watched the countryside go by, Albus and Rose each bought a handful of their favourites and Chuckie bought a few pumpkin pasties and a bottle of water and sat down to pull a packed lunch from her bag then explained to the two that she had a strict diet, but carried a small weakness for the small buns. They were interrupted again about half an hour later by a prefect advising them to change into their robes, which caused Albus to lift his from his trunk and leave the compartment. Chuckie and Rose changed quickly and opened the blind once they were decent again, so that Albus would know it was safe to come in. He did a few moments later and the three resumed their talking, once they had tidied their things back in their trunks.

Soon enough, the train began to slow down and they looked out the window and got their first look at the castle, nestled in the mountains. It was almost dark by the time they pulled into the station, they were called away from the main crowds who made their way up the hill to the carriages that would take them to the school. Meanwhile, the new first years took a different path. They, like thousands before them, would cross the Black Lake in the boats moored at the dock.

**Harry*Potter*Next*Gen**

Say what you like, suggestions, criticisms, anything welcome.

~Buzzy9000

Next Chapter: Sorting the Next Generation