Ms. Kerissa Balfour, eleven years old, arrived at King's Cross at half past ten on the morning that our story begins. She was short, with straight blonde hair, and was wearing what wizards would call "Muggle Attire". The t-shirt that she was wearing was bright pink, and stood out amongst even the muggles (or non-magical people.) She was also wearing a blue jean skirt, that came down to her knees.

It was Kerissa's first time at King's Cross. In fact, it was the first time that she had been to England since the death of her parents when she was just two years old. After her parents deaths, she went to live with her Aunt and Uncle in Boston Massachusetts - so very far away from London. It was the wish of her mother that she go and live with them should anything happen to her and her husband. Kerissa was what would would call a 'witch', though it's not a term meant to be insulting. Inf act, most witches are quite proud to be witches. Her mother was a witch, and proud of it. So Kerissa too was proud to be a witch.

But her Aunt and Uncle were not witches. Aunt Amanda was a muggle. She was born to a non-magic family, and has no magical abilities at all. She was, quite in fact, non-magical in every sense of the word. As ordinary as they come, aside from some rather muggle-like quirks. Such as the fact that she wasn't fond of dogs, and that she spent a lot of time on muggle computers writing her blog, and posting updates to all two of her followers on Twitter. Aunt Amanda was in her late thirties, though neighbors would swear that she looked no younger than forty five. She had jet black hair that barely came down to her shoulders, and had a man's face. Amanda was not at King's Cross with Kerissa, however. Kerissa was of course thankful of this - because though she often tried to act nice, she could be a bit of a witch herself, and not in the sense that she could use magic. Another of her many muggle-like quirks, was that she had to have a clean house. She cared a lot about her house being clean, more so than she cared about Kerissa. She had only allowed Kerissa to attend Salem Preschool for Young Witches so that Kerissa could do chores around the house using magic. If there had been one thing that Amanda liked about her niece, it was that she could clean her house with magic. Kerissa knew, however, that underage wizards in England were not permitted to use Magic unless under dire circumstances. She had discovered this by reading History of Hogwarts - Uncensored by Hermione Weasley. The book had been what she most wanted for her eleventh birthday, after deciding to attend Hogwarts because her parents also attended the school. The United States Department of Magic (U.S.D.M. for short) on the other hand, only required a parent or guardian to sign a permission form (and graduate from pre-school) in order to use magic while underage. And Aunt Amanda was more than happy to let Kerissa use magic to do chores. It gave her more time to focus on her social networking.

Uncle August on the other hand, was not a muggle. He had been born to a magical family. But he had no magical abilities to speak of either. He was what one in the wizarding community referred to as a 'squib'. Squibs were only a step up from muggles, as far was wizards were concerned. August's sister was Kerissa's mother. And as such, he was named godfather to younger Kerissa, despite the fact that he could not use magic. Like his wife, he was also in his late thirties. He was tall and lanky, and like Kerissa he had blonde hair, though his was much curlier. Uncle August was not at King's Cross either.

Nor was Kerissa's cousin, Meredith. Meredith was only a couple of months older than Kerissa. She was short, thin, and had curly blonde hair like her father. She and Kerissa could possibly pass for sisters had the two ever been seen in public before. But Meredith did not associate with her cousin outside of the house. But it had nothing to do with the fact that she was a muggle, and her cousin was a witch. It was because Meredith was a very important girl - a child model. She had pageants to win, and couldn't be seen with anyone beneath her status like Kerissa.

No, Kerissa had come to King's Cross alone. It had been a long trip for her. The flight over alone was very scary. But someone from the ministry greeter her once she arrived. He was a bit stiff, and his manner of speaking was very matter-of-factly. But he was nice enough to show her around, and took her to the house where her parents had lived. He then dropped her off at the hotel where she'd be staying - which wasn't too far from King's Cross. As she had grown up with muggles, and had a little money on her, she was able to hail a taxi cab and get a ride to the station. She had arrived on time, but still she didn't know how to get onto Platform Nine and Three Quarters as indicated on her ticket.

Nobody had explained how she would get onto the platform, nor did she have anyone who could explain what she needed to do. She wished to herself that she had asked the ministry official that she had met, but it had completely slipped her mind. She was too busy being overwhelmed being in a country that was very new to her. The country where she had been meant to grow up in.

Kerissa began looking around for people who had trouble blending in with muggles. But it looked like most of them were probably already on the platform.

After a couple of minutes of looking around, what appeared to be a wizarding family came strolling along. The father was a tall platinum blonde man, with gray eyes. His wife was almost as tall as him, and had brown hair. With them was their son - who had a pale pointed face, and hair and eyes just like his father's. Kerissa could tell that they weren't muggles, because of the contents of the trolley that the boy was pushing. On the top was something that few if any muggles ever carried with them - an owl.

"Excuse me," asked Kerissa as politely as she could.

"Can I help you?" the father asked. "Oh... you must be a... muggle born."

The man had paused for a second. He was choosing his words carefully.

"I am NOT a muggle born." said Kerissa indignantly, her hair turning fiery red as she said it. "My mum and dad were both witches, thank you very much."

The boy's eyes grew wide as he saw her hair change colours. It was as if he had never seen anything like it before.

In addition to being a witch, Kerissa was also a Metamorphmagus - someone who could change their appearance at will. It was not a type of magic. Nobody could learn to be a Metamorphmagus. While some wizards could disguise themselves very well, none could do it as well as a Metamorphmagus, and you have to be born one.

"I'm sorry," said the father. "I just assumed..."

"Well don't assume!" Kerissa said, her hair turning back to blonde.

"Where are your parents, dear/" the mother asked kindly.

Kerissa's face turned sad, and her hair turned blue. "They're... dead."

"I'm... sorry to hear that." the father said. He hesitated before saying it, which made Kerissa wonder if he were sorry or not. "It's Scorpius's first time, too. To get onto the platform, you just have to run through the barrier between Platforms Nine and Ten. You'll want to run at it, if you're scared."

Kerissa hesitated this time. It sounded possible, but she also suspected that it might be at rick. "Do you think you could show me?" she said.

"Alright." said Scorpius's father. Scorpius and his parents pushed the trolley through the platform, and as they had said - both went through it. Kerissa was surprised that it had worked. She had her reservations about trusting just anyone. But she still felt a litle bad that she didn't believe them at first. She decided that she could apologize once she was on the other side, and ready to board the Hogwarts Express - the train that would take them all to Hogwarts.

Kerissa started walking, at a fast pace, towards the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Soon her fast pace turned into a run. She kept running until she realized that she must be on the other side. She opened her eyes, and was amazed by what she saw.

A red steam engine was waiting next to a platform packed with people. Most of them were busy staring at a kind looking black haired man, and his red-headed wife. He had the most peculiar scar on his forehead, in the shape of a lightning bolt. But Kerissa paid little attention to the man. She was far more interested in the sign overhead that read "Hogwarts Express, Eleven O'Clock."

The first few carriages were already packed with students, many of them hanging out the window shouting goodbyes to their families. Kerissa pushed her car onto the train, and started looking for an empty seat. She passed a boy with a pointed face and long black hair that was getting a lecture from his mother.

"Don't forget to take your medicine, Gideon!" she heard the woman say.

"C'mon River, Serge!" a boy with ruffled brown hair said, making his way to the other side of the train. "Let's find a compartment away from the future Slytherins!"

Kerissa pushed on through the crowd until she found an empty compartment toward the end of the train. Her trunks were very heavy - she found them difficult to push into the compartment.

"Here - let me help you. We can share a compartmetn." came the voice of a boy with untidy black hair and green almond shaped eyes.

But even with the two of them, they found it difficult. It wasn't until a third boy - the same boy she had met at the station, that they were able to get them up there.

"THanks!" she said to both of them, blushing slightly as her hair turned slightly red.

Kerissa took a seat on one sid eof teh compartment, while Scorpius and the other boy sat on the other side. It wasn't long before agirl with curly red hair stepped in as well.

"There you are, Al. I've been looking for you everywhere."

Kerissa slid over, making room for the girl as the train took off. They were joined by another girl and boy as well - a blonde girl with pigtails, and a handsome boy with brown mussed hair.

Houses started flashing past the window. All six students were very excited that they would finally get to start to Hogwarts.

They sat in silence for a while, before the compartment door slid open again. The boy with ruffled brown hair and his two friends entered.

"Oh, sorry. Didn't realize this was the compartment for Future Slytherins." said teh boy. He seemed to be the leader of the three.

"Shut up, James." said the black haired-boy.

"It really is though! Look, it's Scorpius Malfoy! You know he's going to be in Slytherin. I know you've heard the tales Uncle Ron told us about him."

"Just ignore him, Albus." said the red haired girl.

But Albus looked a little apprehensive at sitting next to Scorpius Malfoy. He looked like he wanted to leave the compartment immediately. But he didnt' move.

"I don't know who the rest of you are," James added to the others. "but if you know what's good for you, I'd leave this compartment."

"Why's that?" asked Kerissa.

"Slytherin is full of Dark Wizards."

"There's nothing wrong with Slytherin!" said Scorpius, annoyed.

"All of you-know-who's followers were Slytherins."

"Not a single dark wizard that didn't come from that house!" his friend, River (a short black boy, with dreadlocks) added quickly.

"You-Know-Who? But I don't know who. " said Kerissa. But she quickly regretted it.

"You don't know who You-Know-Who is?" asked James.

Kerissa shook her head. "He can't be you-know-who if you don't know who it is."

"You must be a muggle-born then. I'd really suggest getting out of that compartment then. Watch out, Scorpisus will be calling you the M word. Hey Serge, bet you seven sickles that she's out of Hogwarts by the end of the year if she's in Slytherin."

"I'm not a muggle born." said Kerissa, her hair turning violet. "And I have no intention of leaving Hogwarts by the end of the year."

"Well, there goes all doubt." said James.

"Most certainly Slytherin." said Serge Macbeth (James much larger friend.) "She hates Muggle Borns!"

Alubs looked like he wanted to get out of the compartment more than ever now.

"I never said I hated muggle-borns." said Kerissa. But James ignored her.

"Did you see her hair change colours?" said Rose. "She's a Metamorphmagus. Just like Teddy!"

"That's right." said Kerissa. "Who's Teddy?"

Kerissa had never met another Metamorphmagus before. It was her first time hearing about another one.

"He's a family friend. And you're nothing like him." said James. "He doesn't hate muggle borns like you. And he's not a Slytherin. Come on river, Serge. Let's leave the future Slytherins to plot their dark plots."

The boy left with his two friends. Albus looked even more like he wanted out of there. But he didn't dare ask Scorpus to slide over so that he could leave.

"I'm Rose Weasley!" said the red haried girl. "And this is my cousin, Albus Potter."

"Nice to meet you," said Kerissa. "I'm Kerissa Balfour."

Albus gave her a weak smile.

"It's not true, you know." said Scorpius. "What they said about Slytherin being the only house at Hogwarts that had followers of you-know-who."

"I'm still not sure who you-know-who is." said Kerissa. She felt like she was being left in the dark on purpose.

"He was a dark wizard." said Albus. "Worst of the worst. I'm really surprised that you haven't heard of him. Didn't your parents tell you about him?"

Kerissa shook her head. "My parents died when I was young. I was raised in Boston.

"Don't withces and wizards in the United States know about you-know-who?" asked Scropius.

Kerissa shrugged. "I dunno. My Aunt's a muggle, and my Uncle's a squib. We didnt' really get much wizarding news."

"That sucks." said Albus. He had heard the horror stories about muggle families. "They're really boring. We have to go visit my cousins once in a while... and they don't do anything fun."

"My Aunt and Uncle aren't too bad." said Kerissa. "But they make me do all sorts of chores. At least I can use magic to do them though.

Rose gasped. "Wow! I wish we could use magic to do our chores."

"You have to go to preschool and get a certificate though. Then you have to have your parents or guardian sign a permission form, saying that they take responsibility for any irresponsible magic. After that, they remove the trace from you."

"So, if you live in the states, why not go to the Salem Witch's Institute?" Rose asked. "My mum told me all about it. S he said it's a great school. It's no Hogwarts though."

"My mum and dad went to Hogwarts." said Kerissa. "I wanted to go where they did."

"Did you fly over here?" asked Albus. His apprehension seemed to have disappeared a little. "In one of those... what were they called?"

"An Aeroplane." said Kerissa. "And yes, that's how I got here."

"Wow!" was all Albus could say. "I wish I knew how they worked."

"So, what house do you want to be sorted into?" Rose asked.

"I'm not sure, to be honest." said Kerissa. "I'd like to be in whatever house my mother was in, but I'm not really sure which one that was."

"I just hope I'm anywhere but Slytherin." said Albus quickly. Scorpius scoffed. "There's nothing wrong with Slytherin! Or any of the other houses for that matter."

"Slytherin is full of Dark Wizards." said Albus glumly. "Though my dad said that the bravest man he knew was in Slytherin..."

"Every house has had Dark Wizards. Even Gryffindor. I've even heard that Albus Dumbledore ran with Gellart Grindelwald."

"That's just lies!" said Rose, slightly agitated. "Written by Rita Skeeter. Mum says not to believe a word she writes."

"Still," said Albus. "even if there are dark wizards from other houses, there's more from Slytherin than any of the others. It's why it has such a bad reputation."

"Yeah, but it also had Merlin!" said Scorpius with a little pride in his voice. "Bet you didn't know he was in Slytherin. ANd he was one of the biggest champions of Muggle Rights."

Albus was shocked to learn that Merlin had been in Slytherin. This fact was kept out of any of the books he hadread.

"I guess Slytherin may not be all that bad." said Albus. "I mean, when you put it that way."

"Of course not!" said Scorpius. "Slytherin has a bad reputation, but if everyone in it were evil, don't you think they'd get rid of it, and let them all go to Durmstrang."

"I read that all of the founders were friends." said Keirssa. "Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin were best friends. In fact, I read it in History of Hogwarts - Uncensored."

"I did too." said Rose. "My mum wrote it - she made me read it. Twice. The four founders were actually friends. She's always told me that it's not the house that we're sorted into, but the decision we make and how we treat others."

That amde Albus feel a little better about where he might end up being sorted.

The four spent a bit of time discussing Hogwarts, and what they wanted to learn about most. Kerissa had wanted to learn about potions. It was the only class that you couldn't take in pre-school. She had read about them in books, but she had never had the chance to brew one. Scorpius was most interested in Defense against the Dark Arts. "Learning how to block jinxes will probably be the most useful thing we learn." Rose was interested in all of the subjects, but most of all Transfigurations (turning things into other things). She even wanted to take Wandloer, a class Albus swore to himself not to take. Like Scorpius, he wanted to take Defense Against the Dark Arts, though Charms was another subject he thought would be a lot of fun.

As they discussed their futures at Hogwarts, the train continued it's journey passing over the hills on it's way.

At half past noon, there was a great clattering outside the corridor, and a smiling, cute, blonde girl aske "Would you like neething from zee cart?"

Albus and Scorpius tood mesmorized. Rose and Kerissa remained seated, while Albus and Scorpius got up to make some purchases.

"Boys!" Rose scoffed as the pretty girl pushed the cart towards the next compartment, where a handsome young boy with mussed brown hair bought some sweets. "I can't believe they let girls like her work here."

"Now what would your mum say about talking about someone that way just because they're different?" said Albus.

The two boys had come back with more sweets than either of them could handle. They had everything from Amazing Animal Crackers that made animal sounds when you took a bite out of them, to Zombie Taffy that cried 'brains' when you stretched it.

"I've read about Veela." said Kerissa. "They say that men can't control themselves when they see them. They feel compelled to impress them."

"Mum says that men are the way with all women. So they can't be too different." said Rose. "But it's still embarrassing."

ALbus sighed as he munched on a recently opened chocolate frog.

"I'm not looking down at them!" said Rose. "I just think they shouldn't use their charm to sell sweets."

"You know that Aunt Fleur is part Veela." Albus said to her. "But that's not it. It's just dad."

"What about him?" asked Kerissa.

"Chocolate Frog Card." he explained. "I've got about five of him now, and three of Aunt Hermione and Uncle Ron. I would throw them away, but I think it might hurt their feelings."

Albus showed Kerissa hte card. She read it silently.

Harry Potter
The first and only known wizard
to survive the killing curse,
earning the title "The Boy Who Lived"
Deafeated a Basilisk at Hogwarts in
Salazar Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets
in just his second year. Youngest
Champion and winner of the Tri-Wizard
Tournament at the age of 14. But most
famous of all for his defeat of the
most dangerous and Dark Wizard of
All Time. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named

Kerissa gasped. She had no idea that she was sitting with the son of someone so famous.

"Do they sell Chocolate Forgs in the states?"

Kerissa shook her head. "I don't think so."

"Well, here. Take this. You can start collecting if you like."

Albus then launched into a long explanation about Chocolate Frog Cards, and who was on them. From Adelbert Amos, the first wizard to apparate to the moon, to Zane Zimmerman creator of Lava in a Jar.

Before Albus could explain the use of Lava in a jar, one of the boys that Kerissa had passed earlier burst the door open. "Excuse me..." eh said, obviously flustered. "Do you think that I could buy a chocolate frog from one of you? The Trolley's already gone, and I was asleep when it passed. I had to take my medicine earlier, and it tastes horrible. I'd like to get the taste out of my mouth."

Albus looked over to Rose, and then picked up a Chocolate Frog near him and tossed it to him. "You can have it."

"Oh no, I couldn't take it." the boy sai,d trying to hand Albus some money. But Albus wouldn't take it.

"I've got enough. Go on, take it. You aren't asking for much. I'm Albus by the way. Albus Potter, and this is my cousin Rose." he explained. "Oh, and this is Scorpius Malfoy, and Keirssa Balfour." he added, nodding in their direction as he said their names.

"Thanks!" the boy said. "And I'm Gideon. Gideon Lloyd-George."

"Nice to meet you!" said Rose.

"Well, I better get back to my compartment." said Gideon. "Thanks again for the Chocolate Frog! Oh wait... here's the card."

Gideon handed the card to Albus, who immediately recognized who was on it. "Keep that too." Albus said. "I already have Agrippa anyway."

"Alright. If you're sure then..." GIdeon said, before leaving. "Thanks again."

Gideon left almost as fast as he had entered. Albus went back to discussing Lava in a Jar, and the time seemed to fly past. It was starting to get dark outside now.

Before long, a pretty young lady with long black hair came into their carriage wearing robes.

"I was asked by a prefect to notify everybody on this side of the train to get into their school robes." she told them. Kerissa had noticed that her gaze was fixed on her for a moment. But the girl looked away immediately, and went back to her compartment. She couldn't help but wonder who the girl was, and why she stared at her.

The four went and changed into their robes, and then came back into the compartment. "Amost there," Albus said. "Can't wait to get this over with."

Kerissa too couldn't wait, though she wasn't nearly as nervous as Albus.

A voice soon echoed through the train. "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes. Please leave your lauggae on the train, it will be taken to the school separetly."

The four took deep breaths, and then joined the crowd in the corridor.

The train slowed down, and finally stopped. People pushed their way toward the door and out on to a small, dark platform. Soon they saw a lamp come bobbing over their heads.

"Firs' years! Firs years over here! Ello' there Albus." the voice boomed.

A large man, with a large beard was carrying a lantern their way.

"Hello, Hagrid." Albus said.

"Do you know him?" Kerissa whispered.

Albus nodded. "He's the care of magical creatures teacher, and the Gamekeeper."

"C'mon follow me - any more fis' years? Mind yer step now! Firs years follow me! C'mon don't be shy!"

They followed Hagird down a narrow path. The night sky was dark. None of the first years said a word. They had a time taking it all in.

"Yeh'll be seein' Hogwarts in a sec." Hagrid called over his shoulder. "jus a little bit further."

All of the first years looked up at the magnificent castle with many turrets and towers. Kerissa was amazed at how the castle looked. Never in her wildest dreams could she have imagined this was what Hogwarts looked like.

"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid yelled out, pointing to the boaths thta were sitting in the water by the lake shore. Kerissa, Albus, Rose, and Scorpius all got into the same boat.

"That all of yeh now?" shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself. "Right then - FOWARD!"

Nobody said a word on the trip across the lake. Perhaps because thye were all too shocked by the sight of the caslte up ahead.

"Heads down!" Hagird yelled to everybody, as the first boats reached the ivy-covered face of the cliff. The Ivy had concealed the wide opening, and behind it was a dark tunnel. It had seemed to most of the first years, that they were now under the castle. But it wasn't long before they reached an underground harbor. Everybody piled out, climbing over the rocks and pebbles.

They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge oak door.

"Everyone here? Right, then." Hagrid said. He then raised his large fist, and knocked on the castle door.