CHAPTER 1

MERIDA

"You can do this Merida." I say to no one. As I stand, annoyed that I am talking to myself, once again. A blonde blur runs into my shoulder as it races by. I whip around, glaring at the boy.

"Watch it you idiot." I mutter to myself. I take a deep breath and step through the barrier onto platform 9 ¾. Chaos surrounds me. I'm standing on a completely new place. I look back at the wall I just walked through. I look around at the large crowds of people, there are thousands of witches and wizards wishing their children a safe year at hogwarts. There are sounds of crashing as carts tip over spilling their contents across the platform. Why are there so many people here? I ask myself, annoyed. Suddenly there is an ear-splitting whistle; the train is here. As I watch the train pull into the station, I notice a dark haired girl with brown eyes, she wears a simple black school robe and she wanders around looking quite confused. "Are you okay?" I ask her as I approach her.

"Oh, yes!" The girl smiles brightly at me.

"Alright…" I give her an odd smile before boarding the train, my legs feel stiff. Once I am inside, I find a compartment with just one girl sitting in the corner. "Mind if I join you?" Without looking, she simply replies.

"No, I don't mind. Go ahead." I sit across from her. The girl ignores me, she stares out the window of the train. She has light blonde hair, and grayish green eyes.

"Thanks…" I look around and I see a dark feathered owl with striking blue eyes. It's beautiful, I think. It looks at me and hisses, I tense. Apparently the pets are as irritable as the owners.

"She doesn't like new people." I look at the girl across from me.

"I noticed." I say and turn back towards the door to the compartment. Is it rude to leave after I already asked to sit? I wonder.

After a short time the dark haired girl appears in the doorway.

"Have either of you seen a lost owl?" she asks. I look at her and sigh. "Most animals don't like me." I smile at her. "It's like a curse or something." I shoot a glance at the blonde girl.

She ignores me.

"Are you missing yours?" I ask the dark haired girl. I look up again at the dark owl above me, earning myself another hiss.

The blonde girl looks at me "I told you she doesn't like new people and you looking at her like you've never seen one before probably doesn't help!" she says sharply.

Of all the compartments I could have picked… I turn back to the girl in the doorway who seems to be ignoring the previous discussion.

She looks at me. "Oh yes, mine seems to have disappeared. He's a barn owl." She looks down the corridor. "Anyways thanks fo-" The blonde girl cuts her off.

"Is that your owl outside?"

I stiffen as the dark haired girl rushes to the window. "Arnold!" I look out the window and catch a glance of a barn owl, perched on a small sign. Right as the train begins to pull from the station. I hope that owl is smart enough to follow…

"Well there's no stopping now. You better take a seat and hope the owl follows." Says the blonde.

The dark haired girl sits on the bench near me with a small smile. Ugh… Why is she so happy? Her owl didn't even make it onto the train with us. I curl up on the corner of the bench making myself as small as possible. I wish we could just get there already. I start staring at the owl above our seat again.

"Oh my gosh. Have you never seen an owl before?!" The blonde girl snaps at me. I feel my anger building up. I take a deep breath to keep from screaming at her.

"For your information, no, I have not seen an owl before!" I say coldly. She glares at me.

"Why not? Did you live in a hole?" She asks sarcastically. I open my mouth to respond when I hear a quiet determined voice beside me.

"My name is Fleur." Her look is hard as if she is scolding us for bickering. I take a deep, slow breath. I force a smile.

"Nice to meet you Fleur. I'm Merida." I continue glaring at the blonde girl. I notice Fleur is staring at her expectantly.

"And you are?" She asks her voice friendly but hard. How does she do that? The blonde rolls her eyes.

"I'm Lilith." she said "We're almost there." She pulls out her book and begins reading.

"That's nice." I say pulling out my own book. I lean back, unable to focus on the story in front of me. I look out the window as the scenery passes. I feel the gentle rocking of the train. I look around at Fleur and Lilith. Fleur is reading a magazine with a picture of a pygmy puff on the cover. Lilith is reading a book of Charms and Spells. I look around the compartment. It has panelled walls, benches across both sides of the small room, and a large window at the back. Above the chairs are shelves where chests, bags, and owls can be placed.

After a while I see the castle in the distance. It's so much larger than I imagined. I gaze in wonder at the quidditch pitch. I turn towards the lake, its waters nearly black in the dusk light.

"There it is!" Fleur exclaims. Lilith looks up and gasps.

"It's huge." Says Fleur. I can't believe I'm actually here! I take a deep breath gather my things and step off the train.