**Disclaimer: I own nothing from the Harry Potter Books. All credit goes to J.K. Rowling!

Cora looked out the window at the scenery that flashed by her window. She still couldn't believe where she was going. Her stomach twisted as the door to her compartment slid open. A boy, who looked her age, peered in. Cora backed against the window hoping he would go away. He didn't. On the contrary he continued in and took a seat across from her. He rummaged through his bag a moment before turning to face her. She went red. He smiled reassuringly. "First year?" he asked her politely. She nodded carefully. "Y-yes." The boy smiled again. Cora relaxed. He didn't seem so bad. He actually reminded her of her older brother, Derek.

***

She smiled back at him, hoping she didn't look silly. He returned to rummaging through his bag as he continued to talk to her. "This is my first year too. My whole family's been though. I've been waiting to go ever since I was a little kid. How about you?" Cora was speechless. She didn't even know the boy and here he was going into what seemed like a life story. He resurfaced again, this time holding a minute owl in his hand. He seemed to read the look on her face because he introduced himself. "My name's Dustin. This," he said holding out his owl, "is Cricket." Cora reached out tentatively to stroke the feathery bird. She gestured to her own cage sitting covered on the floor of the train. "That's my owl, Harry. I named him after my Dad's best friend, Harry Potter." Dustin nearly fell out of his seat. "Your dad's best friend is Harry Potter?" Cora smiled shyly. "They've been friends since their first year a Hogwarts." Dustin just stared at her for a moment. "So, you're a pure blood then." Cora nodded. "Yes, my mother's relatives are muggles, but my dad's side is all wizards." Dustin nodded knowingly. "My parents went here too. They knew Harry Potter. After school though they lost contact with him and his friends. So who are your parents?" Cora shrugged carelessly. "If your parents were friends with Harry they probably knew them. They were a trio at Hogwarts." All of a sudden Dustin smiled.

***

"You must be Ron Weasley's daughter then. I've heard plenty about your dad. That would mean your mum's Hermione Granger then wouldn't it?" She nodded and turned back to the window. She wasn't sure she liked this boy knowing so much about them. The compartment door opened again and Cora heard footsteps enter the cabin. She turned around again upon hearing her name. "Hi Cora!" called a pair of twins in the doorway. She smiled at the sight of them. There was a dark brown-haired boy and a dirty-blonde haired girl. They looked nothing alike but they were twins all the same. "Hey guys. That's Dustin-" She broke off hoping he'd fill in with his last name but he just smiled and waved. The twins sat down in the seat in front of him. "Hi. We're Harry and Lily Potter." Dustin didn't look at all surprised. He just smiled. "My parents knew your dad pretty well. Cora's too." The twins looked surprised. "Were they friends?" Dustin didn't answer. The reason, Cora assumed, was that her older brother Derek just entered the cabin. "Hey guys," he greeted nodding at the twins. "Oh and hey Shrimp," he muttered addressing Cora. He didn't seem to notice Dustin. "Mom said I had to check up on you, so if you alive I'll go back to were I belong now." Cora stuck out her tongue, hoping that was a good enough sign that she was alive. It must've been, because Derek left. Cora turned her attention back to the window. They were silent, each absorbed in their own thoughts until the witch came with the food cart. "Do you want any thing Cora?" Dustin asked heading towards the witch. She didn't answer. He must've taken that for a yes however because he returned with an armful of food. "I thought you might want something. We're almost there."

***

He dumped a few snacks on the empty space next to her and returned to his seat. Drawn by the wonderful smell her pile was giving off she turned around. The twins had been waiting. "You all right Cora? You're being awful quiet." She shrugged then nodded. "Yeah just thinking." Dustin nodded. "About what house you're going to be in? So have I." Cora was about to tell him that she wasn't thinking of that at all when he continued. "You'll probably be in Gryfindor." Cora nodded. "How about you? What house do you think you'll be in?" He didn't answer though and hastily shoved his mouth full of pasties. The twins pulled their black robes out of their chests and hastily pulled them on. Cora and Dustin did the same. Cora noticed that he still hadn't answered her question but she threw the fact aside, not wanting another thing to think about. The train began to slow down and the four swept their food into their trunks closing the lids behind. It stopped completely just as Cora finished latching her trunk. Lilly, Harry, and Dustin left dragging their trunks behind them. Cora was just about to go after them when her trunk stopped moving. She pulled harder but it was stuck good. She released the handle and ran out into the empty train. A lone prefect was striding towards her. "You there!" the prefect called out to her. "Why are you still on the train?" Cora flushed. She hated it when she did something wrong and was singled out. "It's my trunk," she said breathlessly. "It's gotten stuck."

***

The prefect shoved by her into her compartment looking extremely annoyed. He came out again with her trunk. "It wasn't stuck. It's just heavy. I'll take care of this, you just hurry up and get to boas." She nodded and ran off as quickly as she could. Dustin and the twins were waiting by the lake with a boat. "Where were you?" Lilly asked exasperated. Cora shook her head. "Let's just go." Lilly shrugged and ushered herself in to the boat. Cora and the boys slid in after her.