Chapter 1

Draco

Draco Malfoy looked around at all the students loading the train heading for another year at Hogwarts. Parents were wishing their kids well and saying goodbye. His own mother, Narcissa, was fusing over his robe, straightening it with her hands.

"Don't forget to send me plenty of owls Draco," she fused.

"I will mother," he answered, frustrated over her fusing over him.

"Draco," his father, Lucius Malfoy spoke up, his voice stern and demanding, "You better make us proud son because I have had enough of Potter showing you up."

"Yes Father," Draco said gruffly.

"Lucius really, do you have to stay on him so?" Narcissa hissed softly, "I know Draco will do his best," she smiled, "that's all that matters."

His father just gave him that look that told him he'd better not forget he was a Malfoy and better than everyone else. He could hear him drilling it in his head now since he was old enough to remember." We are Malfoy's and we are the best. Our family bloodlines date back as far as can be recorded. We are pure bloods, anyone less than that is scum."

The train whistle blew its final warning. Draco hugged his mother and then headed for the train. He boarded and made his way to join his fellow Slytherins. Before he opened the door he stood there for a minute. He had to work on his best Prince of Slytherin look; it wasn't easy being the cocky, self-centered leader of their group all the time. He was about to slide the door open to their car when someone tapped him on the shoulder. "Excuse me," a sweet, prim voice spoke up. Draco turned and looked at whoever dared to touch him. He must have still had his sneering look on his face.

"I am sorry," she stuttered, "I didn't mean to bother you."

Draco was looking into the most gorgeous green eyes he had ever seen. They were a deep green, almost hazel. And she had the voice of an angel. He tried to think quickly if he knew her. She was around his age with beautiful, flawless skin, soft pink lips and dark silky hair. She started turning away, but Draco grabbed her arm lightly.

"Hey, do you need something?" he asked, wiping the sneer from his face.

She turned back to him and he nearly caught his breath, she was stunning in a sweet way.

"Actually, I was trying to figure out where I need to go," she spoke in that soft musical voice.

"You've never been to Hogwarts?" he asked in disbelief.

"I know it's crazy, but this is my first time."

That explained why he didn't know her, she was new to Hogwarts. But why was she starting so late?

"What year are you?" he asked.

"I am starting my 5th year," she replied.

"I'm a 5th year also," Draco was definitely hoping to see more of her in his classes, "What house have you been placed in?" he crossed his fingers, hoping it was Slytherin.

"Well, Professor Dumbledore told my mother that I would be sorted once I arrived at the school, so right now I guess you could say I am homeless," she said uncomfortably, trying to joke about it.

Draco chuckled, he started to invite her to come sit with him in the Slytherin car but he knew as sweet as she was they would tear her apart, not to mention all the guys would probably start flirting with her.

"Come on, I'll find you a compartment," he started walking down the train hallways until he found her an empty compartment with a sliding glass door, "How's this?" he asked, sliding the door open for her.

"Thank you," she smiled up sweetly at him as she sat down on the couch, "by the way, my name is Annabelle Blackburn, but you can call me Anna."

"No problem," he hoped no one saw him, Draco Malfoy, being nice. He didn't want to leave her but he knew he had to before they came looking for him, "My name is Draco Malfoy. Maybe I will see you around." Draco slid the door shut and headed back down to the Slytherin car, putting his sneering look back on his face, which wasn't hard when he was faced with his friends. They did seem to bring out the worst in him. He entered the car like he owned it.

"Where have you been Drakie?" Pansy Parkinson asked. Until he had spoken to Anna, he had not realized how whiny Pansy's voice was, it was really annoying.

"Taking care of something," Draco sneered, irritated, "What's it to you?"

"There is no need to get so snippy," Pansy whined, sitting beside him, "I missed you this summer," she said, trying to take his hand.

"Not now Pansy," he growled, pulling his hand back.

"Sorry," she huffed.

Draco could not believe Pansy still thought they were an item. He guessed she didn't take the hint that he was losing interest in her. She had owled him all summer long, but he had not returned them. That should have been enough, but obviously not.

His mind was again on Annabelle Blackburn sitting in a car at the other end of the train. He could still see her shining green eyes and gorgeous smile. He could not help hoping she ended up in Slytherin, but who was he kidding. She was too sweet and nice and proper to be a Slytherin. She would probably be sorted into Hufflepuff. He hoped it wasn't the stupid Gryffindors that ended up with her. He would just have to wait and see.

Anna

Anna could not believe her parents were finally sending her to Hogwarts. She had begged them since she was little, but she had become resigned to the fact that she would never attend. Her mother and father had kept her home, why she did not know, but they taught her themselves. She had read every book she could get her hands on and then some. She had been taught any number of spells and probably knew more of them than the students at Hogwarts, so she wasn't worried about being behind her other classmates. No, what worried her was the fact that she would be around so many people. Anna wasn't sure she would know how to act with them because she had never been around kids her own age. In fact she had never been around kids' period. She was an only child and had grown up in a world of adults.

It had all started with a visit from Professor Dumbledore. He had talked with her parents for a very longtime in their study and then later that night at dinner her father had announced the decision to send her to Hogwarts. She would be attending as a 5th year. Anna was shocked. At first she had argued and disagreed. She had given up on attending Hogwarts years ago, but her father told her it was for the best and that was that. So Anna was stuck with the fact that she would be attending Hogwarts.

Anna had been in awe when she first saw the train and all the students. It was scary, but her mother reassured her that she would be fine. Most of the other students were already on the train when the final whistle blew and she had to get on. She hugged her parents' goodbye and climbed aboard. She had no idea what to do, so she walked down the train corridor until she came upon a boy, his back turned to her. He had really pale blond hair and he seemed to be hesitating to go through the door to another car.

Anna decided to ask for his help because she had no idea where to go, so she tapped him on the shoulder, but then she wished she hadn't bothered him. He had the most snobbish look on his face, and that was ashame because otherwise he seemed very handsome. He stood a good head taller than her and he had the lightest blue eyes, they almost looked silver. Anna apologized for troubling him and turned to head back when he stopped her, lightly grabbing her arm. This time when she looked at him he no longer had a look of disdain on his face, and he was truly good looking. He was polite and offered to help her find a car, which he did. Anna found out he was a 5th year too. Anna introduced herself and found out his name was Draco Malfoy. The name seemed familiar but she could not recall why. Anna thanked him and then he was gone. Well, at least now she knew one person from Hogwarts.

Anna sat by herself and started noticing a lot of students roaming the corridors, socializing and chatting. Several people looked in on her, especially guys, but none came in. Anna turned and concentrated on the scenery outside as the Scottish country side flew by.

Finally the door to her car slide open and two guys walked in and sat down. They looked just alike.

"Sorry to bother you, but do you mind if we join you?" they both said together, which made Anna smile.

"Of course not," Anna replied.

"This is Fred," one of them said.

"And this is George," the other responded.

"We are the Weasley twins," they both said together.

"I am Anna Blackburn," Anna answered, laughing softly at their expressions, "it's nice to meet you, Weasley twins."

"Your new at Hogwarts, aren't you?" Fred said.

"Yes Fred, I am new to Hogwarts," Anna replied in her soft ladylike voice.

"Hey, I like her George, she knows us apart," Fred punched his brother playfully.

"Well, we did just introduce ourselves so it was pretty easy," George countered, "but I like her too."

"So, what year are you Annabelle?" Fred asked.

"I'm a 5th year. I'm 15 now, but I'll turn 16 in February. And by the way, you can call me Anna."

"You will be in the same year as our brother Ron and his best friend Harry Potter. They are both 5th years," George clarified.

"Harry Potter attends Hogwarts," Anna said in awe. She knew all about Harry Potter. Her parents had been good friends with the Potter's until their death; Harry having been the only one to survive the killing curse.

"Of course he does, where have you been?" Fred joked.

"Honestly, my parents tutored me at home," Anna sighed, embarrassed, knowing they probably thought she was some kind of freak to just now be going to Hogwarts.

"That's cool," George and Fred both said at the same time. This made Anna laugh. They were so funny when they did that.

"Well, which house are you in?" Fred asked.

"I haven't been sorted yet. Professor Dumbledore said we would do that when I arrived at the school, but both my parents attended Hogwarts. My father was in Hufflepuff and my mother was a Gryffindor."

"Alright," they both said and slapped hands, "We are in Gryffindor, and so is Ron and Harry, so maybe you'll end up in our house," George finished.

"You really don't want to end up in Slytherin," Fred added.

"What's wrong with Slytherin?"

"Well, most dark wizards come from Slytherin, and of course it's the same house the dark lord came from," Fred said.

"Plus, they are mostly pure bloods, and not very tolerant of anyone who's not," George finished.

"I guess that leaves me out of Slytherin because my mother was muggleborn, which makes me a halfblood."

"That's great," they both said together. Anna could not help but like Fred and George Weasley, they were so friendly and so much fun.

"It's nice to meet you Anna Blackburn," Fred grinned.

"If you need anything don't hesitate to ask us," George said, "Oh, and a little warning, word is already getting around that there is a beautiful new girl at Hogwarts, so don't be surprised at all the guys who are going to be trying to get your attention," Anna blushed, Fred winked an laughed at her.

"Thanks for the warning," Anna smiled, her checks turning pink.

"Let's go Fred, we need to try to sell these new candies we have before we get to the school," George got up, "See ya, Anna," they both called out closing the door behind them.

Anna laughed out loud because they were right; several guys kept walking by her compartment, looking in.

At least now she knew three people who attended Hogwarts. She would just have to wait and see how things went once she arrived at the school.