11-year-old Aria Longbottom looked up at the Hogwarts Express. She looked back up at her mother and hugged her for the last time before Christmas break. She boarded the train with caution, looking left and right before finding an empty compartment where she could read in peace. Not long after she had begun to read she heard someone walk in. After awhile, she looked up at the person, it was a boy she didn't recognize. Like her, he had wanted a place to read in quiet, and had his nose buried in a book she recognized from her school list: Beginning Potions. It was written by Draco Malfoy, who was the current Potions Master at Hogwarts according to her father, Neville. Aria was so entranced by her book about Crumple-Horn Snorkacks, she didn't even notice the next person walk in until he said something. "Reading school books already? You're mental."
At first she thought the person was talking to her, and was confused until she remembered the strange boy across from her reading the potions book. She looked up. "Well my father would be quite disappointed in me if I didn't read his own books." Said the boy she now assumed was a Malfoy.
"You must be Jace Malfoy, come to think of it you look like a Malfoy."
Aria looked at the Malfoy. He had the pale blonde hair and grey eyes of a Malfoy but his skin was a bit darker than his father's. The other boy had thick dark hair and blue eyes, and, in Aria's opinion, was quite goodlooking. He looked at her. "I'm Levi Zabini, by the way."
"You're Hermione Granger's son, aren't you? Well it was Granger but now it's Zabini. I'm Aria Longbottom, Neville and Luna's daughter."
Aria felt thrilled. She was rarely this social, though she didn't know why. Talking to people was so much fun!
"Well, I'll let you two get back to your reading. I'll see you later." Levi left the compartment. Aria went back to her book and wished he hadn't left so soon. Awhile later Jace looked up. "Is your book interesting? Mine's quite dull. I suppose my father doesn't have the best writing skills, though I wouldn't tell him that."
"It's interesting, but I do find the whole idea of a 'Crumple-Horn Snorkack' rather preposterous. I'm only reading it because my mum gave it to me. She said she read it when she was little. I'd rather read about an adventure or something with more likelihood of existence."
"So you didn't get your mother's love for nonexistent things then?"
"Heavens, no, thank goodness. If I did she'd probably make me wear her crazy earrings."
Jace laughed and he and Aria continued their conversation until the train came to a screeching stop. They stepped off the train and into the large confusion of students hustling around. "Firs' years over here! Firs' years over here!" They heard Hagrid yell.
They walked over to see the large man holding a latern. It didn't give off that much light but you could still see Hagrid's busy—now gray—hair and his face was a bit wrinkly. "Wow Hagrid really got old since our parents' went here, hasn't he?" said Levi as he walked up behind them.
"I guess." Said Jace. Aria nodded slowly.
Hagrid led them to the small boats that they took over to school to prepare for their sorting ceremony.