The Golden Age: A New Dawn

Chapter 1: Here Comes Hogwarts

Disclaimer: I claim no character or place ownership for the majority of anything in this fanfiction. Nearly all are creations of J.K. Rowling.

"C'mon Albus, they'll still be here at Christmas. We have to find an open car."

The elder Potter son tugged his younger brother's shirt, until he reluctantly left watching their parents and younger sister. Turning around, he noticed his impulsive brother already walking down the corridor. His cousin Rose, stood beside him with a slight smile, but ran with him to catch up as he called ahead.

"Hey James, wait up!"

Five minutes later their search was still unrewarded. Frustrated, James ran his hands though his hair so much like his namesake grandfather had. "There's gotta be one here, I can't even find Fred, Roxanne, Victorie, Dominique, or Molly!"

"What about this one? Doesn't look like there's more than a few people in there."

"No, Al, wai-…uh…hi."

James began trying to back out as his cheerful brother and cousin had opened the door on a compartment with two girls.

"May we sit with you? We couldn't find another compartment with enough space…"

The two girls replied in unison "Sure!"

Restraining a groan, James sat beside his brother and politely smiled as he looked more carefully at the two. Neither was any worse than average in weight or build, and both had a sort of delicacy in their build. One had slightly wavy brown hair down to the middle of her back, while the other had shoulder length dirty blond hair and was much skinnier. The first had gray-green eyes, while her friend had bright blue eyes, and both had very light skin, but the skin of the first was dappled with freckles.

"Are you two first-years?"

The question, apparently directed at James from the blond-haired girl, shook him out of his observing.

"What? No! I'm a second-year, although it's my brother and cousin's first year. What about you two?"

She replied sharply "Was just asking. We're first years. "

The brown-haired girl cut her off. "Don't worry Ev." She then turned to the brothers. "Sorry. Introductions should be first. "I'm Arianna, although I've got lots of nicknames, and this is Evelyn. "

James was prevented from answering by his brother. "I'm Albus, and this hot-head is James. "

"I'm Rose" She spoke for herself, smiling at the three. They seemed friendly enough.

Arianna stifled laughter as James tried to protest his brother's accusation and Albus merely poked fun at him. Every now and then Evelyn or Rose would cheer one or the other on.

Eventually all had calmed down and the girls were asking James everything about Hogwarts. After one particularly long description, James excused himself. Walking though the car, he passed a car with a very interesting shadow and a screened window. He knocked and opened the door a crack to find a boy sleeping in a hammock strung up between the walls of the space, and couldn't help exclaiming "What are you doing!"

He promptly jolted up and flipped over, falling out of his hammock. James burst out laughing "Sorry mate, you just looked really funny! "

"Eh, it's comfortable…and you are?"

"James. And alright, sounds good to me!"

"I'm Gabe Lioxe, 2nd-year Ravenclaw." The boy replied with a grin.

"Oh, I'm a 2nd-year too, but Gryffindor."

"Brilliant, I had sort of hoped to get in there, but I know I'm not brave enough."

"You must be smart though to get into Ravenclaw!"

"Heh…I guess so, but I'm certainly not studious like the rest of my lot, and I can't see myself changing."

"…Alright then. Well, I've got to go. Nice to meet you Gabe, see you at Hogwarts I guess!"

James grinned and ran off as Gabe shut the door and shook his head with a laugh before climbing back up to sleep in his hammock.

"We should be getting there any time now.."

James said with frustration as his three companions yawned, having been ready for almost an hour in their robes, then moments later pointed excitedly out the window. "Look! It's Hogwarts!"

Albus, Arianna, and Evelyn all crammed around the window while James laughed.

"You guys should see your faces!"

Soon the train began to overflow as students disembarked, most of them heading toward where the carriages were, some following the sound of a booming voice. "Firs' years! Firs' years over 'ere!"

"Hey Hagrid!"

" Well, 'ello James! This Albus?"

"Y-yes sir."

"Well, come on all of you. Into the boats, make sure one of you has a lantern, careful now. ALL FIRS' YEARS! Everyone here? Alright then, off we are."

Gasps and dropping jaws followed as they rounded the corner on the lake, Albus holding the lantern in a boat with Evelyn and Arianna, all of them grinning.

Meanwhile, James had met up again with the Ravenclaw second year from the train. "Hey, Gabe Lioxe, was it? "

"Yep. Sorry, my memory is horrible, what is yours?"

"James. James Potter. "