Chapter One

LUCY

Lucy Heartfilia ran her fingers through her blonde hair as she walked through King's Cross Station. Her father, who walked next to her, his stride about three times the size of hers, was silent and wore a scowl. Shouldn't he be happy? Lucy would be out of his life for nearly nine months and all he could do was frown. It wasn't like he paid her any attention anyway. When she was at home, she pretty much just sat in her room all the time. He would hardly notice she was gone.

Lucy glanced up at a clock as they passed it. Nearly eleven. Her stomach was full of butterflies as she walked past platform 8. She pushed her cart harder and faster. Her first year at Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft was going to start in just a few hours and she couldn't wait. She wondered who she'd meet and what classes she'd take and how nice her teachers would be.

"Here we are," Jude Heartfilia said, sounding about as excited as a piece of wood. He stopped in front of the barrier in between platforms nine and ten.

Lucy stopped her cart suddenly and nearly caused her owl to fall off the top of her trunk.

"Are you coming with me?" Lucy asked nervously, and avoided eye contact.

Jude sighed, and she could swear that he rolled his eyes. "I suppose if you want me to."

Honestly, Lucy would rather him not come, but she wanted his help so she would know what to do and where to go.

"Thank you," Lucy said quietly and watched as her father briskly walked into the barrier. She took in a breath and walked forward. She closed her eyes as she approached it, and, when her eyes fluttered open, she was somewhere else.

She gaped at the scarlet steam engine. That was her key to getting to Hogwarts! She smiled for the first time in months, actual joy filling her up to the brim. So many adventures awaited her at the train's destination.

"Well, come on. Don't block the path," Jude snapped. He gestured towards the train impatiently. Lucy quickly pushed her cart towards her father and they began to walk down the platform in search of a seat for Lucy. Lucy looked around the platform and saw, hanging from the barrier she'd just come through, a large sign that read in large, black letters: PLATFORM NINE AND THREE-QUARTERS.

She followed her father, whose gaze was on the train. They passed by two women conversing and Lucy's ears perked when she heard their conversation.

"Look there. Is that Jude Heartfilia?"

"By God, it is. Who's that little lady with him?"

"That'd be his only child, Lu—Luna? No, no, Lucy. Goodness, she looks just like her mother."

Lucy looked down and walked faster. Being the only child of Jude Heartfilia was stressful sometimes. Her father was one of the most famous individuals in the Ministry of Magic. He was the highly praised head of the Magical Law Enforcement Squad. He was always in London, away from their large pureblood mansion, and Lucy often would roam the halls or sit, lonely, in her room, waiting for his return. Her mother, when she was alive, was never home either because she had been an Auror; a job Lucy aspired to have.

"There," Jude said, jabbing one of his thick index fingers at an empty seat near the back of the train. "I'll help you get your trunk on."

They boarded the train, lugging Lucy's heavy trunk and placing it under the large two person seat. Lucy put her hands in her jacket pockets and turned and eyed her father.

"Goodbye Lucy. Be careful and promise me you won't do anything dangerous, Jude said, looking at her with stern eyes.

Lucy smiled faintly and not sincerely. "I promise." She knew the only reason her father was telling her this was because if she did anything out of place, it would "ruin their name and his reputation."

With that Jude walked off the train and down the platform. Lucy pressed her face on the glass and watched her dad exit the barrier. She sighed, blowing a piece of her blonde hair our of her eyes and sitting down on the crimson seat and crossed her ankles.

She looked at her owl. "Well Plue, ready for an adventure?"

Her white owl hooted and Lucy smiled. She hadn't purchased the owl at Diagon Alley like other students had. No, her owl belonged to her mother, who had died one year ago. She had a disease that no magic could cure, one that also had no antidote or medicine. It was a fast acting virus that would kill its host in a matter of weeks. The virus had no symptoms other than acute pains in the back of the head and constant headaches.

Lucy stared out the window and watched as faces passed by. None familiar. She had hoped somehow that another kid at her school up to this point would also be a witch or wizard, but, so far, there was no one she knew of.

"S'cuse me," a voice said into Lucy's compartment.

Lucy looked over and saw a young girl, probably a first year too, standing there with her trunk behind her. She was short, wearing an orange tank top and a white skirt, her dark hair pulled back by a headband. "Mind if I sit with you?"

Lucy smiled happily. "Yes, yes, please." This was good. Maybe she could make her first friend.

The girl heaved her trunk in and Lucy began to help her.

"Goodness, what's in here?" Lucy asked, pulling on the trunks handles.

"Oh, well, mostly my books, some clothes, um, my hair brush, tooth brush, tooth paste, um—"

Lucy laughed. "No need for specifics, but how many books do you have?"

They pulled the trunk in and put it under the other seat. Lucy and the girl sat down on opposite seats.

"I have about 40 books, maybe more, I just...love reading."

"Well, the heaviness of the luggage is explained."

The girl smiled and held out a hand. "My names Levy McGarden. You?"

Lucy grabbed her hand and shook it. "Lucy Heartf—Heartfilia." She stumbled on her name, and ended up sounded pretty stupid, but Levy smiled and shook Lucy's hand once more before pulling away.

"Nice to meet you, Lucy. Are you related to Jude and Layla Heartfilia?" Her voice was polite, but it still sent a stab of pain through Lucy's stomach.

Lucy looked down sadly and nodded. "I'm their daughter."

"Oh," Levy said. "I'm sorry."

Lucy looked back up at her. Most people knew about her mother's death, and knew that it was hard for the Hearfilia family. The famous Layla Heartfilia. Proud mother and powerful Auror. Dead.

"It's not your fault. Everyone dies, right?" Lucy said, trying not to sound upset, the quaver in her voice that she had been practicing for ages to get rid of finally not there. "It was my mother's time, but I'll see her again one day."

Levy smiled solemnly. "Positive. Good way to look at it." She paused. Then, "So, what house do you want to be sorted in?"

Levy McGarden: professional topic changer.

Lucy played with a strand of hair. "Ravenclaw would be cool. I just don't want to be sorted into Slytherin."

"Cause most Slytherins are jerks, right?"

"Yeah," Lucy lied. That was part of the reason, but it was mostly because her dad had been in Slytherin. Not even in Lucy's worst nightmare would she ever turn out to be like her father. No, now she was going to Hogwarts and she wasn't going to let her father ruin her experience at the school. Lucy looked at Levy, and made a silent promise that, starting now, she would not think about her father.

"Well," Levy said, clasping her hands together. "I want to be in Ravenclaw. Maybe we'll be sorted into the same house! Oh my, that would be so cool."

"It would," Lucy agreed. "What magic is your favorite? Like, if you could specialize in one magic, what would it be?"

Levy pursed her lips while she thought. "Runes is probably my favorite, and any magic related to books. And you? What kind of magic is your favorite?"

"Summoning," Lucy answered instantly. It was the magic her mother used the most, and she had even taught Lucy a few summoning spells, even though it was forbidden to do so before she was enrolled in school. That was a secret kept between Lucy and her mother.

Levy cocked an eyebrow, "Summoning? That's cool. Why summoni-"

Levy and Lucy jumped at a sudden crashing noise outside their compartment. They leaned over to see what it was.

A boy with pink hair lay on the floor. His face was practically green and he was holding his stomach. Lucy then noticed the train had just started to move. Levy turned to the window and waved to the people they began passing, ignoring their fellow passenger.

Lucy stood from her seat and rushed to the boy's aid.

"It's a train," the boy groaned.

"Um, are you okay?" Lucy asked, helping him up. She ended up only able to get him to his knees.

"Tr-tra-train," he stuttered.

"He gets motion sickness really easily."

Lucy jumped and looked around for whoever had just spoken. She saw no one but the other people locked away in their compartments.

"Uh, hello?" she said, looking around frantically.

"I'm behind you," the childish voice said.

Lucy turned expecting a girl about her age to be standing there, but instead the boy's trunk was there with a bright blue kitten sitting on top of it.

"Um..." Lucy mumbled. She was totally confused. Who was speaking?

"I'm Happy."

Lucy yelped and dropped the pink haired, groaning boy back on the floor. He moaned as his head smacked the floor of the train.

"You-you just! You're a-a-a cat!" Lucy pointed at the kitten, terrified.

"Aye sir! I sure am!" The kitten said and then meowed.

Lucy didn't know what was weirder, the blue, talking cat or the almost unconscious, pink-haired boy lying on the floor next to her.

"But... you can talk?" Lucy questioned nervously.

The kitten's muzzle remained totally normal as he spoke. Lucy could see his tongue move and the sides of his month make speech motions as he spoke.

"Of course I can talk! Ever heard of an Exceed? Talking cats!" the kitten explained.

Lucy eyed him and slowly tried to help the pink-haired boy again. She didn't take her eyes off of the kitten.

"Do you have a name?" She asked.

"I told you already. I'm Happy," he said.

Then it clicked in Lucy's mind, "You're name is happy, so you weren't just telling me how you felt. That makes more sense now that I think about it."

"Hey, what's going on out here?"

Lucy turned and saw, behind her head, a pale boy with black hair leaning out of his compartment. He wore a red shirt with a white jacket over it. He had his hands in his black jean pockets and he laughed at the scene he saw. He pulled himself from the compartment and stood in the pathway with Lucy, Happy, and the pink-haired boy.

Lucy was halfway crouching with the nearly unconscious boy's arm over her shoulder. She was hoping her skirt was still covering everything from her knees and up. Happy jumped from his spot on the trunk and now was awkwardly perched on Lucy's shoulder.

"Who're you?" Happy asked.

"Gah!" The boy jumped, "You're a cat!"

Happy looked at Lucy with an annoyed look on his kitten face. "You have no clue how many times I hear that."

The boy took in a breath and composed himself. "I'm Gray Fullbuster, incase you wanted to know."

He stuck out a hand and Lucy frowned.

"I'd love to take your hand, but I think I need that hand of yours to help this kid," Lucy retorted back. She didn't mean to sound rude, but it's doesn't take the brightest of the bunch to figure out she needed help. Happy then hopped down from Lucy's shoulder and back onto the trunk.

"Oh," Gray said slowly, leaning down to help. "God, how much does this kid weigh?" Lucy groaned as she pulled him through the compartment entry.

Levy looked up from the book she was now reading.

"So what's his problem...?" she asked, eyes narrowing.

"He has really bad motion sickness," Happy said. Levy's jaw dropped when she saw Happy.

"He just-" she began, but Lucy interrupted.

"Yeah, he can talk. Wanna help?"

Levy folded the corner of her page and hopped up and helped pull the boy in. The three placed him next to where Lucy had once been sitting.

"So," Gray said, eyeing the boy who began to moan and groan again with his dark blue eyes. "Who's this kid? He looks like a wimp."

"He's no wimp! He's Natsu Dragneel, a metamorphmagus raised by the great dragon Igneel!" Happy said, stomping a paw.

"You're kidding," Gray said with a frown and raised eyebrows.

"Incredible!" Levy gasped and stared at Natsu.

Lucy frowned. "What's a, uh, metaphoragus?"

"A metamorphagus," Levy said, correcting Lucy. "Is a witch or wizard with the ability to change their appearance at will. It's incredibly rare, and Happy," Levy turned to Happy, "he was raised by what?"

"The great dragon Igneel," Happy answered.

Lucy and Levy looked at each other. "Um..." they said simultaneously, eyebrows furrowing towards each other.

"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard," Gray moaned, unimpressed. He rolled his eyes, something Lucy noticed that he liked to do a lot. He crossed his arms over his chest and huffed out a breath through his nose.

"But it's true!" Happy shouted, a hint of anger in his high pitched voice.

"Well," Lucy said sitting down and sighing, "I guess we can ask him when he, um, wakes?"

"Hey Lucy, we should get his trunk in here too," Levy said, pointing at the square trunk sitting in the hallway.

Lucy sighed. She was not in the mood for moving another trunk. "Oh yeah. Wanna help, Gray?"

Gray turned and looked at the trunk with dark eyes, like it was a snake or something. "Might as well."

Lucy, Levy, and Gray all helped heave the trunk into the compartment and stored it under Lucy's seat, right next to her trunk. It was a tight fit, but they managed to make it work.

All three of them sat down and Happy curled up on Natsu's lap. Levy grabbed her book and began to read again.

Gray looked at Natsu and frowned. "I probably should get back to my compartment," he said, jerking his thumb out behind him.

Lucy shrugged. "You could stay here if you want. I like company. It makes things more interesting." Plus, I'd like all the friends I can get.

Gray shook his head as he stood. "Well, I'd stay, but he," Gray pointed at Natsu, "reeks of smoke, and I think he's going to throw up, and I'd rather it not be on me. I'll see you around though."

"Party pooper!" Lucy called at him as he left the compartment. She really did hope she would see him around though. Even though he seemed grumpy, she hadn't really had firneds before.

But she also somehow she knew Gray and Natsu weren't going to get along, even though she didn't even know what Natsu's personality was yet.

Lucy shook her head at the thought and looked at Natsu. He had a white shirt on, with a black vest over top. Around his neck, he wore a white scarf with black perpendicular lines on it. She looked at his pink hair and saw the thin layer of sweat on his forehead.

"Should I take his scarf off?" Lucy asked Happy.

Happy looked gravely at her. "No. Never ever, ever, ever take his scarf."

"But look at him; he's covered in sweat."

"Don't do it."

"I'm doing it."

"No! Don't do it!"

Lucy reached over and before her hand even touched the scarf, Natsu's hand rushed up and grabbed her wrist. Lucy yelped from shock.

Natsu's eyes shot open and he looked at her with his dark eyes. "Don't touch my scarf," he growled, and she realized with a jolt that his canines were sharper than normal, which freaked her out a bit.

Lucy gulped and yanked her hand away. "I-I'm sorry. I won't touch it."

Natsu's angry face turned suddenly happy and he smiled at her. "Sorry."

Lucy smiled weakly, still shocked about his sudden reaction.

"No proble-" Her jaw dropped as Natsu's eyes widened and he suddenly grabbed his stomach and threw his head out the window. Lucy turned away so she didn't have to see his regurgitated breakfast. He slowly brought his head back in and began to groan again.

"He's got motion sickness really bad. This isn't even the worst I've seen," Happy squeaked, pathetically joyful. He always sounded like a four-year-old kid who had just gotten a candy bar. Always, well, happy. Made sense why he was named that.

"I can tell," Lucy muttered, sliding over a bit from Natsu. Best not to be thrown up on by him.

Lucy smiled and looked out the window. Somehow there was none of Natsu's breakfast on the window (thank goodness), so Lucy had a clear view.

'What a start to my first year,' she thought to herself. She had meet a book nerd, a talking, blue cat, a pink-haired boy who had an extreme case of motion sickness, and probably the most normal of the four people she met was Gray, and even he was as grumpy as her father.

And she would later figure out that even he had a strange habit of his own...