Chapter 1

"Ella!" I yelled over the hubbub of the crowd in Platform 9¾.

"Mae! Where are you?" Ella called back, searching for me.

"I'm coming!"

Our shortness, a result of our young age of eleven, was severely hindering our attempts at locating each other. Finally, I saw Ella standing on tiptoe to see over people's heads.

"Ella!" I hurtled toward her and gave her the biggest hug my little arms could manage. "Can you believe it? We're going to Hogwarts!"

"I know!" Ella said, looking behind her at her grinning parents, who were talking amongst themselves. "They're so excited. But," she glanced back again. "Of course, Simone isn't…" Simone, Ella's younger sister, was having a staring contest with the floor.

"I know what you mean; Michael's been the same way," I said, nodding. "Oh well. He'll have his chance. He's done magic before, but by accident, of course. Strange, isn't it, that we both have magic when neither of my parents have it?"

As I spoke, Michael and my parents caught up to me. Soon after the greetings betwixt our families, we had our luggage and our owls loaded on the train.

Suddenly, it was time to say goodbye. I must admit, I cried. Even when I hugged Michael. I hadn't left yet and I was already homesick.

"Write as soon as you know what House you're in," my mum said. "That's why we got you that owl." I nodded and boarded the train with Ella. The Hogwarts Express began to lurch forward, so Ella and I threw ourselves into the nearest compartment to wave goodbye. Once our parents were out of sight, I began to draw back in when Ella grabbed my arm.

"Look," she whispered in an awed voice. My eyes widened as I saw what she meant: Harry Potter, waving right at us as we passed!

"Did you see that?" Ella squealed. Even people like us, who weren't born yet when it happened, knew who he was. Harry Potter had defeated Voldemort when he was seventeen and saved the wizarding world.

"He waved at us!"

"He did not!" an indignant voice next to us said. We turned and saw a boy perhaps our age with messy black hair and green eyes. "He was waving at me. That's my dad," the boy said proudly.

My eyes widened more. "You look just like him," I said.

"I know," said the boy, pleased. "My name is Albus. Albus Potter." He extended his hand, which I shook.

"I'm Mae Rogers. Pleased to meet you."

"I'm Ella Martinelli," Ella said. "Are you a first year, too?"

"Yeah," Albus answered. "You can sit here if you want. I don't know anyone besides my brother James and my cousin Rose, but they left so these seats aren't taken."

"Thanks," I said, making myself comfortable.

After a moment, he added, "James is a second year. He's a Gryffindor, like my mum and dad."

I could tell he hadn't brought that up just for something to say. "Do you want to be in Gryffindor?" I asked.

"Yeah!" he said eagerly, but then amended by saying, "But Dad says he doesn't care what House I'm in."

"I want to be in Gryffindor, but only if you are, too," Ella said to me.

I gasped. "What if we're not in the same House?" I hadn't thought of that before.

Ella shrugged. "Of course we will be." I wasn't so sure.

"You know," Albus said matter-of-factly, "the Sorting Hat takes your opinion into consideration."

"Really?" Ella and I said at the same time.

"How do you know that?" Ella demanded.

"My dad told me. It worked for him," Albus replied, making me feel a lot better.

It was then that we met Albus' older brother, James. He barged in the compartment, saying, "Hey, Al. You settled in all right? Oh, sorry." He just noticed us girls. "Who are they?" he asked Albus.

"We can talk, you know," Ella said fiercely.

"James, this is Ella and Mae," Albus said quickly, not wanting a fight.

"Hey," James said to us, and then turned back to Albus. "I thought I'd tell you that Rose is a few compartments down with her friends, and I already showed you where my compartment is." Albus nodded. "Well, see you at Hogwarts, Al."

As soon as he was gone, Albus told us, "Sorry about that. He thinks he's cool just because he's already been to Hogwarts."

"That's ok," I said.

We spent the rest of the trip talking about what we knew about Hogwarts, eating candy from the trolley, and as we neared the school, changing into our brand new robes. Anticipation gripped my stomach as Ella and I gathered our things and stepped off the train and into a new world.

We filed into what Professor McGonagall called the Great Hall. It was hard not to stare at the enchanted ceiling and all the people already seated. I felt as if everyone was looking at me. One by one, we were called up to the Sorting Hat. Ella was before Albus and me, and when her name was called, I closed my eyes and hoped she would get a good House.

"GRYFFINDOR!" the Sorting Hat declared after a pause. I opened my eyes and saw Ella walking to the cheering Gryffindor table, smiling shyly.

Soon it was Albus' turn. "GRYFFINDOR!" the Hat said instantly. Albus looked immensely relieved. James clapped him on the back as he sat down.

I held my breath. Finally, my name was called.

"Rogers, Mae."

I seemed to move in slow motion as I went up the steps and sat on the stool.

"Please be Gryffindor," I thought.

I heard the Sorting Hat say to me alone, "Yes… you could be a Ravenclaw, but I think it would be better to put you in GRYFFINDOR!" The last word was the only thing everyone else heard.

I couldn't help smiling to myself as I sat next to Albus and Ella at our table. Ella hugged me and said, "See, I told you we'd be in the same House!"

"I almost went in Ravenclaw," I told her.

"Me too," she said, still smiling.

One of the last people to be called was, "Weasley, Rose."

"That's my cousin!" Albus whispered.

"GRYFFINDOR!" the Sorting Hat cried. Albus cheered louder for her than he had for anyone else.

"Rosie!" he exclaimed, grinning as Rose joined us. "We're both in Gryffindor! I can't wait to tell Mum and Dad!"

"Me neither," Rose said, beaming. She sat on the other side of Albus. "Have you made any friends yet?"

"Yeah," he said, introducing Ella and me.

That's all we had time to say before the Headmistress, Professor McGonagall, stood up. She made the traditional announcements, and then ordered for the start-of-term feast to begin. The four of us chatted away while stuffing our faces. Eventually, the Prefects took us to our common room. It was warm and comfortable. Ella and I raced upstairs to see our dormitory. Ella's bed was to the left and Rose's was to the right of mine. Feeling drowsy, we changed into pajamas and talked quietly until we drifted off to sleep.

Well, here's my first chapter! Don't worry, they all grow up quickly and it gets more interesting, I promise. All Harry Potter characters belong to JK Rowling. All other characters (Ella, Mae, etc.) are mine. Shout out to SailingAwaySoftly, who is a very good friend of mine and the inspiration behind Ella. You should go read her stories, too!