Author's Note: thanks for the views.
Izaria - Maybe. You'll have to find out.
Chapter 2 - The school Train
"9 and 3/4." Leonora muttered as she pushed a trolley with her trunk and Orson. "How is that even a real platform?" she sighed, as she looked around KingCross station.
"Leonora!" She jumped, then saw Harry near a red haired family.
"Um...Hi Harry..." Leonora went over.
"You new too, dear?" The mother of the red haired family smiled, Leonora nodded. "All you have to do is run at the barrier between Platforms nine and ten."
"...Okay..." Leonora nodded.
"You go first then dear." The mom smiled, Leonora took a deep breath and ran at the barrier. She was surprised as she passed through it and on to a new platform. A gleaming red steam engine sat on the tracks.
"Wow..." Leonora muttered
Once everything was placed on the train, Leonora wondered through the carriages trying to find an empty sitting area. She ended up bumping into someone.
"Oh! I'm sorry!" She gasped, a plump looking boy looked at her.
"No, it's my fault. I lost my toad Trever, and now I'm blocking the walkway." He sighed
"Um...Would you like some help finding your toad?" Leonora asked
"You'd help me?" The boy smiled "So far, everyone has laughed at me for having a toad..."
"Why? I think toads are fascinating." Leonora said "The fire belly toads are my favourite." The boy looked at her in wonder.
"I've never met anyone like you before." He stated.
"I get that a lot..." Leonora looked down.
"I didn't mean it as a bad thing. I mean, take me. I come from a pure blood family, and until i first used magic, they all thought I was a Squib." The boy explained
"I know the feeling, my family refused to acknowledge me since I learnt to walk. I'm Leonora." Leonora smiled, pleased find someone who had gone through similar feelings.
"I'm Neville. Come on, I haven't checked the carriages this way." Neville pointed
"Okay." The two new friends started to walk."So, what's it like? Growing up in the wizarding world."
"Well..." Neville began.
Unfortunately, by the time they were two hours away from Hogwarts, Neville, Leonora and Hermione, a girl who also decided to help, had no luck trying to locate Trever.
"I'm never going to find Trever!" Neville sighed
"We will." Hermione asured hom. Leonora said nothing, she and Hermione both felt a deep rooted, natural rivalry. Leonora couldn't explain the feeling, but she knew she and Hermione would never be friends.
"Hey Leonora!" She jumped and looked into the carriage next to her.
"Oh, hi Harry." Leonora smiled slightly. "Have you seen a toad?"
"No, Hermione already asked." A ginger boy said, he smiled at Leonora.
"Oh, okay. See you later then." She turned to follow after Neville.
"Wait! Here!" Harry held out a chocolate frog box. "See you at Hogwarts!"
"Yeah, thanks Harry." Leonora smiled, she caught up with Neville. She was looking at the chocolate frog box.
"Oh, they're pretty cool. Most people get them to collect the cards anyway." Neville told her.
"Oh." Leonora said and opened the box and a living chocolate frog blinked up at her.
"It's a spell!" Neville said very quickly. Leonora sighed. She watched as it jumped on to the window, then out of it. Leonora giggled and looked at her card, before slipping it into her pocket. Now she could start collecting chocolate frog cards.
When they were told they were nearing the station, Leonora and Neville rushed back to the carriage and changed into their uniforms.
"I hope we're in the same house." Neville said as they got off the train.
"Me too. If not, I am sure Orson my owl wouldn't mind us sending letters from our dorms." Leonora told him.
"I'm glad we met." Neville smiled
"Me to. Oh, Hagrid." Leonora saw the giant man.
The first years sailed across a giant lake towards a giant castle, Leonora pushed her fringe aside as she looked up at it. When she saw Hermione looking at her, she moved it back in front of face again. Leonora stayed by Neville's side as they climbed many steps before gathering outside a great hall.
"What houses are there again?" Leonora whispered to Neville.
"Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw." Neville replied quietly. Leonora wondering what house she would be in. They were led into the hall, Leonora gasped at the ceiling.
"It's not really the night sky, it's just a spell. I read about it in Hogwarts, A history." Leonora heard Hermione say. She frown slightly, liking Hermione less. Was that information necessary at that point in time?
"When I call out your name, you will come up and I will place the sorting hat on your head, you will then join your house mates." A female teacher explained, she began calling out names. Harry, his ginger friend Ron, Hermione and Neville were placed in Gryffindor. Leonora looked down, when she was called, Leonora went up and sat on the stool. The sorting hat fell over her eyes.
"Um, interesting. Some hidden Bravery and courage inside you. Resourceful, cunning, dedication, tolerance, creativity and intelligence." Leonora said nothing as the hat spoke. "You're a hard one indeed. But, better be...HUFFLEPUFF!" The sorting hat called out. The hat was removed and Leonora joined a table of yellow.
"Welcome to Hufflepuff." A boy smiled brightly.
"T-thank y-you..." Leonora said nervously.
"Cedric, the poor girl is nervous. Let her get used to all this." A girl across from him said
"Sorry." Cedric sighed. Leonora looked over at the Gryffindor table, over at Neville. She had no friends in this house. After a few, crazy, words from the headmaster, the once empty plates upon the table became filled with food. Everyone began eating and talking about their summers, Leonora ate quietly, listening to the conversions around her.
"So, Leonora. What was life like before coming to Hogwarts?" A fellow first year, Hannah Abbott asked, causing Leonora to freeze.
"Don't wanna talk about it." she mumbled taking a large bite of mashed potato. After pudding, the Hufflepuff Prefect's led the first years to the basement. Stopping before a shadow stone recess with large barrels piled up.
"This is the secret entrance to the Hufflepuff common room." The male prefect smiled, he pointed at one barrel. "Tap this Barrel in rhyme of Helga Hufflepuff, and you will be granted entry, just don't tell anyone from the other houses. Our common room is the only one unseen by outsiders. We have a special defence to keep them out." The prefect tapped the barrel and it opened. The first years filed in, Leonora smiled. The place was cosey, windows viewed open fields with the stars twinkling above. There was planted flowers everywhere, the place was very welcoming and homey. The prefect gave directions to the Dormentries. Leonora, Hannah, Rena Holt, Leanne conners and Susan bones settled into their dorm. Orson hooted in greeting as he saw Leonora. She stroked his feathers, sitting on her bed.
"You're very quiet." Susan stated, Leonora looked at her as if asked if she meant her.
"She didn't answer my question at dinner, and refuses to speak to anyone." Hanna said
"Have you got a problem with us or something?" Leanne asked. Leonora shook her head and started getting ready for bed.
That night, Leonora stared at the velvet canopy above her. Tomorrow, she would start her studies as a witch.
"I will do my best." Leonora promised herself, she soon fell asleep.
