Author's Note: In order to better write this story I've decided to start listening to HP:DH P1 OST. I think it's working pretty well, I hope!

Chapter Two

The Train to a Beginning

"The Leaky Caldron?" Tobias looked up at the sign above the door in the alley. Renee stood with her family, arms crossed as she still looked disgruntled at the prospect of her daughter doing witchy things. David led his family in, his son covering his nose as he looked around the small pub.

"Gross, it smells like old people and dirt..." Her son muttered under his breath getting promptly kicked in the back of the knee by his sister and tumbling to the ground. "OW!"

"You two stop it! We're in a public place!" Renee scolded her children as they were led into what looked like a dead end room.

"Way to go Dad, you led us to a dead end." Tobias muttered, his sister glaring daggers at him. Little brothers were so stupid.

"Just wait." David calmed his son pulling out his wand from his robes he decided to put on traditionally and muttered words of incantation. The wall suddenly shifted, bricks moving out of the way, folding back and out of the way to show the scene before them. Raven's eyes lit up with the sight of the scene before her, a path that led into a small alleyway and the crowd of people that were already there. Many people in cloaks and pointed hats walked in and out of stores, some were families getting their children ready for the new year. There were owls on the street corners and broomsticks leaned against a display window.

Renee stared in awe at the sight of a person using their wand to levitate a sign into place, the sign reading something about wands being on sale. Her husband really wasn't joking. This was real, so very real. She tried to keep herself from fainting from initial shock, she reaching down and tugging at Tobias' hand to keep him closer to her. Her son quickly let out a protested whine.

"You have your list Raven?" David smiled down at his daughter as she nodded, holding up the list of books and items she would need. Her father smiled and gently took the paper from her, looking to the wand shop. "We'll get you your wand first."

"I want one!" Tobias called out to his father while he struggled with the death grip his mother had on his wrist.

"Not till you're older son." David sighed, shaking his head. He wasn't too sure he should give him one even when he became of age to use it. He brought his family down the crowded street as the wall closed up behind them. Many people stopped, looking at them as if they were new people. Of course the rest of his family was, but David had been here before, though he hadn't visited since the day he married Renee. It was going to be interesting if anyone would recognize him now.

He brought them into the small store where the wand sign had been placed, Ollivander's wand shop which amazingly he still ran. He normally wasn't in the shop these days, but since it was becoming close to school time he worked at the shop a little more. He loved the look children got when they were set up with their first wand. The man had his back turned as he leaned behind his desk, stocking up a new shipment of wands and making sure they were set perfect. He only turned around when David cleared his throat to get his attention.

"O-Oh! Pardon me! I was setting up stock! What can I do for you?" Mr. Ollivander smiled at the small family, David grinning as he pushed his daughter forward.

"Hey Mr. Ollivander, we're here for some supplies and Raven's new wand." Raven's father patted her shoulder, she looked a little nervous.

"Oh … You look familiar. Ah yes! Little David Taylor! I remember when I gave you your first wand! Where have you been boy?" Even as he talked, the old man got to work pulling out potential wands for the new student.

"Heh, it's a long story." David gave a nervous smile as he reached behind his head and scratched it for a distraction.

"Say no more, I won't ask. You have a lovely family though, such a beautiful woman must be your wife!"

"Yeah, this is my wife Renee and my son Tobias. He'll be coming here in a couple years."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Ollivander." Renee gave a uncertain nod to the man as he placed a final box on the counter. He took the tops off each one, to the normal muggle eye they looked like simple sticks carved to a design. To a witch or wizard, they were instruments of magic.

"Alright Miss Taylor, go ahead and try what one you like. We'll see which one chooses you." The old man gave her a kind smile.

"Chooses me?" Raven asked, slowly picking one out of the box.

"Yes child, a witch does not choose her wand, the wand chooses her. It is just up to the witch to find it. Now then, give it a flick, see what happens."

"Alright..." Raven looked at the dark colored wand, giving it a small flick before something on the opposite wall burst into flames. She dropped the wand, looking at Ollivander with a look of panic and shock while he rushed to put out the fire.

"It's alright dear, these things will happen. It seems Dragon Heartstring is not the right core for you." The old man laughed, picking up the wand she dropped and placed it back in the box. Raven continued to try wands, nothing really seemed to hitch until he brought out a final one. He seemed a little flustered, but still kept that kind look on his face as he handed the slender wand to her.

"This is the last one that I can issue to new students, give it a try." He said calmly. Raven nodded giving the wand a more cautious flick thanks to the previous encounters. The end of the wand sparked a brilliant, almost rainbow color, and nothing in the room exploded or burst into flames.

"Looks like we've found your match young lady, Dual core of Unicorn Hair and Fairy Wing in Rosewood. Not a bad match up, I see a Ravenclaw on your hands David." Ollivander grinned at her father as he wrapped the wand up. Ravenclaw? Raven looked up at her father who was beaming with pride. It was only when he noticed her confused look did he give her an explanation.

"Oh, right. Hogwarts is split up between four houses, Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. You'll learn more about them when you get to school dear. I can't teach you everything!" David let out a loud guffaw and caused Raven to try and hide away behind the counter. Her dad was so embarrassing sometimes. After her father had paid for the wand (He left what money he had in the bank when he moved on, surprisingly it built up enough interest to be useable again.) they moved along from shop to shop, buying all the supplies she needed. Renee questioned her husband as to why they had their own currency, but all David did was smile and pat his wife on the head. He ended up thrown into a broomstick display moments later.

They got to their final stop, the Owl Emporium. The moment Raven stepped in she was filled with amazement. She always adored owls for their wise demeanor that they seemed to give off. All over there were different kinds of owls, barn owls, great horned owls. She couldn't help but laugh at one of the white owls who when she looked at it, it's beak opened slightly and it's eyes went wide as if giving a look that said 'Oh really?'.

She looked around at all of them before her eyes fell upon one that captivated her. It was a snowy owl, male and while one eye was yellow, the other looked slightly discolored. There was a scar under the feathers around that eye. It was a shame that his eye was injured, he looked absolutely beautiful.

"Dad, I want this one. I don't care what's wrong with him." She looked up at her father who glanced at the the owl. He smiled a little, placing his hand on her head.

"Are you sure?"

"His name is Par." Raven said with affirmation in her voice.

"Alright my little lady knows what she wants." David smiled as he moved across the room to find a cage. Slowly Raven lifted her arm up, beckoning the owl to come to her. Par looked at her with his good eye before lifting off his perch and onto her arm. She smiled at the bird, petting his head with her hand.

Raven's mother and her brother were standing outside, waiting for them to come out. Tobias was tugging on his mother's hand as he begged to be let on a broomstick. Renee promptly glared at her son, her expression all she needed to let him know her answer. Raven came out of the shop with her father, Par safely in his cage and her messenger bag strap over her shoulder. Her mother smiled at her, taking in the image of her daughter with the platinum blonde hair that covered her face and reached down to her rear.

She always wanted to give her a hair cut or at least style it, but Raven never let her. She preferred the natural length and look her hair gave off. It was odd seeing her daughter dressed in this way, but Renee Anderson was an understanding person, and so was Renee Taylor. With a small sigh she looked to David as he smiled at her.

"Well, got everything?" Her mother asked. Raven nodded, looking as excited as ever. Renee's eyes traveled back to David's, and slowly she held her hand out to him. For once she had a look of happiness in her eyes. Raven's father quickly took to his wife's side, holding her hand lovingly in his own. David aimed to please her, and was rewarded with her smiles when he was successful. Giving his wife a kiss on the cheek and getting a disgusted whine from his son, David led his family back to where they had come from. Raven smiled at her owl as she carried his cage above the ground.

The season soon began to change. The once green leaves of the trees were turning gold and orange with the coming of autumn. Autumn was Raven's favorite season, she simply adored the colors the fall brought with it. Up in her room she had everything she thought she needed packed and ready to go. All the essential electronics, her laptop so she could keep in touch with her friends. She tucked her cellphone away into her purse and adjusted her glasses over those gray eyes of hers.

With her hair and eye color, her uniform was going to make her look like a walking depression. She would just have to wear some earrings or some kind of jewelery to make herself look more happy instead of just feeling it. She was ready to go, dressed in her temporary uniform until she was sorted into her proper house. Her closet had been nearly stripped clean of clothing since she knew she was going to a type of boarding school. Some of her pictures from her desk she had packed away as well.

"Come on then Raven! You don't want to miss the train!" Raven's father called from downstairs. Raven responded to him as she gathered up everything she could carry on her own.

"Tobias, get the last of your sister's things." Renee shoved her son to the stair as Raven came down and past them.

"Aw come on!" He whined but did as he was told, stomping up the stairs to get the bags she couldn't get on her own. Once the car was packed and everyone managed to squeeze in, Raven held Par's cage in her lap in the back while Renee got in the front next to her husband. David had been teaching his wife the things he should have long ago about magic and the world she didn't know about. With this new understanding of it she had become more accustom to the use of magic, and even allowed David to use it within the home. She had come a long way from being a magic novice to semi educated about it.

It was quite a drive to the station, the entire time Raven stared at the ticket for the train she had gotten. Platform nine and three quarters? What kind of station was this? David got out of the car and got a cart to load her things on it once they had arrived. The last to sit on it was Par's cage. Raven took hold of the cart and pushed it down as they walked down each platform.

Seven, eight, nine, no nine and three quarters. Raven looked through her hair at the the space between the nine and the ten platforms. Her eyes then moved to the space between the nine and the eight. Nothing was there either. She looked up to her father, who gave a small smirk and placed his finger to his lips.

He took hold of her cart, aiming it at one of the pillars near the platforms. Everyone gave him an odd stare, then he reached, taking hold of Raven's hand and suddenly shoving her with him towards the pillar. Her eyes went wide as they barreled towards the pillar, her dad had gone insane! She waited for impact, closing her eyes but slowly opened them when nothing happened. She looked about at the sign above the platform.

"Nine and three quarters." She read aloud, then her head lowered to look around at the people gathered near the train. Along the side of the engine and the cars she could read the weathered text of "Hogwarts Express" on them. There were people getting aboard the train, parents waving goodbye to their children and leading the first years onto the train. Raven's mother and brother soon followed, Renee looking a little disheveled having walked through a wall but was alright none the less. With a bright smile David put his hand on her shoulder once more, looking at the train with reminiscence.

"You ready?" He asked her, Raven nodded slowly as she backed up into his arms. She said she was ready, but this was the first time she would be away from her family. She finally realized that. David smiled, turning her around and kneeling a little as he kissed her forehead.

"You're going to be fine Raven. You can write me letters every day and I'll write back. You'll be back home before you know it." He smiled and stood, taking his daughter into his arms. She couldn't help it, she wrapped her arms tight around him, closing her eyes as she began to sob a little into his chest.

"What a crybaby." Tobias rolled his eyes, his mother bonking him on the head in response. Slowly Raven peeled herself away from her father, he smiling at her as he moved some hair out of her face.

"I love you Raven, I know you're going to be a wonderful witch and I'll be rooting for you even from afar."

"T-Thanks Dad..." She gave a small hiccup, rubbing her eyes under her glasses.

"Now, go on and find a seat, I'll have them take your trunks." David walked with her to the train car, her mother and brother waving at her as she left. With his help she stepped into the car, he waving at her as she was pushed along by other kids getting in. With her messenger bag over her shoulder, she quickly found an empty room to sit. She looked out the window as she saw her father standing back waving at her. She frowned, placing her hand against the window.

Raven had always been close to her father. She never thought how this would effect her leaving her family for months. The train whistle blew as the conductor called to clear the platforms to avoid danger. David stepped back and blew her a kiss through the window. She smiled for a moment, then flinched as the train cars jerked forward. Slowly the train pulled forward, and the image of her father was being pulled away.

She watched as far as she could, once his figure was completely gone she pulled away from the window, her frown deepening and her eyes becoming hidden behind the sheen of her glasses. She tried her best to keep her emotions hidden but it wasn't enough. She quickly stood and shut the door to her section of the car. Once she had done so she sat down and cried into her hands.

Hours had passed since they had left King's Crossing. Raven still remained in her box, leaning against the window as she stared outside at the trees. She was certainly living up to her look of depression. Laughter filled the small hallway as a few kids ran by, one of them stopped however, looking into her room. He knocked on the window of her door, Raven's eyes shifting to the door before she pushed herself up and opened it. The boy looked at her with a small smile, shaggy brown hair with eyes to match. He looked a little older then her, perhaps by a year or two.

"Are you alright? You look like your owl died." The boy's eyes then traveled over her standard uniform. "Oh! You're a First Year! No wonder you look so down in the dumps!"

Raven remained silent, using the back of her hand to wipe away dried tears. A useless attempt to hide her sadness. The boy frowned a little before he stepped into the box, taking the seat across from hers. She glanced at him a moment, then slowly took the seat across from him as well as he motioned for her to sit.

"You miss your parents already, don't you?" He asked her, she nodded silently. The boy smirked slightly. "You're kinda like my little brother. This is his first year as well. But you know, everyone is a little sad their first time leaving their family. I was as well!"

"Eh?" Raven glared at him from behind the curtain of hair over her face.

"Yup! My first year I was pretty scared too. But once you get there it's great! You should see it there! It's huge!" He laughed as he waved his arms out in front of him, trying to mimic the size of the school. Raven's frown was starting to change to a smile as she watched and listened to the boy explain what the school was going to be like. He made jokes that made her laugh, explained what would happen once they got there. This boy had made her feel much better about having to leave. The two laughed together as he explained how to correctly fling a chocolate frog into one's hair.

"Come on James!" A voice called down from the small hall, the boy lifting his head to the voice.

"Oh right, I forgot about my friends for a moment there! See you around!" He stood quickly and waved at her, stepping out from the doorway and rushed down the hall.

"O-Oh … bye?" Raven tilted her head out the door, smiling lightly. She hoped that she would see that boy again soon when they got to the school. As of now she didn't really know anyone and he was the first person to come up to her. She pulled her head back into the room and closed the door, sitting now in the middle of her seat as she glanced out the window. The window didn't represent the things she was losing, for the meantime it was a window to something new.

Raven was going to put herself to the test. She was going to make her father proud.