Sunflower Samurai: Hi again! Hope you enjoyed that little teaser of a Prologue!

Lala Lumos: Here is the first full chapter which introduces our other main protagonist - Astrid


The First Time I Saw Hogwarts

Astrid Graves

It was a bright sunny day when Astrid Graves made her way through the busy Kings Cross train station; she was excited as this was her first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Astrid looked around at the other commuters, none of whom paid her the slightest bit of attention. She had arrived at the station all by herself, knowing no one who could come see her off. Astrid found past thoughts beginning to swirl to the forefront of her mind – she had been found as a baby in a graveyard under the grave of the Gaunt family. No one could find out where she came from, her family a mystery. Then on her eleventh Birthday a strange man came to visit her at the Orphanage, introducing himself as Professor Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Astrid had been confused at what he told her; that she was a witch. Almost immediately she felt relief, growing up Astrid had always known she was different from all the other children, animals would talk to her and she could talk them.

The staff at the orphanage had seen her on many occasions talking to the mice that lived under her bed, to them it sounded as if she was just making squeaking noises and at times they worried that she was mentally ill. Indeed they had her speak to a Doctor on several occasions just to be sure. Astrid had always felt alone, she had no friends except the rodents that roamed the halls. She was excited to learn that she would be going to a school that would have other children like her; she might even find a friend.

Professor Dumbledore left after giving her the letter accepting her to the school and telling her the only way she could get onto the platform was to run through the wall between platforms 9 and 10. Included with her letter she found instructions telling her that a witch would accompany her to collect her supplies including her wand. She was chosen by a wand made from willow tree with the core of unicorn hair. She smiled as she clutched the wand tightly in her hand concealed in her pocket.

Making her way through the other passengers getting on and off the trains she finally arrived at her destination, taking a deep breath she pushed her trolley at speed through the wall, amazed when she didn't collide with the hard surface but went right through and appeared on another platform where a bright crimson steam train was being boarded by many other children.

Unsure what to do next she tried to find someone she felt comfortable approaching, she started making her way through many families saying goodbye to each other. Soon she came upon a young boy and an elderly lady who were awkwardly making their goodbyes.

"Excuse me" she said nervously as she approached them. The lady turned to her with a harsh gaze "yes," her tone was gruff. It made Astrid nervous and she regretted choosing this lady to approach, she bravely continued "could you please tell me how I get on the train?" The old lady eyed her from head to foot before replying.

"Take your trolley to the end of the train and the conductor there will help you load it on, then just pick a carriage to sit in," she told her.

"Thank you," Astrid replied giving a shy wave to the boy who looked as nervous as she felt.

Turning in the direction the old lady had pointed she made her way to the end of the train. Having divested herself of her trunk she made her way back down the train looking for a carriage that wasn't too busy. She arrived back to where she meet the old lady and the very shy boy just in time to see him bid a final farewell to his companion and board the train. She quickened her pace and joined him as he started to look for a place to sit.

"Hi my names Astrid," she said brightly, catching up with him.

"H-hi," he stuttered wary as to why this girl was talking to him.

"Do you want to sit together? I don't know anyone else," looking at his feet he mumbled "sure." They found a compartment that was yet to be filled and settled themselves in for the long journey ahead.

"So what's your name?" she inquired.

"Neville," he replied. "Neville Longbottom." Astrid's dark hazel eyes gave a friendly smile, she was happy to be having a conversation with someone her own age, someone that hopefully would be her friend.

Finally the train was full and they slowly started to make their way from the station. As yet no one else had joined them in the compartment.

"Have you ever been to Hogwarts before," she asked Neville as the train gathered speed.

"no," he replied.

"I can't wait to get there I've never been anywhere before," she told him excitedly.

"I'd rather not be going," Neville replied. "I'm not very good at magic," he told her glumly.

"That's okay, I've not done any real magic before, we can learn together," Astrid reassured him. She settled into her seat to enjoy her first ride on a train.

"I'm really excited, this is my first time on a train" she told Neville.

"You've never been on a train before?" he asked.

"No I've never been anywhere; the orphanage didn't let me go on trips." Neville looked shocked.

"You're an orphan, what happened to your parents?"

"No one knows, they found me in a graveyard with no one else in sight, I've never known who my parents are."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

Astrid shrugged, "that's okay, I've come to terms with it already."

They became silent, each not sure what to say when Astrid caught movement coming out from behind Neville. "Neville there's something behind you."

Turning Neville saw his pet toad escaping from his pocket, "that's my toad Trevor; he keeps trying to escape, gran will kill me if I lose him."

Trevor chose that moment to hop along the seat towards the open window leading out into the corridor. "No Trevor, come back!" shouted Neville, but it was too late. They watched as Trevor jump through the open window and started to make his way up the train. Astrid and Neville raced out of the compartment and headed in the direction that they saw him go.

They came upon a girl with bushy brown hair who was in the corridor by herself.

"Hi, I'm Hermione Granger, and you are?"

"Hi, I'm Astrid Graves and this is Neville Longbottom. Have you seen a toad come along this way?"

"No but I'll help you look, you can go up towards the back of the train and I'll head to the front." They watched as she turned and made her way along the corridor, each looked towards the other thinking what a weird girl they had just encountered.

The next moment Trevor had hopped onto Neville's head.

"Trevor!" exclaimed Neville.

"Hi Trevor," said Astrid smiling and he croaked back. "Come on let's go back to our seats to enjoy the rest of the journey.

It was dark as the Hogwarts Express pulled into the station. Astrid and Neville made their way off the train, doing their best not to get separated among the sea of children.

"First years follow me," a booming voice came out of the crowd. Turning Astrid was shocked to see what appeared to be a giant gathering up the little first years. She and Neville tentatively approached the group that was slowly starting to get bigger as more and more first years got off the train.

"My names Hagrid, I'm the grounds keeper of Hogwarts and I'll be taking you up to the school in boats," explained the giant. Despite his size Astrid thought he seemed like a really nice man. All the first years started to make their way through the trees leading to a dock surrounded by little boats with a single lantern hanging at the front to lead the way up to the castle.

One by one the boats were filled up with children excited to be on their way to Hogwarts. Astrid and Neville managed to get seated together in the same boat, as they took their seat the boat started to move and they were making their way to the Castle.

Arriving at the boat house the children were ushered up the steps leading to the courtyard to the front of the building. The large doors opened as they drew closer 'wow,' thought Astrid who had never seen anything like it in her life.

She could see staircases moving of their own accord seeming to hover in mid-air. She and Neville moved forward with the other children and were greeted at another large door by an older greying lady wearing a pointed witch's hat. As they neared her she raised her hands and motioned for everyone to be quiet.

"Hush now everyone," she said loudly. "Welcome to Hogwarts," she introduced. "My name is Professor McGonagall, the start of term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the great hall, you will be sorted into your houses. There are four houses," she explained. "Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin, while at Hogwarts your house will be like your family, your triumphs will be rewarded with house points, any rule breaking and points will be taken away. At the end of the year the house with the most points will win the Hogwarts house cup."

As the Professor finished talking a croak could be heard and Astrid could see that Trevor had managed to escape from Neville's pocket again and was sitting at Professor McGonagall's feet, Neville had noticed too and made a dash to pick him up before he went any further.

"Trevor!" he shouted as his hands clasped around the toad. Forgetting where he was Neville looked up to see McGonagall staring down at him. "Sorry," he mumbled and hurried back to his spot beside Astrid.

"The sorting ceremony will begin momentarily," proclaimed Professor McGonagall turning on her heels.

Astrid was really excited about the prospect of being part of a family, hopefully she would fit in better here than at the orphanage. "I hope were in the same house," she whispered excitedly to Neville. Blushing Neville whispered back "yeah that would be great."

She was about to reply when a sniveling voice rang out. "So it's true, Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts," Astrid could see that the voice belonged to a small boy with platinum blonde hair, he was making his way towards a boy with messy brown hair who was standing in front of her. Neville looked shocked and whispered, "Harry Potter!" like most of the other first years around them. Astrid made a mental note to ask Neville later who this Harry Potter was and why everyone knew of him. She watched as the boy introduced himself. "I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy." The red haired boy beside Harry Potter laughed. "Think my names funny do you, no need to ask yours, red hair and a hand-me-down robe, you must be a Weasley." Astrid did not like the way he was speaking to the boy he called Weasley.

"That's not nice!" she said stepping forward, Malfoy turned his steely gaze towards her.

"Aren't we brave, and what's your name?"

Standing her ground she said, "My names Astrid Graves, and you shouldn't be so nasty to people."

Malfoy gave out a bark of laughter, "Graves well you're obviously not a Pure-blood with that name, my father knows all the Pure-blood families and Graves isn't one of them!"

Astrid stood up straight, "so what if I'm not a pure blood, I deserve to be here as much as anyone else!" Malfoy smirked and turned away from her extending his open hand to Harry, "You'll realise Potter that some wizarding families are better than others, you don't want to hang around with the wrong sort. I can help you there," he offered. Astrid watched as Harry looked at the offered hand then answered, "I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself thanks."

McGonagall chose that moment to return, clearing her throat she announced, "They're ready for you."

She turned and the doors opened to reveal a large room with four rows of tables running the length of the room to the top where a large table held all the teachers. They followed as McGonagall lead them down towards the front of the room where a dusty old witch's hat was sitting on a stool in the centre of the walkway. Professor McGonagall stopped at the end of the tables and turned to address the following students. Astrid was in awe as she made her way along the tables, looking above her she could see the ceiling showing the night sky and there were hundreds of candles floating above them. She could hear Hermione telling no one in particular that the ceiling was not real only bewitched to look like the night sky. She could see Professor Dumbledore sitting at the head table, he smiled and she gave a little wave.

As they gathered round the hat McGonagall explained, "when I call your name you will come forth I shall place the sorting hat onto your head and you will be sorted into your houses." Hermione Granger was first and was sorted into Gryffindor. Astrid stood nervously waiting for her name to be called, Draco Malfoy was next and he was instantly placed in Slytherin, Astrid overheard Ron telling Harry, that only bad wizards ever came out of Slytherin.

"Astrid Graves," she hesitantly moved forward towards the stool, sitting down McGonagall placed the sorting hat upon her head.

"Well what have we here?" mused the sorting hat. "You have a great mind; I can see you doing great things in your future. There is definitely Slytherin blood within you, they would benefit greatly from having you in their house."

Astrid paled she didn't want to be in Slytherin, "I also see great bravery, you would do well in Gryffindor also but which to choose?" eyes closed tight Astrid waited with bated breath for the hat to announce her house. "I think you would do best in Gryffindor!" The sorting hat announced out loud, Astrid's eyes snapped open and she let out the breath that she had been holding. Smiling brightly she ran towards the table where the other Gryffindor's were cheering wildly at having another member added to their house. Taking her place beside Hermione she watched as Neville was also placed in Gryffindor along with Ron Weasley and Harry Potter.

Dumbledore then gave his start of term announcement, informing the students to avoid the forbidden forest should they wish to keep there life, Astrid did not like the sound of that and vowed to go nowhere near the forest. After his speech the table became full of delicious looking food and the students excitedly began filling their plates. The Great Hall suddenly fell silent as the doors were thrown open and a young woman made her way inside.


SS: Phew! That was a long chapter!

LL: Yep, and Astrid certainly made an impression.

SS: Hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as we enjoyed writing it!

LL: Don't forget to check back next week for the next chapter!