It is worth noting that I will take a bit of creative lisence, as I do not own the books. (I have read the, though.) I will attempt to follow them as accurately as possible, but please, don't flame me if I get a few things wrong. Also, this chapter is an exception to the rule. There won't usually be epic-sized chapters.

Willow walked onto the platform at King's Cross Station, trying to figure out where Platform 9 3/4 was. She walked up to Platform 9 with her luggage trolley, which contained her school items and an angry cat in a travel carrier. She stared at the wall between Platform 9 and Platform 10, finding no trace of Platform 9 3/4.

"Be quiet, Bertha. I'm trying to figure out where Platform 9 3/4 is at..."

"Need a hand? Or a wand?" a voice behind her asked. She screamed. "Keep it down, revealing magic is a serious crime."

She turned to find a boy with stormy gray eyes and close-cropped black hair. He wore a green polo with a silver pin in the shape of a snake on it and black pants. She looked at him for a bit before asking, "...What?"

"I'm Giovanni, and you're looking for Platform 9 3/4," Giovanni replied.

"How did you-"

"I overheard you talking to your cat. By the way, even in the Wizard world, that's considered a mark of an insane person, or a Squib," Giovanni said, rolling his eyes.

"A what?" Willow asked.

"Squibs are children of wizards who never developed magical prowess. They always seem to have an obsession with cats," Giovanni replied, "Now, then, while obody's around, walk through the wall."

"... I'm sorry, did you ask me to walk through the wall?" Willow asked, "I haven't learned a single sp-"

"It's enchanted already. The enchantment is as old as this station, in fact," Giovanni replied, "Anyone with magical powers can walk through the wall to Platform 9 3/4, unless it's blocked. Now, hurry, before it's blocked at 11:00," Giovanni said, pushing her through the wall inceremoniously.

She found herself on a platform with a train marked Hogwart's Express. Giovanni followed her, pushing his own trolley. There were wizards and their children all around. She was practically knocked over when a third student came tumbling through after Giovanni, pushing his trolley into her.

"Oh, sorry!" the boy apologized. He was dressed in orange, with red hair. A second came through behind him, looking exactly the same. "Might wanna clear the path for the others, and Potter."

"Who?" Willow asked. Giovanni pulled her out of the way of the barrier.

"Apprently, some kid named Potter is coming through. I think he's the guy who defeated He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named... 10 years ago? Or so? It makes sense that he's beginning his seven years at Hogwarts with us," Giovanni said.

"He defeated him when he was one?" Willow asked, her voice obviously disbelieving.

"Actually, yes," Giovanni said, "I don't know how, and neither do my parents."

"Well, yeah. Your parents are Muggles like mine, right?" Willow asked.

"Uh... no," Giovanni said, shaking his head. "My blood is 'pure', so to speak. It's a term for children of a wizard and a witch. If one of your parents is magical, and the other is a Muggle, you're a half-blood, and you... a Muggle-born. Two Muggles, one magic child. You know, at least one."

"Shouldn't we get on the train? Or something?" Willow asked, checking her watch.

"...Probably," Giovanni said, shrugging. "We can get into the same cabin and I can explain more to you, if you'd like."

"Great, thanks!" Willow said.

They ended up in a cabin with three other people. One was a girl with blond hair and blue eyes, which Willow generally judged nicely. She wouldn't stop talking about how her parents were Healers, whatever that meant. The next person was a boy with sleep-deprived eyes, who was clutching a book like his life depended on it. Every so often, sparks would shoot from his wand, which he absent-mindedly twirled. At one point, he muttered a spell, causing flowers to come from it, which he distributed between Willow and the other girl. Finally, there was a guy with very nerdy glasses, who himself had his nose in a book. His, though, was an algebra book. He never even attempted to talk to them.

"So, Slytherin is some kind of wizard club for pure-bloods?" Willow asked, while Giovanni was explaining the Houses to her.

"Uh, not quite," Giovanni said, "It's mostly made of pure-bloods, yes, but there's also a few half-bloods. And no House is a 'club'. They're individual sections of the scool itself, and they also compete for certain events. They're more like a family, really."

"Oh, so they're your home away from home?" Willow asked.

"Exactly. My own family has always - always - been in Slytherin. They're kind of cunning and ambitious. Also, and I hate to admit this, but most dark wizards come from it. In fact, um, almost all of them do. It kind of goes with the territory," Giovanni said.

"And what about the gryphons?" she asked.

"Gryffindor," Giovanni said, sighing. "They're known for bravery and honor. They're like the heroes of Hogwarts, although occasionally their stupid acts of bravery get them into more than they can bargain with. They have a bit of a rivalry with Slytherin, due to their founders' personal hatred of one another."

"And the others?" Willow continued.

"Well, there's Ravenclaw," Giovanni said, "They're the stuck-up, snobby intellectuals." He cast a glance at the boy with the algebra book. "Not that I believe anyone here is stuck-up or snobby, even if they haven't tried to say a word yet..."

"But isn't there another one?"

"Another one? Oh, yeah!" Giovanni said, suddenly remembering that, yes, there is a fourth House. "There's Hufflepuff, which is... um, everyone else. They're supposed to be loyal and hard-working, but usually if you don't fit into another House, you're tossed into Hufflepuff."

"So, the dump House?"

"Yeah, pretty much," Giovanni said, shrugging. "It would be cool if you got placed in Slytherin with me. You'd be, like, the first-ever Muggle-born there. Of course, that might earn you some slander from other 'purists', who believe that Muggle-borns are an atrocity."

"Is that normal?" Willow asked.

"Um, yeah, unfortunately," Giovanni said, "My family is in the minority. Although we're a pure-blood family, we don't believe any wizards are more powerful than another. If I were, say, to marry you, my parents wouldn't mind. Most of Slytherin would call me a blood traitor: a pure-blood who hates pure-blood surpremacy."

"I hope I get put in Gryffindor. They sound cool," Willow said.

"Most people do," Giovanni said. The blond girl nodded her head excitedly. "Especially future Healers. As for these two... I'd place my bets on Ravenclaw. You, know, the... smart people."

There was a knock at the door, which Giovanni, who was beside it, opened. There was a trolley filled with sweets, and a lady beside it asking if they'd liek to buy some.

"I've got no wizard money left," Willow said.

"No prob, I'll pay," Giovanni offered. "Maybe some candy would wake the sleepy guy up. 6 Chocolate Frogs, please."

When he paid, they each took a few, and opened the boy's mouth. He mumbled in protest, before they shoved a Chocolate Frog in his mouth. They then operated his mouth, before he shoved their hands away and swallowed it.

"For the record, I'm only half-asleep," he groaned.

"Well, duh. Why would we try to suffocate you if you were awake?" Willow asked.

"You were trying to suffocate me?" the boy yelled.

"Oh, no, that's not what I meant!" Willow said, "So, what's your name?"

"Octavio, not that it could possibly matter much," Octavio said.

"I'm Willow, and this is..." Willow said, before losing her train of thought.

"Giovanni," Giovanni finished for her. "You're a half-blood."

"How did you know that?" Octavio asked.

"Well, your face practically screams Muggle. But, on the other hand, learning to cast spells before school sceams wizard," Giovanni reasoned.

"But wasn't there some girl on board who's a Muggle-born? I thought she cast a spell on the platform," Octavio asked.

"Is there?" Giovanni asked. "Huh. I'm almost surprised."

"Yeah, I think she went with the Weasel kid and Potter," Octavio said.

"You mean the redheaded guys?" Willow asked, "We bumped into- no, wait, they bumped into us on the platform."

"Literally," Giovanni said, "I got hit when they came through the barrier."

"Ouch," Octavio commented. "So, she's gonna be Healer? I don't know a lot, but they work at St. Mungo's, right?"

"Yep!" the girl declared. "I'm Melodi. My parents are both working with long-term cases, like the Longbottoms."

"The who?" Willow asked.
"Ooh, I forgot. Can't talk about them," Melodi said. "In as much detail as I can say, they're insane."

"That's all you can tell us?" Octavio asked.

"Yup," Melodi said, nodding. "I heard their son is on the train this year."

Suddenly, a frog leaped into their cabin. A young, chubby boy ran in, calling for something named Trevor. The frog leaped onto his head and back out of the cabin, causing him to run back out after it.

"That was him," Melodi said.

"Wow, massive coincidence," Giovanni said, "And you won't hear that often from me. I can see he inherited his parents' insanity."

"Nope, can't be inherited," Melodi said, "They went insane after he was born."

"Really? How?" Octavio asked.

"Oh, they were tortured by a Death Eat- oops!" Melodi said, covering her mouth and glaring at Octavio.

"Well, I tried," Octavio said, shrugging. "I'll ask the chubby kid about it later."

"He's not chubby," Willow said, "He's thinness-deprived."

"... Good call, I think," Octavio said.

"I think he's chubby," the boy behind the algebra book commented.

"Oh, the algebra-beast can speak," Giovanni said, rolling his eyes. "Did you even see him behind that thing?"

"Yes, actually. I've been watching and listening this whole time," the boy said, "Not much need to call me by name, but call me Jefferson."

"Well, Thomas, how can you possibly focus on that and the surroundings at the same-" Giovanni began.

"Jefferson. Not Thomas. Jefferson," Jefferson said, rolling his eyes. "I'm sure you think you're clever, taking the name of one of the U.S.A.'s presidents, but you're not."

"What about a president?" Giovanni asked.

"Ugh, you're pathetic," Jefferson said, rolling his eyes. "I fully expect you'll be in with your family in Slytherin, given your attitude."

"Great. And you'll be a snobby Ravenclaw," Giovanni said. Jefferson's hand moved to his pocket, where a wand was seen sticking out.

"I do know a few jinxes. I suggest you not say that again," Jefferson replied. Giovanni's own hand moved to his wand.

"Oh, look, robe time!" Melodi said, in an attempt to avert a fight.

"Robes? You mean I actually have to WEAR that thing?" Willow asked.

"Uh, yeah. Dress code," Melodi said, "As is the pointy hat."

"Should we get a fake beard, too?" Willow complained.

"Nah. The headmaster has enough to go around," Melodi said. "He's Merlin the Second, I'm telling you."

"What's his name?" Willow asked.

"Albus-" Giovanni began.

"Percival..." Melodi said.

"Wulfric," Octavio added.

"Brian-" Giovanni continued.

"Dumbledore," Jefferson completed.

"Oh, you mean this guy?" Willow asked, pointing at her Chocolate Frog card's picture.

"Yeah, him," Melodi said. "He's apparently the most powerful wizard since Merlin himself. He's the only one who You-Know-Who feared."

"No, actually, I don't know who," Willow said. Jefferson looked confused, too. Even Octavio seemed to be straining his brain thinking of the guy.

"He was the darkest wizard of all time. The one who Potter defeated," Giovanni explained. "We don't say his name here... or anywhere, really."

"How was the most powerful dark wizard defeated by a baby?" Jefferson asked, "It defies logic."

"I think it was protection magic," Melodi said, "Something about his mother. She died, though. In fact, he's been lost to the wizarding world for his entire life since he defeated him."

"And he suddenly pops out of the blue, saying he's a legendary hero? Do you really buy this?" Jefferson asked.

"He has the scar," Giovanni said.

"Um, a lot of people have scars," Jefferson said.

"This one is very identifiable, right, Melodi?" Giovanni asked.

"Yup. It's a lightning bolt on his forehead. He's the only person in the world who has that. Plus, even if he faked it, the Ministry has ways of finding the truth," Melodi said.

"What ministry?" Willow asked.

"Wow. You know nothing," Giovanni said. "The Ministry of Magic, of course! It governs all wizardry in the United Kingdom. There's also some kind of government in America and all other places where wizards often live. You only need to know about the Ministry."

"Wait, their abbreviation is MoM?" Willow said, laughing.

"Would you laugh at your mother?" Giovanni asked, dead serious. "Don't laugh at the Ministry. They hold power over every spell you cast, every step you take, every breath you breathe."

"That's downright creepy," Octavio said.

"You grow up with it when you're a pure-blood, so the creepiness is toned down for us," Giovanni said.

"Speak for youself," Melodi said. "It's creepier for me, considering I grew up knowing there's someone watching every step I take, and all too happy to lay down justice for the slightest crime."

Jefferosn and Willow slowly looked aroudn the cabin, for recorders or some other device watching them.

"Magic," Giovanni said, "Until you're seventeen, you'll have the Trace, which is basically a magical alarm for whenever you cast a spell, apparate, or something else the Ministry governs. However, they only know the general area of the spell. If I were to cast a spell in my house, for example, they'd probably think my parents cast it."

"So, you can get away with casting underage magic?" Melodi asked, "Lucky. My parents are always at St. Mungo's."

"Yeah, sure, considering I don't cast it on anything valuable or living, which drastically lowers potential targets in my house," Giovanni said, "My parents like antiques. A lot. Especially magical ones. In fact, they have a section of the house which nobody can enter, since it's filled with cursed antiques."

"You parents collect cursed items? Are they crazy?" Melodi asked.

"Only partially," Giovanni said, "Enough to embarrass me, but not enough to warrant my leaving the house."

"Do they collect Muggle antiques?" Willow asked.

"Would you believe me if I told you that the Mona Lisa on display is a copy, and they have the original?" Giovanni asked.

"No."

"Then you're wrong," Giovanni said. "They went back in time and bought it from DaVinci."

"Wait, your parents can TIME-TRAVEL?" Melodi asked, "But the Minister says that's impossible!"

"Yes, the Minister says that," Giovanni said, glancing around cautiously. "My parents deny it. NOT THAT THE MINISTER IS LYING!"

"Guys, hurry up with the robes," Melodi said, "I can see lights in the distance."

The group stepped off the train together. A huge man was calling for first-year students, so they went with him. The Weasel and Potter kids were nearby, but they didn't seem to be paying much attention to their surroundings as they got onto the boats. Giovanni and Willow got onto one boat, while Melodi, Jefferson, and Octavio got onto another.

The boats pulled out together, rowing across the lake towards Hogwarts. Every so often, a boat would flip over, dumping a few screaming students into the cold water before another boat could help pull them out. Giovanni had his wand pulled out and was watching Jefferson's boat cautiously while Willow rowed. He also provided a light, using some spell that Willow thought was called "lumos".

Finally, the boats pulled onto the opposite shore. The group of five rejoined, and lined up with the other students for go to the Great Hall. Before they entered, they were stopped by a woman who introduced herself as Ms. McGonagall, who explained the Houses to them. The group already knew all of this, and were anxious to enter. When, finally, she let them past, they had cut straight to the front of the line.

As they entered the hall, they saw four enormous tables, with a fifth at the end. The sky above them was just as black as before, with stars littering the sky, but Giovanni nudged Willow and shook his head. As they approached the fifth trable, there was a stool with an old, ragged hat on it. Mr. McGonagall was beside it.

The hat suddenly burst into song about the hour Houses, much to the surprise of the first-years. The tables laughed as several jumped back, knocking some behind them down. When the song was over, Ms. McGonagall spoke.

"When I call your names, please sit down, and I will place the Sorting Hat upon your head. When you have been Sorted, proceed directly to your table," she announced, "Casamento, Giovanni."

Giovanni grinned as he was sorted first. Almost as soon as the hat touched his head, it shouted out, "Slytherin!" Giovanni gave a short fist pump, before going to the table on the far right, from their point of view.

The next guy, Crabbe, went to Slytherin, as well. The next Slytherin was a guy named Goyle, who seemed to be friends with Crabbe. They laughed and pointed at a few of the Muggle-borns in line, which Giovanni found disgusting. Some girl named Granger, a Muggle-born herself, slipped into the Gryffindor crowd. Then there was yet another Slytherin, Draco Malfoy, who gave high-fives to Crabbe and Goyle, and nodded his head to Giovanni.

Next, it was Octavio Morss' turn. The hat was placed on his head, and it seemed to debate with him.

"Yes, I can see you're verrryyy intelligent," it told him, "Maybe you would enjoy life among the Ravenclaws? But, then, you're quite true, as well... perhaps Hufflepuff would be a good choice?"

"... Where are the others going?" Octavio asked it, indicating the group from the train car.

"Ohoho, excellent question, and one I cannot answer. But I think I've decided," the hat said, "HUFFLEPUFF!"

Octavio shrugged and headed over to the table decorated with black and yellow. Next up, McGonagall called for Willow Pavelec, who pushed her way through and sat down. It laughed at the ease of sorting her.

"And we have another Hufflepuff!" it declared.

Willow sat down next to Octavio at the table.

"Ooh, tough luck, getting sorted into Hufflepuff," an older boy at the table whispered.

"What? Why?" Octavio asked.

"Well, make no mistake. I have pride in my House. But, well, when shored up against the other three, we're often called 'that other House'. By the way, I'm Cedric Diggory," Cedric said, reaching across the table and shaking their hands.

"Nice to met you. And I'm not woried. I'm sure this House is great," Willow said.

"Potter, Harry!" McGonagall declared.

The room immediately went silent, as the Potter kid took the hat. They seemed to be arguing with each other for some time, before the hat announced his sorting into Gryffindor. The entire Gryffindor table erupted with cheers. Willow didn't see the big deal, but apparently everyone else did.

Next up was Jefferson Prey, who just had time to glare at Giovanni before being sorted into Ravenclaw. Then Melodi Wehrs approached, who spent some time being debated between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, before being sorted into the former. The last interesting person sorted was the Weasel kid, who's last name apparently was actually Weasley. He was put into Gryffindor, too.

Finally, the old guy at the fifth table called for the feast, and food appeared on everyone's plates. Willow was delighted, as was Octavio next to her. They had a conversation with Cedric while they ate, and discovered that he played some sort of game called Quidditch. It involved four balls, six hoops, and a bunch of broom-flying wizards.

Finally, when the feast and dessert was over, they followed their House prefects to their Common Room. Willow and Octavio were in the back as the Hufflepuffs retired.