Yay! Next chapter!

Diagon Alley had turned out to be a sort of marketplace, only for wizards. When Nila realized wizards had a completely different currency, she turned to Professor Kalinth, who reassured her that they could exchange her muggle money for wizard money.

Then they had gotten her books, which seemed interesting, although nothing like her ordinary school books.

Then her wand, then some things for her cat, then her robes.

The robes were the only thing Nila had a problem with. While she wasn't up to date on the latest fashions like her sister, not to mention she didn't know what was "hot" in the wizarding world, the robes were- in a word- impractical. They were big and flapped around when she moved, they'd get caught in things, drag up dirt.

"Do I have to wear these all the time?" She had asked Kalinth.

"Oh no! Just for the Sorting, and then you can take them off. There might be a few more special occasions, but I can't really remember-"

Nila interrupted. "What do I wear the rest of the time?"

The Professor had handed her a bunch of clothes. "A skirt, a shirt, and the tie with the color of your house. And sometimes a sweater depending on the season."

The Professor had taken her home, explained how to get through the barrier at Hogwarts and then gave her a ticket before leaving.

Nila waved goodbye to her parents, before turning to go, her parents still yelling out their last minute declarations of love behind her.

"Remember to write!" Adalie shouted.

Nila waved once more, before turning and walking away as fast as she could. She looked around, Platform 9, Platform 10. And the wall she had to run into was right in the middle so… There! She thought, running towards it. As she got closer, she shut her eyes, but then thought better of it-she might run into someone!- and opened them.

She slid right through the wall, much to her shock. All the explanations in the world couldn't make sliding through a seemingly solid thing not somewhat surprising.

"Note to self: forget everything learned about physics in primary school." She mumbled under her breath. Not that she had learned much physics in primary school.

Looking up she noticed for the first time, a scarlet train. Written on it were the words Hogwarts Express.

"Well. Here I go." Shaking her head as though to clear it, Nila stepped towards the train that would take her to her new school.

"I'm fine, Mum!" Came the voice of a boy, standing a bit away from her. His mom was a pretty ginger woman, who currently hugging him very tightly. Her husband was clearly who the son took after. Both sons, Nila noticed, as another boy was behind him. Their sister was clearly annoyed by this as much as the boy was. Looking to be around seven, the redhead was a miniature copy of their mother. The older boy looked over and saw her looking. He scowled at her, glaring fiercely. Nila stuck out her tongue, then turned back to the train. Lugging her trolley in, she pushed it to the back of the train, until she found an empty compartment.

"Can I sit here?" A voice asked, not five minutes after she had sat down. "There's no space anywhere else."

Nila looked up from her book. "Oh, yeah sure."

The speaker; who was a redheaded beauty beamed then took a seat. "Thanks! Are you a first year?"

Nila nodded.

"Me too! Do you know what house you're going to be in?"

A week ago, Nila would have been very confused by this question. Now, having read all her textbooks, she knew exactly what the girl was talking about.

"You don't know for sure until you get there, but I'm hoping Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff."

The girl smiled. "Everyone in my family is in Ravenclaw, so I'm probably going to be in there too."

Nila smiled back. "You're a pureblood then?"

"Halfblood actually, my mom-"

"Umm… can I sit here?" The quiet question interrupted.

Nila looked up and saw a black haired girl who smiled weakly at her.

It was the redheaded girl who answered. "Go ahead!" She turned to Nila. "She can, right?"

Nila nodded. "Yeah."

They struck up conversation with the girl.

Her name was Viola, and if she wasn't a Ravenclaw, there was no way Nila could be. Viola was the smartest person Nila had ever met. Nila had no doubt that if she asked this girl how many endangered species there were in the world, she'd know the answer, pureblood or no.

The redheads name was Jayle. She was kind enough to be a Hufflepuff, but she was also definitely a Ravenclaw. She was sweet, but you could see the intelligence in her eyes.

Near the end of the train ride, Nila left to go to the bathroom, her robes flapping behind her. On her way back Nila stopped to buy snacks.

"One pack of Bertie Bott's please." She said to the plump, kind looking woman at the trolley.

"Are you sure you want that?" A drawling voice asked. "I mean you're not exactly the thinnest girl here."

Nila turned around, furious. The same boy who had scowled at her at the train station was there behind her.

"What?" He asked before she could say anything. "Going to stick your tongue out at me again. Real mature, that was."

Nila glared at him, then stopped, and smiled. "Finally got away from your mummy, did you?"

It was his turn to glare now.

"What?" Nila added, her eyes widening innocently. "I think it's great your mother loves you. I mean with a face like yours, she's the only one who ever will."

Smiling again, she turned and walked away, Bertie Bott's still clutched in her hand.