Chapter Two
King's Cross Station

King's Cross station was a hub of activity. People rushed every which way, and Anna was somewhat unsure of what she was supposed to do, or where she was supposed to be going.

"You have all of your suitcases, dear?"

Anna looked at her mother. Behind her Anna's father was talking rapidly on his phone, she couldn't make out the words. Most likely something important was happening, more important than his only child heading off to a boarding school. She was bitter.

"I have everything, Mother."

Things had been strained since the three of them had learned Anna was a witch.

Her father patted her, phone pressed into his shoulder for a moment. "Good luck, Anna! Do us proud." He went back to his conversation.

"Darling, we have to scurry off. Study hard, don't break rules, and stay away from anything two dangerous. That magic school is going to be terrible for your health."

"You aren't going to see me off?"

"You'll be fine dear…" a bag was shoved into her hands. Anna stared at the receding backs of her parents as they left her alone. A blessing and a curse, she decided.

"Station 9 and ¾…must be somewhere between nine and ten then."

She walked down the stairs, tripping occasionally and fighting her heavy backpack for control. All of her school supplies made it heavier than she was, and it didn't help that Anna was rather un-athletic.

"Nine and three quarters, nine and three quarters…"

Someone tapped her shoulder, and Anna turned around to see Albus.

"Albus! I'm so glad to see you again."

"You look a little lost."

"Hopelessly." Anna grinned at him. Things were getting better by the moment.

"Come on, I know how to get to the train. We're lucky my dad brought an extra shopping cart. He always does, in case something like this happens. Rambled on for an hour about the first time he came to the station when I asked."

Shopping cart?

Albus walked over to a small group of people. Anna recognized his parents, and what looked to be his siblings.

"Here, let's get everything into the shopping cart." Albus lifted one of her bags into the cart. Anna helped with the rest once the surprise wore off.

"If you say so, Albus."

"Anna, it's nice to see you again."

Anna looked up to see Albus's dad. "Hello, Mr. Potter."

"Hi, dad. Okay, Anna. Just aim your cart at that wall," He pointed at the one that separated station nine and station ten. "And run at it as fast as you can."

"Um." Anna looked at him, one eyebrow raised.

"Oh come on, you'll be fine." Albus punched her on the shoulder, lightly. "Would I lie to you?"

"Albus we've known each other for less than a week." Which was irrelevant, Anna already trusted him, but she felt like she had to say it. Albus was asking her to run straight at a brick wall.

"Just do it, Anna. It'll be fine."

She aimed the cart at the wall, and proceeded to run towards it as fast as she could. One instant she was sure she would hit the wall, and then she was through, all the way to station nine and three quarters, the sign hanging directly under her head and the train to her left.

"Woah."

Albus came up behind her. "I remember going through when my cousins first went to Hogwarts."

"Cousins?"

"Yeah, they're all over there!"

Anna looked where Albus was pointing, and gazed upon what appeared to be a small army consisting mainly of redheads. Rose practically bounced up to the pair when she saw them, grinning as big as Rowan when he knocked over something on the kitchen counter. Her smile, however, was significantly more friendly.

"Anna! You have to meet my family. Come on, Albus! Let's introduce everyone!" She was suddenly surrounded by redheads. "This is my little brother, Hugo! He's a brat."

"Hey!" the kid glared at her.

"Joking, Hugo. These are my parents, Ron and Hermione Weasly! My mum's in the ministry and my dad runs a joke shop with my uncle, George. Say hi!"

"Hello, Anna." Rose's mum smiled at her. "A little overwhelmed?"

"Something like that." Ron and Hermione seemed quite nice, and hadn't they saved the world from Volde-whatsit? She remembered something about that from the pamphlet.

"This is Fleur and Bill, my aunt and uncle. Cousins! Say hi!" They did. "Victorie's in year seven, Dominique's in year six, and Louis's in year five. Over here's Uncle Percy and Aunt Audrey, and this is Molly and Lucy! Then there's Uncle George and Aunt Angela. George runs the joke shop with my dad! Everything from there is banned by Filch by the way, not that anyone listens!"

Anna had the feeling she wouldn't remember most of these people later, but the sentiment was nice. Rose was nice. Mr. George wrapped an arm around his wife and smiled at Rose.

"Now Rose, you know I can't officially approve of you breaking rules."

"Yes, but you can unofficially send me supplies."

"Of course!"

Rose continued with the introductions. "Anyway, this is Fred and Roxanne, Year four and two respectively. And this is Teddy Lupin, our unofficial cousin. He can shapeshift!"

Anna tilted her head and looked up at him. He had rather shocking electric blue hair that seemed to be gradually changing into a darker blue. "Hi. I like your hair."

"Thanks kid." He walked over to Victorie, and the pair left. A feeling came to her. They were dating. It would last a very long time.

"Albus! Take it away!"

Albus looked at Rose in a mix of shock, worry, and general happiness. "Okay, um. This is my mum and dad, Anna."

"Ginny Potter. Pleased to see you again, Anna."

"Harry Potter. Same."

Albus wrapped his arms around his two siblings. "This is my older brother, James, and my little sister, Lily. James is a year ahead of us, and Lily has two years to go until she can come."

James smirked. It was natural on his face, clearly he did it often. Lilly sighed, arms crossed across her chest. "I don't see why I can't just go now."

"You go when you're eleven, Lily."

The conversation continued as Rose steered her and Albus away from had, according to Rose, "Happened a million times already." They stopped in front a pair of more elderly people than the rest of Albus and Rose's family.

"And these…"

"Are our grandparents!"

Comforting arms wrapped around Anna, as Mrs. Weasly enveloped her in a hug. "I'm so glad to meet you! Rose has been talking about you ever since she met you and Albus is exited in his own way, the wonderful boy."

"It's a pleasure to meet you to, Mrs. Weasly."

"Arthur Weasly. You three better get on that train, it's about to depart."

A long whistle sounded through the air, and the three friends rushed with the remaining students to get onto the train. Bags were manhandled, toes were stepped on, but everyone ended up where they were supposed to be. Rose and Albus waved enthusiastically along with all of their cousins and siblings, until the station disappeared into the distance.

The three of them were left standing alone in the corridor as everyone else split of to find their friends from earlier years. James Potter ruffled Albus's hair, much to Al's annoyance, and wandered off to find, Anna guessed, his friends, but not before saying "Better find a compartment, you three, or the prefects won't be happy with you."

"He's right. Let's go"

Anna blinked and stood completely still for a second. "Something's about to happen."

"Anna? What are you talking about?" Albus gave a slight tug on her arm. "We have to go sit down."

Rose pointed behind them. The motion reminded Anna of a horror movie cliché. "Guys, who are they?"

What appeared to be a mob of students had appeared a few feet behind them. The lead girl had a crazy look in her eyes, and then she opened her mouth to speak. "THE PRIZE WILL BE MINE!"

"Never! It's mine!"

"I deserve the fame!"

"Idiots, I'm going to win!"

"Fools, I'll be the one to get the prize!"

Anna grabbed her friend's hands and shouted, "RUN!"

They did so.

It wasn't all that effective.

Anna, Rose, and Albus darted down the halls of the train, the flash mob right on their heels. Anna felt a plan forming when she saw a snack cart ahead of her, and twinge of pity for the snack cart lady who would surely be rattled. She looked behind her, the mob was getting closer.

Okay then.

While Rose and Albus went around the cart, Anna went over it, turned around, and kicked it into the path of the approaching mob. The cart lady screamed, the mob screamed, Rose laughed like a maniac, and Anna joined in, because really, why not?

Albus pulled them both into a compartment and away from the chaos. He closed the door, and the trio sank to the floor in relief.

"Hi."

Sitting next to the window, there was a boy. He had dusty blond hair, a small cat on top of his head, and several small animals around him.

"Oh. Hello. Sorry to barge in on you like this."

"It's quite alright."

"Sweet, I'm Rose; this is my friend Anna and my cousin Albus."

"…Mercius."

Albus tilted his head. "Mercius Stane? Son of Jason Stane? Death eater?"

Mercius blinked slowly. "He was cleared of all charges."

Rose frowned. "Doesn't mean he wasn't one of them."

"Death eaters…they were in the letter my parents got to educate them on the wizarding world, something about a dude named vold… volde-something, I believe."

Mercius blinked again and winced slightly as the cat on his head climbed down the side of his face. He seemed to ponder his words, and spoke with a slow deliverance. "You're muggle-born, then?"

Albus and Rose straightened their backs and glared down at Mercius. "What's it to you?"

He seemed to shrink into the seat. "...Nothing…sorry." He turned his head and gazed out the window.

Anna smiled and sat down across from him. "It's fine. I'm sure you didn't mean anything by it."

"I didn't."

"See? What I'm more worried about is why those people were chasing us."

Mercius said, "Oh, it was probably about the money. Or the fame."

Rose and Albus sat down and leaned in closer to Mercius. Rose asked, "What are you talking about?"

"Rita Seeker offered fifty galleons and a mention in the Daily Prophet to whomever gets her the best story about the golden trio's kids and other relatives."

Rose's face went stony, and Albus sighed and leaned his head back against the wall.

Anna tilted her head and sat down across from Albus. "Who's Rita Seeker?"

"Rita Seeker is a lying liar who lies." Rose frowned. "I hate her guts."

Albus agreed with her. "She's a reporter. Rita Seeker writes lies and half-truths about famous people. She's written about my family a lot. Aunt Hermione is the only one who can control her, really. I don't know how."

"Say, Merce, are you allowed to have all of those animals with you?"

"…no."

Rose looked towards Anna. "Merce?"

"It's a good a nickname as any."

Albus raised his eyebrows and gave a little grin. "Hagrid is going to love you. I'll put in a god word, and he'll hide the animals, if you want."

Rose laughed in a good natured way, and then launched into a story about a dragon, Hagrid, and her parents and uncle. The Golden Trio, they were called. Anna smiled, a feeling of contentment washing over her as they all relaxed, Merce was smiling, and wasn't that nice? Everything was going rather well, despite the earlier chaos. Everything would end up all right for the four of them; she would make sure of that.

She had a feeling it wouldn't be all that easy. That was just fine with her. Anna Blake was fond of a challenge.