Smiling at his little sister, Albus Severus Potter closed the train window and looked around apprehensively. He was standing in the hallway of the Hogwarts Express, the doors of many compartments stretched out in front of him, some open showing students of around his age chatting and laughing, all animated and enthused to be there. He was on his way.

On his way to what though? He had been told countless stories of Hogwarts, its towering turrets, black lake (inhabited James said by a giant squid!), its huge forest filled with many mysteries. James had brought back many accounts to share with his brother, at night time when the candles where out he would climb down from his top bunk and describe secret rooms filled with toilets and how new students where made to wrestle giant trolls at the starting ceremony.

It wasn't however the vastness of the castle or the thought of the many terrible challenges (granted most of the time their authenticity was debatable) that sent a cold shiver down Al's spine. It was the thought of the stares and the whispers; "-Harry Potters kid-"

He had heard it all too many times before and while his older brother, lapped up the attention, Albus was tired of being reminded of what he knew all too well he couldn't possibly live up to.

He was jolted out of his daydream by James's hand descending on his shoulder.

"You're ok right Al? I would stay but Charlie Coote says that Dylan Chang has found a way to get into the kitchens without knowing the password."

With that James was off down the corridor, strutting along swinging the cage of his eagle owl Hercules at his side. Grinning at the wolf-whistles and high pitched giggles that accompanied him. Albus looked at his cousin Rose who rolled her sky blue eyes and muttered, "Come on Al, time to find a compartment"

They walked down the corridor in search of an empty seat, Rose sniggering as they passed two burly wizards having a lively argument about wand size. They passed a door that half showed their twin cousins, Josie and Jade surrounded by a group of giggling Hufflepuff girls. Another carriage showed the pale haired Malfoy boy that they had seen on the platform, he looked up and caught Albus's eye as they strode past, a quizzical expression on his face. Finally at the very end of the train they found an unoccupied space.

Albus plonked down on the red leather seat with a sigh, "That was traumatic enough," he mumbled wearily. "Now we have to worry about sorting and classes and that Malfoy kid. He gave me a funny look when we walked passed, did you see? With my luck he will be just like James about families and rivalry and I will have a new enemy before we even get to school."

"Jeez Al you're so pessimistic," said Rose from the seat across from him. Organised as usual she already had her school robes on and was rummaging around in her beige rucksack as Eris, her fluffy grey kitten looked on impatiently. "I'm sure Scorpius isn't as bad as all that-"

Albus let out a doubtful, "Huh."

"-And," Rose continued, pulling a handful of small yellow treats out of her bag and throwing one to Eris, who pounced on it immediately, and one to Albus's black owl. "You shouldn't be worrying about sorting yet because they only do it after 2 weeks so we've got a while yet. Let's play exploding snap."

Albus's mood perked up a bit as he proceeded to completely thrash Rose, who was getting ever more annoyed and indeed singed with each defeat. They were so engrossed with the game in fact that they didn't here the voice until the 3rd time it said, "Anything off the trolley dears?"

But before Albus had a chance to reply another voice sounded, this one high and cold.

"Thanks Betty, but I think we're all set"

Albus looked up to see the slender frame of Scorpius Malfoy in between a broad-shouldered wizard and a malicious looking witch.

"Potter, I think we have a lot to talk about, don't you?"