Disclaimer: I only own the plot line, Alina Ward and characters you may not recognise. Everything else is thanks to the wonderful and imaginative J.K. Rowling, who was clever enough to think up the world of Harry Potter.

Chapter Two

"Good bye dear." Mrs. Ward said giving her daughter a crushing hug. Mr. Ward stood back watching his wife but finally pulled her away gently and gave his daughter a kiss on top of her head, wishing her good luck and a safe journey.

Alina smiled up at her parents before boarding the train and looking to find an empty apartment. Eventually she came upon one near the back and sat down after she put her bag up on the shelf. She looked out the window and spotted her parents standing with all the other students' parents as the train started to pull away. She turned away from looking out the window when she heard the compartment door opening.

"Would you mind if we sat with you? All the other compartments are full." A bushy, brown haired girl asked. Behind her there were two boys. One had bright red hair and the other, jet black.

"No that's fine. Go ahead." Alina told her, gesturing to the empty seats.

"Thank you. Oh, and I'm Hermione Granger." The girl told her and smiled.

"Nice to meet you Hermione, I'm Alina, Alina Ward."

"Are you new here?" Hermione asked, "I haven't seen you around the castle before. And you don't look like you're a first year."

"Yes. I am new here. Transfer student." Alina said with a small smile. "And if you don't mind me asking, but who are you two?"

Both boys looked up at her from whispering. The redhead seemed surprised that Alina would include him in conversation and Harry seemed a bit shocked that she didn't know who he was, but Ron answered right away.

"Ron Weasley." The redhead said, giving her a small, almost painful smile.

Alina smiled back at him brightly and then turned her direction to Harry. For a minute he didn't say anything, thinking that she would recognize him.

"Is he deaf or something?" Alina asked, glancing at Hermione, "Not to be rude or anything."

"No, I'm not. Sorry 'bout that. I'm Harry- just Harry." He said quickly when Alina looked at him questioningly because he didn't give her a last name.

"Nice to meet you Ron Weasley and Harry, just Harry." Alina smiled once again and decided that it would be best if she left the three alone, they seemed eager to talk about something. The way Harry kept glancing back and forth between Ron and Hermione told her so.

After about a minute or so of staring out the window something dawned on her. "Wait a minute!" she suddenly exclaimed. "Granger. Weasley. And Potter!" she pointed at all three of them as she said their names, "Of course, how could I have been so silly. I should have known it was you Harry. I can be so bloody thick sometimes for a witch who has O's in every class." Alina smiled as she continued. "I don't mean to be bothersome- I can tell you three have much to discuss- so it looks, but - er, I was wondering if you would be so kind to tell me a bit more about Hogwarts and the houses. Of course I already know most about Slytherin and Ravenclaw."

"Oh, uhm of course- I don't see why not." Hermione said and began telling her how the sorting hat decides what house you should be in and that there are four to choose from. Alina knew that part, of course and most of the other information. After discussing the characteristics of each house and the teachers, along with classes Alina had a question for the Golden Trio.

"What house are you guys in?"

"Gryffindor." Harry told her. Hermione and Ron smiled proudly when he told Alina.

"Oh cool." She told them, not knowing what else to say. She wasn't sure if they would be quite as kind to her if she got sorted into Slytherin.

"Being curious-may I ask where you're transferring from?" this question came from Hermione who was smiling shyly.

"Beauxbatons." Alina replied.

"Really? So I guess you stayed here last year and liked it so much better?" Hermione asked me. Ron and Harry simply stared at me, they weren't expecting that answer.

"No actually. You see I didn't come here last year. I, uh, got into some trouble." Alina laughed. "That was very interesting watching them decide what to do with me. They weren't expecting a student, even me, to get into trouble the first day back. Especially when we had come off holiday early to leave for the Triwizard Tournament."

"You got into trouble your first day back?" Hermione exclaimed as Ron and Harry exclaimed at the same time, "Bloody hell (Ron's wording)! Not even we've managed that."

Hermione cleared her throat, "Second year."

That seemed to remind the boys of something, "Oh yea. Second year we flew a car to school instead of taking the train (because Dobby sealed off the entrance- Harry added helpfully) and seven Muggles saw us. We were sure we were going to be expelled." Ron said, telling me the story.

"You drove, er, flew a car to school? What happened-"

"Ron!" Hermione shouted suddenly, "We're prefects and we're late for the meeting. Oh how could I forget something like that? Sorry Harry and Alina- we've got to go." Hermione said as she was gesturing Ron out, "It was nice to meet you." She rushed out, Ron following her (who rolled his eyes and looked slightly guilty) and slammed the compartment door shut. There was a roar of pain from Ron, whose fingers had been jammed and Alina quickly got up opening the door further.

"Bloody…fuck…hell. Damn it Hermione watch what you're doing! We're already late- no point in rushing when we'll be only another five minutes!" Ron roared angrily.

"Don't say those words Ronald Weasley! How dare you- there are children on this train!" Hermione shouted at him.

Alina looked over at Harry when people started to come out of their own compartments to find out what all the commotion was about.

"Is this normal for them?" she asked.

"They fight, but I've never heard Hermione say anything about his cussing- well Ron has never cursed this much in front of her." Harry informed her.

"I think we should stop this then before anything really bad happens."

"Agreed."

Harry grabbed Ron by the arms, while Alina went up to Hermione and tried to get her to calm down and remind her about the meeting. After awhile Hermione finally got a grip on herself and started to walk towards the front of the train to the meeting. Ron took awhile to cool off, but when his fingers stopped throbbing with pain he went to the meeting, giving glares to anybody who was still watching him.

"What do you want Malfoy?" I heard him ask loudly halfway down the hall.

"Get out of my way Weasley." Came a sneer and Draco pushed past him and came strutting towards me. "Nice to see you again Alina. Potter." He glared.

"Oh Draco, hey." Alina said awkwardly.

"Guess you got sucked in Potter's gang." He said, still glaring at Harry.

"No, they needed a place to sit." I told him.

"Get lost Potter." Draco said.

"And who are you to tell me what to do?" Harry asked.

"I think anyone who's saner then you can tell you what to do. And seeing as the things you've been saying about the Dark Lord are far from sane…" Draco trailed off, smirking.

Alina had to hold Harry back from attacking Draco, so we didn't cause another commotion- and she had a feeling that this commotion would be a lot worse than the one before.

"Guys cut it out. Come on." Alina said, trying not to take either side, "Do you really want to get detention for starting a fight on the train on your first day back?"

"Come on Alina, let's go." Draco told me, backing off.

Alina didn't move and still kept her hold on Harry, "Well, all my stuff is in there." She said, gesturing towards the compartment with her head. She also didn't want to leave Harry by himself.

"I'll get it." Draco said and walked into the little compartment to grab Alina's bags. "Is this all of yours?"

Alina nodded her head and stood watching Draco try and figure out how to move all the bags.

"How did you carry all this- more importantly why do you have this many bags on you?" he asked.

Alina shrugged her shoulders, "Mom wanted to make sure I was prepared and packed these bags herself so I wouldn't get bored on the way here. And she didn't want to make an extension charm on the one bag. Besides, she always over packs for the smallest of things."

"Wait here. I'm going to get Crabbe and Goyle and tell them to come and get your stuff. Don't move."Draco instructed Alina who nodded in return and when he walked out after giving Harry a nasty look and was no longer in sight Alina quickly closed the door and pulled the shades down.

"You're friends with Malfoy?" Harry asked Alina when they had been sitting down for awhile.

She noted that his face was red and he had clenched his fist shut, "I wouldn't say we're friends. More like acquaintances. I just met him the other night."

"Sounds like you've known each other a bit more than that."

"What's it to you Harry? You just met me and I don't see you treating me like we've just met. Who do you care who I hang out with?" Alina asked, losing her temper.

Harry gave her a look, not able to respond.

"Sorry. I lose my temper easily. I didn't mean to blow up at you like that." Alina said, biting her lip and looking at Harry.

Harry, not knowing what to say, simply nodded his head and stared out the window. After a few moments Alina sighed and went to pull up the shades on the door. She really didn't mind if the two boys Draco sent arrived. It was probably going to be less awkward if she sat with them instead of Harry.

But after waiting awhile, and the boys never coming, Alina started to get bored. She had tried to start a conversation with Harry, but he didn't feel like talking. After a few awkward minutes she got out her notebook and something to write with and began to scribble things down. Her head was filled with ideas about things to write. It didn't matter if it was informational or if it was for fun because she wrote both down. However, after awhile she got tired and started to doze off.

A/N: Second chapter! OK. So I know Ron and Hermione weren't late for their prefects meeting in the beginning of the book, but I needed Alina to meet all three of them at once on the train and I could only do that if Ron and Hermione were late, because of course she needs some friends. Anyways, you'll soon know what house Alina is going to be sorted in and all her classes. Anyways- hope you enjoyed!

-Kathleen