Hey guys, this is the next chapter for my story! Sorry that it took a while for me to update, went away for about 12 days, and I really wanted to get this up for you all. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy it. This chapter is mostly to introduce everyone to the characters and Alice's relationships with them. More will be revealed about everyone shortly! Please review, would mean the world to me!
Disclaimer: I only own my characters, JKR owns hers and Harry Potter.


Chapter 1

As Alice stood on the Hogwarts platform, waiting to board the train that would whisk her off to her sixth year of education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, she realised that this time was different to the last times she'd stood at this platform. Normally, as students bustled past her, nobody looked in her direction, and if they happened to, they wouldn't usually acknowledge her. But this time, it seemed as if everyone noticed her – or, at least, the boys were looking at her. Wondering if she had something on her nose, she turned back to her father and nanny, who had accompanied her to the platform, just like every year before that. Her trunk was already in her compartment with the rest of her friends, and she just had to say farewell to the people closest to her heart.

Her nanny smiled at her. "Well, it seems like you'll be having an interesting time at school this year," she remarked with a laugh.

Alice rolled her eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about." She glanced at her father, expecting his usual expressionless look, but he was smiling slightly, showing some sign of amusement at the nanny's comment. "I'm sure that you'll enjoy yourself." His voice was still the same dead, calm voice. Alice sighed inwardly. Noticing children boarding the train, she turned to her nanny first.

"Enjoy yourself this year, dear. Remember to write to me!" Her nanny held her closely in a hug, before releasing her. Alice smiled, and replied, "I'll remember; once a week!" She then turned to her father, the man she had distanced from over the years. "Bye, Dad. Let me know if I can come home during the Christmas holidays." He put an arm lightly around her shoulders, and pulled her against his chest for half a second before releasing her. "Of course, Alice. Take care of yourself, and work hard." He smiled at her, but it wasn't a smile that reached his eyes. Alice returned a weak smile, before dashing over to the train carriage. She waved from the door at her father and nanny, and went to join her friends in their compartment. As she sat with her friends, she didn't look through the window to see if her father had left yet.

Her friends greeted her normally, and then returned to their conversation, as Alice sat opposite them. The train started pulling them from the platform, but as Alice felt the excitement rising inside of her, at the thought of going back to Hogwarts, her mind stayed on the platform. She thought of her father, which wasn't something she usually did; she tried not to think of him as much as possible. The only similarity she knew was between them was their eyes and hair colour, and their sense of humour; the rest of Alice's traits were her mother's. She only knew of their similar sense of humour from her younger years, as she hadn't seen him crack a proper smile or laugh his usual laugh in years.

"Alice? Are you listening?" Her best friend, Belle, asked her, a slight crease between her eyebrows. Belle was a quiet girl, sensitive to everyone's feelings and a great listener, but also loved some fun.

Alice shook her head, a smile lighting up her face. "No, I'm afraid I wasn't. What did I miss?"

"Only what everyone across the platform was talking about!" exclaimed Margaret – who preferred to be called Maggie – who could always be depended on for the latest news of Hogwarts. Alice relaxed slightly, expecting it to be a topic that wouldn't be of much interest to her, but got the shock of her life when Maggie added, "They're all talking about you of course!"

"Me? They're talking about me? But why? Do I have something on my nose?" She began to panic, not wanting to be the laughing stock of the school before the term had even begun.

The two girls laughed at their friend, before Belle soothed her. "Don't worry, there's nothing on your nose."

"So why were they talking about me?" Although slightly comforted by her best friend's words, she still felt incredibly self-conscious. She turned, this time, to Maggie for her answers.

"They were talking about your beautiful transformation." Alice could only gape in surprise. Beautiful transformation? Maggie continued. "Honestly, Alice, you seem to have gotten even more beautiful over the summer holidays. All the boys noticed you, and the girls were all talking about you."

Alice laughed loudly to get over her shock. "Me? Are you totally sure about this?"

"Yes, of course! I never get my facts wrong!" Very true, Alice silently agreed. "I even saw Robert Macmillan admiring you, and Tom Riddle too!"

Underneath the laughter and surprise, she couldn't help but feel slightly flattered at Maggie's comment. Robert Macmillan, a handsome Ravenclaw in the seventh year, rarely seemed to notice the girls who fawned over him obviously every day, nor the girls who watched and drooled over him from afar, so that was definitely something of a surprise. Tom Riddle was also quite handsome, and was a Slytherin in her year. She didn't see much of him, but he didn't seem to be that mean or cruel. He noticed his fan club, and sometimes, when Alice watched them from a distance, she could've sworn that he talked to them quite angrily. But a fan club must be annoying at the best of times, so Alice could barely blame him.

At that exact moment, a trio of boys entered the compartment, the same trio who completed their group of friends; Joseph Boot, Christopher Bones and Thomas Corner. They were all very close to each other, but Alice found herself able to trust Christopher the most out of the three boys. Thomas, a loud kind boy, and fiercely loyal and protective of his friends, asked, "Who were Robert and Riddle admiring, Maggie? I do hope it wasn't me."

Belle laughed, while Maggie smiled and shook her head. "Not you, Tom. They were admiring Alice because of how beautiful she's gotten over the holidays."

The three boys surveyed her carefully, and Alice squirmed under their watchful eyes. She didn't like to be scrutinized so closely. After some consideration, Joseph finally said, "Hm, I guess I can see what they mean. You have gotten prettier over the holidays."

Christopher gave her an amused smile at his comment – Joseph rarely complimented anyone – gave her a wink, and said "Don't worry; you're still our old Alice Reed." She laughed and grinned at him gratefully.

"Exactly. Though if you need any help telling guys to back off, then just tell me." Thomas gave her a meaningful look as he sat between Belle and Maggie. They all laughed, and Christopher and Joseph sat either side of her. Having had enough attention on her for one day, Alice relaxed and hoped the rest of the journey would be uneventful. She just wanted her train journey to Hogwarts to be the same as it was every year.