A/N: I know, it's been a while since I've updated. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

"Mum! Have you seen my 'Standard Book of Spells: Grade One'?

"No I haven't Willow. You were reading it yesterday on the armchair. Why didn't you put it back in your room once you'd finished?" Her mother gave an exasperated sigh.

"Willa. I found your book!" Emily came running in and handed her the book.

"Thanks Em!" Willow shoved in it her trunk and shut it, locking it securely.

"Alright, let's go." Eric said as he grabbed the keys.

Willow picked up her owl cage and handed her trunk to her mother. She ran with Emily to the car and jumped in.

It was 9:45am and Willow's first day of Hogwarts. The family, of course running around like mad after sleeping through their alarms.

They were finally off to Kings Cross Station, but they needed to take another train before they arrived at Kings Cross.

Eric parked the car outside Paddington station and they jumped out with Willow trying to keep Florean under control. They walked through the train station and bought their tickets. They headed towards the train and waited until 10:15 and then they got onto the train. Trunk and all.

"Mum, I'm really nervous. I don't know what to expect. What did you feel like at Hogwarts?"

"It was truly brilliant. I remember wondering the school hallways at night until Filch caught me, many times." She laughed.

"Filch?" Willow asked.

"The caretaker. He doesn't like kids, so make sure you don't get on his bad side." Her mother warned.

Willow nodded and looked out the window and saw Kings Cross station was in view.

They got out and made their way over to the platforms 9 and 10.

"Mum? I don't see platform 9 ¾." Willow looked up at her mother.

"Yes, well if it was out in the open, all the Muggles could see it, it would defeat the purpose of keeping the magical world secret wouldn't it?" Laura smiled at her.

"Yeh. I suppose. So where do we go then?"

"Between the platforms."

"Between? But Laura, there's a wall between them." Eric pointed out.

"Yes there is. Another one of the magical world's inventions." Laura walked over to her husband and gave him a hug.

"Emily and Willow. You girls go first." She saw their worried faces and smiled. "All you do is lean against the wall whilst walking and you will find yourselves on the platform."

"Okay." Willow said worriedly. She took her trolley and Emily's hand.

"I'm scared Willa." Emily said.

"I know. Me too." Willow gave her sister's hand a squeeze. "Let's go."

They walked towards the wall and Willow braced herself for impact, but she felt nothing. Instead she and Emily found themselves in front of a large scarlet train that was blowing steam.

"Willa! Look!" Emily tugged on her hand. She looked up and smiled as she read;

'Platform 9 ¾ '

"We made it!" Willow sighed in relief.

She turned around and saw her parents join them on the platform.

They walked over to their daughters and helped Willow place her trunk on the train. They looked at the clock, it read 10:50.

"Ten minutes Willa. Better say our goodbyes." Laura announced.

"Bye Mum." Willow hugged her mother. "I love you."

"Willa, where ever you get sorted I will be so proud of you, you understand?"

Willow nodded. "Will you tell me now what house you were in?"

Her mother laughed. "Not until you are sorted and you send me your first owl and then I shall tell you in my letter back."

Willow hung her head, disappointed. Laura laughed.

Willow turned to her father and hugged him. "I'll miss you dad."

"I'll miss you too Willa. I love you."

"I love you too dad."

She turned to her younger sister. The one who she had never left. The one she will most probably miss the most.

"Bye Em." Willow took her younger sister in her arms. Emily was crying. Willow began to cry as well. "I can't wait until you join me at Hogwarts, we'll be unstoppable." She laughed.

Emily nodded.

They heard a whistle blow.

"Willa. You've got to go now." Her mother pulled the sisters apart and pushed Willow towards the train compartment. Her father pushed the owl cage into Willow's hands.

"Bye Mum, bye Dad, bye Em!" Willow waved as she stepped onto the train and the train began to move.

"Bye darling! Have fun!" Her mother waved.

Eric turned to his family and they slowly walked back towards the muggle side of Kings Cross Station.

Willow walked up the hallway, looking for a free compartment to relax in.

She opened the last carriage and saw two young boys and a young girl.

"Um. Hi. Can I please join you?" Willow asked.

"Yeh, sure. Come in." One of the boys said.

"Thanks." Willow dragged her trunk in and her owl cage.

"Hi I'm Albus." The boy who had let Willow sit in. "Albus Severus Potter." He smiled.

"Hi I'm Willow. Willow Jayne Reinland." She smiled.

"These are my cousins. Rose Molly Weasley." He gestured to the girl, who smiled.

"Hi Willow. Lovely to meet you." She stood up and walked over and sat next to Willow.

Willow instantly took a liking to her. "Hi Rose. Lovely name." Willow smiled.

"Thank you. My mother chose it. She's a great witch." She smiled.

"And this is my other cousin Louis Arthur Weasley." Albus gestured to the prettiest boy that Willow had ever seen.

"Hi Louis."

He blushed. "Hi Willow."

Willow turned back to Albus.

"Do you like having your two cousins here with you?" She asked, then realised how stupid that sounded and blushed.

"Yes, but I have an older brother and a few other cousins around Hogwarts too." He chuckled. "We basically run this school."

Louis and Rose laughed.

"Yes, us in the Weasley family, have a big extended family. My father has five older brothers, the oldest being Uncle Bill – he is Louis's dad." Willow looked over at Louis and smiled.

"And Aunty Ginny is Albus's mother and my father's youngest sibling and only sister. They were seven in all, but –" Rose stopped suddenly and hung her head. Willow noticed that she seemed very upset.

"Yes." Albus took over from Rose. Willow turned her attention to Albus. "Our Uncle Fred, well he died in the second Wizarding War." Willow looked at the three cousins and her smile faded.

"Oh, I'm so sorry." Willow said very sincerely.

"That's okay. It was a while ago now, but we still think of him of course." Rose said.

"Yeh, well every time Grammy sees Uncle George she bursts into tears." Louis added. He noticed Willow's blank face. "Oh, Uncle Fred and Uncle George are identical twins. That's why."

Willow nodded in understanding.

The compartment door opened and in stumbled three boys and 2 girls. Apparently, they knew the occupants, apart from Willow of course.

"Ha Ha! Albus man, we were looking for you." The one holding a frog shouted.

"Well you found me James. So what do you want?" Albus said, a smile forming on his face.

"Oh, nothing really, we were just looking. Making sure the firsties were okay with the big scary train."

Albus looked at Rose, Willow and Louis. "Ah, guys, are we okay with the big scary train?"

"I don't know. It really is big, maybe we should be scared Al." Rose said as she tried to hold back a laugh.

"No, you idiot we aren't scared!" Albus said. "Oh, Willow, this is my oldest brother James Sirius Potter. James, this is my new friend Willow Jayne Reinland." He gestured to the other four people with James. "These are my some of my other cousins." He pointed to the very tanned boy next to James, that is Fred Fabian Weasley the 2nd."

Fred bowed. "Pleased to meet you."

"That standing behind him is Lucy Penelope Weasley." Albus continued.

"Hello. I hope you have a fun time at Hogwarts."

"Behind her is Lucy's friend. Rochelle Marie Greengrass." Rochelle nodded politely at Willow.

"And next to Fred is Darius Bill Anstro." Darius smiled at Willow.

"Man, Al. Why must you introduce everyone by their full names? You're getting like Uncle Percy."

Everyone laughed, except for Lucy. "Don't talk about my dad like that!"

"It's true Luce" James said between laughs. Lucy scowled at him.

"James, Fred, and Darius are in their fourth year and Lucy and Rochelle are in their fifth year. Lucy's the Gryffindor prefect." He looked over at Willow. "All the Weasley family are always placed in Gryffindor, its like we were only born for that house. I myself hope to be in Gryffindor." Albus smiled.

"Alright guys, let's go. It's getting boring here." James and his friends left.

"What house would you like to be in Willow?"

"I'm not sure. I don't really know about each house." She replied.

"Oh, Gryffindor is for the brave and courageous people, Ravenclaw houses the smart and witty, Hufflepuff have the loyal and hard working and Slytherin have the cunning and swift. Dad says they are all good."

A loud rap at the door alerted them to impending visitors.

"Hello." She came in and sat next to Louis, who groaned loudly. "Louis, are you okay? Did you find everything okay?"

"Yes, Dominique. I'm here aren't I?" Louis grumbled.

"Now if you need anything, I'm right down the hall." She turned to Rose and Albus. "You too as well." She nodded to them.

"Dominique, this is Willow Jayne Reinland. Willow, this is Dominique Gabrielle Weasley, Louis middle sister."

"And Head Girl this year." She beamed at Willow.

"Oh, congratulations." Willow figured that this was the correct response.

"Geez, Dom, you spent way too much time at Uncle Percy's house. Fussing over Louis. Leave him alone." Albus said.

"Albus Severus, you're lucky we're not at Hogwarts yet, or I would have deducted house points from your house."

"But you know what?" Albus said standing up. "We still love you." He gave her a big hug, which she returned.

"Well, I'd best be off. Remember what I said Louis." Louis nodded as his sister walked out.

"Ah, geez, tough break man." Albus said as he sat further back on his seat.

An hour past, Albus and Louis were playing Exploding Snap, which Willow found truly exciting. After a while though, she got bored and Rose and her began to talk about Hogwarts and what to expect.

"My mother bought me 'Hogwarts: A History,' and I haven't been able to put it down. I think I know more about Hogwarts than Hogwarts does about itself." She giggled and Willow beamed, fascinated to hear more.

Another hour past and then a pair of identical twins walked into their compartment. Rose and Willow stopped talking and Albus and Louis dropped their cards, causing them to explode.

"Hi, mind if we join you?" The first twin asked.

"Sure, there's plenty of room here." Rose moved her books to the side to the let them sit down.

"Thanks." They said in unison. They both took a seat.

Albus smiled. "Hi, I'm Albus Sev-"

Rose talked quickly over the top of him. "He's Albus Potter." Albus threw her a look. "I'm Rose Weasley, Willow Reinland and Louis Weasley."

"Ah, we found you. The Potters and the Weasleys." The twins looked up at each other in glee.

Albus, Louis and Rose exchanged looks. "What do you mean?" Louis asked.

"Well, our mother used to be friends with your parents." The first twin said.

"Yeh. Oh Lor! We haven't introduced ourselves yet." The second twin said.

"Oh, sorry, I'm Lysander Harry Scamander and this is my twin brother Lorcan Xenophilius Scamander. We're Luna and Rolf's sons."

"Oh! Luna Lovegood!" Rose said in delight. "Don't you remember Uncle Harry and Mum talking about her?" She turned to Albus.

"Briefly."

"Yeah, they said your mum was much cleverer then she let on."

"Yeh." Lorcan looked at his brother. "She can be a bit loopy at times, but she's a real hero."

"Well, we really wanted to find you guys. You know on the account that Mum asked us to introduce ourselves to you. So here we are." They giggled.

"And you're Willow?" Lysander asked Willow.

"Yes, I am." She nodded nervously.

"Wow. What a pretty name." He smiled at her. He stood up and sat next to her, his eyes never leaving hers.

Willow's insides fluttered nervously and she felt herself go pink.

The door of the compartment hadn't been closed properly and they heard very loud voices. "Let's go this way, a door is open."

A few seconds later there stood four new people. A girl and boy who looked the same and another girl and boy standing behind them.

"Hello." The girl said shortly. "I'm Astonia Yaxley and this is my twin brother Aaron Yaxley."

"Albus, Louis, Lorcan, Lysander, Willow and I'm Rose." Rose introduced everyone before Albus could begin to say anything. Willow chuckled.

"And these are our friends, Henry Pate and Fiona Quell." The boy and girl waved at the others.

"Well, Aaron, some people aren't as exciting as others. I suppose we shall leave this little pity party."

"Yes, indeed." The twins and the girl left, but Henry lingered. 'Sorry about that' he mouthed and left with his friends.

Albus got up and closed the door, so there could be no more interruptions.

"Slytherins for sure." He muttered.

All was quiet in their compartment until the food trolley came around.

"Anything from the trolley dears?"

Willow bought one of everything and sat with her friends having a blast.

It finally became nightfall and Rose suggested that they should change into their robes. The girls left and the boys stayed in the compartment to change.

The train slowed down and came to halt in front of Hogsmeade train station and they tried to stay close together, but through all the hustle and bustle on the platform, they eventually became separated. Willow thought in relief at least I didn't lose Rose.

Rose made a point to grab Willow's hand as Willow heard a loud booming voice.

"Firs- Years, firs- years, over to me. Come on now!"

Willow looked around for the source of the voice but she was pulled by Rose over to where a group of other first years were assembled too.

Willow looked up and saw a very large man. He looked like a giant.

"Hi Hagrid!" Willow looked down and saw Albus wave to Hagrid.

"Ah, Albus. How are you? How's ya dad?" Hagrid beamed at him.

"Good and good." Albus smiled.

Rose and Willow joined up with Albus.

"You know him?" Willow panted to Albus.

"He and my father, and Rose's parents, go way back. He comes to our place for Christmas." Albus explained.

"Ove- here firs- years!" Hagrid led them to a massive lake, that had little rowboats spread along the surface.

"Okay, no more than four to a boat." Hagrid boomed.

Rose, Willow, Louis and Albus jumped into the first available boat. As soon as they were seated the boat magically moved itself.

Once they had reached the grounds of Hogwarts, Willow had the chance to truly appreciate the Hogwarts castle. She was amazed by everything that she saw.

Hagrid and the group of first years had reached a large oak door. Hagrid knocked three times and it opened by itself.

Hagrid bade them farewell and left towards the other door at the far end.

"Hello and welcome to Hogwarts. I am Professor McGonagall, your headmistress." She smiled at them all. "I'm sure you are all very hungry." As she said this, Willow noticed her stomach growl. "In a few moments, you shall be escorted into the Great Hall and the Sorting ceremony will begin momentarily. The four houses are Gryffindor, Hufflpuff, Slytherin and Ravenclaw. These houses will be like your family. Your achievements will win you house points, any foolish behavior will lose you points. You will each be living in your house dormitories, which will be assigned to you once you have been sorted and your possessions will be there once you arrive."

Willow could feel herself getting excited and nervous at the same time.

"Now please get ready and make yourself presentable. I'm sure you will enjoy yourself at Hogwarts. I shall be back in approximately 10 minutes to collect you and then the ceremony will begin." She left and Willow attempted to smooth her robes and straighten her hat.

McGonagall came back in no time at all. "Follow me please."

They followed her towards the Great Hall and as they entered the room, they felt all of the other students that were already assembled there looking at them.

Willow felt very self conscious at that point in time, but was smiling so broadly as to make a great first impression.

They stopped just in front of the Head table and McGonagall placed a stool in front of them and then an old fraying hat. Willow's face crinkled up in confusion.

She looked around at the four long tables that students were sitting at and noticed a few familiar faces, most of them Rose's cousins. She faced the front, as McGonagall began to speak.

"In a few moments, when I call your name, you will step forward and place the Sorting Hat on your head. The hat will make its decision and when your house is called out you will place the Sorting Hat back on the stool and join your fellow housemates."

Willow let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding.

"Ackle, Macy."

A girl walked forward and placed the sorting hat on her head. It didn't take long for the sorting hat to make a decision.

"HUFFLEPUFF'" It screamed to the hall.

A table to the left of Willow, cheered, she guessed this was the Hufflepuff table.

The next boy became the first Slytherin and the next girl the first Gryffindor.

"Malfoy, Scorpius."

A boy with blonde hair and dark eyes sat down. The hat barely touched his head when it screamed.

"SLYTHERIN" The Slytherins on the far right cheered and clapped.

"Nott, Nicole."

"SLYTHERIN" She smirked as she took a seat next to Scorpius.

"Pate, Henry." Willow held her breath. That was the boy on the train.

The hat took its time. "Hmmm… where to put you."

"RAVENCLAW" The hat yelled after about 10 minutes.

Willow glanced a look at Astonia and Aaron. Boy, did they look mad.

"Potter, Albus"

Another few minutes went by as Albus sat on the stool waiting.

"GRYFFINDOR"

The Gryffindor table roared. Willow looked around. James was on his feet, so were a lot of his cousins.

"Quell, Fiona"

"SLYTHERIN"

"Scamander, Lorcan"

"RAVENCLAW" The table behind Willow cheered.

"Scamander, Lysander."

"RAVENCLAW" Winking at Willow, Lysander bounded off to sit next to his twin.

"Reinland, Willow"

Nervously, Willow walked forward and placed the hat on her head. She could her the Hat talking.

"Oh, here's a smart one. Very intelligent, a lot here in your head."

"RAVENCLAW"

Willow smiled as she skipped to sit next to Lorcan and Lysander.

"Weasley, Louis."

Louis got up nervously. He sat on the stool.

"RAVENCLAW"

The table that Willow was at cheered and Willow joined them.

The other tables had gone silent. McGonagall had not called the next name.

Willow heard whispering. 'What?" She asked the 3rd year sitting by her.

"There was never a Weasley that wasn't in Gryffindor."

Louis came and sat by her. She saw that he was upset. "Louis, what's wrong?"

"I've disappointed them. My father will be so upset. Everyone in my family has always been in Gryffindor."

"I'm sure they won't be upset, they'll be proud." She gave him an encouraging smile.

He smiled back.

"Weasley, Rose"

Rose smiled as she sat on the stool.

"RAVENCLAW"

The hall went quiet again.

Rose ran over to the Ravenclaw table.

"See, Louis, you're not the only Weasley that's not in Gryffindor." Rose nudged him and smiled.

He seemed to brighten up after that.

"Just quietly, my mother told me the hat stalled for her and nearly put her in Ravenclaw before it finally put her in Gryffindor, so I'm not upset." She smiled at Willow. "But I'm so glad I'm in your house." She gave Willow a hug.

"Wood, August" was made a Slytherin.

"Yaxley, Aaron"

"SLYTHERIN"

"Yaxley, Astonia"

"SLYTHERIN"

McGonagall rolled her parchment up and took the stool and hat away.

"Let the feast begin!" She cried and food magically appeared on the table's plates.

"Oh wow! Yum!" Willow grabbed chicken drumsticks and some mashed potato.

Once their dinner was finished, dessert appeared. Willow's eyes lit up and she helped herself to some bread and butter pudding.

"Good evening." A young boy about 15 came and sat down next to Rose.

"Hi. I'm Rose. This is my friend Willow." Rose beamed at her new friend.

"Hi Rose and Willow. I'm Luke, one of your prefects. Over there is Madeline, another prefect. We are also lucky to have the Head Boy in our house." He turned to a masculine man, with strawberry blonde hair and green eyes. "Jamey McCabe. The girls want to date him. The boys want to be him." He sighed. Rose and Willow looked at him. "Oh, don't get me wrong he is a very nice person. He doesn't think he's better than any one else. I heard he is dating the Head Girl, Dominique Weasley. She's quite a catch too."

Rose beamed. She had heard this rumour. James wouldn't let Dominique live it down.

"Well, I just wanted to say hi. So I'll be off." Luke said. They waved goodbye to him and continued to dig into their dessert.

Once the feast was over, McGongall bought the Hall to attention and warned that the Forbidden Forest was out of bounds to all students. It was also mentioned that Quidditch practice would be decided by the Quiddicth Captains of each house.

"Quidditch?" Willow asked.

"I'll explain in our common room." Rose whispered back.

"Now that we are all fed, I think a long night's sleep will restore us for the start of classes tomorrow. Good night." She waved her wand and the tables went bare.

The Ravenclaw table became ever so noisy. She grabbed Rose's hand and Rose grabbed Louis'. They followed Luke and Madeline towards the Entrance Hall.

They walked up the first flight of stairs and all the first years stopped to gasp at the moving stairs.

"First Years! Please keep up!" Willow heard Luke call out. She pulled Rose with her as she hurried up the stairs hoping not to lose the Ravenclaw group.

They arrived at the very top of the tower and were now facing a statue of what appeared to be Rowena Ravenclaw.

"Now, first years, please note that the door knocker will ask you a question, which you will have to answer correctly to gain access to the common room. The questions aren't hard, they just require wit; that's why the Sorting Hat chose you to become a Ravenclaw, he knew that you would be able to gain entry into the common room. You will need to use your head."

He turned and faced the door knocker and it came to life.

"What came first, the phoenix or the flame?" It asked.

"Does anyone know the answer?" Luke asked.

No one raised their hand. Willow thought for a moment and both hers and Rose's hands shot up. Luke laughed before turning to Willow.

"Yes Willow?"

"A circle has no beginning nor no end." She answered.

Luke's face formed into a smile and he turned back to the door knocker, who slowly opened its door.

"Well Done!"

Willow beamed and they all made their way into the common room.

"Oh wow!" Willow gasped. Around her was blue and bronze. The armchairs were blue, the curtains were blue and the fireplace had a bronze tinge to it.

Desks were set up around the common room, which fit in well with the meaning of being a Ravenclaw.

"Okay, listen up first years!" Madeline called. "All of your possessions have been bought up to your dormitories, you will find them there. Girls your dormitories are to the right, boys on the left. Goodnight!" She smiled at them all and left.

Rose and Willow said goodnight to the twins and Louis before heading towards their dormitories. They opened the door labeled 'First Years' and entered.

There were five four poster beds all decked out in blue quilts, pillows and blue bed curtains. The walls had been painted bronze.

Rose and Willow chose the two beds closest to the window, so that they may enjoy the views the window has to offer.

In walked three other girls and claimed the beds that were still occupied.

"Hello." Said the first one. "I'm Sylvie. This is Emma and Hayley." She pointed to the other two girls.

"Hi. I'm Willow and this is Rose. Nice to meet you." Willow smiled.

"This is going to be so much fun!" Sylvie smiled at Willow.

"I know right?"

The lights were turned off and Willow changed into her pyjamas and as soon as she lay down, did she realise that she was so tired, that she went straight to sleep.