disclaimer- j.k. rowling and rick riordan came up with the basic ideas and some teachers and I that credit obviously all goes to them and for this chapter the hunger games reference credit goes to suzanne collins

During the week between school and shopping life was uneventful. Publius and I were staying in a room in the leaky cauldron until school was going to start. Throughout this time I wrote to my mom almost everyday, using my black owl that I had decided to name Cumulonim. Cumulonim was short for the name of a thunder cloud, which I had learned in fourth grade during my favorite unit, the weather unit.

Soon the time came to go to Hogwarts, and I was anything but ready. I panicked as I thought of everything that could possibly happen when I arrived. I tried to push the negative ideas away when we arrived at the London King's Cross railway station, but they idled at the back of my mind.

When we finally got out of the taxi (we had struggled because neither one of us knew how to pay using pounds) I admired my surroundings once again. I did not have enough time to meander. I looked down at the time on the ticket Publius handed me and saw that we had ten minutes to be at our platform. Platform 9 and...

"Uhm, there must be a mistake on this ticket," I said.

"Oh, and what would that be, lassie?" Something like amusement twinkled in his eyes.

"Well it says platform 9 and 3/4, and even though I haven't ever been on a train, I am pretty sure there is no such platform." Just as I finished saying that, he ran straight into the barrier 3 quarters of the way between platform 9 and 10.

My jaw dropped to the floor in awe. I looked around at everyone passing by, but they didn't even bat an eye. I looked around wondering where to go when suddenly, out from the wall popped Publius' head.

"Well hurry up lassie, the trains leavin' in ten minutes." I blinked as his head disappeared from sight again.

I look at the seemingly solid brick wall and took a deep breath. I ran forward with my eyes closed and stopped. I opened my eyes again and saw a large steam train in front of me. Across the front of the black train it said Hogwarts Express. Everyone around me bustled about and sent their kids onto the train with hugs and kisses. My heart saddened a little as I thought of how my mom wouldn't be here to send me off.

Publius shouted out my name and I weaved my way through the crowd to him.

"Good luck lassie, and may the odds be ever in your favor," he said, placing his large hand on my petite shoulder. I giggled at the Hunger Games reference. The funny thing was that I don't think he had ever heard of the Hunger Games. In return I gave him a quick hug.

"Thank you, Publius," I said as I turned around and climbed the train. I looked down the aisle and saw all the compartments were filled with people. The last box was the least full. It held seven students that looked like they were in senior year, or whatever they were called here.

I walked into the room with my head held high and sat down in the corner next to a scrawny boy with messy black hair and emerald green eyes. He seemed to be the kindest looking one. If I were to sit next to any huge and frightening high schooler, it might as well have been him.

After I arranged myself I looked up and saw that all eyes were on me. They portrayed looks of confusion as if thinking What the heck is this kid doing sitting with us? Doesn't she have somewhere to sit with other kids her age? And why is she acting so bold?

"Hey," I finally said, "quit starin', you're making me feel self-conscious." They all jumped a little at both my accent and my boldness. I let out a bubble of laughter, causing their faces to turn red. "I'm Leila Haughey. What are all of your names?"

"Hello Leila," said the boy next to me, who look more befuddled than the rest. "I'm Harry Potter."

When he said his name he held expectancy in his voice. I little pride was mixed in too. Wow, cocky much? "Wow, oh my gosh, you're the Harry Potter?!" I said with false excitement in my voice. He smirked at my reaction, until I said, "Never heard of you."

At this everyone's jaw in the cabin dropped.

"You haven't heard of Harry before?" a gangly ginger boy said in bewilderment. "I thought every wizard knew of him!"

"Well not this one. Sorry if that offends you or something. Though I did just find out I was a wizard three weeks ago, so that might explain it."

"So you're a muggle born?" said a girl with wavy, and slightly bushy, brown hair. "Wait, before we question you, we should at least tell you our names. I'm Hermione Granger, that's Ron Weasley," she said pointing to the boy who spoke earlier. "that's Draco," she gestured to a boy who was pretty handsome, and had the blondest hair I had ever seen, "that's Ginny," she said pointing to a girl that must have been Ron's sister. I could tell because they both had the same flaming red hair. "and they're Neville and Luna" she said pointing to the last two in the compartment. "Alright, now that we know each other's names, I have some questions to ask you."

I told her my story of finding out I was a wizard and how I never knew my dad. She thought that my dad could have been a wizard, but I didn't really know.

"Wait, you have been kicked out of eleven schools?! What grade are you in?" Draco asked. It seemed like a harmless question, but it really stung I had never stayed in a school more than a few months. One time I lasted a full year, minus one day. All the other times I was kicked out after the first semester. Something about me seemed to draw in danger. In second grade we went to the zoo and a peacock charged me. In the process of running away I managed to knock over seven other kids, an old man, and I had jumped into the lions pen to get away from it. And that was the least dangerous thing I had done that got me the boot.

"Uhm, yeah, well no. I switched schools a few times because of my dyslexia and ADHD." This wasn't a complete lie, but not the whole truth. In actuality I had gotten so frustrated during a cursive lesson in first grade that I threw my book and the teacher happened to be standing where it went. Then I blacked out because she got mad at me, and the next thing I knew, people were standing over me. Apparently a freak weather accident happened and lightning had struck the teacher, and me too; and apparently people get freaked out when this happens, so they kicked me out for no reason.

Draco looked at me skeptically, but decided to drop it. After everyone stopped questioning me I got straight down to it. I asked them one question.

"So, what's your story?" I never expected to be given a full answer when I asked this question, but their answer was satisfactory. In fact it was so action packed, that I only found myself drifting off into the land of ADD seven times. A new record for me.

When they finished I slumped back into my chair. Sitting like this I realized again that I was talking to people who were either 6 or 7 years older than me. I straightened up again, not wanting to feel short.

"Wow, I can't believe you had to go through that." I shook my head in disbelief. "Well, at least it's over now. It is over right?"

"Yeah, we're pretty sure. My scar doesn't hurt anymore, which means Voldemort is not active; we also destroyed all the horcruxes that held his soul, so he can't come back now." Harry said this so nonchalantly that even I started to relax. Until my fingers were drumming away again of course.

"Hey, I'm gonna go for a walk. You can talk amongst yourselves now. And try not to talk about me too much, I like to be there when people do."

With that I bounded into the hall and started pacing to get out the energy that never faded.