Ollivander's: Maker of Fine Wands Since 382 B.C, a sign said in faded, peeling gold letters. We made our way slowly into the old shop below the sign.

"It's in better condition than you'd think, considering he's been in business for…2000 plus years," Alexa said, holding the door open to let us in. I looked at my sisters skeptically, but continued inside none the less. A bell tinkled somewhere in the depths of the shop as we stepped inside. The entire place looked as though it needed a good dusting. The inside of the shop was dimly lit, two single lanterns on each wall. The windows were dark and grimy. The little light they let in, only showed off how much dust was really in here.

"It's…erm…lovely in here," Sage said coughing.

"Good afternoon. I'm Mr. Ollivander. Just Ollivander's fine too," a soft, old voice said. An old man was standing before us, behind the counter. His wide, pale eyes shining like moons through the gloom of the shop. Sage jumped back, recoiling a bit.

"Ah, Miss Cradey," he said, gesturing to Alexa. "So good to see you again. Lignum Vitae, Essence of Dragon's Whisker, thirteen inches, if I'm not mistaken." Alexa smiled and nodded. "Miss Cradey and Miss Cradey." This time he gestured to Sage and I.

I stared, wondering how he knew that we were sisters and Alexa's sisters.

"You have the same eyes. Same face," he said. "Now come, come. Let us find you two wands. Which is your wand arm?" Sage and I looked at each other, confused. I opened my mouth to ask what he meant when Alexa answered.

"Ah, right," She looked at us and smiled that kind of sisterly, loving, goofy, 'you make me laugh', smile. Sage held up her right arm first as he pulled out a tape measure and began measuring. Shoulder to finger; Wrist to elbow; Shoulder to floor; Knee to armpit, and around her head. He started muttering to himself as he crossed and began taking my measurements.

"Hmm…you two seem to have about the same measurements." Sage looked over at me and smiled sarcastically. Now where had we heard that before? Ollivander retreated back into the depths of the store returning shortly with a couple rectangle boxes in each hand. He set them down and opened one handing the wand to me. He opened another and handed it to Sage. I grasped it awkwardly in my hand feeling only cool wood.

"Well don't just stand there, sillies. Give 'em a wave." I waved my arm feeling foolish, expecting nothing to happen. I was wrong. A bolt of what I could only guess was lightning shot from the tip of the wand and headed straight for Ollivander. He ducked quickly, the bolt striking the wall behind him. I jumped back, taken aback. That wasn't the first magic I had seen today (or ever), but it was the first I had done. It may have gone awry, but it was magic none the less. I set it back down on the counter and stepped away quickly.

"I'm not so sure I wanna try this now," Sage said, gingerly holding the wand.

"It's alright, it's alright," Ollivander coughed standing back up. "It's all necessary. As long as we can find the wand just right for you. That obviously was not it. Now, my dear, you try." Sage eyed the wand wearily and looked at me and Alexa nervously. Alexa nodded, ushering her on. She flicked the wand, blowing up a flowerpot setting on table. It wasn't a loud, epic, Michael Bay explosion. The pot itself shattered, the dirt spreading out over the broken pot leaving the flower lying limp and charred on the dirt.

"It's alright m'dear, it's alright. Perhaps, another wand for you both," Ollivander said with a calm smile. Sage set the wand down nervously as he handed us both another. He gestured to me to carry on. I gripped the wand tight, afraid of what would happen now if this wasn't my wand. I flicked it, causing one of the lanterns to shatter, the flame going out. I sighed and dropped my arm.

"I'm guessing that wasn't my wand," I said, placing it back on the counter. At least I hadn't gone all Zeus on him and shot lightning at anyone.

"No," Ollivander started, "but that wasn't as drastic. We're getting closer. Now you, m'dear." He gestured to Sage again stepping back slightly. She flicked the wand cautiously, expecting something terrible. Instead, the lantern I had shattered repaired itself and the flame sparkled back to life. I opened my mouth in amazement, Sage following my lead. I looked over, Alexa and Ollivander only smiling. Oh right, this isn't either of their first experiences with magic. Alexa having already been at Hogwarts for a year and Ollivander…well who knew how bloody old he was.

"Excellent, excellent. I do believe this is the wand for you," he said, taking it from her to examine it. "Yes. Willow, Essence of Unicorn Mane Hair. Twelve inches. Nice, nice, very nice." Ollivander opened his mouth looking at Sage, as if to say something else, but changed his mind and closed it quickly. He placed the wand in a box lined with dark purple velvet. He wrapped up the box and placed it aside.

"Now, m'dear. I have a good feeling about this one," he said, handing me a third wand. I sighed inwardly, hoping he was right. I hate to admit it, but I was a tad bit jealous that Sage had her wand already. I lifted my arm, waving the wand a third time. This time, some well…magical happened ;). The pot Sage had recently shattered repaired itself, the dirt gathering back inside it. The single charred flower disappeared into the dirt, a small green stem started sprouting in its place. Tons of small flowers started sprouting off from the stem, until it was overloaded with small flowers.

"Beautiful. Well done!" Ollivander said happily, clapping his hands together. He took my wand and examined it as well. "Exquisite. Rosewood. Essence of Unicorn Mane Hair. Twelve inches. Wonderful. Now, if you will, I'll get you checked out and you can go on your merry way." He smiled at us, placing my wand in a similar box and wrapping it up too. We met Phoebe shortly after we had all of our things and drove back home.

~xx~

I didn't know Sage was so excited to go to Hogwarts. Well until she woke up at five am on September 1st. Once she had woken me up she wouldn't let me go back to sleep. She came practically running into my room early that morning, and just kept babbling on and on about what her and Alexa had talked about last year that they hadn't told me. So while she sat on my bed talking non stop I sat behind her and braided her hair. When Piper came to wake us up, she was shocked to find that we had been up for hours already.

Once 10 o'clock rolled around my sisters and I were seated in the back seat of the car. We had to take Piper's catering van so we could fit our trunks and animal cages. Alexa's barn owl, Soren, Dot, and Jersey were all safe and sound in their cages.

Within an hour, the three of us were wheeling carts with our trunks into the station, Piper following behind us. We let Alexa take the lead since she was the only one who'd ever gotten to the Hogwarts Express before. Around us I could see other kids I guessed were about to head off to Hogwarts. They too were wheeling around carts with trunks and caged animals. Some of them wore normal clothes (well for muggles) like my sisters and I, while others wore eccentric robes. A group that stood out most to me as a family of gingers. Four boys, one about my age, a younger daughter, and a mother in the front. They moved further into the crowd ahead until their red hair were only specs.

"What platform is it from again?" I asked Alexa, looking around at the trains.

"9 ¾," Alexa and Sage respond. I blinked a few times wondering if I'd heard them right. I understand this is a wizard school but…come on. Platform 9 and ¾? Couldn't they have enchanted an abandoned part of the station like they do the Leaky Cauldron. Where the heck are we suppose to find Platform 9 ¾? What were we gonna do, run into a wall and hope we got through?

I looked at Platforms nine and ten on either side of us and spotted a flash of brown in front of me. I focused on it and realized it was Alexa running straight at a barrier between platforms nine and ten. I watched her draw nearer and cringed slightly, expecting her to smash into the barrier. Just because that was the first thought that came into my head that didn't mean that's what I really expected to happen! Instead, the barrier seemed to swallow her up.

"Go on, Steph. You're next," Piper said ushering me on. I looked back at her wide-eyed.

"Why do I have to go next?" I asked trying to hide how afraid I'd suddenly become. Who knew if I'd be able to stroll on through the barrier like a pro? What if Alexa had failed to mention some form of spell or incantation she said before nearly smashing into the wall?

"Because I said so," Piper said sarcastically. "Now go before the train leaves without you two."

I stared at the wall in front of me mentally preparing myself. I pushed off the ground with my foot. I started off at a walk and suddenly found myself running towards the wall. I closed my eyes not wanting to see my impending doom in front of me. I pulled back chickening out and opened my eyes to see how close I'd come to the wall. Instead I saw a scarlet steam engine waiting next to a platform packed with people. A sign overhead said 'Hogwarts Express, eleven o'clock'. I moved out-of-the-way so Sage and Piper could come through and saw an iron archway that said Platform Nine and Three Quarters'. I watched as Sage came out behind me only seconds later and then Piper. A weathered old man came up to us, took our trunks, and placed them on the train. Alexa was already out of sight, probably greeting her friends. Sage had already taken off with Dot in her carrier and was walking through the train excitedly.

"I'm gonna miss you. All of you," I said turning to Piper.

"I know," Piper said. "I'm gonna miss it just being the four of us." I laughed quietly, thinking to myself of the quality time with my aunts I would miss.

"Your parents would be proud of you," Piper stated.

"I haven't actually done anything yet," I mumbled, looking back around the station and checking to make sure my grip on Jersey's cage was tight. "I just got accepted to a school."

"A magical school that your mother never went to, but father was alumni to. You're not only going to a new school, you're-"

"Accepting my fate and who I really am, yeah, yeah, yeah, I know," I grumbled again. Ever since I even got that letter, that's what everything had been about. 'Accepting myself and my heritage' and what not. A whistle blew behind me causing me to jump slightly. I looked up at a nearby clock and saw it was a few minutes to 11. I hugged Piper quickly, said my goodbyes, and climbed onto the train. I started searching for an empty compartment as another whistle blew. I'm sure I could have asked to join any number of compartments and be welcomed fairly easily. However, I didn't feel like it would be right to barge in on some upperclassmen reuniting with their friends and make the wrong first impression. I was a first year afterall. I wonder if it has the same taboo as being a freshman in high school? I'll have to ask Sammy in a few years.

At last I found an empty compartment around the middle of the train. I let the door slide shut behind me as I threw my traveling bag up above the seats. I unlatched Jersey's door and let him out, placing his carrier above me also. He stretched his body out before circling a spot on the seat a few times and plopping back down to sleep. A final whistle blew as the train lurched forward.

Is this it? Is this what Alexa had the time of her life with last year and what Sage was so excited about? I was sitting in an empty compartment with my sleeping cat as the English country side flew by outside the window. What if I sat here the entire trip alone? I would feel like the biggest loser in the entire world. Maybe everyone here really does know about my secret and what happened to me. I couldn't have been dubbed the 'freak' before I even stepped foot in the school and opened my mouth. Maybe I should jump off the train and run away. I wonder if the train is magicked up so no one can escape?

A faint knock and the sliding of the compartment door snapped me out of my complaining delusion and back to the reality that was on the train. A small boy was standing in the doorway looking at me.

"Mind if I join you?" he asked pointing to the empty seat in front of me.

"Not at all," I said with a small smile.

"Thanks. I'm Harry, by the way. Harry Potter."

"Stephanie Cradey. We met in Gringotts, didn't we? I was with my two sisters and aunt and you were with the giant. Hagrid, I think," I said as I looked at him. I hadn't recognized him at first. He was actually wearing clothes that were almost the right size for him. They were still at least a size too big.

"Right, we did," he said with a faint smile. "Glad to see someone I recognize."

"You have no idea. It's nice to meet you, again," I said while sticking my hand out. He smiled and shook my hand. As soon as our hands touched I felt a shock of electricity shoot up my arm. It wasn't like a static electricity shock but more like a bolt of energy. It shot its way from my fingertips, up my arm, and down my back, spreading warmth as it did. I made a small face trying to hide my confusion. Better not say anything. It's probably just me. I didn't want Harry to dame me as 'freak' a few seconds after meeting me.

"Did you feel that, too?" Harry asked letting go of my hand slowly.

"Yeah. I thought I was just imagining things," I said looking at him. The door to the compartment slid open again and the youngest ginger kid I saw earlier came in.

"Do you two mind? Everywhere else is full?" he asked pointing to the seat across from Harry and I. The two of us shook our heads welcoming him in. "I'm Ron, by the way. Ron Weasley."

"Stephanie Cradey," I replied.

"I'm Harry Potter." Ron's face changed suddenly, becoming very long. His eyes widened and his mouth opened slightly.

"Have you really got the….the," he stuttered, "the scar?" Harry pulled back his black bangs and revealed a lightning shape scar on his forehead above his right eye. "Wicked."

"So that's really where You-Know-Who -?"

"Yes," said Harry, "but I can't remember it."

"Nothing?" said Ron eagerly.

"Well - I remember a lot of green light, but nothing else."

"What the heck are you two talking about?" I asked. When Alexa had explained things to me about this magical world, she told me of a war that had ended just around our birth. I wasn't exactly sure, and neither was Alexa for that matter, how this boy had caused basically the end to it all. When I heard his name at Gringotts, I hadn't thought much of it. There's must be about a million Harry's in the world and probably at least a hundred in the wizarding world.

"You mean you don't- you've never heard," Ron started staring at me like I was stupid.

"I'm not an idiot. I've heard the stories. I'm just not sure what the big deal it," I replied.

"I've never heard the stories," Harry offered.

"Okay, well I guess we can explain." So Ron started telling me how years ago when all our parents were just teenagers a dark wizard was gaining power. Ron was too afraid to say his name, so instead he wrote it down on a piece of parchment, folded it up and handed it to me. Lord Voldemort, it read. Ron went on to explain how Voldemort, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named your You-Know-Who as Ron kept calling him, was raising an army of dark wizards to take over the wizarding world. Voldemort believed that wizards and witches were given these powers to rule over muggles (non magical people). He would kill people mercilessly if they didn't join him. One faithful night, Halloween almost ten years ago, Voldemort went to the Potter's house and killed his parents. He tried to kill Harry but failed. Voldemort was supposedly destroyed for good; however, some believe he's still out there and will return.

"Are all your family wizards?" Harry asked after a moment of awkward silence, trying to diffuse some of the attention and focus.

"Er-yes, I think so," Ron said. "I think Mum's got a second cousin who's an accountant, but we never talked about him. I heard you went to live with muggles. What are they like?

"Horrible- well, not all of them. My aunt and uncle and cousin are, though. What's your family like, Steph?" Harry asked turning to me.

"Well…I live with my aunt, too. Well, three aunts. Oh, and my two sisters," I started. The compartment had suddenly become silent except for the sounds of the train rolling down the track. I looked up at them to see them both looking at me curiously. I bit the inside of my cheek and looked back down, hoping they'd get the gist of what I was without asking.

"You mean…your parents…?" he asked.

"I never said any thing about my parents. Let's just drop it, okay?" I said heatedly.

"We could talk about something else if you like?" Harry suggested. He and Ron started talking about their own families and lives up to now, leaving me to my silence. My body had suddenly gone numb and all I could feel was a sinking feeling and an ache in my stomach.

After what seemed like hours of talking, in reality it was only one, I realized the sinking feelings had all dispersed. Except the ache I had felt in my stomach. I felt a rumble in my stomach as I placed my hand on my stomach. I hadn't even thought about food or eating on the train and had no idea how long it would take us to get to Hogwarts. Alexa said they had a feast once everyone was settled in and sorted but like I said, who knew how long that would be. As if almost by magic, there was a great clattering outside in the corridor and a smiling, dimpled woman slid back their door and said, "Anything off the trolley, dears?"

Harry lept to his feet in a split second. Ron's ears went pink and muttered something about bringing sandwiches. I pulled my bag down and looked for the little sack of money Piper had given us before we left. I searched frantically for some money, any kind of money. My stomach was starting to rumble louder and I didn't know when I'd eat again. Maybe I could ask Harry for a few candies to sustain me.

Ron stared at Harry as he brought handfuls of candy and tipped it in an empty seat. My mouth started watering as I looked at all the wonderful things he'd bought; Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, Licorice Wands, Acid Pops, and lots more.

"Hungry are you?" Ron asked.

"Starving," Harry said, taking a large bite out of a pumpkin pasty. Ron took out a lumpy package and unwrapped it. There were four sandwiches inside. He pulled one of them apart and said, "She always forgets I don't like corned beef." I scrunched my face at how unappetizing those things looked.

"Swap you for one of these," Harry said holding up a pasty. "Go on, have a pasty. You can have some too if you want." The two of us smiled and started digging in. For once I actually knew what the candies were I was eating. Alexa brought back loads of candy for Christmas holiday.

"What are these?" Harry asked holding up a pack of Chocolate Frogs. "They're not real frogs, are they?"

"No," Ron said. "But see what the card is. I'm missing Agrippa." Ron continued.

"What?"

"Oh, of course, you wouldn't know- Chocolate Frogs have cards inside them, you know, to collect- famous witches and wizards. I've got about five hundred, but I haven't got Agrippa or Ptolemy." Harry handed us each one before unwrapping his.

"So this is Dumbledore!" Harry said looking at his card. I peered over his shoulder so I could get a good look at the card, having never seen Dumbledore myself. The card showed a man's face. He wore half-moon glasses, hand a long, crooked nose, and flowing silver hair, beard, and moustache. Below his picture it read:

Albus Dumbledore

Currently Headmaster of Hogwarts

Considered by many the greatest wizard of modern times, Dumbledore is particularly famous

for his defeat of the Dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses

of dragon's blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel.

Professor Dumbledore enjoys chamber music and tenpin bowling.

I unwrapped my card hoping to add someone new to my small collection Alexa had helped me start. To my dismay I got another Gaius, Merlin's mentor. Ron and I both offered up our cards to Harry so he could start his own collection. There was a small scattering sound coming from Ron's jacket as we tore into some Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.

"This is Scabbers by the way," he said pulling a brown shabby rat from his jacket. "Pathetic, isn't he?" Harry and I looked at he each other and nodded in agreement. "Fred gave me a spell as to turn him yellow. Would you like to see?" Harry and I nodded again.

"A yellow rat would be more interesting," I said stuffing a bean in my mouth. Finally a tasty one finally, mint chocolate chip. He rummaged around in his trunk and pulled out a very battered-looking wand. It was chipped in places and something white was glinting at the end. He cleared this throat and began to raise his wand when the compartment door slid open again. A girly, already dressed in her plain Hogwarts robes, was standing there.

"Have anyone seen a toad? A boy named Neville's lost one," she said. She had a bossy sort of voice, lots of bushy brown hair, and rather large front teeth. The three of us looked at each other and shook our heads no. "Oh, are you doing magic? Let's see it, then."

She sat down next to Ron who looked taken aback.

"Er – alright," he said clearing his throat.

"Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow,

Turn this stupid, fat rat yellow."

He waved his wand, but nothing happened. Scabbers stayed brown and homely looking.

"Are you sure that's a real spell? Well, it's not very good, is it?" the girl said "I've tried a few simple spells just for practice and it's all worked for me. I'm Hermione Granger, by the way. And you three are?"

"Stephanie Cradey," I said.

"Ron Weasley," he muttered.

"I'm Harry. Harry Potter," said Harry.

"Are you really?" Hermione asked. "I know all about you, of course. I got a few extra books for background reading. You're in quite a few of them too."

"I am?" Harry asked dazed.

"Goodness, didn't you know, I'd have found out everything I could if it was me," she continued. You two had better change into your robes. I expect we'll be arriving soon. You can come with me to my compartment and change if you'd like," Hermione said to me. I smiled and agreed starting to get up. I took out my robe and other clothes for my uniform. I followed Hermione out of the compartment saying goodbye to the boys. Before I got too far I picked Jersey up off the seat and cuddled him in my arms, grabbing his carrier as I did.

"This is Jersey, by the way."

"He's adorable," she said petting his tail. "I've always wanted a cat. You said your name was Stephanie, right?" I nodded as we made our way down the train to her compartment. "Do you know what House you'll be in?"

"I honestly have no idea," I replied.

"I've been asking around, and I hope I'm in Gryffindor, it sounds the best by far; I hear Dumbledore himself was in it, but I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad….or Hufflepuff for that matter. (Hufflepuffs are particularly good finders :D. What the hell is a Hufflepuff? I love AVPM!) I guess there have to be some alright people in Slytherin. I'd rather not share a dorm with any of them though." Hermione said almost all in one breath.

"Ravenclaw would be alright. My older sister's in it," I said as we stepped into Hermione's compartment. I changed quickly inside just the train began slowing down before coming to a stop.

A voice echoed through the train: "We have now reached Hogwarts. Please leave your luggage on the train; it will be taken to the school separately." I looked over at Hermione and found a huge smile on her face. I smiled a bit before putting Jersey back into his carrier. People pushed their way toward the door and out on to a tiny, dark platform. I felt a shiver run through me as we stepped into the cold night air. A lamp came bobbing over the heads of the students and a booming voice: "Firs' years! Firs' years over here!"

A big hairy face beamed over the sea of heads. It took me a second to realize it was Hagrid.

"C'mon, follow me- any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!"

Slipping and stumbling, Hermione, myself, and the rest of the first years followed the giant down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. Nobody spoke much as we passed through what I perceived to be thick woods.

"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec jus' round this bend."

There was a loud "Ooooooooooh!" The narrow path had opened suddenly onto the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers.

"No more'n four to a boat!" the giant, whom I came to know as Hagrid, called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. Hermione and I followed Harry and Ron into a boat. "Everyone in? Right then-FORWARD!"

And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. In just minutes we were leaving our little boats and striding up into the great castle. Hagrid directed us up a flight of stone steps and up to a tall, black-haired witch.