Day 21:

I rose from my bed bright and early, excited for the day ahead. The sun streamed through my window. I looked at the clock hanging over my dresser as I rested on my elbows. Eight o'clock. More than enough time to have a nice breakfast before going to the train. Which I'd have to ask someone how to get to. Hopefully whatever method of transportation was necessary didn't cost money given that I didn't have any.

My nightgown slipped over my head easily and I rooted through my trunk for an applicable outfit for today. Something that made a good impression but wasn't too pretentious. Ah, I found just the thing. A nice light blue dress, a little looser than the one yesterday, but not casual enough to make me look like a complete slob. I considered wearing my Hogwarts robes since that seemed like what wizards wore most of the time. In the end they seemed too stuffy, and besides, wearing the uniform onto the train would probably seem weird. I still didn't know what a train was anyway.

Later at breakfast, the fingers on my right hand drummed rapidly on the table as I ate with my left. I didn't want to settle down today. Just keep moving. When I'd finished some type of porridge I waved to Tom, the innkeeper. When he finished his conversation with the person in front of him he came over to where I sat.

"I was, uh, wondering how to get to the Hogwarts Express," I said rapidly, somewhat nervous.

Tom pulled a chair out and sat down next to me.

"Oh, there's no need to be worried. Most people go with their parents, but there are arrangements to get there from here for unusual cases, like yours. You'll just use the Floo like yesterday. Sound good?"

I nodded, relieved. That didn't seem too hard.

He patted me on the shoulder and stood up. "Good. You've been a good guest, much more mature than your age. Quite independent."

Basking in the praise, I smiled at him and stood up myself, done with breakfast. Now I had some time to waste before heading to the train.

I made my way back up to my room. There wasn't much else to do here and I didn't think I had enough time to go back to Diagon Alley. At least not enough time to do anything interesting there.

I thought I'd might as well read my textbooks, so I wasn't completely clueless the first day of school. From a cursory examination of the covers the transfiguration one seemed the most intriguing, turning one thing into another. I could almost do that with my ice magic. Which lead my thoughts back to brooding about the lack of an elemental magic textbook. Something seemed strange, unless they'd been lying when they'd said they taught it, which would really piss me off.

Oh well, I'd figure that out today or tomorrow. For now it was transfiguration time.

The basic theory behind transfiguration was completely mental. You had to be good at visualization and focus to succeed in the subject, since a single moment of relaxation or stray thought could completely mess up whatever you were transfiguring. Unlike charms, which relied more on precision and memorization of spells, in transfiguration you actually had to think. You could know and have practiced the wand movements and vocalization until you could do them perfectly, but without the right focus and concentration nothing would happen. On second thought, I didn't think I'd be that good at transfiguration. I could do things well, but focus wasn't my forte. Though the discipline of transfiguration often required wand movements and audible recitations, spells, the most important aspect was the duality of Form and Essence. Essence was described as an object or being's inherent qualities and natural state. Transfiguration changed the function and appearance of the object, the Form, but left the Essence untouched. I imagined an Essence as some list of traits, invisible and immutable, while the Form was the other list that could be accessed. This duality ensured that objects could always be changed back into their original form, and the most basic transfigurations did in fact change back on their own.

What the textbook failed to explain was any of the why behind this duality. I didn't understand how inanimate, unintelligent objects could have some sort of memory of their original form. The textbook said objects would transfigure back even if the caster of the reversal spell didn't know the original Form. That made no sense to me.

But I had to take it at face value, for now. Textbooks generally told the truth after all. Theories didn't just come from nowhere.

I continued reading. The theoretical aspect was dry at times but seemed important to actual transfiguration. Just as I was getting to the first spells, small things like a matchstick to a needle, I glanced up at the clock. Ten-twenty.

Probably time to go. My trunks would be a pain to lug down the stairs. I thought Tom or someone else had magic'ed them up here last time, so I went to find him.

Tom stood behind his desk reading a newspaper. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised at this point when the pictures on the front moved, but I still flinched as a politician in the picture waved to me.

A light laugh let me know that he'd noticed me but wasn't making fun of me.

"Ah yes, time to leave, right?" he asked, smiling.

"Yes. Do you think you could bring my trunks down?"

"Of course," he said. He moved out from behind the counter and waved his wand while muttering under his breath. I tried to focus on the particular pattern his wand made but I didn't catch nearly enough to attempt to replicate it.

My trunks appeared in front of me with a 'pop'. I felt through my pocket to make sure I had my train ticket, then turned back to Tom. He led the way to the fireplace.

At this point I got the jitters. I was about to meet my new classmates. A ton of strangers and maybe their families. I had a right to be nervous. Unfortunately it wasn't the best thing for my magic, the ice. I felt frost forming on my fingertips, a tingly sensation running up and down my arms. Ice in my veins, maybe literally. The urge inside me built up. I couldn't calm down quick enough to prevent any ice from escaping, but maybe…

I scrambled, searching in the smaller of my two trunks for my wand. Thankfully I'd placed it near the top. As Tom focused on lighting the fire and sending my trunks through, I pointed my wand at the ground, thinking about a fine mist of ice crystals coming out of my wand. My hand grew cold as the cold crept down the length of my wand. I tried to keep my hand from shaking, knowing it wasn't helping my control at all.

Finally I heard a soft 'pssh' and looked down, only now realizing I'd had my eyes closed for the past few seconds. Four or five seconds elapsed with spray coming out the end of the wand. A puddle formed on the ground under me.

I breathed easier, the tension in me mostly gone. Like a pressurized valve that had finally been opened.

Tom turned around, fire finally lit, and with another mumble levitated my trunks close to the fire.

The strain showed on his face as he turned to me.

"Could you do the Floo powder please?"

I hurried to grab a handful from the can on top of the mantle and threw it in the fireplace, remembering at the last second my train ticket said something about a platform.

"Platform Nine and Three Quarters!" I called out.

The fire flared green and I jumped out of the way, letting Tom levitate the trunks into the flames. I waved bye to him then leaped in myself. Hogwarts here I come.

My eardrums were assaulted by the noise as I tumbled out of the fireplace at Platform 9 and ¾. People chattered to their family members while their animals squeaked and squealed. Everyone moved so purposefully, yet the situation was still chaotic. I pulled my trunks to the side of the fireplace so that if anyone else came out they wouldn't knock into them.

The train – finally, that's what it is – gleamed red, split into rectangular blocks. Windows on the sides. It appeared we'd be in those for the duration of the journey. Not so much different from a huge carriage, except I had no idea how it moved.

I briefly considered dragging my trunks to the train but dismissed the idea as ludicrous. They didn't have any wheels or anything. How was I supposed to get them there?

A weird contortion of metal sat a few feet away from me, wheels on the bottom of it. I looked around nervously, hoping no one spotted me appropriating it for my personal use.

As I walked towards it a nudge in my side startled me. I whirled in that direction. A boy with red hair and an immense amount of freckles stood there, smiling playfully at me.

"It's okay, the trolley doesn't bite. You can take it. That's what they're for. I'm Ron Weasley by the way."

"Elsa," I said, curtseying.

He raised his eyebrows. "What'd you do that for?"

Well this kid definitely wasn't well-bred like Draco.

"To be polite," I responded, turning away from him and reaching for the trolley.

A hand laid on my shoulder caused me to stop once again.

"Look," I said firmly, "did you just want to introduce yourself and start a conversation? I'm fine with that but I'd rather do it on the train after I've loaded my luggage. By the way, do you know where I'm supposed to put my trunks?"

Ron quickly retracted his arm. "I was just trying to be nice. But I can show you where to go. Follow me."

I struggled, heaving my trunks onto the trolley with difficulty. Ron didn't offer to help. He stood watching me, arms folded over his chest. Probably a bit peeved at me for being snappy with him. Thankfully I didn't need to make friends with everyone I met.

Ron led the way to the front of the train, the carriage right behind the giant red thing belching steam in front. Maybe it was like a heat vent of some kind. Though it looked to be elevated off the ground. Huh. Magic was as good an explanation as any.

"Right here," Ron explained. "If you want your robes and books or anything you can take a trunk on the train but you can leave them both here too if you want. Well actually you need your robes so I'd at least take them out."

I planned to be talking with Draco, Harry, and anyone else I met as well as trying out the transfiguration I'd read about in the book. No reading or anything else. I didn't need my trunks.

I opened the smaller one up and removed one of my many school robes. After shutting my trunk, I held my robe under my arm and gestured for Ron to grab the other side of my trunk. We heaved and loaded it into the compartment then did the same with the other trunk. I stepped back, pleased with our work.

Ron was beaming at me, inordinately pleased with what we'd just accomplished. I mentally rolled my eyes. Seemed like a certain red head was either a bit thick or had a crush on me. Hopefully he'd get over it soon because I definitely didn't like him back. He seemed okay as a friend, except for maybe being a little stupid, but I didn't think I could stand to be around him too much. Harry and Draco on the other hand… well it would be stupid to decide my feelings now. I barely knew them.

"I'm going to find a seat now," I said, walking away from Ron.

He hurried after me. "I'll come with you."

I sighed and picked up my pace.

Draco seemed like he'd be the type to arrive early to get his choice of seats so I assumed he was already on the train. I clambered onto the train at the first entrance, determined to search the train from front to back for Draco.

An aisle ran down the center of the carriages. Sliding doors on the right and left led into cabins. Thankfully I didn't have to open each and every cabin door as windows featured prominently on the interior walls of the cabins. Probably for this exact purpose.

People occupied few of the cabins as I passed them, examining each one for Draco or Harry. Mostly people dressed in normal clothes though a few had robes on. The school robes people wore all had a badge on the chest, one of four different variations it seemed. My mind flashed back to my Hogwarts letter and I idly wondered what the different sigils signified.

I was almost to the point of despairing of ever finding Draco when I peeked into the second to last cabin on the train. My heart leapt as I saw him sitting in between two very large boys. I opened the cabin door with a flourish, catching Ron still lurking behind me out of the corner of my eye.

"Hey Draco!" I said cheerily.

As Draco stood up the two other boys looked at him, puzzled.

"Uh, boss, who is this?" the one on the right asked.

"This is Elsa, and you shall be nice to her," Draco said sternly. He turned to me. "And hey Elsa."

I moved into the cabin and laid my robes down on the seat.

"So who are your two bodyguards?"

Draco looked at them appraisingly. "I've hung out with them since I was little. My dad's, uh, a business associate of their fathers. Most loyal 'friends' I've ever had." He chuckled a little, as if he'd made a joke.

The boys a little annoying, just hulking there, but there'd been guards back at the palace too and all you could do was ignore them. Presumably they were people with feelings and emotions. Not that you could tell by the blank expressions on their faces.

"Huh, okay," I said. "Could I bring a guest in? He's been following me since he helped me with my bags."

Draco nodded warily. I turned towards the door. It opened and Ron entered, clearly nervous. He must have been eavesdropping.

Ron's and Draco's faces formed into almost identical scowls the instant they saw each other. Ron flushed red and clenched his fists, anger bubbling to the surface, while Draco gritted his teeth, a much more reserved expression of emotion.

I stepped back almost unconsciously, not wanting to be caught between them. Why did they hate each other though? They shouldn't even know one another. Their emotion shocked me, which is probably what kept me from intervening.

Draco spoke first, his voice more composed than his appearance. "Red hair, unkempt appearance, freckles? Must be a Weasley."

"Blond hair and a wand stuck up his arse?" Ron retorted. "Must be a Malfoy."

"Your family of breeders is the reason the Wizarding world is the way it is. A family of lazy dreamers with no true drive."

Ron took a step forward, glowering. "I would think you'd want us Purebloods to have as many kids as possible, you blood-prejudiced git."

Draco raised an eyebrow. "And just like that, the peasant shows he knows nothing about the current political landscape. Typical."

"At least I know my mom's not a whore. Though you do keep a close eye on your mom whenever she's naked."

"Oh, that does it." Draco raised his voice, preliminary insults clearly over. "Crabbe, Goyle, get him."

The two bulky boys stood up menacingly, cracking their knuckles. I was frozen in my corner of the cabin. Normally my ice magic would be flaring up at a moment like this but I guessed the exertion this morning had worn it out. I had no way to intervene besides talking. And I had no idea what to say anyway.

Thankfully for all of us, Harry Potter had impeccable timing.

As Crabbe and Goyle advanced on Ron, who now appeared somewhat scared, the door of the cabin slid open slowly. I noticed it but everyone else was too focused on the impending fight. Harry appeared, taking in the scene. He frowned.

"Guys?" he asked, still standing in the entryway. "What's going on?"

Everyone froze, including Crabbe and Goyle. Draco had the good grace to look embarrassed and made a subtle hand signal to his two henchmen. They stepped back moved to flank him once again.

Ron on the other hand spun around, his facial expression transforming from one of fear to one of excitement.

"You're Harry Potter, right? I can tell by the lightning bolt scar. Wow. This is… wow."

Harry looked disconcerted at Ron's reaction. Still not used to the public eye it seemed.

Draco turned his most haughty gaze on Ron. "Harry doesn't want to be accosted by the likes of you. Could you please leave? We don't associate with plebeians."

"I don't need you to defend me," Harry said, the lack of volume in his voice belying his seriousness. "I can speak for myself."

Draco nodded in acceptance but stuck out his tongue at Harry when his back was turned. I stifled laughter. Guess the aristocrat couldn't keep his composure all the time.

"You don't need to leave," Harry said to Ron. "You can stay. Now everyone calm down."

We all sat down. Ron, Harry, and I were on one side with Draco and his two stooges on the other.

Draco crossed his arms, unable to keep from looking like a scorned lover. Ron alternated between glaring at Draco and looking admiringly at Harry. Harry fidgeted with the edge of his shirt, seemingly still bothered by the tension in the room.

I didn't like Draco's anger. Or Ron's for that matter, but Draco was my friend. I didn't like that feeling of helplessness as Crabbe and Goyle approached Ron. He'd looked like he was about to piss his pants. I don't know why I didn't do anything. I shouldn't need Harry to stand up and stop the fight about to break out when all it took was a few words. I could do it on my own, and I would. Next time.

My heart still beat somewhat faster than normal but I felt calm enough to speak again. The room needed a distraction. I realized I had no idea why Harry Potter was special.

I cleared my throat. "Can I ask a question?"

Harry and Ron nodded their assent while Draco at least didn't object. He still hadn't looked up since Harry had rebuked him.

"Why is Harry famous?"

Though Harry didn't seem to normally like attention, he smiled at me in thanks for starting up a conversation, for reducing the underlying animosity.

Ron gave me the run-down on You-Know-Who and his followers, Harry's parents, and the killing curse lightning bolt scar night. Draco chimed in occasionally. I noticed his comments had a slightly more sympathetic to You-Know-Who bent, which probably came from his family's political leanings. Unless Draco was actually a psychopath who liked murdering people and admired You-Know-Who for his violent tendencies, but that seemed unlikely.

I didn't even notice the train start moving, but when Ron reached an appropriate stopping point I glanced out the window and saw the ground whizzing past. The ride was smooth, unlike a horse-drawn carriage on a cobbled or dirt road. Strange. Well until proven otherwise I'd assume the train moved because of magic.

The cabin door opened again as Ron finished describing the aftermath of You-Know-Who's downfall.

A bushy haired girl and a meek looking boy stood in the doorway.

"Excuse me? Have you seen a toad?" the bushy haired girl asked.

When none of us responded she continued, "Only, Neville's lost one and we need to find it. I'm Hermione Granger by the way, and my parents are dentists. I'm the first one with magic in my family that I know of, so I'm so excited to be going to Hogwarts. Anyway, have you seen the toad?"

I looked to the other people in the room. None of them spoke up about a toad.

Instead, Draco said, "I just thought of something."

"Yes?" Hermione planted her hands on her hips impatiently.

Draco smirked. "If I had a toad I'd make sure to lose it as soon as I could."

While the boy I presumed to be Neville seemed to be on the verge of tears, Crabbe and Goyle broke out in loud guffaws at Draco's joke. Ron seemed torn between laughing and not wanting to join Draco in anything.

The jab at toads was funny but mean. I suppressed my laughter by looking at Neville and seeing how sad he was. Draco could be a jerk sometimes.

"Now really," Hermione scolded Draco, "this is Neville's pet. I understand if you don't want to help but this is cruel and unnecessary. Really. I have half a mind to report you to the prefects right now."

Draco's lips turned down, the mirth of moments ago gone. "What would a Mudblood like you know? Neville deserves a real pet, one befitting the scion and heir of the House of Longbottom. Something worthy of the name." He looked towards Neville. "Isn't that right?"

Neville wilted under the scrutiny, sniffling a few times. I felt bad for him.

"Draco, stop," I said quietly.

He looked at me disdainfully before softening his expression. I think Harry's glare from next to me may have helped bring about his change of heart.

Draco took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and said, "I formally apologize for the insult, Miss Granger. My taunts were unnecessary and my language uncouth and completely unbecoming of a member of respectable society." He looked towards us as if to say, 'Good enough?'

I gestured for him to continue and Harry nodded firmly beside me.

Draco rolled his eyes and grimaced. "And I'll help find Neville's toad, though I'd rather just buy him a more suitable pet."

Hermione pursed her lips, thinking. "I accept your apology, but I really think you should get over your prejudice before classes start. It wouldn't do your sense of self-worth much good to be bested by a Mudblood, would it? And I decline your offer of help, we are fine on our own thank you very much. Good day to you all."

And with that, she stepped back and shut the cabin door, presumably off to continue the search for the toad with Neville.

After a few seconds of silence during which we all stared at the door Draco turned his most furious glare on Harry and I.

"Why the hell did you make me apologize to her? That was absolutely humiliating. Just imagine if she tells all of Slytherin about that. I'll never live it down. I have half a mind to kick you out of this cabin now."

"First of all," I started, trying not to sound too angry, "everything Hermione said was right." Draco made as if to interrupt but I held up a hand. "Yes, even the part where she said she'd beat you in every class and you'd feel bad about yourself. She seemed pretty smart, if a bit of a know-it-all.

"Secondly, and more importantly, you called her a Mudblood. I'm just guessing, but I don't think that's an okay thing to say. And by saying it to her, since I'm Muggleborn as well, it's like you said it to me. So if anything I should be the one threatening to leave."

I took a deep breath, glad to have gotten that out. Draco seemed like he'd be a good friend and we had a lot in common so I didn't really want to leave, but he couldn't just act like that.

Draco thankfully calmed himself before speaking. He glanced towards Harry, then began. "Hermione wasn't right. Muggleborns, including you, have the disadvantage of having to adapt to a new society. So she and you don't know about our customs or anything, including suitable pets. Really. That's all I was referring to. I'm not bigoted against Muggleborns or anything. I just recognize that they have to learn basics about magic and Wizarding that everyone else has learned years ago. And Hermione was being a bloody stuck-up nerd. Acting like she's all superior."

I thought Draco seemed like he was being honest, but I looked to Harry for affirmation that we could collectively accept Draco's explanation. While I wanted to be friends with Draco I could see that Harry was the one he was trying to impress, so to speak. The one that dictated Draco's behavior.

"Okay." Harry sighed. "Let's just forget it ever happened. You don't like Hermione. And we're still friends."

Draco grinned as if he'd just won an argument and nodded in acceptance. We all sat back down, I personally glad the drama was over. First Ron and Draco almost coming to blows then Draco and Hermione mutually antagonizing each other. Which reminded me that Ron was still in the room.

Ron seemed to be a funny guy. Not funny in the hilarious sense, but funny as in strange. He clearly idolized Harry Potter, given the glances he kept throwing at him and how much he knew about him. He came from a family with a lot of kids, judging by Draco's comments. His family didn't like the Malfoys. But Ron himself didn't have that much of a personality that I could tell.

All four of us, or six if you count Crabbe and Goyle, sat there immersed in our own thoughts. Not that I thought Crabbe and Goyle could really think. I became bored after a few minutes of thinking about my new friends, given that I didn't actually know much about them. Or even whether they'd be friends in the long run. I decided to rectify that, the lack of knowledge about them.

"Let's play a game," I said.

"What game?" Ron asked, curious.

"We each get to ask one question to another person, who then asks a question of another person, on and on until we get bored," I explained.

"So it's to find out information about other people?" Draco asked. "I like it."

"Well I was going to say to get to know each other better, but basically, yeah."

"Are you going to play?" Draco asked Harry.

"I'd rather just watch you guys," Harry said.

"Come on, it'll be fun," I urged him.

He saw all of us smiling, acting various degrees of welcoming, and sighed. "Okay, I guess I'll play."

"So what House do you want to be in?" Ron asked Harry.

Harry furrowed his brows. "What are Houses?"

Ron sat up straighter, prepping himself for a long-winded explanation. Before he began, he asked me, "Is it okay if I explain? That doesn't ruin the game or anything right?"

"No," I replied, "It's fine. Go ahead."

"So," Ron said, "there are four Houses in Hogwarts. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each of them has something different about them. When we get to Hogwarts we'll be Sorted into one somehow." He paused, frowning. "My brothers wouldn't tell me exactly how but it doesn't matter that much. So Gryffindor's the House my whole family's been in. I want to be there too. They're brave, the heroes. Courageous and valiant too. Then there's Hufflepuff. They say they're the hard workers but really they're the people without enough personality to go anywhere else. You really don't want to be there. Then Ravenclaw's the nerds and Slytherin is the evil people."

"No they're not!" Draco exclaimed, throwing his arms up. He straightened out his robes, recovering his composure, then elaborated. "Though many of Voldemort's followers were in Slytherin, that doesn't mean all Slytherins are evil. They're just the rivals of Gryffindor, and Weasley's bias for Gryffindor is as obvious as the fact that the Chudley Cannons will finish at the bottom of the Quidditch league this season."

Ron seemed put out by Draco's comments, though his frown only appeared when Draco had mentioned the Chudley Cannons, whatever they were.

Draco continued, "Slytherin is actually the home of those with ambition, with sophistication, though those in it have been known to do... ah, whatever they need to to get what they want. I personally am going to be in Slytherin."

"Malfoy's clearly biased too," Ron added. "Just saying."

Draco rolled his eyes at Ron but didn't respond to the comment.

We continued the question game for some time more, though Harry never did answer what House he wanted to be in. After that Ron left to go find his siblings who had his robes, while I removed myself from the cabin temporarily so Harry and Draco could change more comfortably. I also didn't have any eagerness to see them in their underwear. After they finished they vacated the room so I could change. I took off my clothes and threw on the robes and hat, glad I didn't have a mirror to look at myself. I knew I'd look ridiculous. Which didn't matter too much, since everyone else would be wearing the same thing. So the joke's on them, those ridiculous wizards.

Author's Note: Hey readers! This is my first author's note on this story, and I don't want to make a point of writing them. Every few chapters or so is enough, depending on how often I post chapters. First I'd like to thank everyone who has read this far. Thank you all! Reviews, follows, and favorites are definitely appreciated. This is the longest chapter so far, though still not of too considerable a length. I simply want to update often as the story starts out and plot gets going, so I cut off the chapter here instead of including her first impressions of Hogwarts, the Sorting, and the introduction to her House. By the way, any guesses on what Elsa's House is going to be? Leave your ideas in reviews.