"Hurry, Noel! The train leave directly at eleven. It waits for no one," Noel's mother shouted behind her while briskly walking. Noel was tailing closely with her cart. Eliza walked with her mother, holding her hand. Davis walked next to Noel trying to keep up.

"Mum," Noel called ahead. "What platform is the train on?"

Haila fell back to Noel. "Nine and three-quarters," she said in a hushed tone.

"Nine and three-quarters?" Noel asked.

"Yes," her mother replied. "The wizards needed a concealed platform. It helps keep away Muggles with wandering eyes, or Muggles who might accidently get on the wrong train."

"What if a Muggle accidentally somehow gets onto the platform?"

"It hasn't happened that I know of, but I'm sure there are emergency wizards ready. Ah, here we are." Haila had stopped by a barrier between platforms nine and ten. "I'll go first with Eliza, then you and Davis can come through. Just make sure no Muggles are watching."

With that she whispered something in Eliza's ear that made her pale a bit and they started towards the barrier. Noel thought they were going to run into it, but instead they went through.

"Y-you saw that too, right?" Davis pulled on Noel's sleeve. She nodded.

"We'd better go," she said, "the train leaves at eleven."

Davis gripped tightly to Noel's sleeve as they took off. As the barrier got closer and closer, Noel was having her doubts about this, even though she just watched her mother go through. She kept going towards the barrier, though, until she went through.

A scarlet train bellowing smoke, and a crowded platform appeared in from of Noel. The sign said Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. Young witches and wizards bade their parents, or whoever was seeing them off, farewell all around. There was so much noise coming from the train or the people or the animals. So many animals, Noel thought. So much noise from the animals. There were cats and owls and toads meowing and hooting and croaking everywhere. One red-headed boy even had a rat that was squeaking like mad.

Noel and her family walked towards an open spot on the platform to say their good-bye.

"Now," her mother started, "You're sure you want to go? We can put you in a Muggle school no problem."

"Yes, Mother," Noel replied for the hundredth time in the past week. Her mother had been pestering her (most likely not wanting her to leave) about if she didn't want to go, she didn't have to. "I'm sure I want to go."

"I know, I know," said Haila slightly disappointed but still with a proud gleam in her eyes. "It's just, you're only eleven." She looked at Noel harder with tears swelling in her eyes. "Sometimes I forget how big you've gotten and how independent you are. You don't need me anymore. My baby's all grown up."

"Mum, I'll always need you."

Haila hugged her daughter fiercely as though if she let go, the world would come to a stand-still. "Go say good-bye to your brother and sister."

Noel went over to where Davis and Eliza were standing. Eliza immediately wrapped her arms around Noel's waist. She had always been the one for affection.

"I'm gonna miss you, No," Eliza cried.

Noel put her arms around her little sister. "I'll miss you, too," said Noel looking down into Eliza's tear-streaked face. "Don't cry. You still have Davis and Mum to take care of you, right? And I'll be home for Christmas."

Eliza nodded and let go. Noel moved over to Davis and got down to eye-level.

"While I'm gone, can you promise me you'll look after Eliza and Mum?" Noel said in her kindest and most sincere voice. Noel knew Davis wanted to prove himself now that their father was gone, and she was giving him the chance to.

Davis nodded. "I promise." Noel pulled Davis into a quick hug.

"You'll be fine," she reassured, though she couldn't be too certain.

Noel stood up and Haila came over. "Alright, Noel, you'd better get on the train; it's almost eleven."

She quickly hugged her mother one last time before dragging her trunk and Sherlock's cage to the train. She was about to step up when she was almost knocked over by two boys about a year older.

"Out of the way,little firstie," one boy with bright blonde hair shouted back as he ran up the steps and down the train corridor.

"Relax, Martin," his friend called ahead running after him. "We're only second-years."

While Noel wondered what type of person would judge her because of the year she was in, she pulled her things onto the train and found an empty compartment. She took a seat by the window. She looked outside finding her mother still standing there, waiting for the train to leave, but she was looking the opposite direction. Noel wouldn't be able to wave good-bye as the train was already in motion. Soon her mother disappeared in the crowd.

"Bye, Mummy," she said quietly to no one. "You'll be okay."

Noel watched out the window until the platform had completely disappeared from view. She decided the ride would not be best spent day-dreaming, so she got out one of her books and began reading. She flipped to a random page in the middle of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Just as she had commenced reading about the Lethifold, she was interrupted by two second-year boys (not the ones she encountered earlier) bounding into the compartment, followed by a not-as-rude boy.

"Hey, little firstie," the first boy said. There was that name again. "We're gonna sit here. Everything else is taken."

"Uhm," is all Noel could sputter out before the second boy announced his 'thanks'. The two boys sat down opposite each other while the third boy remained standing.

"You know," he said to his friends. "You don't have to be such gits to first-years." He turned to Noel. "Could we please sit here?"

"Of course," Noel responded politely to the kind boy. He sort of tall, but it could have only been perspective since Noel was quite small for her age. His brown hair was slightly spiked giving him an 'I-just-rolled-out-of-bed' look. He wore a permanent half-smile.

He took the window seat across from Noel. "Thanks," he said and he sincerely meant it, too, unlike his moronic friend. He had obviously been covering up his friends' attitudes for the past year by his excessive kindness. "Sorry about my friends. There a bit –"he looked at them trying to find the right word. They were both ragging on people they knew in their loudest voices.

"Boorish?" Noel offered.

"What?" the boy asked confused.

"Boorish," she repeated. "It means unmannered; crude; insensitive; etcetera."

He nodded. "I was gonna say aggressive."

Noel shrugged. "That, too," she replied. "My name's Noel, Noel Miller."

"Jay Vance, second-year Slytherin," the boy stated. "These two also happened to be in Slytherin, my year."

The two turned as if sensing the conversation had turned towards what they considered their most admirable asset.

"Terrance Berkley, Slytherin," said the first one looking smug. He had superior smile like he thought anything about him was absolutely amazing. His hair was buzzed and so was his friend's like they had planned it.

"Grant Archer, also Slytherin," the second one chimed. He was obviously the follower of the two.

The three boys talked for a while swapping summer stories and sharing theories about what might happen this year leaving Noel to her reading. Though she did chime in at times when she felt it necessary, or listen intently about the Wizarding world, or just laugh when she found the ridiculousness of the group to be unbearable. After an hour of this, they decided to really include Noel.

"So," Terrance began. "What are you, Firstie?"

"Pardon?" Noel asked.

"What are you?" he said louder and slower as though he thought Noel was simple-minded. "Pure-blood? Half-blood?" he added when she didn't understand after the insulting repeat.

"Half-blood," said Noel in the same voice Terrance used to belittle her. "My mum is a witch," she paused. " ̶ And Dad's a Muggle," she gritted through her teeth.

The two looked thoroughly pleased with this answer. "At least you're not a Muggle-born," chirped Grant.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means," Terrance informed, "that if you're magical without magical parents, you're basically scum. Luckily Slytherin doesn't accept any of that type. We would lose our reputation of power. The filthy Mudbloods need to stay home and live their petty, little Muggle ways."

"Hey!" Jay shouted.

"Oh, sorry, Vance," Terrance said not sounding at all sorry. "Forgot about your little girlfriend."

"She's not my girlfriend," Jay muttered turning a deep shade of red.

Possibly seeing the confused expression on Noel's face, Grant turned to her to explain. "Vance here fancies this girl. Quite pathetic at hiding it really."

Jay was now crimson. "You two better shut it."

Terrance opened his mouth to rebuttal when the door to the compartment slid open. A first-year girl with bushy hair and big teeth was standing there, already in her robes and behind her stood a timid-looking boy.

"Have any of you seen a toad?" she asked. "A boy named Neville's lost his."

"Get lost you first-year!" exclaimed Terrance which was echoed by Grant.

Noel found this awfully rude for someone who was just looking for some help. "No," she said, "we haven't seen a toad, at least not the kind you're looking for." She finished with a small glare at Terrance.

The boy smiled weakly, but the girl did not look too pleased. "Alright. If you see one just let us know." They continued walking down the train.

"Where's the trolley lady?" Grant asked completely forgetting the girl that was just there a moment ago.

"Good call, Archer," Terrance praised. "Let's go find her." They got up to leave. "You coming, Vance?"

Jay shook his head. "I think I'll just stay here."

"Okay," Terrance responded. He turned to Noel. "Don't you follow us, Firstie," he scolded.

"Why would I waste my valuable energy following a pathetic, spiteful toad like you?" she rebutted.

He left with a final glower, Grant following closely behind.

As soon as the door was shut, Jay burst into laughter. "He's going to hate me later," he said disregarding the fact that Noel was sitting right there.

"What exactly will he hate you for?"

Jay stopped laughing, but kept his smile. "Berkley fancies you. And it's the best blackmail I've got on him. What will our other mates say when they find out Terrance Berkley fancies a girl." He resumed his laughter.

Noel was quite shocked to hear this. "I'm sorry? He fancies me? How do you know? What – Why? How?" She couldn't find the right words to say for once.

"I've known Berkley for a year now," Jay informed. "I've roomed with him and had every class with him. I think I know a little bit on how he works. See, he told me at the beginning of first year, you know before he turned into whatever he is now, a little on how he works. He told me that if he ever fancied someone, he'd probably rag on them, give them a nickname that belittles them, and basically be a huge prat to them because he wouldn't know what else to do."

Noel wanted to find something in there to disprove his theory, but his explanation had almost zero gaps, except that he hadn't been putting her down.

"Well," she started. "We'll just see when he gets back." She looked out the window at the zooming country side. "Why do you hang around them anyway? All they do is put you down."

"They weren't always like that," Jay said suddenly serious. "At first, they were really nice, actually. They included me when no one else did, they comforted me when –," he broke off. "Anyway," he continued, "They were better. But then one day after Christmas holiday, Berkley decided to be a git about something and Archer joined in. Apparently he liked it and kept going."

Noel shook her head. "Terrible he is. Though Grant just seems a bit dim."

"Just a bit," Jay agreed.

Noel let out a small laugh.

"So," Jay said, "half-blood, eh? How'd your dad react when your mum told him? Or have you not heard that story yet?"

Noel deflated. "Um, Mum had managed to keep it a secret until I got my letter. That day was…" she paused, "exciting."

"What was his reaction?"

"Um."

Luckily for Noel, at that moment, Terrance and Grant ran into the compartment. "Vance," Terrance said, "Simmons and Wright are up a ways by themselves. Come on, we're going to sit with them."

"I was talking to Noel," Jay said.

"It's alright," Noel returned.

"You sure? It would be awfully rude to leave you alone."

"I'm fine. I can always read." But the truth was that Noel was enjoying Jay's company.

"Okay," he said getting up. "I'll see you later, then." He added a small wave.

Terrance rolled his eyes. "Hopefully I won't see you, Firstie." He left closely followed by Grant.

Jay turned to give Noel a quick 'I-told-you-so' look before departing.

Once again Noel was alone with her books. A screech startled her. She had completely forgotten about Sherlock. He had been so quiet while the boys had been there. She stood to retrieve him from the storage shelf, but she had to stand on the seat to be tall enough. She set his cage on the seat next to her.

"You doing okay in there?" she asked. Sherlock hooted affectionately. Noel smiled, "I knew you were a good boy. Just a while longer."

Noel got out her books and continued to read for the duration of the trip. She at some point changed into her robes. The train pulled into the Hogsmeade station and she pulled her things off the train along with the other students.

"Firs' years," called a voice. Noel turned to find the source and saw the largest man she had ever seen. He was twice the size of a normal human. "Firs' years over here!" he continued to call.

"Hey," someone said behind Noel. She turned to find Jay.

"Hey," she said in return.

"Just wanted to wish you luck for the sorting."

"Thanks."

"C'mon, follow me," the large man shouted. "Anymore firs' years?"

"I have to go," Noel said.

"Right," Jay responded. "See you."

"See you," she called over her shoulder catching up with the group of first years. They had begun down a slippery path. It was dark and nobody spoke much.

"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," the man said to the first years. "Jus' round this bend here."

There was a collective amazement among the crowd.

The path they had been on opened to a wide lake. Sitting on top of a high mountain on the opposite side of the lake was the most marvelous looking castle Noel had ever seen.

"No more'n four to a boat!" the man instructed, pointing to a group of boats sitting in the water.

Everyone began grouping off and Noel was left standing awkwardly trying to find an open seat.

"Noel," said a voice. She turned to find the boy she met in Diagon Alley, Michael, beckoning her towards his boat. He still had an empty seat.

"Nice seeing you again," Noel said getting into the boat.

"Everyone in?" called the man, who was sitting in a boat to himself. "Right then – FORWARD!"

The boats took off from the shore across the lake. Everyone was silent, watching and admiring the looming castle overhead.

"Heads down!" shouted the man as the first boats reached the cliff. The boats carried them down a long, dark tunnel that took them straight underneath the castle. They reached an underground harbor and clambered out onto shore.

"Oy, you there! Is this your toad?" the man said while checking boats.

"Trevor!" cried a boy holding out his hands. It was the same boy who had been looking for his toad earlier.

The first years climbed up a passageway in the rock following the man until they had finally come out onto the damp grass in front of the castle. They went up some stone steps to a giant wooden door.

"Everyone here?" asked the man. "You there, still got your toad?"

The man knocked three times on the door.

A/N: Okay, so I'm terrible. I promised this chapter to be due a week ago. I'm just terrible. I promise to be faster with my chapters from now on.

My first bit taken from the books so at the end there really wasn't much more I could add. But that's going to happen so I guess we'll all have to get used to it now that Noel's at Hogwarts.

Hope you liked it! Remember to review and follow, please!