A/n Well this is a quicker update than the last so at least there's improvement! Thank you to everyone who reviewed/added me to their story alert it's really kind of you.


Hugo and I were happily chatting away as the train rushed on to Hogwarts. It felt so right to be sitting there laughing, joking. Everything was going swimmingly for about half an hour; however, this precious time soon ended when there was a sudden knock on the door of our compartment. Hugo and I both froze having no idea what to do. Luckily I had thrown the invisibility cloak on just in time before the door was slid slowly open and the head of a nervous looking boy appeared.

"Um…hi," he said, "would you mind if join you? It's just I don't know anyone and everywhere else seems to be full."

Hugo, being the kind and lovely person that he is, replied, "yeah sure, sit down," gesturing to the seat opposite him (I had luckily anticipated this gesture of Hugo's and had quickly moved to sit on the same side of the compartment as Hugo so the boy didn't sit on top of me).

"Thanks." The boy said as he sat down tentatively. After a short and awkward pause he asked, "So what's your name?"

"Hugo", Hugo responded. I didn't miss the fact that he neglected to mention his surname. "You?"

"Adam, Adam Sandhurst. I have to say I'm really quite nervous about going to Hogwarts. My parents aren't magical so I barely know anything about being a wizard. I guess I should have read some stuff but reading's not really my thing. I hope I'm not too far behind everyone else. Are you from a wizard family?"

"Yeah, my Dad's from quite an old magical family but my Mum's like you, she didn't have any magical relatives, until she married Dad of course! And don't worry about being behind my Uncle Harry knew barely anything before coming to Hogwarts and he said it didn't really make a difference."

And so the conversation between the two boys continued. They obviously got on really well and were soon chatting animatedly about quidditch, lessons and just the magical world in general. Hugo seemed to have forgotten I was even there. I mean I knew it was good that he was making friends (his meeting with Adam reminded me irresistibly of Uncle Ron and Dad's first train ride together) but I was still kind of miffed that I had been so quickly abandoned. Couldn't he have got rid of Adam and talked to him later? But then I could have just not put the cloak on and joined in and not told Adam that I wasn't supposed to be there. However, as I hadn't done that I couldn't very well suddenly whip the cloak off now and reveal myself!

So anyway the result of my rash, panicked decision to throw the cloak on was that I was stuck sitting there trying to remain silent for the rest of the journey. Luckily, the train was so noisy that Adam couldn't hear me; however, it did mean that the one and only phase of my plan had been pretty much ruined. It did give me time to think though about what I was going to do when we reached the station. Deciding that the best plan was just to make things up as I went along all I could do was sit and wait.

At one point Adam went to the bathroom which gave me a quick moment to grab some of the food as my tummy was beginning to rumble so loudly I was sure I would be found out. As soon as the door had shut behind Adam, Hugo whispered,

"I'm sorry Lily, but I could hardly tell the guy to shove off."

"Yeah well I can't say I terrifically happy about it Hugo but it's not like we planned this little trip together, I did kind of just surprise you with it…"

"That is probably the understatement of the century."

"Thank you Hugo for that useful and insightful comment."

"No problem, now what are you going to do when we arrive? We're nearly there I think."

"Not sure, can you try and get to the back of the first years queue cause that will make it easier for me to tag along if you're at the front or in the middle people will jostle me?"

"Alright. You better get back under the cloak Adam will be back soon."

And sure enough, as if on cue, Adam slid open the door about 2 seconds later. The only other visitors on the trip were Rose and Albus who just wanted to quickly check up on Hugo and make sure he was doing alright. They were introduced to Adam but soon left after they realised Hugo was doing fine.

Their arrival though did prompt a massive discussion about families between Hugo and Adam who each found the other's fascinating. At this point Hugo did explain about Uncle Ron, Aunt Hermione and Dad being famous and the rest of the family being well known too as it was now obvious that Adam would not react stupidly or become star struck. And of course Hugo didn't tell Adam about the family in a way that sounded as if he was showing off. In fact it didn't change the flow of their conversation at all which I was quite pleased about as I thought Adam seemed like a good guy and that he would be a good friend for Hugo to have.

As Hugo had said we did soon arrive at Hogsmede station; however, the journey had been very long and very dull (well ok that was only for me).

After everyone had got off the train (Hugo delaying nicely so we'd be at the back of the first years) we all followed Hagrid, trundling down the path to the lake where the fleet of boats sat waiting. Luckily for me there were only 3 in the last boat – Hugo, Adam and a girl with a very pointed face – and so there was room for me to squeeze in too. When we rounded the corner and saw Hogwarts for the first time I nearly cried. It was stunning, even more incredible than I had imagined. With the turrets, towers, windows, all towering above us it just looked so - there's no other word for it – magical. Magic just seemed to ooze out of every pore and I felt like I was almost losing magic all over again as I saw the place I was supposed to have but would never live in. However, I pulled myself together and just tried to enjoy the time I would be spending there.

Upon arrival at the castle we were met by Professor Longbottom (Neville of course) and he ushered us into a side chamber to quickly prep us before we would enter the Great Hall. I could feel the nervous tension in the room as people wondered what the sorting process was going to be. Adam was positively green and I could hear Hugo trying to calm him down. As Neville explained the house system I felt another twinge of unhappiness and began to wonder why I had put myself through this pain. There was not really a satisfactory answer to this other than "I just wanted to know what would have happened" so I had to settle with that.

Finally we were shown in to the Great Hall and just like seeing Hogwarts another wave of depression hit me. It too was beautiful. I loved the enchanted ceiling and the floating candles and the house camaraderie was almost tangible. As the sorting began I just looked and looked around the Hall drinking in everything I could.

When Adam's name was called I of course paused to watch his sorting. He didn't look as nervous as he had in the ante-chamber before he walked up to the stool probably out of relief that the sorting was neither scary nor dangerous as he'd probably imagined. There was a pause of silence as the hat decided but then it yelled, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Hugo clapped loudly and cheered for his friend. I knew he was now even more determined to be in the house himself. When it was eventually Hugo's turn I quickly stretched out and squeezed his hand just before he walked up. I could easily imagine the conversation going on.

"Ah, the last of the current Weasleys. Branched out recently haven't you? There are some of you in all the houses now so where will you fit in young Hugo? Mmmm…I'm definitely between two. You're incredibly loyal and kind so maybe Hufflepuff? But then you're willing to stand up for your friends and defend them so maybe it should be Gryffindor?"

"Gryffindor, please Gryffindor. I know how much Dad wants me to be in Gryffindor."

"I can't purely go on what your father wants and maybe this loyalty proves you should be in Hufflepuff?"

"NO! I want to be in Gryffindor, I do, really."

"Ok, you seem pretty sure, I guess you'll forever be a GRYFFINDOR!"

A grin appeared on Hugo's face as soon as the hat yelled his house and he ran over to sit with Adam as Fred, Roxanne, James and Albus, the current family Gryffindors, all cheered. I could see Rose at the Ravenclaw table and Louis and Lucy at the Hufflepuff one were all loudly clapping too.

Suddenly I felt very out of things. I could hardly go and sit next to Hugo as there was someone on both sides of him. So where could I go? All I could do was just stand there in the entrance to the Great Hall watching everyone enjoy the food and have an amazing time. Then it suddenly became too much. I knew that I couldn't do it anymore.

I was done with being at Hogwarts, I wanted to leave, I needed to leave. If I didn't get out soon I would hyperventilate. I felt wretched. I had no magical ability, I didn't belong here. I was being selfish when I had got on the train, reckless, completely self-centered. What good had it done me seeing Hogwarts, experiencing all this? What help had it been? I suddenly realised what a complete waste of time it was. What I needed to do was to stop and think how lucky I was, what I have. I have an amazing family, a scholarship to one of the most prestigious schools in the country and I'm loved more than one person really deserves to be. I knew now what I had to do.

I waited until the feast was over then followed the Gryffindors up to their tower. Once inside I made my way up the boys' staircase, found the dorm I was looking for, took off the cloak and waited. Eventually James and Fred fell through the door laughing as usual; however, as soon as they saw me they stopped laughing and just gaped.

I could see the anger bubbling up inside James as he stared at me and eventually he shouted,

"LILY WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?"

"I came on the train."

"WHAT? Do Mum and Dad know?"

"No."

"DAMN IT LILY, I mean for goodness sake. What were you thinking?" James was getting more and more angry.

"I wasn't thinking James. I wasn't thinking." I stuttered as I burst into tears. James had never been this angry with me. Never.

"I'll go get Professor Longbottom," Fred cut in and then left the room looking shell shocked. There was a pause after Fred had gone where I just stared at James.

"You're going to be in so much trouble Lily." James' voice was unusually low and soundly deadly serious, it was scary.

"I know. But I just want to go home now James." I could hear the pleading tone in my voice, I sounded pathetic.

"Don't talk to me at the moment Lily, I need time to think. I just can't believe you've put Mum and Dad through this. Just sit over there until Fred gets back."

And so I did while James paced the room to pass the time. The weight of what I had done only just starting to properly sink in.

TBC


A/n Hope you enjoyed that! Please review with any thoughts/comments/criticisms/ideas, I'd love to hear them.

Pilks xx