Magnolia was pushed towards the center of the carts. She grips on the straps of her backpack and lugs the strap of her satchel bag over her shoulder, the bags out weighing her.

"You're a little small for eleven." One of the twins states walking behind Magnolia. She glances up at him slightly getting a glimpse at his face as she tries to figure out which is which.

"Your point is?" Magnolia quips in response.

The other twin chuckles, "Now what my brother here meant to say, is that you're petite."he offers. Turning her attention towards the other one beginning to spot the differences. His features are already slightly sharper. He grins down at Magnolia, and she gives him a small smile in return out of politeness.

Magnolia considers his statement. Magnolia always knew she was a smaller kid but she managed to not let it slow her down. Other kids from her school seemed to all stretch or plump up over their last break. Magnolia had one good year where she was the same size as her classmates. Then the summer before last hit and everyone skyrocketed around her. The small dark haired girl left in the dust. She turns her head to get a small look at the twins. They both stood taller than Magnolia and were much broader than her but Magnolia bit her tongue from commenting on it. It wasn't their fault she wasn't going to have much of a growth spurt.

"M'not petite. I think I prefer being called small." Magnolia pouts slightly, "I'll be off then to find a cart," Magnolia walks away from the twins a bit before hesitating.

"Why do you have to be off? Just sit with us. All the carts are going to be full anyways." The twin that calls her petite hooks his arm with Magnolia's pulls her into his side. "Weasley's don't bite."

"Only when provoked that is!" The other quips.

Magnolia weighs her options one, she could run away now or two, at least go with what she already knew and be polite. They did help her on the platform after all. The boy reaches towards the door of the cart with the shouting boy from the Platform.

"Well hello!" He exclaims at them when the door opens. His grin bright and toothy, his twisted locks bounce as he moves to his feet.

The boy cascades the small compartment swiftly to Magnolia, "Lee Jordan, Gryffindor." He struts his hand awkwardly to Magnolia.

Magnolia looks at his awkward gesture but accepts it. "Move back Jordan so the lady can breathe." The twin stood behind Magnolia says. He pushes past Magnolia and his twin lightly to moved very to a seat.

Magnolia giggles, the twin linked leads her over to the other seat. She sits beside the window wide eyed as she watches the countryside form. She unweaves her arm from the twin, he helps her with her bags stowing them in the compartments cabinets. The dark haired girl sits closer to the window watching the trees form and shrink in the distance. The leaves turning yellow and bronze as the fall weather creeps in around them. Tucking her legs against her side she cozies up slightly against the window. Her sweater barely keeping her warm.

She knows her mother was right, she should've packed an extra coat before hopping on the train.

"You never told me your name," Lee breaks Magnolia's attention from the window drawing her back into the moment.

"Magnolia." She replies curtly before glancing out the window again.

"Like I said before I'm Lee," the dark skinned boy continues.

The twin beside Magnolia scoots a little closer, "To formally introduce myself without mum around to mess with, Fred Weasley." He offers.

Magnolia looks over to the other twin for his introduction, "George Weasley."

Magnolia nods lightly and turns back to the window. Taking in the new environment compares so stark against the cramped flat she spent her eleven years so far. The view is different, deep plunges of the earth curling against grass and creeks, the railway breaking up the nature only faintly. The rocky hills in the distance and the plush grass and greenery carpeting the ground. Magnolia recalls the busy city streets and lamp posts from home. Everything so cramped and squished together, people at every corner. Luckily their flat was on one of the more calm streets of London. A small corner cafe and the bookstore being the only businesses and the rest being row houses and flats were the only things lining Magnolia's home street. She used to spend all her school picturing her future; maybe she'd too own a bookstore with a bakery attached. That way her customers could enjoy her sweets and dessert with a book tucked in the sunlight or in the same type of hiding spots she had in the bookstore downstairs.

"What an odd name, Magnolia?" Lee repeats the girl's name as if it's a different language.

"What's wrong with my name?" She asks an ounce of doubt in her voice.

"Absolutely nothing wrong with your name, Lee is just a git ." George says from the seat next to Lee George nudges Lee shaking his head as if to warn him.

"I like what your mum called you." Fred injects, "Mags."

Magnolia's face scrunches up, her mother was the only one who called her Mags. It was her name, Magnolia hesitates trying to think of an alternative but nicknames aren't something you decide for yourself, she thinks. She looks at the boy beside her and spots a beaming smile. Magnolia's heart swells at the gesture like she's finally making friends for once, lasting friends. She musters a small smile in return.

All she does is nod when the ginger boy pulls her in for a rough side hug, "That does it, Mags is with us now." Fred beams.

Magnolia feels herself shrink even more, she's never been made a spectacle. She even recalls the first time she showed any signs of magic, it wasn't some big event, she began to get a little stressed during a certain class. Maths were never her strong suit but she tried her hardest despite, and the light bulb above her slowly went dim. It'd get changed in the evening and by the end of her class the bulb would be sizzled out. Summer hit and it stopped, she had no more stress. No one ever knew and most people believed it was a faulty circuit.

"I wonder if we could get you in on something we've got planned." George pulls his fist up to his jaw like the Ancient statue Magnolia remembers from one of the many books she's read on art.

"How about let's not and say we did." Magnolia turns her nose away from the scheming boys around her. A small smirk on her lips.

Truth be told Magnolia could stand for a little mischief in her life. At a young age Magnolia not only learned to help her mother as much as she could for a child, she taught herself to cook and bake to help make meals for her and her mother. Most of Magnolia's life her mom juggled multiple jobs that was until they received Magnolia's acceptance. Her mother knew she could do only one job and she spent enough time at one of her other jobs they allowed her to move to a summer only schedule. The young girl faintly recalls something about them wanting to travel. Nevertheless Magnolia envied the other kids just a little while they were playing outside she took care of her mother.

Magnolia turns back to the window watching the scenery as it changed more trees of tall scraping heights. The train chugged swiftly past the tree with a green blur trailing. Some time passes as Magnolia watches the passing features of the earth around her. The boys plotting something beside her, George has moved to the floor stretching his legs out while Lee has taken residency of the seat his head leaned against the window. Magnolia sits tucked against the window with her sleeves pulled over her hands and her chin rested in her hand as she watches the motion. Fred nudges her side drawing her attention back towards the group, she looks up and is greeted with a welcoming smile. Is this kid ever not smiling? Magnolia thinks to herself.

"You hungry?" He asks.

Magnolia's stomach must have heard his question grumbling just enough for her to feel. She nods, she stands to her feet and sees one of her smaller bags that she stowed with her into the train. As she stands to her feet she struggles to get her bags as one of the twins tucked it in too far for her to reach. The boys all watched in silent amusement and the shorter girl stood on the tip of her toes, attempting to balance on her Chuck Taylor's.

The twin beside her cracks first, Fred laughs aloud and boisterous. Magnolia slams back down onto the soles of her sneakers, her cheeks heat up and a blush crawls across the girl's freckled nose flourishing to her cheeks. Fred must notice the girl's embarrassment and he quickly moves to his feet and reaches up to grab the bag that was just out of Magnolia's grasp, or at least that what she tells herself. She tucks the bag under her arm and plops back down in her seat tucking away again. She rifles through her bag looking for the wrapped treats she made the night prior.

The young witch had a habit of baking when she was nervous or anxious. She pulls open the cloth pulling up to reveal the lemon squares she made. Her mouth waters slightly and she pulls one of the bitter sweet treats to her lips, she savors the sweetness of the powdered sugar on top and lets the sour lemon coat the latter of her tongue the tartness lingering. The girls eyelids flutter down as she continues to enjoy her tart dessert covering her stormy eyes.

When she opens her eyes the boys are looking at her lemon squares with hungry eyes. She lifted the napkin out towards them, "I've got plenty for you guys to enjoy some."

The twins share a questioning look at one another before Lee bears them and takes two. His hungry hands piling the pair of treats directly into his mouth. George is the first of the twins to take from Magnolia's hands. Fred looks at the dessert with an odd look.

"I have snicker-doodles if you don't like lemon." The girl offers, before Fred can reply. Lee snatches the last lemon square from her palm.

Magnolia rolls her eyes and goes back towards her bag and pulls out a small bag of cinnamon sugar coated cookies. Magnolia was never one to brag but she had pride in her snickerdoodle recipe. The perfect balance between cinnamon and sugar, the perfect amount of softness. She had to admit fresh they were unbeatable but even cooled they kept their softness.

"Your mum probably makes these and they're probably much better than mine because she's had loads of practice but I do my best." She says cooly hiding her confidence.

Fred accepts a cookie and Magnolia watches anticipating his reaction. His fakes breaks out in a grin as he turns to his brother. "George you have to try this!" He shoves a cookie into George's hand.

Now Fred has joined Magnolia's anticipation. He takes a bite, Lee licks his finger clean with a smack finishing off the final lemon square, he reaches for a cookie himself.

"These may be better than mum's." George finally says, "But if she asks yours are second place." He finishes.

A sigh of relief leaves Magnolia's lips. The cart pauses when the sweets cart comes by. Magnolia feels at the odd money she got when she had gone to get supplies with McGonagall in her pocket but she hesitates because she doesn't understand the currency. While the boys get up to buy sweets Magnolia stays in her seat. She's got plenty of Muggle candy she's packed from home. Who blame her for having a sweet tooth, she's eleven. The trio returns with a haul of sugared goods.

Magnolia instantly notices the difference between the sweets in front of her and the ones in her trunk. Chocolate frogs that leap away and trading cards beneath them with pictures that walk away after some time. Her eyes widened as she studied the bizarre sight in front of her. Fred takes his seat beside Magnolia again unloading his haul on the seat in between them.

He picks up one of the royal blue and gold packages offering it to the dark haired girl beside him. She looks at him, her round eyes peering back at him. "Here I got you one, I figured you had never had one seeing as you're a muggleborn and all." Fred insisted placing the box into Magnolia's palms.

She carefully opens the box and spots the chocolate creature. Something stirred in her belly as she waited for it to move. In an attempt to beat the frog before it beat her, she forced her hand down and grabbed it. Magnolia felt scared to try this even though she watched all the boys eat them without hesitation prior. She knew they were sweets meaning they were meant to be enjoyed but she felt a little guilty to have to catch her sweets.

Magnolia shut her eyes and took a bite. When she felt comfortable to do so she finished off the frog and opened her eyes. The twins and Lee look at her wearing the same looks of anticipation that she had moments ago.

"Quite good. Not much of a chocolate person although I do love chocolate cake." Magnolia gushed.

Lee pears over to Magnolia's lap, "Who's you get?"

Magnolia picks up the card and read along the nameplate, " Alberic Grunnion," she reads aloud.

The twins fight over the card after she passes it off to the twin beside her. Magnolia pulls a book from the bag sat in her lap and opens it the wear her bookmark rests. The commotion around her dulling.

••••••

Magnolia looks at herself once more before leaving the small bathroom on the train. Her new uniform still stiff and her sweater has a faint itch. She brushes her hair out and lets it rest upon her shoulders the length cascades to the middle of her shoulders. She finds her way back to her compartment and collects her things, the twins and Lee informing her that she'd meet up with the other first years as they arrive at the school.

"Don't worry about your trunk, they'll make sure it gets to the right place." George comforts as Magnolia hesitates as they funnel out of the train.

She nods understanding but a new batch of nerves are rising within her, she doesn't trust her voice. The train horn blares signaling their arrival once more. Fred wraps his arm around the smaller girl's shoulder. "No matter what house you're in you'll have a few friends in us." He comforts.

Lee breaks the two apart with a chuckle, he turns to smirk at the pair, "Unless you're a Slytherin that is!" He chuckles.

Magnolia swallows the lump forming in her throat. "I doubt that could happen she's far too sweet for that." George suggests.

The trio bids Magnolia goodbye as they meet up with the other older students. The younger girl stands near the train trailing behind the other first years. She notices Professor McGonagall leading the group of eleven year olds. A few kids in front of her giggle and boast about, clearly they met before or just as she had made a few bonds on the train.

Magnolia walks along with the group in amazement at the sights in front of her. She peers around looking at the scenery, the sun has nearly set and amber hue still lingers as the deep blue night creeps in the moon taking her place in the sky. Magnolia doesn't notice how much she had caught up until she bumps into a girl in front of her. She steps on the girls heel and fumbles to catch her footing.

"Watch it!" The other girl exclaims.

"I am so sorry. I got caught up, I'm so sorry." Magnolia fumbles out.

Now that the two have stopped Magnolia watches the other girl's features, bobbed yellow blonde hair she has a plump face but thins out around her neck. Her eyes are a murky blue, like baubles. Her hair was tucked back by an emerald headband with a gaudy broach attached the side.The girl was wearing an ugly sneer across her thin lips.

"Next time just mind your step. You can just go around being aimless all the time." The girl sneered before flipping her short hair in Magnolia's direction.

Magnolia blinked in surprise before waiting until the girl was out of sight to continue along. The first years made it to a handful of boats with wooden paddles and benches for what Magnolia would imagine is uncomfortable. In front of them a large lake reflecting the new moonlight above them. The younger girl's eye gape as she takes in the sight of a castle before her.

She looks around at the other first year students in front of her. Scanning the faces of all the new kids her age. Professor McGonagall waves the children closer forming a huddle around her, " Six per boat, keep your limbs inside at all times. That means absolutely all of them, I will not have a repeat of last year." McGonagall shutters slightly at the memory.

Magnolia makes a mental note to question the twins on the warning. Magnolia watches her classmates funnel into the boats and she takes one of the last open seats, making sure she goes no where near the girl earlier. She takes a seat behind a pair of girls, one sits upright with tight posture, her blonde hair pulled up into a tight ponytail against her head. She's definitely taller than the other girls around her, Magnolia thinks. The other has an invisible weight just barely on her shoulders slumping her posture, her hair was a deep shade of caramel curls tangling around a loose ponytail, her baby pink scrunchie faintly visible amongst the curls. Her tanned skin contrasts against her curls.

The curly haired girl turns around a catches Magnolia staring ahead zoning out. "Kind of brilliant isn't it?" She asks Magnolia with a smile as she nods towards the castle.

Magnolia nods politely, "Never imagined I'd be able to see this kind of thing." She shrugs. She takes in the girl's features her big hazel eyes, pale skin and round cheeks with a soft jawline.

The curly haired girl grins wider and turns herself around the bench rocking the boat just a little. The girl beside her gripping against the side, "Do you mind not doing that? I can't swim and don't plan on drowning today?" She hisses but her eyes are anxious.

Her face softens and she frowns, "I'm sorry. It was an accident. I'll be more careful." She spits out nervously. "I'm Juniper." She offers a smile at the two girls sympathetically.

"Roxy." The other states with a weak half smile.

The two girls turn to Magnolia awaiting her introduction, "Its- I'm Magnolia but you can call me whatever." She stutters.

Juniper giggles, "Okay, Whatever it is." She shrugs and turns back around with a smirk.

Magnolia and Roxy share a look of confusion before turning their attention back to the castle growing as they get closer. The boats dock and the children file out following along after Professor McGonagall like ducklings behind their mother.

Magnolia gets off the boat last struggling a little moving along the benches. She notices Juniper and Roxy lingering beside the boat as the kids begin to shuffle after the older witch. "Come along slow poke. I want to be sorted." Juniper skips in excitement as they catch up.

Magnolia recalls the brief explanation the twins gave about the houses. Although she knew they were routing for her to be in Gryffindor like them, Magnolia decided that she'd be content in any house.

"My sister is Hufflepuff and she says that's a really good house because almost everyone is really nice." Juniper raved as they took their first steps into the school.

Magnolia struggled to take everything in, she remembers the pictures from a book she got while with McGonagall those short months ago. Now that the structure was towering above her it was a completely different thing. Not to mention she now had to adapt to sleeping in dorms and not seeing her mother's face everyday.

"My parents were Ravenclaw when they were here so I guess that's good." Roxy added. "My whole family is Ravenclaw actually. Even my grandparents."

The two turn to Magnolia for her input, "I guess I'd be happy with anything." She shrugs as they follow up the steps.

McGonagall leads them to a set large door that stretches above them. She pauses at the door turning her back to the large doors.

"Now we will have you get in alphabetical order and then the sorting hat ceremony will begin." Professor McGonagall pushes the doors open.