Penny looked down at the crumpled bit of parchment in her hand for the hundredth time as she walked along platform nine at King's Cross Station. No matter how many times she looked however, the words never changed. Professor McGonagall had sent her a letter explaining how to get to the platform, as she would be busy with preparations for the new term to accompany her. Not only had Penny nearly had a heart attack when the owl burst into her tiny bedroom, but puzzled further at the instructions McGonagall had left her with.

'When you reach the dividing barrier between platforms nine and ten, walk straight at it and you shall arrive on Platform Nine and Three Quarters, where you are to board the Hogwart's Express. Do not stop at the wall or you will crash into it'

Looking up from the letter Penny's eyes fixed on the wall in front of her. 'You have got to be kidding me' she thought. Surely this was a practical joke, seeing how gullible she was to charge headlong into a solid brick wall. But then, she considered, McGonagall didn't seem the type for practical jokes. Summoning up all her courage, Penny shut her eyes, thinking of all the other things she had thought impossible mere weeks ago and push her trolley as hard as she could at the wall.

'Oi! Careful!' A young male voice shouted as Penny felt her trolley hit something semi solid. Penny opened her eyes, forming words of apology before gasping at the sight in front of her. She was no longer in the station, but on a platform with a scarlet steam engine in front of her.

….

Wondering down the train, Penny peered nervously into carriage after carriage, moving on each time she saw them full. Finally she looked into one carriage and saw just two girls of similar age sitting besides one another. One of the girls, who looked like she may also be a first year, had flaming red hair that fell past her shoulders. The other girl looked slightly older, with brown busy hair that looked almost as chaotic as her own. They both wore a worried look, and were deep in conversation as Penny slid the door open slowly.

Both girls turned to look at her as she took a half step into the carriage. Looking from face to face, Penny sensed no animosity from either of the girls.

'You can join us if you want' the bushy hair girl said, smiling kindly at the younger girl.

'Thanks' Penny mumbled, taking a seat opposite the two girls. They sat in silence for a few moments before the bushy haired girl broke the silence.

'I'm Hermione Granger, a Gryffindor Second year' she said introducing herself politely 'What's your name?'

'Penny. An undeclared First year' Penny replied dryly making the little red head giggle, Hermione smiled at the young girl who looked away.

'I'm Ginny Weasley' said the small red haired 'Also undeclared' she added amused 'I'm hoping for Gryffindor though, my whole family have been in Gryffindor' she continued looking anxious.

'You'll be fine Ginny, don't worry. So what house are you hoping for?' Hermione inquired looking at the small black haired girl.

'Does it matter what house I'm put in?' Challenged Penny 'We will still be taught the same lessons at the same school after all' she added shrugging. Hermione looked startled by her answer.

'Well, your house says a lot about you as a person doesn't it?' Said Hermione 'Gryffindors are known for being brave for examplel'

'Being brave is all very well but if you are brave to the point of foolishness you'll only end up getting yourself killed' Shot back Penny 'What use are you if you're dead?' Hermione gaped at the young witch.

'Well its better than being in Slytherin!' Piped up Ginny 'There is not a single Dark Wizard that wasn't in Slytherin!' Penny looked at her sceptically before replying.

'Sure, every pupil of every other house for the last thousand years have all been angels acting for the good of mankind and never for self interest.' Penny snorted rolling her blue eyes. The two girls stared at this small witch with amazement as she went on 'Going by your logic I guess that all Slytherins should be locked in Azkaban the moment they are sorted! That would prevent all crime ever committed!'

The next few moments were of complete silence as Ginny and Hermione looked blankly at Penny. Neither could think of a retort for the black haired witch, a first for Hermione who had never lost a logical debate. After a moment she decided to change the subject.

'What houses were your parents in?' She queried innocently, frowning when the girl's face flickered for a moment with emotion before a mask fell over her face covering them.

'I never knew them. I was raised in an orphanage' Penny stated tonelessly looking at Hermione with blank eyes.

'So how do you know about Azkaban?' Hermione asked, this time Penny looked away before replying.

'It came up.' She said before quickly moving the subject on 'So what are you guys worried about?'

'What do you mean?' Ginny asked

'You were both concerned about something when I came in here' Penny explained.

'Oh, a couple of my friends, Ginny's brother Ron and Harry Potter didn't board the train at King's Cross. We're worried about what happened to them.' Hermione clarified. She went on when the girl didn't react 'Harry Potter, the Boy…'

'Who Lived' interrupted Penny 'Harry Potter is the only known survivor of a direct hit with the Killing Curse, and thus is credited with the vanquishing of the Dark Wizard Lord Voldemort' She finished puzzled when the two girls flinched.

'Did you just quote that from 'Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century'?' Gasped Hermione, her eyes shining at the prospect of finding someone who shared her love of reading and learning.

'Yes' Penny shrugged. Just then the carriage door slid open to reveal a pale blonde boy with two larger boys on either side of him. Penny eyes narrowed at the sneer on the boys face. He, however was ignoring her completely, instead focussing on the two girls on the other side of the carriage. His sneer turned to a cold smile.

'Lost your boyfriends girls?' He smirked at the two girls who glared back at him. Penny's eyes flitted back and forth between the two groups.

'Get lost Malfoy' said Ginny her face going as red as her hair. He merely sniggered at her.

'Aww were you hoping to have his ginger four eyed babies?' He jeered, somehow making Ginny go redder than before, his henchmen smirking widely.

'Leave her alone.' Penny said coldly, rising to her feet to stand in the middle of the carriage, between Malfoy and the other girls. Despite being a head shorter than the blonde boy she glared at him with such intensity his smile faded a fraction before his previous sneer returned. Looking the girl up and down his eyes lingered on the untamed bird's nest on the girl's head.

'Blimey, what beast did your mother fuck to produce a runt like you?' Malfoy laughed cruelly. Almost in slow motion Penny saw the red mist descend, instinctively reaching for her wand. Drawing it she raised it above her head, not bothering to call on any of the spells she had read before letting out a war cry, drew it down and pointing it at Malfoy.

With a massive bang both Malfoy and Penny were lifted off their feet. Malfoy crashed against the side of the train outside the carriage landing face down on the ground heaving. Penny on the other hand was forced backwards by the strength of the recoil, smashing the window in the carriage, showering Hermione with glass. For a second nobody moved as the shock held them in placed.

Then Malfoy's henchmen rushed to his side, lifting him to his feet. He staggered, pale and extremely winded, leaning on his comrades. After a terrified glance at the small girl they bolted, leaving the carriage door open in their haste.

The two girls stared open mouthed at Penny with fear and awe, seeing the small girl's eyes wide with terror at her own actions. Slowly she stirred, peering nervously down at the wand in her hand. Looking at the broken window she mumbled a stuttering 'Reparo'. The glass in the carriage instantly returned to its original place. Hermione gasped in pain as a couple of fine fragments removed themselves from her wrists.

Penny looked down at the brown haired girl, her pale face full of concern. As she moved towards her she saw the older witch flinch involuntarily in fear. Seeing the pain in the small girl's face Hermione relented, allowing her to take her wrists in her hands. Closing her eyes, Penny focussed all her energy into her hands. To Hermione's amazement she felt the pain in her wrists vanish. Opening her eyes, Penny removed her hands to see the wounds had healed. Backing away she took up her previous seat, staring glumly into space. The two girls continued to stare in silence, shocked by the power this girl had showed. After a minute or so tears started to pour silently over her cheeks and she rocked herself gently trying to suppress her emotions. Hermione felt pity started to join her fear as she watched the girl. Moving over she took the younger girl in her arms, gently rocking her to soothe her.

'Sshhh' she whispered as the girl let out a sob 'Its ok.'

'Its not' sobbed Penny 'I…I don't want to…I didn't mean to…to hurt anyone!'

'Its ok, its alright' reassured Hermione gently 'We all have trouble controlling our magic when we first start. It was an accident. You didn't mean it' Hermione assured her. They remained this way for some time until Penny resumed her impassive state. Sitting up she stared out of the window for the rest of the journey, refusing to look at the other two. They chatted idly through various topics, occasionally shooting nervous looks in Penny's direction. She could sense their fear of her, and knew there was little she could do about it. She hadn't even taken a step inside her new school and she was already getting in fights.

It was going to be a long day.