It's a strange feeling. Leaving Camp Half Blood after everything Analuisa had been through. All the people she had lost. Truly? Analuisa wasn't too sure as to what she was thinking, maybe it was the fight or flight kicking in, and for once in her life her brain said to get the fuck out of there.

It's definitely a possibility.

The other part that pushed her to leaving is the fact that she has a family. Blood relatives. Living out there in the world. And she didn't want to add them to the list of people that she had lost.

My life is just complete and utter bullshit.

The gods must really hate me. Maybe not the gods so much. Would it be just Apollo and his stupid Oracles? I feel like that's pretty accurate.

I sigh to myself and open my eyes, staring out the window of this brightly colored and claustrophobic-like train. I watch the hustle and bustle go on outside as people start to load onto the platform, happily and sadly waving their children goodbye. I feel a deep melancholy in my gut, thinking of the people I'VE left behind and the people who have left ME behind.

I shrug to myself, reaching across the carriage to grab onto my new familiar, Hecate, who was sneaking up on the gentleman asleep across from me. She's a calming blue, reminding me of Luke's eyes, minus the mischief. It's an odd color for a snake, I know, but I didn't give much thought to it and assumed it was due to the magic in her blood.

As I stroke her scales, Hecate wraps herself around my left hand, no longer than 2-ish feet. I smile down at her when she hisses at me when suddenly the door opens and a bushy head of hair pops in and makes herself at home, followed by a mop of black hair, and a bright ginger. It appears they're in a middle of a conversation when they seem to realize that the carriage was occupied by myself and another gentleman. He's curled up on himself, covered in a torn coat, his only possession being the briefcase above his head.

Bushy Hair looks startled at me and whispers, trying not to disturb Mr. RJ Lupin, "My apologies, we were so caught up in our conversation we didn't realize the carriage was taken." By this time the train has slowly rolled out of the station, picking up speed as it lets a piercing ring into the air.

I tilt my head at her, waving her apology away, being careful not to wave with the hand holding Hecate. "It's perfectly fine, I don't mind."

Mop Head is staring at Hecate in my mind, she too seems to realize this and hisses at him, making him jump an inch off his seat. I raise my eyebrow and question him, "Got a problem, kid?"

"No!" He says. Staring at me with bright jade eyes, "Your snake is just a little rude, is all. Called me scarhead, actually."

I snorted a little, I couldn't help it. I take a finger and gently rub Hecate's scales behind her eyes, "I'm so sorry about that. She understand me, but sadly I don't speak Parseltongue, so that's no dice on me understanding her."

They all stare at me then, as if I suddenly had something growing out of my forehead. Part Unicorn? Definitely the wrong ancestry for me.

I hold my hand out to Mop Head, "I'm Analuisa, by the way. And you are?"

"Harry Potter," says Mop Head.

"Ron Weasley," says Ginger.

"Hermione Granger," says Bushy Hair.

I nod at the names, trying to implant them in my memory. I reach up and let Hecate slither off my hand and wrap around my neck, gathering the warmth I had radiating off of me.

"Cool, cool. Nice to meet y'all. Say…" I was about to ask a question when Ron interrupts me.

"Do you not know who we are?" He asks, bewildered.

I look at him, thinking he's crazy, "No, why should I? I just enrolled in Hogwarts."

Hermione looked at me shocked, "Just enrolled? But you've got to be at least our age, maybe a little older! Eep – I mean, not that you look old, but I've never heard of any late entrances to Hogwarts, or transfer. And by your accent you sound like you're from America."

Smiling kindly, "It's fine, I don't mind the assumption on my age. Let's me get away with more." I wink at her, making her blush, resulting in a chuckle escaping me. "I'm 15 actually, going on 16 soon. I think I'll be entering fifth year, if I understand correctly." Shrugging, letting them know how little I actually knew.

They continued to look at me with intrigue and I let it go, relaxing in their innocent youth. "So, as I was going to ask, y'all got any juicy details for me? Or just tidbits I should know before entering the snake pit?" Ron snorts a little at this, Hermione hitting his shoulder in return. Harry simply looks on with a smile, making me believe this is a normal occurrence.

"Ignore him. There's a few things you should know. There are four different houses within Hogwarts. Slytherin, the house of the ambitious and the cunning, Ravenclaw, for those of wit and intelligence, Hufflepuff, loyalty and patience, and lastly, Gryffindor, the daring and brave." Hermione finishes with a practiced sort of air around her.

I look at the three of them, taking in their faces and the look of pride they wore, "So lemme guess, the three of you are in Gryffindor?" A smile spreading on my face.

Harry looks at my wary, "Yeah, how'd you know?"

I raise an eyebrow at him before smiling again, "Well, it's pretty obvious, with the way you all hold yourselves, and when Hermione finished, you had this huge look of pride on your faces when she said Gryffindor."

At that the boys blush a little, being caught red-handed. I chuckle, "It sure is interesting, I wonder how the sorting is like. I can't wait to see it, from what I heard in the hall, it seems like there's different stories going on."

Ron looks like he's staring into the distance for a bit before snapping back to reality, his blush deepening, "Errr, yeah, it's tradition to keep it a secret, builds the suspense up to the house. A kind of ummm… what's the word… Hermione…" He looks at her pleadingly, making her roll her eyes.

"Initiation, Ronald?"

"Yes, that's exactly it!"

I shake my head at what feels like familiar antics, once more, "Yeah, I totally get that." I grow silent for a moment, the information flowing over me, reminding me of the cabins back at Camp… Home… I grow sad and look out the window, seeing the trees pass us by as we roll along, the sun having gone down already.

All of a sudden, a brisk cold fill the carriage, making me shiver, the hairs on my arm standing on edge. I stand up stiffly, making my way towards the carriage door when I see ice form on the window. I reach towards my belt loop, keeping a hand on my dagger hidden away. By the time my hand is on the handle to open the door, it begins to slide open and a cloaked hand reaches in. Memories come rushing in at me, bloodcurdling screams and wails of loss flood my ears. My head starts to spin as faces appear in front of my eyes – Silena, Chris… and then a blue light.

The last thing that I hear is, "Expecto Patronum!"

And the last thing that I see is Luke Castellan's calming blue eyes and beautiful mischievous smile.

AN: Please lemme know what you thought.

signed,

oterol