The day arrived for Delilah to go to Platform 9 3/4. But despite all the people she had asked during the past few days, no one seemed to have a clue what in the world she was talking about. And she was afraid she was bringing too much attention on herself. But she couldn't give up. So, she got up extra early that morning, gathered everything into her suitcase, & walked to the train station, clutching her acceptance letter in her hand. She wished there were some way she could clean up a bit, or at least change shirts. But she had brought little with her when she had left home & what she had managed to get washed she had done in a public lavatory.

She wandered around the train station for a few minutes, trying to imagine what a wizard would look like. But there were always strange people at the train station, so that didn't help. Finally, she stood where she could see both platforms 9 & 10 clearly, despite all the people around. And then she saw them! A family, Mum, Dad & two children with heavy suitcases & an owl in a cage. As she watched them, they walked right into a wall between the two gates & were gone. She blinked a couple of times, not sure if she had really seen properly. Then, figuring she had nothing to lose, she walked slowly toward the wall. Looking over her shoulder to see if anyone was watching her, she stuck out her hand & touched the wall. It went cleanly through! With a deep breath, she took a big step & the rest of her body joined her arm. She stopped & opened her eyes (she didn't remember closing them) & found herself on Platform 9 3/4. All around her she saw children putting their luggage on a beautiful scarlet train, hugging their parents good-bye, or clutching a cage holding an owl or a cat or some other pet she couldn't quite see.

She looked down at her feet, shuffling them a bit. She felt very out of place. Then she heard a voice behind her.

"Delilah Grater?" The question was asked in a sure, firm voice that startled her. She turned to see who here knew her name & was faced with a ruddy, somewhat handsome boy a few years older than herself. He looked at her & smiled..the first time anyone had smiled at her in a long time. She felt safe. But she still couldn't seem to find her voice, so she simply nodded.

"Oh, good! I was asked to help you out...make sure you got on the train alright & all. I looked for you in the station, but didn't see you. My name's Leon, & I'm the head boy at Hogwarts. C'mon. I'll help you get your stuff on the train." He looked around as if searching for something. Then his eyes fell on her ratty little suitcase. He grinned & said, "Well, it looks as if you don't need much help, but let me carry that for you."

He picked up her suitcase & began carrying it toward the train. Realizing she wasn't with him, he stopped & looked back toward her, then motioned for her to follow, that smile still bright on his face.

It took a few minutes, but once they were settled in the train in a compartment with a couple of other older students, Delilah found the courage to ask some questions.

"Who asked you to help me out? I don't know anyone." She was very confused about everything, but especially that. Who would have sent in her application to school? Surely not her stepfather! And how did the school know where to find her?

"The headmaster sent me a note by owl describing you & asking me to meet you & help you out. It is a bit odd. Most first years get dropped off by their families, even the muggle borns. Are your parents Muggles?" As he asked, Leon tilted his head a bit, as if trying to read the answer from her very mind. The blank look on her face wasn't the answer he expected. Nor was the shrug he got after a few moments silence.

"Do you know what a muggle is?" One of the older girls in the compartment asked, almost a bit too sharply.

Delilah shrank back into her seat. This was all wrong. She didn't know what was going on...it was like she had crash-landed in a different country & no one spoke her language. She looked at the faces of the people in the compartment with her. Only Leon was still smiling, & the smile now seemed a bit forced. It was almost as bad as being at home again. She looked up at Leon & shook her head.

"I don't know anything, okay? I just got this letter & it sounded a lot better than how I was living, so I did what it said." She flung the letter out at them, tears welling up in her eyes.

Leon reached out & took her outstretched hand. "It's okay, Delilah. You're not supposed to know everything. You're new. Right girls?" He looked back at the two girls that shared the compartment with them. The first nodded quickly, while the girl who had spoken was hesitant, until finally she nodded & mumbled something incoherent. "The train ride will last a while, so I'll spend the time telling you about some of the things that the other first years probably already know."

The rest of the train ride was a whirl, as Leon explained to Delilah about Muggles, wizards, & the school itself. When he began discussing the different houses, the two girls, whose names were Lila & Reissa, joined in, talking about the history of the houses & what sort of people were in each one. The sorting ceremony sounded very exciting, & the idea of being part of one of the houses excited her. She would really belong to something then, wouldn't she? They even talked while eating the food that everyone bought from the lady who came round at dinnertime. Leon paid for hers, despite her protests. She couldn't argue very much, as she had no money anyway. Besides, the money they used looked like nothing she had ever seen.

They were still talking when the train came to a stop. The other three quickly grabbed robes out of their luggage & put them on. Delilah looked at them & almost giggled. She had never seen anyone wear anything like that! Then, Leon pulled another out of his bag & handed it to her.

"Yours. Hurry & put it on or you'll be late. The first years go across the lake on boats." Delilah looked at him, then at the robe he was holding out to her. It was the most beautiful shiny black she had ever seen...it shone like a raven's wings. He took her admiring as hesitance, & started to put it on her himself. She shrugged him off & finished putting it on, trying to get it straightened out a bit, as he had gotten it crooked. Then she followed everyone off the train.

"First years! Over here, please!" The voice boomed loudly over the din of the station. Delilah took one last look at Leon, who nodded at her encouragingly, & then followed the sound of that voice.