Disclaimer: I no own Harry Potter! (The lucky J.K. Rowling does...)

A/N: Okay, here's chapter 2! Yeah! Hope you enjoy it (and if not, just pretend that you did!) This one's not as long as the first one (I don't think) but it's somewhat lengthy. Ok, you can stop reading this now. On with the story!!

*Everything in italics are Sheila's thoughts

Let Go

Chapter 2:

Welcome to Hogwarts

"Sebastian, let go!" Sheila pulled (with much effort) her black tie away from the grips of her frisky cat's mouth and looked at the scarlet train looming ahead. She sighed and looked down at the cat standing beside her. "So this is it, 'ay Sebastian?" The cat, who was staring hungrily at her tie, blinked and cocked its head to one side. "Meow." She nodded. "I agree. 'Twas a bitter end for a new beginning." "Meow." She sighed again and, grabbing the handle for balance, stepped onto the platform leading into one of the train's many cars. "Some comfort you are." She said, walking towards an empty compartment. Sebastian, the creature with a one-word vocabulary, following close behind.

The Hogwart's Express let out a shrill whistle as the huge station clock struck 11:00. Sheila looked, absentmindedly, out the window, her chin resting on her palm. The train whistled again, signaling the beginning of the journey, before lurching forward. She whispered a silent prayer, mentally preparing herself for what was to come. As the train began to pick up speed, she saw a flash of black and red hair streak passed her window as two boys, exhausted and breathless, ran by, school robes flowing behind them. She smiled, laughing at their inability to be punctual. Taking in a deep, yet relaxing, breath, she tore her eyes away from the window and peered around the empty compartment.

She saw Sebastian curled up in the corner of her seat, sleeping and occasionally letting out a content purr. "Your no fun." She said, patting the tabby cat lightly on its sleeping head, before letting her hand fall beneath her seat. She pulled her carry-on out and set it on her lap. Unhooking the clasps, she peered in and pulled out a silver photo frame. It was a picture of her and her family standing outside the gates of the Audubon Zoo. 'My 12th birthday.' She smiled, although her eyes were full of grief and anger. Blinking back her oncoming tears, she carefully tucked the frame back under her neatly folded clothes.

The compartment door suddenly swung open and Sheila jumped up, her suitcase clattering to the floor. She dropped to her knees, frantically trying to get the spilled contents back into the carry-on. She felt someone drop down in front of her, trying to help clean the mess.

"I'm terribly sorry. I thought this compartment was empty." "It's okay." "Are you sure?" Sheila looked up and her gaze was met by a pair of hazel eyes. They belonged to a girl who looked about her age, her young face framed by her brown, untamed hair, her mouth curled in a pleasant smile. "Yeah, I'm sure. I was just a bit startled, that's all." The girl picked up the last item, a book, and stood up, slowly. Sheila saw they were about the same height as well and following suit, brushed herself off, and slid the closed suitcase back into its respectful spot under her seat. The girl glanced at the book in her hand and grinned.

"Hogwarts, A History." She handed the book to Sheila. "My favorite." Sheila smiled. "Mine too." She set the book next to Sebastian, who was still sleeping, despite the noise. Sheila sat down and gestured to the empty seat across from her. The girl accepted with a smile, placing her own suitcase under the seat. "My name's Sheila, by the way." She held out her hand. The girl took her hand and shook it. "I'm Hermione. Hermione Granger. Is this your first year at Hogwart's?" She asked.

Sheila nodded. "I had to transfer after my school back in America was shut down." "Oh. Your American?" "Yeah." "That's odd." "What is?" "Nothing. It's just," She paused. "you have a British accent." Sheila smiled. "Oh, that's only because I was born here in England, Surrey actually, but after my mum and dad died, I was sent to live with my grandparents in America." "Oh. I'm sorry to hear that." Sheila shook her head. "Don't be. I spent the best 16 years of my life over there."

A few hours of awkward silence later....

"I think the first thing I'm going to do when I arrive at Hogwart's is find the library." Sheila said. She was staring at the ceiling, a perplexed look upon her face. "Do you like to read?" Hermione asked. Sheila blinked, her eyes slowly trailing from the ceiling-downward, until she was looking at her. "Are you kidding me?" She paused. "I love to read!" Hermione let out a sigh of relief and grinned. "Me too." "Yeah?" Hermione nodded her head. "Oh, yeah."

The rest of the train ride was spent in relaxation. The two newly found friends sat, surrounded by candy wrappers and empty Bertie Bott's boxes, chatting and laughing about the three B's. Books, beauty, and most important of all, boys.

"So, you mean to tell me Moody turned him into a ferret and started bouncing him up and down the hallway?!" Hermione, who was on the floor clutching her stomach, nodded, her face screwed up in laughter. Sheila soon joined her on the floor, their giggles echoing in the hollow compartment. "I would've given anything to see that!" Hermione wiped away a tear and chuckled, halfheartedly.

"You know Malfoy?" "Unfortunately." Sheila said, biting off a chocolate frog's head. Hermione popped a pumpkin shaped pastry in her mouth. "How?" "Hermione, when your as corruptive as the Malfoy's, someone's bound to know who you are." Sheila looked at Hermione again, and they both burst into a fit of laughter again.

A couple of minutes later, they heard the brakes squeal beneath them as the train started to slow down. Hermione got up from her spot on the cluttered floor and looked out the window. "We're here." They both gathered their things quickly, so they wouldn't get caught up in the mad rush of people, and exited the compartment.

Sheila stepped off the train, the wind whipping back her long, raven colored hair, and breathed in, her eyes twinkling with anticipation as she took in the sight before her. It was of a huge stone castle surrounded by a clear lake. The stars from above made the picture perfect image shimmer and glisten. "It's beautiful." Sheila whispered. "It is, isn't it?" Hermione said, stepping down beside her. She held out her arms, opening them in a dramatic sort of sweep and looked at Sheila. "Welcome to Hogwarts."

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Harry and Ron stepped off the train, their luggage clunking down the steps behind them. "So this Emily girl," Ron clutched his side, wheezing. He wiped his sweat soaked forehead with the back of his robe's long sleeve. "she called out your name in the dream?" "Yeah. It was so weird. I mean, I've never seen that girl before in my life, but here she was, this ghostly manifestation haunting my dreams, telling me to watch out and that we'd be reunited soon." "That is weird, Harry. Maybe you should tell Dumbledore about it." "Nah, Ron. It's no big deal."

Ron shrugged. "Hey, if you say so." He paused. "Harry, I have a question." Harry looked at him. "What that's?" Ron grinned. "Was she hot?" Harry nudged him in the stomach with his elbow. Ron stumbled a little, chuckling. "What?"

Such a typical question for a not-so-typical pair of teenage boys. Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley were no longer the puberty deprived boys they were last year. In fact, they had grown a lot over the summer. (Although in saying this, I mean their height, not their maturity...)

Ron's hair wasn't as red as it used to be. He was taller than Harry, but more slender. His freckles seemed to have multiplied, sprinkling across his nose and cheeks. His voice deep and smooth, great for cooing at the girl's that passed by, waving and giggling.

Harry, after countless hours of Quidditch practices and games, wasn't skinny anymore., his toned muscles showing through his gray sweater. His black hair was still a mess, accentuating his chiseled, tanned face perfectly. The wind breezed passed, causing a few strands to fall over his bright green eyes.

Harry turned to Ron, sidestepping a few tree roots as they headed down the hill towards the horseless carriages that were waiting to take them to Hogwart's. "Have you seen Hermione anywhere?" Ron shook his head. "Nope." "You sure?" Ron stopped, and turned to face Harry, who was looking at him curiously. "Harry, come on. Even in this crowd, how could you miss her big bushy head?"

"Yeah, Harry. How could you miss my big,.... bushy....head?" The voice paused after each of the 3 last words, emphasizing its sarcasm. The boys turned to see who had spoken and saw an angry girl hanging out a nearby carriage window, facing them. "Hermione!" They cried in unison and ran to the window.

"Hello boys." She drawled. "Hey. How have you been?" Harry asked. "Oh. My big, bushy head and I are just fine." She glared at Ron, who turned his head, blushing. 'You know for someone who's about my size, which isn't that big, she sure acts touch.' Sheila thought from her seat within the carriage.

As if reading her mind, Hermione turned to her and said. "You have to be if you wanna survive at this school. Especially if you get sorted into Gryffindor." Sheila looked up from Sebastian, who was nipping at her tie again from his place in her lap. "And why is that?" Hermione sneered. "One word." She said, her voice dripping with disgust. "Slytherins."

"Who you talking to?" Hermione turned her attention back to the boys. "My new friend." Harry grinned, mischievously. "Well, do you and your new friend have room for two young, handsome men in your carriage?" Hermione cocked her right eyebrow. "Sure. When you boys find two young, handsome men send them straight to us." Sheila giggled.

"So, you say you've got a new friend, eh?" Ron said, changing the subject, his fingers drumming on his chin. "Is she hot?" Hermione let out a 'hmph'. "Come see for yourself." Ron grabbed the door handle eagerly and swung it open. He had just put his foot on the first step when Sheila's head popped up in the doorway. She waved. "Hello."

Ron took her hand and gently kissed it. "Hey there, gorgeous. My name's Ronald Weasley. What's yours?" Sheila looked at Hermione (who was laughing at her over-eager best friend), and then back at Ron. She could see Harry's green eyes, peering over Ron's shoulder, widen in shock. "Well, my name is-"

Suddenly, Ron felt someone grab his cloak hood and pull him forcefully back. He lost his footing and fell to the ground below. "Harry! Have you gone completely nutters?! You just ruined the moment!" "Ron, that girl was in my dream!!" Ron looked at Sheila, grinning, and sheepishly waved. She waved back, giggling. "She is pretty cute, isn't she?" He looked at Harry, his mouth set in a devilish grin. "You horny little bastard, you." He got up and dusted himself off. Harry grabbed his shoulders and shook him.

"Will you get serious and listen to me?!" Ron straightened up and cleared his throat. "Sorry. You were saying." "That girl is the exact same girl that was in my dream I had on my birthday!" Ron looked at him, confused, then turned and pointed at Sheila, who was listening intently. "Harry, you mean to tell me that's-"

"Yes, Ron." Harry turned him around again, his panicky eyes searching Ron's face. "That's exactly what I'm telling you." Ron stared back, still confused. Hesitating, Harry sighed. "That girl is Emily." Ron's blue eyes widened and they both turned to stare at "Hermione's new friend". Sheila stared back, the flirtatious nature she had about her was gone, replaced by nothing but fear and puzzlement.

A/N: Ooh, a cliffhanger! You'll find that I'll be doing that with a lot of my chapters. Don't know why... guess it's just more fun that way! Anyways, you know what to do now. Review! (or you can click the back button and not review, you lazy bum!) J/K!