I looked through my trunk, making sure that I packed everything. I was always prone to forgetting something... but what was it this time?

I shook my head. What was I forgetting? I flicked my pinkish red hari out of my face and searched the room.

My trunk lay open in the middle of the decently cleaned room. I searched through it again to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything. Robes... check...books...check...wand... WAND? Where was my wand?!

Why am I always doing this? I thought. Come on... think... think...

"Chilly! Are you ready to go?" my father yelled.

"NO! I gotta find my wand!" I yelled back.

I serached frantically around my room. I finally found it on my dresser. I grabbed and admired the handiwork briefly. It was made of willow wood and mistletoe. I cherished it deeply, partially because it had belonged to my mother.

I put it gently inside the trunk and sat on the lid. It wasn't closing. After placing Friday's basket on top with me, I finally managed to lock the trunk.

Okay, now I'm ready, I thought, as I made sure that Friday was placed securely in his basket.

"Don't pick on the first years... and don't let anyone pick on you. Remember what I told you about standing up for yourself... but not in an overly violent way... oh! Make sure you always do your homework and that you study instead of sitting around drawing all day... you won't have video games there, so we don't need to worry about that coming in the way of your work...

My father was giving me his annual back-to-school pep talk before I got out of the car. It got tiring after awhile.

"Dad!" I interrupted. "We've been through this before. I know."

"Oh..." My father said and hugged me tightly. "YOu, have fun, okay?"

"Dad..." I said after a few moments. "Dad, let go of me. I can't breathe."

"Oh! Sorry," he apologized, letting me go. "I'm just going to miss you."

"I"m going to miss you too," I admitted as I opened the car door. "But please, DON'T MAKE ME GO!"

"It's alright, Chilly. It's not like there's a language barrier or anything."

"Dad, have you forgotten that we've been in England for almost three months and I still haven't figured out what 'loo' means?"

My father laughed. "You'll catch on. Send me an owl when you get there so that I know you're okay."

"Will do."

I briefly hugged my father again and then got out of the car. I pulled my trunk out of the back seat and my fahter helped me hoist it up onto a cart.

"Do you have Friday?" Dad asked.

"Yeah," I replied. "See you soon."

I watched him drive off and then made my way into the King's Cross Station.

"Could you please let me out of this basket?" I heard a muffled voice say. "It's really quite suffocating."

"Which platform is it?" I asked, ignoring Friday's request. I lookeed at my ticket. "Platform Nine and Three Quarters. That's odd... and yet expected."

I pushed my way through the crowd to platforms nine and ten. Suddenly, I became aware that someone was yelling my name.

"Chilly!" Cela came over to me, with Trill not too far behind."

"Hey," I greeted. "How're you guys doing?"

"I've been better," Trill said. "Going back to Hogwarts always makes me nervous."

"Why?" I asked.

"For some reason, every year You-Know-Who makes an appearance," Trill explained. "And for once, I actually believe that it's true."

Cela rolled her eyes. "There's nothing to worry about, Trill."

Trill's look on her face clearly said that she didn't believe her sister. She stared off into space, away from the looks of Cela.

"Anyway, Chilly, I love what you've done to your hair," Cela said. "Love the pinkish-red. Normally you just do the tips, right?"

"Yeah, but I decided to be brave enough to dye the whole thing, like you. So… how do we get to the platform?"

"You mean you don't know?" Cela stared at me.

"Yes, once again, I do not know," I said.

"Well, all you have to do is go through the barrier of platforms nine and ten," Trill explained.

"Really? That's it?" I shook my head. "That's obvious. Now why didn't I think of that?"

"I'll go first," Trill said and pushed her cart towards the barrier. She gradually picked up speed and suddenly disappeared before she crashed into the barrier.

"You next," Cela said and gave me an encouraging push on the back.

I sighed and turned towards the barrier. After I made sure that everyone was out of my way, I ran towards the barrier at full speed.

The next thing I saw was the train. It was huge and on the side, it said 'Hogwarts Express'. Many people were flocking around it still, even though we were about to leave.

Cela and Trill appeared beside me. They both smiled and I knew that they were thinking of the same thing. They were happy to be going back, despite all of the dangers.

"Come on, now," Cela said as she pushed towards the train. "Let's go find a compartment."

Trill and I followed her towards the back of the train. We found an empty compartment and had some trouble trying to get our trunks in.

"So, do you have any questions about Hogwarts before we get there?" questioned Cela. "We don't want you to be dumfounded when you get there like the first years are."

I thought for a moment. "What are the houses of Hogwarts?"

"Well, let's see… there's Slytherin," Cela said. "You don't want to get into Slytherin. Most of the Dark wizards came out of that house."

"Plus, they're ugly, mean, stupid, evil…" Trill added.

"Then there's Gryffindor," Cela said. "A lot of people say that's the best house to be in. They won the House Cup last year, after all. They are brave and courageous. There's Ravenclaw, who's full of mostly intellectuals, and Hufflepuff."

"Hufflepuff students aren't exactly the sharpest tools in the shed," Trill said.

"So, what House are you in?" I asked as I sat down.

"We're in Ravenclaw," Cela replied proudly.

"I would have preferred to be in Gryffindor," Trill said. "I would have been in Harry Potter's classes… that is until this year… I don't know what N.E.W.T. classes he's taking…"

"Trill, you're not going to start that again, are you?" Cela rolled her eyes and groaned.

"Do you two actually know him?" I asked.

"Not really," Cela answered. "The most we know about him is that he really did escape the Dark Lord at least four times… and that he is a Seeker for the Gryffindor House… and he won the Triwizard competition two years ago. That's all I know."

"Don't forget that he started that Dumbledore's Army last year!" Trill added.

"What's 'Dumbledore's Army'?" I asked.

"Long story," Trill replied. "The shortened version is that we had an awful Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher last year and Harry started the club so that we could learn defense the real way." She sighed. "What an awfully brave thing to do…"

"Trill, if I didn't know better, I'd say that you fancy him," Cela said.

Trill glared at her. "Don't you dare start with me again! I've told you a million times that I don't!"

"Then how come you used get all mad and jealous whenever Cho Chang talked about him?"

"I don't know!"

"Who's Cho Chang?" I asked.

"She's a friend of ours. You'll like her a lot," Cela said.

"She and Harry have all of this juicy past history," Trill said with excitement. "I heard all about it mostly from Cho… actually from a friend who heard it from Cho… anyway they used to go out!"

"Really?" I said with interest. "'The boy who lived' has a girlfriend?"

"Had," Cela corrected. "It was basically over before it started. Don't tell Cho this, but she's way too sensitive for him."

As if their burst of excitement faded away, they looked out the window and fell into a deep silent trance. They were lost deep in memory.

"Come on, you two," I said, whipping out my wand. "Let's play a game of Exploding Snap."

"I don't really feel like it." Trill sighed. "That game's getting old."

I glared at them. Exploding Snap never gets old.

"Come on," I said, pulling Trill up out of her seat. "Please?"

"Only if Cela does," Trill insisted.

"Cela?" I walked over to her and prepared to give her my puppy dog eye look.

"If you even think about puppy dogging me, I swear I will hex you," Cela said bluntly.

I frowned as Trill flopped back down into her seat. It was no use. I don't even want to think about what happened the last time Cela hexed me…

I opened my messenger bag and pulled out my CD player. I knew very well that it was going to go haywire on me once we reached Hogwarts, but I decided to go ahead and use up the rest of its batteries before I throw it back into my trunk and forget about it for nine months.

Loud music filled my ears and I closed my eyes. I let the lyrics be the only thing that I could think of.

"Back off, I'll take you on… headstrong I'll take on anyone…" I sang softly.

A loud knocking at the compartment door suddenly interrupted me. The door slid open and a smiling witch with a food cart stood there.

"Would you girls like anything off the cart?" she asked us.

I leapt up from my seat and dashed over to the cart. I grabbed some Every Flavor Beans, a stack of cauldron cakes, and a handful of chocolate frogs.

Trill and Cela soon snapped out of their dream worlds and followed suit. I noticed as they sat there eating their large amounts of sugar, how happier they seemed to be.

I opened my box of beans and popped one into my mouth. "Mmm. Grass. Do you guys want one?"

"No thanks," Cela replied. "I'm allergic to strawberries, and I never know when I'll get that flavor."

Trill shook her head. "I got a hot pepper flavored one once, and I've been scarred for life."

"So, Chilly, what kind of classes are you taking?" Cela asked. "That is, if you have finally found a career field you're interested in."

"Relax. I've finally decided on something," I assured. "I'm going to be a Magizoologist. So I'm taking Care for Magical Creatures… Herbology… Potions…"

"Good luck with that," Trill said. "I hope you got an O on your OWLS."

"I did."

"Good, because Snape's doesn't accept any students who didn't get an O."

"Really?" I frowned slightly. "Anyway, I'm also taking Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"Why are you taking that for?" Cela questioned. "You don't need that to be a Magizoologist."

"Trust me. It's a definite requirement. If you're going into any field at the Ministry, you need to take that course."

"Are you taking Divination?" Trill said. "You should, because you've got a real gift with that whole Inner Eye thing."

I sighed. "My father's making me take it. He wants me to 'expand my horizons using my gift' or something like that."

The door slid open again as I was chucking beans at Trill. A boy with white blonde hair stood there with a smirk on his face. Standing next to him looked like two large gorillas, which were sharing the same smirk on their faces.

"Has anyone seen Potter around?" Blondie asked us.

"A guy with black hair and a scar on his forehead with the shape of a lightning bolt?" Cela asked.

"Yeah, that's him," Blondie replied.

"Nope. Can't say I have, Draco." Cela bit into her cauldron cake and smiled.

"What about you?" he asked, turning towards me. "Hmm. I don't recall seeing you before. If I did, I'm certain I'd remember insulting you. You must be new."

"Congratulations. You've guessed correctly," I said. "Cela, show him what he's won."

He rolled his eyes. "I'm Draco Malfoy. These are my friends, Crabbe and Goyle. By the way, I run this place." His eyes looked me up and down with an expression I couldn't read.

"Is that so?" I popped another bean into my mouth. "How interesting. By the way, do you know that you look like a James Marsters mini-me? No offense, but I think that he is the only guy on this earth who can pull off the fake blonde look."

"You're messing with the wrong person, American." He stressed the syllables as if American was some curse in England.

"My name is Chilly," I corrected.

Draco snickered. "Chilly? That is your name? Only in America…"

Cela lowered her eyes at him. "I wouldn't be talking, Draco."

"Hey, Cela," Draco said as he turned to her. "That's your name, right? I like what you've done with your hair this year. It looks like a boogie I pulled out of my nose when I was five."

"Gee, Draco. That's a brave thing to say, especially since not many people admit to picking their nose," I said.

Draco frowned at me. He was apparently trying to cook up a clever comeback.

"I suggest that you leave now, Draco." I stood up glared at him.

Draco looked at me in the eyes and behind his I saw cold and darkness. "You're way out of your league here, Yank. This isn't laid back, anything goes America. This is MY world and I suggest that you stop living in your fantasy and come join reality."

"What fantasy?" I asked.

"Draco, can you do us all a favor and just leave?" Trill glared at him as evilly as she could.

"That's alright," Draco said. "It's not like I want to hang around with twin Mudbloods and a Yank with P.M.S."

I felt a slight prickly feeling in my fingers as I cracked my knuckles. "Say that again. I dare you."

"You're filthy, disgusting Mudbloods," Draco said, staring at Trill and Cela with intense loathing.

A sudden rush came over me and it almost felt as if I had lost control of my body completely, and some different Chilly emerged.

Without warning, I lunged at him and punched him in the nose.

"Bloody hell!" Draco cried as he covered his nose with his hands. "Why did you go and do that for?"

"You'd better leave Draco," Cela said as she held me back from punching Draco some more.

Draco snapped his fingers for his bodyguards. They helped him up and left with him.

"Let me go! I want to rip out that fake hair of his!" I yelled as I struggled against Cela's grip.

"It's not worth it," Trill assured as she came over to us. "Just let it go, Chilly. He says that to everyone."

"I can't just let it go!" I said. I began panting and the room around me began to spin.

"Chilly? Are you okay? Your eyes are all bloodshot," Trill said as she examined me.

"Just give her room to cool down and she'll be all right," Cela said. "Really, though. I can't believe he would say that. That is the vilest thing you can say. Of course, he is the most vile creature on the planet."

"When you start going off about his hair, that's what gets him," Trill explained. "I did that once and the next morning, I had spiders crawling all over my pillow."

The room stopped spinning and my breathing slowed down. "I think I'm okay now."

"Good. Now hurry up and change into your robes. We're nearly there," Cela said.

I pulled my robes over my head and made sure that they were on the right way. I often had a habit of putting them on backwards out of nervousness.

"Is he always this bad?" I asked Cela.

"Pretty much. I swear the day he says something nice is a sure sign of the Apocalypse," Cela replied.

"My mother always told me to see the good in people," I said, "but when I look at him, I don't sense any good in him at all."

"Nothing?" Trill questioned. "Not even the tiniest sliver of good?"

"Nope. All I feel is cold, as cold as his eyes are blue."

The train slowed to a stop. Trill, Cela, and I headed out of our compartment and followed some other students out of the train.

It was drizzling outside and the sky was hidden with dark cumulonimbus clouds. I shivered and pulled my robes around me to keep warm. The platform was crowded, but there wasn't enough body heat to take the cold out of the air around me.

I pulled out my letter from my pocket.

"Go along with the first years," I read. "I will sort you along with them."

"Are you nervous?" Trill nervous.

"A little," I said. "Just worried that people are going to think I'm a first year if I get sorted with them."

"You'll be fine," Cela assured.

"Anyway, what do you do to get sorted?" I asked.

"You have to take a test," Trill explained. "It's really hard and then you have to duel one of the professors to test if you are worthy of entrance and then…"

Seeing the slightly worried look on my face, Cela immediately stepped in. "Oh, shut up Trill. Chilly, all they're going to do is stick a hat on your head."

I sighed in relief. Although I didn't believe a word of what Trill said, it still made me worried.

"Wait, did you say they're going to stick a hat on my head?"

"Firs' years! Firs' years, over here!" a booming voice called.

"Well, there's your signal," Cela said.

"Are you hoping for me to get into Ravenclaw or Gryffindor?" I asked.

"I vote indecisive," Trill said.

"Ditto," Cela added.

I waved good-bye to them and then headed over to where I heard the booming voice coming from. I lost my sense of direction, and then I realized all I had to do was follow the short people… I mean slightly shorter people.

They were climbing into small rowboats by the time I caught up with them. I sighed and stepped into a random boat.

I looked over to my right and nearly screamed. I didn't expect to see a giant of a man sitting there, holding a pink umbrella. His beard was shaggy and he had beetle black eyes. As soon as I saw the warmth in those eyes of his, I knew that I could trust him.

"Yeh look a little old ter be a firs' year," he suddenly said to me.

I nearly jumped out of the boat when I heard that booming voice directed at me. "I'm not. I'm a transfer student in the sixth year, thank you very much," I explained. "I bring greetings from America, hoping that you will accept me as one of your people."

He chuckled slightly. "My name is Rubeus Hagrid, but me friends call me Hagrid."

"I'm Chilly," I said. "And no, that's not a nickname. That's my real name."

"No problem with that." He cleared his throat and pointed his umbrella. "FORWARD!"

To my surprise, the boats started moving on their own across the black lake. I put my fingers into the cold water as we rolled along. The boats moved across the water as if it were glass.

"I say this calls for a song!" shouted a tiny first year. "Merrily we roll along, roll along, roll along… All together!"

Soon, the lake was alive with the chirping of small voices, all miraculously singing in tune.

I stared at them blankly, trying to decide on whether I should put up with their liveliness, or throw myself into the lake.

"Merrily we roll along, roll along, roll along... Merrily we roll along, o'er the deep blue sea..."

I was just glad that Hagrid didn't join in with the singing. If he had, I wouldn't have to throw myself into the lake. With his booming voice, it would vibrate my boat and I'd fall out.

We finally reached a small dock maybe somewhere under the school. I was relieved that the singing finally stopped. It looked like the first years were now cowering with nervousness. This made me happy.

A stern woman with her hair pulled back tight into a bun was waiting for us at the dock. Her robes were a deep green and she had large glasses that hid most of her thin face. This did not look like a woman with a sense of humor. Maybe that's why the first years suddenly shut up.

"Welcome to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," she said in a proper British accent. "Thank you, Hagrid."

"It's a pleasure," he said as he walked up a flight of stairs.

"I am Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress," she went on. "I'll be leading you to the Great Hall, where you will be sorted. Please follow me."

I trailed on behind the group as we went up the flight of stairs. The first thing I noticed as Professor McGonagall led us to the Great Hall was how many paintings this school had.

Many subjects stared at you as you walked by them, and others hid from you. I noticed that a couple of subjects were leaving their own paintings and reappearing in another one, as if they were trying to follow us. They weren't very good at being secretive about it.

The next thing I noticed were the suits of armor. They were old and medieval looking and most of them held axes or swords. A couple of them held maces. As we were walking along, I thought I saw a head of one suit of armor turn in my direction.

I stopped dead in my tracks and stared at it. Suits of armor don't move by themselves. Of course, how would I know? At my school in the States, we didn't have suits of armor.

I walked over to the suit of armor and examined it. It looked stiff to me. I knocked on its chest piece and was satisfied when I heard an echo.

"Okay," I said to myself. "No worries."

I turned back to the group and my eyes widened. They were already gone.

How could this happen? I only turned around for a split second! I shook my head at myself. Way to go, Chilly. You've gotten yourself lost in a completely unfamiliar school and you're going to miss your sorting.

My eyes searched the corridor to see if there was any sign of where they went. It was no use. There were at least three other doors besides the one I came through, and I didn't want to take the chance of them leading me further away from the Great Hall.

"Great," I said as I flung my arms in the air. "What am I going to do?"