Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter©

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Harry pulled his trunk out of the boot of his Uncle's new company car and coughed as his uncle drove off, leaving him standing in a cloud of fumes. He picked up the gilt cage containing Hedwig and made his way to platform 9 ¾. He casually leaned against the wall, and making sure there were no muggles watching, slid through the barrier to the other side.

He was very early, it was only 8:00 am, as Uncle Vernon had insisted that he be dropped off on his way to work or not at all. As a result there was nobody else there yet, and Harry took the opportunity to find a good compartment. He pulled the heavy trunk into a compartment at the front of the train and let Hedwig out. She had been cooped up far to long this summer; Uncle Vernon had refused once again to let him write to his friends. He watched as she spread her wings and took off out the window.

Harry couldn't wait to see Ron and Hermione again. Dumbledore had made it quite clear that he wanted Harry staying at his Aunt and Uncles house- much to his chagrin. He wondered what changes the rise of Voldemort would bring about at Hogwarts. He longed for contact with the wizarding world once again. All he had had all summer were letters from his friends for his birthday and such and a letter from Hogwarts. This letter had been different from usual. It had come earlier than usual and had contained the results for his OWL examination.

He remembered grinning as he read through it- he had done much better than he thought he would, gaining an OWL for every subject except for Divination. He was surprised that he had scraped through History Of Magic and even more surprised about the comment Snape had written, saying that he was 'quite goog' at Potions, which was considerably extravagant praise from him. Ron had received six OWLs, and was very pleased with himself. It had been quite surprising, but then again, he had put his head down and actually studied a lot. Hermione of course had done exceptionally well, coming top of the year.

Harry had had to choose which subjects he was going to continue with. He chose the same ones, with the exception of Divination, which he exchanged for Advanced Defence Against The Dark Arts. The only thing that had kept him doing Potions was the fact that he had done so well at it. Harry changed in to his robes and strolled down the corridor, hoping that he would see someone he knew soon.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Leya gazed at the brick wall in front of her dubiously. Her father had given her instructions as to how to get on the train, but she wasn't sure. She made up her mind only after she saw several others go through the wall, and only after realizing that she only had ten minutes left. She leant against the wall and nearly fell over when it seemingly dissolved. Looking over her shoulder she saw it was on the other side of her now. She pulled her trunk along behind her and gazed in dismay at the hundreds of students running around.

Her father had insisted that, after the rise of Voldemort, he wanted her as close as possible, so she was starting her sixth year at Hogwarts. She walked slowly up to the train, and attracted the looks of several boys. They rushed up to her and offered to help with her trunk. She was used to the attention and she hated it. They saw a good- looking girl and went all oily and charming. She refused their offer and they walked away, looking disappointed. She went to the front of the train, hoping to find a vacant compartment there, only to find it all full. There seemed to be less people however, so she put her things in one that only held a few student's possessions. There was nobody in there, so she left her things and went back into the corridor.

She walked towards the rear of the train, past running second years and groups of shy, quiet first years. A moment later someone walked out of the compartment in front of her. Two students ran past her and bumped her, knocking her into him. He stumbled and fell over as they ran into him too. They fell next to each other and she muttered an apology when her head cleared. He didn't seem to hear her and stood up.

"Sorry about that," he said, holding his hand out. She looked up at him. Normally if a boy offered to help her she refused- they usually had ulterior motives, trying to get a pretty girl to show off to their friends- but there was nothing in his face to suggest that. She took his hand and stood up. He was different to most other boys.

"Sorry again," he said, smiling, as he pulled her up off the floor.

"It's fine," she replied, smiling back. "It wasn't your fault." She took in his face and realised who he was. He was quite handsome- better looking than pictures she had seen of him. His eyes were an enchanting shade of green and his black hair flopped over his forehead, hiding the scar that she knew was there.

He held out his hand once more.

"Hi. I'm Harry." She shook his hand.

"Analeya. My friends call me Leya."

"Are you knew this year? I haven't seen you before."

"Yes. I'm in sixth year. My father transferred me to Hogwarts from an overseas school. He wanted me to be closer to him after Voldemort rose again." He looked at her, and the expression on his face was one of respect.

"You don't mind saying his name?" She shrugged.

"No. Why would I be afraid of a name?" He grinned. She didn't know why she had told him so much, but there was something very open and trusting about him.

"I better go to my compartment now. My friends are probably waiting. Where's your compartment?"

"Up the front. Number three I think," she replied, slightly put out that she would have to spend the train ride alone. Harry was the first decent person she had met so far. He wasn't lusting after her like most guys did, and he was very nice.

"Hey! That's mine too!"

"Cool!" That was the first good bit of news she had had all day.

"Come on," he said, as the train's whistle blew. "I'll introduce you to my friends."

She followed him down the corridor to the compartment, where two other sixth years were sitting talking.

"Hi Harry. What took you so long?" She saw someone come in behind Harry.

"Hi." Hermione said, looking somewhat confused. "Is this your stuff?"

"Yes. Sorry if it's in your way-"

"No of course it isn't. Please sit down. My name's Hermione Granger and this is Ron Weasley," she gestured to a tall red- headed boy who was sitting in the corner. He grinned and waved.

"Hi." She couldn't help but smile at the grin that spread across his face.

"Hi. I'm Analeya Snape. You can call me Leya." She saw the shocked looks on their faces as she sat next to Harry.

"Snape?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Yes. My father works at Hogwarts." The trio looked stunned. Ron spoke up.

"Snape's your father? I didn't know he had a daughter. I didn't even know he was married."

"He isn't. My mother died when I was three," she said, unhappy at the way this conversation was going.

"Sorry Leya," said Harry, noticing the look on her face. "It's just a shock, that's all. We aren't exactly Snape's favourite students," he grinned. "I don't think anyone knew he had a daughter."

"It's all right."

"So you'll be in Slytherin then?" asked Hermione.

"Actually, I'm not sure," she replied. "I guess I might be, considering my father was one, but my mother was a Gryffindor. I don't really want to be in Slytherin. I've heard they aren't a nice bunch."

"We'll second that," said Ron. They talked about other things for a while, mainly their summer, while the countryside changed from rolling green hills to dense rainforest that she hadn't known existed in England.

After a while the door slid open and a plump witch appeared with a trolley laden with food.

"Anything from the trolley dears?" she asked.

"The three of them pulled out some money, but Leya, having not known about the trolley, had no money. Harry noticed this and offered her 2 galleons.

"Thanks Harry," she said.

"No problem," he replied simply.

She was surprised, but pleasantly. She had read about Harry Potter, and all that he had accomplished, but after talking to him she realised that he was a normal teenager like her. He hadn't told her his last name when he introduced himself, knowing she would already know; yet not making a big deal of it. She had expected him to be confident and full of himself, thinking he was better than everyone else, but he was quiet and modest, and she sensed that he would be willing to trade his fame in a heartbeat for anonymity. When he walked down the corridor before, she noticed that he had avoided the stares and finger pointing, and whispers that were ever- present. She wondered how it would feel to be him, a constant object of interest.

She turned her attention to the scenery outside. It was raining, albeit lightly, and she could see a lake outside.

"Nearly there," said Hermione. There conversation had stilled some time ago and there was quiet in the compartment. Suddenly the door slid open and three people entered, the two bigger ones flanking a smaller boy, who held a smirk over his handsome features. He stopped when he saw her, unsure of this new development. Harry spoke up.

"What do you want Malfoy?" he asked hotly. Obviously these two did not like each other, judging by the looks of disgust and dislike on each other's faces. Ron and Hermione's faces held similar looks. She knew who Malfoy was of course, or at least knew of him. His father was a death eater. She didn't know if his father had told him of her existence or not. She didn't think so.

"So Potter, Weasle and the mudblood decided to come bac again. What a shame."

He turned to look at her, his eyes roaming her body. She felt an instant dislike for him. He held out a hand, the smirk turning into a charming smile.

"Just a word of warning- you really don't want to hang around with riff raff like this. Draco Malfoy by the way. And who might you be?" She stared at him frostily and refused his hand as she told him her name.

"Analeya Snape." His reaction was much the same as that of the others.

"Snape!"

"Yes. Do you have a problem with that?" she asked frostily, glaring at him.

"Didn't know Snape had a daughter," he scowled, seemingly put- out by this revelation. "Should be in Slytherin, not hanging around with this Gryffindor trash."

"I am capable of judging who is trash and who isn't thankyou very much Malfoy," she said back to him and a pink tinge appeared in his cheeks. He still tried to put the charming act on however.

"Well Analeya, I hope you come to your senses soon. You'll obviously be in Slytherin, so you'll want to make friends with real wizards sooner or later." He smiled at her, then scowled at the other three and left the compartment.

"Slimy git," muttered Ron, glaring at the door.

Overhead, the whistle sounded the train began to slow.

"Finally!" exclaimed Hermione. The four of them pulled their trunks down and made their way off the train. Carriages waited to take them to the castle. The four of them climbed into one, filling it. With a jolt the carriage pulled forward and they were on their way.

"So Leya," said Harry, "Are you going to try on the Sorting Hat?"

"Yes, I think so. I don't really want to though. I wish I could just try it on when nobody's looking," she said glumly, disliking the thought of standing in front of the whole school. They rode in the carriage for only a short while, coming to a stop before the doors to the Entrance Hall. They got out quickly, shielding their faces from the onslaught of rain.

Harry looked at Leya, her wet black hair hanging down the side of her face. She did look like Snape, he thought, but much nicer. She didn't have a perpetual frown on her face either.

They followed the line of students up the steps and into the Great Hall. Leya's breath caught in her throat as she looked at the ceiling. The enchanted roof was even better than her father had described. She looked at the long table at the front, and saw her father sitting there. She followed Harry through he crowd and they sat at what was clearly the Gryffindor table. She sat next to him and joined in the conversation. Gradually the hall filled as students took their places. Suddenly someone spoke to her.

"Miss Snape, if you would follow me? You will need to try on the Sorting Hat."

Leya looked at Harry, Ron and Hermione and got up, smiling her apology.

"Save my seat. I have a feeling I might be back."

She smiled again and followed Professor McGonagal between the rows of chairs.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sorry if this chapter is a bit boring, it is just a lead- up into the next one, so bear with me. My first Harry Potter fic so plz go easy on me. Reviews would really really really be appreciated, thanks!