As she stepped off the train, Izabella looked up and down the platform for her father. Not seeing him, she pulled her trunk from the train. She dragged her trunk across the wooden platform until she reached a bench, shaded but a small building. She set her bag down on the bench and waited.
Finally, she saw him heading down the platform towards her, behind him was a giant of a man with long shaggy hair and a tangled beard. Her father her looked very upset, in fact, from this distance the giant looked much friendlier.
Stopping before they reached her, they both looked towards at her as her father spoke to the giant. When her father stopped talking, he giant nodded and Izabella watched as her father walked down the platform in the opposite direction.
The smiling giant lumbered over to where Izabella stood, " 'ello, Rubeus 'argrid, yew can just call me 'agrid. This all yew 'ave, jus' the trunk, then?"
She watched her father walk down the platform until he turned and disappeared down an alley. Turning to face Hagrid, "I have a bag too," she answered as she picked up the bag from the bench next to her. Hagrid lifted the trunk, and carried it towards the line carriages, stopping at the last one; he placed the trunk in the back and helped Izabella inside. "Professor Snape said 'e'd be 'ere straight away."
She nodded and Hagrid continued, "Yew'll be 'eadin' to the castle with yer father, in 'is carriage. I 'ave ta be takin' the firs' years over by boat, yew'll be meetin' up with them fer the sortin.' Can't tell yew which 'ouse yew'll be in, but yew'll maybe be in some classes with yer cousin."
"My cousin?" Izabella wasn't sure she had heard him right, she always thought it was just her grandmother, father and her. She didn't know of any other family.
Hagrid nodded, "Yer cousin, Draco, 'e should be 'ere." Hagrid's eyes searched the platform, he shrugged "Can't say that I see 'im, but 'ere comes yer father."
Her eyes followed Hagrid's gaze; he father was walking towards them carrying a large package covered in a black cloth. As he grew closer Izabella saw that her father's expression had changed from grim frown that he was wearing when she first saw him on the platform. As he walked towards the carriage, several students passed him wondering why he was in Hogsmeeade on the first day of term. Has he passed each student; he nodded in response to their greetings. None of the students noticed the twinkle in his eyes as he kept his gaze on his daughter in the carriage ahead.
When he finally reached the carriage, "A belated birthday gift." he smiled as he removed the black cloth, revealing a young snow owl, which hooted loudly at the bright light.
While looking at the owl, Izabella stuck a finger through the bars of cage and the small owl nipped playfully. She laughed softly and looked at her father, "But Father, you have already given me so much," with a single tear running down her cheek she continued, "I am here, that is all I ever wanted."
As her father brushed the tear away, he noticed that Hagrid was standing there watching them. "Don't you have first years to look after?" he said, a bit harsher than he had intended.
Hagrid answered, "Yes, Professor." He turned and walked away calling out, "Firs' years, over 'ere. All firs' years, this way."

* * * * * * * * * * * *

As the line of carriages began to move Izabella asked, "What is Hogwarts like?"
Severus explained, "Hogwarts is a castle, it was built over a thousand years ago by four friends, Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin. The dorms and most of the classes are all held in the castle itself. Unlike your school in The States, Hogwarts is protected by muggle repelling charms."
Izabella thought about the school that she had spent the last five years attending. Salem Witches' Institute was like most private schools in America. The campus was made up of several buildings, which surrounded Lily Dale, the heart of the campus. Three girls' dorms stood at one side of The Dale, while the three boys' dorms, were on the other side. Between the dormitories was Merlin Hall, the oldest building on campus, this is where the classrooms, dining hall and library were. Next to the boys' dormitories is Plymouth House, where the headmaster lives. Behind Merlin Hall is the Quidditch Pitch, the only part of the school that had to be protected by charms.
Her thoughts were interrupted by her father's voice, "...the same classes have been taught for centuries, using the same techniques and philosophies. In America they use the modern ways of teaching and offer classes that The Ministry would never consider allowing to be taught at Hogwarts. There are a few classes that Hogwarts offers only after the seventh year and then these are only offered to students who will be working for The Ministry."
"Are these classes that I have been taking?" she asked.
"Yes," her father replied, "Legilimency, Occlumency, and Crystal reading."
"I don't care about crystals, that class was boring and that instructor was a fake," she sighed heavily and continued, "I really did want to get my N.E.W.T.s in Legilimency and Occlumency next year."
"I will see what can be done."
The road curved and the castle loomed before them, "It's so big," she said looking ahead. "Tell me about the Houses, Hagrid said something about being sorted. What's that all about?"
"The Sorting Ceremony is very important, you will placed in a house that most suits you. You will have classes with other students from you house, you will sleep in the house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room. You will most likely be placed in Slytherin," he continued with a smile, "I am head of Slytherin House."
"Hagrid also said something about..." Izabella was about to ask about her cousin when the carriage stopped.