Two girls struggled off the train, fighting to keep hold of all their bags. As a large man made his way through the crowd, the flame haired girl suddenly shrieked.

"HAGRID!" Ginny screamed before launching herself at the half giant.

The other girl of the duo winced. Towering over the third year next to her, she commented nonchalantly that she was now officially deaf and lame. Ginny's trunk had landed on her left foot when she tackled Hagrid.

As the enormous man and the seemingly tiny girl made their way over to Bronwyn, Ginny gasped.

"I'm so sorry Bronwyn! I didn't mean to!" gesturing to her trunk while she fussed.

The oak haired girl raised an eyebrow. "Absolutely bloody wonderful. Can you tell me this when you get the soddin' trunk off my foot?"

A tsking sound came from behind the Welsh girl. Bronwyn looked up to the sky, a pleading expression sprawled across her face. "Paham 'm? {Why Me?} What in the Horse lords name is it with people MAKING NOISES FROM BEHIND ME?!?"

Twisting around so that she could see who had vexed her, she heaved a surly sigh. "Only you. What do you WANT?" she asked, none too pleased.

Hermoine gave the younger girl a disapproving glare. "Watch your language. There are young ones about."

Disgruntled, Bronwyn glared at her, her dark gray eyes darkening further to an almost black. "Watch my language aye? Well - Up yours. Bite me bitch. Take a bloody long walk off a short soddin' cliff. Take your pick kid."

Hermoine looked stunned that someone had dared to question her judgment. Ron looked affronted, and Harry looked like he didn't know what the hell to do, besides look indignant.

Looking up at Hagrid, she asked in a sugary voice - "Would you be SO kind, my dear sir, as to help this poor, wee, frail maiden with this painful, bloody heavy, wooden trunk off my foot that has been broken four times?"

Nodding with a slight smile, the black bearded man lifted the trunk off her foot, and helped her pick up the bags that had been dropped. Glaring at any kids that had been staring at her, Bronwyn made her way down to the carriages.

Watching the girl go, Hagrid let out a deep chuckle. "You sure know where 'ta find 'em Gin don't 'ya?" he asked before gathering all the first years and taking them to the boats by the lake. Ginny ran after her friend. What she found shocked her. There was Bronwyn, petting and cooing to some invisible thing. "What are you doing?" she asked her.

"Can't you see what beautiful creatures they are? I haven't seen anything like them!" Just then Harry came up to her, to deposit Ginny's cat's cage at her feet.

"That's because most people can't see them. Only if you've seen someone killed or die in front of you. How can you think they're beautiful?"

Bronwyn looked resentful. "Of course they're beautiful! Just not in a light that everyone thinks beautiful should be. They're gorgeous in a dark way, one that is slightly sinister."

Harry snorted. " 'Slightly sinister?' If you say so." With that he headed to a madly waving Hermoine, and a perturbed looking Ron.

"Strange boy." Muttered Bronwyn. Ginny looked at her. "I completely agree. Can I call you Bron until I find a different nickname?"

Bronwyn looked up. "Sure. But only if I get to call you Virginia until I find a MUCH better nickname." With that, she started to haul their luggage into the carriage.

A while latter, as they started to go into the Great Hall, Hagrid stopped her. "You 'ave 'ta be sorted wi't the firs' years." Shrugging, Bronwyn fell into line.

Smiling at the scared looking girl in front of her, she asked her what house she thought she would be sorted into. The petite girl raised a shoulder. "I dunno. Probably Ravenclaw. Mum and Dad were from there."

Bronwyn nodded. The girl looked up at her with light brown eyes. "What about you? You seem too old to be in a sorting."

"I'm a transfer student. I used to live in the United States. But now I'm going to school here. I have no idea. I'm just hoping that wherever I am that I'll be with friends."

The ash-blonde head bobbed up and down knowingly.

Suddenly the group surged forward. Walking into the Great Hall, Bronwyn suddenly felt VERY self-conscious. She was a god foot over most of the kids, and she was way older. And she had no clue as to what the houses were, and which house was the 'good' and which one was the 'bad' house.

As they made their way into some semblance of order, Bronwyn was shocked to see an old hat there. Which promptly started to sing. From the song, she gathered there were four houses, Gryfindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff. She stood a good chance for entering any off the first three houses she guessed.

Finally the hat sorted all the way down to the 'J's'. The little girl in front of her looked up, and Bronwyn gave her the best reassuring smile she could give, when she herself felt queasy.

"Good luck." Muttered the blonde. 'Jarnit, Tarah!' was called. The brown eyed first year's prediction was true. She was indeed sorted into Ravenclaw.

A strict looking woman with glasses barked "Jones, Bronwyn" and Bronwyn stepped forth. The moment of truth. As she walked out to the stool that the hat sat on, her chains and boots clunked and clicked as she placed the hat on top of her head.

Sitting down, almost sprawling around, she heard the hat mutter. "Ahh yes...very difficult this will be. Haven't had a sorting as hard as this since Harry Potter."

A voice sounded in her head. / Do not worry. You have the strength and bravery of Gryfindor, the cunning and ambition of the Snakes, and yet the wit of Ravenclaw. I sense that you have a close friend in Gryfindor - one that I sense needs you more at the moment than the one in Slytherin. /

"Ancestors, I do believe that this one...oh my..possibly..Are you sure not Ravenclaw? Yes...WELL. No need to get testy. I think that it's a shame that you aren't so much needed in Slytherin...last chance..my goodness. Violent aren't you? ALL RIGHT.

GRYFINDOR!"

There was a bit of shocked silence for a bit then the table closest to the head table erupted in cheers.

"Bloody friggen' adrenaline rush that." She muttered to a brown haired boy as she sat down. Unfortunately, her chain got stuck in the bench as she went to sit down, and as her body sprawled on the floor, and her mouth opened to curse the world, Ron shoved a roll in her mouth.

"Can't have you corrupting the first years yet can we?" he asked snidely. There were a few snickers.

Bronwyn growled. "Get you ruddy hands off me." Sitting down at the table, she waited for the rest of the first years to be sorted. Dumbledor stood to make his annual opening speech.

"Welcome to Hogwarts! Before we begin our feast, I would like to remind you returning students, and inform the first years, that the Forbidden Forest in prohibited. Filch -"

Bronwyn tuned out after the second sentence. Food. Where was the bloody food?

Finally, after what seemed like eons to her, golden plates and goblets appeared in front of all the students. All the first years 'ooed' and 'ahhed', but the Welsh seventeen year old glared resentfully at the plate.

Grabbing a steak, she plopped it onto her plate, and then scared the seemingly Irish boy next to her as she reached into her shirt.

"Isn't it a bit early for that? Couldn't you wait till after dinner?" he asked. Bronwyn growled.

Cupping her breast slightly, she growled again. "Bloody thing! OUCH. I'm ok, I'm fine, thanks for wondering," she said darkly at the stares she got. After a second or two, she had a triumphant smile on her face. Victorious, she pulled out her switchblade.

Stroking it before flipping it open expertly, she started cutting her steak.

"So, what's your name?" she asked her seat partner. "Seamus." He answered. She nodded.

"Finally, another Gaelic name they get to butcher!" she exclaimed. It was Seamus's turn to nod. "Ah, justice shall be served."

With that they continued with their dinners.

~*~

Sitting on the edge of her bed, Bronwyn looked around for a place to put a weapons rack, somewhere that wouldn't hurt anybody, but would be easier to reach. She finally found it.

To the left of her bed, between the two beds, was a humungous cabinet, which sunk into the wall. There was a little cattycornered place that would do wonderfully.

Plucking her wand out of one of the many pockets in her pants, Bronwyn looked at the huge rack in front of her, and then waved her wand. Flick and swish, flick, flick, flick down. And there we go, one marvelous weapons 'cabinet'.

Pulling out numerous daggers and knives, Bronwyn carefully made sure that they were in their sheaths, before sliding them into their proper slots on the rack.

Grabbing her glaive, she put on the blade protector, and slid it into the hole made for pole arms.

Lastly she pulled long knives and her couple of swords. These were her babies.

There were three swords, one of them her grandfather's, which she had inherited from him. It had an onyx in the pommel, and had a medium sized handgrip, which was black leather with silver filigree inlay, wrapping around the grip in a spiral pattern.

It was a broadsword, and quite light considering the length of the sword. Weight is not an advantage in sword fighting, because rather than relying on weight, a sword relies on the power of cutting and slashing.

The blade itself was a good three and a half feet long.

She also had two short swords, which she would fence with at the same time. She considered this the most beautiful fighting there was, as it was more like dancing with her weapons (or the enemy) than fighting.

They had curved blades, and were about 28 inches from pommel to tip. Red velvet was on the handgrip, and they each had the insets of the Japanese Kanji Symbol for peace on them.

Sighing, she slid them back into their sheaths, and hung them from their scabbard belts on the hooks from the shelf on the cabinet.

Picking up her pajamas, Bronwyn walked to the girl's bathroom, and changed into them, pausing to brush her teeth before walking back to her bed, and after sliding between the red sheets, fell asleep.

So ended her first day at Hogwarts.

~*~

WHUMP.

With a shriek, Bronwyn was out of bed, and reaching for her knife, when she noticed Ginny standing there, a smile on her face.

"Come on. We don't have that long until breakfast. You want a shower right? Well, I've already had mine."

Bronwyn nodded sleepily. "I need caffeine. And sugar." She mumbled before switching on the shower and locking the door. You never could be too cautious on who would try to prank you while you were in the shower.

~*~

After drying herself off, Bronwyn stepped over to the large cabinet. You could easily tell which side was Ginny's and which side was hers. Ginny had a relatively colorful wardrobe, but to the left side of the cabinet, there were only three colors, navy, black, and red.

Pulling out baggy crimson cargos, and a tight black shirt she put them on. Looking at her self critically, before shaking her head, she grabbed her brush, dragged it through, and then picked up her wand.

Streaking it through, she now had dark red streaks in her hair. "Wicked." She muttered.

Not forgetting her faithful knife, she stuck it her boot. Heading out to the common room, she saw Ginny sitting on one of the couches, with one of the other girls Bronwyn had seen at dinner.

Sitting down, she smiled slightly. The girl had on dangly star earrings that sparkled whenever she moved in the slightest bit. Blonde hair, blue eyes, and an expression that looked as if she was a universe away.

"Hey Bron'. This is Luna - she's a good friend of mine."

Bronwyn nodded, and stuck out her hand. "Bronwyn Jones. Nice to meet you."

Smiling slightly, she looked at Ginny. "Gin, what time does class start?"

Luna and Ginny shared a smile. "It doesn't. Not until next Monday. Thank Merlin."

Bronwyn raised an eyebrow and grinned. "Well then. Is there anywhere I can go to practice- somewhere where no one will get hurt?"

Sharing another glance, Ginny nodded. "Yeah. It's called the Room of Requirement. I guess that we could show you. Grab your stuff and we'll head down there. Is it all right if we watch? I kinda want to practice to."

Luna added in a breathy voice "What exactly do you want to practice."

Bronwyn raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Oh, you'll see in a moment. But the only condition to you guys coming is that you don't go blabbing about this, and you stay out of the way. Don't want to be held accountable. I don't think that McGonagall even knows that I have these with me." She smirked. "Gods forbid she finds out. I don't want the Dream Team to see either. Hermoine hates me enough as it is."

Ginny chuckled. "I would hate to see her reaction."

Bronwyn stood up and ran up the stairs to the dorm.

She took her baggy clothes off, and slipped on some shorts and a sports bra. Picking up a sweater and sweat pants, she put them on over her work out clothes. Gods she loved Muggle clothes. So much easier to deal with and work in.

Grabbing her broadsword, she strapped it to her back, and belted on the two curved swords' scabbards. Grabbing her long knives, she slid them into their sheaths on her broadsword's scabbard.

Finally picking up her glaive, she threw on a heavy black cloak over all of her weapons, and headed downstairs.

There stood Ginny and Luna. Ginny was holding a small bag, and held a small case.

~Is that a VIOLIN case?~ Bronwyn asked her self as she stopped next to the two other girls.

"Is that a glaive?" asked Luna. "Yah. And my long knives, short swords, daggers, and broadsword."

Luna raised her eyebrows. "Paranoid? Well, you never know when something nasty's going to jump out at you I suppose?"

Bronwyn raised an eyebrow and smiled. "The girl's got brains! I like your logic! Finally someone that sees it in my view!"

Lavender Brown, who had been sitting at a table a little ways off looked up at Bronwyn's loud exclamation.

"Now THERE"S a scary thought." She said, before putting her nose up in the air, and sashayed off to the seventh year girls' dorm.

"Well. Now there's someone that I wouldn't associate with." Bronwyn snorted.

Ginny and Luna laughed. "I think that we'll have no problems with you."

Grinning, the girls stood and walked out of the portrait hole, the Fat Lady looking warily at Bronwyn's weapons.

"I think the Fat Lady might be a little put off you now Bron'." Said Ginny as they walked to the Room.

"Why?"

"In our second year, Harry's godfather came and threatened her with a knife. Slashed her painting he did." The red head said.

Bronwyn looked at the two. "Sounds like a cool guy." Luna and Ginny shared a glance.

"Yah. I miss him. He was killed last year." Ginny said, eyes taking on a sorrowful look.

"Eh." As she said this, they came to a crowded hallway. "It's not even the bloody START of school and it' this crowded!" said the broad shouldered girl as she pushed her way through the crowds.

One fifth year Slytherin nearly skewered himself onto Bronwyn's glaive. "Watch it!" she growled at him.

"Fuckin' Grfyie cunt." He muttered back before trying to push past.

Bronwyn whirled. Ginny rolled her eyes, and Luna looked worried. "You want to say that to my face runt?" she questioned him, drawing her self up to her full height, glaring down at the boy.

"I said it and you damn well heard it." The boy glowered.

Bronwyn took a step forward. "I'd be watching who you talked about boy. I thought that Slytherin were suppose-" she was cut off by a shout of 'Bron!'

She glanced up at the broad shouldered boy coming her way. "Blaise my man!" she said.

The fifth year looked a little nervous. "What's up?" he asked as her reached them. He gave a curt nod to Ginny and Luna.

"This idiot tired to make himself a shishkabob, and said some pretty nasty things when I told him to watch it."

Blaise looked at the boy. "Ah. Yes. Well. David, watch yourself. She's as good as a Slytherin."

With one last glare, the younger boy turned on his heel and stormed of. "Temper, temper." Bronwyn muttered.

Blaise took in her attire, and the outline of her swords. "Off to practice?" he asked.

She nodded. "Yah. Hey man, I'll meet you down by the lake later; k? Gotta fly right now."

Ginny and Luna looked confused. 'Gotta fly?' - but she was going to practice weapons, not Quidditch. Ginny shrugged.

Blaise nodded at her once more. "Alright. After dinner. Bye. Have fun, and don't work yourself to hard." With that he turned and walked away.

They resumed their trek to the Room of Requirement. Ginny stopped after a few minuets.

"Ok, here's the deal. Walk down this corridor, then back, then down again, thinking of what you want a room for. And then we'll go from there. Think really hard for what you want."

Bronwyn shrugged her broadsword on a little higher, and followed the two girls.

~Weapons practice room, suitable flooring, mirrors, and cleaning supplies - ~ the list went on in her head. After a few minuets of walking down the corridor and back, a door suddenly sprung up.

"Where the hell did THAT come from?" she asked. Luna opened the door.

"This, my friend, is the Room of Requirement."

The room was HUGE. To the far wall, there was a raised platform, overlooking the floor of the room. On it was comfy looking couches, a table, wit what appeared to be books, magazines, and food on it.

To the right half of the room, there was a music stand, and mirrors. A radio was there. Ginny walked happily over to it.

On the left side of the room, there was a rubber-ish dance floor. Striding over to it, Bronwyn noticed it had a couple of inches worth of sand on it.

"Perfect." She sighed. There were mirrors lining the wall and the corner that was hers, and there were cupboards and a small table to the far right.

"Absolutely perfect." She said again.

Taking off her cloak, she tossed it to Luna, who hung it over one of the chairs.

Unstraping all the belts and scabbards, Bronwyn took off her sweater and sweat pants. Slowly walking over to the table, she set her things down on it, and looked into the cupboards.

Gleefully, she took out fencing slippers. Slipping them on, she walked to the non-sandy part of her floor.

She began stretching, and as she did so, she heard a mournful sound start. Looking over, she saw that Ginny had taken out her Violin, and had started to play.

Ignoring it as much as she could, she did her left and right splits, before doing her push-ups and crunches. Her routine over, she went and surveyed her weapons. Which one to use first?

Picking up her favorites, her short swords, she brought them to the middle of the arena.

Starting her high -low blocks and hits, she warmed up with them.

She felt different this time when practicing. More in tune with the blades. Not knowing what was happening, she felt a rhythm, and a flowing sensation came through.

~Left, back, ball change, over under, Right wrist flick, left blade under~ as the thoughts came to her, she ignored them, and decided to just...move.

Luna watched her friends. As Ginny got more and more into the graceful, mourning melody she was playing, Bronwyn was using circular, flowing movements of her two swords. They were a silver blur.

IT was a beautiful effect. The two were so caught up in their worlds, that they didn't hear the sounds of the door opening, and male voices outside.

Luna snapped back to reality when a grand piano popped up to her left, near Ginny, and the Room added another few meters to the room.

Softly a soprano voice started singing along with the melody, adding harmonies. Bronwyn picked up her speed, adding more ducks and spins to her movements, more footwork.

Luna was nearly crying. How ironic that two things, war and harmony and beauty would go together so well.

As the song came to an end, Bronwyn slowed down, ending with her left blade in front of her, and her right blade above her head, slightly behind.

~*~

There was a soft clapping. Snapping her head up, she was surprised to see the school prefects standing there.

"Oh Merlin." Said Bronwyn. "What happened? I thought I heard music? Luna, Gin, it was so strange, I couldn't see anything. I just saw...silver. It was so strange."

The girl slowly brought her swords down her her side, and looked to the door. Her eyes widened, and then her face slid back to indifference and an eyebrow raised.

"I didn't know we had an audience." Said Ginny. "And Bron'? That music was I." Luna came down off her platform. "Is there anything that we can do for you?" she asked the prefects.

Looking them over, she saw that there were a few people she recognized. Draco Malfoy, Ron Weasley, Hermoine Granger, Blaise Zabini - wait Blaise was a prefect? Interesting.

"I see you still have it Bron'." He said. The girl looked disturbed. "I suppose I do. I haven't done something like that in ages."

A puzzled expression still on her face, she walked over to the table. Setting down the twin swords, she opened one of the cupboards, and took out a whetstone, promptly starting to sharpen the edges of her blades.

Hermoine looked at Luna. "We're here on Prefect's duty. We heard music. So we came."

Luna looked at her a little suspiciously. "All of you?" she asked.

Ron spoke up. "Yeah. We just finished a meeting."

Draco spoke up. It seemed he had moved over to the piano. "All said in done," he sneered, "but why is there a piano here?"

Blaise looked up sheepishly. "I play?" they looked at him in amazement. This huge boy played the piano? Interesting. Very interesting.

Blaise looked at Bronwyn, before walking over, and helping her clean the blades.

Luna sighed. Just what was this year going to hold? She wasn't sure, but she knew that it would certaintly be extremely different from all the other years. She was sure that house rivalries wouldn't be a concern to many after the new girl got through with them.

And just what was that look Draco was giving Ginny when she went to pick up her Violin case? The blonde sighed again. This was going to be a most interesting year.