A/N: Well, here is yet another short chapter. I must warn you, this chapter has dialogue. I HATE writing dialogue, so bear with me. I tried not to go into too much detail...Oh, and for those of you who mentioned Tyto: Tyto comes from the scientific word for barn owls, "tyto alba", and you'll find out why he talks later!

Once on the train, the girl found herself in the company of two other people, apparently brother and sister. They introduced themselves as Hyacinth and Millard Filbus. She told them her name was Aria May.

"You're an American?" Millard asked in disbelief. He was a small, curious boy with a mass of curly brown hair.

Hyacinth glared at her brother. She shook her blond head at him. He made a face. "Don't be so rude, Millard. You—"

"That's all right," Aria interrupted. The last thing she wanted was to be caught in the middle of an all-out sibling battle. "Yeah, I'm American."

"Then why are you going to Hogwarts?"

"I'm an exchange student. I think I heard that this is the first year Hogwarts has ever participated."

"Really? And you're here all by yourself?" Hyacinth asked. "That must be really hard."

"Well," said Aria, "I do have my owl. His name is Tyto."

That started an immediate round of questions fired at Aria, mainly by Hyacinth. Aria found the other girl to be quite talkative, but she liked her in spite of this. They were both sixth years. Hyacinth went on and on about how wonderful it would be if Aria was assigned to her house, Ravenclaw, until Millard told her she was the one being rude now. Aria was telling them about her school — Cotton Mather's Academy of Spells and Magics — when another person walked in.

As he glanced around the compartment, his eyes met Aria's and she froze. His eyes, she thought, they're yellow. Like...like...

"Sorry," the newcomer mumbled. "I must have the wrong..." Startled, he looked at Aria. "Do I know you?"

"No," she said quickly, realizing she had been staring. "No."

"Oh, well then," he said. "Sorry again." He turned and left.

"He was cute," giggled Hyacinth. Millard grimaced.

After putting on their school robes, the scarlet Hogwarts Express came to a stop at Hogsmeade Station. There was an instant rush of students to get off the train. The night air was refreshing after the heat of close quarters.

"Firs' years over here," yelled a giant of a man.

Millard said goodbye and went to join the group that was gathering around the hairy man. He herded them over to a group of boats waiting by the shore of a shimmering lake.

"That was Hagrid," Hyacinth explained. "He's part giant."

"So I noticed," Aria whispered. She had never seen anyone so big.

"And that," said Hyacinth, pointing to a castle across the shimmering water, "is Hogwarts."

So far from home, Aria thought.

A/N: Don't forget to let me know what you think, even if you feel it should be killed, burned, and buried. Hey, anything helps.