Natalie and Syrian looked around Kings Cross Station in apprehension. They were supposed to board the Hogwarts Express by eleven o'clock, but platform nine and three quarters was nowhere to be found.

"Syrian? Are you positive that it's Nine and three Quarters? Are you sure it's not platform nine and then we switch trains three quarters into the trip?" she was worried that they'd miss the train and never make it to their new school.

Syrian was silent for a moment before she decided to answer, "Natalie, I'm positive, and you asked me that five minutes ago."

"I'm sorry! I don't like not knowing where I am or where I'm going, you know this!"

Syrian discreetly rolled her eyes, "Well, for your information, we are going to walk through that barrier over there, between platforms nine and ten."

Natalie looked to where she was pointing in confusion, "Um, Syri, that's a brick wall." She pointed out as she followed the dark girl over to said wall. Syrian only sighed before pushing her sister into and through the wall.

On the other side, Natalie stared in wonder at the bright red express train. "If this is in this brick wall then what do you suppose is in other walls?"

Syrian shook her head, sometimes she really didn't see how they were related. "No, this is just a magic portal so that the muggles don't get suspicious." She led the blonde into the train and claimed a compartment for the two. When they were situated, Syrian cast a locking charm on the door so that they wouldn't be disturbed.

The beginning of the train ride was relatively quiet as Syrian had her nose in a book and Natalie was staring at the quickly passing scenery. But Natalie got board and wanted to talk. "So, what is it like there? Do we get classified some way? We'll be in third year right? Does this place have any secrets?" she just started rattling off questions at the speed of light.

"One: I don't know, two: yes apparently there's a 'sorting hat' that puts us in one of four houses that are named after Hogwarts founders, apparently; they're Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, and Slytherin. Three: yes, and lastly: what places don't have their secrets?"

Suddenly Natalie gasped. Syrian looked up in concern, "what's wrong?"

"I just realized that I won't know anybody here. I won't be on the Quidditch team, and people won't know who I am! I'll be. . . I'll be a- a nobody!"

Syrian just looked deadpanned at her sister, "you're upset because you won't be the center of attention anymore? Natalie, you'll have friends here before the night is over. You did at Beauxbatons and you will here."

Natalie sighed as she sunk into her seat, "You're probably right. But, I don't know, it's gonna be like first year all over again and I just don't wanna do that again. Oh! Did Emily and Blake ok things with the headmaster? He knows were coming right? Do you know if our schools sent over out transcripts?"

"I understand, Natalie, really I do." She said as she recalled her own first year, being a year younger then everyone in her year really wasn't pleasant. "And I'm sure that the Rodchesters squared everything away with the Headmaster. He's probably told the staff that we're coming and everything. And Natalie, have a little faith in our previous Headmasters' would you?"

The trip to Hogwarts continued like this. Syrian managed, somehow, to read through her book, Hogwarts: A History, three times, and Natalie continued asking questions and predicting what the school year would be like.

When the train finally stopped, the girls waited a bit, until the majority of the other students had already gotten off, before they unlocked their compartment and headed out themselves. When they stepped off of the train they heard a loud booming voice call, "Firs' years! Firs' years over hear!"

"Glad I'm not a first year," Natalie muttered, "those boats don't look as if they could hold one student, least of all four of 'em."

"Come on Natalie!" Syrian waved her hand, beckoning her sister to follow her, "the other student's headed this way!" they saw the other students climbing into carriages and were about to follow their example when Natalie let out a screech.

"S-Syri! Wha-what are those things?"

Syrian had to clench her hands into tight fists in order to keep from yelling at her overly sensitive sister, "Those, Natalie, are called Thestrals. I'm assuming that we are the only ones who can see them."

"Why us, Syri! Why just US?"

"Because, only those who have seen someone die can see a Thestral."

Natalie moved her mouth as if she were going to say something, but stayed silent. The words she was thinking wouldn't leave her lips.

After Natalie had calmed down, they hopped into the next awaiting carriage in hopes of getting to Hogwarts as quickly as possible. The ride only lasted about ten minutes and then they were walking again, only this time into the large castle that they assumed was Hogwarts.

"Who, may I ask are you?" a dark voice drawled behind them.

The girls turned to find a tall pale man with black greasy locks of hair in a black robe towering over them. Natalie took the initiative and stepped forward.

"I am Natalie and this is my sister Syrian. We're the transfer students."

The dark man sneered at them, "Well I am a professor at this school and I am certain that we don't have any transfer students. Follow me."

Natalie shot a scared look at Syrian before they started to follow. The professor led them through a long hallway and through a large set of oak doors. Behind the doors was, as they later found out, the Great Hall, where many students would be sitting, yet only a few now as the students were slowly trickling in, among four large tables. The professor stalked between two of the tables up to yet another that ran parallel to the wall rather then the other tables. He stopped in front of an older man whose white beard was long enough to tuck into his belt.

"Ah, Severus," the older man said cheerfully, "what can I do for you? I was certain that Minerva was bringing the students."

Severus glanced at the girls before turning his full attention to the older man, "It appears that we have two children who are not where they are supposed to be, Headmaster. They say that they are transfer students."

The headmaster, as it turned out, looked at the girls thoughtfully before speaking to them, "Tell me girls, who are you? And where is it that you're transferring from?"

This time it was Syrian who spoke for the both of them, "Headmaster," she acknowledged, "My name is Syrian and this is Natalie. She is transferring from Beauxbatons, while I am from Durmstrang. Our respective Headmasters informed us that they informed you of this, as did our Guardians."

The headmaster chuckled, "My dear girls, I am afraid that this is the first that I have heard of it."

"Then contact Madam Maxime and Headmaster Karkaroff about it because either way, we stay."

Natalie's eyes widened at her sisters tone, "Syri!" she whispered in astonishment, "apologize right now, they don't have to accept us as students, we could get sent home."

But, Syrian didn't apologize nor did she reply she simply stared the headmaster in the eyes as if she was daring him to send them away. Severus looked at the girl in astonishment. He had never heard anyone speak to the headmaster that way without punishment, but he was too shocked to say anything to her about it.

Silence reigned for a few moments before the headmaster started to laugh, "Oh my dear girl, I would never turn you away from an education. But we'll need to have you sorted." He turned his attention back to Severus, "Would you take the girls to the back room? And bring them out when the first years are through? Thank you, Severus." He said with a twinkle in his eye.

Severus growled as he led the girls to the back, he did not want to do this.

When they reached the room, Natalie immediately grabbed Syrian by the arm and drug her to a far corner. "What was that, Syri?" she hissed, "we could have gotten in so much trouble for that; you especially. We're new so don't blow my chances for friends, ok?"

"He wouldn't send us away, Natalie. He needs more followers for his cause, so, initially we owe him for his kindness."

Natalie blinked in confusion, "Do what?"

"It's called a wizarding debt. He let us come here with no proof that we went to those schools and without transcripts. So, when the time comes he will call us on it and we will have to repay him in any way that he asks."

"Like . . . fighting in the war?"

Severus, who could barely hear their hushed whispers, decided that he should say something, "Exactly." He whispered, "That is exactly what he'll have you do. I would suggest that you learn as much as you possibly can and more because he will call you on it."

Natalie was going to tell the dark professor to mind his own business when Syrian murmured something. "Severus Snape, convicted deatheater . . . vouched for by Dumbledore . . ." she paused in her mumbling for a moment to look up, when something clicked in her mind, at the dark man, "spy. . ." she whispered.

Severus' gaze softened for a moment before he glared at the wall behind her and turned away from the girls. Now Natalie had no idea what had just happened and really had no desire to know, except for the fact that she felt she needed to know everything. But, she knew that Syrian wouldn't tell her even if she asked, so they waited in silence for someone to call them in.