Disclaimer: I don't own anything and I don't intend to make any money from this story so don't sue me.

A/N: Ok, here's the next instalment. So far I've had one title suggestion. I'll leave it open for another chapter so if you have any ideas please put them in your review.

I'd just like to point out that the ages in this fic are just approximate. I tried to work out when Charlie would have left but I just ended up giving myself a migraine so we'll just pretend he left the year before they arrived. 'Kay?

Thanks for all the reviews and suggestions. I took them all into account and in this chapter we will see the introduction of Lee, Angelina and Oliver. Katie comes a bit later. You'll also find out who likes whom. It may not be what you expect but it's just based on first impressions. I kind of had to think back to when I was 11; all I remember is having a crush on a different guy each week.

Anyway, hope you like this chapter and please keep the reviews coming.

Chapter 1



Alicia sat with Ginny and Jasmine and waited. She had bitten her nails practically down to the cuticle and she felt like throwing up right there on the platform.

"Do you really have to go?" Jasmine asked.

That was a good question. Did she really have to go? Maybe she could make a run for it and travel around the country as an outlaw…

"Licia?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah, I have to go. But don't worry I'll be back for Christmas, Jas."

"We'll be going to Hogwarts in a couple of years," Ginny said in an attempt to cheer her friend up.

"Yeah, I can't wait! Erica said there are ghosts there!"

The younger girls continued to talk excitedly. The platform was now packed with people. Alicia glanced at her watch. Only 15 minutes to go.

Students had begun to board the train so Alicia dragged Ginny and Jasmine over to the adults.

"I want to go on the train now," Alicia told her parents.

"I know you're excited but you've got plenty of time, dear."

"But I want to get a compartment to myself."

"Nonsense. You can share with Fred and George."

"Fred and George? In a confined space? Are you mad?" Alicia shuddered at the very thought.

"Don't be so melodramatic, Alicia, they aren't that bad," her mum said.

"Yeah, Leesh, we aren't that bad." The twins sidled up beside her.

"You two make sure you look after my baby girl," Alicia's dad told the boys.

Fred put his arm around Alicia's shoulders. "Don't worry, Mr S, she's our baby girl, too!"

"Get off me." She shoved him away. "I am not anyone's baby girl and nor do I need looking after."

"Of course you don't, sweetie," her mother sympathised. Stubbornness and independence happened to run in the family.

"We'll see you in four months time, no need to worry, precious."

Alicia grabbed her dad tightly around the middle. Her mother bent down and kissed the top of her head. Alicia pulled away and was nearly knocked over by the force of Jasmine's hug.

Her parents said good bye to Fred and George while Mrs. Weasley enveloped Alicia in a huge hug.

"Have fun at school and don't let the twins side track you."

"I'll make sure they don't." Percy puffed out his chest to make himself look more authoritative.

Percy was in his third year and Alicia knew he had no control whatsoever over either of the twins, but she smiled gratefully at him anyway.

Alicia's dad clapped him on the shoulder. "You're a good man."

Alicia rolled her eyes and moved on to Bill and Charlie. Or as she liked to call them, her almost-brothers. She didn't have any brothers and they only had one sister so they were always especially nice to her.

"I probably won't get to see you until next year," Bill said as he crouched beside Charlie.

"Yeah, I have to work over Christmas, too," Charlie said.

"Next summer?" Alicia asked hopefully.

"It's a date." Bill kissed her on the cheek.

"Absolutely." Charlie kissed her other cheek.

"Ok," she giggled and blushed.

"That's just plain sick," George said as he looked on in disgust.

Alicia chose to ignore him and hugged a crying Ginny and a very startled, pink-eared Ron.

She returned to her parents. "I'm ready."

"I'll help you put everything on the train," her dad said.

"I can do it myself." She yanked the trolley away from him and headed for the train.

Fred and George finished saying good bye to Ginny and moved onto Ron.

"Bye, Ronniekins!"

"Don't call me that."

Ron still hadn't forgiven them for turning his teddy bear into a spider. Little did he know it was originally Alicia's idea.

"Here we go!" They waved to everyone and pushed their trolleys towards the train.

"Behave yourself!" Molly called after their retreating backs.

Alicia was having trouble pushing her trolley straight and she could hardly see where she was going. She thought she had been going all right until there was a loud crash and her luggage fell everywhere.

"Oh, great. Just what I need," she grumbled and looked around to see what she had hit. Her heart sank when she realised she had collided with someone else's trolley.

"I'm so sorry, these things are really hard to handle," the owner apologised and hurriedly piled her luggage back onto her dented trolley.

Alicia was extremely relieved to see it was only a tall, friendly looking black girl and not a muscular seventh year boy she had run into.

"That's ok, it was partly my fault, too." Alicia grabbed her suitcase and placed it back on top of her trunk quickly.

The girl smiled at her briefly then walked off. Alicia saw Fred and George getting into a nearby carriage so she headed for the carriage behind it. Getting her trunk up the steps and into the train proved to be harder than she anticipated. Soon, a line of students wanting to get on board had formed behind her. They were beginning to get antsy.

Alicia just kept her head down and prayed no one talked to her. She couldn't see her dad anymore and she felt like crying.

"What's going on?" a rough male voice demanded.

Alicia looked up timidly and tried to smile as innocently as she could. She nearly fainted. A large, mean looking boy was glaring down at her.

"Well, aren't you just the cutest thing." He tugged on one of her plaits. "What's your name, little girl?"

"Don't touch me," she squeaked.

He pulled her plait again and put his foot on her trunk. "Sorry? What did you say? I can't quite hear you."

"I believe she told you not to put your slimy hands on her," a smooth male voice joined the conversation.

Alicia looked up at her saviour. Again she nearly fainted, but for a totally different reason. This other boy didn't look mean; in fact, he looked rather…cute.

"Mind your own business," the mean boy growled.

The cute boy remained cool even though the other boy was considerably bigger than he was. Alicia just stared open mouthed and the cutie turned his chocolate brown eyes to her.

"He annoying you?"

Alicia nodded fervently.

"I told you to mind your own business."

People were starting to take notice of the two boys. Alicia didn't want to draw attention to herself, she just wanted to get her bloody trunk on the train and hide in a compartment.

"Surely you have something better to do than pick on a defenceless first year, Flint. Maybe you should go practice Quidditch. It might help you play better this year."

"I wouldn't be so cocky, Wood, remember you don't have Weasley to save your butts anymore. But you are right; I do have something better to do so I'll let you play the knight in shining armour. I'll be seeing you later though, you can count on that," Flint eyed Wood menacingly then turned and stalked off.

The small crowd that had gathered dispersed quickly. Wood stayed by Alicia's side. She examined a spot on her shoe like it was the most interesting thing she'd ever seen.

"Nasty piece of work, that one. You all right?"

Her voice seemed to have deserted her so she nodded and scuffed the toe of her shoe.

"My name's Wood. Oliver Wood," he presented his hand to her.

Oliver Wood? She'd heard that name somewhere before. "Do you know the Weasleys?"

"Yeah, I'm Percy's room mate."

"Oh, I'm a family acquaintance. My name's Alicia Spinnet."

"So, I finally get to meet the little Spinnet girl. I knew your sister Erica. She talked about you all the time."

Alicia blushed. She vaguely recalled her sister talking about Oliver Wood once or twice. She had obviously failed to mention how good-looking he was.

"Now let's see what we can do with this trunk. Hey, Matt, come give us a hand," Oliver called out to a blonde haired boy nearby.

"Hi, Olly, made a new friend I see." He walked over and peered closely at Alicia. "You have to be Erica's little sister. I'm Matt Hancock, one of Olly and Percy's room mates."

She nodded politely. "I'm Alicia Spinnet, nice to meet you."

"You have your sister's eyes, it's obvious you're related." Oliver smiled and grabbed one end of her trunk while Matt grabbed the other.

Alicia grabbed her suitcase; she hadn't remembered it being so heavy. She heaved it up the steps and followed the boys into the first empty compartment.

Matt took her suitcase from her and put it in the luggage rack above her head. "There you go, Ms Spinnet."

"I'm sorry I troubled you boys."

"No trouble at all," Oliver said.

"You're going to turn heads when you grow up." Matt grinned and he and Oliver left to find their friends.

Alicia heard all the train doors close and she moved to the window. She spotted her mum and dad waving furiously at her. Tears sprang to her eyes and she waved back.

She had one last look at her parents before the train began to move off. She took a deep breath, dried her eyes and sat down. She was on her way now. Maybe it hadn't been a smooth start but she had done it.

She pulled her standard book of spells out of her trunk and tried to relax. It was half an hour into the trip before she got her first visitor. The visitor knocked on the compartment door and she immediately knew it wasn't Fred or George because they never knocked.

"Come in."

The tall black girl she had collided with on the platform poked her head through the door. "Oh, I found you."

"You were looking for me?" Alicia closed her book.

"Yep, I think we swapped suitcases back on the platform." She showed Alicia the suitcase she was carrying.

"Are you sure?"

"This is definitely not mine. I looked inside, there's a teddy bear in it."

"I was wondering why it was suddenly feeling heavier." Alicia looked up at the identical suitcase in the luggage rack. "Well, your suitcase is up there and I don't really like our chances of getting it down. You're quite welcome to leave it in here though. It's only me in here."

"Oh, in that case, uh, would you mind if I stayed in here with you? I don't know anyone on the train and all the compartments are full."

"Sure." Alicia's heart was pounding. Someone actually wanted to join her.

"Thanks," the girl said and smiled in relief. She ducked back out into the corridor and dragged her trunk inside and shoved it in the corner with Alicia's.

"That's ok. My name's Alicia Spinnet, by the way." She stuck out her hand and hoped it wasn't too sweaty.

"I'm Angelina Johnson, nice to meet you."

Alicia felt slightly awkward. Angelina was pretty. She had cinnamon coloured skin and silky smooth hair that was dark brown, almost black. But her best feature was easily her almond shaped, ebony coloured eyes. Angelina was tall and curvy and exotic looking. Alicia felt quite plain in comparison.

Alicia was what you might refer to as an English rose. Her curly, auburn hair was temperamental and difficult to tame at the best of times. Her eyes were large and round with honey brown irises. She had porcelain skin that freckled slightly if she stayed in the sun for too long. Alicia was of average height and she was thin but lacked Angelina's curves.

"So, this is your first year as well?" Alicia asked.

"Yeah. I don't know anyone else on the train."

"I have two friends starting."

"Why aren't you with them?" Angelina asked as she sat down across from her.

"Oh, did I say friends? I meant to say pains in the butt. Fred and George are my own personal pains in the butt."

"Fred and George? You're friends with boys?" Angelina's eyes widened in curiousity.

"Yeah. Is there a problem with that?" Alicia raised her eyebrows.

"No, no," Angelina said quickly. "It's just that I live with my mother and older sister and they have an all men-are-bastards philosophy. At least that's what they continually tell me. I haven't really had much interaction with boys."

"That's all right but the twins are boys that I recommend you don't interact with."

"Why not?" Angelina inquired.

"Well, as their older brother Charlie puts it, they're mischief personified."

"What does that mean?"

"Basically, if mischief were to be represented in human form it would be Fred and George."

"That sounds a little harsh."

"Well only last week they got us kicked out of Flourish and Blotts for letting off a Filibuster and making some poor old lady knock over a bookcase."

"They let off a firework in a crowded shop?" She asked incredulously.

"Yes, and typically they tried to blame it on me but the shop assistant saw them do it."

The girls talked non-stop for an hour. Angelina told Alicia about her parent's divorce and how she lived with her mother and sister, who was a few years younger then Bill. Alicia told Angelina about her own family and their relationship with the Weasleys.

Alicia suddenly realised her nerves had disappeared. Her palms weren't sweaty and her stomach was no longer jittery. She had made a friend!

At one o'clock the compartment door slid open to reveal a plump witch pushing a trolley covered in food.

"Anything from the trolley, dears?"

"No, thanks." Alicia pulled a slightly squished sandwich from her backpack.

"I'm not hungry, thanks."

She closed the door and continued on her way. Alicia began to eat her cheese sandwich.

"So, are Fred and George cute?"

Alicia choked and Angelina had to slap her on the back.

"Cute? Fred and George? Well…I'm not sure."

"You're not sure?" Angelina echoed.

"I honestly never thought of them that way."

"I'm not asking if you like them, I just want to know if they're cute."

"In that case, let's just say they definitely aren't ugly."

Angelina accepted this answer and nodded thoughtfully.

"Trust me, you don't want to get involved with either of them."

"Have you ever had a boyfriend?" Angelina asked.

"Yeah, last year at my Muggle school. I didn't really like him though, it was just fun to make him carry my school bag for me."

"I've never had a boyfriend before and I was just wondering what it would be like."

"Well, don't bother with the twins, you can do much better."

"Thanks…I think."

They gossiped about boyfriends and such for a few more minutes. Alicia realised it was actually good to sympathise with another girl. Then Angelina said she was hungry so she went off to find the food trolley.

In the next carriage…

Fred and George were in a compartment by themselves and they were in the middle of the floor counting how many Filibuster Fireworks they had left.

"Only 12 left! I thought we had more than that." Fred scratched his head in confusion and looked around in case they had missed any.

"Maybe Alicia took some," George suggested.

"Nope, she's way over the whole prank thing. If we're not careful she'll turn into another Percy."

Just as George opened his mouth to answer, the compartment door flew open. A short black boy with dreadlocks slammed the door behind himself.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Fred demanded as George shoved the fireworks back into his backpack.

"Must…hide," the boy panted.

"Hide from what?"

The boy didn't answer, he just moved to the window and opened it.

"What's going on?" Fred went and opened the door and the most awful smell filled the compartment.

"Dungbomb." George sniffed the putrid air "An extra strength, long lasting one too."

The intruding boy turned to him, his eyebrows raised curiously. "You can tell that just by smelling the air?"

"Yep. Did you let it off?"

"I threw it into a compartment full of girls. They all started screaming, it was brilliant!"

Fred heard a lot of yelling from down the corridor and promptly closed the door.

"A fellow trouble maker obviously. You can hide out in here."

"Are you in first year?" George asked as the boy sat down across from them.

"Yeah, my name's Lee Jordan."

"I'm Fred and this is George. I like your work."

Lee smiled widely. "Thanks."

The three boys stayed in the compartment for an hour or so and swapped stories. Lee was quite the prankster. Evidently the twins had found a kindred spirit.

"We should introduce you to Alicia," Fred said excitedly.

"Alicia?"

"Our friend. She's in first year as well. She'd love to meet you," George said with a smirk, glancing at his brother.

"Oh, yeah, she'll be delighted."

They left the safety of the compartment. The smell was still lingering around as they headed into the carriage behind.

"So, what's this girl like?" Lee asked as they checked every compartment as they went along.

"She used to play pranks with us but now she just calls us annoying and immature a lot," George answered.

"She's still pretty cool though." Fred added, "For a girl, I mean."

Finally, in the last compartment they found Alicia sitting by herself reading a textbook.

"Oh, no, not you two." She groaned and slammed the book shut angrily. She was never going to get any reading done at this rate.

"Look, Leeshy! We made a friend!" George pushed Lee out in front of them.

Alicia shook her head sadly. "You poor boy."

Lee smiled and bowed deeply.

"What are you doing?" Fred looked at him oddly.

"We're in the presence of an angel."

"We are? Where?" George looked around in wonder.

"Right in front of you!" Lee took Alicia's hand and kissed it.

The twins burst into hysterical laughter. Alicia scowled at them and Lee just kept staring at her.

"She's not an angel!"

"Ha! An angel! That's a good one!"

"Shut up," Alicia growled in a very unlady like way.

"You're not an angel though," George laughed.

"I can be if I want to! I just don't feel like it! Now stop laughing or I'll punch you both!"

"See, an angel wouldn't do that." Fred fought to keep a straight face but failed miserably.

"I warned you!" Alicia jumped to her feet and made a grab for him but he danced out of her reach.

"Angels aren't violent!" George reminded her as he ducked behind Lee.

Alicia tried to reach around to grab hold of him, but missed again. Poor Lee just stood there not knowing what to do. Alicia happened to catch sight of his stunned face and stopped.

"Sorry about that."

"Um, that's ok, I guess."

"I'm Alicia Spinnet."

"Lee Jordan. I'm incredibly pleased to meet you."

The twins stood behind Lee still stifling the odd laugh.

"I made a friend, too," Alicia told them proudly.

"Sure you did."

"Yeah, we believe you. But technically it's not counted if only you can see this friend."

"She is not imaginary. She exists, thank you very much."

"Well, where is she then? I bet she couldn't wait to leave."

Alicia was beyond angry, now she was in a rage. The last thing she needed was to lose her cool in front of Lee and Angelina. She was a smart girl though and she had other ways of making the twins feel bad. For such a nice girl, she knew how to manipulate people.

"That wasn't very nice, George." She pouted and looked at her hands.

"I didn't mean it," he said quickly. "Honestly, I didn't. Don't cry."

She sniffed and wiped imaginary tears. "It's ok."

"Good one, George." Fred shoved him, even though he had had just as much to do with it.

"Are you ok?" Lee asked urgently.

"Of course I'm fine. You boys are so gullible."

"You were faking?"

"Uh huh."

Angelina appeared in the doorway with a few cauldron cakes in her hands. She eyed the boys curiously. "Hello?"

The boys spun around and stared, open mouthed.

"You're Alicia's friend?" George gaped.

"Yep and you must be Fred and George."

They didn't reply; they just stared some more. Alicia sighed and pulled Angelina past them.

"Sorry, they just showed up. Ignore them and they'll leave soon."

"That's ok, they can stay if they like." Angelina smiled a bright friendly smile.

"I'm Lee Jordan."

"Hi, I'm Angelina Johnson."

"I'm George," Fred said.

"Don't be stupid. He's Fred not George," Alicia told Angelina.

"I am George, Leesh, you must be losing your touch."

"You're Fred. I've been telling you morons apart for like six years."

"How come we can fool our mother but not you?" George complained.

By this point Angelina and Lee were thoroughly confused. As far as they could tell, the twins were identical down to the last freckle.

"He's Fred and he's George," Alicia clarified.

"How can you tell them apart?" Angelina asked.

"Well, George's smile is a little lop-sided and Fred tends not to brush his hair."

"My smile is not lop-sided," George protested.

"I choose not to brush my hair because it makes me look rugged and manly."

"It makes you look like you've just woken up," Angelina informed him kindly.

Fred blushed and Alicia sniggered.

"Let's go," Fred said quickly and left with Lee and George trailing behind him.

"I think I offended him a bit," Angelina said worriedly.

"Don't worry, I've been saying the same thing to him all year."

"Do you think I look like I just woke up?" Fred asked self-consciously as they entered their own compartment.

"Since when do you care what a girl thinks?"

"I didn't say I cared, George, I just want your opinion."

"They are two good looking girls," Lee said adamantly.

"What about Angelina? Now she's an angel," George said.

"I think she's stuck up."

"That's just because she dissed your hair."

"Shut up."

The boys and girls stayed apart for the rest of the journey. Then finally the train pulled into Hogsmeade station and the students alighted.

"I'm beginning to get nervous again," Alicia confided to Angelina.

"Me, too."

Alicia smiled in reply. At least she had someone to be nervous with.

"Hey girls, do you know where we have to go?" George and Fred joined them on the platform.

"No idea."

"Firs' years! Firs' years over here!"

The group walked over to the unusually large man. They waited for the other first years to join them then followed the large man down a steep, narrow path. There was a collective gasp as the path opened onto a lake. Across the lake the Hogwarts castle was silhouetted against the night sky. It was breath taking to say the least.

"No more'n four to a boat!"

Alicia and Angelina followed Fred and George into a boat. If Alicia hadn't been so intimidated and frightened she would have reconsidered this move.

"Everyone ready? FORWARD!"

The fleet moved as one across the smooth lake. Everyone was silent. Everyone but Fred and George that is. They were urgently whispering to each other. Alicia watched them suspiciously as their dark green eyes reflected the starry sky.

"Heads down!" The large man ordered and the students ducked as the boats reached the cliff face.

Alicia forgot about Fred and George and concerned herself with not bashing her head on the rocks. The boats slowed down as they approached what looked like an underground harbour.

Angelina, Alicia and George stood up. Alicia watched Fred dip his hand into the lake and she got a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach.

Before she could warn Angelina there was a tremendous bang that ricocheted off the rock walls surrounding them. Angelina screamed and lost her balance. Alicia watched in horror as she fell into the lake with a loud splash. Alicia hadn't been startled. Loud noises were to be expected around the twins.

Alicia moved to the side of the boat as Angelina resurfaced.

"What the hell was that?" she spluttered.

Fred and George were staring at her wide-eyed. It couldn't have gone better if they'd planned it.

"What's goin' on over there?"

"Something just touched my leg!" Angelina's eyes filled with fear.

"That was probably the giant squid," Fred said cheerfully.

"AAAH! Help me!" Angelina splashed around desperately.

All three of them moved to help her back in. As soon as they moved their weight to one side the boat flipped and they all joined Angelina in the water.

A/N: That was probably the longest chapter I've ever written! Now I've done my part so now all you have to do is review. Come on, I did all the hard work for you!

If you have any additional comments, questions or suggestions you can email me!