Cara looked frightened as she stepped up onto the train. She waved meekly goodbye to her mother, who was standing on the platform, watching her only daughter leave for school.

"Goodbye, sweetie! Don't forget to write!" she yelled. Cara rolled her eyes.

"I won't!" Cara yelled, grinning. With a last and brief look at her parents, she stepped into the main hall of the train.

Glancing around her, Cara looked for an empty compartment. She was fairly shy around new people, especially when they were all older than her. She was afraid that they would taunt her, calling, 'First year! First year!'. She certainly looked her age, or even younger. Cara was a tiny girl with auburn hair and vivid blue eyes. No matter what she ate, she couldn't seem to gain any weight. This often worried her doctor, and her parents had to make arrangements for Cara to get all of her vitamins at Hogwarts.

Spying a likely compartment, Cara slid open the door. I was empty. She sat down, and watched the rain dribble down the window pane. The train still hadn't left the station, because Cara had been very early. The train wouldn't leave for another 15 minuets. Cara thought about the new friends- and enemies- she would make during her first year.

A few moments later, her cousin and close friend, Hermione Granger walked in with a shy-looking boy.

"Hello Cara. Have you seen a toad? Neville here's lost one." Asked Hermione.

"His name is Trevor!" wailed the boy.

Cara smiled, and said "I haven't seen him, but I'll look."

Hermione grinned, and thanked her as she walked out of the compartment. A few moments later, A tall, gangly-looking red head walked into the compartment, his head down. Cara could hear loud laughter in the hallway, and guesses whoever was laughing was laughing at him.

"Hello. I'm Cara." She said, extending a hand.

The boy glanced up in surprise, but smiled and shook her hand. "Ron Weasley. Didn't see you there, Cara."

"It's ok, I could really use some company. This is your first year, yes?"

"Yeah." Said Ron. "I'm the 5th one to come to Hogwarts."

Cara looked puzzled, and Ron added, "I have 4 older brothers."

"Wow! I always wanted a brother. You're so lucky." Said Cara.

Ron shook his head. "You have no idea…"

Just then, another tall, first-year boy walked in.

"Is this seat taken?" he asked, sitting next to Ron.

"Oh, no, sit down!" said Cara.

The boy grinned. "I am sitting."

Suddenly, Ron gasped. "You're Harry Potter!"

Harry blushed. "Yeah… about that…"

"Can I see your scar?" asked Ron.

Harry lifted up his shaggy bangs, revealing the jagged scar on his forehead.

"Wow." Said Ron and Cara.

"Where did you get a scar shaped like that? It's awful funny-looking." Asked Cara.

"Well…"said Harry, before being cut off by Ron.

"He was almost killed by you know who, and that's the scar from the evil curse! Don't you know anything?"

Cara flushed. "Not exactly! My Mother is a witch, but my Dad never knew until I got my letter. Dad left as soon as Mom told him, out of fear. Mom barely explained Hogwarts to me, let alone what I'm doing here…"

Harry gave her a sympathetic look, and Ron looked very sorry that he had asked.

"Can you tell me anything? I have no clue what to expect."

Ron's face lit up. He knew everything there was to know about the wizarding world, and Cara- and Harry- became experts also, as the night settled in.

"We will be arriving in 5 minutes." Announced the stewardress. "Please change into your robes."

Harry and Ron left the compartment so Cara could have some privacy. She slid her ebony robes over her petite figure, admiring the way the folds fell just right. She smoothed her hair, and called to Harry and Ron that they could come back in.

10 minuets later

"I can't wait to get sorted! What house do you think I'll be in?" asked Cara eagerly, as the three walked into Hogwarts for the first time.

"I dunno…" said Ron. "Maybe Ravenclaw." He sighed. "I know I'll be in Gryffindor." He turned to Harry. "What house do you want to be in?"

Harry began to speak, but was cut off by Professor McGonagall.

"Welcome to Hogwarts. You will be sorted soon enough, so while you wait, please form an orderly line." She left the room, leaving the First years' to socialize.

A girl with twinkling brown eyes came up to her.

"Hi!" she said. "I'm Parvati! What's your name?"

Cara smiled. "I'm Cara." She paused a moment. "Aren't you nervous? I hope I get a good house!"

The embellished doors to the great hall creaked as they opened, and the First-years were brought in.