Chapter Two

Jasmine and Delia went outside of the bar with Sean and Olivia while Dumbledore explained the plans for this year to Harry and Hermione. Jasmine was a little nervous about her parent's decision. They thought of Delia as a baby, which, in most cases, was true. Would they let her come to Hogwarts? Most of Jasmine hoped they would say yes and her little sister could join her at this enchanted school, but a part of her was disappointed at the thought of having to share one more thing with Delia. Jasmine had never felt that way before and she wondered what had made her think that way about her Delia.

"So, what happened in there?" Sean asked as she and Delia emerged from the building. Jasmine sat next to her new friend and thought how neat it was that she felt so comfortable around this orange flame haired boy she didn't even know.

"Well, Delia and I were making our arrangements to come to Hogwarts." Jasmine explained.

"What do you mean?" Sean queried, a look of surprise on his freckled face.

He's kind of cute. Jasmine thought. "Dumbledore is making an exception for Delia. I don't think she's going to take classes, but she's staying with me."

"Oh, that's weird. That's never happened before. You guys must be special." Sean kidded.

"Oh yeah, definitely, we're gifted!" Jasmine agreed laughingly. She watched her little sister play with Olivia like they'd been friends since birth, and at how easily she could talk to Sean, and wondered if her parents and Ron had clicked as fast as they did.

"Jassy, what are you looking at?" Delia had caught Jasmine staring at her.

"Nothing." Jasmine blinked and looked away.

Sean nudged Jasmine and whispered, "Great, Malfoy's coming."

"What?" Jasmine followed his gaze. "Crap." she mumbled.

Draco Malfoy was striding up the street towards them, not even bothering to apologize to the lady he bumped into.

Delia saw him coming and her eyes widened. She went up to Jasmine, grabbing her hand, "Look, it's the other boy from our dream," she whispered, but loud enough for Sean to here.

"What is she talking about?" he asked.

"I'll explain later," Jasmine said as Malfoy stopped in front of them.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" Sean looked at him with sheer hatred.

"I just thought I'd come see how Potty and Weasel are getting along," he said with a smirk. "I can't wait to tell my father that the tight bonds of the idiots really do make it to the next generation. I guess you'll have to find some other lunatic to be your third wheel so you can be the threesome again."

"I see your father has taught you the same old names. He still hasn't figured out how to use his imagination, has he? Well, I suppose it's too late now" Ron, Harry, Hermione and Ginny just came outside.

"What do you mean?" Jasmine asked. "What is he talking about?"

"Oh, his father used to call us those names when we went to school together." Harry explained.

Malfoy looked like he was going to say something, but instead another Malfoy spoke, "Draco, come on. We need to go now." Draco Malfoy senior had just walked up behind them.

He was the most handsome man Jasmine had ever seen. He had sleek blonde hair, and pale skin. His silver eyes glittered in an evil, mysterious sort of way.

Draco junior nodded, sent an evil glare Sean's way, and followed his father.

"He didn't even say hello! After all these years and he still holds a grudge against us," Ron said.

"Yeah, well, what do you expect? He's a Malfoy." Hermione replied.

"Uncle Ron, can we leave now?" Olivia was stretching her arms up so Ron would hold her. He picked her up.

"Yes, we better get going." Ginny answered for him.

"I guess I'll see you in a week," Sean said to Jasmine, so only she could her.

"Bye." Jasmine blushed.

"Keep in touch, okay?" Harry said to Ron.

"We will." Ron waved. The two groups parted and went opposite directions.

Jasmine looked back at the same time as Sean and waved good-bye to him.

Harry decided to go home when Hermione mentioned Jasmine, Delia and she needed to get some shopping done if they were planning on going to Hogwarts this year. He knew how long girls took to shop and didn't want to be stuck with them for that long.

Jasmine purchased a few sets of black robes, a small cauldron, quills, ink and some books. Delia just bought a set of black robes. She had to have them custom made because they didn't have a small enough size for her. Hermione surprised them with a kitten and a snowy owl.

"I want to name the kitty! Her name's gonna be…umm…Snowball, because she's a little white ball." Delia declared, cradling the little white kitten in her arms.

"Okay, I'll name the owl then," Jasmine said. "His name will be…Wally."

"I like that name! That's the name of my teddy bear!" Delia pat Wally on the head with her finger.

"Let's go, girls. I have to get home and finish that paper for Mr. Johansson. I told him I would send it tonight." Hermione rushed them to the fireplace.

They used Floo Powder to get home. Once they got there Delia showed Harry every single thing they bought. He sat through it all, as a good father would, and commented on each and everything she showed him. She was smiling widest when she showed him Snowball last.

"Well, isn't that the cutest kitten I ever saw. Not like Crookshanks, huh, Hermione?" Harry called to their mum. Jasmine had heard about Crookshanks, and he wasn't a very pretty cat.

"This is my owl, Dad." Jasmine tapped him on the shoulder, "His name is Wally."

"Oh, wow. He reminds me of Hedwig. I haven't seen her for a while." Harry thought back. Hedwig had only died just two years after Delia was born, so Jasmine knew about her. She was glad owls lived for a long time. A nice sturdy pet, she just hoped Snowball would last a long time too; she didn't want Delia to go through a pet dying in her early years.

"I miss Hedwig." Delia said.

"You can't remember her, Sweetie, you were only a baby." Dad picked up Delia and placed her on his knee.

"I remember her, Dad. She was the best owl ever." Jasmine smiled.

"Yeah, she was, wasn't she?" Harry had a glazed over look in his eyes and Jasmine knew he was thinking about his years at Hogwarts again. He went through a lot when he was there. Jasmine loved her father for being so strong, but she didn't know if she could handle something as good as he did. To live through a battle with the Dark Lord as many times as he did, and to have actually found a strong enough group of wizards and witches to defeat him and his followers in the end. He was the bravest man she had ever heard of in Wizard history, and she had read many books, too.

"Come on, it's time for dinner." Hermione called from the kitchen.

"Jasmine, are you sure you can handle your sister coming with you?" Jasmine's mum asked for the thousandth time that day.

"Yes, Mum, we'll be fine. I promise I won't let anything bad happen to her. She'll be okay, and so will I. It isn't that big of a deal, if she doesn't like it you can always come and take her home, but only if she says she wants to come home. Now, let's go." Jasmine recited once again. She was going to ignore her mother, but she didn't want to be rude. She figured this would be the last time she'd have to say it since they were about to get on the Hogwarts Express.

They were just outside the train station waiting for Harry to park the car. They got all their trunks out first so they wouldn't have to carry them far.

"Now, remember, if anything bad happens you owl me right away, okay?" Mum reminded.

"Yes, Mum." Jasmine replied wearily.

"Do you promise?" Mum asked again.

"Yes, I pinky promise to owl you if anything at all happens." Jasmine held out her pinky and linked it with her mother's then released. Her mum looked satisfied and was quiet for a moment.

"Mummy, when will we be there?" Delia asked. She was leaning against her Mum with her arms wrapped around her waist and her head nestled in the spot above her hip where she could rest. Hermione was stroking Delia's hair. Delia was bored already and they hadn't even gone into the train station yet.

"Once on the train it takes about four hours to get to Hogwarts. Then you'll be sorted into your room in the front of the Great Hall and then you'll go and sit with your table. You will go in Jasmine's house, but I'll bet Professor Dumbledore would let you put the hat on for a moment if you ask really nicely. After that you'll…" But she was cut off by Jasmine.

"You mean I have to go up with the first years in front of everyone and see which house I'm in? Can't I do it alone, in the other room or something? Everyone is going to see me and see that I'm a fourteen year old who is just coming and they'll think I'm stupid or something!" Jasmine looked horrified.

"It isn't that bad, honey, it's over in a few moments and then you sit with your table. Then the food appears and there's so much to eat you would think it would last for days, but in an hour or so it's almost all gone. It's the most delicious food you'll ever taste. Then you'll go up to your house and find your room. You'll get to know the people in your year and other years. It will be just fine, Jassy, you'll see. We all have to go through it." Hermione rubbed Jasmine's back soothingly.

Just after her Mum's little speech Harry was beside them and they went in the station. They walked down the stairs and Jasmine glanced at her ticket to see what Platform they were going to and found out it was Platform 9 3/4. She looked confused, but she was sure her parents remembered where to go. It wasn't that long ago that they were in school, as they always reminded Jasmine when she complained about homework and being a kid.

"Daddy, when will I get to see you and Mummy again?" Delia asked in her sweet little kid voice.

Great, Jasmine thought, She's going to start crying and say she doesn't want to come after all and I'll be all alone in a place where I know two people, one who is nice and the other who will probably taunt me until I decide I want to leave the school. Mum is not going to let her go if she starts whining. I have to get her to shut-up!

But Jasmine didn't have to get her to shut-up because Hermione didn't hear Delia and Jasmine didn't have to worry about Dad not letting her come. She just hoped Delia wasn't having second thoughts about coming to school. Jasmine found she needed her little sister almost as much as she needed her.

"Why, are you nervous, Sweetheart?" Dad asked and lifted Delia onto his shoulders.

"A little, but Jassy will be there with me, so I'll be fine." Delia smiled down at Jasmine and held her hand out to her. Jasmine went over and took her little hand in hers.

"Yeah, we'll have lots of fun, but I'll have to do my work too, so…" Jasmine started.

"I know, I know, I need to be quiet then and let you concentrate." Delia recited. Jasmine noticed she was almost as bad as her mother when it came to important things. Oh, that was a scary thought. Jasmine shook her head as if to shake the thought out of her mind.

"Come on, you slow pokes, you're going to miss your train." Mum called from a little ways ahead. Jasmine and her dad hurried to catch up while Delia shrieked with delight as their father galloped like a pony. He even added the sound effects which made Jasmine laugh too.

Jasmine and Delia's Mum had stopped in between Platforms 9 and 10. She waited for them to catch up, and then looked expectantly at Jasmine.

Jasmine frowned at her, "What?"

"Oh, I'm sorry! I forgot you don't know how to get on!" Hermione and Harry began to laugh.

"Umm…get on what?" Jasmine was confused. She knew perfectly well how to get on a train. How was this one any different? All they had to do was find it and she was pretty sure she'd be fine getting on it. Why were her parents laughing at her?

"You have to run at that wall there, between Platform 9 and Platform 10 and you'll go through the wall and be on Platform 9 3/4. I'll carry your trunks for you." Dad explained.

"You're joking, right?" Jasmine asked. Her parents shook their heads 'no', "What! Are you insane? You can't run through a wall!"

But just as Jasmine was saying this a few people walked past them and right through the wall and disappeared.

"Okay, so maybe you can walk through a wall." Delia said with her eyebrows raised.

"That is so cool!" Jasmine exclaimed. "How does it work?"

"Oh for Merlin's sake, just show her how, Harry!" Hermione was looking anxiously at the clock on the wall. It was nearly eleven o'clock. The train left promptly then as the letter said.

"Okay," Dad said. He rushed forward with Jasmine and Delia's trunks and disappeared right through the wall.

"I guess it's my turn, huh?" Jasmine asked. She wasn't sure she could do it, but she ran at the wall and winced early so she'd be ready when she hit the solid bricks, but she opened her eyes and looked around and she was on another Platform! Her father was waiting for her and smiled when she came through.

"See, wasn't that neat?" Harry asked.

"I'll have to admit, that was wicked cool." Jasmine laughed.

A few minutes later Mum appeared holding Delia in her arms.

"What took you so long?" Jasmine asked impatiently.

"Well, your little sister was scared that you and Daddy disappeared and she didn't want to go, so I had to carry her." Hermione set Delia on her feet and Delia smiled innocently.

"That wasn't so bad, I guess. I'm sorry, Mummy." She grabbed Mum's hand and started walking and then stopped when she saw the train.

"Oh my god, it's like a mini one that you see in toy stores and use remote controls to work it!" Jasmine gasped at the cute steam train that had the words Hogwarts Express in red lettering on the side.

"It's the same old train, Harry." Hermione sighed like it was a walk down memory lane again.

"Well, I guess we'll see you soon?" Harry opened his arms for a hug and both Jasmine and Delia jumped into his arms. Jasmine kissed him on the cheek.

"Bye, Dad, I love you." Jasmine said.

"Bye, Daddy, I love you." Delia mimicked Jasmine and kissed him on the cheek too.

Then Jasmine gave her Mum a hug. "Bye, Mum, I love you too!"

"I love you, honey. Write me tonight! I'll send you one back as soon as I read it. I'll be expecting at least one letter a week from each of you. Hopefully I get more though." Mum answered poking Jasmine on the nose as she took another look at her as if she was moving away and never returning. Then she smothered Delia in kisses and hugs and Dad and Jasmine laughed when Delia squirmed to get away.

"Good-bye, Mummy! I love you! I'll write you every day and Daddy too!" Delia finally got away and put her hand in Jasmine's.

With one last wave they boarded the train that would take them to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.