Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of its characters or affiliated plot lines and I am making no money off of this. I have taken a few lines from the books and smattered them in however everything else is mine. Please do not sue me I am an innocent and poor college student.

Synopsis: What if Lily and Harry escaped that fateful night? What if Voldemort had gone after Neville instead? What if Lily was on the run and wanted for the death of her husband?


"Momma, where are we going?" I asked.

I don't think she heard me, sometimes she doesn't. I don't think she means to but it happens, especially when we're running, like now. We never stay anywhere too long, never talk to anyone or make an impression.

"Momma, I'm tired." I complained.

I'm not someone who complains much, but we've been hurrying through the city and my legs are short. Momma takes big steps and I have to take three just to keep up.

"We're nearly there." Momma told me.

I don't know where there is. She usually tells me except when she's in a hurry. Momma only hurries when she's scared or excited. I know she isn't excited. When she's scared, I am too.

I can hear the trains, we're at the station. We hardly ever use trains! I wonder where we're going. Momma's not buying tickets. Maybe we're meeting somebody. Platform 9, Platform 10. The trains just arrived and I can't see anything except waistcoats, I wish I was taller.

"Lean against the wall," I hear Momma say.

I yelled. I fell through the wall. What's going on? Momma's smiling. She doesn't smile much, I like her smile. She kneels next to me.

"We're here very early so the train isn't here yet. This is your ticket." She handed me a gilded ticket, "I'm sorry I can't be here when the train comes. Someone might recognize me."

"Momma?" I asked and I know I'm about to cry.

"Shh honey, you're going somewhere very safe. Stay out of sight as much as possible. And when you get to the school give this to Professor McGonagall she'll be the one who greets you." She said handing me a wax-sealed letter.

"Why can't you come with me?" I asked.

Momma smiled again but I can see tears shining in her eyes, "I'll see you at the end of the year and I promise I'll write to you. Now, let me get your trunk out," she took a miniature trunk out of her jacket pocket.

"Momma…"

She smiled, "Engorgio," the tiny trunk grew to its normal size, "This was your father's trunk and your books are a collection of both his and mine. As for your robe's they were mine you are a little taller than your father was at eleven. And your father's wand as well." She finished tears welling in her eyes.

"Momma, I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too. Now, what is your name?"

I sighed, "Alexander Covington, not Harry…"

"Good, I love you." She hugged me.

"I love you too, Momma." I hugged her back not wanting to let go.

I sighed as momma went back through the barrier. Turning around I opened me trunk and grabbed one of my books. Closing and sitting on the trunk I opened the book and began to read.

Standard Book of Spells Grade I. Occulus Reparo – a spell used to fix broken optical lenses. Wingardium Leviosa – standard levitation spell, basic for and witch or wizard. Engorgio – enlargement spell useful in the reversal of the shrinking spell p. 84.

"Were you just dropped off too?"

I looked up and nodded to the boy who had come through the barrier. He had blonde hair and was very pale. Wearing all black, perhaps he fancied himself a vampire.

"I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy." He said extending his hand.

I accepted his hand, "Alexander Covington." I went back to reading.

"What are you reading that for?" Draco asked.

I didn't look up, "I think I should at least know something before I get to Hogwarts."

"You're not a muggle are you?" He asked disdainfully.

"A muggle? No, my parents went to Hogwarts, all my things were theirs."

"You're poor then?" He asked.

I shrugged my shoulders. How should I know? I'm only eleven. Momma didn't tell me about any of that. I wish she had then I would know what to say to this kid. This, Draco Malfoy, he sure is nosy.

"Well, that's alright as long as you're pure blood. So, what house do you think you'll be in?"

"House?" I was confused, wasn't I going to school?

"You don't know much do you? Well, the houses are Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Gryffindor."

"Well, any'll do as long as I get into one, right?"

"No, of course not!" Draco was exasperated. "Look, Ravenclaw's okay they're all brainiacs, they like books and logic. Hufflepuff is horrible they're all weak and they try to compromise everything. Gryffindor is the worst though everyone in that house is a fool. Slytherin is the best though, they're cunning and great planners. A lot of great wizards came from there." He finished with a smile.

"You sound kind of biased. I suppose you'll want to be in Slytherin then?"

"I know I will be, everyone in my family has been." He said proudly.

"Oh, well I don't know which houses my parents were in." I said.

What if I disappoint Momma by being in a bad house? What if I get into Hufflepuff or worse Gryffindor? I don't want Momma to be sad about me getting in the wrong house.

"You can sit on the train with me if you like." He said as if it had just occurred to him.

"I'd like that, I don't think I'll know anyone here." I said. Though I don't think I should have said it, I'm not supposed to make an impression or really talk to anyone.

"Me either. My mother likes to be isolated ever since the war escalated and all." He said softly.

I nodded. War? Was that why we were running all the time? Someone might recognize Momma here, is she wanted by one side or both? Who's fighting? Oh, I wish Momma had talked about her life more. I wish she had talked about dad more.

"Hey, look the train is coming!" Draco was excited, "We'll get prime choice of compartments, come on!"

I smiled and shut my book. Standing up I started to drag my trunk to the edge of the platform, it was really heavy. Did the shrinking charm make it weigh less too? I'm such a wimp.

"Come on Alex I'll help you get your trunk on the train."

It took us twenty minutes to get both our trunks situated in our compartment. Sighing I fell back into my seat exhausted, across from me Draco did the same. He smiled, happy to not have to sit alone I guess, I smiled for the same reason. The platform had become noisy and people were carrying trunks through the isle of the train. Suddenly I was glad that Momma had me here early even if she was gone, maybe forever. No, she said she would be there at the end of the year, she'll come. But what if…

"Hey, Alex do you have any money?" Draco asked in a quiet tone.

I was shocked speechless even though I had not spoken in the past few minutes. Did I have any money? What was I going to do if I didn't? How was I going to survive if Momma didn't come at the end of the year?

"Alex, are you alright?" I was probably pale, wide-eyed and sweating. I'm pretty sure I looked a right mess. What kind of question was that? Common sense, I'm not alright I'm scared to bloody hell!

Draco moved to sit next to me and hesitantly put his hand on my shoulder I looked at him my brow furrowed.

"I…I don't know." I said weakly.

He nodded understanding that I had answered both of his questions. He motioned to my trunk, "let's check your trunk maybe you have some."

I nodded dumbly and we carefully took the trunk down.

I heard someone clear their throat and I looked up to see a girl with bushy brown hair and rather large front teeth peeking into our compartment. Though the train had yet to leave she was already wearing a set of school robes.

"Excuse me, do you have room for one more?" she asked in a brash tone.

I looked to Draco who shrugged, "sure," I said tentatively.

"Oh good I thought I'd have to stand through the entire ride." She responded turning to drag her trunk halfway in before frowning at me and my trunk. Which, incidentally was blocking her way.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"He's checking to make sure he has some money." Draco replied for me.

"Oh." She said dumbly.

Finally, at the bottom of my trunk I found a pouch. Pouring it out on the seat I found there was an abundance of gold and silver coins with a smattering of bronze ones as well.

"Whoa, Alex. Forget about you being poor then, if that's your spending allowance for the year!" Draco spoke thoroughly impressed.

"That is a lot of money," the girl agreed, "I'm Hermione by the way."

"Draco Malfoy, and the rich kid here is Alexander Covington."

"Nice to meet you." I said with a little half-wave while I was putting away my money.

"Alright then, let's get your trunk back up and yours in here." Draco said in a commanding tone.

After getting the trunks resituated I sat back down and began reading my book again. After a few minutes of silence Hermione spoke again.

"Have you tried any magic?"

I shook my head determined to keep reading.

"Oh, well I've tried a few simple spells just for practice and it's all worked for me. Nobody in my family's magic at all, so it was a right surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, I mean, it is the very best school of witchcraft there is. I've learned all of our course books by heart, of course, I just hope it will be enough."

This girl sure can talk. I looked over the edge of my book at Draco and cocked my eyebrow he just smirked.

"Ravenclaw for you then?" He asked.

"Oh I do hope so." Hermione replied, "Though Gryffindor wouldn't be too bad either."

Both Draco and I made a face at that. She gave us a funny look.

"Wouldn't you want to be in Gryffindor?" she inquired.

"That'd be the worst!" I replied and with a nod toward Draco I added, "We're both going to be in Slytherin."

Draco smiled widely at that, "That's right. You should hope for Ravenclaw you'd be good there if you already know the course books." He supplemented. "Though you said you're a muggle right? Hmm a lot of people will hold that against you. Don't worry I won't. My cousin is half muggle and she's going to be an auror" he bragged.

There was a jolt and the train began to move. I smiled at Hermione who looked a little frightened by what Draco had said.

"Alex, did you hear that the-boy-who-lived is going to be in our year?"

"eh really?" I asked not really knowing who he was talking about. I'd heard Momma talk about him once in a while but she was never happy. Neville, I think that was his name, she'd say it as if it were a curse.

"Really. Though I don't understand what the big deal is, it isn't like he ended the war or anything. So, he survived a curse. Big bloody deal." He snorted disdainfully.

"Honestly, Draco, he was the only person to survive an encounter with you-know-who." Hermione replied and I was lost.

"It just made things worse. My father went to Azkaban with so many others."

"He was a death eater then?" Hermione asked quietly.

Draco shrugged, "I guess, I've never seen him. He went to Azkaban when I was one so…" Draco trailed off.

"What do you think our lessons are going to be like?" I asked trying to change the subject to something I could understand. Draco gave me a grateful smile.

"I suppose they'll be difficult. I hope they are challenging. I can't wait to see the library at Hogwarts I've read it is the largest in all of the UK!" Hermione said excitedly.

Draco smirked, "I'm looking forward to Potions class. I've heard its one of the best. It's taught by Slytherin's Head of House. What about you Alex?"

"I just hope I don't fail out." I said with a half smile.

Hermione and Draco both chuckled. It felt good to have people to talk to. Maybe I could keep them as friends. That would be nice. I hope Momma doesn't mind. I like talking to people.


Well. That's the end of Chapter One hope ya'll enjoyed it.  leave me a comment if you dare.