CPOV

A month had passed since everything; I had pretty much become a recluse.

I had always been bubbly, out going, not afraid or shy of anything. That's how my dad had raised me.

Now I was petrified of everything. I didn't really want to go outside, and reports on the death eaters kept showing up. It was freaking me out.

In the past month I had been forced by my aunt to go collect all my school supplies. A couple of days after I arrived my owl Bill had even shown up at my aunts, I was angry at myself for having forgotten him but was just glad he had arrived safely.

And of course, the day of my dad's funeral arrived. Many of the neighbours came but then again my dad had always been popular with them. He was just an all around good guy. I wanted to speak at the funeral but couldn't, I wanted with all my heart to get up there and say how great he was, how he didn't deserve this, how he should still be here. But I just couldn't, it hurt too much. I just sat holding onto my aunt, I couldn't even cry anymore.

After The funeral I pretty much lived in my bedroom. Reading, listening to music. I only came out to eat, if that. I just really wanted to get to Hogwarts.

As the weeks went on I emerged from my bedroom. I was kind of sick of it. But I didn't leave the house, just sat in the garden or watched TV, Not really having the heart to do anything, my aunt tried to perk me up but nothing really worked. It's not like I didn't like my aunt, I love my aunt dearly, but when I looked at her I kept seeing my dad and it broke my heart. I just needed to get out of there.

I woke up at 6am that morning I was due to go to Hogwarts. I was excited but also nervous. What if this was a mistake? I had never really been to a real school before and the prospect of making friends with people my own age, who could do magic really excited me. Sure I had friends but they all got to go to school while I stayed home, they would ask me things about history, science, but I didn't know about anything about that stuff. I could make a potion that would cause you to grow giant warts on your face but I highly doubted they would think that normal. Once my friend Lizzy had stayed over, bill flew into the kitchen in the morning pretty much terrifying her. I didn't expect her around again anytime soon.

What if I didn't make any friends?

After I woke up I just lay in the bed starring at the ceiling, I couldn't believe today had finally arrived. I got up and decided to shower and wash my hair; after I dried myself off I stood in front of the mirror looking at myself. God what happened to me? Usually I would have some completion but my face had gone pale and I had dark rings under my eyes. This is probably why I had been avoiding mirrors for the past month. I looked at my hair, it had now started to grow out and looked a little raggy but there wasn't much I could do about that now, so I decided to curl just so I could disguise it's oddness a little. After finishing I looked in the mirror and actually kind of glad to see I looked like my normal self. I smiled slightly. This was the first time I felt normal in ages. I then made my back to my bedroom to get dressed, I wanted to look presentable.

After finishing I ran downstairs before bouncing into the kitchen to be greeted by my aunt with one of her trademark smiles.

"Well, someone certainly looks happy today"

"You know what" I sat down while grabbing a glass of orange juice "I feel really happy, I am actually really excited"

"Well good, I was really afraid after…well… you wouldn't manage to get out of your slump" she gave me a small smile "Also, did I mention you look lovely."

"Thanks, I thought I should make some effort"

As soon as we were finished eating we made our way to Kings cross but when we arrived I couldn't help but feel a little confused.

"Uh…9 and ¾? How does that make any sense?"

My aunt just gave me a sly look "you'll see" when we reached platform nine with my trolley my aunt gave a quick look around.

"Alright dear stand next to me and hold onto the trolley" I did as I was told, as soon as I held on my aunt started running towards a wall. Yeah she had seriously lost it

"ARE YOU CRAZY?"

I couldn't believe this was happening, but she didn't respond just kept running. As soon as we reach the wall I went to cover my face only to discover we were on a different platform. I stood there with my mouth wide open.

"Told you to trust me" with that my aunt started walking towards the train with a smug look on her face. Show off.

Once all my stuff was on the train and I went over to my aunt and gave her the biggest hug imaginable, she broke away from me with slight tears in her eyes. Damn her.

"Please don't start crying or you will set me off."

She gave me an apologetic look "I'm sorry dear, just, make sure you write to me at any possible opportunity. You know if it goes badly you can come straight home."

I gave her the biggest grin I could "don't worry; it's going to be great. I promise to write to you every chance I get" I gave her another quick hug before getting onto the train just before it set off and settling down in a compartment.

I was sat there for about 10 minutes kind of lost in thought, what if no one liked me? What if I didn't become a Gryffindor? When suddenly the door opened and I was greeted by a red haired boy.

"Oh…hi"

I gave him a small smile before responding "Hello"

"I didn't realise this compartment was taken."

"Oh it's ok. It's just me in here."

A grin broke onto his face "Oh, well do you mind if me and my friends sit with you?"

"No of cour" Before I could even finish he was already shouting.

"OI GUYS DOWN HERE" and with that he placed himself opposite me "I'm Ron by the way, Ron Weasley" He held out his hand towards me which I took warmly.

"I'm Catherine Peart" Weasly…Weasley… "Hey by any chance are you related to those guys who own that shop in Diagon alley?"

"Yeah those are my older brothers, shops cool huh"

"Ha, yeah, I went in there while shopping for my robes. Now officially the best place in the world."

After I said that he gave me a grin before the door slid open again. The first to enter was a girl with brown curly hair who was rather pretty, she gave me a quick smile before settling next to Ron, next to enter was a boy with glasses and black hair, he seemed a little short but I couldn't really tell from where I was sitting. Shortly followed another boy who upon seeing me looked extremely nervous. He had slightly chubby cheeks and Brown hair. Definitely taller than the other boys. He sat down next to me while looking very uncomfortable.

The next few moments were in complete silence until Ron spoke "Oh! Sorry, guys this is Catherine Peart, Catherine this is Hermione, Harry, Harry Potter to be exact and Neville."

"Well Ronald thank you for introducing me and Neville with the same warmth you gave Harry." Ron just rolled his eyes.

"I'm Hermione Granger" she said before extended her hand which I accepted.

Everyone one looked towards Neville who was now starring at the floor, he looked up to see all of us starring at him. "Oh, Longbottom" which ended with a nervous smile. I couldn't help but think he and his smile were adorable. "Nice to meet you…Longbottom" giving him a smile back which he reacted to by starring back down at the floor.

Then it hit me. "Wait…Harry Potter? Like. Potter Potter?" He looked at me with a small sadness in his eyes "The one and only."

I responded with a half smile. "So uh" Ron butted in "How come we've never seen you before?"

"Well, this is actually my first year here"

Ron looked at me with wide eyes "YOU'RE A FIRST YEAR? But…you're so hot and, well kind of old." This was greeted with a hard nudge in the ribs from Hermione.

"Uh… thanks" I was trying hard to hold back a laugh "Actually I was home schooled until recently, I'll be in sixth year."

"Excellent" Hermione chimed in "So you'll be with us then."

"Brilliant" Everyone looked at the sudden words spoken from Neville. "I mean... cause you seem nice and ...stuff" When I looked at Hermione she just gave me a sly smile.

NPOV

Merlin's Beard, Speak Neville. Form a proper sentence.

As soon as I walked in and saw her I could feel a pounding in my head. She was so pretty it made me slightly ill and extremely nervous.

We continued to sit there in silence until Catherine suddenly spoke "Um, Longbottom. How about you show me around the train?" Why would she want to look around the train? More importantly why did she want me to show her?

I hesitated but answered. "Ok. If you like" She jumped up before reaching out for my hand and pulling me out of compartment. As we started making our way down the train I had to ask her "So you wanted to see the train?"

She started laughing "Not really, Harry just seemed like he wanted to talk to them lot."

"Oh right" I looked down and realised she was still holding on to my hand, do I hold onto it back? What do I do! While I was contemplating this she snatched it away.

"Oh god I'm sorry I didn't realise"

Yeah knew it was too good to be true.

"Oh no it's ok" that actually did kind of hurt. It's not like I was diseased.

During the train ride we bumped into Ginny and Luna who seemed really interested in knowing why she was hanging around with me. So did I. I was surprised she lasted this long. When they asked she just simple answered "Well Longbottom is an excellent tour guide" before winking at me. It gave me this warm feeling at the pit of my stomach.

As we continued our walk I met the last person I wanted to see.

"I'm Draco...Malfoy" he added a sinister smile in here, I looked over at Catherine. Thankfully she didn't look impressed.

She tilted her head slightly before rolling her eyes "Good for you."

He just continued to grin. "So you don't have a name then?"

"Catherine"

"Catherine" He dragged it out trying to make it sound sexy. She wasn't buying it

"Well, Catherine. What are you doing hanging around with a pathetic excuse of a man like Longbottom?"

This really ticked me off. Why couldn't I just punch him? "Uh, Catherine how about we go back to our compartment? I think we will be nearing Hogwarts soon."

She looked at me before turning on her heel and walking away, grabbing my arm and pulling me along with her. As we scurried down the hall Draco called after us "If you ever need a real man just give me a call!"

When we had gotten away from Draco she finally spoke "God what a creep."

"Pretty much."

She halted "Hey, if you don't want me to call you Longbottom I won't, I saw how you cringed when he said it"

I couldn't believe how nice she was being "You know what it's Ok, I like it when you say it, doesn't come out in a spiteful away like when Draco says it."

She smiled before continuing walking "You can call me Cathy if you want, Catherine is just so boring and long."

"No it's not; you have a lovely name, better then Neville Longbottom." She started laughing; yeah I knew she thought my name was a joke. "Nah I like it. It's the kind of name you wouldn't forget easily."

We made our way back to our compartment to discover Harry Ron and Hermione gone, she sat down looking slightly annoyed whilst I sat opposite. Guess the incident with Draco had ticked her off more than she was letting on. We sat in silence for what seemed like ages while she looked out the window. I couldn't help but stare at her, I guess I was more amazed at the fact she had hung around with me for so long than anything else, She then looked at me and I quickly turned my attention to the door.. Did she see me looking? Then she spoke.

"What?"

Crap, I had probably creeped her out. I averted my gaze "Nothing I just, well..."

She continued to look at me while I tried to avoid her. "You just, look really nice, really p-p-pretty actually" I finally managed to blurt out. I looked up to find her smiling.

"Thank you. You're not so bad yourself Longbottom"

I didn't even bother trying to repress my grin.