2

At some point, Noelle had fallen asleep. The train slowed to a stop and let out a whistle, similar to the one that had signified their departure earlier. She wiped the sleep from her eyes and stood, putting Salem in his carrier.

She pulled her suitcase down and opened it briefly, pulling from it a ruler's length of wood. Shutting and locking her suitcase she turned to the carrier and pointed the wood at it. With a sweep of her arm and flick of her wrist she said aloud, "Wingardium leviosa!"

The carrier began to float and she stuck the wand in her back jean's pocket, grabbing the handle to the suitcase and stepping out into the hall of the car. It hit the ground with a thud as she dragged it from the seat along behind her.

Other students had begun making their way off the train as well, all chattering excitedly and splitting off into their groups and individual houses.

Someone shoved Noelle and she was knocked into one of the sliding doors, her carrier floating innocently beside her.

"Move it Lestrange!" She heard a boy shout and watched him pass, a Gryffindor, with his group of friends, all laughing. She looked down and kept moving.

She'd always gotten strange looks for being the daughter of a criminal, Bellatrix Lestrange. In the past year, however, those looks had become more frequent, and perhaps even more fearful. She came from a pure bloodline, and a powerful one at that. That, on top of the fact that her mother was a criminal and theorized to be slightly insane, gave her a bad reputation at school. So when she wasn't being ignored, she was being shunned. Perhaps she'd rather everyone pay attention to Harry Potter.

Just as she stepped off the train, someone threw their arm around her neck and she was yanked to the side. She let out a yelp, startled.

"Hey! Why didn't you find me on the train?" A bright-eyed Hufflepuff released her and put her hands on her hips, grinning. Her blonde hair fell to her hips and she was already in her uniform, ready for the beginning of the year feast.

Noelle smiled back. "Hey Brooke. Sorry, this year is already beginning as I'd imagined it might."

Her friend linked arms with her and together they began walking towards the school, its towers reaching high into the sky with windows lit up all along the sides. The shadows of owls were dark against the moonlit sky. "How's that?"

"Horrible." She rolled her eyes.

Brooke squeezed her in a half one-sided hug. "Awww… You'll be fine." At least she could always count on Brooke to be her friend.

They'd met in their third year, Brooke befriending Noelle and pulling her from her imposed loneliness. Because of Brooke, she'd found a few friends to call her own so that she didn't only face depression. This was what Hogwarts had always been meant for. Friendship, magic, education, preparation, and fun.

"Where are Kade and Paul?" She referred to their mutual Gryffindor friend and Brooke's Ravenclaw boyfriend respectively.

Brooke shrugged. "I told Paul we'd meet them in the great hall."

Several students waved and called out to Brooke as they passed but Brooke didn't notice. Noelle smirked. Her friend was so popular and didn't even take notice. Some days it stemmed from obliviousness and others from a desire to introvert.

Eventually they made it to the school and left their suitcases and carriers alongside the others to be taken to the individual's dormitories. Most of the others had come and gone, and the two of them found themselves alone in the corridor. Turning a corner, on their way to the great hall, they found the hall dark.

Noelle looked back and forth, shivering. Something didn't feel right. She raised her wand. "Lumos." A light appeared at the end of her wand, chasing the shadows away.

"Why do you suppose its so dark?" Brooke did the same with her own wand. "Lumos."

Feeling her adrenaline spike, Noelle didn't respond until they finally saw light again around the bend ahead. "I don't know. But I expect that there will be similar disturbances this year."

"You don't think it's HIM, do you?"

"Here? No. Unlikely. Even if he is back, he wouldn't have breached Hogwart's defenses." Brooke looked satisfied with her response, but Noelle wasn't sure she herself was convinced.

Together they extinguished their lights, Noelle returning her wand to her back pocket once again. "Nox."

Now, lights poured into the hall and they could see students and teachers on their way into the great hall. Noelle breathed a sigh of relief. "I'll see you probably tomorrow in class?"

Brooke nudged her playfully. "You better save me a seat!"

Noelle laughed as she pulled away from her friend. "Girl, you know I'll be pulling in right before class starts. You better save ME a seat!"

Brooke laughed in response and they went their separate ways. During most dinners, and meals in general, students could eat wherever and with whoever they pleased. But during the opening feast and other house dependent events, it was more important that they sit with their respective groups.

Noelle went and sat at the end of the Slytherin table, ready for the opening ceremonies.