"Her name is Hedwig!" Harry said cheerfully the next morning.

Rose, still groggy from the lack of sleep the previous night, yawned. "That sounds nice."

Harry smiled, stroking the owl's feathers through the bars of her cage. "I found it in my history book, and she seems to like it."

Hedwig trilled happily.

BANG BANG BANG

"BOY! Get to work! It's already half past seven!" Vernon yelled from the other side of the cupboard door. "And Rose, your aunt wants you in the kitchen promptly. Don't keep her waiting!"

Harry sighed as they heard Vernon's heavy footsteps head towards the kitchen. He went to leave as well, but Rose stopped him.

"Wait, Harry..."

She rummaged in her oversized pocket, pulling out a small object. She held it out to him.

"Happy birthday, Harry," she said, a hint of nervousness in her voice.

Harry took the gift gently, his heart beating faster with anticipation. In his hand was a small metal storm cloud attached to a silver chain, no larger than his palm. It was made of a dark, matte metal, and its surface was etched with swirling lines and patterns, depicting the writhing mass of a turbulent storm. As Harry held the storm cloud in his hand, he could feel the energy pulsing within it. Little metal lightnings zapped around its surface, flickering and crackling as they danced and swirled.

"Wow," Harry breathed, turning the storm cloud over in his hand. "This is amazing! Where did you get this?"

Rose blushed, her eyes shining with pride. "I saw it in one of the shops yesterday. The little lightning bolts reminded me of your scar, and I thought it was neat, so I got it. It isn't much, but I really wanted to give you a birthday present."

Harry looked at her, his heart filled with gratitude and love. "Rose... You know you don't have to do that..." he whispered.

She grinned, eyes shining with happiness. "I wanted to."

Harry held the storm cloud close to his chest, overcome with emotion. "Thank you, Rose," he said, voice choked with gratitude. "Really. I love it."

He leaned over and hugged her tightly. She hugged him back, eyes closed as she basked in the warmth of the moment.

They hurried out after that, getting to their chores before Vernon could yell at them again.

The rest of the summer wasn't nearly as exciting as the trip to Diagon Alley had been. Rose's birthday came and went without so much as an acknowledgement from the Dursleys. Harry gave her a few small candy treats he'd gotten while shopping.

Despite the Dursleys' cruel behavior, Harry and Rose remained determined to make the most of their time together. They spent their limited down time reading as much as they could from their wizarding books, hoping to soak up as much information as possible. They spent their evenings planning, Harry promising to write to Rose as frequently as possible, and to share everything he learned in school so she could wouldn't be behind in case something happened and they couldn't go to Hogwarts anymore. Rose promised to tell Harry everything that the Dursleys said or did to her.

And before they knew it, September first was upon them.

"Excuse me, uncle Vernon?" Harry approached his uncle, who sat reclining in the living room in front of the television.

"Hm? What do you want?" Vernon grumbled.

Harry took a deep breath, steeling himself. This was not something he'd been looking forward to having to do in the slightest. "I... would you be able to give me a ride to Kings Cross station tomorrow? My train for school leaves from platform 9 and 3/4 at 11 am."

Vernon looked his small nephew over, scrutinizing him. "9 and 3/4? Ha!"

He seemed to think it over a moment, then 'hmphed' and said, "Fine, I'll take you to the ruddy station, if only to get you out of our hair. You two better be ready in the morning, I'm not waiting around for you!"

Harry was shocked, having expected the man to argue and give him a hard time. "Of course, uncle," he said quickly. "But, um, Rose isn't coming..."

"Huh? Didn't get invited to the freak school, did she?"

Harry looked away, not wanting to show his annoyance. "Uh, no, sir."

"Hmmph."

Vernon seemed to contemplate that for a moment, looking pleased.

"Well, perhaps at least one of you got some proper genes!" He said.

Harry smiled tightly. Of course, he knew that Rose would get her letter next year... But, for her sake, it would be better if the Dursleys thought she didn't have magic in the meantime. Maybe, just maybe, they wouldn't treat her so harshly while he was gone.

September 1st

7:30 am

"Harry! Don't forget Hedwig's treats!"

"I've got them Rose, don't worry."

The two siblings were frantically piling Harry's school things into the boot of their uncle's car. Hedwig's cage was sat in the backseat.

Rose crammed in a large copper cauldron beside Harry's trunk. "Okay, okay... I'm just worried something will go wrong..."

Harry stopped what he was doing to put a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry about me, Rose. I'll be fine. It's you I'm worried about."

He glanced towards the house. "You'll be stuck here with the Dursleys…" He thought about that for a moment. She'd be stuck here all alone, and he wouldn't be there to stand up for her. "… Maybe I shouldn't go."

Rose took a step back. "NO!" She half-yelled. "No, Harry, you have to go! I'll be fine, I know how to take care of myself."

Harry studied her face, her mouth set in a firm line.

"… You're sure?" He asked.

She took his hands in hers, smiling up at him, though her eyes were sad. "Of course I'm sure. You need to go and learn as much as you can."

Harry offered her a warm smile, seeing her determination.

"And you'd better write to me!" She added, and he chuckled.

"I will, every day."

"And send me notes and things. I've got a few books, but I want to learn everything that you're learning too!"

"All right, all right," he laughed. "I'll make sure to send you my notes, and anything else."

She nodded, seeming pleased with herself. "Good."

Vernon opened the front door. "Hurry up, boy, or you're not going!" He shouted, and went to get into the car.

Harry sighed, giving Rose one last smirk. She smiled in return, and sprang forth, hugging him tightly.

"I'll miss you, Harry," her voice was muffled, her head buried in his shoulder. "Don't forget me."

"I won't forget. I'll miss you too, Rose."

They stood like that for a moment longer, then she reluctantly released him. Harry took a deep breath, closed the boot, and climbed into the backseat of the car.

As they drove away, he waved to Rose through the window. She waved back, looking incredibly small standing all by herself in the driveway. Harry craned his neck to keep her in sight, until Vernon turned a corner and she was gone.

Harry sat in silent contemplation for the entire car ride, not that he had and desire to chat with his uncle anyways. Vernon had the radio turned to some boring news station. Harry easily tuned it out, thinking about Rose, magic, school, and trains.

The closer to the station they got, the more his stomach churned. He ran his thumb nervously over where his storm cloud pendant was concealed under his shirt, trying to calm himself.

When they arrived at King's Cross station, Harry climbed out rather unsteadily, pulling Hedwig and her cage out with him, while Vernon unceremoniously dumped his school things out of the boot and onto the ground.

Harry thanked him for the ride, receiving only a grunt for a reply before his uncle quickly got back in the car and drove off.

Alone, and drawing confused glances from passerbys with his pile of school things and owl, Harry sighed.

Something was going to go wrong. He just knew it would.

Balancing his things, he began walking through the station looking for platform 9 and 3/4. Pretty quickly he realized that the platform wasn't quite... normal.

He managed to find platform 9, and the next was platform 10. In-between them were a few solid, empty pillars. No platform 9 and ¾. Did such a thing even normally exist?

… So that was why Vernon had laughed at him before.

Red-faced, Harry rummaged through his pockets, pulling out his train ticket to double check that he was looking for the right thing. It affirmed that he was meant to depart from platform 9 and ¾, but didn't give any instructions on how to find the damned thing.

Harry huffed, ignoring the look he was getting from a nearby station worker. He turned to Hedwig, and frowned.

"What do you think, Hedwig?" He asked the bird, who cooed back at him.

Harry shook his head, realizing that, magic or not, an owl wouldn't be much help. So he went back to looking. He made another loop, walking from platform 9 to platform 10 and back.

He was just about to give up hope when he realized there were 3 pillars between the two platforms – wouldn't that make the third one, the one closest to platform 10, ¾ of platform 9? As if on cue, a large group of similarly over-encumbered people suddenly arrived, hurrying over to the exact pillar. Harry quickly slipped behind a nearby wall, not wanting to be seen, but poked his head out just enough to watch.

They seemed to be a family – they were all red-haired, though not the same shade as Rose's. A frantic woman at the front was leading them, commanding them on what to do. Harry watched as one by one, they took off running at the third pillar, and instead of an impact the moment they collided with it, they magically disappeared.

Once the last one had finally gone through, Harry went over to the wall. He reached a hand out to touch it, and to his excitement, it went through as if there were no wall there at all. He quickly grabbed his things and positioned himself in front of the pillar. Closing his eyes tight, he steeled himself, and charged at the wall like he'd seen the others do.

When he opened his eyes a moment later, he was no longer in the main station.

He'd made it to platform 9 and ¾.

All around him were various children with their parents, trunks, and school things. It was busy, and loud, with the bustle of excitement.

Harry worked his way through the crowd, being careful to keep his hair over his scar. He managed to weave his way through to the train, which was a magnificent sight in and of itself.

The Hogwarts Express was a far cry from any of the trains he'd ever seen before. In front of him was an impressive, shiny red steam engine. The steam rising from the engine's funnel seemed to dance in the air, caught in the rays of the morning sun. Harry took a deep breath, allowing himself a moment to take it all in.

The other students were milling about on the platform, some chatting with friends, others hurrying onto the train, and some who seemed to be just as new to the whole experience as he was.

Harry hurried inside, hoping to get away from the noise and chaos of the platform. He pulled his things onto the train, and went to look for somewhere to sit.

He walked down a cramped, narrow hall, lined on both sides by modest compartments with soft, plush benches and cozy wood paneling. Many of them were already filled with chattering students, so he avoided those. He eventually found an empty compartment near the back, and he entered, pulling the door closed behind him.

He hoisted his trunk into the storage area above, thankful he'd gotten the feather-weight charm the shopkeeper had insisted he pay extra for. After pulling out a book to read on the trip and feeding a treat to Hedwig, he took a seat by the window, peering out at the platform as more and more students boarded the train.

Eventually, the people on the platform began to dwindle, only parents and families remaining to wave goodbye to their children. As the last of the luggage was stowed away and the doors closed, Harry felt a sudden lurch and a whistle sounded. The Hogwarts Express had begun its journey.

"We did it, Hedwig," he whispered, stroking her feathers through the bars. "We're going to Hogwarts."

Harry settled in, reading a book called "Hogwarts, a History". It seemed fitting, since Hogwarts was where he was headed, after all. It only made sense to try and learn a bit more about it before arriving.

He sat back and read quietly for a while. The scenery gradually changed outside the window as the train got further away from the city. Some time later, there was a knock at the door, and in came a blonde boy with slicked back hair, flanked by two larger boys, who unfortunately reminded Harry of Dudley.

"Um, hello," Harry said, glancing up from his book.

The blond boy scanned the compartment, looking as if he were sneering, though maybe it was just his face. "I'm looking for Harry Potter. He's supposed to be on this train," he stated coolly. "Have you seen him?"

Harry closed his book and set it off to the side.

"Why?"

The boy looked down his nose at him.

"I wish to offer him a chance to get in with the proper sort of people."

Harry didn't quite know what he meant, and he did sort of rub me the wrong way, but maybe that was just how wizarding people were. He contemplated lying to get him to leave, but he didn't want to make enemies before school even started.

"Well, you've found him," he admitted.

The boy's face lit up, but he seemed skeptical.

"Really? Where's the scar?" He demanded.

Harry lifted his hair slightly to show him, and he gasped.

"It really is you!"

The boy stepped fully into the compartment, sitting down next to him. The two larger boys stayed standing at the door.

The blonde boy turned to Harry, sitting proper but with an undertone of excitement. He looked Harry over.

"You don't look the way I was picturing."

Harry shrugged, uncomfortable. "Sorry."

The boy took on a pompous sort of look, and stuck out his hand.

"My name's Draco Malfoy. Those two are Crabbe and Goyle. I think we should be friends, don't you?"

Harry hesitated a moment, then tentatively reached out and shook his hand.

"Okay." He said. "It's nice to meet you."

Draco smiled triumphantly.

"You made the right choice, Potter," he said proudly. "My family is well-known, I can help you get in with the right sort of people."

He looked to the large boys at the door, Crabbe and Goyle. "Of course, you've probably already heard the name 'Malfoy'."

"Um, actually, I haven't..."

He looked at Harry in alarm.

"What?" He almost barked. "Do you live under a rock or something?"

Harry shifted in his seat.

"Well, I didn't actually know anything about the wizarding world until a couple of days ago."

Draco appeared confounded. "How can that be? You're the Boy Who Lived!"

Harry just shrugged.

"I grew up with my aunt and uncle. They aren't magical - they don't even like magic, to be honest," he added. "I didn't even really know I was a wizard until my Hogwarts letter came."

Draco was aghast.

"That's awful! The Boy Who Lived, raised by muggles? How horrid!" He shook his head.

"Well, I suppose I'll have to explain everything, then."

He looked at Harry, a very serious expression on his face. "It's very lucky you accepted my offer of friendship, Potter. Who knows what would have happened if you'd run into anyone else."

Harry shifted uncomfortably. "You can call me Harry, if you'd like."

He paused, then nodded.

"Alright, Harry. You may call me Draco, then."

Harry smiled slightly at him, when there was another knock at the compartment door.

"Trolley, dears. Care for anything?"

Sliding open the door, there was a small, old woman with a trolley cart filled with what looked to be all sorts of candies and chocolates. It was very tempting.

Draco leaned forward for a better look himself.

"Would you care to buy anything, dears?" The woman asked, smiling warmly at them.

Harry looked at the selection on the cart. It was overflowing with many different types of candy, most of which he'd never seen before.

"I'd like a few things, please." He said.

"Of course, dear, just pick what you'd like."

Harry looked to Draco, who was also purchasing a few different things. He seemed to notice him looking, and pointed out a few candies he recommended.

"Ice mice are my favorites," he said, grabbing some for himself and putting a few into Harry's hand. "And you can't go wrong with chocolate frogs, thought they are rather boring compared to the rest of the selection."

Harry ended up with a hand filled with various candies from the trolley, and both he and Draco paid. Crabbe and Goyle also got a couple things. The Trolley witch thanked them, then continued down the hall.

While Crabbe and Goyle immediately stuffed their faces, Draco stashed most of his away for later, so Harry did the same, though he kept out a single chocolate frog. To his surprise, it leapt out of his hands just like a real frog as soon as it was open.

"They're like that," Draco said. "You don't want to let them get away, you need to hold them tightly when you unwrap them."

"Oops."

After some struggle, he managed to catch the frog and have a taste.

Suddenly, our compartment door slid open again. This time, a young girl who looked to be their age was on the other side.

"Oh, good. Mind if I join you?" She asked, looking relieved to see Draco.

He gestured her in.

"Greengrass." He nodded to her.

The girl hastily sat to Harry's left.

"Ugh, I got stuck in with Pansy," she complained, brushing invisible lint from her shirt. "She wouldn't stop whining about her hair."

Draco shot her a pointed look.

She glanced to Harry and frowned. "Oh, right, right. I should probably introduce myself."

"I'm Daphne Greengrass," she stated. "I already know Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle, of course. And you are?"

She looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"… I'm Harry Potter," he answered quietly.

Daphne's eyes went wide, and Draco looked smug.

"Well, isn't that a surprise. I wouldn't have expected you of all people to be sitting in a compartment with a Slytherin."

"Huh?" Harry frowned, and Draco scoffed.

"We haven't been sorted yet," he drawled. "Though, I will be in Slytherin, naturally."

"What's Slytherin?" Harry asked.

Daphne furrowed her brow and opened her mouth, but Draco waved her off.

"He was raised my muggles - horrid, I know."

"Slytherin is one of the four houses at Hogwarts," he explained. "Some might even say it's the best of the four."

Daphne laughed. "I think that's just you saying that, Draco."

He waved her off. "Nonsense. Slytherin is for those with ambition, with a goal. It's clearly the best one."

Harry looked over the both of them. "What are the other houses?"

Daphne turned to him, smiling. "There's Ravenclaw, which is for the bookworm types. To be honest, I wouldn't mind if I was sorted there."

"Then there's Hufflepuff. They're all about loyalty and friendship."

"More like the castoffs who didn't fit in any other house," Draco commented. "I think I'd leave if I was sorted there, wouldn't you?"

"Oh hush, Draco. You'd never be sorted there anyways."

She returned to her explanation. "The last house is Gryffindor. They're supposed to be brave. Gryffindor and Slytherin are sort of rivals. The Malfoy's are always sorted into Slytherin. It just runs in the family. And, well, as far as I know, everyone in the Potter family were in Gryffindor."

Harry looked to Draco, who shrugged. "Like I said, we haven't actually been sorted yet. Potter could be in Slytherin for all we know."

They both looked him over, trying to figure out where he might end up.

"Where do you think you'll be sorted?" Daphne finally asked.

"I don't know. Maybe not Hufflepuff." Harry shrugged.

"Good, you're learning."

Daphne glared at Draco.

"Well, we'll all find out soon enough." She said, leaning back into the seat.

The rest of the ride went by quickly. They chatted about school, and the wizarding world. When the train was almost there, they all changed into their robes.

Finally, the train arrived. They all piled out, leaving their things on the train as they were told they'd be taken to their rooms for them. Harry followed Draco and Daphne onto the platform, and was surprised to see Hagrid corralling the first year students.

"Firs' years, over here! Four to a boat, no pushin'."

"Hello, Hagrid," Harry waved, grinning.

"Harry! Glad ter see yeh made it! Go on now, get yerself into a boat."

Following his direction, he was met with a breathtaking sight. Small wooden boats lined the edge of a lake, and beyond that was the grandest castle he'd ever seen.

"That's Hogwarts..." Daphne said, eyes wide. "Wow. I knew it was big, but I guess I could never really imagine it..."

Daphne, Draco and Harry climbed into one boat together. Draco told Crabbe and Goyle they'd have to find another. Their last space was filled by a girl named Lisa Turpin.

"You know the groundskeeper?" Draco asked, looking slightly appalled.

"Yeah, he took me to Diagon to do my school shopping."

Draco pursed his lips at that, but had nothing more to say.

The ride across the lake was mostly quiet, as they were all too busy taking in the scenery. Harry took in the moment with wide, curious eyes. When their boats landed, they all followed Hagrid up to the castle.

Waiting for them in front of the massive front door was a very stern, older woman.

"Good evening, first years." She said in a clipped, proper voice. "I'm Professor McGonagall. Head straight into the great hall for the sorting ceremony, please."

They all filed into the hall, which was lined with floating candles, and the ceiling looked as if it were open to the sky outside, but faint glimpses of beams and arches told him it was probably magic. He fingered his storm cloud hidden beneath his robes and wondered if it was the same sort of thing.

Harry sat down together with Draco and Daphne, and waited for the sorting to begin, heart pounding in his chest.

At the front of the room was an old, worn looking hat on a stool. Professor McGonagall stood behind it.

Suddenly, to Harry's surprise, and apparently the surprise of most of the other first years, the hat began to sing.

"Oh you may not think I'm pretty,

But don't judge on what you see,"

"I'll eat myself if you can find

A smarter hat than me."

"You can keep your bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall,"

"For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can cap them all."

There's nothing hidden in your head

The Sorting Hat can't see,"

"So try me on and I will tell you

Where you ought to be."

"You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,"

"Their daring, nerve, and chivalry

Set Gryffindors apart;"

"You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal,"

"Those patient Hufflepuffs are true

And unafraid of toil;"

"Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

if you've a ready mind,"

"Where those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;"

"Or perhaps in Slytherin

You'll make your real friends,"

"Those cunning folks use any means

To achieve their ends."

"So put me on! Don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!"

"You're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

After the song, Professor McGonagall began calling off names to come up to the front.

"Abbott, Hannah!"

A small girl walked nervously up to the front and was guided onto the stool, where McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on her head. There was silence for a moment, and then the hat called out -

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

Everyone applauded politely as the girl quickly scampered over to the Hufflepuff house table.

McGonagall continued to call names in alphabetical order.

"Boot, Terry!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Finch-Fletchley, Justin!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

When it was Daphne's turn, she did a little wave to Draco and Harry before stepping confidently up to the stool.

Her pause was slightly longer than others, but eventually the hat called out a house for her.

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Good." Draco nodded, clapping politely. "A much better choice than Ravenclaw."

The sorting continued.

"Longbottom, Neville!

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Malfoy, Draco!"

Draco stood elegantly, and sat on the stool with a smirk. The second the hat touched his head, it yelled -

"SLYTHERIN!"

Harry chuckled softly, and clapped along with everyone else.

More students were sorted, until finally, it was his turn.

"Potter, Harry!"

The whole hall grew silent as seemingly everyone turned to look at him.

Nervously, Harry made his way up to the front and took a seat. Too aware of all the eyes on him, he kept his gaze locked firmly on the floor.

McGonagall gently placed the hat on his head.

"My, my, very difficult, yes..."

Harry startled at the voice, and chanced a glance around the room.

"No, they can't hear me. Only you can, of course," the voice said, somehow coming from the Sorting Hat. No one else seemed to hear it, so Harry returned his gaze to the floor, and concentrated on the sorting.

"Yes, let's see... Plenty of courage. A desire for knowledge as well - Ah, and loyalty, talent, and a desire to prove yourself."

"My, this IS difficult! Where to put you, hm..."

'Wherever is best for me - wherever will give me the best future,' Harry thought to himself.

"The best future, eh? Well then, that does help narrow it down." The hat acknowledged his thoughts.

"Yes, I do believe the best place for you will be in -"

"SLYTHERIN!"

Author's Note:

The sorting hat's song is quoted from the first book!