Eh, apparently no one was interested in my little game last chapter. That's cool. That's cool. I've got a better one this time: if I get ten reviews, I'll post my next chapter a day early. There are way more than ten followers of this story. Actually that's only asking for one out of six of you, so that's not a lot at all. So if you don't care about getting it early, than don't worry about reviewing. ;)

Thanks for all the love, everyone! I hope I continue to entertain!

"So are you going to try to find Harry on the train?" Mum suddenly asks as we walk to the platform.

"What?" I choke out around my ice cream.

"Harry Potter. He seemed like a sweet boy when we ran in to him. A bit lonely though."

"Why would she go looking for him? They barely know each other," Dad argues for me. His overprotectiveness is refreshing in this instance and I completely agree. Of all the students in the entire world, my mom wants me to be interested in the one boy whose life I could destroy just by being in his presence. My parents begin bickering over my head about my interest or lack thereof in boys and I quietly slip ahead of them. I'm sick of waiting to go through platform 9 and ¾. I look back at my parents, who are barely paying attention to me as I stand in front of the plain brick wall.

"I'm going on ahead," I say, not trying to be heard, but mum picks up on it anyway.

"Wait for us!"

"What was that?" I call back lamely as I run head first through the magical barrier. The odd tingle of magic runs through my body and the Hogwarts Express is waiting for me on the other side. It's just as beautiful as I had hoped it would be. "Wow." The word slips out of my mouth and I don't even care. I probably look like such a muggle born, staring at the train like its a mythological creature.

My parents appear behind me, but I ignore their complaints about running ahead. At least they quit talking about boys. They've kindly been toting around my trunk for me so I really should be nicer but whatever.

"Tally seems skittish," I go over to my trunk where my new barn owl is bouncing around in her cage. We took to each other quickly, though now I worry that the new environment at school might be too much for her. "Do you think she'll be okay?" I ask mum.

"Of course, sweetie. Barn owls are tough. She'll be just fine. The other owls will look out for her too, I'm sure." I realize I'm over-worrying and take a deep breath.

"You're right." I look around the platform and feel my excitement rise again as my parents urge me closer to the train.

"This is it!" Dad sounds just as excited as I do. We both take in the beautifully chaotic scene together before he turns to me. "I'm gonna miss you." He pulls me into a tight hug. "Write often because if you don't I'm going to write you every day."

"Yes, Daddy," I hug him back as hard as I can. "I'll miss you too." And I'm proud to say I mean it.

Mom and I have similarly heartfelt goodbyes and when I am left alone on the train I feel surprisingly choked up. In the beginning I wasn't sure if I would be able to come to love my new parents, but I'm glad to say that I have.

…..

I've decided to try to sit alone on the train so I can focus on meditating and relaxing before the sorting ceremony. Besides that, I'm actually pretty sleepy. I guess my crazy nerves are starting to wind down.

I take the first empty car I find and stow my trunk. Despite how sleepy I feel I don't want to pass out yet, just in case I managed to take some upper classman's favourite spot or something. Instead, I pull out a book and wait for the trip to begin.

Before the train leaves the station, the door to my car opens suddenly. I jump at the sound and am very surprised to find myself looking at the Weasley twins. The two are mid conversation and haven't noticed me yet.

"I'm just saying we really need to up our game this year," the one on the right is saying to his double.

"Uh, Fred," George stops after taking one step into the car. He's finally noticed me sitting here.

"Maybe something with Lee's tarantula- Oh," Fred stops mid-sentence and looks me up and down. "There's a little firstie in here!"

I have no idea how to feel about that statement.

"Oh, umm, is this your spot?" I don't remember the twins being particular about where they sat on the train and I don't think they bullied younger years, but I wouldn't mind getting out of their way if they wanted me to.

"Trying to get away from us, already?" George gives me a cheshire grin and sits across from me as Fred slides in beside me.

"We haven't even introduced ourselves yet!" Fred adds.

"Well you're Fred," I playfully poke Fred in the side, who had thrown an arm over my shoulders. "And this is…?" I pretend not to know the other twin's name.

"George," he supplies.

"You know how to pay attention," Fred sounds ever so slightly impressed.

"Well your brother did just say your name."

"How do you know we're brothers?" They ask together, wriggling their eyebrows at me like they stumped me. I just laugh at their question.

"And what's your name?" Fred asks, leaning closer. I'm surprised by how much of a flirt he is for a thirteen year old.

"Charlotte."

"Charlotte…?" George waits for my answer.

"You first!"

"Weasley," they answer in unison. I can't help but giggle.

"Charlotte Campbell. Nice to meet you both." I hold a hand out to each of them but cross my arms to switch hands at the last moment.

"What an interesting firstie you are, Charlotte," Fred laughs as he shakes my hand.

"I think we should keep an eye on this one," George agrees.

"Oh, I'm nothing special," I argue. I don't want to change anything in the future and having these two high profile characters as friends might throw things off.

"And she's humble!"

"Why are you two interested in a first year?" I ask, narrowing my eyes in suspicion. They're being a bit too friendly. The two jump back as if I had struck them.

"Why would you say such a thing, little Charlotte? Is it a sin for upperclassman to be interested in their younger counterparts?"

"You need me for something," I postulate, nearly certain that I'm correct.

"Has someone been spreading nasty rumors about us?" George asks.

"Are they rumors if they're true?" I raise an eyebrow at them as they both gasp in fake indignation.

"Well I never-!" Fred begins.

"Of course you have," I cut him off. They both stop pretending and George leans forward in what I can only assume is meant to be a serious manner.

"Well," George says, "if you're asking if we need help..."

"No." I respond automatically.

"No?" the twins respond in unison. "We haven't even told you what we're doing!"

"From what I've heard, I've got a general idea."

"But it'll be fun!" Fred whines.

"Why me?"

"Why not you?" George shoots back.

"I'm clearly not the malleable first year you thought I would be, why haven't you given up on me and tried for the next one?" They both pause at this, looking at one another with an intensity I can only assume is twin telepathy. They nod at one another and Fred turns to me.

"Honestly, you're the only other first year that we've found sitting alone. The first girl we found was...a bit too odd for us. We had given up until we saw you!" George nods sagely across from me. I vaguely wonder if they are talking about Luna.

"You're our only hope!"

"You've gotta be kidding me," I sigh.

"Is that a yes?" Fred asks hopefully.

"I refuse to join you two without knowing exactly what I'm getting myself in to. I want the full plan."

They both agree and we get down to work. My Hogwarts life is already turning out to be completely different from what I had planned!

…..

It turns out, not every prank the twins come up with is overly complex. They need a first year to plant their new edible products on the trolley because the lady who works on the train already knows them on a first name basis.

I immediately see the problem with this plan: I distinctly remember Harry buying the entire trolley's worth of sweets on this train ride. If I were to fill it with the Weasley's pranked foods… I shudder at the pain I would cause.

When the twins pull out their haul of goods, I come up with my plan of action on the fly. Hopefully they're not used to this much praise.

"Wow! What are all of those?" I ask, only mildly feigning my interest. I'm curious to see how many things they've invented already. The twins' eyes glitter with glee. Good, I seem to have hit the mark.

"Well you see," George begins, and they're off. With only slight prodding from me, they tell me about every invention they have on hand. Apparently no one has ever shown this much interest in their life's work because they're both shocked when the announcement comes that we are fifteen minutes from Hogwarts.

"Oh man! We got distracted!" Fred whines. I sigh quietly with relief. My plan worked flawlessly and they don't expect me at all.

"We're already off to a slow start!" George agrees. I can't help but laugh.

"What?" Fred turns to me and pokes me. "This is all your fault, you know!"

"Hey, you couldn't have done it without me anyway, so how can it be my fault?" The two pause in thought at this.

"Maybe…" They acquiesce.

"Anyway," Fred pushes on, "we had better catch up with our classmates. Don't want them to think they've gotten away from us!" They stand up and each stick out a hand. I stand and bow, ignoring their outstretched hands. They both pause at my odd behaviour until we all burst out laughing. "And don't think you've gotten off easy either, little Charlotte!" Fred throws over his shoulder as they head out.

"I wouldn't dream of it." The twins shut the door behind them and I let out a loud sigh. Not only had I managed to save Harry from misfortune, but I also had the twins all to myself for a whole train ride!

Wait...did I just think that? I slap my cheeks and shake my head loose. Did I really just flirt with the Weasley twins? What is wrong with me? I am so much older than them! And that's just the first of a hundred reasons why I should not be interested!

I have to admit though, that was the most fun I've ever had talking to someone around my age. I have a few friends at home, but I've always been so guarded around them that I end up being really quiet. The twins are so much fun and I know enough about them already that I feel like I've been friends with them forever. That's probably why it felt so easy to let loose. Maybe having them as friends would be good for me. It's nice to think that there might be people at school I can relax around.

Speaking of relaxing, I puff out another sigh and start getting changed into my school robes. Maybe I can still catch a quick nap before I have to deal with the sorting ceremony.

….

One nap and a quick change of clothes later, and I feel good as new. After all this waiting and planning I've finally made it to Hogwarts! I grab my trunk and slide into the line of students surging off the train. I forgot that the station is a ways off from the school proper, but it's only a short boat ride away.

As soon as I step off the train I hear a familiar booming voice call over the crowd, "First years over 'ere!"

I turn to see Hagrid's large form looming over us. Most of the first years look like they're about to faint at the sheer girth of the man. I cover a smile with my hand and head over to the half-giant.

It seems Harry has found Hagrid already, so I stay further back in the crowd. As Hagrid starts convincing students to get in to the boats, I get my first glance of Hogwarts. The moment seems to last a lifetime as I soak in the view of the building I've read so much about.

"Isn't she beautiful?" a small voice asks behind me. I assume that the person wasn't speaking to me, and when I turn to look I find that I'm right. It seems like Luna was asking herself that question, with her usual far away look. I decide to respond anyway.

"She is," I agree. Luna blinks and looks over at me.

"Who are you?" she asks belligerently. I stare at the girl in front of me as it dawns on me that this is most certainly not Luna Lovegood. Could I be any more embarrassing?

Fortunately for me, I don't have to face this strange girl anymore as we are quickly ushered on to separate boats. Now that I think about it, isn't Luna a year younger than Harry? I had been looking forward to meeting her, although I wasn't sure how close we would be. I certainly didn't want her to be bullied as much as I heard she was though.

My boat ride ends up being uneventful. I try to crowd out my anxiety by watching the calm water and the gorgeous view of the ever growing castle. I never realized just how large it was but now that I'm up close I see that getting lost inside is a realistic possibility.

Now we are being pushed up the steps to the castle like a herd of confused sheep. We are all nervous and despite Hagrid's best intentions, he hasn't really put anyone but Harry at ease. As we come up to Professor Mcgonagall I swear I hear a tiny shriek -maybe someone didn't notice her until the last second. She introduces herself, talks about the different houses, and then leaves us to wait for a few minutes. Hagrid is gone too, and it dawns on me that this is an important moment for Harry. I look around the crowd and spot the shock of slicked back blonde hair by the doors. I take a few steps forward and just catch the end of Harry telling Draco to shove off. Poor Draco really doesn't know how to make friends. If he wasn't so insufferable I'd consider giving it a try, but I wouldn't want my good influence to rub off on him. Despite all his bad decisions, he lives through the conflict so I'd rather leave him to his own devices.

I watch Harry turn back to Ron and the two integrate themselves back in to the group. Unfortunately I was a little too close to the action because Harry manages to spot me. He looks at me strangely for a moment, clearly trying to place me, but I am saved from having to speak to him by Mcgonagall's reappearance.

"Right this way, all of you. Don't dawdle. Everyone is waiting."

The doors behind the professor open wide and we move as a frightened huddle into the great hall. It's massive! I'm immediately fascinated by the "open" ceiling, and overhear Hermione explaining to someone that it's bewitched.

To avoid bumping into anyone, I bring my attention a little closer to where I'm walking and take to looking at the rest of the school sitting in front of me. I can't believe I'm finally here, in Hogwarts, with all the other witches and wizards. I did it! I bask in the excitement of it all. This new place, this new feeling, these new people, but my happy moment is shattered when the Sorting Hat is placed on its stool. I stare at it as a mixture of horror and self loathing wash over me.

I don't know why I'm trying to fool myself; none of this is really new- not for me. I've had my mental shields up from the moment I got on the train because I don't belong here. What if the Sorting Hat tells Dumbledore the truth? Grandma told me not to worry, but how can I be sure?

I look up at the headmaster and realize that he's been speaking for some time now. I watch his mouth move but nothing makes it to my ears but a rushing sound. I can't do this, I can't do this! I take a big gulp of air but still feel like I'm drowning. I'm an imposter. A fake. If Dumbledore doesn't catch me then Tom certainly will. One way or another I'm going to die slowly and painfully. The world around me seems to get narrower as my vision darkens. My thoughts start to slow down, and my brain sluggishly tries to warn me that I'm going to pass out.

One of the people standing next to me bumps my arm as they are called up and I'm startled into taking a breath. I realize that I've been holding my breath for a while, and as I gasp desperately for air I want to smack myself for being so easily frightened. It's no wonder I'm freaking out when I'm not breathing! I continue to focus on my breaths, getting them to deepen and slow. The deeper my breathing becomes, the better I feel. I try to keep focusing on that when I hear my name called.

"Charlotte Campbell?"

Oh fuck.

I can't tell if my heart is going to stop or beat so fast that it pops out of my chest. Breathe, Charlotte. I can hear my grandmother's voice urging me forward. You're going to be fine as long as you keep breathing.

Walking up the the Sorting Hat is torturous. A thousand faces watch my every move, and I'm sure they can see my trembling. Little do they know what I am so afraid of. As soon as I sit on the stool, the Sorting Hat is perched on my head by Professor Mcgonagall. It's so large that it falls over my eyes and I am plunged into darkness.

Ravenclaw, Ravenclaw, Ravenclaw. I chant in my mind, using the word as a mantra to strengthen my mental shields. I use my breathing and the mantra to block out all my other thoughts, trying to keep the hat from seeing into my mind.

"You seem very sure about the house you want," the hat whispers to me. I'm not phased by it speaking- I expected this. What I am phased by is the fact that I'm not feeling its presence in my mind. Has it bypassed my shields entirely or is it respecting my privacy? It seems like it's waiting for a response from me, but I have no idea what to say. "It seems you've already made up your mind." I'm left wondering what the hat means by that as it shouts to the crowd of students,

"Ravenclaw!"

As suddenly as I felt it was placed on my head, the Sorting Hat is removed and I am ushered down the steps towards my new housemates. Some of the other first years that I vaguely recognize from our boat trip wave me over and I sit next to them. I'm greeted warmly and shake hands with a few upperclassman, but I'm left wondering if I somehow got away with the sorting without being found out. I look at all of the professors, none of which are specifically looking at me, and the Sorting Hat, still shouting out the houses every other minute. Checking my mental defenses, it seems like I'm still going strong. Maybe I can really do this.

Having gone through that ordeal in one piece, I watch as all the main characters get sorted. It feels so surreal to watch this moment in the Great Hall instead of on my television. My stomach grumbles as I watch, completely derailing my train of thought. Now that I've gotten through all the stress, I'm starting to realize how hungry I am! Fortunately, the sorting finishes quickly and Dumbledore doesn't take long laying the ground rules for the year. I have no interest going anywhere near the third floor corridor, although I would love to have met Fluffy as a puppy!

With that adorable thought to make me smile, Dumbledore finishes his speech with a flourish and the food appears. In case any of you "readers" are curious, the food is just as legendary as Harry made it out to be. I casually join in the conversation with my housemates, which is centered around how excited we all are about starting class tomorrow. It feels good to be around other people who are just as excited to learn as I am- my friends back home weren't exactly "bookish". My first goal after class tomorrow is to head to the library. I wonder if I could read the entire collection before I graduate?

With all the students now happily filled with wonderful food, the Ravenclaw prefects in charge of the first years call for us to group up again. Now that we have been sorted there aren't nearly as many of us, so it doesn't take us long to gather. We leave the Great Hall in our distinctive first year huddle, all of us too afraid of getting lost to wander from the group. The prefects continuously remind us to stay together, but there's no reason to worry- Ravenclaws are smarter than that.

On our way to our common room, the prefects explain general facts about the castle and our place in it. Ravenclaw tower is on the west side of the castle, these are the best staircases to take, and, when we finally arrive, how to get inside the common room.

"The riddle is different every time you want to enter, but if there is more than one person entering, you only have to answer one riddle," one prefect explains. I really should remember their names, but as soon as they said them I instantly forgot.

Having explained the riddle, there is an unasked question weighing heavily on us. I can almost feel the hesitation as we all want to ask, but don't want to be the one to ask it. "Relax, you guys. Every first year thinks the same thing. Most riddles have more than one right answer, and you are smarter than you think. As long as you put some thought into your answer, and as long as it isn't completely off base, you can come in. We just don't want the other houses knowing that," he gives us a conspiratorial wink. "It's important for keeping the others out."

The prefect walks up to the door with the eagle knocker, and half the group jumps when the eagle starts speaking. Poor muggleborns.

"What has a head and a tail but no body?" the eagle asks. Everyone around me looks thoughtful for a moment. I think I've heard this riddle before, but I can't put my finger on it at a moment's notice.

"Any takers?" the prefect asks jovially.

"A worm?" A dark haired girl I don't recognize gives her answer. The door doesn't budge.

"Now you know what happens if you give a wrong answer. Don't worry though, you have as many tries as you need. Think it through again." He turns to the door, "Can you repeat that?"

"What has a head and a tail but no body?" the eagle seems a bit put off that we haven't given it an answer. Or maybe I'm imagining things.

"Oh! A coin!" I say a bit too loudly. Everyone is staring at me, but fortunately when the door swings open their attention is diverted. I try to get distracted as well to avoid blushing any harder than I already am.

The prefects wave us inside. Fortunately we took a bit longer getting back than the rest of the upperclassmen, so the common room is relatively empty for us to look around. Everyone must be busy trying to find their new beds and get themselves settled.

I vaguely remember a scene of the Ravenclaw tower in one of the movies but I know it wasn't long lasting. It certainly didn't leave as much of an impression as actually being here does. My eyes are immediately drawn to the wide open ceiling filled with stars. Taking what I had learned from my astrology reading, I know right away that the stars are in their correct positions for the season we are in. Of course the painting is magical- I wouldn't have it any other way.

The small group scatters about the common room, each of us finding new things that catch our interest. I'm enamored by the huge bookshelves filled with well worn books, as are we all are, I'm sure. They've clearly been handled frequently, but by loving hands. I wonder how old they are.

"Our library has a few duplicates from the main student library, but there are a lot of books here that you won't be able to find downstairs. Most of the ones here are rare but were gifted specifically to our house. That being said, I'm sure I don't have to tell you all to treat the books here as if they are your own. You are free to take them outside of the common room, but make sure to remember that this is where you got them from."

I'm sure I'm not the only one that's excited by this news. Now I won't have to go to the library tomorrow to get my hands on more books! Though I'm sure I'll make my way there within the first week.

"Now we'll be separating by gender so we can go to our dorms." Our small group splits once again, pretty evenly between boys and girls, and we head up even higher in the tower to our dorms. I feel pretty bad for any Ravenclaws that are afraid of heights. We are told that first years are highest up the tower, with seventh years at the first landing. Seems fair, except for the fact that I'm not sure if I'll be here for my seventh year. That thought always makes me disappointed. The dorms themselves look just like Gryffindor's, just with blue and bronze instead of red and gold. I love the four poster beds!

"Your trunks are at the foot of your beds," the prefect says dismissively. "I'm going to sleep. Try not to need anything?" She leaves us to our own devices after that.

We all manage to find our beds, some of us being a bit more awkward than others. As I start pulling out my pajamas, the girl whose bed is next to mine comes over to me and sticks out her hand.

"Hi, I'm Lisa. Lisa Turpin. Nice to meet you." I shake her hand. She seems rather prim and proper.

"Charlotte Campbell."

"I'm Mandy!" Another girl chirps behind me. She waves a hand at the two of us and continues going through her trunk. When she whips out a gameboy I can barely believe my eyes. "Anyone wanna play with me?"

"Oh no…" I whisper sadly. I can't believe I have to break this news to her. Her beautiful gameboy!

"What is that thing?" Lisa exclaims loudly, her question overshadowing my lamenting.

"It's a gameboy! You know, to play games on?" Mandy hands it over to Lisa. "Be careful with it- it was expensive." Lisa examines the game device. I can't say for certain whether I owned one of these in my past life, but I've had to patiently hold back my love of video games as I wait for technology to catch up with my tastes.

"Where did you get it?" I ask in awe. Were these already out in the UK and I hadn't noticed?

"It's been out for a year now! I just got it at a game store." Lisa continued to look at the device like it was from an alien planet.

"How does it work?"

"You really don't know what it is?" Mandy seems incredulous. "Do you not like video games?"

"I don't know what a video game is." Mandy looks ready to cry on Lisa's behalf.

"Did your parents abuse you?" she whispers seriously. I burst out laughing at this, and Lisa looks around in confusion.

"Why would you say such a horrible thing? My parents love me very much! Just because we are a pureblood family doesn't mean my parents don't know how to raise their children. So rude!" Lisa huffs and storms back over to her bed. Mandy seems just as confused as Lisa had been.

"Mandy," I finally interject when I finish laughing. "Lisa doesn't know what a video game is because wizards don't use technology the way muggles do."

"Why not?"

"Because it doesn't work around magic." Mandy's eyes go wide at the implication.

"You don't mean…"

"I'm sorry, Mandy." We both mourn what could have been many an amazing game night.

"I'm going to bed," she mumbles as she tucks the gameboy deep within her trunk. I'm left wondering whether any of us will be friends. I don't think Lisa will hate Mandy forever for her comment about her family though.

"Good night," Lisa says from her side. I knew it.

"Good night everyone."

Things have already been far more interesting than I could have imagined. I'm so excited for tomorrow!