After stepping out of the fireplace at the Leaky Cauldron, Bella and Ron grinned at each other, both excited at being a step closer to Hogwarts. Bella smirked as she saw a patch of dirt on Ron's nose, deciding not to tell him to see how long it would take for him to realise and wipe it off. The two looked around trying to find their families. Ron spotted a cluster of red in a sea of unfamiliar heads. He tapped Bella's shoulder and pointed in their direction. Bella followed his finger and spotted the twins lounging on top of their trunks while her grandmother spoke with Tom the landlord as he stood behind the bar. Ron put Scabbers in his pocket before he and Bella each took an end of his trunk and made their way over to their families. "Hey boys." Bella greeted coming to stop in front of the twins. "Where's Percy?" Ron questioned as he and Bella set down his trunk. "Over there." Fred started pointing over Bella's shoulder. They all turned to look and seen Percy talking to a brunette girl wearing a blue Hogwarts scarf and her parents. "They've been comparing their prefects badges." George continued as they watched the interaction "Perfects Prefects." The two grumbled as Bella shook her head and turned back to look over at her grandmother. "Is Gran...blushing?" She questioned gaping at her rosy cheeked grandmother. The twins grinned "Not the first time that's happened." George started as he and Fred shared a look "Tom called her Miss Carol and she got all flustered." Fred added "She started fanning herself with her hand," George continued "A bit like Mum when she reads a Gilderoy Lockheart book." Fred finished. The four were distracted from watching the interaction by the fireplace flashing green as Molly and Ginny stepped out of the flames. Ginny quickly spotted her siblings and pulled her mums sleeve to get her attention. "Everyone ready to go?" Molly questioned looking over the children. A squeal left her lips as her eyes reached Carol and Tom, the sharp noise breaking the two apart. Carol blushed and stuttered a goodbye as she made her way over to her friend and the children who were covering their ears and looking confused. "Shall we go?" Carol breathed avoiding Molly's eyes. Everyone nodded and began to gather their belongings. Percy noticed his family getting ready to move and said goodbye the family of three. Carol and Molly led the way out the door of the Leaky Cauldron speaking in hushed whispers as the children trailed along behind them. Bella shot Ginny a thankful grin as the red headed girl offered to carry Magentas cage. "What house do you think we'll be in?" Bella questioned Ron biting her lip "I hope it's Gryffindor. I don't know what would happen if it's not." Ron said frowning at the thought "How do they decide?" He questioned looking to the twins who walked in front of them. Fred and George shared a grin before glancing back at their younger brother and friend "Oh it's easy, you just have to battle a troll." Fred said with a nonchalant shrug before the two faced forward and walked ahead grinning as Ron and Bella gaped at their retreating backs. "He's kidding right?" Ron questioned frantically "I don't know! I hope so, I mean how are we meant to fight a troll? We don't know any spells! I knew I should've read our new textbooks!" Bella ranted running her hands through her hair. She took a deep breath before looking at her best friend "Right then, we'll just have to wing it!" She said with a smile before continuing on down the road. Ron watched her blonde hair fly behind her and shook his head. After 10 years he was simply used to her ability to let go of any stress and just go with the flow. He released a defeated sigh before hauling his trunk and following after her.

The two families had made it to Kings Cross Station with ten minutes to spare. Each child got their own trolley and loaded it with their belongings. They needed to get to Platform 9¾ where the Hogwarts Express would depart at 11 o'clock precisely. Carol and Molly hurriedly led the way down the platforms. "It's the same every year. Packed with muggles of course!" The red head grumbled and Carol nodded in agreement "Of course. C'mon! Platform 9¾ this way!" Carol called glancing back to make sure the children were right behind them. It didn't take long to reach the wall between platforms 9 and 10. "Alright Percy, you first." Carol instructed waving the eldest child up to the wall. Percy took a deep breath, tightening his grip on his trolley before heading straight for the wall and disappearing through. "Fred you next!" Molly said gesturing for the twin to come up "He's not Fred, I am!" George complained "Honestly woman, you call yourself our mother." Fred scolded as the twins shook their heads in fake disappointment. Bella nudged Ron with a grin at their behaviour. Molly sighed "Oh, I'm sorry George." Molly said with face full of shame. Fred stepped up pushing his trolley, still acting ready to take a run at the wall. "I'm only joking, I am Fred." He admitted and then he was off. George was quick to follow after his brother leaving Carol, Molly, Ginny, Ron and Bella. "Excuse me!" The five turned to see a boy around the same age as Ron and Bella, with messy black hair and round glasses approach with his trolley. "C-could you tell me h-how to-to..." He stuttered "How to get on to the platform? Yes not to worry dear." Carol said kindly placing a hand on the boys shoulder and a relived grin crossed his face. "It's Ron and Bella's first time to Hogwarts as well." Molly said gesturing to the two friends. Ron shot the boy a sheepish grin while Bella smirked and wiggled her fingers in a wave. "All you've got to do is walk straight at the wall between platforms 9 and 10." Carol instructed pointing at said wall "Best do it at a bit of a run if you're nervous." Molly advised giving him a pat on the back before guiding him forward "Good luck." Ginny said with a smile as he positioned himself in line with the wall. The five watched as the boy pushed off with his trolley and ran through the wall. They all smiled to themselves, happy for the boys first experience. "After you Ron." Bella said with a grin waving her hand towards the wall. Ron nodded "I'll wait for you on the other side." He promised with a smile before pushing his trolley through the wall. "You ready Bella?" Carol questioned her granddaughter. Bella shot her grandmother a large grin before lining herself up with the wall. She pushed off, her hair blowing behind her as she travelled through the wall. She walked over to join Ron as the two admired the black and red steam train. They had seen it many times before saying goodbye to Ron's siblings but this would be the first time they would be passengers. Carol and Molly shared a smile after watching the best friends take in everything about their first time to Hogwarts. Carol placed a hand on Bellas shoulder breaking her stare. "C'mon we best say goodbye and get you all on the train before it leaves." She told her granddaughter who nodded in agreement. Ron who overheard followed after them with his mother and sister as they made their way to stand beside the twins and Percy. "I best be off mum, I have a Prefects meeting to attend." Percy said "Oh, are you a prefect, Percy?" Fred asked with an air of great surprise. "You should have said something, we had no idea." He continued "Hang on, I think I remember him saying something about it," George added "Once -"
"Or twice -"
"A minute -"
"All summer -"
"Oh, shut up!" Percy snapped as Bella, Ron and Ginny giggled at the scene. Carol hid her smile behind her hand. Molly sent the twins a glare before turning back to Percy. "All right, dear, well, have a good term - send me an owl when you get there." She kissed him on the cheek and he left. Molly then turned to the twins. "Now, you two - this year, you behave yourselves. If I get one more owl telling me you've - you've blown up a toilet or -" she was cut off by Fred. "Blown up a toilet? We've never blown up a toilet." he started. "Great idea though, thanks, Mum." George finished. "It's not funny. And look after Ron and Bella." Molly told them sternly "Don't worry, ickle Ronniekins and baby Bella are safe with us." Fred said pinching Ron's cheek as George ruffled Bella's hair. "Shut up." Ron said swatting away Fred's hand as Bella sent a mock glare at George and fixed her hair. "Have a great year, and be on your best behaviour or you will be home faster than you can say Quidditch!" Molly warned giving the twins both a hug. Fred and George set off waving at Carol and ruffling Ginny's hair as they passed. "Now Ron, Bella. Have a fantastic time, enjoy it and stick together. Okay?" Molly said with a smile giving her youngest son and his best friend a hug. Carol pulled her granddaughter into a hug the second she was out of Molly's making the small blonde breathe out a laugh. "I'm going to miss you so much." Carol admitted sniffing Bella's shampoo, trying to ingrain the smell into her brain. "I'll miss you too Gran but we can write all the time!" Bella told her squeezing her tighter. The two pulled back smiling at each other "Have a great time and don't worry what house you're sorted into. Whatever it is, your mother would be proud and so will I." Carol told her softly. Bella blinked back the tears that threatened to spill "I love you." Bella told her softly, "I love you too sweetheart." Carol said placing a kiss on her head. The train whistle blew over head. "Right, best get a move on." Molly said gesturing for the two to get on the train. "You better write and keep me updated." Bella said giving Ginny a hug "I will! You better write too!" Ginny told her with a smile. "Bye Gin." Ron said giving his sister a quick hug. The two waved at their families once more before pushing their trollies onto the train. A conductor was waiting to take their trunks and cages. After saying goodbye to Magenta the two were off.

"We're here." Bella said with a small squeal as they made their way through the train searching for a compartment. "I can't believe it." Ron breathed in awe looking around. Bella waved to the twins as they passed the compartment that they sat in with their friend Lee Jordan. After a few minutes Ron nudged Bella and gestured to the compartment to his left. "What about here?" He asked as the two looked in to see the boy who needed help back on the platform before. Bella nodded before stepping forward and opening the door with a knock. The black hair boy looked up at the noise. "Excuse us, but do you mind if we sit here?" Bella asked with a small smile gesturing between her and Ron. To their relief the boy nodded "Not at all." He told them with a smile. Her and Ron made their way into the compartment and sat across from the boy. "The name's Ron by the way, Ron Weasley." He introduced himself "And I'm Arabella Branley but everyone calls me Bella." The blonde added with a smile. The boy across from them smiled "I'm Harry. Harry Potter." he introduced. The two best friends mouths dropped as they gaped at him before turning to gape at each other. "Bloody hell." They breathed before turning to face Harry. "So is it true?" Bella questioned hoping it wasn't rude to do so "Do y-you really have it? You know... Th- the..." Ron trailed off pointing to his head. Harry's brows furrowed in confusion "The what? He asked "We mean the scar." Bella told him sheepishly and Harry's mouthed formed an 'o' in understanding. He sent the two a smile as he lifted his hair away from his forehead revealing a lightening shaped scar. Ron and Bella leaned forward to get a closer look "Wicked!" They breathed in awe as they sat back. Harry just sent them a grin.

The three first years quickly fell into easy conversation, getting to knowing each other. Harry had just questioned the two on their families and growing up in the Wizarding world. Harry was amazed at the amount of siblings Ron had and silently longed to know what it felt like. "Have you got any siblings?" He questioned looking at Bella. She gave a small smile "No, it's just me and my Gran." She told the boy "My mum died when I was a baby and my dad's never been around." She told him and Harry sent her an empathetic smile. He was comforted to find someone who was in a similar position to himself having no parents and immediately felt guilty for being happy at the thought. "Although I've know the Weasley's my whole life so I suppose they're my siblings. They certainly act like it." Bella added with a laugh as Ron nudged her with a smile. Harry smiled at their interaction and hoped he would eventually be as close to the two as they were to each other. Harry told his two new friends about his life with his family- the Dursleys. Harry described how his Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia and their son Dudley bullied him and treated him as their slave. Ron and Bella were outraged at Harry's treatment and the fact they lied about how Harry's parents, James and Lily Potter had died. They couldn't believe Harry had been forced to sleep in a cupboard under the stairs his whole life. The three were interrupted as the compartment door opened. They looked up to see an older woman hauling a cart full of sweets. "Anything from the trolley, dears?" She questioned with a smile "No thanks, I'm all set." Ron said with a grimace holding up the corned beef sandwiches Molly had packed. "We'll take the lot." Harry said pulling out a handful of coins. Bella and Ron gaped at the pile of silver Sickles and bronze Knuts.

Harry had had told his new friends to dig in after placing a huge pile of Cauldron Cakes, Bertie Bots Every Flavour Beans, Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, Droobles Best Blowing Gum and Licorice Wands and many other magical treats. Ron moved to sit on the same side of the compartment as Harry to be closer to the food. "Bertie Bots Every Flavour Beans?" Harry questioned holding up a box. Bella removed the Blood Pop from her mouth to answer "They mean every flavour." she told him "There's chocolate and peppermint and there's also spinach, liver and tripe." Ron informed him while Bella nodded "George swears he got a bogey flavoured one once." She added with a grimace before smiling in amusement as Harry removed the bean he had just popped in his mouth. "These aren't real frogs are they?" Harry asked admiring the pentagon shaped box "It's just a spell." Bella reasurred him "Besides it's the cards you want! Each packs got a famous witch or wizard. Bella and I've got about 500 each." Ron added thoughtfully. Harry opened the box to reveal a chocolate frog. The three watched as it suddenly hopped up onto the window "Watch it!" Ron called. The frog gave a great leap and blew out into the air "Aw that's rotten luck." Bella said sympathetically "They've only got one good jump in them to begin with." Ron added on. Bella opened a Cauldron Cake as Harry took a look at his new card. "I've got Dumbledore!" He told the two excitedly causing Bella to smile amused "I've got about 6 of him." Ron said around a mouthful of sweets. "Hey! He's gone!" Harry exclaimed after looking back down to see a blank card "Well you can't expect him to hang around all day can you?" Bella asked with a small laugh. "This is Scabbers by the way." Ron introduced seeing Harry look at the large rat that sat on his lap, with his head in a box devouring the sweets inside. "Pathetic isn't he?" Ron asked "Just a little bit." Harry admitted before letting out a laugh as Bella bluntly groaned out a "Completely!" as she popped in a piece of Droobles Best Blowing Gum. "Fred gave us a spell once to turn him yellow, want to see?" Ron asked Harry. Bella smirked knowing it wouldn't work as Harry nodded excitedly at seeing magic. Ron cleared his throat as he lifted his wand "Sunshi-" he started but stopped abruptly as a girl dressed in a plain Hogwarts uniform appeared at the compartment door that had been left open after the sweet trolley had left. The girl, who had bushy, brown hair took a sweeping glance around the compartment before groaning quietly in defeat. "Has anyone see a toad, a boy named Neville's lost one?" She asked looking between the three as they shook their heads. "No." Ron said simply with a shrug, gaining the girls attention "Oh. Are you doing magic? Let's see then." She said with an air of smug superiority in her tone as she challenged Ron. He cleared his throat once again as held up his wand "Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, turn this stupid, fat rat yellow." he called flicking his wand between each word. The spell caused a small spark and the box that Scabbers had his head buried in was sent flying. After seeing Scabbers was still a mousy brown Ron looked between Bella and Harry and shrugged helplessly. Harry and Bella shared a look before returning the shrug with a small smile. "Are you sure that's a real spell?" The girl drawled knowingly. She gave a derisive scoff "Well it's not very good is it." She added and the three other first years shared a look at the girls attitude. Bella wasn't sure if she liked the girls spunk or not, only time would tell. "Of course I've tried a few simple ones myself, but they've all worked for me." She bragged before pulling a wand from her robe pocket and moving to sit beside Bella and across from Harry. "For example," she started as she raised her wand in Harry's face. The boy went crossed eyed as he looked fearfully at the wand pointed right between his eyes. Bella and Ron shared a concerned glance before watching it all unfold. "Oculus Reparo." The bushy haired girl said and the bridge of Harry's glasses that were once held together by tape, were now as good as new. The three gaped in awe as Harry removed his glasses to examine them. "That's better now isn't it?" The girl questioned as Ron paused eating long enough for the three to share looks of disbelief. "Holy cricket... You're Harry Potter!" The girl suddenly exclaimed in recognition as Harry put his glasses back on. "I'm Hermione Granger." She introduced before looking at Bella expectantly "Bella Branley." The blonde told her with a small smile that the brunette returned. The smile was replaced by a look of disgust as she turned to an eating Ron. "And you are?" She questioned sounding rather like she'd prefer not to know "I'm Ron Weasley." He introduced with his mouth full of chocolate "Pleasure." Hermione lied with a grimace. "You three better change into your robes, I expect we'll be arriving soon." She advised looking between Harry and Bella. The three watched as Hermione made her way out the door of the compartment before suddenly turning back to look at Ron. "You've got dirt on your nose, by the way. Did you know?" She informed him as Bella smirked amused "Just there." She added pointing to the spot on her own nose before making a final exit.