Oliver, Tiannah, their parents, Benny and Hestia were at Kings Cross station. Tiannah was excited, finally living out the dream she thought she would never have: going to Hogwarts. It was five to eleven, which gave them just enough time for farewells. Benny was going to be particularly hard to say goodbye to; she hadn't spent so much quality time with him since before she went to school in America.

The two families ran through the wall and embarked onto platform nine-and-three-quarters. Tiannah took in the new surroundings, grinning from ear to ear. She knew that she was going to have the time of her life at Hogwarts. With Oliver and Hestia by her side, she couldn't think of a better way to go through her final two years of school.

But Benny didn't seem as enthused. He sniffled and looked down at his feet, seemingly unhappy by the prospect of his sister leaving.

"What's up, buddy?" Oliver asked Benny, having noticed his mood before Tiannah did. He crouched down to his level, concern in his eyes.

"I'm going to miss you and Tiannah and Hestia," he said in a small, sad voice. Oliver ruffled his hair, looking sympathetic.

"Don't worry, Benny. We'll be back at Christmas, and Easter. We will write every week if you'd like!" he assured. Benny gave him a watery smile. Tiannah, having noticed the exchange, approached Benny from behind and lifted him up. He squealed in shock and delight as she placed him on her shoulders.

"No tears, Benny," she said firmly. "Otherwise I'll have to tickle you."

"Fine," he agreed. "But you better write to me every week, like Oliver said you would!"

"Of course I will," Tiannah promised, bending down so Benny could jump off; the train had whistled, signalling its departure. She gave him a big hug, then her parents and Oliver's too. As they got onto the train and waved goodbye to their families, Tiannah felt sadness mingle with the excitement; Benny didn't have a good friend like Oliver, and she felt awful that most of his childhood had been spent alone, her stupid stubbornness and anger rendering her incapable of going home. She had so many regrets about her fight with Oliver, but she had never considered just how much it would have impacted her little brother.

Nonetheless, she found her thoughts quickly drifted away from this saddening topic as Hestia excitedly lead her and Oliver through the train to find an empty compartment.

"I love it already!" she exclaimed. "This train is so… vintage. Everything was too shiny and perfect in America."

Tiannah exchanged a bemused look with Oliver. "Do you even know where you're going, Hestia!"

"Yes. Ken told me to meet him at the front end of the train."

"Of course he did," Oliver muttered quietly. Hestia and Ken had decided they wanted to start dating again after the wedding, and both Tiannah and Oliver were subject to every detail about their reunion. Grudgingly – knowing how sickening their greeting was bound to be – they followed Hestia into the compartment. They sat down across from each other, ignoring their friends' grotesque display of affection.

"I hope the honeymoon phase is over soon," Tiannah said quietly, grinning. "I don't want us to be fourth wheeling all year."

"I miss my friend," Oliver replied, jokingly staring at Ken longingly. "He doesn't even acknowledge my existence anymore."

Tiannah laughed. Oliver grinned, putting his legs up on the seat opposite her. She loved Oliver's smile – it lit up his whole face, made the amber flecks in his brown eyes glimmer in the light. Oh how she wished she didn't have these stupid feelings for him! They were so pointless and would only serve to ruin their friendship. Yet the more the thought about her feelings, the stronger they seemed to become.

"Are you okay?" Oliver asked. Tiannah realised she had been staring at him for a few moments too long. She flushed and nodded, standing up.

"I'm fine. I'll be back."

She quickly exited the compartment and let out a groan once she was out of earshot. Why did she leave?! That was going to make her staring even more suspicious! If she wasn't careful, Oliver would quickly begin to catch on. But she couldn't return to the compartment now; that would look even stranger. So she walked along the hallway, deciding to go to the bathroom, or at least pretend to so that's what it looked like she left to do.

"Get a grip," she murmured to herself, shaking her head. Suddenly, her swift walking came to a dramatic halt as she crashed into a body. She steadied herself and managed to not fall over, but it was a close call.

"I'm sorry! I wasn't paying attention to where I was going," said the voice of a boy who looked around her age.

"Neither was I," Tiannah replied, shaking off his apology.

"I'm Cedric Diggory, fifth year Hufflepuff. I haven't seen you around before," he observed, frowning in confusion.

"I'm Tiannah Summers. I've transferred from The Salem Witches' Institute in America," she said politely.

"Lovely to meet you, Tiannah. I hope to see you in Hufflepuff," Cedric said, nodding and smiling. She smiled back as he moved out of her way and let her continue walking. She thought that Cedric Diggory had a pretty smile. In fact, he was quite handsome. Hmm. Maybe the best way to distract herself on Oliver was to divert her crush… elsewhere. She wasn't sure if it worked like that, but hoped that someone at Hogwarts would catch her eye the same way Oliver did – someone who wasn't her lifelong friend who she only just made amends with.

She turned around, figuring her run in with Cedric had taken up enough time that if she walked back slowly, it wouldn't look too suspicious. She sighed, wondering how things got so annoyingly complicated.

Tiannah and Hestia received many confused looks as they walked through the Great Hall. Seemingly, transfers from other schools were not a common occurrence. Tiannah was overwhelmed by how beautiful Hogwarts was. The Salem Witches Institute was so shiny and gaudy and modern – which Tiannah and Hestia alike loathed. Hogwarts was ancient and had an energy of homeliness and warmth and welcoming to it. She was mesmerised by the ceiling in the Great Hall; it was bewitched to look like the night sky, as Oliver had informed the two girls, but Tiannah hardly believed it. It looked too real.

Tiannah and Hestia sat with Oliver at Gryffindor table, despite not being sorted into their houses yet. She hoped they would be sorted before all the first years; she couldn't bear to wait much longer to find out what house she would be in.

"Welcome old and new students. This year, we have two transfers from the Salem Witches' Institute. Hestia Lawrence and Tiannah Summers. They are going to be sorted first, as they are starting sixth year."

Thank god, Tiannah thought, relieved. Hestia went first. The hat decided on Gryffindor after about thirty seconds. Tiannah was very nervous, praying that she was also sorted into Gryffindor. She spotted Marcus Flints troll-like face as she made her way up to the front of the hall, and shuddered at the thought of being in Slytherin with him.

The hat was placed on her head. Tiannah swallowed hard, nervously anticipating what the hat would proclaim.

"Very daring and loyal… but Hufflepuff wouldn't fit, no… I see Slytherin and Ravenclaw are also not suitable… okay then… GRYFFINDOR!"

Tiannah sighed in relief and made her way towards Gryffindor table, Oliver and Hestia's cheers audible over the rest of the tables. Thank Merlin she was in Gryffindor. She sat next to her friends, grinning broadly as the first year sorting began. She had never been so excited for a school year to start.