Note: So, I've decided to upload two chapters right off the bat! I'm feeling inspired at the moment and I do hope that anyone who actually is reading has enjoyed the last chapter. I realize that things are going slow at the moment, but they'll pick up a bit later. Thanks for reading! ^^

Disclaimer: Again, it's all JK Rowling's!

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"So, you're a first year too then?" Dorcas asked, though she was fairly sure he was. Surely someone so timid couldn't be much older than herself, right?

Though, Peter nodded a few times, apparently relieved that he wasn't talking to someone older than himself. Though, Dorcas wondered how anyone could really be intimidated by her. She hadn't seen anyone smaller than herself running around, and she was sure that she would be among the smallest of the first years, if not the smallest one of the bunch. Dorcas pulled her legs up onto her seat, and tried to initiate a bit of conversation with Peter. She asked him a bit about chocolate frog cards and then asked him if he played Quidditch, though at that, his eyes widened and he shook his head fearfully as if Dorcas had just asked him if he liked to go around torturing small animals for fun. A slight frown creased her forehead, but didn't last long when the door of their compartment slid open. In bounded a girl with long, dark hair and pink cheeks, smiling brightly.

"Oh! Good! A place to sit!" she exclaimed. "Oh, you don't mind do you? It's just that most other places are full."

Peter looked like he minded very much being stuck in a compartment with just two girls as company, but Dorcas smiled at the girl.

"Sure!" she answered, returning the smile. "I'm Dorcas Meadowes, by the way. This is Peter Pettigrew."

"I'm Hestia Jones," she said, grinning. "First years?"

Dorcas and Peter both nodded and almost immediately, Hestia launched into a discussion about the pros and cons of each house. However, she was very determined not to get into Slytherin as that's what her family wanted, and she had never liked them much. Dorcas thought on it a moment. She didn't know much about the houses, though she knew that there were four: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. From what she'd heard, Slytherin wasn't the best lot to get involved with, though Dorcas wasn't really sure about the others. She supposed she'd see once they got to Hogwarts. The train started moving, and Hestia grinned excitedly, nearly bouncing in her seat. Dorcas couldn't help but smile at her antics. And well, compared to Peter, someone who was a little more outgoing was nice. They hadn't been going for five minutes when the door opened and in stepped a skinny, but tall boy who looked quite tired.

"Hello, would you all mind if I sat with you?" he asked. "I'm Remus Lupin."

He offered them all a friendly smile. Peter looked more than relieved to have another boy joining them.

"I'm Dorcas Meadowes," Dorcas said, offering him a bright smile.

"Hestia Jones!" the bubbly girl grinned, waving from her seat.

"I'm Peter Pe-Pettigrew," Peter said, quietly, shrinking back into his seat at the attention focused on him.

"Nice to meet you all," Remus said politely, taking the last available seat next to Peter. "Would anyone like some chocolate?"

From his pocket, he withdrew a rather large slab of chocolate, breaking it into pieces. The others all enthusiastically took their pieces, happily munching on them and thanking Remus. He smiled and then folded the chocolate back into the wrapper, putting it away for now. Not long after that, they seemed to separate themselves, with Remus and Peter discussing what classes they might like to take(though this was mostly Remus speaking) and Dorcas and Hestia getting into an animated conversation about Quidditch and how they'd both like to try out for a house team next year. Dorcas thought she'd make a good Seeker, while Hestia fancied the Beater position. However, the two conversations eventually merged back into one, and by the time the woman with the sweets cart came around, they were all fairly friendly with one another. They each bought something from the woman, happily snacking on their sweets as they spent the rest of their time chatting. When it was announced that they would be there in 15 minutes, Dorcas and Hestia left to change, and Peter and Remus stayed in the compartment. Once everyone was in their school uniforms and robes, they returned to the compartment. They'd just begun to converse again when the train began slowing. It finally ground to a halt at Hogsmeade Station and the doors opened. Excited, they almost ran off the train.

"Firs' years, over 'ere!" a deep voice beckoned at the front of the platform.

Dorcas was much too short to see anything properly save for the sea of black robes, but Hestia jumped up a few times and led them in the direction of the man's voice. When they reached the end of the platform, they found themselves with the rest of the first years, gathered around an enormous man. He explained that he was the groundskeeper, Rubeus Hagrid, and that he would be taking them across the lake, as was customary. Dorcas walked with Hestia down to the little boats, while Remus and Peter hung behind them, still talking quietly. Hestia got into an empty boat first and Dorcas stepped in after her, tripping and nearly falling over, but Hagrid grabbed the back of her robes just in time, his booming laugh filling the night as he righted her. Remus and Peter somehow got shunted into another boat along with the two other boys that Dorcas had seen in the other compartment. In her and Hestia's boat were the girl with red hair and the boy who'd been wearing mismatched clothes. The girl immediately introduced herself.

"Hi, I'm Lily Evans," she said, smiling very prettily.

The boy spoke next, though he looked at them as if he distrusted them and his voice was low, as if he were trying not to be noticed. "Severus Snape," he said simply.

"I'm Hestia Jones," Hestia introduced, nodding happily.

"And I'm Dorcas Meadowes," Dorcas said, offering the two a smile.

The boy, Severus looked rather worriedly at the water and then frowned deeply before engaging Lily in a quiet conversation that neither Dorcas nor Hestia were invited to be part of. The two exchanged glances but then shrugged, picking up right where they'd left off in their Quidditch discussion. The trip across the lake didn't seem to take very long, and before they knew it, they had reached the shore, Hogwarts castle looming above them, all spires and towers. Many of the first years looked on in amazement, Dorcas, Lily and Hestia included. Severus appeared unimpressed and he and Lily broke off, walking together by themselves. Dorcas and Hestia continued to converse, though instead of Quidditch, they talked about the houses again. This time, however, they both decided that they would like to be in the same house, just as long as it wasn't Slytherin.

They reached the grand entrance of the castle, and a witch with deep green robes, spectacles, and her hair wound in a tight bun, greeted them. She instructed the students to follow her and then explained that they would be sorted before anything else. After this, she pushed open the doors that led into the Great Hall. Beyond her, the first years could see the room, filled with the long tables and dozens upon dozens of enchanted candles, floating above the tables. Dorcas also looked at the ceiling, as many of the other students were, noticing that it was a perfect reflection of the clear sky outside, only a sliver of moon visible. The sorting hat delivered its song, to the surprise of the new students and then McGonagall immediately began calling them forward. Though, it wasn't until "Black, Sirius" was called that Dorcas noticed one of the other boys from Lily and Severus's compartment saunter confidently up to the sorting hat.

"GRYFFINDOR!" it bellowed after being on his head for about 30 seconds.

The Gryffindor table erupted in cheers and he immediately went over and sat with them. Though, at the Slytherin table, Dorcas couldn't help but notice that a blonde girl with Sirius's same good looks looked very stricken. Dorcas brushed it off and watched through the rest of the sorting. Not too long after Sirius was sorted, Lily joined him at Gryffindor table. After a few more minutes, it was Hestia's turn. She gave Dorcas a brief hug and then skipped to the sorting hat, placing it on her head. It too, deliberated with her before finally calling out "GRYFFINDOR!" She looked relieved as she hurried over to the table, sitting next to Sirius. Remus got Gryffindor as well, and Dorcas then went up almost directly after him.

She put the hat on as well, and it dipped below her eyes so she could see nothing. And then a voice began speaking, oily smooth.

"Ah, one of the easiest sorting I've had in a while" the hat said inwardly. Then it bellowed out "GRYFFINDOR!"

Dorcas smiled and placed the hat back on the stool, taking the available seat next to Hestia and across from Remus. The rest of the sorting passed by in a blur, though Dorcas did notice that Severus had been sorted into Slytherin. Lily shot him apologetic looks the rest of the night, though Dorcas didn't dare turn around to try to see how he might be taking it. Instead she averted her eyes from what she felt like was something private and engaged in conversation with Hestia, Remus, Peter, Sirius and James Potter and Mary MacDonald, who'd also been sorted to their house. The food was delicious, but by the time the plates had been cleared of their last crumbs, Dorcas was full and quite tired. The Headmaster, Professor Dumbledore, then closed the feast and dismissed them and there was a great clamor as students stood from their benches and filed out of the hall, heading to their respective common rooms.

The Prefects beckoned the first years to them and gave them a miniature tour of sorts, showing them the quickest way to get to the common room and giving them the password. After being shown the correct dorms, Dorcas and Hestia headed up together, choosing beds next to each others. Once they were both under the covers of their own beds, the lights were turned out. Though, Dorcas and Hestia talked, half-awake for the next ten minutes before Lily and Mary shushed them simultaneously. Dorcas and Hestia dissolved into giggled but sobered quickly enough and went to sleep.

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Note: So again, slow. But, I wanted to just introduce more characters as well as develop the friendships between people a bit. So, please review! ^^