A/N: Almost to Hogwarts now, yay!

Chapter Dedications: CrazyMuggleborn44, and mekio777. Ten house points each for being such awesome reviewers!

Chapter Five

For the next month and a half, Rain read all of her books to be sure she could catch up to the other students. Her favorite book out of all of her course material was Fantastic Beasts an Where to Find Them. Dustin enjoyed that one, too, though he preferred One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi. The two of them could be found reading passages to each other from the many books littered around Rain's room.

Dustin and their parents, as well as Rain, also got a lot of information out of Dustin's new book. They sat around for hours reading out of it. It explained magic in a way Muggles could understand and it also helped Rain feel like she wouldn't be completely uninformed of the Wizarding World.

About a week before 1 September, Rain was woken up by an owl tapping its beak against her window. Remembering from Dustin's book that wizards and witches get their mail (post, Rain thought) by owl, she leaped out of bed to let the bird in. Dustin came into her room, bleary eyed.

"What was that tapping sound?" he asked.

"I got an owl!" Rain said excitedly.

Dustin perked up immediately. "What is it?"

Rain untied the letter from the owl's leg, as soon as she did so, it let out a screech and flew out the window again. They watched it fly away for a moment before turning back to the letter in Rain's hand.

She opened it and two things fell out onto the floor. Rain picked up one and Dustin grabbed the other. She read the letter aloud.

Dear Miss Bone,

Enclosed is your train ticked for the Hogwarts Express. It will be leaving on 1 September at 11:00 am at King's Cross Station from Platform 9 ¾.

Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

Rain looked over Dustin's shoulder at the ticket in his hand. "I guess that's my ticket."

"I guess so."

"Dustin?"

"Hmm?"

"You're not jealous are you?"

"You're joking right?" he gave her a humourless smirk. "Of course I'm jealous. You're a witch! You get to go off to a school to teach you how to cast spells and stuff. Yeah I'm jealous. But am I bitter? That's what you should ask."

There was a pause. "Okay, I'll bite," said Rain. "Are you bitter?"

"Hell no! You're my sister and I'm happy for you. Hell, I'm getting more out of this than I should! You let me read your spellbooks and you took me to Diagon Alley with you and bought me a book about magic and you promised me a Christmas gift from the magical world."

"Wizarding World," Rain corrected.

"Wizarding World," Dustin agreed. "So no, I'm not upset with you or anything. I'm jealous, sure, but who wouldn't be? Just have fun and don't forget my Christmas present, and I'll be happy. Deal?"

"Deal," Rain agreed and threw her arms around her brother. "I love you, bro."

"Ugh, okay enough with the sappy," he shoved his sister off him. "Let's go get some breakfast"

A week later, Rain, Dustin, and their parents were standing in the middle of King's Cross Station staring at Platform's Nine and Ten.

"Your ticket said 9 ¾ didn't it?" Dustin asked.

"Yep," said Rain. She looked at her watch; 10:30. She probably had enough time.

"Maybe it's like getting into Diagon Alley?" Dustin suggested.

"I'm not just gonna pull my wand out and start tapping at the walls in the middle of a hundred Muggles," Rain retorted.

"Oh, right..." There was a pause. "Maybe we should wait for another witch or wizard to show up and watch what they do?"

"But how do I tell who's a wizard from who's a Muggle?"

"Remember Dumbledore? I bet they're only used to dressing in robes, they'll be the ones dressed funny."

Tammy and John were watching this exchange with bemused expressions. Though they had both read Dustin's new book, they barely knew what their children were talking about.

The children in question were now looking around at the crowd, trying to spot oddly dressed people with kids their age.

"That one! How about that one?" Dustin pointed.

"No, he doesn't have kids," Rain reasoned.

By the time 10:45 rolled around, Rain was getting desperate.

"Rain!" Dustin shouted, making her jump. "Isn't that the guy from the bookstore?"

Rain looked. It was both boys from the bookstore. "Oh thank god," she murmured. "James! Sirius!"

The boys, who were headed in their direction, talking amongst themselves, looked up at the sound of their names.

"Hey look, Padfoot," James said to Sirius. "It's Rainnina Bone, that girl we met in Flourish and Blotts."

"You mean the girl you nearly flattened?" retorted Sirius with a grin. "Hi, Rainnina, nice to see you again."

"Nice to see you, too, Sirius," Rain replied. "I'm actually very glad you two showed up."

"Hey, look at that, Pads," said James. "She missed us."

"Don't be a git, Prongs," said Sirius, giving James a shove. "She doesn't know how to get onto the platform. Right, Rainnina?"

Rain nodded.

"It's all very simple," he said. "You just walk straight at the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Watch, James will show you. Go on, then Prongs."

James nodded, took hold of his cart (trolley!) and made a dash at the ticked barrier. Rain and Dustin watched intently as James and his trolley approached the barrier until... nothing. He was gone.

"You see," said Sirius. "All very easy. Go on then, your turn."

Rain gulped and nodded. Okay, easy enough, just walk at it. Simple. She started forward with her trolley, determined look on her face. She didn't feel it when she passed through the barrier, but knew when she did, because right in front of her was a huge scarlet steam engine. James stood there with a wide grin on his face.

"Welcome to the Hogwarts Express, Rainnina Bone," he said dramatically. Rain just stared.

Someone collided with her from behind.

"Ah, jeeze, stand in the doorway why don't you?" came Dustin's muffled voice.

James helped Dustin to his feet. "You alright, mate?"

"Yeah," he mumbled then looked up at the train. "Day-am!"

James ushered them out of the way as they were followed by Tammy, John, Sirius and James' parents.

"You have fun at school, son," said Mr. Potter to James.

"But not too much fun," countered Mrs. Potter. "I don't want a flock of owls telling us you've... flooded the dormitories, or—"

"Flooded the dormitories?" said Sirius in shock. "We've never done that!"

"Great idea, though, thanks mum!" said James.

"Now, James," his mother started.

"Don't worry, Mrs. P. I'll keep Prongsie in line," said Sirius.

"Oh I'm sure you will, Sirius," said Mr. Potter sceptically. "Now get on the train then, both of you, or you'll miss it."

They hugged all around.

James turned to Rain. "You coming, Rainnina?"

"Yeah, just a minute." She turned to her family. "Well I guess this is it, off to school then."

Tammy sniffed. "It's like the first day all over again."

"You'll stay out of trouble, Rain?" John asked.

"I'll try my best," she smiled at Dustin who winked back. Something James and Sirius didn't fail to notice.

"You send me an owl when you get there, and one every week," Dustin demanded. "I want whole stories of everything that you're doing there even if it's just a bunch of studying. I wanna hear everything."

"Sure thing, bro. Owls galore," she grinned and hugged her brother.

The train whistle sounded.

"Come on, Rainnina," said Sirius. "We gotta get on the train."

The three of them dragged their trunks onto the train, closed the door and hung out the window to say goodbye.

"Don't get into any fights, Rain," Tammy called as the train started to move. "And study hard."

"I won't and I will, don't worry mum, I'll be fine."

Dustin ran alongside the train. "Don't forget: 'Owls galore'!"

"I won't."

"And give that slimeball what-for from me!"

"Oh don't you worry, I will!"

With that, the train picked up speed and Dustin hung back and waved until they were out of sight.

"Well, let's go find Moony and Wormtail," said James heading off down the train, Rain and Sirius close behind.

"What was that your brother was talking about back there?" Sirius asked. James looked back, also curious.

"When?" Rain played dumb.

"Don't try that innocent look with us," James teased. "We are the masters of that look. What did he mean?"

Rain was about to come up with something to say when Sirius suddenly said "In here, Prongs." He pointed into a compartment where there were two boys sitting across from each other.

The three of them entered the compartment and loaded their trunks in the overhead shelf. Rain smiled at the closest boy, who had sandy-brown hair and amber eyes, and sat down next to him. James and Sirius plopped themselves next to the other boy.

"Moony, Wormtail," said Sirius. "This is Rainnina Bone. Rainnina, this is Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew."

"Hi," they both said. Rain smiled in return.

"You guys can call me Rain, everyone does."

"Nice to meet you, Rain," said Remus. Rain smiled again.

"So, Rain you were going to tell us what your brother meant by 'give that slimeball what-for from me'," James piped up.

"What slimeball?" Peter asked.

"We don't know," said Sirius. "That's what we've been trying to find out. Also, about that wink you brother gave you in response to your father's comment about staying out of trouble. Don't think we didn't spot that either."

James nodded. Peter and Remus looked on in curiosity.

"Well," said Rain. "They're both in the same reference..."

"Just tell us," James persisted.

"Okay, promise not to tell?"

James and Sirius looked insulted.

"We would never rat someone out," said James.

"Alright," said Rain, deciding to trust these boys. "Remember that boy I told you about in Diagon Alley, the one who called me a Mudblood?"

"How could we forget," Sirius growled.

"Snape is getting it for that one," said James.

"Oh yes," said Rain.

The boys stared at her in confusion.

"Come again?" Sirius asked.

"That's what Dustin was referring to. That bloke, Snape. I've been known for starting fights and pulling pranks on those who get on my bad side. That's why my dad told me to behave and 'don't get into any fights'."

"Wow, you found a girl Marauder," said Peter.

"Come again?" it was Rain's turn to ask.

"A club of ours," said James. "It's just the four of us."

"Five if Rain joins," Peter corrected.

"How do I join?" Rain asked.

"Hmm, good question," pondered James. "Padfoot?"

"I'm not sure," said Sirius. "Moony?"

Remus shrugged. "I dunno."

"I think she should prank some one," said Peter. "If it's good enough, we'll know if she's real Marauder material."

"Brilliant, Wormtail!" exclaimed James. Peter sat up a little straighter with pride. "Alright, Rain, if you can come up with a good prank, and implement it well, we'll let you join the Marauders, and have the honor of being the first girl in out club."

Sirius nodded in agreement, and Remus just smiled.

"Okay," said Rain. "But don't go pranking Snape 'till I have."

A/N: Yay! Everyone's here! And Peter got a stroke of brilliance, probably going to be the only one in this story. R&R!