Calypso POV

When Hagrid came to pick them up on the morning of September first, all Calypso felt was relief. Nothing in the past few days had made any sort of sense, and this was coming from the girl who had been out of time more than twice as long as Nico di Angelo. The shops, the people, the pictures on the wall that moved all made her heart race with excitement, but everything was so strange it gave her a headache. The eleven demigods as well as herself were all sat downstairs at a long table eating their breakfast, and she was sat next to Leo, who was in the middle of telling some sort of joke. Or she supposed it was, as everyone but her, Nico and Thalia were either smiling or laughing. Their trunks were all at their feet, packed with the few possessions they had brought with them from Camp Half-blood, and the Hogwarts necessities they had previously purchased from Diagon alley.

When Hagrid came they followed him through the busy streets of London. It was so unlike America. The buildings weren't small, but compared to the skyscrapers in America they weren't that tall either. The accents were different and the sky always looked like it was going to rain. And it was alien to Ogygia. It was all built up, too busy, and the air on Ogygia was so much…cleaner. Purer. They arrived at the train station. Hagrid led them along to platform 9. He then went to one of the pillars, walked right at it, then… passed right through. Astounded, Calypso put her hand in and it disappeared. She closed her eyes and walked forward. When she opened then again, she was on another platform. Hagrid had already disappeared into the huge crowd. Gradually, the others appeared behind her, Piper bringing up the rear, and they all took in the scene. Families gathered, waving goodbye to their children as they boarded a large scarlet train. "Come on" Reyna pushed to the front and made her way to the train. The rest followed her inside. They found an empty compartment, and managed to fit themselves inside though it was clearly meant for a group half their size. Calypso sat next to Leo and the window, opposite Hazel. It was a tight fit, so Leo and Percy had a bright idea and decided to sit on the floor, leaning on their girl-friend's legs, who merely looked at each other, exasperated.

"We should go over the plan" Jason suggested from where he was sat with Piper.

"Good idea" Annabeth nodded. "So, we change into our robes just before we get there. When we go up to the main hall, we'll be intercepted, by a Hogwarts professor, I think. Then, after the first years, we'll be sorted into one of four houses. We'll probably be split up. After that, we follow the prefects to our dormitories. When people ask questions, if possible, let Reyna and I answer. If we're unavailable, give the vaguest answer you can. Simply say we came from Manhattan in America, and went to a wizarding school named Goode. We came to Hogwarts so as to fully understand different magical culture. And remember, no matter what happens, do not use your demigod powers. They mustn't figure out who we are. "

There was a moment of silence "Anybody wanna play exploding snap?" Leo waved a pack of cards.

They played five games, talking, laughing and enjoying each other's company. The first time the game exploded, Hazel screamed so loudly that a prefect with a yellow badge on patrol duty came running to see if everyone was okay and was met by a heavily blushing daughter of Pluto, and the rest in fits of laughter, with the exception of Nico and Reyna, who were still grinning broadly. When the Prefect left, it was with and thoroughly confused expression. When it became dark, they put on their robes, causing much complaining from Leo, Percy and Thalia.

"Seriously? Chiron never mentioned a uniform. I hate uniform! Why are they making us wear dresses?" Percy looked down at his robes.

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "It's called a robe, sea-weed brain"

"What's the difference?" */*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/

Annabeth POV

Annabeth had just finished trying to explain to Percy the difference between a robe and a dress, when it dawned on her that there were minor flaws in her plan. The most immediate one: unless the train drew up right outside the castle, which she doubted, there must be another mode of transport that they had no idea where to go for.

"I'll be back in sec." she told Percy, then opened her compartment door. Across the corridor she could see Harry and the other two from Diagon alley, along with a girl with dirty blonde hair and a round faced boy holding a squirming toad. Annabeth knocked twice, then opened the door, and the talking inside ceased.

"Excuse me" she stood awkwardly in the doorway. "Sorry to disturb you, but I'm new here, and my friends and I were wondering if you could tell me where we go after we exit the train"

"Oh, that's easy." The girl with bushy brown hair smiled. "All you need to do is follow everyone else to the carriages. To you, they will probably look like they are pulling themselves. Just find an empty one, get in and it'll automatically take you to Hogwarts, you don't need to steer or anything like that. I'm Hermione Granger, by the way." She offered her hand, and Annabeth took it smiling broadly at her.

"I'm Annabeth Chase." She gave on last smile around the entire carriage, before telling them "Thank you so much for your help." Before leaving, going back to her compartment. "She seems nice" Luna said in her normal dreamy voice. "I do hope she's in Ravenclaw."