Here's Chapter 3!

Oh and p.s. I don't own Dumbledore's speech in this chapter!

Chapter 3- Hogwarts

Early the next morning, Willa awoke early to finish packing some last minute items: toothbrush, toiletries etc. As she was cleaning her room up, she found, under her bed, a black book. It immediately hit her. This was the scrapbook that her family had made together several years earlier. Willa blew off the dust that rested upon the cover and cautiously opened to the first page. It was a picture of her, her mother and father and her younger brother, Henry. The minute she saw it, she slammed the book shut. She didn't want to look anymore. However, she took the scrapbook and put it in her suitcase. Then she grabbed her shoulder bag and filled it with magazines, books, snacks and money for the train. When she was finished packing. She got dressed. Today called for comfy jeans, the same black flats as the day before and a two in one top; it had a white short sleeved blouse with a bow at the neck, underneath a grey tank top. She looked into the mirror and stared blankly at her reflection. Although she was not even close to being plain, with her long, striking red hair shiny as a penny, freckled face and green eyes, Willa always felt plain. No boys ever glanced her way. To them, she was the girl that never left the house, the recluse, the freak. That one boy in the owl shop, however, did look at her. A lot.

"Oh why even bother thinking about him?" she muttered to herself. "It's not like I'm ever going to see him again."

She was knocked out of her thoughts when she heard a "Whoosh!" In the corner of her mirror she had stuck a picture of her and her younger brother flying on a broomstick. He had died when she was 9 and he was 7. About seven years ago. The death of Henry Hardcastle was kept a huge secret to everyone including the extended Hardcastle family. The way that he died, to them, was from a severe case of pneumonia, but Willa and her parents kept the real reason to themselves, as not to disturb the peace of the Wizarding World. The death of her young brother was also the reason why Willa's parents had decided to home school her, and stay as far away from the Wizarding World as possible. It was too dangerous for their tiny family.

The small boy giggled at her, waved and then flew away. She smiled weakly, gently took the picture from its place and put it in her bag.

"Good thing you reminded me," she said quietly. Willa looked at herself in the mirror once again, sighed and then grabbed her school robes from the closet and stuffed them in her bag as well.

"Willa!" her mother called from downstairs. "Time to go! Hurry up, dearie!"

Willa took one last look at her room. She had never gone so far away from home before. She had grown up in this room. It had been her sanctuary in all the bad times, all the times she wanted to be alone, or just to think. She smiled to herself, however, knowing that in due time, she would be back and that this was just a new chapter of her life unfolding. She clicked off the lights and shut the door behind her.

The trip to the station was an uneventful one. Willa just stared out the window, taking a last look at the world she knew. Her mother and father however talked non-stop about Hogwarts and the houses and the professors and Quidditch and everything else Willa already knew about. All the talk just made her more anxious.

Soon enough, they all arrived between the platforms of nine and ten. Once her father explained the procedure for about the hundredth time, they exchanged goodbyes.

"I'm so proud of you," her mother said hugging her. "Be good. I love you."

"I will. And I love you too, Mum," Willa replied. Her father then grabbed her and pulled her into a hug.

"Focus on your studies and do well. I know you will." He then kissed her on the cheek.

"Good luck. Love you," he said letting go.

"Love you too, Dad."

The Willa grabbed her luggage cart; Lore placed in front, and placed herself in front of the brick wall. She looked at her parents and smiled.

"Don't worry! I'll write!"

Then she began to run and ran right through the brick onto Platform 9 ¾ in front of the Hogwarts Express. Willa's grin widened and her eyes sparkled with excitement. She pushed her cart to a man putting luggage into a luggage car. She took Lore and stepped onto the train.

It was a warm, comfy train with kids of all ages all around her. She searched for an open compartment or one with someone her age in it. It had taken her a while until she stopped at a compartment that held a girl with straight brown hair reading a magazine. She seemed to be around Willa's age but more petite and thin, unlike Willa's tall, sort of curvy frame. Willa cleared her throat and tapped on the side of the compartment. The girl looked up at her.

"Um, pardon me, but is anyone sitting with you?" she asked politely.

"No, not yet," the girl said with a smile. "You can sit."

"Thanks," Willa said putting Lore and her bag next to her. The other girl eyed her and Willa stared back at her, confused.

"You're new aren't you?" she asked Willa.

"Oh, well, not really. Okay, well I mean in the sense that I've never been to Hogwarts yes. But I've been homeschooled based on their curriculum for the past six years. I'm 16 and a sixth year."

"No way! That's marvelous. I'm a sixth year too. Hufflepuff house. My name is Lucy."

"Willa." The two shook hands.

"So is there any Hogwarts trivia I should know before I get there?" Willa asked Lucy.

"Well," Lucy began, "Obviously there's Professor Dumbledore, the Headmaster, Professor McGonagall, Professor Sprout, Madame Hooch, Professor Flitwick, Hagrid the Groundskeeper, and Professor Snape. Now Snape may seem like a real pain in the ass, and he is, but most of us think that most of his dull and bitter personality comes from him being especially bitter about now being the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, especially when Hogwarts can't seem to hold on to one. There's supposedly a new one this year but no one knows who it is yet. Anyway, Snape is the Potions professor."

"Alright and what about students?" Willa asked.

"I supposed the most famous student we have at Hogwarts is Harry Potter. You know, the one whose parents were killed by Voldemort and survived the attack? He's in Gryffindor house and is the seeker for their Quidditch team."

Willa said nothing. She had forgotten Harry went to Hogwarts.

Just then, a group of what appeared to be third years walked giggling down the aisle.

"Have you seen Cedric Diggory yet?" one whispered. "He looks absolutely brilliant!"

Willa turned back to Lucy.

"Who is that?" she asked. Lucy smiled coyly.

"Where to begin with Cedric Diggory…Well I suppose I'll just state the obvious. He is by far the most attractive boy at Hogwarts. No questions asked. And not only does he have stunning good looks and a charming personality, but he's also at the top of our class and the captain of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team and on top of it all he's a prefect. He's like the poster child for Hogwarts. But he's sort of been with this girl named Cho Chang for a while. But if you ask me, he's not all that into her anymore."

"How do you know?" Willa asked.

"Well he is in my little group of friends and I just don't see the amount of affection that comes from him as opposed to the amount that comes from her. She'll come over all bubbly and sweet and kiss him on the cheek and fuss all over him and he just stands there. It's actually quite pathetic if you ask me. However I will be sure to introduce you."

Willa stared at Lucy for a moment.

"You like to gossip, don't you?"

"Yes I suppose I do," Lucy said with a sigh. "Is it awful?"

"No, no it's fine."

When the two girls looked up they saw a boy with wavy blonde hair and a tall frame.

"Why hello Lucy!" he said. Lucy instantly jumped to her feet and flung her arms around the boy.

"Ben! It's so nice to see you again!"

"Been a long summer, eh?"

"That's for sure. Ben this is Willa, Willa this is Ben. Willa is a transfer student into our year. She used to be homeschooled."

"Wow. Well it's nice to meet you Willa. Hopefully you will be with us in Hufflepuff."

"Hopefully," Willa replied.

"I'll see you around Lucy," Ben said and then was off. Lucy sunk slowly back into her seat.

"Do you fancy him?" Willa asked her.

"Oh I knew it was obvious! Please don't say a word."

"I would never say anything about that," Willa assured her.

"He's just so wonderful. I've liked him for ages, you know."

"Well maybe this year something will happen," Willa suggested.

"Maybe," Lucy said with a sigh.

The girls chatted on until the train arrived at the station. All the students including Willa and Lucy had changed into their robes and were ushered toward the school. Willa couldn't believe what she was seeing. Hogwarts looked beautiful in the dark. Once in the school most of the students headed for the Grand Hall. Willa followed Lucy but was stopped by an older woman in a pointy hat and dressed in green robes.

"Miss Willa Hardcastle?" she inquired.

"Yes ma'am?"

"You need to be sorted into your house first. You will be with the first years but you will be sorted before any of them."

"Alright."

"I'm Professor McGonagall by the way. Welcome to Hogwarts Miss Hardcastle."

"Thank you ma'am."

Lucy and Ben had waited for Willa, but Willa signaled for them to go on without her and they did so. Willa stood awkwardly among a sea of first years. After a bit of waiting, Professor McGonagall came in and told them everyone was ready for them. Willa was ushered in with the first years and stuck out like a sore thumb. She was a least a head taller than all the other students that surrounded her and her red hair was shining. Embarrassed, she kept her head low to avoid eye contact with any of the older students.

Sitting at the Hufflepuff table, Cedric Diggory saw the girl and instantly recognized her as the girl from the owl shop. Once he noticed her, his eyes didn't leave her.

When the first years and Willa arrived at the front of the hall, the Sorting Hat sat upon a stool and everyone in the hall hushed. Professor McGonagall then proceeded to instruct the first years on how this would work. She then paused and turned to look at Willa.

"The first student to be sorted this evening will be Miss Willa Hardcastle. Miss Hardcastle is a transfer student here and will join her classmates in their sixth year. Miss Hardcastle if you would please." McGonagall motioned to the stool. Willa looked at her and then walked up to the stool and sat on it. Cedric kept watching her from where he seated at the Hufflepuff table, secretly hoping that she would be in his house. Professor McGonagall then placed the hat on Willa's head and it came alive. A bit taken aback, Willa jumped but then composed herself.

"Hmmmm…" the hat began to speak. "A lovely girl that's for sure. Elegant, loyal, and loving as well. And what a dreamer you are! I know just where to put you…."

Both Willa and Cedric were on the edge of their seats.

"HUFFLEPUFF!" The Sorting Hat cried. Willa smiled a humongous grin. Cedric and the entire Hufflepuff table jumped to their feet and cheered. Lucy and Ben were cheering and clapping as Willa stood up and thanked Professor McGonagall. She then turned to see Professor Dumbledore wink at her. She nodded back and him and went to join Lucy and Ben. Lucy met her halfway however and whispered to her,

"I want you to meet someone."

Lucy grabbed Willa's hand and led her to where she had been sitting with Ben. They stopped directly across from a face that to Willa was all too familiar. The boy from the owl shop. He was smiling at her a dazzling grin.

"Willa, I'd like you to meet Cedric Diggory. Cedric this is Willa."

The two started at each other for a moment or two and then Cedric stretched out his hand.
"A pleasure, Willa." Willa looked at his hand and took it. She noticed how wonderful her name sounded coming off his lips. She said nothing and then sat down into her seat directly across from Cedric and next to Lucy.

"Do you two know each other?" Lucy asked. Both Willa's and Cedric's eyes met the other pair.

"No," said Cedric. "We don't." He then took a sip of water his eyes never leaving hers.

After everyone was sorted, Dumbledore stood and called attention to him by clanging his glass with a spoon.

"Now we're all settled in and sorted, I'd like to make an announcement. This castle will not only be your home this year but home to some very special guests as well. You see Hogwarts has been chosen to host a legendary event. The Tri-Wizard tournament. Now for those of you who do not know, the tri-wizard tournament brings together three schools for a series of magical contests. From each school a single contestant is selected to compete. Now let me be clear, if chosen you stand alone. And trust me when I say these contests are not for the faint hearted, but more of that later. For now please join me in welcoming the lovely ladies of the Beauxbatons Academy of magic and their headmistress Madam Maxime."

A group of girls dressed in blue from head to toe marched into the hall. After they were welcome, the boys from Durmstrang entered and Willa immediately recognized Viktor Krum. The head of the International Magic Cooperation went on to explain that the winner would have eternal glory and no person under the age of seventeen would be able to take part in the tournament. Willa looked across at Cedric who looked so enthralled with the idea. Then Dumbledore unraveled the Goblet of Fire and instructed that anyone who wised to enter should write their name on a piece of paper and put the paper into the Goblet.

After the talk of the Tournament had ceased the feast began.

"You think you'll do it, Ced?" Ben asked.

"I dunno," Cedric replied. "Sounds interesting though."

"Cedric!"

A sweet voice called from behind Cedric. Willa immediately figured this was Cho Chang. She seemed nice. Lucy had made her out to be not too great. Cedric put his glass down and turned around. He stood and kissed Cho on the cheek.

"Oh Ced! I have so much to tell you! I had the most incredible summer holiday! Promise you'll find me so we can chat?"

"Of course, Cho. That sounds great."

"Alright. Bye Cedric." Cho kissed his cheek and walked away to the Ravenclaw table.

After watching the exchange in dialogue between Cho and Cedric, Willa saw what Lucy meant. It was obvious she fancied him more than he fancied her. When his focus returned to the table once again his eyes met Willa's and she looked away quickly and continued to eat her food.

For the rest of the evening, Lucy and Ben continuously asked Willa questions about herself and she would answer. When the feast had ended, Willa was thankful she wasn't going to be grilled anymore. Dumbledore instructed the Prefects to lead their new first year classmates (including Willa) to their houses. Cedric stood and led everyone out of the hall and into the maze of halls leading to Hufflepuff house. On the way he informed every one of the secrets of Hogwarts, like the portraits and the changing staircases. Willa kept an eye on him at all times. It was hard to focus for her when he stared right back at her. When they all got to the Hufflepuff door, Cedric said the password and let the first years go ahead of him, stopping Willa when it was her turn.

"Why didn't you say you were coming to Hogwarts?" he asked.

"I never had time! You disappeared!"

"Your father was coming. I didn't want to make it awkward."

'Oh, believe me Cedric it already was." He made a face.

"It was nice to finally meet you though, Willa," he said smiling. Willa smiled back. He seemed like the sweetest, most genuine boy she had ever had the good fortune of meeting.

"It was nice to meet you too," she replied.

"Shall we?" Cedric asked extending his arm towards the visible common room. Willa nodded.

"Alright then. Ladies first." Cedric flashed his dazzling smile once again and Willa just about melted.

Whew! Long chapter! REVIEW!!

TheatrePirate.