Hi everyone!

I'm very happy that so many of you are reading this. But I'm a bit disappointed that I only got two reviews... I really hope to get more this chapter.

breizh: I was thinking of Sirius too. I think he will be having the most difficulties with having a friend who is deaf and with learning how to communicate with her. I think a relationship between them could be very interesting. But I still don't know who I will pair her with. I think I'm going to just go with what will go best in the story at that time.

Hope you guys like this one!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter!

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Chapter 3: Getting acquainted and the Hogwarts' Express

Time seemed to go fast that last week of the summer vacation inside of Hogwarts. The teachers had their last meetings about the new school year and they made the castle and their classrooms especially, ready for a new year.
Lily and Maya had become very good friends. They had spent nearly every minute together. Lily had already read all her school books for the first time. And Maya had read her books about time travelling and the others she had bought. Sadly, she still hadn't found anything that was of use to her.

It was the day before the arrival of the students that professor Dumbledore called both girls to him. He had sent them a note to come to his office after lunch.

"Good afternoon girls. How are you both doing?" He asked in Sign Language.

They both smiled and Maya said to him: "Hello Grandpa. We're very good. How are you today?"

"I am well, thank you" He told them, "Now, I wanted to ask you both something. You know that the rest of the students are arriving tomorrow. And I know that you both are already here. But, Maya, you have never experienced how a student normally comes to Hogwarts every year."

"Yes, that's right. I think I already know what you are going to suggest." Maya grinned.

"Would you girls like to go to Platform 9¾ tomorrow to board the Hogwarts Express?" Dumbledore asked them kindly. Both girls looked at each other for a couple of seconds. Then, they simultaneously turned back to their professor and nodded their head.

"Alright. You can leave all your stuff here, but be sure to take something with you to do during the train ride. Hagrid will take you to Hogsmeade tomorrow at 10.30, from there you will go to the platform with the Floo." Both girls nodded, "Have fun!" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as they left his office.

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It was 9AM at Hogwarts on September 1st. Just like the past couple of weeks, it was still very quiet inside the castle. Although most of the inhabitants were already up, they were all pretty quiet during their morning routine.

Hagrid had had his morning tea already and was doing his first round of the Hogwarts grounds of the day. Mr Filch was doing his morning inspection of the hallways and classes. Madame Pince was organising some books in the library before her Breakfast. As usual, Madame Hooch had already eaten and was making a last-minute inventory of Hogwarts' Quidditch supplies. Most of the other teachers and residents were making their way to Breakfast or were already eating.

In the Gryffindor Tower, two girls were dressing themselves, packing some books and other thing to take with them on the train and making themselves look presentable.

"Are you ready to go to breakfast, Lily?" Maya asked while swinging her bag over her shoulder.

"I think so. Let's go" Lily took one last look around the dorm room and then they were off. "Are you excited for your first year at Hogwarts?"

"Yes" Maya grinned to herself. It wouldn't really be her first year at Hogwarts of course. But she was excited for her first year with the Marauders and Lily at Hogwarts. During these last few weeks she wondered what would be different. She was thrilled to be able to see the romance bloom between Lily and James. She had found out they were only on speaking terms since the last week before summer vacation of the last school year. She was also wondering what the differences would be between this Remus and Sirius and the ones from the future she knew.

"I'm especially excited for all the classes to start. It will be the first time that I will learn these subjects in a classroom full of other students." Maya had to stick to her cover story, which was why she had to make up some things.

They arrived in the Great Hall. It was already decorated for the Feast that evening. A couple of professors were sitting at the teacher's table, eating or reading the newspaper or doing both at the same time. The girls sat down at the Gryffindor table and began eating.

"Ah, there you girls are. Don't forget, we are leaving in a few minutes. Meet me at the entrance of the castle." Hagrid stood behind Maya as he made this announcement, after that he went to the Head Table to talk to Dumbledore.

Maya looked confused "What did he say?"

"He said we need to hurry and meet him at the entrance of the castle." Lily translated to her and Maya smiled in appreciation.

They finished eating and took their bags while standing up from the table. Together they made their way to the Hogwarts' grounds.

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Remus came through the barrier and onto Platform 9¾ at 10 minutes before eleven. He knew already, even before looking around, that he was the first of his group of friends to arrive. The platform was loaded with student, parents and other family members.

He made his way onto the train and started his search for an empty compartment while dragging his luggage behind him. The trains hallway was busy, with students running around, greeting their friends or finding a place to sit.

He finally found an almost empty compartment. Two girls were already in it, both were reading in a book. He opened the door open and asked, "Hey Lily, Maya. Can I sit here? All the other compartments are already full."

Lily looked up from her book while Maya didn't seem to notice him coming in. Lily tapped on her book and Maya looked up to her. "Remus asked if he can join us." Lily pointed to Remus and Maya looked kindly to him before nodding.

"I'm so sorry! I totally forgot." Remus apologised to her while sitting down next to Lily.

Maya signed her response to him while saying it at the same time, "It's not a problem. Sadly, I'm used to it." Of course she wasn't used to that yet. But that didn't mean she wasn't about to get used to people forgetting she's deaf. Maya was sure that within the next couple of weeks her story would travel around the castle. Everyone would know who she was and the fact that she was deaf would travel along with the stories. She was anticipating the pitying looks and the awkward situations that would occur when people will be trying to talk to her. But she was hoping that it would all work out in the end.

Remus smiled and put his trunk on the shelve above their heads. He took place next to Lily with a book in his hands. "So, how was year summer?" He asked them both.

"Our summer was great. I went to Italy with my parents and Petunia. And of course, I came to Hogwarts to keep Maya company these last two weeks." Lily answered him and automatically also signed what she was saying so that Maya could follow the conversation. "We read a lot of books, sat by the lake, a gave a grand tour of Hogwarts and some of the secret passage ways that I know of and we got to know each other of course. I also helped her learn the British Sign Language, as it is very different to French Sign Language. How was your summer?"

"Oh, it was very quiet actually. James, Sirius and Peter came over once. And I went to the Potters for a few days after we went to Diagon Alley. But other than that, I didn't do that much." Remus answered her. Lily had translated his answer while he was talking. He found the language quite interesting, and he was already trying to figure out what each sign meant.

"Are you from France, Maya? Lily mentioned you only spoke French Sign Language?" Remus asked the new girl.

Maya first looked at Lily who was signing his question, then looked back at Remus. "Yes, I lived in France with my mother. But she wanted me to experience of going to a magical school too. I used to go to a muggle school with my mother teaching me magic at home. That's why I came to Hogwarts. Grandpa was thrilled when I told him I would attend Hogwarts this year." The others looked up in surprise. "What is it?" Maya asked confused.

"The train is departing. They just blew the whistle to announce it." Lily told her.

A few minutes later the three Gryffindor's sat in a comfortable silence, each of them holding a book and reading.

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"Remus! Here you are!" Sirius, James and Peter suddenly entered their compartment, "We couldn't find you on the platform!" Sirius shouted at Remus, all the while ignoring the other occupants. Peter and James did see them when they were sitting down. Sirius was still standing in the middle of the compartment though.

"You'll never guess what we saw!" He all but yelled at Remus in his enthusiasm.

Remus looked apologetically to Maya, "Why don't you just tell me?" He answered Sirius.

"We saw Snivellus trying to put his trunk on the train. Then someone bumped into him and the trunk flew open. All off his clothes and stuff went flying over the platform. It was hilarious!" Sirius let out a loud barking laugh and almost fell onto a seat next to Remus.

"That's not funny Sirius. Imagine if that was you in his place." Remus scolded him. "And aren't you forgetting something." He nodded his head towards Lily and Maya.

Lily was furiously trying to translate and explain what was happening to Maya, who had been oblivious to the newcomers at first and then had been terrified of Sirius' antics. All this time Sirius hadn't noticed Maya had had difficulties with the situation.

"Hey, you're the girl we met at Diagon Alley! Dumbledore's granddaughter!" He exclaimed. "How are you? Oh, hi Lily." He had almost no interest in Lily, only for Maya.

"He's finally noticed you. He's just insufferable!" Lily only signed this to Maya, so none off the others would understand what she was saying. They giggled. The guys, having no idea what they were saying to each other, looked at each other in confusion.

"Now, you know what it feels like to me" Maya told them, "Sirius, I can't hear. I can't hear you come in, I can't hear you tell your story, or hear you ask me something."

"Oh, does it help if I yell?" Sirius shouted his question. People must have been able to hear him shout from a couple of compartments further down the train.

"No, Sirius. It won't help. I don't hear anything." Maya looked down at her hands. If she hadn't looked down, she would have probably sawn the others scolding Sirius for his behaviour.

Sirius touched her shoulder, making Maya look up at him. "I'm sorry." He said to her, then he looked over at Lily. She made the sign to translate his sentiment. Sirius looked back at Maya and tried his best to copy the sign for 'sorry'. It wasn't a very good copy, so Maya smiled and corrected him.

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Everything had settled down after that and Remus, Lily and Maya went back to their books. James and Sirius took up a game of Exploding Snap. And Peter watched them play.

"Hey brother" A boy, a little younger than them, entered their compartment.

"What do you want Regulus?" Sirius replied, not really interested to start a fight with his brother on the first day of school.

"Mother was very disappointed in you after you left. She burned all your stuff in the backyard." Regulus smirked, probably thinking Sirius would be furious knowing this.

"Oh, is that it? Doesn't really matter. I have everything I need." Sirius responded calmly. Regulus seemed disappointed in the lack of reaction he had gotten and left angrily.

Everyone in the compartment looked at Sirius, wondering what all that was about. Well, except for Maya who was looking at Lily who was signing furiously what had happened.

"What happened this summer?" Remus asked him.

"I left home. I couldn't stand them anymore! They were getting on my nerves even more than ever. So I just packed everything I needed and left." Sirius seemed calm, but his eyes told differently. Anyone could see that it had been more intense and difficult than that. And that he had struggled with his decision.

"Where have you been living since then?" Peter asked shyly.

"He's been living with us. Mom and Dad had told him last summer that if he ever needed somewhere to stay, he could come to them. Even I didn't know they had told him that." James answered in Sirius' place. "We decided not to tell anyone before school started so that he could process everything that happened."

Sirius was very quiet the remaining time on the train. Soon they arrived at Hogsmeade. It would be an interesting year for Maya and her new friends. A lot of changes, good and bad, were about to happen. Who knew what their future would bring them.

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Let me know what you guys thought about it. So please review.