Enjoy the new Chapter! please review! i would love it! or better yet PM me! i get a bit lonely. A new chapter will be coming soon!, maybe tomorrow idk.

Zuko awoke a couple days later to rain hitting his window. Since he had awoken and was able to walk Mrs. Weasley had him sleep in the twin's room as to leave the girls their separate area. The past few days were the nicest he had in a long time, the family had gotten his things from the Malfoys and had helped him pack for school. Hermione helped Zuko repair his items with a flick of her wand, Lucius didn't treat anyone his books or school supplies well when transporting them, or touching them by the looks of it. Everything was ready to go, except for the kids who all had end of the holiday gloom.

Zuko put on some jeans and a sweatshirt he borrowed from the Twins. They were happy to loan him some close, because his fire nations wardrobe would cause too much attention on the train. Zuko pulled the orange sweatshirt over his head and looked at it, Weasleys Wizard Weezes was printed in purple on the front. He hoped their mother wouldn't get to mad at their product placement.

He walked down stairs carrying his trunk and a small carryon bag filled with clothes to change into on the train. everyone was in a fuss with last minute packing, it seemed that he, harry, and hermione were the only ones who were completely ready.

"Oh there you are!" Mrs. Weasley ran over to him and herded him over to the table where a big plate of pancakes lay. "I have just called some muggle taxi's they should be here in about fifteen minutes, hurry up and eat, we don't want to be late,"

"But mrs. Weasley," Harry chimed in, he was sitting to Zuko's left and had a huge oversized sweatshirt on with the words London University on it. "I don't think muggle taxis would appreciate us carrying owls into their cars,"

Mrs. Weasley waved him off and went to go help Arthur Weasley who was speaking into the fireplace talking about someone named Mad-eye Moody.

Zuko looked questionably towards Harry and Hermione when they heard four taxis pull up to the house. The drivers looked very frustrated when they saw the amount of kids and trunks they were going to have to make fit into the small cars. Owls screeched and Crookshanks clawed, making each driver more miserable by the second. Zuko almost thought one was going to quit when Fred's trunk burst open shooting fire works everywhere.

eventually they got everything and everyone shoved into the taxis and were off to the train station. The ride was extremely uncomfortable for Zuko who had a trunk in his rib and a bird nipping his hand. By the time they made it into London Zuko's hand was bandaged up with some bit of the taxi drivers ripped shirt, he said if any blood were to get in his taxi that her wer to be fired on the spot. Everyone was happy to get out of the uncomfortable taxis despite the pouring rain outside. Harry helped Mr. Weasley pay for the taxis while everyone else wheeled their trunks across the wet road to King's Cross station.

Zuko watched as Ron and Harry leaned inconspicuously up against the barrier between platforms nine and ten, then slowly dissolved into the brick work. "What?" he said in astonishment. he went up and touched the barrier which was solid under his hand, "How did they get through?"

"OH!" Hermione exclaimed, "I almost forgot you weren't a wizard! so you can't geth through!" She stood there and thought for a minute, "Well muggle things can be brought through the barrier if carried or touched by the wizard, maybe it would work if you held someones hand while going through."

Zuko and Hermione readied themselves their carts leaning against the barrier. Hermione took Zuko's hand with some whistles and hoots from the twin. She giggled then they both leaned into the barrier and dissolved through it as if it were nothing.

Platform 9 3/4 materialized infront of them. Hermione lead Zuko away from the platform to let the other boys pass through and then finally let go of his hand. She blushed a bit then went to get aboard the shiny train. The Hogwarts Express stood in the train tracks, billows of smoke steaming from its red engine. Wizards upon wizards were walking around the platform, in and out of the smoke as they said goodbye to their children. Zuko stepped up onto the platform, carrying his trunk and bag to try and find a compartment to sit in. He walked through the train and saw where Hermione, Ron and Harry were putting their trunks away. He knocked on the door, getting a smile from both Harry and Hermione and a glare from Ron.

"May i sit with you?" Zuko asked.

"Sure,"

"Sure,"

"Fine what every," the three replied and made room for the new comer. Zuko set his trunk up in the compartment then followed the group back out to the platform to say bye to the family.

"Yeah i sort of wish i was back at Hogwarts this year," said Bill his eyes twinkling," I might get time off to come watch a bit of it,"

"A bit of what?" Ron asked impatiently.

"i cant tell you anymore, or Percy will bludgeon my head in, top secret ministry stuff" Bill chuckled.

The whistle blew and it was time for last good byes. Mrs. Weasley hurried the towards the train door.

"Thank you for letting us stay with you Mrs. Weasley," Hermione said gratefully. They climbed aboard and all leaned out the windows, Harry and Zuko also thanking her for the hospitality.

"Oh its my pleasure dear, i would invite you all to christmas but i expect with the event you would all like to stay at school,"

"Mum!" Ron called out the window irritably, "What do you all know that we don't?"

The pistons hissed loudly as the train began to move. Mrs. Weasley gave a smile and waved goodbye to Ron who was still calling after her when the train turned the corner. The four kids walked back to their compartment. Ron and Harry were trying to figure out what everyone was hinting at while Hermione pulled out a book to read. Zuko leaned his head back on the compartment door to rest a bit, he didn't know how long the train ride was.

"Shhh! Be quiet!" Hermione hissed at the other two boys who had suddenly got onto a heated topic about the Chudley Cannons.

"I'm just saying they are the best team in the World" Ron continued.

"I said be quiet Ron!" Hermione hushed back. She pressed her finger to her lips then pointed towards the compartment next to theirs. Zuko heard a familiar voice drone on, by the looks the others had on their faces, they knew who it was too.

"Father actually considered sending me and my cousin to Durmstrang, way better than mudblood loving Hogwarts i can tell you that." Draco's voice seeped through the crack of the compartment door. "Can you believe Zuko went to live with the Weasleys? i bet you he was all goody goody with that filthy mudblood granger-" His voice was muffled out when hermione closed the door silently. She looked hurt when she sat back down. Zuko looked to the floor, he didn't know how to process what he heard. Draco was being extremely rude and it sounded like he hated Zuko for leaving. Ron just stared at both of them while Harry was comforting Hermione.

"He has no right to call you that Hermione," he said giving her a hug.

"excuse me, but what did he call her?" zuko asked, he knew what Draco said must have been Awful but he didn't understand what it meant.

Ron gave a grim scoff at him, "I'm surprised you dont know what it means, you have lived with the Malfoy's long enough,"

"Ron stop," Hermione said through small sobbs. She turned to Zuko with red eyes, "A mudblood, is someone who is born with two muggle parents but has magic ability. It is a terrible derogatory word that only the foulest of people use," he paused a second to regain her poise, "wizards think lowly of muggle and muggle borns because they don't come from a 'pure blood' line and their ancestry seems to be tarnished. Draco being the awful person he is abuses the word everytime he can because he knows my parentage was all muggles," Harry hug hermione who gave one last sob then straightened up and breathed deeply to calm herself.

"Thats awful," Zuko stated angrily. He stood up in a rush and slammed open the compartment door.

"What are you doing?" Harry asked.

"I'm going to show Draco how 'pure' his blood is," Zuko growled.

"No! don't you dare get in trouble now! your not even twenty minutes into the train ride!" Hermione retaliated but Zuko ignored her and walked to Draco's compartment. the last thing he heard was Ron say "I'm starting to like this guy"

Zuko slammed open the door to Draco's compartment and glared at the passengers angrily three wizards sat in their seats already dressed in their cloaks, two slytherins and one ravenclaw sat there with rude scowls on their faces.

"Oh speaking of filthy people, this is Zuko." Draco scoffed, " Its surprising they let you on the train, with a scar like that one might mistaken you for a troll"

the laughter of the compartment was cut short when Zuko pointed his false wand at Draco. Anger fill Zuko's body and he knew it was a matter of time before the flames burst out of him.

"What are you going to do with that? poke me in the eye?" Draco was the only one laughing because he was the only one who knew his wand was false.

"You know i can take on all three of you without this stick," Zuko growled and put the wand back into his pocket. "Don't you dare call Hermione Granger a mudblood ever again, you hear?"

The cabin started to laugh again with the threat of his wand gone. A large boy that Zuko remembered was named Goyle stood up and cracked his fingers forming a fist. "You want to fight pretty boy?" the massive ape of a boy growled. he threw a punch at Zuko who easily dodged and side swept the boys legs from under him. Zuko was careful not to use his bending, he didn't want to catch the train on fire or permanently damage anyone's face. The raven claw boy came at him with his wand, pointing it at his head. Seeing the boy's unstable stance he hit his arm, knocking the wand across the floor then gave a swift kick to the side of the head. The ravenclaw boy fell down unconscious. Goyle struggled to get up but Zuko put a foot on his chest, pinning him down. Zuko looked up at the last remaining passenger Draco. They slytherin boy sat in the corner terrified and begging for mercy.

"Don't you ever call her a mudblood again, got it?" Zuko growled and faked a punch which Draco flinched and fainted with out a blow delivered.

The fight took less than five minutes. when he returned to his compartment the three kids just stared at him in astonishment. Ron gave him a huge grin and Harry just patted him on the back congratulating him on his fight.

"We watched the whole thing with the omnioculars! turns out they can see through compartment walls too!" Ron beamed. "That was Amazing!"

"Why would you do something so reckless?" Hermione said, "I was so worried! you had a wand pointed at your face! you know what spells that boy could have put on you?"

"But he didn't" Zuko chuckled back, "I don't think Draco will be calling you anything bad for a month or so by the looks of it,"

Hermione gave a small smile, "I appreciate it, but no more fighting, i don't want to see any of you get hurt." Hermione glared at the three boys until they promised her no more fighting.

The rain became heavier as the train moved father north. The sun was blocked out by so many clouds that lanterns had to be light in the compartments by mid day. The lunch trolley rattled down the corridor and Harry bought cauldron cakes for them to share.

As the train rolled on some of the wizards friends came and popped their head into their compartment. Zuko was introduced to each one. Neville Longbottom was a plump boy with teeth too big for his mouth, He lived with his grandmother and carried around a small toad which hopped out of his hands. He left running down the hallway calling "Trevor! Get back here Trevor!"

Seamus Finnigan was a tall freckled face boy with a scottish accent. He was still wearing an Irish hat from the Quidditch world cup. The magical properties of it seemed to be wearing off because it no longer shined and sparked off little fireworks, it just flickered on and off lazily spewing some sparks here and there that died off casually.

When Neville Longbottom came back, without his toad, the boys started talking about quidditch. Zuko had no idea what they were talking about so he asked to borrow a book from hermione and started reading Dragonology: Every Dragon That Ever Breathed. Hermione herself also picked up a book and continued to read Standard Book of Spells Grade Four.

"You're not much of a talker are yeh Zuko?" Seamus tried to start a conversation, but Zucko just gave a small shrug and continued to read about a viper tongue rattler.

Malfoy appeared at the compartment door and gave a glare to everyone but Zuko, who he pretended didn't exist. Two other slytherins stood behind him, a very beat up Goyle then Crabbe who Zuko didn't get the chance to rough up.

"Go away Malfoy," Ron Grumbled.

The boy sneered and then stared at something near the red headed boy, "Oh my god Weasley what is that?"

Ron made a grab for the item and started shoving it back in his trunk but Draco was too quick for him. He snatched the object and revealed it to be some kind of gown. Zuko then recognized it as Ron's over frilly and obnoxious dress robes.

"God i would die if i had to wear this thing, wouldn't you?" he asked the goons behind him. "God it spells like cat piss!"

he threw the robes at Zuko's feet who gave out a growl. Hermione shot him a look from over her book as if to say "Don't you dare start another fight," He gave a low grumble and sat back in his seat.

"Well i bet you're going to enter your name Weasley. Try and bring some honour to the family name? A bit of money in it too, could win enough to buy some decent robes, and maybe a new family while you're at it-"

Zuko couldn't handle it anymore, he jumped up and glared at Draco his fists posed to strike. Goyle instinctively ran back to his compartment with a yelp, and Crabbe took a step back. "You want to say anything else?"

Draco whipped out his wand, "You just wait till my father hears about this,"

"How about you just wait till my father hears about this?" Zuko growled and flung a fist toward the blonde haired boy. Though Zuko was fast, he didn't calculate how fast Draco could cast a spell. A red spark ignited out of the tip of his wand and hit him square in the chest. Zukos body was flung across the compartment, stunned, his body was limp and he couldn't feel or move anything but his lips and eyes. Everyone else in the compartment reacted by jumping up and aiming their wands at draco's head. Seeing he was out matched five to two he backed away.

"Don't think this is the end of it," he growled and scurried off to find goyle.

Ron got to his feet and slammed the compartment door so hard the glass broke.

"RONALD!" hermione growled popping her head up from the book. She waved her wand and instantly fixed the door. then went back to reading her book.

Seamus Finnigan helped pull Zuko up in a chair and propped his limp body against the cool window. "You okay mate?"

"Yeah he just caught me off guard," he grumbled.

"You took them all last time, i thought they would be a bit afraid," Harry said.

Neville laughed, "Well Goyle wet his pants a bit."

Hermione shut her book and stared at Zuko with a glare, "I told you not to fight. I knew this would happen." she scolded the prince. "the spell will ware off in about and hour, untill then you should rethink your choices," Hermione growled and opened up the book again.

"Well atleast they didn't call you a mudblood," Zuko said thinking positively. the whole cabin chuckled at that idea then went back to talking about what they thought the surprise was at school.

The rest of the ride was a bit boring as Neville and Seamus left when Zuko finally started to move. Being totally free from the spell the group changed into their robes for their arrival. The Hogwarts Express finally slowed down and stopped at a pitch dark platform at Hogsmeade. When the doors opened a low rumble of thunder could be heard in the distance.

"Hagrid!" harry called and ran through the rain to a Huge man with an umbrella. Zuko stared at the man he was enormous! his hand could have covered half of zuko's chest! His jolly face however took Zuko's fright and threw it away, the man laughed and hugged Harry as if he were an old friend.

"Zuko," Hermione said behind him, "I think you are going to go with Hagrid and the first years to the castle. they traditionally ride boats up to be sorted," she gave him a small shove towards the giant.

Hagrid turned towards him and gave a belting laugh, "You must be Zuko! Harry here was just talking about you!" The giant gave him a pat on the back but the force of it made him fall over. "Well hurry up then! I dont want to keep Dumbledore waiting!"