It was September 1st, the first day of school at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and many students and their parents were busy making their way to the Hogwarts Express. Among them was a young woman and her ward, making their way through the crowd.

Leora Prest was the guardian of a young Merope Prewett, her best friend's daughter. Her parents had died suddenly of illness when she was a toddler, or so the girl had been told. There were many secrets surrounding her life, that would all be revealed in time.

"Do you have all of your supplies?" Leora asked as she and Merope walked down the Platform of King's Cross Station.

"Yes" Merope rolled her eyes a little, this was the third time today her guardian had asked her that question.

"All your books, your potions supplies, your robes- Oh! where's Timtam?' Leora asked suddenly, face paling.

"He's right here," the girl said, pointing to her kitten who was fast sleep in his cage.

"Oh, well, right then"

"How much farther is it Leora? This cart is rather heavy"

"Not far love, see? Platform 9 is right up ahead"

"But we need 9 3/4!" Her guardian's eyes twinkled when she said this.

"Follow me, I'll show you how it's done" Leora sped up her pace so that they stood roughly 10 meters from the center of the column that read "9". She began to explain to the young girl.

"Now, Merope, I want you to take your cart, and run right through this column" Merope's face paled.

"Have you gone mental? I'll crash!"

"No dear, you won't. I promise. It's magic, keeps the muggles out of our hair. Try it!"

Merope took a deep breath and gripped her cart until her knuckles were white. She gave the cart a push to get her started and began to jog towards the bricks.

"A little faster," Leora called, "I'll be right behind you!"

She started running, watching the column draw closer and closer. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she felt her palms grow slippery on the metal handle of her cart, she kept going though. As she reached the wall, she closed her eyes, waiting for impact. She let out a little squeal in anticipation and braced herself.

But it never came.

She opened her eyes to see herself on a different platform, an older-looking one. Off on the tracks was an old train labeled the Hogwarts Express, and the words "Platform 9 3/4" gleamed down at her from the column she entered through. She kept moving forward in order to be near the train, but she looked back to find Leora.

That was when she felt impact.

"Oof!" she grunted as the cart handle hit her square in the chest and she fell back. She heard some one scream "Bloody hell!" from the other side of the cart. She picked herself up and ran to see who she had hit.

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry! It was my first time going through the wall and I wasn't watching myself, here let me help you-" the boy shook out of her grip and stood up to dust himself off. He had platinum blonde hair that was slicked back, pale skin and grey eyes. Her eyes.

"Don't touch me you filth," Merope was a little shocked when he said that, but noticed two people running towards them, probably his parents.

"Draco, my dear, what happened?" the woman said, kneeling to get a good look at the boy

"This stupid girl does not know how to watch where she is going!" he said 'girl' like some would say 'bogart'

I'm terribly sorry ma'am I lost control of my cart going through the wall, I hope he isn't injured,"

"I'm FINE!" Draco yelled, trying to get away from his mother. Merope turned and noticed the man who was also standing there, who must have been Draco's father. He seemed to be watching her intently, which made her a little nervous.

"And who are you?" he asked in a firm voice

"Merope, sir. Merope Prewett" his eyes narrowed at that.

"Don't lie to me, girl" he hissed, gripping his walking stick.

"But-but I'm-"

"Oh! Merope! There you are I'd thought-" Leora came up behind Merope and stopped talking when she saw who she was standing with. "Oh"

"Miss Prest, I presume," The man spat

"Hello Lucius," Leora said back. The two stared at each other until they were interrupted by the train whistle.

"Goodbye," Lucius said curtly, taking his wife and son elsewhere. As they walked away Draco turned around and stuck his tongue out at Merope, who returned the gesture, making him turn back around.

"Who were they? They seemed upset," Merope asked her worried guardian

"They are not nice people love, I think you should try to stay away from that boy"

" Did you know them?"

"Your mother and I were a few years behind them in school. Your father he-" she stopped and looked at the curious child who stood before her, her grey eyes seeking to understand.

"He what?" Leora knelt down to be at eye level with her dear friend's daughter.

"Merope, I am about to tell you something of great importance. It must be kept a secret though, no one can know. Do you understand?" Merope nodded and she continued.

"Your father came from a very prestigious pureblood family. Very old blood, and the family is very purist. They wanted to form a world without muggles. Your father did not hold the same beliefs as his family and was outcasted. That man you just met is your uncle. He is a very bad man, you are not to go near him. He will hurt you"

Merope shivered at those last four words, trying to understand what she was just told.

"Does that mean I am a Malfoy too?"

"Yes, but you do not want people to know that. Your last name is Prewett for that reason. Being known as a Malfoy is not a good thing love" Leora had made sure that Merope's last name was Prewett of every form she filled out concerning her. Since the first wizarding war, family names became even more important, and even more dangerous.

"My parents didn't really die from Dragon Pox did they?" she asked suddenly, making Leora's face fall.

"No love, I can't tell you what happened now, you're too young to know. I will tell you some day I promise you," Merope was slightly hurt but she understood there was a time and place for everything.

The train whistle sounded again, signaling for everyone to board.

"You need to get on now love, don't want to miss the train," Leora smiled weakly at her ward and ruffled her bushy blonde hair.

"I'll miss you," Merope said, hugging her

"I'll miss you too love. Be good, and write me as soon as you're sorted!" she helped Merope get her luggage into her compartment and waved to her as the train pulled out of the station.

"Goodbye!" Merope yelled from her window, and waved back until the platform was out of site.

She settled down in the plush seats and reflected on the events of the day. What made her uncle such a bad person? Why couldn't Leora tell her about what happened to her parents? Were they bad people too? Timtam snapped her out of her thoughts as he began to stir in his cage. She let him out and he crawled up into her lap and went back to sleep.

"Cats have it so easy" she said, stroking his ears, "You don't have to worry about things like this," she gazed at the countryside going by her out the window and lost herself in thought once more.