I woke up early on September 1st and went down stairs once I smelt breakfast cooking. Mum was cooking four different things at the same time. There were pancakes in one pan, bacon and eggs in the other, toast in the toaster and sausages in the last pan.

"Here mum let me help you." I said as I flipped the cooked pancakes onto a plate.

"Thanks Max."

By the time everyone was down to the kitchen breakfast was done and Hamish who was down first after me couldn't wait any longer. The food and plates were placed on the table and everyone dug in. Dylan who was glad he could see again was able to grab food from different plates without a hassle for once. Once dishes were packed away and trunks were downstairs we started to pack the car and hop in. The Evans left a few minutes before us so it wasn't a surprise when they got to Kings Cross station before us. I gave Lily a short hug and got three trolleys to carry our trunks, one for me, Dylan and Nick. Of course there wasn't a platform 9 and ¾ to be seen but when Dylan spoke up everyone listened.

"Remember when we went to St Mungos, how we walked through the window of the closed shop maybe we're supposed to do something like that here." He said.

Everyone looked at each other then back at Dylan like he was a genius. We walked around trying to find somewhere to walk through and by the time we heard a lady say platform 9 and ¾ this way we had to follow. The lady and her scruffy haired son stopped in front of a brick barrier in-between platforms 9 and 10. The lady saw us watching them but once she saw our trunks she knew that we weren't random muggles.

"Watch what we do," she said with a huff and walked through the barrier dragging her son behind her.

Severus followed after them and disappeared like the lady and her son so we knew that this was the right place. Lily went next followed by her parents then Nick, Dylan Hamish, Me, Ella and Monique and Mum and Amelia. As soon as I crossed through the barrier wincing as I went through and moved out of the way I saw the big scarlet train puffing out steam. The conductor was outside the train helping students put their trunks in a compartment underneath the train. He made sure we all had our school robes out in a separate bag. Lily was saying goodbye to her parents while Severus was standing off to the side. I turned around and hugged mum promising to write and see her in the Christmas Holidays. Nick and Dylan also hugged mum and said goodbye. We hoped on the train 5 minutes before it was going to leave and found an empty compartment to put our stuff in. Lily soon joined us as we hung out the window waving goodbye to our parents.

"Where's Severus?" I asked.

"I don't know he just left." Lily asked.

The train began to move as we sat down and talked about what we thought Hogwarts would be like. Two boys came past and asked if they could sit in our compartment since the others were completely full or filled with people that didn't look nice.

"Can we sit here?" The shaggy haired boy from before asked.

"Sure I guess." Nick replied.

"I'm Sirius Black," the shaggy haired boy said.

"I'm James Potter," the other boy with glasses and messy brown hair said.

"I'm Max, this is Lily, Nick and Dylan," I said pointing to the others as I introduced them.

The boys started a conversation and Lily and I talked about many things when the food trolley came past. I never tried wizard sweets before so Dylan, Nick, Lily and I bought the best looking sweets and shared them between us. James and Sirius also let us try the food that they bought.

"So how do you guys all know each other?" James asked.

"Well, Nick is my adoptive brother, Dylan is my cousin and Lily is my neighbour." I said.

"Are you all muggles?" Sirius asked.

I was going to say why are you? but Nick butted in before me, "Yes," he said bluntly.

Severus came past and invited himself to sit down. "Hey Lily I found some people I you should meat if you're going to be a Slytherin."

I knew that Lily didn't want to be a Slytherin but a Ravenclaw or Gryffindor but she stood up anyway."

"A Slytherin, why would you want to be a Slytherin?" James asked rudely.

"Why what's wrong with being in Slytherin?" Lily asked angrily.

"Well most of them turn out bad." James answered.

"My whole family's in Slytherin," Sirius blurted out.

"I thought you were alright," James jokingly said.

"Hopefully I'll break the pattern. But James is right my parents and family worship the dark arts and hate muggles." Sirius said.

"Do you hate muggles?" I asked.

"I don't know any so I don't have an opinion." He replied

"Come on Lils stay here I need your company otherwise I'll be surrounded by these four." I begged.

"Come with us then I'm not going to stay anywhere with these 2." She said pointing towards James and Sirius.

I thought she was going a bit over the top but then again Severus was her only friend before I came but he did have dark features, like not wanting to be around friendly people, always disappearing and wanting to be with the Slytherins.

"Come on Severus let's find another compartment," Lily said looking at the boys before storming out.

"Bye Snivelius," Sirius sneered after them.

"Yeah see ya Snivelius," James mimicked.

"Well done guys," I muttered sarcastically.

"Hey what did we do?" both boys asked at the same time.

"You just embarrassed my best friend."

"So the greasy haired boy will be in Slytherin and he thinks she will, I know that your friend isn't going to be a Slytherin," James said.

"Yes I know that but you don't have to make fun of her and Severus." I said getting angry at them.

"Okay were sorry." Sirius cowering under my glare.

"You better apologise to her later on." I said storming out to find Lily.

I looked down the train and found Severus sitting with some older students that didn't look friendly and luckily Lily wasn't in there with them. A few more compartments at the end of the train I found Lily with two other girls.

"Hey is it alright if I sit here?" I asked.

Lily looked happy that see me and the other girls nodded.

"I'm Max," I said introducing myself.

"I'm Karalee and this is Freda." The girl closest to the window said.

"Are you both starting Hogwarts this year?" I asked wanting to have a nice conversation, I didn't mind the boys in the other compartment but Lily was a nice friend that I wanted to keep.

"No this is my second year but Freda is starting her 1st year." Karalee said. "I'm the top of the year in the Ravenclaw house." She boasted.

I looked at Lily and she looked back at me, we both knew that this girl thought she was the best and a bit of a snob. Her hair was perfectly straight as it crept down the back of her head. She was already in her Hogwarts robes and her nails were painted to perfection in a bright blue. Freda was different her head was buried in a book, and she had bushy hair sticking out everywhere. The book she was reading looked like a horror and she was still wearing whatever she wanted. Freda looked like the silent type while Karalee was still talking, since she was talking about Hogwarts I decided to listen and pretend to be interested while she went on and on.

An older student with bright red hair stuck his head through the door, "we're almost at Hogwarts so you may want to put on your uniform," he said and hurried to the next compartment.

"Oh no," I heard Lily gasp. "I've left my robes in the other compartment."

I knew that she didn't want to go back just in case the two boys were still there. "I'll get them for you."

I quickly ran back down the corridor and knocked on the compartment door just in case the boys were changing.

"Umm I need to get Lily's robes," I muttered as James opened the door. He looked like he was about to apologies but I bet him to it, "It's not me you need to apologise to but Lily, I don't care about what you did to Severus since I think your right about him but leave Lily out of it and don't talk to him or about him in front of Lily, got it." I grabbed Lily's uniform and noticed another taller boy with tattered second hand robes and bright blue eyes. "Hi I'm Max," I said to him then walked out and could here Nick and Dylan howling with laughter, I had to smile at that and headed back to the compartment Lily was in passing the red haired boy in as he walked into the boys compartment. Freda was already changed and was back to reading her book while Lily was sitting nervously waiting for me to come back.

"There you go, and it's alright I didn't mind getting them." I told her as I grabbed my bundle of clothes that I had shoved under the seat. I was a little nervous about getting changed, what happened if someone saw my wings. I had my back against the seat as I pulled my school shirt on and jumper over the top and got into my skirt with ease. I had left my owl with Nick and Dylan so hopefully they would bring him out for me. Once I was changed the train came to a halting stop and the conductor announced that we were at Hogsmade station. I hoped off the train and scanned the platform for Nick and Dylan hoping that they had Magnum. Lily disappeared but Freda was walking next to me her book under her arm. I saw Nick and Dylan carrying there owls and Magnum when they saw me I took Magnum's cage from them and placed it with the other animal cages by the trunks and the boys did the same. I saw older students getting into horseless carriages but I couldn't see Lily or any other first years all I could see was the backs of other students dressed in their uniforms and black robes flowing behind them.

"Firs years over here," a loud voice boomed. "Firs years over here."

I looked up and saw the person who was talking. He would have to be the biggest person I have ever seen.

"Firs years over here and 4 to a boat." He boomed again.

"Are you a giant?" a small boy behind me asked.

"Half giant and gamekeeper of Hogwarts, you need to get in the boat and then we can get to the castle." The half giant said and directing us to a boat.

I couldn't see Lily and hoped that she was already in a boat. I hoped into a boat with Nick and Dylan and we were joined by a tall black haired girl with a nasty expression on her face. Our boat started to move and I saw Sirius and James in a boat with the tall boy and Freda was with them reading her book again. I looked around and still couldn't see Lily anywhere, with her red hair she should be easy to find. I saw her way in front on one of the first boats, she was sitting in a boat with Severus Snape and another boy and girl but I couldn't see their faces. Behind us was the small boy, an Asian girl, talking to a girl with dark brown hair and a boy with brown eyes and blonde hair. The half giant was in the last boat two boats behind ours and made sure no one else was on the platform before his boat magically drifted towards the castle. I remembered reading in Hogwarts a History and the author said, 'the first look at Hogwarts is the best look and memory of the castle I had.' Sure enough as soon as saw the castle everyone gasped, except for the girl in the boat with us. Freda even closed her book long enough to get a good view. It was the biggest castle I had ever seen and the lights were so bright against the dark sky. As we got closer I could see the doors were big enough to let two of the gamekeepers in at a time. Even if I had a camera it wouldn't capture the castle perfectly it was something you had to see with your own eyes. It wasn't a long boat trip and it was lucky that it wasn't raining because we would have been drenched. The small boy that was in the boat behind us fell in and was splashing around before the Gamekeeper rescued him and pulled him out with one arm. Once we reached the castle and saw the last stragglers getting out of a carriage and walking through the dark ebony wooden doors we were greeted by a witch a bit older than mum with a stern look on her face.

"Good evening I am Professor McGonagall, in a moment you will go through these doors and will be sorted into your houses. Your houses will be like your families, your triumphs will earn you points and rule breaking will lose you points. The four houses are Rowena Rawnclaw, Helga Hufflepuff, Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin." She walked of then came back a few minutes later. I had enough time to join Lily and stand next to her; of course Dylan and Nick followed but stood next to the boys from the compartment on the train. "They are ready for you now." She said and led us through the doors into the massive hall known as the Great Hall. I looked up at the ceiling; it was enchanted to look like the sky outside so you could see the stars twinkling. We stop walking and once I stopped looking at the roof I looked around to see that we were walking through the hall two tables on each side of us. On one side were the students wearing the Hufflepuff colours at the far table with the Ravenclaws sitting closer to the middle of the room. On the other side was the Gryffindors then the Slytherins closer to the wall. I gulped when I looked at the Slytherins, Sirius was right they didn't look very friendly. We stopped in front of a stool with a tattered old hat sitting on it. The hat looked like it moved and a groove in the brim looked like a mouth moving.

"When I was freshly made I was given a charm that acted like brains.
the four founders of Hogwarts gave me a job so that when they were gone I could represent their names.
Rowena Ravenclaw, well she was smart and vain.
I know she said everyone else will be the same.
Salazar Slytherin he wanted those just like him,
Pure cunning and sly what better kids then that.
Godric Gryffindor well he was brave like a lion,
anyone courageous and brave well they're welcome in my house.
And Helga Hufflepuff well she wasn't fussed,
I'll have the rest as long as there loyal and friendly.
Now little ones where will you go?
It's my job to place you with your foes."

The hat sang and finished his song as Professor McGonagall unscrolled a scroll.

"When I call your name you will sit on the stool and I will place the hat on your head.
Freda Aniston."

She walked up and the hat was placed on her head, "books and brains of course you belong in Ravenclaw!" The hat shouted.

"Kennan Abbot,"

"Hmm friendly and loyal, Hufflepuff!"

The hat had sorted five other people two Slytherins, one Ravenclaw and two other Hufflepuffs.

"Sirius Black," the professor looked bored when she said his name like she knew which house he was going to be in.

"Gryffindor!" The hat shouted so loud that everyone gasped and the Slytherins and Gryffindors were surprised.

Amelia Bones was another Hufflepuff and she looked pleased with the results. After two people Lily was next. The hat took its time before shouting Gryffindor and she was the second one after Sirius to join one of the middle tables. The list went on and on and I became really hungry. I watch Dylan go up to the stool.

"Hmm interesting but you'll be best in Gryffindor!" the hat shouted.

There were 8 Hufflepuff's, 9 Slytherins, 6 Ravenclaws and 4 Gryffindors but the tall boy with blue eyes named Remus Lupin became the 5th Gryffindor.

"Nick Martinez."

Nick walked up to the sorting hat and it was placed on his head, "Gryffindor." The hat said.

People with the last names, N and O were sorted then it was P's there were two first years with the last name starting with P and both where Gryffindors. I was called to be sorted next hoping that I could be in Gryffindor with all the others.

"Hmm interesting," the hat murmured but only to me, "you're smart enough to be a Ravenclaw, sly and cunning enough to be a Slytherin and have courage to be a Gryffindor but not enough loyalty to become a Hufflepuff so you better be..." I cut the hat of please, please be Gryffindor. "Gryffindor!" The hat shouted and I felt relieved to walk over to the Gryffindor table and join my family and Lily.

"Severus Snape."

Of course Severus was the last Slytherin to be sorted and I was the last Gryffindor. The sorting finished when Henry Warwick was sorted into Ravenclaw.

"I have a few words to say but that can wait until after the feast." Dumbledore said his voice raised, "Dig in." At his words food appeared above the tables and I wasn't the first one to grab the food and neither was Dylan for once, Sirius Black was stuffing his face with the variety of food in front of him. Once we had all finished eating and had as much desert as possible Dumbledore spoke again. "I am asked to remind you that the forbidden forest is off limit to all students at all times, Mr Filch has asked me to remind you that duelling is not to happen in the corridors, only in the classrooms and courtyards. Now off to bed."

We followed the red haired prefect to the Gryffindor tower which just had to be at the top of the castle on the opposite side from the great hall. We stopped in front of a portrait and the painting of a fat lady was moving.

"Password?" she mumbled.

"Godric," the prefect said.

The portrait swung opened and we stepped past into the scarlet red and gold common room. There was a fireplace not started since the days were still warm, numerous number of scarlet leather couches around a few tables and the odd wooden chair and desk by the windows and at the back of the room.

"Now boys dormitories to up the stairs to your left and girls the same on your right. All your possessions have been brought up to you; I suggest you go to bed since classes start tomorrow morning after breakfast." The red haired prefect said and directed us to our rooms.

Lily and I hurried up the staircases towards the right followed by a girl with short cut blonde straight hair and a girl with long flowing brown hair. I immediately jumped on the bed right next to the window and dragged my trunk and owl over to the bed while the other three girls were fighting over the other beds. Lily won the bed right next to mine and the girl with the brown hair got the bed on the left of mine and the other girl's bed was directly across from mine since the four beds were set up in a circle. I introduced myself to the other two girls and found out that the brunette was called Kerry Scott and Alice Smith was the strawberry blonde. Kerry was small, with hazel eyes, and Alice was tall (but not as tall as me) with deep misty blue eyes. After the introduction Lily grabbed her P, Js and pulled the red curtains closed around her four poster bed. I did the same and heard the other curtains closing. Once I opened the curtains again no one moved but sounded asleep breathing heavily. I tried to go to sleep but I just couldn't, I was excited and nervous at the same time, I tried to get back to sleep but couldn't stop thinking about mum, Ella, Monique, Hamish and Amelia were back home when I remembered that I could send them a letter by Magnum. I grabbed out some parchment and wrote to mum telling her I was alright, in Gryffindor with Dylan, Nick and Lily and about the other people I met like Sirius, James, Kerry and Alice. After a long letter and asking her to say hi to the others for me I went down to the common room to let Magnum out.

"So you couldn't sleep either." A guy said from behind me.