Mark Flourish hadn't been joking to his friend, as soon as Severus gave Harry and Hermione their books, he had barely been able to drag them away from them, they were just so excited at being able to finally read. Due to them being under school age, there was a loophole that allowed kids who had wands to use magic but as soon as they had started school they weren't allowed. That had been useful as Severus had spent a couple hours teaching them the charm to change a book from English to Ancient Greek and their own work written in the language to English, after he learnt it from his friend.

Harry and Hermione, as soon as they read about a spell, would practice to try and get it right, and usually doing so on their first try. Severus had forced them to swear not to read ahead, only moving to the 2nd year texts after they could do everything in their 1st year ones; they hadn't been happy but accepted it as it could be dangerous otherwise. But at the rate they were going, Severus was certain he would be regretting not making it term by term, by the end of the first week they had perfected 5 charms. His regret was washed away, of course, when he notice that the books that looked most read was 'Magical Drafts and Potions', heavily dog-eared and thumbed, though they never read it in front of him.

Over the month that they had before starting, Severus had shown the pair the best ways to draw their wands quickly, as they were more bulky than modern wands were. It took a bit but they did progress to a point that a less than a second after telling them to draw, the wands were in hand and pointed at him. The man had spent many hours sitting with them, telling them about their world, how the other students will talk about their books and wands, and also warning them about Albus Dumbledore, their headmaster. He told them how Albus knew what Harry was and would know what Hermione is as soon as he sees her, and will try to take them under his wing because he wants weapons. The kids were angry and surprised but they promised to keep their cool and not accept anything from him. It helped when Severus said that no one could read their minds, not use anything that may be in there against them.

Today was September 1st, the day that the two kids had been dreaming of since learning about it, they were going to start Hogwarts today. They were awake at 5am, despite the Hogwarts Express not leaving until 11am, but got ready anyway. With their trunks already downstairs, and their school bags holding what books they will want to read on the train over their shoulders, the pair raced down the stairs. Grabbing some breakfast, they ate in the lounge while reading over their potions text again.

They were so into the book that they didn't hear or notice Severus arrive to finally catch them reading the book, "Gotcha."

"Ah! Severus!" The kids jumped in the couch from fright, "How long have you been there?"

"About 5 minutes. I knew you had been reading that book but I've never seen it. Why is that?" The wizard asked as he sat in an armchair.

The duo blushed, "We wanted to impress you during our first class."

"You have both impressed me already, not even Pureblood kids who have been practicing for years before starting have picked up magic as easily as you two. I'm very proud of you both," Severus said serious.

"Thanks," both tween felt as though their face was on fire from the blush.

Wade and Kelly had nearly strangled the kids in saying goodbye, going to work as Severus was going to take them to the train, and making sure they knew to write every week. With them both gone, and it coming up to 10am, Severus slapped his knees, "Right, I'll be apparating you, one at a time, and the one I leave there had better stay put or else. Hermione, you first."

Severus hugged the girl and apparated away with her, having her stand in an alcove until he returned with Harry. He did return, taking less than a minute, and removed their trunks from his pocket, resizing them, "Okay, the baggage attendant will handle your trunks. I want you both to go into a carriage all of your own and don't let anyone else join you, especially anyone with bright red hair and freckles. I'll see you when you get to Hogwarts."

The pair hugged the man tightly, "Alright Severus."

"And what are you to call me around others?"

"Professor Snape, bye," the kids raced off, rolling their eyes lightly at the man.

"I saw that," Severus joked as he watched them enter the train. When he was certain they were settled, he reluctantly apparated away, not wanting any of the parents to notice him standing there.

Inside the train, the friends found a compartment quickly and easily, choosing the one farthest from the doors, and locked it to keep all but the determined out. Settling in, lying on a bench each, Harry asked, "Why do you think he said to stay away from redheads?"

"Might be a kid from one of Dumbledore's followers; think they'll try to buddy up to the great Harry Potter. You get the feeling that things are only just starting for us in life?"

"Yeah and I can't wait. The Sorting Hat that Severus told us about, do you think it will put us in the same house?"

"It better or else," Hermione said sternly before removing her DADA book, "Come on, better not waste our question-free time."

Harry nodded, knowing that as soon as someone saw his scar, their books, their wands, or heard them talking to each other, the questions would start coming like gunfire.

They were in peace for the train leaving, the door being rattled on a couple dozen times, people looking for a free space, but once noticing it locked they would leave, usually bringing a swear with it. But, of course, their peace was destroyed totally 15 minutes after they had set off, the person trying the locked door not giving up. Hermione shut her book with a clack and groaned, "They won't leave until we answer?"

"Doubtful Mia, might as well open it to see who it is and tell them to bugger off," Harry did the same to his book, just closing it softer.

Sighing dramatically, the witch unlocked the door but stood in the entrance, "Yes?"

Standing there, his hand raised to knock the door that had just been slide open, was a red haired boy, about their age, with blue eyes and too many freckles to count. Taking a moment to gather his few brain cells, the boy then said, "Hey, I'm looking for a seat."

"Sorry, all taken, goodbye," Hermione tried to close the door but he put his foot in the way.

"No, no, I see one next to him," the redhead attempted to enter, only to be refused by the much stronger girl, "I'm Ron Weasley by the way."

"Listen, my friend here is ill, and needs sleep, so please leave us alone"

Ron peered at Harry, eyes widening at the brief glimpse of the scar, "No, that's Harry Potter there, he isn't sick at all."

"Well I am, sick and tired of you, now bugger off," using her considerable strength, Hermione forcibly shoved the boy hard enough that he landed on his butt, and slammed the door shut, locking it immediately, "Now it will be known up and down the train that you're here. We'll never get peace and quiet."

Harry moved over to hold his friend, "That may be but did you see his face when you shoved him so easily? It was priceless."

The friends laughed at that and ignored the incessant knocks that hit the door, diving straight back into their books, talking whenever they felt like it. The next thing they truly heard was the conductor's voice coming over the intercom system that they were now arriving at Hogwarts and to change. The pair were already dressed in their robes, but hopped out and waited at the doors, being the first ones there and not getting caught by the redhead.

When the train came to a stop, they hopped out onto the platform and looked around in amazement, "Wow."