"Why's it so bloody packed every year?" Dudley mumbled, rolling Alexandra's trolley through the station.

"There's the platform," Alexandra said, running a little bit ahead of her father. After making sure they'd attract no attention from the muggles standing around, Alexandra and her father entered platform 9 ¾.

"Five minutes to spare," Dudley said, looking at his watch. "Pretty good time, I'd say."

Alexandra nodded. She saw Harry and Ginny standing a short distance away. Harry appeared to be talking to Albus about something. She turned to her father.

"I guess I'd better get on the train then," she said, taking her trunk from her father.

"Have a good term," he said, quickly kissing her cheek. "Write when you arrive."

"Bye, dad," she said, climbing aboard the Hogwarts Express. "See you at Christmas!"

Alexandra made her way through the corridor filled with students, searching for familiar faces.

"Alexandra!"

Alexandra turned around to see her best friend, Alanna Brooklyn, running towards her.

"Hi, Alanna," Alexandra grinned as the two friends embraced. "I've missed you. How was your summer?"

"Pretty good," Alanna replied. "Yours?"

"Alright, I suppose, although I'm sort of excited about heading to Hogwarts again."

"I know how you feel," Alexandra nodded.

"Alanna, Alexandra!" Fred called from the other end of the corridor, standing next to a compartment. "In here!"

The girls ran into the compartment, where Fred, James, Louis, Albus and Rose were sitting. Rose was already dressed in her Hogwarts robes and was reading one of her new books. Louis and James were chatting about the latest match between the Cannons and the Tornados, while Albus was sitting by the window, not saying much of anything.

"Did either of you finish Binn's essay on the creation of the first goblin council?"

"The first goblin council was in 1431, and it took place in Romania," Rose said, her head jerking up from her book. "And during that time, it was decided that-"

"We haven't even gotten to the school yet," James said, shaking his head at his cousin. "What did you do, read all your textbooks before you even got on the train?"

"You can't say your surprised, can you?" Louis grinned. "Come on, Rose, put your book away and tell James that the Cannons don't stand a chance against the Tornados."

"Excuse me," Rose said, shutting her book. "You know I'm a huge Cannons fan."

"Right on," James grinned, high fiving her. "Oh! You guys will never guess what I saw a few moments ago. Teddy and Victoire were snogging!"

"What?" Louis exclaimed. "My sister?"

"No, the other Victoire we know," James said, rolling his eyes. "Yes your sister!"

"I don't believe it," Alanna commented. "I didn't know they liked each other."

Alexandra shifted in her seat. She had actually known about Teddy and Victoire, having caught them snogging about a year ago, but she had sworn not to mention it to anyone.

"I think it's great," Rose said. "They seem like they'd be happy together."

"Can we please change the subject," Louis said. "So Rose, Al, you two worried about the Sorting?"

"A little," Rose admitted. "I do hope I get into Gryffindor, you know, to continue the family legacy, but I don't think my parents would mind Ravenclaw."

"Buck up, Albus," James said to his younger brother, who was still staring out the window. "I was only kidding when I said you'd be in Slytherin."

"I know," Albus said. "But I'm still nervous."

"Did you guys see The Prophet this morning?" Fred asked. "Apparently Claridina was spotted."

"What?" Alexandra asked. "Where?"

"Not too far outside London," Fred replied. "They reckon that she was trying to see her son off."

"My dad was up at three this morning when he got the call," Albus said. "They couldn't find her."

"I heard someone talking right when I got on the platform," Alanna spoke up. "They said something about her being in the same range as Voldemort."

"That's rubbish," James scoffed. "Dad's told us about those times; Death Eaters everywhere, people dying everyday…She's not that bad. At least, not yet…But they'll catch her before she escalates."

"Definitely," Rose nodded in agreement.

"Alexandra, are you okay?" Alanna frowned.

Alexandra blinked. She had spaced out after the mention of her mother.

They were still searching for her, and yet here she was, equipped with the location of her mother's whereabouts not saying a word.

"I'm fine," Alexandra nodded. "Just fine."