I do not own Harry Potter or any of the charactors or text that you recognize they belong to the great JKR! The story and other charactors I do own!

Chapter Three

The Train and a Hat

The sun was just beginning to lighten the sky to the east, when Mrs. Briggs called up the stairs to Taylor. "Come on Taylor, it's time to get up."

Taylor was already up and dressed. She hadn't slept very well. She was so excited and nervous all at once. "I'll be right down." she called, making sure the bed was made and nothing was left on the floor. She didn't want Mrs. Briggs to have to clean up after her when she was gone.

Taylor heard voices as she made her way down the stairs and into the kitchen. "…and so we decided to come this far by flue powder and then hire a muggle cab from here to the train station, Aunt Bea." said the pretty young witch, standing beside an older witch who had just finished giving Mrs. Briggs a hug.

"Why hello, you must be Taylor. We have heard so much about you," said the older witch. She looked to be in her early forties. "I am Wendy Heath, and this is my daughter, Janet. She is in her fifth year in Ravenclaw. We would have liked to have come over to meet you sooner but Aunt Bea said you needed some time to rest after your trip across the world and your awful loss. I'm so sorry, dear. I know how hard it is to lose someone you love." and she gave Taylor a motherly hug and smiled sadly at her.

"Ah, thank-you," said Taylor a little shyly, pushing her glasses up on her nose. She was unsure of how to take the sympathy, even if it was genuinely given. But it was hard to think of much else other than the big day ahead of her.

"Well, what would you like for breakfast this morning, Taylor? Wendy, Janet dear, have you eaten yet?" Asked Mrs. Briggs, as she bustled around her kitchen scrambling eggs and making toast. It seemed Mrs. Heath and Janet hadn't had breakfast, much to their Aunt's delight. All Taylor could eat was a piece of toast. Her stomach was already in knots and she hadn't even left the cottage yet.

Soon the dishes were in the sink ,washing themselves, and the trunks were outside by the curb. Mrs. Heath had called a muggle taxi from her house the night before. Her husband was muggle born, she had said. 'As if that explained everything' Thought Taylor. At exactly 7:45 the taxi pulled up, the driver loaded the trunks into the car and they were off to the train station. Mrs. Briggs and her two nieces talked and laughed the whole way. All Taylor could do was nod, or shake her head. She was so nervous.

When they arrived at the train station Mrs. Heath retrieved a couple of trolleys to put the trunks on and off they went into the station. Taylor was very glad that Mrs. Briggs and her nieces were with her when they started talking about going to platform nine and three quarters. She was just about to ask, when they came to the column between nine and ten and Mrs. Heath and Janet walked right through it? Taylor stopped in surprise. 'What the…!' She thought.

"It's ok, deary," said Mrs. Briggs with her kindly smile. "I guess it can be quite a shock. This is how we keep muggles away from the Hogwarts Express. Come on, I'll go through with you." and she took hold of Taylor's elbow and they stepped through the column together.

On the other side was a great red steam engine and the platform was crowded with people, trolleys and cages with owls in them. People were calling to one another and there were parents hugging their kids; all trying to put their stuff on the train. Janet had just disappeared into the train with a brown haired boy who was helping her with her trunk. Mrs. Briggs was smiling and nodding her head like it all brought back fond memories.

"Let's get your trunk on, dear." Mrs. Briggs said to Taylor, as Janet hopped off the train and made her way toward them. When Taylor's trunk was safely on the train, with Janet's help, she came back down and stood with Mrs. Briggs and Mrs. Heath, who were saying good-bye to Janet.

"Now then," said Mrs. Briggs, as Janet waved once more and went to join her friends on the train. "I want you to write to me if you need anything, ok? And don't worry, you will make out just fine, deary."

"Alright," said Taylor whose mouth had gone suddenly dry. She was really going to miss this nice old witch who had taken her in, as if she was her own.

"Cheer up, deary. You are going to have a wonderful time and you can always come back to stay with me at Christmas if you want." and with that Mrs. Briggs gave her a bone-crushing hug.

"Thank-you, Mrs. Briggs. I have really enjoyed the last week and you have been so nice." Taylor was almost on the verge of tears. 'Get a grip on yourself, Porter' she told herself. Man, for an old girl, Mrs. Briggs could sure hug hard though.

"Well I'd better get going." Taylor said as the train whistle sounded and with a last good-bye and a wave she got on the train and went to find a seat; a little scared but suddenly determined to see just what she could do in this new world.

Far away at Hogwarts, in the headmaster's tower, a witch and a wizard were discussing Miss Taylor Porter.

"But Albus, are you certain? If this is indeed the Potter's other child, she is too young. She would only be ten years old, for goodness sakes! Surely no one that young would have magical powers developed enough to come to Hogwarts. She would be at a huge disadvantage right from the start. Then to have been raised as a muggle, also!" said the witch shaking her head in disbelief.

"Minerva, I am absolutely positive that Miss Taylor Porter, as she is now called, is indeed the Potter's other child. I am also positive that although she is only ten, as you so correctly pointed out, her powers are indeed well enough developed to attend Hogwarts this year. I have made this exception of age for a number of reasons. First and foremost is for her safety, some things have happened as of late that have brought me to believe that Miss Porter will be far safer here at school than alone in a muggle orphanage in Canada. As for her muggle upbringing, do I need to point out a certain Mr. Potter, who will be coming on the Hogwarts Express today, too?" the wizard said as he sat down behind his desk, a wise smile upon his face and his blue eyes twinkling over his half moon spectacles, as if he knew far more than he had just told Minerva.

"Would you care for a sherbet lemon?" he said offering the witch a bowl.

The landscape outside the window was rapidly growing wilder and wilder. The compartment that Taylor sat in had three other First Years in it and they had passed the time talking about what they knew about Hogwarts and magic. There was Susan Bones, Mandy Brocklehurst and Sally-Anne Perks. When the food trolley came along, Taylor remembered that Mrs. Briggs had said she had put some sandwiches and a drink in her trunk. The other girls got something from the trolley, but Taylor didn't really mind. Coming from a farm she was, after all, used to sandwiches and being responsible for getting meals ready. Sandwiches were just easier most of the time. They started talking about the school houses after they were finished eating and they all agreed that they didn't want to be in Slytherin. Taylor mostly listened, only asking the odd question, but she did learn a lot.

A while after they had eaten, there was a knock on the door and in came a round-faced boy and a girl with bushy brown hair. "I'm Hermione Granger. Have you seen a toad? Neville has lost his." When everyone had answered, no, they turned to leave.

"Wait," Taylor said. "I'll help you look," and she followed Hermione and Neville down the hall. "I'm Taylor Porter."

"Nice to meet you, Taylor," Hermione said. Neville just nodded, as they continued to check in the compartments.

The next compartment that they came to had two first year boys in it. The one with red hair had his wand out, as if he was about to do magic. Taylor, though, was watching the other one with black hair and glasses. Then, as she realized she was staring, she noticed the thin scar on his forehead. Before she could take her eyes off him, he looked up. Green eyes met her stare. Suddenly her heart was racing, but she didn't know why. With an effort, she tore away her gaze and tried to concentrate on what Hermione was saying to the red haired boy. She had just introduced herself and Neville, and was saying, "This is Taylor Porter." Taylor barely managed a "hi."

Taylor's eyes were again on the boy with the green eyes. The red headed boy was saying his name was Ron Weasley. What was wrong with her? Taylor was trying to think, but her mind didn't seem to want to work.

Then the boy with the green eyes spoke. "I'm Harry Potter."

Taylor wondered, later, if it hadn't been for Hermione and Neville, if she would have ever been able to take her eyes off of the green-eyed boy, Harry Potter. As it was, when Hermione and Neville got up to leave, Taylor just followed them out as if she was in some sort of trance. Somehow Taylor made it back to her own compartment and sat down. Come on, Taylor said to herself, he's a boy! She gave her head a shake. This seemed to clear her mind a little or maybe it was the fact that she could no longer see Harry and his green eyes. She pushed her glasses back up on her nose, not having realized that they had slid down.

It was growing dark outside when Susan Bones thought they should put their school robes on, for they would be arriving at Hogwarts soon. Even as Taylor dressed in her new robes and the other girls were talking about how they thought they were to be sorted into their houses, her mind kept going back to those green eyes. She had thought of little else since she had come back to her compartment. It's not as if she had ever met him before. How could she? Didn't Mrs. Briggs say that he was from England? What was it then? Why was she so surprised to see him look like he did? As if he was someone she should know? Her head was even starting to hurt as she ran this around and around in her mind.

"Come on, Taylor it's time to get off." said an excited Sally-Anne Perks, bringing Taylor back to the present. She followed the rest of the students off of the train.

"Firs' Years this way," Taylor heard someone calling and she followed Susan, Sally-Anne and Mandy through the crowded platform. The nervousness that had disappeared while she was thinking of Harry returned. Taylor's first impression when she finally looked up to see who was calling to them was: that is the biggest man I've ever seen!

"Firs' Years, follow me now." he was calling. Taylor and the rest of the first year students followed him down a path to the lake were there were boats waiting to take them across. Taylor got into a boat with the girls she had been on the train with. The view of the castle was amazing as they glided across the lake by magic. It was huge, with light coming from many of its windows and dozens of tall towers. The biggest place Taylor had ever seen!

They followed Hagrid, that was what someone had called the big man, out of the boats and up through a passageway and over the lawn to the castle door where he knocked and it was opened right away by a dark haired witch in deep green robes. "Follow me." she said and into the castle they went. The Entrance hall was huge, with torchlight glinting off the walls of stone. They followed her into a small chamber off of the Entrance hall.

"Welcome to Hogwarts. I am Professor McGonagall. In a moment you will be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. While you are at Hogwarts your triumphs will earn your house points and any rule-breaking will lose your house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points wins the House Cup. Wait here until I come back for you. The Sorting Ceremony will take place shortly." With that, Professor McGonagall went out and shut the door.

Taylor glanced around at all the other First Years. Their faces looked as worried as she felt. Some of them were whispering to each other. She was standing near Hermione who was busy explaining to a terrified looking Neville how she had read a book called Hogwarts, a History, which told about all kinds of interesting facts about the school, but failed to mention just how the students were sorted into the houses. Taylor was looking for Harry. She was going to ask him how they were to be sorted. After all, she thought, someone who was as famous as Harry Potter must surely know. She spotted him just as Professor McGonagall came back into the room and moved over towards him.

"Form a line now," Professor McGonagall was saying. "It is time for the Sorting Ceremony to begin."

Taylor just had time to get in line behind Harry, as the whole group of First Years followed Professor McGonagall out of the door into the Entrance Hall and through another set of double doors into the Great Hall. Taylor's jaw dropped open. The hall was massive. Four tables stretched almost the whole length of it with students sitting at them. Up at the front of the Great Hall there was a table with the other teachers sitting at it and the line of First Years were walking up the middle between the tables with the older students watching them. Taylor's heart was hammering so loudly that she was sure everyone else could hear it too. When the line came to a halt at the front of the hall, she watched as Professor McGonagall put a stool with an old looking wizard hat on it at the front of the line.

There was a hush that fell over the Hall. Everyone seemed to be waiting for something. Suddenly the wizard hat started to sing. Taylor listened trying to remember all it said. When the hat had finished, the red haired boy from the train whispered to Harry that he was going to kill his brother, as his brother had told him he'd have to do magic to be sorted into the houses. Harry nodded. 'So much for being near someone famous to get the inside information' Thought Taylor.

Professor McGonagall pulled out a scroll and began calling out names. Taylor felt the panic she had felt earlier grip her again. What if she was put in Slytherin? What would Mrs. Briggs say? What if the hat told her that she didn't belong here; where would she go? Then Taylor heard Hermione's name called and… Gryffindor was where she went. A Hunter, Gregory, went to Hufflepuff. Then Neville's name and he went to Gryffindor too! Sally-Anne from the train also went to Hufflepuff.

"Porter, Taylor," called Professor McGonagall.

Taylor's heart seemed to stop. She had been looking at the floor, but as she looked up when her name was called, her eyes collided with those green eyes and time stopped. "Miss Porter!" Professor McGonagall said, and Taylor almost tripped over her feet trying to get to the stool.

The old hat was placed on her head and the last person she saw was Harry, standing there looking so scared.

Everything went black, then she heard a voice and it said, "Let's see now, hmm. Where to put you? I see determination, good and a lot of talent, too, oh and there seems to be lots of courage also. Well it must be… GRYFFINDOR!" yelled the hat.

Taylor was so relieved as she took the hat off and headed for the Gryffindor table. They were clapping and welcoming her to their house. She had no more than sat down however, when she heard "Potter, Harry." Suddenly the whole hall was whispering, "What did she say? The Harry Potter?" Taylor watched as the hat went over Harry's head. Even the teachers seemed to be leaning forward, watching more closely.

"GRYFFINDOR" the hat yelled again and the table where Taylor was, erupted in cheers. Taylor clapped hard right along with them. She was really happy that she and Harry were going to be in the same house. It just felt right somehow.

The rest of the First Years were sorted into the houses and Ronald Weasley, the red-haired boy, came to Gryffindor too.

Taylor listened as the tall wizard with long white hair and a beard, that he had tucked into his belt, was speaking. It was Professor Dumbledore. She remembered him from when she had arrived at the Ministry in London. As he finished speaking and sat down, plates of food magically appeared on the table. There were potatoes cooked every way Taylor knew how and vegetables, and chicken, and roasts of pork and beef. There were even a number of dishes that she wasn't sure what they were. The whole time that she ate, she listened to the other students talk. By the time the meal was done and they had eaten dessert, Taylor knew who all the teachers were and had met the Gryffindor ghost, Nearly Headless Nick. She had also met most of her fellow Gryffindors. Taylor had listened particularly hard when she heard a soft "ouch" from Harry and he had asked Percy Weasley, who happened to be a school prefect, who was sitting next to Professor Quirrell. 'I wonder what that was about.' Thought Taylor, as she watched Harry out of the corner of her eye.

Professor Dumbledore stood up again and told them about the Forbidden Forest being out of bounds and no magic in the halls. Also about Quidditch trials and finally that the third floor corridor was out of bounds to all who did not wish to die a terrible death! Some nervous laughing and questions followed this statement. Then a full but very tired Taylor was following Percy with the rest of the First Years, out of the great hall, through the Entrance hall and up the wide marble staircase. She could hear Hermione talking about the moving stairs as they climbed up flight after flight of stairs all the way up to the seventh floor and stopped in front of a portrait of a fat woman in a silk dress.

"Password" said the portrait.

"Caput Draconis," said Percy and the portrait swung open. 'Wow' thought a sleepy Taylor 'Neat'.

Taylor crawled through the hole into the common room. It was furnished with comfy looking chairs, a couple of tables in the corner and a big fireplace that promised a warm fire on cold nights. Percy was pointing one way to the girl's dormitory and the other way for the boys.

Taylor followed Hermione and Lavender up yet another set of stairs into their dormitory room. 'This is one of the towers I saw as we crossed the lake' Thought Taylor, as she looked around and saw her trunk beside one of the five four-poster beds with red curtains hanging from them. Taylor was too tired to do any more than take off her school robes and put her pajama's on. She was trying to listen to what the other girls were saying as she crawled into the warm bed and put her glasses on the bedside table. The last thing she remembered was Hermione saying that they would be starting their classes tomorrow.

A/N I wanted to say thank you to those of you who put this story on alert! T