{Chapter 1}
All Aboard the Hogwarts Express
Trixi's heart leaped with excitement. Every young witch and wizard anticipated this moment in their life. Well, not every wizard and witch, since there were other schools, but Hogwarts was the best. She could not wait to get on the train that would make the journey to the school she had been dreaming about for at least five years.
A tall man with black hair that came down to his shoulders stood next to her. He was carefully scouting the muggles at the train station, waiting for the perfect moment.
"Trixi." he finally said.
That was her cue! Unlike most Hogwarts students, she wasn't nervous about entering Platform 9 ¾.. Her father had explained everything to her, assuring Trixi that if she did everything he had instructed, she would be fine.
To Trixi, it was like running from a brightly lit room into a short pitch-black hallway and straight into another brightly lit room. Nothing exciting, she decided, but her hopes weren't completely demolished.
"Blimey," she said with awe. The train carriages were painted primarily red, each marked with black detail and assorted tiny black sat there stretching further and further away. She counted fifteen carriages, the most her eyes would allow her to see, but Trixi knew there were more than that.
Her father set a stiff hand on her shoulder. Trixi knew he was feeling uneasy today.
"It's alright, Daddy!" she said cheerfully, as she looked around, watching the hundreds of people crowding near them to greet people they knew. She looked up at him. He towered above her by several heads in height. "Oh please, don't cry." she frowned. "That would be awfully embarrassing."
Severus Snape straightened up, feeling insulted. His eyes brushed across the lot of people with disapproval. "See if you can spot the Malfoy boy," he told her in his quiet voice.
Trixi looked for a minute. She hadn't met Draco personally, but had seen him briefly a time or two in her past. "No," she said, breaking their silence. "I don't see him."
Severus' jaw set with annoyance. "Alright then." He turned her so she could face him. "You have everything?" His eyes pierced hers.
Trixi rolled her eyes. "I didn't forget anything, Daddy!" she giggled. He had already asked her that five times that day.
"If you need anything-"
"I know!" she impatiently interrupted him.
He had said something else to her that she failed to hear. Her eyes caught someone three coaches away from them. The small fourteen-year-old boy stood surrounded by a group of people. Most of them were red-heads who were saying their goodbyes before they left. He chatted happily, looking perfectly comfortable around them.
"What did I tell you about that boy?" her father muttered into her ear. He had bent down so only she could hear what he said.
"You really can't blame me for being curious," she told Severus pointedly, her eyes still watching Harry Potter.
"He's a bad influence, Trixi." Severus stood up, his voice sneering. "I am serious! He's always in trouble, that boy. Seeks it. Just like his father!"
"Alright, alright!" she said, just to stop his ranting; she knew that her father's complaints about Harry Potter could go on forever if she allowed it. She turned around to hug him, hoping to distract his mind from the boy he hated the most. Severus tapped her back lightly with a hand in return, showing his gratitude.
"Mr. Malfoy." Severus reached out and snatched the arm of a passing blond teenager.
"Professor." Draco grinned slightly.
Severus gestured to his daughter. "Trixi." he introduced simply.
"Hi, Draco." Trixi greeted warmly. "Daddy says you're his star student."
Draco stood up taller with pride. "I make a good effort."
"Speaking of which," Snape pointed to the trolley that held Trixi's trunk. "I would assume you would not mind helping my daughter?"
"Certainly not, sir." Draco immediately busied himself with the task of putting the trunk on the train.
"Alright then." Snake spoke to his daughter. He felt inside his robes and pulled out a small coin bag, and handed it to her. "For refreshments." he explained.
"Golly!" she took the bag, adoring the jingle of loose change. "Thanks!"
"Do not spoil your appetite." he instructed firmly. "The first feast of the year is nearly the best."
"I won't!" she promised.
Draco reappeared then. "All finished, Professor." he said breathlessly. "If you would like, I can help Trixi get settled on the train."
Severus gave the boy a nod of approval. "Off you go then." he told Trixi, giving her weak smile.
"See you tonight, Daddy!" she waved as she hurried after Draco, having to take two steps to his one.
Trixi followed Draco silently as he pushed his way through the aisle, shoving aside any smaller kids who didn't scuttle out of his way quickly enough. "Hello," he drawled, approaching two large boys and a tall girl.
"Who's that?" The smaller of the two boys pointed at Trixi in disgust.
"Are you stupid?" the girl snapped. "That's Snape's daughter!"
"How do you know?" the bigger boy asked.
"It's rather obvious." Trixi spoke up. "I have Daddy's nose."
The large boys and the girl laughed, mocking her for calling Snape "Daddy". Draco gave them a deadly look and they instantly quieted.
"It's weird though, right?" the girl said, and they continued down the aisle to find their favorite place to sit. Many of the kids who know these older students were flying out of the way. "I mean, Professor Snape? A dad?"
"What of it?" Draco demanded. "I bet he's a terrific dad, huh, Trixi?"
"Yeah." she answered truthfully.
"And anyway," Draco continued. "I bet you're killer at potions and Dark Magic."
The Slytherins stopped at a compartment that contained six first-years.
"Out you go!" Draco ordered with a sneer.
"We were here first!' a girl with dark skin argued.
The two big boys balled up their firsts, daring her to say another word. None of them wanted to stay there after that. The older students laughed as they took over.
"So, how much dark magic do you know?" the girl pried Trixi as they made themselves comfortable.
"Dark Magic?" Trixi questioned, confused.
"Yeah, Professor Snape knows a bucket load." Draco chimed. "I am sure he has taught you some."
"Oh, but Daddy won't let me use Dark Magic." Trixi said, astonished they would even think of such a thing.
The teenagers exchanged odd looks before Draco suggested suddenly, "Hey, why don't you go out and scout for some potential Slytherin first years."
"How do I know which ones they are?" Trixi asked.
"They are the rich, handsome, and beautiful kids, of course." Draco replied with a laugh, and gently pushed her out so the older kids could talk alone.
Trixi kept her thoughts to herself about the looks of the elder kids in the compartment she just left.
The aisle was pretty empty now. She walked on and on, looking for a place to sit until finding a compartment that only had two occupants. A blond haired girl with gazing eyes sat by the window, humming to herself. Next to her, sat a red-headed girl with lots of freckles.
"Hello!" smiled the redhead. "Need a place to sit?"
"Yeah!" Trixi said louder than she had intended. "I mean, thanks." she added much quieter, trying to tune down her excitement. She quickly took an empty across from the girl.
The blond girl gave her a curious look before focusing back out the window.
"First year, is it?" the redhead asked.
"Yes."
"Well you're in for a treat! Hogwarts is great! I'm Ginny Weasley, by the way. That's Luna Lovegood." she said, pointing to the girl by the window.
Luna murmured a quiet greeting without looking.
"I'm Trixi." she said while taking in Luna's strange behaviour. "Trixi Snape."
Ginny's smile instantly faded. "As in Severus Snape?" she asked with a nervous laugh.
"He's my Daddy."Trixi confirmed with a smile.
Most of Luna's attention was on the conversation now. "Oh, your father is not going to like this," she said, in a sing-song voice. "He really has a problem with Gryffindors and Weasleys." Her voice was really pretty, and Trixi thought the girl could easily put her to sleep in a lullaby.
"She's right." Ginny added.
"Ah yes, I faintly remember him mentioning a family of redheads." Trixi drummed up a memory. "Weasleys. I don't see what his problem is. You seem very nice."
"A lot of wizards don't like us." Ginny explained.
"Blood Traitors," Luna said, half dreamily.
"What kind of potion is she on?" Trixi asked Ginny in a whisper. "I am thinking the Somnium Sparsum Elixir."
Ginny gave her a blank look, indicating she had no idea what that potion did.
"The Somnium Sparsum Elixir distracts the drinkers by mixing up their best dreams, causing a complete confusion in their mind. It's harmless, if you don't use it very often." Trixi explained quickly. "Some users will talk in a series of mixed words, making it hard for anyone to understand what they are saying, but usually, they will have her symptoms" Trixi pointed. "Dazed and confused."
Ginny laughed at the potion's idea. "That's just how you are though, Luna, right?"
"They do call me Loony after all." Trixi thought some of the cheeriness have been removed from Luna's voice when she said that
"Need anything, dearies?"a short woman said brightly as she poked her head in with.
"Yes, candied ginger and chocolate frogs, please!" Trixi said, fishing out her coins.
Luna shook her head at the offer, and Ginny bought herself a spiced cake.
"I think something is going on out there." Luna said, pointing out at the dark sky.
"Like what?" Ginny said with only a mild interest.
"I don't know." Luna said with an odd look. "It just seems like it's darker than usual." she placed her hand against the glass. "And colder."
"The rain will do that sometimes." Ginny said, absorbed in her snack.
The train was slowing now.
'Wow, we're there already?!" Trixi jumped up from her seat with excitement. She reached into her bag to pull out her robes.
"Hmm." Luna turned her attention from the window, frowning. "I don't think so."
"Way too soon." Ginny looked at her watch. "We still have half an hour." The other girls followed Trixi's suit though, pulling their Hogwarts attire over their heads.
The train made a loud hiss before pulling to a harsh stop. Trixi flew into Ginny from the impact. Loud thuds came from adjoining compartments.
"Oh dear, I'm so sorry!" Trixi said to Ginny.
"It's no problem." Ginny helped her back up. "Are you hurt?"
"Not at-" the lights flickered off, leaving Trixi to stand in absolute darkness. She could hear the rain pounding harder against the roof of the carriage they were in. Ginny gave a slight squeak from the sudden blinding. Luna merrily just gave a confused "hmm".
"Looks like the Hogwarts Express might be having some issues." Ginny's voice was hardly heard from the noise of the rain. "I'll go see what's going on." The door opened, then quickly shut behind her.
"The air is very cold now." Luna pointed out. "And there are figures moving out there."
"Really?" Trixi asked doubtfully. It was too dark to see anything. Luna was right about the temperature though; it felt like it was below freezing.
"Good, you're back." Trixi's teeth chattered as the door opened. But it was not Ginny. A dark hooded figure came into the compartment, floating like a ghost. It towered over Trixi, studying her.
"It's a-"
"Dementor." Trixi cut Luna off, instantly pulling her wand out as the nightly figure continued to stare her down. Trixi started shivering in fright. Her wand shook in her hand, waiting to be used, but no spells came to her mind to chase a Dementor away.
"Shut your eyes." her father's words echoed in her head."Focus on a happy thought." She had been only eight when he said that to her after she woke up screaming from a nightmare of a werewolf. The dementor disappeared from her sight as she clamped her eyes shut.
"Lumos Viridis" Luna muttered quickly as the creature changed it's target to her.
It seemed a bit warmer now; Trixi knew that it was because the dementor was a bit frustrated. It left in a hurry.
The coldness completely lifted, the lights came back on, and the train started back up.
"How did you know that would work?" Trixi asked when she seen a green orb of light at the tip of her wand. "I could have done that myself!"
"You gave me the idea." the girl said softly, eying her with interest.
Trixi wasn't sure what she meant by that; all she'd done was close her eyes. But she didn't get a chance to ask for clarification as a big commotion stirred throughout the train.
Draco came by pounding the door with an ugly amused look on his face that quickly disappeared once his eyes set upon Trixi. "You shouldn't be in here!" he demanded. "Slytherins stick together!" he sneered at Luna "She's too loony to be a Slytherin!" he laughed at his own joke before turning back to his previous task, yelling; "Potter's fainted like a ninny!"
"He doesn't seem all too nice, does he?" Trixi sat down. "Daddy says he's extraordinary though."
"We all are special in our own ways." Luna said.
Ginny returned at that moment. Her face was somewhat pale and she was slightly shaking. "Malfoy is a total toad!" she muttered breathlessly as she sat down.
"Daddy says he's a very good student." Trixi said. "But if he acts like that in school, he would be in a lot of detention."
Ginny scoffed and Luna looked at Trixi blankly, not knowing what to say.
"The Slytherins rarely get detention in the Potions class, and that is not because they wear halos."Ginny informed her.
Trixi narrowed her eyes at that, but left it alone. She didn't want a confrontation this early in the term.