With 15 minutes to go they arrived at kings cross. James put Harrys' school things onto a trolley and they made their way to the platform. They met the Weasleys outside the platform. The Weasleys went through first. James and Harry took the barrier at a run, when they emerged they waited for Lily before they went to find a carriage. Harry found a free compartment at the back of the train, James and Lily helped Harry load his stuff on to the train. Then they hung back to say goodbye. "Goodbye Harry, you'll have lots of fun at Hogwarts" Lily said smiling.

"Yeah I know I did" James winked at him. He ruffled Harrys' hair as the doors started swinging closed. Then the train started moving, Harry waved at his parents until they and the platform disappeared. Harry sat back in his seat thinking about going to find Ron when the door slid open and in he strolled "There you are Harry, I've been looking for you!"

"I was just about to go and look for you" Harry said

"Ah well, I'm here now" he said with a cheeky grin. They played games of exploding snap until a girl and boy walked in. She had bushy hair and large front teeth and he was round faced. "Hello, I'm Hermione Granger and this is Neville Longbottom, have you seen a toad?" both boys shook their heads.

"Sorry no" Neville looked like he was about to start crying.

"Wow, you're Harry Potter!" Harry nodded. Neville looked at him interestedly.

"I've read all about you, I got a few more books for a bit of background reading, after I'd memorised all of our textbooks off by heart." Harry and Ron looked at each other Harry was relieved that he looked like he had not memorised the books either "and you're in Modern magical history, the rise and fall of the dark arts and Great wizarding events of the twentieth century" she said all this very quickly.

"Am I?" he asked bewildered.

"I'd of found out everything I could of if it was me" she said "Do either of you know what house you're going to be in yet? I'd like to be in Gryffindor I hear Dumbledore himself was one! But I guess, Ravenclaw wouldn't be so bad. It was ever such a surprise when I got my letter, all of my family are muggles. Anyway, we should go and look for Neville's' toad." And she left taking Neville with her. Ron sat there looking dumbstruck.

"I don't want to be in the same house with her" Harry settled for nodding, he was starting to feel a bit ill. Harry and Ron were playing wizard chess when a smiling woman slid the door back "anything off the trolley dears?" she asked politely. Ron went slightly pink and mumbled something about sandwiches. Not able to decide what he wanted Harry resorted to get some of everything. He piled it all on the seats. The two boys both had an enjoyable journey eating all of the sweets that Harry had brought and discussing quidditch teams.

At one point Harry got up to go to the bathroom, on his way back an enormous looking boy knocked into Harry and he fell over, he rubbed his arm getting up and a pale faced boy walked up to him, "So boys look who we have here, Harry Potter, I am Draco Malfoy and these are Crabbe and Goyle." He gestured in the direction of the two boys who looked more like bodyguards. At that moment Ron turned up.

"Ah there you are Harry, come on we need to get changed, we will get there soon" Ron said to Harry. Not waiting for an excuse to carry on talking to the boy, Harry walked away with Ron. Then he realised that the three boys were following.

"Can I help you with something Malfoy?" Harry asked coldly.

"By now you must realise that some wizarding families are better than others Potter, I can help you there" he held his hand out.

"I think I can figure out who the wrong ones are for myself thanks" he said pointedly.

"I'd be more careful if I were you Potter" sneered Malfoy. At that moment a horrible yell came from Goyle. Scabbers' the rat was dangling off Goyle's finger. He started shaking his hand trying to get him off but he was in too deep. Finally Scabbers flew off and he hit the wall, Ron went to pick him up. All three boys turned and left worried that Harry or Ron might set more rats on them. "Is he okay?" Harry asked as they made their way back to their compartment. "I don't believe it! He's gone back to sleep!" Harry chuckled and Ron grinned back. "How did he get on Goyle's finger anyway?"

"Well when I found you I felt him climbing out of my pocket but I couldn't really do anything about it at that moment but I guess Goyle must have had some food in his pocket." Harry nodded.