After Harry's crude announcement, Hermione clearly recognises him but the look in his eye discourages her from saying anything on the topic, despite her clear enthusiasm. Ten minutes later they are both buried in book and the world - the rowdy school children - is lost around them.

"Which house do you want to be in?"

Harry looks up from his book at Hermione. Her eyes are now focused on him, and she has but away the charms book she was reading. Her head is cocked to the left and she is patiently awaiting his answer, with harsh brown eyes focused intently on to his face.

"I don't have a preference." He looks back down at the book in his lap and continues reading about the extensive History of magic, ignoring the pointed look she's giving him across the otherwise empty compartment. Harry notices the narrowing of her eyes and the huff that leaves her lips, he supposes he should pity her, after all she's only trying to get to know her opponents. He rolls his eyes and puts the book down at his side.

"What house do you want to be in?"

She sneers at him, though not at all threatening.

"I don't mind."

Harry almost laughs instead allowing a small smirk to cover his mouth. "What house do you think you'll be in?"

Hermione looks at him down the point of her nose before answering the loaded question. "I think I'll be put in Ravenclaw," at the tilt of his head she continues," I like knowing things, knowing everything," she pauses, and almost thinks better of saying more," and i like using what i know against people."

"Surely that places you in Slytherin."

She looks out the window, contemplating. "Maybe, but I'm a muggle born which, I've already experienced the prejudice and I'm not even at Hogwarts yet."

"Are you really going to let something as stupid as your blood tell you where you can and cannot be?"

She hums, moving her eyes back to harry.

"Maybe I'll strive for green then, but only if your right beside me."

When the train finally arrives, both Harry and Hermione are in their colourless Hogwarts robes, their books and luggage left in their carriage. They step down onto the platform and stare wondrously at the magic that's already surrounding them. A crowd of people are making their way down the platform and after giving eachother a trepid look they followed in tow.

"first years this way."

After following a merry Hagrid down the worn platform, the excited first years were buzzing in anticipation. Harry and Hermione shared looks of amazement and muddled further forward with their year. Hagrid's burly figure was now only a few metres in front of them, but a crowd of students stopped them getting to the front.

"First years into the boats."

The bustling students in front of them dispersed as people grouped and poured out into the awaiting boats. They were small with only enough room for four but none of the boats held oars. Suddenly a force shoved into Harry causing him to trip back slightly, luckily, he found his footing and managed to hold himself and the small girl that had fallen into him upright.

"Watch it, freak." a sneer was sent down at her by a boy with slicked back blond hair before he turned around and laughed with the two large boys at his side. Staring in shock Harry was frozen still, hands gripping the petite girl in front him of, hard.

His hands slipped from her arms when she pulled forwards, away from him, and turned quickly," I am so so sorry, i…i ," her eyes skimmed over him quickly making sure he was fine before darting between the two, clearly intimidated by their intent gaze," he shoved me into you," she looked down at the floor between the two," I didn't mean to fall into you."

She was stunning, small and short with curly, jet-black hair that fell around her shoulders in waves. She had a small, upturned nose and plump lips with only a few, faint freckles scattered around her face but what drew both harry and Hermione to her was her grey, almost silver eyes that seemed to glow with power. She was clearly scared, awaiting the reaction of the pair but neither could quite bring themselves to reply, stunned at the melody that was her voice. She shuffled again to her other foot and Hermione startled forward aware that she had been shamelessly staring.

"it's fine," a small smile graced her face," right harry?" She nudged the boy, hard, and her stuttered over his words, blinking hard.

"Uhh...," he shook his head slightly and composed himself," yeah don't worry about it, that guys the horrible one."

Looking around he noticed that almost everyone was in a boat and flicked his eyes to an almost empty one on the end with only a single person in it. "Care to join us…?"

The girl stared at him hard as he looked down at her, though only a few inches taller.

"Cassy."

The three settled into the boat, harry offering his hand to help them in and Cassy grasped it unsurely before stepping into the wobbly boat. Hermione sat opposite the stranger, quickly glancing at them before turning her attention back to both of her new friend, who was now sat at her side fiddling with the long sleeves on her robe. She smiled comfortingly at her and brought Cassy's left hand onto her lap before placing their fingers together. Harry raised his eyebrows at their intertwined fingers before looking to Hermione with a hesitant look in his eyes. He turned his head to the boy beside him as the small boat they were in, and the ones around them, began to move.

"Hi," harry stuck his hand out to the boy next to him," I'm harry, harry potter".

The boy returned the gesture and met Harry's hand with his own, interest shining in his eyes. "Theodore," he looked harry up and down," Theodore Nott." He turned around to look forward again, away from Harry, but his eyes only locked with Hermione's. "And you are?"

Her eyes scrunched slightly, and she locked him under her scrutinizing gaze, her hand still encasing the petite girls beside her. "I'm Hermione Granger," she watched his expression for any slight changes but when the nonchalant look remained on his face she relaxed slightly and the tight grip she had on Cassy's hand loosened.

Said girl blinked hard and dragged her gaze from the people around her and looked down at the floor. As if finally taking notice of the shy girl diagonally to him he tilted his head to the side and a questioning look appeared in his eyes.

"I'm Cassy Ollivander."

I'm Gunna start both off considerable innocent in this story where they both slowly get more manipulative and ambitious.

I know their friendship seemed to be formed quick, but they have no one else at this place so I think it's reasonable they latched onto each other quickly.