(Author's Note: Main characters introductions, worldbuilding)

(Notice: This chapter was already written, so please understand that the next chapter won't be published as quick. More changes might be made on this chapter)

Chapter 2 – Ride to Hogwarts

"Harry Potter! Is it really! Goodness I've never thought I'd be so lucky in my life!" William shouted joyfully and started frantically shaking Harry's hand.

Harry Potter! The boy who lived through Voldemort's death curse! She's never even given a thought to meeting him in real life, but there he stood. This is insane! She thought.

She walked up to Harry, who's a bit startled by William, and when William finally dropped Harry's hand, Jade introduced herself to Harry, who, in turn, looked at her in such surprise that he's almost staring at her, "Hello Harry! Oh I can't believe it's really you! You saved us from Voldemort!" Hagrid and William shuddered when they heard the name, "My name's Jade, Jade Argento! Are you going to Hogwarts this year?"

"Hi, yeah, I'm going to Hogwarts. I didn't even know that the wizarding world still remembers me until yesterday, this is crazy!"

"Yeah! Of course we'd remember you! You're the Boy Who Lived! I mean I'd never thought I'd actually meet you someday! But I guess it makes sense because you are going to Hogwarts eventually. I can't believe they didn't let you stay with a wizarding family!" Poor Harry, it must be horrible seeing his parents die! Seven years ago, after one stormy night, Voldemort was gone, and the world remembered the one Harry Potter. She pulled herself out of the train of thoughts, "Are you here for a pet? I can show you around."

"That would be great!" Harry answered, "And…" He paused, as if wondering if he should say it or not.

"Yes?" Jade turned to face him, "Go on."

"Umm, I was just wondering," Harry began uneasily, "That how come you have silver hair? Did you dye it or something?"

Jade chuckled and went on explaining all about her family, and how Harry had done a great favor to all of the wizarding kind by driving out Voldemort. Voldemort, who had resulted in her father's death, and eventually her mothers. It all happened when she was four, one rainy night, Voldemort's right-hand-women, Bellatrix Lestrange, broke into their hiding place, and killed her father before the Ministry of Magic came in and captured Lestrange. Month later Mom was killed during one of the Ministry's secret missions, the only thing she left her was her wand. Grandma, who lived with the family for as long as Jade could remember, had taken on the responsibility of raising Jade, protecting her until the Dark Lord was beaten by Harry. All this time Harry listened intently, Voldemort had also killed his parents, and he had to live with his good-for-nothing muggle relatives for eight years before Hagrid came and picked him up. And during their talking, Jade surprisingly discovered that she and Harry share the same birthday!

They chatted like old friends as Jade led Harry around the shop, showing him different species of owls, cats, and toads. Soon enough Harry found himself a pet – a beautiful snowy owl, and William had insisted on giving Harry the owl for free because it's his birthday. However, Hagrid paid for it as part of Harry's birthday present. Then Harry and Hagrid had to move on to search for more school supplies.

"Well, it was nice seeing you, Harry, and Hagrid." Jade waved them goodbye as Harry and Hagrid walked towards the door.

"See ya at Hogwarts Jade!" Hagrid called, Harry waved back at her. And they're gone.

That night before going to sleep, she laid in her bed and told Grandma all about the day. She told her about William's presents, shopping the things she needed for school, and most of all, Harry Potter. But something else bugged her mind as Grandma kissed her goodnight, it felt like she had forgotten something, and she fell into an uneasy sleep.

The next few weeks went by like a blur, and soon it's time for Jade to make her trip to Hogwarts.

"This is the big day! I finally get to go to Hogwarts!" Jade yawned, waking up early with a wide grin on her face as she jumped off her bed and started changing. She had completely lost the resentful attitude for going to Hogwarts, ever since she met Harry Potter in Diagon Alley, she started looking forward to it, crossing off every single day on the calendar that leads to today.

A collared white shirt and a black skirt that reaches her knees, then a navy-blue cardigan on top of the shirt, and finally some boots. She rushed downstairs as quiet as she can be, being extra careful not to step on those squeaky ones, since Grandma's still in bed, and started on breakfast. With a wave of the wand, the eggs cracked themselves into the pan, and the pan started cooking.

She finished just as Grandma came downstairs, and they enjoyed their last breakfast together before Jade heads off to Hogwarts.

"It's a wonderful breakfast, you did well. I think you've done very good on your spells." Grandma commented. Grandma had always been a strict teacher, and she spares her praises like solid gold. So Jade was very happy when she heard this.

"Thanks, and I will have learned so much more when I come back." There was a long silence, and when they finished breakfast, Jade said, "I'll miss you. Take care, okay? I asked William to check on you every once in a while, and I'll try to send you letters every week."

"Speaking of that," Grandma said, "come with me, I have a gift for you." She leaned against her cane and walked toward the backdoor. They crossed the small fenced backyard and stopped at the dirty old chicken coop that had long been abandoned by chickens and now lives instead the family owl. Grandma lifted up the roof of the coop to reveal a small grey owl, the owl hooted softly when light streamed into the coop, and its yellow eyes looked into Jade's.

"It's yours! What'd you wanna name it?"

"Oh Grandma! Thank you! Oh, it's adorable!" She picked up the owl and it grasped her wrist, piping loudly. "I think…well…I'll call it – Piper."

Time had flown and she has one hour to get ready before going to Kings Cross to catch the train. Jade rushed upstairs to finish packing up her trunk, she'll have to carry one trunk, a pouch, and a cage occupied by an owl all the way to Kings Cross, without any magic. She expected the trip to take about an hour, as she was to walk the entirety of the trip.

Standing at the door, she and Grandma exchanged their last goodbyes, and Jade started her tedious walk to the train station.

By the time she finally arrived at Kings Cross, her arms felt like they're going to break right off. She's panting and sweating walking inside the station and had just stopped to wipe away the sweat on her forehead and rest for a while when she saw a sign not far away that read: Platforms. Just a bit more! Jade thought as she picked up her trunk and Piper's cage and started walking again.

Walking onto the platforms toward 8 and 9, she pulled out her train ticket that came with the Hogwarts letter, it read: Platform Nine and Three Quaters, 11:00. And she reached the pillar separating Platform 9 and 10, she thought: Hmm, so how do I get to this Platform Nine and Three Quaters? Her watch read 10:45, and she's starting to worry a bit. Grandma had taught her a lot of things, but she never went to Hogwarts, so how would she have known?

Just as she was wondering, someone walked past her. It's the blonde boy she met outside Madam Malkin's Robe Shop. The man Jade assumed to be the boy's father followed closely behind, along with a woman, also wearing long black robes. Together they walked toward the pillar with a sign that says, Platform 9. But they stopped right in front of the pillar to say their farewells.

"Have a good year Draco!" The woman said sniffily, hugging the boy.

"You too, mother." The boy replied, straightening his collar.

"Goodbye Draco," The boy's father said in a long, drawling voice, "Pity you have to stroll yourself onto the station, because the wizards' law won't allow magic outside the magical world…and I trust that you certainly know what I expect from you."

"Yes, father. I won't let you down."

"Now, we won't walk you onto the station, Darling." The boy's mother said hesitantly, "Your father and I need to go back to the Ministry to finish up a case about the Gringotts break-in. You take care of yourself, okay?"

"Yes mother." Draco answered.

After their final goodbyes, the boy walked straight towards the pillar with his stroller, and Jade thought he was going to crash right into the walls.

But, but he didn't! He walked straight into the pillar and disappeared! So that must be how you get to the platform! Jade thought, and she started walking toward the pillar. The boy's parents walked pass her, the boy's father giving her a sharp, piercing glance, but she kept on walking as if nothing happened. She's getting closer, and closer… She closed her eyes, maybe this won't work, maybe that Draco knew some secret magic word that she doesn't know. Three, two, one. She expected a slam. But…nothing.

What happened? Did I hit the wall? Did I pass out?

The sound of a steamed engine train and talking people proved her wrong, and she opened her eyes to see the boy standing nearby, he was looking at Jade.

"What's the matter? Scared of magic?" He smirked as he walked closer. His eyes also have the cold proud glint like his father, but there's something else - a softer, kinder glitter.

"No, of course not!" Jade answered, her face blushing a bit in embarrassment.

"If I were you, I won't be blocking the entrance." He said as Jade quickly stepped away from the wall behind her. "I'm Draco, Draco Malfoy." The boy said, stretching out his hand.

"Jade Argento." She said as she shook the boy's hand. Hmm, he doesn't have the typical rich attitude! Jade thought somewhat surprisingly. She's heard of the Malfoy family before, and they don't have a very good reputation from what Grandma said about them: "One of the first to come back after Voldemort disappeared!" Her intuition told her to keep an eye on him before she fully trusts him.

More people streamed onto the platform, and before there could even be an awkward silence, Malfoy turned to leave, "Good luck." He winked and walked away.

"Bye!" She smiled and turned, walking the other way.

Jade continued walking along the platform, deciding to sit near the back of the train: It's 10:50 already, I don't suppose there will be any seats left at the front.

It wasn't until the seventh carriage that she found an almost empty compartment. It is "almost" empty because there's somebody sitting there, but still plenty of space left. Jade slid open the door to reveal a girl with her face buried in a book, only her bushy brown hair stuck out from behind the book.

"Hello! Anybody sitting here?" Jade asked.

"Hi!" The girl looked up from her book, a bit unhappy being disturbed from her reading, "No, no one's sitting here so far except for me. You can sit if you want. My name's Hermione Granger. What's yours?" She said rapidly, revealing her large front teeth.

"Oh okay." Jade replied, a bit taken aback by her speedy speech, "My name's Jade, Jade Argento."

"Cool name!" Hermione said as Jade turned to put her trunk under the seat, "You're a veela, aren't you? I've read it in a book, they're usually extremely beautiful and only veelas have silver hair."

"Yes, but only partially, my great-grandma's a veela."

"Oh! And do you know that they use veela hair as a type of wand core in some countries? It's really cool, but obviously Ollivanders don't." The train started moving, and Hermione went on talking, "My wand is twelve and a half inches, vine wood and dragon-heartstring core, and it means 'seek a greater purpose.' How 'bout yours?" Asked Hermione.

"Umm, let me think…" Jade's mind wandered deep into her past memories, at her mom's secret funeral, Mr. Ollivander, the wandmaker at Diagon Alley, told her about the wand. "Mine is fourteen inches, redwood and phoenix feather," she recalled, taking out her wand. It's truly a fine piece of work by the wandmakers, slender and long, it's smooth to the touch and glows in the sunlight with a reddish hue, a feathery pattern engraved on its surface. "I can't remember the meaning of it very well. But I think it brings good luck."

"You just got it a few weeks ago and you don't remember? For me I will never forget something this exciting happening! I was totally taken aback by the letter, I mean, I don't have any wizarding blood in my family. Hope you won't mind that. But redwood itself isn't really lucky, it's just attracted to wizards and witches with innate talent and makes good decisions. So I guess you are a really down-to-earth and talented individual!"

"Oh! I don't know if I make the best of decisions, but I guess my mom certainly did." Jade replied, "I can't really remember a lot about the wand because it's not mine, I've had it since I was four. It's my mom's."

"Oh. Your mom…passed?"

"Yeah, both my parents."

"Oh…I'm so sorry…"

"It's okay, gotta find that out someday, right?" She smiled at Hermione.

"Yeah." They were both quiet for a while until Hermione said, suddenly realizing: "Oh wait! That means you already know spells, cause you've had the wand for years! Can you show me some spells?"

Jade bit her lips and thought for a while, "Sure! Let's see…here! I can show you how to do the unlocking spell." She closed and locked the compartment and pointed her wand at the doorknob, "Alohomora!" She said softly, the lock clicked, and she opened the door.

"That's so cool! Can you demonstrate it again? I would like to try."

The two exchanged all the spells they know, and after that, the trolley witch slid open the door to ask them if they want any snacks. Jade refused, she only had two sickles to spend the whole school year. Hermione bought a box of Bettie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, and they shared the pack together.

"Mmm, caramel pudding! By the way, did you hear that Harry Potter is possibly on this train too?" Jade suddenly came to the thought and asked Hermione.

"Really?! Oh I thought…well that's just wonderful, I never thought I'd meet him someday!"

"Yeah! I'm pretty sure he's on the train, he's going to Hogwarts too. You want to go look for him?"

"That sound great! Let's go! Do you think he will be sitting near the head of the train?"

Just as they were trying to decide which way they should go, some words floated into Jade's ears, it's Draco Malfoy: "Hey Parkinson! Did you hear that Harry Potter is on the train too?" A high-pitched girl's voice, Jade assumed it's that Parkinson girl, answered him: "Yes! I think he's sitting near the back of the train. What about him, Draco?" The voices were coming from a compartment on the right, she made her way toward the compartment with a confused Hermione.

"Where are you going?" She asked, watching people's feet so she doesn't step on them.

"Come and meet a friend of mine!" Jade led her way through the packed corridor. Now she could see Draco's face in a compartment door window, this could be a great time to test out her gut feeling and see if it's right. She reached for the door latch.

Three faces looked up at her, Draco Malfoy, a mousy-looking girl with dark hair in a bob cut, and a dark-skinned, stern-faced boy with sharp features.

"Hi Draco! I heard your voice out in the corridor coming from here, do you mind?"

"Oh Jade! Sure, you can sit here," He offered her the seat beside him – the only unoccupied one, the girl with the bob cut narrowed her eyes. "But who's that?" He looked at Hermione, who's standing behind Jade.

"Oh, I was just about to introduce! And I can't sit, by the way, we're going to visit another friend later. But this is Hermione, Hermione Granger." She shifted a bit so that they can both stand in the doorway.

"Granger…" Malfoy frowned, "is that a muggle name?"

"Yeah, why?" No more words needed, her assumption was proven.

"Of all the wizards and witches around you," Malfoy began, and she knew what's coming, "you chose to befriend a mudblood? Seriously Argento, I thought you had some sense!" And at that moment, she knew they were never going to get along. Very well…if you chose not to be my friend. Mudblood was a term only used to describe wizards of muggle families, it's so strong, that only pureblood extremists like Voldemort and his followers would use it.

"Well I'm sorry that you don't like my friend," She began sarcastically, "but whatever you think of her doesn't change what I think. Now if you'll excuse me!" She said, irritated by Malfoy's pureblood supremacy. Those people, who always think they're the best! She slid the compartment door back, thinking: And I thought he doesn't have the rich pureblood supremacy! Good thing I didn't put both feet forward!

"Come on." She said to Hermione, pointing towards the back of the train as they started walking.

Even with all the compartments, it's still loud on the train, and they would ran into some people once in a while. A boy was looking for his toad, and had asked them about it, but Hermione told him they had not seen a toad anywhere nearby. Some older students walking through the corridors already have their uniforms on, and Jade can see they're different colors.

"Uhh…Jade? What does mudblood mean?" Hermione asked, keeping her voice up so Jade can hear her.

"Nothing good!" Jade shouted back, making several people turn their heads.

After about ten minutes, when they were almost to the last carriage, Jade spotted Harry.

"There!" She pointed to Hermione a compartment that's in the next carriage, "That's definitely him." They made their way to the carriage and opened the door. There was a tall boy with flaming red hair and a face full of freckles sitting across to Harry, and the both of them immediately turned their heads when the door sild open.

"Hello Harry!" Jade said with a smile, pretending not to notice that the red-head's staring at her. She gets that look way too often, I mean, can't blame them! Who sees a girl with silver hair every day? She thought and continued, "Do you mind if we come in here? I brought a friend!"

"Hi Jade!" Harry started, happy to see her, but was interrupted by an excited Hermione: "Harry Potter! Is it really you? I heard all about you, and read about what you did in books!"

"Oh hello! Uh yes I am Harry. Did you just say I'm mentioned in books?" Harry asked, a bit startled.

"Yes of course! There are so many, I'm surprised you don't know! I can name a few right off the bat, there's Modern Magical History, the Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts, and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century!"

"This is Hermione," Jade introduced.

"Hermione Granger. And who's your friend?" Hermione turned toward the red-headed boy.

"Oh, I was just about to introduce," answered Harry, "this is Ron."

"I-I'm Ronald Weasley." The red-head boy said, still staring at Jade.

So this is the Weasley family, thought Jade, I think their family were old friends of mom and dad.

"Ron," Harry said, "this is Jade, a friend of mine."

"She's part veela and that's where she got her silver hair." Hermione explained.

"Hello Ron," Jade said, "I'm Jade Argento. And I think our parents were friends, if I'm not wrong."

"Oh Argento!" Ron's face relaxed a bit, "Yeah, but weren't your parents killed by You-Know-Who?"

"Yeah."

"Oh. S-sorry, shouldn't 'ave brought that up." Ron said, and he does look sorry.

"Anyways," Harry interrupted the awkward silence following the previous conversation, "I was wondering if you two would like to stay here for the rest of the ride?"

"Umm, probably not for the whole ride." Said Jade, "Our trunks and stuffs are still in the other compartment."

"But we can stay for a while." Hermione said, and the two of them took their seats opposite each other. They talked, laughed, ate snacks, and had a great time getting to know each other.

"What houses do you guys think you'll be in?" Jade threw a question out. She had heard other students in the corridors talking about their houses.

"My whole family's in Gryffindor," said Ron, "I assume I'll be there too. I mean Ravenclaw's not bad, but imagine being sorted into Slytherin!"

"What's wrong with Slytherin?" Harry asked, confused.

"Dear, Harry!" Ron sighed, "Kept forgetting how much you don't know. Slytherin is known for producing dark wizards, not a single bad wizard didn't go to Slytherin. You-Know-Who himself was a Slytherin."

At this, something that's been bothering Jade since this conversation had started finally formed into a clear thought: She suppose she really could be a Slytherin, speaking Parseltongue – snake language, being clever with what to say, knowing how to convince people, and smart at pretending to be sick and stuffs. Ugh! Knock it off, she thought, you're not going to be in Slytherin.

"I mean there might be some normal sort, but most of them turned bad." She said, although she would definitely prefer not to be sorted there personally.

"Not to mention that Malfoy will probably be sorted there." Ron added, he made a face, and Jade scowled.

"Who's Malfoy?" Harry asked, seeing their reactions.

"Oh he's an annoying rich pure-blood kid who thinks he's better than everyone else." Ron replied.

"Yeah I talked to him earlier," said Jade, "he tried to make friends with me, but he really is too much of a pureblood extremist."

"He may try to befriend you because he sees certain value in you," Ron said to Jade, "cause you're pretty!" He said, blushing a bit but still scowling, "He won't care a bit if he can't see how he can use you, and you're also a pure-blood." He ranted on, "Their whole family's stinking rich! And they definitely look down on the poorer wizards."

"Okay he might not be as bad as you think. And you didn't even get to know him!" Hermione added quickly.

"Really Hermione!" Jade signed, "He called you a mudblood! Ron, tell her what mudblood means."

"Mudblood," Ron started explaining, "It's a dirty term to describe wizards from muggle families, you know, impure blood." Said Ron bitterly, "It's a really bad word. That proved him a jerk! And that's for sure."

Silence again followed the conversation, until Hermione redirected the topic, "Anyways, I want to be sorted into Gryffindor, I've asked a couple of people while I was on the platform, Gryffindor sounds by far the best, but Ravenclaw's a pretty good choice too."

"And I don't have the slightest idea of where I'm gonna end up." Said Jade gloomily.

"Yeah, me too." Harry agreed.

"Oh two you will be just fine," said Ron, assuring the both of them, "you saved us from You-Know-Who, Harry. I would be surprised if you're not in Gryffindor! And Jade's too smart to be in Slytherin."

"Thanks Ron." Jade smiled, and Harry too, although still looking a bit concerned.

"Jade does have a high chance to be in Ravenclaw," Hermione chimed in, "she's really smart you know, she's even taught me some of the spells that she uses! Look!" She locked up the compartment door and performed the unlocking spell.

"You two are casting spells already?" Ron's face looks simply flabbergasted, "Both of you might as well be in Ravenclaw!"

"I'll definitely be in Hufflepuff now! I don't even know how to hold my wand properly!" Harry said, looking very down, but Jade encouraged him, "You'll be fine! And there's no correct way of holding your wand, just hold it so that you're comfortable with it.

"And I only know spells because I have to, you know, for survival. If Voldemort," the others shuddered, "had not broken into my house years ago and killed my dad I won't even know how to send sparks into the air!" Her memories flashed back to years before, her mother's will, telling her to always choose the right thing to do, no matter how hard it is.

"Oh please don't say that!" Hermione said sorrowfully.

They went on talking for another hour or so, and by the time Hermione and Jade got back to their own compartment, the lights were already on.

A voice echoed throughout the train, "We'll be reaching Hogwarts in about five minutes, please leave your luggage on the train, it will be transported to the school separately."

It's time to change into their Hogwarts uniforms.

The first year's uniforms, unlike the others, are colorless. The insides of the cloaks and the ties are all shades of grey, Jade assumed they will take color once they are sorted into different houses. Each house has their own colors, like Gryffindor, represented by red and yellow. But now is not the time to think about that.

"Ready?" Hermione asked as Jade pulled her hair out of the cloak.

"Yeah, I guess so." Jade answered, her voice sounding both excited and breathy.

"Okay, I'm nervous too!" Said Hermione, catching the nervous tone in Jade's voice. She was speaking faster than usual now, it's time to go, they can hear people talking, owls hooting, compartment doors sliding, and sound of hundreds of footsteps out on the platform.

"Alright. Let's go." Jade said, sticking her wand in her pocket. And the both of them stepped out of the compartment. It's crowded in the train corridors, but they made their way out on to the platform, and heard Hagrid, somewhere in a distance, gathering first years: "First years! Firs' years over here!"

Through the bustling crowd, Jade spotted Hagrid's head bobbing in the crowd, with a lantern in one hand and the other waving students to come to him. He turned around and saw Jade, "Oy Jade! Over here!"

After Hagrid checked his list to make sure that everybody's accounted, they were led along a narrow, winding path with thick pine trees on either side and down a huge black lake that must be a hundred miles deep. The lake stretches between them and…there it is. A huge castle with peculiar shaped towers sticking out in the corners and windows in all shapes and sizes glinting warmly like thousands of tiny little candle-lights. The whole castle was set on top of a rocky, flat-top hill, and the only way to the castle was over the lake.

Sure enough, there are about a dozen boats half floating on the edge of the lake, just like Jade thought.

"Alrigh'!" Hagrid exclaimed, "All of ye get in groups of four, an' get in the boat!"

Jade, Hermione, and Harry climbed into the same boat, followed closely by Ron.

"Everyone in?" Hagrid turned to make sure after he himself climbed into a boat, "Good. An' here we go: Forward!" He pointed his pink umbrella at the castle, and as the boats began to move forward. Jade wondered if Hagrid's umbrella was actually made out of the pieces of his wand. She knows that Hagrid was expelled from Hogwarts years ago, but she didn't know why. When a student is expelled from Hogwarts, his or her wand will be broken, and they can't use magic anymore.

"Emm, how exactly do they sort the students into different houses?" Harry asked in a quiet voice as the boats neared the bottom of the steep hill, and the castle loomed above them.

"No idea," Ron said, "Fred and George said it's some kind of test, and that it's 'very challenging.'"

"Oh dear." Harry muttered.

"But I figure they are joking." Ron added quickly.

"Well I read it's got something to do with a hat." Hermione said.

"Oh great, maybe we have to try to pull a rabbit out of the hat or something." Harry wondered aloud.

"What?" Ron with half a chuckle, "Is that some kind of muggle magic?"

"Err yeah." Harry said, his face turning pink.

Soon they all stopped talking, the boats came close to what looks like a rocky cliff half covered with vines.

"Watch yer heads!" Hagrid warned, and he led the boats through the curtain of ivy vines into a tunnel.

They floated along the hidden tunnel that was behind the ivy curtain for a few minutes, until they all came to a stop before a pair of great oak double doors that looked very out-of-place in such a dark and damp cave-like tunnel. Everybody got off their boats, and Hagrid checked them, finding the boy's toad in one of the boats. Then he turned to face the doors knocking on it three times with his gigantic fist.

The door opened, and a tall, stern-looking witch wearing an emerald-colored robe slipped out.