Welcome back my lovely Potterheads!

We'll, we've made it this far, there's no turning back now. The cousins are headed to Hogwarts in this chapter, via our favorite scarlet engine. Now, reviewer Fast Frank mentioned Dudley's pig tail being JK's "throwaway bit." And they're absolutely correct. I'd also like to read a fic where it's a plot point, because it'd be interesting. Now, it's kind of/not really a fourth-tier beginning plot line of this chapter, and it'll be mentioned again throughout the story. There's obviously a lot happening here, but we do get to see a side of Dudley further in that we haven't seen before, as at the end of the day siblings tend to still love each other. We also get more complex Petunia and Vernon being a jackass, but there's no saving that man.

I had a blast with this chapter, and with really shaping Susanna into who I want her to be in her youth. It's been building up since chapter 1, but I think I've finally managed to show you guys what I pictured her to be like. Her and Ron interacting was a lot of fun, and of course I did not take away from his importance in canon (Ron is my favorite character, and you'll never change my mind). Susanna and Harry also meet Hermione, which goes about as well as you can imagine - don't worry, Susanna doesn't suddenly become cruel.

But you know what was most exciting? What I was most eager to write? Guess who meets?! Guess!

Mhmm, that's right. The silver ferret finally wriggles his way out of his little burrow of poor-life choices and into the story! Let the pairing-party commence!

I hope you guys enjoy this update! As always, I only own my OC - the rest is JK Rowling's!


The month leading up to their start of term was quiet and uneventful. Her brother was scared of her and Harry, his little pig tail twitching with fear whenever he'd leave the room. Hagrid's warning had been funny for the first week, but Susanna had spent the rest of her time scouring through her transfiguration book, trying to find a way to remove it. Yes, her brother was awful… but he was also an unfortunate product of their upbringing. Her father was much worse than he was, and if anyone deserved the humiliation more than her twin, it'd be Vernon Dursley. He managed to hide it pretty well around his friends, but they were thick enough they probably wouldn't have noticed if Hagrid also cursed her twin with pig ears and an elephant's trunk.

Her brother wasn't the only one ignoring the two magical kids. Her father wouldn't look at her, he wouldn't shout, he didn't even speak to her. Or Harry, for that matter. He left his nephew entirely alone. Petunia ignored Harry as well, but she spoke to Susanna twice a week. The first time had been when they'd returned from Diagon Alley, pets and trunks in hand. Harry broke for their room immediately, but a slender hand had stopped Susanna from following her cousin up the stairs.

"You got into your vault without much trouble?"

Susanna's eyes went wide. "How did -"

"Good." She let go of her daughter and glared down at the kitten as if daring the little creature to attack her walls and pee on the carpet. The kitten hissed back, but Petunia held her chin up and flitted away to tend to her son. Her daughter stood at the foot of the stairs for almost ten minutes, mouth ajar and questions eating away at her mind.

So yes, other than the occasional word from her mother, the cousins were given more freedom than they ever hoped. Harry had admitted to her that if it weren't for Susanna, their month of silent treatment would've been depressing - he would've only had Hedwig for company.

Hedwig was what he named his snowy owl, after finding her namesake in A History of Magic. Susanna had thought long and hard about what to name her kitten. Susanna new only one name would really fit him. Hades, Greek god of the underworld. Hades took to the name like… well, like he chose it himself, really. He'd purr whenever she said it, hissing at corners before strutting over to her and pouncing happily on whatever part of her body he could reach. He was also easy to train, only having a few accidents that were easy to clean up before he figured it out.

"You're reading it again?" Harry groaned when he entered their room, having gone for a quick walk in the park. Susanna would've joined him, but as they only had a couple of days till the start of term she wanted to read through her books one last time.

"Yes." Susanna huffed and set down The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection next to Magical Drafts and Potions.

"We haven't even seen Professor Quirrell teach yet, I'm sure he'll be great. He must know his stuff."

"Oh, like you haven't been doing the same!" Susanna flipped over and began rereading again, Hades jumping onto the small of her back and curling into a ball.

"You're nervous."

"Shut it, Harry."

"No, I don't think I've seen you like this ever. You're nervous. You!"

"Knock it off." Without looking she threw Magical Drafts and Potions in the direction of his voice, Harry laughing and ducking out of the way as the book slammed against the wall and clattered to the floor. No one was rushing up the stairs to yell at them. If anything, the television got louder. "And I'll have you know I do get nervous. Especially -"

"When it comes to me. I know." Her bed shifted as Harry sat down by her knees. "Thank you. And I get nervous when it comes to you, too."

"I know."

"I love you, Freak."

"Love you too, Freak." She sighed and closed her book to sit up, Hades jumping off her back and landing on the bed with an offending mewl. Susanna gestured to her lap in apology and the kitten jumped on her, licking at her wrist as she scratched his head.

"I don't know what I'll do if… if we're put into different houses." Harry admitted, and she stared down at Hades.

"You'll make friends, Harry. Loads. Especially without Dudley around to make it harder. Plus… you're famous, right? Bet I'm going to have to take a number just to talk to you." Susanna sniffed and rubbed under her left eye.

"Yeah, well, you're not replaceable you know. Sure I'll have friends, but what if they only like me because of my name? You like me for me, don't deny it." Susanna snorted happily, and he bumped their shoulders together. "And the truth is… in only two years, you've become the only family I really have."

"I'm sorry it took me so long."

"I know you are. And that's why I don't think I'd be able to handle not being in the same house with you. We look after each other. We can't do that if we're split up."

"You won't be in Slytherin, you know."

"I didn't think I would - oh, but you do. Because of what Hagrid said." Susanna didn't answer. "You were mean, and cruel, and completely self-involved. You hated me because that's what your parents taught you to do." She hummed. "But that wasn't who you are. I'm sure I'll spend years reminding you of this, but… but you're one of the most understanding people I know, because of all that. Because you learned to be better, to be different than your parents and brother. You're not a bad person, not really. You saved my life, you've taken the blame for so many things to spare me your parents' wrath. So stop punishing yourself. You've made up for it, Suze. Promise."

Susanna sniffed again, and nodded. "Okay. Thank you, Harry."

"My pleasure, Suze." He joined her in petting Hades, who'd gotten used to the boy well enough to only hiss once. Susanna laughed, a small weight lifted off her chest.

Still, her family would be unable to ignore them for much longer. The next day - August 31st - Harry and Susanna crept downstairs in the late morning to find her brother and parents sitting in front of the TV, watching a game show.

"Mum, dad." Susanna cleared her throat. Dudley jumped and shrieked, dashing out the door and rushing up the stairs. She and Harry flinched at the sound of a door slamming, and she was surprised her brother hadn't brought the house town.

"Er, uncle Vernon?" Harry asked. The man only grunted, and so Harry shrugged at his cousin. She rolled her eyes and huffed.

"Dad. We need to get to King's Cross Station tomorrow. To, uh, to get to Hogwarts." Her mother twitched and her dad grunted again. "I was wondering if you could give us a lift? We'd take the train, only I don't want anyone we know seeing us and bothering you two about it. Mr. Addler down the road's a big gossip." Susanna cleverly lied. It worked, her father won over simply by the fact she was thinking about his reputation. He grunted and nodded.

"Thank you." Harry said, and he and Susanna began to walk out the room, hoping to spend a little time in the park before they had to pack.

"Funny way to get to a wizards' school, the train. Magic carpets all got punctures, have they?" Susanna made a face, not entirely sure what to say. "Where is this school, anyway?"

"I don't know."

"Far from here." Harry and Susanna answered, the former sighing at his cousin's quip.

"It only says we take the train from platform nine and three-quarters, at eleven o'clock." Harry continued, shooting his cousin a warning look.

"Platform what?" Her father asked, and though Petunia put on an air of confusion, Susanna saw the recognition in her eyes. It was the same look Susanna had when she remembered a particular lesson from school. "Don't talk rubbish. There is no platform nine and three-quarters." Her father finished. Susanna dared her mother to speak her mind, but the woman held her tongue.

"It's on our ticket." Harry shrugged, Susanna nodding in support.

"Barking. Howling mad, the lot of them." Her father griped, arms crossed. "You'll see. You just wait. Alright, we'll take you to King's Cross tomorrow. You're just lucky we're going up to London, anyway."

"Why?" Susanna asked.

Her father snorted, then growled. "Taking Dudley to the hospital. Got to have that ruddy tail removed before he goes to Smeltings."

Fair enough, Susanna thought, then she and Harry walked away before her father could suddenly change his mind.


"Harry, you daft Freak, you forgot to pack your winter cloak!" Susanna hissed, standing over Harry's trunk with a frustrated look. Her cousin had woken her up with his pacing at five o'clock in the morning, and she hadn't been able to fall back asleep.

"Oi, there's no need for name-calling."

"It is too early to be nice. Now hand me your cloak!" She held out her hands and Harry snorted, handing it over. "Thanks. Alright, you should be set. Go over the list again, though, yeah?"

"Alright, Suze." Harry yelped as she kicked at one of his knobbly knees and went back to her own trunk. Hades was curled on top of her pillows, and Susanna was envious of his closed eyes and gentle breathing.

Once satisfied that everything she needed had been packed, Susanna closed the lid and locked it shut. She went to the bathroom and closed the door, changing into an olive-green tee shirt and a pair of acid washed jean overalls. She wore them more than her mother wished she would, which was proven from how worn and torn they were, especially around the knees from all the times she'd fall in her haste to beat Harry to the trees in the park.

She slipped on a pair of white ankle socks as well as her black mary janes, not wanting to carry another pair of shoes in her messenger bag. Teeth brushed and hair pulled up into high pigtails she quietly skipped back into the room - after knocking on the closed bathroom door and asking if Harry was decent.

"Here, you don't know if the train'll be warm enough." Harry tossed her a zip-up jumper from the back of their closet. She thanked him and pulled it on, leaving the dark blue material unzipped.

"Here, put your robes in my bag. You have your wand, right? And the tickets?" Susanna opened her bag, revealing its relative fullness; she'd also packed Magical Drafts and Potions, the whole subject of potion-making seeming particularly daunting.

"Wand. Clothes." Harry pointed to his bed, his school uniform neatly folded. She rolled his robes inside the plain black robe and shoved it on top of hers. His wand joined hers in the inner zipper pocket, and she closed up her messenger bag, securing it as tight as possible. "Tickets." He held up the envelope and showed her the two little stubs. Susanna flashed a smile his way.

Once Hedwig was secured in her cage and Hades had been roused out of his little nap, the cousin left their room. Susanna glanced back one last time, confident she had everything until she remembered something she'd hidden in the bottom of the drawer.

"Harry, I'll be down in a mo." Susanna quietly announced, though she heard her parents talking down stairs. Still, there was no need to change what had become the status quo, a quiet 4 Privet Drive.

Harry nodded and made his way down the stairs with his trunk and caged owl, and Susanna walked back into their room. Heading straight for her bedside drawer she opened it, tugging out a small cigar box she'd found deep in the park.

She opened it and pulled out it's sole content, a family portrait taken the day she and Dudely were born. Her brother was cradled in Petunia's arms, the blonde woman tired but smiling brightly even in the dull hospital gown. A slightly smaller Vernon sat next to her, holding his newborn daughter with a gentleness anyone who knew the man would never suspect. His eyes were on her, pride shining in them.

That picture was proudly displayed on Vernon Dursley's Grunning's desk, until she was nine. She'd found it in the trash the day after the Roof Incident, and couldn't let it go.

With the photo carefully slipped inside her messenger bag, Susanna left their room and closed their door.

Once downstairs she set her trunk, bag, and Hades' carrier by Hedwig, her kitten strutting next to her. She smelt bacon and eggs frying, happily skipping into the kitchen. She found Harry at the stove, her family already eating. They ignored her presence and talked amongst themselves, so Susanna shrugged and poured Harry a glass of orange juice. Hades purred and she picked him up, one of his little paws reaching up to bat at a swinging pigtail.

Speaking of pigtails, she noticed her brother's quivering as he got up room his seat and scurried over to the television to be far away from his sister and cousin. She was glad he was getting it removed, telling herself it was because she ran out of jokes about it.

Once they'd eaten their breakfast, drank their juice, and used the loo one last time her parents rushed them out of the house. Vernon led them to his car and opened the boot. The cousins stuffed their large trunks inside and Vernon slammed it shut. He jumped back when Hades hissed at him from inside the carrier.

"Get in." He angrily muttered, urging Susanna and Harry to the backseat. Petunia was convincing Dudley to get in as well, and her reluctant twin finally settled on Susanna's right side, gulping when Hades stared unblinking at him.

It was a crowded-almost-two-hours ride to King's Cross Station, Susanna having refused to put her messenger bag put in the boot with her trunk - she didn't want to be parted from her wand, nor did she expect Harry wanted to be, despite them not knowing any useful spells. Thankfully neither Hades nor Hedwig made a sound, Susanna distracting her kitten with as many scratches as he desired.

Once they reached the station, Harry and Vernon got out first. Susanna unclipped her seatbelt, then turned to her brother. It hadn't hit her until then that they wouldn't be together, and no matter how dreadful he was, they'd never been apart for longer than a day.

"I hope you do well at Smeltings, D. If anyone gives you any trouble, hit them with your stick." She started to get out, but a pudgy hand grabbed her wrist. She turned around and waited, her twin opening and closing his mouth. Finally, he seemed to settle on what he wanted to say.

"And you… I hope you have a good term. Loser." He mumbled. She smiled despite the name-calling.

"Thank you, D." He released her and she got out, her father standing next to two trolleys. She set Hades down on top of hers, Hedwig cooing softly as Harry began to push his trolley.

"Keep up." Was all Vernon said to her as he began pushing her trolley. Susanna hummed and followed after him, but all three stopped when a familiar voice called after them.

"Wait, Susan." Petunia was standing outside the car, gesturing for her daughter to come back. Although hesitant, Susanna complied with the request, hurrying over - they only had half an hour left to get settled on the train to Hogwarts, after all.

"Yes, mum?" She asked when she reached the tall woman. Before she could say anymore, long arms were pulling her into a hug. Confused, she stood frozen and her mother held her before returning the gesture.

"You show them what you're made of, my darling."

"I will, mum." She promised, and the woman let her go.

"Good. Your father's waiting, best not keep him." Petunia quickly got back in the car and Susanna turned around, a wide smile on her face as she rushed to join her father and cousin.

Though she'd never been to King's Cross, she imagined the crowds they had to push through were relatively normal. One woman apologized profusely when she almost ran her over before continuing to run towards platforms seven and eight.

Her father suddenly stopped in front of her, grip relaxed on her trolley. He turned and grinned down at his daughter and nephew. It was anything but pleasant, and as nasty as old rubbish in the bin. "Well, there you are. Platform nine, platform ten. Your platform should be somewhere in the middle, but they don't seem to have built it yet, do they?" Susanna's eyes widened as she realized he was right. Two large plastic numbers hung over platforms nine and ten, but there was no sign for platform nine and three-quarters. "Have a good term." Her father smugly addressed them, then turned and left the confused cousins alone in the station, whistling as he went.

Susanna bristled with anger, calling him a few choice words in her head before her cousin nudged her side. "Hey, come one. We've only got twenty minutes left."

"Let's go, then. Get away from here." Susanna mumbled, and began to push her heavy trolley beside Harry.

They received a lot of puzzled looks as they made their way down the platform. Most were directed towards Hedwig, though Hades' hissing didn't help much in leaving Susanna ignored.

"Excuse me? Where could we find the train for Hogwarts School?" Harry asked a passing guard. Susanna was just grateful he didn't mention they were looking for a platform that clearly didn't exist. Had Hagrid given them the wrong information?

The guard scoffed. "Hogwarts School? Think you're being funny, do you?" He snorted and walked away and Susanna sucked in a deep breath. It was ten-to-eleven, and they were running out of time.

Noticing Harry beginning to panic, Susanna squeezed his hand. "Hey, shh. We'll find it. Or maybe we can send Hedwig to Hagrid, tell him what happened? He can come get us, or ask somebody at the school to do it."

Harry sucked in a deep breath and nodded. Before he could thank her, a group of redheads passed by - one of whom had an owl. The woman leading them was speaking loudly over the station's crowd "... packed with Muggles, of course -" Susanna and Harry mouthed the word together, then rushed after her.

They stopped when she did, near a brick wall between platforms nine and ten. They were close enough to hear the conversation. "Here we are," the plump woman said, but before she could continue the little redhead girl holding her hand interrupted.

"Platform nine and three-quarters! Oh, mum, can't I go to Hogwarts, too?" She pleaded, and the woman chuckled.

"You're not old enough Ginny. Next year. Now be quiet, don't want the Muggles overhearing. Percy, you go first, love."

The oldest-looking boy nodded. Tall and skinny, he marched to the wall. Susanna watched him carefully, but when a group of tourists unexpectedly crossed between them she missed it. The boy was gone, vanishing into thin air. She blinked and looked to Harry, but he only shook his head.

"Fred, you next!" The woman said, and the boy huffed.

"I'm not Fred, I'm George! Honestly woman, you call yourself our mother? Can't you tell I'm George?!" The boy asked, and Susanna found herself laughing.

The woman shook her head apologetically. "Sorry, George, dear."

The boy nodded and pushed his trolley. He stopped in front of her long enough to announce, "I'm only joking, I am Fred!" Then he hurried to the barrier - and ran straight through?

His twin - George - followed closely after him, and Susanna felt a pang in her chest at the thought of not being with her own twin.

"Excuse me?" Susanna called, just before the fourth boy made his run. The woman, the boy, and the girl all turned to look at the approaching cousins.

"Oh, hello dears. First time at Hogwarts? Ron's new, too." The plump woman smiled warmly at them, looking every bit a mother. Susanna felt herself touching her necklace, and she nodded at the woman.

"Er, yes. It is."

Harry cleared his throat. "The thing is… the thing is, we don't know how to -"

"How to get onto the platform?" The woman asked them, and she looked over their heads to see if anyone was with them. A frown formed on her kind face, but it was gone in the blink of an eye. "Not to worry. All you have to do is walk straight at the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Don't stop and don't be scared you'll crash into it, that's very important. Best do it at a bit of a run if you're nervous. Go on, go now before Ron."

Harry nodded, but looked to Susanna. "Hey, it's alright. I'll be right behind you." She gently whispered to her cousin. He sucked in a deep breath and walked towards the wall, jostling a few people on his way. He began to rush, and a second later he was gone.

"Thank you." Susanna smiled at the woman, then she moved to the barrier. Butterflies flew in her stomach, but she remembered what the woman had told her. Don't be scared you'll crash into it… don't be scared you'll crash into it… don't be scared -

Even with her eyes open, she couldn't see what had happened until a great fog crossed in front of her. A hand shot out and turned her, and Harry was grinning widely at his cousin, relief shining in their matching eyes.

"We did it! Look, it's beautiful!" Harry whispered, and pointed in front of them.

Susanna's eyes widened in awe at the scarlet steam engine before them. The platform beside it was packed to the brim with families, and a sign overhead read "Hogwarts Express, eleven o'clock".

Turning back briefly, she glanced at where the barrier had been. It was replaced with an iron archway, the words "Platform Nine and Three-Quarters" on it.

"Wow." Susanna gasped.

"Come on!" Harry urged, and together they began to weave through the crowd. Hades hissed as they walked, but the crowd was far too busy to notice or comment. Susanna cooed at him and he calmed down, though she knew she'd be keeping him with her on the train.

They passed a stern looking woman scolding a round-faced boy (he seemed to have lost his toad) and a boy with dreadlocks showing off a tarantula. Susanna nearly stopped to pet it before Harry shouted her name.

"Sorry, sorry." She apologized, hurrying after him.

Students seemed to be arguing over compartments or hanging out the windows of them to talk to their families, and almost all were crowded. Harry managed to find an empty one near the back of the train.

"Suze, you go first, I'll help you get the trunk up."

"Thanks, Harry. Here, pass me Hedwig and Hades first, I'll tuck them inside."

After the pets were taken care of, Susanna climbed up the stairs and held out her hands to take the front of her trunk. Both cousins underestimated how hard it'd be to get them up the steps, because Susanna nearly fell on her butt twice and Harry practically broke his big toe in their efforts.

"Want a hand?" Susanna yelped and looked up to see the two redheaded twins from before. She nearly dropped the trunk in her fright but the twin who'd spoken dove forward and caught it. "Here, it's okay. George, come on."

Thanks to Fred and George, the two trunks were loaded into the side of the compartment without any more trouble. Susanna panted and Harry brushed his sweaty bangs off his forehead. "Thanks."

"What's that?" One of the twins pointed to his forehead, and Susanna sighed. And so it begins.

"Blimey, are you -?" The other asked.

"He is. Aren't you?" The first responded.

"What?"

Susanna hummed in thought, not wanting Harry to feel as uncomfortable as he did that day in the Leaky Cauldron. She snapped her fingers in mock recognition. "You know, now that they mention it you do look a lot like a young Tom Cruise. Thanks, you two. It's been bothering me our whole lives. Nope, he, uh, just has that sort of face, you know? Could be anyone. Thanks for the help!" Susanna started to push Harry to the compartment.

"You're Harry Potter, right?" One of the twins asked, but this time he was quieter.

"Oh, him. I mean, yes, I am."

The twins gawked at Harry and Susanna held his hand, watching her cousin start to flush with embarrassment. He was saved when the woman who helped them shouted, "Fred, George, are you there?"

The twins jumped down and Susanna dragged him into the compartment. "Are you okay? I did try."

"I'm fine. Thanks. I should… I should start getting used to it though, right?"

Susanna hummed, deep in thought. "You're right. I'm just worried."

"About having to schedule an appointment to hang out with me?"

"No, you idiot, for you. People were so intense at the pub, and those were adults. I don't want… this is already overwhelming enough, right?" She offered.

"... Ron, you've got something on your nose -" The cousins heard the woman say, and half-hidden by the window between them they watched the little family of redheads.

The youngest boy was jerking out of the way, groaning when his mother caught him and began rubbing at his large nose. "Mom - geroff!" He managed to get free.

"Aaah, has ickle Ronnie got somefink on his nosie?" One of the twins asked, and Susanna snorted.

"Shut up!" Ron shouted back, face as red as his hair.

"Where's Percy?" The mother asked.

"He's coming now." The little girl - Ginny - announced, and sure enough the tallest boy came striding into view, wearing his uniform. A shiny silver P was pinned to his black robe, right under a scarlet and gold badge.

"Can't stay long, mother." He informed them. "I'm up front, the prefects have got two compartments to themselves -"

"Oh, are you a prefect, Percy?" A twin asked. He was feigning surprise. "You should have said something, we had no idea."

"Hang on!" The other twin snapped. "I think I remember him saying something about it! Once-"

"Or twice -"

"A minute -"

"All summer -"

"Oh, Shut up!" Cried Percy, interrupting the twins. Susanna had to cover her mouth to keep her laughter down.

"How come Percy got new robes, anyway?" One of the twins asked.

"Because he's a prefect." The mother said with a proud smile. She kissed Percy on the cheek and he left. With a frown, she glared back up at the twins. "Now, you two. This year, you behave yourselves! If I get one more owl telling me you've - you've blown up a toilet -"

"Blown up a toilet? We've never blown up a toilet." One argued, but both twins were grinning.

"Great idea, though, thanks mum."

"It's not funny. And look after Ron."

"Don't worry, Ickle Ronniekins is safe with us!" One of the twins promised.

"Hey mom, guess what? Guess who we just met on the train?" The other twin asked. Susanna waved for Harry to scoot back so they wouldn't see him. "You know that black-haired boy who was near us in the station? With the redhead? Know who he is?"

"Who?" The woman asked, obviously humoring her sons.

"Harry Potter!"

Ginny began hopping up and down. "Oh, mum, can I go on the train and see him? Mum, oh please?" She pleaded, and Susanna glared down at her unseen. Her cousin wasn't a zoo animal.

Fortunately, the woman seemed to be thinking the same. "You've already seen him, Ginny! The poor boy isn't something you goggle at in a zoo! Is he really, Fred? How do you know?"

"Asked him. Saw his scar. It's really there - like lightning!" Fred exclaimed.

"Poor dear. No wonder he was alone, I wondered. He was ever so polite when he asked how to get onto the platform."

"He wasn't alone, though, remember? The red-haired girl was with him. Insisted he was some bloke named 'Tom Cruise' or something when we asked."

"Oh, yes. She was quite lovely. She seemed quite protective of him. I wonder if they're old friends?"

"Nevermind all that, mum!" Fred declared. Susanna wrinkled her nose and pouted. "Do you think he remembers what You-Know-Who looks like?" Fred asked.

Susanna watched the woman's kind face darken. "I forbid you from asking him, Fred. No, don't you dare. As though he needs reminding of that on his first day at school!"

"Alright, keep your hair on." Fred waved off his mother, and the train whistled out a warning.

"Hurry up! Come on!" She urged the three boys to the train, and Susanna watched them clamber aboard, out of view. She could still hear them from the open window, though.

Ginny began to cry, and one of the twins shushed her, though it was gentle. "Don't, Ginny. We'll send you loads of owls!"

"We'll send you a Hogwarts toilet seat!"

"George!" The mother shrieked.

"Only joking, mum."

The train began to move, and Harry leaned forward with Susanna to watch the mother wave. Ginny was laughing and crying, and escaped her mother to run after the train, only stopping when they'd gathered too much speed. Susanna wondered what it would've been like if her parents were like that, if they cared as much as the woman. She wondered if there was a world where Dudley was running after the train, waving and crying for his twin.
Or what if there was a world where Harry's parents were alive, and they'd gotten wind of how her parents had been treating her. Would they have demanded custody of their niece? Would they be standing there, hugging their son and wishing him a good first term, then doing the same for Susanna? Would James Potter have told her he'd curse any boy who bothered her? Would Lily Potter smile and insist the cousins look after each other? Would they promise to send letters and insist they return for every holiday?

Harry wouldn't be the Boy Who Lived. He'd just be the same Harry Potter to the world that Susanna's always known, and his childhood would've been happy. He would've been loved, and cared for -

"Hey, are you alright?" Harry asked, and she realized they were rushing past rows of houses.

"Sorry. Yes. Just… thinking." Hades mewled. "Oh, I'm sorry. I've got you!" She freed her kitten and set him on her lap just as the door opened.

Ron stood outside, warily looking at Hades. Susanna's kitten hissed once then relaxed, only glaring at him. "Do you mind if I sit with you? Everywhere else is full." The boy said, black smudge still on his nose.

"No." Harry gestured to the seat next to Susanna. After shoving his trunk into the corner of the compartment, Ron nervously stared at Hades as he sat next to the other redhead. The kitten only tilted his head before turning and Susanna's lap.

"Don't worry. You passed the test." She assured Ron. She noticed he was blatantly not staring at Harry, and smiled at how much he seemed to take his mother's words to heart.

"Hey, Ron." The twins stepped into view. "Listen, we're going down the middle of the train - Lee's got a giant tarantula down there." One of the twins said.

"Right." Ron mumbled.

"Harry." The other twin spoke up. "Did we introduce ourselves? Fred and George Weasley. And this is Ron, our brother. Sorry, who are you?"

"Oh. I'm Susanna Dursley. Harry's cousin."

The twin that'd made the introductions gestured to himself as George, so she assumed he really was George. "Nice to meet you. Alright, we're off."

"Bye!" Harry called after them, Ron muttering his own parting.

"Are you really Harry Potter?" The redhead boy blurted out suddenly, then covered his mouth in shock. Susanna laughed while her cousin nodded. "Oh, well, I thought it might have been one of Fred and George's jokes. And you really have that… that, you know." He gestured to his own forehead, and Harry pulled his bangs to the side to show off the scar. "Wicked. So that's where You-Know-Who…" Ron trailed off, blushing.

"Yes, but I - I don't remember."

"Nothing?" Susanna shot Ron a glare, but the boy didn't notice.

Harry paused. "Well, I remember a lot of green light, but nothing else."

Ron looked to the Dursley girl for confirmation, and she gave him a reluctant, unimpressed nod. Harry often told her about nightmares involving green flashes of light. After what Hagrid told them about the night Harry… well, the cousins sadly agreed that is what Harry'd been dreaming all those years.

Ron started at Harry for a few moments, then looked away. Unfortunately his gaze landed on the still-unimpressed red headed girl, who was practically baring her teeth at him.

Seeming to realize what she'd been doing, Susanna relaxed, and smiled less dangerously at Ron. "So, are all your family wizards and witches?"

He blinked at the softness in her tone, the girl staring at him with interest. "Er - yes, I think so." He hummed, then shrugged. "I think mum's got a second cousin who's an accountant, but we never talk about him."

"So you must know loads of magic already." Harry guessed, leaning forward.

Ron didn't answer, but leaned forward as well. "I heard you went to live with Muggles. What are they like?"

"Horrible." Susanna answered, arms crossed as she glanced out the window.

"Not all of them." Harry rushed to assure the red-haired boy across from him. "Just my aunt, uncle, and cousin."

"Cousin… this cousin?" Susanna turned to look at the now worried boy, his blue eyes filling with anger.

"No! No, not Suze. She's the best." Harry jumped in. "I meant -"

"My twin. Brother. He's… they're... it's complicated. For me. They're awful to Harry, though."

"And you, too."

"Not as bad." Susanna argued with her cousin.

Harry gave her a warning look, then smiled at Ron. "Three wizard brothers? That sounds like fun."

"Five." Ron corrected Harry, staring at the cousins gloomily. "I'm the sixth in our family to go to Hogwarts. You could say I've got a lot to live up to. Bill and Charlie have already left - Bill was Head Boy and Charlie was captain of Quidditch. Now Percy's a prefect. Fred and George mess around a lot, but they still get really good marks and everyone thinks they're really funny. Everyone expects me to do as well as the others, but if I do, it's no big deal, because they did it first. You never get anything new, either, with five brothers. I've got Bill's old robes, Charlie's old wand, and Percy's old rat." Susanna was glad Hades was sleeping, or who knows what sort of hell would've broken loose if he'd seen the snoring rat on Ron's lap. "His name's Scabbers and he's useless, he hardly ever wakes up. Percy got an owl from my dad for making prefect, but they couldn't aff-" He cut himself off, flushed with embarrassment. "I mean I got Scabbers instead."

Susanna - who'd been nodding along as she listened to Ron - looked to Harry, and the baggy clothes he was wearing, all of which used to belong to Dudley. "It's okay, Ron. We're the last people to judge."

"Me especially." Harry agreed, and Susanna watched the redheaded boy look at Harry in confusion. "I didn't even know I had money until a month ago. All of my Muggle clothes, I guess, are all hand-me-downs from my cousin."

"Not me, that's not my size. Or my color." Susanna joked, and Ron laughed.

"I never even had a birthday cake baked for me until Hagrid came to deliver our leaders. Never even knew about being a wizard, or about my parents, or Voldemort -" At Ron's loud gasp, Harry blinked over at the boy in confusion. "What?"

"You said You-Know-Who's name!"

"I'm not trying to be brave or anything, saying the name. I just never knew you shouldn't. See what I mean? I've got loads to learn! I bet...I bet I'm the worst in the class."

"Join the club." Susanna scoffed at her cousin.

Ron shook his head. "You won't be." He assured them. "There's loads of people who come from Muggle families and they learn quick enough." He turned to look at Susanna. "You're a Muggle-born, then?"

"Is there a problem if she is?" Harry suddenly glared, clearly remembering the boy from Madam Malkin's.

Ron jumped at the hostility, then grinned in assurance. "No, absolutely not. I was just curious." He looked at the redhead next to him. "Did you ever have a feeling you were different? Before you got your letter."

Susanna hummed. "Well, I suppose I was always different. I just…" She stared at Harry guilty, but he only smiled gently back. "I didn't know. Not until my dad caught me changing the TV channels without using the remote. I denied it was me, I thought it wasn't me. I denied a lot of the stuff I did until then. Even after my dad caught me, I still told myself I wasn't different. Then a year later, I was catching Harry midair and there was no denying it." Susanna laughed. "I should've known, though. Before. When I was seven my brother broke my birthday present, and moments later his game had transformed into an army of spiders."

Ron - who'd been watching her in fascination - gulped. "I don't like spiders."

"Let me guess. Fred and George?" Ron just nodded and shuddered, and the compartment fell into a comfortable silence. Susanna scratched a sleeping Hades and watched the Hogwarts Express speed past fields and lanes.


At half-past twelve a smiling old woman stopped in front of their open door, pushing a trolley of sweets. "Anything off the cart, dears?" She asked, dimples on full display.

Breakfast had been hours ago, and so the cousins nodded to each other excitedly. Were they traveling with her parents, her mother and father would've bought the entire trolley's contents for precious Dudley. But the cousins were alone, and they had money - they didn't have to depend on her parents. Not that could depend on them anyway, especially not Harry.

Susanna pulled her little pouch of money out from her bag, and tossed Harry his as well. Her cousin caught it easily. Ron muttered about having brought sandwiches while the cousins stood and approached the trolley, Hades curled up on Susanna's seat while the redhead boy beside the kitten kept Scabbers out of his sight.

"Hope she has a Mars bar." Harry muttered to his cousin, who nodded in agreement.

But the woman didn't have any. In fact, Susanna couldn't recognize anything she was offering. There were boxes of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, packets of Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, Licorice Wands, Jelly Slugs, and other strange sweets. There were bottles as well, with plastic lids shaped like pumpkins.

"Er, what's this?" Susanna asked, pointing to a bottle.

"Pumpkin juice, dear. It tastes like pumpkin pie." The woman answered with a kind smile.

"Oh. Can I have two please?" Harry gave her a thumbs up, still looking over what he wanted. "Oh, wait, Ron - do you want a pumpkin juice as well?"

Ron's ears turned red. "Oh, you don't have to -"

"Three, please."

"We'll take the lot, as well." Harry added.

The woman continued to smile. "Certainly, dears." She loaded a tray with their mix of sweets, and Harry and Susanna each paid her nine Sickles and eight Knuts. Harry carried in the tray while Susanna held their coin purses, and Harry set the tray down on the empty seats beside him.

"Hungry, are you?" Ron asked, his eyes on the candy as he unwrapped his plastic-covered sandwiches.

"Starving. Here, Suze." Harry passed his cousin a pasty and her juice when Susanna returned to her seat, Hades awake and pawing at her lap while she chewed.

"Gib Won hev choo." She told Harry, mouth full of the delicious treat.

"Gross… oh, right, here you are, Ron." Her cousin handed the red-haired boy his own bottle.

"Susanna, you really didn't -"

"Ib fine." She swallowed and waved him off before taking a sip. "Oh my God this really does taste like pumpkin pie!" Hades mewled. "No, you don't get any, love. Here, have this." She pulled out a little baggie of cat treats she'd gotten from Magical Menagerie, and Hades happily munched on a couple, completely ignoring Scabbers existence.

"She always forgets I don't like corned beef." Susanna turned to look at Ron as he unhappily pulled apart his sandwich.

"Well, luckily for you I love corned beef. I'll trade you for whatever you'd like."
"Do you like these?" Harry asked Ron, holding up a pasty.

"Susanna, you really don't want this. It's dry. She doesn't have much time -"

"Mate." Harry interrupted Ron, the boy's ears now red. "Just give Susanna the sandwiches. She'll eat anything, if given the chance."

"If you're sure. I really don't -"

"Hand me the bloody sandwiches, take some pasties and cakes." Susanna held out her hands, and Ron sighed. He passed her his lunch and thanked the cousins as Harry held up the tray.

The sandwiches were a little dry, but only the bread. The meat was tender and juicy, so Susanna found herself pulling out the filling and happily chewing on it. Her mother only ever gave her sandwiches occasionally, and never ones filled with red meat.

"What are these?" Harry asked, holding up a pack of Chocolate Frogs while Susanna tore into some jelly slugs Ron had passed over. "They're not really frogs, are they?"

"No. But see what the card is. I'm missing Agrippa."

"What?"

"Who?" Harry and Susanna asked.

"Oh, of course. Sorry, I keep forgetting you wouldn't know - Chocolate Frogs have cards inside them, you know, to collect. Famous witches and wizards. I've got about five hundred, but I haven't got Agrippa or Ptolemy."

Susanna whistled. "That's a lot of Chocolate Frogs."

Harry unwrapped the package in his hand, picking up the card. Susanna watched him observe the card, then gasp. "So this is Dumbledore! Suze, look!" He showed her the famous wizard with a grin.

Dumbledore had half-moon glasses, a long crooked nose, flowing silver hair with a long beard and full mustache. She imagined he looked a lot like Merlin - who was, as mentioned in A History of Magic, a real wizard.

"Don't tell me you've never heard of Dumbledore."

"Only briefly. By Hagrid." Susanna answered.

Ron hummed. "Well, there's information about him on the back. Do you mind if I have one? Might get Agrippa."

"Here." Harry passed him a Chocolate Frog as he read the back of the card. He handed it over to Susanna when he was done, and her eyes flicked over each line.

ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
CURRENTLY HEADMASTER OF HOGWARTS

Considered by many the greatest wizard of modern times,

Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the dark wizard Grindewald in 1945,

for the discovery of the twelves uses of dragon's blood,

and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicholas Flamel.

Professor Dumbledore enjoys chamber music and tenpin bowling.

"Sounds like a cool bloke." Susanna said, and she gave Harry the card back in exchange for her own Chocolate Frog package. Her cousin gasped, and she looked up.

"He's gone!"

"Well, you can't expect him to hang around all day, can you? He'll be back." Ron pouted. "No, I've got Morgana again and I've got about six of her. Do either of you want it? You can start collecting?" He asked the cousins, his eyes stuck on the pile of Chocolate Frogs.

"Help yourself." Harry told him. "But in, you know, the Muggle world, people just stay put in photos."

Ron gaped at them. "Do they? What, they don't move at all? Weird!"

Susanna snorted and opened her package, eyes trained on a wizard with dark skin, black curly hair, and deep brown eyes. Dressed in green robes, the man smiled at her pleasantly. She turned over the card as Harry had.

MUNGO BONHAM
WIZARD HEALER
A famous wizard healer, Mungo Bonham was best known for his founding of

St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.

Susanna bit into a chocolate frog as she read, and was pleasantly surprised by the taste, it's slight hopping settling down as she chewed and swallowed.

By the time the three first years had made their way through the rest of their packages, Hades was pushing around cards of Newt Scamander, Godric Gryffindor, Musidora Barkworth, Roderick Plumpton, and Tilly Toke.

"Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans?" Harry asked, holding up the box.

Ron nodded. "You want to be careful with those." He told the cousins. "When they say 'Every Flavour' they mean every flavor. You get ordinary ones like chocolate, peppermint, and marmalade. But then you can also get spinach, liver, and tripe. George reckons he had a booger-flavored one once."

"Gross." Susanna muttered, eyeing the box with suspicious interest.

Ron shrugged and reached over to pluck out a green bean. He bit into it and grimaced. "Blergh. See? Sprouts."

Susanna grinned. "Maybe that's their way of reminding you to eat your greens? Have a balanced meal?"

Ron grunted, but laughed. "Still gross. Who wants to eat sprouts?"

Susanna wrinkled her nose in agreement, remembering all the times her mother would mix them into her salad. "Point."

"Thank you. Whoa - what are you doing?" Ron asked as Susanna grabbed a whole handful of beans.

"It's called being adventurous, Ron."

"Did you not hear me when I said they mean every flavor?"

Harry kicked at his cousin's foot before smiling over at Ron. "She takes most things as a dare. It's why you have to phrase things carefully around her, or she will try it out. She's got no sense of control." He teased Susanna, who kicked at him.

"Oi! Stop telling lies about me! I'm not that careless!" Susanna argued.

"Oh, yeah? If Ron hadn't noticed, would you've put that whole handful of beans in your mouth?" Harry asked her, eyebrows raised.

Susanna paused. "I… well… you have no proof." She harrumphed and settled for one bean, munching loudly on the red candy while glaring at Harry. Cinnamon. Not too awful.

"You're not allowed to be friends with Fred and George." Ron told her, and Harry laughed at her offended expression before diving forward to stop her from shoving the rest of the candy in her mouth. Hades hissed at him for the jostling and jumped on top of his carrier, blue eyes glued onto Harry as he settled back, the beans liberated from Susanna's hold.

"You'll get sick if you do it, Suze. For the sake of Ron and I, just have a pasty instead." Harry pleaded. Susanna rolled her eyes and vengefully bit into the pasty, the yummy pumpkin filling settling her rage. She watched in amusement as Ron and Harry tried each bean, either one of them handing her a piece rather than letting Harry's cousin try to eat them all at once. Susanna took great pleasure in acting like she enjoyed the gross ones - liver, dirt, and earwax to name a few - all to watch Harry and Ron grimace and groan. When they weren't looking she'd take a bite of pasty or drink some juice to wash it away.

She'd never tell Harry she was thankful he stopped her from eating all of them at once, Susanna promised herself.

The countryside flew past them, filled with woods, twisting rivers, and green hills.

Someone knocked on the compartment door frame, and its inhabitants looked up to see a round-faced boy frantically looking around, his cheeks tear stained. Susanna remembered passing him on the platform. "Sorry, but have you seen a toad at all?" He asked.

Susanna shook her head. "No, sorry."

The boy began to wail, Hades blinking at him unimpressed - Susanna was just pleased he wasn't hissing up a storm. "I've lost him! He keeps getting away from me!"

"He'll turn up." Harry tried, and the boy sniffled.

"Yes. Well, if you see him…" The boy mumbled, then walked away.

Ron snorted. "Don't know why he's so bothered. If I'd brought a toad I'd lose it quick as I could." He yelped as Susanna elbowed him in the rib. "Bloody hell!" Then he grimaced at the rat snoozing on his lap. "I brought Scabbers, so I suppose I can't talk." Susanna hums, smiling innocently at the other redhead. "He might have died and you wouldn't know the difference. I tried to turn him yellow yesterday to make him more interesting, but the spell didn't work. I'll show you, look."

He stood, Scabbers slipped into his pocket, and crossed over to his trunk. After rummaging through it, he pulled out a battered wand. It was chipped and splintering, and something white was poking out at the end. "Unicorn hair's nearly slipping out." Ron grumbled. "Anyway -" he had just sat back down, Scabbers in his lap, when the toadless boy appeared. He wasn't alone this time. A girl had joined them, already dressed in her school robes. Her brown hair was thick and bushy, her front teeth large, and her face dotted with little freckles.

"Has anyone seen a toad? Neville's lost one." Susanna blinked, taken back to her old school. She had a classmate by the name of Eleanore Pickett who very much reminded her of the girl with Neville. While Eleanore was blonde and plump, these girls shared the same "I know more than you" sneer and bossy, clipped tone.

"We've already told him we haven't seen it." She heard Ron say, then noticed the girl was far more focused on the wand in the boy's hand than what he'd told her.

"Oh, are you doing magic? Let's see it then!" She strutted inside without invitation and sat next to Harry, watching Ron with mild interest.

"Er, alright." The boy looked at Susanna, who shrugged. He cleared his throat and waved his wand at the sleeping Scabbers.

"Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow,

Turn this stupid, fat rat yellow."

Nothing happened. Scabbers remained grey and sound asleep.

Across from Ron and Susanna, the girl began to snicker, her face smug. Susanna wasn't quite sure how she felt, especially since it was at Ron's expense. "Are you sure that's a real spell? Well, it's not very good, is it? I've tried a few simple spells just for practice, and it's all worked for me. Nobody in my family's magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when Professor McGonagall delivered my letter. But I was ever so pleased, of course, I mean, it's the very best school of witchcraft there is, I've heard - I've learned all our course books by heart, of course, I just hope it will be enough - I'm Hermione Granger, by the way, who are you?"

Though she'd spoken fast, Susanna had caught everything she'd said. It was clear the two boys hadn't, though, as they blinked at her in confusion. That explains her attitude, Susanna guessed, eyes raking over the bushy-haired brunette. Still, she wasn't impressed by it.

"I'm Susanna Dursley. I'm a Muggle-born, as well." She introduced herself, leaning forward to shake Hermione Granger's hand.

"Oh. It's wonderful to meet you." Hermione shook it with a pleasant smile.

"I'm Ron Weasley." The redhead muttered unhappily. Hermione wrinkled her nose at him.

"Pleasure." Susanna didn't like her tone, but kept her mouth shut and instead settled for an unseen glare. Ron wouldn't have been so short with you if you hadn't been so mean, she thought.

"I'm Susanna's cousin, Harry Potter." It was clear her cousin hoped that Hermione being a Muggle-born would mean she didn't know him, but the girl gasped and her eyes grew big.

"Are you really? I know all about you, of course - I got a few extra books for background reading, and you're in Modern Magical History, The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts, and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century!"

Susanna looked at her dazed cousin, who gulped. "Am I?"

"Goodness, didn't you know? I'd have found out everything I could if it was me!" Susanna glared at the girl, then looked at Harry to make sure he was alright. Less dazed and more sad, his cousin's heart clenched.

"Wow, you don't say. Hey, don't you have a toad to look for?" Susanna jumped in before Hermione could continue, and the girl's eyes widened.

"Oh, yes, of course. You three had better change into your robes, though. I expect we'll be arriving soon." She jumped up and left the compartment, Neville hurrying after her.

"Unbelievable." Susanna grumbled, arms crossed.

"Suze, relax, I'm fine." Harry tried, but she could see the pain in his eyes. She'd never know what it was like to have all those strangers knowing more about her than she did, but she'd do everything she could to make sure Harry knew it was okay to discover those things in his own time, at his own pace, and not from a snooty know-it-all who just wanted to show off.

"Well, whatever house she's in, I hope it's not mine. Where are you off to?" Ron asked, Susanna standing up and digging through her messenger bag.

"To change. Walk around. I'll be back soon. Don't do anything interesting without me." She held up her school robes - after making sure they were hers - as well as her wand. "Harry, make sure Hades doesn't eat poor Scabbers." She flounced out the compartment and looked along the walls, finding arrows pointing towards the girls' loo at the end of the next carriage.

It was empty, so she didn't have to worry about waiting for a stall. Dressed, she unhappily fixed the end of her skirt as she walked out of the loo, the door sliding behind her. Oh, how she longed to be wearing the overalls slung over her shoulder. What did Hogwarts have against girls wearing trousers instead?

Halfway down the carriage, the Hogwarts Express jolted. She yelped and fell forward, prepared to hit the floor when an arm wrapped around her waist from behind and set her right. With a small laugh, she fixed her robes, the stranger's arm no longer holding her. "Thank you. Could you imagine if I started my first year with a broken nose?"

"I'd imagine it'd be unpleasant."

"It'd be embarrassing. So, thank you." Susanna turned, finding herself having to look up a bit at the boy who caught her.

He had silver-white hair, slicked back with some sort of gel. His skin was pale, his chin pointed, and his eyes a beautiful ice grey. "It's no problem. I'm Draco. Draco Malfoy."

"Susanna Dursley." She shook his offered hand. "You're quite the hero, Draco Malfoy."

The boy grinned. "I'd say I try, but it comes naturally." She watched his eyes rake over her hair, then her face, and his smile grew. "So, you're a first year as well. Are you traveling alone? My compartment's got room, if you'd like to join me." He pointed to a compartment near the loo.

"Oh, thank you for the offer. But my cousin's waiting for me. Not that I wouldn't mind -"

"No, it's okay." He assured her with a smile. "Maybe I'll run into you again."

"Not if I don't run into you first." She winced. "Sorry. That sounded threatening."

Draco laughed. "It's fine. It was cute - I mean it was funny. You're funny."

They stood in the middle of the carriage hall, blinking at each other and smiling. Then Susanna jumped when the train jolted again, though less sharp than when she'd nearly broken her nose.

"I should go."

"Right." Draco seemed to be as dazed as her. "Yeah. I'll see you later I suppose, Susanna Dursley."

"It was lovely meeting you, Draco Malfoy." Uncharacteristically shy, Susanna turned and walked away with a small smile. She glanced over her shoulder once more at the end of the carriage and sent the stock-still Draco another wave before leaving, nearly running into the side of the door.

She was still blushing and smiling when she entered her compartment, and happily shoved her Muggle clothes back in her bag, wand resting comfortably in her pocket. "What's with you?" Harry asked her as she hummed and pet Hades.

"Hmm? Nothing, go back to what you two were talking about."

"No, I know that look. Your cheeks did the same thing after Eric Clarke gave you that box of chocolate for Valentine's Day last year."

She glared at Harry. "Leave the sleuthing to Sherlock Holmes, Harry. So, what were you saying?" She turned to Ron, who was also looking at her. She thought when he opened his mouth, it'd be to continue whatever the boys were discussing. It wasn't.

"You know, George has that same look on his face whenever Fred teases him about some girl named Angelina."

"You suppose I'll be having to fight this bloke off? My cousin's far too young to be having crushes."

"I mean, if it was Ginny I'd be off my rocker."

"Hmm."

"SO, what were you two talking about before?" Susanna glared hard enough that the boys got the message. Ron cleared his throat.

"Well, I was telling Harry about Quidditch."

"Oh, right, the wizarding sport. Yeah, Hagrid mentioned it, and I overheard some boy talking about a new racing broom when we were at Diagon Alley."

"Yeah, the Nimbus 2000. In another life, I'd own one."

"And Gringotts was broken into, but the vault had already been emptied." Harry added.

Susanna blinked. "That's what you lead with, you two. Unbelievable. Which vault?"

"The Daily Prophet didn't mention, but it was high security."

"That's crazy. When did it happen?"

"Don't remember."

Susanna gaped at him, then rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Tell us more about Quidditch." She waved her hand for him to continue, and he laughed before happily doing as she said.

"Well, there are seven players on each team. Three Chasers, two Beaters, one Seeker, and a Keeper. Chasers have to shoot the Quaffle through one of three hoops - each goal earns the team ten points. The keeper guards the goals -"

"Oh, like a goalie?"

"I suppose." He shrugged. "And the Beaters try to keep the Bludgers away from their teammates while hitting them at their opponents. Fred and George play the position. And the Seeker mainly stays out of the game in favor of looking for this little bugger-of-a-ball. It's called the snitch, and the Seeker who catches it wins their team 150 points, and the game ends. The games are loads of fun to watch. My team's the Chudley Cannons."

"Are they any good?" Susanna asked, taking a sip from her pumpkin juice and capping it.

Ron's ears turned red. "Yes."

She was kind enough to not mention his obvious lie, but winked over at an amused Harry. "So on a scale of one-to-ten, ten meaning 'bloody hell I'm going to suffer for eternity' how dangerous is Quidditch?"

Ron snorted. "Well, that's a cheerful thought. I suppose it depends on the game and if you're playing it with proper supervision. I mean, people have died, but most only sustain serious injuries."

"So it's dangerous? Sounds fun."

"If that's how you're approaching what he said, I'm not letting you ever get on a broom." Harry warned her.

"It's okay. While you're busy signing autographs I'll sneak away." She teased him, then turned to Ron. "Did you hear? Harry's apparently famous."

"You're the worst." Susanna and Ron laughed at Harry's words, and the boy joined in. Before anything else could be said, someone knocked on the door frame.

Susanna looked up, smiling when she saw who it was. "Draco! Hi."

The boy didn't look at her, though. Instead his eyes were glued on Harry. "Is it true? They're saying all down the train that Harry Potter's in this compartment. So it's you, is it?"

"Yes." Susanna saw how rigid Harry had gotten, and watched in confusion as he stood up and began to block his cousin from view.

"Oh, this is Crabbe and Goyle." Draco announced carelessly, gesturing to his two foreboding companions. Susanna waved, but no one saw.

"And my name's Malfoy. Draco Malfoy." Ron sniggered behind a laugh, Susanna completely flummoxed by everything that was transpiring. Draco peered around Harry, glaring at Ron. It was like Susanna was invisible. "Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask you who you are. My father told me all the Weasleys have red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford." Susanna stood up to say something, but Harry blocked her from view as Draco continued speaking. "You'll soon find out that some wizarding families are better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there." He held out his hand to shake, but Harry ignored it. Susanna didn't have to be standing in front of her cousin to see he was angry.

"I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks."

Draco stepped forward, pale cheeks tinged red. "I'd be careful if I were you, Potter. Unless you're a bit politer you'll go the same way as your parents." Susanna began to shake. This wasn't the boy she met. "They didn't know what was good for them, either. You hang around with riff raff like the Weasleys and that Hagrid and it'll rub off on you."

"Get out. Now." Harry ordered. "Stay away from me, stay away from my friends, and stay away from my cousin."

"Your cousin?" Draco's face screwed in confusion.

"Seriously, Harry? Draco, what the hell is your problem?" Susanna managed to step around Harry, her arms crossed. Draco watched her with wide eyes, having finally broken through his tunnel vision to notice her.

"Susanna… I'm sorry, I didn't mean to -"

"I said, stay away from her!" Harry demanded.
Ron pulled Susanna back and took her place, face as red as his hair. "Say what you did about my family again, Malfoy." He dared the blonde.

"Oh, you're going to fight us now, are you?" Draco sneered, but his eyes glanced apologetically at the red-haired girl clutching the hissing kitten to her chest. Susanna was shushing Hades, the poor thing feeling far too threatened with so many strangers talking harshly to each other.

"Unless you get out now." Her cousin announced bravely.

"Scary, Potter. Really. I'm close to running for the hills." Draco quipped back, piercing eyes on Harry. Susanna watched Goyle reach over to grab a Chocolate Frog without asking. It was next to Ron, who lunged forward to stop him.

Goyle shrieked, and Susanna had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing when she saw Scabbers hanging from his finger, teeth clamped down on the skin. Her laugh turned into a scream of fear when Goyle began to swing Scabbers, howling in pain until Scabbers was thrown into the window. The three boys ran off, but not before Draco looked one last time at the scared Susanna, his eyes wide in remorse.

She glared after him, then set Hades down to pick up the prone Scabbers from the floor. She sighed in relief when she felt him breathing, and passed the rat to its owner. "Here. He's only unconscious, he's still breathing. Lucky guy." She told the redhead. "I'm sorry, Draco seemed so nice before, when I met him -"

Harry turned on her. "He's the one you got all flustered about?"

Before Susanna could answer, Hermione Granger returned, her eyes on the sweets covering the floor. "What has been going on?"

"Can we help you with something?" Ron asked in return, glaring harshly.

"You'd better hurry up and put your robes on, I've just been up to the front to ask the conductor, and he says we're nearly there. You haven't been fighting, have you? You'll be in trouble before we get there!"

"Scabbers has been fighting, not us!" Ron glowered at the girl. "Would you mind leaving while we change?"

"Alright - I only came in here because some people outside are behaving very childishly, racing up and down the corridors." She sniffed. "And you've got dirt on your nose, by the way." She pointed to the spot and flounced off, Ron furiously rubbing at it.

Harry slid the door shut and turned to Susanna. "Er, I have to get out so you can change -"

"Malfoy's the bloke I met at Madam Malkin's!" He shouted, and Susanna's mouth dropped. "The one who said your kind shouldn't be allowed in. What, did you find him attractive enough to ignore anything awful he said to you."

"What? No! H-he caught me when I was falling. He was nice, he never once said anything mean. I didn't know, Harry."

"Well, now you do."

"I… that's why you wouldn't let him see me. I just thought you were… but… Harry, he doesn't know, and he wasn't cruel to me once, nor did he say anything cruel about anyone else!"

"Susanna." Ron interrupted the cousins, and they turned to look at him. "I don't know him personally, but I've heard all about his family. They were some of the first to come back to our side after You-Know-Who disappeared. Said they'd been bewitched. My dad doesn't believe it. He says Malfoy's father didn't need an excuse to go over to the Dark Side." He sighed. "So… Harry's right. It's best if you don't let Malfoy get close."

Susanna nodded, and looked down. Hades mewled and Susanna sniffed. "I, uh… I'll let you two change."

Before either boy could keep her she walked out the door, back to the compartment as she stared out the window across, the sky darkening as they sped deeper into a thick forest.

"We will be reaching Hogsmeade Station in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage and pets on the train, they will be taken to the school separately." The announcement ended, and Susanna looked down at Hades, who was purring into her chest.

"I suppose you think Harry and Ron are right, too? Yeah, I know they are." She stared out the window again, and wondered if the boy she'd met was merely a figment of her imagination.


The minute the train rolled to a stop, Susanna was marching into the crowded corridor of their carriage, Harry and Ron behind her. Her heart ached for Hades, wishing she could take him with her, but he's far more noticeable than Scabbers - who was curled up Ron's pocket, still sleeping.

She helped push through the throng of students and out the door, holding onto Harry's wrist so she wouldn't lose her cousin on the small, crowded platform.

It was a cold night, so cold she could even see her own breath. She looked around to see if she could figure out where they had to go, when a familiar boomed over the excited platform.

"Firs' years! Firs' years over here! Alright there, Harry? Susanna?"

"Hagrid!" Susanna waved happily, her cousin grinning.

"Hi, Hagrid!" Harry called.

The giant's hairy face beamed down at them before he gestured to the rest of the huddled new students. "C'mon, follow me - anymore firs' years? Mind yer step, now!"

Hagrid whistled sharply and began to lead them down the steps of the platform and through a nearly pitch-black forest. Everyone slipped and slid down the narrow path, Susanna forgetting to look down as she walked. Thankfully for her dignity Harry and Ron were quick to catch her. She attributed it to their collective nervousness that neither boy teased her about it.

"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec, jus' round this bend here!" Hagrid called, his lantern swinging high in the sky.

When they cleared the forest and stood at the edge of a great lake, Susanna's heart stopped and a sharp breath escaped her lungs. Around her, the other first years were gasping in awe. Harry was squeezing her hand, and Ron was holding on tight to her elbow.

There, on the horizon, resting on a high mountain and practically blocking the starry sky, was a castle more fantastic than anything Susanna could ever imagine. She wished she had a camera to take a picture, so she could sketch it later. Her memory would do her new home no justice.

"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called. He pointed to eleven boats, the largest of which was clearly meant for the giant. Susanna led Harry and Ron to the closest one to the friendly giant, and barely noticed Hermione Granger joining them when she caught Draco watching her, albeit briefly. When he looked away she followed his lead, Harry and Ron distracted from the exchange as they handed each other a couple of sweets.

"Would you like one?" Susanna asked Hermione, turning to offer her a jelly slug.

The girl's nose wrinkled. "No, thank you. Do you have any idea what that'll do to your teeth?"

Susanna didn't appreciate the tone, nor the potential lecture. "Fortunately for my teeth, I always brush and floss them." She turned and angrily tore into her candy, self-consciously running her tongue over her teeth.

"Everyone in?" Hagrid shouted. He checked to make sure the first years had settled, winked at Harry and Susanna, then stared straight ahead. "Right then. FORWARD!" On his command, the boats began to move on their own accord, following Hagrid's across the vast black lake. The water was even smoother than Susanna suspected it to be. It grew darker, too, as they got closer to the castle, Hogwarts casting a monstrous shadow over the little fleet of boats.

"Heads down!" Hagrid called, ducking under a curtain of ivy as they approached a rather ominous looking cave. They bobbed through the tunnel, and it was so long Susanna assumed they were traveling underneath Hogwarts. After what felt like hours the boats docked at what looked to be an underground harbor. Harry was the first to get out, helping Susanna. Ron got out on his own, and as Hermione started to stand the boat shifted.
Quick as lightning, Susanna's hand shot out and she grabbed the obnoxious girl, helping to steady her. "Thank you." Hermione mumbled softly as the redhead helped her out.

"No problem." Susanna sent a pleasant smile her way then walked further up to join Harry and Ron.

Hagrid - who'd been checking the boats as the students left - turned and held up a small croaking creature.

"Oi, yeh there! Is this yer toad?" He pointed to Neville, who'd just gotten out of that same boat.

"Trevor!" The boy cried out, happily tripping over himself to pick up his lost toad. How he managed to lose it while Trevor was clearly still with him, Susanna would never know.

Hagrid began to lead them up the rocks and pebbles towards yet another dark passage, this one inclined. Had it not been for all her dance lessons, Susanna's legs would've been on fire. Harry and Ron panted next to her, the latter of whom shot her dirty glares when he noticed how much easier she breathed than him. They eventually came out onto a smooth grass field, just under the castle's shadow.

Hagrid's lamp swung as he walked them up a flight of stone steps, Susanna now losing breath too, much to Ron's pleasure - the other ginger yelped when she managed to elbow him for his cheek. Then at last they were crowded around a large oak door.

"Everyone here? Yeh there, still got yer toad?" Hagrid asked, pointing at Neville. The round-faced boy nodded sharply, and with bated breath Susanna watched the giant lift his fist to knock three times on the front door.