"Right", said Kat, "in we go, don't want to be late do we?"

Marvo gave Andy a 'look' but Kat glared back at him, so he said nothing. He went up to the WiB and mumbled something to him. The WiB opened the car door and allowed everyone (even Andy) inside.

The car was very roomy, there would possibly be room for one more in there, but only if people squeezed up, so having the six of them was just right.

Cleverly, Kat made sure she sat between Marvo and Andy.

"Right. We've ready to go I think." Said Marvo. "To Kings Cross, Jeeves!"

The Driver who had got into his seat after closing the back door and filling the boot of the car with all their trunks and book, slowly pulled away.

************

Amy's family had collected her from the Leaky Cauldron and now were driving her to Kings Cross to catch the train to begin her first year at Hogwarts. When the decision had been made for her to transfer from Durmstrang, her parents had taken her to Hogsmeade where they had met with an old man in Hogsmeade, whom she believed to be Albus Dumbledore. He had told Amy that she was probably in Gryffindor, though Amy could only wonder how he knew that.

Amy's family was driving her to Kings Crossing where she would board the train and start her first year at Hogwarts.

Amy's parents dropped her off at Kings Cross, and made sure she got on the train safely. After that, Amy wandered around on the train as it began to fill up, wondering where she would sit, and with whom, since she didn't know anyone. Eventually, she took a seat in an empty compartment for the time being, and began to read one of textbooks.

**********

Yvette had seated herself comfortably in a rather Gryffindor-loaded section of the Hogwarts Express. She was wearing very Muggle clothes, and had in fact been teased about them already, but had just grinned.

That was what being at Hogwarts was about...she'd had a great summer, and was glad to be back. Not exactly to the homework, of course, but to her friends.

She had just thrown on a pair of jeans that were torn on the ends, a pair of flip-flops, and...of course...a neon pink tank top. Her curly hair had been let loose, and now it fell past her shoulders. She was reading something with a grin, and every once in a while giggled at what was said. It was just a plain letter, and for a girl with no Muggle blood in her veins, she certainly appeared to look like one.

A few Chocolate Frogs lay scattered beside her, and she was silently munching on Berti Bott's Every-Flavour Beans.

******

A very irritated cab driver arrived at Kings Cross station. He was almost deaf with the sound of Miss Eezy complaining. Alpha stepped out of the cab and paid the driver. She made her excuses about her cat: "So sorry sir, but she doesn't like to sit in her basket and Siamese cats can be a bit noisy," she said apologetically.

She grabbed her belongings and went into the station to Platform 9 3/4.

She almost ran and all the travellers were looking at her because of Miss Eezy. Her cat enjoyed all the attention and "sang" happily along.

"Will you please shut up!!" she hissed to her cat. Ooh, what an embarrassment, to walk with her trunk and a heavy rucksack and a "feline singing" basket. All the people were watching her, commenting her cat, admire her cat in some cases, but always pitying Miss Eezy.

She hated this, her cat liked to do as if she was complaining, loving the attention she was getting, every year at the first of September, it was the same show. Alpha wished she could go to Hogwarts on another way. She tried to spot familiar faces at the platform.

Peesey had slipped away from the Leaky C a while ago, and had gone shopping with his parents. He was in a cab just behind Alpha. He got out and he let his parents carry his trunk and new owl. His gaunt mother kept talking to him about what he was going to do at school. He quickly noticed someone that he though he knew. He walked in her direction.

Alpha noticed someone she recognised as a fellow Slytherin. She beamed a radiant smile at him, which faded a little when she saw the parents behind him.

"Hi!" She said. "Glad to see a familiar face around here!"

Again, she bent over her basket: "Miss Eezy, please be quiet!"

She rolled her eyes at Peesey, shaking her head. "She likes the attention she's getting now, you know." Indeed, people were watching the cat, which exploiting the whole issue, kicked up a row.

Alpha noticed that Peesey's mother gave her a disapproving look.

"Hi," Peesey said. "I hate having to wear muggle clothes - don't you? I mean they completely cramp your style as a muggle hater!" He turned to his parents. "Right, O.K I'll take it from here!" he took the bags from his father then placed them on a nearby trolley.

"Do you what the time is" He said to Alpha

"I like wearing muggle clothes." Alpha said. "But it's almost time to go now." She whispered something to her cat and the cat suddenly was silent.

"That's better," Alpha said to Peesey, "Now we can go through the barrier otherwise we would attract too much attention. Are you going first?"

"Hmm" Peesey said. "O.K, let's go" He walked towards the barrier

Alpha watched Peesey go through the barrier and she followed him soon afterwards. Checking if nobody was watching she leaned towards and through the barrier. Finally on the platform, looking for a nice quiet place in the train, so she could read a bit.

************

The huge black Ministry car pulled up at King's Cross station and the two Lagrands along with Niki, Hagrain and Drake made their way towards Platform 9 3/4.

Glueclaws strolled along next to Morticia, looking not very happy about it. Veneficus sat in his cage, leering down at Glueclaws with obvious disgust.

Morticia took her time to explain to Hagrain how things were working, and she and Drake stayed behind until the first-year had made his way through the barrier while Nathan and Niki had already entered the Platform.

Finally, all of them were there, the beautiful Hogwarts Express already waiting there.

Nathan helped Niki to get her trunk onto the train. She had tried to levitate it by spell, but Nathan had insisted on lifting it all by himself, which had caused Drake and Morticia to roll their eyes. Then they looked around on the platform to see if they could find any known faces.

Niki stood on tiptoe to see over the crowd of pointed, black hats, and still couldn't see anything. She grumbled to herself, then asked, "Do you want to get on the train?"

Nathan shrugged. "Sure." Without even looking at the others, he offered Niki his hand to help her onto the train. "Let's go somewhere in the back, okay?"

Niki nodded. "All right." She seemed somewhat preoccupied--she was thinking back to her last two rides on the Hogwarts Express, neither of which had been particularly happy. Well, if she had anything to do about it, this one would be significantly better. She took his hand and climbed aboard.

Nathan walked her through the train until he reached the last compartment in the back of the train. There he put down Veneficus's cage, threw himself onto a seat and produced a large amount of Muggle sweets. "Sit down," he told Niki with a grin, "sweet things for a sweet lady. Hope we'll stay alone in here..."

**********

The Ministry car pulls up outside kings cross and the WiB helps carry trunks to barrier.

"Well. Here we are and just in time too. Let's get on the train." Said Marvo. Marvo leads the way.

On the other side of the barrier stands a familiar figure - Anders Grimalkin.

"Well, you made it in good time Kathryn. You may need to go down to the front of the train to find an empty compartment though." He looked about somewhat anxiously to see if anyone else was with them.

"Marvo - is Nimue not with you? She's cutting it very fine if she isn't." He glanced at his watch. "I hoped to wave you all off together."

"Oh hello Proff... Anders." Marvo still felt a little embarrassed around the ex DADA teacher

"No sorry, I believe she was in a car with some new students, should be here any second. I know she won't be late, she's always on time" He smiled.

**********

Breana gave a soft smile as she looked around her. Most people she thought could be witches or wizards, she could see were heading towards the platforms 9 and 10, but, this being her first time, she wasn't very sure how to pass by the barrier. Mr. White hadn't being able to give her enough clues for her to figure out, and so far, she hadn't had enough time to ask anyone.

She glanced around, and, she was amazed when she noticed all the students and families around her. She had never thought that there could be so many, even when she was in Diagon Alley and noticed the people there. The quiet life of being a towns-girl was slightly getting to her, as it meant that she felt uneasy in places like cities, or large public areas.

Gulping, Breana checked on Tyris, who was chattering slightly on her shoulder, and causing muggles to stare at her. Breana silently wished that Tyris would allow herself to be put into a basket, so that no one would notice her. But not this squirrel! Tyris was extremely frightful when she had her freedom being questioned. The squirrel thought baskets were for pets, and Tyris was not a pet!

Breana hissed, 'Quiet down. How many more people do you want to stare at you?'

*Better than cage* the squirrel replied.

'Maybe so, but then I won't be stared at,' Breana replied, with a sad smile.

*You think of the-* began the squirrel but Breana interrupted.

'Tyris!' she snapped, and glared at the squirrel.

*The incident haunts you* the squirrel muttered, and then grew silent, as Tyris made herself comfortable on Breana's shoulder.

Breana sighed, fighting back the tears as she let go of her trunk and leaned against one of the pillars of the station.

***********

Hal had completely lost track of time, so happy was he to be faced with the prospect of months away from his devoted Mother, not to mention seeing Madison again. They had ordered another Butterbeer each and chatted happily about their holidays, well, Madison chatted and Hal listened, unwilling to share the 'wonders' of his time away from Hogwarts. What would she think if she knew how dull his home life really was?

Madison stopped and took another sip of her butterbeer. She was a bit embarrassed to be doing all the talking...but Hal didn't seem to want to talk about his summer. She was glad to see him, and decided not to push him, rattling off about her summer instead, hoping she wasn't boring him.

Looking up, she glanced around the room, noticing that most of the other students had already left. "Hal...what time is it? We're not late, are we?"

Hal only half caught what Madison said, he was too busy watching the obviously excited Branwen enter, followed by...a prefect, well that was a new one.

"Late? No....don't think so....want a lift to the station or have you made arrangements? There'll be loads of room in the car and it'll be comfy too." He finished hopefully.

Jon smiled at Branwen's remarks about money. "I understand your cousin has a mountain of luggage for us to haul." he said to Hal.

He also smiled at Madison though being that he was a Sixth Year Prefect - he felt he needed to keep some distance else.... he wasn't sure what else but it seemed prudent after his mishandling of Shinrei to do so.

Hal rolled his eyes, he knew what the Evans girls tended to be like and he groaned inwardly. Branwen was coaxing Madison into joining them, and Hal chose to stay out of the way so it didn't look too obvious that he wanted her to...

"Perhaps we should go and get all this luggage sorted then?" Hal suggested to Jon, making his way to the stairs leading to the room Branwen had taken overnight. She liked to be prepared and the boys would see that that meant providing at least one of anything she could conceive of needing over the term, they would have their work cut out for them.

Madison smiled. "Alright," she said. "If it's really no trouble for you..."

She watched the boys head up the stairs, then turned back to Branwen. "So how was your summer? Ready for school yet?"

Branwen grinned. "Always ready for school, Maddy, I can't wait! Summer was pretty quiet though, chance to catch up with the family and locals friends, muggle and non-muggle alike. It was nice." she said quietly, omitting the fact that she had been miserable most of the time for not seeing anything of Randal, not even a whisper from him.

Still that would all be sorted out soon, she was sure he would be as happy to see her as she was to see him. The girls watched the boys bring the first of the loads downstairs, and with a pang of guilt Branwen moved to help them.

Hal was exhausted already; he made a renewed resolution...he really was going to make more of an effort with Quidditch this term.

Jon smiled warmly at Branwen "Are you sure the Hogwarts Express will be big enough for all this?"

His attention was drawn by the entrance from the street of a man who bore the discreet crest of the Order of Merlin on his black uniform. He looked around the pub as if searching for someone.

"Are you looking for Nimue Hawkwood?" asked Jon.

"I am here to collect Lady Elizabeth Hawkwood." the man replied without smiling.

"Oh yes, of course." Jon blushed - he had forgotten that a driver employed by Lord Hawkwood would not be likely address Nimue in familiar terms. He knew Marcus Falconer had but then he was her cousins or something. "She is still in Diagon Alley with a few students."

The driver nodded and looked at his watch calculating the time.

*********

"No apologies kindly, Miss," Jian replied. "I was only thinking about the Qiao-yuan's exact travel range. It is a special Qiao-yuan, yes."

Jian reached into the sleeve of his saffron robes and pulled out a short cylinder of wood. He tapped a certain nondescript part thrice with his fingertips. The wooden cylinder immediately lengthened into the bo staff specially bewitched by his great-uncle.

"It transports based on my uncle's will. He willed it for the train station. I will meet you at this King's Cross place."

"Of course, Hupi Jian." said Nimue. "I will see you then at the train station."

However, as Nimue spoke her attention was caught by a slight awareness of a familiar figure in her peripheral vision. She looked over and saw Mahou Amberstone with an older boy whom she vaguely recognised from a few months previously when he had been with Sarah Taverner in the Great Hall at Hogwarts.

She smiled and waved to them.

Though fascinated by the bo staff that Jian had shown to them, Shinrei instinctively followed Nimue's gaze and the direction of the other girl's wave.

A short distance down the street she saw Luis Verga and a red-haired girl standing side by side.

She stared. She heard her own voice floating around them, but she was only half-listening to what she was saying. "I think we need to go into the Apothecary shop before we travel to King's Cross station, Hupi-san."

With these words, she tore her gaze away and went straight into the Apothecary's.

"Be quick," said Nimue to Shinrei's back as she entered the shop.

She wasn't sure that Shinrei had heard. The Japanese girl wasn't usually one for rushing off. She had been staring in Mahou's direction - was there a problem with between her and the other girl?

Or ….was it this tall, good looking boy that had caused her to rush off. Nimue couldn't be sure but was more concerned about the train and making sure no one was left behind including herself.

She walked over to where Mahou stood with Luis. "Mahou, have you almost completed your shopping? I have invited Shinrei to ride with me. Would you also like a lift?"

She then turned to Luis with a warm smile. Nimue might be a month away from her fifteenth birthday but she had a poise that belied her youth, "Good morning. I am Elizabeth Hawkwood, of Gryffindor House. We haven't been introduced but I believe you were at Hogwarts in June. If you are also heading to the station I would be happy to give you a lift as well?"

Jian retracted the bo staff back into its small wooden cylinder form, glared in the general direction of Luis Verga and followed Shinrei into the apothecary. Why was it that seeing the Hispanic boy always disturbed the girl?

It suddenly dawned to him that he was angry because Luis Verga was seemingly making Shinrei Hikari upset. Blessed Buddha. What was happening to him?

Being naturally swift, he caught up easily with the Japanese girl just as she had entered the shop. "Miss," he called out, striding to her side, "would you be angry if I accompanied you now?"

********

Having concluded his own business Professor Severus Snape had watched the proceedings of the last few minutes by the Apothecary shop unnoticed by the small group of students gathered there.

Electing to intervene, he bore down on Nimue Hawkwood, Mahou Amberstone, and Luis Verga his black robes billowing out around him.

"Miss Hawkwood!"

Nimue looked over with some surprise to see the Potions Master in Diagon Alley. "Professor?"

"While I am sure your conversation with Mr. Verga is fascinating, may I suggest you gather up your little band of Gryffindors and depart for the station ….. at once!"

Nimue nodded her assent.

He then turned to Luis "Mr. Verga - unless I am mistaken you are also in danger of missing that train. "

Nimue spoke up, "Sir, I am happy for Mr. Verga to ride to the station with us."

He said sharply, "That you may be Miss Hawkwood - however I am not! Come with me Verga…. now!"

In silence he escorted Luis through the Leaky Cauldron out onto Charing Cross Road where a taxi waited. "Kings Cross' snarled Snape to the driver. Before Luis entered the taxi, Snape said quietly,

"I'd suggest you avoid fraternisation with the Gryffindors, Mr. Verga. They have an annoying tendency to want to save others rather than exercise the instinct for self-preservation that denotes members of Slytherin House."

He waited until the taxi had moved off and then returned to the Leaky Cauldron advising Hawkwood's driver to load what he could now.

**********

Their car finally being loaded, Jonathan climbed in after Branwen, Hal and Madison.

Given the time his watch said he felt a little anxious that Shinrei and Nimue would miss the train and also that somehow Luis would use the opportunity.

He was therefore a little relieved as the large car pulled out into traffic to see Severus Snape (what was he doing in London?) emerge from the pub with Luis Verga and appear to be putting him in a taxi - alone.

*Good* thought Jon and settled back for more pleasant conversation with the Fourth Years.

*********

Returning to the Apothecary, Professor Snape saw Nimue and Mahou exiting with Shinrei and Jian.

"Come along - all of you." He walked back with them to the Leaky Cauldron. He gestured Jian, Mahou and Shinrei into back of the car while turning to have a quiet word with Nimue Hawkwood.

Nimue smiled and nodded and then got into the car with her owl. The car moved off swiftly for the station making excellent time.

*********

Jian had silently and patiently followed the Gryffindors out of Diagon Alley, in obedience to the

rather rough prompting of the black-clad, snarling teacher who he thought was an older version of Luis Verga.

But it was not in his agenda to ride the car along with the others. Especially if he was in it with three females.

He caught the eye of Shinrei Hikari, whom he felt would understand his predicament the most, and gestured to his hand that was holding the bo staff. He pressed the contraption that would cause it to lengthen and activate the Portkey enchantment.

He nodded to her and silently bade the Qiao-yuan to begin the journey. He felt the swirling beginning to consume him, faster and faster, until the world began to dissolve.

He was caught up in the darkness and then he blinked.

Face to face with him was a shiny red steam engine.

"The Hogwarts Express," he murmured in amazement.

**********

Luis had, very wisely, decided not to comment on any of Professor Snape's remarks. No fraternising with Gryffindors. That was fine with him for the most part. He only wanted to be close with one particular Gryffindor anyway.

And Slytherins were known to be ruthless pursuers. Tireless hunters.

It was a very satisfying thought as he leaned back in the taxi and watched the Muggle London world pass him by. Just this summer he had gone to this city for a quick look-around, to perhaps feel if *they* were close by. So far, so good. He was, for the most part, safe. At least for the present.

On his trip to London he had also bought an acoustic guitar. He had wanted to buy an electric guitar but it was too expensive and would not very likely work in the magical air of Hogwarts. The acoustic guitar he left in his room at The Three Broomsticks back in Hogsmeade. Such a pity. He could only play ballads with that one, no fast songs. Nevertheless he would pick it up on the way back to school.

Still, he missed the Muggle world. While he was on the run, he could still have his CD music and his Capoeira tournaments. Right now his best bet on having a good fight was to get on the monk Jian's nerves enough so the other boy would let loose some of those kung-fu moves the Shaolin had on Muggle movies.

Then again, Dumbledore wouldn't like it. Luis had promised to be in his best behaviour, at least as far as Slytherin canon would allow.

The taxi stopped at King Cross Station and Luis paid the driver from the little stash of Muggle money he had on hand. He walked up to the barrier between the familiar platforms and phased almost carelessly.

"Hullo, old friend," he greeted the Hogwarts Express. "Long time no see."