King's Cross was huge. So huge that she couldn't find platform nine and three-quarters anywhere. It was almost ten o'clock so she was getting a bit aggravated. Whenever she asked someone they would always respond with, "There is no such thing." Lizzy was one step away from ripping her train ticket into shreds. 

     "I don't think that there is a platform nine and three-quarters." Lizzy murmured to herself as she continued to walk around the station. All of a sudden she saw her mother from the corner of her eye. Lizzy saw her mother, Cassandra, and her step dad all walking towards her. 

      "I thought that since we were going into London while you were in London we would stop by!" Her mother hugged her tight. Cassandra looked like she would rather be anywhere else but here, "Which train would take Lizzy off to her witch school?" Cassandra mumbled. 

     Everyone seemed to ignore Cassandra. "Why are you in London? I thought you were just dropping me off." Lizzy Asked inspecting the bags in Mr. Ransack's hand. Cassandra had the biggest smile in the station. "You see, my little Cassandra has been accepted in Smeltings Academy." Her step father said a with a smile. 

     Smeltings was a some fancy public school in south east England. They gave students gnarled canes that Lizzy was pretty sure that they just swung around and, hit people with. "Yeah Lizzy, everything isn't about you."  Cassandra boasted. Lizzy rolled her eyes, this is what she hated about Cassandra, she was so annoying. 

     Lizzy spotted a busy looking family. They had fiery red hair with blue eyes, Lizzy would fit right  in with that family feature-wise. Then she spotted something familiar. They had an owl with them! "Mum! I think they're magic!" Lizzy pointed at the lot. Her mother looked over and saw the bustling family. 

     "Are you sure?" Lizzy nodded. "Well then, follow them. If they are like you they should know the way." Her mother told her. Lizzy nodded and waved goodbye. She started to get closer and closer to the platform until she felt a tight embrace. She turned around and found her mother embracing her one last time. "I just wanted to hug you one more time until my baby leaves for school." Her mother whispered in her ear. 

     Once they unconnected, her mother laughed, "I thought I'd have to wait a couple more years until you went away for school" Lizzy chuckled. To Lizzy's surprise Cassandra gave her a light pat on the back but, said it was by accident. Her stepfather gave her a strained thumbs up. Lizzy started at her family. Her mother's dark red hair, her stepfather's green eyes, Cassandra's brown hair. 

     It was amazing. 

     "Lizzy! You better get on the train! I love you, goodbye!" Her mother hugged her one last time and wished her off. Lizzy looked at the family to surprisingly a scruffed boy ran into the barrier between platform nine and ten. One by one the rest of the family did the same. Once the family was completely gone Lizzy looked around. 

     Was she really going to do this? 

     She looked back and her family was still there, staring at her. Lizzy closed her eyes and walked to the barrier and stuck her hand through, this might work! Slowly, Lizzy out her entire body through the barrier between platform nine and ten leaving her family with bewildered faces. 

     Lizzy opened her eyes to a secret platform, a secret platform with a scarlet train waiting next to a platform filled with wizards and witches. A sign over the train said Hogwarts Express, eleven o'clock. She was really going to Hogwarts. Lizzy looked around, she saw a boy yelled at by his grandmother, the same family still bustling, and a boy with pale blonde hair being wished off by his parents. 

     Maybe magic folk were the same as muggles just with a little extra.

     Lizzy was rattled by the train honking, she quickly got her luggage and cage for Diamond and ran onto the train. She almost fell backwards when the train started moving. Now Lizzy had to find a compartment. Lizzy walked forward into the train and asked almost everyone if they had any room no one seemed to have any room even when they clearly did. 

     Lizzy came across a compartment and poked her head in, "Do you have any room?" Two kids who looked like first years were taking out a deck of cards. There was a girl and a boy, the girl had dark brown skin with frizzy brown hair, the boy looked Asian with dark black hair and brown eyes and dark blue glasses. 

      They looked at each other and shrugged, "We do." The boy said. Lizzy smiled and walked in. She put her luggage under her seat and kept her cat on her lap. "My name is Kwan." The boy said and held out a hand. She shook it with pleasure. Kwan gave the girl a stern stare and then she finally said, "It's Riley, Riley Brooks." The girl said, starting to shuffle a deck of cards. 

     Then there was an uncomfortable silence, it became so tense that Lizzy could take a knife and cut right through it. "You wanna play?" Riley asked passing some cards to Kwan. Lizzy nodded and got some cards. It ended up being a really fun game with a lot of laughs and excitement, they looked like they've been friends for years. 

     "So, since we've been inside this compartment for so long, I think we should get to know each other." Lizzy said placing down a Jack. Riley smiled and put down a king, "Well, my name is Riley Brooks, you know that already. I basically grew up with that dork and I like cards." Kwan put down a ace and took everyone's cards with some groans coming from the other two. 

     "My name is Kwan Lee like Riley said, I basically grew up with her and I like learning about muggles. Kwan said adjusting his glasses. Since Kwan and Riley basically grew up together will they want to be her  friend? It would be awkward breaking into a life long friendship. "Well I hope we could be f-" Lizzy was interrupted by a girl with bushy hair. "Have you seen a toad anywhere?" She Asked sounding a bit snobby. 

     "I'm sorry we haven't." Kwan said to the girl. "Well ok then." The girl left the compartment as quickly as she came. They watched as she went to the cart opposite from them and asked the same thing but stayed a bit longer. Lizzy was about to finish her sentence but the trolley lady strolled by. "Hey! Can you come over here?" Riley Yelled. The trolley lady came back to their cart, "I'm sorry if you wanted some candy, the cart opposite of you took all of it." 

     "All of it?" Lizzy Asked, normally trolly ladies at carts filled with candy or food. "Yes, my cart was just full but that boy with the weird scar took all of it." The lady explained and then left their compartment. Lizzy saw who the lady was talking about, the same boy who went with the red head family. Lizzy felt that was a bit selfish, how could you just take the whole cart of candy and other people can't get any? 

     She felt some kind of resentment towards that kid. "Lizzy, I think we should change into our robes. It's nearly time." Lizzy nodded and Riley and her made their way to the girl's toilets to change into their uniform. 

     Lizzy looked at herself in the mirror, it was a normal uniform, knee length grey pleated skirt, grey socks, with a grey jumper and a white shirt tucked underneath it. She held her grey tie in her hand having no idea how to tie it. She walked out of the stall with her other clothes looking for Riley. Lizzy found her tying her tie in front of the bathroom mirror. 

     "Hey Riley? Do you know how to tie this?" Lizzy Asked holding out the tie. Riley chuckled, "Come over here," 

   ⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙ 

     A voice echoed throughout the train: "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage, it will be taken to the school separately."

     Lizzy was a mix of different emotions. Riley and Kwan seemed to know all about the wizard world and how it works. When Riley somehow stole a chocolate frog from a seventh year she nearly jumped out of her skin when it started jumping around the compartment. 

     The train stopped and people started pushing through the train and out onto the dark platform. Lizzy was overwhelmed with all the students, she seemed to relax when she saw Riley and Kwan right next to her. A lamp came over the first years heads. "Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" The voice came from the same man from Diagon Alley who was abnormally huge. 

     "C'mon, follow me - any more firs' years? Mind her step, now! Firs' years follow me!" 

     Slipping and falling over every few steps the first years followed Hagrid down a steep narrow path. It was so dark that Lizzy could barley see her fellow classmates. Nobody said a word, they were probably all to nervous.  

     They followed Hagrid around a bend and Lizzy saw her first sight of Hogwarts. 

     It was perched on top of a tall mountain surrounded by a black Lake. It was a vast castle with sparkling windows. 

     "No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called to the dazed first years. He pointed to a fleet of boats sitting in the water next to the shore. Riley grabbed Kwan and Lizzy's hand and pulled us onto a boat together, soon another girl sat on the boat with them. Once everyone was in Hagrid Yelled, "FOWARD!" And the boats moved all at once. 

     Everyone looked upon the castle and all it's glory as they glided across the lake. After a short journey of smooth waves and glittering waves we come out a dark tunnel and Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardly is right upon us. 

     On the shore the boats stopped and one by one they all got out. "I can't believe we're here." Lizzy breathed looking up at the castle of opportunity. The trio stood back and stared at the castle together until Kwan Yelled, "They're leaving us!" And they ran to the rest of the group. 

     They walked up a flight of stairs and stopped at a huge wooden door. "Everyone here?" Hagrid Asked and the first years all nodded. He knocked on the huge door three times and it immediately swung open.  A tall, black haired witch with dark green robes stood in the doorway. She had a stern face that told you she wasn't someone to mess with. 

     "The firs' years Professor McGconagall," Hagrid said with a little bow. 

     "Thank you Hagrid. I will take them from here." 

     Professor McGconagall pushed the doors wider and led them through the entrance hall. The entrance hall was gigantic and could fit the neighborhood playground in there. It was sprinkled with torches on the wall and they faced a marble staircase that lead to the floors above. 

     "Woah." Lizzy whispered as the Professor led them to an empty chamber. Lizzy was a bit confused, why were they in an empty chamber? 

     "Welcome to Hogwarts." Said Professor McGconagall. "Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardly. My name is Professor McGconagall, I am the head of Gryffindor and your transfiguration teacher. Soon there will be a start of term banquet, you will be sorted into House then you will take your seat at your respective table. Houses are very important, they are your home for the rest of your time here. Your Housemates are like family so treat them with respect. You will have classes with you Housemates, you will sleep in your House, and you will spend free time in your House common room." 

     "The Four houses are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. Each House is different in its own way. Please note that no House is better than the other. When you are here, every good deed or triumph will earn you House points, any deed that breaks our rules with take away points from your House.  At the end of the year the House will be added up and the House with the most points wins the House cup. If you win the House cup it will be a great honor to your house and I hope every one of you will contribute to that honor." 

     "The sorting ceremony will take few soon in front of the school. I suggest your brighten up while you wait. I'll be back soon. Please wait quietly while you wait." With that, Professor McGconagall left the chamber. Lizzy looked at Riley and Riley looked at Kwan. "So, I hope we are in the same House." Lizzy peeped. Riley nodded, "I'm sure I'll be in Gryffindor, it's the best, only for the bravest." 

     Kwan shook his head, "Your getting ahead of yourself," Riley scoffed and Lizzy giggled. "What House do you think you'll be in?" Asked Kwan. Lizzy had to think, she had idea what the houses were like but she did remember Maxine from the robes shop, she was talking about Slytherin. Lizzy looked around and saw Maxine talking to some friends. Lizzy thought about waving but thought better of it. 

     "I think I'll be in Ravenclaw." Said Kwan proudly. Riley rolled her eyes, Ravenclaw was probably a boring House. "Of course you'll be in Ravenclaw, for the smart and snobby kids." Riley said, "The kids aren't snobby." Kwan bickered. After that, they continued to bicker like a married couple. "Anyways! I think I'll be in Slytherin." Lizzy finally said to stop the bickering. Maxine said that Slytherin was cool so Lizzy would want to be in that house. 

     Both of their mouths dropped open, "You are not a Slytherin." Riley said looking her up and down. "Why not? Isn't Slytherin cool?" Asked Lizzy. Riley and Kwan both shook their heads, at least they stopped bickering. "Because Slytherin is a House where all the dark wizards come out of. No one good has come out of that House." Kwan explained. Before Lizzy could answer twenty or so ghosts came through the wall. 

     They were to far away for Lizzy to make out what they were saying but they seemed like they were arguing. "Move along now," Said a sudden sharp voice. "The Sorting Ceremony is about to begin." 

     Professor McGconagall told them to form a line, one by one the first years formed a straight line in front of her. Lizzy was in the middle of Riley and Kwan silently praying she wasn't in Slytherin. They walked out of the chambers and into the Great Hall. 

     Lizzy was amazed by the Great Hall. It was lit by a lit candles by the thousand that floated midair over four tables. The students that weren't in their first year were seated on those four tables with colored ties according to their houses. At the top of the hall was a long table were Lizzy guessed the teachers sat. Professor McGconagall led the first years up there. They came to a halt in front of the students.  Hundreds of students were staring at them, it was hard to think that once they were being stared at, and probably scared out of their mind. Lizzy looked up and saw that there was no ceiling! Just a starry night sky, she was getting a bit worried until she heard that girl from the train say it's bewitched to look like that. 

     Lizzy saw that Professor McGconagall placing a four legged stool in front of them. Lizzy spotted a hat. It was dirty and looked really old. Everyone stared at the hat, was that how they were getting sorted? Maybe they had to make something come out of it. The hat started to move and then ripped a hole and started to sing. 

     It wasn't the most pleasant toon but it made the whole room applause. "When I call your name, sit on the stool and put on the hat and you will be sorted. After you are sorted, please make your way to your house table." Professor McGconagall explained. She had a long scroll in her hand and read off, Abbott, Hannah!" 

     A girl with blonde pigtails made her way nervously up to the stool, sat down, and got sorted, 

"HUFFLEPUFF!" The hat Yelled, and Hannah made her way to her table. The same process continued, 

"Bones, Susan?" 

"HUFFLEPUFF!" 

"Boot Terry!" 

"RAVENCLAW!" 

     Lavender Brown was the very first Gryffindor, the house Riley wanted to be in. Soon her name was called, 

"Riley Brooks?" 

     Riley made her way to the stool with confidence bouncing in every step. She plopped herself down on the small wooden stool and slid the hat onto her head. The hat almost covered her eyes completely but Riley slid it up a bit. The hat seemed to be taking its time deciding, "Interesting, I see a lot of ambition that would be perfect for Slytherin." 

     Riley's dark skin complexion suddenly become white, she closed her eyes as the hat yelled, 

"GRYFFINDOR!" 

     Riley had a sigh of relief and made her way to the Gryffindor table as her fellow Housemates cheered her on with delight. Now it was Kwan and Lizzy, they both crossed their fingers that they would be in the same house. After a couple of more first years, some being more Hufflepuff and some being Slytherin, Lizzy's name was called. 

     Lizzy slowly made her way up to the stool and sat down, she placed the hat over head and it started speaking almost immediately. "I see loyalty, and trust in you that'll make you a great Hufflepuff. I see, there is also a thirst for knowledge in you that'll also make you an outstanding Ravenclaw." Lizzy started to bite her nails, maybe they weren't going to be in the same house. 

     "Which one shall you be? Let's go with," 

"HUFFLEPUFF!"