The Hogwarts Express stood tall and proud in Platform 9 3/4, but having seen it every year since I was eleven, I paid it no mind as I climbed aboard. Honestly, it was just a train. What I did focus on was the rapidly filling compartments and finding my friends. Knowing Azazel, he would already be in board, for being early was one of his specialties. Calla would probably be here shortly, and Daniella showed up whenever she pleased.

Walking down the corridor, I looked up ahead and spotted a tall figure leaning up against the wall. His arms were crossed and he looked upon the chaos with a steely gaze. I approached him quickly, a sly smile seeping across my face. He noticed me coming towards him and also allowed the corner of his mouth to lift ever so slightly.

"Azel," he said, his tone as rich as always. He spoke so smoothly, his voice like cold water flowing over my skin. He acted like a gentleman, and he was, but deep down he was a true Slytherin, like me.

"Hello Azazel, I take it this will be our compartment?" I said glancing inside at the one third year sitting inside. Already sensing his answer, I set my trunk down next to him.

"Yes, I figured you would prefer to do the honors?"

I smiled, pulling my wand out and twirling it ever so slightly. "With pleasure."

Without a second thought, I strode forward and flung the compartment door open. The third year Gryffindor turned towards me with wide eyes, but that was all I saw before I grabbed her by her robes, which she had already put on, and tossed her out of the compartment. She screamed as she stumbled out of the compartment, but did not stick around long enough for me to hex her into silence. The second her feet were stable underneath her, she dashed away, brown hair flying behind her.

"Ah, nothing better to start off another year at Hogwarts," Azazel said, striding into the compartment and placing our trunks in the racks above the seats. He then took his spot by the window.

"Not like you did anything, Az," I teased with a smile playing on my lips. I also chose a window seat, dropping down opposite him. He mocked looking offended for a moment.

"I found the compartment, what more could you ask for?"

I chuckled, leaning back in the seat and stretching out my arms. Sure, it might have been easier to just search for an empty compartment, but where was the fun in that? This way, people still knew who was boss.

"So, how was your summer Az?" I said changing the subject. He raised one eyebrow before answering.

"The family and I went on vacation for two months. We went across the sea, to America," he said looking at the back of his hand.

I suddenly sat up, interested. "America? What was it like?"

He chuckled lowly, "You've seen the pictures."

"Yes but they do not capture everything. Come on Az, what was it like?", I said, leaning forward.

He looked up and met my gaze. "It was different. Impressive, intimidating, and very diverse. It's huge. We were there for a couple months and I feel like we barely scratched the surface of the country. Even if I lived there, I doubt I would ever truly see everything America has to offer. I mean, not only is it large in land mass, but each state is like it's own country in how unique it is. We visited most of the important places, yet I still feel like there was so much we missed. I hope to go there again."

I was in awe. America always seemed like an enigma to me, vast and mysterious. A slight pang of jealousy throbbed in my chest, but I hid it. Someday I would be able to go there and see what it was like for myself. Azazel was just a bit luckier than me and was able to visit America much sooner than I could.

"What about you?" He said, "What did you do this summer?"

Oh you know, sat in my room and read each and every day away. Not to mention singing in the mirror to myself whenever my eyes got tired, I thought to myself, but of course I could not say that.

I opened my mouth, about to reply with some stupid lie, but was saved the hassle by the door to the compartment sliding open.

Calla walked in, dragging her trunk behind her. Her bright green eyes scanned the room quickly as a smile spread across her face. She placed her trunk in the rack and plopped down in the seat next to me.

"Hi guys," she said simply.

"Hey Calla," I said happy with the change of subject.

"Any trouble getting the compartment?" she asked, a knowing look in her eyes.

"No trouble at all," I said slyly, "just a bit of fun."

"You know Azel's definition of fun," Az said with a chuckle.

"Oh, you know you enjoy it as much as I do," I said kicking him lightly.

"I can't deny it."

I laughed, Calla joining in as well. The train rides were always so light and carefree. I loved it. Not that I didn't love making lives miserable for Gryffindors or first years, but there was something special about our train rides that made me smile wistfully.

We continued chatting nonchalantly for several more minutes until we heard the whistle of the Hogwarts Express blow and the entire train shuddered forward. Calla furrowed her brows and glanced around. I also looked around but more in confusion of her expression.

"What's wrong?" I asked her curiously.

"Where's-?" She began but was cut off by the compartment door sliding open.

"Oh, there she is," she finished as Daniella walked into the compartment and sat down in the seat next to the door across from Calla. Her silky black hair flowed around her and I couldn't help feel the slightest bit jealous. Yes, I was also beautiful, but there was something about her that was elegant, something I did not have. If only I could pull of the grace she had, I would look even more stunning.

"Well, that was a close call," I remarked.

She shook her head, "I just had to go a little out of my way to greet the newest first years."

Azazel smirked, looking slyly over at Daniella. Once more, my chest flared hot and I laughed loudly to change the focus of the conversation. Immediately, his gaze turned to me again, and I felt my resentment slowly sinking.

"I'm sure we will be able to welcome them to Hogwarts soon enough," I said with an evil glint in my eye. I glanced over at Calla and also noticed her bright green eyes shining, but less so than mine. I always knew she enjoyed tormenting first years less than she let on, but at the same time I knew she was mischievous and liked to prank others. She was the planner, I was the one who executed said plans. It worked fairly well.

The rest of the train ride passed quickly. The trolley came and I bought a few chocolate frogs and licorice wands. The only moment of excitement was when a group of Gryffindors passed our compartment door and Daniella and I sent a couple hexes at their backs. Most missed their targets but one Gryffindor got hit in the small of their back with the Jelly Legs Jinx. She fell to the floor with a shriek, her legs flopping around uselessly. I laughed cruelly at her and high fived Daniella as one of the Gryffindors turned to look at us. As she did, I couldn't help smiling.

Annalisa Hathaway, a Gryffindor in the same year as I was, glared pointedly down the hall at us as the other two Gryffindors helped the girl who we hit to her feet. Now that I could see her face, I saw that it was none other than Rachel Johnson who we hit. She also glared at us, but with her legs not supporting even part of her weight, her glare was quite unimpressive.

"What," Annalisa called, "not brave enough to hex us when we are looking?"

"They couldn't even hit us with our backs turned," one of the girls holding Rachel said.

"Why would we want to see you from the front, Hathaway? We'd rather hex you from behind so we don't have to see your troll face," I taunted.

"And as for hitting you, I think Rachel would say we hit our mark quite well," Daniella responded with a sneer.

Suddenly, a flash of red went flying past my head, so close to hitting me that my hair blew backwards from the force of it. Before Annalisa had the chance to shoot another spell at us, I dodged back inside the compartment, dragging Daniella with me.

They did not follow us back to the compartment, which I was silently grateful for. Annalisa was a good dueler, and I was not sure how well I would do against her. I would never admit that out loud though.

"That was priceless," Daniella said breathlessly, holding her hand across her chest as she dissolved into a fit of laughter.

"Yeah," I said, not entirely focused on the conversation. My mind was wandering on its own, back to the beginning of my feud with Annalisa.

~*~

Before I was even sorted, I knew I was not a Gryffindor. I strode onto the train, and unlike the rest of the first years, I was not trembling or allowing my mouth to hang ajar. Even from the beginning, I knew I had to make an image for myself. And even if being nervous on the first day would not be recalled, being cocky and unimpressed would be remembered for a long time after.

I was dragging my trunk behind me, holding my chin high, when I first met them. He was curious, yet not childishly so, and he scanned the hall of the train with a precise and calculating gaze. Immediately, I knew he was also making a reputation for himself, in a less bold way.

The girl next to him was shorter, and less conscious of what she did. The smile plastered on her face was filled with excitement and fascination. Yet, I took a liking to her the second I saw her. And the boy as well, something about him seemed to fit my personality, even if I did not know it consciously yet.

I walked up to them confidently, letting a friendly, yet mischievous, smile cross my face. The boy immediately caught my eye and raised one brow. The girl noticed me a little later, but when she did her smile grew even larger, if that was even possible.

"Hi," she said cheerfully, but not in the way that made me want to run away or pull out my new wand and test what spells I could perform on her. No, she was someone I found myself liking from the start.

"What's your name?" She continued, "I'm Calla Shaw."

"Azel Milani," I said confidently. The boy looked slightly surprised at my answer.

"Interesting," he said, and even for a short, first year, his voice was surprisingly mature, "for my name is Azazel. Azazel Auslaufen."

I scowled slightly. I was always proud of how unique my name was. And now, here was someone with a name only two letters away from mine. But, I quickly came up with a solution.

"Ok Az, what do you say we all go and find a compartment?" I said, starting down the hall once more.

"Uhm, Azel? We already went that way. There are no empty compartments," Calla said following me.

"Well then, we will just have to make one," I said back nonchalantly.

I continued heaving my trunk after me until I came upon a compartment that was mostly empty. The only person in it was a fellow first year and a Slytherin girl stood in the doorway. As we got closer I could hear their conversation.

"Don't you get it, brat? I don't care if you were hear first. I want this compartment, so you are going to get out, before I make you," the Slytherin girl said.

I walked up behind her, Calla and Az close behind. I had to admit, the girl sitting in there was brave. She shook her head defiantly, despite the fear in her eyes. Seeing my chance, I strode forward next to the Slytherin girl. She looked down at me in surprise, but I kept my gaze trained on the girl in the compartment.

"Are you deaf? You were told to leave our compartment," I said, setting down my trunk and folding my arms. The girl inside scowled at me.

"You don't tell me what to do," she said stubbornly.

"Well, that can be changed, now leave. You are obviously outnumbered," I said, glaring at her.

Her eyes flicked back and forth between the Slytherin girl, Calla, Az, and I. She was obviously smarter than she looked because with a lot of grumbling, she grabbed her trunk and left the compartment. With a triumphant smile, I turned to Calla and Az, but was interrupted by a voice.

"You've got a lot of spunk for a first year," the Slytherin girl said, "I like that. You want to sit with me?"

I looked at her and smiled. "Sure, we'd love to."

"I'm Daniella by the way, Daniella Harmus," she said walking into the compartment.

"I'm Azel Milani," I replied also walking in.

The rest of the train ride was a blur. It wasn't until I arrived at Hogwarts that my memory became crystal clear again. Even I could not hide the awe I was in of the huge castle. Even the little boats we rode in were impressive. Not to mention the inside of the castle. The Entrance Hall was huge and the Great Hall took my breath away.

The Sorting was everything I hoped it would be. Something easy and requires no work from me. Professor McGonagall brought out the Sorting Hat, which my brother had told me about last year. The brim of the hat opened up wide and belted out its song then McGonagall started to call out the names of the first years.

Azazel was first, and the second the hat touched his head, it shouted out, "SLYTHERIN!"

A cheer went up from the table with the green and silver emblems. He walked cooly over to their table and took his seat, his eyes meeting mine. I smiled and gave him a thumbs up.

The hat then sorted three Hufflepuffs in a row, and I began to become uninterested. It wasn't until the girl from the compartment stepped up that I focused once more.

"Annalisa Hathaway!" McGonagall called and she strode forward confidently. As she sat upon the stool, a part of me knew already what house she would be placed in. She was so brave in the compartment, there was no way she could be in any other house.

"GRYFFINDOR!" The hat cried and she walked off with the happiest grin on her face.

My turn came quicker than I could have imagined. As McGonagall called my name, I walked up quickly, trying to look unimpressed and tough. I had no clue if it actually worked. As soon as I sat upon the stool, the Sorting Hat was placed upon my head and blocked my view of the Hall as it slipped over my eyes.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then it spoke to me.

"Yes, very cunning, a lot of pride I see. Very intelligent, perhaps Ravenclaw. No, much too sly," it spoke in my ear.

As I sat there, I thought about where I would want to be placed. I knew my family would be disappointed if I wasn't in Gryffindor, but they would be pleased enough if I made it in Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff. But was that what I wanted.

"No, it is not," the hat replied for me, "only one place to put you..."

~*~

"Azel!" Calla said, snapping her fingers in front of my face. I shook my head and looked at her.

"Have you been listening at all this whole train ride?" She asked.

"Uh," I responded dumbly.

"That explains the extremely intelligent responses this whole time," Azazel teased, standing and grabbing his trunk. I also grabbed mine, but made no remark for I was smiling too much.

This was going to be a great year.

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AN: THIS TOOK WAY TOO MUCH TIME TO WRITE, BTF UPDATE IS NEXT.