The train chugged away from the station, and travelled out of London and into the countryside. As it did, Ron stared quietly out the window. He didn't have much experience talking to girls, apart from his little sister. It was made worse by the fact that Rose was quite pretty.

Rose was looking out the window, so Ron took his opportunity to get a closer look at her. She looked like a tomboy with the jeans and baggy t-shirt she was wearing. Her shoulder length hair was loose and covering half her face. And underneath her hair, her round glasses were visible.

Rose turned away from the window and looked round towards Ron. As she did, he blushed and looked away. Rose shrugged and giggled at him. Ron scowled when he realised that Rose was laughing at him.

"Sorry," said Rose. "I did mean to laugh, you were just being funny."

Ron carried on scowling and didn't reply. Rose sighed, and tried to think of how best to apologise. Before she could, the door of the compartment opened, and there was a woman pushing a cart of sweets.

"Anything from the cart, dears?" she asked.

Ron humphed. "Don't have any money," he said.

"Oh, I have some," said Rose. "Let me buy you something to say sorry."

"Well, okay," said Ron.

Rose turned to the woman with the cart. "I don't know what's good, so can I have one of everything please," she said.

Rose took the large handfuls of sweets, and piles them up on the seat between her and Ron. He looked down at the sweets, then looked up at Rose with a big grin.

"Thanks," he said.

Ron and Rose started eating the sweets and chocolates. They were very different from anything Rose had ever eaten before. Plus most of them seemed to have some kind of magic as part of the treat. Rose was most surprised when she opened one box and had a frog jump out at her.

By the time they had finished eating all the sweets, it had started to get dark outside.

"We should get our robes on," said Ron. "We'll be at Hogwarts soon."

Rose took down her trunk and took out her robes. She watched Ron as he put his robes on over the top of his clothes, so she copied him and quickly pulled them on.

When the train came into the station, they were both dressed in the proper way. The train stopped and the doors opened, and everyone started to get off the train.

A loud voice called out. "First years, this way."

Rose looked to the end of the platform and saw Hagrid waving his umbrella. "Hi, Hagrid," she called out.

"Hello again, Rose," said Hagrid.

"Blimey, he's huge," said Ron.

Hagrid then led the way to Hogwarts castle. He took them past the main entrance, and down a side passage to a large wooden door. Professor McGonagall was there, stood in front of the door.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," she said. "Now, in a moment we will walk through the door to the sorting ceremony. When you name is read out, you will place the hat on your head and be sorted into your houses."

McGonagall looked down at all the small faces looking up at her. When she spotted Rose, she paused for a moment.

"Those eyes, you look just like..." McGonagall said. "You must be Rose."

"Err, yeah, that's right," said Rose.

"I haven't seen you since you were a baby..." said McGonagall. "I'm sorry, I should see if they are ready for us."

McGonagall looked flustered as she turned around and walked into the Great Hall.

"Well that was weird," said Ron.

"Yeah, I guess," said Rose.

The first years waited for a few minutes until McGonagall returned. Then she led them through the door and into the Great Hall. Rose saw a large hall with four long tables, all filled with excited looking children. McGonagall took the first years all the way to the front of the hall. There they could see a single chair with a large hat put on it.

At the top of the hall was a large table where all the professors were sitting. Rose looked along the table at all the different professors. Most of them were chatting amongst themselves, but there was one at the end who seemed to be staring at her with a kind of curious expression. He was a dark and serious looking man, with dark hair and dressed all in black.

Rose felt uncomfortable with the way he was staring at her, so she turned to Ron. "Who's that?" she asked.

"Professor Snape. He's the head of Slytherin house," said Ron.

"He looks creepy," said Rose.

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat, then looked down at a list of names she held in her hands. "Okay, in no particular order... Ron Weasley."

Ron walked forward nervously. He sat down on the chair, and the sorting hat was put on his head.

"Another Weasley," said the hat. "I know just what to do with you... Gryffindor!"

All the children on the Gryffindor table cheered as Ron went to join them.

"Draco Malfoy," said McGonagall.

A blonde haired boy with an annoying smirk stepped forward.

"Slytherin," shouted the hat.

The Slytherins cheered as Draco joined their table.

"Hermione Granger," said McGonagall.

A cute looking girl with bushy hair stepped forward. She walked in a determined way to the chair.

"Gryffindor," shouted the hat, to much applause from the other Gryffindors.

"Rose Dursley," said McGonagall.

Rose stepped forward awkwardly. She did not feel comfortable with the whole room of people watching her. She quickly sat down and put on the hat.

"Ahh... oh? How strange," said the hat. "There's something odd about you. There's power, but something else too... So I wonder where I should put you? Better put you in... Gryffindor!"

The rest of the Gryffindors cheered, and Rose walked over and sat down next to Ron.

The sorting continued, and the rest of the first years were sorted into their houses. As they did, Rose noticed the creepy professor kept staring at her.

Once the ceremony had finished, the first years were escorted to their common rooms. The Gryffindors were taken by Ron's older brother, Percy. He took them up the stairs and along a corridor to a portrait of a fat lady. When he said the password, the portrait opened up to reveal a doorway behind it.

When they entered the common room, Rose could see a cozy looking room with loads of comfortable chairs, and a big fireplace.

"Okay, boys dormitory is up the staircase on the right, girls are on the left," said Percy.

Rose followed one of the other girls up the stairs and into the girls dormitory. When they entered the room, the other girl turned around and smiled at Rose.

"Hello, I'm Hermione Granger," she said.

"Hi, I'm Rose."

"It looks like we are going to be sharing a room," said Hermione. "Isn't it exciting."

"Err, yeah, I guess," said Rose. "It's been a long day, I think I'm too tired to be excited."

"You're right, it is late," said Hermione. "We should go to sleep."

Rose wasn't used to being around someone so bossy, but she found that she wasn't that bothered. "Okay," she said.

Then Rose and Hermione got changed into their pajamas, and got into bed for a good night's sleep.