Author's notes:

Standard disclaimer: It all belongs to JKR. Except where I might use some song lyrics which I will call out at the time and give proper credit. Thank you JKR for letting us play with your toys.

Also, if you have not read my story, Harry Potter and the Muggles' Daughter, you are going to be lost. That is the prequel to this. But hey, if you haven't, BONUS! You've got a whole story you can go read before coming back here!

And last, for those wondering where Ginny has been, Muggle's Daughter was only the first installment of eight. She's coming. In fact, well, read on.

HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE

THE HOGWARTS' EXPRESS

HPHPHP

"You're joking," Mr Granger said. Harry thought even Mali – who was always up for anything magical that she could participate in – looked a bit skeptical.

"Nope," Sirius answered. "It's all set up to allow non-magic parents across so they can see their children off. Just hit it at a quick walk and you'll go right through."

Mr Granger eyed him dubiously. "Just so you know, if I break my nose trying to go through that wall, I'm going to tie you in a knot no amount of magic will be able to get you out of."

Harry was only slightly less concerned than Mr Granger. The wall wasn't anything like the passage from the Leaky Cauldron into Diagon Alley. That one you tapped your wand on the bricks in the right pattern and the wall rearranged itself into an archway you could see and subsequently walk through. This wall, because it was out in the middle of a non-magic train station, needed to maintain the appearance of being solid… It was doing a very good job of it.

He found he wished his mum or Mrs Tonks had been able to join the group seeing Hermione and he off. He could trust them. Remus and Sirius, they were still smarting from the final ambush Hermione and he had caught them in the day before during their paintball war. But with the desire to keep his mum, as well as any confirmation of a relationship with Mrs Tonks, hidden, it was only Hermione's parents, Sirius and Remus who had accompanied them to the station. Their goodbyes to his mum, Mrs Tonks, Mr Tonks and Tonks – that really was a lot of Tonkses – had occurred before leaving Bourton that morning. Harry was also feeling a bit tetchy towards Hermione because, while he was once again denied something that should have been his by rights, she got to have her parents come see her off.

A hand slipping into his startled him. "I'm sorry," Hermione whispered. Harry stared at her. "You should be able to have your mum here." Harry blinked. She was no-where near good enough to use Legilimency on him without eye contact and even with it she was like a freight train compared to Mrs Tonks. "It took me a while to figure out why you were so quiet."

Harry squeezed her hand. "Thanks."

She smiled. "It's two minutes past, shall we give it a go?" she asked under her breath.

Harry grinned. They'd arrived plenty early to the station. So much so that the portal hadn't been open yet. But with it now being 9:02, it should be. "Come on." He tugged her hand and they darted through.

"Oi!" Sirius hollered.

Harry and Hermione split to either side of the portal the instant they were through. They then each stuck a leg in front of it just in time to send Sirius sprawling as he hurried after them.

"ARGHH!" he bellowed as he face planted. Before he could get out of the way, Remus came through with the trolley carrying their school trunks and ran it up on top of him, pinning him underneath. Harry and Hermione burst into laughter and crumpled to the floor.

"Bril!" Harry gasped, holding his hand up.

Hermione's parents came through just in time to see Hermione fist-bump him. "What in the world?" Mali gasped.

"It would appear the twin terrors have struck again," Remus remarked dryly.

"Shut up and get this thing off me," Sirius complained. Remus gave the trolley a tug.

Mr Granger offered Sirius a hand up. "You could stop encouraging them," he suggested.

Sirius glowered at the two miscreants who were still sitting on the floor in a heap chortling at him. "No worries," he said. He brushed himself off and pointedly straightened his jacket. "I've already set a few things in their trunks for when they open them later." Harry and Hermione stopped laughing and studied him. "Oi, knock that off!" Sirius bellowed. As he was expelled form Sirius' mind, Harry's head jerked like he'd been smacked.

"Any luck?" Hermione asked.

"No," Harry said morbidly.

"Drat," Hermione muttered. "I guess I'll be doing an awful lot of Finite Incantatems later."

"You better believe it, Girlie," Sirius said.

"Come on, let's get you two loaded up," Remus urged.

For the first time since coming onto the platform, Harry focused on his surroundings. The massive black and red Hogwarts Express locomotive belching steam sat before them. "Cool," he gushed softly.

"Yeah," Hermione agreed.

Mali sighed. "It's like stepping back into a bygone era."

"Which is both good and bad," Remus observed. "The train is one of the good. You kids got everything you need out of your trunks?"

"Yes," Hermione answered.

Harry patted his bag. "Yep."

"Alright then." Remus took his wand out and levitated their trunks into the baggage car where a purser took over packing them away.

"Remind me to invite you over when I need those flagstones moved," Mr Granger said.

"Happy to help," Remus answered. It'll just have to be when it's dark out."

"Hmm, sit in my garden and have a beer with my mates till it gets dark or lug rock around for the day. Yeah, easy choice."

"I'll bring the beer," Sirius said.

"Can we go on the train?" Mali asked.

"Sure," Remus said. "Let's get them settled."

It was five to 11:00 when the second whistle sounded; announcing the train's imminent departure. Over the last two hours the train had filled with students heading off to school and most of them were now crowded at the windows so they could say a last goodbye to their families.

"Make us proud," Mali said.

"We will, Mum," Hermione answered.

"Promise," Harry added.

"And be good," Mr Granger said. "You especially," he added with a significant look at Harry.

"Hey!" he protested. "I just come up with the ideas. She's the one who figures out how."

Hermione elbowed him. "I do not!"

"Do so!"

"School will be lucky to be standing by the time those two get done with it," Sirius said under his breath.

"Don't I know it," Remus agreed. He popped a piece of gum in his mouth. Harry and Hermione held their hands out. Remus sighed and gave them each a stick. "All I had to do was wait two minutes," he muttered.

Harry popped the gum in his mouth and instantly knew they'd been had.

"But then we'd have missed this," Sirius chortled. Hermione's parents just stared at them.

Harry and Hermione took one look at each other, cried, "YOU HAVE MY HAIR!" and burst out laughing. The whistle blew and the train lurched. "WAIT, HOW DO WE FIX IT?" The train had already moved about five feet forward.

"It'll wear off," Remus called.

"Eventually!" Sirius added.

"Bye! We love you!" Mali called.

Hermione waved back. "Love you, Mum, Dad!" And then they were out of the station. Harry pushed the window up and they sat back on the bench. So far they hadn't been joined by anyone and had the compartment to themselves. They looked at each other and snorted. "You look ridiculous," Hermione teased.

"You're not much better," Harry retorted.

Hermione dug her mirror from her pocket and examined herself. Luckily Harry wore his hair long and she didn't look too bad. "How long do you think it will last?"

Before he could reply, the door to their compartment slid open. Two girls stood in the passageway. "Hey, are you first-years as well?" one asked.

"We are," Hermione piped up. "Would you like to join us?"

"Oh, that would be lovely," the second girl said. "Everywhere else that isn't full is infested with nargles. Which is very strange as there is no mistletoe to be found anywhere."

"Luna," the first girl hissed.

"What?" she asked.

The girl sighed. "Nothing." She pulled her friend in and slid the door shut.

Harry pretty much missed everything of the exchange between the two girls and Hermione. He could do little but stare. The girl – yes, there were two of them, but that was beside the point – had flaming-red hair, her face and arms were covered with freckles and she looked almost exactly like the girl from the boat rental kiosk in Disney World… Only she was ten years younger. More shockingly, she was the last piece of the puzzle from his visions the night Kaa had bonded with him.

She was the girl flying her broom while he watched from behind a tree.

Hermione caught him staring while the two girls put their bags in the bin over their bench and elbowed him. Harry startled and finally registered that the second girl sported golden blonde hair. He glanced between Hermione, the girls and slouched over to whisper in her ear. "Dibs on the redhead." Hermione goggled at him. "Deal?" he asked.

Hermione shot the girls in question a look and then back to Harry. "K," she squeaked.

Harry sat up again just as the girls faced them and sat down. "Thanks for sharing," the redhead said. "I'm Ginny Weasley. And this is my friend Luna Lovegood."

"Hermione Granger," she answered. She glanced at Harry when he didn't say anything. He was openly staring at Ginny once more. She elbowed him. Hard.

He jumped and turned to her. "OW! Hermione, what was that for?"

"You were staring," she hissed.

"Staring?"

Hermione jerked her head. "Staring," she said again, barely moving her lips. Harry glanced over and once again when his eyes landed on Ginny his brain jumped the tracks.

"What?" Ginny demanded. "Never seen a girl with red hair before?"

Harry finally snapped out of it. "Right. Sorry," he said turning a spectacular shade of red. "Erm, what were we talking about?"

"Your name," Hermione hissed.

"My name?" Harry asked.

"Yes," Hermione growled. "Your name. You know. Like I'm Hermione Granger, she's Luna Lovegood and she's Ginny Weasley."

"It appears he's suffering an infestation of wrackspurts," Luna said.

"Wrackspurts?" Harry and Hermione asked.

"Yes. They enter your head through your ears and make your mind go all fuzzy."

The two stared at her. "Well," Hermione said airily, "I suppose it's as good an explanation as anything. Since he seems incapable of telling you himself, his name is Harry Potter."

Harry had to force himself to pay attention to both girls' reactions and not just stare at Ginny. Other than the few adult witches and wizards he already knew, this was the first time someone from the wizarding world was meeting him. He'd been told to expect some odd reactions. Both girls' eyes widened and glanced to his forehead and the lightning bolt scar he sported. Harry blushed.

"Well," Ginny said, "He certainly isn't the eloquent prince the story books make him out to be, is he? Or can he actually answer for himself?"

"Not by a long shot," Hermione agreed, liking Ginny already.

"Not if I were blessed of a thousand," Harry said, "nay, ten thousand, years in which to gaze upon the beauty of your visage would I find words to pen that might capture what mine eyes have beheld." All three girls stared at him with wide eyes. Harry smirked. "How's that for eloquence?"

Ginny recovered first. "Needs polishing," she said with a cocky grin.

"I rather thought it was well spoken myself," Luna said.

Hermione groaned. "Please don't encourage him."

"Hag, be gone from my sight," Harry retorted.

Hermione grabbed his wrist and twisted. "What did you call me?"

"Give," Harry capitulated as he slid to the floor to relieve the pressure. "I give." This particular hold wasn't from judo per say, but that didn't matter in any way, shape or form because, It – Was – Brutal. And it was her specialty. He'd never once gotten out of it when she managed to put it on him. "Come on, Hermione, you know I think you're pretty." She let him go. Harry climbed back to his seat. "You have violent tendencies, you know that right?" he said massaging his wrist.

"If you had to put up with you for a best friend you'd be violent as well," she retorted.

"So you two know each other?" Ginny asked. "You must not be Muggle-born then?"

"Actually, I am," Hermione said.

"We met at judo camp," Harry said.

"But I didn't know anything about who he was."

"And I didn't know she was a witch."

"It was such a relief to see him in Diagon Alley when we went to get my school things," Hermione said. She took his hand in hers and squeezed.

"I kind of thought I'd be lucky to see her again after this summer. But then I find out she's a witch," Harry said. "It's brilliant."

Ginny eyed their entwined hands. "Are you like boyfriend and girlfriend then?" Harry and Hermione snorted. At the same time there was a pop and their hair returned to normal. "Bugger!" Ginny gasped. "How did Fred and George manage that already?"

"Holy cricket," Hermione gasped.

"Fred and George are your brothers?" Harry asked.

"You know my brothers?" Ginny asked.

"Do you have a brother named Charlie too?" Harry asked.

Ginny nodded. "How did you know that?"

"Because he's dating Sirius' cousin Tonks. She told us all kinds of stories about your brothers."

"Do you mean Sirius Black?" Luna asked.

Harry nodded. "He's my godfather."

"Your godfather?" Ginny asked. "I didn't know that."

"It's been kept quiet," Harry answered.

Just then the trolley lady knocked and slid their door open. "Anything off the trolley, luvs?" she asked.

"No thank you," Ginny said.

Luna bounced up. "I'd like a meat pie and some pumpkin juice."

Harry exchanged a look with Hermione. "After the gum, I'm not eating anything else we brought," she said.

"Me either," Harry agreed. He dug out his money pouch and went to examine the options. After he'd made his selections, he returned to his spot and dumped the pile on the seat between himself and Hermione. Hermione grabbed a pasty for herself. "Help yourself if you want anything," Harry said to the other girls.

Ginny dug a sandwich from her bag. "I'm good," she said. She took a bite, chewed, stopped, peaked at her sandwich, sighed and swallowed.

"Tuna?" Luna asked.

"Yes."

"Trade?" Luna offered.

Ginny eyed her sandwich dejectedly. "You're sure?"

"I don't mind tuna."

"You're positive?" Ginny asked again. Luna handed her pie over and took Ginny's sandwich. "Thank you, Luna."

Luna tossed the sandwich in the bin, reached across the compartment and took a pasty from Harry's pile. "Thank you, Harry, she'd never take one herself."

"Luna!" Ginny cried.

"Erm, you're welcome," Harry said.

"I really don't know why your mum keeps giving you tuna. She knows you don't like it." Seemingly oblivious to Ginny turning scarlet, Luna bit into her pasty. She swallowed and focused on Harry and Hermione. "You never did answer you know." Luna noticed Ginny eyeing the bin. "Those are bottomless bins, Ginevra. So if you intend to dig your sandwich out, you best get started." She took another bite of her pasty. "Or you could just eat the meat pie."

"There's plenty, Ginny," Hermione urged.

"And I can always buy more," Harry said. "I really am happy to share."

Ginny gave them a small smile. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Luna said. She focused on Harry and Hermione. "So, are you?"

"Are we what?" Harry asked.

"Boyfriend and girlfriend."

"No," Hermione said.

"We're more like brother and sister."

"But you hold hands," Ginny said. "And you paid for her lunch."

Harry shrugged. "She'll buy next time."

"And the hands?" Luna asked.

Harry glanced at Hermione. He'd never really given it a second thought. Well he had, but that was only because Sirius was on about it all the time. So they held hands, what was wrong with that? "It's a long story," Hermione said. "Besides, Luna gave you her lunch even though she didn't want tuna either."

"Do you hold hands with her?" Harry asked.

Luna and Ginny exchanged a look. "Yes," Ginny said.

"Quite frequently," Luna added. "But Ginny isn't gay, it's not like she's my girlfriend… Well, I suppose technically she's a girlfriend, but she's not a girlfriend."

"See, friends can hold hands," Hermione said.

"Yeah, but it's normal for girls to hold their friends' hands," Ginny said.

Harry shrugged. "Not a girl, wouldn't know."

"I've never had a girlfriend, so I wouldn't know either," Hermione said.

"Well," Luna said, "I think it's nice. Is your hair going to change again?"

"Erm," Harry said. Luna seemed to change subjects rather unexpectedly and he was finding it a bit difficult to keep up. "No. Sirius pranked us earlier. We both have our normal hair now."

"That's good," Luna said. "You both look much better this way."

"I do?" Hermione asked.

Luna nodded. "You're very unique this way. I like things that are unique."

"But it's so bushy."

"It's beautiful," Luna said. "May I have a licorice wand, Harry?" Harry grabbed two and handed them to her. She immediately offered one to Ginny. Ginny glared at Harry. He grabbed a chocolate frog from the pile and offered it to her instead. Her eyes narrowed. Harry shrugged and tossed it on her seat.

"You may as well eat it, Ginny," Hermione urged. "Harry is extremely generous with his friends."

The door of their compartment opening interrupted them. A tall, gangly, redheaded boy with a bit of a long nose was stood in the passageway. Another boy, slightly shorter than the first, but much pudgier, with hair as black as Harry's lurked nervously behind him. "Has anyone seen a toad?" the redhead asked. "Just, Neville's lost his." He jerked his head over his shoulder, indicating the boy behind him. Neville smiled nervously at them.

"No, sorry, Ron, we haven't," Ginny said.

Ron, Harry figured he must be Ginny's brother, focused on her. "Oh, hey, Ginny, didn't see you there." Ginny scowled at him. "Hey," he said brightly, "can I have a frog?"

"I'm sorry, Ron. That's Luna's. You'll have to ask her."

"No," Luna said.

"Loan me a sickle then, Sis?" Ron asked.

Ginny glowered at him. "Considering I already bought you a broom, why don't you go beg money off Fred and George," she said coldly.

Ron rolled his eyes. "Fine." He glanced around the compartment. His gaze lingered for a second on the pile of treats between Harry and Hermione, before he settled on Harry himself. "Blimey," he gasped. "You're Harry Potter!"

"Last I checked," Harry agreed. He noticed the other boy, Neville, craning to get a better look at him.

"What are you doing sitting here with a bunch of girls, Mate?" Ron asked. "Come sit with Neville and I."

"What's wrong with girls?" Hermione demanded.

Ron completely ignored her. "You coming, Mate?"

Not that he'd ever been going to leave Hermione behind anyway, Harry decided Ron was a first class git and settled back in his seat. And that said nothing for Ginny. He'd been dreaming of her since just after he'd turned seven. He wasn't about to leave without getting to know her better. He also was rather enjoying Luna's company as well. "Nope."

"No? What do you mean no? Why would you want to sit here with a bunch of girls; especially my sister and Loony Lovegood?" As fast as both Hermione and Ginny were, Harry was quickest. He was nose to chin with the taller boy in blink.

"I don't take kindly to people who call my friends names," he said, his voice low and laced with warning. Ron was taken aback but rallied quickly. Right up till Harry caught sight of a wand out of the corner of his eye.

"Leave, Ronald," Ginny hissed. Ron hesitated. "Two words," she intoned. "Bat Boggey." Harry made a mental note to try and learn her tone. It was scary.

Ron paled and backed out of the compartment. Harry reached out and slid the door closed again. Ron glared at him through the glass. "Stay away from my sister, Potter," he warned before stomping off. Fidgeting nervously, Neville couldn't seem to decide if he should follow Ron or not.

Harry cracked the door open. "Want help looking for your toad?" Neville's eyes widened. Just then a large grey toad croaked and hopped out from the toilet.

"Trevor!" Neville cried and dove for the creature.

"Problem solved," Harry said. "You can join us if you like."

Neville climbed to his feet. "M–my th–things are back there."

Harry shrugged. "Suit yourself." He closed the door and sat down again.

"Daddy will be ever so pleased to hear I've made a friend already," Luna said. Harry glanced at Hermione. Apparently uncomfortable silences were not something that existed around Luna.

Hermione shrugged. "He started it. What's wrong with girls indeed." She grabbed a peppermint stick from the pile. "Next time he ignores me like that I'll give him something to remember me by."

Harry smirked. "Glad to see I'm not the only one suffering from your violent tendencies." He turned his attention on Ginny. She was still holding her wand and had an angry scowl on her face. "So, your brother?" he asked.

"Git extraordinair," she muttered.

"Would you have really hexed him?"

"I'm surprised she didn't," Luna said.

Harry caught a small smirk from Ginny at Luna's words. "What is bat boggie? I haven't heard of that one."

"Just a curse my brother taught me."

"How many brother's do you have?"

"Six," Luna piped up. "William, Charles, Percy, Fred, George and Ronald. I quite like William and Charles. The others, not so much."

"Fred and George are all right," Ginny countered.

Luna tipped her head. "Ask me tomorrow."

Ginny frowned. "What's that mean?"

Luna gave her a puzzled look. "I should have thought that was obvious. Did I fail to make myself clear? Perhaps you're suffering a case of wrackspurts as well." She looked thoughtful for a second. "They are contagious after all, and Harry was suffering from them earlier. And Merlin knows Ronald seems to have a permanent infestation. Now that I think about it I'm rather surprised you haven't been infected before."

Harry leaned over to Hermione. "Do you have any idea what wrackspurts are?"

"No clue," she replied.

Harry nodded slightly. "Alright then."

"Thanks, Luna," Ginny said. "That makes me feel so much better."

Luna patted her hand. "I hold little hope for Ronald, but I'm sure you'll be fine by morning."

"Are all your brothers older than you?" Hermione asked.

"Yes. Though this is Ron's first year as well."

"Oh, he must turn twelve soon then?"

"The fourth," Ginny said.

"Ouch," Harry said. That's worse than Hermione. She turns twelve on the twelfth. You must have just turned eleven then?"

"The twenty-fifth."

"Whew, that's cutting it close. Glad you weren't late."

Ginny grinned at him. "Actually, I was almost five weeks early."

Harry smirked. "Then I'm glad you were early."

Ginny gave a little snort. "You have no idea." She sat up and gathered her hair back, piled it on top of her head and used her wand to hold it in place. "Thank you for standing up to him. He's always picking on Luna."

Harry shrugged. "Hermione and I are used to standing up to bullies."

"Well, you'll have me to help you now too," Ginny said.

"Me three," Luna said. "Or perhaps it's four; I'm not sure. Though Ronald hardly classifies as a bully."

"Oh, what does he classify as then?" Hermione asked.

"Moron," Ginny said. "Clueless," Luna said at the same time.

"Are you really happy to sit here with three girls?" Ginny asked.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Harry countered.

Ginny shrugged. "Ginevra's brothers never want her around," Luna said. "Except for Bill and Charlie."

"Why don't they want you around?"

"They say it's because she's a girl," Luna said. "But it's really because they don't like that she's better than they are."

"Luna," Ginny hissed.

"Someone has to be on your side," Luna said. "And with Bill and Charlie not here, that means it's my job."

Ginny shook her head and rolled her eyes exasperatedly. "Can we talk about something other than me and my stupid brothers?"

"If you like," Luna said. "What would you like to talk about?"

"Anything," Ginny said.

Harry shot Hermione a look and gave a shrug. She made a little slithering motion with her hand. Harry nodded. "Up to you," she said.

"What?" Ginny asked.

Harry went all in. "Trying to decide if I want to share a secret with you."

Luna leaned forward. "I can keep secrets." She clapped her hands excitedly. "What have you got? Are you secretly a girl and that's why you're not bothered sharing a compartment with us."

"LUNA!" Ginny cried?

"What? That would be a brilliant secret. What's it like having a pemlpha."

Ginny clamped her hand over Luna's mouth. "Pay no attention to her. She's only pretending she's crazy. And I swear she can keep secrets."

Harry, who was a truly spectacular shade of red, glanced at Hermione. She was nearly as red as he was sure he must be but she just shrugged. Giving himself a shake he reached out and slid the lock on the door. He then pulled the shade over the glass. Last, he triggered the release for his wand. "Colloportus" he hissed.

Ginny's eyes widened. "That's an O.W.L. level spell."

"Yeah, well I can only do a few others so don't get too excited about it," Harry replied. He grabbed his bag from the overhead bin. "So, this will get out before long anyway, but I figure if you two are going to do a runner on us I might as well find out before I put much effort into making friends with you."

"Harry," Hermione protested. "That's a bit rude, don't you think?"

"It's the truth though, isn't it?"

She rolled her eyes. "It doesn't hurt to have a bit more tact than a cave troll you know."

"Whatever," Harry said. He focused on the other girls. "Ever heard of Parselmouths?" he asked.

Ginny's eyes widened. "Seriously?"

Harry reached into his bag and pulled Kaa out. "Meet Kaa," he said.

Both girls' eyes grew to the size of tennis balls. "Oh," Luna said, "that's better than secretly being a girl by a long shot."

"She's perfectly harmless," Hermione said. She held her hand out and Kaa traveled from Harry to her, up her arm and settled on her shoulders where she rubbed the top of her head against Hermione's cheek before settling down. "See, harmless."

Harry laughed. "Don't let her fool you," he said. "She was terrified the first time she met Kaa too."

"Y–you can speak with her?" Ginny whispered.

Harry nodded. "Yep."

Kaa flicked her tongue against Hermione's ear. "Stop that you," Hermione chastised. Kaa slipped down her front and coiled in Hermione's lap where she faced Ginny and Luna and raised up about half her length.

"Ssshe isss the one from your visssion?" Kaa asked.

"Pretty sure," Harry hissed.

"Are you speaking with her?" Luna asked.

Harry nodded. "She can understand you if you want to say something to her."

"How long have you had her?" Luna asked.

"She found me just after I turned seven," Harry said.

"And you've had her ever since?"

"Yes."

"C–can I touch her?" Ginny asked.

"Ask her," Harry said. Ginny stared at him. "I swear she won't bite you."

Ginny glanced between Harry and Kaa. "Watch," Hermione said. She gently picked Kaa up, wound her around her arm then raised the serpent to her nose. Kaa flicked Hermione's nose with her tongue before stretching out to bump noses with her. Hermione turned Kaa around and held her out to Ginny. "If you want her to come, just ask."

Ginny swallowed. "You promise not to bite me?" Kaa moved her head up and down.

"Just hold your hand out and let her come to you," Harry said. Ginny cautiously raised her hand. Kaa bridged the distance. "Just be still," Harry urged. "She'll want to scent you first."

"Scent me?" Ginny whispered. "Meep," she squeaked when Kaa flicked her tongue against her fingertips.

"And now she'll come to you," Harry said.

"Ok," Ginny croaked. Kaa slipped forward, gliding up Ginny's arm to her shoulders and back down her other arm. Harry reached out to Ginny who held her arm up. Kaa traveled across the space and wound around his arm.

"She loves having her head scratched. Go on and try," he urged.

Ginny cautiously did so and found Kaa gently pressing against her fingers. "Wicked," she breathed.

Harry focused on Luna. "Would you like to say hi?"

"Yes please," she said eagerly.

Harry shifted so Kaa could bridge the distance between them. "Just hold your hand out and wait for her to come to you." Luna did as he said and, as with Ginny, Kaa flicked her tongue to Luna's fingers before moving across to her arm and up to her shoulders.

"She really is beautiful," Ginny whispered. Kaa stopped and swung round to her.

"Thank you."

"She says thank you," Harry translated.

"You're welcome," Ginny said. Kaa dipped her head before swinging back round to finish traversing up Luna's arm around her shoulders and back down again.

Luna turned her back so she could look Kaa in the eyes. "Be safe my friend," she said.

Kaa hissed in reply, stretched forward and flicked her tongue against Luna's nose. "She says thank you and that your heart is a joy to feel."

"Thank you," Luna said. She held her hand out and Harry quickly moved to take Kaa from her. He held her up and bumped noses with her.

"We'll talk later."

"The time of choosssing comesss. Remember your Ssspiritsss and you will be fine."

"You can't just tell me what to do?"

"I jussst did."

"What is she saying?" Hermione asked.

"She's just complaining again about the list of things she's not supposed to eat."

"Like what?" Ginny asked.

"Owls, cats, toads, rats."

Ginny shuddered. "It's too bad Percy's pet rat escaped. I'd have been glad to have her eat it."

Harry stared at her for a second. She had no idea just how happy he'd be to let Kaa eat that particular rat. "Yeah, too bad," he agreed.

"You should probably put her away, Harry," Hermione said. "Besides, I need to go to the toilet. And we should get our robes on as well."

"Yeah, sure." He quickly bumped noses with Kaa again and set her back in his bag before unlocking the door.

Hermione darted out. "Be right back." Over the next ten minutes, each of the girls and Harry made a trip to the loo and returned to their compartment where they pulled their robes on over their everyday clothes and quietly conversed for a bit. Luna had also pulled a paper from her bag and was working on the crossword.

"What's a nine letter, historical name for Ethiopia?" she asked.

"Abyssinia," Hermione answered. Luna wrote it down.

"She was right?" Ginny asked.

"Yes," Luna answered.

"She's always right," Harry said at the same time.

"I've never gotten one right when she's asked," Ginny said.

"You have so," Luna said.

"Fine, I almost never get them right."

"To be fair, I don't ever ask you the easy ones," Luna pointed out.

"Ask her another one, Luna," Harry said.

Luna skimmed down her page. "No, that would hardly be fair," she muttered.

"What wouldn't be fair?" Hermione asked.

"Well, you've only known you're a witch for a bit more than a month so you can't possibly know too many of these. I wanted to find something they would know in the Muggle world as well."

"That's true," Hermione agreed. Harry could see just how much it cost her to keep her mouth shut. He'd be willing to bet his friend knew as much as either Luna or Ginny did about the magic world. Before Luna could find a good question the door to their compartment slid open once again.

Two hulking boys whom, excepting for their dark hair, instantly reminded Harry of his cousin, flanked a thin boy of average height and white-blonde hair. The blonde boy focused on Harry. "It's true then," he said, "they're saying Harry Potter is in this compartment?"

Harry couldn't say why, but he instantly took a disliking to him. "What if it is?"

The blonde stepped into the compartment. "This is Crabbe," he jerked his head to his left. "And Goyle," he jerked his head to the right. I'm Malfoy," he stuck his hand out for Harry to shake. "Draco Malfoy."

Hermione surreptitiously slid her hand over Harry's and squeezed. Hard. It was good that she did. He hadn't expected this to begin so quickly and even if he had he wasn't sure he could have suppressed the instinct to plant Draco's face through the floor. "You're joking, right?" he asked.

Draco's ears pinked. "Joking? I'm not sure I get your meaning, Potter?" He pressed his hand forward. "I was just offering to help you make friends with the right sort."

Harry glanced at the others in the compartment. Crabbe and Goyle looked just as dim as Dudley ever had. Luna was watching them nervously. Ginny appeared to have taken the same sort of disliking to Draco as he had. Hermione gave a tiny shake of her head. Harry heaved himself to his feet and advanced a step towards Draco. "Well, you know, I'm touched, Draco, I really am. That you'd want to help me and all, because I did spend most of my childhood being raised by Muggles after my parents were murdered by a trumped up, half-blood, psychopath. But the thing is my godfather, Sirius Black, he caught up to me after he was exonerated, and he taught me to be able to tell the right sort for myself. So I hope you'll take this as the insult it's meant to be," he put his hand on Draco's chest and pushed him out of their compartment, "when I politely decline your offer for assistance and ask you to please go away."

Ginny covered a snort with a cough. "Think that's funny, do you," Draco snapped. He looked her up and down with revulsion. "No need to ask your name. Red hair, second-hand robes, you must be a Weasley. Father says the only thing a Weasley is good for is having more children than they can afford."

"Better that than a pompous arse with a face like a ferret" she retorted.

"How dare you!" Draco lunged just as Harry slid the door closed. The blonde's face slammed into it. "YEOW!" he howled, holding his nose. Harry locked the door and smiled benignly at the other boy. It appeared Draco might go for his wand, but he suddenly turned to his left. Harry couldn't quite see what had drawn the blonde boy's attention but he and his thugs very quickly beat a hasty retreat. A few seconds later an older boy with red hair appeared in the corridor. Harry could just make out the badge on his uniform that called him out as a prefect.

"Prefect," he hissed. He unlocked the door and dove for the bench. Hermione slid next to him with her book while Ginny and Luna bent over the crossword.

The door of their compartment slid open. The four turned to the second, tall, gangly, redhead boy to enter their compartment that day. "Would anyone care to tell me why there is blood on the window?"

"Some boys were messing about in the passage earlier," Ginny said. "One of them fell and hit his nose."

"Messing about?"

"Yes."

"Which way did they go? Can you describe them?"

Ginny shook her head. "I only really saw them as they ran away. By the time we opened the door to look all we could see was the back of the last one. He was big and had dark hair. I'm sorry I can't help more, Percy."

Percy glanced at the rest of them. "Do any of you have anything to add?"

They all shook their heads. "Nope," Harry confirmed. "We heard a bang and by the time we looked it was just like Ginny said."

Percy's eyes slowly widened as he realized just whom he was speaking with. "Sweet Merlin, are you really Harry Potter?"

"Last I checked," Harry said.

Percy puffed himself up and stuck his hand out. "Percy Weasley. I can't tell you how pleased I am to meet you, Harry."

Harry reluctantly shook the boy's hand. Where Draco's pompous arrogance had put him off before, Percy was putting him off with something he couldn't quite place his finger on. He only knew it creeped him out. But he was Ginny's older brother and he'd already made a bad impression on the first one he'd met. Now matter what Ginny felt about Ron, he figured not shaking hands with Percy now wouldn't earn him any points with her. "Nice to meet you as well," he said and shook his hand. "I imagine you already know Luna, and this is my friend Hermione Granger."

Hermione held her hand out. Percy absently shook it. "Yes, nice to meet you," he said, barely looking at her before his attention was on Harry again. "I'm sure I'll see you around Harry. I'm a prefect, so if you need any help finding your way, don't be afraid to ask."

"Cool," Harry said and went back to his book with Hermione.

"Is that Runes?" Percy asked. Before Harry could respond there was a commotion in the passageway.

"Best run, Percy," Luna said. "The train is infested with nargles there are probably all kinds of students doing things they shouldn't."

Harry and Hermione looked up in time to see Percy react like he was just realizing she was there. In fact, he probably was. "OI! Give that back!" a voice shouted from down the corridor. Percy was gone in a blink. Harry slid the door shut and locked it again.

"Git," Ginny grumbled.

"I think he had a crush on you, Harry," Hermione teased. Harry shoved her.

"I really do hope we can avoid going four for four today," Luna said. "And that really wasn't very nice of you, Ginevra."

"What did I do!"

"Saying Draco had a face like a ferret. I happen to have had a pet ferret and he had the sweetest little face, quite adorable. Now if you'd said he looked like an albino aye aye, I'd have agreed with you."

Hermione snickered. Ginny stared at Luna. "Is that even a real animal?"

"It is, Hermione giggled. "They're native to Madagascar."

"What do they look like?" Harry asked.

Hermione snorted. "Big eyes, long nose, large ears."

Ginny snickered. "Well that pretty much describes him, doesn't it?"

"That was a brilliant speech you gave him, Harry," Luna said. "It would appear you are as eloquent as the books led us to believe." Even as he blushed Harry couldn't help grinning.

"Don't tell him that!" Hermione cried.

"I still say he needs work," Ginny said.

"Ohhh," Hermione groaned.

The rest of the ride passed quickly, with no further interruptions from bothersome snoopers or people looking for lost toads. But despite the stories and laughter they all shared, Harry noticed Ginny wasn't quite as excited as the rest of them. She was always the first to stop laughing and the last to join. Also, Luna seemed well tuned to Ginny's mood. She regularly took Ginny's hand and brought her back from wherever it was she drifted off too. Harry wasn't quite sure why, but it seemed familiar to him. Soon enough though they felt the train begin to slow and a female voice sounded in their compartment.

"All students are instructed to leave their belongings. They will be brought up to the castle for you."

Harry grabbed his bag and gently pulled Kaa from it. He didn't care that the appropriate individuals knew of his unusual companion, he was not leaving her to the care of the Hogwarts' elves. Especially if Simper's reaction was anything to go by; his mother's elf absolutely refused to be in the same room as Kaa. And she had never once so much as set foot in Harry's room since he'd arrived at the Briar Patch. Apparently elves and snakes were not friends, ever. He tucked her in the specially spelled pocket on his robes and left his bag on the seat.

When he looked up he caught Ginny and Luna watching. "Stick together?" he asked.

They nodded. "Of course we're sticking together," Hermione said.

Harry grinned. "Bril."

The train gave a jolt and the four of them quickly joined the throng in the corridor with Harry in the lead. Hermione followed with Ginny next and Luna in the rear. Each grabbed a handful of the robes of the person in front of them and held on tight so they wouldn't get separated. In short order they were out of the warm train and on the much colder platform.

HPHPHP

Author's notes:

Well, as promised, here we are back at Hogwarts. And as promised I think we can see things are going to be drastically different than JKR's version. Hopefully this will live up to expectations. As mentioned back way at the beginning of Muggles' Daughter, there would be instances where I borrow bits of text verbatim from JKR. You may notice that in places going forward. Again, it isn't much, but sometimes she was just so good there is little choice. Anyway, hopefully this was a good start for year one. I hope the meeting between Harry, Hermione, Ginny and Luna lived up to people's expectations.

One thing; seriously Harry, calling dibs, who does that!

Also, for anyone looking for an interesting story, head on over to Nifty Niffler's page and check out The Beast Within and Unity in Diversity! Actually, check out all her stuff. There are some really great reads there if you've not yet your way to her page.

Last, as always, a very special thank you to those who have reviewed. I do appreciate your thoughts.