Disclaimer :: Same as Chapter 1.

Warning :: Fem!Harry. Crossover. AU. No Beta, we die like men. My grammar is as bad as house-elf. This is not a fix-it story, something will be better and something will be worst. This fic is also cross-posted on AO3

A/N :: Year 1 is officially here! Are you excited? I am excited! A little bit before we start.

There will be three 'Borrowed Characters' from other fandoms. While I can just make up all new characters from scratch, I chose to do it this way instead. I've thought about this for a while when I was plotting the story. I know some people will not like the character I've chosen, and I cannot make you read it if you really hate the idea. But if you do not mind, please give it a chance.

Some parts here might sound like bashing but I assure you that it is not. Some characters had certain behaviors that will be explained in later chapters.

As always, thank you for all the comments/reviews/PMs/sub/like/fav/kudos/bookmarks! I will try to get back to you as soon as possible.

Timeline; 1st September 2011

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Chapter 7 :: Year 1 Part 2
Rendezvous on the Scarlet Engine.

The apparition point they had arrived at was a small, out-of-the-way alley. It sat nearby King's Cross Station—one of several apparition points around the station designated by the Ministry. It was covered with layers of protective enchantments—Muggle repellence as well as Notice-Me-Not so that the Muggles would not notice people popping out of thin air.

As they emerged, Madam Lucretia straightened the non-existent crease on her dress and adjusted her askew half-hat. As she ushered both Harry and Leo through the throng of Muggles, her Edwardian styled, lace-up boots clicking on the pavement. Nobody paid attention to the older witch's vintage outfit.

Since it was only a quarter to nine, the spot didn't have much traffic of witches and wizards just yet. On the other hand, it was during the rush hour of the train station. Hundreds—no, thousands of Muggles milled about. Madam Callisto led them through the crowd with practiced grace. Still, it took them almost fifteen minutes to finally reach the platforms area. Harry was grateful she didn't have to drag both her trunk and Hedwig's cage through the mass of people like this. She made a note to herself to thanks both Misty and Lark before departing.

Standing between the black and white signs which indicating the platform number 9 and number 10, was none other than Callisto Black. The older woman was dressed in a navy-blue business suit, a matching handbag at the cook of her arm, and white high-heels. Her hair a smart, respectable updo. She looked up from her mobile as if sensing their approach. The cool exterior switched to a warm smile.

"Good morning, my lovelies." Madam Callisto greeted them, pocketing her mobile into her handbag. Harry and Leo greeted her back. "It's especially crowded today, but you all made good time. I have only seen a handful of students passing through."

Curiously, Harry looked around for the said platform, but nothing was out of the ordinary at all. The only thing that she noticed was that the Muggles seemed to leave this spot alone. Some walked into the area but suddenly turned around once they were close enough. This must have been the effect of Muggle Repellence charm she had heard so much about.

"Is the barrier always open?" Harry asked curiously.

"No, it's only opened when Hogwarts Express is running. That's about six times a year." Madam Lucretia replied.

"So, at the start and end of the year. And…. holidays?" asked Leo.

"Christmas and Easter, yes." The oldest Black answered and stepped forward to the brick wall between the signs of Platform 9 and 10. She waved her hands for both of them to come forward. "Come, Misty and Lark should arrive with your trunks and owls on the other side by now."

She waited until the two of them came to stand where she wanted them before put her hands on their shoulder. "Here's how you get through the barrier; you are going to walk straight through this patch of the wall, no stopping, no hesitating, and do not be afraid. It's all about the intention. You can run or fast-walk instead if you want."

"Sounds easy enough," said Leo. He glanced over at Harry. "Who's going first?"

"Don't mind if I do." Harry shrugged.

"I will go with you then," said Madam Lucretia. "And Leo can go with Callisto."

"Very well." The other woman nodded and grabbed on to Leo's shoulder while Madam Lucretia did the same with Harry's.

Harry took a deep breath; she felt the grip on her shoulder tightened as she exhaled. Without saying anything else, she strode forward with a fast walk. Madam Lucretia moved with her. Together they marched as one into the orange brick wall. Harry held her breath but decided not to close her eyes. Something dark obscured her vision for a second, or did she blink? Whatever it was, the expected clash never came. And when she could see clearly again just as they pushed through, Harry gasped at the sight.

A steam engine locomotive was a sight that greeted her. Both the steam engine and the passenger carriages were scarlet red. They were standing on another platform. A sign overhead saying Hogwarts Express:11 o'clock. Harry turned around and looked behind her just as Leo and Madam Callisto stepped through a wrought-iron archway, there were words Platform Nine and Three Quarters on it.

"Bloody hell," Harry muttered as she stood in awe. Smoke from the engine drifted lazily over the heads of the crowds. Several people were already walking around with the carts filled with trunks and pet carriers.

"My words," Leo had a similar reaction, as his eyes swept through the platform. The two Black women said nothing, letting both Harry and Leo took in the first sight of Hogwarts Express. They moved slowly away from the gate in case someone else came running through.

"Master Leo! Mistresses!" A familiar voice called for them, all four of them turned to see Misty and Lark jumping up and down, waving enthusiastically. Next to them were their trunks, Hedwig and Bruce squawked unhappily inside their respective cages.

"Thank you for bringing us our trunks, Misty, Lark." Harry took a moment to say her gratitude, which both elves beamed at it before turned her attention back to her surrounding once more.

She craned her neck and saw that most people seemed to flock toward the first few carriages of the train, some students already changed into their school uniforms. Some were hanging out through the opened windows, talking to their families. Harry looked back toward the barrier again, more people came through, including a pair of giggling dark hair twins with their family, a tall boy with pretty sandy hair and his chattery father.

"We are early, so we should have no problem finding ourselves some seats," Leo commented as he took in the sight.

"The first three carriages are usually reserved for Prefects," Madam Lucretia said as she gestured toward the said carriages where a few students already stood around in their uniforms. "See the badges on their robes? Those are Prefects. If you need help, you can ask them. Most oblige to help you since it's their duty."

Harry didn't miss the word 'Most', she knew about the Inter-House rivalries that Madam Lucretia had informed them about it. She just hoped that Leo ended up in the same house as hers.

"So, where do you want to sit?" asked Leo. "Toward the front, or the back?"

"Um…if it's any difference, I'd rather somewhere with less traffic?" Harry replied while she kind of came to terms with her fame. It didn't mean she was comfortable with it just yet. She'd rather no one bother them the whole ride to school.

"The back it is then." Madam Lucretia confirmed as they made their way toward the end carriages. Harry and Leo carried their owls, while the elves followed them with levitating trunks. Misty and Lark helped them stored their trunks into space under the seats, while the two women waited on the platform. They picked that spot instead of overhead racks since it's easier to get to their trunks when they need to. They'd need to change into their uniforms soon anyway.

Once their trunks stored away and their owls left inside the compartment, Harry followed Leo back down to the platform again. The two house-elves were already starting the water work. Harry looked at them questioningly before noticing Madam Lucretia was also spotted with red-rimmed eyes, even Madam Callisto was sniffling.

"Why are you all crying?" Leo asked with a frown on his face.

"You have…. You have no idea how long I've wanted to do this," said Madam Lucretia. She wiped her brimming eyes with her kerchief. "I cannot have children, and I have come to terms with it a long time ago." She sucked a breath. "You might not be my child, but you've given me the chance to feel what it would be like to send my children off to Hogwarts." The older witch smiled at both of them. "And for that, I thank you."

"What she said," Madam Callisto said shortly, wiping her tears away.

The boy looked a bit stunned. If it wasn't so inappropriate, Harry would have laughed at Leo's awkward reaction.

"We….we be missing….missing Young Master…and Miz Harry." Misty wailed into her hands, Lark followed her lead and did the same.

"Hey, hey, hey. There is no need to cry. I'm sure you can visit us, right?" Harry offered, look to Leo for confirmation. The boy just blinked and said nothing until she elbowed him in the gut.

"Ow…um…yes, of course." He scowled back at her, rubbing his stomach. The elves looked relieved, but still sniffling in the background.

Madam Callisto took a deep breath before flicked her gaze to his watch, "It's nearly time I have to leave. Alright, be good both of you. Study hard and play hard. Make friends, make enemies. Don't cause too much trouble, you hear? No sneaking out of school or at night. No doing drugs-"

"Aunt Callisto, it's a magical school," Leo said, deadpan. Harry just chuckled.

"You would be surprised what kind of drugs a magical school has." Madam Lucretia stressed.

"Fine. No drugs, got it." Leo rolled his eyes.

"No planning someone's murder-"

"How about maiming?"

"Yes, but nothing too permanent. And only do it without getting caught." The older witch said firmly.

"I'm starting to worry about what kind of school life I will be having now…." Harry muttered to Leo.

"And don't forget to write to us, both of you!" Madam Callisto sniffed again. "Oh, bloody hell, come here!"

They were all pulled into a group hug, even the stiffened Madam Lucretia and the wailing house-elves. Leo sighed in defeat, while Harry just let herself be squeezed without complaints. After several minutes they were let go.

"Thank you all for everything," Harry said sincerely, "I wouldn't have survived my dear relatives without your help. That's including you as well, Misty."

"Oh, you would have, my dear. We've hardly done anything but giving you the opportunities." Madam Callisto waved her hand.

"You won't be disappointed if I'm not sorted in Slytherin, will you?" Leo asked the older witch.

Harry could hear the underlining word; would she be disappointed if he followed through his father's footsteps into Gryffindor?

Madam Lucretia tilted her head curiously. "You do have a making of a Slytherin, but no. I couldn't care less what House you end up in. As long as you don't slack off on your study."

Leo nodded, "Good to know."

"Well, it's time for me to go." Madam Callisto announced. "Lucretia and I will discuss what to do about Christmas. We'll let you know by owls at a later date."

Once they said their final goodbyes, Lucretia disapparated away with a twist on her heels. The house-elves bowed their heads and disappeared. Leo had a peculiar look on his face as they watched Callisto made her ways toward the barrier. Just as another family passed through, she was gone with a blink of an eye.

"Well, it's just us now." Besides her, Leo sucked in a deep breath and exhaled. "Do you want to wait for Aoife here, on the platform, or back in our compartment?"

The crowds started to get bigger now as more families arrived through the barrier. Harry glanced around, noticing several girls on the platform stared toward their direction before whispering into their hands. Less than three minutes, other boys joined in and gawking toward them. Before it could escalate further, Harry made a decision, tugging on her friend's hand. "Let's wait on the train. We can keep an eye for her by watching through the window."

"Sound good. Let's go."

In less than half an hour, the platform became much noisier as more students and their families came through the archway. Inside their compartment, Harry let Hedwig out from her cage. Bruce puffed himself and demanded Leo to do the same. He complied, but not before giving him an exaggerated look.

Leo pulled out his wand and tried a levitating charm on Bruce's cage so that it stored up on the overhead. He urged Harry to try the spell herself. It was one of the spells they would be learning this year, which taken her a few tries to finally lift Hedwig's cage in the air and slot it into place.

Fascinated, they discussed that the space inside the storage spaces must have been enchanted to store more things than it normally could.

With both their owls stretching their wings on one side of the seats, Bruce tried to get Hedwig's attention with occasionally hoots and flapping of his wings but was ignored. Leo pulled out a paperback copy of For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway, he sat back and started reading. Meanwhile, Harry had sat down by the window with a bag of Bertie Bott's bean, discreetly watching people on the platform while periodically making comments;

"Is that a bird on her hat? A real bird?" Harry mused. After seeing an older lady came through the archway with a boy their age. She wore witch's dress, carrying a bright, red bag, and a hat decorated with some kind of bird.

"I think it's a vulture. A stuffed one." Leo replied after a glance out of the window.

"Why would anyone wear a stuffed bird on their head."

"Maybe it's a fashion statement or something." He paused his hand, looking up at her eyes squinting. "Why are you so interested in it? Let me tell you this if you started wearing one, considering our friendship null and void."

"As if you could stand being away from someone as glorious as me for long." Harry gave him a mock glare and lifted her nose with faux haughtily. "And just you know, my hat will be made with a salamander, a live one."

"So, you are telling me you want to set your head on fire?" Deadpan, he said.

"Don't knock it 'till you try it!"

They laughed and went back to what they were doing. More and more people filled the platform as time went on. It was five after ten when familiar faces barreling through the archway.

Malcolm Hawke's tall stature was easy to spot. He had his hand on Aoife's shoulder as the girl maneuvered the cart through the packed platform. Following them, was a pretty blond woman; Leandra Hawke. Her hands held tight by a pair of younger boy and girl on each side. Instead of being blond, they had dark hair like Mr. Hawke instead. They possibly were the twins; Bethany and Carver, that Aoife had mentioned in her letters.

"She's here." Harry alerted Leo before shoved their compartment window open. Poking her upper half of her boy out, she called and wave. "Hey, Aoife! Over here!"

"Hey, Harry!" Aoife bounced and waved back at her, turning to her father. "Dad, can you help me with the trunk?"

"Of course, sweetheart." Mr. Hawke said and pushed the cart toward their compartment.

"Mommy, Mommy! It's Hariel Potter!" The girl—Bethany pulling her mother with one hand, while the other pointed toward her. The boy—Carver gawked at the sight of Harry as well.

"Hush, Bethany. And don't point at people, honey. You know that's very rude." Leandra Hawke chided her daughter in a hushed tone.

"Oh-oh." Harry winced and folded herself back to her seat, away from the window. But it was too late, the damage was already done. People standing by the platform already noticed where she was. "Bloody hell, now I know what the animals at a zoo feel like!"

Leo snickered at her misfortune, but at least he pulled the window shut and closed the curtain for her. "Maybe we need a plaque for your forehead. Hariel Potter, Girl-Who-Live."

"I think my scar is enough for that, thanks!" Harry tossed a Bertie Bott's bean playfully his way which Leo snatched it up with his mouth. The next seconds he coughed loudly.

"Ugh! Pepper flavor!"

Harry laughed. "That will teach you!"

Just then the compartment door slid open, a trunk levitated through and followed by Mr. Hawke's tall frame holding out a wand. Aoife poked her head out from behind him, she waved. "Hiya, guys!"

"Good morning, Mr. Hawke." Harry and Leo straightened and greeted their former tutor. They stood up and made room for them.

"Good Morning, Mr. Black, Miss Potter." The man greeted back. He eyed the owl perching lazily on the opposite seat for a moment. "I hope you still have more room, yes?"

"Oh, yes. Let me clear the seats for you." Harry went to relocate Hedwig and Bruce from the opposite seats to the pull-table by the window. Both owls protested with low hoots but settle down after Harry gave them more treats. "Glutton, both of you." She commented with a shake of her head. Harry patted her pet before turned around just in time when Mr. Hawke finished putting Aoife's trunk into the overhead rack.

"And, you're all set." Mr. Hawke said with a flick of his wand.

Aoife beamed and hugged him. "Thanks, Dad!"

"No problem, sweetheart." He hugged her back lovingly.

For that moment, Harry felt a little awkward seeing all the displays of family affection. She wasn't used to seeing it. The Dursleys were all about smothering their son, turning him spoiled rotten. As for the Blacks, while she was sure they loved one another, weren't overly affectionate. So, she turned away. But just in time to see Leo did the same. The boy possibly felt the same way she did.

As if sensing their discomfort, Mr. Hawke pulled away from her daughter and said. "Why don't you go say goodbye to your mother and the twins, huh?"

"Okay." The blond girl said cheerfully, but not before turning to Harry and Leo. "I'll be back in a jiffy!"

Aoife then skipped out from the compartment to say goodbye to her mother and siblings. Mr. Hawke lingered for a minute longer, look at both of them.

"I've never said this before," said Mr. Hawke. "I know she may look cheerful all the time. But it's been hard for her to make any long-lasting friendship because of our constant moving. So, I thank you for giving her a chance."

With that, the man left their compartment to join his family at the platform. They glanced at each other in awkward silence.

Suddenly, the compartment door slid open again. But instead of Aoife, it was a boy with light-colored hair standing by the door. His facial feature showed a perfect mixed of between Asian and Caucasian? His eyes were bright, golden brown. His hair was a shade between lightest brown and almost-blond. His face was almost as pretty as Leo's. Harry thought to herself that his face looked very familiar, but didn't remember where she had seen him from.

He looked from Harry to Leo, to their owls, before speaking. "Sorry, do you mind if I join you? I…..sort of lost my compartment." The boy flushed with embarrassment.

Leo said nothing as he moved to take a seat next to Harry, a book already in his hands. Harry took it as his acceptance and told the boy. "Sure, we have another girl with us. But she's saying goodbye to her family right now." She glanced at their owls, Bruce was staring down at the newcomer with his orange eyes, Hedwig ignored everyone and already went back to her nap. "Hope you don't mind our owls."

"Oh, it's fine. And thanks!" The boy looked relieved as he dragged his trunk inside the compartment, or he tried to. Leo glanced at the other boy's struggle against the weight of his trunk, before looking back at Harry.

They watched him wrestling his trunk inside. Harry suspected the boy might have been a Muggleborn, or at least a Muggle-raised, aside from his Muggle clothes. All pureblood children knew to buy school trunks with feather-light charm already cast on it. If not, then like Aoife, they had someone that could Locomotor-ed the heavy trunk for them. This boy's trunk, however, was brand new. The scratches on it were also fresh. It was a wonder how he stored the trunk the first time, or how he dragged it through the train's corridor looking for a free compartment. If what he said about his compartment got taken was true.

No longer wanting to watch his struggle anymore, Harry finally said. "Err…. need any help?"

The boy straightened from his hunch; face flushed with embarrassment. "I…um…I can't ask that of a girl…."

Harry narrowed her eyes, ignoring Leo's quiet snigger. She flicked her wand out of her arm holster, the other boy startled at the sight of it. "What does my ability to cast a spell have to do with me being a girl?"

"I…didn't….I mean..."

"Calm down, Scarface. He's just trying to be a gentleman." Leo closed his book and turned fully to the other boy. Harry looked at the other boy for confirmation and a lifted-eyebrow.

"Yes! I thought you were going to help me lift the trunk yourself." He said hurriedly, gestured widely with his hands.

"Of course not. I'm going to use magic."

"Oh, are you an upper-year student? I thought you're first-years like me." The boy asked curiously.

"No, we are first-years, same as you." Leo offered, "We just read ahead of time, and may have practiced a little."

"Wow, I didn't know you can do magic outside school!" The boy's eyes lit up excitedly. "Professor Sprout said we can't do that."

"Hmm, well, I wouldn't promote it. But you can, if you know the loophole for it."

Harry knew Leo meant their practices under Grimmauld Place's protection ward. The Black resident was unplottable, even if they detected the use of magic, the Ministry could never find where they were. And the protective enchantments around the resident would interfere with the Trace tracking their wands. Harry and Leo had only taken advantage of the benefits when Lucretia was able to keep eyes on them. She wouldn't let them cast spell willy-nilly without anyone supervising them.

"Let's get this over with, the train is probably going to be more crowded soon," Harry said after glanced over at the corridor. They could hear the more rumbustious students from the next compartment, possibly the upper-years. "Here, held the door open for me, will you? And stayed out of the way. My control is still shaky. I don't want to drop the trunk on anyone's foot."

"Oh, of course!" The boy complied as requested. He moved the side while helping the compartment door open. Leo also scooted away, just in case.

Harry took a deep breath and lifted her wand, remembering the wand movement. "Wingardium Leviosa!"

Unlike last time when they stored their owl cages, the trunk lifted at first try. It wobbled dangerously when Harry distractingly cheered at herself. She cleared her throat and gripped her wand to steadily floated the boy's trunk up to the overhead storage just like she did with Hedwig's cage. All the while the other two watching; the other boy's mouth hung opened, face full of awe. Leo just watched, an amused look on his face.

"There," Harry said once the trunk was securely in place. She slid her wand back into the arm holster.

"That was wicked! Thanks for that!" The boy cheered with a bright smile before he seemed to realized something. "Oh, I forgot to introduce myself, didn't I? My name is Ry—"

"I'm back!"

His introduction was cut off by Aoife's arrival when the girl skipped back inside. When she realized there was someone else inside with them, the girl blinked before gasping. "Oh my god! Aren't you Ryota Kise?!"

Ryota Kise? Why did what name sound familiar? She looked at Leo for confirmation. But the boy didn't look at her then, his eyes fixed at the other boy, almost knowingly.

"Wait…." Suddenly, something clicked. "Isn't that the name of the child actor in that Vampire Series?"

"Oh, I have no idea wizarding world watch Muggle TV series!" The boy said cheerfully, not denying the fact.

"I only watch the series before I moved here," said Aoife. "We used to live in the Muggle neighborhood, so we had to blend in. Watching TV is one of them. But you are really him, aren't you?"

"Ah yes, that's me! I'm Ryota Kise! A pleasure to meet you!" He introduced himself. And then he gave them all a beautiful smile, almost commercial. Harry's mouth opened then closed, stunned at the brightness. Oh, Merlin…. Was this what they called a celebrity aura?

Harry knew of who Ryota Kise was. She had seen the show he was starring. The boy a rising-star child actor. Because of his unique look; a perfect mixture of Japanese and English, he was starting to be featured on commercials as well.

Aoife cooed a little before introducing herself. "Aoife Hawke! Nice to meet you, too!"

"Leo Black." Her friend said shortly. But there was no recognition from the other boy. He definitely a Muggleborn.

"Hariel Potter."

Kise's eyes went wide before flicked toward the scar on her forehead. "Wait, are you that Girl-Who-Lived?"

"No." Harry scowled.

"Oh."

Both Leo and Aoife snickered at her sulking. Kise looked at them, confused. So, the blond girl took pity on him, and waved her hand and said. "Oh, she is. She just doesn't like being reminded of that."

"So, she didn't defeat the most dangerous Dark Lord of the century when she was just a baby?"

Harry sighed. "I was a toddler."

"Well…. When you put it like that, it does sound silly." The boy scratched his cheek. "Then, what I've read isn't true then?"

"I guess it's depended on what you've read," Harry crossed her arms. "I've never slain a dragon. Or rescued a Muggle royalty. And no, I didn't stake any vampire. Heck, I've lived in a suburban with my Muggle relatives all my life. The most dangerous thing I've ever done was almost falling off the high bar after doing a backward giant with one arm grip."

"It's a gymnastic skill on the uneven bars." Leo offered when both Aoife and Kise had black look on their face.

"Ohh….That Muggle's sport you told me about!" Aoife nodded her head.

"You do gymnastics? I heard it's very difficult!" Kise looked in awe as he took a seat next to Aoife who sat opposite Harry and Leo. Their owls still perching in between on the pull-out table.

"I…did. I have to take a break because of Hogwarts. Or until I find a new coach that knows about our world." Harry shrugged nonchalantly, but the pang in her heart still there.

"Ah, yeah….I, umm….have the same problem, I guess." Kise grimaced. "The show's producer had to write my character off because I have to attend Hogwarts, too. My mother wasn't happy about it. But there's nothing they can do. My magic was starting to get the media's attention. So, they have to send me here."

"Oh, right. I guess that's tough." Harry grimaced at his words. Yeah, out-of-control magic in front of the public would be very bad.

"What about you?" Kise asked Aoife who sat next to him. "You sound…very American."

"I am." Aoife nodded with a smile. "My family used to move all over the states because of my Dad's jobs. But now, he found a permanent job, here. So, we settled down here from now on."

"What about you?" The boy asked Leo this time. "What's your story?"

"Me? I'm not that interesting," said Leo. Harry snorted at that. Aoife giggled behind her hand.

"Your friends seemed to think differently." Kise mused.

"Well, compart to the Wizarding World's Heroine, a child actor, and a foreign student. My story is very basic, Kise." Leo shrugged. "I'm a pureblood, but I wasn't raised with the family, because of circumstances."

"Fair enough," accepted the other boy. "By the way, you can just call me Ryota. I'm not one for formality. And in turn, I will call you by your names!"

The ice-breaking moment soon passed, just in time when the bell rang. The conductor called for all to board. Harry deemed it was safe enough and pulled opened the curtain again, so they could watch the scenery outside. The four of them watched some of the students scurrying around trying to get their trunks and pet cages up on the trains.

"Whoa. That's a lot of Redheads." Ryota commented absently.

Harry craned her neck and watched through the window to see a large group of red-haired family that was saying goodbyes on the platform. She counted quickly; The oldest boy already changed into black Hogwarts robes with a shiny red-and-gold badge with a letter P on his chest, A pair of twins looking a few years older than them, another boy who was tall and lanky, a little girl and a middle-aged plump woman who seemed to be ushering them to hurry up. All of them have the same shade of ginger-red hairs.

"You don't say…" Aoife looked amazed.

"Oh, that the Weasleys," Leo said after leaning over Harry to see. "Aunt Lucretia said that one of them is in our year."

"How do you know who they are?" Ryota asked curiously.

"It's their hair, not many wizard families had that particular shade. The Bones did have some redheads, but not all of them. The Prewetts were close but on the darker shade." Leo paused when the other three stared at him, "What?...we are sort of related. Remember that Aunt Lucretia married into the Prewett Family."

"It's not that," Aoife comment with a grin. "This is like the most I've seen you talk since we've got on the train."

Leo shrugged nonchalantly, "Well, as I said, we are related."

"Your house is related to more than have of the British Wizarding families," Harry said with a grin. "And that's including me."

"Please don't remind me," Leo retorted playfully. Only to have an elbow in his guts as a reply.

"Mummy, mummy, Look!"

Harry heard a little girl shrieked from the platform. And the four of them turn their attention went straight to the source, it was the red-haired girl who stood with the large family—possibly, the Weasleys. The little girl stared eyes wide at their compartment window, finger-pointing toward Harry who sat right by it. "Mummy, it's Hariel Potter!"

"Ginny, what are you talking about?" They heard the plump mother chastised her youngest. "And it's rude to point at people!"

"Ugh, not again." Alarmed, Harry slid away from the window.

"Wow, they weren't kidding when they said that you are famous," Ryota commented teasingly. Harry groaned and forced Leo to switch his seat with her for the moment.

Less than fifteen minutes after the final call, the train finally began to move. The train gathered its speed as it moved away from the platform. Shouts of final good-byes and well-wishes could be heard. The speed picked up until houses flashed by from the window. Harry's heart leaped with excitement. And from the look of the other three sharing the compartment, they were all thinking the same.

: : : : : :

Less than fifteen minutes since the train pulled away from the platform, both Hedwig and Bruce became restless. So, Leo and Harry waited until the train moved past the city to the more suburban area before opened their compartment window and let their owls fly free. Both owls would meet them at Hogwarts. Leo wasn't worried; Bruce had been to Hogwarts before. And he was sure Hedwig was smart enough to find her way to Harry.

The conversation continued on. Mostly, it was Aoife who retold about her moves through the states. Ryota also talked about places he had been because of his job. Both of them talked about their families. Aoife told them about the twins, who were two years younger than them. And would be starting Hogwarts in a few years. Ryota revealed that he was the youngest of four children and the only boy in the family. All of his three sisters were working in the entertainment business, in some manners.

Leo was glad to see that Harry took initiative in making new friends besides himself and Aoife. Ryota Kise was a welcome surprise. Leo could sympathize with the boy's plight. With him being in the limelight. If his parents hadn't sent him to a magic school, there was a possibility that he might have been taken away from his family. It was the 'better safe than sorry' policy that the British Ministry had adopted for the last decade or so, to preserve the statue of secrecy.

Although because of Hogwarts, the boy's career in acting might come to an end as a result. But from what he had observed, Ryota was excited to learn magic, too. Hmm, his predicament might be similar to what Harry felt toward gymnastics. But only time could tell.

The train was now speeding past fields full of sheep and cows. Their conversation slowed down as lunch approached. Leo pulled out a large food basket that Misty had packed for him and Harry, to share with the other two. Afterward, they bought themselves some sweets from the trolley. Harry splurged herself on Chocolate Frogs once more.

"Another Dumbledore," Leo heard her commented. "I had like twelve of him already."

"Can I have it then? Maybe I can start finally start my own collection," asked Aoife.

Harry handed her the card. "Have at it."

"Oh hey, I got Newt Scamander." Ryota looked at his card. "Wasn't he one of the authors from our coursebooks."

"Yeah. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Very nice book, detailed but not too boring." Leo offered his opinion.

Just then there was a knock on the door before their compartment door slid open. A round-face boy Leo had seen with the old lady with a bird on her hat came in. He looked nervous; his face blotched with tear-stain.

"Sorry," he said, "But have you seen any toa—"

The boy didn't finish, however. His eyes caught the sight of the scar on Harry's forehead.

"You are Hariel Potter!" He squeaked; eyes wide. His voice was loud enough for the people in the corridor to hear. And then the boy's eyes met with Leo's. A flick of recognition on his face. The shock turned frightful, he squeaked again. The next thing they knew the door slammed shut, the boy was gone.

"That was….new." Harry blinked, glancing at him out of reflex. Leo had his suspicion about who the boy was. But he kept his mouth shut and his face blank for now. There were only a few pureblood children who would be afraid of him, or more importantly, of his family.

"What did he want anyway?" Aoife wondered.

"Probably looking for someone or something," Leo said dismissively, looking down at his wristwatch. "It's already afternoon. Maybe we should change into our robes soon. We won't get there until sundown but by then everyone would want to use the loo the change." He looked up at Harry and Aoife, "Do you want to change in here or go to the loo?"

The girls looked at one another before Aoife said. "We'll use the Ladies' room, I'm sure there's a mirror there."

"Fine with me." Harry shrugged and got up.

Leo and Ryota let the girls get their school uniforms and robes out of their trunks before getting theirs out. After the girls left, Leo and Ryota quickly changed out of their clothes into Hogwarts uniforms.

The outer robes were plain black, without any color indication. The same with their inner uniform; plain gray jumpers and black neckties, black pants. Aunt Lucretia said that the house colors would be added later after the sorting, magically. Leo recalled his father's photographs that theirs were predominately gray and navy-blue. The uniforms might have been updated throughout the years to keep up with Time.

Just as Ryota was checking himself with a compact mirror, while Leo Levitating the boy's trunk back to the overhead rack, the door was flung open again. The two boys turned around, expecting to see their compartment-mates, but instead was a girl with big, curly, brown hair, she also had her new pristine uniform on. Behind her was the round-face boy they had seen earlier. The girl narrowed her eyes at the levitating trunk before her eyes slid to Leo, she saw something akin to hostile in those pair of eyes.

Hmm…. Did the girl know of him, too? But her coloring wasn't distinct enough for him to identify. Brown hair, brown eyes, Caucasian. A side of the unique hair texture and her two large front teeth. The girl was quite plain. She did kind of familiar…somehow.

"Can I help you?" Ryota asked helpfully, snapping the girl's attention to him. The girl's eyes went wide, her face flushed. She seemed to recognize who Ryota was. Hmm, so either a half-blood, or Muggleborn then.

"I….we…" The girl stammered for second before blinking rapidly. She cleared her throat and straightened her robe. Her eyes hardened. "Have you seen a toad? Neville here had wanted to ask you that before you ran him out of your compartment."

Her tone was full of self-important, borderline bossy. Leo could deal with it; he had dealt with worse. It was what she said that caught his attention. With a lifted-eyebrow, his gazed flicked to the trembling boy behind her. Instead of answering her, Leo turned toward Ryota. "We ran him out?"

"As far as I can recall, he ran out all on his own. We were wondering why he did that." The half-Japanese boy said sincerely. Instead of placating the girl, she seemed to be angrier. But the boy behind her whispering and pulling at her sleeves.

"Fine. Have you seen any toad then? Neville has lost his. We're trying to find him." She gritted her teeth and asked.

"I haven't seen one," Ryota said with a shake of his head.

"Neither have I." Leo added, "Perhaps you should try the Prefects. I'm sure they can summon the toad for you. There's a spell for that."

With that, Leo flicked his wand, finally putting Ryota's trunk back on the rack. The girl eyed his movement with narrowed eyes. as if wanting to comment on something. Before she could, however, the door slid opened again.

This time it was a lanky redhead boy. His face was full of freckles. His tall frame filled in the small doorway. He was as tall as Leo. Unlike their first two visitors, he had not changed into a school uniform. Leo recalled seeing him on the platform with his family, this was one of the Weasleys.

The boy's eyes swept through the compartment, before scrunching his nose at the big hair girl. Perhaps, they had met before.

"You are here, too? Never mind," The red-haired boy turned to Leo and squinted at him, possibly trying to match his face to a name. But he gave up after a few seconds. Instead, he asked, "My brothers said that Hariel Potter is in this compartment, is it true?"

Neville mumbled something from behind the girl, she gasped. "Really?! You've seen her in here?"

"You've seen her, mate?!" The redhead asked excitedly. "It's true then! Where is she?"

Ryota blinked at their reactions, he said hesitantly "Hariel went to change into her uniform."

"Wicked! I'll wait for her then!" The red-head announced excitedly. Ignoring Leo's questioning look or Ryota's apprehensive one, he plopped down on the empty seat. The toadless boy Neville and his friend didn't make a move to leave either.

Their compartment door slid open yet again. And it still wasn't Harry or Aoife who came in. Leo was starting to get annoyed.

Three boys entered. Leo recognized the middle one between the other two all too well. It was none other than Draco Malfoy.

"I've heard that Hariel Potter was in this compartment," The pale, blond boy drawn, his grey eyes flicked around the compartment. Before stopping at Leo. A sneer painted his face. "I thought they're having me on. But seeing you here, Black. I guess they can't be far off."

"You are a Black!?" the Weasley boy gasped,

Ignoring the redhead and a nervous Ryota who slid closer to him, Leo's mouth curled into a practiced smirk, he said. "Ah…. isn't it my illustrious cousin, Draco Malfoy?"

"Please, as if I wanted to be related to a mutt like you," Malfoy sneered deepened, "Raised by a filthy squib, did you? Are you sure you aren't one, yourself?" His eyes flicked to Neville who curled into himself behind the girl, and the red-head sitting not too far away. "Considering the companion you keep,"

"Well, you don't have to." Leo, still smiling, said airily. "All you have to do is have your mother denounced your and her connection to House of Black. I, as the current Heir of the house, shall accept it. But she won't do it, will she? Not until her husband gets his grubby hands on my money."

Malfoy hissed, "You little—"

Before he could finish, the door flung open one more time. This was starting to get on Leo's nerves.

"What are you all doing in my compartment?"

The familiar voice demanded, all the occupants inside turned to see Hariel Potter standing there, a scowl on her face, already in her Hogwarts uniform. Her famous scar stark on her bare forehead. Aoife peeked out from behind her.

Everyone but Leo and Ryota gaped at her sudden appearance, only served to annoy the girl even more.

"Well?"

: : : : : :

Taking Leo's suggestion was good in theory. In practice, however, there were already lines for the bathrooms. She and Aoife had to walk up toward the front of the train for ones with fewer people. All the while, ignoring the pointing fingers and whispering that followed her.

Finally, after changing out of her Muggle clothes into Hogwarts robes and uniforms, Harry slashed water on her face and repined her hair. Her crown braided wasn't too messy, so she left them alone. Aoife combed her short hair with her fingers. They checked themselves in the mirror one more time before leaving the bathroom.

"You're sure you want your forehead exposed like that?" Aoife asked as they walked through the corridor.

"Not really," Harry shrugged. "They're going to be staring at me anyway. This way they can't ask me to show it."

"I don't think anyone with common sense would do that." Her blond friend joked.

Harry snorted unlady-like. "You would be surprised how much common senses these people lac—ah!"

Before she could finish, someone slammed into her shoulder, hard enough she staggered sideways into Aoife. The other girl yelped as she hit the corridor windows.

"Watch where you're walking, Firsties!" An older boy with dark hair sneered down at them. His body was built like a tank. The boy was already in school robe; green and silver necktie and trims indicated that he was from Slytherin.

Irritated, Harry narrowed her eyes into a slit. "You're the one walking into us."

"What did you say?" The older boy who was about to strut away, swung back, and looked at her. Harry lifted her chin stubbornly, moving herself to stand in front of Aoife. When he had a good look at her, his eyes flicked to the scar on her forehead. His scowl twisted into a smirk.

"Well, well. Aren't you the Girl-Who-Lived?" The older boy said with a loud voice. The students who loitering in the corridor turned their attention to them, even some watched from their compartments. "I am Cassius Warrington, third-year. And you're Hariel Potter."

Refusing to be intimidated, Dudley wasn't as big as him. But Uncle Vernon sure did. And she wasn't afraid of the man any longer. She refused to be cowed, to anyone.

"I am." She said calmly. "Does that make it any easier for you to apologize?"

"Why would I apologize to a pipsqueak like you, huh?" the boy mocked.

"You should," Harry said evenly. "It's not our fault you can't walk in a straight line."

Warrington blinked, clearly didn't catch the underlining insult. Not until the other students started to snicker at him anyway. The boy raised himself to his full height before slammed one hand on the window, blocking Harry's way.

"You'd better watch what you're saying, Potter." The older boy growled at her dangerously. "You won't want that pretty face to scar even more, will you?"

The boy reached for her, Harry recoiled in anger and pushed his grabby hand away. A wand already flicked out down her arm. She pointed it at the older boy's throat. It was a move she had practiced for weeks to perfect.

"Most upper-years won't expect you to fight back, much less pulling out a wand." Madam Lucretia said after demonstrating the move of flicking the wand out of an arm holster into a combat stance.

"We still don't know any combat spells though?" Harry commented hesitantly, glancing at her friend who trying out the flick himself.

"But they don't know that, do they? For all they know, you've already slain a dragon, wrestled a werewolf, or fought a troll. You are, after all, the Girl-Who-Lived."

She frowned at her words. But the boy next to her suddenly spoke, "It's bluffing, isn't it?"

The older witch smiled with all her teeth, "Exactly. People will always see what they want to see. This is the art of using their perception against them or part of it. Liking it or not, they will always see the scar on your forehead first. The same goes for you, Leonis." She turned to Leo. "People will always assume you are from one of the darkest family, despite practicing the arts or not. Use that to your advantage."

"So, what happened if they don't buy our bluff?"

"Then you show them what you've made of," The older witch smiled again. "Do not worry, dears. I may be a healer. But I do know where to hit to make it hurt the most even with first year's spells. Now, start again from the top, both of you."

Harry lifted her chin and jabbed her wand forward. The incantation of a knockback jinx readied on her tongue. It was one the first-year spells she could cast with more hits than misses. Everyone watching gasped and held their breath. Funny, did anyone ever think to help her at all?

"W-what?" The boy looking down at her pointed wand and laughed nervously. "Y—You think I'm scared of a first-year, with a wand?"

False bravado or not, the older boy reached for her again. Only to stop mid-motion when the two other wands were jabbed into his back.

"How about the wands—" said an unfamiliar voice,

"—of two third-years, Warrington?" finished the other.

Harry flicked her eyes behind the older boy. It was a pair of redhead twins she saw with their family earlier on the platform. They still hadn't changed into school robes, spotting in jumpers and pants. They weren't as big as the older boy—Warrington, but they were almost at the same height. Both had mischievous grins on their faces.

"Weasleys." Warrington hissed. He glared at the twins before glanced back at Harry, finger pointing at her. "I won't forget this, Potter."

"Doubt it." Harry gave him a shark grin, full of teeth, wand still pointed forward without faltering. Warrington hissed one last time and backing away, but not before shooting glares at the Weasley twins.

Everyone around them let out their breath. Harry finally realized how many of them had gathered. One of the twins turned around and started waving people away.

"Alright, folks! The show's over!"

"Back to your compartment, you lots!" The other one shooed them all away. There were some protests but most of them dispersed when the twins threatened to call for a Prefect.

"Hariel! Are you okay?!" Aoife asked hurriedly as soon as Warrington walked away out of their earshot. "You should have left him alone."

Flicked her wand back into the holster, she shrugged. "I'm fine. And yeah, I could. But I didn't." Her temper wouldn't allow her to just walk away. Leo was going to be on her case for hours if he knew about this! UGH.

Suddenly remembered her rescuers were still here, she turned to the twins who watched them with curious eyes. "Thank you for your help."

"Always a pleasure—" The first twins started,

"—to be at the ladies' service." The other twins finished. They bowed with a flourish. Aoife flushed and giggled at their antics. Harry grinned and finally, truly looked at them.

Flaming-red hair, bright blue eyes. They were identical downright to the freckles on their noses. Their smile faltered when their eyes noticed the scar on her head.

"Blimey," One of the twins pointed at her forehead.

"You're Her," said the other twins. "Aren't you?"

"Her who?" sighed Harry. This was starting to get old real quick. Even Aoife was starting to snicker behind her hands.

"Hariel Potter," chorused the twins.

"Yep. And you are Weasley and Weasley." Deadpanned, Harry replied.

Quickly she grabbed Aoife's hand and pulled her friend away. With the last wave of her hand, she left the twins there, still gawking at her retreating back. Students who had been indiscreetly spying on their exchanges dove out of her way as she strode by.

"You are like, more famous than Ryota here!" Aoife laughed as they made their way back. Harry rolled her eyes.

"People's reactions are becoming predictable. Truthfully, the boy that came into our compartment earlier was quite refreshing." Harry admitted. "I honestly never have anyone ran away from me before."

Aoife laughed and shook her head. "I don't think he ran away because of you, though."

"Yeah, I noticed."

"Leo can be quite intimidating at first glance."

"I think it's his name that makes things worse. Or the morning edition of today's Daily Prophet."

"At least, you look nice in that dress." Her friend teased.

Harry rolled her eyes again and said, "Finally!" when their compartment door came into view. They were gone less than half an hour, but for Harry, it felt longer than that.

Harry flung the door open, hoping to sit down and never get up again until the train reached its destination. Instead of just Leo and her new pal Ryota, their compartment was filled to the brim with people.

A red-head boy was sitting on Aoife's seat, from the shade of red hair and freckles on his face, must be another Weasley. Next, standing in one corner; a girl with big curly hair, her face radiated displeasure and the round-face boy from earlier hiding behind her. Her two friends were standing up, ram-rod straight. Leo, in front of Ryota. Opposite them were three boys, standing between the two bigger ones, was none other than Draco Malfoy.

"What are you all doing in my compartment?" Harry asked icily. All eyes swung toward them at once. Everyone but Leo and Ryota gawked at her. The red-head absently pointed at her scar. The girl looked shocked. Even Draco Malfoy who already met her twice (sort of) had his mouth hung open.

She ignored Aoife who was trying to peek from behind her. Narrowing her eyes further, she crossed her arms. "Well?"

It was Malfoy who cleared his throat first and straighten his—no doubt, silk robe. The boy said smoothly, "So, you are really h—"

"It's YOU! You are that girl from Grimsditch!" The girl with the big 80's hair shrieked, cutting whatever the Malfoy boy wanted to say.

Harry blinked owlishly, before looking toward her. "Uhh…. Have we met?"

Leo coughed and pulled Harry toward where they stood. He leaned in and whispered to her. "I believe she was one of your roommates at Summer Camp. I think her name's Harmony or something."

"Oh. Umm…Hi?" Harry waved lamely.

"Hi!? That's all you have to say?!" The girl's nostrils flared. "And someone like YOU is the Girl-Who-Lived?! After all the things I've read in the books, she can't be you!"

"Excuse me? Someone like me?" Harry's temper flared back up again. She narrowed her eyes. "Maybe all the books you've read about me were lying then. Just so you know, I don't recall giving anyone an interview, much less gave them rights to write about my life."

"But it can't be true!" said the girl, she was flushing red.

The round-boy from behind her kept pulling at her robe. "Come on, let's just go, Hermione. I'm sure Trevor isn't here."

"You should listen to your friend, Harmony," Harry added.

"It's Hermione. Hermione Granger!" The girl flushed deeper but at least she was composed enough not to scream like a lunatic. She sniffed and lifted her chin. "Come on, Neville. Let's find a Prefect. So, he can help with Trevor."

"Okay," The round-faced boy—Neville nodded and followed her out, but not before looking back at them apologetically.

Someone cleared their throat again. Pulling Harry's attention back to the remaining occupants in the compartment. She turned to find Malfoy puffing himself up again. The boy said haughtily, "Now that the Muggleborn and the squib are gone, as I was sayi—"

"Blimey! That was wicked!" gushed the redhead boy. Malfoy was, once again, steamrolled from whatever he wanted to say. Harry could feel Leo coughed to hide his laugh from behind her. Malfoy was seething, but the red-haired boy hardly noticed it. Instead, the boy kept talking. "She's a bit bossy, isn't she? She came into our compartment when I was doing this spell on Scabbers, he's my pet rat. Anyway, she was commenting on how it wasn't the right spell, blah blah blah. A know-it-all, if I've ever seen one."

"Sound very grating," Harry commented amusedly. "I'm sorry, but who are you?"

"Oh. I'm Ron. Ron Weasley." The boy offered his hand.

"Hariel Potter," Harry took his hand and shook it politely, "Another Weasley, huh? I think I've met your brothers in the corridor earlier."

"Um…yeah. I have brothers. A lot of brothers…." Ron Weasley still holding her hand, shaking it. There was a dreamy look and dopey smile on his face.

She could hear Aoife and Ryota sniggering in the background. Leo just stood there with an amused look on his face. Harry scowled a little before tugging her hand back. "Uh. My hand, do you mind?"

"Wha—oh! Um, yeah sure." Weasley flushed deep red as he quickly let go of her hand. "Well, see you later then! Hope we're in the same house!"

The boy quickly retreated and was soon out of their compartment.

"Finally, all the riffraff is gone," Malfoy said testily. There was a flush of color on the boy's pale cheek. He must have been seething inside. For the third time, he puffed himself up between the two bigger boys. His pale eyes raked over her before stopping at the lightning scar. She didn't like that; it was like he was appraising her worth. Leo shifted closer to her.

After a few minutes, the boy spoke again. "So, it is true. You're Hariel Potter."

"I am," Harry replied, returned the appraising look back to him. "And you must be Leo's cousin, I've heard so much about. Darko, is it?"

"It's Draco. Draco Malfoy." The boy corrected. Is that a twitch she saw?

"Oh, my apology! I'm not good with names, you see?" Harry lied with obviously fake giggled. Her eyes went to the two large boulders standing silently behind Malfoy. "And who are these…." Gorillas "…. gentlemen?"

"Oh, this is Crabbe and this is Goyle." said the boy carelessly. The two goons grunted along.

"Charmed," Harry said just as dismissive. "So, what are you here for?"

"Just want to offer you an opportunity," Malfoy's eyes flicked around the compartment again before a sneer formed on his pointy pale face. "You don't want to go and make friends with the wrong sorts, Potter. Some people are much better than others."

"Oh? And what are these wrong sorts you talking about?" Harry asked, her eyes narrowed, all the pretended-pleasantry vanished.

"You'll soon find out that some wizard families, produced more disappointments than others." The pale boy nodded toward Leo whose face blanked than before. "Like Black here, the rumor has it, he's nothing but a squib. It's a wonder why they even invited you to this school."

Crabbed and Goyle sniggered. Ryota just looked confused, he possibly didn't know yet, what a squib was. On the other hand, Aoife gasped in outrage.

With single lifted-eyebrow, Leo said calmly. "You mean the rumor that your father started?"

Malfoy snarled, "How dare you slander my fath—"

"What's going on here?!" A new voice called out from the corridor. All of them turned to see, yet another older red-haired boy. He seemed to be the oldest from the bunch they had seen earlier. There was a red and gold with a letter P pin on his school robe. Behind him, several students gathered; some older and some looked the same age as them. All pooled around outside their compartment's corridor, no doubt to watch and gawk at Harry.

"Nothing you need to concern yourself with, Weasley." Malfoy curled his lips and glared at the taller boy.

The older boy's face became hardened. "You'll do well remember who you are talking to, Malfoy. I can give you detention before you can finish the word Hogwarts."

Malfoy's eyes flickered to the badge on the older boy's chest, he scoffed but instead of saying anything further Malfoy turned back to Harry.

"What do you say?" said Malfoy, with a condescending smile on his face, holding out his hand. "I can help you, Potter."

For a long minute, no one said anything as Harry stared at the offered hand. Not at Malfoy's goons, not Aoife, or Ryota Not even the older Weasley and the crowds gathered behind her. Everyone waited with bated breath.

Harry's green eyes left Malfoy's hand to Leo's grey ones before she turned to the pale boy again. "I think I can tell who the wrong sorts are for myself, thanks," she said coolly.

Draco Malfoy didn't go red, but a pink tinge appeared on his pale cheeks.

"I'd be careful if I were you, Potter," the boy said slowly. "Unless you're a bit politer you'll go the same way as your parents. They didn't know what was good for them, either. You hang around with this squib-raised blood-traitor, or that Hagrid, not to mention these Muggleborns, and it'll rub off on you."

The crowds gasped and whispering spread like wildfire.

"That's it, Malfoy! Go back to your carriage-" Weasley said with a stern voice.

Ignoring the older Weasley, Harry stepped in front of her long-time friend. She knew better than anyone Leo needed no protecting, but this wasn't about that. It was about posturing. Also, the boy dared brought up her parents. It was a fair game.

"Is that supposed to scare me?" Harry said with a shark-like smile. "You think after surviving Voldemort—" Everyone around them included Malfoy and his goons, gasped loudly. "—I would be scared of your little threats?" She crossed her arms defensively.

The boy turned even pinker than before. "Oh, you're going to fight us, are you? Isn't it embarrassing, Black, that a girl has to stand up for you?"

"Embarrassed? Not even a little bit. I'll let you know that girl can break your face, Malfoy." Nonplussed, Leo smirked knowingly. "I've seen she beat kids bigger and meaner than your bodyguards. I'll heed her warning if I were you. But then again, you're welcome to try."

"I don't need a wand to break your bones, Nancy Boy. Your bodyguards don't scare me. Extra fat on their bones won't help if I know where to hit. And believe me, I do." For a better effect, Harry started cracking her knuckles slowly.

Malfoy's eyes swung back toward her again. His face almost red now, he looked like he wanted to say something. Both Crabbed and Goyle just gaped openly at her.

"I said, That's it!" Weasley insinuated himself into the confrontation again. This time though he pulled all three boys out of the compartment himself. Crabbed and Goyle might be big but the red-haired boy was older and taller, in less than a minute all three of them were out in the corridor among the gathering crowds. "Go back to your compartment and stay there, all three of you. Don't think I can't take points from you yet because you haven't been sorted. I'll let your future Head of the House know about this myself if I have to!"

"Get your filthy hands off me, Weasley!" Malfoy slapped the older boy's hand away from this body. He swung his eyes back toward Harry again, the boy snarled. "Don't think this is the end, Potter! And you!" this time his gaze snapped toward Leo, finger pointing. "Wait until my father hears about how Hogwarts had sung so low that they've accepted a squib like you into this school!"

"Ohhhhh, Scawieeee." Harry jeered. "Hear that, Leo? Ickle Dwaco is going to tell on us to his Father!"

"Blimey! What shall I do?! I'm shaking in me boots!" Leo exclaimed, putting a hand on his forehead and staggered backward dramatically, but his face was completely deadpan. Ryota and Aoife laughed at his over-acting. The crowds in the corridor snickered and laughed at his exaggeration.

Suddenly, she dropped all the humorous acts, her green eyes turned cold and her face hardened. Her gaze fixed on the pale boy standing behind his two goons in the corridor. "I've faced someone bigger and meaner than you. I'm not scared of you, Malfoy. So, you can sod right off."

Loud murmurs spread among the mobs as Harry and Malfoy glared at each other.

"Hmph! Let's go, Crabbe, Goyle. Any longer and the filth will be contagious!" Malfoy sneered for the last time before stomped away. The crowds parted for the pale boy and his goons. Harry let out a shaky breath and turned back to her friend who plopped back down in his seat, his face so blank it was like nothing had happened.

"All right, folks. The show's over! Back to your compartments all of you!" Weasley declared to the mobs in the corridor. There were loud exclaims in disappointment but all wisely scattered. The tall boy turned back to the four of them.

"That was a foolish thing to do, provoking Malfoy Kid like that." The redhead chastised. "I know it's going to be troubled this year when I've heard he'll be starting Hogwarts. I guess it's not just him, is it?" His brown eyes flickered from Leo to Harry before he cleared his throat. "Anyway, My name's Percy Weasley. Gryffindor Prefect. An Honor to meet you, Miss Potter."

Newly introduced Percy Weasley puffed himself up and offered his hand to her. Harry extended hers and shook it. "Hariel Potter. And thanks for trying to help."

"Not a problem. If we're lucky, maybe we'll end up in the same house. My younger brother is also starting this year, I honestly have no idea what House he'll end up." continued Percy, ignoring everyone else in the compartment. "Just take this as a friendly warning. Try to stay out of trouble."

With that, Percy Weasley pivoted and left. Leaving all four of them to blink at each other.

"That was…." Ryota started as they all took their seats. A smile bloomed on his face. "…Even better than Prime Time TV series! Man, I wish I had some popcorns!"

"You said it!" Aoife chimed in with a laugh.

"Well, at least someone is entertained." Harry joke dryly before turning to her friend, "Are you alright?"

Leo gave her a puzzled look, "You are the one in trouble, but you are asking me that?"

Harry just shrugged, she leaned back in her seat. "I can believe you are related to that prat."

"One thing I don't get it though," Ryota said, breaking open a new back of Bertie Botts. He glanced at Leo for a second. "This might sound insensitive, but What is a squib?"

"Ah," Leo let out a deep breath.

Ryota looked guilty, "Sorry if I offended you."

The boy waved his hand, "No. it's fine. You're a Muggleborn unless you read a lot of books, you wouldn't know what a squib is." He paused as if to find the right words to explain. "A squib is like a Muggleborn but in reverse. They don't have enough magic in them to cast spells."

"So, like a Muggleborn from a wizarding family?" Ryota took a guess. And Leo nodded. "But why did that boy say you were one?"

Leo took a deep breath and exhaled before answering. "Well, let's just say, in his quest to discredit me as the heir to the house, Malfoy Senior started the rumors of me being one. It didn't help that my guardian at the time is also a squib."

"Sabotage, yikes." Ryota grimaced before looked toward Harry. "I know that Girl-Who-Lived moniker is like a big deal in this world, but those reactions from the crowds earlier are a bit worrying, even coming from someone like me."

Defiantly, Harry shrugged. "It's not like we go looking for trouble-"

"-Trouble usually find you anyway." Leo finished for her.

The two friends looked at one another and sniggered. "But you are right, that was it was a bit much. Did you see how they openly gawking on me earlier? Animals in the zoo would probably feel less exposed."

They were a bit more extreme than they had anticipated.

Aoife added her thoughts, "It seems positive, for now. But you do know this kind of limelight is going to come back and bite you in the bum sooner or later, right? There are bound to be people who want to use that, use you. And don't get me to start on jealousy…"

"I agree, and believe me, I'd know." Ryota chimed in.

"I know." Harry sighed.

"There'll be unrealistic expectation-"

"From the disappointed look that Granger girl gave me earlier, I think that it is there already."

"And there'll be some who wish for you to stumble and fall. You know what the masses love more than an Idol-"

"Yes, I do. A fallen one." Harry grimaced. "But you know that I can't be anyone but myself. Fame won't change who I am."

"Hariel, you're like a child actor!" Aoife stressed, before looking at Ryota. "No offense to you, my dude."

"None taken." The boy replied easily.

"But you know what I mean right?" The blond girl continued, "Too many hours of works, not getting paid enough. Too much fame than they know what to do with it. You either end up an Alcoholic before 18 and flashed your private bits to paparazzi on your drunken night parties, or you kept working and won a few Oscars."

Leo joined in by holding out two hands in the air. He lifted the left one. "Lindsay Lohan," then he did the right, "or Jodie Foster."

"I don't want to be either!" Harry gave him a mock-glare. "I just want to be me and no one else."

"We are just saying, sometimes, you might not have a choice but to change, Harry," Leo said gently. "Remember, sometimes, we need to adapt to survive, yes?"

"Don't worry! You'll have me!" Ryota offered cheerfully. "I will teach you all you need to know about being in the limelight!"

"And me! I can be your manager!" Aoife chimed in helpfully. "I will take care of all your gigs and appearances in the public! Your appointment too!"

Harry rolled her eyes upward. She threw her hands up. "Ugh! Fine! I gave up." She grouched as her friends snickered. A warmness blooming in her heart. She pretended not to see the little smirk on Leo's smug face.

: : : : : :

The afternoon followed without any more incidents. Somewhere around two, there was a great chattering outside the corridor. The trolley-lady was making her round once more. The four of them decided to stock their sweet catches for school with more than a dozen of Chocolate Frogs, a few boxes of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, several boxes of Drooble's Gums.

Fifteen minutes later, the elderly witch left with her carts of sweets, but the crowds outside remained.

It seemed the words had spread of Hariel Potter's compartment. A great many students, both older and around their age came and stopped outside their compartment. Harry recognized the redhead twins and his younger brother from earlier. There were loud giggles and several gasps but so far, no one had come into their compartment again.

She'd bet her newly purchased sweets that somehow that Malfoy boy was the one telling everyone else where Harry was out of spite of being chased off. But it could have easily been the Weasley boys. Harry's relaxed face starting to slide off again. Leo noticed this and distracted her by shoving the whole Chocolate Frog in her mouth. she sputtered and in turn, shoved a handful of Bertie Bott's Beans into his.

Their two new seatmates gave Harry a sympathetic look after noticed the crowds outside but sensibly left the issue alone as well as ignored the giggling and gawking. The mobs persisted for another hour before an older boy in Hogwarts robe with blue trimming came and dispersed the crowds.

The older boy gave the four of them a long look once everyone was gone. Harry spotted a badge on his chest, but different from the one Percy had on. His were in bronze and blue like the color of his necktie with the words 'Head Boy' etched on it. The older boy nodded at them politely and departed without coming inside their compartment.

The rest of the trip became quite peaceful after that. No one else came to gawk at Harry again. The four of them kept conversation neutral, no talking about Harry's scar or her so-called heroic deeds even just for jokes. No one mentioning blood prejudiced topics. Aoife had tried to introduce Ryota to Quidditch and the American equivalence— Quodpot. Although the boy wasn't very excited about flying on brooms or Quidditch. He had insisted he was better off with his feet firmly on the ground.

The conversation shifted again when Aoife mentioned the attempted robbery at Gringotts, the story that the Daily Prophet had been printing about for the last month; which funnily enough happened on the same day that Harry visited Diagon Alley the first time with Hagrid. Apparently, it was one of the high-security vaults, which was already scandalous in itself. Speculations said it must have been a work of some dark wizards. Although nothing inside had been stolen, possibly because the said vault was empty or the items had been moved beforehand.

Leo and Harry glanced at each other all the while Aoife had been telling the tales. Her friend shook his head, telling her that they would chat about it later when it was only just them. How did they miss this topic when Madam Callisto had a subscription with the Daily Prophet?

Outside, the sun had almost touched the horizon and the sunny sky began to bleed into orange shades when Percy Weasley appeared again.

"I see all of you are already changed into your robes. I just want to let you know that you all have about half an hour until we reach our final stop at Hogsmeade Station." He said stiffly before bristly walked away.

They started cleaning up, putting away the scattered sweets and books inside their trunks. By the time they were done, it was already getting dark outside as Harry peering out of the window. The mountains and forests could be seen under a deep purple sky. The train seemed to be slowing down as well.

A voice, which she speculated as either the driver or conductor, echoed through the train: "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."

For the first time, for the entire trip, Aoife sat fidgeting in her seat, hands wringing together. Ryota became paler and paler as the train got slower, by the time it came to a stop, his face was completely white. Harry wasn't in much better shape than the other boy, her green eyes widened as she tried to center herself as if she was about to perform one of her routines. Leo was the only one composed enough, the boy didn't even fidget!

When the train finally came to a stop, the four of them dazedly joined the thronging crowd in the corridor. Everyone pushed their way toward the door and before they knew it, Harry was out on to a tiny, dark platform. Cold night air dropped down around their shivering forms. Several lamps were lit to light the ways for students. But one lamp floating over the heads of the students, and then a thickly accented voice called out: "Firs' years! Firs' years over here!"

Giant of a man with a face full of beard held the lamp out and waved his hand toward one side of the platform.

"That's Hagrid!" Harry whispered into her friends, she grabbed Leo's hand and they were off. Ryota and Aoife followed without saying much else.

"All right there, Harry?" Hagrid beamed cheerfully at her.

"Never better!" Harry replied. Hagrid nodded with a big smile before lifting the light up again.

"Any more firs' years?" Once he made sure that was everyone, he spoke again. "Right then, follow me. Mind yer steps! This way, firs' years!"

Harry's eyes drifted around her as she let Leo led her by hand along the steep and narrow path. Except for several dozen first-years milling along with them, she could make out nothing on the side of the road but dark silhouettes of tall trees. Nobody spoke out loud, all conversations were at minimal and in a hushed tone. Only Neville, the boy who kept losing his toad sniffed once or twice.

Hagrid called over his shoulder. "Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec, jus' round this bend here."

Assorted voices exclaimed loudly. "Oooohhh!"

Harry's jaw dropped as the narrow path suddenly opened onto the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its window sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers. It reminded her of a much cozy version of Dragonstone from Games of Thrones, or the less grand but still impressive of Minas Tirith from Lord of the Rings.

She tightened the grip on Leo's hand and whispered to him. "Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."

Leo chuckled and tugged on her hand, he whispered back. "I thought you said that movie was rubbish."

Clicking her tongue. "Dammit. Can you just…bark or something, and let me savor this feeling?"

"Woof!" Leo replied, deadpan. A few first years who stood nearby including Ryota snickered at the reference while others were too absorbed in their own first impression of Hogwarts or missed it completely.

"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid announced and point to a fleet of boats sitting by the shore. Harry had all but dragged Leo toward one waiting in the water. She noticed no paddles or oars for them inside. Ryota eyed the boat warily for a few minutes, Aoife maneuvered him into the same boat as them before the boy could protest. Once all were accounted for in their boats, Hagrid shouted 'FORWARD!' and they were off.

The fleet of boats moved off the shore all at once, all on their own, possibly by magic, gliding across the great lake. Dark water reflecting both starry skies above and the lamps on each boat. In distant, the imposing castle awaiting their arrival over the cliff where it sat patiently.

Hagrid shouted for everyone to duck their heads down once they reached the small opening of the cliff, curtaining by ivy. Everyone whispering about as the little boats moved through the dark tunnel, which taking them underneath the castle until they reached an underground harbor where everyone clambered out.

"Oy," Hagrid called out to someone, who happened to be Neville. "Is this yer toad?"

"Trevor! When did you get away?!" Neville gasped and took the croaking toad away from the half-giant. He ducked his red face and hurried back to where Hermione stood waiting as a number of students snickering at his misfortune.

The rock passageway led them to a grassy opening right in the shadow of the castle. Hagrid gestured for them to continue upon the long flights of stone steps before came to a stop in front of a grand oak door.

"Everyone still 'ere?" Hagrid asked one last time, "right 'en!"

He raised his gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door. It swung open at once, revealing A tall, black-haired witch in all her witchy glory. She wore long emerald robes completed with a pointed hat that crooked to one side. Her stern expression and air of authority radiated in waves, and Harry's first thought was that this was not someone to cross.

"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here." She replied and pulled the door wider, revealing yet another large corridor. All first years obediently followed her in with hushed whispers.

: : : : : :

PS :: A bit shorter than the rest of the chapters. But the time didn't move too much. This is a combination of me having injured myself at work and the contents in the chapter. While I have time off from work to write, I have to do it through pain in my left foot. But I'll do my best with what I can. By the time I'm posting this, I hope I can at least walk around a little.

As I said earlier, I had thought about it long and hard about putting these new characters in. In the end, I realized that when I start writing this story, I've been written it the way I want I read. This story is foremost, written to satisfy me first before anyone else. It sounds selfish, but that's my reason. I do hope that the other readers out there also enjoy this story as I do.

The next chapter will be introducing more and more characters, both canon and non-canon! Until then, please stay safe. Or you can say hello or follow my writing progress on my twitter - astachan14