Vespa remained undisturbed for around three minutes, forgetting the world she was about to be assimilated into. Forgetting about her inability (or unwillingness) to learn simple magic techniques (however, she had mastered levitation, something that provided Radcliff with much joy). Forgetting that she lacked the basic skills a human needed to get by, socially speaking, in life.

She was harshly snapped back into reality as three, fully robed wizards thrust themselves into her carriage.

"Me mum said its too dangerous to go flying about with the air raids and stuff. But me dad found his old broom locked up on the fourth floor and said I could have a go on it. It's only a Nimbus 35, but it flies and tha' really all tha' matters, long as mum don't find out."

A flushed boy of about 14 displaying the highly iconic Hogwarts emblem smiled quickly at Vespa before huffing, "Can we sit here? Everywhere else is full. I'm Herbertus, tha's Julia, Decimus and Lycanthro. So, who are you?"

The remarkably attractive and seemingly friendly boy looked expectantly, his throng of followers doing the same. Vespa's eyes darted from his face, to the others, to the burgundy and yellow picture on their robes that looked to be a…

"Well, if you won't tell us your name, at least tell us what house your in. Your too pretty to be a first year, and I've made it my duty to know every female at Hogwarts. Were all in Griffindor, 'cept for Lycanthro, but everyone knows he's evil."

"My name is Vespa. I am entering the school late, due to circumstances out of my control. I haven't been sorted."

"Well Vespa, its nice to meet you. We hope you'll be joining us in Griffindor, the only house in my opinion. But tell us, wha allowed you to join Hogwarts so late when they insisted we join so early. It better be a good reason."

Vespa was under the impression that people only judged each other in the muggle world. Without thinking she hastily explained her entire back history to her (hopefully) new friends."

"…and he's just recently been released on a pardon. So, for the past three months, I've been learning everything in the two year course and now I'm fulfilling my brother's wishes by attending Hogwarts."

"Blimy," spluttered an until now silent Decimus, "so your brother went and hacked all those poor women to death. Bet he's rotting in Azkaban now, what a sha…

"Excuse me please I have to go, I think my homicidal tendencies are also showing through."

Vespa, blushing furiously and trying to contain both her rage and embarrassment stumbled into the dining cart overhearing Herbertus mumbling, "Brilliant job". Landing heavily on a seat, her first encounter with wizards didn't go exactly to plan. However, she was soon served by a plump woman with wayward glasses, untameable hair and erratic mannerisms.

"What would you like dear? Pumpkin juice, onion mead or liquid poison ivy."

"Water, do you have any water."

"Well I'm afraid we don't stock it, its so uncommon for people to order it. We have had a very good crop of poison ivy this year."

Vespa, firmly in the grasp of culture shock certainly was not going to drink something so inhospitable sounding.

"Can't you just magic some up, aquio appearo or something, isn't that what witches do?"

Aware that, even though her voice was barely above a whisper, she was attracting attention for her seemly absurd request, she looked hopelessly in the carriage to see if anyone would come to her aid. Finding no one, she eventually mumbled, "I'll have the least dangerous thank you."

The witch looked at her kindly, "First time in the wizarding world dear. Never mind, you'll soon be used to it. Here drink this juice, once you taste it, you'll never want to go back to water. Funny, I thought you to be older than eleven."

Vespa, unwilling to explain her life story to somebody else, simply smiled as if to say, well you know, its all the food I eat. Quietly, trying not to attract attention she drank her pumpkin juice (which was not as enjoyable as she was lead to believe) and looked at the rolling countryside.

Vespa was so interested in the picturesque views of Mother Nature that it took her a long time to notice the solitary boy that had seated himself next to her. Looking a similar age to her, he was of slight build (but who wasn't given the scarcity of food), pale ivory skin, high, prominent cheekbones and dark black hair. His fingers were long and slender and his eyes look absentminded and bored. Although just starting adolescence (he was almost an inch shorter than her) Vespa could already sense the beauty he would possess as he reached his final years at Hogwarts. He like the others was dressed in his robes, though his had tinges of green with a snake displayed proudly. The same as her family's old uniforms, Slytherin. Deciding that he might be as painfully shy as herself, she smiled at him, waiting for acknowledgement.

"Hello I'm Vespa, starting third year."

"Oh…um…hello," his voice was quiet and awkward, like he didn't want to be having the conversation, "I'm Tom Riddle."

Vespa, unable to fill the silence with anything witty, intelligent or interesting sat there dumbstruck. Moment's passed before a shrill,

"TOM! OVER HERE!"

travelled through the carriage. The yeller was a pretty blonde third year. Petite, but with hips and breast, curled hair and an impatient expression, Tom mumbled indifferently, "nice to meet you" as he walked away.

Totally unable to say or do anything and too introverted to ask if she could sit with them, Vespa sat alone, cradling her pumpkin juice looking very sad indeed.

It was then that the insane witch returned.

"A word of advice, and then I'll leave you alone to your sorrows. Sitting here, drowning your sorrows in a highly un-alcoholic drink is doing no one any favours, least of all yourself. Why don't you get over your self-pity and go and make some friends. Now this here is Fate, she's a muggle born too and just as nervous as yourself. Why don't you find yourselves a train carriage and talk about what houses you want to be in. Now here's a new product they want me to trial, chocolate frogs, who would of thought of it. Go on, take them, and make friends."

Fate happened to come from the same locality as Vespa, Cheapside. However, instead of discussing their excitement about Hogwarts, new food, new houses, new friends, Vespa always brought the conversation back to the muggle world. She was totally unable to let go of its interior services. Fate mentioned her eagerness at the thought of balls held in the great hall, Vespa would quickly ask her if she had seen the new Fred Astaire film and how it wasn't a patch on Follow the Fleet. When Fate accidentally brought up the subject that her brother was a muggle doctor, Vespa was totally enthralled and pursued the conversation for a further fifteen minutes. Finally Fate, looking worried at Vespa asked,

"Why are you going to Hogwarts?"

"I have to."

"Are you scared."

"Like never before."

They were interrupted with the pretty yeller invading their sanctum, screeching,

"Best to be off. Oh your not in robes, never mind, change when we enter school grounds." before being lead off by Tom

The train had arrived.