Raven was completely surrounded by families of all sizes as she rushed through King's Cross Station with her books, cauldron, wand, snake and much more all in her trolley, she looked around and felt a sting of jealousy that she would never let show. She had been delighted when she had gotten her letter, it had been a stormy night in the orphanage in the outskirts of London, England when the letter had come down the chimney in a flurry of soot, covering her in dirty and cinders as it went. She had been cleaning the chimney when it had knocked her over and flew onto the filthy dinner table where the other orphans were eating their scraps of food, she had been left with none which often happened, she didn't dare use her magic around the others or at all for that matter. Raven had only just managed to get at it before the others, she had seen who it was for which had been her and she quickly ran up to the attic and closed the door to read it without interruptions.

She had wiped her hands on her rags and opened the letter with shaky hands, that night she had packed a small bag with only clean clothes and rations of food and ran away from that horrible place with her letter in one hand and her bag in the other. She had managed to find a magical family of witches and wizards who led her, unknowingly, to Diagon Alley and Gringott's Bank, at the bank she had given the goblin the key that she had kept around her neck since she was first found, it was the only possession Raven had from her parents. The Goblin had taken the key and showed her her vault which she stood at shocked for a moment or two, it was full of wizard money, Galleons, Sickles and Knuts. She had bought everything on the list that had came with her letter and was about to leave when she noticed that she was being followed by a white snake, she stopped and it stopped, she started walking again, it followed her.

They went like this for a while before Raven got annoyed and asked the snake," Why are you following me?" and it told her what it's name was, that it was a python and that it could tell that she could speak Parseltongue. After being told all of this she just stood there in shock, when she had asked the question she hadn't thought that it would answer back, she had asked in frustration with the creature. After the python had finished all of it's explanations and she had asked all of the questions she could think of she decided to call the snake Albino thanks to it being white.

Raven ran through the station trying to find the correct platform, she was looking for platform 9 3/4 but she already gone past 10 and she hadn't had any luck finding it, she went back to the space in between platforms 9 and 10 but couldn't see a thing. She was just about to give up when she heard a family mention muggles and knew that they must be magical and by the amount of kids, would know where platform 9 3/4 was, she followed them to a wall in between the two platforms. When they got there the kids started going through the wall, she didn't know how but they were. After they had all gone through she decided that she would try it, even if it did seem like a ludicrous idea, she put some distance between her with her trolley and the wall and ran. In a matter of seconds she was through the wall and onto a different platform than the one she had just came off of, she turned the corner and saw the sign saying that it was platform 9 3/4.

Raven saw the magnificent train with the writing Hogwarts Express on the front.

She thought it was amazing but she didn't have time to enjoy the view, she got her things on to the train, found an empty compartment and sat down, ready for the long ride to Hogwarts. On the way she would change into her robes but for now she was just going to rest.

Aleksandr was checking his trolley right after he got into platform 9 3/4. He always seemed to forget something, but after checking thoroughly he had everything he needed. He was at home when he got his letter, his mom had brought it to him with a smile. It is not like he didn't expect the letter but there was something about getting one every year, for him, that never got old. When she gave it to him he smile and continued planting the flowers he had in his hand.

When he arrived in Diagon Alley he already had most of his stuff, looking at his lst he just needed to pick up two new books. So he went to Flourish and Blotts to get what he needed. He stepped inside and took in the smell of books, he liked the layout of the store too, wall to wall with books, some floating around and others walking across the floor.

Once at Hogwarts Express, he got on board with his things and found himself a compartment. He sat alone but would share if he had to, Aleksandr just hoped people didn't mind Brock. Poor creature hated his cage and usually rode with him on the ride to Hogwarts. Now they sat waiting to get underway.

Brand was sitting on a bench in Kings cross station, with his cat on his lap. " Father, how much longer is he going to be? I know Pete always takes ages but this is just madness!" Hsi brother was as usual in the bathroom at the station. "Can't I just leave without him?" His father shook his head and tutted. Brand simply closed his eyes and recalled the past few days, and of course the day he received his letter.

His family were crowded around a large fire in a grand living room. He came from the rather grand Finch-Fletchly family, who were known to be eccentrics of the highest order. Brand imagined when his father was 'attacked' in his second year by a snake, it may have made him the nuttiest there is or ever will be. He remembered suddenly the fire spluttered and a letter came down the chimney. Without thinking he ran towards it and caught the letter, and searing his yellow dressing gown. He excitedly tore it open to reveal his acceptance letter. He read it aloud and a huge cheer came from the family.

The very next day he found himself in gringots, with all the 'crankly little goblins'. They lead him to a vault where a small fortune was kept. "Cor blimey! Thats enough to last me a decade!" He remembered when he was just leaving Olivanders, his little brother, Pete, was petting a stray cat and wanted to keep it. Eventually after a lot of haggling the cat was his and he named it Gizmo.

Back to the present. Brand opened his eyes to see Pete and his mother walking towards them. Quick as a flash he got up and bid his goodbyes. "3, 2, 1!" He ran down the platform into the wall between platforms 10 and 9, and into platform 9 3/4. A marvellous train was there, entitled the Hogwarts Express. He smiled and walked onto the train. He pushed his trolley along until he reached a compartment with a girl in, about his age. "Oh, do you mind?" he asked gesturing to a seat.@RavenTLark

@Erklings25

Raven looked away from the window and towards the door only to see a smiling boy around her age," Please, by all means," she told him with a smile and motioned to the seat across from her. She wasn't exactly known for being social but she figured that if she was going to go to a school full of wizards and witches that wouldn't be very happy because of her being a Riddle and all she might as well make some allies. She wouldn't give anyone her last name if she could help it, she doubted that the secret would last a secret for very long.

Brand nodded and sat down across from her, his hands between his legs. "Hi," He said almost immediately. "I'm Branch Finch-Fletchly, and I'm new here. Who are you?" He looked at her trolley, and saw a small white creature. He was unsure what it was so he leaned towards it. "Cor blimey! Is that a snake? How did'ya tame one of those? I didn't think we were allowed 'em. How on earth did you do it?" He asked in wonder. @RavenTLark

@Erklings25

Raven laughed at his intrigue with Albino although she wasn't surprised, she had forgotten about first years not being allowed anything other than a cat, toad or owl but she knew that they couldn't take him away, she wouldn't let them," Hello, I'm Raven and I'm a first year as well, oh, and yes he is a snake." She was offended when he asked how she had tamed Albino and he was as well by the look he was giving Brand," I didn't tame him, you can't tame a snake, yes, you can put them in cages and lock them in a zoo but that doesn't mean that they are tamed." she stopped for a few seconds to calm herself down before continuing," No, I'm afraid that we aren't allowed snakes but I am sure they will change their minds in my case, after all, Albino came to me, not the other way around. You do know that the animal chooses the human, don't you?" She picked up Albino and set put him on her lap so that he was in the sun which in time would heat him up as he was cold-blooded, as he was doing this he gave one last hiss at Brand and then fell still. While she waited for his reply she nonchalantly stroked the white snake's scaly back.

Layla looked at he wall she ran through every year. It was still strange for her to run through it. Everything was still strange for her. The fact hat she was magical and her parents were not baffled her. Her first year the only help she had was from a family friend who had a son, Henry, who went to Hogwarts as well, though he was in his seventh year when she entered into her first. This time she had managed to get all of her stuff together by herself. However, Henry insisted on coming with her to make sure she was alright. After receiving her letter for her first year Henry and always been the one to help her with her shopping. Layla had never understood why, she was perfectly capable of doing it herself but he insisted.

Henry placed his hand on her shoulder and smiled. "Have fun." He said and walked away. He male had made her check over her trolley at least three times and by now Staz, her owl, was starting to get impatient, he didn't like being in his cage and knew when she got on he train Layla would let him out. With a nod toward Henry she ran through the wall to get to platform 9 3/4. She quickly loaded the train. She opened the door to a random compartment, only to find a boy in it. He looked to be her age, give or take a few years and he wasn't in Griffindor or she would have recognized him. ( @Mugin ) "Mind if I sit here?" She asked not wanting to rudely intrude, she could easily find another place to sit.

It was only a few days past Olivia's 11th birthday when she had gotten her letter. Needless to say her parents were ecstatic and immediately went out to get her everything a first year would need; including a pet. Olivia had spotted Rolf in the Magical Menagerie and brought him home with her that day. Giving him dead mice or other such things still creeps her out a little, but she soon learned that if she let him out, he would get his own food and then come back.

The morning that she she got onto the Hogwarts express for the first time was nerve wracking as all get out, but she managed to push through and ended up meeting a boy named Ben who had a flying squirrel named Liza. They became friends almost immediately, and he was the one who was there to comfort her when her parents basically disowned her after she was sorted into Slytherin. Even after all the years since the battle of Hogwarts, Slytherin still has a pretty bad reputation. Fortunately for her, Ben's family sort of unofficially adopted her and she spent her holidays, vacations, and any free time away from Hogwarts at the Jenkins household.

She had a brother in Ben and unfortunately for her, he really enjoyed waking her up at all hours. Today she would let it slide, because she felt something warm and fuzzy land on her head and lick her ear.

" C'mon Liv, it's time to get out of bed. Mum's got breakfast ready and says we have to leave for King's Cross in an hour. "

" An Hour? You waited until now to wake me up? "

Ben merely shrugged and grinned before giving the sleepy Rolf a treat and scratching the top of the bird's head.

" At least It's an hour this time and not 30 minutes like last year. "

" I still have to get you back for that. "

Olivia grumbled sleepily and the next hour was a blur as both of them got ready and headed to the station. As they passed through the wall and onto the Hogwarts Express platform, she remembered what Ben told her about the day he got his letter. It had been a week before his birthday and he'd been watching over his younger siblings in the park when something fell on his head. Picking it up off the ground and opening it, he read the contents and had immediately scooped up his 3 year old brothers before heading back to the house shouting ' Mum! Mum! '. They had gone to Diagon Alley the next day and he had spent a lot of time just taking in the sights of the magical world.

Sure he'd been around magic his whole life at home; but seeing it all around him and everywhere he looked made him giddy with excitement. Liza had been his birthday gift and he'd met Olivia on the train to Hogwarts. Unlike Olivia's parents, Ben's had been very indifferent about where he ended up, and were just as happy that he ended up in Slytherin as they would have been if he'd been sorted into one of the other 3 houses.

" Pick up the pace a little Liv, we wouldn't want to miss the train would we? That would be a right bloody mess and I don't want to deal with my parent's wrath. "

Ben's words shocked her out of her reverie and she left her trolley with the rest of the luggage before grabbing Rolf's cage and soothing the grumpy bird as they boarded the train. The two ended up passing a compartment where a flash of red caught Olivia's eye. Stopping and looking at the Red Panda, she smiled and pointed it out to Ben before they headed to their favorite compartment.

Aleksandr was sitting with Brock in his lap. The panda was very active when he took him out of the cage but now he is just sitting in his lap licking himself while Aleksandr was stroking him softly. He looked outside the window, people were saying goodbye, boarding the train, and just trying to find their way around. Another reason this was his favorite day was because of the energy and liveliness, students filled with energy and happiness of the new year it just made him happy and smile.

@LostDestiny
He came back to reality after hearing someones voice. He looked over and a brown haired girl was standing in there, he thought she had nice eyes and looked around his age. "Ya sure no one else is sitting here. My name is Aleksandr Grim, and you?"

@Mugin

Layla smile, she was glad she did have to wonder around looking for another compartment to sit in. She didn't really have any friends seeing as most of them had already graduated and left Hogwarts. She would have to make some more this year. She smiled at the male as she sat down. "Layla Jones, nice to meet you." She said as she opened Staz's cage. The owl immediately flew out and perched itself on Layla's head. She laughed and raised her now gloved arm up toward the bird. He moved to the arm and then slowly made his way up to her shoulder. Layla continued to talk as he did this. "This is my 6th year at Hogwarts, Griffindor, what about you?" She asked in order to start up a conversation. She noticed the small panda in his lap but decided to stay off that subject for now. It wasn't uncommon for strange animals to be brought to Hogwarts, she herself had considered bringing her Hedgehog, Jerry, but figured it would be to much of a hassle to bring him.

@LostDestiny

Layla Jones, not a name he had heard before but she was from Griffindor, and he thought that was cool. He looked at her owl as it flew out of the cage and onto her head. Aleksandr always thought owls were awesome, being able to fly up into the sky like that and see the earth from way up. But he still liked his panda better, Brock was not just any panda he was a red panda, the best kind ever. "This is my 5th year, Hufflepuff. So how was your time off." He decided to make a new friend today.

Elijah had been halfway to the door with his trunk when he realized he had forgotten something.

" Da' where the bloody hell did you put my jumper? It's going to get colder and I'd rather not go to school without one. "

" I didn't touch your jumper. Ask your mum. "

Eli grumbled as he called his mother while she was at work to find out where she'd put the rest of his laundry. It turns out she'd stuck them on top of his dresser and he'd just missed them. Heading back to his room, he grabbed what he needed and picked up Joseph, who was sitting by the front door and pawing at it. The fluffball was always eager to get out when he knew it was time to go back to school. He wasn't so keen on his cage though and voiced his displeasure with a disgruntled yowl.

" Yeah, yeah. I know you're grumpy. "

While he waited for his father, he remembered when he first got his acceptance letter, and had accidentally set it on fire with wandless magic. He'd been playing with a then pint sized Joseph who took an interest in the fireplace and started batting at something in there. Scooting himself over to the fireplace and the now soot covered feline, he grabbed the letter and as soon as Seamus saw what his son was holding ( besides the feline that they'd had to wash that night ), a smile broke out on his face. Eli was sure that smile had gotten even bigger when he'd found out that Elijah was sorted into Gryffindor.

" Ready? "

" I've been ready for the past 5 minutes. What were doing? "

" I was getting my breakfast. It is still early you know. "

Grumbling a little, the two men made their way to the station and Seamus hugged his son after they'd passed through the wall.

" Be safe and remember not to abuse your prefect power. "

" I got it sorted da'. I rarely ever dock points from anyone anyway. There was one time that I docked points because a 2nd year had cursed another student so that she croaked instead of spoke. He wasn't very happy about that though, but he quickly shaped up as the year went on. "

The two talked a little more before the train whistle blew and Elijah said goodbye.

" See you at Christmas! "

Waving as he boarded the train, he headed to a compartment already occupied by 2 students who looked like first years.

" Mind if I sit with you? "

~

Arabella woke with a start when she heard knocking on her door and sat up in her bed while rubbing her eyes.

" Yeah? "

" Time to get up love. We are leaving for the station after breakfast. "

" Thanks mum. "

Her routine went smoothly as usual and after a breakfast of sausage, bread, jam, eggs, and a cookie she grabbed from under the glass dome, the 4th year and her parents went off to the station. A similar affair had happened when she'd gotten her letter. Unfortunately for the young pureblood, the letter had ended up shooting in through the window and landing in her cereal so it got all soggy. Regardless, the shriek that her mother let out made up for the soggy mess and they'd been at Diagon Alley less than an hour later. Needless to say, Christina was overjoyed because she was the first of her siblings to have a child get accepted to Hogwarts.

Arabella's cousins had all attended different Wizarding schools. One was even attending Beauxbatons and would finish next year. Christina was a little biased though since she'd been a Hufflepuff at Hogwarts while her husband had been a Ravenclaw. Her parents would later find out that Arabella would be spending her time at school in the same house as her father.

" Mum, for the 5th time, yes, I remembered to pack extra socks. "

" Good, because you never know when you might need them. Always expect the unexpected at Hogwarts. "

Giving her parents hugs and waving to them as she got onto the train, she made sure that her owl was alright. Joy was currently napping, so Arabella doubted that she would have to worry about her. The little owl hadn't been a gift so much as a rescue project. Arabella had found her injured in one of the manor gardens and had nursed her back to health. The two had been best friends ever since and despite her small size, Joy always got Arabella's mail to her without a problem. Making her way through the train compartments with her blue scarf wrapped around her neck, she spotted an adorable creature and entered the compartment with the intent of petting it. Staring at the owner of the panda while Joy continued to snooze on her perch, she smiled and reached a hand out.

" May I pet him? He's too adorable to not warrant some attention. Then again, I've always had a weakness for warm and fuzzy things. "

Her words halted and she scratched at her nose.

" Ah, please forgive my rudeness. My name is Arabella Forrester, 4th year Ravenclaw. "

Stella stood on the platform, looking at the train. Pip, her hedgehog, laid sprawled out on her shoulder. It was her fifth year, but she still loved the idea of riding the train. Her mum stood beside her. She gave her a quick hug goodbye, her mother giving her a copy of the most recent Quibbler. Stella hauled her bag onto the train and began to look for a seat.

She noticed a girl that she has seen before with her owl. She is a Gryffindor like herself. She also noticed a bloke in the cab. Holding a red panda? She tapped on the door.
"Hello. May I sit with you?"

@Mugin @2b3heart

Layla nodded, so he was a year younger than her. "My time off? Unfortunately I spent most of it getting caught up on muggle school, my schooling never ends actually, it's kind of annoying but I live with it. And yours?" She had just finished talking when a female entered asking to pet Aleksandr's panda, she introduced herself afterward. Geez Layla wasn't used to being around anybody younger than her. Usually she was around people older than she was.

She had just finished her thought when another female Layla slightly recognized tapped on the door, asking if she could sit with them. "I don't mind, do you?" Her question was directed toward Aleksandr, wanting to make sure he was okay with another person sitting with them.

@LostDestiny@2b3heart

"Went traveling with my parents, that's about it. Why so annoying?" Then another girl walked into the compartment. Aleksandr had a thought then, why had only girls been trying to come in and talk to him. He started to get nervous, this girl was also a Griffindor, were they trying to pull some kind of joke on him. Then Brock started to stir and wake up, he sat up straight and looked around.

"Ya sure I don't mind, the more the merrier. He said after The girl came in and Layla asked could she sit with them. He turned to her. "My name is Aleksandr."

Brand chuckled "Well, rather embarrassingly I didn't know that no. Well you see I just found my pet. Actually my brother found it but I still think that counts." He shook his head, a thought had just occurred to him. Yeah, okay she has a snake. But why would a snake choose her? It was almost as if she could talk to it. He blinked hard the asked. "Are you, I mean, can you speak Parseltounge? A snake wouldn't just choose anybody right? So you must have a special bond with them right? So, you can talk to it can't you?" He stared at her eagerly. He was a prankster and thought a friend who could speak Parseltounge was really useful. @RavenTLark

@Erklings25

Raven was amazed that he didn't, she had always thought that it was common knowledge," Well, he or she must of allowed your brother to find him otherwise he wouldn't of been found," she thought about the subject for a moment. She thought that he caught on quick," Yes, okay, I can speak Parseltongue and yes, we do have a special bond. So special in fact that that he never leaves my side, and being able to talk to him does help a bit when he's grumpy. He's usually only grumpy when he accidentally eats a diseased mouse but luckily that has only happened once, he's a lot pickier with what he eats now, thankfully," she remembered when this had happened, she had nearly died of grief but luckily the worst that happened to him was that he got a little sick for a while. "Why are you so interested in the fact that I am a Parselmouth, it's not like they're rare, right?" she was usually so sure of herself but this time she was very unsure, she hadn't thought of the possiblilty that she might be the only one or close to it, she had always thought that there were tons.

Stella smiled and took a seat. She took Pip off of her shoulder and laid him in her lap. "I am Stella. Nice to meet you." She turned towards the two of them. "So how are you two fairing so far?"

@Morte Angelis

Raven turned her head towards the boy in the doorway," Of course, there's plenty of room in here, thankfully." She looked at the boy and tried to figure out which house he was in, she had already noticed that he was quite a bit older than both her and Brand which she figured could be of some use to her." Hello, my name is Raven, Raven....," she had been about to say her last name but had remembered just in time, she quickly finished her sentence off expertly," and this is Albino," she lifted the snake,"what's your name?"

Brand nodded, "No the are quite rare. Parselmouths I mean." he was about ros at something else when a boy, older than him and Raven, asked if he could sit with them. "Sure thing bro. Have a seat." He said, answering his question. He waved slighty and said, "Name's Brand Fich-Fletchly. And you are?" he asked. @Morte Angelis