Chapter Two

Time moved on and the day finally arrived. Penny and her Father Peter headed to kings cross station for his daughter to board the Hogwarts express. They moved through the station Peter pushing the trolley that hold his daughters luggage. Penny was looking around curiously at all the none magical people going about their lives oblivious to the hustle and bustle that this day brings to the wizarding community in the area. After walking for a while with purpose Peter leads them directly to platform 9 and 3/4's. The pair look at the wall between platforms Penny brimming with excitement. The duo grab hold of the trolley together and with a count of one two three begin running towards the wall. No soon as they come in contact with the wall does their surrounding begin to change. They are now on a Victorian era looking platform complete with an old fashioned steam train painted in an eye catching shade of red. The smoke stack of the train is billowing smoke as though proudly announcing its presence.There are many other wizarding families rushing about here and there. The most eye catching is a family of red heads and a little boy with a thin build and messy black hair and striking green eyes being ushered on the train by a Witch who seems more than adapt at handling such a rag tag group of young witches and wizards. Peter helps Penny load her luggage onto the train and begins to tear up. It is obvious being separated from his beloved daughter is going to be harder on him than it is on her. Penny hugs her dad to offer him some moral support. The two stood there on the platform in that embrace for what seems like forever. The witches and wizards seem to part around them like the sea to Moses. The two not speaking that hug seemingly saying all that needed to be said. Peter deciding he cant hold his daughter back any longer simply nods at Penny after he finally lets her go. Penny returns the nod and makes her way towards the train.

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  The train was filled with excitable children but Penny simply makes her way to a compartment that is yet to be filled. She sits down and opens up her copy of Hogwarts A History. She has already read the majority of the books she purchased that day at Diagon alley leaving only the most innocuous of books remaining. As she quietly sits in the compartment reading the door is opened and a young witch and wizard ask if its okay to join her inside. She nods quietly in agreement not one to talk a great deal to people she doesn't already know. The two introduce themselves they appear to be first year students too. The boy with his strikingly handsome features that if one would say was carved by the greatest artist to represent beauty one would be inclined to agree. He has a dirty blonde hair colour that is neatly parted to the side. Everything about his appearance seems to be intricately well maintained. The Witch beside him however couldn't be any more opposed if she tried. Her frizzy black hair was messy and unkempt her robes creased and somehow already stained. Not to mention her clothing looking as though she had slept in them. They hurriedly introduced themselves, his name was Drew Harper and she was Agnes Simpson. Not long after they took their seats did the train begin to move. The three waved out of the window at their respective families before they got to talking any more. It would seem that Drew is a muggle-born Wizard whose parents own a fashionable jewelry store in London. While Agnes is from a pure-blood family, her Mother and Father both work for the Ministry in some capacity or other. Somehow the two have known each other since childhood when Agnes saw Drew performing magic by himself. Drew didn't know what he was doing was magic was until Agnes explained to him, through her descriptions he learned about the wizarding world. Because of that the two grew close and weren't shocked when both of them were accepted to Hogwarts. The two both seated opposite Penny and began chatting and discussing what they expect Hogwarts to be like. The three seemed incredibly intelligent for children their age if not just a little bit odd in their own ways Agnes would constantly say the first thing that popped into her head, while Drew seemed to be a person of very few words at all. But once the subject of Muggle comic books was brought up you couldn't keep him quiet. Penny watched in amazement as the two people argued over something she had not idea about. The carriage was filled with who was better doctor strange or doctor fate. Their heated debate eventually turned the discussion to Spell craft. Given how Penny had memorized everything due to be taught over the first year at Hogwarts and a lot of what is to be taught in the higher years as well the two were incredibly impressed by her knowledge. As time went on they all became less formal. They laughed and joked together before the door was swung open and a girl with frizzy brown hair and large teeth asked if they had seen a missing toad. She looked disappointing to be told no sighed and headed off without another word to look in some over compartments. The three laughed at how quickly she blew in and out like a hurricane with legs.

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  When the train arrived they were ushered off in a steady well ordered line. The children were all talking and excited it took a great deal of care by the staff to keep the students in line. There were the odd straggler here and there that was distracted by something but for the most part everyone was staying in line. Penny watched as some recognizable faces were there. These bound to become the main characters or at least the most well known ones. Her eyes fell upon a small child with bright blond almost silver hair. he had a smug expression on his face. She found it funny how such a small child could have such an entitled atmosphere. This was obviously Draco Malfoy, the young wizard noticed her looking at him and gave a patronizing smirk in response. He obviously thought she recognized him due to his superior lineage. She turned her eyes away from him and continued to follow the rest of the students. Before long they were lead to a series of coaches that would take them to the great lake. The majority of children saw the coaches as moving by themselves but Penny could clearly see the spectral looking animal that pulled the coach, this bizarre animal is known as a Threstral. These creatures are thought to be a bad omen and are heavily associated with death. A witch or wizard not familiar with death could not see these creatures. The reason Penny did, is because she retains a strong memory of her Mothers death at the hands of the death eater. She was only young that night but distinctly remembers what happened. She will never forget the figure of the one who killed her Mother, His dark robes and death eater mask were covering his face as he was disguising his identity. She remembers him to be seemingly huge but is not sure if that is because she was so young and frightened at the time. The only thing she knew for certain was that he had been defeated by her Father after he arrived just after her Mother was killed. The wizard was called Mulciber Jr he was meant to have been Voldemort's expert on curses. Penny remembers the dual between him and her Father as being something terribly frightening. Her Father was at a huge disadvantage of trying to protect Penny and was almost killed many times. Luckily Mulciber tried to use a curse on her Father that he was more than familiar with. It was a derivative of the Reducor curse Her Father had improved upon the original curse and made it far more frightening. The curse rebounded back on Mulciber and shattered his legs to pieces. Penny remember the huge thumping sound as the death eater landed face first on the floor. Peter had given far more control over what is to be blasted to pieces by focusing the blast power into a denser and denser area. Mulciber Jr was then handed over to the Ministry of Magic where he continues to rot in Azkaban. Agnes and Drew called out to Penny as she was lost in thought. The three were sat together in the coach that was swaying to and throw with them was a member of faculty, a rather pale man wearing a turban. Once Penny came back to her senses she apologized and said she was just lost in thought. The two let it go as they decided they didn't yet know Penny enough to pry. The mood quickly returned to normal however. Penny then noticed that her wand was making a musical kind of sound that only she could hear. A wand with a horned serpent horn core is well known for warning their owner of danger. Penny looked at the Pale man with a turban more than aware that stuttering seemingly harmless professor Quirrell next to them was housing Voldemort in the back of his head that was covered in the turban. Luckily the weakened Voldemort lacking most of his powers was unable to read her mind with Legilimency and tell that their cover was blown. Penny decided to continue her quest for knowledge at Hogwarts and placed learning Occlumency as a priority. She decided it would be for the best to know how to close her mind off from people with the ability to read minds. The duo of Agnes and Drew however not knowing about the forth companion in the coach were chatting happily with Professor Quirrell who was explaining that he is returning from a sabbatical in Albania to resume teaching at Hogwarts. Agnes and Drew seemed to full of questions while Penny decided to sit quietly and listen. Eventually the coach arrived at the great lake. It was now beginning to get dark. The surface of the Great Lake seemed like a sheet of tinted black glass. The night sky reflected on its surface. Across from the great Lake they could now finally see Hogwarts. The majestic castle loomed over giving quite the impression. The children all entered a boat in their groups. Penny, Agnes, Drew, and Professor Quirrell all boarded. Each small boat held a lantern that in the dark of night seemed to be like fireflies traveling towards the castle. They finally crossed the great Lake and reached a cliff. Within the cliff was a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. "H...h. he. heads d. down" Professor Quirrell stammered. They ducked underneath and continued on until arriving at a sort of underground harbor. The students carefully made their way across the rocks and pebbles in two single file lines walked towards the castle. Hagrid who was checking on the boats Suddenly in a large booming voice that grabbed everyone's attention " Oy, you there! is this your toad?" Hagrid yelled. A nervous looking boy cried out "Trevor!" as he reached out to receive the toad. All the students followed Hagrid as they walked up large stone steps before coming to a huge oak door. "W..www well I must be L... le. leaving you now students"said Quirrell. The trio said goodbye to the professor who rushed off towards the Great Hall.

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  The door swung open with a humongous creaking noise. On the other side was a tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes She had a stern face that made it clear she was not somebody one should cross. "The Firs'- years Professor McGonagall" Said Hagrid. She looked at nodded "Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here. The Entrance hall was huge with imposing stone walls with torches flickering an golden-orange flame. There was a magnificent marble staircase facing them that heads towards the upper floors of the castle. They followed Professor McGonagall, the sounds of hundreds of chatting voices came from a doorway to the right. Professor McGonagall took the first years to a small empty chamber off of where the voices where coming from. All the students were fidgeting nervously and trying to look about. "Welcome to Hogwarts" said Professor McGonagall as she looked to make sure she had everyone's attention. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because while you are here, your houses will be something like your family within Hogwarts. you will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room. The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slyverin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are here at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever houses become yours". All the students attention was hung on every single word the Professor said. They each had the impression that not listening would not be looked well upon by this specific Professor. "The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting". The Professor's gaze seemed to land on a few students who began to flatten their hair and re-organised their robes. "I shall return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly" said Professor McGonagall before leaving the chamber. The students began to nervously talk about how they would be sorted, many speculating different methods. While they were talking though there was suddenly several startled students. Penny looked in the direction to see about twenty ghosts all streaming through the back wall. They were all pearly-white and slightly transparent all floating across the room without even giving the slightest attention to the first years. Several ghosts seemed to be arguing but most the students failed to notice what about as they were more shocked by the presence of actual ghosts. While their attention was taken by the ghosts Professor McGonagall returned and in a sharp voice "move along now, the Sorting Ceremony's about to start". The ghosts hearing this began headed off. "Now form a line, and follow me" all the students followed her across the chamber through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall.