I woke up to the sound of my Aunts heaving snoring as I scanned the room trying to find a clock or something to tell me what time it was. Squinting to look at the clock above the fireplace, I realised that we were, in fact, going to be late.

Fucking fabulous!

Jumping up out of bed, I shook my Aunt awake and as soon as she saw the look on my face she'd already gathered we'd overslept, "Right quickly get changed and I'll gather your luggage downstairs and we'll set off for Kings Cross straight away. I've already got your ticket." My Aunt instructed me, so I quickly got changed into a pair of tight black jeans, a striped top and a denim jacket. Adjusting my hair in the mirror before I made my way downstairs to where my Aunt was. She was talking to a man dressed in a black suit who I already gathered would be taking us to Kings Cross. So, quickly we handed the key back over to the man behind the bar while the suited man took our luggage to his black car which waited for us outside.

"Are you ready Rose?" I give my Aunt a quick smile as a heads up before we made our way outside and into the car.

The sights of London were amazing, like nothing I'd ever seen before. Skyscrapers stood almost like statues with their heads in the clouds as I curiously watched the muggles go about their everyday lives. People stood taking photos of the amazing sights with a look of awe and wonder on their faces similar to the expression which had taken over my face as I gazed out of the car window.

The journey only seemed to matter a seconds as the car slowed, pulling in to the curb as we arrived at Kings Cross with its amazing, extravagant exterior. I excitedly ran out of the car and into the station, spinning in a circle as I took in my surroundings. Muggles swarmed the platforms going about their day, the Wizarding World going unnoticed by them as we scurried through the crowds of people. Quickly I turned around my eyes falling on my Aunt who appeared behind me with a trolley carrying my luggage.

"Right follow me, Rose." She quickly instructed as I followed her towards platforms nine and ten, looking slightly confused as I checked the train ticket which read nine and three-quarters.

"Where is platform nine and three-quarters?" These past few days had been so confusing and I literally felt like I knew nothing as my Aunt looked at me and started to laugh.

"My dear, you run towards the wall between nine and ten to get onto the platform. I shall follow behind you." Taking a deep breath I grabbed the handle on the trolley and started walking towards the wall, gradually breaking into a run, hoping that what my Aunt was saying was in fact true and that I wasn't just going to collide with the wall like a complete idiot. Within a blink of an eye I stood surrounded by steam, the clouds gradually settled, revealing a great big steam train and a platform completely swarmed with students and parents, some dressed in their uniform and others in their own attire. I looked around in awe at how extravagant everything was, only just realising what I'd been missing out on for so many years.

Then it dawned on me, "Aunt what if I'm behind everyone in classes?" She looked at me and shook her head with a smile on her face, her dark brown hair falling in her eye's as she had just helped put my luggage on the train.

"Darling you'll be fine, your the brightest witch I know!" She exclaimed, making my nerves gradually subside; after all my Aunt was a fantastic witch and amazing teacher. She'd taught me everything since the day I'd turned eleven. But the idea of being sat in a classroom full of complete strangers put me on edge slightly. Luckily my thoughts were interrupted by a blasting whistle. It was finally happening. The day I'd dreamt of for years. Quickly my Aunt kissed me on the forehead before wishing me good luck and to keep myself well, a look of pride on her face as she brushed me over causing me to squirm slightly.

"We can't have you looking like a mess now... Oh before you go, I just wanted to tell you that I've already informed the nurse at Hogwarts, Madam Pomfrey, about your potion and you are to go to her every night after dinner to take it. Don't forget!"

"Thank you. For everything. I'll miss you so much." I said while I threw my arms around her and hugged her tightly, breathing in her comforting sent which I had grown so used to.

"Now off with you, or you're going to miss the train." She said beaming at me. I turned and headed for the train, most of the students had already boarded it, so I lingered by a window to wave to my Aunt. Slowly the train started to pull away from the platform whilst I stood there looking out the window, waving at my Aunt until she was no longer in sight. Standing there alone, a single tear fell down my cheek which contained a mixture of sadness and pure joy as the station finally disappeared around the corner. I was finally living the life I had been longing for since I was a child. But I had underestimated just how much things were probably going to change now. I was by myself for the first time and it made my stomach turn slightly with a mixture of anticipation and excitement.

"Hey... Are you okay?" A concerned voice caused my head to snap towards a girl with long red hair who stood looking at me tentatively.

"Oh sorry... Uhh yeah, I'm alright, thanks." I said trying to convince her, wiping away the tear which had strayed from my eye quickly. My cheeks now doubt turning red from embarrassment. I probably looked like such crybaby right now.

"You know you're a really bad liar?" She said with a little chuckle to relieve the tension between us slightly, it worked thankfully as I found myself laughing, mainly because I was relieved that she seemed nice. The last thing I wanted was to be tormented at Hogwarts for crying on a train at the thought of leaving home.

"Come on you can sit with me and my friends." I smiled at her thankfully as she led us to a compartment, she slid open the door and ushered me inside.

"Hey, guys this is..." Her voice wavered slightly as she suddenly realised that we hadn't actually introduced ourselves to each other.

"Rose... Roseabell Ravenwood." I scanned the compartment as she introduced her friends.

"This is my brother Ron Weasley." She said pointing to a boy whose hair was even redder than hers with freckles covering his face.

"Then this is Harry Potter and Hermione Granger." I looked up, amazed that I was actually meeting the boy who lived. I may have been isolated my whole life, but I still had been told the horrifying story. I hadn't been living under a rock for sixteen years.

"Oh and I'm Ginny." She finished as I smiled, sitting down next to Hermione who had her head in a book, her eyes eagerly scanning over the information as the compartment fell into an awkward silence. I wasn't very good at making conversation. Especially since I was incredibly socially awkward due to literally having about one friend growing up.

"You were good friends with Cedric weren't you?" Harry questioned, my smile faltering slightly as I nodded, knowing that they were in the Triwizard Tournament together.

"Yeah, we grew up together..." I trailed off as Harry realised he'd hit a sensitive subject, he was going to say something but Hermione butted in noticing the slight tension in the atmosphere as her head perked up from the book she was reading.

"So why are you only joining in fifth year if you don't mind me asking?" She questioned, her eyes holding great interest as she looked at me.

"Well, I have an illness. It started after my parents were- After my parents died... And erm... It's prevented me from doing a lot of things. But I'm better now... Well at the moment." Everybody stared at me for a moment taking in what I'd said with slightly confused expressions as they all tried to register the fragmented information is given them.

Why do I have to be so socially awkward?

"Ohh, that means you're going to have to be sorted with the first years." Ron piped up finally, getting rid of the awkward silence, "What house do you think you'll be in?" I looked up at Ron and everyone else who was staring at me.

"In all honesty, I don't really know. But I'm hoping either Gryffindor or Ravenclaw, they were the houses my parents were in." Everyone in the carriage started discussing the houses and from what I could gather all of them were in Gryffindor and all of them hated Slytherin. All I could do was hope that luck was on my side and I would be put into Gryffindor, after all, they were the only people I knew here and ones I would even consider calling friends.

The rest of the journey went by in a blur and before I knew it we had arrived. I stepped off the train into a sea of people and instantly I could feel my breathing become shallow and fast as I began to panic, people's bodies knocking into mine as I tried to keep a hold of my belongings. Quickly I began to push my way through the crowd as I tried to find a familiar face and free myself of the bodies that kept slamming into me carelessly. But unfortunately I found myself stumbling into someone, my books flying  on to the floor along with my wand.

"Bloody hell! Open your eyes and watch where you're going you idiot!" A boy who looked around my age with blond hair which almost looked white hissed at me.

"I- I'm sorry... I-" I stuttered as his angry gaze met mine. The anger on his face quickly being replaced by a smug grin. That's when my eyes trailed down his robes and instantly his rudeness was explained. Slytherin. I found myself desperately wanting to get out of this situation and end the conversation. He probably only had cruel intentions to taunt me seen as he'd already come across as extremely arrogant and rude.

"Who are you? I've never seen you before?" He said in an almost accusing tone, his expression holding a slight hint of curiosity as his cold blue eyes pierced into mine making me feel slightly uneasy. A shiver running down my spine from his intense gaze.

"I'm n-new. I'm a fifth year," I said in a bitter tone trying to hide the fact that he intimidated me on a grand scale. I mentally cursed at myself for stuttering as the corners of his lips quirked up. He was about to say something but I'd had already had enough of his company and I had no intention of getting involved with an ignorant boy yet alone a Slytherin. So I picked my stuff up and I turned on my heal quickly, walking away leaving him there in mid-sentence as I prayed that I wouldn't bump to him again.

Once we were in the magnificent castle, I was separated from the rest of the students and now stood surrounded by first years, making me feel increasingly uncomfortable and anxious as they all tittered and laughed immaturely. I quickly found myself a secluded corner, frantically looking around for someone who at least looked around my age, as my eyes scanned them came across a woman with a pointed hat who had emerged at the top of one of the many staircases.

"I am Professor Mcgonagall the head of Gryffindor house. Now the first years will be sorted first and then you, Miss Ravenwood, shall be sorted shortly afterwards." She said, her eyes lingering on me, a strange look in them but it was gone in a blink of an eye as she instructed the first years to enter the great hall and explained how the sorting would take place. I, on the other hand, was to wait outside the doors and then be called in by Professor Mcgonagall. I stood there watching all the first years being sorted, seeing their faces fill with joy as they were welcomed into houses by cheering students. Until eventually all of them had been sorted. I could feel my palms going sweaty as I stood there swallowing the large lump that was forming in my throat.

"Now this year we have a new fifth year witch joining us, Miss Roseabell Ravenwood." She called out my name, nodding for me to enter and with my legs shaking, I began to walk forwards reluctantly. The hall was magnificent with millions of wax candles floating effortlessly in mid-air. Stars filled the enchanted ceiling and twinkled making me stare at them in awe and wonder.

Wow.

My eyes quickly fell from the ceiling as I realised every single student and teacher's eyes were on me as if evaluating my every move. I looked around at the sea of faces hoping to see either Harry or any of my friends I'd met on the train but I could feel someone's eyes burning on me. Slowly I turned to see none other than the blonde haired boy staring at me intensely without a flicker of emotion on his face other than a subtle smirk. I stared straight back at him momentarily until I lost my nerve and broke eye contact, clearing my throat awkwardly.

I continued to walk forward even though all I wanted to do was crawl back on that train and be with my Aunt again, where I didn't have to experience all these new and intimidating things, let alone stuck up brats. I finally reached the wooden stool and sat down on it, letting out a deep breath as I looked everywhere else but the hundreds of faces staring back at me. Slowly Professor Mcgonagall placed the sorting hat on my head whilst the rest of the school fell silent waiting in anticipation.

"Ohh... You are an interesting one aren't you Miss Ravenwood? Plenty of potential I see and a fantastic mind. You'd do very well in every house. Hmmm... But where to put you?" The hat fell silent for what seemed like years, I could feel everybody's eyes on me, waiting for the hat's decision. I sat there with my eyes closed as I prayed to be placed in a house where I'd be able to make my family proud. A deep chuckle erupted from the hat, breaking me out of my thoughts and causing my heart to hammer in my chest.

"SLYTHERIN!"

My eyes were now wide open with shock as nausea flooded over me, my mind trying to calculate what the hat had said.

I had been sorted into Slytherin. The house I had dreaded being placed in...

I hope you all enjoyed it, as now all the fun and the main part of the story will unfold...
- Chloe x