Cara searched the train for an empty compartment. She saw one and quickly put her trunk on the rack above the seat. Sitting down, she took out her new owl, Leper. Letting Leper fly around, she decided to take a nap. Before she could, the door to her compartment flew open. A boy ran in and shut it, his chest heaving. Looking around frantically, he hid under her seat. The door opened again, and a foul looking girl came in.

"Did anyone run into here?" Cara shook her head. The girl grunted, and walked out, slamming the door behind her. The boy crawled out, trembling.

"Thanks for not giving me away."

"That's ok. Who are you? And who was that girl?" Cara folded her arms.

"My name's Tony. Tony Barbaras. And that was Nancy Overstreet. She been chasing me all over the train. What's your name?"

"I'm Cara Malfoy."

"Cara Malfoy? Daughter of Draco Malfoy?"

"The one and only."

"Whoa. You had the nerve to come back to Hogwarts, after what Draco did?" Cara got angry. How dare this boy judge her!

"Listen. I'm not responsible for what my father did, whatever he did. I'm also the daughter of Hermione Granger." Tony raised his eyebrows.

"Well, if your the daughter of Hermione Granger, than show me something."

Cara got nervous, but she took out her wand. No way could she disgrace her mother now. Swishing her wand, a bunch of blue and gold sparks came out. Ad-libbing, she swished and flicked her wand, and Tony was up in the air."

"Ahh! Get Me DOWN!!" Cara brought her wand down, and Tony was safe on the ground again. Tony stared in awe.

"Wow. You did a nonverbal spell! That's really hard to do! I'm sorry if I doubted you." He stuck out his hand. Cara looked at it thoughtfully. Taking it, she grinned.

"OK, only if you be my friend. I need one." Tony nodded.

"I need one too. I don't have any friends here." The two new friends sat down next to each other. Tony stared at Leper.

"What a beautiful owl....is he yours?"

"Yea, his name's Leper. It's a funny name, but I adopted him, and his name was already Leper. I felt mean when I tried to have it changed. I mean, he's already got it, so why worry? But he's a really good owl, and he can find anybody in the world."

Tony whistled in admiration.

"Hang on." Tony left the compartment. Cara looked on, puzzled. Tony came back with his trunk, and his own owl. Lepe flew over, and looked at his new friend. The owl inside the cage clicked his beak, and Tony let him out. The two owls flew around each other. Cara watched them, and laughed when they started to chase each other.

"He's really beautiful Tony! What's his name?"

"It's a she Cara. Her name's Lucy."

Cara smiled, then heard a voice.

"...anything off the trolly dears?" Cara jumped up, and grabbed her coin purse. Looking to Tony, she said,

"Is anything you want?" Tony nodded, and handed her 3 galleons.

"Just buy enough to tide us over for the rest of the train ride. I've got enough for both of us."

"Gee! Thanks Tony!" Cara picked up some Cauldren Cakes, Droobles Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs, and some new candies. Taking them back to the compartment, she piled them onto the seat. Tony grabbed some chocolate frogs, and chomped down on the head.

"What house do you want to be in?" Tony asked Cara, and swallowed the rest of the frog.

"I don't know. I'm actually hoping for Ravenclaw. My mother was supposed to be in that House, but she ended up in Gryffindor. My father was in Slytherin. But," she noticed Tony gag, "I guess you already knew that. But I know I don't want to be in Hufflepuff."

Tony laughed.

"I wouldn't want to be in Hufflepuff either. They're alot of pushovers. I want to be in Gryffindor, but if you were in Ravenclaw, I guess it wouldn't be so bad. Then we could be in it together."

Cara nodded. "Yea, I definitly think that we should be in the same House. I hope the Sorting Hat puts us together."

Soon, the train stopped at the station, and a loud voice was booming over the croed of students.

"Firs' years! Firs' years this way!" Cara grabbed Tony and ran towards the voice.

"Hagrid!"

"Cara! Gosh, I'm sure glad yer here! An' who's this?"

"This is Tony! He's my best friend here!" Tony nodded, a little intimidated by the half giant. Hagrid laughed.

"Well, get in one of the boats before they're all gone!"

Cara and Tony climbed into one, and soon all the first years were in the boats. Soon they were all at the castle, and Cara grabbed Tony's hand. They were going to enter Hogwarts!

OK, I'll let you guys mull that over. I'll post tonight!

Katie