Derry was clinging to her dad's hand as they walked through the barrier. Walls just weren't supposed to do that..! Walls were supposed to be... well..... solid. She just about managed to let go of his hand as they neared the other end of the platform, and she stared stood there, staring at the ground and fiddling with the loose threads in her oversized cardigan.

"Hey... Where's my little Merry Derry gone? Smile, lass..." her dad was saying, stroking her hair a little. But Derry didn't really feel like smiling...

"Dad... w-what if I faint d-during the sorting or... or... or... what if I can't speak to people a-and..." she gulped. "My s-st-stutter keeps coming back..." Her fingers were gripping her newest book so tight that her knuckles had gone white, she didn't want to go and live with loads of people she didn't know.

"Derryth... calm down, Lass... it's all okay." said Fergus, giving her a reassuring smile. "Your mam and I will write whenever we can... want me to wait with you? I'm sure they won't mind if I'm a little late..." Okay... they probably would, but this was his daughter and she came first.

"No... it's okay, daddy... you should go." she muttered, and bit her lip nervously. Honestly? She really really didn't want to be alone. But she didn't want to seem like a baby, and she knew her dad couldn't afford to be late so early on in his new job. "I love you." She put the book on top of Lando's basket and hugged her dad tighter than ever.

Fergus nodded, he knew he should go. "If you say so, Merry." he said with a grin, and hugged her back. "I love you too."

"I do say so, Gandalf." she replied, laughing a little. So what if her and her dad were Lord of the Rings geeks... that was totally fine. She waved as her dad hugged her one last time and headed back to the muggle world. Siiiigh.

Then she sat down on top of her trunk and opened her book, sticking her nose in it.