Finally. The Hogwarts Express. For the past week, all Marcus could think about was this day. The first day of September, the day he was going to Hogwarts. When he saw the train, Marcus froze, completely amazed. He almost made the person behind him trip. It was his mother, Sophie, who with him that morning. Unfortunately, Marcus' father had a busy day at work and couldn't be there. Marcus moved to the side and let Sophie take the lead, following her along the platform. The place was crowded, but it was like nobody else was there, as Marcus only had eyes to the train. They stopped, and his mother turned to face him. Make us proud and have fun, Sophie said, as she pulled Marcus to a hug. David, his dad, had told him the same thing the previous night, right before bed. Marcus broke the hug after almost a minute, and looked up at a teary-eyed Sophie. I'll send an owl when I get there, the boy simply said, with a smile on his face, and Marcus took a deep breath before he stepped into the Hogwarts Express. It took Marcus a while, making his way through all the people going in and out of compartments, but he finally found an empty one. He was sure somebody would show up sooner or later, but he wanted to have at least a moment on his own. As he sat down, he thought about everything that he learned about the school through books, about all the things that were ahead of him, and most importantly, Marcus thought about what his parents told him on their goodbyes.

I'll do my best, I promise

Emily walks onto the platform. She was a bit scared when she walked through the wall, she though she might bump into someone in some way. She was fasinated by the crowl of people that was walking over the platform. Parents comforting their children, walking around, getting on the train, saying goodbye to their parents. After her parents got through the wall, she turned around and smiled. "Promise me you will be safe, dont hang around with the wrong people okay, and owl us, as much as possible!" Her mom said. "Mom, please dont worry, really ill be fine!" Emily said and smiles. She gave her mom and dad a hug and walked to the train. She stepped up and tried to find an empty compartment, which wasnt an easy case. Everywhere there where students, in the hall, in every compartment she passes. Some had already changed in robes, while some where still in there Muggle Clothes, altho it was obviously that some where just wearing Non Muggle clothers. She walked her way through and found not an empty compartment but a compartment where only one person was sitting. She opens the door and sees a boy sitting in the compartment clearly with his mind stuck in his thoughts. She hesitates to ask, since he hadnt noticed yet that she was standing there but she decided to just ask. "Would you mind if i join you? Every other compartment is full?"

Marcus' eyes were out the window, but his mind was far away. It was on his family, on his home, on the day he got the acceptance letter, on the day his parents took him to buy supplies to the first year in Hogwarts... The boy was so lost in his thoughts that it took him a while to realize he wasn't alone anymore. He quickly turned his head to look at the compartment door and saw a small girl with long brown hair standing there. Uhh, not at all! Please come in, Marcus replied, smiling at her. He noticed that the girl was still in her casual clothes, just like him - although Marcus wanted to board the train in his school robes, his mother didn't let him - You're new too? He suddenly asked, before the girl could settle down. He wanted to be friendly, but clearly had no idea of how to start a conversation. Marcus was aware of his lack of social skills, but still had no answers on how to get better at it, and he couldn't hide that it bothered him sometimes. Oh, my name is Marcus, Marcus Hackett, the boy added, standing up and extending his hand to greet the newcomer.

The boy turned around, she saw that he didnt really know what to say. "Not at all! Please come in" The boy had said. "Thankyou so much, its so chaotic here." She said smiling and before she had the time to sit down the boy had asked her another question. "You're new too?" He asked her. The boy had sort black hair and was quite tall for someone who was 11, thats what she assumbed at least. "Yes, im a first year. What about you? She asked him, but before she was able to answer he said something else. "Oh, my name is Marcus, Marcus Hackett" She smiled and sat down. "Im Emily, Emily Brewer, but most people like to call me Ems so." She said and looked around. She hat taken her seat right next to the window and looked out of it. She saw a beautiful river and amazing fielts with flowers and all kinds of plants. She had never been more excited to go somewhere. Hogwarts had always been her dream. And now her dream finally came truth. She looked through the window of the compartment door, at the crowl of people that where passing by, some of them where already wearing their robes, some where wearing their house robes, some first years just their usual robes. She wondered when she would be able to change clothes. The trip was still very long but she wanted to be ready before the arrival.

He sat back down awkwardly, bringing his hand back and discreetly hiding it into his pocket. Yeah, I'm a first year as well, Marcus replied, looking at Emily for a few seconds before turning his attention to view outside the window It's exciting, isn't it? Hogwarts, I mean. There's so much to learn! I can't wait to get there! The boy said, and his thoughts went to his parents once again, on everything they told him about Hogwarts during his childhood, and on their last words before he boarded the train, but he quickly dismissed them this time. I almost didn't sleep last night because of it, he blurted out, and couldn't help but let out a little nervous laugh right after. Then, he got silent, just carefully thinking of what to say next. Marcus looked around and wished his books weren't all in the luggage, just so he could have something to hide his face with. Where's your family from? The boy finally asked, now looking at the girl again. She seemed like a cool person, and a potential first friend at the school.

As long as I don't ruin everything from the beginning, he thought, and then suddenly the feeling that he might have already done that took over.

Emily was still watching the view when Marcus said that he was a first year as well. "Oh cool" She said and looked around in the compartment. There wasnt alot of difference from the compartment in the Hogwarts Express than she remembered from the other trains in London. She used to take them together with her brother to the other side of town, to go to parks and shops. When Marcus said something her consentration crushed back into reality. "Its exciting, isn't it? Hogwarts, i mean. There's so much to learn! I can't wait to get there!" He said. "Yes it really is, i can't wait to get there either. And i am so thrilled for the sorting. I hope i get Ravenclaw or Gryffindor, but if i was in another house, i woudnt mind as well." She said. "Where is your family from?" He asked her. "My family is originally from the wizarding world, but we moved to London. Im a halfblood so, My mom's a halfblood and my dad a pureblood. My mom wanted to live closer to her family, and my dad doesnt really have family left so we moved to a small town in London. Its cute there, lots of shops and people, which makes it feel brighter! I always enjoyed living there. She turned back to the window to look at the view. It felt amazing, the train, the wind that was slipping throught the window. Her thoughts returned to reality and she looked back at Marcus. What about you?" She asked him, looking at the boy.

Marcus listened to the girl with real interest as she answered his question, and was surprised at how similar Emily's story was to his own. I live in a small village just outside of London, and I've been there my whole life, the boy started to say. My parents work in the city, so that's probably why they chose that place to live. My mother is a Muggle-born witch and my father is from a wizarding family, and we usually see both sides of the family during the holidays. They get along well most of the times. The village is nice, but there's not much to do there. I like staying at home, reading books He lowered his head, a visibly uncomfortable I... I'm a little scared about the sorting. I want to get into Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff, but I'm afraid the Sorting Hat might put me in another house. I'm more afraid I'll end up upsetting my parents, actually Marcus confessed. His parents were the most important people in the boy's life, and he felt that he should carry on their legacy somehow, although he still wasn't sure what that legacy actually was. Marcus felt that he needed to be where they once were to be like them. To maybe, just maybe, one day be better than them.

But still, it was a very long way to go.

Emily enjoyed listening to his story. She was very impressed to hear something else. "Im sure you're parents will be proud of you no matter what!" She said. Her parents didnt really care in which house she belonged, as long as she stayed herself and followed her heart, they where happy. "My Mom was a Hufflepuff, she is very kind and caring, and my dad was a Slytherin, and look now, he works at the Ministery. He enjoy's it there. And you're house may be chosen to how the sorting hat things you are, but deep in you, you are the only person who knows who you really are, and remember we all have light and darkness inside of us, And it doesnt matter which side we show the most, or what people think we are. What matters is the part we choose to act on, that is who we all really are inside us, and thats what matters. She says to comfort the boy a bit. She noticed he was a bit stressed, but she hoped that this might have helped him a bit.

Because no matter what house your in, your amazing in your own way. And no one should judge that, not even your parents. She added.

His worries wouldn't disappear in a snap of fingers, but Marcus couldn't hold back the smile that showed up on his face as he listened to the girl seated in front of him. Even if he didn't know much more than the girl's name yet, the boy felt he could trust Emily. Maybe it was just the lack of friends of the same age during his young life, but right now, that's how he felt. The girl was nice, kind, and best of all, she didn't look like she was thinking about switching compartments. Marcus didn't know what to say, so he just nodded and then looked down at his feet. It was then that the boy felt his stomach growl, realizing that he hadn't eaten since breakfast before leaving his house. Whoever looked at Marcus and saw the thin boy, would've thought he barely eats, but the truth was far from that. Do you think it will take much more to get there? He asked the brown-haired girl, and then glanced at the compartment door, wondering if anyone else would show up to stay there with them before the trip was over.

Marcus had already made a friend, and he wasn't even on the school yet! A second one wouldn't hurt.

Emily looked at the boy, she saw that he eventually smiles which made her smile as well. "Do you think it will take much more to get there?" He asked her. She didnt knew how long they where on the train already but she knew it was still going to be around a 6 hours or some. "Well we've been on the train for a 2 hours now, so i think another 6/7. It usually takes around 9 hours on the train." Before the boy could ask her how she knew she told him an answer, even tho she didnt know if he was going to ask her that." My brother told me, he's on hogwarts too, 3th year. And i read alot of books, History books to be correctly. I think they are the most interesting, but i like fantasy's too! Some are good. But mostly History. Do you like to read?" She asks him curiously. She was happy to have made a friend before arriving at Hogwarts. Friends are important. She used to have a bestfriend in the Muggleworld, but now she has moved from school, it was hard to keep in contact, and she had to find an excuse why she didnt go to the same school as her. Obviously she told her friend that she wanted to go to the same school as her brother. But in some way, the girl didnt really believe her.