September 1st 1991

Mrs Figg refused to let Harry go to get the train on his own. She could walk now and was taking him to London; she wanted to see him off on the Hogwarts Express.

"Do you have all your things?" She asked it was five o'clock in the morning and the Dursley's wouldn't know he was gone for a few hours. They would be annoyed to wake up and find Harrys note but no breakfast waiting for them.

"Yes Gran." Harry smiled at the woman; he cared about her a lot. Harry had his shrunken chest in his pocket and Zana napping in his side bag.

Harry would miss Hedwig but Mrs Figg promised to use Hedwig to send Harry's letters rather than Candace. Professor Dumbledore wouldn't give in and Harry had to choose one pet. Well one and a Half as Hedwig would still visit some times.

Harry had used his chest every night since he got it; it was far more comfortable than his cupboard. His aunt and uncle had left him in his cupboard although they hadn't locked him in. Since Hagrid came they were too scared of Harry to make him do much.

Zana was getting much bigger now; her coat was a lighter grey now. She had a cats tail- rather than the Kneazle one- and back. From her Kneazle side she had gotten a square face with pointed ears and wide back hips.

"Good boy, now come on." She hurried the boy into the taxi and they headed to the train station.

Mrs Figg fussed over Harry for most of the train ride into London. They got into the station at about half eight.

"Right, we have time to get you some real clothes. Hurry up Harry." Mrs Figg began walking off in a busy body sort of way.

"What about Zana?"

"Hurry now. We only have two hours before I want you on the platform. Best to be early."

"Yes Gran." Harry smiled, following the woman into a small shop. It was a basic place with little variation.

"Let's just get you some clothes that fit."

"Okay. Thank you." Harry looked down embarrassed.

"Harry I've never had children, let me spoil you."

"Okay Gran." The lady at the desk smiled when Mrs Figgs face lit up at the title. "What should I get?"

Mrs Figg piled some basic clothes into the basket, Zana had decided this basket was a nice place to sleep. She measured them against Harry chest and waist. She got him to buy some shoes and smart shirts. As well as Jeans and trainers.

Once Harry was changed into a set of is new clothes -Mrs Figg insisted on the smarter ones- they had breakfast in a kings cross café before heading into platform 9 3/4 . Harry let Mrs Figg use the button that would unshrink his luggage, and then they placed it on the train.

"Harry!" Draco called and hurried his mother across to the boy.

"Hi Draco." Harry smiled at the boy. "Gran this is Draco Malfoy. We met when I was getting my robes."

"Pleasure." Mrs Figg had heard about Draco from Harry talking about his past, and she trusted Harrys judgment. "Arabella Figg."

"Narcissa Malfoy." Draco's mother shook Mrs Figgs hand.

Harry focused on his soon-to-be friend. "How was your holiday, Draco?"

"Great! I got a lot of flying in. What about you?"

"I was reading a lot; need to get a head start. I was helping my gran when she hurt her leg."

"How sweet of you." Narcissa looked the boy and the older woman up and down.

"Oh yes, Harry is always such a help to me." She smiled down at the boy. "Come on Harry you should be getting on the train; you want a good space."

"You'll be okay?"

"I've lived a long healthy life before you came along. I'm sure I can survive before you come home for the summer."

"Bye Gran. Thank you again for everything; especially Zana." The cat in question was now snuggled in Harrys shoulder bag.

"Go get on the train Harry." The woman smiled and ruffled his hair.

"Come on Draco." Harry led Draco into the compartment he used last time. The two boys spoke for a short while before Draco stood up.

"My dad said I need to go and look for Theo, can I leave my things here with you?"

"Sure. Just don't leave your wand." Harry pulled Zana out of the bag and placed her on the seat beside him. She stretched but lay back down.

"Wouldn't dream of it, thanks Harry."

Draco had barley been gone two minutes when Ron arrived. "Hey is someone sitting here?"

"There's room." Harry was absentmindedly petting the large cat beside him.

"Thanks. I'm Ron, Ron Weasley." Harry smiled at his friend; memories of the red head filling his mind.

"Hey Harry couldn't find him. Oh hi." Draco came in and sat beside Harry; he clearly hadn't been looking long. "I'm Draco Malfoy, you are?"

"Ron Weasley."

Harry nudged Draco and silently told him to be nice. "Oh yeah, our fathers don't like each other, do they?"

"No, my dad can't stand your dad." He looked uncomfortable so turned to Harry. "What did he say your name was?"

"I'm Harry. Evans-Potter." He smiled.

"Potter? Like Harry Potter." Draco glared at him as if he was keeping the world's biggest secret.

"Technically, but I prefer Evans. It was my mother's maiden name."

"Blimey!" Ron looked a little pale but shook his head. "Do either of you like chess?" Harry was surprised at how well the three of them were getting on together; although it stayed in safe conversations like chess and Quidditch. Leaving family's far out of it.

"Anything off the cart dears?" A pleasant looking woman pushed a trolley of food in front of the compartment.

"Oh Sure." Draco stood up. "Guys you want anything."

Harry passed over a couple of Sickles. "Yeah just a drink and some pasties, Gran made me a lunch."

"Ron?"

"No thanks, my mum made me sandwiches."

Draco came back with an armful of sweets, drinks and pasties. "I can't believe my mum doesn't do stuff like that for me. Well she is a Malfoy. They just throw money and things and hope that it goes away."

"My mom spends more time smothering my brothers and Ginny than she does doing anything else."

"You're lucky. At least you get some attention from your parents. My parents- they love me but I'm more the perfect Malfoy heir than a son."

"Look at this. I got Corn beef, mum knows I hate Corn beef."

Harry decided to skip the 'My horse is bigger that your horse' competition. "Really? that's my favourite- want to swap? I have cheese and onion. Gran's favourite, probably my second favourite. Want one?" Harry held out one of the sandwiches.

"Yeah go on then. I warn you it's pretty dry."

"Don't care, give me one." Draco laughed at Harry and then asked for a try himself.

"Hey these are good. Not house elf great but good." Draco commented.

"Shush, eating." Harry loved Molly Weasleys cooking. "God you have to get your mother to give my gran this recipe." By that Harry meant that he would be the one to cook it.

Ron looked very confused. "Sure, it's not that good."

"He's not wrong, but I'm not a huge fan of cornbeef." Draco commented. "My mother has never cooked in her life; she gets the house elves to do it all. They even did most of the raising of me."

"Poor little rich boy." Ron mocked but Draco just laughed and agreed.

"Yeah I know. You guys are much cooler than the boys my dad makes me hang out with."

"Thanks Draco." Harry smiled as the door opened.

"Excuse me, has anyone seen a toad at all?" Neville spoke from the opening. They all shook their heads and Ron grabbed a pasty from the pile. "Oh god he's gone. I've lost him." Neville fled back out the room.

"I hate toads." Draco commented shuddering slightly.

"Yeah, I hate rats and mice. That's why gran gave me Zana. She breads Kneazles- Zana is half cat though." Harry stroked the cat who was purring happily beside her master.

"Oh I have a rat." Ron looked sheepish as he brought the thing out.

"Oh god." Harry looked at Peter Pettigrew with a look of pure hate. "Can you put it away? Please."

"Sorry yeah, he's names Scabbers. He does nothing but sleep anyway." The traitorous rat went back in to Ron's pocket. Zana didn't do anything as Harry had hoped she would. But then again Zana swallowing him wouldn't help clear Sirius's name.

"Thanks Ron."

The compartment opened and Hermione stood in new Hogwarts robes. "Hello, has anyone seen a toad? Neville's lost one."

"No, we've already seen him. I'm Harry Evans- err Potter."

"Harry Potter? I've read about you. You're in Modern Magical History's. Great Wizarding Events of the twentieth century."

"Yeah I know. Promise me you took those with a pinch of salt. I've read them and most are complete dragon dung."

"I expected as much. I'm Hermione Granger by the way."

"Hello, this is Ron Weasley and Draco Malfoy."

"Granger? I haven't heard that name before." Draco commented.

"Oh well I am the first in my family to go to Hogwarts. I was so surprised when I got my letter, but happy of course."

"That's nice." Harry glared at Draco carefully; the boy shrugged back into his seat. "My mom was a muggle born too."

"Yeah? That wasn't mentioned in the books."

"Usually not; people aren't as *nice* about muggleborns as they are to purebloods."

"Wait, isn't that racist?"

"More like general prejudice. And it's only a small proportion of assholes that believe that. They're worse with Squibs like my Gran. It'll get better."

"Alright. I'm going to go to look for Neville's toad. Thanks Harry." Hermione looked a little annoyed but left without any anger towards them.

Draco didn't make any comments seeing himself out numbered. It wasn't like he really believed any of this pureblood elitism anyway. That was all his father; hopefully he would figure it out for himself.

It wasn't long before the door opened again. Theo Nott, Crabbe and Goyle stood in the door looking around the carriage.

"They're saying down the train that this is Harry Potters Cart."

"It's Evans-Potter." Harry sighed, he was using this name for a reason. He wondered how people found out- he only just told Hermione a second ago.

"Harry, Ron, this is Theodore Nott, Gregory Goyle and Vincent Crabbe." Draco introduced the three boys.

"Hello." Harry nodded.

"Draco why are you here. With- is that a Weasley."

"I couldn't find you so I came back here to hang out with Harry. Ron was here already. They're cool."

"Draco look at him, scraggily hair, hand me down robes. Filth like that will rub off on you, Malfoy."

All three boys stood up to challenge the others. Draco was the one that spoke. "Say that again Nott. I dare you." There was something behind Draco's eyes; and it had nothing to do with Ron or his family.

"Oh come on, you've heard what your father says about them. They all have red hair and more children than they can afford."

Ron moved forward to punch the boy in the face when Zana jumped up with claws out. She didn't draw blood but scratched his robes.

The boys fled out of the room shouting about demon cats, Zana trotted back to her seat and purred.

"What is going on in here?" Hermione entered. "Are you fighting, you'll be in trouble before we even get there."

"Zana's just having a bad day." Harry petted the cat on the head congratulating her. "There's a good girl."

"Aww she's adorable, I love cats." Hermione grinned at the large kitten.

"Thanks. She's a wizard cat. That means that she's Half-Kneazle."

She nodded and turned away from the cat. "Well you need to get your robes on. We'll be there soon."

Harry and Ron pulled on their robes, while Draco was already wearing his. "Thanks Hermione. Want a pasty?" Harry offered from the sweet pile.

"Oh thanks, yes please." She picked up one of the pasties from the small pile and began to eat it. "They do have strange food here."

"I know, what I wouldn't give for a Mars bar about now."

Hermione smiled. "How do you know about that?"

"I was raised by Muggles; My aunt and uncle. Horrid people, they treated me pretty badly. Because of my Gran I know a lot about both worlds."

"That's cool. So that's why you have kicks on." A voice rang through the carriages declaring that they had arrived. Harry pulled Zana back into her bag and slung it on his shoulder. The boys collected their treats into their pockets and headed off the train.

"Do you know anything about Quidditch Hermione?" Harry asked as they headed off the train.

"Not really. it doesn't seem safe."

"I love it. I live in a muggle area so I'm not allowed to fly but Gran promised to let me have a broom if I make house team next year."

"Did you find Neville's toad?" Ron asked the bossy girl to keep conversation going.

Harry pulled Hermione onto the boat with him, Ron and Draco. The awe in his heart was as true as the first time he had seen the castle. He felt full of homecoming; he felt safe.

"Amazing." Hermione gasped.

"I know."

Hagrid found Neville's toad and Harry had to stop Zana from pouncing on the small creature. It made him a little annoyed that she tried to pounce on the innocent toad but not the traitorous rat.

Zana herself was still a kitten but she was filling out quickly from the food Mrs Figg had given him.

Draco gentlemanly helped Hermione from the boat and the four of them stayed close on the way up to the castle. Theo Nott, Crabbe and Goyle walked together at a safe distance from Zana.

"Good, everybody's here." said a Scottish voice as the doors opened, revealing the Great Hall.