“Who do you suppose that is?” Harry asked, looking at his two friends that were standing with him inside the Leaky Cauldron.
    “I don’t know, I’ve never seen him before. He doesn’t even look like a wizard to me.” Hermione answered matter-of-factly. “I’d know, I’ve seen a lot of wizards, and I can tell the difference between a wizard and a muggle but…” She trailed off, her nose scrunching up as she scrutinized the boy who was asking different wizards something.
     “But what?” Harry frowned, shifting his weight so his new books wouldn’t seem so heavy.
     “He doesn’t look like a muggle either…”
     “Then what is he?”
     “A bloody fool, just look at what he’s wearing.” Ron quickly pointed out. “He looks like a bloody pirate” The boy did look a bit strange in his clothing. The black pants were a few inches too short for him and that frilly shirt helped the pirate look along, but the purple sash made him stick out quite a bit, even though he was standing in the shadows.
     “And look at the guy with him!” Ron tried not to laugh as he pointed towards the man standing next to the boy. He had a short crop of orange hair on top of his head and a long ugly scar down the side of his face. He was wearing a blood red suit with a cape. Ron covered his mouth, trying to suppress his laughter. “What does he think he is?”
      “Ron! Be quiet.” Hermione tried to shush him, “You think they can’t hear you but look now they’re coming over here, now hush.” The boy walked over to them. He looked as though he hadn’t showered in weeks, luckily he didn’t smell half as bad.
     “Can any of you tell me how to get to Hogwarts?” He asked, looking from Harry to Hermione but didn’t look at Ron. He didn’t think the giggling fit of laughter was going to help him at all.
     “We usually take the train. It leaves in three from Kings Crossing at eleven a.m. station nine and three quarters.” Hermione answered, but in return just got a puzzled look.
     “Hermione…” Harry groaned.
     “Well I was just explaining to him how we get to Hogwarts” Hermione crossed her arms, looking quite sulky.
     “Are you a new student?” Harry asked, turning his attention the boy still standing next to them.
     “No,” He answered, “But I desperately need to get your school, you don’t understand, it’s a matter of life and death.”
     “Well… I don’t know if you can get to Hogwarts without taking the train. I don’t know if you’d be allowed there, muggles aren’t really…”
     “What is a muggle?”
Harry was shocked, how could anyone asking about Hogwarts not know what a muggle was?
     “A muggle is a non-magical person.” Hermione answered. Harry rolled his eyes.
     “Yes, what she said. We’re wizards, that’s why we can go to Hogwarts, but mu-normal people, well I don’t know if they can get in.” Harry explained
     “Why not?”
    “It’s Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.” Ron interjected bluntly. “No muggles.”
    “I’m not a muggle” The boy stated quickly.
    “Then what are you?” Ron asked, crossing his arms as he stared down at him.
    “I’m-“ The boy stopped, looked back at the man he was with then frowned, “It isn’t safe to say here, but maybe if I can get to your school then…”
    “What’s left? You’re not a muggle and you’re not a wizard.” Ron looked and sounded utterly confused.
    “Ron, be quiet.” Hermione glared at him, then put back on a pleasant demeanor to talk to the new boy. “What’s your name anyway?”
    “Darren”
    “I’m Harry, this is Hermione and that’s Ron.” Harry pointed to the frizzy haired girl and the tall red head he was with.
    “It’s nice to meet you three, but we really need to get to Hogwarts. All of your safety depends upon it. Your lives even!” Darren’s voice was raising and gathering attention. He cleared his throat. “Maybe it’d be better to talk in my room.” He motioned for the three to follow him. The five of them, including the man that was with Darren, walked up to the room Darren was staying in.
    “Like I was saying downstairs, your lives depend on us getting to Hogwarts.” Darren explained.
    “Us?” Ron asked skeptically. “We’re already going to Hogwarts”
    “Mr. Crepsley and me.” He pointed to the man that was now sitting in a chair in the corner of his room. His face seemed even more disfigured than it had before in the little bit of light that was in the room.
    “Oh…” Ron sat down in defeat.
    “Well you could try to get there and talk to Dumbledore. All I know is that when we ride the train it seems like we go east forever.” Harry said, pulling his eyes from Mr. Crepsley to Darren.
    “Harry do you think Dumbledore lives at Hogwarts?” Hermione put her hands on her hips, raising an eyebrow.
    “Well… no, maybe… How am I supposed to know?” Harry frowned. “Well” He returned his attention to Darren, “You could always go there and see.”
    “Do you think we could make it?” Darren asked, turning to Mr. Crepsley. Mr. Crepsley looked thoughtful for a moment then responded,
    “How long does it take by train?”
    “About seven hours” Hermione answered.
“We should be able to make it in one night’s worth of flitting…” Mr. Crepsley said thoughtfully. “You need to get your rest before then, I’ll keep watch.”
“But you’re the one who’s going to be doing the flitting, you should sleep, I’ll keep watch.” Darren protested.
“Fine, I’ll be awake in three hours.” Mr. Crepsley stood up and shooed them out of the room.
“Flitting?” Ron asked.
“Isn’t that something that va-“ Darren clamped his hand over Hermione’s mouth.
                “Sorry I just… you three should go. I’ve got a long trip ahead of me tomorrow and I need to watch out for Mr. Crepsley.” Darren said quickly.
                “Fine, we’re going, come on Ron, Hermione. Maybe we’ll see you around, Darren.” Harry said, and with that the three left the Leaky Cauldron.
        Three hours later right on schedule Mr. Crepsley opened the door to see Darren snoozing there on the floor.
               “Get up, Darren, we must go now.” He nudged Darren with his foot and he sat up quickly.
               “Right right… let’s go.” Darren pulled himself up off the floor and followed Mr. Crepsley outside. Once outside they walked away from Diagon Alley until they had enough flitting room. Darren climbed on the older man’s back and with a few quick steps they disappeared into the night.

        It was early morning when the pair arrived at the gates of Hogwarts. “I can’t believe we actually made it.” Darren laughed to himself as he got down off Mr. Crepsley’s back and walked up to the gate. “Now… just to get inside…” He said thoughtfully. They only had to stand there a few minutes when they saw an old white-haired wizard walking up to the gates.
              “Good morning” Dumbledore greeted them.
              “Are you Dumbledore?” Mr. Crepsley asked.
              “Why yes I am”
              “My assistant and I need to talk to you, about matters concerning the safety of your students here at Hogwarts.” Mr. Crepsley explained. “Can we do that inside?” The sun was due to rise soon and he did not want to get stuck in it. Dumbledore nodded,
             “Yes, follow me.” Dumbledore led them inside to his office and sat behind his desk. Most of the photographs on the wall were snoozing, but a few were eyeing the visitors with wary eyes.
             “Mr. Dumbledore-“ Mr. Crepsley began,
             “Please, just Dumbledore”
             “Dumbledore… My name is Larten Crepsley and this is my assistant, Darren Shan.”
             “Pleased to meet the both of you. What is your business here today, Mr. Crepsley?”
             “We have reason to believe that this school year a vampaneze will be attending your school…”