Author's Note: I am a huge Harry Potter fan and this is my feeble stab at writing. Unfortunately I do not own the 'Potterverse'. If you have any quibbles, please post them in the reviews and I will address them.
- Chapter One -
In which Albus and Rosie journey on the Hogwarts Express for the first time
Albus dragged his trunk with him helped by Rosie and James. They found a compartment to themselves right at the end of the train. James left for his friends. They put their trunks away and waved to their family as the train began to move. Slowly it gathered speed and they left the station. Albus and Rosie began talking about Hogwarts, and what they'd be Sorted in. Albus was now soothed by the account of his father's Sorting. With a pang, he suddenly realised that amidst all the excitement and hurried preparations he had not given much thought to how much he'd miss his family and friends.
"Don't look so glum Al." Rosie said "We're going to have so much fun. At least you'll find out how much James has being lying to you…"
That did not cheer Albus up much because between the reminisces of the adults (" …that's how it was in my day. I don't know how it'll be now.) or James' stories ("You don't believe me? Wait 'til you get to Hogwarts; then you'll see.), Albus was not sure what to expect. He and Rosie began to compare notes on all they had heard about Hogwarts and concurred that what Teddy Lupin had told them was most reliable.
"It's so cool that he can change his hair-colour whenever he wants" Albus added, "wish I could do that."
It was a bright and cheerful day outside. They were passing the lush, green countryside. Suddenly the compartment door slid open and James Potter stepped in.
"Just checking in on my little brother and sister." he said in a sing-song voice.
"Why?" Rosie asked.
"Because I'm starving and I'm bored. Wish the trolley'd hurry up"
Then, without any preface James proceeded to tell them, in loving detail, how in the previous year on the train he had consumed a snot- flavoured Bertie Bott's Every Flavoured Bean and then because of the taste he vomited on the boy sitting next to him. The boy was later Sorted into Slytherin, James said.
Then, looking at the faint disgust on their faces James smiled and added:
"Hey, you two, don't worry about your Houses so much. You'll do well in whichever House you're sorted into."
He left, soon after which a lady pulling the lunch trolley arrived.
"Anything off the trolley, dears?" she asked smiling.
Albus and Rosie put their pocket money together and bought a bit of everything, something they could never do under the watchful eyes of their parents. They ate most of it, then argued over who got to pocket which leftovers and then laid back drowsily with full stomachs. Rosie (who woke up very early that morning due to excitement) fell into a light doze. Albus felt sleepy, but did not fall asleep. He pulled out a book from his trunk (Hogwarts: A History) but then found that he couldn't concentrate. So he put it away and looked out of the window. He and Rosie had been best friends for as long as he could remember. They had even been together when their parents (with the best interests of their children at heart) sent them to a Muggle school to obtain basic education (how to read, grammar, maths) and other things such as how to behave in the Muggle world and what school life was like. It wasn't bad, Albus decided, but Hogwarts would be better. It was getting darker, because there were clouds on the horizon.
Rosie woke up half an hour later. By now, they were too excited to be nervous. Albus sent Rosie out of their compartment while he changed into his new Hogwarts robes. It had begun to rain. Eventually it became so dark that it was almost pitch-black outside. The train began to slow down. A voice called out "We are approaching Hogwarts. Please do not carry your luggage with you. It will be sent to you later."
The train stopped. A mass of black-robed students poured out of the train. A gruff, familiar voice called "Firs' years, firs' years, this way, this way." They found Hagrid by the lake with some boats. Eventually some twenty-five others gathered there. "No more'n four to a boat" Hagrid called out. Albus and Rosie clambered into one boat with another girl and boy. Rosie had the oars.
"All righ' off we go!" Hagrid cried. They were off to Hogwarts.
