Dear Mum and Dad
We were so busy yesterday that I didn't get a chance to write, but I'll send this with one of the school owls, so you should get it soon.
Hogwarts is not at all like what I expected. You know I thought everyone was going to be really smart? Well, I'm the only First Year who's read Hogwarts: A History. I thought everyone would have read it. On the other hand, most of these kids knew they'd be coming to Hogwarts when they were about three and they know heaps about it anyway.
Another thing that surprised me was the sorting. (That's when we get put into our houses, if you've forgotten.) I was sure I'd be in Ravenclaw (the smart house), but the Sorting Hat put me into Gryffindor. Gryffindor is actually a really great house, even if some of the kids are not that bright. One boy on the train was trying to cast a spell that doesn't even exist!
While I'm thinking about the train I must tell you who I met: Harry Potter! He's a First Year Gryffindor too. The weirdest thing is that he didn't even know he was famous. I would have looked myself up everywhere I could think of if it was me. He's not really like you would think: he's pretty ordinary, considering how famous he is. He seemed quite nice though: not all snooty like some of the others.
The lessons are really fun: my favourite is Transfiguration (turning something into something else). I even heard a rumour that our teacher, Professor McGonagall can turn herself into a cat. That's pretty advanced – I must remember to look it up sometime.
You said I should tell you about my friends, but I haven't really made any yet. Some of the kids are really snooty, like I said. One of the girls called me a mudblood, which turned out to be a rather nasty insult, but I suppose there are always people you don't like. I get on okay with all the girls in my dorm (it's just like an Enid Blyton story!), but none of them are really my friends yet.
I've got to go now, it's time for our first History of Magic class and I've heard it's taught by a ghost. I don't want to be late!
Love,
Hermione
PS I left my elastics at home, but maybe I can get my teeth fixed by Madam Pomfrey, the matron, and then I won't need braces anymore. Wouldn't that be cool?
PPS Sorry about the blots, but I'm not really used to writing with a quill yet!