On The Train

The sun rose steadily over platform nine and three quarters, the glass roof emanating heat onto the busy sight below. A small, black haired boy made his way casually through the crowd dragging his trunk behind him. As he boarded the bright red train another boy followed him, after giving a hearty wave to his parents who looked very matured. Both boys made his way down the aisle looking in the compartment until they found an empty one. They hoisted their trunks up and sat down opposite each other. As they did the train began to pull away leaving a trail of smoke behind it.

"Hello, I'm James Potter." The boy with the older parents offered his hand.

"I'm Sirius Black." He took the hand gratefully. There came a knock on the door, a lady with a trolley bristling with food appeared outside. "Want anything?"

"Yeah, I'll have some Bertie Botts' every flavoured beans." Sirius gave the woman his money and threw a small box to James. "Thanks"

"No problem. You know what I like about these chocolate frogs?"

"They don't taste like dung?"

"It's their prank factor." He tied it to a piece of string in his pocket and put it out in the corridor, a boy, already in his uniform, was walking along when his leg got caught on the piece of string and the frog started to hop around his feet tying them together.

Sirius and James roared with laughter as the boy got up, dusted himself off and walked away as though nothing had happened.

"That was brilliant." James said, still chuckling. "Where did you learn to do that?"

"Oh, when you grow up with my parents you have to learn to have some fun." Sirius was still grinning. The journey was considerably more enjoyable after that. They talked about quidditch and pranks for a while until they had exhausted the subject. They both returned to silence for a little while.

"Do you know what house you think you'll be in?" James said, not looking at Sirius but staring absent-mindedly out the window.

"I hope I'm in –"He was cut short as a small girl with mousy hair and a kind demeanour entered. She sat down next to James and stared out the window. She had brown hair and bright green eyes which looked red and puffy as though she had been crying. Soon after the boy they had tripped up came in, he had long greasy, black hair and cold black eyes. He sat down opposite the girl whose face was pressed against the window.

"I don't want to talk to you." She said in a constricted voice.

"Why not?" The boy's voice was unsure; obviously he didn't know why he was not being spoken to.

"Tuney h – hates me. Because we saw that letter from Dumbledore."

"So what?"

She gave him a sharp look of aversion.

"So she's my sister!"

"She's only a –"He stopped himself swiftly, the girl clearly didn't hear him as she was wiping her eyes on the sleeve of her robes.

"But we're going!" He ploughed on, scarcely hiding his anticipation. "This is it! We're off to Hogwarts!"

She nodded, still wiping her eyes and gave a watery smile.

"You'd better be in Slytherin." Evidently emboldened that she had cheered up.

Slytherin?" James asked. "Who wants to be in Slytherin? I think I'd leave wouldn't you?" James asked Sirius who was lounging opposite him.

"My whole family have been in Slytherin." He said.

"Blimey," James said, "and I thought you seemed all right!"

Sirius smirked.

"Maybe I'll break the tradition. Where are you heading, if you've got the choice?"

James held up an invisible sword.

"'Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart!' Like my dad."

The other boy snorted and they both turned on him.

"Got a problem with that?"

"No," he said sneering. "If you'd rather be brawny than brainy –"

"Where are you hoping to go since you're neither?" Sirius cut in.

James roared with laughter. The girl sat up and looked at them both in dislike.

"Come on Severus, let's find another compartment"

"Oooo ..."

They imitated her elevated voice; James tried to trip Severus as he passed.

"See ya, Snivellus!" Sirius yelled as the door closed.

They both relaxed again and stretched out. Staring out the window a huge castle loomed into view, silhouetted against the moon. A prefect came around and told them to get their uniform on and join the other first years outside after they have stopped.

The train drew to a stop outside a small station and people came flooding out of the doors. A booming voice carried over the chatter of the crowd.

"Firs' years over here." It came from a huge man with a large black beard. He had a huddle of first years around him gaping at his size. "I'm Hagrid, the gamekeeper. Come on now, over to the boats."

He led them to the shores of the lake where a dozen boats lay dormant. The lake looked very tranquil with the moon beating down upon its rippling surface. The students boarded the boats in fours with Hagrid in his own leading them with a fiercely bright lantern. Sirius could feel his hair in waving behind him in the cool, crisp breeze sweeping over the lake. They soon approached the bank where a trail led up to the castle, as they exited the boats a stern faced woman advanced. Her hair was in a very tight bun and her thin lips exaggerated her already austere appearance.

"I am Professor McGonagall, the transfiguration teacher here at Hogwarts. Please follow me so you can be sorted into your houses."