Hermione
Hermione Granger stood in the middle of King's Cross Station looking around curiously. Her parents had a dental conference and had dropped her off over an hour early, leaving her to wander around platforms 9 and 10 alone. They asked Hermione if she was okay by herself and she knew they wanted her to say yes. She had asked several people about platform 9 ¾ but had been met with confusion and even anger by one man who thought she was pulling a prank on him. After her third failed attempt she realized there had to be some trick to finding the platform, so she decided to sit on a nearby bench and watch the area between platforms 9 and 10. Eventually another student would have to come along. She pulled out her transfiguration book to read in the meantime, figuring any muggle would assume it was a fiction novel.
Two chapters later she looked up and saw that her strategy had paid off. She saw a crowd of redheads walking towards the platform. They were attracting quite a lot of attention because they five of them were pushing trolleys much like hers, two of which had owls balanced on top. She approached them hesitantly from behind, wondering how to do this. When she heard the load women, presumably the mother, say something about muggles she knew she had found the help she needed. She saw that two of the children seemed to be hanging back from the rest. They looked a few years older than her, but approachable. She tapped on one of their shoulders, having to stretch up on her tiptoes to do so, loudly saying "Excuse me", perhaps louder than she had meant. This caused the entire group to turn around and stare, wondering what this stranger wanted.
Twins
Fred felt a little tap on his shoulder and turned around. Standing behind Fred and George was a young girl with curly brown hair and chocolate eyes that peered at him excitedly. She seemed prepared to say something but looked nervous when the tall redheads turned to look at her.
"Hello" said Fred, figuring this would calm her down. "Did you need something?"
He looked down at her trunk and the book in her hand and guessed what her problem might be.
"You're going to Hogwarts as well, I take it", He said, gesturing to her copy of A Beginners Guide to Transfiguration.
"Yes, I am" she said quietly "But…"
"You don't know how to get on the train?" guessed George.
"I don't even know how to find the platform" she quietly admitted, her face as red as the twin's hair.
"Don't worry" Fred said, giving this girl a rare smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, "We can help, I'm Fred and this is…."
Molly Weasley took this moment to butt in. She didn't see the looks the twins gave each other, as if they knew exactly what was going to happen and had expected it, but Hermione did.
"Oh, you must be a first year, it's Ronald's first year as well! He's right over here with …." Mrs. Weasley chattered on while putting an arm around the girl and guiding her away from the twins and towards the rest of her family standing a few feet away.
Fred and George watched them walk away with sighs.
Hermione
Hermione let Mrs. Weasley drag her away, confused. She was loudly rambling on about all of children, pointing at them one by one, but never mentioned Fred or his Twin.
"...and this is my daughter Ginevra, she's not old enough to go to Hogwarts with you all so at least I've got someone left at home with me." The youngest Weasley immediately started pouting at this reminder, but still managed to sound angry when she told Hermione everyone worthwhile called her Ginny.
"How rude! I haven't even asked you your name!" she exclaimed, realizing her mistake with a look from her husband.
"I'm Hermione Granger", she said distractedly.
"What kind of a name is Hermione!" exclaimed Ron, ignoring his mother's glare.
"It's from Greek mythology. Hermione was the daughter of Helen of Troy. My parents used to read me…." Hermione trailed off in her explanation, seeing that Ron had stopped listening and everyone else looked confused.
"Well I think it's a nice name, very original" said Molly unconvincingly. "Right Ronald" she continued pointedly.
"Sure, whatever."
Apparently, this was the wrong answer because he was led a few feet away by Molly and Hermione could hear her whispering furiously about "first impressions" and "rude behavior"
Hermione had only just met Ron and she already knew he was not the type of boy she could see herself being friends with. She used this distraction to make eye contact with Fred and gave him a questioning look, wondering why they were standing separate from their family, and why Molly had skipped over them during her introductions. He shrugged and looked away.
Hermione just wanted to get on the platform and continue reading her book. She asked loudly, "I'm sorry but can someone explain exactly where the platform is, and what the trick is to get in?"
"Oh of course! There's no trick dear, the platforms right between nine and ten. To get on all you have to do is walk straight through the wall, well it's really best to run if you're nervous. Here Percy, why don't you go and show her how it's done. Take Ron with you."
Hermione watched the two go through the barrier. It doesn't look that hard. After Arthur and Molly followed them she walked towards the wall, not quite running. She couldn't help but close her eyes when she went through and when she opened she was on the platform, surrounded by people waving goodbye and crowding onto the train. She had sat outside the barrier an hour and hadn't noticed anyone go through! Must be magic she thought, but how?
After the conductor helped her lift her trunk onto the train she dragged it behind her, thankful she'd gotten one with wheels. She found an empty carriage and attempted to heft her trunk into the overhead compartment.
Twin
The twins waited until Hermione had vanished unto the platform. They casually walked through the barrier side by side and kept walking. They walked past their family with barely more than a nod to their dad. Molly was too busy hugging Ron and giving him advice to even notice them. Ginny was hugging Percy with tears in her eyes, begging him to write and tell her everything she was missing. They walked through the crowd and got their luggage onto the train.
They were walking down the aisle of the train looking for an empty compartment when the heard a rather frustrated and irritated groan coming from a compartment up ahead. They looked at each other and started making their way towards the noise. They stopped at the door and walked in see Hermione struggling to get her trunk up into the overhead, it looked like she'd been trying for a while.
"Hey" said George hesitantly "do you need some help with that?"
Hermione looked up at them, surprise in her eyes "No, I've almost - got - it UGH!" with that last grunt she managed to shove her trunk in enough to let go. She obviously hadn't expected that to work and would have fallen over if she hadn't been caught around the waist by the unnamed twin, his strength surprising her. She looked him in the eyes for a moment and then jumped up, flustered.
"We never got the chance to finish introductions, what with your mother pulling me away so quick" she said. She hurried on when she saw the smile fall from the twin's face. "I'm Hermione, Hermione Granger".
"Fred and George Weasley at your service Mrs. Granger" George said with a sweeping bow, making her laugh at his obvious but endearing attempt to lighten the mood.
"It's nice to meet you Hermione, Hermione Granger" said Fred as they all sat down in the compartment, the twins on one bench and Hermione opposite them,
"Don't you have any friends you want to sit with or people waiting for you?" enquire Hermione, finding it curious that two third years would want to sit with a little first year they didn't know.
The twins met each other's eyes and as she watched, seemed to have a conversation without saying a word.
How much should we tell her?
I don't know. She seems different from the rest. Maybe she'd understand?
What if she turns away from us? I know we just met but -
I know, I feel it too.
I don't think I could take it.
Let's not tell her everything yet -
We'll wait and see.
"Were kind of loners" George said to explain. "We don't really have a lot of friends"
"Well any" Fred interrupted.
Hermione could tell there was much more to the story, but knew it was too soon for any secrets to be revealed. It wasn't as if she didn't have a few of her own.
"Now tell us about you" George said. Hermione clearly saw through his attempt to change the subject but didn't argue.
As this was said the train began to move and headed for Hogwarts.
Five
Hermione
As she sat there with George and Fred Hermione couldn't help but study them. They were like a mystery she couldn't help but want to solve. Why didn't they have any friends? She had only just met them, but they were clearly nice and funny not to mention cute her 11-year-old mind couldn't help but add. They should have had no problem making friends. Since they clearly didn't want to talk about it she decided to ignore it for now, eventually shed figure them out, she always did.
"well there isn't much to tell" She started in response to George's question. "I'm…. What do you call someone with non-magical parents again?"
"You're a muggle-born" Fred supplied, looking at her curiously. "What's that like?"
"Our dad's a bit of a fanatic" George added, "obsessed to be honest"
"Why would he be obsessed with muggles in a world full of magic?" Hermione asked
"I've read all my textbooks along with some extra on magical customs and history and I can already tell you this world is soooo much more fascinating!" she exclaimed. I could reread Hogwarts, A history a thousand times and still find something new"
"Really?" said Fred
"Oh yes! Haven't you read it?" she asked incredulously.
"Never really got around to it" said George.
"Been a bit busy" put in Fred.
"But we're third-years, and from a magical family, so any questions you have about Hogwarts or magic you can ask us" Fred quickly said, trying (and succeeding) to avoid the lecture Hermione seemed prepared to give them.
Hermione immediately started interrogating the twins on every aspect of the wizarding world. The train ride seemed to pass quickly in this fashion. Before long they were interrupted by a woman poking her head in asking if they wanted anything from the trolley. Hermione immediately got up to examine the wizarding candy she had never seen before and bought a little of each to try. She listened to the twins advice and got extra of their favorite so she could share.
She Kept questioning them as they ate.
"So, I read about the four houses, but can you tell me more about them?"
The twins quickly looked at each other and then turned back to her, obviously she had touched on another issue.
"Well the four houses are each named after the four founders, Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw and Salazar Slytherin. Each house is known for certain…. traits that their students have."
"Yeah I read that, but what traits do they look for, what I read was kind of vague." Hermione asked, absentmindedly popping a Bertie Botts bean in her mouth and immediately spitting it out to the twin's laughter. "Liver and" she said crossly. "I guess they really do mean every flavor."
"Well each house looks for very different things" said George, still wiping the tears from his eyes. "Gryffindor values bravery, daring, nerve, and chivalry."
"So, they're impulsive" Fred summarized.
"Hufflepuff values hard work, dedication, patience, loyalty, and fair play. "
"Goody two-shoes" Hermione laughed at Fred's descriptions while memorizing George's.
'Ravenclaw values intelligence, knowledge, and wit.'
"Know-it-alls"
"And lastly Slytherin house values ambition, cunning and resourcefulness."
"They would do anything to get what they want"
"They all sound like good traits, how do they decide?" Hermione asked. The twins could see her trying to figure out which house she would fit into.
"Well they put this old mind-reading hat on your head and it decides." Fred said, straight faced.
"Your joking" Hermione said, "A mind-reading hat?"
"Not at all "
"Cross our hearts and hope to die"
"So... which house are you two in?"