1st September 1991
Hermione looked around at everyone passing through King's Cross Station. She'd been to London plenty of times with her parents but today was going to be different. Today she was going to start a whole new adventure. She was off to boarding school. Not just any old boarding school either. She was going to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She'd been a bit surprised when one of the Professors had shown up on her doorstep the previous year, explaining that Hermione was a witch, and a natural at that judging by her control over her magic and that she was more than welcome to study at Hogwarts the following September. Her parents had been completed nonplussed as they were told that Hermione was what is commonly known as a Muggle-born, that is she was a witch born to non-magical parents. Professor McGonagall had already taken her and her parents to Diagon Alley and had sent them instructions as to how to get onto Platform nine and three quarters.
Hermione looked over the piece of parchment in her hands again and looked back at her parents. She wasn't quite sure how they were going to handle this next bit.
"To get onto the platform we just need to run at the wall between platforms nine and ten," she announced proudly, even though her heart was beating in her chest. As expected her parents looked completely confused as if they thought she had gone mad. "Trust me it'll be fine. Professor McGonagall said that was what we had to do in her letter, and I doubt the Professor is going to be wrong."
Keeping her eyes closed tight and her fists clenched Hermione broke away from her parents and sprinted straight at the wall. For one heart-stopping moment she thought she was going to smash straight into it but instead everything became dark. A moment or two later a scarlet train appeared in front of her under a sign saying Platform nine and three quarters. This must be the Hogwarts Express!
Moments later both of her parents appeared behind her with her luggage, both of them red-faced and out of breath as if they too had taken the platform barrier at a run. Hermione wondered how Muggles like her parents could get onto the platform. She'd have to look it up at some point.
A few feet from her an elderly woman was berating a boy about Hermione's own age for having lost his toad. Even though eavesdropping was frowned upon Hermione knew she needed to try and make some friends otherwise she'd be in for a very lonely year. Plucking up her courage she approached the crying boy and held out her hand.
"Sorry to overhear your conversation but I gather you've lost your toad? Would you like some help looking for him? I haven't seen one myself but I'm sure if we work together then we'll find him in no time at all. I'm Hermione by the way, Hermione Granger. What's your name?"
The snivelling boy sniffed deeply and wiped his eyes on the sleeves of his robes before responding. 'I'm Neville. My toad Trevor keeps escaping and I can't find him anywhere." At this Neville burst into fresh tears and Hermione found herself rummaging in her pockets for a tissue.
"I'll help you look for him. Let's get our stuff on board and then we can start asking people if they've seen him okay?" Hermione turned back to face her parents so she could tell them all about how she was going to help Neville when she crashed into someone. Looking up, her face flushing, she saw a boy who was a few inches taller than her with platinum blonde hair and a very haughty look on his face. He scowled at Hermione as she muttered an apology.
"Come on Neville, let's start looking. It won't take us long to find Trevor."
Famous last words thought Hermione two hours later. She and Neville had spent all morning walking up and down the Hogwarts Express trying to find Trevor the toad with no success. She'd told Neville to go and see if he could get some drinks from the refreshments trolley while she started knocking on compartment doors to see if anybody had seen Trevor. So far she hadn't had much luck, but she knew she couldn't give up so summoning her breath she slid open the door of the next compartment.
"Excuse me but has anybody seen a toad? A boy named Neville has lost one."
Hermione's breath caught in her throat as she recognised one of the boys in the compartment. It was the blonde from the platform whom she'd accidentally knocked into. His face twisted up into a sneer, ruining his features as he burst into laughter.
"Longbottom's lost his toad? You know I'm still surprised the lump even got into Hogwarts. The whole place is going to the dogs. No I haven't seen it but even if I had I'd be unlikely to tell you." He smirked at her. "So go on. Scram. Leave us alone. And watch where you're going next time too."
Flushing red with anger and embarrassment Hermione left the compartment to find Neville hovering nervously outside. In his hands he was clutching a fat toad.
A/N: What did you think? Please rr I love waking up to reviews from all of you lovely readers out there. No flames though please.