I was not alone in creating this story. Its formation was because of us three... my friend Maria, and of course, myself, and another friend, who is an author here herself. Her name here is emeraldorchid; be sure to read her stories. But now begins our tale, as we unfold Rowling's glories. Mind you, we are merely using her setting and characters, but otherwise, this story belongs to us three creators.


A Hogwarts Tale

Prologue- The Arrival

As soon as the piercing whistles of the Hogwarts Express died away, another, strange sound echoed after it. In the foggy darkness that followed the train rapidly moving back to London, a dim pair of lights appeared on the same tracks, but moving towards the castle.

The rumbling sound grew louder. It seemed deeper, almost thunderous, than that of the Hogwarts Express.

Then all went quiet, and the dim pair of lights disappeared. The only lights that could be seen in the fog now were the shimmering glows of the castle beyond.

Not a soul stirred on the tracks. Suddenly, with a loud burst a train shot out from thin air onto them. With a long screech the train halted. None of the students up at the castle heard a single sound.

Though it was dotted with water drops from the cold mist, the train was clearly visible in the darkness. It gleamed a bright blood red, making it look strangely skeletal, and the smoke rising up from its engine seemed ghostly in the phosphorescent light of the moon above. The windows were illuminated a dismal yellow light, and the calm waters of the Great Lake before the train eerily reflected them.

There was the sound of sliding doors; someone was stepping off the train. Their soft footsteps walked around the train, sounding wet on the moist stone ground. Following them was a loud thud, as though something was being thrown onto the ground. Suddenly a voice yelled out from the darkness:

'Hey! Yer from tha' other school, righ'? The new transfer students or somethin'?'

A tall silhouette holding a lamp loomed over the three figures that now stood before the train. Rubeus Hagrid sniffed loudly, held up the lamp and stared down at the cloaked figures. The shortest of the three leaned to one side and seemed to whisper to the other figure, who suddenly gave a violent shudder. The third person slowly turned to them and the two rapidly faced Hagrid again. Hagrid, however, did not notice, as he was busy wiping his nose on the sleeve of his fur coat.

'Glad to have yeh with us!' he exclaimed loudly, and gave another sniff. 'Sorry, the weather's bin nasty fer me health. Welcome to Hogwarts! Yer a little late, though. Why, it's nearly Halloween! Still, better late then never, me always say. Well, we better get a move on. We don't want ter miss the banquet! Jus' leave yer luggage an' things 'ere. Someone'll ge' it...'

He turned around and motioned the three to follow him. Silently, they followed him to the edge of the giant lake. With another burst, the train behind them disappeared in a puff of smoke.

'There we are!' announced Hagrid, as he pointed at a large boat floating peacefully on the smooth surface. 'Get in! We have ter cross the lake!'

The first of the three hesitated, then gently stepped onto the boat. The two followed suit. Hagrid slipped the lamp up his arm and stepped onto the boat. It rocked dangerously as his weight lowered it several inches deeper into the water. The three figures hastily moved to the opposite side of Hagrid to balance the swaying boat.

'Ah yes,' he said with a contented grunt. 'Now it's off ter the castle!'