Albus watched the platform slowly pull away as the train pulled out of the station. Shivering with excitement, he turned to face his cousin, Rose Weasley.
Rose smiled back at him and said "Come on, let's find a compartment."
They walked along the length of the train. Every compartment was relatively full with third, fourth, fifth or sixth years. Finally they came to an empty one. It was near the engine, the faint noise of the engine could be heard.
As they sat opposite each other and closed the door, it opened again.
There was a medium-height 11 year old standing in the doorway. His red hair lay flat on his head, he was wearing jeans and t-shirt and was looking extremely nervous.
"Mind if I sit here?" he asked.
"Sure." replied Albus, pushing his trunk off the seat.
"Sean, Sean Finnigan."
"Albus Potter."
"Rose Weasley."
He stared critically at them. "Is your Dad Harry Potter?" he asked Albus. "Yes, why?"
"My Dad was in Gryffindor with your Dad, Seamus Finnigan. And is her Mum-"
"Hermione Granger, yes." Rose replied impatiently. "So?"
"Did she ever speak of a Lavander Brown? Or Lavander Finnigan, as she is now."
"Well what a coincidence." Rose replied sarcastically. "They dated in fourth year, and after the war. Of course they're not married now." Before Sean could reply with a sharp retort, the compartment door opened again. This time, a girl stood in the doorway, she had straight midnight-black hair and mousy brown eyes. Her eyes darting nervously she asked
"Is their any space-"
"Sure." replied Rose, moving her tawny owl of the seat beside her. Looking nervously around at them all, she lowered herself into the seat next to Rose. "What's your name?" asked Rose after an awkward pause.
"Holly." she replied "Holly Parker.
They went through the round again, of who they were, yes their parents were extremely famous, blah blah blah.
It was only when they'd finished that Holly said to Albus
"Did you know that my Mother dated Harry Potter for a while?"
Stunned, Albus asked "So you're Mum is-"
"Cho Chang?" finished Holly,"Yes, but they broke up at the end of her sixth year. She's happy now. Married to a muggle, Reginald Parker."
Amazed at how all their parents seemed to know each other. Albus turned to Sean and said "So seen any good Quidditch lately?" Soon their compartment rang with arguments about Quidditch teams. Albus supported the Hollyhead Harpies, since his mother had played for them before marrying his father. Rose, however supported the Chudley Canons (courtesy of Ronald Weasley). Sean supported the Appleby Arrows while Holly, who seemed to be quite daring once she'd gotten over her shyness, supported the Tutshill Tornadoes.
Eventually, long after the famous trolley had passed with Fizzing Whizbees, Droobles Best Blowing Gum, Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans and Sugar Quills. The train began to slow.
Changing into their robes, the four of them didn't speak much. Albus, for one felt like he had eaten too many sugar-spun worms, they were now twisting and turning inside his stomach.
Finally as the train came to a halt at Hogsmeade station. Albus glimpsed his older brother, James laughing along with other third-years. Then, he heard a call of "First-Years this way! First-Years this way!" Hagrid stood there, wand, according to his Father, had not seemed to have aged in 19 years.
When Albus approached Hagrid, he said "Blimey, hair like that and those green eyes? You must be Albus Potter!" laughing, Hagrid said, "Come along, Al and all you others. Time to go to Hogwarts."
Treading nervously down the forest path, Albus walked between Sean and Holly, with Rose falling behind, talking to another girl that had gotten off the train with them. Finally, They arrived at the lake, Holly gasped and Albus couldn't blame her, There were about twenty little boats, sitting ready, waiting with little lanterns on the lake shore. But behind that, rose Hogwarts. There were so many turrets and towers, Albus couldn't count. The highest that rose up, the Astronomy Tower, Albus guessed, was standing next to a round, yellow moon that cast it's light across the School.
Albus climbed into a boat, with Holly, Sean and Rose close behind him. The lake was calm, the night still. Eventually, they sailed into a little cave were there stood a door.
"Everybody ready?" Hagrid asked once they'd all climbed out their boats. Nodding, everybody held their breath in anticipation as Hagrid knocked loudly and deliberately, on the large wooden door.