The rain came down hard as a young witch made her way through the crowded train station alone, trunk and cat cage stacked hazardously on her trolley and a wand poking out of her brown leather bag. She sighed as she approached platforms 9 and 10. She looked around the barrier, making a complete circle, before parking her trolley in front of the barrier and sitting down. Surely someone would come around to help her find this 'Platform 9 ¾'. She sighed and pushed some dirty blonde hair out of her face. Leave it to her father to leave her alone on quite possibly the most important day of her life. She was about to give up and ask someone for help when she heard it.
"Hurry up children! We have to get to Platform 9 ¾ before 11!"
The girl saw a woman herding her two children towards the barrier. They appeared to be her age- twins, no doubt- though the boy's hair was short and brown and the girl's curly and auburn. She watched in amazement as they, along with their mother and father, walked straight through the wall and out of sight. She blinked a little to clear her head, and supposed anything was possible in the wizarding world.
She got up and started pushing her trolley, panicking a little as she got closer and closer to the barrier. What if she had been imagining the people? What if this didn't work? She didn't have time to stop though. She closed her eyes and kept going and going…right through the barrier. She looked around, amazed at her surroundings. The Hogwarts Express loomed over her, the crimson color bouncing the light off in every direction, despite the rain still falling right outside King's Cross station. She sighed in content and pushed her trolley over to load her trunk on the train. Now came the hard part: finding a seat on the train. She climbed aboard and pushed her way through the crowds of students. Most of them were older and looked at the girl with interest, like she was a new attraction for them to stare at. She ignored them and glanced into each compartment, hoping for an empty one. She finally found one near the middle of the train that seemed empty, but as she opened it, the girl with curly auburn hair from the train station looked up from a magazine she was reading. The girl started to back out of the compartment.
"Oh I'm sorry. I thought this one was empty."
"No wait!" the auburn girl called. "You can…you're a first year too, right? You can sit with me if you want."
The other girl sighed, relieved. Maybe making friends wouldn't be so hard. She sat down across from the other girl and put her bag on the seat.
"My name's Addie. What's yours?"
The other girl put down her magazine and stuck out her hand.
"I'm Hazel."
Addie looked down and noticed the magazine Hazel was reading.
"Wow! You like quidditch too?!"
Hazel nodded enthusiastically. "Yep! I can't wait to try out for my house team. I just can't believe we have to wait until next year! First years are just as talented as the older kids! But you know, my brother says I shouldn't try out just because I'm a girl. Well I said that was stupid because I always beat him when we play in the yard!"
Addie just nodded and tried to follow along. Hazel seemed nice, even though she tended to ramble. The train whistle blew and Hazel got up.
"Aren't you going to say goodbye to your family?"
Addie shook her head. "I'm here alone. My dad didn't get to come."
Hazel looked sad for a moment before turning back to her bubbly self. "Well, I'll be right back. I won't be long."
Addie sighed a pulled a book out of her bag. Inside the book were a few pictures, a couple of letters, and a newspaper clipping. A lady with dirty blonde hair and blue eyes smiled up at her from the newspaper clipping. A tear silently rolled down Addie's cheek.
"Yeah. I'm here alone."
She hurriedly brushed away the tear when there was a knock on the door of her compartment. A shy looking girl with short, dark hair timidly opened the door.
"I'm sorry, but there's not many places to sit. Can I sit with you?"
Addie smiled at her. "Of course."
The girl smiled at her gratefully as she set her stuff down. "I'm Lucy. Lucy Hayes."
"I'm Addie. Addie Wright."
Lucy's face sparked in recognition. "Does your father work in the ministry?"
Addie nodded. "Yeah. He's always there, so I don't get to see him a lot."
"I think my mum works with him." Lucy said. "I don't get to see a lot of wizard stuff though. She's always gone and my dad is a muggle."
Addie smiled sympathetically. "I know how you feel. My step-mum is a muggle, and this wizard stuff kind of freaks her out. But she married my dad, so…"
They were interrupted by a very pretty blonde girl opening the door without knocking.
"Hey can I sit here? There's no where else."
Addie and Lucy exchanged a glance before agreeing.
"Thanks." She said, smacking her Droobles Best Blowing Gum. She plopped down beside Addie and fixed her skirt. It was silent for a while.
Addie cleared her throat. "I um…I'm Addie Wright and this is Lucy Hayes."
The girl glanced at Addie. "Wright…you're Miles Wright's daughter?"
Addie was confused. "Well, yeah, how'd you…?"
The girl laughed. "My father works at the ministry. I know everything that goes on there." She smiled. They felt the train start moving, and Hazel opened the door. Her eyes immediately dropped to the blonde girl.
"What are you doing here Amelia?" she snarled.
The girl-Amelia-laughed again, one of those fake laughs like she was making fun of everyone. "It's Mia now, darling. And you really shouldn't make that face. It's really not going to help you get the boys, and you're going to have enough trouble with that already."
Hazel rolled her eyes and plopped down in her seat. "Whatever. Just don't corrupt my new friend Addie. I actually like her."
Mia stood and adjusted her skirt. "Actually I was just leaving. I was planning on using this train ride to look for some cute boys." She pulled a mirror out of her purse and began touching up her hair and makeup. "Say Hazel, where's that brother of yours? He sure has gotten cute, and-"
"GET OUT!" Hazel yelled, jumping up. Mia just smirked and flounced her way down the train. Hazel was fuming. Her face began to turn the color of her hair. She sat back down and began to cool off.
"I really hate that girl. 'It's Mia now, darling'. Like who does she think she is? And to even talk about my brother that way…and calling him cute?"
She shuddered. After a minute, she cooled off and opened her eyes, seeming surprised at Lucy sitting with them.
'Oh! I'm sorry! I'm totally rude. I'm Hazel, and you are?"
The rest of the train ride went smoothly until the very end, when Hazel's brother opened the door to their compartment.
"Hey Hazel Grace! Have you got any money?"
"No I don-Joseph did you already spend all your money?"
They began bickering like the siblings they were when one of Joseph's friends poked his head in the door.
"Wow Joe! Your sister has some cute friends!" he said, looking straight at Addie and winking. His golden eyes sparkled under a mass of curly black hair. Joe stopped arguing and pulled the boy by his shirt collar.
"Come on Darren, let's get out of here."
Darren straightened his shirt and, with another wink in Addie's direction, ducked down the train after Joe.
As soon as he was gone, Hazel and Lucy giggled.
"What?" Addie asked. "What's so funny?"
Hazel just smiled. "Darren's kind of cute."
Lucy nodded in agreement, but Addie just rolled her eyes.
"Yeah and so is my cat. Darren seems a little too cocky."
The girls giggled again.
"Well, you never know." Lucy said.
"Yeah. He could end up being the one."
Addie rolled her eyes again. "He's not and he won't be. We're way too young for that. And besides, he's not even my type."
Addie didn't think about Darren for the rest of the ride. As they pulled up to Hogsmeade Station however, she couldn't help but smile as her blue eyes met his golden ones in the crowd and he winked at her again.
The group of first years approached a very large man with wild hair. His name was Hagrid, and he motioned them over to a group of boats and separated them into groups of four. Fortunately, Addie was with Hazel and Lucy. Unfortunately, the three of them were also with Mia. They climbed in, the three girls ignoring Mia for Hazel's sake, which proved to be difficult when they wanted to have a normal conversation.
"What house do you lot want to be in?" Addie asked.
"I'm Gryffindor. Definitely Gryffindor. Hazel said, a proud smile on her face. "Lucy?"
"I think Ravenclaw would be nice. But maybe Hufflepuff wouldn't be-"
"HA! Who actually wants to be in Hufflepuff?" Mia sneered from the back of the boat.
"Like you even have a choice Mia! We all know where you're going to end up!" Hazel called back.
Although Addie was sure that Mia would end up in Slytherin, she didn't actually want to be the one to say it out loud.
"Is Slytherin actually that bad?" Lucy asked shyly.
Mia laughed. "Well you'll never have the chance to find out, Hayes. Slytherin is only for purebloods. They don't take Halfblood scum like you."
"Alright that's it!" Hazel called, throwing herself towards Mia. Addie held her back as best as she could, but the force from Hazel caused the boat to rock the water, which splashed up to hit Mia in the face.
"UGH! You'll pay for this Hazel Grace Walker! I swear you will!"
Thankfully they had reached the castle, which loomed above them. The lights from the windows illuminated the night, making the grounds seem more beautiful that Addie had ever imagined it. The first years walked into the castle and gathered in front of the entrance to the Great Hall. Hagrid and a stern looking professor were busy drying Mia off. The professor came before the, and Addie could tell that she was actually very kind, but strict.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. Now, in a few moments you will pass through these doors and join your classmates, but before you take your seats, you must be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Now while you're here, your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you points. Any rule breaking, and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points in awarded the house cup. Now they're ready for you inside. Follow me."
The doors to the Great Hall opened, and Addie's mouth dropped open on its own accord. Thousands of enchanted candles floated above the tables, which were long and covered in beautiful gold plates. The older students sat along each table, staring at them. They intimidated Addie a little. They stopped as they reached the front of the hall. Above them sat each professor, and in the center, Professor Dumbledore. He looked so old and wise as she smiled down at them. In front of them, a raggedy old hat sat on top of a stool. Professor McGonagall cleared her throat.
"Now when I call your name, you will come forward, and I will place the Sorting Hat on your head. You will be sorted into your house and join them at their table."
She unrolled her list.
"Julia Albain."
A nervous looking girl went up first. She sat for a few minute before the hat called "RAVENCLAW!" She looked relived as she went to join the table.
After Jaime Lyn Beatty joined Julie in Ravenclaw and Britney Coleman went to Gryffindor, the name Darren Criss was called. He sauntered up to the stool, without an ounce of nervousness in him. Finally, the hat placed him in Hufflepuff, and he looked slightly dejected before recovering and bouncing off to the table. Addie silently laughed. Served that cocky flirt right. After a girl named Denise also went to Hufflepuff and a few others were sorted, it was Lucy's turn. She shyly walked up to the stool. The hat fell down over her eyes, which blocked most of her now-red face. The hat called 'Ravenclaw!" and Lucy sighed in relief. Addie and Hazel flashed her a smile and a double thumbs up. After more sorting with four students in a row going to Slytherin-including Mia-, one boy to Ravenclaw, and two more to Hufflepuff, it was Hazel's turn. She tried not to look nervous as she approached the stool. The hat barely sat on her head before it called 'Gryffindor!' Hazel smiled and sat down. Not long after her brother Joe joined her at the table. Then Addie was left alone, and she was worried. Would she be put in Gryffindor with Hazel? Ravenclaw with Lucy? Or-and she hoped this one wouldn't happen- Slytherin with Mia?
"Adelaide Wright."
She gulped and walked up to the stool. Time seemed to stand still when she felt the hat being put on her head.
Let's see now, let's see. You really are a rambunctious one, aren't you? That's good for Slytherin. Very witty, yes. That's good for Ravenclaw. But not quite good enough for either of those. You might belong in Gryffindor, with your loyalty, but that's also a quality of Hufflepuff. So where to put you?
I don't care. Addie thought. Just wherever I'll succeed the most.
Hmm…the Hat responded. Very good attitude you have there. This is tough, but there is only one place you'll truly succeed.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" The Hat finally shouted. Addie smiled. No matter what Mia or anyone said, she was sure she belonged in Hufflepuff.
Addie sat at the Hufflepuff table surrounded by her fellow first years. The curly-haired Darren sat across from her, and he kept glancing in her direction throughout dinner. She sat beside a girl named Meredith, who sat by another boy named Dylan. Meredith was very pretty, she thought, and incredibly funny.
After dinner, the house prefect led them to their common room, which was very close to the Great Hall and, Addie suspected, very close to the kitchens. She smiled to herself. We pretty much have the best spot for our common room. The prefect stopped in front of some barrels and tapped a rhythm on them. A door swung open to reveal the Hufflepuff common room. Everything was yellow and cozy, with fat armchairs and many fireplaces. Little tunnels seemed to lead to each dormitory, which had round doors that looked like barrel tops.
"Those are just like in The Hobbit!" Meredith whispered excitedly.
"The what?" Addie wondered.
Meredith laughed. "It's a muggle thing."
After a tour of the common room, everyone headed to their dormitories. Addie's stuff was placed on a bed between Meredith and Denise's. The girls changed and climbed into bed, already exhausted and ready to begin their new lives at Hogwarts.
The next morning, Addie, Meredith, and Denise walked to breakfast together. They sat with some of the boys from their year, Darren, Dylan, and Joey. Addie sat across from Darren, who again, kept glancing at her. Finally she couldn't take it anymore.
"Can I help you with something?" she asked Darren.
He blinked rapidly, like he hadn't realized he was doing anything but enjoying his breakfast.
"Nothing at all Adelaide. Can't I look at a pretty girl if I want to?"
Addie blushed, but pretended to look annoyed.
"I'm not Adelaide. I'm Addie. Just Addie. And since there's no law against it, I guess I can't stop you from looking at this so-called 'pretty girl'. But if I were you, I wouldn't unless you want to spend the rest of your years here in the hospital wing."
Darren smirked at her and stuck out his hand. "Nice. Very sassy. Are you sure you're not supposed to be a Slytherin?"
Addie grinned and shook his hand. "Not at all. I'm where I belong."
