2. Eleven Years Later

Albus Dumbledore pushed the snack trolley along the corridor of the Hogwarts Express. "Chocolate frogs," he called out in his little-old-lady voice. "Pumpkin juice." He glanced into the next compartment on his route and muttered, "Oh no." He slid the door open. "Snacks, dears?"

The four first-years who looked up at him saw only the sweet fat witch who usually brought the children snacks on their journey to Hogwarts. Draco Malfoy dismissed her with a contemptuous glance, but his two companions (who just had to be the sons of Crabb and Goyle) lumbered up onto their feet, and licking their fat chops, hurried over. "What have you got?" they drooled. Their pockets were filled with their father's galleons, and soon they'd bought up enough sugary snacks to feed a battalion. They took their many treasurers back to their seats.

In the corner, a little girl had squashed herself in as far into it as possible. She had a lion's mane of hair, but just now, she wasn't looking all that brave.

"Snacks, dear?"

Hermione Granger shook her head. She was trembling.

"Come with me, dear." When Hermione didn't move, Dumbledore gently but firmly repeated, "Come with me."

She hesitantly got come up and crossed the compartment, walking as if she expected the three boys to attack her as she came. But they merely snickered. She made it outside, and Dumbledore slid the door closed.

"Whatever possessed you to choose those three for your travelling companions?"

She shook her head but said nothing.

"Shall we find you another compartment? One with children who are actually nice?"

"Please sir, have you seen Professor Pastlepoof? He promised he'd meet me on the train, but I haven't seen him, and nobody else has either."

"Oh, he's here. Don't you worry about that. I'm sure you'll see him soon." He escorted her along the corridor, stopping to make sales in the next two compartments. Then he slid open the door to the compartment after that. "Snack, dears?" he asked.

The two first-years inside shook their heads. Dumbledore turned to Hermione. "I'm sure you'll be much happier in here." He nudged her forward. "This is Miss Hermione Granger."

She frowned. "How do you know my name?"

"Why don't you both introduce yourselves?"

The blond girl who was reading an upside-down copy of the Quibbler said ethereally, "I'm Luna Lovegood."

The boy with the toad said, "I'm Neville Longbottom, and this is my toad, Trevor."

Hermione immediately liked these two so much better than the other three. She quickly sat down, feeling much gratitude towards the snack lady, who slid the door closed and went off along the remainder of her route.

Luna told her, "I've been reading a very interesting article on toads, and I'd like to try an experiment."

"Not on my toad!" Neville gasped, trying to hide Trevor behind him.

Hermione asked, "You can do magic?"

"I think I can. I'd like to try."

Neville barked, "No!"

"I'm not going to harm him. I just want to kiss him."

"Kiss my toad?"

"I think I can make him turn into a prince."

"You're balmy!"

"So I can't hurt him."

Neville looked uncertain.

Hermione said, "Go ahead. Let her try. I'd like to see this."

"Wellllllll." Neville squirmed. "I guess."

"Wonderful!" Luna checked a few facts in the Quibbler, looked at the toad, checked a few more facts, and then set the publication aside. She gingerly knelt in front of Neville, who reluctantly held out his toad.

Luna kissed Trevor.

There was a flash of light and a roar like thunder. When the children came to, they found themselves sprawled all over the floor of the compartment, but they were unhurt. Luna looked about. "What do you know?" she marveled in her airy voice. "It worked."

Trevor was nowhere to be seen, but laying in the tangle was an extra first year. He had a shock of unruly black hair, green eyes, and a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead.

The snack lady slid the door back open and looked in. When Dumbledore saw what had happened, he breathed, "Oh my. This is a bit premature."