King's Cross is everything I ever imagined. Loud and smoky, packed with wizards and witches of all ages. Parents accompanying their first years to the scarlet wagons, older students running about to meet their friends, and me, Arin Thorne, as lost as never before in the middle of all this chaos. I want to run away, hide from the crowds, hide from the curious glances that are currently being thrown at me from all directions. But my shiny black shoes stay planted near the red brick wall as I wait for Professor Gauntley to return. He brought me here by floo powder, and went off to load up my suitcases. Did he leave without saying goodbye? Angry at how much I let that bother me, I shove my hands deep into my coat pockets and glower at the ground. I don't need that oaf.
Talking about oafs, a giant of a boy stumbles by, carrying a very large and bulging suitcase over his head, where it is well out of the way of everyone around him.
"'Scuse me, 'scuse me," he mutters loudly, easily whacking over two witches standing in front of me. They hiss and cuss, and he apologizes bluntly, turning a deep wine red. I grin, silently watching the idiot clamber into the next wagon, making a bigger fool out of himself with every step he makes. A quiet laugh cuts through the noise on the platform, and I turn to see a boy staring at me. His dark eyes glisten with mean amusement. For some reason I feel like he isn't really laughing at the oaf, but at me. I don't blush- this is something I have never done- but something pinches my guts as I bluntly stare back. But at that moment Professor Gauntley blocks my view.
"Here, Miss Thorne," he says, quickly handing me a small leather pouch. "This is for your trip and the first few days"
"Thank you," I say, gazing over his shoulder. The boy is gone.
"I think you shall find Hogwarts a nice change to London. No bombs" He makes a gesture as if to cover his ears. Pathetic little moose.
"Tell me, Gauntley, since when do you care about the wars of muggles? Why would anyone?"
He swallows, but nods. The steam engine lets out a sharp whistle and all the students remaining on the platform shuffle towards the train. I bow my head, then turn to follow the crowd.
There are no empty compartments. I curse myself for waiting so long as I follow the long file of students through the narrow corridor. Each compartment is full to the brim with loud, chattering morons. Even mystery boy sits amidst his laughing friends. His compartment is even fuller than most, which I try not to notice.
But of course, there is one option. I open the compartment door and reluctantly slide in. Even though there is only one person sitting there, there isn't much space. I sit opposite to the oaf, making sure there is enough distance between me and his patched up trousers. He doesn't say anything, which I'm thoroughly thankful for, and we just sit there, me reading a book, him feeding little brown leaves to something very alive in his opened suitcase. I press myself harder against the window.
Most of the ride flies by quickly, especially when the oaf starts snoring quietly in his corner.
Suddenly he jerks awake, looking at me excitedly. "Are we there yet?"
Of course not, you fool, or have the wheels stopped? "No"
"Oh, ok" He leans back. After a second he says "I'm Rubeus, by the way. Rubeus Hagrid. Are you a new student?"
Did I in any way signal I felt the need for conversation? Did I? Because in case I did I would really like to know so I can fix that next time. "Yes"
"What's your name?"
"Arin Thorne" I hope the last name will end the conversation, and it does.
He makes an awkward little nodding gesture that tells me he's heard of us. I wonder what he's heard, whether it's as bad as reality, or even worse.
For the second time today, I grin.