Chapter 1.3 - Journey Across the Black Lake.
It was late evening by the time the Hogwarts Express finally came to a stop at Hogsmeade Station. Mia and I joined the other excited students in the corridor watching the older years who were already outside on the platform. They began to head off in different directions towards the transport that would escort them to the castle. Eventually, the seventh year prefects opened the doors to the final carriage and a sea of eleven-year-olds poured out onto the platform. The excitement amplified even further, with the castle having come into view. It was a glorious spectacle of twinkling lights in the distance. Everyone was chattering and pointing up at the magical building. I clutched onto the sleeve of Mia's robes, to prevent us from being separated in the swarm of schoolmates that we didn't know. Initially, we were unsure of where to go, just stumbling about awkwardly as we wandered with no real direction. But before long a booming voice from the end of the platform caught our attention.
"Firs' years this way! All firs' years, come on! Over here, that's is, chop, chop, we ain't got all night!"
Mia and I followed the sound through the dispersing threads of students who already knew where they were going. I wondered if Alec was still on the platform but I couldn't see him in the crowd. As we got closer, I spotted the largest man I had ever seen, he was smiling widely down at us all.
"Oh, my…" Amelia muttered quietly, barely loud enough for me to hear her.
"He must be a giant," I stated, my voice a little louder than hers and it seemed like he was. Holding a lantern so big it could have been the moon; he was heavily bearded with tiny black eyes.
"My mum said all the giants are gone - they died or were banished after the First Wizarding War," Mia whispered. The giant in question introduced himself as Hagrid before lifting a huge arm and gesturing for us to follow after him. He turned slowly, his movements rather cumbersome, and began to walk down a narrow dark path. Each of his steps required us to break into a jog just to keep up. After a while, the path widened and we soon reached the stony shores of a large, dark lake. Quietly bumping against the rocks on the shoreline, was a series of small boats. Dainty swinging lanterns hung from the front - casting a yellowish glow onto the rippling water underneath.
"Do you suppose Jinx and Iris will be okay on the train?" Mia asked, glancing over her shoulder with a worried expression as if both cats would be found following after us, noisily protesting at being left alone. I smiled softly, she clearly shared a strong bond with her cat. Something Iris and I also had but in a different way. My fur baby had been independent since she was a kitten and so often spent days away from me. We'd been instructed to leave our bags with our cats. But had been promised by the stewards that they would all be waiting for us in the common room of our assigned houses.
"I feel sorry for anyone who tries to pick up my satchel - Iris isn't good with new people." We turned our attention back to Hagrid who once again faced the sea of students.
"All youse go' ta do is say go, and they go." He climbed into his own boat and everyone followed suit. Amelia and I climbed into our own boat, scooted to the front and took hold of the lantern stem.
"Go," Mia instructed boldly and the boat began to push itself across the water. Hogwarts beckoned closer and closer until I had to tilt my head back to try and see it all. I felt my heart flip in my chest, this was it. Eleven years of waiting had paid off and I was finally here. Light glimmered in every window and the turrets stretched high into the dark starry sky. The castle almost seemed to beckon and the excitement in the air grew with every second. As the castle got closer and closer, I felt my wand begin to quiver in my robes. Twelve and a half inches of Sycamore wood with a Dragon Heartstring core. It was my most prized possession. I'd only had it a day and already felt such a strong affinity with it - never letting it out of my sight. As the boats glided closer to the cliff face, excitement grew as we sailed through a curtain of damp ivy into a large cave. The water rippled against the walls and ceilings, creating a silent symphony of shapes surrounding us. I stifled a giggle as I caught Mia battling with a strand of stray Ivy that had found itself in her hair. Each of the boats glided slowly into a mini dock-like rock formation and each student eagerly jumped out. One boy had placed only one foot on the dock before slipping and falling over, much to the amusement of Draco and his two friends.
"That must be Neville," Mia commented as she glanced behind us. "He came into my compartment a little before you, saying he'd lost his toad."
"Bless him." I mused with a giggle as we watched two other boys help Neville to his feet; one with red hair and a smudge of dirt on his nose, the other with messy black hair and circular glasses. Neville blurted out some thank you's and stayed as close to the wall as possible, keeping his palms outstretched on the damp stone. Hagrid waited until all attention was once again on him and he began to walk up a set of damp steps, the sound of his heavy feet echoing throughout the cave. Soon the steps changed from wet rock to dry stone and suddenly, light flooded my eyes and I couldn't believe it. I was here, actually in Hogwarts; on the grand staircase with only the great oak doors separating me from the Great Hall. Excitement once again began to bubble and chatter soon became loud conversation. Mia and I found ourselves at the front of the group and were stood next to the two boys who had assisted Neville. I heard Mia introduce herself to the two boys as I shifted between examining the crowd and staring the oak doors waiting for someone to emerge. Suddenly, a witch approached the top of the stairs and we all quietened. Dressed in sleek emerald green robes, she held a scroll wrapped with a black ribbon. Her grip was tight and she wore a stern expression on her face. Holding out one hand, she spoke with a voice that commanded authority, laced with a thick Scottish Accent.
"Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Now, I'm sure you're all very excited, hungry and impatient. But before the feast can begin you must be sorted into your houses. It will be either Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin." I noticed a hint of disdain in the witch's voice as she read off the last house but it was only the start of the list of things I'd been told to expect. As she took a breath to continue her speech she was cut short by Neville lunging forward between Mia and I to scrape his toad off the top step. It had somehow made it to the castle along with everyone else without being squashed underfoot. He looked sheepishly up at the witch before muttering apologies and returning to the middle of the group. She sighed and curtly turned, leaving us all alone.
