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Chapter 3

"All aboard, all aboard!"

Catrin stood on the platform, staring in wonder at the scene in front of her. Tendrils of steam wound around everyone's heads, lending an unearthly atmosphere to the magnificent scarlet steam engine, the Hogwarts Express. She clutched at her trolley- the only stable thing in this throng of people, and stared in wonder as children of all ages bustled and shoved around her, owls, cats and people adding to the din of the train.

It was wonderful, and Catrin grinned hugely at the sight.

Hagrid had dropped her off just after the barrier, striding ahead until she couldn't make out his large figure in the smog, and now she was alone. Oddly, though, she wasn't scared, though that could just be the exhilaration.

Slowly, she pushed forward through the crowd, listening to the conversations around her, until she found a carriage that didn't look too crowded. Then she attempted to lever her heavy trunk off the trolley, straining and heaving until it came off. When it did- narrowly missing her toes- she looked up at the steps in despair. If she couldn't manage a trolley, what was the hope of getting it on the train?

"Want a hand?" She looked around gratefully, to see a tall boy with carefully rumpled black hair and brown eyes grinning down at her.

"Yes please," Catrin gratefully surrendered, allowing him to lift it easily onto the train and into a compartment. He didn't seem to need any help, so she just followed him, feeling like an idiot as she did so. When he finally levered it onto the luggage rack, he turned around, a pink face betraying the fact that the work might've been a little more difficult than he'd let on, and stuck out his hand.

"James Potter."

She took it. "Catrin Jones."

He grinned at her, shaking firmly. "Funny accent you've got there, Catrin Jones."

"Funny manners you've got there, James Potter."

That made him laugh, and smile at her- the smile of a conspirator.

"What year are you in?" She asked curiously.

"First Year. Like you." He swelled with pride. "The school isn't ready for me: they won't know what's hit 'em!"

A pompous whirlwind, that's what, thought Catrin.

"Thank you for lifting my trunk." She said politely, heading back towards the compartment door. "I'll just be getting back to the platform, to..." she trailed off. She actually wanted to take in the sight again: it was amazing!

"Say goodbye? Me, too." Said the boy thoughtfully, brushing down his jumper. "Mum fusses too much, but you know how parents are." He smirked. "And I've gotta get Al- my brother- to promise to send me dung bombs in the post."

"Arrogant much?" Asked Catrin wryly as they made their way to the steps of the carriage. She leaned against them, hands in pockets, taking in the view. Across from her she could see a tall, black haired man with spectacles and piercingly green eyes looking at her- or was it James? Judging by the similarity, he was his father.

"You know you like it, darling." Catrin coughed, and reddened, staring at the offender, who flashed her a bright grin. Despite herself, she laughed with him, then stared after him as he moved through the crowd towards the tall man.

Smiling, she stared out across the crowd. A lock of hair- freshly washed, at the insistence of the mirror- fell into her eyes, and she blew it out impatiently. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the black-haired man (who, for some reason, was staring at her), stiffen and pale, eyes wide.

Who was he? She remembered something of what Hagrid had said, and guessed that he was Harry Potter. The saviour of the wizarding world. Whoever he was, though, he was starting to irritate her, and she moved back to her compartment, contenting herself with looking out through the window.

Then she heard it.

"But, father...you know that the Death Eaters are gone now. They're disbanded, sadly, but finished."

"Not for long." A low, urgent voice cut across what she thought was a student's nasal whine. "Listen to me, son: I've discovered something wonderful- wonderful! And that might just be the key to this whole thing. That jumped-up Harry Potter- he won't know what's coming to them- the Boy Who Lived can't do anything to help. Not here. All I want you to do-"

"Father!"

A flash of face appeared in the corner of the window, paper white. Catrin blanched and threw herself backwards against the seat, hoping with all her heart that they hadn't seen her. They sounded dangerous, and she didn't want to give a fully-grown wizard the chance to toadify her.

An everlasting moment dragged past. Then-

"Let's go. I'll send you an owl." There was the sound of footsteps, barely discernible among the hubbub, and Catrin let out a long sigh of relief. That was lucky, she thought. And then- what's a Death Eater?


In a remarkably short time, the platform cleared of children, and the adults clustered around the doors and windows, shouting goodbyes and pressing forgotten items into their children's hands. A bolt of sadness shot through Catrin. Her parents would never see her off to her new life.

Then the whistle blew loudly, and the train started to move away from the station, chugging slowly past lines of smiling mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters. Catrin spotted Harry Potter, along with a flame haired woman and two small children. Ron- she thought it was him anyway- was standing next to them, waving.

Gradually, the platform and houses gave way to the rolling green fields of Outer London.

Catrin settled back in her seat, sighing, ready to digest what she'd heard on the platform- and then jumped at the sound of the door sliding open. Two girls walked in- one tall and slender, the other shorter and a little too round to be called slim. One was already in Hogwarts robes, whilst the other was sporting jeans.

"Oh, hello!" Said the taller one, moving across to Catrin and shaking her hand. "We put our luggage in here, too. Do you mind?"

"'Course not." Catrin smiled, watching as the shorter one shook out her honey-coloured curls and extended her hand, too. "My name's Catrin Jones, and you?"

"Well, I'm Mary Jordan, and this here is Nicole Macmillan. It's all rather exciting, isn't it? I mean, away from home for the first time, and all that. Going to Hogwarts! It's always been kind of a dream, you know- well, I know that dad went- mum didn't, she's a Muggle- but all the cool stuff goes on in Hogwarts, doesn't it? Apparently, dad was a trickster genius in his day- not now, though, he's reeeally boring. I mean, why choose to become a Ministry worker?"

"Ministry worker?"

"Oh, he works in Experimental Charms. Occasionally slips George Weasley free samples. Y'know, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes? They're close friends, which is cool. Free merchandise, and all that. Though dad won't let me use half of it!"

"I think that might be a good thing." Nicole interjected quietly, with a smile.

The three girls quickly got to know each other. Nicole, it transpired, was from a pure blood family and had always known that she was going to go to Hogwarts. She didn't talk much, but the little she did speak conveyed the impression that she was very perceptive. Mary, on the other hand, talked almost too much, speaking about anything and everything that popped into her head. Catrin didn't mind; it helped soothe a little of the awkwardness of meeting each other.

The journey passed quickly, especially when Nicole produced a set of Exploding Snap. They were about halfway through their fifteenth game- Catrin had just about gotten the hang of it, as the exploding cards had caused her to scream embarrassingly the first time around- when the compartment door slid open yet again and another girl walked in. She had a thickset face, and sunken eyes which stared balefully out at the world. She didn't reply, even after Mary had hallooed her several times.

"Is there anything you want?" Nicole finally asked.

"Yeah. Which one's the Mudblood?"

Catrin could tell at once that the girl had said something offensive- both Nicole and Mary hissed and winced, staring at each other, and then at Catrin. The girl did, too. She was already wearing Hogwarts robes, and silver and emerald glinted on her tie and front.

"Is there anything you want?" Catrin asked, this time standing up and facing her down, despite the fact that her knees were shaking and the girl was at least double her size.

"Yeah. I've come to say that you're not welcome in Hogwarts, and to keep your filthy muddy paws away from us. You shouldn't belong in Hogwarts at all, so watch out for the Slytherins. Mudbloods are stupid and steal magic from true wizards."

"Oh yeah? You fit that description pretty well yourself." Catrin answered coolly, and then added a few words in Welsh- "Heb os nag oni bai, rydch chi'n rhan gwlithod."

The girl flushed, and stepped forwards menacingly. "Don't spout your filthy muggle rubbish at me."

"Beth? Ydych chi'n siarad a fi? Mae gwlithod ddim yn gallu siarad."

Catrin knew the new girls' stiff posture all too well, from years of living on the street. She was going to attack soon. Acting on instinct, she thrust her hand into her pocket and drew out the Decoy, flicking the switch to 'detonate'. Quickly, she grabbed hold of the girl's robes- and thrust the Decoy down the back of her neck.

It went off immediately; hooting and squealing fit to burst. The girl screamed and clawed at the back of her robes, and Mary and Nicole howled with laughter. With a last burning glance at Catrin, she turned tail and sprinted out of the compartment, banging the door shut behind her and cracking the glass.

"Oh-my-god." Choked Mary. "That was amazing! Let us in on your plans next time! And cool language skills, by the way. What was that?"
"Welsh. And who was she?" Asked Catrin nervously, staring at the crack in the door.

"Dorcas Parkinson. She bullies all of the First Years, she's a kind of anti-legend - but you showed her! And those stinking Slytherins! On our first day too! I bet you're a Gryffindor!"

"Well, we'd better not end up in Slytherin now." Was Nicole's grave comment, which stopped the laughing at once.


The rest of the journey sped quickly by, and soon the train was pulling to a stop outside a long station. The students swarmed out of the doors in a great rush, excited to be back for another year at Hogwarts.

The three girls followed more slowly. Stepping out into the crisp night air, they were pushed along the platform.

"FIRS' YEARS! FIRS' YEARS! OVER 'ERE!" The booming voice of Hagrid echoed over the station, attracting their attention.

"Come on!" Catrin called excitedly, grabbing her companions' arms and pulling them towards the source of the noise. When they reached him, Hagrid smiled. "Alrigh'? Okay, then- follow me!"

They trotted after him, separating from the main body of students and heading down a beaten track to a long jetty, on which were tethered about 10 boats. "No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, then levered himself heavily into one, with groaned alarmingly.

The children hastened to oblige- she spotted James Potter with a redhead and a smaller boy positively leaping into their boat- she ended up sharing, with a petite brunette who had a pale pointed face. "Hello." Catrin said politely, but she turned away and didn't answer, tears glinting in her eyes. Homesickness?

Slowly, the boats moved away from the jetty, and headed out towards the lake. The first-years craned forward to see better, and suddenly the trees fell away and a gigantic castle was revealed, it's windows gleaming butter-yellow and with spires, turrets, battlements, towers...it was a King's dream.

Even Mary didn't have anything to say but Catrin didn't mind.

It was her new home, and it looked like the best home she could wish for.

The first years were thunderstruck by the sight of the Great Hall. Catrin couldn't compare it to anything she'd seen before, whilst beside her, even Mary was silent. With its thousands of floating candles, hundreds of scrutinizing students and ceiling that looked like it opened up onto the glorious sky outside, she was gobsmacked. Although she couldn't fail to notice the four house tables...and wonder which one she- and Mary and Nicole- would be placed in.

They were led to a stool with an old, battered hat on top, and told to wait. Catrin glanced around her, everyone, with the exception of a few others who she guessed were like her, was gazing avidly at it. "It's going to sing for us." Whispered Mary.

"Sing? You must be-"

Then the hat's brim split open and out of it poured a melody.

Oh a many thousand years ago

When I was newly sewn

The founders four, they all agreed

To make Hogwarts their home.

To teach the students sorcery,

And prepare them for their life,

They wanted magic children

But would this lead to strife?

Gryffindor, that bold, brave man,

Ravenclaw, the smart,

Hufflepuff, the kind and loyal,

Slytherin, loyal to only his heart,

They each would train these young wizards

And make them all their own

And that is where I do come in,

For as I've already shown,

I know where you belong,

In these houses four,

So put me on! Do not delay,

And who could ask for more?

Catrin's mouth had dropped open. She stared as the Hall broke into a round of applause, and then swallowed, feeling butterflies explode in her stomach...

Professor McGonagall got up from her place at the centre of the High Table, and walked around to stand next to the hat. She unfurled a scroll and read out briskly, "Appleby, Michael." A stocky boy with a shock of red hair stumbled up onto the dais, sinking onto the stool. Catrin watched in horrified fascination as McGonagall dropped the hat onto his head, covering his eyes.

A pause. Then...

"HUFFLEPUFF!" The table to their right burst into applause, and Michael Appleby grinned widely, slipping the hat off his head and running over to seat himself with them.

That wasn't so bad, was it? Reasoned Catrin with herself. No talking...but what if the hat thought that she shouldn't be in any house? Beside her, Nicole had gone green, and Mary was muttering under her breath something that sounded like "Gryffindor, Gryffindor, Gryffindor..."

Slowly, the line inched forwards, and all too soon McGonagall was calling "Jones, Catrin!" Catrin stumbled forwards, barely feeling Mary's pat-on-the-back, and trembled her way to the stool. She looked at McGonagall for reassurance, but found none, and the last thing she saw before the hat enveloped her in blackness were the accusing eyes of everyone in the school.