Chapter 3: On the Tracks

The few weeks leading up to my departure to Hogwarts were not the most unpleasant months I had spent with the Prunley's. The time I accidentally set April's hair on fire because she ripped up my picture of my parents had been much worse. Then, I had been locked in the closet for a full month.

Now, they all ignored me. I think they were too frightened to say anything to me. Any time April saw me, she ran the other way screaming. She still hadn't recovered from having part of the roof fall on her head.

Instead of interacting with the Prunley's, I spent most of my days reading my textbooks. They were actually really interesting. I started getting really excited to go to Hogwarts so I could learn how to do some of these spells, like the one that made things fly.

Venus would be out hunting during the night, so she would keep coming back with dead mice. It was kind of gross.

The day before the train left, I went and asked Uncle John if he could give me a ride to the station.

"I'll drop you off on my way to work," he grunted. Happy to have that out of the way, I headed back to my room and packed my trunk.

The next day, Uncle John dropped me off at King's Cross Station, unloaded my trunk and owl, then drove away without a second glance. Sighing, I put my trunk and Venus onto a trolley and walked into the station.

I found platforms 9 and 10, but 9 ¾ was nowhere in sight. Remaining calm, I found a guard and asked him where platform 9 ¾ was, but he just looked at me like I was crazy. He had never heard of Hogwarts, then walked away, muttering about stupid kids.

I looked at the large clock, which informed he I had less than 10 minutes to get on the train. Hagrid forgot to tell me how to get onto the platform, and I had no way to ask him now.

Starting to panic, I was about to get my wand out and start tapping the bricks like Hagrid did at Diagon Alley when a large family passed me. "…platform 9 ¾ this way, kids…" the woman said as she passed me. I quickly wheeled my cart around and followed them at a distance.

"Alright, Percy, you go first." I saw the eldest boy walk towards platforms 9 and 10, but then I sneezed. When I looked back, he was gone. "Fred, you go next."

"He's not Fred, I'm Fred," said one of the boys.

"Honestly woman, you call yourself our mother," said an identical boy, shaking his head.

"Sorry, George," said his mother.

He turned his trolley so it was facing platforms 9 and 10, then turned to his mother and said, "Only yanking your wand, I really am Fred." He sprinted for the platform divider with his twin following behind him. I watched carefully, but they were there one minute and gone the next.

The woman was standing there with another boy and a girl. The boy had orange hair like the rest of his siblings, but he girl had flowing blonde locks.

"Excuse me," I said, approaching the three of them. "Could you tell me—"

"How to get on to the platform, dear? Don't worry, it's Ron and Rosalie's first year too. All you need to do is walk straight at the divider between platforms 9 and 10. Don't be nervous, you'll go right through. Why don't you go before Ron and Rosalie?"

I nodded my head, gripped the handle bar of my trolley, and ran straight for the platform divider. I closed my eyes as I approached the wall, expecting to smash into it, but when I opened my eyes, I saw a huge scarlet steam engine. I looked behind me, and where the barrier was, there was a huge sign that said, "Platform Nine and Three-Quarters."

Smiling, I pushed my trolley down the platform. I found an empty compartment at the end of the train. First, I put Venus in there, then started lifting my trunk on the train. Unfortunately, since I was so small, I could barley lift it.

"Need some help?" a voice asked. I looked and saw the twins from the barrier standing there, watching me struggle with my trunk.

"Please," I said, smiling. The two of them hoisted my trunk into the compartment and stowed it away in a corner.

"Thanks I said to them, brushing my hair out of my face. I saw the twins mouths open wide.

"Are you—?"

"She is!"

"What?" I asked, although I had a feeling I knew what was coming.

"Alice Brandon!" they said together.

"Oh, yeah. I mean, yes, I am."

"Wicked!" the one said.

They continued to stare at me, and I was relieved when their mother called out their names. With one last look at me, they left the carriage and went to join their family.

I looked out the window at the family. My heart ached when their mother gave them each a hug and kiss.

"Now you two," she said sternly, "I don't want an owl every other week telling me you've done something ridiculous like stolen a suit of armor, so behave yourselves!"

"Mum, we'd never do something like that."

"Honest!"

I saw their mother glare at them.

"Well, look after Ron and Rosie. At least get Percy to look after them. He must be in the prefect's carriage already."

"Percy the prefect. Guess we'll have to start behaving ourselves, won't we, Fred?"

"Looks like it, George, with Percy the prefect breathing down our necks." The twins burst out laughing.

"Hey, Mum, guess who we met on the train? Remember the girl standing by us in the train station? Know who she is?"

I shrank down in my seat so they couldn't see me.

"Alice Brandon!"

"Is she really? How do you know?"

"Asked her. Saw her scar. It's really there."

"That's why she was all alone, poor angel. She was so kind and well-behaved."

"Who cares about that. I wonder if she remembers what it feels like to get cursed!" Fred exclaimed.

"Fred Weasley!" his mother said crossly. "Don't you dare ask her that, do you understand me?"

"Yes, Mum."

"Now get on the train, all of you," she said, giving them all a kiss goodbye.

The train began to leave the station, and I saw their mother waving goodbye. As the train got farther away, she got smaller until she completely disappeared.

I relaxed in my seat and looked out the window, picturing what Hogwarts might look like. Suddenly, the door to the compartment opened.

"Do you mind if I join you?" the blonde girl from the platform asked. "Everywhere else is full or has older kids." She smiled meekly at me.

"Sure," I said. She smiled and sat down across from me.

"Are you really Alice Brandon?" she asked suddenly.

"Yeah," I said, moving my bangs to the side to show her my scar.

"Whoa. Sorry, I didn't mean to ask like that, but my brothers like to play jokes that on us."

"It's fine."

"I'm Rosalie Weasley, by the way," she said, extending her hand. I grabbed it, and instantly left the Hogwarts Express.

Rosalie was dressed in a pink ruffled dress that looked like it belonged in the 18th century. She had her hair curled and pinned on top of her head. Even though the dress was hideous, she still looked stunning.

She was in a room that was decorated with huge ice sculptures, lots of food, and music.

All around her, people were dancing together to a slow song. She glanced around, looking for someone.

A big, muscular guy with black curly hair came up to her. She smiled when she saw him and took his hand.

The two of them walked on to the dance floor and began twirling. People moved to the side when they saw them. They didn't want to stand next to two people moving with such grace and elegance.

I looked to my left and saw a man with grizzly hair, a mangled nose, and a fake eye sitting at a long table.

There was a flash of green, my scar began to burn, and my ears filled with a cold, high-pitched laughter.

I opened my eyes and saw Rosalie looking at me curiously.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. It's nothing."

"Are you sure?" she asked. "You were rolling on the floor while your eyes rolled to the back of your head."

"Really?" I asked.

"Yeah. It was kind of creepy."

"I don't know what it is. That's the fourth time it happened. Every time I touch someone's hand, it's like I leave where I am and go somewhere else."

"Where did you go this time?" she asked.

"It was a room with ice sculptures and food and music. You were there. Your dress was kind of ugly, but you looked so pretty. You were dancing with this big muscular guy with curly hair.

To my surprise, her face turned bright red.

"What?" I asked her.

"That guy you just described? That's one of Fred and George's best friends. His name's Emmett Cullen, and I've kind of been in love with him since I met him."

"Really?"

She nodded. "What does what you saw mean? Maybe it shows you what the person wants, since I've always wanted to dance with Emmett."

"I don't think so. I saw Mr. Ollivander in another one and he was being tortured. I don't think that's what he wants."

"Maybe you're seeing the future!" she gushed. "Oh, that's so cool!"

"Yeah, I guess, except the fact that I drop on the floor anytime somebody touches my hand."

Rosalie started laughing. "Hey, it makes for a good conversation starter."

"So you have four brothers?" I asked, trying to steer the conversation away from myself.

"Ugh, no. I have six! Charlie's studying dragons in Romania and Bill works for Gringotts in Egypt. They're all older than me too!"

"But isn't your one brother starting Hogwarts this year too?" I asked. I specifically remember her mom saying her and the other red-haired boy were starting.

"Well, we're in the same year, but he's almost a year older than me. He's going to be 12 at the end of September, while I'll be 12 in July."

"So are all your family wizards?"

"Uh, I think so. There might be a Muggle or two somewhere, but I've never met them."

"So you must know a ton of magic already."

"Not really. I heard you've been living with Muggles. What's that like?"

"Miserable. At least my aunt, uncle, and cousin are. You're lucky you get to live in the wizarding world. I wish I had a bunch of older brothers who were wizards."

"Do you remember your parents at all?" she asked.

"No. The only thing I remember from before is green light and someone laughing."

"Weird."

"So are you excited for Hogwarts?" I asked her.

She shrugged her shoulders.

"Why not?"

"It's just that since I have so many older brothers, they've all done everything. Charlie was Quidditch captain, Bill was head boy, Percy's a prefect, Fred and George are funny and everyone likes them. If I get good marks, it won't be a big deal since they've all done it before. I mean, I don't even get new things. I have Charlie's old wand, Bill's old cauldron, and some of Percy's old books. I don't even get a new animal! Since Percy got a new owl, I got his old rat since Ron didn't want it." She reached into her pocket and pulled out an old brown rat. "This is Scabbers. Pathetic looking, isn't he?"

"Hey, you shouldn't feel bad. For most of my life, I never had anything new. I was always given my cousin's old things, and she's about a foot taller and wider than me."

Rosalie laughed.

"I mean, I didn't even know I was a witch until Hagrid told me a few weeks ago. I didn't know about my parents or Hogwarts or Voldemort—"

Rosalie gasped loudly. "You said You-Know-Who's name!" she shrieked.

"Oh, yeah. See what I mean? I've never really been taught not to say it. I don't know anything. I'll probably be the worst in the class," I said miserably.

"I doubt it. There are loads of kids who come from Muggle families. They don't know any more than you."

Suddenly, the door to our compartment flew open and slammed shut. A bronze-haired boy was standing there, looking terrified.

"Do you mind if I hide in here for as bit? I'm being chased and I'd rather not start the year at Hogwarts with a black eye."

"Sure," I said. "Who's chasing you?"

"Some kids name Crabbe and Goyle. They look pretty stupid, but they're huge! I only just got away."

"Why are they chasing you?" asked Rosalie, sounding a little suspicious.

"Uh, I might have said they looked like a baboon's butt," he said, grinning.

Rosalie and I looked at each other, than started cracking up.

I brushed my bangs to the side and the boy gasped.

"Oh my gosh, you're Alice Brandon!" he whispered.

"Yeah. Who are you?"

"Edward Cullen."

"You're Emmett's brother?" Rosalie asked.

"Yeah, so?"

"I'm Fred and George's little sister."

"No way!" he said.

"Way."

The door to our compartment opened again, and Fred, George, and Emmett walked in.

"Told you we weren't lying!" one of the twins said. All three of them were looking at me.

"Nice guys. You know, she's not something to be looked at like a attraction. She's a person," Rosalie said, scolding them.

"Sorry, Alice. We haven't properly introduced ourselves. I'm Fred, this is my twin George, and this is our friend Emmett."

"Nice to meet ya!" Emmett boomed.

"Where's Jasper?" Rosalie asked.

"With Lee. They have a tarantula with them and they're trying to enchant it so it dances."

"Idiots," Edward muttered.

"Well, we're gonna go and see how they're doing with that. Nice to see you again, Alice," Fred said, waving. The three of them left the compartment and walked down the corridor toward another compartment where we could hear laughter.

"Whose Jasper?" I asked Rosalie.

"Fred, George, and Emmett have two other friends: Lee Jordan and Jasper Hale. The five of them are like this group of Hogwarts troublemakers." Rosalie shook her head.

"They thrive on doing stupid things, like blowing up toilets," Edward said.

Rosalie, Edward, and I all started cracking up.

"What do you mean, blow up a toilet?" I asked.

"Last year, Emmett sent me a toilet seat and a letter explaining how he acquired it. After his stint with Dr. Filibuster's wet-start fireworks and destroying the fifth floor boy's bathroom, he got detention for the rest of the year. I think he's still got more this year."

"So, what house do you think you'll be in?" Rosalie asked Edward.

"I hope I'm in Gryffindor. Emmett would never let me hear the end of it if I ended up in Slytherin." He shook his head. "What about you?"

"Well, all my family's been in Gryffindor, so I hope that's where I end up. I mean, if I was in Ravenclaw, it wouldn't be horrible. What about you, Alice?"

"Honestly, I don't know. Hagrid told me the names of all the houses, but I don't know anything about them. All I know is Vol-sorry, You-Know-Who was in Slytherin."

"Yeah. My dad said almost all wizards who come out of Slytherin end up bad."

The door to our compartment opened again, and an elderly witch was there, pushing a trolley filled with all kinds of sweets. "Anything from the cart, dears?"

I had never had pocket money before. I walked up to cart, expecting to buy as many Hershey bars as I could, but saw instead Chocolate Frogs, Bertie-Bott's Every Flavored Beans, Pumpkin Pasties, and other types of candies I had never seen before.

I bought some of everything and walked back into our compartment.

"Wow, you must be really hungry," Edward joked.

"I'm not going to eat it all, you prat! I bought this for all of us to share."

"Wow, thanks Alice!" Rosalie exclaimed, throwing the sandwich her mother packed her on the seat.

The three of us dug into the sweets. My first Chocolate Frog jumped out the window. I had a Licorice Wand and a Pumpkin Pastie, but lost my liking for Bertie-Bott's Every Flavored Beans after eating a vomit-flavored one.

An hour later, the compartment door opened again. I expected to see Fred and George Weasley again, but instead, it was three boys. I recognized the one as Draco Malfoy.

"So it's true, then. Alice Brandon is finally going to Hogwarts. This is Crabbe and Goyle. There's another girl named Pansy Parkinson who I want you to meet. You don't have to stay here with this riff-raff. Come to our compartment and see what good wizards are like, not the scum wizards."

"Who are you calling scum?" Edward asked, rising to his feet.

"Let me guess: Edward Cullen. Yes, my father told me all about your family. I'd be a good boy if I were you unless you want everyone finding out about your mother."

Edward closed his mouth and sank back into his seat, looking at the floor dejectedly. Crabbe and Goyle eyed him menacingly, obviously still miffed about his "baboon butt" crack earlier.

"And who are you?" Rosalie asked defiantly.

"Draco Malfoy."

"Oh, my father's told me all about the Malfoy family. Guess your father wasn't too happy when his old pal You-Know-Who disappeared, was he?"

"At least my father can afford me a new wand and equipment. I don't need to use the stuff my older brothers used. Even though you don't look like the rest of them, it's so obvious you're a Weasley."

Rosalie glared at him. "If you're done insulting us, why don't you leave?" I said to Draco. I didn't like him at all. He was obnoxious, mean, and rude.

"Well, we don't feel like leaving, do we boys? No, we're still hungry, and it looks like you've got a lot of food," Malfoy said, reaching for a Chocolate Frog. Suddenly, the carriage was filled with his scream. I looked and saw Rosalie's rat, Scabbers, hanging off his index finger. He swung it around wildly until Scabbers flew off and hit the window. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle ran out, muttering about rats in the food.

"Scabbers! Scabbers! I think he's been knocked out! No, I can't believe it! He's fallen back asleep," Rosalie said, dumbfounded.

I looked down and saw that Scabbers was sleeping on the seat, unfazed by everything that had just happened.

I looked out the window again, and was shocked to see that it was dark out. We must be getting close.

"Hey, you lot," Emmett said, sticking his head into our compartment. "We're gonna be there soon. I'd change if I were you."

The three of us changed out of our Muggle clothing into our wizarding robes. Shortly afterwards, a voice filled the train. "Leave your trunks and other belongings on the train. They will be brought to your rooms during the feast."

The train came to a stop, and all of us got off. I looked around with Rosalie and Edward, unsure of where to go.

"Firs' years! Firs' years o'er here!" a familiar voice called. I looked over and saw Hagrid standing by a lake, holding a lantern.

The three of us walked over to Hagrid, along with all the other first years.

"All righ', Alice?" Hagrid asked.

I smiled and nodded at him.

"Alrigh', four to a boat. Is that all the firs' years? Okay, forward!" On his command, all the boats began moving.

I was in a boat with Rosalie and Edward and another girl named Isabella. The four of us were talking excitedly about Hogwarts.

"Jus up here yeh'll be able to see yer firs' glimpse o' Hogwarts," Hagrid called out into the night. We looked into the sky and saw we were approaching a huge castle, illuminated by the moon.

A few minutes later, all the boats touched onto the shore and we all got out.

"Hello, Hagrid," a stern voice greeted us.

"Got the firs' years righ' here, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid said to the woman.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I'll take them from here." She turned to us. "Everyone line up and follow me into the castle.

Still chatting excitedly, I lined up behind Rosalie and in front of Edward and Isabella. We entered the castle in the line. I looked up at the chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.

I was here.