I woke up at six o'clock on September 1st. It was really early for me, but I was too excited, not to mention nervous. In a few hours, we'd be heading to the train station where I'd board the Hogwarts Express.
I pulled on my jeans and my favorite purple sweater. I didn't really feel like walking through the station in my robes; I'd change on the train. While I waited for Remus to get up I checked (and triple checked) my trunk, comparing it to my supplies list, making sure I had everything.
My eyes landed on the silver cage in the corner of my room, which housed my new owl who I'd decided to name Orion. I'd always loved the stars and Orion was one of my favorite constellations.
After breakfast and the struggle of maneuvering my trunk into the car, we pilled in and drove to King's Cross Station, where we arrived at quarter after ten. Remus heaved my trunk onto a trolley and I wheeled it through the station, beaming the whole way.
We stopped in front of platforms nine and ten and I pulled out my ticket. It declared that the Hogwarts Express was located on Platform 9 ¾. How could a platform be a fraction? Dora had neglected to mention this in all her Hogwarts stories. I looked between the big plastic nine over one platform and the big plastic ten over the one next to it. In the middle lay... nothing. "What?"
"Don't worry, Mira," Remus said. "Just walk straight at the barrier between the platforms." My eyes widened; that sounded like it hurt. "No need to be scared; it is magic after all." Apparently, my weak smile didn't convince him. "How 'bout we do it together?"
"Okay," I said, nodding.
Remus put one hand on my trolley and the other around my shoulders. Together, we pushed my trolley forward and started for the barrier.
I half-expected to hit the wall, but no such thing happened.
We went right through the wall and when we emerged on the other side I saw a scarlet steam engine waiting next to a platform packed with people. A sign overhead said: Hogwarts Express Platform 9 ¾.
"Now, that wasn't so bad, was it?" Remus asked, but he sounded kind of far away; my excitement was clouding my senses.
Smoke from the engine drifted overhead, above the chattering crowd while cats wound between peoples' legs. Owls hooted to one another in a disgruntled way, as if they just hated being in their cages. I could also make out the scraping sound of trunks above the loud babble of voices.
After Remus helped get my trunk loaded onto the train, we stepped back onto the platform to say our goodbyes.
"Well, this is it," Remus said. He sounded nonchalant, but I could see the sadness in his eyes.
"Don't worry, Remus. I'll be fine." I said comfortingly.
"I know," he said, pulling me into a tight hug.
"Remus... need... air..." I said in a choked voice. He let go immediately, only to cup my face between his hands and look me in the eye.
"Now, you try not to get into too much trouble. And make sure to write as soon as you're settled, alright?" he demanded.
"Yes, sir,"
"Have a good time, Mira. I'll miss you."
I smiled at him. "I'll miss you, too,"
After another hug and a kiss to my forehead, I boarded the train. After walking down the train about halfway, I came across a compartment with a single boy in it. I poked my head in and asked him, "Anyone sitting there?'
The boy shook his head and I sat down across from him, next to the window.
I was just about to introduce myself when the door of the compartment slid open and a redheaded, freckle-faced boy came in. "Excuse me, do you mind?" he asked, pointing to the seat opposite myself, a few inches away from the dark-haired boy. "Everywhere else is full."
"Not at all," said the boy.
"Go ahead," I said, gesturing to the seat.
The redhead sat down and introduced himself right away. "I'm Ron, by the way. Ron Weasley."
"I'm Harry. Harry Potter." the other boy replied.
My eyes bulged, but I didn't say anything, mostly because I wouldn't know what to say, but also because Ron beat me to it.
"So... so it's true," he stuttered incredulously. "I mean, do you really have the... the..."
"The what?" Harry asked, genuinely confused.
"The scar," Ron whispered, as if he spoke too loudly he might be stuck down with lightning.
"Oh," Harry said. He lifted his hair to reveal a thin lightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead.
"Wicked," Ron said, clearly amazed.
I rolled my eyes, which seemed to catch Ron's attention. He looked over at me and curiously asked, "And you are?"
"Mira Black," I answered. Immediately, I recognized the look of astonishment on Ron's face as I told him my name. Before he could comment I said, "And yes, I know how horrible the Black family has been. A bunch of evil Slytherins and followers of You-Know-Who. But just so you know, I wasn't raised like them, especially since I never knew my parents. I also despise Slytherin house. If any of that makes you feel any better."
After a moment of silence - which I spent worrying I'd said too much; I can never seem to keep my mouth shut it seems - Ron smiled reassuringly at me.
I smiled back and decided to fill in the silence. "So are all your family wizards?" I asked Ron.
"Er - yes, I think so," said Ron. "I think Mum's got a second cousin who's an accountant, but we never talk about him."
"So, you must know loads of magic already," Harry realized.
"I heard you went to live with Muggles," Ron said to Harry. "What are they like?"
"Horrible - well, not all of them. My aunt and uncle and cousin are, though. Wish I'd had three wizard brothers." Harry said.
"Five," said Ron, sounding gloomy. "I'm the sixth in our family to go to Hogwarts. You could say I've got a lot to live up to. Bill and Charlie have already left - Bill was head boy and Charlie was Quidditch captain. Now Percy's a prefect. Fred and George mess around a lot, but they still get really good marks and everyone thinks they're really funny. Everyone expects me to do as well as the others, but if I do, it's no big deal, because they did it first. You never get anything new, either, with five brothers. I've got Bill's old robes, Charlie's old wand, and Percy's old rat."
Ron reached inside his jacket and pulled out a fat gray rat, which was asleep. "This is Scabbers. Pathetic, isn't he?"
"Just a bit," I murmured sympathetically.
Probably trying to cheer Ron up, Harry began telling us how he'd never had any money in his life until a month ago. He told us about having to wear his cousin Dudley's - what cruel person would want to name their child that? - old clothes and never getting a proper birthday present.
I felt so bad for him.
"...and until Hagrid told me, I didn't know anything about being a wizard or about my parents or Voldemort - "
Ron gasped.
"What?" Harry asked.
"You said You-Know-Who's name!" Ron exclaimed, sounding both shocked and impressed. I'd have thought you, of all people - "
"I'm not trying to be brave or anything, saying the name," Harry said. "I just never knew you shouldn't See what I mean? I've got loads to learn... I bet," he trailed off, looking worried. "I bet I'm the worst in the class."
"You won't be," I insisted calmly. "There's loads of people who come from Muggle families and they learn plenty quick."
While we had been talking, the train had carried us out of London. Now we were speeding past fields full of cows and sheep.
Just then, there was a great clattering outside in the corridor and a smiling dimpled woman slid our door back and said, "Anything off the trolley, dears?"
Ron smiled shyly, held up a bag of mushed sandwiches and said, "No, thanks. I'm all set." He smacked his lips in disappointment.
I didn't really get a chance to consider buying him a little something, because at that moment, Harry took a bunch of galleons out of his pocket and announced, "We'll take the lot!"
"Whoa," Ron and I both said, surprised at how much money this boy carried around.
A few minutes later, we were all sitting together. I had hesitated joining the boys, since we weren't exactly friends, but when Harry said, "Coming, Mira?" as though he was surprised I hadn't, I thought I might've been wrong. Bundles of sweets were spread out between us on the seat. There was Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, Licorice Wands, and much more.
"Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans?" Harry asked, holding up a box.
"They mean every flavor," Ron warned. "There's chocolate and pepermint, and there's also spinach and liver and tripe. George swears he got a bogey flavored one once."
"Yeah, but it's kinda fun," I said. I picked up a green bean, looked it over carefully, and bit into a corner. "Bleaaargh. Sprouts."
We had a good time eating the Every Flavor Beans. I got baked bean, strawberry, grass, and coffee. Harry got toast, coconaut, curry, and sardine, and was even brave enough to nibble the end of a funny gray one Ron and I wouldn't touch, which turned out to be pepper.
"These aren't real frogs, are they?" Harry asked, holding up a pack of Chocolate Frogs.
"It's only a spell," I assured him.
"Besides it's the cards you want." Ron told him. Each pack's got a famous witch or wizard. I got about five hundred meself."
As Harry unwrapped his Chocolate Frog, I peeked over his shoulder to see which card he got. I wanted to see his reaction to the moving picture.
The card showed a man's face. He wore half-moon glasses, had a long, crooked nose, and flowing silver hair, beard, and mustache: Albus Dumbledore.
"Hey, I got Dumbleodre!" Harry exclaimed.
"I got about six of him," Ron replied.
Harry looked back down at the card and, shocked, said, "Hey, he's gone,"
"Well, you can't expect him to hang around all day, can you?" said Ron, as if should have been obvious.
The countryside now flying past the window was becoming wilder. The neat fields had gone, now there were woods, twisting rivers, and dark green hills.
There was a knowk on the door of our compartment and a round-faced boy came in, looking tearful.
"Sorry," he said, "but have you seen a toad at all?"
When we all shook our heads, he wailed, "I've lost him! He keeps getting away from me!"
"I'm sure he'll turn up," I told the boy.
"Yes," the boy said miserably. "Well, if you see him..." He left.
"Don't know why he's so bothered," said Ron. "If I'd brought a toad I'd lose it as quick as I could. Mind you, I brought Scabbers, so I can't talk."
Said rat was still snoozing in Ron's lap.
"He might have died and you wouldn't know the difference," Ron said in disgust. "Fred have me a spell to turn him yellow. Want to see?" he asked us.
"Yeah," Harry said eagerly.
I couldn't really see the appeal of a yellow rat, but I said, "Sure,"
Ron rummaged around in his trunk and pulled out a very battered-looking wand. It was chipped in places and something white was glinting at the end.
"Unicorn hair's nearly poking out. Anyway. He cleared his throat the began the spell.
"Sun -"
Just as he raised his wand, the compartment door slid open again. This time, a girl was here. She lots of bushy brown hair, rather large front teeth, and was already wearing her new Hogwarts robes.
"Has anyone seen a toad? A boy named Neville's lost one." Her voice sounded somewhat bossy.
"We've already told him we haven't seen it," Ron said, but the girl wasn't listening, she was looking at the wand in his hand.
"Oh, are you doing magic? Let's see then."
Ron looked taken aback, but continued. He cleared his throat again. "Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, Turn this stupid fat rat yellow!" He waved his wand, but nothing happened. Scabbers was still gray and fast asleep.
I couldn't help laughing a little.
"Are you sure that's a real spell?" the girl asked. "Well, it's not very good, is it? Of course, I've only tried a few simple spells myself, and they've all worked for me. For example..." she said, sitting down across from Harry. She pointed her wand directly at his battered glasses and said, "Oculus Reparo." With a snap! sound, Harry's glasses were completely repaired.
My eyes widened and Harry took his glasses off, staring at them in amazement.
"That's better, isn't it?" the girl said. Then, she noticed Harry's scar. "Holy cricket, you're Harry Potter. I'm Hermione Granger. And you are?" she asked me and Ron.
"Mira Black, but I prefer Andie," I replied. When she didn't respond at my surname, I knew she was Muggle-born, they were the only ones who didn't know about the Blacks' dark history.
"I'm..." Ron paused to chew, his mouth full of candy. "Ron Weasley," he finished.
"Pleasure," Hermione replied, sounding slightly disgusted. "You three had better change into you robes. I expect we'll be arriving soon." she advised, standing up and heading for the compartment door.
As she reached the door, she turned back around and looked at Ron. "You've got dirt on you nose, by the way. Did you know? Just there." she told him pointing.
Ron hurriedly rubbed his nose, embarrassed.
I couldn't help snickering a bit, causing Ron to give me a small glare.
"What house are your brothers in?" Harry asked Ron, probably hoping to distract him.
"Gryffindor," said Ron. He seemed gloomy once again. "Mum and Dad were in it, too. I don't know what they'll say if I'm not."
"So, what do your brothers do now that they've left Hogwarts?" I asked Ron, trying to take his mind off houses.
"Charlie's in Romania, studying dragons; and Bill's in Africa, doing something for Gringotts," Ron said. "What's your Quidditch team?" Ron asked suddenly, looking to me first, as if daring me to say I didn't like the game.
"Hollyhead Harpies," I responded proudly.
Ron nodded in approval, though I doubted it was his favorite team. Then he looked to Harry, waiting his answer. I didn't think Harry would even know what Quidditch was, being raised ignorant of our world for ten years. And I was right.
"Er - I don't know any," Harry confessed.
"What!?" Ron looked dumbfounded. "Oh, you wait, it's the best game in the world." And he was off, explaining all about the four balls and the positions fo the seven players, describing famous games he'd been to with his brothers and the broomstick he'd like to get if he had the money.
I peered out of the window. It was getting dark. I could see mountains and forests under a deep purple sky. The train seemed to be slowing down. I told Harry and Ron that we'd be there soon, so we had ought to change.
I left to change, while the boys put their robes in the compartment. I came back in when I was sure they'd be done and saw Ron's were a bit short for him; I could see his sneakers underneath.
A voice echoed throughout the train: "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."
My stomach fluttered with nerves.
Ron and Harry crammed their pockets with the last of the sweets and then we all joined the crowd thronging the corridor.
The train slowed right down and finally stopped. People pushed their way toward the door and out on to a tiny, dark platform. Then a lamp came bobbing over the heads of the students, and I heard a voice calling, "Right then. Firs' years! This way, please! Come on, now, don't be shy! Come on now, hurry up!"
We separated from the others and approached the giant. Harry seemed very casual and then he giant spoke more softly. "Hello, Harry,"
"Hey, Hagird," Harry responded.
My jaw dropped and Ron said, "Whoa,"
"Right then. This way to the boats! Come on, now, follow me." Hagrid called.
Slipping and stumbling we followed him down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. Nobody spoke much.
"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder. "Jus' round this bend here."
There was a loud "Oooooh!"
The narrow path had opened suddenly onto the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrents and towers.
"No more'n four to a boat! Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. Harry, Ron, and I were followed into a boat by Neville, the boy who had lost his toad.
"Everyone in?" shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself. "Right then - FORWARD!"
And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was a smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over us as we sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood.
"Heads down!" Hagrid yelled as the first boats reached the cliff; we all bent our heads and the boats carried us through a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. We were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking us right underneath the castle, until we reached a kind of underground harbor, where we clambered out onto rocks and pebbles.
Then we clambered up a passageway in the rock after Hagrid's lamp, coming out at last onto smooth damp grass right in the shadow of the castle.
We walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, oak front door.
Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.
This was it.