To Hogwarts

The next day was an amusing one. Hagrid had only just realised about Rachel's problem, and kept quite for most of the day, embarrassed that he had been asking her all these questions beforehand.

Eventually, he dropped them back off at Private Drive, much to the dismay of the Dursley's.

They were given their tickets to platform 9 and three quarters, and without another word, Hagrid was gone.

Both Harry and Rachel agreed it would be a good idea to stay out of the way and stay in their room, pouring over their new books.

A few days before September the 1st, Rachel said, "What do you think of the name 'Hedwig'?"

"Hedwig?"

"Yeah, for the owl."

Harry pondered on the thought for a while and then said, "I think it's a great name."

He looked over at the cage to see Hedwig sleeping peacefully, rats and mice littering the cage base.

"Good thing Aunt Petunia doesn't come up here to clean anymore, she'd freak." Rachel said happily.

The night before they had to be on the Hogwarts express (the name of the train), they went downstairs into the living room to see the Dursley's watching some old sitcom.

They needed a way to get to King's cross station, and that was in London and Rachel was against walking.

"Uncle Vernon?" Harry asked.

Vernon looked at the two children in the hallway.

"We were wondering if you could give us a lift to London tomorrow, to King's cross station? Its where the train is."

Uncle Vernon considered this for a few moments and eventually said alright, claiming that they had to go to London anyway, to get rid of Dudley's tail before he went to Smeltings.

The next morning, Harry got up extra early to make sure that he had double checked everything. When he finished his, he checked Rachel's and then his again. Then he just paced around the room, waiting for Rachel and the Dursley's to wake up.

"Will you please go back to…to… sleep…" Rachel said during a yawn., while covering a pillow over her head.

"No, it's only 6:30, im too excited!" Harry squealed.

"Excited? For what?" Rachel asked, raising the pillow off of her face.

Harry went to the calendar on the door and shoved it in her face. "Don't tell me you forgot? September 1st?"

Rachel's eyes went wide and she sat up in bed with a smile from ear to ear. "Hogwarts!"

"Exactly, get up!

It took a while for the Dursley's to wake, and when they did they walked around slowly.

Finally, everything was brought from downstairs and into the car and they were all loaded in.

"What do you think it'll be like? The train, I mean." Rachel asked as they rounded into King's cross.

"Hagrid said it was Red with 'Hogwarts express' in the front. Cant be that hard to spot." Harry said back. They soon parked, got everything onto a trolley and watched as their wardens drove off and then turned and walked into the station.

"Big red train… big red train… nope, don't see a red train here anywhere, H." Rachel said.

"Hang on." Harry said. He pushed his trolley to a nearby man and asked, "Excuse me, sir. Could you tell me where we could find platform nine and three quarters?"

The man looked at Harry as if he was on crack and replied, "Nine and three quarters? Think your being funny, do ya?" The man walked away muttering to himself about how it must have been some kind of a joke, as 3 other people had asked him that already.

"Well? What do we do now?"

"- Packed with Muggles of course! Come on, platform nine and three quarters this way!" Said a plump red headed woman. Behind her were four boys, all with the same colour hair.

Rachel started walking towards them and Harry slowly and shyly followed.

"Come on Percy, you first." Said the woman. The eldest looking off all the boys stepped forward in front of a brick wall and ran straight at it.

Rachel closed her eyes, expecting there to be a huge crash, but opened her eyes just in time to see the back of Percy's head materialize through the wall.

"Fred, you next!" Said the woman again, but this time impatiently.

"He's not Fred, I am!" Said one of the twin boys.

The boy next to him said, "Honestly woman, you call yourself our mother."

The woman, now looking awfully ashamed, said, "Oh… sorry George."

George walked up in front of the wall and said, "Im only joking, I am Fred." And then legged it to the wall. Soon after his twin followed. If the woman hadn't had a little girl attached to her hand, she probably would have followed and spanked them.

"Excuse me!" Harry yelled from behind. The woman turned and said, "What is it, dear?"

"Urm, could you tell us… how to…" Harry started, going red with embarrassment.

The woman finished for him by saying, "How to get onto the platform?"

Both Harry and Rachel nodded and the woman said, "Not to worry dears, it's Ron's first time to Hogwarts as well." She gestured to the last red headed boy and he nodded to the twins, who nodded back.

"All you have to do it walk straight at the wall between platforms nine and ten. Better do in a bit of a run if your nervous."

"Good luck." Said the small red headed girl.

"Ladies first." Harry said as he stepped back, giving Rachel some room.

"Your such a gentleman." Rachel replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

She walked in front of the wall and tried to get it at the proper angle, then took a deep breath and ran.

She didn't really feel anything. She just felt a little cold. She stopped suddenly and went into a walk. She found herself on a new platform with the big red steam train in the middle, people all over the place.

She stood back a few paces and let Harry come through. He stood transfixed at the train as well and they began to walk towards it. In front of the train was the green sign saying 'Hogwarts express' and the sign over their heads said 'Platform nine and three quarters'.

They smiled at each other and quickened the pace towards the train. A few people looked at them strangely, noticing the scars the twins had. A few people had even come to the conclusion of, "Do you think it's them? The Potter's?" Two of these people, were the red headed twins, who didn't even ask 'Do you think it's them?' They just shouted 'We just saw the Potter twins!'

Their mother quietened them down and said, "Don't be so rude! No wonder they were alone, I was wondering. The boy was ever so polite when he asked about the platform…"

"Who cares about that?" Said Fred/George. "Do you reckon they remember what you-know-who looked like?"

The woman became very stern and pointed her finger at them. "Don't you breathe a word about that monster in front of either of them, you understand me? Like they need reminding of that on their first day of school."

You-know-who was a man called Voldemort. Hagrid had told them the day they went to Diagon alley. As Hagrid told them the story, the all to familiar images flashed through Rachel's mind, making her sink in her seat.

They were actually glad, someone understood how they could be feeling and actually left them alone.

After they put their things on the train, they went into it and found an empty compartment at the back of the train.

"So? What do you think the school will be like?" Rachel asked.

"Dunno. It'll be better then the Dursley's, I know that for a fact."

"Yeah. I hope Dudley gets a taste of his own medicine and gets bullied in Smellingtons." Rachel replied as they plopped herself down on the seat nearest the compartment door. Harry himself sat next to the window and watched at the tree's and fields went by as Rachel sat and read her book; Hogwarts: A History.

"Looks like there are four houses. Ravenclaw, for the smartest and brightest, Hufflepuff, for the loyal and kind, Slytherin for the ambitious and detirmined and Gryffindor for the bravest and strongest. Which one do you want to be in?"

"Well, I know I wont be in Ravenclaw, that certain." Harry said pitifully.

"Oh c'mon, Harry. I didn't ask which one you wouldn't be in, I asked which one you'd-" Rachel started but didn't get the chance to finish. The compartment door opened suddenly, making her jump and fall off the seat. She got back onto the seat like nothing happened and looked who was at the door.

"Are you okay?" Said the youngest boy from the red headed family. Rachel nodded, her face full of embarrassment, and stuck her nose back in her book.

"Do you mind? Everywhere else is full." He said. He gestured towards the seat opposite Harry, asking if he could have a seat.

"Not at all!" Harry said, delighted someone would actually want to sit next to him, besides his twin that is.

The boy took the seat and said, "Im Ron, by the way. Ronald Weasley." He stretched forth his hand to Harry and Harry shook it. He then stretched his hand to Rachel as Harry said, "Im Harry Potter, and this is Rachel Potter." Ron's hand stopped on the way to her and his jaw hit the deck. Rachel had to lean over and shack it before getting back into her book. She was reading about the makers of Hogwarts, how they named the houses and how they put people into each house.

"So it's true? I thought Fred and George were playing one of their pranks?" Ron said, his hand still stretched.

Rachel just shook her head as she flipped the page.

"'Fraid not." Harry said.

Ron finally snapped out of it and leaned back into his seat and then eyed Rachel's face, then Harry's.

"Well, I can see she's got that scar, but what about you?" Ron asked.

Harry brought his hand up and pushed his fringe out of the way, revealing the lightning bolt scar on his forehead.

"Wicked." Ron whispered. "I heard you two went to live with Muggles, what were they like?"

"Horrible." Harry answered.

"I think that's an understatement, H." Rachel said.

Harry grunted in agreement and Ron asked Rachel, "Did you like them at all?"

Rachel just shook her head. This made Ron feel a little weird, like he'd done something wrong or something to upset her.

He looked at Harry and nodded his head in her direction as if to say 'Is she alright?"

Harry looked over at Rachel and she just waved her hand and nodded her head. "Go ahead, fire away."

Harry nodded and turned back to Ron. "She cant speak. The muggle doctors say that her voice box is broken somehow."

At that point, Ron felt utterly ashamed of himself. "Sorry, mate." He said to Rachel.

She just shook her head as if to say, "It's fine, im used to it."

Somehow, Ron understood this and became relaxed again.

"Anything off the trolley, dears?" Said an oldish looking woman, pushing a trolley full of sweats, sandwiches and pasties.

"No thanks," Said Ron. He reached into his pocket and brought out the most sorry looking sandwich that Rachel had ever seen. "Im all set." He gave a weak smile and set the sandwich down again.

Harry looked at all the things on the trolley and asked, "What do you think?"

"Take three of everything, im starving." Rachel said as she sat up and set her book aside for the time being.

Harry got up and went out of the compartment to catch up to the lady. Ron noticed the book and felt awkward as he asked, "What book's that?"

She handed him the book and he said, "I haven't even started looking at my books, What chapter are you on?"

She walked over and sat down beside him and opened the book to chapter two, which was titled 'Godric Gryffindor.'

"Do you know about the houses yet?"

She signalled with her hands that she knew a small amount and he replied, "Well, the only thing you need to know is that Gryffindor house is the best and Slytherin is the worst, basic knowledge of the Hogwarts houses. My whole families been in Gryffindor, think I might get a howler from my mum if im in Slytherin. There aint a witch or wizard who went bad that weren't in Slytherin." Then Harry came in and dropped all the food and sweet in his arms onto the seat next to him. He tossed Rachel a pasty and she ripped if open and took a chunk out of it.

"This is probably the single most beautiful thing I have ever tasted in my life." She said to Harry, taking another bite.

Harry looked at something called 'Chocolate frogs' and Ron looked at his sandwich and started taking the wrapper to bits.

Rachel sat next to the pill of sweets and grabbed a Pumpkin Pasty, A Liquorice wand and a packet of Bertie Bots every flavour beans and dumped them in Ron's lap. Then she took the sandwich out of Ron's hand and threw it in the corner she was previously sat in.

"Really?" Ron asked. They both nodded their heads, glad to finally have something to share, and started looking at various wrappers.

"These aren't real frogs, are they?" Harry asked as he brought up a packet saying 'Chocolate frogs'.

"Nah, it's jus' a spell." Said Ron with a mouth full on Liquorice. "Besides, it's the cards you wan'. Each pack has a famous witch or wizard. Go' bout' five 'undred meself." He took another bite and Harry opened the packet, revealing a chocolate frog which jumped from the packet instantly and onto the window. It crawled up the glass and leaped out of the window.

"Rotten luck." Ron said, his mouth empty. "They've only got one good jump in them to begin with." Before Harry could look at the card, a sorry looking boy appeared at the compartment door and said, "Have you seen a toad, by any chance?"

"Nah, sorry." Ron said.

"I've been looking everywhere for him." The boy said, panicking a bit.

"He'll turn up." Said Harry.

"Thanks. Well, if you see him." Said the boy, and he went back towards the front of the train again.

Harry turned the card over and saw the name 'Albus Dumbledore' written in italic writing above the figure of a man in a green robe, snow white hair and half moon glasses.

"I've got Dumbledore!" Harry exclaimed, handing the card over to Rachel. After she examined her future headmaster, she handed the card back to Harry.

Soon after, they heard a faint squeaking from Ron's coat.

"He's woken up again…" Ron said as he reached inside his coat and brought out a very ancient looking rat.

"This is Scabbers, by the way. Pathetic, isn't he?"

"Just a little bit." Harry said and Rachel nodded a little in agreement.

"Fred gave me a spell to turn him yellow. Want to see?" Ron asked as he reached for his wand.

"Yeah!" Harry exclaimed and Rachel sat up more in interest.

He cleared his throat and said, "Sun-"

He was cut off by a girl with brown hair and black school robes. She looked around the compartment and sighed. "Has anyone seen a toad? A boy named Neville's lost one." She stated in a small but bossy type of voice.

"No. He came by earlier, we aint seen it." Said Ron

The girl saw his wand out and said, "Are you doing magic? Let's see then."

Ron looked at the girl strangely and said, "Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, turn this stupid, fat rat yellow!" He tapped the wand on his rat, but nothing happened.

"Are you sure that's a real spell? Well, it's not very good, is it? I've only tried a few simple ones myself, but they've all worked for me." The girl withdrew her wand and sat down beside Ron and pointed the wand in Harry's face.

"For example. Oculas reparo!" She said, and with the flick of her wand, a small light appeared from her wand and into Harry's cracked glasses, which were no longer cracked.

He took the glasses off and looked at Rachel and Ron.

"Holy cricket… your Harry Potter! And you… Rachel Potter, aren't you?" The twins nodded and the girl said, "Im Hermione Granger. And… you are?" She said as she turned to Ron.

"Im Ron Weasley." She said with a mouth full of pasty.

"Pleasure. You three better change into your robes, I talked to the driver and he said we'll be there in 10 minutes." And with that, she left in search for Neville's lost toad.

"I hope she's not in Gryffindor." Muttered Ron.

Rachel grabbed a bag from under her seat and pulled out two sets of jet black robes, like the ones Hermione had been wearing. She handed one set to Harry and said, "Be right back."

"Alright." Harry said.

When Rachel went out the door, Ron asked, "Can you speak to her through your mind?"

Harry nodded and Ron replied, "My brothers would give anything to do that. People at St. Mungo's, the wizard hospital, say it's incredibly rare. Lucky you can do it, with her being mute an' all."

Harry only nodded his head and changed into his robes.

"You both decant?" Rachel asked from outside.

"It's safe!" Harry shouted. Rachel came back in with her casual clothed under her arms and she stuffed them back into the bag. "The jumpers itchy." Rachel complained as she tried to scratch the irritating spot on her back.

Soon after, the Hogwarts express came to a halt and people were making their way off the train.

Harry, Rachel and Ron got from the trains and heard, "Firs' years! Firs' years this way!"

"That sounds like Hagrid!" Rachel said in excitement.

Soon enough, Hagrid came into view, holding a large lantern. "Hello there, kids." Hagrid greeted.

"Whoa…." Ron said, his mouth wide open.

Hagrid rounded up all the first years and lead them towards a vast lake. In the lake were dozens and dozens of small boats, big enough for four people each.

"In yer get!" Hagrid shouted and he launched himself into a boat of his own, which nearly sank under his weight.

When everyone was in a boat, Hagrid swished his umbrella and the boats began to move on their own.

Soon, from around the corner, a huge, magnificent castle stood tall and proud, lights coming from each window, giving it a warm glow.

Harry looked at the castle in awe, the same thing Rachel was doing. They felt strange, giddy, happy and excited all at the same time.

Sadly, the ride came to a stop and to boats came in at the shore.

"C'mon them, le's go!" Hagrid yelled.

Everyone made their was up to the castle and Hagrid banged on the large oak doors.