Chapter Eleven: The Journey from Platform Nine and Three Quarters
Harry, Ron and Hermione were finally ready to start Hogwarts. They had each been taken to Diagon Alley for their books and uniforms and their trunks were packed. Harry and Ron had gotten their black belts in Karate. Their grading had been attended by James, Lily, Sirius, Remus, Arthur, Bill, Charlie, Fred, George, Hermione and her parents. When the boys had received their black belts, Lily had hugged Harry while Hermione hugged Ron, while the rest of his brothers all took it in turns to congratulate them both. There was quite the party at the Manor to celebrate their achievement.
When Harry, Ron and Hermione awoke on the first of September, they were completely prepared. James and Sirius had warned the three of them about Snape. James told them that he would hate Harry because he was James' son and would probably hate Ron and Hermione by association, and even more so if they were sorted into Gryffindor. Sirius had told them not to take any of Snape's crap and not to be afraid to stand up for themselves to anybody.
Hermione was the first one wake up and gently nudged Ron awake before they both jumped on Harry's bed to wake him.
After Harry had sworn at them a few times, they took it in turns to use the en suite bathroom to get dressed. They decided to wear the bottom half of their uniforms and their shirts but with the tie and cloak in a carry-on bag. They then went downstairs to eat breakfast with everyone else. Lily fussed over them terribly as she made the breakfasts. But then it was finally time and Sirius drove them to King's Cross station. Once there, they went through the barrier and to platform nine and three quarters. Harry, Ron and Hermione stared at the Hogwarts' Express in awe. James and Sirius helped with the trunks as Lily was hugging Harry, Ron and Hermione.
'Try not to get into too much trouble, okay?' she said.
'We'll try,' said Harry.
'Don't let Snivellus get you down, Harry,' said James into their ears while Lily was distracted.
'We won't,' said Harry.
'Try to pull a few decent pranks while you're at it,' said Sirius.
'Of course,' said Ron.
'Don't leave all your homework until the last minute,' said Remus.
'Never,' replied Hermione.
'But don't overwork yourselves,' said Richard Granger.
'Richard's right, all work and no play …' said Helen.
The whistle sounded and last minute hugs were shared before Harry, Ron and Hermione got on board.
'Don't forget to write!' the adults all shouted.
'We won't!' the three of them shouted in return.
The train began to move as they all continued to wave before they were out of sight.
'Let's go and find a compartment?' suggested Ron.
The other two agreed and went to the first empty compartment they found and sat down inside it, as Ron cheekily pulled Hermione on to his lap.
Harry chuckled while Hermione blushed but made no move away from Ron.
They sat there and talked about what they would miss most while being at Hogwarts and what they were looking forward to as well. This was because the three of them had agreed that the house they wanted to be sorted into was Gryffindor.
After talking for a few hours, the woman with the sweets trolley arrived and so as they were hungry again, Harry and Ron bought an enormous pile of sweets which they shared with Hermione, only stopping to put on the rest of their uniforms.
Ron was talking about an attempted break-in at Gringott's when the door to their compartment opened and there stood three boys. Two of them were very large and the other was skinny, pale, blond and had a pointed chin.
'Is it true, then, you're Harry Potter?' said the blond boy in a drawling voice.
'Who wants to know?' asked Harry.
'This is Crabbe,' he answered indicating the boy on his right, 'this is Goyle,' indicating the boy on his left, 'and I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy,' said the blond boy, 'and you are …?' he added to Ron and Hermione.
'Harry Potter,' said Harry.
'Ron Weasley,' said Ron.
'Hermione Granger,' said Hermione.
The blond boy wrinkled his nose, and said, 'Potter, why don't you leave this riff-raff and come and join us in our compartment?'
'I'm afraid not, Malfoy, Ron and Hermione are my friends, so I'd like you to leave,' said Harry.
Malfoy tinged grey before saying, 'Fine, stick with your blood-traitor and Mudblood.'
Ron suddenly angry stood up and punched Malfoy hard, breaking his nose, before shouting, 'How dare you use that word! Get out and stay away from us, scumbag!'
Crabbe and Goyle started to move forward but were stopped by Malfoy who said, 'Let's go.'
Malfoy holding his nose as the blood poured from it left taking Crabbe and Goyle with him.
'Evil little bastard!' snapped Ron.
'Of course, what do you expect from the son of Lucius Malfoy?' said Harry.
'Death Eater scum,' Ron growled.
Hermione walked to Ron and put her hand on his back to calm him down before getting him to sit down again.
Harry watched them as he too sat down, before seeing Hermione sit on Ron's lap once more.
'Are you all right?' he asked her.
'Yes, I'm fine, it's just a stupid name that inbred bigots use …' she replied.
Hermione was telling the truth because Sirius and Lily had sat her down and told her about the bigotry that existed in the wizarding world, but they had also included Harry and Ron in the discussion where Ron had told her that he would not allow anybody to use the word Mudblood in reference to Hermione or any other muggle-born.
Ron continued to hold her tightly as the door opened again, but this time to reveal a blond boy with a round face.
'Um, er, have you seen a toad?' he asked.
Ron and Hermione shook their heads while Harry said, 'Have you tried summoning him?'
'Er, no, I don't know how …' said the boy.
Harry then drew his wand and said, 'Er, what's the toad's name?'
'Trevor,' replied the boy.
Harry cleared his throat and said, 'Accio Trevor the toad!'
A few seconds later a toad flew into the compartment and was caught by Harry, who said, 'Is this him?'
'Yeah, thanks a lot, er, I'm Neville, Neville Longbottom, and you are …?'
'Harry Potter; and these two are Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger,' said Harry as he indicated himself and his two best friends.
'Really?' blurted Neville, 'with the scar and everything?'
'Yeah,' said Harry and he pushed his fringe out of the way.
'Cool …' said Neville.
'Why don't you take a seat, Neville?' asked Harry.
Neville nervously agreed and so they sat and talked with Neville who told them about being raised by his gran and his uncles trying to get magic out of him.
'They should not have done that, mate, you can't force magic out of someone,' said Ron.
Neville shrugged and said, 'I'm not really bothered, Ron, I'm just glad I'm going to Hogwarts …'
It was a little while later when the door opened again to reveal a red haired boy with glasses who had a peevish look on his face.
'What do you want?' asked Ron.
'I've just had a report saying you punched another boy without provocation, is that true, Ronald?' replied the boy.
'Oh go away, Percival, you're not interested in the truth, you're just looking to report me so you can look good …'
'I am a Prefect and it's my duty to do my job, Ronald –'
'Oh, bugger off, Percy, save your pompous prissy Prefect act for someone who gives a shite,' said Ron.
'Mother will hear of this, Ronald –'
'Are you still here and talking? Just fuck off, prat,' Ron said cutting him off a second time.
'Perhaps I should put you in detention, and while we are on the subject of inappropriate behaviour, I think it would be best if you did not have a girl sitting on your lap, Ronald,' said Percy.
'Why, are you jealous? Jealous that no girl in their right mind would be seen dead anywhere near you? Just get out you pompous arsehole,' said Ron.
'I shall be writing to mother about this …'
'You do that,' said Ron before Percy left the compartment.
'Git,' said Ron who tightened his hold on Hermione, though she had made no effort to move.
'Um, who was that?' asked Neville nervously.
'Percy Weasley, one of Ron's older brothers, but a total git,' said Harry.
Neville had no idea why Ron and Harry had insulted one of Ron's brothers, and he did not have the nerve to ask, but Harry could sense he wanted to know so he told him about Ginny's sixth birthday and the gift that Ron had worked so hard to buy only to have it thrown back in his face by his ungrateful sister and that Percy had taken her side in the argument as well as their mother's. Their reasoning was that if Ron spent more time with his family than with Harry and the Potters, he would not have made such a mistake.
Eventually the train came to a stop at Hogsmeade station when a voice told them to leave all belongings on the train, which for Harry included his snowy owl, Hedwig. Hedwig had been a birthday present from Hagrid and Harry had loved her right away.
As they disembarked from the train, Harry, Ron and Hermione could hear a familiar voice calling out.
'Firs' years, this way!' shouted the voice, 'C'mon now, Firs' years!'
Harry, Ron and Hermione, along with Neville walked towards the sound of the voice, before Harry said, 'Alright, Hagrid?'
'Alrigh', 'Arry, Ron, 'Ermione?' replied Hagrid.
'We're fine,' they answered together before getting on to a boat with Neville as they gazed at the castle in awe.
Once everyone was on a boat Hagrid yelled, 'Forward!'
The boats began to move towards the castle on the other side of the lake. Many of them were looking up at the magnificent building in awe, marvelling at its beauty as Ron made the effort to keep Hermione warm.
Once across the lake, Hagrid took them up to the castle doors which opened to reveal a waiting Professor McGonagall, who once Hagrid had left to take his eat in the Great Hall, gave the new students her usual speech about life at Hogwarts before leading them into the Great Hall to be sorted.