Ch 2: The Hogwarts Express
Colin had waved furiously to Dennis and his parents as the Hogwarts Express was departing. The day was starting to be quite an adventure for him. The guard simply looked bemused as his parent's asked where Platform 93/4 was. The guard just simply laughed as if it was a joke and said 'Oh haha, very funny. I haven't got time for jokes, laddie.' It was not until Colin waved a pointed finger at some people who had just disappeared through the barrier dividing Platform 10 and 9. 'There! There! We have to go through there! See mum!' squealed Colin. They tried the best they could to hide their surprised looks from the muggles as they slid effortlessly through the barrier. As they stared in awe at the scarlet red, steaming train, they saw a great lot of owls, cats, and toads. Colin's jaw dropped, he was really going to be at Hogwarts that evening! He was a bit sad too as he would be leaving Dennis, but the prospect of him going to Hogwarts next year was a comfort.
Colin had waved goodbye to his family so many times that his hand ached a lot. He was in a carriage with a lot of friendly first-years too. He quickly became friends with Nigel, a red-head and Amy, who was very funny. The trolley lady finally came around with the usual assortment of snacks and sweets. 'Anyone want any pumpkin pasties, dearies?' asked the trolley lady. It was a myth that she had been on the Hogwarts Express since it opened. She certainly did look ancient. Most of the people in the carriage bought one, as they were highly popular. 'Bertie Bott's Beans? Sherbet lemon? Lemon drop? No one?' the trolley lady asked, racking her head for everything she sold. 'All right then, anyone up for a caudron ca-' she began. 'What!?' squeaked Colin. 'I said, anyone up for some cauldron-' she answered. 'I'll buy the lot! I haven't got a cauldron yet, but it's on the list of equipment for first years,' Colin explained. 'But, dearie, these aren't cauldrons, they're cauldron ca-' she started. 'I'll have all of them if you please,' said Colin firmly. The trolley lady decided that she was fighting a losing battle. ' Anyone know if these are good enough for brewing potions? They're a bit on the small side if you ask me. Quite soft too, and chocolatey! I hope I don't eat them in Potions,' said Colin. 'No idea mate,' Nigel replied. Colin held it up for everyone in the carriage to see. No one knew as all of them had no prior contact to the wizarding world. Coln then resorted to dashing through the compartments, asking people whether they thought that the cauldron was big enough, or the right kind. Nobody listened to him, nor cared, he was, afterall, just a silly eleven-year oly hyped up on sugar and joking around.. One burly student did reply. 'Snape's gonna have a lot of fun with you, boy' he cackled. Colin looked blankly. 'Who was this Snape?' he thought.'He sounds evil,' he thought
They had arrived at Hogwarts that evening. Colin could hardly contain his excitement as he gazed upon Hogwarts for the first time. The other people in his year had all been talking about the 'sorting hat'. Some people even talked about battling a mountain troll. He had no prior wand experience, and didn't even know any spells. What was he to do? Colin bit his lip so hard that it bled. What a bad way to start the new school year, with a bloody lip. 'Creevey, Colin,' Professor McGonagall boomed. Colin was instructed to sit on an old three legged stool, and on top of it was a dirty, old, tattered hat. Where would the mountain troll come in? Colin sat down and put on the hat which slid down his ears. The sorting hat murmured, 'Yes, brave, quite intelligent, well then, I say it's GRYFFINDOR' boomed the sorting hat to the wholed school. 'Colin slid quickly down off the stool and maneuvered his way to the scarlet table, beaming so much that his face hurt. Hogwarts was going to be so exciting and magical!