Hi, so I've been struggling to get this chapter out, but I feel as though I must. This chapter as well as all the following chapters to come are in memory of Helen Mccroy, The fact that she's gone is heartbreaking and my prayers go out to her friends and family. Rest easy Queen, you will be missed.
Chapter Four, Full Speed Ahead
Malfoy Manor, August 31st, 1991, Wiltshire
Alone, Pain, Regret, Guilty, Heartbroken… Narcissa Malfoy was lying in bed going over her many feelings and emotions for the sixth time that week. Although there was something to be happy about, right? Her children were to start Hogwarts tomorrow… without her being there to see them off of course. without her being there for them for the past eight years. But it wasn't all that bad, right? The Dark Lord had promised that when the time was right, he would kill Dumbledore, and with the power of the elder wand and many other strong magical objects that Dumbledore would have, he would find the children if they weren't at Hogwarts, if they were a blood test would suffice to find her beloved Draco and Hermione.
The fact that they were alive was all that was keeping Narcissa somewhat sane. Although it didn't keep the guilt away. Narcissa could never shake the thought that it was her fault her children were taken. It was she who had decided to go that night, after all, the second she said that aloud however she had earned herself a right slap on the cheek from Bellatrix.
"Honestly Cissy! Think of something happier, really you're not the only one of us who's suffering you know." She would scold.
But how could anyone ever try to 'think of something happier' when their children were missing?
But yet that's one of the few things that Narcissa found herself doing these days.
"Say Mama, Mia, Ma-ma," The woman with long, beautiful, wavy hair cooed to the eleven-month-old daughter with beautiful soft brown eyes sitting upright in her highchair, nibbling away on a large cracker.
"No, Mione, say Dada, Da-da," Lucius Malfoy insisted.
Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy were both on their knees in front of the highchair trying desperately to get the youngest of their twins to say her first word. Druella Black and Medusa Malfoy watched from the dining room table in amusement, little Draco watching from his grandmother, Medusa's, lap.
"You and your sister had said your first words long before you were eleven months, perhaps it's just the Malfoy in the chil-"
"Oh for Gods sakes mother! Give it a rest, some babies mature slower than others, so do us all a favour and shut up!" Narcissa snapped to Druella who gave her daughter a nasty glare. Lucius and Medusa had to hold in their laughter at the woman's face.
"It's a good thing you're already married girl, with a mouth like tha-"
"Shup," All the adults turned their widened eyes to the little girl in the highchair. Narcissa felt like she would burst into tears.
"Hermione, love, no!" Narcissa had tried to scold her daughter as she lifted her out of the white-painted highchair.
"Hermione Narcissa Malfoy! That was very improper," Lucius joined in, pointing his finger at his child and waving it. Hermione Malfoy frowned at the unfamiliar word.
"Very improper indeed," Druella tried to cut in, the other three adults looked at the woman, all three glaring daggers at her.
"Mother!"
"Mrs Black, Please,"
"Not the time Druella!"
"Shup,"
Druella huffed and sank back into her chair.
"Hermione!" Narcissa gasped, frowning heavily afterwards. Hermione giggled, as she thought it was a game. To which her brother joined in.
"Shup!" Hermione giggled.
"Mia," Narcissa groaned. "Just say Mama, please,"
"Mama," Draco yelped and gave a toothy grin.
Lucius walked over and picked his son up from his mother's lap. "We know that you can say it Dragon," Lucius poked Draco in the stomach, to which he squealed in delight.
"Shup!" Hermione exclaimed holding her small hands up in the air. Her mother raised her eyebrows playfully at her daughter and smiled.
Narcissa grinned sadly at the memory. Her mother hardly visited, she never really did before anyways. Lucius was in Azkaban with basically no hope of getting out. And her children… Oh Gods she had no clue where they were, She was supposed to be their mother.
This would all change soon. She would get her children back, Bellatrix seemed to think so anyway. Bellatrix had recently told her sister that she had seen her Adhara, Narcissa's goddaughter. At first, Narcissa was convinced Bellatrix had finally gone off her rocker, it wasn't until Bellatrix had shown her a picture in a mirror that had shown what the child's owl was seeing, that Narcissa had believed her sister. She came to the conclusion that her children must have been handed the same fate. Which disgusted their true mother to no end. A muggle should not be allowed to raise or care for a magical child, let alone a pureblood, it simply should not be legal.
Once Narcissa was united with her children and her husband was freed from Azkaban, she would hopefully convince him to leave the country, just for a little while, there would no doubt be an uproar and possibly another wizarding war once the Dark Lord returns. Portugal seemed like the place to go, peaceful, not too far away from England, so Lucius would still be able to serve the Dark Lord. Narcissa just had to be patient, the Dark Lord would no doubt reward herself and Lucius. She would just have to wait a little longer.
"Dobby!" She called.
August 31st, 1991, York, Yorkshire, Number Two Vincents Place
Dray was still struggling to process everything, he was a wizard. At first, he didn't believe the bat-like man. But then he had gone to Diagon Alley. That had startled him, to say the least.
A man called Severus Snape had arrived at his house two months ago and revealed to the young boy that he was indeed a wizard and he would be attending Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Once it was confirmed to be true, Dray was over the moon. He was supposed to be going to Jacksere Boys School. Dray had heard all about that school from his brother, Tanner, and he had been dreading going for as long as he could remember. He had begged his mother, Julia Muller, not to send him. But she never batted an eye. As long as Julia had her alcohol she was perfectly content. She didn't even seem to understand that she had children at all.
Dray only had one regret about the whole situation, however. What would happen to Tanner? The boy's father left when they were very young. This would leave Tanner and Mrs Muller alone. Dray had pleaded with professor Snape to allow his brother to go to Hogwarts also on their trip to Diagon Alley. But Snape had repeated time and time again that there was nothing he could do except report Julia to the authorities, But that was the last thing Dray wanted. The authorities could very well split the brothers up. The two had decided long ago that it was best to have each other and their run-down house then not have each other and people who were most likely going to be paid to love them. Snape understood, Or at least Dray thought so.
Tanner had taken the situation better than expected. He was of course shocked, but anyone would be if they found out that their little brother was a wizard who could perform magic and fly on a broomstick. He didn't seem to care that he would be alone with his mother, but Dray knew better. He had promised Tanner that he would write every day and if the boys in school continued to bully him then he would of course use his newly bought wand.
Dray had met a half-blood boy called Boyet March and his sister Rose March. He and Boyet had plans to sit together on the Hogwarts Express, at least that's what Snape said it was called.
The Blonde boys last month at the Muller household wasn't fun. One of the only highlights had been when he, Tanner and Tanner's friend, Troy Galvo, had gone down to the local river for a swim. Dray had no friends from his year. The only friends he had were Tanner and Troy.
Dray's mother was now scared of him, quite ironic really since it was usually the other way around. Julia usually couldn't stay in the same room, she would usually just take her bottle of vodka or whiskey or whatever alcoholic beverage she happened to be drinking at the time and leave the room, drunken hiccups could be heard from wherever she went. Dray kept to his and Tanner's room as well as their rundown shed throughout the summer, hardly ever leaving the house. But Dray didn't mind. He had his brother for company, as well as his new pet rat, Cheesewiz. Cheesewiz was a light brown rat with red eyes. He was a birthday gift from professor Snape. He was quite lazy, but there was nothing Dray or Tanner could do about that.
Dray was disappointed to find out that he was not allowed to use his newly bought wand. He wanted to test it out. Mr Ollivander had told Dray that it was a Hawthorn Wand with a unicorn heartstring. Dray didn't care though, he was just happy to have one. His school books were very interesting also, Dray particularly enjoyed Transfiguration.
He lay on his sunken bed reading deep into the night. Tanner on the other side of the room, fast asleep. Whilst Cheesewiz lay on a pillow beside Dray's left arm.
Every night before Dray went to sleep, he would tick off another day on a piece of paper he kept under his pillow, counting down to September first. He had enough money to get a taxi to London the next morning, with the help of Tanner and Troy, who thought he was going off to some posh school in London.
"So." His brother started as he awoke suddenly, making Dray jump. "How are you going to get to this school anyway?"
"A train."
"Oh? So the train to a magical school is just gonna be at some random train station?"
"Nah, Snape said I gotta run through a wall to get to it."
"But how-"
"I honestly don't know, but I'm sure I'll figure it out."
"If you say so, you have to wake up early?"
"Yup," Dray nodded as he looked back down to A Beginners Guide to Transfiguration.
"What time?"
"I'd say around four, it'll take around a half an hour to an hour to get everything ready and out to the taxi, the ride should take about four hours, then I should have enough time to get on the train."
"You've got this all planned out haven't you?" Tanner grinned.
"Yup," Dray smirked.
"Better get some rest if you're waking up at four."
Nearly half an hour later, both boys and the rat were fast asleep. All having the sweetest of dreams.
Adhara woke at five that morning and was too excited and nervous to go back to sleep. It seemed as though nobody else had woken up yet, and she had most of her things packed.
She picked up the piece of paper and the secretive quill and started to write to Pansy for when she too woke up.
Today's the day. You exited?
To Adhara's great surprise words appeared underneath almost straight away.
Of course, I'm excited! I hardly slept a wink.
Adhara chuckled at this.
I went to bed at twelve, I didn't get to sleep until around half one though. How's Nora?
Nora's Pansy's younger sister. She was apparently quite annoying.
She's over at Gran's, Mum sent her over for when she's going to school this morning, she won't be coming to see me off thank gods, she'd just give mum and dad fake tears to see if they'll make me take her to Hogwarts too.
I was probably the same with Walsh when we were both younger.
Pansy replied shortly.
Kids, what can ye do?
The girls' letters continued for another ten minutes before they decided that they needed to get dressed since there was a long drive ahead for the both of them.
Adhara dressed in a grey Nike t-shirt with the logo in red, a blue Superdry hoodie, jeans and a pair of converse.
After she had the rest of her things in her trunk and had Morkipie - who was now flapping his wings impatiently- fed, she went downstairs to fetch a bagel.
Walsh awoke twenty minutes later. He too had packed the majority of his stuff the night before.
"Are ye packed Dara? We're leaving in half an hour." He asked with a yawn. Adhara nodded as the bagel popped out of the toaster. "K good, have you heard from Cy?"
Adhara had indeed heard from Cy.
Cy Wills was one of Adhara's friends from school, he lived just a few streets away. And, luckily enough, he was a wizard, Adhara couldn't believe it. She had been to his house quite a lot over the Summer.
"Mhm," She hummed as she applied butter to the bagel. "Him, Pansy and I are to sit together on the train."
Walsh nodded. He went over to fill his cup up with orange juice. "And does his… erm… brother know about…"
Adhara groaned. Cy's older brother, Sidd, and Walsh were both school rivals. Both were in the same year. Walsh had always wanted to rub the fact that he was a wizard in Sidd's face, and now that he probably knew about them, he might have just finally got the chance.
"I dunno, just leave it alone, the two of you haven't spoken in ages," She groaned.
Walsh shrugged. "Just asked a question," He sipped his orange juice. "D'you think he'll be at the station?"
"Walsh,"
"Fine, fine, sorry, won't ask again." He then placed the cup in the sink. "Be ready in twenty minutes, and don't forget anything, you'd never hear the end of it, I made that mistake last year when I forgot half my books, Hank and Cormac'll never let me live that down."
The two then went up to make sure that their owls were shut safely into their cages.
Half an hour later Adhara's large heavy trunk had been loaded into the trunk, along with Walsh's. Both had owls in their cages on their laps. The car buzzed excitedly. Sarah Ives was struggling to hold back her tears.
They arrived in London at quarter to nine and stopped for coffee. Then headed to Kings Cross Station. The Ives family got out of the car at half-past ten.
Jonathan pushed Adhara's trolly and Sarah pushed Walsh's, they both carried their owls.
"This can't be right," Adhara murmured as she walked side by side with her father.
"What is it dear?" He asked looking down.
"This says platform nine and three quarters, but how-"
"You'll see," Walsh grinned over at her. Adhara nodded, eyebrows still furrowed.
Adhara thought that she and her family might have looked slightly stupid, with the size o the trunks they were pushing along, as well as two owls. Corncob seemed to be getting fairly restless also.
She looked up to the clock, they had over a quarter of an hour to get onto the train. That should be long enough.
The family were all walking towards platform ten and platform nine, Adhara didn't see a platform nine and three quarters.
"Excuse me," A girl with brown bushy hair who was walking up to the family started. "I'm sorry but I couldn't help but notice your luggage and owls," Oh no, had they really given it away already? This wasn't good. Adhara stiffened. "I was wondering if you knew how to get onto the platform."
Adhara relaxed at this. "Erm…" Walsh cut across his sister
"Well, of course, you're going into first year are you?" the bushy-haired girl nodded. "Adhara's in first year too, don't worry all you have to do is run through the wall between platform nine and ten," Walsh pointed over to an all stone wall. "I'm Walsh by the way, Walsh Ives,"
"Hermione Granger," The girl smiled. Adhara noted that she had slightly bigger front teeth. "And we have to run into a wall? Is it dangerous?"
"Don't worry, It's easier than it sounds," Walsh replied. Relief washed through his sister.
"Where are your parents, dear?" Sarah asked Hermione kindly.
"They dropped me off five minutes ago,"
Sarah nodded, she turned towards Adhara and bent down to her level.
"Now, you be good dear, do as your told and study hard, I'll write twice a week if you ever need us just write, write to us straight away once you get into your house," She lent in closer to whisper something, "And keep an eye on your brother, make sure he doesn't get into any trouble, make sure he studies too," Adhara grinned and nodded.
"I'll do the best I can, but you know Walsh." Both mother and daughter laughed. "Are you and Dad not coming to the train with us?"
"We can't, we're not like you and Walsh, remember?" She smiled sadly.
Adhara nodded sadly and squeezed her mothers hand. And looked over to her father, who was patting Walsh on the shoulder.
"Bye Dad, I'll see you at Christmas." She spoke.
"Cya Pidge, now you say hi to Pansy and Cy for me, and wri-"
"Write, I know, I know dad, twice a week, and I'll write if anything's wrong, honest," She giggled. Jonathan smiled and ruffled Adhara's chocolate brown hair.
"Don't be a stranger."
Adhara nodded and picked Morkipie's cage back up.
"C'mon Adhara, the train leaves in ten minutes," Walsh said. Adhara walked forward and Walsh started to tell her how to get through the wall.
"Now don't panic, all you have to do is walk straight into the barrier. Don't stop, and don't be scared or you'll crush into it, that's very important. Best do it of a run if you're nervous. Go on, Hermione and I will follow afterwards."
"Er… so that one there?"
"Yep,"
"Ok, ok, I just gotta run," Adhara muttered to herself as she gripped the handle of the trolly as Morkipie flapped his wings excitedly. The barrier looked very solid.
She started to walk towards it. People jostled her on their way to platform nine and ten. Adhara walked more quickly. She was going to smash right into the ticket box and then she'd be in trouble - leaning forward on the trolly she broke into a heavy run - the barrier was coming nearer and nearer - she wouldn't be able to stop - the trolly was now out of control - she was a foot away - she closed her eyes for the crash - It didn't come… She kept running… she opened her eyes.
A large scarlet steam engine was waiting next to a platform packed with people. A sign overhead read Hogwarts Express, 11 o'clock. Adhara - who was staring wide-eyed - looked behind her and saw a wrought-iron archway where the ticket box had been, with the words Platform Nine and Three-Quarters on it. She did it. Thank the heavens.
It was then Hermione came through, soon followed by Walsh, who quickly said goodbye and walked away.
"Woah," Hermione sighed. Adhara started to look around for both Pansy and Cy.
Smoke from the engine drifted over the heads of the chattering crowd, while cats of every colour wound here and there between their legs. Owls hooted to each other in a disgruntled sort of way over the babble and the scraping of heavy trunks.
"The first few carriages are empty," Hermione stated as she pushed her own trolly forward. Adhara nodded.
"Adhara!" A voice yelled. Adhara's head shot up and she spotted a girl with brown hair running towards her. It was Pansy. "There you are, I thought that we wouldn't be able to sit together,"
"Sorry Pansy, have you seen Cy?"
"Yeah, he's saving us seats in the train, come on,"
Adhara was about to move forward with Pansy before she looked back at Hermione. "One second," She said to Pansy.
"Hermione, would you like to come and sit with my friends and I, I'm sure there's plenty of seats available."
Hermione looked curiously at Adhara. "If you're sure, you are sure aren't you?"
"Yep, I'm sure,"
The three of them passed a round-faced boy who was saying 'Gran, I've lost my toad again,'
"Oh, Neville," They heard the old woman sigh.
A boy with dreadlocks was surrounded by a small crowd, two of whom were a pair of red-headed twins.
"Give us a look, Lee, go on."
The boy lifted the lid of the box in his arms and the people around him shrieked and yelled as something inside poked out a long, hairy leg.
The three pressed on in the crowd until they saw the compartment Cy was in, accompanied by two twin boys. Pansy and Adhara both looked at each other. They were the boys from Diagon Alley.
"Hey Adhara, Pansy." Cy greeted. He turned his attention to Hermione. "Hey,
"Hello,"
"Hey,"
"Hi,"
Adhara caught sight of Pansy's owl, Felix, on the seat beside Cy.
She put Morkipie inside first and started to shove and heave her trunk towards the train door. She tried to lift it to the top of the steps but could hardly raise one end and she twice dropped it painfully on her foot. Pansy ended up having to help.
"Here, I'll put that up," The twin with the shorter hair offered to Hermione as she too struggled with her trunk.
"Thanks," Hermione smiled as the boy lifted the trunk in the overhead rack.
The girls and the boy all sat down. Pansy lifted Felix onto her lap and sat beside Cy, Hermione sat beside her and Adhara sat beside the other twin.
"Oh, girls this is Falco Naylor," Cy gestured to the twin beside Adhara, "And that's Reinhard Naylor, but you can call him Rein," He gestured to the second boy. "They're twins,"
Everyone but Cy laughed at this.
"You don't say," Pansy laughed. "I'm Pansy, by the way, Pansy Rowe, I'm from Kent"
"Pleasure," Falco smiled as he extended his hand, Pansy accepted. "Me and Rein are from London,"
"So am I, I'm Hermione Granger." Hermione piped up.
"Nice to meet you, Hermione," Cy greeted.
"Adhara Ives, I'm from the West Midlands, Birmingham,"
"So am I, from the West Midlands I mean, Birmingham," Cy spoke.
"Me and Cy went to the same school together," Adhara clarified as she stroked her owl's neck.
"Oh, me and Fal were homeschooled-" Reinhard was cut short by a screech. It was Pansy. Falco's toad had just jumped at her.
"Gurgling Gargoyles, Pansy I'm sorry, Todd's like that," Falco exclaimed, going to grab the road.
"He's not right in the head, that toad, Mother fired him across the living room a few times," Reinhard shrugged. Cy, Pansy, Hermione and Adhara's eyes all widened at that. Pansy was breathing heavily.
"I. Hate. Frogs," She was struggling to breathe so much Hermione had to start to rub circles on her back. Falco looked extremely guilty, so much so that he didn't even bother to correct Pansy by saying that Todd wasn't a frog, but a toad. Hermione looked up reassuringly at him.
"She's fine," She said to him. Adhara then noticed that Falco had a small scar just above his left eyebrow, the twins also had hair to replicate her own.
The train began to move, Adhara and Pansy looked at each other in excitement. Whilst Cy started to sing a little tune. All the sand was 'Off to Hogwarts we go, just please don't let it be slow'
The door of the compartment door slid open, And there stood two other boys, looking around the same age as the other six. Cy reddened and stopped singing. Pansy gave him a knowing look and smirked.
"Is there any space left in here? The rest of the compartments are packed," The one with the Almost white hair asked with a desperate tone in his voice.
"Erm, I'm sure that we could make room, move over guys," Cy said down to Hermione and Pansy, who then moved down a bit, this made just about enough room for one of the boys. The twins and Adhara did the same, making enough room for the other boy.
Both boys put their luggage on the racks and sat down. The boy with Light brown hair and who was wearing a navy blue jumper with the words Puddlemere United written across the top, sat down beside Cy. While the boy with blonde hair and an orange sweatshirt sat down beside Reinhard and placed his toad on his lap.
"Good thing we got one of the large compartments, isn't it?" Falco murmured to Adhara in a friendly sort of voice. Adhara smiled and nodded in response.
"Thanks," The boy with brown hair said. "I'm Boyet March, this is my owl, Tide," He gestured to a grey barn owl in a cage.
"And I'm Dray Muller," The blonde boy spoke up.
The other six kids introduced themselves and shook hands with the boys.
"What houses do you all want to be in?" Boyet asked the group as he stroked his Grey barn owl. "I want to be in Ravenclaw, Gryffindor would be cool too though,"
The others looked around at this. It was Hermione who spoke up first.
"Ravenclaw," She said confidently. "I can't really see myself in any other house, Gryffindor maybe, but not Slytherin or Hufflepuff,"
"Hufflepuff," Falco spoke next. "Seems like the best place for me to be quite honest.
"I think I'd like Slytherin or Gryffindor," Reinhard stated as he stroked his rat.
"I honestly don't mind, although I hope I'm not in Slytherin, a lot of Blood Purists are there, I don't want to be a target to that," Adhara said, thinking about the Nott boy from Diagon Alley. Everyone in the compartment nodded in agreement, Dray, Hermione and Pansy gulped.
"Em… I think Ravenclaw, I heard it's produced some extremely powerful wizards." Pansy shrugged.
"I dunno much about the houses, I really only know their names and their main trait, but at the moment I would prefer Gryffindor," Dray said.
"Hm… Hufflepuff or Slytherin, I'd like to see those snobs, I don't think I'd be able to contain my laughter if they ever insulted me," Everyone chuckled at what Cy had said.
"Can I hold your rat Dray?" Cy asked. "Rein let me hold his one, but Tilly bit me,"
"Sure, just be careful, he gets all defensive when it comes to his tail and whiskers." Dray handed Cheesewiz to the boy with sunflower blonde hair.
"Thanks, I've always wanted a rat, but mum hates them, got me a toad instead so they did, don't get me wrong, I like Martin and all, but rats and owls are so much cooler, don't like cats, plus I'm allergic, two years ago I ended up in the hospital cause my younger sister, Penelope, took a stray cat inside and let it sit on my bed when I wasn't home,"
The children continued chatting. Hermione stared out the window and watched the countryside come into view, not being afraid to give her opinion on certain topics and talk about stuff she read in books. Adhara really liked Hermione, Falco, Reinhard and Dray. She liked Boyet too, but he seemed a bit obnoxious but other than that he was fine.
Around half-past twelve there was a great clattering outside in the corridor and a smiling, dimpled woman slid back their door and said, "Anything from the trolly dears?"
Dray, who hadn't had breakfast, leapt to his feet. The twins slouched in their seats and said that they would eat when they got to Hogwarts, Pansy gave Adhara a worried look. All the others jumped up out of their seats and went out into the corridor.
Dray had a lot of Galleons leftover from his trip to Diagon Alley, he was ready to buy as many Mars bars he could carry - but the children soon came to figure out that the woman didn't have Mars bars, Twix, Skittles, Hubba Hubbas, Chewits or Poppets. But what she did have were Bertie Bott's Every-Flavour Beans, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, Liquorice Wands and a number of other strange things none of the children apart from the twins had ever seen in their lives. Although Boyet said that his sister, Rose, had shared a chocolate frog with him once. None of them wanting to miss anything, the lady was down at least ten of each.
The twins stared at their new friends as they brought their sweets back into the compartment. They all decided to tip it all into a plastic bag Hermione brought so that they could share it.
"Gods I'm starving," Dray groaned as he took a bite of a pumpkin pastie.
Pansy had taken out two Cauldron Cakes and stuffed them in the twins' hands. "Eat," She demanded. They both happily obliged.
Adhara helped herself to a box of Bertie Bott's Every-Flavour Beans. Reinhard had tried to warn her before she threw one in her mouth.
"Careful Adhara they're-"
But Adhara had already swallowed. She started to cough as the taste of Rotten Egg had spread through her mouth.
"Was that Rotten Egg?" She sputtered.
"Yep, they really mean every flavour," Falco replied with a small playful grin.
"What are these?" Dray asked as he held up a pack of chocolate frogs. "They're not really frogs, are they?" Dray was starting to feel as though nothing could really surprise him now.
"No," Hermione replied "I've read about them, don't worry," Adhara was starting to think that Hermione may very well be a living encyclopedia. "They have cards in them though, that's a big reason they're so popular, famous witches and wizards, collectables so they are,"
Dray tore open his chocolate frog and picked up the card.
"Perpetua Fancourt," He read out. Falco sighed.
"She's not as interesting as the others, she invented the Lunascope, please don't ask me what that is, I don't really know,"
Everyone else reached into the bag to get some Chocolate Frogs for themselves.
"Newt Scammander," Pansy read out, "Regarded as the world authority on magical creatures, Newt Scamander is the author of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which has been an approved textbook at Hogwarts since its publication in 1927 and can be found in most wizarding households."
"I love that book, I've read it twenty-three time in August alone," Falco grinned.
"Mungo Bonham, Famous wizard healer. Founded St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries," Cy read his one.
"Queen Maeve, Legendary witch who trained young sorcerers in Ireland prior to the establishment of Hogwarts." Hermione scanned over her card.
"Rodolphus Lestrange, one of the best heads of the Department of International Magical Cooperation the wizarding world has ever seen," Dray stated. Adhara shivered
"Joscelind Wadcock, Chaser for Puddlemere United Quidditch team. Record for highest number of goals during British season this century," Reinhard read.
Boyet started to cheer "Puddlemere! Wadcock!"
"Hengist of Woodcroft, Driven away from his home by Muggle persecutors, Hengist is supposed to have settled in Scotland, where he founded the village of Hogsmeade. The Three Broomsticks inn is alleged to be Hengist's old home." Falco spoke.
"Glover Hipworth, Inventor of the Pepperup Potion, cure for the common cold," Boyet read allowed.
"Rowena Ravenclaw, Rowena Ravenclaw was the founder of Ravenclaw house at Hogwarts. Beautiful and intelligent, she was the most brilliant witch of her time," This one was Adhara's.
There was a gasp from Cy, "Mungo, he's gone!"
"Of course he's gone," Falco started.
"You can't expect him to stay there all day now can you?" Reinhard finished.
"He'll be back," Falco told Cy.
Soon enough they all moved onto the Bertie Botts Every Flavoured Beans, Boyet had to coax Adhara into eating another one, she didn't trust them after the rotten egg. She was happy when the next flavour turned out to be honey.
Hermione wasn't as lucky though, she had gotten onion. Pansy had eaten Booger. Everyone laughed at Pansy's, apart from Pansy, of course, he was trying to get rid of the flavour with a liquorice wand.
They all had a fun time eating the beans. There were so many flavours. There was Toast, coconut, baked bean, strawberry, curry, grass, coffee, sardine and Adhara was even brave enough to nibble the end of a funny grey one that nobody else had wanted to touch, it was pepper.
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 knock on the door of their compartment and the round-faced boy the girls had passed on the platform came in. He looked tearful.
"Sorry," he said, flushing red, "But have any of you seen a toad at all?"
Boyet shook his head, "Only our own, sorry,"
The boy started to wail, "I've lost him! He keeps getting away from me!"
Adhara stared awkwardly, "He'll turn up," She replied.
"Yes," Said the boy miserably, "Well, if you see him…"
He left.
They all carried on eating their snacks and chatting. Boyet and Adhara were chatting about Boyet's owl, Tide.
"My sister, Rose, taught me a spell to turn him yellow, I tried it yesterday, but it didn't work, I'll show you, look…"
He rummaged around in his trunk and pulled out a wand.
Boyet had just raised his wand when the compartment door slid open yet again. The toadless boy was back, but this time he had a girl with him, she was already wearing her new Hogwarts robes.
"Has anyone seen a toad? Neville's lost one," She inquired to the compartment of eight. She had a bossy sort of voice, bossier than Hermione's. She had light brown hair with blonde highlights and hazel eyes.
"We've already told him we haven't seen it," Hermione replied, but the girl didn't seem to be listening, she was looking at the wand in Boyet's hand.
"Oh, are you doing magic? Let's see, then,"
She leaned against the door, Boyet looked taken aback.
"Er - Alright," He cleared his throat, "Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, Turn this stupid, fat rat yellow."
He waved his wand, but nothing happened, Tide the barn owl stayed unblinking in his cage, unchanged.
"Are you sure that's a real spell?" Asked the girl. "Well, it's not very good, is it? I've tried a few simple spells just for practice and it's all worked for me. Nobody in my family's magic at all. It was ever such a surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, I mean, it's the very best school of witchcraft there is, I've heard - I've learned all our set of books of by heart already, of course," Adhara could tell that Hermione was about to say that she had also, "I just hope it will be enough - I'm Ally Price by the way, and you are," She asked Boyet.
"Boyet March, erm… hello,"
Even though she hadn't asked, the rest of them introduced themselves also.
"Well, do any of you know what house you'll be in," Nobody replied, they just shook their heads, "I've been asking around and I hope I'm in Ravenclaw," Oh how Adhara wished Pansy would speak up and say You don't say "That's the house for the intelligent, but I do suppose Hufflepuff won't be too bad. Anyway, we'd better go and look for Nevile's toad. You lot should really better change, you know, I expect we'll be there soon."
And with that Ally and Neville left.
"Whatever house I'm in, I hope that she's not in it," Boyet said to the others. All of them nodded.
"And I thought I was bad, Geez," Hermione laughed. Boyet put the wand back in his trunk.
"What houses are Rose and Walsh in?" Cy asked Boyet and Adhara.
"Rose is a Hufflepuff,"
"Walsh is in Gryffindor,"
Cy nodded.
"Anyone have a favourite Quidditch Team?" Boyet asked the group, "I only know about them because of Rose, but Puddlemere seems the best, got the Jumper in Diagon Alley."
Everyone shook their heads, including the Twins, both were Half-Blood, but Pansy and Adhara felt that the reason they didn't was because of their mother.
Boyet's mouth formed into an 'o'
The boys all went to the bathrooms to change into their robes, while the girls all stayed.
When they were all done Adhara sat down again by the window. It was getting dark. She could see mountains and forests under a deep purple sky. The train did seem to be slowing down. Adhara silently handed everyone but Cy and Pansy a secretive quill and explained what they were quick.
A voice echoed through the train. "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately,"
Adhara's stomach lurched with nerves, she noticed Hermione go pale. They all crammed their pockets with the remaining of their sweets and the eight of them poured out of the compartment to join the crowd of people in the corridor.
The train slowed right down and then finally stopped. People pushed their way towards the door and out onto a tiny, dark platform. Adhara, Hermione and Pansy all shivered in the cold night air.
A lamp came bobbling over the heads of the students and then they all heard a voice: "Firs' years! Firs' years over here!"
"Hagrid," Pansy whispered.
A big bearded face looked around at all the students.
"C'mon, follow me - any more firs'-years? Mind yer step now! Firs' years, follow me!"
Slipping and stumbling, they all followed Hagrid down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. It was so dark on either side of them that Adhara thought there must be thick trees here and there. Nobody spoke much. Neville, the boy who kept losing his toad, sniffles once or twice.
"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," The man, who Adhara thought to be Hagrid, called over his shoulder. "Jus' round this bend here,"
There was a loud 'Oooooh!'
The narrow path had opened suddenly on to 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 turrets and towers.
"No more than four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. Adhara, Hermione and Pansy were joined in their boat by Dray. All of them were still gawking at the sight in front of them.
"Everyone in?" Shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself, "Right then - FORWARD!"
And the little fleet of boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring at the great castle overhead. It towered over them as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood.
"Heads down!" Yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff, they all bent their heads and the little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy which hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They were carried down a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right underneath that castle until they reached a kind of underground harbour, where they clambered out onto the rocks and pebbles.
"Oy! You there! Is this your toad?" Asked Hagrid, who was checking the boats as people climbed out of them.
"Trevor!" Cried Neville blissfully, holding out his hands.
They all then followed Hagrid up a passageway in a rock, still almost silent, coming out at last to a smooth, damp grass right in the shadow of the castle. Adhara dared not blink just in case it was a dream, she didn't want to wake up.
They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, oak front door.
"Everyone here? You there, still got yer toad?"
Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.
This was going to be amazing.