A chubby boy with a round face, dark hair and chocolate eyes was tugged forward by a slightly taller girl. The girl who also had dark hair and brown eyes seemed in a particular hurry. "Come on Neville Gran will have both our hides if we miss the train." The elderly woman wearing an odd shaped bird hat and red dress followed the pair. The boy was dressed neatly in black trousers, white button up and loafers, and the girl in a blue plaid skirt and white blouse. It was the woman who pushed the trolley laden with two trunks and an owl cage. A lumpy greenish –brown toad poked its head out the boy's pocket obviously trying to escape.
As the group approached the divide between platforms 9 and 10 the small party stopped and the elderly woman bent towards the two kids, "Now take a run at it and I'll see you on the other side." When the kids hesitated for even a modicum of a second the woman raised her voice, "Now you're hardly starting off on the right foot being hesitant to even go onto the platform. Not even remotely an action worthy of your lineage. How are you to be sorted into Gryffindor if you're behaving this way? Remember you'll be disowned if you're sorted anywhere else. " With grimaces on their faces the pair ran at the divide between platforms 9 and 10, but where one would expect a crash the children simply disappeared.
They came out on a simple train platform with a sign signifying that this was indeed platform 9 ¾. The platform was busy with younger children running around older students greeting one another, and parents tearfully saying goodbyes to their children, especially those going off to school for the first time. This brought an even deeper sadness to the pair who realized that their own parents could never do that with them. On a good visit Neville's Mum or Dad may nod in recognition, while Mary Jane's parents were both buried in the cemetery not far from Longbottom Manor. Both knew though that their situation could be worse, at least they had Gran, or the "old battle ax", as some referred to Dame Longbottom. Augusta Longbottom held a seat on the Wizengamot and the Hogwarts Board of Governors. Therefore, she was something of a force to be reckoned with she was unhappy about something. The pair knew the story of the "boy-who-lived" and knew that they could easily have in his shoes with no proper family. Luckily the Longbottom's and Rutherford's, as well, as the Randall's were all wizarding families and wealthy ones at that.
As they approached the Scarlett steam engine Augusta applied a feather light charm to the trunks and allowed the children to take their trunks on board and find a compartment. Both Mary Jane and Neville did so and descended to receive any last minute instructions from Gran. It didn't take Augusta long to realize that the pair were waiting for instructions, "Remember to watch for Potter, he should be in your house and year, and have his back. Our houses are old allies. He will need people that he can trust surrounding him, not just fans but true friends and allies." The pair nodded and when nothing else was said they recognized the dismissal, and boarded the steam engine to return to their compartment.
It didn't take long for chaos to ensue Trevor, Neville's toad, who was something of an escape artist decided to make a run for it. The pair tried to stop him, but neither was quite quick enough, and Trevor headed down the corridor. Following as best they could the pair finally resorted to knocking on compartment doors. The first one had a boy and a girl both appearing to be first years as well. Both appeared to have dark brown hair and blue eyes with freckles. Trying to appear considerate and knowing that Neville would never ask for himself Mary Jane spoke up, "Have either you seen a toad? My cousin lost one." The pair looked at her shook their heads no." Realizing her apparent lack of manners and abrupt manner of speech, she corrected the error, "I'm Mary Jane, by the way Mary Jane Randall. This she said nodding her head in her cousin's direction, is Neville." That brought a rather sour expression to the normally quiet and pleasant boys face, "I can introduce myself thank you very much." That led the elder of the two to roll her eyes. The pair quickly returned the pleasantry, "I'm Ivy, Ivy Etain O'Hallaoran, and this mess is my brother Ian." Mary Jane nodded and then reluctantly steered her younger cousin to go further down the corridor to continue looking for Trevor. They eventually found him outside of the last compartment.
The pair then decided to return to their compartment for the remainder of the trip. Both quickly got involved in different text books. Mary Jane had finished reading her Herbology textbook, Potions textbook, as well as, the Standard Book of Spells Year 1. She was now focusing on her Transfiguration text. Neville was engrossed in 1000 Magical Herbs and Fungi. Both bristled when they hear the door to their compartment open, they had specifically chosen and empty compartment hoping to have a compartment to themselves for the whole trip, and avoid some of the other pureblood twats. Looking up they saw a boy with white blonde hair, and pointy face a little shorter than Neville. Mary Jane who had spent the better part of the last couple of year trying to avoid the Malfoy heir's tedious comments and even worse crude advances spoke, "Bugger off Malfoy. I'm in no mood for your crap." The other boy only continued to sneer, "Tough talk when you're hanging with a squib blood traitor." At this Mary Jane had, had enough people could insult her all that they wanted, but she would not let Malfoy put her cousin in tears again. Keeping her face a neutral mask she flicked her wrist allowing her wand to go into her hand, "He's no squib Malfoy or he wouldn't be on the train. He resized his cloth to swaddle him tighter just after being born, and he landed nicely when Uncle Algie threw him out the window. Now leave before I make you leave." The two boy who were with Draco waiting in the corridor grunted, and indicated to Draco that the lunch trolley was coming with a nod and a glance down the corridor. All three quickly made in the direction of the trolley.
The remainder of their time traveling from London to Scotland was somewhat peaceful. They were able to finish reading their respective books with both getting an assortment of items off of the trolley to tide themselves over until they got to the castle. Only about 15 minutes outside of Hogsmeade were they interrupted again. This time it was a busy haired girl. Both cousins made a point of introducing themselves, "I'm Mary Jane Randall." This time Neville picked up the que, "Neville Longbottom, and you are?" The bushy haired girl replied, "I'm Hermione Granger, pleasure." The girl observed the compartment for a moment, and noticing the books smiled, "I'm glad that others are reading ahead too. Although you should change into your robes I was just speaking with the Conductor and I expect we'll be arriving soon." Hermione quickly closed the door and the cousins exchanged eye rolls. Neville who was normally the nicer of the two said, "Who made her Prefect already." Mary Jane nodded, "She is right though we really should get our robes on.
Not long after each had taken a chance to change into their robes, the train pulled to a stop at Hogsmeade Station, and the students quickly departed the train. The cousins made their way over to a rather large man who was calling, "First years over here." In the hustle and bustle the cousins were forced to separate. Neville ended up going with a group of unfamiliar boys, while she chose to get into a boat with Susan Bones and her friend Hannah Abbott.