"It will be fine Father." We were just outside of Platform 9 and ¾ with Uncle Harry who had come to take us to the Hogwarts Express.
The last three months of waiting to go to school had been torture. I could read my books but I was absolutely forbidden to try any of the spells I was reading.
But now the time was finally here! I would be going to Hogwarts and learning everything I had been reading about and dreaming of for months!
Or the time would be here if we could get my father to walk forward into the pillar between platforms 9 and 10.
"Best to do it at a bit of a run if you are nervous." Uncle Harry said. "Maybe even holding your father's hand."
"But I'm not…" I started to tell Uncle Harry I wasn't the least bit nervous when I caught his look.
It wasn't me Uncle Harry was worried about. "Oh, right. I am a bit nervous. Father, could you maybe hold my hand while I walk through?"
Sighing my father reached down and took my hand. "If I look like a fool doing this…"
My father hates to be made to look foolish. "No one is even looking, Father, let's just go."
Stepping forward Father pushed himself like he expected to get a face full of brick. He disappeared taking my hand with him!
This was almost as good as the hat at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes that made my head disappear! Or it was right before my father yanked me through breaking the magical moment.
We came out on a platform with a huge red train puffing smoke and so many people! I bounced on my feet so excited to be here!
"Lils! Hey Lils!" I heard Scorpius voice calling me. "Over here!"
I pulled my father forward. "Come on, I want you to meet my friends!"
Father was frowning. "What was that he called you?"
"It is a nickname, father, lots of friends use them." My father has an unreasonable hatred of nicknames.
When we got to Scorpius I recognized who must be his father right away. They looked so much alike. Uncle Ron was right!
"Hey Scorpius! Where's Albus?" I greeted him happily.
"He is over there with his Mum." Scorpius motioned towards a really pretty red headed woman. "These are my parents. Mum, Dad this is Lilliana Dursley. Albus cousin."
I could have told this was Scorpius father. They looked just alike. He very gravely shook my hand. "Lilliana, a pleasure."
"Dudley!" Scorpius Mum called out and came right over and hugged, actually HUGGED my father. I don't think I have ever seen anyone do that before except me. "It has been far too long. I keep telling Harry he should have you around for tea."
Father hugged her back, but did not seem put out. He actually smiled a bit. "Hello Alya. You have been well I hope."
"Oh yes! Almost all of the little ones off to school." She motioned towards a very young girl, maybe five or six next to her. "Just Elladora left."
"That is wonderful, I am sure." Father really was smiling at her.
"I was so sorry to hear about your wife." Scorpius Mum reached out and took my father's hand. He looked down at it somewhat confused.
"Thank you. It has been hard since Gillian… well…" Father rarely spoke mother's name. Too painful I suppose.
"I am sure it has." She had not let go of his hand. "Please let me know if there is anything we can do."
Father just nodded.
Scorpius pulled my hand. "Come on Lils. We don't want to train to leave without us." He laughed.
"Do you have everything?" Uncle Harry called out.
"Yes Uncle." I patted the small sack in my pocket. It turned out that wizards don't use credit cards. Uncle Harry had transferred some of the money from our credit card in to wizard coins.
"Good then." Father patted my shoulder awkwardly. "Behave yourself and try to write."
I would have to owl Uncle Harry who would get my letters to father by regular post.
"Hey! There's my favorite Dursley!" I heard Uncle Ron call out. He was impossible not to smile at.
"Uncle Ron!" I called out and ran to hug him. He had a little girl with him.
"This is my favorite Potter." He acted like he was going to drop the little girl who squealed. "She has almost your name. Lily, this is your cousin Lilliana."
She was adorable and shy when she smiled at me.
Before we left I met Aunt Hermione, Aunt Ginny and way too many people to remember all of their names.
"Wow, you have a big family." I said when we finally got on the train.
Albus slung an arm around my shoulders. "WE have a big family, cousin."
"As if anyone would admit to being family with YOU Potter." A snobby looking blonde girl pushed past us.
Albus put his head down.
"Who was that?" I glared after her.
"Polly Chapman. She hates me because I am not popular and I am in Slytherin and…" he trailed off.
"And because she is an idiot." I called after her while she flipped her hair.
"Well, one can't expect taste from someone like YOU." She snarled.
I frowned. I didn't know what she meant but it sounded ugly. "What does she mean… someone like me?"
Scorpius pulled me in to a car. "Nothing. Forget it. Let's grab something from the trolley and play some cards."
It was the first time I had ever really been away from home. I mean, I would have anyway because I had been accepted in to Queen Alexandra's School for Fine Young Ladies which was a sleep away school just like Smeltings. But that was at least in Surrey. Here I was all the way in Scotland!
Still, it was exciting. And being with Albus and Scorpius was like being with friends. Best friends even! I didn't care if other people hated Slytherins like they were telling me. I wanted to stick together. Thick and thin!
I told them this slinging my arms over their shoulders as we left the train.
"You should really rethink that." Albus frowned. "You are pretty and smart. You could be popular."
"I don't want to be popular. I want to have friends." I realized how stupid that sounded and we all started laughing.
"Well, anyway, you are a first year." Scorpius pointed towards a large man by some boats. "Hagrid takes the first years across on boats. Next year you can go on the carriages with us."
"Why can't I go with you THIS year?" I pouted.
Scorpius shrugged. "Tradition. We'll see you at the feast."
"Yeah… maybe." Albus said glumly.
The man, Hagrid Scorpius called him, was large but kind. "Durlsey, 'eh? Knew yer father when he was a boy."
I smiled happy to see another friendly face. "I hope I am as good a student as he was at his school." I smiled.
"Er… righ' well, let's get on with it then."
We made our way across the lake. It was lit up and just beautiful. Like glass.
When we got to the other side a tall man called out "First years, this way! I am Professor Longbottom. I will be your herbology Professor and… well, come along you must be hungry and tired." He smiled at us all.
We lined up and followed him in to a huge room. There were four tables lined up.
A hat was set on a stool by a stern looking woman… witch, I reminded myself. "Welcome students. 'The start of term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room.
The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.
The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."
After this the hat sang a long sog. Probably to give us time to "smarten up" but I was so amazed by a talking hat I couldn't take my eyes off of it.
One by one we were called up and the hat was placed on each person's head. It called out the house names.
Finally it was my turn. I was so nervous. I hate crowds and having people stare at me.
When the hat was placed on my head I crossed my fingers. "Slytherin, please Slytherin!"
"hmmmm…." I could hear the hat speaking directly to me. "Slytherin ehhh?"
Then it sang again.
Do not be afraid of what you hear
From those you hold dear
You fear being drawn
Not Gryffindor!
Not Hufflepuff! Not Ravenclaw!
Though Slytherin wanted only pure
I always know where you belong,
They will see it is right though fear it is wrong.
I know what house you belong in
Lilliana Dursley.
SLYTHERIN!
I hopped up so excited and looked over at the Slytherin table where Scorpius and Albus were both smiling widely at me and clapping.
I belonged! I really belonged!
I ran laughing to join them. Other Slytherin's clapped me on the shoulder and welcomed me. But not all. Some were looking at me oddly.
Maybe they were just shy. Or mean. There were a few bullies at my old school. Most usually left me alone because sometimes bad things happened to people who picked on me. I got a reputation as a jinx. Now I know it was accidental magic, but once a girl got a real nasty sprain when she fell down.
I feel really bad about that now. I mean she was kind of teasing me about the hair ribbon I was wearing, but nothing bad enough to deserve being hurt.
But it wasn't like I was trying to hurt her. I didn't even know it was me that had done it!
I had a feeling it wouldn't be so easy to scare off bullies here. But I have friends and family and I wasn't too worried.
I heard a couple mumble something about "pureblood" but I didn't understand what they meant by that.
I would find out all about muggleborns all too soon.
And in an unpleasant way, thanks to Polly Chapman.
.