After that, a spell seemed to be broken. They started talking like they were old friends catching up. The twelve of them told outrageous childhood tales, tried Bertie Botts beans and made face at the Chocolate Frog Cards.
The Doctor thought it felt... nice. She hadn't travelled much with children before. After Susan and Jenny... She never wanted to see that again. She had lost so much and she kept on losing. But it was worth it. It was worth it to see the light of wonder in her companions.
Children were some of the most wondrous creatures in the universe - to be protected and adored.
The way Roger and Alice had giggled after their pact - the way Anna smiled as they pledged. There was nothing quite like the sound of children laughing. The carefree sounds of those who hadn't been exposed to the horrors of the world yet.
If only she could keep it like that. But she knew children grew up - that they had to grow up. Some before others. She had never gotten what she wanted - it had always been pried from her regenerating hands. But life wouldn't be beautiful if it wasn't so full of turmoil and so fleeting.
An announcement shook her out of her thoughts - it was time to adjust her perception filter so it looked like she was wearing robes.
5 minutes later, the twelve AE members gathered in their compartment ready to face Hogwarts together. When they got to the platform, they saw a huge man shouting "Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" he said something else too but the twelve couldn't quite catch it.
They followed the man down the steep, narrow path. Twice, the Doctor nearly fell over - she was so accident prone! - but her fellow Muggleborns managed to steady her in time.
"Ye' all get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," the giant called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."
The twelve all made sounds of wonder. Hogwarts was certainly a sight to look at but that wasn't why the Doctor was admiring it. She had seen so many things, this got lost somewhere in the list. No, she was in awe of the presence of the castle. It was sentient! And it was brushing against her mind kindly. She let out a delighted laugh.
"No more'n four to a boat!" the giant called following with "Everyone in? Right then - FORWARD!" a minute later.
The Doctor climbed into a boat with Justin, Anne and Anna. On their right - Roger, Lisa, Alice and Kellah had settled in. Next to the four of them: Kevin, Leo and Sally were trying to persuade Dean to get in.
The ride to Hogwarts was smoother than they expected it to be - they only had to duck once to avoid the ivy hitting their face. They then clambered onto the rocks and followed the man up a passageway carved into the rock. When they came out, they were faced by huge stone steps leading to an oak door.
The giant knocked thrice.