YOU GOT ONTO PLATFORM Nine and Three-Quarters by walking into the division between platforms nine and ten. Ruby had seen Jumelle do it often and was quite confident she could do the same. She hugged her sister and said good-bye. She hugged her father and he slipped her a few Sickles and said, "you have a good term, learn a lot, and behave yourself. Okay?"
"Okay Dad. Good-bye." Ruby walked towards the barrier after a last wave to her father and sister and suddenly found herself under a wrought iron archway that said, "Platform Nine and Three-Quarters". In front of her was a scarlet steam-engine. She saw several parents and wondered why her father didn't go through with her. She got onto the train and looked for an empty compartment. Ruby walked past a boy holding a toad carefully. The toad, knowing the boy was scared, promptly leaped out of his hands. Ruby picked it up and handed back to him whereupon it left him again, this time staying in his hiding area.
"Tough luck, what's your name? I'm Ruby."
"Neville. Thanks anyway Ruby."
"No problem." She left that compartment and found one, second to the last. Only one person was there, a blonde, first year apparently.
"Hey, I'm Ruby."
"Nice to meet you Ruby, I'm Lavender Brown."
"Nice name. Full of color. He he."
"Oh, you're right. I've never thought about it that way. It is funny." Just then a tall pale looking boy walking in with two other boys. They were huge, literally.
"Oh, hello again Draco, Draco Malfoy, this is Ruby... er, what is your last name again?"
"Lapiz."
"Draco Malfoy, met Ruby Lapiz." The boy bowed courteously although there was that slight sneer on his face.
"Ah, Crabbe, Goyle, this is Ruby." He turned to Lavender. "I heard Harry Potter is in the next compartment, save us a seat." Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle turned and walked out to the last compartment. Moments later a girl with bushy brown hair walked in.
"Hello, I'm Ruby and this is Lavender. Who are you?"
"I'm Hermione Granger. You two didn't happen to see a toad did you?"
"Not since Neville lost his for the second time."
"Thanks anyways."
Two more girls, twins, walked in and took seats. The taller one stood up and said, "Hello, I'm Parvati, and this is my sister Padma Patil. You haven't seen a pale boy accompanied by two, erm, larger boys?"
"Why yes......"Ruby was cut off as Draco, Goyle, and Crabbe stormed back in. Draco was muttering 'stupid git, that Potter. Weasley too'.
"Oh, hi girls. Yes, Parvati?"
"I was just looking for you..." Parvati drug him off to the corner where she, her twin, Goyle, Crabbe, and Draco started to talk incomprehensibly.
"Excuse me Lavender I'll think I'll see who really is in the next compartment. Be right back." Ruby strode over to the door and opened it. In there she saw the bushy haired girl named Hermione, a tall red-head bent over a rat, and the boy she had seen in Diagon Alley.
"Hello. Is there a problem?"
"Yeah, what do you know about rats? Oh, sorry I'm Ron Weasley, you are?"
"That is Ruby, Ron." Hermione turned and said, "I don't know much about rats do you ?"
"Not really. Hi, it's Harry, right? You were in Diagon Alley with.. um, er,"
"Hagrid. You haven't met Draco Malfoy yet, have you?"
"Actually yes. He's in the next compartment talking to Parvati and Padma.
"Oh," turning his attention," well, Ron, maybe he'll wake up soon. He's just sleeping."
"I'll not forget that sight soon. Goyle afraid of him, Scabbers! He more gentle than.... Oh I'm sorry Ruby, I don't care much for Draco..."
"Neither do I that much really, I must return to Lavender. Bye!" She walked back into the next compartment. Parvati and Padma had disappeared with Draco and his croonies. "Hey Lavender," said Ruby.
"Hi again. This is Hannah Abbott," Lavender said introducing a light blonde pigtailed girl." Hannah, this is Ruby Lapiz."
"Oooh, you two both have double color names! I like those."
"Double color...." started Ruby.
"Oh yes. You," she said pointing to Lavender," are purple and brown of course, and you,"this time pointing to Ruby" are red and blue, both names of precious stones. The ruby and lapiz lazuli of course."
"Well how 'bout that. Coincidence huh Lavender?"
"I do say it is fascinating, but there are more interesting things to talk about I'm afraid." Lavender said, rather sharply.
"Oh," Hannah seemed crestfallen. Her interests weren't interesting enough for Lavender. Hannah soon found even more boring things to talk about, Ruby soon learned. She was half listening to Hannah and Lavender when she found she had been asleep. The food-cart witch was coming back again.
"Oy! Miss, could I have some Chocolate Frogs and Drooble's Best Blowing Gum?"
"Yes, dear. That's to be 2 Sickles."
"Want some?" she asked Lavender, Hannah, and a boy who had just entered the compartment.
"Sure!" all three exclaimed. Ruby later learned the boy was Terry Boot. She ate the rest of the food and fell asleep again, not waking until the Hogwarts Express had reached the castle.