"Stuff it, Malfoy," Harry said angrily. The outburst took Sydney aback and Gwen was still awestruck by Malfoy addressing her.
"Potter, doesn't this look familiar? Taking you back to where you made your first big mistake? Well, maybe these ladies would like to join me in the next compartment rather than stay here with you lot. How about it girls? Oh and sorry, but I didn't get your names?" Malfoy inquired.
"Umm yeah, I'm Sydney," Sydney stated. She tried not to laugh, but god, he had a high voice.
"And you are?" Malfoy asked Gwen with a roll of his hand.
"Gwen." Was all she was able to get out?
"So care to join me, Gwen?"
"Well, maybe another time, I-," She was cut off by a voice over a wizard's version of an intercom.
"We will be approaching Hogwarts in five minutes. Please leave all baggage on board when we arrive. Thank you."
"Too bad there is no time for us to get acquainted right now, Gwen. See you." With that Malfoy and his gang left as quickly as they came.
"Yeah, I really don't like that kid," Sydney stated as soon as the door shut.
"His own mother probably doesn't even like him," Ron stated.
Slowly the train made its way into the station tucked into the town of Hogsmeade. Harry looked out the window eagerly to catch a glimpse of the castle but he turned quickly back around with a confused look on his face.
"What?" Ron asked.
"The carriages aren't there. Did they change the way we get to the castle this year?" Harry asked.
"I didn't hear anything about it," Ron answered.
"Me neither. How particular," Hermione added. The steam engine came to a sudden halt and sent baggage and passengers falling. Hedwig and the other owls hooted nervously. Fruit flew everywhere, but Harry was lucky enough to be the only hit. The girls were smart enough to hold on to something, but Ron and Harry had fallen flat on their faces.
"Oww, that was my foot Harry," Ron whined.
"And that was my knee!" Harry yelled from the floor of the compartment where he had fallen.
"My fruit!" Hermione exclaimed as Harry got up with crushed apple all over his new robes.
"For once I would like to start school with nice clean robes," he stated. Sydney giggled at this statement.
"What's so funny?" he asked while Sydney giggled again.
"Nothing," Sydney answered trying to calm down. "It's just when we first met each other at the station, Gwen had just shoved me onto the ground and I said the same thing."
"I didn't shove you," Gwen said coyly.
"Could it have been more of a shove?" Sydney said back to her.
"Oh, I am not going to argue with you," Gwen said and walked out into the corridor. Sydney just scoffed and helped Harry clean off the fruit.
"Thanks," Harry said shyly. "We should go now." They both realized that everyone was off the train except for them and they quickly made their way off the train as well.
On the platform, everyone seemed to be standing around waiting for something. There was a giant group of first years gathered together beginning to panic. Hermione, being a prefect and all, walked over to them and told them all to calm down. It was strange that Hagrid hadn't shown up to show the first years to their boats, which, as usual, were there. She looked around and motioned for Harry and Ron to join her. Sydney and Gwen just stayed put and looked around the platform.
"What took you two so long?" Gwen asked raising an eyebrow at Sydney.
"Harry needed some help since…"
"…Hermione can't keep a hold on her fruit," Harry cut in, glaring at Hermione.
"Well, that should be the least of your worries. There aren't any carriages here!" Hermione said.
"How are we going to get there?" Ron asked as he, Harry and Hermione ushered the first years into the boats.
"I have no idea," Harry replied. "Why don't you ask Hermione?"
"Why don't you?" Ron retaliated
"Or I could ask," Gwen said.
Ron and Harry nodded their thanks and continued to the panicking first years. Gwen walked over to Hermione.
"I think we should just get in the boats with the first years," Hermione said before Gwen even opened her mouth.
"Should I go tell the other?" Gwen asked.
"Okay…actually…how is everyone else going to get there?" said with a look of deep thought on her face.
Hermione stood on a trunk and raised her hands trying to get everyone's attention. It didn't seem to work. When Harry saw this, he joined Hermione on the trunk and began waving his hands in the air as well. At 6'2" he received a bit more attention than Hermione.
"Can I have everyone's attention please?" Harry yelled. The chatter of the crowd stopped and they all turned towards Harry and Hermione.
"Okay," Hermione began. "For some reason, none of the carriages have arrived. However, the boats for the first years have; therefore, I would like all the remaining first years to please get on the boats so they can be on their way to the sorting ceremony. As for everyone else, I don't think there's any other alternative except to walk to Hogwarts. So, let's all be on our way." Harry got off the trunk and offered her a hand. "Oh yeah, leave all your luggage here!" Hermione shouted as she hopped off the trunk.
The murmur of the students started up again as everyone began to walk towards the castle. Hermione walked over to Sydney and Gwen.
"Is it always this chaotic?" Sydney asked.
"No, I'm really confused as to why none of the carriages are here."
"Should we start walking?" Harry asked.
"Actually," Hermione whispering, leaning in a bit, "There are two boats left over. Since there's only five of us, we can take the boats."
"Right," Harry said mischievously. "Wouldn't want Sydney and Gwen to miss the sorting ceremony."
Harry and Ron took one boat and Hermione, Sydney and Gwen took the other.
"Which house do you wan to be sorted into?" Hermione asked as they sailed across the lake.
"I'm not sure. Does it really matter that much?" Sydney asked clueless.
"Of course it matter, Syd," Gwen added. "By the way, what house is Draco in?"
"Draco? Malfoy?" Hermione asked, a bit shocked. "Why do you want to know?"
"I was just wondering," Gwen said staring off into space.
"Oh my gosh!" Sydney gasped. "You like him, don't you!?"
"I do not!" Gwen defended, her voice several octaves higher than normal and trying very hard to hide a smile.
"Liar," Sydney said smugly, raising her left eyebrow.
"How can you tell she's lying?" Hermione asked.
"Can't you tell when Harry or Ron are lying? It's just one of those 'best friends' things, I suppose. Take Gwen for example. When she's lying, she tries very hard not to smile."
"Come to think of it, I know what you're talking about. Ron does it too, except he looks to the side and sometimes makes a face."
"Hey, Gwen!" Sydney exclaimed. "Look at that!" she continued, pointing to the castle. Gwen and Sydney's "ooh's and "ahh's" were joined by those of the first years.
When they reached the shore, everyone got off the boats and approached the castle. Hermione, Harry, Ron, Sydney and Gwen moved to the front of the crowd.
"Professor McGonagall, the carriages weren't there. So, Everyone else is just walking here."
"Why, that is so strange. The carriages were sent off an hour ago. They should have been waiting at the station.
