Part 6
To: rgiles@sunnydale.eduFrom: doogiesgirl@aol.com
Hey Giles,
I'm sitting at a net café in King's Cross. *grins* I can't believe I just wrote that. I have so much to tell you in such little time. My train leaves soon but I didn't want you guys to worry if you don't hear from me. It turns out the school doesn't have electricity. Hence, no laptop usage. I had to ship it back home. I don't know how they communicate to each other since they don't have phones either. I'll try to figure out a way to let you guys know that I arrived safely.
Diagon Alley was like another world. I think I even saw a Dragon's claw. Either that or they grow really big chickens here in England. OOOOH I got a wand! Yep, I'm a regular Glenda the Good Witch of the North. It's made of Rowan and has a Dragon's heartstring in its core. I don't know if they mean a REAL dragon or like a Komodo dragon.
I miss everyone! Tell Buff and Xan hi and I'll try to figure out a way to write to them.
Willow~~~~~~
Willow quickly made her way over to where Hermione and the others were waiting.
Hermione waved at Willow before turning back to Jeremy, William and Janet. "Have everything?"
William looked down at his cart stuffed full of his luggage, books, robes, gloves, cloak, wand, cauldron, phials, telescope, scales, and the owl perched in the cage. He'd stuffed the dorky hat in his luggage and swore he would never put it on his head. When he'd first received the letter from Dumbledore he'd thought it was a joke. Then he had visions of being a wizard like in Everquest. Then reality hit and he found himself with a wand that held a phoenix feather and a clichéd pointed hat.
"So we're it? We get a whole train to ourselves?" William asked Hermione.
"No, you'll be able to meet some of the other exchange students as they'll be joining us." Hermione gathered her charges and began walking them toward the entrance to Platform 9 ¾.
Willow couldn't get the thought that a train taking her to a school for witches and wizards was in the middle of King's Cross station out of her mind. It reminded her of Sunnydale with all the citizens ignorantly going about their business and a whole other world of demons and vampires coexisting right under their noses.
Hermione stopped in front of a dividing barrier on the platform. On one side there was a plastic sign that said nine and on the other was a plastic sign that said ten.
Janet rolled her eyes, "Great another brick wall. I suppose she's going to tap it and it'll disappear."
"Not with this one." Hermione briskly spoke, "All you have to do is walk straight at the barrier between platforms nine and ten."
She leaned down to speak quietly to Jeremy. "If you're nervous it's best to go at it at a slight run."
Straightening up Hermione addressed Janet and William. "Would you like to have a go first?"
William straightened his spine. How hard can it be if eleven year olds did this every year? He gripped the handle of his luggage trolley after making sure the owl cage and everything else was secure. "Here goes nothing," he muttered as he pushed the trolley forward.
His eyes widened as the front end of the trolley seemed to melt into the wall and he followed closely behind. A scarlet steam engine with gold lettering that read 'Hogwarts Express' greeted him as he reached the other side. William could see other students nervously chatting in small groups along the platform.
He turned his head at the sound of a small shriek and saw Janet exiting a wrought iron gate with the sign 'Platform 9 ¾'.
"Well, that was a bit unexpected." Janet quickly moved her trolley out of the way since she wasn't sure how far behind the others were.
Jeremy opened his eyes when he noticed he hadn't hit the wall. A smile spread across his face when he saw William and Janet standing nearby. That was kind of cool now that his heart calmed down and he hadn't smashed face first into the barrier.
"Everyone alright?" Hermione asked as she followed Willow onto the Platform. She waved to Sally-Ann Perks and her group of charges. "Right then. Let's get you settled on board."
Willow leaned over to check on the cat that she'd bought. Yes, it was a bit cliché for a witch to have a cat but when she'd seen her at Magical Menagerie she couldn't resist.
"You okay, Trixie?"
The black and white cat stared unblinkingly into Willow's green eyes before turning in a circle and lying back down with her back to Willow.
"I think she's mad at me."
"My cat, Crookshanks, gets that way when I try to put her in a carrier. You can let her out for a bit once the train leaves."
Hermione motioned for them to follow her as she made her way toward the train. "Right then. Just make yourselves comfortable in any empty compartment. There should be plenty of room since this isn't a regular trip."
Willow found an empty compartment and stored her luggage before setting Trixie's carrier beside her on the seat as she looked out the window. She watched as the small groups of students made their way onto the train. Most stayed with their group that they'd arrived with but others, like herself, ventured off on their own.
The train began to move and the red head watched the platform getting smaller and smaller until the train gathered too much speed and it faded into the distance. She was really on her way to Hogwarts. Her stomach had butterflies doing the mambo in it just thinking about what it would be like there.
The door of the compartment slid open and Hermione stuck her head in. "Mind if I join you for a bit?"
When Willow shook her head, Hermione shut the door and took the seat opposite her. "It should be okay to let, Trixie was it, out now."
Willow unlatched Trixie's carrier and with a loud meow the cat leapt out and began exploring the room.
"Nervous?"
"That obvious?"
Hermione smiled and shook her head. "I can remember my first time going to Hogwarts. I was so nervous and excited that I'd devoured everything and anything I could read about Hogwarts and the Wizarding World before coming. I met my best friends Ron and Harry on the train." She snorted, "Of course we didn't start out as friends. It took defeating a troll to start being friendly."
Willow's eyes widened. "A troll!?! There are trolls here?"
"Nasty buggers, too. Dumb as posts though, so that helps. You probably won't see any while you're at Hogwarts. I've only seen the one."
After a time, a smiling dimpled woman slid open their door, "Anything off the cart, dears?"
Hermione reached into her purse and pulled out money to buy some Pumpkin Pasties for herself and Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans for Ron and Harry.
Willow decided that the Pumpkin Pasties looked harmless so she bought a couple of those and a little something for Trixie. She wrinkled her nose as she looked at the packages of Chocolate Frogs. "Frogs?" She hoped she'd kept the disgust out of her voice.
"Oh, those are for Ron. He collects the cards. Want one?"
The red head violently shook her head no, "Frog fear."
Hermione quickly put her presents in her purse. "Sorry. Don't feel bad, Ron's terrified of spiders."
"I get that, with the furry legs and the creepy crawly."
They sat in companionable silence as they ate their food and watched the countryside speed by.
When she was finished eating, Willow opened a package and held out a little sample as a peace offering to Trixie. The cat had kept to the opposite side of the room, ignoring Willow, since being let out of the carrier. "Mmm, smells yummy."
Trixie eyed the piece of food and then jumped up next to Willow. The red head grinned as she looked over at Hermione, "I think she's forgiven me or her hunger outweighs her anger."
"I really enjoyed talking to you, Willow but we'll be at Hogwarts soon and I should check on the others. There'll be an announcement shortly telling everyone when we'll be approaching the station. That'll give you plenty of time to get into your Hogwarts robes. If I don't see you before then I'll meet you on the platform okay?"
"Thanks, Hermione. It was nice talking to you, too."
The door clicked shut behind Hermione and Willow looked down at Trixie who was busy licking her paws. "Well, kitty it looks like it's just you and me."
Trixie purred and rubbed her head on Willow's hip before jumping into her lap and curling into a ball to relax in the sunshine.
