Chapter 2: The Train Ride
As Ron anxiously anticipated the train ride to Hogwarts, his mind kept drifting back to the day before when he had met, in his opinion, the most beautiful girl alive. Mrs. Weasley looked at Ron with a puzzled face. "What's wrong, dear? First day back jitters?" she inquired while placing a plate of eggs and bacon before him. "Um...no, Mum. Just thinking," he replied. Ron took 2 bites of eggs and ate a strip of bacon. "Mum, shouldn't we get going?" Ron asked. "Well, I suppose. We don't want to be late. GINNY WEASLEY! Get down here right now!" Mrs. Weasley called. Ginny came thumping down the stairs with her trunk in hand. "Sorry, Mum," she told her mother as she sat at the table between Ron and Fred. Mrs. Weasley placed a plate of bacon, eggs, and toast in front of her. Mrs. Weasley looked impatient. "Hurry, now, we don't want to be late for the train ride." All of the children quickly finished their food and were off, with Mrs. Weasley, to King's Cross.
"Alright, Ginny, you first, "Mrs. Weasley announced. Ginny quickly ran toward the barrier between platforms 9 and 10 and disappeared, followed by Mrs. Weasley. Fred and George then hauled their carts through the barrier nonchalantly. Just as Ron was about to make his way through the barrier himself, he spotted Harry. Figuring he would see him on the train, Ron hurried through to Platform 9 ¾.
Ron searched desperately for Adrienne, but he couldn't find her. Finally, he reached the back of the train where he heard loud, shrill laughter. Malfoy...He thought. He opened the compartment that it was coming from where he found Pansy Parkison, Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe, and Gregory Goyle teasing someone mercilessly. It took a second, but he finally realized that the girl in the corner crying was Adrienne. "What are you doing here, Weasley? Searching for change?" Malfoy sneered. "No. What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at a bouncing ferret convention?" Ron shot back and made his way over to Adrienne. "Come on, Adrienne, don't let the ferret boy and his fleas get to you." Together they walked out as Malfoy and his goons eyed them maliciously. Ron took her to a compartment near the middle of the train and closed the door behind them. Adrienne stared at the floor, not wanting Ron to see her hurt face. "Adrienne, it's okay. They're jerks and the lowest form of scum to ever inhabit Hogwarts. Don't pay attention to them," Ron said comfortingly. "But they...they called me a m-mudblood..." Adrienne said lowly, now daring to meet his eyes. Ron remembered the day Malfoy had called Hermione a mudblood in their second year and how hurt she was. "Well, you're the most beautiful one I've ever seen," Ron told her. Did I just...oh man...He thought to himself. Adrienne looked at him with an indifferent expression. Here it comes...She smiled the most beautiful smile Ron had ever seen. "Thank you," she said simply. "No problem," Ron said calmly. That was close.
At that moment, there was a knock at the door. "Come in," Ron called. In walked his two best friends, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. Ron stood as he saw them enter. "Ron!" Hermione squealed. She threw her arms around him and locked him in her sweet embrace. She quickly let go as not to imply anything or pose any questions. "It's so good to see you." "It's good to see you, too, Hermione," Ron smiled down at her. Ron took Harry into a headlock and gave him a monster-size noogie. "Good to see you, too, Ron," Harry said as he broke free from Ron's strong grasp. "Guys, I want you to meet a friend of mine. Harry, Hermione, this is Adrienne Love. She just transferred from Drumstrang," Ron announced. "Nice to meet you, Adrienne. I'm Hermione Granger," Hermione stated with much confidence. "And I'm Harry, Harry Potter. Pleased to meet you," Harry said, realizing her beauty as quickly as Ron had. "Nice meeting you both, as well," she replied.
The 4 spent the rest of the train ride talking about summer and finding out things about their new friend. As the train pulled into the station, Ron, Harry, and Hermione welcomed back their old school as Adrienne welcomed her new school with open arms. She was sure new experiences and adventures were to follow, and personally, she hoped many would be with Ron.
As Ron anxiously anticipated the train ride to Hogwarts, his mind kept drifting back to the day before when he had met, in his opinion, the most beautiful girl alive. Mrs. Weasley looked at Ron with a puzzled face. "What's wrong, dear? First day back jitters?" she inquired while placing a plate of eggs and bacon before him. "Um...no, Mum. Just thinking," he replied. Ron took 2 bites of eggs and ate a strip of bacon. "Mum, shouldn't we get going?" Ron asked. "Well, I suppose. We don't want to be late. GINNY WEASLEY! Get down here right now!" Mrs. Weasley called. Ginny came thumping down the stairs with her trunk in hand. "Sorry, Mum," she told her mother as she sat at the table between Ron and Fred. Mrs. Weasley placed a plate of bacon, eggs, and toast in front of her. Mrs. Weasley looked impatient. "Hurry, now, we don't want to be late for the train ride." All of the children quickly finished their food and were off, with Mrs. Weasley, to King's Cross.
"Alright, Ginny, you first, "Mrs. Weasley announced. Ginny quickly ran toward the barrier between platforms 9 and 10 and disappeared, followed by Mrs. Weasley. Fred and George then hauled their carts through the barrier nonchalantly. Just as Ron was about to make his way through the barrier himself, he spotted Harry. Figuring he would see him on the train, Ron hurried through to Platform 9 ¾.
Ron searched desperately for Adrienne, but he couldn't find her. Finally, he reached the back of the train where he heard loud, shrill laughter. Malfoy...He thought. He opened the compartment that it was coming from where he found Pansy Parkison, Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe, and Gregory Goyle teasing someone mercilessly. It took a second, but he finally realized that the girl in the corner crying was Adrienne. "What are you doing here, Weasley? Searching for change?" Malfoy sneered. "No. What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at a bouncing ferret convention?" Ron shot back and made his way over to Adrienne. "Come on, Adrienne, don't let the ferret boy and his fleas get to you." Together they walked out as Malfoy and his goons eyed them maliciously. Ron took her to a compartment near the middle of the train and closed the door behind them. Adrienne stared at the floor, not wanting Ron to see her hurt face. "Adrienne, it's okay. They're jerks and the lowest form of scum to ever inhabit Hogwarts. Don't pay attention to them," Ron said comfortingly. "But they...they called me a m-mudblood..." Adrienne said lowly, now daring to meet his eyes. Ron remembered the day Malfoy had called Hermione a mudblood in their second year and how hurt she was. "Well, you're the most beautiful one I've ever seen," Ron told her. Did I just...oh man...He thought to himself. Adrienne looked at him with an indifferent expression. Here it comes...She smiled the most beautiful smile Ron had ever seen. "Thank you," she said simply. "No problem," Ron said calmly. That was close.
At that moment, there was a knock at the door. "Come in," Ron called. In walked his two best friends, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. Ron stood as he saw them enter. "Ron!" Hermione squealed. She threw her arms around him and locked him in her sweet embrace. She quickly let go as not to imply anything or pose any questions. "It's so good to see you." "It's good to see you, too, Hermione," Ron smiled down at her. Ron took Harry into a headlock and gave him a monster-size noogie. "Good to see you, too, Ron," Harry said as he broke free from Ron's strong grasp. "Guys, I want you to meet a friend of mine. Harry, Hermione, this is Adrienne Love. She just transferred from Drumstrang," Ron announced. "Nice to meet you, Adrienne. I'm Hermione Granger," Hermione stated with much confidence. "And I'm Harry, Harry Potter. Pleased to meet you," Harry said, realizing her beauty as quickly as Ron had. "Nice meeting you both, as well," she replied.
The 4 spent the rest of the train ride talking about summer and finding out things about their new friend. As the train pulled into the station, Ron, Harry, and Hermione welcomed back their old school as Adrienne welcomed her new school with open arms. She was sure new experiences and adventures were to follow, and personally, she hoped many would be with Ron.