Welcome to the Hogwarts Express
The Burrow was a lot of fun; everyone treated Maria like she had been a friend for ages. Mrs. Weasley was very motherly, as though she was making up for all the years that Maria had never had a mother.
The end of summer quickly approached, and before they knew it they were being herded to Kings Cross station to aboard the Hogwarts Express.
"Everyone ready?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
They all nodded.
"Now, all you have to do is run straight for it." Hermione directed, indicating the barrier.
"Excuse me?" Maria asked, astounded that Hermione had just told her to run into a wall.
"Just run for it!" Hermione said as Ron and Harry headed towards the barrier and just slipped right through it.
Maria, mouth wide open, watched as Ginny and Mrs. Weasley went next.
"Now, are you ready?" Hermione asked Maria.
"Yes." Maria said.
"Okay then, let's go!"
They ran for the barrier; Maria kept envisioning herself as a human pancake being flattened by the magical barrier.
She shut her eyes tightly, but was shocked when she emerged on the other side of the barrier into Platform Nine and Three Quarters, where a scarlet steam engine stood, boarding passengers that were also on their way to Hogwarts.
"I've made you all sandwiches!" Mrs. Weasley said, distributing the food and saying goodbye to everyone in turn. When she reached Maria, she hugged her and wished her luck for her first year. Maria was grateful, and waved goodbye like everyone else as she finally boarded the train.
"Maria," Hermione began, "Ron, Ginny and myself have to go to the front of the train, because we are prefects."
At this, Ron puffed out his chest, importantly.
"Do you think you'll be okay by yourself?" Hermione asked, worriedly.
"I'll be fine." Maria reassured; she was a bit nervous and wished that Hermione would stay with her, but she knew Hermione had her duties.
"Okay then, we'll come check on you later." They all turned and headed towards the front of the train.
Harry was pulled away by a group of boys who looked around his age, leaving Maria standing alone in the corridor. Students were pushing their way through trying to find a compartment, and Maria felt she better do the same.
Nothing was empty, so she settled with a compartment near the end of the train with three timid-looking girls about her age occupying it.
"Do you mind if I sit?" Maria asked, cautiously.
They all shook their heads, so Maria sat down.
"Hi, I'm Maria Thompson. Is this your first year?"
They all nodded.
A girl with short, brown hair spoke first.
"My name is Faye Matthias." She introduced herself. "I am so nervous!"
"Me too." Spoke a girl with curly, blond pigtails. "My name is Shelly Abbott. I have an older sister who goes here. She is in her fifth year. A Hufflepuff."
Shelly looked proud.
"My sister is in her fifth year, too." Maria said. "But she is a Gryffindor."
Hermione had explained about the four different houses. Maria had her fingers crossed that she would be in Gryffindor with her sister, or else anywhere but Slytherin.
The last girl had her nose stuck up in the air. She gazed longingly out of the window, as though she did not want to be on the train. Her long, white-blond hair glimmered from the sunlight hanging over the train, and she would have looking nice if she didn't have such a foul expression on her face.
"What's your name?" Maria asked. She thought this girl was rather rude, but decided not to comment; this was not the time to make enemies.
The girl ignored her.
"Um, hello?" Faye questioned.
She turned and glanced at Faye, a look of loathing on her face.
"What?" She asked, as though she was being disturbed while in the middle of something very important.
"What's your name?" Maria asked again, kinder this time.
"My name is Drucilla Delaney, and I'd appreciate not being disturbed again, thank you." With that, she continued to gaze out of the window.
Faye raised her eyebrow, about to say something, but thought better of it.
"So, what are your parents?" Faye asked Maria.
It took Maria a few seconds to understand what she meant before she answered, "They were both muggles. But they died, and now the family that I'm living with now are also muggles."
"Aww, I'm sorry." Faye said, sounding genuinely sorry.
Shelly nodded her head, also feeling sorry for Maria.
"That's fine, I didn't really know them too well." Maria replied. "What are your parents?"
"My dad is a wizard, but my mum is a witch. She knew my dad was a wizard though, and she was fine with it." Faye answered. "Shelly?"
"A witch and wizard." Shelly replied.
Dru made a noise from her corner.
"Something you want to say?" Maria asked, coolly.
"Nothing at all." Dru said. "It's just nice to know that at least some people have proper wizarding heritage."
Hermione had told Maria about these types of people; people who believed they were better than others because they are pureblood. Apparently, these were not very nice people. Maria was beginning to understand why.
"Do you have a problem with my family?" Maria asked, defensively.
"Oh, no." Dru smirked, then turned back to her window without another word.
Faye and Maria exchanged a look that clearly said, who does she think she is? However, the conversation of parents was distinguished, and instead Maria listened intently as Faye and Shelly told her all about the wizarding world, from the most popular wizard band to the detailed rules of Quidditch.
Hermione popped in halfway through the journey, pleased that Maria had made friends.
Faye, Shelly and Maria entertained themselves when the food trolley came by, pooling their money so they could buy every type of junk food to try, even if Faye and Shelly had both tried most of it already. They made a point of not offering any of it to Dru, who had not purchased anything from the trolley.
After hours of traveling on the Hogwarts Express, darkness soon stole the sky and the lights in the compartments came on. The three friends continuously gazed anxiously out of the window, waiting for a glimpse of Hogwarts. And soon, their glimpse came.
"Look!" Faye pointed.
Hogwarts many turrets and towers began to peek over the mountains. It was a beautiful, old castle shimmering in the lights from within.
"It is so beautiful." Maria sighed.
"My sister Hannah always told me that it was amazing." Shelly informed. "But I never imagined this."
"Oh, come on." Dru spoke from her corner, almost in a bored manner. "My mansion is bigger than this."
"So why don't you go back to your mansion and spare us the nuisance of having to deal with you all year." Maria said, coolly.
Dru quickly drew her wand.
"Want to run that by me again, Thompson?" Dru threatened, holding her wand straight at Maria.
Maria felt helpless. She could leap for her wand, but what was the point? She knew nothing that would help her defend herself.
"Maria, we've arrived-" Hermione entered the compartment. Her smile faded as a stern expression crossed her face.
Dru glared at Hermione.
"What's your name?" Hermione asked, strictly.
"Drucilla Delaney. My father is Demetrius Delaney, husband to Luciana Malfoy-Delaney, sister to Lucius Malfoy." Dru stated, proudly.
"You're Draco Malfoy's cousin?" Hermione asked, a look upon her face as though the thought revolted her.
"Yes. Oh, you must be Granger." Dru smirked at Maria. "Yes, my dear cousin has told me all about you."
Hermione glared at Dru. "If I ever see you point your wand at a fellow student again, you will receive detention. Do you understand me?"
"Who do you think you are?" Dru looked highly affronted.
"I am a Prefect." Hermione declared. "Therefore you will listen to me, or there will be consequences."
Hermione gave Dru one last stern look, smiled at Maria, Faye and Shelly, and left the compartment.
"Ha!" Maria laughed.
"What?" Dru asked, coldly. "My cousin is a Prefect as well. If this is the game you want to play, so be it."
And with that, she left the compartment.
"My sister is a Prefect." Shelly smiled proudly, as though Dru's threat didn't bother her at all.
"Well, don't I feel left out?" Faye laughed.
"Let's get going, I want to see everything!" Maria exclaimed.
Maria, Faye, and Shelly linked arms as they pursued Dru out of the compartment, without a worry or a care in sight.