The Hogwarts Express
The Hogwarts Express gave a long whistle. Everyone knew that this meant that it was the final call for all students to get on the train. There was a mad rush of parents trying to say their farewells to their children. Mr. Weasley didn't have the time to make sure Harry, Ron and Hermione got on the train safely this year and had dropped them off at the entrance. Mrs. Weasley was home attending to Ginny who had chicken pox and would miss the first couple of weeks of school. So there was no one there this year to see them off. Before they had left the burrow Mrs. Weasley gave them all big hugs and ensured that she would see them at Christmas. Harry was very excited about this. It would be nice to have Christmas with the Weasleys at the burrow. He thought he would find it very warm and loving at Christmas with them.
"So where are your parents Aglaia?"
Harry looked next to him to ask their new companion, but she wasn't there.
"Ron did you see where she went? She was right here walking with us wasn't she?"
Ron did circles looking for her, but failed to spot her.
"RON! Hurry up! We have to meet with the other prefects. Get your ass on the train now!" Hermione was screaming at Ron. Her head stuck out of the first door on the train.
"I'd better get going man before Hermione bites my head off. Hope you find her. It would be awful if she missed the train her first day."
"RON GET OVER HERE NOW!"
"I'M COMING, CALM DOWN!"
Harry couldn't help but to chuckle at those two. They were always fighting. Like an old married couple already. Harry walked over to the luggage compartment and stowed his trunk and Hedwigs cage away. He had let Hedwig out of her cage to fly to Hogwarts. Instead of being stuck in the suite with Pig the long ride to Hogwarts. He looked all over for Aglaia, but couldn't seem to spot her.
"It must be because she's so small." Harry thought to himself. "I wouldn't be able to see her in the huge mob. I don't want her to miss the train. And if Malfoy sees her, he'll move in for the kill. I can't let her get mixed up with him. He's always trying to bring people over to the dark side. She doesn't seem the dark type."
Harrys attention turned to the train. Maybe if he climbed on top of it, he could spot her. He found a small ladder attached to a car of the train. He started to climb when he heard a familiar voice behind him.
"So I told Father that I didn't want a muggle car for my birthday. What good would it do me? I can disapparate any where I want soon."
"Yea but Draco, it would be a great way to impress Pansy. You know driving her to school instead of riding the train." Crabbe huffed out. He was apparently out of breath trying to keep up with Malfoys steady pace. Harry knew he had to get to the top before they saw him.
"Pansy? I'm over her. I don't appreciate girls that cling to someone so needily. It's embarrassing sometimes. I want a girl that can take care of herself. Someone who doesn't have to cling to others for support."
The conversation continued as they walked through the door right below Harry. He didn't dare move until he heard the door close behind them. When it did, he slowly rose from his laying down position. The car of the train was round and only had about a foot wide flat spot. He didn't want to fall off of it. Most of the students had now gotten into the cars, and the rest were waiting in lines to get on. Since the kids were being orderly now, and the only parents remaining were the first years Harry knew that if she was still on the platform he would find her.
"Oi Harry. What are you doing up there?" yelled Seamus Finnigan from the ground.
"I'm looking for the new girl. I think she's an exchange student. She's got really long black hair. And she's really short. You haven't seen her, have you?"
"Can't say I have mate. Want me to look around down here?"
"If you'll look inside yes, please. I'll keep looking out here."
"All right, but get down soon. We'll be leaving soon."
Harry started to walk down the length of the train. Carefully scanning his fellow classmates, while also trying to keep his balance on the narrow train top. People on the platform were murmuring about him walking on the train. Some of his friends were yelling out to him asking what he was doing. He answered quickly and walked on by. When there were only about 20 students left on the platform and no sign of Aglaia, Harry decided she was definitely in the train by now. Harry had to find another ladder to climb down. But was too afraid to look over the side for one. He had walked the entire length of the train. He knew there was one at the beginning of the train, so he would just make his way back to the front.
His steps were small while he was looking for Aglaia, but now that he had a little more confidence in his balance having walked the entire length of the train his steps were bigger. He certainly didn't want to be on top of this train while it was moving. He was eight cars away from the first car, when the train slowly started.
"Shit. It's moving." Harry took a chance and started to run. He was now four cars away when a cloud of thick smoke was in his face. Harry coughed from the smoke entering his lungs. He waved his arms around trying to see through the smoke. But even more of it just kept coming. Harry would have to ride the entire way to Hogwarts on the top of the Express.