Disclaimer – I borrowed some ideas for this chapter from "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" which is JKR's. Bits you don't recognise are mine. Simple!
In the name of Helga: Year One
Hazel Whinlatter
Journey to Hogwarts
Hannah Abbott started at the brick wall and felt her heart throb in panic. All the other passengers at King's Cross seemed to know exactly where they were going, and stared at the young girl as she stood still in their path.
"Dad" she gasped, "are you sure this is it?"
"Ssh, Hannah, keep your voice down". The older wizard at her side looked to his left and right, and saw Platforms Nine and Ten clear of people as trains departed from them. Next to where the Abbotts were standing was a guard cabin, where a uniformed woman sat looking bored. "The brickwork's enchanted so that Muggles can't get through, but witches and wizards can. Just walk straight at it and you'll appear on the other side." He paused again. "Right, the guard's not looking, better do it now!"
Hannah hugged her father tightly before facing her mother and blinking away tears. "Bye mum", she whispered. "I'm going to miss you, you know that?"
"Oh, baby." Mrs Abbott took her turn to hug her daughter goodbye. "I know you will. But you'll love Hogwarts. You'll settle in before you know it" she said as she released Hannah from the embrace. "Good luck! Send us an owl when you get there!"
With that, Hannah took hold of her trolley and walked towards the wall.
When she reappeared on the other side, the sights and sounds of Platform 9 ¾ made her jaw hang open in wonder.
The train was no ordinary train. Looking at it waiting in the darkness of the platform, Hannah saw that its scarlet red compartments disappeared back for a great distance, and the smoke pumping out of the engine billowed in thick clouds above the heads of the students who were yet to clamber aboard. Some of them still had their families there – quite reasonably, Hannah thought, as some were clearly struggling with their luggage. In front of her was a stout young boy who appeared to be a first year himself. In his arms was a wrought metal cage that contained a massive owl – whose screeching and wing beating can't have helped its owner. Standing backwards in the train steps and dragging the cage up each step wasn't doing much for the owl's behaviour.
Hannah looked down at the owl sitting on her own trolley – a snowy that she'd named Mim. "If you behave like that, I'm leaving you at home next term" she told her firmly, and was answered by a disgruntled hoot. "Now, where do I put all my things?"
Hannah pushed her belongings nearer to the train and quickly winced as she realised that she'd knocked into the trunk into a much older girl. This stranger was loading her friend's things into an empty compartment at the front of the train, and nearly dropped what looked like a broomstick as she felt the impact.
"Oh no", Hannah worried, "I'm in trouble already!" Her fears were eased, however, when the tall girl turned round. She didn't look annoyed at all.
"First year?"
Hannah nodded, took in the girl's appearance. She had a small round badge pinned to her robes. It said "Head Girl", and its gilded letters twinkled in the sunlight that filtered through the roof. Her long hair was raven black and secured into a bun with chopsticks – although a few strands had worked themselves loose and hung in front of her ears. They were now being tucked back by the long fingers of one hand, while the other was being extended to meet Hannah's.
"Nice to meet you" she said, shaking the first year's hand and smiling. "I'm Kat. Kat Kiely." Gesturing behind her, she indicated her friend – who was by now testing the comfort of the seats by bouncing up and down in them. "And that –" she paused, "Is Verity Vector. Sixth year Hufflepuff, and my friend from back home. Always a bit daft, that one" she laughed, as Verity shot a mock glare at the seventh year and strolled over to the train door.
"Did Kat tell you she's Head Girl yet?" Verity asked, a seemingly innocent look on her face. "Because so far she's been boring me stiff by telling me how she has to set an example to the rest of the school. You're no fun anymore, Ka", the petite brunette moaned, turning back to her friend.
"I wouldn't complain if I were you, Vee. Look at the rest of the girls in your year – it'll be you next!"
"Ugh, don't remind me" Verity complained, before asking – "so who bumped into our Ka this time? Happens every year, without fail!"
"I was just about to ask!"
Hannah plucked up the courage to speak. "No need to. I'm Hannah."
Verity cast her eyes over the load that sat on Hannah's trolley. "Looks like you might need some help there, Hannah. Give me that trunk, I'll stick it in here with ours."
Grabbing the corner of it, she dragged it up the steps and helped Kat to carry Hannah's things into their carriage. These girls were stronger than they looked. "Share with us, if you like," Verity offered. "We've already adopted one first year, you can get to know each other."
Suddenly, a goblin sounded a whistle. The train was about to leave, and Hannah and Verity sat in seats next to the window. The last one to clamber aboard, Kat pulled the door shut with a bang as the Hogwarts Express shuddered into motion.
Kat settled herself in a seat next to another young girl who Hannah hadn't noticed before. This, she presumed, was the other first year Verity had mentioned. Her hands were folded gently in her lap, and as she gazed at the city speeding by the window, her forest-green eyes occasionally flicked over to Hannah's side of the compartment.
"Oh, Merlin!" Kat cried, slapping her forehead. "I didn't introduce you two! Completely callous of me – why didn't you remind me, Verity?"
Verity feigned shock, widening her pale blue eyes and gawking at her friend. "But Kat, you're Head Girl! It's your responsibility to remember such things by yourself!"
No-one could help but laugh, even the Head Girl herself. "Shut up, Vezza" she said, picking up the cushion she'd brought with her and flinging it across the cabin., causing the two younger girls to burst into a further fit of giggles.
"You know Kat, this would be the perfect opportunity for a pillow fight" Verity said calmly as she tossed the cushion back. "But I think you still have some introductions to do."
Rolling her eyes to the roof, Kat said – "Hannah? This is Rebecca. Rebecca, Hannah. That better?" She addressed that last remark to Verity.
"Perfect. But I think we have a visitor."
The compartment door slid open and a young boy poked his head round it. He was the same boy that Hannah had seen struggling with the owl cage on the platform – and his pet was still making a fuss.
"Sorry" he said, "but I can't find any spaces, do you mind if I sit in here?"
The others in the cabin exchanged a glance. With that monster of a bird, they weren't surprised that the other cabins were all 'full'.
"Sure" nodded Kat. "Come on in! These two" – she indicated Hannah and Rachel – "are new, I'm guessing you are?"
"Yeah" he replied, taking a seat next to Hannah. "I'm Antony, by the way". He shook the hand of the four girls, and looked at Rebecca curiously. "Rebecca, isn't it?"
"It is" she said, not recognising him at first. Then she looked properly at his face, and broke into a broad grin of her own. "Antony! It is you – fantastic! We met in Diagon Alley buying our owls" she told her companions, who had seemed a bit bemused.
Hannah looked at the two of them, smiling and talking together, and felt a small stab of envy – was she being left alone already? Her feelings, however, must have been obvious as Rebecca turned and asked if she'd met any of their classmates while shopping. Hannah replied that she'd met a boy in Madam Malkin's, but she hadn't seen him on the platform.
"He said his parents had both been in Ravenclaw though – and my dad was a Hufflepuff. We'll be separate houses anyway" she added, rather gloomily.
"I wouldn't bet on it" smirked Verity. "Loads of people don't end up in the same house as their relatives – just ask this one here! Tell 'em, Ka" – emphasising her wish by nudging her friend's elbow.
"Behave, you!" Kat shot back, rolling her eyes at Verity for what the first years felt would be the second of many times that day. "But yeah, she's right. I'm a Hufflepuff, my sister was in Ravenclaw and my dad was a Slytherin. Mum went to Beauxbatons – that's a French school of magic – but if our Jenny isn't in Gryffindor I'll eat a vomit flavoured Bertie Botts!"
Hannah, Antony and Rebecca chuckled appreciatively. Each of them had at least one Wizard parent, so they knew what Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans were even if they didn't know about the Hogwarts houses.
"Speaking of which, I'm starving! Wonder when the food woman's coming?" Kat continued, craning her neck to look past Rebecca into the corridor. They didn't have to wait long – a woman in a red and white uniform soon came clattering up to their door; followed, it seemed, by another young looking boy who had already changed into his school robes. He looked at them all as Kat bought a pumpkin pasty, Hannah and Rebecca some Cauldron Cakes, Antony a couple of Chocolate Frogs and Verity eight boxes of Bertie Bott's, earning her weird glances from the six others.
"What? I'm only stocking up!"
"That's your excuse, is it?" chortled the Trolley Lady as she collected their money. It seemed as though she had known Kat and Verity for a long while. As she moved off, she nodded her head towards the newcomer. "Any room for one more? This one's been getting ready early and hasn't found a space yet". She paused. "And the tyke's being pestering me about how long till Hogsmeade!"
"Ah, you love me really" he grinned, entering the cabin with a wink. The Trolley Lady moved off trying to keep a straight face, and he ran a hand through his already tufty dark hair as he took a seat next to Antony. "I'm David, by the way. And I know you're Hannah" he said, turning to face her. "Do you really think I'd have said 'see you' and not mean it? I've looked for you everywhere on this blimming train!" He leaned across Antony (bumping into Augustus' cage in the process) and hugged Hannah so tightly that the breath was knocked straight out of her. Letting her go again, he leaned back into the soft cushion of his chair. Verity was about to ask him if he was the boy Hannah had met in Madam Malkin's; but before she had the chance a set of small speakers crackled into life in the corner of the compartment, and a thin, reedy voice squeaked –
"The Hogwarts Express is now ten minutes away from its destination. If you have not done so already, could you all please change into your school robes. Years two through seven are reminded that House jumpers, robes and ties are compulsory –"
"Damn!" cursed Verity. "Black and yellow makes me look like a wasp!"
" – and all first years must wear their standard Hogwarts uniform."
"Try wearing this badge" Kat replied, flicking the pin on her lapel. "I look like a wasp with a pimple".
"That will be all. We all wish you a happy Halloween term at HogwartsSchool of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
The voice disappeared as suddenly as it had came, and the sound of happy chatter filled the corridors again as students made for bathrooms and other empty corners to change. Hannah, Antony and Rebecca bid a temporary farewell to the two older girls as they joined the throng, and David was soon added to their number when he saw the Trolley Lady reappear with excess food – amazingly, there were still some Bertie Bott's left.
Left alone once more, the sixth and seventh years sighed and began to gather up their own belongings. "You know" mused the elder, "I don't think we'll have to worry about that lot. They look like they're going to cope just fine."
"Yeah" agreed her friend. "But they're not our responsibility yet. Wait until the Sorting at least before you get too worried about them."
"I don't think we'll need to." Kat stopped what she was doing and looked at Verity, a familiar twinkle in her eye. "It seems pretty obvious to me. Didn't you get a feeling about it?"
A minute or so of silence passed before they felt the train shudder to a halt at Hogsmeade Station. The tiny platform could be seen in the dark, lit by magical lamps whose light reflected on the faces of those inside the compartment. Her face illuminated, Verity Vector smiled at the memories brought back to her by the familiar little village, and smiled still further when she thought of the memories still to be made for the new students whose lives at Hogwarts hadn't yet begun. The sound of footsteps could be heard making for the main doors of the steam engine, and as she descended onto the concrete, the sixth year prefect turned and looked back at the younger Kiely sister.
"You know what, Ka? I hope the Sett's got enough room for them all."
THE END
A/N: Phew! Another long chapter, heh heh. This was originally going to be half of a chapter, but I think it's just about the right length. Next chapter, we see Justin, Julian and Ernie meet up with Rachel, Sally-Anne and Susan as they get their first up-close glimpse of the school.
By the way, a Sett is the home of a certain animal, and the nickname of a certain house's common room. Think about it.
Right, now the mentions!
Wannabe Hobbit – love the name : ). Thanks for the review, it was really sweet and I'm glad you're enjoying it. Motivates me for the rest of the fic!
Rachel Perez – hopefully character identity will become a little clearer once they're all introduced properly! Thanks for your cntinued reviewing, you know I really appreciate it!
Kat Hallowell – aaaw, what would I do without you? Hope you like the portrayal of a certain Head Girl nudge nudge, wink wink .
GWS – a "must read"? Must be one of the nicest things anyone's ever said to me! sniffs Good to see you like what I'm doing.
That's all for now folks! I have a plan for the next one, so hopefully you won't have to wait too long!
Kisses, hugs, and where's the tea? Mu-uuuuuum!!
shewhodares