Erin Stephens nervously followed her mother into the tiny, crowded pub. It was late afternoon, and she was surprised at how many people there were. They made their way to the back of the room where a man, presumably the owner, was rearranging bottles of strong-looking liquors. Jana Stephens caught the man's eye. As they spoke, Erin looked around this strange little hole-in-the-wall establishment.
Most of those patronizing the place seemed to be older witches and wizards (and Erin was certain that the hairy one in the back was actually a hag), though there were a couple of other kids there as well. One of them looked to be about her age. As she watched, he tripped over his own feet, sending the poor toad he had been holding flying to the ground. It hopped onto the table, and nearly into an elderly woman's handbag, before the boy was able to get hold of him again.
Erin took a step back, smoothing her hair as she always did when she was nervous. She quickly turned away, lest the boy, who was now looking around the room with an eager look on his face, should catch her eye and try to make small talk.
Erin had grown up with her mum, Jana Stephens, in a small town that was mostly made up of retired muggles. Her father had been killed by Voldemort when she was barely two years old, and her mother, out of fear, had fled the wizarding world. She knew about magic, understood who she was and who her family had been, but had never been to any part of the wizarding world... had never really thought much about it until she had received the strange envelope bearing the Hogwarts Seal. Erin had never had many friends her own age, and she was worried that she would not fit in to this new community.
Jana had finished speaking with the barman, and she quickly herded Erin up the stairs and down a tiny hall. As they approached their room, # 9, a giant of a man stepped into the hall, startling Erin, and causing her to stumble into her mother. The man smiled at her, a surprisingly kind smile considering his size, and stood back to let them pass.
"A'right there?" he said, and his accent, as well as the gentle tone of his voice, brought a smile to her face.
In their room, Erin and Jana changed in to fresh clothes.
"Here you are, Erin; take your school list and go on down to the alley. Tom will meet you there and show you how to enter Diagon Alley. I'm going to take a nap."
Her mum closed the shutters and sat down on the bed. Erin stared at the bag of strange coins in her hand.
"By myself? I mean—let's just go down later. Together."
Jana eyed her daughter sternly, but slowly her face softened, and she shook her head.
"I've kept you close all these years, Erin. Too close, perhaps. You are going to go away to Hogwarts tomorrow, and you are going to be on your own. I won't be there to point you in the right direction, or do things for you. Its such a small thing... going into Diagon Alley on your own. But I know it's not small at all. That's why you have to do it. For me, as much as for you."
Erin bit her lip. She did not want to see her mum get emotional. She did not want to go to Diagon Alley all alone. She wanted to go to Hogwarts, but why did it have to be so hard? She was never this nervous back home. It was only in new situations, among new people that this timid little girl seemed to take over.
"Yeah, alright, mum." She surprised herself by saying.
She grabbed her cloak and turned to wards the door.
I will not be nervous. she told herself. I will be myself. I will smile at strangers, and talk to shop-owners, and not turn away from boys with toads. She glared at her feet as she walked down the stairs. Maybe going to Hogwarts was a really good thing, after all. Maybe... just maybe... she could reinvent herself.
Erin smiled as she approached the Alley.
"Hello, Tom. Lovely day, isn't it?"
Chapter 12: Magenta Coldren
"Move it, people, coming through... move it or loose it!" yelled the tall, skinny eleven year old. Her short black, magenta-streaked hair was pulled back misshapenly into two miniature pigtails. That and her great big electric blue eyes coupled with her incessant yelling made it impossible to miss her. She pushed her way hurriedly through the hustle and bustle, muttering all the while about lazy, stupid muggles who didn't know when to move.
Finally she reached her destination; the barrier between platforms nine and ten. The crowd around her hurried along their way as the girl leaned casually against the barrier. No one noticed as the girl sunk in through the brick and fell to the ground with a dull thud on the other side. She righted herself, grabbed her things, and presumed her rush to board the scarlet engine before her.
As she walked, she stared at the huge vehicle. She passed under the large wrought iron structure that held up the sign that red 'Platform 93/4'. She continued up to the open door. Now was the hard part; getting her luggage onto the train. She pulled her trunk off the trolley-cart and managed to get the upper half in through the door. From there she wasn't sure how to go about the business of getting the rest safely on board. She got down on the ground again and attempted to push it on a bit further by pushing against it with her back. It was too heavy and wouldn't budge. She tried for a good deal of time before she heard a toneless drawl from behind her.
"Well, they have sunken low, haven't they? It's disgusting; our school has accepted a pink haired freak. What's next, a tree frog as the new head master?" said a boy with sleek blonde hair and a pointed face. She turned to the boy & glared at him.
"Go away, loser." she said and returned to her struggle with the trunk. He made a disgusted sound.
"Who are you calling a loser?" he asked indignantly. She turned around again and glared at the boy. He looked to be about her age. She straightened herself out and pushed herself up to her greatest height.
I'm calling you a loser, I thought that was pretty apparent," she said irritably. The boy stalked off, huffing. She went back to pushing her trunk up and finally succeeded. She found an empty compartment near the back of the train, put her things on the over head rack and flopped into the seat, tried from all the effort of getting her trunk onto the train.
She sighed & pulled out her personal CD player. She opened the tray, put her CD in and pressed play. Music poured out of the headphones, very softly but still a wonderful sound to her. She thought of the lazy Autumn days she'd spent with her friends at Moor castle Academy of Magic, back at home, in the USA. She & her friends would sit in the sun, listening to music happily plucking at the grass or goofing around. She remembered the time she'd pushed her best friend Clara into the river that ran through the Moor Castle grounds. She hadn't seen the school in the last two year since it had been destroyed after she turned nine. Then, her Aunt Kasey had put her here, in this Hogwarts. It was her first year here and she was not looking forward to it. Judging from the blonde boy, the kids here didn't seem too welcoming. She was pulled from her thoughts when the compartment door slid open, admitting a boy of about her age. He had messy, jet black hair and almond-shaped emerald eyes framed by black glasses.
"Hi," he said, smiling shyly. She flashed a smile as well, revealing her blue-green braces. "Err- can I sit here? Everywhere else is full," he asked. She nodded and he set about settling his things. When he had his trunk and his owl cage secured, he sat down and looked out of the window for a moment.
"Nice hair." he said quietly. With that, she broke out into laughter and the boy laughed as well. "I'm Harry, by the way, Harry Potter." he said, extending a hand for her to shake. She smiled again and her face lit up. Less than an hour and I think I've already made a friend. Not bad... she though.
"Hi, I'm Magenta, Magenta Coldren. Nice to meet you, Harry." she said, shaking his hand.
"Nice to meet you too, Magenta." he said. Perhaps this school isn't so terrible after all... she thought.
Chapter 13: Daniel SmithDaniel had gotten separated from Matt while they were attempting to get through the barrier at Platform 9-3/4. This was easy to do, with 1,070 students (this year), plus parents and rail staff and baggage trolleys all over the place. Happily, the mother of the gaggle of redheads had found him and helped him get to the train. She was sending four of the five children with her off to school. The youngest (and the sole girl) seemed sad not to be going as well.
Now, on the train, he went from compartment to compartment, looking for room. Most were full up. One, he noticed, had five children in it: a quiet boy with black hair and glasses and an odd scar, a tall redheaded lad (the sole first-year among the group he had met earlier), and three girls, one a bushy brunette and another with magenta streaks in her hair.
Another had only three, but the blond-headed boy in it refused to let him in. "Go somewhere else, you filthy mudblood."
"Why don't you try and make me, grease-head," Daniel responded.
The two thuggish boys with him rose, intent on making him do just that, but Daniel was denied the pleasure of flattening them: the oldest of the redheads, wearing a Gryffindor tie and a prefect badge, happened to enter the car. Daniel decided that discretion was the better part of valour.
Finally, he reached a cart that had some room available. Its occupants consisted of newcomers, accompanied by a boy in a yellow and black tie. "Uhhh… is there room for one more?"
"I think we can squeeze you in," said the young Hufflepuff, offering a hand. "Hi. Cedric Diggory."
Daniel shook it. "Daniel Smith."
"I'm Susan Bones, and these two are Ernie McMillan and Justin Finch-Fletchley," said the sole girl present, a pretty young redhead. "You know, you sound like an American."
"I am," Daniel replied simply. "I'm told I'm the first American to attend in a long time."
"You are," Cedric said. "How'd you wind up here?"
"It's a long story," Daniel replied.
"It's a long train ride," Cedric said, indicating the cornucopia of sweets between them. "Help yourself, by the way."
Daniel did just that, and then began the tale as the train chugged steadily onward toward Hogwarts.
Chapter 14: Magenta ColdrenMagenta was still giggling when the compartment door slid open again, admitting a girl with brown-blonde hair that fell just to her chin. She had warm brown eyes and wasn't that much shorter than Magenta, a pretty good feat, considering the five feet and three inches she was. She gave a small, shy smile at the two and gently let her trunk down to the floor.
"Hello." she said rather quietly. "Um, can I sit here? The train's really very packed, there isn't much room at all."
Magenta nodded and grinned, this seemed like a nice girl. "Go ahead, you can sit here. We have plenty of room." said Magenta, her grin getting wider as the girls face lit up. She hauled her trunk up onto the overhead rack and sat down next to Magenta.
"Hi, I'm Erin Stephens." she said. Magenta held out a hand. She was relieved, Erin didn't even seemed to have noticed the fact that Magenta had pink hair
"I'm Magenta Coldren, and this is Harry Potter." said Magenta. Erin looked over at Harry for a moment, her eyes widening in what seemed like fear and awe. She took a deep breath and managed to stutter out a sentence.
"Y-you're the Harry Potter? The boy who lived?" she stammered. Harry nodded. Magenta noticed a scar on his forehead when his bangs flapped from his nodding. It was shaped like a lightning bolt. Oh my... it's Harry Potter... she thought. The Harry Potter, the one who had defeated him. He-who-must-not be-named. She gaped and Harry blushed a bit, but both Erin and Magenta recovered, Erin taking a bit longer. Magenta was grinning still, when Erin spoke up.
"So, um, are you two new here as well?" she asked. Magenta nodded. Harry did as well. "What house do you want to be in?" she asked, glancing at both of them. Harry didn't know what to say, he didn't know too much about the houses. Magenta raised an eyebrow at Harry, obviously wanting an explanation. He shrugged and shook his head. Magenta turned her quizzical gaze to Erin, who looked a bit confused.
"What are houses?" she asked.
"You don't know about the houses?" asked Erin. Magenta shook her head. Erin launched into a bit about how houses were where you stayed in Hogwarts, and explained about points and the ghosts. In the end, things were a bit clearer in Magenta's mind and Erin felt a bit more comfortable with her new friends.
Chapter 15: Cassandra Serenity
Cassandra had always known that she was a witch. Both her mother and father had been witches and wizards as was her grandfather and grandmother before them. Cassandra was what they would call a pureblood, though she rarely thought along those lines. Cassandra was just a girl and that is how she had always thought of herself.
Growing up in a small village by the sea, Cassandra had been raised by her mother and grandmother. Her father had died in the first war against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. This tragedy had left her mother in a near permanent state of shock. It was for this reason that Cassandra and she mother had moved into the old family home when she was only a small child.
Life in the old home was beyond what one might expect. Though the home was very old (nearly 300 years old) it had a warm feeling to it, which filled very memory that Cassandra had. The herbs her grandmother grew in her garden, the smell of fresh baked pies, the magical creatures that lived in the forest that surrounded their secluded home, and the constant feeling that she was connected to something, to magic.
However, her childhood home was far from her now as she pulled her heavy trunk behind her while looking for a place to sit on the Hogwarts Express. Moving past each car she saw no empty seats available. Her spirits had started to fall as she found herself getting to the end of the train.
Just before giving up hope Cassandra happened upon a car with just a few empty spaces left. Looking into the car she saw two boys and two girls. The boys where both sitting by the window, one with raven black hair and the other with scarlet red hair much like herself. The two girls were as different as night and day, one with brown-blonde hair while the other had a dark hair with bright pink streaks running down the length.
Before she could turn back Cassandra opened the door to the car and stepped inside. "Hello, is anyone taking one of those empty seats?" Her voice was soft and had a melody to it as she spoke, but even her music like voice could hide the slight nervousness that it held.
Chapter 16: Alondra Bracho
Alondra never remembered a time when she had felt so lonely and so out of place. She looked down the long train corridors and passed by compartments filled with laughter, loud talk and kids having snacks. She sighed deeply and continued walking, praying that there would be an empty compartment somewhere. She really didn't feel like talking to anyone. She remembered how silent she had been when she and her family had gone shopping for her school supplies at Diagon Alley.
She saw many interesting looking people, and kids her age...a little group struck in her memory though...they had been with a large man with a beardy face and shaggy hair. They looked awed and pretty happy to be where they were. Well, Alondra hated it! She missed her parents, her brothers and most of all her best friend...Sebastian. How she wished that he would suddenly spring out of a compartment and tease her about looking so gloomy, wearing a uniform no less, and then find a compartment and laugh the whole train ride together.
But that wouldn't happen and Alondra felt tears invade her soft caramel coloured eyes. She swallowed hard and shook her head. She wouldn't cry, she was a witch now! Well, a witch in training, but nonetheless witches didn't cry. She breathed deep and chose a door out of many and slid it open bravely, 2 girls and 3 boys sat inside. To her left one brunette girl with long dark hair in a high pony tail and a tan complexion smiled lightly to her. By her sat a girl with shoulder length dirty blonde hair and a fair complexion, she too smiled.
"Hi, there!" said the blonde girl, Alondra felt her face flush and managed a small shy smile.
"Hello, I'm so sorry for just prancing in like that; it was terribly rude of me! Excuse me," Alondra replied quickly and turned to leave.
"Wait!" she heard a boy's voice say, she turned and saw the boy with dark brown hair and sitting between two identical red heads say. He had stood and was quite tall and handsome, obviously not a 1st year student. He smiled kindly to Alondra.
"You don't have to leave you could join us. I'm sure everywhere else is full..." he offered generously. Alondra looked up to him and smiled brilliantly. The boy had a roguish Scottish accent, and made her feel welcome.
"Thank you so much," Alondra replied happily and she saw the two girls motion for her to sit next to them. Alondra gracefully walked over and sat next to them, feeling much better already.
"So what's your name, are you a first year?" the Scottish boy asked sitting across from her.
"My name's Alondra Bracho, and yes I am a first year...but then again it's obvious isn't it," Alondra replied smiling to each of them. The red heads laughed and nodded, though their brown eyes showed a certain kindness and humour. The blonde girl giggled lightly and the brunette girl smiled as if approving Alondra's company. The Scottish boy nodded and grinned.
"Alondra, huh? Wow, I've never really heard that name before...it's lovely." he complimented then and Alondra blushed shyly.
"Thank you...and um, what are your names?" Alondra asked curiously.
"I'm Angelina Johnson, and I'm a 4th year," the brunette said proudly and Alondra smiled.
"I'm Katie Bell, I'm a 2nd year...and don't mind Angelina's ego...it gets bigger every year..." Katie told her jokingly.
"Just like her head!" a red head boy popped up and everyone laughed, except for Angelina who obviously wanted to laugh but gave the red head boy a glare.
"We're Fred and George Weasley by the way, 2nd years as well, and pranksters extraordinaires!" one of the red headed boys said, the other nodded rapidly and smiled mischievously. Alondra giggled, she liked them already.
"And I'm Oliver Wood, a 5th year and Quidditch Captain," Oliver said quite proudly.
"Well, it's wonderful to meet you all! And thank you again for letting me join you," Alondra replied, all of them nodded. Alondra then bit her lip.
"I only have one question though, um, What is Quidditch?" Alondra inquired innocently and curiously. Katie and Angelina began to laugh, Fred and George gasped as if horrified and Oliver...well, he gaped and looked horrified at the young strawberry blonde haired girl sitting across from him. Alondra swallowed hard.
"Was it something I said?" Alondra looked around at them.
"You don't know what Quidditch is!" Oliver exclaimed. Alondra jumped and looked to Katie and Angelina who shook their heads and Fred and George who breathed deep.
"I'm...I'm sorry, but no," Alondra replied truthfully. Fred and George scowled.
"Shouldn't have done that!" Either Fred or George said and at that moment Oliver got up locked the compartment door and breathed deep as he turned to look at Alondra steadily.
"Ok...where should I begin..." he finally said slowly, and Katie, Angelina, Fred and George groaned annoyingly as Oliver began describing the glory that was...Quidditch.
Chapter 17: Cassandra SerenityAs Cassandra entered the small compartment on the Hogwarts Express, each of the occupancy's looked up from the discussion they had been having. Feeling a bit more nervous with so many eyes on her Cassandra's cheeks started to flush.
"No, no one is sitting there. You're more then welcome to come on in." said Magenta with a wide smile on her face while motioning to the empty seats.
A sigh of relief escaped Cassandra's lips upon hearing the warmth in Magenta's voice. Cassandra had spent so much of her life away from other children that she wasn't quiet sure what to expect from everyone. Though her grandmother had always told her how wonderful her years at Hogwarts had been, Cassandra had been just a little scared.
Pulling her trunk and pet cat inside from the corridor, Cassandra began to lift the heavy trunk into the overhead storage compartment. Seeing that she was having a bit of a time about it, Magenta quickly came to her aid and helped give the final push to secure it. With a grateful smile Cassandra nodded and said "Thank you."
Magenta smiled as well and took back her previous seat. "By the way, my name's Magenta Coldren and this is Erin Stephens" she said as she pointed to the girl with golden brown hair. "And this is Ron Weasley" Magenta now motioned to the fellow red head in the compartment. "And finally we have Harry Potter." Cassandra had smiled to each as Magenta had introduced everyone, but at this last name her breath was caught in her throat.
"You mean, the real Harry Potter?" she stammered out. Everyone in the compartment nodded except the shy, blushing boy with raven hair. Seeing Harry's blushing face made Cassandra feel bad for making such a spectacle out of him. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you." she said while lightly chewing on her bottom lip. "It's just, I've always heard about you and how you ended the war."
Harry did not like where this was going. He had just wanted to blend in, but so far had done a poor job of it. Watching everyone stare at him, moreover stare at his scar was becoming a bit overwhelming. Thankfully Cassandra broke the awkward silence that had held in the air for a few moments.
"Oh" Cassandra said, realizing she had never introduced herself. "My name's Cassandra, Cassandra Serenity." A friendly and shy smile appeared on her face as she looked around the compartment once more. "It's very nice to meet all of you."
Sliding a lose strand of her scarlet red hair behind her left ear, a nervous habit she had had since childhood, she spoke up again. "Erm, what you discussing before I came in?" Cassandra hoped to pick up the conversation again because the silence in the compartment was becoming a bit to deafening.
"Erin was just telling us all about Hogwarts" Magenta said. Erin giving a shy nod as Magenta looked at her.
"Oh, well then, please I'd love to hear more. I've only ever heard things from my grandmum and that was so long ago." Cassandra had always wondered if the stories her grandmother would tell her were true. So many adventures had filled her grandmum's stories that Cassandra never knew which to believe and which not too.
Chapter 18: Alondra Bracho"So, you're all on the Quidditch Team?" Alondra asked giddily. By what Oliver had explained, Quidditch was really fun! You got to fly on brooms and watch out for bludgers, catch and score Quaffle's, and seek the snitch. She felt like an expert now, and she had developed an interest in the game of Quidditch.
"Yes. So, did Oliver here bore you to death with his sermon?" Fred replied chuckling as Oliver rolled his eyes and shook his head. Alondra smiled.
"No, I actually found it rather informative and interesting...is it possible for me to see you all play, sometime?" Alondra said, and they all laughed.
"Of course, Alondra! Tell you what, you can watch us during practice," Oliver suggested.
"Whoa! The Quidditch Captain letting a fan watch our practice agenda?" George teased, Oliver glared at him and George only smiled.
"It'll be fun, I'm sure you'll love the game even more. We may even teach you some skills to pass on our legacy after we graduate!" Angelina piped up, excitedly. Katie beamed and nodded. Alondra laughed happily and nodded. Suddenly they felt a rumble and a pull forward that almost sent Katie into Oliver's lap. Katie blushed a crimson red and got to her feet quickly and Oliver maintained his cool. Alondra looked to Angelina who stifled a laugh and winked playfully. Alondra smiled knowingly.
"Uh huh," Alondra whispered, and followed Katie out of the compartment. As she stepped out of the Hogwarts Express, she clasped her black cloak at her neck and took in a deep breath.
"Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...something else, isn't it?" Fred told Alondra sweetly. Alondra looked in awe at the huge ancient and fairy tale looking castle.
"Firs' years! Firs' years! Over here! Alright there, Harry?" the enormous man from Diagon Alley called, causing Alondra to jump in shock. She bit her lip and looked to Fred, George, Oliver, Angelina, and Katie.
"We go a different way from everyone else?" Alondra asked Katie, Katie smiled and patted her back kindly.
"Yes, but don't worry it's quite fun! You get to ride on these lovely little boats...anyway, we'll see you at the Great Hall for the sorting and feast," Katie replied.
"Maybe you'll meet our little brother Ron...he has red hair," George said and Alondra nodded and smiled.
"I hope I'm in your house," Alondra told them all, they grinned.
"We hope so too, kiddo. Good luck, and get going!" Oliver said, as he and the twins and Katie and Angelina walked over to the carriages to take them to Hogwarts. Alondra breathed in deep again and walked over to the group of first years. She bit her lip and writhed her hands shyly.
"C'mon, follow me—any more firs' years? Mind yer step now!" the enormous man added, as everyone slipped and stumbled their way up the steep and narrow path. The darkness seemed to intensify as they made their way further along the path.
Before them loomed a great lake, like a puddle of black ink. On the other side of the lake was a mountain, and atop the mountain perched a magnificent, vast castle.
There was a loud "Oooooh!" as the other student came round the bend and beheld their magical destination.
Tower after tower reached towards the sky, and tiny lights winked on and off in numerous windows, giving the warm impression that they were expected.
They followed the enormous man to a fleet of small boats, floating in the water just off shore.
"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, and Alondra began to shake nervously. She wasn't acquainted to anyone here yet. The lonely feeling from earlier coming back to her...how she missed Sebastian. And now she missed Oliver, the twins, Katie and Angelina already. She couldn't see in the darkness, and finally she gave up and climbed into one of the little boats. She noticed three other lovely girls in the boat, but she shied away when she heard that they knew each other and shouldn't intrude.
"I'm Erin. Erin Stephens. What's your name?" said the girl with brown hair but in a trendy short style to the girl with lovely red hair to her waist.
"I'm Ray." Said the girl, with a big smile. "And this is Dorian." She added, gesturing to a girl with wild, dark brown curls and gold-rimmed glasses, who had followed her into the boat. Dorian and Erin smiled at one another, but then they all fell silent.
It was a cool night, but the air was calm with little breeze, and the water was almost supernaturally still as they glided towards the other side of the lake.
The immense Castle seemed to loom over them as they drew near. Everyone stared silently at it as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliffs on which it stood.
"Heads down!" yelled the enormous man, and everyone obeyed, ducking their heads as the little boat carried them through curtains of ivy into a hidden opening in the face of the cliff. They were carried along a dark tunnel, lit only by the lantern, which the enormous man gripped firmly in his massive hands. Alondra breathed deep, inhaling and exhaling scared and nervous out of her mind.
The enormous man was talking, and Alondra followed the three girls from the boat ride, Ray, Erin, and Dorian. She wanted to introduce herself, but she was far too shy and nervous to speak. Sighing she followed them up the steps to a huge, oak door. The enormous man raised a massive fist and knocked three times.
The door opened to reveal a severe-looking black-haired woman in dark green robes waiting there.
"Here they are, Professor McGonagall, all the firs' years. Safe and sound," the enormous man said.
"Very well, Hagrid. You may go to the feast now."
"Did she say 'feast'?" a voice asked excitedly.
Alondra spun around to see a small, wiry boy with long brown hair, and anxious eyes. Alondra giggled
lightly to herself and turned to see Professor McGonagall giving him a piercing look and he quickly fell silent. She turned, leading the new students into the castle.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."
They filed into the entrance hall. The stonewalls were lit with flaming torches that reflected brilliantly in the floor-length windows nearby. They followed Professor McGonagall across the stone floor and into an empty chamber. They could hear the steady drone of hundreds of voices coming from a doorway nearby. The rest of the school must already be at the feast. Alondra's heart began to thump wildly.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said the Professor. "The start of term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony, because..."
Alondra tried to peek into the Great Hall for a glimpse of the twins or Katie, or Oliver. But she couldn't. A strange shiver ran down her spine and she felt as if she was being watched closely by someone. She spun around, looking about her discreetly but she didn't see anything out of the ordinary. Though she was sure, someone was watching her...and closely. She sighed heavily and unconsciously bumped into someone in front of her.
"Sorry," she whispered softly. The boy turned around, he had wild red hair and soft brown eyes. He smiled lightly and blushed slightly.
"'S ok..." he replied softly. Alondra smiled.
"You're Ron Weasley, right?" Alondra asked quietly. Ron looked at her shocked and nodded.
"Oh...I met your brother's earlier today...I'm Alondra Bracho..." she said, and Ron grinned. She smiled happily and turned to look at the Professor. And she heard Ron say to a raven haired boy next to him,
"She knows my brothers..."
Alondra turned and smiled to them shyly, Ron only grinned and the raven haired boy smiled lightly.
"I'm Harry Potter," he said lightly. Alondra nodded and smiled sweetly.
"Alondra Bracho," she replied, when Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and out of the side of her eyes looked to Alondra, she bit her lip and didn't say anything further to the nice boys she had just met.
"Now form a line," Professor McGonagall told the first years, "and follow me."
Alondra exhaled heavily and followed Ron and Harry, inside into the Great Hall.
Chapter 19: Daniel Smith
Daniel hefted his cheap, ragged olive-drab duffel bag onto his shoulder. He had received it from his third foster family, and had carried around his worldly goods in it ever since. The only thing that didn't fit in it was his cauldron, which he carried in his hand.
The other children were carrying or towing their trunks as they streamed off the train and into the starry night. Daniel addressed Cedric, who had escorted him and the other first-years from the train. "So where do we go now?"
A bearded mobile continent in a moleskin overcoat gave answer to that. "Firs' years! This way! Firs' years!"
"I guess we follow him," said Justin Finch-Fletchley.
So they followed Hagrid to a bunch of small boats, floating gently in the water. The titanic Hogwarts gamekeeper slid into the largest one with surprising grace, nearly sinking it. Justin, Susan, Ernie, and Daniel selected one and piled into it. Next to them was another boat, containing the black-haired boy with the scar, the youngest of the redheads (except for the little girl, who'd been left behind at the station), a round-faced boy with a toad, and a loudmouthed girl with bushy brown hair. The latter was yakking away about all the things she had read about where they were going. At length, however, even she fell silent as the school came into view.
To say that it was vast was an understatement. Its towers stretched hundreds of feet into the air, its keep and bailey covering hundreds of yards in all directions. Lights, some of them odd-colored, flickered or glowed in many of the windows.
All of them stared, silent and amazed, until the boats docked themselves at the edge of the school. A severe-looking black-haired woman in a dark green robe was waiting there.
"Here they are, Professor, all the firs' years. Safe and sound," Hagrid said.
"Very well, Hagrid. You may go to the feast now."
"Did she say 'feast'?" Daniel said, perking up. Despite his small size, he had a raging metabolism, and was nearly always hungry.
The newcomer gave him a piercing look and he quickly fell silent. She then turned, and led the new arrivals into the castle.
Chapter 20: Magenta Coldren
Magenta stepped off the train and took in the mob scene before her. Most of the students were pouring towards the line of carriages at the side of the station, but Magenta followed the loud instruction of the mammoth of a man before her, who was calling 'Firs' 'ears! Firs' 'ears!" She pulled her things up and charged on though the river of students. She reached the man, whom Harry had said was named Hagrid and was the gamekeeper at Hogwarts. She stopped in front of him and he smiled down at her.
"You must be lil' miss Magenta Coldren's. Pleasure ta meet ya, Rubeus 'Agrid, at you service, call me 'Agrid though, mos' folks 'round 'ere do." he said, holding out a giant had which Magenta shook.
"Nice to meet you Hagrid, um, how are we getting to the castle?" she asked curiously. Hagrid smiled.
"Well, follow me and you'll see... is' a real treat, I'll tell ya, a real treat." he said, chuckling. Magenta smiled excitedly. She followed Hagrid down a very slippery slope and to the banks of a vast and glittering moonlit lake. There were about twenty little rowboats with little lanterns in front. Magenta spent so much time admiring the lake that she didn't realize that the boats were filled. Cassandra was sitting with three other girls, two Magenta was sure were twins, Harry and Ron sat with Neville (the boy who'd lost his toad) and the know-it-all Hermione Granger, and Erin sat with two, nice looking girls that Magenta hoped to meet later. She ended up sitting by herself, which wasn't bad. At first, she bit her nails, something she did when she was bored. Then Hogwarts appeared.
It was gargantuan... a fortress of stone and light. Like something out of her book of fairytales... perfect and glowing with what seemed like excitement, adventure, and in and odd way, happiness. Magenta had thought that nothing would ever compare to Moor Castle Academy; she was wrong.
Magenta was a bit disappointed when the boat ride ended and they were led up to the great oak doors, but then, as the doors opened, she felt excited again. Behind the doors was a tall, dark haired woman wearing a dark robe and witches hat. She addressed them all in a crisp, clear voice.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. I am Professor McGonagall," she said and ushered them inside. Magenta scanned the crowd as the Professor explained the houses to them, something Magenta already knew about. She was brought back to reality when McGonagall announced that the sorting was about to begin.
Magenta felt as if she could skip and shriek and throw up and cry all at the same time. She took a deep breath, and looked around to see she was not alone in her apprehensions. She closed her eyes, blinked a few times, and followed Professor McGonagall through the doors to the Great Hall.
