Chapter 3: A New Friend

Jonathan watched intently as the scenic English countryside rushed past outside. He sighed heavily and wiped his still damp eyes on the sleeve of his robe. The boy felt lonely and rather afraid. He'd never really been away from his Uncle's home, for any length of time, in eleven years. All kinds of thoughts raced through his young head. What would this new school be like? Would the teachers be kind? Would he make any friends? Would he be a good wizard or turn out to be a squib?

Jonathan pushed the thoughts out of his head, as best he could, and leaned his head back against the seat. He closed his eyes and sighed wistfully. He knew the best thing he could do right then would be to try to relax and think about something else. He tried to focus his mind on the positive things that might happen at school. Perhaps he would enjoy his classes. Maybe he would make many new friends. Maybe he would become a great wizard… even head boy someday…

His new and more pleasant thoughts were interrupted by a loud "Thump!" Jonathan's eyes shot open only to find a girl sprawled out, face down, on the floor of his compartment. "Blast! Curse these ridiculous robes! Why must they be so confounded long," she muttered as she sat up. She pulled back the curtain of black hair that had fallen in her face to reveal a pale face with bright emerald green eyes and an angry frown.

"Uh… hello," Jonathan said, unsure of what else to say.

"Oh, hello," said the girl curtly. "Didn't know anyone was here. Well didn't exactly choose this compartment anyway. My cursed robes sort of made the choice for me," she said grumpily.

"Oh… well… I see," Jonathan mumbled. He wasn't exactly sure how to respond to this rather angry little witch before him. "I… umm… are you alright," he finally managed.

"Fine," she said getting to her feet and rubbing at her knobby knees. "Just tripped. No worries."

"Oh that's good," Jonathan said brightening. "I'm Jonathan. Jonathan Lockhart," he said proudly puffing out his chest.

The girl laughed. It was low, merry chuckle. "I'm Lucie. Well actually it's Lucia. Lucia Santamaria, but you can call me Lucie. Pleasure to meet you Jonathan," she said still grinning. She extended her hand to him and shook his hand vigorously.

"So," she said sitting down in the seat across from Jonathan, "this your first year?"

"Yes. I've never been to Hogwarts before. Have you?"

"No," she said casually. "I'm not worried though. It'll be a piece of cake. I've been doing magic since I was old enough to pick up my brother's old wand."

"Oh," remarked Jonathan a bit surprised. "I've never really done much magic. I can make some objects float and little things like that, but I've never done any hard spells. So is that your brother's wand?" he asked pointing to the wand sitting next to the girl on the seat.

"Naah," she said with a grin. "This one is mine. We bought it yesterday. Isn't she a beauty? Oak, 10 inches and inside is a Gryffin feather. Where's your wand?"

"Oh it's right here," he said reaching into a small book bag beside him. "This is it. It's 11 inches long and made of cedar."

"Oh that's why it has that nice scent," Lucie said with a smile. "What's inside it?" she asked, her eyes curious.

"It's a dragon scale," he said proudly. "The old man at the shop said it was 'symbolic of the firey intensity of my soul!'" Jonathan recited proudly.

"Or it could just mean that you've got a bad case of heartburn," Lucie said slapping Jonathan on the back playfully. They both chuckled before returning their gazes to the scenery outside the window. He must have dozed off, because the next thing he knew Jonathan felt the train slowing down.