Chapter Two- Sara: The Train Ride

After getting off the plane, which landed early the next morning- or was it yesterday morning? Damn time change makes it hard to know- and had only half an hour to get to the train station and find platform 9 ¾.

We quickly found a taxi and directed the driver to take us to the train station. We got there with ten minutes left to find the train. Rushing through the station, Nikki and I were both very winded and anxious to find the Hogwarts Express before it left us behind. I was just about to give up hope when Nikki elbowed me- very hard as a matter of fact- in the arm. I glared at her, but she only nodded her head towards something ahead of us. I looked where she had motioned her head. A handful of teens were going through a pillar between platforms 9 and 10.

Duh, I thought. I mean, we did the same thing whenever we went to Salem, so of course it made sense. Nikki and I pushed our luggage carts towards the pillar and, after checking to make sure no one was watching, passed through.

We emerged onto a platform teeming with families. The Hogwarts Express stood on the tracks, smoke billowing from its black smokestack. Kids were loading onto the train, waving good-bye to their parents who were busy yelling out last minute advice and encouragement. Quickly, Nikki and I climbed aboard the packed train. Fighting our way through the crowd of students that were awaiting the trains departure, we found an empty cabin to sit in.

"God, this is just like when we headed to Salem for our first year." Nikki breathed excitedly as she gazed out the window, her breath fogging the glass.

"It sure is." I replied. "Same butterflies in my stomach, same nauseous feeling, same worry about whether or not I'll make friends."

"Oh stop it, you're depressing me." Nikki brushed off my worry with a wave of her hand, yet another difference between us. I've always worried about things. Anything you can name I've probably agonized over it. But not Nikki.

The door to our compartment slid open and a head poked in.

"Oh sorry," the girl smiled politely, "I didn't realize that anyone was in here."

"No prob," Nikki smiled at her. "You can join us if you want."

"You're the American exchange students." Her accent was so frickin' cool.

"Yeah, we are." I said. She stepped into the compartment.

"I'm Hermione Granger."

"I'm Sara Kendal and this is my friend Nikki Campbell." I introduced both Nikki and I.

It's a pleasure to meet you both. These are my friends," she looked over her shoulder and waved to some people out in the hall. Two boys crammed into the doorframe behind her, "Ron Weasly and Harry Potter." Hermione pointed first to a red headed boy and then to one with messy black hair and glasses.

Nikki and I exchanged a glance as we heard the latter boy's name. Harry Potter? We'd heard of him in our Magic around the World classes. All the girls had loved the take of Harry Potter, thinking it utterly romantic how his mother sacrificed herself to save him. We had heard so much about him that it was almost like we knew him ourselves. But he had also seemed like a fanatical illusion of someone's mind. Yet he wasn't, he was standing right in front of us.

"Holy crap, Batman." Nikki breathed her eyes fixated on Harry. I bit back a laugh.

"Excuse me?" Hermione looked at her, confused.

"It's just something she does." I said, used to Nikki's odd behavior and way of spouting off random things at inopportune times. I kicked her leg and Nikki blinked, tearing her eyes off Harry to glare at me.

"Would you guys like to sit down?" I asked, ignoring the evil death rays shooting out of my friend's eyes. "There's plenty of room."

"Thank you." Hermione moved into the seat next to Nikki. "The train seems to have become quite full this year."

Ron and Harry joined me on my bench. Across from me I could see that Nikki had returned to her staring at Harry. I moved to kick her again. I swear, the girl has no tact when it comes to a cute guy.

The five of us fell into a steady rhythm of conversation. Hermione did most of the talking on their end, and I did most of the talking for Nikki and I (mostly 'cause I didn't want her to say somethin' embarrassing when we barely knew these people). The train ride passed without much excitement- unless you want to count the time this one kid came in looking for his pet frog- and before we knew it the train was slowing to a stop.

I stood up, grateful to finally stretch my legs. Those cabins, or whatever the hell they call 'em in England, were not made for too many people to ride in for long periods of time. We piled out of the train.

Nikki and I had both gotten letters from Hogwarts' headmaster informing us that we were to meet with someone named Hagrid, who would then take us up to the castle where we would receive "further instruction." Needless to say, I was a bit worried.

September 1, 2004

Well diary, it's done. Nikki and I have been sorted into our houses. Where at Salem we were in different houses, here at Hogwarts we're in the SAME HOUSE! This is so cool. I can't believe that I finally get to hang with my best friend for the WHOLE school year. We're gonna be roommates and everything. Oh great, that means I have to put up with her snoring and talking in her sleep. Lol. Okay, so it's not that bad. She doesn't actually talk in her sleep, but she does mumble sometimes, and it's not really snoring so much as heavy breathing.

Anyways, I'm digressing here. Let me get back to the really cool part. Those kids that we met on the train- Hermione, Ron, and Harry. Well guess what. WE'RE IN THE SAME HOUSE AS THEM, TOO! AHHH. Oh god, this school year is totally gonna rock.