"Why is it taking so long", Karen said looking at the clock for the tenth time that minute.

The days leading up till now had taken forever. Now the day of her departure had arrived and she could hardly wait. Karen was starting to fidget nervously. Only ten minutes to go. Then she could walk to the station and catch what she anticipated to be a train. Karen actually had no idea what the Hogwarts Express was. For all she knew it could be anything. Whenever she thought about it too many strange thoughts came to mind for her to settle on just one. Karen knew it would be safe though. Dumbledore though mysterious was very kind and caring. He would never put her in danger.

This was what Karen thought to herself as she trudged towards the pillar between platform nine and ten. Grasping her trolley tightly and her ticket balled in her fist she closed her eyes and willed the doorway to let her through. Taking a huge step towards the pillar she opened her eyes. Noting she was directly inline with the pillar she closed her eyes. Karen figured she would slowly walk until either she passed right through the wall or would walk calmly into it, only feeling slightly embarrassed. Her heart was pounding and her mind was running wild. Her eyes desperately wanted to be open to see what was going on but Karen fiercely kept them shut. Taking one tiny step she started towards the pillar, continuing she counted her steps. Karen continued until she thought that she should have run into the wall ages ago. Opening her eyes cautiously she gasped assaulted by the new world in front of her eyes. She never believed she would have gotten through. Shocked beyond measure she slowly took in the enormous red steam engine in front of her. Walked up to one of the baggage men Karen cleared her throat softly trying to get his attention. Slowly he turned to her smiling.

"Excuse me sir what do I do?" Karen gestured towards her ticket and the train.

"Your new to Hogwarts?" He inquired.

"Yes sir". The baggage handler nodded kindly and took her newly acquired trunk. Not knowing what to do next Karen merely followed other people her age. None of which though were in their uniforms. All of them were hugging loved ones or waving goodbye.

Tears stung Karen's eyes as she looked at the many happy families all hugging, kissing and smiling. Why had she been denied this? What had her parents done to deserve dying? She didn't even know where they were buried or how they died.

Sadly looking over her shoulder Karen stepped into line behind two red headed boys who looked awfully a lot like each other. Their mother was pacing back and forwards in front of them shrilly issuing instructions about behaving and doing school work. Karen blanched as the mothers eyes darted towards her then back to her sons. She gave them a kiss on each cheek and backed away shaking her head. The mother knowing the inevitable would happen with those two anyway.

The train looked like any ordinary train.

"Perhaps magical people travel just like non magical people", Karen thought sitting in an empty compartment at the back of the train trying to stay inconspicuous.

Looking out the window Karen watched as hundreds of people clambered onto the train most carrying a pet. Sighing Karen sat back in the chair. She had always wanted a cat ever since the strays came into the orphanage to rummage in the garbage cans. Karen had always snuck out the broken window to play with the kittens while their mothers ravenously looked for scraps. Often Karen would save some of her dinner to feed to the stray mothers feeling sorry for the babies that wouldn't be getting enough milk. The mother cats in the beginning slunk forwards then darted quickly snatching the food. Slowly though they did come to trust her. Thinking about that now Karen was mortified at the prospect of them not having her to help them. Then again before she was there and fed them they had been doing all right on their own.

A piercing whistle sounded and the train lurched forwards. So did Karen's heart quickly followed by her stomach. She was leaving London going to a place she didn't know, no friends and she didn't know anybody. She was as frightened as she had ever been.

The train had been chugging along quite happily for hours and Karen had gotten use to the rhythm it was making. Shortly after setting off from the platform two girls had come and sat down in her compartment, but they had left now, having spotted other friends they could sit with other than some stranger nobody knew. She had smiled kindly as they left not wanting them to think she was unhappy for them to go. Not that it would have mattered. Karen leaned back once more in her seat day dreaming about what her new school and home would be like.

The train jilted forwards. Karen snorted awake having being jolted awake. Panicking she pulled her uniform out of her trunk hastily dressing in her compartment, and running out into the carriageway. Everyone was calmly talking and exiting the train. Looking to the compartment opposite her a handsome boy gazed back at her, feeling her cheeks blush she looked at him in his yellow colored scarf and clothing. Wondering if she looked anywhere as nice as she did she walked closer to him.

"Excuse me…Um what do we do now?" Karen looked at her shoes saying this, her face red as anything embarrassed at her lack of knowledge.

"You're a first year. Don't worry it's not a scary as it seems. I was first year a few years back myself and I didn't know what to do either. I'm a third year so it's getting pretty routine now. You'll get use to it. Leave your trunk on the train the baggage handlers will take it up to the castle. You just go out and see Hagrid he'll get you there", smiling he began to walk away.

"Excuse me what's Hagrid?" I looked at him quizzically.

"Hagrid is Hogwarts game keeper. He's huge. Part giant I reckon, but he's nice as can be. Bit gruff but like Santa Claus you know big but jolly", the boy smiled and hopped off the train being greeted by a group of people in the same colors he was in. Karen wondered who this hansom and helpful stranger was. He certainly made her feel a little more at ease. Slowly stepping off the train Karen glanced around. Seeing no one fitting the description of huge she just stood still.

"Firs' years. This way. To me please", a booming voice echoed through her right behind her. Turning Karen caught sight of the biggest and most hairiest men she had ever seen. He was so tall she had to crane her neck just to see over his huge beard to his face. He was smiling and did look very jolly just like a big Santa. Karen smiled to herself. Perhaps Santa was real after all in essence anyway.

Walking towards the edge of the lake Karen caught sight of some little boats moored at the edge. Each with it's own lantern hanging from a swiveled loop at the bow.

"Alrigh' all of you four to a boat", the big man climbed into one at the front and sat carefully down. Karen sure his weight and size would buckle the tiny boat but he comfortably fit and the boat still rode high in the water.

As everyone was seated in a boat Karen began looking for oars to row.

"Alrigh' hold on. Don't be scared", the booming voice filled the night. As Karen wondered what there was to be afraid of the boats began to move effortlessly gliding over the glossy surface of the lake.

"This is the Black Lake Firs' Years. The giant squid that lives her won' harm you. He's just a tad playful sometimes", Hagrid smiled to himself and started humming as the boats kept gliding. The boats slowly passed under a hanging sheet of rock and into an underground cavern. A beautiful platform and stairway greeted them as they left the boats behind. Climbing the stairs Karen was assaulted by the light of hundreds of candles and thousands of beautiful archways, doors, artworks and stairwells. Arriving at the top of the stairwell Hagrid nodded upwards.

"Keep goin" and he turned a corner and was gone.