The excitement of finally leaving Privet Drive for an extended period of time, to learn about our parent's world, to experience something more than the horrid lives the Dursley's created for us. Had made this month the longest I'd ever known.
The wait for September first had been agonizing, and to top it all the Dursley's no longer acknowledged mine or Harry's existence.
They no longer locked us under the cupboard, or starved us. Which was a positive. But after the initial enjoyment of watching Dudley run out of the room had worn off, it had gotten rather sad.
So both me and Harry had mostly kept to our room. I had read each book I had gotten in detail, and even taken notes. I was confident that I'd make good grades. Harry had read as well, but was no where near obsessed with his books like I was. All the while our Owl's had constantly brought back dead mice. Harry had named his Hedwig, after a name in he'd liked in A History of Magic. I'd done the same, naming mine Uric, after Uric the Oddball who wore jellyfish as a hat, A character I found amusing.
Finally the last day of August arrived, tomorrow we'd be off to Hogwarts and away from Privet Drive. The only problem was, how would we get to King's Cross?
"We have to ask them." I said annoyingly.
"Yes." Harry replied. I groaned then nodded.
"I best let you do the talking. After what they said about our parents...let's just say I don't have your strong morals." I replied grinning. Harry sighed.
"Let's get this over with."
We made our way down the stairs and found The Dursley's in the living room watching a quiz show. Harry cleared his throat and Dudley ran screaming from the room...I actually felt somewhat bad for him.
"Er — Uncle Vernon?" Harry began, Uncle Vernon grunted to confirm he was listening.
"Er — we need to be at King's Cross tomorrow to — to go to Hogwarts." Harry continued, and again Vernon grunted.
"Would it be all right if you gave us a lift?"
Another grunt which we supposed meant yes.
"Thank you." Harry replied. We were about to go up stairs when Uncle Vernon spoke.
"Funny way to get to a wizards' school, the train. Magic carpets all got punctures, have they?" Vernon asked. Harry didn't say anything.
"There banned, they're to...noticeable. Might draw suspicion" I replied, remembering the brief chapter on them in Modern Magical History. "Ban was rather recent." I recalled.
There was another long silence before Vernon spoke again.
"Where is this school, anyway?"
"Scotland." I instantly replied. Again helped by my books.
"I see, and what train do you take?" He asked, and this time I was stumped. The book had been about the founding and architecture of Hogwarts, not the modern way to get there.
"We take..." Harry said, then took the ticket out of his pocket. "...We take the train from platform nine and three-quarters at eleven o'clock," he read.
Both Petunia and Vernon stared.
"Platform what?" Vernon asked in shock.
"Nine and three-quarters." Harry again answered.
"Don't talk rubbish," said Uncle Vernon. "There is no platform nine and three-quarters."
"It's on our tickets." Harry answered.
"Barking," said Uncle Vernon, "howling mad, the lot of them. You'll see. You two just wait. All right, we'll take you to King's Cross. We're going up to London tomorrow anyway, or I wouldn't bother."
"Why are you going to London?" Harry asked, clearly trying to lighten the mood.
"Taking Dudley to the hospital," growled Uncle Vernon. "Got to have that ruddy tail removed before he goes to Smeltings."
We got up at five the next morning, got dressed, checked our Hogwarts lists one last time, and finally secured our owl's in there cages. Harry then started to pace as I sat on our bed and went over everything I had read in my head.
Finally the Dursley's woke, our trunks were loaded into the car, and after twenty minutes of convincing by Aunt Petunia Dudley agreed to sit in the back with us.
We reached King's Cross with Half an Hour to go. Uncle Vernon loaded our trunks onto a cart and wheeled it into the station for us. But the act of kindness faded as soon as we reached Platform's Nine and Ten.
"Well, there you two are. Platform nine — platform ten. Your platform should be somewhere in the middle, but they don't seem to have built it yet, do they?" Uncle Vernon asked us with a nasty grin.
Harry looked at the area in stunned silence, while I glared at the man.
"We'll find it." I replied confidently, though I wasn't as sure as I sounded.
"Have a good term then," Uncle Vernon replied. As the drove off we saw the Dursley's laughing. I was annoyed, while Harry looked worried. I placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, like I said we'll find it."
People started to stare at us and our strange belongings. Harry stopped a passing guard, while I looked around the platform for any signs of magic. I couldn't find anything and I soon was starting to worry like Harry. There was ten minutes until Eleven...
"— packed with Muggles, of course —"
We turned at the mention of the word muggle. And found a family of redheads, a plump woman who was talking to four boys, all with trunks like ours, and a owl.
Me and Harry looked at each other and followed the group. They stopped in between the platforms.
"Now, what's the platform number?" The mother asked.
"Nine and three-quarters!" a small, also red headed girl asked. She was holding her mother's hand. "Mom, can't I go…"
"You're not old enough, Ginny, now be quiet. All right, Percy, you go first."
The oldest boy began marching toward platform's nine and ten, but before we could see how it worked, a group of tourists came along and blocked our view. By the time we could see again the boy had vanished.
"Fred, you next," the plump woman said.
"I'm not Fred, I'm George," said the boy. "Honestly, woman, you call yourself our mother? Can't you tell I'm George?"
The boys did look identical...
"Sorry, George, dear."
"Only joking, I am Fred," Then the first twin was off, and an instant later the second was as well.
What were they doing? How are they doing it?
Harry went up to the mother and I followed closely behind.
"Excuse me," Harry said to the woman.
"Hello, dears," she said noticing us both. "First time at Hogwarts? Ron's new, too." She said motioning to the youngest boy.
"Yes," Harry replied. "The thing is — the thing is, we don't know how to —"
"Get to the platform." I finished for him. The women gave us a comforting smile.
"Not to worry," she said. "All you have to do is walk straight at the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Don't stop and don't be scared you'll crash into it, that's very important. Best do it at a bit of a run if you're nervous." The women then turned to me. "You first dear."
"Of course." I replied. Still trying to sound confident.
I prepared myself then began to head towards the barrier. It was nerve racking, so I sped up. If I didn't make it, better to get the crash over with, I reasoned. I sprinted and closed my eyes...and made it through. I looked around and saw scarlet train. People were crowded around, and I saw a Sign. Hogwarts' Express, eleven o'clock. I turned around and saw the sign for Platform Nine and Three Quarters. I had made it.
A moment later Harry came blasting through. Like me he looked around in awe at the sights. We began to walk through the crowd. There were cats of many colors, Owls all hooting at one another in annoyance. We walked by the first few cars which were already full. I kept an eye out for Anthony, he'd been interesting to talk to and had wanted to meet me on the train. But I didn't see him so I continued to follow Harry, deciding I'd go and look for Anthony after we were on our way. We continued our way down the train.
"Gran, I've lost my toad again." We heard a round face boy say.
"Oh, Neville," the grandmother responded with a sigh.
A boy with dreadlocks was surrounded by a small crowd.
"Give us a look, Lee, go on."
The boy lifted the lid of a box in his arms, and the people around went crazy as a hairy leg stuck it's head out.
Finally we made it to the back of the train, where we found an empty compartment. We put Hedwig, and Uric in the compartment first. Then headed for the train door, but even together neither of us could lift either of our trunks. In fact all we did was drop it on Harry's foot twice.
"Want a hand?" One of the redhead twins asked us.
"Yes, please," Harry panted.
"Oy, Fred! C'mere and help!"
"Thank you." I said to the twin as his brother was walking over.
"No Problem." He replied giving me a wink.
The twins helped us place both our trunks in our compartment.
"Thanks," said Harry as he pushed the sweaty hair from his eyes.
"What's that?" said one of the twins suddenly, pointing at Harry's lightning scar.
"Blimey," said the other twin. "Are you —?"
"He is," said the first twin. "Aren't you?" he added to Harry.
"What?" Harry asked confused.
"Harry Potter." chorused the twins.
"Oh, him," said Harry. "I mean, yes, I am."
"And that means." One of the twins began turning towards me.
"That your." The other finished.
"Sarah Potter." I said holding out my hand, trying to be polite.
"Pleasure." One said.
"Really is." The other added.
I shook hands with the boy's who then started to stare at Harry's scar, which caused him to go red.
"Fred? George? Are you there?" The Mother's voice called from the platform.
"Coming, Mom."
The twins departed with one last glance at Harry. Harry watched out the window at the family, while I sat next to him towards the door of the compartment.
"Ron, you've got something on your nose." The mother said with a handkerchief in hand. The boy tried to get away, but his mother held him tight and began rubbing the end of his nose.
"Mom— geroff" The boy said, and was finally able to free himself.
Aaah, has ickle Ronnie got somefink on his nosie?" said one of the twins.
"Shut up," Ron replied.
"Where's Percy?" said their mother.
"He's coming now."
The oldest boy was walking down from the front of the train, already dressed in his robes. He had a Red and Gold P badge on the front of his robes.
"Can't stay long, Mother," he said. "I'm up front, the prefects have got two compartments to themselves —"
"Oh, are you a prefect, Percy?" said one of the twins, acting with fake surprise. "You should have said something, we had no idea."
"Hang on, I think I remember him saying something about it," said the other twin. "Once —"
"Or twice —"
"A minute —"
"All summer —"
"Oh, shut up," said Percy.
"How come Percy gets new robes, anyway?" asked on of the twins.
"Because he's a prefect," the mother responded with fondness"All right, dear, well, have a good term — send me an owl when you get there."
She kissed Percy on the cheeks, then turned to the twins. A stern look on her face.
"Now, you two — this year, you behave yourselves. If I get one more owl telling me you've — you've blown up a toilet or —" She said, her voice filled with slight desperation.
"Blown up a toilet? We've never blown up a toilet."
"Great idea though, thanks, Mom."
"It's not funny. And look after Ron."
"Don't worry, ickle Ronniekins is safe with us."
"Shut up," Ron responded, standing tall next to the twins. Still pink where his mother had wiped his nose.
"Hey, Mom, guess what? Guess who we just met on the train?"
Harry leaned back out of view of the family. While I was already out of view.
"You know those black-haired kids who were near us in the station? Know who they are?"
"Who?"
"The Potter twins!"
"Oh, Mom, can I go on the train and see them, Mom, eh please…"The little girl asked her mother. Me and Harry glanced at each other. This was going to take some getting used to.
"You've already seen them, Ginny, and the poor kids aren't something you goggle at in a zoo. Are they really, Fred? How do you know?"
"Asked him. Saw his scar. It's really there — like lightning." Fred said.
"She introduced herself, very polite." George finished.
"Poor dears — no wonder they were alone, I wondered. They were ever so polite when they asked how to get onto the platform."
"Never mind that, do you think they remember what You-Know-Who looks like?"
I froze at the mention of our parent's killers. That same dream popping into my head, I pushed it down. Now was not the time to mope.
"I forbid you to ask them, Fred. No, don't you dare. As though they need reminding of that on there first day at school." The mother said very sternly.
"I like there mother." I whispered to Harry, he nodded.
"All right, keep your hair on." Fred responded.
The train whistle sounded.
"Hurry up!" the mother said, and the three boys rushed onto the train. They leaned out of the window for her to kiss them good-bye, and their younger sister began to cry.
"Don't, Ginny, we'll send you loads of owls."
"We'll send you a Hogwarts' toilet seat."
"George!"
"Only joking, Mom."
The train began to move. I leaned back and took a deep breath, we were finally on our way. To learn about the world of our mother and father, finally away from the Dursley's.
I thought about Anthony request to meet on the train, and decided to go and find him after we'd been going for a bit. I'd take Harry as well, best to start making friends as soon as possible, and Anthony seemed like the kind of kid I'd connect with.
I turned as the door to our compartment slid open, and the youngest redhead stepped in.
"Anyone sitting there?" he asked us, pointing at the seat opposite Harry. "Everywhere else is full."
Both of us shook our head as the boy took his seat. He glanced at the spot Harry's scar was then quickly looked out the window. Trying to hide his fascination. I noticed he still had some dirt on his nose.
"Hey, Ron."
The twins had returned.
"Listen, we're going down the middle of the train — Lee Jordan's got a giant tarantula down there."
Giant Tarantula?
"Right," mumbled Ron.
"Harry, Sarah" said the other twin, "did we introduce ourselves? Fred and George Weasley. And this is Ron, our brother. See you later, then."
"Bye," we all responded. The twins slid the compartment door shut behind them.
"Are you really the Potter twins?" Ron blurted out.
"Yep." I replied simply, while Harry nodded.
"Oh — well, I thought it might be one of Fred and George's jokes," said Ron. "And have you really got — you know…"
He pointed at Harry's forehead.
Harry pulled back his bangs to show the lightning scar. Ron stared. "So that's where You-Know-Who —?"
"Yes, but I can't remember it." Harry replied.
"Nothing?" said Ron eagerly.
"Well — I remember a lot of green light, but nothing else."
"Wow," said Ron. He sat and stared at Harry for a few moments, then turned to me. "What about you, remember anything?" He asked eagerly.
I didn't really know what to say, I did remember something. But really had no desire to share it with anyone...
"Um..." I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.
"Sorry, sorry." Ron said as he noticed my change of demeanor.
"It's fine."
After a moment of silence Harry spoke again.
"Are all your family wizards?" Harry asked, clearly interested in a wizarding family.
"Er — Yes, I think so," replied Ron. "I think Mom's got a second cousin who's an accountant, but we never talk about him."
"So you must know loads of magic already." Harry commented.
"I heard you went to live with Muggles," said Ron. "What are they like?"
"Horrible — well, not all of them. Our aunt and uncle and cousin are, though. Wish I'd had three wizard brothers."
"Hey I'm not that bad." I interjected teasingly.
"I mean you can be pretty boring." Harry replied grinning, and motioning to my books.
I shrugged. "Books are not boring."
"Anyways, three magical brothers."
"Five," Ron said gloomily "I'm the sixth in our family to go to Hogwarts. You could say I've got a lot to live up to. Bill and Charlie have already left — Bill was head boy and Charlie was captain of Quidditch. Now Percy's a prefect. Fred and George mess around a lot, but they still get really good marks and everyone thinks they're really funny. Everyone expects me to do as well as the others, but if I do, it's no big deal, because they did it first. You never get anything new, either, with five brothers. I've got Bill's old robes, Charlie's old wand, and Percy's old rat."
Ron reached inside his jacket and pulled out a sleeping, fat, grey rat.
"His name's Scabbers and he's useless, he hardly ever wakes up. Percy got an owl from my dad for being made a prefect, but they couldn't aff — I mean, I got Scabbers instead."
Ron seemed embarrassed and his ears went pink.
"We feel your pain, when we lived with the Dursley's we never got anything." I said.
"Really?" Ron asked us.
"Nope, nothing. We were forced to wear hand my down clothes." Harry began.
"Never anything for Christmas of birthdays." I added.
"I'm thankful they fed us at all."
"What we did get was horrible. They got me a comb that was sharp as knives. It was horrible."
"I got a pair of socks one year, and until Hagrid told us, we didn't know anything about being magic or about our parents or Voldemort —"
Ron gasped.
"What?" asked Harry.
"You said You-Know-Who's name!" said Ron, sounding both shocked and impressed. "I'd have thought you, of all people —"
"I'm not trying to be brave or anything, saying the name," Harry began, "I just never knew you shouldn't. See what I mean? I've got loads to learn… I bet," he added, voicing for the first time something that had been worrying him a lot lately, "I bet I'm the worst in the class."
"You won't be. There's loads of people who come from Muggle families and they learn quick enough." Ron assured him.
"Besides, worst comes to worst, I'll help you." I said confidently.
We were now out of London, passing through fields of cows and sheep. Both Harry and Ron were quietly watching the fields pass by, and I knew that this was my opportunity. I had planned to take Harry with me and introduce Anthony to him, but seeing as it would be rude to abandon Ron like that, I decided to go alone, so I stood up and both turned to me.
"I'm going to change into my robes." I explained, not wanting to make Ron feel like I didn't like him. They nodded as I headed out into the hallway.
It was mostly empty, except for a student heading here or there. I noticed what looked like a trolley cart coming down the aisle with candy. I was hungry, but knowing Harry would save me some when I got back, decided to instead head for the nearest lavatory. I changed into my robes and looked at myself in the mirror. Once I was satisfied I opened the door and stepped into the hall...
Smack.
"Ow." I said as I rubbed my forehead. I looked up and saw a brown haired girl doing the same. On the floor were sheets and sheets of papers.
"Sorry, I wasn't..." She said in a voice that indicated she was clearly stressed beyond reason.
"It's fine." I replied.
The girl bent down and began to pick up the sheets. I began to help her pick them up. I noticed that the papers weren't magical at all, in fact they looked muggle?
I glanced at one of the sheets I picked up, division problems? I glanced at another one, the scientific method? Why did this girl have pages of muggle schoolwork?
"Thanks." She said quickly as I gave her the last sheet. I finally got a good look at her face and indeed she looked tired, stressed.
"Are you okay?" I asked her worriedly.
"Not at all. These kids in green kicked me out of my compartment, not to mention this..." She motioned to the stack of papers she was holding. "Everyone else seems to be having a grand old time. Well I'm not." She took a few deep breaths. I gave her a sympathetic look.
"It's such a mess. My Mom's a Professor at Cambridge, and she said I could attend Hogwarts was to also keep up with my regular schoolwork. So not only will I have multiple magical classes in a world I know nothing about. But I have this. It's just so..."
"Draining?"
"Yeah, and now I don't have a compartment. I just..."
"It's okay. I'll help you find a compartment." I offered. She took another deep breath.
"Thank you."
I knew my compartment wouldn't really be reasonable for someone doing schoolwork. Harry and Ron talking certainly would drive me mad, and it wasn't fair to them to not talk. I glanced around and found the Trolley had moved past us. Two boys were paying for candy when one of them called back...
"Anthony, you want anything?" I heard the boy ask.
"No. I'll wait for the feast." I heard the familiar voice of Anthony respond...I could kill two birds with one stone. I urged the girl to follow me as we made our way down towards the compartment.
"By the way I'm Lisa, Lisa Turpin." The girl introduced herself.
"A pleasure. I'm Sarah Potter." I replied.
To my surprise, and relief, the girl didn't react in amazement at the name. We continued down towards the compartment.
"I would take you to my compartment, but my brother and his friend love to talk, not ideal for getting work done." I explained motioning to the pile of paper she was carrying. "I know one of the boys in this compartment." I explained, as we arrived at the compartment. I think this would be a good spot...
"I hope so..." Lisa replied worriedly, glancing between me and her work.
I opened the compartment door to find three boys inside. Anthony, a brown haired boy, and a black haired boy. The trio turned to me, while the other two looked confused, Anthony looked satisfied.
"Ah, there you are." Anthony said satisfied.
"Who is this Anthony?" One of the other boys asked.
"Sarah Potter." Anthony replied grinning.
Both the other boys looked at each other. Then quickly got up, and held out there hands.
"A pleasure." The black haired boy said.
"It truly is." The brown haired boy added.
Lisa looked at the attention I was getting, she was clearly confused. I again felt a little overwhelmed...
"Enough." Anthony said, the other two looked at him then looked a bit sheepish.
"Sorry."
"It's just meeting one of the Potters..."
"It's alright." I replied.
"This is Michael Corner." Anthony said motioning to the Black haired boy. "And this is Terry Boot." Anthony nodded to the other.
"A pleasure, this is Lisa Turpin." I motioned behind me. The boys finally noticed her.
"Greetings." Anthony said. Michael and Terry gave her a smile and a nod.
"Nice to meet you." Lisa replied, still looking somewhat confused at the amount of attention I'd just received.
"Well I guess we owe you an apology Anthony. We didn't really think you'd met one of them." Terry said.
"I mean you cant really blame us can you." Michael added.
"I mean I can." Anthony replied with a smirk.
"Come on mate." Terry said shaking his head.
"Fine, anyways Sarah, those books were helpful?" Anthony asked.
"Very much so."
"Good, I thought they would." Anthony then turned to Lisa. "Of course nice to meet you as well, if I may, what are those papers?" Anthony asked curiously noticing Lisa's papers.
"Muggle worksheets." Lisa answered dully.
"Really...fascinating. What types, math? science?" Anthony asked clearly excited.
"All of the above." Lisa replied, looking at him like he was crazy. Excited by muggle worksheets.
"Amazing." Anthony said excitedly. Michael and Terry both shook there heads.
"Calm down Anthony." Michael told him.
"No body wants to hear a ten minute lecture how your parent's wouldn't let you go to muggle school." Terry added.
"Sorry." This time Anthony look sheepish. "It's just muggle's are fascinating." He finished.
"Speaking of this work...is it fine if I work on it in here? Some jerks kicked me out of my compartment." Lisa asked, at the mention Anthony's excited face darkened, as did Michael and Terry's.
"Who kicked you out?" Michael asked clearly annoyed.
"I don't know. They were older, and had green on." Lisa replied.
"Slytherins." Terry deduced
"Who else." Michael added.
"Not all Slytherin's are pure blood maniacs." Anthony told the others.
"True, but a large percentage of them are." Terry replied.
"And a large percentage of Hufflepuff's aren't the brightest tools in the shed. Should we hold that against the whole house?"
Michael and Terry both murmured agreement's. As Anthony turned back to Lisa. "Of course you may sit here." He said. Lisa nodded and sat in the corner, she took out a muggle pencil and began to work. Anthony looked at the pencil with excitement, but restrained himself.
"So where's your brother?" Terry asked curiously.
"Back of the train with another boy from our year. They've been chatting back and forth." I replied.
"Who is it?" Anthony asked.
"Ron Weasley." I replied.
"Ah, I've met him a couple of times, definitely a Gryffindor." Anthony answered.
"Speaking of which, what house do you think you'll be in?" Michael asked.
I had read about all four of the Hogwarts houses. Gryffindor's were brave, and had good intentions. They stood by there friends no matter the cost, but they were prone to charge into a situation without thinking without a plan.
Hufflepuff's were loyal, and kind. They valued fair play and hated cheating. They Sometimes had a low reputation because they weren't as "skilled" as the other houses. But overall Hufflepuff's were a kind lot who stuck by each other.
Slytherin was where the ambitious went. Slytherin's wanted to be known, wanted power, and would do anything to get it. The also had a bad reputation for being dark wizards, as most of you-know-who followers, and Voldemort Himself where all Slytherin's. Still, like Anthony had said, just because some were rotten apples, doesn't make them all.
Ravenclaw was the house of wit and learning. If you were in Ravenclaw you loved to learn, loved to study, loved to experiment. Though sometimes they could seem rather unaffectionate and lost in there own world. Still that didn't take away that Ravenclaw often had the smartest students.
I had a brief idea, I really had no desire for power, so Slytherin seemed unlikely. As for Hufflepuff, I could be kind. But the amount of times I had given homework answer's to Dudley over the years, even if forced, dented my chances.
As for Gryffindor, though my parent's had been in the house, and I felt like I had a decent sense of right and wrong, I was not brave, nor had I ever stood up for myself or Harry. Though I could definitely see Harry in the house. As for me, I was leaning towards Ravenclaw. I loved to learn, and I felt like I met most of the criteria.
"I don't know. Where do you think you will be?" I answered, still not wanting to commit one way or the other.
"Ravenclaw, all of us will be." Michael answered instantly.
"Both my parent's were." Anthony said.
"My dad, and Michael mom where also in Ravenclaw." Terry added.
"Is family history a big factor?" I asked.
"It can be, some more than others. Still other than all our parent's where is the fact that we all possess the desire to learn." Anthony explained.
"Well...maybe. I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch." I explained.
"That makes sense. Still...I bet you will be." Anthony replied surely.
"Maybe, anyway I should be getting back to Harry. If any of you wish to meet him..."
"We'll be fine, we don't want to suffocate him." Terry replied.
"Yeah, plenty of people will be doing that." Michael said with a smirk.
"Can I ask something?" Lisa's voice startled us. We all turned to her.
"Of course." I replied.
"Why are you and your brother famous?" She asked eagerly.
The three boys looked at her in shock, she looked around and shrugged. I just shook my head.
"I'll leave you to fill Lisa here in on the tale of the boy who lived," I told the trio, they nodded. "anyways, I'll see you all once we get there." I added.
"Of course." Anthony replied.
"Nice to meet you." Terry added.
I gave one last nod then began making my way to the back...
"Excuse me." The round face boy from the train platform stopped me in the hall. I turned to him...he was near tears. "Have you seen my toad?" He asked.
"I'm sorry, I haven't." I said, giving the boy a sorrowful look.
"This is hopeless...I've looked all over." He said, he seemed even closer to tears now.
"I'll help you." I offered, not wanting to poor kid to cry on his first day.
"Another girl is looking in the back of the train..." He informed me.
"So we'll search the front." I told him confidently.
"Thank you, by the way I'm Neville Longbottom."
"Sarah Potter." I replied. At my last name the boy gave a amazed squeal. "Please don't go overboared." I added, after another moment, he nodded. "Thank you."
Then we searched, and searched. We ran into Ron's twin brothers. But they hadn't seem him. I asked Anthony and the others, no toad. We looked for hours, with Neville, Finally when it looked like the sun was setting and a voice called over the loudspeaker.
"We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."
"I'm sorry." I told the boy.
"It's my fault...if only. I'll go see if Hermione found him" Neville said, I guessed Hermione was the other girl he'd talked about earlier. Neville stalked away as I gave one final sympathetic look, then I headed back to Harry and Ron's compartment. The hall was a mess, with student's clearly getting rowdy. I was thankful to finally make it back. The compartment was filled with wrappers, and the boy's had finally changed into there robes...
"Where have you been?" Harry asked me worriedly.
"Sorry...I bumped into a girl and had to help her pick up some papers, I got into a conversation about house, Then I ran into a boy named Neville and helped him look for his toad, I've been doing that for hours." I said. Harry breathed a sigh of relief and gave a understanding nod.
"Sorry, I was just worried. A lot's happened here." He told me.
"Like what?" I asked confused.
"Well Neville and Hermione asked us about the toad, then Scabber's wouldn't turn yellow, Gringotts was robbed, and Malfoy showed up." Harry said, as he clearly tried to remember everything.
"Who?" I asked.
"The pale boy." Harry answered.
"He's a rotten one." Ron added.
"What did he do?"
"He showed up with his goons, Crabbe and Goyle, he wanted to be my friend. Then he insulted Ron, Scabbers got defensive." Both Ron and Harry grinned at that. I gave them both a questioning look.
"Do you really want to be making enemies so quickly?" I asked.
"His family's dark, if there's anyone to be enemies with. It's him and his cronies." Ron answered firmly. "They'll be in Slytherin anyway, so they'll hate us no matter what." He added nodding.
"Why would they hate us automatically?" I asked.
"Because Gryffindor's and Slytherin's hate each other. It's how's it always been." Ron answered for me.
"How do you know we'll all be in Gryffindor, I don't think we get to choose?" I asked him curiously, at the thought of not being in Gryffindor he got nervous.
"Well...I mean, my entire family's in Gryffindor. I...have to be." He said nervously.
"And our parent's were to." Harry added, I nodded.
"They were, though I still haven't ruled out any house." I admitted. They both looked at me worriedly.
"Not even Slytherin?" Ron asked nervously, I shrugged.
"I don't know how they sort, what if the houses get to choose. What if we don't have a choice?" I asked.
"I guess you're right, just...please not Slytherin." Ron said, seemingly begging to an unknown force.
In all honesty I didn't expect to be in Gryffindor, and was trying to keep Harry's expectations in check. While it was possible given family history, I also knew I didn't possesses some of the qualities of Gryffindor.
The train finally came to a halt, and the deep worried expression of Harry's and Ron's increased dramatically.
"It'll be fine." I said, though for the first time I was staring to feel nervous as well.
We all unloaded onto the train platform, it was dark and cold. Student's with different colored ties and badges went here and there...I looked down at our black ties and guessed they must change when were sorted. We had no idea where to go, until a familiar voice called out through the darkness.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over here! All right there, you two?" Hagrid asked us as he began to gather the first years. I noticed Anthony and the others grouped up towards the other end of the crowd. He was whispering to Lisa, and when she saw me she gave a sympathetic look. When they saw Harry next to me Anthony looked at him, I nodded and he looked excited and began whispering to Terry and Michael behind him, which caused them to glance over and look at Harry in awe.
"C'mon, follow me — any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!" Hagrid told us, and we followed him down a dark, steep, and narrow path. No one spoke as we walked, other than the occasional sniffle from poor Neville.
"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."
"Oooooh!" Filled the air as the path opened up onto the shore of a black lake. On the other side stood a full blown castle with a wide assortment of turrets and towers. All amplified by the clear night sky.
"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid instructed, pointing to a armada of small boats sitting on the shore.
Me, Harry, and Ron took a boat. Followed boy poor Neville. I noticed that Lisa climbed in with Anthony, Michael, and Terry. Which satisfied me that I had placed her with the right group, at least in the short term.
"Everyone in?" Hagrid asked, he had a boat to himself. "Right then — FORWARD!"
As one the boat began moving forward. We sailed smoothly over the lake, no one spoke as we neared the castle, or as we approached the cliff it sat upon.
"Heads down!" Hagrid ordered as the first boat made it to the cliff. As we ducked we passed through a curtain of ivy, which obscured a large hole in the cliff side. We entered a dark passageway, and I guessed we were heading underneath the school. Finally we reached a underground harbor, which we all began to climb out of.
"Oy, you there! Is this your toad?" Hagrid asked Neville, who was checking the boats as people climbed out of them.
"Trevor!" Neville cried blissfully. I was happy that the boy found his toad after all the hours he'd stressed about it.
After Trevor had been found we followed Hagrid up a passageway in the rock, coming out onto smooth, damp grass right next to the castle.
Hagrid led us up some stone steps, towards a giant oak door.
"Everyone here? You there, still got yer toad?"
Neville nodded, then Hagrid turned back to the door. He knocked three time, and the doors sprung open.