Chapter 9: Hogwarts
As Phoenix moved swiftly to her compartment, the train continued to slow down. She hurried, and as she reached the door, they made an announcement.
"We will reach Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train; it will be taken to the school separately."
When the announcement was over, Phoenix opened the door to find Hermione sitting there. Cali on her lap.
"Are you okay, Hermione?" Phoenix asked, the door closing behind her.
"Um… well…. yes… um."
"Are you sure? You don't look or sound fine to me."
"Well… huh…." Defeated, Hermione answered. "I'm nervous. I mean, we're at Hogwarts!"
The reality hit Phoenix while she was putting Cali in her cage. 'Hermione is right. We are at Hogwarts.'
"I mean you above everybody should be nervous being so far from home."
Hermione was not helping. In fact, she was making Phoenix more nervous as she sat down.
'Katie and Henry started Magic School without me. I left my best friends there.' Phoenix was getting homesick. She had to be strong. She was the one who wanted to go. Then the train came to a complete halt.
Phoenix and Hermione opened the door and entered the crowd. Phoenix looked around to see if she could spot Harry or Ron, but everyone was being pushed toward the small door. She gave up and followed Hermione onto the dark small platform.
The crisp night air went through Phoenix. She continued to look for Harry and Ron until she heard a man's voice yelling.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" Phoenix recognized the man. He was with Harry at the bank. His big stature and wild unkept hair shadowed all the first years. "C'mon, follow me. Any more firs' years? Mind yer step now. Firs' years follow me!"
The crowd followed Hagrid down a narrow path. Phoenix, trying hard to control her shivering, was slipping and sliding on the steep and wet path.
'What are they trying to do? Get us all a workout before we even get there?'
"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec. Jus' round this bend here."
Phoenix heard him say as she looked. The only word that could come out was "Wow!" A huge black lake leads to a view that was a painter's dream. 'I must paint this! This is my painting!
Across the great lake, there was a castle. Its many towers and turrets held its own beauty. With the castle perched on a high mountain, the windows twinkle just right under the starry sky. It was a view a painter, like Phoenix, would die over. 'Everything is perfect! The lighting and the coloring! I need to plant this in my brain!'
Phoenix looked down at the shore as people walked passed her. She heard nothing. She was paying too much attention to the wonderful view. She noticed small boats all lined up and saw only four people getting into each one.
"Phoenix over here! Phoenix!" Hearing her name being hollered, Phoenix looked over the many heads until she found Harry, with Ron and Hermione, waving her over. Phoenix waved and walked towards them.
"Sorry I was enjoying the view."
"Don't worry, we wouldn't leave without you." Said Harry as he and Ron helped her onto the boat.
Phoenix was shivering now more than anything. Her teeth were clattering, and lips chapping.
"Are you cold?" asked Ron.
Phoenix looked at Ron a little annoyed. "No! I'm shivering because it's so hot outside and I didn't know what else to do! Yes, I'm cold! And the lake is not helping!" Phoenix retorted.
"Everyone in?" They all heard Hagrid shouting, stopping the conversation. "Right the-Forward!"
As the boats moved toward the castle, Phoenix stared. She tried hard not to keep her mouth open. Phoenix looked around. Everyone else was staring with mouths open. 'Wow Hermione is speechless!' Phoenix turned back around and took in as much details as she could.
"Heads down!" Phoenix heard as the boats reached the cliffs Hogwarts stood on.
Phoenix lowered her head as the boats led them through an opening in the cliff hidden by ivy. The ride was ending when they reached a harbor placed underneath the castle. Ron was the first to hop out of the boat, followed by Hermione, herself, and then Harry. Phoenix heard a slight noise and turned around to see a toad inside the boat.
"Urm Neville?" She said tapping him on the shoulder when she found him. "I think I found your toad."
"Trevor!" yelled Neville as he held out his hands to let the toad hop into them.
Phoenix walked towards her new friends followed by Neville. 'Here we are. We are at Hogwarts. This will be hard to get used to.' Phoenix thought as the first years walked up the stone steps and gathered around the enormous oak door.
"Everyone here? You there, still got yer toad?" Hagrid asked.
Phoenix looked up at the door as Hagrid knocked three times.