Days dragged by every slowly- Wait, that's not right. I'll change that... The last days before September first flew by there, that's better :), and before I knew it, it was time to leave for the Hogwarts Express. I had already gotten my school supplies, my wand (yay!) and something else. ;D
(flashback)
We drove to Diagon Alley, which I soon discovered was a magic shopping street. I looked around in awe at all the magical items for sale. Using a Hogwarts fund, I bought my spellbooks, robes, potion ingredients, and everything else except one thing- a wand.
We walked up to a shop and I read the sign-
Ollivander's: Makers of Fine Wands Since 382 B.C.
That's a long time, I thought. As we walked in, I could feel strong magic swirling through the air. Stacked on shelves on the walls were countless wand boxes. The effect was quite magical and astounding.
An old man came from a back room. He had wispy white hair and calculating eyes. "Welcome to Ollivander's, Makers of Fine Wands Since 382 B.C. And what is your name, young lady?" he asked, turning to me.
"Breeze Summers," I replied.
He pulled out a measuring tape, waved his own wand, and it began to measure me. "Which is your wand arm?"
"My right," I said, guessing that your wand arm was the same arm that you write with. The measuring tape finished its job and rolled up.
Ollivander browsed the shelves for a few moments, then pulled a box off. "This wand is made of walnut. It is 11 ½ inches long, springy, and has a unicorn hair for its core," he said, carefully taking an elaborately carved wand out of the box and handing it to me. "Just give it a wave."
I did, and jumped when there was a burst of smoke out of the tip. He quickly took it back and handed me another. "Hickory, 10 inches, firm, phoenix tail feather core." I tried again without luck. He handed me wand after wand after wand, and I was beginning to wish I would find one soon. He took out one more. It was pretty, with leaf shapes carved into it, and a red swirl on the end. "Try this… Ash, 12 ¾ inches, with a dragon heart-string core." I took the wand, and warmth began to creep through me. A small wind picked up and small sparks came flying from the tip. My parents beamed with pride, Ollivander clapped, and I grinned. My wand felt perfect.
"Your new wand is good for charms and protective spells. It has a dragon heartstring core, which implies that your loyalty will be admired among your friends," he said with a gleam in his eyes. I was so happy to have my wand!
We left after I paid seven gold coins called galleons. On our way out of the Alley, we were passing a shop called The Magical Menagerie. Through the window I saw the most adorable kitten ever. She was staring at me with huge gold eyes. Her fur was fluffy and beautiful; she was a tortoiseshell, half her face was orange while the other half was black. I felt my heart instantly melt at the sight of her innocent face. My dad, chuckling, noticed my expression. "Would you like to buy a pet?"
"Yes, please!" I exclaimed. We walked over to the kitten. After playing with her for a few minutes, I bought her for six galleons and five sickles.
(flashback ends)
I had decided to call the kitten Amy. Well, if I couldn't bring my dog from real life to Hogwarts, at least I could bring my cat! Now, she was snuggled up in the back of her carrier, staring with wide eyes as we drove through London to King's Cross Station. As we approached our destination, I felt butterflies in my stomach. Was this all a dream? Technically, yes. Was I REALLY going to Hogwarts? In the aforementioned dream, YES!
We traveled through the station until we reached the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Thankfully, Dumbledore had told us how to get through, because I would have never guessed that you had to run at a wall and appear at a magical platform. Sounds a bit ridiculous, doesn't it?
Dumbledore had also told us that muggles can't make it through the barrier, so after saying good bye, I went through myself. When I made it all the way through, my breath caught in my throat. A giant, scarlet train sat on the tracks in front of me. All around me, witches and wizards bustled around the platform, calling out good byes and greeting friends. A girl with thick blond hair smiled at me as I walked past. She had steely gray eyes, and looked like she was in my year. I smiled back, hoping that I could be friends with her. I hoped I would make friends in this school.
I couldn't find where the blond-haired girl was sitting. In fact, ALL of the compartments were full except for one with a few older students and a sleeping man sitting in it.
"Do you mind if I sit here?" I asked.
"Sure," they replied in unison (except for the sleeping dude, which based on his age I guessed was a professor). I took a seat by the window and simply sat gazing at the passing scenery, listening to their conversation.
"So you're saying that Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban to come after you?"
"But they'll catch Black, won't they? I mean, everyone's looking for him."
"Sure, except… No one's ever escaped from Azkaban before… and he's a murderous, raving lunatic."
"Thanks, Ron."
I had no clue what they were talking about. Serious black? Azkaban? What in the world…? Wait a minute, this conversation sounds familiar... OMG I'M SITTING IN A COMPARTMENT WITH HARRY POTTER!
After a little while, a snack trolley came around. The boy with black hair and glasses (OMG!) bought most of the stuff, but I didn't mind. All I wanted to try was a chocolate frog. Sounded interesting. Being the chocolate lover I was, I took a bite and tasted sweet heaven. (I LOOOVE CHOCOLATE! OMG IM SO HYPED UP!)
"Oh, I've just realized, we haven't been very polite at all, have we?" a girl with bushy brown hair exclaimed, her attention on me. (IS THIS REALLY HAPPENING?!) "My name is Hermione Granger. The redhead is Ron Weasley, and the kid with the glasses is Harry Potter. We're third years in Gryffindor." Harry Potter… hadn't I heard that name somewhere before? (YES! YES YOU HAVE!)
"Gryffindor?" I asked, confused.
"You must be muggleborn," said Ron. "Well, there are four houses you can get sorted into at Hogwarts: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Gryffindor's for brave people, Hufflepuff is for loyal and kind people, Ravenclaw's for smart people, and they say Slytherin's for ambitious and cunning people, but most of the evil dark wizards were in that house, so they have a bad reputation."
So that's what Dumbledore was talking about when he mentioned houses!
"Oh," I said. "Well, my name is Breeze Summers. Yeah, I am a muggleborn."
"Me, too," Hermione said.
We began discussing things to do with Hogwarts. They didn't seem to want to answer my questions about how we're sorted because of tradition, but Harry and Ron talked about Quidditch a lot.
"So, who's this Sirius Black you were talking about? And why is he coming after you?" I asked, before I could stop myself. I immediately felt myself blush at being caught eavesdropping. Harry and Hermione seemed a little anxious, but Ron answered.
"Don't you know a thing about who Harry, You-Know-Who, and Sirius Black are?" He asked incredulously.
"No," I replied. YES YES I DO!
So Ron began to tell me everything about the aforementioned subjects. I won't tell you every single detail, since you already know. I listened in awe, fear, and amazement as he explained.
"So who IS You-Know-Who?" I asked once he finished. "Like, his name? I know you don't like to say it, but-"
"Voldemort," Harry immediately answered.
"Don't say the name!" Ron hissed. But Harry just shrugged.
The train suddenly lurched, coming to and abrupt stop. I flew forward and almost landed on the floor, but luckily I grabbed onto the luggage rack in time.
"Bloody hell!" Ron shouted. My cat carrier's door fell open and Amy bolted under the seat, hissing. I heard Ron mutter something that sounded like, "Oh, great. Another furry git." DON'T FEEL BAD FOR SCABBERS! (HISSSSSSSSSS)
Harry glanced towards the professor dude. "Lupin's still asleep," he muttered. "How did he sleep through that?"
"I don't know, bu-" Hermione stopped as a deadly chill started creeping through me. I gasped. Voices started to run through my mind...
"No! No, please, not Harry, not Harry..."
"Step aside, silly girl!"
"No, please, not Harry, take me instead!"
My vision was starting to blur...
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies..."
Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw the door slide open, and a decaying hand...
"Bone of the father, unknowingly given, you will renew your son... Flesh of the servant, willingly sacrificed, you will revive your master... Blood of the enemy, forcibly taken, you will resurrect your foe..."
A horrible creature emerged, taking deep rattling breaths, and it moved towards Harry...
"So, you think that Voldemort has succeeded? In making a horcrux?"
"Yes, but not only once..."
"What are they, exactly?"
"They can be anything, the most commonplace of objects. A ring, for example, or a book..."
Harry collapsed. Hermione screamed, and the professor jumped up, drawing his wand...
"Harry Potter... The Boy Who Lived... Come to die..."
Bright light filled the compartment, and the creature was blown away. The temperature raised, and my vision cleared. Harry was lying on the ground, Hermione and Ron bending worriedly over him. The professor- Lupin, I think Harry called him- cast a worried glance towards me before saying a quick incantation. Harry immediately stirred.
"W-what happened?" He gasped.
"You... sorta... fainted, mate," Ron said anxiously.
"There was screaming- someone was screaming... a woman-"
"No one was screaming, Harry," Hermione said, her look full of concern.
"Here," Lupin murmured, extending a piece of chocolate towards Harry. "Eat. You'll feel better." He handed out pieces of chocolate to all of us before popping one into his own mouth. "It's only chocolate. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go have a quick word with the driver..."
I ate mine and immediately felt warmth replace the cold that was filling me. The trio followed suit.
"What was that?" I asked.
"It looked like a dementor," Hermione informed us. "You know, one of the guards of Azkaban. The jail we told you about."
I nodded numbly. We sat in silence before Harry asked, "And did any of you... you know... faint?"
We all shook our heads. "It felt weird, though," Ron mumbled. "Like I'd never be cheerful again..."
"I heard-" I started, but stopped myself. Should I tell them? It didn't sound like something I should share... Definitely not! What WAS that? I thought dementors were supposed to cause you to relive your worst memories! Those were glimpses from the past and future? Why in the world would you hear that?
The rest of the train ride passed uneventfully. I changed into my uniform (not in the compartment, in the lavatory!), and soon, the train pulled into the station.
A/N: Exciting news! Talon has decided to make an appearance! She was the blondie at the station... You will be seeing more of her soon! I give a dozen e-cookies to Talon for joining in!
Also, THIS MESSAGE IS FOR TALON: Join the Dark Side! LOL YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!
This was like my longest chapter ever... I will update soon!
-Breeze