Chapter 3: Hogwarts is Officially Amazing

A/N: Sorry about the rushing of the last chapter and grammar errors. It was just that it was 11:00 at night, I was getting tired, and I was really annoyed. So, yeah, hopefully, this chapter will be better.


As we walked down the corridor of the Hogwarts Express, everyone was really excited and happy to be there. Suddenly, we saw this huge, hairy thing crawl out of one of the compartments. All of my friends screamed, but me. I looked inside the compartment and saw that the twins were in there.

"FRED! GEORGE!" I screamed. "GET YOUR STINKIN' TARANTULA OUT OF HERE! IT'S SCARING MY FRIENDS!"

The twins came rushing out and Fred said, "It's not our tarantula. It's Lee Jordan's."

"Lee's, yours who cares?" I screamed. "My friends are probably scarred for life."

"It didn't do anything," George said.

"Yeah, but not everyone sees a giant, hairy tarantula come out of a train compartment, even in the Wizarding World!"

"C'mon, George," Fred said. "Let's get Crawlers back to Lee before Crawlers gets lonely."

"Crawlers?" Jae mouthed. I rolled my eyes, and we went on to find a compartment.

About halfway through the train, we saw an almost empty compartment. There was only one girl in it.

"It's almost empty," Juliet said, so we went inside.

"Hi," I said.

"Hi!" she said, enthusiastically. "I'm Katherine James, but everyone calls me Katie."

"Well, hi, Katie," Jae said. "I'm Jaeden Rodriguez, but you can call me Jae."

"I'm Lana Weasley," I said next. I didn't want to tell her my full name, because nobody, not even Uncle Arthur and Aunt Molly, call me that.

"Hi, Katie," Juliet said. "I'm Juliet Blackshade."

"And I'm Twila Hart," Twila finished.

"So, can we sit here?" I asked.

"Sure, my brothers and sisters went off without me," she said. "I'm the youngest in the family and it sucks!"

"Don't worry," I said. "I live with my aunt and uncle and their children. At the house, we have 8 kids running around, including me. I'm the third youngest."

"Yeah," Twila said. "I'm the youngest of four, just like you, but I have one sister and two brothers."

"I'm the youngest of three," Juliet said. "Two teenage brothers, plus my mum and dad, plus me equals not pretty." We all laughed.

"So, you guys," Katie said, "what House do you want to be in?"

"I want to be in Gryffindor!" I exclaimed. "Just like my cousins and my parents. I think my parents were in Gryffindor."

"I bet I'm in Slytherin," Twila said.

"Why?" Katie asked.

"Have you heard of the Hart family?"

"The second highest pureblood obsessed family, below the Malfoys?" she said.

"Yep, that's us," Twila said. "All of us are in Slytherin, so, I bet you 5 Sickles that I'm in Slytherin, too. I do have all the traits of it: witty, cunning, sly, or so I think. I'm not sure."

"I don't know what House I'm going to be in," Juliet said. "I actually don't know any."

"How can you not—" Katie started, but she realized something. "Muggle-born?"

"Sorta," Juliet said. "My family isn't magical, but we know about the Wizarding World. We're werewolves. I'm actually the first in my family to be a witch."

"Cool," Katie said. "What about you, Jae?"

"I hope I'm in Gryffindor," Jae replied. "If not, Ravenclaw. I'd even take Hufflepuff over Slytherin!"

"Nice, me too," Katie said. "I'm either gonna be in Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw, as that's what my whole family's in."

"Are they gonna kill you if you get into Gryffindor?" Jae asked jokingly.

"Probably," Katie replied.

"Oh, God," I said.

"So, what's your favorite Quidditch team?" Twila asked.

"Chudley Cannons!" I exclaimed.

"You know they're last in the league, right?" Jae said.

"I know, but they are awesome!" I exclaimed. "Not giving up after years of being last in the league. It warms my heart."

"It warms your heart?" Katie said. I nodded.

"Well, I like the Holyhead Harpies," Jae said.

"Me too!" Katie exclaimed.

"Yeah, they're good, but the Ballycastle Bats are by far the best!" Twila said.

So, after about a 15 minute argument about that, we settled down and just talked about random stuff.

For the next 2 hours, we talked, laughed, and joked around until the sweet cart came.

"What would you like, dearies?" the kind-faced witch behind the cart asked.

"I'm fine," I said. "I brought sandwiches." Yeah, I did, but I wouldn't eat them. Aunt Molly always packs me ham and cheese with Provolone cheese, which I don't like.

"Don't worry," Katie said. "It's on me."

"Ok," I said. "I'll have a pack of Drooble's, a pack of Licorice Wands, and a Chocolate Frog."

"I'll have Bertie Bott's and two Chocolate Frogs," Twila said.

"I'll have just two Chocolate Frogs," Juliet said.

"And I'll have a Licorice Wand and Bertie Bott's," Jae said.

"And I'll have just a pack of Drooble's," Katie said.

The sweet lady told her the amount of money and Katie paid it. After that, we sat back down and ate.

We ate our sweets the entire way there. We swapped Chocolate Frog cards, got hyper on candy, and we still had some left.

When we had about 15 minutes left of the ride, a boy came in. "Have any of you seen my toad?" he asked.

"No, we haven't," Jae said. "But we'll keep an eye out."

"Okay, thanks," he said, and he left. We decided to get changed into our robes after that, which took us about five minutes, so we continued pigging out on candy.

When there was five minutes left of the ride, a bushy-haired girl came in. "Have any of you seen a toad?" she asked.

"We already told the boy, no," I said.

She sighed. "Fine. I'll leave. At least you girls aren't as bad as this red-haired boy down a few compartments. Ronald Weasley, I think his name was. He was sitting with Harry Potter."

I gasped and so did Jae, Katie, and Twila. "The Harry Potter," I said.

"Yes," she said. "I saw the scar and everything."

"Oh my God," I said. "My cousin, Ron Weasley is sitting with the Harry Potter. I need to ask him about everything as soon as we—" The train lurched to a sudden stop. "—Stop" I finished.

"Well, I'd better go," the girl said. "By the way, my name's Hermione Granger. And also, your cousin's weird. No offense or anything, but I don't think I'll ever be friends with him." And that was the first time I met Hermione Granger.

We quickly got out of the train. Well, as fast as we could when a lot of kids are trying to get out, also. As we finally got out, I was frantically searching for Ron. I saw him standing next to this giant man. Next to Ron was the boy that we helped get on the platform. He was Harry Potter. I felt like screaming, but I knew I couldn't.

I quickly said to my friends, "That's Harry Potter. The one standing next to the red head that's talking to the giant."

Katie started hyperventilating. "Breathe," I said.

"I'm just really excited," she replied.

I heard the giant call, "Firs' years. Firs' years over here! Only four to a boat!"

"No!" Juliet said. "There's five of us!"

"Don't worry, I'll go to another boat. Oh, how about this one," I said, pointing at the boat where my cousin sat with Harry Potter. Twila rolled her eyes at me.

"Nice subtleness," Jae yelled.

"Thanks!" I said as I got onto the boat.

"Hey, Ron," I said. "Do you mind if I sit here?" I asked, sitting in the boat. "Well, too late, I already am. Hey, aren't you the kid we helped get on the platform?"

"Yeah," Harry Potter replied. His hair moved a little bit, just to show his scar.

"Oh my God!" I exclaimed. "You're Harry Potter!"

"Yes, yes I am. Now please don't announce my existence to the world!" he said.

"Okay," I replied. Then, Hermione Granger came up and sat in the boat. Ron groaned.

"Ronald!" I yelled. "Be nice to Hermione! She is so nice!"

"Yeah, nicely annoying," Ron said.

"Ron, that is not nice," I said as the boat started moving. "Hermione, he didn't mean it."

"I know," she replied. "Boys are stupid."

"I know!" I exclaimed.

After talking to Hermione for a while and the boys having their own separate conversation, we heard the giant say, "You'll be gettin' yer firs' sight of Hogwarts aroun' this corner."

When we turned the corner, we did indeed see Hogwarts and it was amazing! Like a dream!

So, after waiting anxiously, we finally arrived at Hogwarts. The giant, whose name is Hagrid, led us into a hall, where a teacher that looked like she would be strict, greeted us and told us what would be happening. We would be Sorted into Houses by the Sorting Hat. Oh, I am going to kill Fred, he was going on about a troll!

The strict teacher led us to the Great Hall, where we would be Sorted. We stood there awkwardly, looking at the Sorting Hat, for about five seconds. Then the Sorting Hat began singing:

"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,

But don't judge on what you see,

I'll eat myself if you can find

A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall,

For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head

The Sorting Hat can't see,

So try me on and I will tell you

Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

Their daring, nerve, and chivalry

Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal,

Those patient Hufflepuffs are true

And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

if you've a ready mind,

Where those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin

You'll make your real friends,

Those cunning folk use any means

To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!

You're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

Everyone in the Hall started clapping, so we started clapping, too.

Professor McGonagall told us that we would try on the Hat and then be Sorted into our Houses. The first person called went into Hufflepuff.

"Blackshade, Juliet!" called Professor McGonagall. Twila and I slightly pushed Juliet up.

She, nervously, put on the Hat, and, after a minute or so, it called out, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Twila, Katie, Jae, and I clapped for her as she sat down at the Gryffindor table.

After about 5-10 minutes we waited in patience while other people were Sorted. After waiting those minutes, "Granger, Hermione!" was called.

Hermione nervously put on the Hat, and it called out, "GRYFFINDOR!" I heard Ron groan and I tried to keep in a laugh.

After Hermione, "Hart, Twila!" was called. Twila walked up to the hat, proud and brave, not afraid at all. After she put on the Hat, there was about a two minute waiting period, then the Hat called out, "GRYFFINDOR!"

The next person was Katie. Her Sorting was short. She was in Gryffindor. She slightly cringed when she heard the last word, but she walked over to the table and sat down next to Twila.

We waited a couple of minutes, then "Potter, Harry!" was called out. Everyone started murmuring. Harry walked up to the Hat, and, after a half-minute period, it called out, "GRYFFINDOR!" He proudly walked over to the Gryffindor table and sat down next to another Gryffindor, Seamus Finnigan.

I could hear Fred and George chanting, "WE GOT POTTER!" I laughed at that.

Two more people went, then it was Jae's turn. She was slightly nervous as she walked up and put on the Hat. This one was a short Sorting. After about 10 seconds, the Hat called out, "GRYFFINDOR!" I, enthusiastically, clapped for her.

After a couple people, Professor McGonagall called out, "Weasley, Alana!" Ron looked confused as she called out my first name.

The Hat went over my eyes as it was put over my head.

"Ah! A Weasley! All of them are clear Gryffindors. But I'm not so sure about you."

"Just sort me!" I thought.

"Hm, courage, but you do have a ready mind, but—Ah! I know! GRYFFINDOR!"

I, excitedly, took off the hat and walked over to my friends, who clapped me on the back. Ron was next and he was also sorted into Gryffindor.

When he sat down, he asked me, "Ok, why is your name Alana?"

I did a face-palm. Oh, this boy is gonna be hard.