Chapter two "Welcome to Hogwarts"
"Mom there's a mistake on these book lists. It says that we're supposed to get books that are in the third year when we're just starting." Carla exclaimed, handing the piece of paper to Cassia.
" You're right. I wonder why Dumbledore did that." Cassia replied, wondering aloud.
" Hey Mrs. T how are we supposed to get this stuff? Can we get in London?" Shauna asked.
"If you know where to go." Cassia replied with a mischevious gleam in her eyes.
That's when she took them to Diagon Alley to get their wands, robes, and books. Shauna and Carla were still wondering how could Cassia, a magika, know how to do this. It was like a game in which only Cassia knew the rules, and was walking them through it until they reached the school. Shauna's parents had bought the tale that she and Carla had joined an exchange student program and it made them really happy that Cassia was paying for it all. Which was another thing that was bothering Carla; her mother had an account with Gringotts.
King's Cross station and platform 9 3/4
" O.k. this is weird, I only see platforms nine and ten, when it says on our tickets platform 9 3/4. " said Shauna.
" You see that brick wall between the platforms?" Cassia asked.
" Yeaaah." Shauna replied unsurely.
" Ohh I see." Carla exclaimed to herself.
" What ? tell me." Shauna pleaded.
" You have to go through the wall to get onto the platform." Carla explained.
" Oh that would be handy if we were dead and transparent." Shauna replied rather sarcastically.
It was at this time that Cassia put a hand on Shauna's shoulder as a calming gesture. She knew how to get on the platform so that the girls wouldn't have to embarass themselves with crashing and their things in the trolley to end up landing on the ground.
" Girls, just run into the wall and be confident that you will not crash. If you're nervous just do it at a run." Cassia replied.
The girls nervously stared at each other as if hoping one would go ahead of the other. Then Cassia decided to do it herself and she disappeared as soon as she got to the wall. " You do it." shauna thought while looking at Carla.
" We both do it." Carla said to her friend.
"Okay." Shauna replied.
" Hold my hand." Shauna took it.After they had gotten their situation together and ran at the wall together and got onto the platform together. There they saw Cassia and a big red train that was called the Hogwarts Express.
Hogwarts Express
" You my daughter will need this. If you want to teach Shauna until we actually can get hers." Cassia had taken out a very huge, old ,leather bound book.Another thing was the triangle necklace that matched the one on the lock of the book. Shauna would later find out the necklace was the family amulet that also doubled as the key that would unlock the book.
" When you arrive they will put you into one of four houses Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Slytherin, or Ravenclaw. Hope you two get in either Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw, only bad witches and wizards have come out of slytherin. Don't be surprised if they already know how you got in there, news travels fast there." Cassia explained.
" Sounds like high school already." Shauna said, looking at Carla.
Hogsmeade
When they got to the village of Hogsmeade the girls stared up in awe at this giant like person. The man was eight feet tall, had an unruly beard, and hands as large as trash cans. The only thought that came to their minds was Whoa that guy was huge ! Cassia was just as calm and unabashed by the mans height.
" Hello Hagrid." Cassia greeted the giant.
" Oy, Cassia how yeh doin'?"
" Fine, here are your charges until they get to the school."
" For thir years, they look like firs years." Hagrid said looking at Shauna and Carla, who were now clinging to each others arms.
"Be nice Hagrid they're scared, even though I told them that they'd find Hogwarts enjoyable." cried Cassia.
" Oh I will Cassie, yeh know I won't do 'em harm."
" Of course you won't," Cassia laughed, " but I want to give this to Dumbledore." Cassia snuck a letter into Hagrid's hand.
" You know that they're special witches who also need to learn their craft. I've intrusted my daughter to teach Shauna, and that means going off school grounds if it's a must."
" I know that the teachers including meself is aware of the situation."
" Now it's off to school with the two of ya." Hagrid said to his young charges.
"Thank you Hagrid."
" Anythin' for ya Cassia."
Carla and Shauna gave Cassia a hug and went on with Hagrid across the lake to the castle.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Professor McGonagall met Hagrid at the entrance to the Great Hall where the students were enjoying their dinner. She told the girls that they were to be sorted in front of the entire school just like the students before them. This made the two even more nervous ,what scared both of them was the possibility that they could be seperated. McGonagall then escorted both girls into the Great Hall where at the teacher's table a stool with an old pointy witches hat rested. Apparently the girls arrival had definately reached the students ears and there was an interest in the unusuall, American witches who were transferred from a muggle school. All eyes were on the two small, nervous creatures, who were now getting sorted, and everyone was wondering which house would get the pleasure of knowing them better.
Carla was up first and she reluctantly let go of her friend's hand. Like other first years she sat on the stool and felt the hat being placed on her head. A small voice that was the hat whispered in her ears.
" Here is another difficult one to place. You have a lot of nerve definately, talent ,and you want to prove yourself worthy to be here. Where should I put you?"
" Anywhere just not slytherin." Carla thought.
" Are you sure you have the talent and the mind to do so, you could be great."
"If you call evil great." Carla replied.
" If you're sure, better be GRYFFINDOR!"
The house of Gryffindor cheered as Carla got off the stool and decided to wait for her friend's sorting. She waited anxiously ,praying that she and her friend wouldn't get seperated. Finally both girls jumped for joy when the hat put Shauna in Gryffindor too. Together they went to join their fellow gryffindors which included Ron Weasley and his brothers, and their friend Harry Potter.
" Miss Granger." McGonagall spoke to a girl with frizzy brown hair and dark eyes.
" Yes?" she inquired.
" Since Miss Taylor and Miss Carter are new and behind in their studies I shall trust you to tutor them during your breaks or after your classes to catch them up.Mr. Weasley and Mr.Potter can join you if they wish, and make sure they are at ease with being here."
" Yes Professor McGonagall." replied the girl that the girls later would know as Hermione Granger.
" Miss Taylor and Miss Carter." McGonagall addressed.
" Yes Professor?" They responded together.
" Welcome to Hogwarts." Professor McGonagall said smiling.