Okay, okay, a few days later than promised, but I blame crappy wifi boxes, lol. Now, here's the next chapter of A Pierce-ing Story!
~GharrahGirl
For the next month, I read diligently, sometimes breaking from the encyclopedia to read some of my textbooks. Each evening, I talk with Dad about what I read, and he puts in what he knows about the different subjects while Mom watches us fondly. Then, finally, it's the day to get on the train. Thankfully, Dad calls a muggle cab to take us to Kings Cross. The drive is kind of long, and the car is loud, but it's fun to watch the buildings pass by as we go through London.
When we get to Kings Cross, Dad puts my luggage onto a trolley, and the three of us go inside, me following after Mom and Dad as they lead me to the platform.
"Alex!"
I spin around at my name, and Mom and Dad stop, looking around in confusion. After a moment of looking, I see a familiar head of bushy brown hair.
"Hermione," I say, smiling and waving as she heads over with her parents following.
They stop in front of us, and Mom and Dad smile at them.
"Mom, Dad, this is Hermione. I met her in Flourish and Blotts."
Dad smiles and holds out a hand to Hermione's father.
"Robert Pierce, this is my wife Melinda and our daughter Alexandria."
I grimace at my full name.
"Hugh Granger. This is my wife, Annabel, and our daughter Hermione."
They shake hands, and Hermione and I smile at each other.
"We were just wondering how to get on the platform," Hermione explains, "And I saw you, and I knew your parents would probably know."
Dad looks at the two in front of him.
"Muggles," he asks.
Hugh nods, and Dad smiles.
"Don't meet many muggles. We live pretty isolated, and I work in the ministry of magic, so it's always a pleasant thing, meeting muggles. I don't think you'll be able to get onto the platform, unfortunately, but Hermione's welcome to follow us."
"Well, alright then. We'll see you for your Christmas holiday."
"You be good," her mom says, hugging her tight before releasing her so her father can do the same, "And study hard."
Hermione nods, and her dad gives her a kiss on the forehead before they leave, both occasionally looking back at Hermione until they're out of sight.
Dad smiles down at Hermione, and she gives him a shy smile in return.
"Very nice to meet you, Hermione. I didn't realize that Ally made a friend already," he says, patting her shoulder, "Come along, girls, or you'll never find a compartment."
With that, the four of us continue until we reach platforms 9 and 10. Dad pauses, looking at the two of us.
"Alright, now all you do is run straight at the wall between platforms 9 and 10. Hermione, if you're nervous, my wife can go with you."
Hermione eyes the wall for a moment before nodding. Mom smiles and takes control of the trolley, checking with Hermione briefly before the two of them jog up to the wall and disappear as they reach it. Dad nods toward me, and we do the same thing, catching up to Hermione and my mom as Hermione looks at the large scarlet train with wide eyes.
"Come on, girls. I'll get your luggage up where it needs to be," Dad says, pushing my trolley as Mom follows with Hermione's.
I link my arm with hers and smile at her as we follow behind them. She returns the smile and walks alongside me. When we get to the train, we both hand over our tickets, and Dad and Mom help us carry our luggage to an empty compartment, where Dad puts the luggage up in the rack. Dad gives me a kiss on the top of my head before heading out, and Mom hugs me before hugging a surprised Hermione and leaving after him. Hermione and I go to the window and open it, looking out at the different people. I wave as I see my parents, and they wave back at us.
Then I sit down, Hermione following my example and sitting across from me. I shut the door and release Morgana, who slinks out of her carrier and stretches briefly before catching sight of Hermione and looking her over with her jade gaze.
"Oh, she's so cute," Hermione gushes, smiling as Morgana jumps over to the other seat, sniffing at Hermione before rubbing against her as Hermione pets her back and scratches her ears, "What's her name?"
"Morgana. I just got her a month ago, the day I met you. She's really gotten better around people since I got her. Before, she wouldn't go near anyone but me."
Hermione smiles and continues petting Morgana as we sit in comfortable silence for a few minutes.
"Did you get to read Hogwarts, A History?"
Her eyes brighten.
"Oh, yes! You were right, it was such a fascinating read! I also read our textbooks and memorized them, of course."
I raise my eyebrows at that.
"Why'd you memorize them? We'll be discussing them in class."
"It's always good to plan ahead, you know. Besides, I don't want to be behind."
"Oh, trust me, you won't be. Lots of first years know nothing about our subjects until we get to Hogwarts."
"Have you gotten a chance to read your book?"
"I'm nearly finished," I say, smiling, "And it's really interesting. I can't wait until our third year. Dad's told me that we get to take Care of Magical Creatures class then."
"Really? That sounds like a fun class."
"My dad loved it. My mum's favorite class was Transfiguration, though."
"Oh really?"
I nod, smiling.
"She was in Ravenclaw, and she liked the challenge that came with Transfiguration."
"Was your dad in Ravenclaw, too?"
"No, he was in Slytherin."
"Was he really? I've heard that Slytherin isn't a good house to be in."
"It's got a bad name, but Dad says some of the kids in that house are good, some are bad, too."
"What house do you think you'll be in? I hope for Gryffindor, it sounds by far the best. Although, Ravenclaw doesn't sound so bad, either."
"Mum and Dad have been debating that for the last month. Mum insists I'll be in Ravenclaw because I love reading, but Dad's almost sure I'll go in Slytherin because of my wit."
She nods, taking in the information like a sponge.
"Yes, Slytherin's for the cunning, right?"
"Uh-huh, the ones that think of alternative plans to get jobs done. I, personally, would be happy in any house. I hope you're in it, though."
She smiles at me, and I return it. After a moment, though, I glance out the window and see that the station's nearly empty, which means most students have boarded by now.
"Um, e-excuse me…" a meek voice says from the door.
I look and see a round-faced boy with dark hair holding a toad in one hand.
"Can-Can I-I sit here? Everywhere else is full."
"Of course," we answer before we help him put his luggage up with ours.
Morgana watches the toad in his hands curiously, and the boy sits down in the seat by Hermione, looking very nervous.
"I'm Neville Longbottom."
"I'm Hermione Granger."
"Alex Pierce."
He nods, looking down at the toad.
"This is Trevor. My gran gave him to me."
He sets it in the seat next to him, and Morgana walks up to it, sitting near it and looking down at it before bopping it on the head with her front paw. It gives out a croak, scaring my poor cat and causing her to nearly fall off the seat. The three of us chuckle, and Neville pats Morgana's head.
"That's Morgana," I say, "She's pretty friendly with other animals."
He nods, looking down at his hands nervously.
"We were just discussing houses," Hermione says, smiling at him gently.
"Really? I suspect I'll be in Hufflepuff," he says dejectedly.
"Oh, there's nothing wrong with that," I say, smiling at him as he looks up at me, "Huflepuff's for the intensely loyal, and loyalty is a noble trait."
He perks up a bit, looking slightly content with my reasoning.
"Hey, did you hear Harry Potter's on the train," he says suddenly.
I look up, smiling.
"Is he really?"
He nods, and I stand.
"I better go say hi to him. I met him in Ollivanders last month and told him I'd see him on the train. I'll be back in a few. Hermione, if the trolly comes by, can you get me some pumpkin pasties and Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans? Get something for you and Neville, too."
I hand her a galleon, which should be more than enough for candy for us all. She nods, and I head out of the compartment, Morgana following at my ankles. I head down the train, looking in as I pass each on until I see a familiar mop of unruly black hair. I msile as I open the door, Morgana slinking into the compartment as I enter.
"This seat taken," I ask, smiling as Harry and a boy with flaming red hair both look at me.
Harry smiles and shakes his head, so I close the door to the compartment and sit next to him.
"Hello, Harry. Lovely seeing you again," I say before looking at the other boy with a smile, "I'm Alex, by the way, Alex Pierce."
"Ron Weasley."
"I figured."
"What's that supposed to mean?" he asks defensively.
"You've got the hair. My dad always says there's no red hair like Weasley red. He used to work with your dad before he got transferred."
"He did," Ron asks, no longer defensive, but curious.
"For quite a few years, yeah."
I hear a terrified squeaking before a rat shoots out from under the seat, Morgana right behidn it.
"Oi! Get away from Scabbers," Ron says, ducking for the rat only for Morgana to pounce on it, knocking the poor thing over and backing up, sitting down and watching it with a swishing tail.
"Oh, don't worry about her. She won't hurt him. She's only playing."
He hesitates, but grabs Scabbers and puts him up in the seat, only for Morgana to follow, eyeing it as her tail swishes.
"Morgana, leave it alone," I say firmly.
Her gaze turns my way, and she stares for a long moment before she jumps over into my lap, purring as I pet her before she walks over onto his lap, purring and demanding attention by rubbing her side along his arm. He smiles and pets her absently as he looks back at me.
"I got her after I met you in Ollivanders."
He nods and glances down at her again. I look around the compartment, finally noticing all of the sweets.
"Were you two starving," I ask, eyebrow raised.
Harry laughs slightly, and Ron smiles.
"That was all Harry."
I chuckle slightly before picking up a box of Bertie Bott's Every flavor Beans. Harry grimaces slightly at the box.
"Do you mind if I have one?"
He shakes his head, and I reach in, pulling out a really red one and looking at it.
"Looks like apple," Ron comments.
I stick it in my mouth, biting down and chewing a few times before grimacing as a horrid coppery taste fills my mouth. I swallow it before shaking my head.
"That was not apple," I say, making Harry laugh as he looks at the disgusted look on my face.
"What was it," Ron asks.
"Blood," I say, reaching for another and pulling out a lovely yellow one.
I chew on it before smiling, "Honey."
For a bit, Ron, Harry, and I discuss the different flavors of the beans, debating the ratio of good flavors and bad flavors. We continue talking until a knock at the door pauses it. Looking over, I see a teary-eyed Neville in the doorway.
"Neville, what's wrong," I ask, concerned.
"Have you seen Trevor?"
"No, not since I left the compartment, why?"
"I've lost him!" he wails, "He got out when the trolley came."
"I haven't seen him. Do you want my help looking?"
He shakes his head dejectedly.
"No, Hermione's helping. If you see him, though…"
"If I see him, I'll bring him right to you," I assure, standign as he nods and leaves.
"Poor guy," I say, sitting back down.
"Don't know why he's so bothered," Ron says, "If I'd brought a toad I'd lose it as quick as I could. Mind you, I brought Scabbers, so I can't talk."
We all look to the rat, which is now sleeping soundly in Ron's lap.
"He might have died and you wouldn't know the difference," Ron says, disgusted, "I tried to turn him yellow to make him more interesting, but the spell didn't work. I'll show you, look…"
He rummages around in his trunk before he pulls out a battered wand that has something silvery peeking out in some places.
"Unicorn hair's nearly poking out. Anyway-"
He raises his wand, but pauses as the compartment door slides open again, this time revealing Hermione, who looks exasperated and has Neville by her side. She's now dressed in her robes, so she must've changed when I left.
"Has anyone seen a toad," she asks, "Neville's lost one."
"We've already told him we haven't seen it," Rn says.
"Oh, are you doing magic," Hermione asks, apparently not having listened to him, "Let's see it, then."
She sits down across from me, and Ron looks slightly taken aback by the sudden change in subject.
"Er- all right."
He clears his throat, "Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, Turn this stupid, fat rat yellow."
He waves his wand, but nothing happens. Scabbers stays the same grey color. He doesn't even wake up.
"Are you sure that's a real spell," Hermione asks, "Well, it's not very good, is it? I've tried a few simple spells just for practice and it's all worked for me. Nobody in my family's magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, I mean, it's the best school of witchcraft there is, I've heard- I've learned all our course books by heart, of course, I just hope it will be enough- I'm Hermione Granger, by the way, who are you?"
I chuckle slightly.
"It's more than enough, Hermione," I assure again.
I glance at Ron and Harry and see that they're both slightly lost. Seems I'm the only one that's able to keep up when she gets into one of her fast speeches.
"I'm Ron Weasley."
"Harry Potter."
"Are you really?" she asks, "I know all about you, of course- I got a few extra books for background reading, and you're in Modern Magical History and The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century."
"Am I," Harry asks, looking a bit overwhelmed.
"Goodness, didn't you know, I'd have found out everything I could if it was me. Do either of you know what house you'll be in? I've been asking around, and Alex and I've been discussing it, and I hope I'm in Gryffindor, it sounds by far the best; I hear Dumbledore himself was in it, but I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad… Anyway, we'd better go and look for Neville's toad. You two had better change, you know. I expect we'll be there soon. Alex, your sweets are in your bag, so is the change. You may want to change, as well."
"Duly noted, Hermione," I say with a smile as she and neville leave.
"Whatever house I'm in, I hope she's not in it," Ron says, "Stupid spell- George gave it to me, bet he knew it was a dud."
"She's nice," I say, defending my friend.
"What house are your brothers in," Harry asks before Ron can retort.
"Gryffindor," Ron says, suddenly looking rather glum, "Mom and Dad were in it, too. I don't know what they'll say if I'm not. I don't suppose Ravenclaw would be too bad, but imagine if they put me in Slytherin."
I glare slightly at that, offended.
"That's the house Col-, I mean, You-Know-Who was in?"
"Yeah," Ron answers, leaning back in his seat.
"Not all Slytherins are bad," I say, glaring still.
Ron scoffs, and I narrow my eyes.
"Yeah? Name one."
"My father," I snap, standing, "I think I'll take my leave. It was nice seeing you again, Harry."
With that, I leave the compartment, Morgana at my ankles again. I head back to my compartment and change quickly into my robes before sitting down to eat a pasty.
After a few minutes, Hermione returns with a devastated Neville. She looks at me and frowns.
"What's wrong?"
"That Ron bloke made a crack about Slytherins. He's got the same prejudice against Slytherin as the rest of the school has."
Thought I heard your voice, Pierce," a voice says from the doorway.
I look over and chuckle slightly as Draco walks in, hands in his pockets.
"Nice to see you, too, Draco."
He looks at Neville and Hermione silently, and I clear my throat slightly in the awkward silence.
"Here, sit down," I say, scooting toward the window so he can sit by the door, "Where are your goons?"
He rolls his eyes and plops down into the seat next to me.
"Crabbe and Goyle are in the compartment with Zabini. Who're you two, then?"
"Neville Longbottom," Neville says quietly.
"Hermione Granger."
"Longbottom, huh," Draco says, looking Neville over before looking at Hermione closely, "Are you muggle-born? I've never heard of any Grangers."
She nods quickly, "My whole family is non-magical. I was quite excited to get my letter, granted I thought it was a joke at first, but a school official showed up and explained everything. My parents are very proud."
Draco glances at me, and I give him a warning look. He nods slightly, looking her over.
"I bet they are. Nothing finer than being a witch or wizard. What house do you think you'll go in?"
"I'm hoping for Gryffindor, but Ravenclaw wouldn't be that bad, either."
"Gryffindor, huh? Bunch of losers," he says, scrunching up his nose, "Slytherin is where you should be hoping for, but Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad, I suppose. Imagine getting stuck in Hufflepuff, though."
"Draco, be nice. There's nothing wrong with Gryffindor or Hufflepuff."
"You're too good," he says, looking my way, "It's weird."
I roll my eyes, and Hermione laugh slightly. Neville looks dejected again, so I glare at Draco before nodding toward Neville subtly. Draco looks Neville's way before shrugging.
"Not that there's anything particularly wrong with Hufflepuff, I suppose. Just that my father would have a litter of hippogriffs if I told him I'd been put in there."
"Hippogriffs," Hermione asks.
"It's a magical creature," Draco says, shrugging, "My father told me about them."
"They're in the encyclopedia I bought," I assure Hermione, who nods, looking eager to read about them.
"Good lord, are you really still into books? I thought it was a phase."
"Malfoy, I will hex you."
He scoffs, "Most you could do is shoot sparks at me, Pierce," with that, he stands, dusting off his robes, "I'd better get back to Crabbe and Goyle before they get the idea to come looking. I'll see you in Slytherin, Pierce."
"Get lost," I say, smirking when he leaves, shutting the door behind him.
"Was that Draco Malfoy," Neville asks.
I nod, and he looks surprised, looking at the door.
"He's nicer than I thought. I'd heard his dad was a real pureblood fanatic."
"He is, but his father doesn't know that my parents taught Draco different when he'd come over when we were little. Granted, he acts like a total prat in public to keep up appearances, but he's not so bad when you get him on his own. Draco went through a few years where he really struggled with what to believe, but he eventually came around. His father can't know, though."
Neville and Hermione nod, glancing at each other. For the rest of the train ride, we all chat about the different subjects we're taking as well as continuing our debate over houses. Neville and I get into Quidditch for a bit, both of us explaining the sport to Hermione when she voices her confusion on the subject.
When the train finally comes to a stop, everyone on it starts crowding out. Hermione and I squeeze past people and hurry out of the train, stepping out and looking around. I smile slightly into the cool night air, looking at the older students as they head off to the side somewhere.
Alright, so I gave Hermione's pparents first names. Why? It's rude to just introduce yourself with your last name and I couldn't find their first names ANYWHERE! So, I made my own. I think they it nicely. What do you think? Yes? No? Maybe so?
Anywho, that's the next installment. See you next time!
Next Chapter Update: 3-29-15
~GharrahGirl