Chapter 5- A Journey Of Dreams

Before they knew what was happening, the town of London had disappeared from the view in the window. The image that replaced it was one of lovely green fields.

Around 1pm a lady pushing a trolley asked, "Would you like to buy anything?"

Nodding Luna and Kirsty stood up. Kirsty brought some of everything and, after paying, carried her food into the compartment and dumped it on the seat.

Just after the lunch trolley moved from view a voice said, "Kirsty, you haven't seen Harry have you? I can't find him, or Ron, anywhere."

Kirsty looked up, "no, sorry Hermione I haven't seen them at all. Would you like a seat?"

Hermione nodded and took the empty seat next to Luna - the one next to Kirsty was still full of the food she had just purchased.

"Hello," said Luna, "I'm Luna by the way."

Hermione smiled and then asked suddenly, "Kirsty, had you ever met Lucius before that day at Diagon Alley?"

Kirsty shivered, "no. I hadn't, I don't want to see him again either. He was horrible."

"Did he say anything to you? I saw his lips move, but I couldn't work out what he was saying."

Kirsty froze, did she want to tell Hermione when she hadn't even told her parents? However she decided she would, she could not keep it a secret much longer.

"He was looking at my eyes and said, 'the last time I saw those eyes the owner of them was screaming and begging for mercy,' or something like that."

The two other girls in the compartment froze.

"Kirsty," Hermione asked, "do you know how your great aunt died?"

Kirsty shook her head, "I hadn't heard much about her before then."

"Well," Hermione continued, "I think you should ask Dumbledore. It's quite upsetting and I don't want to give you a reason to hurt anyone."

Kirsty was speechless, 'why,' she thought, 'does everyone seem to know something about me that I don't, it's so annoying.'

The next few hours were spent in companionable silence. The picture the window framed was getting dark and cloudy.

"We should get changed, I'll leave you two too it, my trunk's in another compartment," said Hermione.

The two first years nodded to the older girl, then, once she had left the compartment, pulled on their school robes.

Soon the train started to slow down. Everyone started to stumble out of the their compartments and down the isle.

A few minutes later Kirsty and Luna found themselves on a huge platform. The area around them was covered in hills and moss.

"First years," came a voice, "first years this way!"

Kirsty spun round to find out where the voice was coming from. There, in a shaggy overcoat, stood the tallest man Kirsty had ever seen. What look like a miniature giant, had a longish, tangled beard. His hair matched his beard and his black beetle eyes sparkled with happiness; the oil lamp in his hand gave so much light Kirsty nearly had to cover her eyes.

The group of 11 year olds followed Hagrid down into a small, natural, harbour. Boats covered the edges.

The man called "four to a boat, get in, quickly mind."

Kirsty and Luna climbed into a boat. Two boys after them clambered in a well. The first introduced himself as "Colin Creevey." The other as "Peter Coolville."

The boats floated along the lake. Further and further from the shore line.

They rounded a corner. Colin suddenly gasped in amazement, pointing at something behind Kirsty. Kirsty twisted in her seat. There, on the hill. Stood a castle. It was huge! Its turrets rose high into the air. Light peeped though the windows, as Kirsty starred at Hogwarts for the first time in her life.

Soon they got to a cave. Or a entrance to one at least. Many people tried to duck the ivy that hung over the entrance. However, most of them just felt the drops of water trickle down the backs of their necks.

Soon they reached another shore line. All clambered out of their boats. Many nearly falling back into the water.

The next thing Kirsty knew was that she was standing outside some great oak doors. The giant man reached up, and, with the hand not holding onto the lamp, knocked three times upon the door.

The doors opened to revile Professor McGonagall.

"Thank you Hagrid, I can take them from here," was all she said.

The first years followed the Professor into a huge entrance hall.

It was so similar, yet so different, to how Kirsty had imagined it. However, there was only one way she could describe it, it was breath taking.