The Hogwarts Express

Today she was going to Hogwarts, and Effy was excited. For years her father had told her about Hogwarts making her dream of it more and more. Her father couldn't wave her off at Kings Cross, but she knew what to do. She had her trunk ready, everything packed and her father looked at her with pride. He held her in his arms and looked at her, smiling. He looked awful all grey and tired, but he managed to smile.

"There you have everything," he said, "I only wish I could see you off! I will next year!"

"Don't worry," Effy smiled, "you can't I understand!"

"I love you!"

"And I'll take that with me, now stop fretting or I'll miss the train!"

He held her close one last time. Effy going off to Hogwarts, the time seemed to have come so quickly, it was unbelievable.

Soon, they were at Kings Cross and fifteen minutes until 11 o'clock.

"Now remember get a good seat on the train, don't spend all your money on sweets and most of all don't get into trouble!" Lupin smiled.

"Yes I know!" Effy sighed.

"And make sure you don't end up in Slytherin. I'm joking, I'll be proud whatever house you get into, just try to not become a Slytherin!"

Effy laughed and hugged her dad one last time.

"I'll send the owl with post make sure you write!" Lupin sighed.

"Yes ok!" she laughed, "I'll see you at Christmas! Love you!"

"Love you too!"

Then, with all her stuff, she was off and on her own. Effy was scared, excited and upset at the same time, but it would all be worth it. She made her way, to Platform Nine and Ten. Phew! OK! This was it! Taking a deep breath, she looked straight at the barrier, made sure there were no Muggles in the way and ran. She found herself closing her eyes as she hurtled towards to bricks, and when she opened them she breathed a sigh of relief. She was there Platform Nine and Three Quarters and there was the scarlet steam train.

She smiled at the hustle and bustle, the other first years being petted by there parents, the older students, laughing and chatting with ease, some in Quidditch robes, holding broomsticks others already in their robes. The thought of being sorted into her house was scary enough to Effy. What if she was in Slytherin?

She remembered what her father said, get a good seat on the train. So, she pushed her way through the crowd, head held high. Once, her luggage was away in the compartment, she found a place to sit. No one was there, but she wasn't to far away from people. Effy heard laughter and spells being cast, making her anxious to start casting spells to. Her father always said she would make a good witch, but she knew the reason he said all this, was just the fact that she was his daughter and he was feeling proud and fatherly.

Suddenly, two girls came past the compartment. They both looked alike with thick dark and intense brown eyes, they must be twins.

"Just ask her?" the smaller one said.

"No she might not want people," the other one hissed.

"Fine I'll ask her," she opened the doors and smiled, "excuse me do you mind if we sit here, we didn't want to be stuck with scary seventh years."

"No sure its fine," Effy smiled as the smaller one pulled her sister into the compartment, "I'm not going to attack you seriously, its fine!"

The other one seemed to relax a bit but still kept close to her sister.

"Hi I'm Parvati and this is my sister Padma, we're twins but I think you knew that!" the smaller one exclaimed, "she doesn't talk much as you can tell!"

"That's because your always talking first!" Padma sighed, "what's your name, is it your first year too?"

"I'm Effy and yes!"

The two girls seemed to breath out.

"At least we're not alone," Parvati smiled, "all I can see are scary older kids and bossy prefects!"

She motioned to out of the window, where a rather pompous red haired boy bossed people about. There was silence for a while until Parvati spoke again.

"So what type of wizarding family are you from?" she asked.

"Parvati!"

"What?" she said clueless, "I'm not being rude."

"Its fine!" Effy laughed, "my parents are magic, I never knew my mum, she died when I was born, but I have my dad, he's a wizard Remus Lupin!"

"Ah!" the twins said.

"Well we're-" Parvati started to say and then there was a knock at the compartment door and a wide eyed girl opened it.

She had soft long brown hair and a timid face.

"Can I…?" she gulped, "sit here!"

"Sure!" Effy said, "we're getting up quite a party!"

The twins smiled at the girl who sat nervously next to Effy.

"Faye," she whispered, "Faye Dunbar!"

"Effy Lupin and these two are Parvati and Padma err what was your last name?" Effy said

"Patil!" Parvati smiled, "we're twins as you can tell!"

"Not sure how to remember your names," Faye smiled nervously.

"Just remember that Parvati is the loud one and Padma is the one that can't get a word in edgeways" Effy laughed.

Faye and Padma giggled, whilst Parvati stuck her nose in the air and crossed her arms.

"Did you hear!" Faye said confidence coming to her, "Harry Potter is on the train!"

"Harry Potter!" the girls gasped.

"Yeah!"

"Where?"

"I dunno, but the Weasley twins, that is Fred and George, reckoned they spoke to him, saw his scar and everything!"

They breathed a wow and Parvati's eyes lit up.

"We should go and look for him!" she exclaimed.

"I don't think we should it must be bad enough for him," Effy sighed.

"Yeah but he's famous!"

"Oh Parvati, if you were famous for that I don't think you'd like it if people pointed at you like a monkey in a zoo!" Padma said.

Parvati rolled her eyes and leaned back on her seat. Soon enough, the train whistled and it was off slowly chugging away from the station. Faye, Parvati and Padma rushed to the window and waved to their families, smiling and looking excited!

"Where is your dad?" Parvati asked Effy.

"Busy!"

Once the train was a long way from Kings Cross Station, a conversation started about Quidditch. It was that long of a conversation that the trolley for sweets came along.

"Do you want me to go and get stuff?" Effy asked.

"We wouldn't dream of letting you buy all of this for us!" Faye gasped.

"No I meant you give me the money and I'll get you what you wanted!"

They all laughed at Faye who, was blushing. It took a while for them to sort out the money and the order.

"Ok so Faye you want a Pumpkin Pasty and two chocolate frogs," Effy said, "Parvati Bertie Botts, Chocolate Frog and a Liquorice Wand. Padma just two chocolate frogs."

Everyone nodded and Effy stepped out of the compartment and went to the women at the trolley.

"What will it be dear?" she smiled.

Effy told her the order and as she was waiting for the woman to get something a tall ginger haired boy came along and smiled at Effy. She smiled. Once the women stood up, she looked at the boy.

"What will it be?" she asked.

"Two Pumpkin Pasties and a packet of Bertie Botts please," he said.

Now that he was closer, Effy could see he had freckles.

"Hello," he said friendly.

"Hi," Effy managed to say.

"Is it your first year at Hogwarts?" the boy asked.

"Yes what year are you in?"

"Third me and my brother Fred, I'm George you?"

"Effy!"

He smiled at her again. The woman handed Effy all her sweets, arms full. A chocolate frog box fell out of her arms and George leaned across her to catch it, but she caught it single handed.

"Nice catch," he smiled, that smile!

"Thanks!"

They looked at each other for a while and then a boy identical to George pushed his head outside of his compartment.

"Oi!" Fred shouted, "George stop chatting up first years and get a move on with that food!"

George rolled his eyes.

"Well enjoy your sweets and good luck at Hogwarts try and get into Gryffindor it's the best!" he laughed and got his sweets.

"Seeya!"

And Effy headed back in her compartment trying not to look back.