Chapter 4

The Hogwarts Express

The rest of the holidays flew by fast. Amelia helped me pack up my belongings. I had all my clothes and pictures and everything. Amelia went crazy when she saw my school uniform. She made me let her try it on and take pictures of her in it with her camera. She looked pretty good in it, really cute.

On the last day before I was to leave, Elizabeth surprised me by coming in from Scotland. I was so happy to see her. Elizabeth, Amelia and I had a sleepover party. It was a lot of fun. We watched 3 movies and talked. At 2:00 am, we took photos of each other. I printed them out on my computer. I wanted to hang them up in my area of the dormitory, even though we looked tired and horrible.

By 3:00 am, Amelia had fallen asleep, and Elizabeth and I were awake.

"It's a shock that you're a witch," she said, "but it's so cool,"

"Thanks,"

"I'm gonna miss you," she said, "There aren't any telephones in the wizarding world,"

"I know, but Sasha can deliver the mail and my mum plans to go back to Diagon Alley and get a second owl so she can send me stuff too, without waiting for Sasha to come with a letter,"

"I know,"

"Thanks for being there for me throughout all these years,' Elizabeth said.

"Me too," Elizabeth pulled something out of her pocket. There were 3 charm bracelets.

"One for you, one for me, and one for Amelia," she whispered clipping it around my wrist. She leaned over to Amelia and clipped it around her wrist as well.

"Best friends forever,"

The next day was a big hassle. We got to Kings Cross at 10:30 and we were lost. The train left at exactly 11:00 on platform 9 ¾. But, where was that? There was no such thing.

"Where is platform 9 ¾?" I wondered aloud for the millionth time.

"I dunno," my mum answered. All of the sudden, I saw a women and her 4 daughters walk by.

"Packed with muggles, as it is every year. Honestly! Anyway, platform 9 ¾ this way,"

I said, "Come on!" we followed them to the barrier between platforms 9 and 10.

"Alicon, you first dear," the oldest daughter ran at the wall and disappeared into it. I blinked. Whoa.

"Iris, you next," the blonde haired daughter ran at the wall.

"Excuse me," I said, "how do you get onto the platform?"

"Oh, it's easy," the woman said, "all you have to do is walk straight at the wall,"

"Can non magic folk get in?" I asked, "Cuz my parents aren't magic,"

"No," the woman said, "better say good bye to them now then,"

I said good bye to my Mum and Dad. Mum gave me a golden necklace that once belonged to her grandmother. I put around my neck. I did not want to lose it. Then I went over to Elizabeth and Amelia. I said good bye to them. I promised I would write and they promised me we would stay friends no matter what.

I went back to the woman with her daughter.

"Better do it at a bit of a run if you're nervous," she said to me. I nodded and started running.

"Bye Karina!" Amelia called.

"Bye! Whip Tony's ass for me, okay! For tripping me last year!"

"Kay!" she yelled as I disappeared through the wall.

I was greeted by a giant scarlet steam engine sitting there, puffing away. It was huge and the nicest train I had ever seen.

"Wow," I gasped. It was so cool. I looked at my watch. There was only 5 minutes left to get on! Quickly, I lugged my suitcases onto the train. They were so heavy! I had extreme difficulty with it.

"Ow!" I cried. My suitcase had rolled right over my foot.

"Need any help?" asked a voice. I looked up and saw the hottest guy in my life. He looked about 17 and had ginger hair. Totally hot!

"Because I will be pleasured to help out such a beautiful young lady like you," I giggled.

"Yeah," I managed to choke out.

"Alright then, I'm at your service," he answered, making a ridiculous bow. I just giggled more.

The guy helped me load the rest of my luggage onto the train, into a compartment.

"Thank you," I said, "that helped a lot,"

"No problem, gorgeous" he said. I giggled. This guy was just too funny. All of the sudden the train gave a huge jolt. We fell back in our seats.

"So what year are you in? Fourth year at least, right?"

"Actually, this is my 1st year," He stared.

"You have got to be joking," he muttered, "you're just so tall and mature looking…"

"But I am only 11," I said wishing I was a fourth year for real.

"Oh, well" he said, "so you excited for your first year?"

"Yes," I said, "but a bit scared, as well,"

"Don't be. I mean you've been around magic your whole life so it's nothing special,"

"Actually, I'm muggle born," I said.

"Oh,"

"So what's your name?"

"Karina," I said, "Karina Rookworth,"

"I'm George," he said, "George Weasley," The name rang a bell. I remembered that day at Diagon Alley. We met that woman. And she was Molly Weasley. And had a son named Ron.

"I think I met your brother in Diagon Alley," I said, "Ron?"

"Yep. Did he say 'Bloody-Hell' much?"

"Uh-huh," I replied.

"Yep. That's Ron alright," Suddenly, there was a knock on the compartment door.

"Yes?" I asked. It opened and there stood a black haired girl. I recognized her. She was one of the girls that was with her mother at the entrance to platform 9 ¾.

"I'm sorry," she said, "but every where else is full,"

"It's okay. I have to go anyway," George said, "Fred's probably looking everywhere for me,"

"Fred?" I asked.

"My twin," said George, heading out the door. "Farewell, lovely maiden" he called.

I slumped back in my seat. Wow, I thought. He was so hot. So awesome. So cool.

"So, what year are you in?" the girl asked. She looked about 12.

"1st year," I answered.

"Sure don't look like it though,"

"But I am,"

I found out the girl's name was Katerina and she was a 2nd year in Ravenclaw. She had a sister named Giovanna who was a 1st year too like me. Later, I met her. She was really cool. Both sisters were nice, but were a bit clueless about the muggle world. They had no idea what anything was about. Seriously, they asked me what the function of a rubber duck was. I laughed when they asked that. It was honestly so stupid. I couldn't blame them though. The function of a rubber duck was weird.