It was 8:00 in the morning. The Weasleys were rushing around getting things together for the trip to Kings Cross Station. Arthur was going to drive them before he made his way to work. It was a two hour drive.

Sirius and Remus were both watching the chaos with some amusement. Mrs. Weasley was attempting to make breakfast, pack lunches, rush the children and generally ride herd on as unruly a bunch as the two had ever seen.

Soon Harry made his way to the two, dragging his trunk with all of his supplies. He had only arrived the day before so he didn't have much to "repack" as he hadn't unpacked much.

Harry sat next to the two, watching in curiosity – and a little confusion. Finally he turned to Sirius. "Padfoot? How far is it from, say, the Ministry of Magic to Kings Cross?"

Sirius thought about it. "It's … a twenty minute walk if you're not carrying things. Maybe a mile?"

Harry thought more about that. "How do people get the Ministry?"

Sirius explained floo, apparition, and the Knight Bus and the advantages and disadvantages of each. Harry nodded and then said, "Why not floo to the Ministry with Mr. Weasley and then hire three cabs to take everyone to Kings Cross? That's … 10 minutes at most. Fares are likely to be 10 pounds each, so that's thirty pounds. We can stop for a breakfast near the Ministry so Mr. Weasley can eat with everyone and that's about 30 to 40 pounds. So that's 75 pounds at most, equivalent to 15 galleons. It's kind of expensive, but if we offered in exchange for the hospitality – it might settle down some of the chaos. Mrs. Weasley is a bit stressed."

Sirius thought about it and grinned. He moved to talk to Mr. Weasley.

It was 10:20 AM and the Weasley's were arriving to Kings Cross. The Sunday morning rush back from church hadn't hit yet and, while it was busy, it didn't look to be quite the madhouse it was closer to 11:00 AM. Sirius, Remus, and Mr. Weasley all helped to secure the trunks to carts. When everything was loaded up, Mrs. Weasley surreptitiously cast a notice-me-not charm keyed to Muggles on the carts.

Everyone moved toward the platform. Mrs. Weasley called, "Ok. So where are we going again?" while looking at Ginny.

Ginny crowed, "Platform 9 3/4!"

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley smiled. Harry was confused. "Don't we not want to attract attention?"

Mrs. Weasley turned. "Actually we do. I put a charm up for Muggles to not notice us. Ginny and I will stay until the train leaves, making just enough of a ruckus for any Muggleborns who might not know how to get on the platform to latch on to us. Something that Professor McGonagall asked me to do when my children started coming to Hogwarts. It's been 10 years, and I don't mind. Usually, we get here just before the train leaves, but getting here early means we can get everyone on board and then Ginny and I can push a cart with some conjured trunks and Percy's owl cage to attract the attention of anyone looking."

Harry smiled. It was a brilliant plan.

Even now, there was a boy coming up to the group. He asked, "Hogwarts?"

Harry turned. "Yeah. You too?"

The boy looked relieved as he turned and waved to a couple that was nearby, the man pushing a cart with what looked to be just a single trunk. He turned back. "Yeah. We looked for the platform but couldn't find it. We were starting to get worried. I'm Dean."

Harry shook the boy's hand. "I'm Harry. I'm just starting out too."

The expanded group made its way to the entrance and Sirius explained to Harry and Dean how to get on to the platform.

Finally, Sirius took Harry and Remus took Dean. The Weasleys would help the Thomas through.

As Harry and Dean were the first ones through, Harry was in a prime position to see something that had him laughing.

As the red-headed family started coming through the barrier, platform at 9 3/4 suddenly became very quiet and many had a stunned look. Parents started checking the time in a panic and then taking on confused looks. It took a minute or two for the hustle and bustle to come back.

Mr. Weasley enjoyed being able to get his youngest son situated. Normally he was rushing to work and Molly was left to get the boys on the train. Ron, Harry, and Dean all took the same compartment. Harry saw Hermione coming on the train from down the corridor and called to her. Her face lit up as she saw Harry. Hermione's father was lugging her very heavy trunk.

Hermione suggested that everyone change. She seemed quite keen to start school and that meant looking and acting the part. Harry, Ron, and Dean all looked at her in confusion but finally Harry agreed and convinced the other two boys to listen to her.

By 10:40, everyone was set up and the first years all moved back off the train to say goodbyes to their families. Sirius and Remus were giving all kinds of advice to Harry, with it becoming more and more outrageous. Mr. Weasley was saying goodbye to his boys as he was apparating to the Ministry soon. Fred and George were a bit distracted as they were trying to listen to the two Marauders, grins on their faces. Mrs. Weasley had already taken Ginny after transfiguring some rubbish to look like some school trunks.

Harry kept an eye out. Suddenly he called out, "Neville!"

Neville turned and saw Harry and waved enthusiastically. His grandmother, who was next to him, said something, and his waving became much more sedate. Harry rolled his eyes. That woman apparently didn't like Neville having a sense of adventure.

Neville drug his trunk over followed by Madam Longbottom. "Hey, Harry! Ready for Hogwarts?"

"Yeah. We already have a compartment and there's room for one or two more. Hello, Madam Longbottom. It's good to see you today."

Madam Longbottom had a very stern face as she said, "Hello, Mr. Potter. I'm glad that Neville has a proper companion on his trip. Hello, Mr. Black, Mr. Lupin."

Sirius took the woman's hand and bowed over it, almost brushing her knuckles with his lips. "Madam Longbottom, it is a pleasure to see you as always. How is such a lovely lady doing this fine day?" Madam Longbottom's face twitched even as Remus was rolling his eyes at Sirius and mouthing, "Just hex him," at the Dowager Lady Longbottom.

Neville would have been astonished is he hadn't been busy. Harry and he were dragging his trunk onto the train. Neville didn't know his grandmother HAD a sense of humour outside of a rare few occurrences when she was hosting tea with old friends.

Harry and Neville lifted the trunk up to the rack. As they turned Harry said, "Er. Neville?" Neville looked at him. "I think you have a toad making a break for it."

Neville reached down to catch his toad who was half out of his pocket by this time. "Whew. Thanks, Harry. Trevor keeps escaping. I've had to catch him over ten times since my Uncle Algie gave him to me."

Harry grinned at Neville. "Ah, the joy of pets. Luckily Hedwig, my owl, is pretty happy to listen to me. I sent her ahead to Hogwarts with a letter to Professor McGonagall and had Sirius shrink the cage. Ron and Percy wanted to take theirs on the train." Ne nodded toward the cage carrying Chudley.

When the two boys rejoined the rest on the platform, Mrs. Weasley had returned and had just taken out her handkerchief.

"Ron, you've got something on your nose."

Ron tried to jerk out of the way, but she grabbed him and began rubbing the end of his nose.

"Mom - geroff" He wriggled free.

"Aaah, has ickle Ronnie got somefink on his nosie?" said one of the twins.

"Shut up," said Ron.

"Where's Percy?" said their mother.

"He's coming now."

Percy came striding into sight. He had also changed into his Hogwarts robes, and Harry noticed a shiny silver badge on his chest with the letter P on it.

"Can't stay long, Mother," he said. "I'm up front, the prefects have got two compartments to themselves –"

"Oh, are you a prefect, Percy?" said one of the twins, with an air of great surprise. "You should have said something, we had no idea."

"Hang on, I think I remember him saying something about it," said the other twin. "Once –"

"Or twice –"

"A minute –"

"All summer –"

"Oh, shut up," said Percy.

Harry interrupted before the twins could continue taking the mickey out. "Can you do that thing of making a box or trunk for Neville's toad? Apparently he likes escaping from pockets.

Mrs. Weasley summoned another piece of rubbish, not that there was much, and changed it to a box with holes in it. Neville put Trevor into it and thanked her.

"No problem, dear. Just a minor transfiguration." She turned and looked at her boys fondly. "All right, dear, well, have a good term – send me an owl when you get there."

She kissed Percy on the cheek and he left. Then she turned to the twins.

"Now, you two – this year, you behave yourselves. If I get one more owl telling me you've – you've blown up a toilet or –"

"Blown up a toilet? We've never blown up a toilet."

"Great idea though, thanks, Mum."

"It's not funny. And look after the boys." Sirius and Remus, however, were laughing in the background.

"Don't worry, ickle Ronniekins, Harrikans, and Nevvy-poo are safe with us."

"Shut up," said Ron again. This time he was joined by the other two boys in chorus. Ron's nose was still pink where his mother had rubbed it.

Madam Longbottom said, "Okay, Neville. Do the Longbottoms proud. I'll expect an owl letting me know the result of the sorting.

Sirius and Remus both embraced Harry. "Have fun, pup! I recommend assisting the Terrible Twosome in hilarious hijinks. All work and no play makes for a dull time!"

Remus shook his head. "Do well, cub. Don't let this idiot's advice stop you from doing well."

A whistle sounded.

"Hurry up!" Mrs. Weasley said, and the boys clambered onto the train. The Weasley boys all leaned out of the window for her to kiss them good-bye, and Ginny began to cry.

"Don't, Ginny, we'll send you loads of owls."

"We'll send you a Hogwarts toilet seat."

Harry grinned and yelled out, "I'll help!" Sirius and Remus both gave Harry a thumbs up.

"Boys!"

"Only joking, Mum/Mrs. Weasley."

The train began to move. Harry saw the Mrs. Weasley waving and Ginny, half laughing, half crying, running to keep up with the train until it gathered too much speed, then she fell back and waved. Sirius and Remus were also waving. Madam Longbottom was just watching.

Harry watched the group disappear as the train rounded the corner. Houses flashed past the window. Harry felt a great leap of excitement, even if he was kind of homesick for the first time in his life – not for Privet but for the people he was leaving behind.

The door of the compartment slid open and Hermione came back in. Dean followed, leading another boy inside. His hair was red as well, but not in the same color as the Weasleys.

Dean said, "This is Seamus. Anyone mind if he joins? He's just starting out, too."

Harry shook his head. Ron, Neville, and Hermione said no. Ron and Dean helped put his trunk away until everyone was finally sitting down.

Harry looked around and said, "Five boys, one girl." With a deadpan look he said to Hermione, "You're a bit outnumbered here."

Hermione gave an exasperated look, even as she was fighting a smile. "That's fine. We're a bit young for me to be worried quite yet."

The boys laughed. Everyone was a bit nervous, but the conversation was allowing them to relax.

Hermione said, "So. Who is everyone?" Everyone said what their name was and where they were from.

After they all introduced themselves and told each other a little about where they were coming from, the talk died out a bit. The boys were watching as the train had carried them out of London. They were speeding past fields full of cows and sheep. Hermione had taken out a book.

Around half past twelve there was a great clattering outside in the corridor and a smiling, dimpled woman slid back their door and said, "Anything off the cart, dears?"

Harry stood up and said, "Do you have any Mars Bars?"

The woman didn't have Mars Bars. What she did have were Bettie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs. Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, Licorice Wands, and a number of other strange things Harry had never seen in his life or had only recently found out about. Not wanting to miss anything, he got some of everything and paid the woman and carried everything back inside.

Hermione was the only one who protested. "That's a lot of sweets!" She shrunk back when all the boys looked at her.

"Oi! leave off her. She's just concerned for our teeth. Her parents are dentists, after all." Hermione gave him a grateful look. He laughed and then said to Hermione, "Sirius pretty much handed me galleons and told me to buy for everyone I was sitting with. Me and Ron have sandwiches which we can share and then we can eat this lot."

Ron had taken the paper bag out that Mrs. Weasley had put together. "Thank, Merlin! Chicken." He shuddered as he said, "Lucky we had time today; Mum almost gave us corned beef." He gave a satisfied look. "She traded ours for the twins'." Mrs. Weasley had packed what she thought was enough for two boys – which allowed the six to have at least one sandwich each. Ron and Dean had two.

The whole compartment started in on the treats Harry had brought in.

"What are these?" Harry asked Ron, holding up a pack of Chocolate Frogs. "They're not really frogs, are they?" He was starting to feel that nothing would surprise him.

"No," said Ron. "But see what the card is. I'm missing Agrippa."

"What?"

"Oh, of course, you wouldn't know - Chocolate Frogs have cards, inside them, you know, to collect – famous witches and wizards. I've got about five hundred, but I haven't got Agrippa or Ptolemy."

Harry unwrapped his Chocolate Frog and picked up the card. It showed a man's face. He wore half- moon glasses, had a long, crooked nose, and flowing silver hair, beard, and mustache. Underneath the picture was the name Albus Dumbledore.

Harry turned over his card and read:

ALBUS DUMBLEDORE

CURRENTLY HEADMASTER OF HOGWARTS

Considered by many the greatest wizard of modern times, Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel. Professor Dumbledore enjoys chamber music and tenpin bowling.

Harry turned the card back over and saw, to his astonishment, that Dumbledore's face had disappeared.

"He's gone!"

"Well, you can't expect him to hang around all day," said Ron. "He'll be back. No, I've got Morgana again and I've got about six of her... do you want it? You can start collecting."

As everyone else started grabbing chocolate frogs Harry said, "In, you know, the Muggle world, people just stay put in photos."

"Do they? What, they don't move at all?" Ron sounded amazed. "weird!"

The Muggle-raised people in the compartment looked at Ron like he was the crazy one.

Ron, Neville, and Seamus were more interested in eating the frogs than looking at the Famous Witches and Wizards cards, but Harry couldn't keep his eyes off them. Hermione and Dean were just as fascinated. Soon he had not only Dumbledore and Morgana, but Hengist of Woodcroft, Alberic Grunnion, Circe, Paracelsus, and Merlin. He finally tore his eyes away from the druidess Cliodna, who was scratching her nose, to open a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.

"You want to be careful with those," Ron warned Harry. "When they say every flavor, they mean every flavor - you know, you get all the ordinary ones like chocolate and peppermint and marmalade, but then you can get spinach and liver and tripe. George reckons he had a booger- flavored one once."

Ron picked up a green bean, looked at it carefully, and bit into a corner.

"Bleaaargh – see? Sprouts."

Everone had a good time eating the Every Flavor Beans. Harry got toast, coconut, baked bean, strawberry, curry, grass, coffee, sardine, and was even brave enough to nibble the end off a funny gray one Ron wouldn't touch, which turned out to be pepper.

Hermione scrunched her face and exclaimed, "Ughh. Motor Oil!"

The countryside now flying past the window was becoming wilder. The neat fields had gone. Now there were woods, twisting rivers, and dark green hills.

Seamus had pulled out a deck of cards and said, "Exploding Snap?"

Harry said, "What?"

Seamus, with interjections from Ron, explained the game.

Hermione huffed and started saying they should be using the time productively. Harry gave her a deadpan look and said, "Hermione. We're eleven. It's okay to have fun."

Hermione turned her face down. Harry said, "Come on, now. None of that!" Hermione looked up, blushing a bit. "I got some advice when I learned I was a wizard. Let me see if I remember."

He closed his eyes as thought about the letter, which he had re-read perhaps a hundred times. He remembered the part he was thinking of (even if he couldn't remember the EXACT words):

"You are going to Hogwarts to learn to be the best you can be. These are the people you will live with for several years. Make friends. These are the people you will work with and live with the rest of your life.

"Talk to your classmates. Be courteous and compassionate. Act with empathy. Other students are just as nervous as you are. Even the pureblood idiots who act like they know everything are live under the weight of their parents' expectations. Imagine being told that you must be the best and then failing. That's what they live with."

Harry opened his eyes and looked at the rest. "We're going to be living with each other and our classmates for seven years. We can't spend most of seven years just working. There's not so many witches and wizards around that you can afford to make enemies or ignore each other because it's also a school. I took it as advice to do well in school but to also have fun. Yeah, during classes and for homework we have to be good students. But we also need to make time for each other and ourself, ya know? Otherwise, it's gonna get real lonely and miserable." He shrugged. "That's what I took out of it."

Hermione looked at him with a thoughtful look on her face, even as the boys all expressed their agreement.

The group was soon engrossed in a game. There were many laughs as different people were subject to small explosions.

When Seamus was putting away the cards, Hermione volunteered to try a cleaning spell she read about to get rid of the residue.

As Hermione was helping everyone, Harry remembered something else. "Oh, yeah. Speaking of enemies: We're going to have a visit from a real poncy git. Real rich-snob type named Malfoy." Ron made a sound of disgust. Harry grinned at him. "I know." He went back to talking to everyone. "Anyway, I he's related to my Godfather. He's even related a bit further back to Neville and Ron and me. He's going to act all superior, if he's anything like his Dad. Just be polite. Don't laugh. Don't insult him. If he's an arse," Hermione huffed 'Language!' "just ignore it. If he's anything like most bullies, just being polite and acting disappointed when he's acting the idiot ought to make him mad. That's good enough revenge. There's nothing better than seeing a bully get in trouble when you're just being polite." He turned to Ron. "I've seen your temper, mate. Just let it go."

Ron's face colored a bit but he took on a resigned expression as he murmered, "Fine." Dean and Seamus looked a bit nervous at what Harry was saying. Neville looked like he was motivating himself to follow the advice.

Hermione looked thoughtful. "I've known bullies. That isn't easy. Even if that's what my parents always told me and I agree with it, sometimes they get vicious."

Harry sighed. "I know. I grew up with a cousin who's a bully." He lightened up as he said, "But the magical world's got a way to review memories. So even if a bully acts up outside of a teacher's view, you can still let the teacher see it later."

Ron looked dubious. "I don't want to be called a tattletale." The other boys all nodded in agreement with Ron.

Harry shook his head at the red-head. "It's not about being a tattle. Bullies try to make the person they're bullying at fault when there's trouble. Just be polite and when a teacher accuses you – some teachers always seem to take the side of the bullies – say you'd like to see your Head of House and have them review the memory of what happened. After a while, the gits should learn the lesson. They can even check the spells on wands, Sirius told me."

Harry smirked, "Of course that was him telling me how not to be caught if I pulled a practical joke but it's still good to know." Hermione gave him the gimlet eye for that, but Harry just gave her a goofy grin back. The rest of the compartment laughed at them.

Ron asked, "So, what is everyone's favorite quiddich team?"

Harry shrugged and Hermione and Dean looked confused even as Neville and Seamus both spat out names. Dean asked, "What's quiddich?"

Ron look scandalized. "Oh, you wait, it's the best game in the world –" And he was off, explaining all about the four balls and the positions of the seven players, describing famous games he'd been to with his brothers and the broomsticks he'd like to get if he had the money. Seamus, who appeared to be just as enthusiastic for his Irish team, interjected a number of times. Neville didn't say much; neither did Harry as talking quiddich seemed to make Ron happy. They were just taking Hermione and Dean through the finer points of the game when the compartment door slid open.

Three boys entered, and Harry recognized the middle one at once: it was the pale boy from Madam Malkin's robe shop. He looked like another person Harry had met. He was looking at Harry with a lot more interest than he'd shown back in Diagon Alley.

"Is it true?" he said. "They're saying all down the train that Harry Potter's in this compartment. So it's you, is it?"

"Yes," said Harry. He was looking at the other boys. Both of them were thickset and looked extremely mean. Standing on either side of the pale boy, they looked like bodyguards.

"Oh, this is Crabbe and this is Goyle," said the pale boy carelessly, noticing where Harry was looking. "And my name's Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."

Ron really had to fight the urge to snigger at the ponce. Hermione looked like she was trying to restrain herself too for some reason.

He turned back to Harry. "My father recommended that I meet you on the train. You'll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there."

He held out his hand to shake Harry's. Harry took on a serious expression as he shook the ponce's hand and said, "I spoke to your father in Diagon Alley. He mentioned you. And while I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, I thank you for the offer." Harry named everyone in the compartment and then turned back to Draco and nodded to him. "If I remember, we are third cousins. Good luck in Hogwarts, Cousin. Please tell your father I expressed my greetings," he said calmly.

A pink tinge appeared in Draco Malfoy's pale cheeks. He really wanted to lash out at the way he was being dismissed but Harry had been too polite. He was trying to decide what to reply with when a voice was heard coming from the hallway. "What's all this?"

The three boys turned even and everyone in the compartment looked to see Nymphadora Tonks standing there. "Wotcher, Harry! Everything all right?"

Harry smiled as he thanked GOD for the interruption. "Hello, Tonks. Everything is fine. I was just exchanging greetings with our mutual cousin, Draco Malfoy."

Tonks grinned as she played with her wand and said, "Oh yeah, that's right! We're cousins again since Uncle Siri reclaimed us into the Black Family. Of course, he also kicked out our nutter aunt, Bellatrix, but that's allright. I'd rather not have to be related to that witch."

Draco looked to swallow the acidic comment he was about to spew. He nodded at Harry and Tonks and made his way back out toward his own compartment. Goyle followed quickly. Crabbe looked conflicted until he showed Harry his wand and said, "Thanks for this," and then followed after the other two boys.

Harry waited until the three had moved to the next car to let go of the breath he had been holding. "Thank god, Tonks. I was at my limit in trying to be polite to the poncy git."

All of the people in the compartment looked to agree with that. Hermione giggled slightly, "He reminded me of a movie. I thought he was going to say, 'Bond, James Bond.'" The muggle-raised in the compartment smiled at that. The pure-bloods were confused a bit.

"I've heard of his family," said Ron. "They were some of the first to come back to our side after You-Know-Who disappeared. Said they'd been bewitched. My dad doesn't believe it. He says Malfoy's father didn't need an excuse to go over to the Dark Side." He mumbled, "Slimy Slytherins."

Tonks said, "Hey! Not all Slytherins are evil. My mother was a Slytherin and she married my father, who's Muggleborn. Got kicked out of the family for it, until Sirius brought her back in."

Harry turned to Ron, "Yeah. I was told that there are good and bad people in every house. Slytherins aren't ALL evil. Hufflepuffs aren't all duffers. Ravenclaws aren't all know-it-alls. Gryffindors don't have to always be reckless. Assuming people are good or bad because of their house isn't right. ASSUME is to make an ASS out of U and ME. Muggles, wizards, whatever: There are good and bad people everywhere. Remember Pettigrew? That scum was Gryffindor, just like Voldemort was Slytherin. 'Don't accept stereotypes.'"

Ron had started to look embarrassed and the tips of his ears turned red. He then started to look a bit angry. But he was shocked out of it when Harry said the dreaded name. He shuddered and said, "Blimey, Harry. What you go and say his name for? No one says You-Know-Who's name, it's just not done."

Harry shook his head. "Sirius talked to me about that. He said being afraid to say the name is giving him power when he's not due it. Yeah, he was an evil bastard and, yeah, he tended to become an even bigger nutter when people said his name, but he isn't around. And even if he is, if he's close enough to hear me say it I have other problems to worry about. It's like saying, I'm going to do the you-know-what, you-know where, to get that thing happening in the you-know-which you-know. It gets confusing after a while. I'm going to just say what I want and to hell with him."

Tonks grinned even as she said, "While I agree with you, you're going to give most people heart attacks. But, hey, more power to ya!"

She turned to the rest. "Anyway, I'm Harry's Cousin, Tonks. S'matter of fact, I'm Neville's and Ron's cousin too. If anyone needs some help or advice, come and find me."

Hermione asked, "Are you a prefect?"

Tonks laughed. "Naa. You don't have to be a prefect to help out the younger students. I'm not all that fond of enforcing rules, being too busy enjoying myself. Besides, Madam Sprout told me that she would have made me prefect except I lacked one necessary quality."

Hermione asked, "What was the quality?"

Tonks smirked at the girl. "The ability to stay out of trouble."

Harry turned to Neville and said, "There goes our chances for prefect, Neville. If we're in the same house, Ron might have a shot, but I doubt it."

Hermione was curious. "Why do you say that?"

"Something Professor McGonagall told me in passing when we were in Diagon Alley. Longbottoms and Potters and Weasleys traditionally wind up in Gryffindor." He grinned. "They're too much trouble for any other House. I have to live up to my name, y'know?"

The boys and Tonks all laughed. Hermione moaned as she said, "And these are the people who became my friends? My parents won't recognize me. I'm going to become corrupted."

Everyone in the compartment laughed even louder even as Hermione grinned and giggled at the response.

For Hermione, a massive tension released. This was the first time in her life she had ever laughed and joked with classmates. It was the first time she ever had friends.

A voice echoed through the train: "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train; it will be taken to the school separately." All of the new students took on a somewhat nervous look at that. Tonks smiled and waved as she made her way back to her own friends.

The train slowed right down and finally stopped. People pushed their way toward the door and out on to a tiny, dark platform. Harry shivered in the cold night air. Then a lamp came bobbing over the heads of the students, and Harry heard a familiar voice: "Firs' years! Firs' years over here! All right there, Harry?"

Hagrid's big hairy face beamed over the sea of heads.

"C'mon, follow me – any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!"

Slipping and stumbling, they followed Hagrid down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. It was so dark on either side of them that Harry thought there must be thick trees there. Nobody spoke much. "Ye' all get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."

There was a loud "Oooooh!"

The narrow path had opened suddenly onto the edge of a great black take. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers.

"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. Harry and Ron were followed into their boat by Neville and Hermione. Seamus and Dean went to a boat with two twin girls. "Everyone in?" shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself. "Right then – FORWARD!"

The fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over them as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood.

"Heads down!" yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff; they all bent their heads and the little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of underground harbor, where they clambered out onto rocks and pebbles.

"Watch yer step! I' can be slippery!" said Hagrid, who was checking the boats as people climbed out of them.

They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, oak front door.

"Everyone here?" Everyone looked around at everyone else nervously.

Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.