All a Dream

Chapter 14

Hogwarts came into view at around seven, when the sun had just set behind the train. The lake was facing to the west of the castle instead of south, and the Forbidden Forest seemed less ominous due to the fact that deciduous trees were integrated with the coniferous. But most of the little windows glowed bright, tiny pinpricks of light in the darkness. Harry stared in awe at the sight before him, as did Erin. She was jabbering away the whole time about how cool it looked, asking questions about which rooms were which. Harry stayed silent, savouring the moment. Much to his disappointment, a hedge soon took away the "Kodak moment", and was soon replaced by the Godrick's Hollow Train Station.
As Harry, Mae, Ginny and Erin exited the train and stepped onto the cramped platform, they heard two carrying voices, one being recognizable as Hagrid's, and the other was Remus Lupin's. "Firs' years to the dock, this way!" "Over here, first years, the boats are over here!" Harry looked to his left in response to the two familiar vocals, and stumbled back in shock. Hagrid had no beard. The wild whiskers as Harry had known them did not appear on the half-giant's face no matter how many times Harry blinked his eyes. "Where's Hagrid's beard?" he asked Ginny and Mae.

"He shaves it off every summer," said Mae.

"He said it got too hot for him. He grows it back with hair-thickening solution each year on the first of November," Ginny added.

The three older students said good luck to Erin as she nervously made her way through the witches and wizards towards Professors Lupin (who looked less tired and happier than Harry remembered) and Hagrid. Harry looked after her, remembering his boat ride across the lake in his first year.

"Come on, Harry," said Mae, tugging at the sleeve of his robe. Harry looked away from his youngest sister, smiling, and walked towards the horseless carriages, which were actually horseless. The small group couldn't find an empty carriage, so they sat with two shy second year boys, one from Ravenclaw, the other from Slytherin. They introduced themselves as Alan Theissen and John Desjardins. Harry looked warily towards John, the Slytherin, but decided to keep an open mind. Not all of them had to be evil. His heritage may have overruled his character.

Once in the Great Hall, Harry and Mae reunited with Drew and Stew near the Head Table. They sat closest to the front so that hey could see the Sorting better. While they waited, someone walked up to Harry, said hello, and sat beside him. "Hey, Harry, do you remember me?" Harry stared. The person was unmistakably Draco Malfoy, blonde hair, grey eyes, and thin face. But at the same time he was so different. The arrogance had left him, and he was talking to Harry in a civil manner. His hair wasn't slicked back, as had been his habit, but he had a cowlick in front that seemed as though it would be impossible to flatten. In a quick flashback, Harry saw an infant Draco, smiling and playing with a foam puzzle. Harry was surprised. Had he been friends with Malfoy?

A/N: Yay! A small cliff-hanger.

Sorry. This is randomly about 1/2 the length of the last chapter. Don't know why, really.