A sudden halt of the train and the call for unboarding awoke Harry from his nap; he sat up and stared at the majestic castle in the distance. Seeing it always brought better memories for Harry and pushed the ones of his horsey aunt and over-bearing uncle down. His happy thoughts broke every time he thought about them and how close he had come to having a real, loving family with his godfather Sirius. He shook the pain back down and with Ron gathered their belongings and quickly departed from the train.
"Don't look so down Harry," Ron nudged Harry's shoulder and pointed, "Look, there's Hagrid."
The tall half-giant of a man with a large, ferocious looking beard was calling for first years to follow him. Harry smiled as another pleasant memory of his first year took over his mind; they had all been so small and so frightened. The pair headed off in Hagrid's direction; Ron let out a yelp as the hood of his robes was suddenly yanked back.
"Ronald Weasely, when mother finds out that you stole my wand…" Ginny Weasely was bright red from her righteous rage at her brother. Ron laughed and took off towards Hagrid at a light jog but Ginny caught up with him fast, and bullied him to the ground. She fished her wand out of his pocket and swore she would turn him into a newt if he ever did that again by the time Harry had caught up. She rapped the side of his head with the handle of her wooden wand before she stood up.
"Ow!" Ron gently rubbed his head, "Was only a joke. You were the one who almost forgot it in the first place!"
Harry was grinning for the first time in a while at his friends. Harry handed her back a Wizard's card that had escaped her pocket; Ginny had turned into a rather nice looking girl, well at least Harry had begun to think so. Ron would murder him if he ever voiced that opinion however. Ginny stormed off to the horseless carriages to take one up to the castle.
"Ello you three. Where is Hermione?" He twirled the end of his beard around a finger.
"You mean you haven't heard?" Harry asked.
"Heard what?" Hagrid frowned and continued to usher the questioning first years off to the lake's edge, where they would take the boats to the castle.
Ron beat Harry to the news, "She isn't coming. Something about her parents needing her this year."
Hagrid frowned, "Seems a few people won't be here this term."
"Who else?" Harry asked.
Hagrid looked flustered, "Oh well, no time to chat. Have make sure these first years don't drown or get eaten by the lake monster…" He hurried off in that direction. Harry and Ron glanced worried at each other before deciding it was best to just hurry to the carriages and up to the castle.