The next few weeks went by slowly, almost too slowly. I was waiting for the day that I could eventually go to my new school. Finally the 1st September arrived.
"Harry is your truck packed?" Mum's voice drifted upstairs. I was led on my bed staring straight at the ceiling.
"Yeah." I called back absentmindedly.
"Are you ready?" Dad's voice joined Mum's.
I sighed and rolled off my bed. I had a sudden thought that I would miss that bed during my time at Hogwarts.
"Harry? You get up?" Meg said as she walked through the door.
"Huh?"
"September the first Harry, you know, New school! If it was me going I wouldn't be led in bed!"
"I'm not in bed Meg! I'm up, see, feet on the floor!" I pointed at my feet. Meg laughed at me. She poked Will in the head.
"Mmneif?" He said, as he opened his eyes.
"Up!" Meg said, in an exasperated voice. Will sat up. Meg rolled her eyes and went out of the room. Her head poked back a moment later.
"Oh, and dad said that we're going in 10!"
I gave a yelp and threw on my clothes. I heard Meg laughing as she went downstairs. William got up and quickly put his clothes on too. I suddenly realised how much he looked like Sirius.
We raced each other to the hallway and I leapt from the fourth step, and almost landed on Mum.
"Careful!" Dad almost shouted as he hurried Meg and Chari out of the door. Will raced to be near his sister. "You ready Harry?"
I nodded. Dad smiled and kissed my head roughly, then pushed me towards the car. I sat next to Meg, who strangely gave me a hug. Normally I would fight to get away from her but this time I was just sat in shock!
The rest chattered away as we pulled into Kings Cross. Dad found a trolley (very quickly) and we piled all my stuff on it. Chari held my hand as we found the barrier.
"…Packed full of Muggles of course, never mind, this way, quickly" Came a voice that we all knew too well. Then:
"Harry!" Ron yelled.
"Meg, Chari!" Said Ginny as she ran to the girls.
"Ginny!" Meg and Chari squealed, enveloping the red-head in a hug.
"Hi Molly." Mum said as she hugged Mrs Weasley.
Percy sniffed disapprovingly as Fred and George ruffled my hair.
"Right Percy you go." Mrs Weasley said, "Then you Fred…"
Percy went.
"I'm not Fred…" Said Fred.
"…I am!" Said George.
"Oh I'm sorry boys. Ok George, you go."
"Just joking, I am Fred." Said Fred, as he disappeared, George followed quickly, before Mrs Weasley could swat him round the head.
"Harry and Ron, you go." Dad said. Ron's freckly face was split as he grinned.
"C'mon then Mate." He said as we pushed the trolleys through the barrier. At once we were engulfed in steam from the great scarlet Hogwarts express.
"Oi, Harry, Ron. Over here," The twins shouted. The helped us get our trunks on the train. I put my snowy owl Hedwig in the compartment, and then went to get my cuddle from my Mum.
"Have fun Kiddo." Dad said as he gave me a rough hug. He let go of me and messed up my hair.
"See you at Christmas" Mum said as she hugged me. "I'll write everyday if you want." Over her shoulder I saw Dad roll his eyes.
"Just once a week will do Mum!"
"Twice!" She said, with a grin. Her eyes sparkled. I turned to Meg.
"Gunna miss ya." She said quietly.
"No your not!" I said.
"Yeah, who am I going to fight with?" She said. She looked like she wanted to say more, but couldn't in front of Mum and Dad.
"Harry? You coming?" Ron called. I gave my family one last wave and ran to the train, as I got on the doors were closed and we started off. I could see Mum, Dad, Meg, Chari, and Will all wave as the platform got smaller.
Me and Ron sat in the compartment and talked of Quiddich.
"Hey Harry, Ron. Have you seen Trevor?" Asked Neville as Ron and I were playing exploding snap.
"No, sorry Nev." I said.
"Oh, ok, well if you do can you watch after him for me?"
"Sure thing." Ron said. "Hey, Neville, why don't you get a cage for him?"
Neville nodded thoughtfully. "Thanks guys." He said and went down the carriage. Ron and I turned our attention back to Exploding Snap.
A few minutes later….
"Anything from the Trolley Dears?" Said a witch stood at the door.
"Please!" I said at the same time Ron said "No Thanks"
I turned to see him brandishing a sandwich. I rolled my eyes and got a selection that my dad and Sirius would be proud of!
Ron abandoned his sandwiches and helpfully aided me in eating part of the collection.
"Have you seen a toad? A boy called Neville's lost one." Came a snooty female voice from the door. "Oh are you doing Magic? Lets see then." She sat next to me and watched Ron expectantly. When he had got his sandwiches he had got his wand out and put it next to him, the girl must have seen it lying next to his hand and thought that he was actually practising.
Ron looked bewildered, and then caught my eye. I hastily made sure I wouldn't laugh.
"Ok." Ron said. "My brother Fred taught me one the other day."
He cleared his through.
"Sunshine, Daisy's, Butter, mellow,
Turn this stupid fat rat Yellow!"
A small sound erupted from Ron's wand and his rat Scabbers squeaked.
"Are you sure that's a real spell?" The girl said, "I've only tried a few simple ones myself, but they all worked for me." She pointed her wand at my glasses, which Ron had sat on earlier and broke. "Occulus Repairo."
The tape that I had put on my glasses suddenly disappeared. Ron gapped at her.
"I'm Hermione Granger by the way. And you are?"
"Harry Potter." I said.
"Ronald Weasley." Ron said at the same time. Hermione stared at me.
"Harry Potter?" She repeated breathlessly. I nodded. "But I've read all about you. You were in several books!"
"Yeah, I know."
"Are you really the Harry Potter?"
"Yeah."
"The one who defeated Voldemort when…"
"…When he was a baby yeah, he's already said hasn't he?" Ron burst out.
Hermione fell silent.
"You should change into you're robes. I expect that we'll be there soon." She said quietly and got up to leave. "Oh, and you have dirt on your nose by the way." She said to Ron. Then she set off down the carriage.
"What was that about?" Ron asked. He rubbed his nose carefully. I shrugged and looked out of the window.
"We should probably get changed though." Ron nodded. I pulled my robe over my t-shirt.
"So it's true then?" A voice drawled from the door. "Harry Potter, about to start Hogwarts."
Ron looked up, he had a picture of disgust on his face.
"And you are?" I asked, thoroughly confused.
"Draco, Draco Malfoy."
"Oh, Bye." I had heard about that family from Dad. Ron shot me a tight smile and we past the dumbstruck Malfoy to get off the train.