This is my first ever fanfic, so please be kind!
Disclaimer: All HP characters belong to J.K Rowling
Chapter 1: The Journey
The platform was filled with noise and steam from the scarlet engine waiting to be filled. Hermione stood before her parents in her finely pressed new school robes, shaking with excitement and nervous energy. She looked into the loving eyes of her parents and said, "What if they don't like me?" Her dad gave a soft chuckle and told her, "You're Hermione Granger. Just be yourself and everything will fall into place."
She beamed as she threw her arms around her parents and gave them each a kiss on the cheek. Her parents walked with her towards the train doors, and her dad helped her heave her trunk onto the train. She looked back at her parents with a smile and a small wave as she disappeared up the stairs.
She began shuffling down the long hallway of the train, searching for an empty compartment. After what felt like ages she finally spotted one. She drug her trunk through the door and looked between it and the overhead rack. Setting her spine with determination, she started trying to heave the trunk overhead.
She had been fighting with her trunk, and losing, for roughly five minutes before a voice spoke, "Are ya alrigh there lass?" Hermione squeaked at the interruption and her trunk came tumbling to the floor. Hermione looked up from her place on the floor to see a boy who looked to be a couple years older than she was.
The boy at the door gave a laugh as he said, "Here let mae help ye with that." He easily swept her trunk off the floor and secured it overhead before reaching down to help her up. Hermione mumbled a thank you as she willed the embarrassment to leave her cheeks.
It was a moment before she was able to look up into the boy's face. When she did, she saw kind blue eyes, dark brown hair, and a lopsided grin. "The name's Oliver Wood," he said as he held out his hand. "Hermione Granger," she said as she grasped his outstretched palm.
"Is this yer first time on the Hogwarts Express, Hermione?" he asked.
"Yeah." she replied.
"Well, seein as me friends havenae shoon their faces yet, do ye mind if a sit in this compartment?"
Hermione felt her chest flutter with something like hope as she saw the earnestness in his face. Perhaps she really would make friends at this school. She gave Oliver a soft smile as she replied, "I'd really like that."
Oliver just nodded his head and stowed his trunk in the overhead rack before taking a seat. He motioned for Hermione to sit across from him. As she sat, Oliver had a chance to really take in her features. Her riotous brown curls that somehow dwarfed her petite body. Her smooth face and delicate nose. But her eyes were the most noticeable. Honey brown alight with so much emotion. Oliver could see the curiosity and excitement shining in them.
"What are ye most excited abou fer school?" he asked. Hermione lit up as she started, "Well, from Hogwarts a History it seems like there's so much to be prepared for. I'm curious to know which house I'll end up in and what the common rooms look like, but I'm most excited to see the Great Hall. I can't believe the ceiling is enchanted to emulate the sky."
Oliver smiled as he said, "Aye the Great Hall is a sight tea behold when ya fers see it."
"Does it really show all the stars at night?"
"Aye an the weather outside tae."
"And what about the staircases and paintings? Do they move and talk on their own as well?"
Oliver was happy to answer Hermione's questions about Hogwarts as well as give her an idea about what to expect. "What year are you going into?" Hermione asked.
Oliver smiled and said, "This'll be me fifth year an the year a take me OWLS."
"What are OWLS?"
"They're the standard wizarding examinations. It's also me fers year as quidditch captain as well."
"Are you any good?"
Oliver barked out a laugh at the question before answering, "A sure try tae be."
When they'd exhausted all talk surrounding the upcoming school year, conversation shifted to more personal topics. She learned that he had been flying on a broom since he was 3 and he learned that she was an only child and as such often spent her time reading.
They spent the ride talking and laughing easily as if they had known each other for years. Neither noticed how much time had passed until they were pulling into Hogsmead station. Oliver lifted both his and Hermione's trunks off of the rack and took them off of the train. When they entered the platform, he could see Hermione's shoulders tense.
Oliver put a hand on her shoulder and said, "It's alrigh Hermione you'll take the boats to the castle with Hagrid." She calmed at his steadying gesture and words, and with a soft smile said, "I'll see you inside?" He gave her that lopsided grin and said, "Aye ye'll see mae inside."
Hermione lost sight of Oliver as she was ushered forward with the other first years, but as she remembered everything he had told her about the castle on the train, she grew more excited than nervous. She climbed on the boat to cross the lake and smiled at the thought that her father was right. Something was definitely falling into place.