Chapter 2: The Boy with the Glasses
Skye's heart thudded as the scarlet Hogwarts Express chugged away from Platform 9. The train compartment she had hurriedly chosen was empty, save for her battered trunk and an overly curious toad that had somehow made its way inside. She nudged the creature toward the door with her foot, her cheeks flushed with a mixture of excitement and nerves.
She was going to Hogwarts—a real school of magic! And yet, the unknowns loomed large. What if the other students thought she didn't belong? What if she messed up?
Before her thoughts could spiral further, the compartment door slid open. Skye looked up to see a boy about her age standing there, his unruly black hair sticking up in all directions. He adjusted his glasses awkwardly and glanced inside.
"Uh, sorry," he began, "is it okay if I sit here? Everywhere else is full."
Skye blinked, her voice catching in her throat. The boy had the kindest green eyes she'd ever seen, framed by round glasses that made him look both bookish and endearing. But it wasn't just his eyes that caught her attention—it was the lightning-shaped scar etched onto his forehead.
"Y-yes, of course!" she finally managed, scooting over on the bench to make room.
"Thanks," he said, hefting his trunk into the compartment with a bit of effort before plopping down opposite her. "I'm Harry. Harry Potter."
Skye's heart nearly stopped. Harry Potter. The Harry Potter. Even in her quiet village, she'd heard tales of the Boy Who Lived—the wizard who had somehow defeated the darkest sorcerer of all time as a baby.
"I—I'm Skye," she stammered, feeling her cheeks go hot. "Skye Ashheart."
Harry gave her a warm smile that instantly set her at ease. "Nice to meet you, Skye. First year?"
She nodded, clutching her hands in her lap to stop them from trembling. "Yes. You too?"
"Yeah," Harry said, leaning back against the seat. "I didn't even know I was a wizard until a few weeks ago. It's all a bit mad, isn't it?"
Relief flooded Skye. "Me neither," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I thought maybe I'd be the only one who didn't grow up around magic."
"Not at all," Harry reassured her. "It's all new to me too. You'll be fine."
The door slid open again, and a bushy-haired girl poked her head inside. "Have you seen a toad? A boy named Neville's lost one."
Skye blinked, suddenly remembering the toad from earlier. "Oh! It was in here a little while ago. It might still be in the corridor."
The girl nodded briskly. "Thanks." Then, as though noticing Harry for the first time, her eyes widened. "You're Harry Potter!"
Harry shifted uncomfortably. "Er, yeah. That's me."
"Wow," the girl said, glancing between him and Skye. "I'm Hermione Granger. First year. You'd better change into your robes; we'll be at the school soon."
She bustled off, leaving the two of them alone again.
"She seems… determined," Skye said after a moment, earning a chuckle from Harry.
"Yeah. I guess we'd better get ready."
As they changed into their Hogwarts robes, Skye couldn't help sneaking glances at Harry. There was something about him—something brave and kind, yet a little lonely—that tugged at her heart. She didn't know much about boys or crushes, but she felt her cheeks heat whenever he looked her way.
When the train finally screeched to a halt, Skye followed Harry and the other first-years toward the boats waiting to take them across the Black Lake. Sitting beside him as the towering silhouette of Hogwarts loomed ahead, Skye felt her nerves settle.
Whatever challenges lay ahead, she thought, maybe she wouldn't have to face them alone.