"Wait," she says with a sweet smile and follows Hermione to the door, the frog hidden behind her back. "Let me help you."
"Did you pack your winter coat?" Gemma Parkinson asks her daughter, while platform nine and three-quarters slowly fills up.
"Yes, Mum."
"And your books?"
"Yes, Mum."
"Good, good, good... oh dear – your wand!"
"You packed it into my suitcase an hour ago."
With a chuckle, Edward Parkinson wraps an arm around his wife, who stands out in the crowd with her enormous hat and bright yellow trench coat. "Forgive your mother, she's not the youngest anymore."
"How flattering!" Gemma hisses. Then she strokes Pansy's chin-length, dark brown hair and plants a kiss on her cheek. "Behave yourself and be diligent, will you?"
"Of course, Mum," says Pansy, eyeing the scarlet train puffing steam into the air. "It's just, the train is leaving in twenty minutes, and I really want to sit by the window. So, can I go now?"
"Only if you take Mabel with you," her father says, handing her the wicker basket, from which a pair of yellow eyes stares back at her. Then he bends down to give her one last hug. "Have fun, Pancake. And make sure to pay attention in Potions class!"
"Don't worry, Dad," Pansy replies with a grin. "You've mentioned it so many times, I'm sure I'll remember."
A moment later, Pansy makes her way through the crowd. With the basket in one hand and her suitcase in the other, she finally boards the Hogwarts Express, which will take her to one of the world's most prestigious schools of witchcraft and wizardry.
The train is filled with excited chatter and the scent of magical sweets. In one compartment, a boy is juggling a set of floating cards, while in the next, a girl tries to catch a very lively owl.
Pansy manoeuvres her suitcase through the narrow corridor, when suddenly, just a metre ahead, a compartment door opens and a tall, plump boy steps out. Pansy quickly moves aside, barely avoiding a collision.
"Where are you going, Crabbe?" an irritated voice asks from inside the compartment.
"Finding the food trolley," the boy replies.
"Are you kidding? You just finished eating a pumpkin pasty!"
"But just a small one!"
"Trust me, your body will endure it, and now sit down and close the door, I've got to tell you something!"
"Darn," the boy mumbles, shuffling back inside.
Rolling her eyes, Pansy continues her way until she finds an empty compartment. It's large enough for six people, maybe even more if sitting close together.
She pushes her suitcase under the window seat and sits down. Placing Mabel's basket on the seat opposite, she takes out her pocket mirror and flips it open.
Her hair is still straight and neat, she has neither dark circles, cracked lips nor a pale complexion – all the things her mother likes to point out. Today is a good day.
Her father once told her that she is the prettiest girl in the world, but of course she's not naive enough to believe him. She has inherited some nice features, such as his hazel eyes framed by thick lashes, and her mother's heart-shaped face, but also his thin lips as well as her slightly upturned nose. She's also rather small for her age, and the fact that Hogwarts doesn't allow heels higher than one inch isn't really helping.
Pansy snaps the mirror shut and opens the wicker basket. A three-coloured kitten pokes its head out, sniffing curiously before wiggling its back and hopping onto Pansy's lap.
"You don't need to worry, Mabel," she says, stroking the soft fur, "you're such a pretty one."
Mabel already had her name when Pansy bought her a month ago at the Magical Menagerie in Diagon Alley.
A moment later, the compartment door opens, and two girls, who look like mirror images of each other, step in. They're wearing their long, black hair in braided plaits.
"Hello, I'm Parvati."
"And I'm Padma."
Pansy thinks they're pretty, but not prettier than herself. She returns their smiles. "I'm Pansy, and this is Mabel."
"How cute!" exclaims Padma, sitting down beside her to scratch Mabel's ear. The little cat presses her head against Padma's hand, purring contentedly.
Parvati sits opposite them. "I hope you didn't get her from that terrible shop in Diagon Alley, where they keep the animals in cages."
"Of course not," Pansy replies hastily. "She, um, appeared in front of our house! The poor thing was completely neglected and starved, can you imagine?"
"Oh no, that's awful!"
"I know, but we nursed her back to health – ouch!"
Mabel has sat up to knead Pansy's silk blouse with her paws.
Padma giggles. "Want me to hold her?"
"That would be better, I guess," Parvati murmurs, glancing at the small hummingbird emblem on Pansy's cuffs. "Cécile Caron is a very expensive brand, isn't it?"
Pansy gives her kitten to Padma. "The blouse was a present from Cécile, she's friends with my mother."
"Really? How come?"
Unable to hide a certain pride, Pansy replies, "Mum is the founder of Spellbound Couture."
Parvati gasps. "You're kidding!"
"No, really."
"Padma, remember what I said the other day about the Spellbound dress that was featured in Hi, Society!?"
"Nope."
"It was a black evening gown," Parvati continues undeterred, "with a cape and golden ornaments – I said if I could wear this once in life, I'd die happily."
"Parvati's a little theatrical sometimes," Padma explains as she strokes Mabel.
"Hmm, I know that dress," says Pansy, tilting her head. "But it's too dark for you. You're a summer type, bold colours suit you – yellow, pink, maybe even orange."
Padma snorts in amusement.
"What's so funny?" her sister snaps. "You wouldn't even recognise style if it slapped you in the face."
Just as Padma is about to reply, the compartment is opened again.
"Ah, there are still seats left here," says a girl. She's already wearing the black cloak that is part of the school uniform. As soon as she has stowed her suitcase and sat down next to Parvati, the train starts moving.
"I'm Hermione Granger," she says, somewhat affected. Her front teeth flash as she speaks, and her bushy, brown hair seems in need of treatment.
"I'm Padma, this is Parvati, Pansy – and Mabel," Padma says, introducing the group.
"Pleasure," says Hermione, sounding as if she couldn't care less. "I would've been here much earlier, but my parents were very suspicious about the portal between platforms nine and ten. They thought I would get a concussion by running into the wall. But it's not their fault, they are – what's the word? – Muggles."
"Oh." Pansy leans back, crossing her arms. She has been taught to approach Muggle-borns with caution, because it is their fault that the wizarding community has to hide from Muggles. It would only be natural for them to stay in their non-magical world, but the Headmaster of Hogwarts has a different opinion; if a child possesses the least bit of magic, they will going to receive the same acceptance letter as the real witches and wizards, for whom the magical education is a birthright.
"I see," says Padma diplomatically. "So you must be very excited today."
Hermione shrugs. "Not really, as I have memorised all our textbooks. Plus, I've practised a few spells and they've worked every time. Maybe I'm just a natural, but I hope the level is different in classes. After all, for Hogwarts I turned down a place at Westminster School."
Almost imperceptibly, Parvati rolls her eyes.
"And that thing about flying on broomsticks sounds a little silly. I hope they're sensible enough not to assign marks for it."
At that moment, there's a knock on the door; an elderly lady asks if they would like something off the trolley for the trip.
The twins buy a whole range of sweets, including Bertie Bott's Every-Flavour Beans, Acid Pops, and Chocolate Frogs, of which Pansy allows herself one, too. Hermione, however, refuses, explaining that her parents are dentists.
"Dentists? Sounds scary," says Parvati, opening a Chocolate Frog box.
"It's a recognised occupation," Hermione replies snappishly, but then suddenly backs away. "What is that?"
"A Chocolate Frog, what else?"
"Is it alive?"
"Like I said, it's a CHOCOLATE Frog."
"That means no," Padma adds. "Are you afraid of frogs?"
"Of course not, but food isn't supposed to hop away from you! I couldn't swallow a bite of that thing."
"Too bad for you," says Parvati, biting off the frog's head.
Hermione turns away in disgust.
Pansy exchanges a meaningful look with the twins, then says, "I do hope that they reserve your place at the Muggle school."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Hermione asks suspiciously.
"Well," Pansy says with a mock-serious expression, "there are a few Muggle-borns who come to Hogwarts every year, but sometimes they're sent back home after a few days, because their magical abilities are too weak."
Hermione crosses her arms, but a flicker of worry flashes in her eyes. "I don't believe so."
"But it's true," says Parvati, "did you miss that in your books?"
"Girls are mostly affected, by the way," Padma interjects.
"Girls with brown hair," says Pansy.
"And beaver teeth," Parvati adds quietly.
For a moment, there is silence, before Hermione jumps up. "You only say that because you're mean!"
The twins bite their lips to keep from laughing as Hermione drags her suitcase from the luggage rack.
Pansy quickly opens her Chocolate Frog box. "Wait," she says with a sweet smile and follows Hermione to the door, the frog hidden behind her back. "Let me help you."
She opens the door with one hand and places the wriggling frog into Hermione's hood with the other. Hermione scowls at her before trudging down the corridor without another word.
Seconds later, the three girls watch the frog jump onto Hermione's head with a loud Ribbit!, whereupon she stops dead in her tracks, slowly touches the frog – and utters a high-pitched scream.
The girls hastily close the door, just in time before they burst into roaring laughter that echoes through the walls and down the entire carriage.
When she catches her breath, Pansy says, "Who does she think she is – Merlin? Just because she read a few books?"
"Seriously," Parvati says, brushing a tear from the corner of her eye, "if she's sorted into the same house as I am, I'll take the next train back to London."
The girls sink back into their seats, still giggling.
"While we're at it," Padma throws Pansy a curious look, "which house do you prefer?"
"I don't care, my house will be the best either way, otherwise I wouldn't be in it."
The twins laugh.
"Well, it doesn't need to be Hufflepuff," she admits. "They say it's the losers' house. Besides, yellow doesn't suit me at all. But I'll probably be in Ravenclaw anyway, just like my dad."
"And your mother?" Parvati asks expectantly.
"She was a student at Beauxbatons. They have houses there, too, but I can't even pronounce their names."
"Well, I could also see myself in Ravenclaw," Padma muses.
Parvati snorts. "Maybe you could, but I don't want to spend a single day with people burying their noses in books. Think about it – you might end up sharing a dorm with Merlin Granger."
Suddenly, a chubby boy bursts in. "Sorry, did you happen to see a toad?"
"A toad?" Parvati repeats, pulling a face.
Pansy giggles. "What about a Chocolate Frog? I can tell you exactly where to find one."
"No, we haven't seen one," Padma answers, coming to the boy's aid.
"O-okay," he stutters. "So, if you do –"
Pansy nods. "Then we will definitely throw it out the window."
All colour drains from his face.
"Now go away!"
Startled, the boy stumbles to the next compartment.
"Hufflepuff, without a doubt," Pansy mutters disdainfully.
"What's wrong with people who take a toad to Hogwarts?" Parvati asks.
Padma grins. "Then why don't you ask that red-haired boy with the rat – that's just as strange."
"I don't understand why owls are so popular either, or why they are supposed to be useful," Pansy says. "You can't even cuddle them. And if you want to send a letter, you just go to the owlery."
"Cats are definitely the best," Parvati agrees, holding out a box of Bertie Bott's Beans to them. "Take one, but no peeking!"
Padma goes first, with a light blue bean. She carefully bites off a piece. "Hmm… toothpaste. Could be worse."
"Apple," Pansy announces satisfied after trying one.
Parvati fishes a white-yellow-speckled bean out of the package. She chews, then chokes – and spits the bean into her hand. "Rotten egg!"
"The worst taste of them all," Pansy agrees.
Padma laughs humourlessly. "Then you've never caught dog food."
They keep going until the package is empty, while Mabel plays with the beans that accidentally fell on the floor.
None of them notices that the landscape outside their window is changing; where villages and fields used to be, forests, twisting rivers, and dark hills are flying past them now.
A few minutes later, Hermione sticks her head back into the compartment. She searches the floor, ignoring the girls. "He's not here either, Neville," she calls to someone. "Let's go back to Harry Potter, who is also sitting on the train and to whom I've already introduced myself."
She gives them a smug smile and slams the door.
"To whom I've already introduced myself," Pansy mimics her.
"So the rumours are true," Padma mumbles.
"Hey, let's go find Potter," Parvati suggests. "I want to know what he looks like, maybe he really has that lightning bolt scar."
"He's not an animal in the zoo, Parvati."
"But it's Harry Potter, the boy who lived, and the reason You-Know-Who disappeared back then."
"A stroke of luck," Pansy says. "Potter was just a baby when it happened. He might have known where his nose is, but surely not how to destroy the most powerful wizard in the world."
"True... but don't you want to ask him if he remembers anything?"
"He's always asked that. Would you like to constantly talk about the night your parents died?" Pansy pulls out her mirror and applies lip balm. "He probably has only Quidditch on his mind, like all the boys."
The sky has already turned deep-purple and the train starts slowing down, when an announcement sounds, "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes. Please leave your luggage and the cages on the train, everything will be taken to the school separately."
The girls exchange an excited glance before putting on their school robes.
"We'll see each other soon," Pansy murmurs as she carefully places Mabel into her basket, gently stroking her head.
The corridor outside is already full of students. Further down, Hermione is comforting the chubby boy; his face is blotchy, and tears shine in his eyes.
"Look at that fat, little cry baby," Parvati whispers maliciously.
The train comes to a gentle, shuddering halt, and everyone pushes through the door onto a narrow, dark platform. Cool night air greets them, and the glow of a lamp rises above their heads.
"Firs'-years! Firs'-years over here!" a deep voice growls. It belongs to a bearded man who is about ten feet tall and remarkably broad. His long, matted hair makes him look wild, and the lantern seems like a toy in his huge hand. "C'mon, follow me – any more firs'-years? Mind yer step, now! Firs'-years, follow me!"
"Who exactly is supposed to follow him?" Pansy asks dryly. "I haven't figured it out yet."
Giggling, Parvati and Padma link arms with her and follow the bearded giant down a path.
"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec. Jus' round this bend here."
Shortly afterwards, they stop at the shore of a great lake, where a fleet of small boats is bobbing in the water. But everyone's attention is drawn to the mountain on the other side, on which a magnificent castle is perched. It has many turrets and towers, and its illuminated windows sparkle in the night sky.
Admiring exclamations can be heard from all sides.
"No more'n four to a boat!" the giant says, taking one boat all for himself.
Pansy and the twins sit down, followed by a girl with blonde pigtails.
"Everyone in? Right then – FORWARD!"
While the boats glide across the black lake, they're all staring up at their new home. Arriving at the foot of the mountain, they are carried through a tunnel to a landing stage, where they finally climb out of the boats.
"Oy, you there! Is this your toad?"
"Trevor!" the chubby toadboy cries, taking his lost friend.
Parvati coughs. "Cry! Baby!"
They march on, climb a long stone staircase, and finally stop in front of a massive oak door. The door is enormous, and its intricate carvings make it look like the entrance to another world.
The giant raises his huge fist and knocks three times. A deep echo reverberates through the night.
They have finally arrived.