Chapter 2: Platform 9 3/4

Merida had never seen so many witches and wizards (and even one or two muggles) together in one place since the Quidditch World Cup she went to with her mother four years ago.

She was sitting on her trunk, in the middle of the busy platform 9¾, while her mother circled her, going through the list of school supplies for the umpteenth time, her wide skirts making noise every time she took a step.

"Wand, check. Robes set, check. Books, check. Hat, check". And so on and on and on and on.

Leaning on her trunk would be the most appropriate expression, with her head hanging over the edge of the trunk and her legs, on the other side, rocking from side to side. She saw the world upside down but clearly looked at everything that was happening around her. Like the skinny brown-haired boy chasing a tiny black dragon between people's legs —her mother walking around—, "Cauldron, check", or the girl with blond hair so long that was strangely barefoot and clung with force to her mother's dress as she walked. She is pretty, Merida flushed a little. Her mother giving another turn, "Telescope, check", or the man with a lightning bolt scar on his forehead who seemed to be scolding his two sons. Her mother turned one more round; Merdia was already starting to feel dizzy. "Underwear, check".

Merida straightened up as fast as she could. "God, mom!" wonae ye like tae say thon any louder?"

Merida's claim took her mother out of her eternal checkup. "What?" She said, "Oh, Merida, close your legs, missy, I see London, I see France—"

"Mom!" Merida shouted, closing her legs tightly.

"Remember that you are a lady, darling, you have to—"

"—behave as such. A know. "

"Then why do I have to remind it to you every day, darling?"

Merida rolled her eyes. "Ye know? we coud avoid me showin more than A shoud gin ye agreit tae buy me a pair o pants".

Merida's mother's eyes widened as if what Merida was saying was an unforgivable curse. "No, no, no. No way! You are a lady, ladies wear skirts, not pants.

"My dad wad let me wear thaim", she muttered.

"What did you say, honey?"

"Nothing, Mom", she answered through her teeth.

"Honey, I already told you not to mumble, it's not proper from—"

"—a lady. A know!"

"I honestly don't know what I'm going to do with you, Merida."

Merida snorted and dropped onto her trunk, being careful to keep her legs tightly closed. It was the same old discussion. Merida wanted to do something, and her mother wouldn't let her. And if she did anything her mother was not willing her to do, she would say the typical phrase "That is not something a lady would do or say or think". But if not, Merida would be the victim for a sermon of, more or less, one hour. She had one of those, minimum, once a day. If her father was still alive, he would have let her wear whatever clothes she wanted, he would have let her do whatever she wanted and she would be his accomplice like when she was little. He would have even let her go to whatever school she wanted. Like Durmstrang. But he died in Romania six years ago. She really missed him.

"Merida!" Her mother's voice startled her.

"Now what?" Merida didn't even bother to straighten up. "Ma legs are closit".

"It's not that, darling. I don't remember if I packed your set of phials. Open your trunk".

Merida now did straighten up. "Mom, no", she said firmly, frowning. "You went throuch ma trunk twice before we left the house. Ye e'en check it on the way here. Ye dinnae neit tae check it here".

"I want to make sure, honey".

"Mom! " Merida knew she had to stand up to her mother. "You boucht me more robes than they askit for, ye boucht me more books than A need, an ye were e'en aboot tae buy me twa wands gin it werenae for the old man at the store did no let ye dae it". She relaxed her tone a little. "Trust me, A have awthing". Her voice seemed almost like a plea.

Her mother sighed and looked her straight in the eye. "I just want to make sure you have everything in order".

Merida groaned. It was a hopeless case trying to beat her mother. She got down from the trunk, kicked it open, and took a few steps away. "Fine!"

Her mother went through the trunk critically, the list of supplies in her hand.

Merida gave another quick inspection to the platform. In the distance, alone in the crowd was a girl with hair so blond that it looked white, she looked scared and had her hands hold tightly to her chest, without taking her eyes off the Hogwarts Express. She saw the man with the lightning bolt scar again, he was now crouched, saying goodbye to his children. I bet it must be amazing being the child of Harry Potter, she thought. Her mother finished going through the contents of her trunk just as the skinny boy returned, accompanied by another boy also with brown hair, both completely covered in soot, and with the dragon, the first boy was chasing after locked in a cage. Merida giggled when she saw them, loud enough for her mother to notice.

"Merlin's beard!" She yelled when she saw the little dragon. "I can't believe dragons were not banned from Hogwarts after what happened in Romania". She turned to Merida. "Are you sure you don't want to go to Beaux—?"

"No! A dinnae want tae gae thare". She wasn't even going to let her mother consider sending her to a school other than one of her choice. "Have ye finishit gang throuch ma things? It wonae be long before the train leaves".

And as soon as she finished saying that the Hogwarts Express blew its whistle. Merida could see how her mother's face was filled with sadness.

"Yes, I think you have everything", she said, then closed the trunk and crouched down to her daughter's height. "I'm really going to miss you".

Incredibly, Merida felt a sudden sadness. "A'm gaun'ae miss ye too", she whimpered and could feel how her eyes fill with tears.

"Be good", her mother said as she wiped Merida's tears with the sleeve of her dress. "Study a lot, listen to your teachers, eat well and, above all, don't get in trouble".

Merida giggled. "I promise".

"I'll write to you daily."

"A'll answer ye once a month — or a week — maybe twice a week". They both laughed.

Merida hugged her mother, took her trunk, and boarded the Hogwarts Express. That same night, as she was unpacking, she would realize that her mother had indeed forgotten to pack her phials.

Hiccup was desperate. How could he have believed that releasing such a restless baby dragon in such a crowded place was a good idea? It seemed like a good idea at first, and in part, he did it because it hurt him to see the poor dragon wriggling in such a small cage. He never imagined that Toothless would bolt the instant he opened the cage, leaving Hiccup with an expression of fear, surprise, and concern at the same time.

He had already walked the platform up and down twice and did not see his dragon. He had to find it before his father knew it or the consequences will be huge.

He walked the platform once more, surveying even the most remote corner. In his search he saw several people who caught his attention: a very scared silver-haired girl standing next to her luggage cart, he was about to approach to ask if she was okay, but she was in the middle of an emergency. The second thing he saw was a blond girl a little older than him, maybe from fifth year, wearing a crimson badge with a gold C buttoned on her blouse. The girl was with another younger girl, perhaps her sister. Both of them seemed extremely familiar to Hiccup; but, maybe because he didn't really know them or maybe because he had something more important to do, Hiccup couldn't recognize them. He also saw a red-haired girl leaning on her trunk. A woman in large skirts circled the girl over and over again. The girl was wearing a skirt and… Hiccup looked away quickly, flushing. He saw more than he should.

Focus, Hiccup. You have to find that elusive lizard as soon as you can or you're going to get in trouble.

Suddenly, he saw how a black ball floated over the heads of the people in the distance, with those huge green eyes and that toothless muzzle. "Toothless!" The little dragon had barely reached the age when he learned to fly and staggered from side to side, fuming from his nostrils.

Hiccup ran after his dragon, the empty cage rattling with every trot he took. Unfortunately, the platform was so crowded with people that Toothless was easily lost from sight.

"Oh, Toothless! They're going to hang me by the thumbs because of you. If my dad realizes..."

"Hiccup!" His father's voice echoed across the platform, sending Hiccup's blood rushing to his heels. "There you are, son, I was looking for you. Are you ready to board?"

His father, Stoick the Vast (a title he earned for his heroic actions six years ago in Romania) patted him lightly on the back, or at least what is light for someone as big as him, because Hiccup shook violently, along with the empty cage, that rattled even more. Don't let him see the cage. Please, Odin, don't let him see the cage.

"Hiccup", the tone in his father's voice was so cold that Hiccup felt chills. "Where is your dragon?"

That's it. I'm dead.

Hiccup didn't reply.

"Son". Oh, even Berk's winter wasn't as cold as his father's voice. "I asked you a question".

Hiccup gulped and turned around. He saw his father straight in the eye and… "You know? I've been thinking a lot about the concept of freedom, lately". He didn't have the guts to tell his father the truth. "As many constitutions around the world emphasize, this is a right that all citizens of a country or community have, or should have. But does it really mean everyone? What about the dragons and the rest of the poor creatures that live in cages? That is not considered a violation of their rights, you know? But the question here is: why? That is something that we must eradicate at all costs—"

"Hiccup". His father's powerful voice made his bones shake. "I'll ask you one last time. WHERE? IS? YOUR DRAGON?

Hiccup sighed. "I don't know".

His father raised his huge hand to his face. "Why, Odin?" He really sounded disappointed. "I knew this would happen. From the beginning I shouldn't have let you bring that dragon, it's a lot of responsibility for you".

Hiccup could do nothing but say how sorry he was.

"Find him", said his father, turning around. And looking at Hiccup over her shoulder, he added. "Because if I find him before you do, I won't let you take him to Hogwarts." And he left, scanning the crowd for the dragon.

Hiccup sighed and kicked the empty cage. He felt how his hopes were dashed when he saw him. Toothless was flying between people's legs. He must be tired by now, he thought, he still doesn't have enough strength to fly for long periods. He ducked between people's legs, concentrating on keeping an eye on the elusive dragon. He was just over a meter from him when the dragon noticed his presence and tried to gain height. He passed next to a boy wearing a blue hoodie, who smiled when he saw the dragon.

"Catch him!" Hiccup yelled. And the boy, without thinking about it twice, raised his arms and caught the little dragon that writhed and screeched trying to free himself. The boy held it in front of him, the dragon was so angry that he spat soot all over his face, making him cough. "No, Toothless, behave yourself".

Hiccup and the other boy shoved the dragon into the cage where it kept twisting and spitting smoke in all directions. Both children ended up covered in soot from top to bottom.

"Thanks," Hiccup said, "seriously. Had a good time trying to catch him".

"Ah, don't worry, mate". The boy saw how he was covered in soot from top to bottom. "Thanks to Merlin that my mother has already left or she would have killed me when she saw me all covered in soot.

"Yeah, um, sorry about that."

"Nah, don't worry, it's not like I can last clean on a daily basis."

They both laughed.

"My name is Jack, by the way", said the boy and held out his hand to Hiccup. "Jack Frost".

Hiccup shook Jack's hand. "I'm Hiccup Haddock".

Jack's eyes went wide. "Haddock? Like Stoi—?"

"Hiccup". His father's voice startled them both. "I see you already found your dragon. Well done".

"Yes, Dad. Jack helped me", he said, pointing in Jack's direction with his thumb. Jack was gaping.

"Then thanks for helping my son, Jack". Stoick extended his hand to Jack. "Nice to meet you".

"The pleasure is mine, sir". Jack shook Stoick's hand, still gaping. "You are Stoick, the Vast, Hero of the Draconian Fury, from six years ago in Romania".

"Well, I've never liked that title, but you can call me like that if you feel like it."

"Thank you".

Oh, it will be the same thing as always. Hiccup couldn't help but feel like a disappointment. His father had been the main hero at that accident in Romania, taming countless dangerous dragons. And Hiccup? He couldn't even keep a baby dragon in its cage.

"Well", Stoick said, "I have to go, boys. I still have a lot of things to make before going back to Romania. You better get on the train".

"Yes, Dad. See you in a few months".

"Yes, of course. See you. Jack. Son".

Stoick turned around and left the place.

Jack turned to Hiccup, and Hiccup already knew what was coming next. He would start praising him for being Stoick's son and he should put up with the flattery as always. But to his surprise, Jack said, "You want us to find a compartment together?"

Hiccup smiled. "Of course," he said.

Hiccup felt that this would be the beginning of a great friendship.

Elsa could feel how her heart was beating faster than it had ever done in her short life. She had been standing there for about thirty minutes, next to her luggage, admiring the vastness of the Hogwarts Express. She still didn't understand why Minerva had made her "live the experience" like the rest of the new Hogwarts students. At first, she had been excited by the idea, but after seeing how many people were in King's Cross, she had been petrified.

And the worst part of all? Minerva had told her she would have to do it alone. Why? What was the case of leaving her alone when she made Elsa spend all her time around her? Especially since Elsa lived at Hogwarts with Minerva most of the year. Why was Minerva sending her to the other side of the United Kingdom if in a matter of hours she was going to return to the place where she had lived her last (and only) 11 years of life? Nothing made sense to Elsa, but she had no other option. She had told that Minerva, and what was her answer? "You must live the experience like the rest of the students, otherwise, you would take away the emotion from this new stage of your life". Yeah, sure. Exciting? I'm scared to death.

Professor Lumen Tenebrae had taken her to London, but as soon as he had helped her through the gate between platforms nine and ten, he was gone, since Mr. Always Busy had better things to do. That's why even his own daughter hates him, she thought.

She looked around to see if she saw a familiar face. Despite not being an official Hogwarts student, she lived there with Minerva, so she knew some older students. Minerva always kept her away from the other students, whether in her office or busy with a teacher who had free periods. But two years ago, Elsa began to show more interest in living with the students, so Minerva had no choice but to let her tour the castle at will. As long as she did not distract the students from their obligations. This is how Elsa met and befriended several upper-grade students. Like Olivia Perkins, who last year had been named captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Or Savannah Johnson, who would start her third year, Ravenclaw Seeker since her first year, and who had the current record for being the fastest to catch the golden snitch, breaking the record from Harry Potter himself. There was also Piers Baker from Hufflepuff, one of the brightest students in all of Hogwarts, who would be entering his fourth year that school year. And not to mention the teachers. Elsa got along wonderfully with all of them, especially with Flee Hummings, Potions Teacher, and Head of Ravenclaw.

But for some strange reason, Minerva had not let her associate with any Slytherin student, so she had no friends from that House. Which had no sense, because Professor Tenebrae was the Head of Slytherin, and Minerva had made him watch after Elsa in the past couple of years.

She looked around trying to find any of her friends but didn't see anyone. What caught her eye were two boys who were covered in soot from head to toe, a red-haired girl who seemed to be discussing with her mother, and the blonde girl with hair as long as herself and bare feet. She was embracing her parents, crying uncontrollably. Whimpering that she didn't want to leave them. Maybe it's good to make friends with her so we can go together on the trip.

The Hogwarts Express blew its whistle and brought Elsa out of her thoughts. She looked for the crying blonde girl but saw her no more. I lost my chance, now what do I do? It was time to board and face her fears.

Elsa took a long breath and steeled herself to search for a compartment along (and indeed it was long) of the Hogwarts Express. The first car she got on was packed. There was not a single compartment available, not a single seat in fact. Several carriages ahead (or behind?) The people were becoming fewer. There were compartments with two or three students, but Elsa was so nervous that she didn't dare to go inside. In one compartment were the two boys covered in soot, but the entire compartment was dirty because of that. No thanks, I'm not that desperate. A little later she came across a compartment in which there was a single girl, about fourteen or fifteen years old, it seemed a good option. She had wavy brown hair and pretty green eyes. In her hands she had two pieces of wood joined by a thread (or so it seemed). It looked like a wand broken in half. She looked really sad. So much so that Elsa would reconsider entering and continue her search. I'm already nervous and scared enough to deal with someone else's nerves. Good thing I didn't make friends with the blonde girl.

As she progressed, she began to think that the best thing would be to find an empty compartment, a complicated task, but one that she was willing to accomplish. Finally, near the end of the train, she found an empty compartment. She entered without hesitation and arranged her things. She was already beginning to relax a bit when she saw two Slytherin students lean into her compartment, a boy with black hair and the other blond. A Gryffindor girl was with them, she was a redhead. One of the boys, the one with black hair, scrutinized her.

"Nah, this one is busy", he said, "let's keep looking."

Oh, thank you, she thought and sighed in relief.

The relief was short-lived, though, as less than a minute later the compartment door opened and the first thing Elsa saw was bare feet.

Bless my luck.

The blonde girl was still whimpering, her eyes and nose were red from crying.

"Can I… can I…?" She spluttered. "Can I sit here?"

Elsa was dying inside and all she was thinking about was saying no, but: "Sure." Wait, what? Her own nervousness made her say something she didn't mean to.

The blonde girl smiled from ear to ear. "Thank you!" She entered the compartment and arranged her things. She had to stand (with her dirty feet, Elsa noticed) on the seat to reach the place for her luggage. When she had done so, she sat down across from Elsa. Neither of them said anything for a long time. They both spent their time looking away each time one made eye contact with the other.

Finally, it was the blonde girl who broke the silence. "My name is Rapunzel", she said, "like the muggle fairy tale. But you can call me Punzie".

Elsa did not know that story but did not care. "My name is Elsa", she replied with a smile, "but you can call me Elsa".

Both girls laughed.

"Thank you for letting me sit here with you. In the other wagons, they were mean to me and made fun of my feet".

"Don't worry, I know you would have done the same for me".

Punzie smiled at Elsa's words and lowered her head for a while. They went by without saying anything for a few minutes until Elsa dared to break the silence.

"Hey, can I ask you a question?

"It is about my feet?"

"No, no, no— actually yes, it is".

"Don't worry", Rapunzel snorted, "You can ask me whatever you want".

Elsa sighed in relief and said, "Why are you going barefoot?"

Punzie looked at his feet and wiggled her toes.

"Well," she said, hugging her knees, "it's a long story".

"We have time; we'll get to Hogwarts until it gets dark".

"I guess you're right". Punzie giggled. "When I was little, well, littler. Something happened in my home country and—"

Suddenly a great commotion was heard coming from the corridor and the door of their compartment suddenly opened, surprising the girls. Half a dozen of boys and girls tried to get into the compartment, chasing two little dragons.

A/N: Hellooooooo. There you have it, chapter 2 is out of the oven. Little by little, we are starting to meet the Big Four and the way they are going to start their friendship/rivalry/enmity, who knows?

By the way, what do you think about Merida's Scottish accent? I had a real bad time making it. Would you like to have it that way or should I hire a translator so we can read what Merida says? hahaha. Well, I'll have chapter 3 in a matter of days. Thanks for your readings. See ya!