The Journey Begins
The next morning, Hermione woke with a mix of excitement and nerves. Today was the day she would finally board the Hogwarts Express and begin her journey into the magical world. Her parents helped her load her luggage into the car, and they set off for King’s Cross Station.
As they arrived at the bustling station, Hermione clutched her ticket tightly, her heart racing with anticipation. They walked briskly towards the barrier between platforms nine and ten, where she had been instructed to find Platform 9¾.
"Are you sure this is the right place?" her father asked, glancing around sceptically.
Hermione nodded. "Yes, I read it in 'Hogwarts: A History.' We just need to walk straight at the barrier." She took a deep breath and, with her parents' encouraging smiles, she pushed her trolley towards the seemingly solid wall. To her amazement, she passed through effortlessly and emerged on the other side onto a bustling platform filled with students and parents.
The scarlet steam engine of the Hogwarts Express stood before her, billowing clouds of smoke. The platform was alive with the chatter of excited students and the calls of owls hooting from their cages. Hermione's parents followed her through the barrier, looking equally astonished.
As they made their way down the platform, Hermione's eyes were drawn to a familiar figure. Draco Malfoy stood with his parents, Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, who looked every bit as dignified as their reputation suggested. Draco's mother had the same platinum blond hair and striking features, while his father carried an air of authority and pride.
Hermione's parents, ever the curious and friendly sort, noticed her interest and approached the Malfoys. "Good morning," Mrs. Granger said with a smile, extending her hand. "I'm Emma Granger, and this is my husband, Daniel. Our daughter Hermione will be starting at Hogwarts this year."
Narcissa Malfoy returned the smile, though it was more reserved. "Good morning. I am Narcissa Malfoy, and this is my husband, Lucius, and our son, Draco."
Hermione felt a nervous flutter in her stomach as she looked at Draco, who gave her a small, encouraging smile. "We met yesterday in Flourish and Blotts," she said, hoping to break the ice.
"Yes, indeed," Draco said, his usual smirk softened. "Nice to see you again, Hermione."
Lucius Malfoy eyed Hermione with polite curiosity. "It's always interesting to see new students embarking on their magical education. Hogwarts is a place of great learning and tradition."
Hermione's father nodded. "We've heard wonderful things about it. Hermione has been counting down the days."
As the parents continued their polite conversation, Lucius’ expression shifted subtly as he probed deeper into Hermione’s background. "So, Granger… it is not a name I recognize from any old wizarding family. Are you perhaps Muggle-born?"
Mrs. Granger responded with a touch of pride. "Yes, Hermione is the first witch in our family. We've been learning about the magical world along with her."
Lucius's demeanor cooled, his smile becoming more formal. "I see. It’s quite… rare, for Muggle-borns to show such strong magical abilities."
Hermione felt the tension rising, the warmth of the initial conversation dissipating. Draco, noticing his father’s change in tone, interjected quickly. "Father, Hermione is brilliant. She’ll do exceptionally well at Hogwarts."
Narcissa, sensing the need to smooth things over, added, "Indeed, talent can be found in many places. We look forward to seeing how all the new students flourish."
Hermione’s mother gave a tight but polite smile. "Thank you. We believe in Hermione’s abilities, and we're sure she'll thrive."
The train’s whistle blew, signaling it was time for the students to board. "We should get on the train," Draco said, turning to his parents. "Goodbye, Mother. Father."
Narcissa kissed Draco on the cheek. "Take care, Draco. We’ll see you over the holidays."
Lucius gave Draco a firm nod, his eyes lingering on Hermione for a moment longer. "Study hard and make us proud."
Hermione's parents hugged her tightly. "Have a wonderful time, darling," her mother said. "Write to us often."
"I will," Hermione promised, feeling a rush of emotion and a twinge of unease.
As Hermione and Draco boarded the train, they found themselves in the same corridor, but soon parted ways to find seats. Hermione continued searching until she spotted a compartment with only one boy sitting inside, frantically searching under the seats.
"Excuse me, is this seat taken?" Hermione asked hesitantly.
The boy looked up, his round face flushed with worry. "No, you can sit here. I’m just looking for my toad, Trevor. He’s gone missing again."
Hermione placed her luggage on the overhead rack and sat down. "I can help you look for him. I'm Hermione Granger, by the way."
"Thanks, I'm Neville Longbottom," the boy replied, his expression a mix of relief and gratitude.
After a few minutes of searching with no success, Hermione decided to broaden the search. She slid open the compartment door and stepped into the corridor, hoping to find someone who might have seen the elusive toad. As she walked along, she noticed a compartment door slightly ajar with voices coming from inside.
Taking a deep breath, Hermione knocked and then slid the door open. Inside were two boys: one with messy black hair and round glasses, and the other with bright red hair and freckles.
"Excuse me, but has anyone seen a toad? A boy named Neville's lost one," Hermione asked, feeling slightly nervous.
The black-haired boy looked up and smiled. "No, we haven't seen a toad. I'm Harry, by the way. Harry Potter. And this is Ron Weasley."
"Hermione Granger," she replied, shaking their hands. "Nice to meet you both. If you do see a toad, please let us know."
Just then, Draco appeared at the door, his platinum blond hair instantly recognizable. "Looking for something, Granger?" he asked, his tone teasing but not unfriendly.
"Just Neville's toad," Hermione replied, feeling a strange mix of emotions at seeing Draco again.
Draco scanned the compartment, his gaze lingering briefly on Harry and Ron. "I’ll keep an eye out," he said, before walking away with a slight smirk.
Hermione felt a flicker of warmth at Draco's promise to help. She exchanged a few more words with Harry and Ron, learning about their backgrounds and their excitement for the school year ahead. Harry's fame as the Boy Who Lived intrigued her, and she couldn't wait to learn more about him and his experiences.
As Hermione returned to Neville’s compartment, she couldn't shake the feeling that her life was about to change in ways she couldn't yet imagine. The rest of the journey passed quickly as they chatted, sharing snacks and stories. Hermione felt a sense of camaraderie forming among them, though she couldn't help but notice the subtle tension between Draco and the other boys.
As the train approached Hogwarts, Hermione felt a mixture of excitement and anxiety. She knew her life was about to change forever, and she couldn't wait to see what adventures lay ahead.