The Hogwarts Express
The next few weeks the house in Heathgate 8 was filled with talk about magic. Wizarding Worlds history and Hermione trying to learn spells and controlling her magic. She also read every book she had bought, this meant she read all the books for school as well as all the books on wizarding history and Hogwarts.
Hermione read about the rise and fall of He who must not be named, Harry Potter and everything she could find on things she could have missed of not been born into a wizarding family. On her research about Voldemort she also stumbled upon the name “Malfoy”, it seemed Lucius Malfoy, as she read had been a follower of the dark magician. Hermione was not surprised after her experience in Nocturne Alley. She decided very soon after reading about the wizarding war and the hate against muggles no to tell her parents about the history, she was too afraid that her parents may forbid her to go to Hogwarts then. And she couldn’t wait for Hogwarts, for being sorted into Gryffindor or Ravenclaw, which she was sure, that one of those two houses fitted her the best, also because she ruled out, that she wouldn’t get sorted into Slytherin, mostly because she had read, that no muggle born in the whole history of Hogwarts had been sorted into the House of Slytherin.
Hermione studied hard, afraid that everyone of her classmates probably knew so much more already. She hadn’t had the privilege of being born into a wizarding family so she wanted to keep up, to still be top of the class. Hermione always knew how ambitious she was, but now with the goal of becoming a powerful witch she was even more determined to become the best. All in all Hermione Granger couldn’t wait for her time at Hogwarts. She was sure, that she would finally meet like minded people and hopefully make some friends.
The morning of September 1st dawned bright and clear. Hermione was up early, her Hogwarts trunk packed and ready by the door. Her parents helped her load everything into the car, and they set off for King’s Cross Station with a mix of excitement and nerves.
Although Professor McGonagall had told the Grangers how to get to Platform 9 ¾ , it took the Grangers a lot of effort to walk straight towards the barrier not stopping, but the view of the Hogwarts Express made it worth it, Hermione decided. Her excitement was enormous and she stay still, she wanted to take it all in, see everything.
After saying goodbye to her parents, Hermione took a deep breath and then started looking for a seat inside the train, her heart pounding with anticipation. She found an empty compartment and settled in, but it wasn’t long before the door slid open and a round-faced boy with a worried expression peeked in.
“Hello.” He said nervously, his trunk behind him. “Is this seat taken?” He said pointing on the seat opposite of Hermione with a shaking hand.
“Hi.” Hermione said as friendly as she could. “No, please come in.” She stood up, helping him with his luggage.
“I’m Hermione Granger by the way, what’s your name?”
“My name is Neville Longbottom, and thank you.” The boy replied shyly.
Hermione recognized the name Longbottom, from one of her books from the wizarding war.
“You are not muggleborn, right?” She asked.
The boy shook his head. “No, but the family thought I was all-Muggle for ages. My Great Uncle Algie kept trying to catch me off my guard and force some magic out of me — he pushed meoff the end of Blackpool pier once, I nearly drowned — but nothing happened until I was eight. Great Uncle Algie came round for dinner, and he was hanging me out of an upstairs window by the ankles when my Great Auntie Enid offered him a meringue and he accidentally let go. But I bounced — all the way down the garden and into the road. They were all really pleased, Gran was crying, she was so happy. And you should have seen their faces when I got in here — they thought I might not be magic enough to come, you see. Great Uncle Algie was so pleased he bought me my toad.” Neville spoke fast, as if he was afraid Hermione would laugh at him, but she was just shocked by the story he told. Neville then showed Hermione his toad Trevor.
Glad that she immediately had found someone to talk to, the two of them talked for the rest of the morning, as the train set off towards their new life. Neville answered many of Hermione’s question about wizarding life, and they talked a lot about which houses they wanted to be sorted in. Neville was sure, that he would get into Hufflepuff, and about their courses they would have in their first year.
“I’m especially interested in Transfiguration.” Hermione started her sentence, when suddenly Trevor jumped up form Neville’s lap and outside their compartment.
“No Trevor, stay.” Neville shouted, but the Toad was long gone, when they stood outside their compartment, looking for the animal. The two of them set off down the train, peeking into compartments and asking if anyone had seen Neville’s toad. They soon came across a compartment with two boys, one with messy black hair and glasses, and the other with bright red hair. The red haired boy was just raising his wand, as if he wanted to magic, when Hermione opened the compartment door.
“Excuse me, has anyone seen a toad? Neville’s lost one.” She said.
“No, sorry. “The black haired boy said.
“Are you doing magic? Let’s see it!” Hermione said, enthusiastically, sitting down.
“Er- all right.” The red haired boy cleared his throat.
“Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, Turn this stupid, fat rat yellow.” He waved his wand, but nothing happened, the rat on his lap, was still asleep, looking the same.
Hermione was curious about the spell he had used, in all the books she hadn’t found a spell sounding like this spell. Trying to show what she had learned and maybe teach the two boys something she said:
“I’ve already tried a few spells that I found in the books, and they all worked quite well. You know I’m muggleborn.” She said, nervously “I It was such a surprise when I got my letter. But I was so happy when I found out, that I am a witch, this is incredible isn’t it? I’m Hermione Granger by the way, who are you?” Hermione talked very fast, trying to explain herself and getting to know more future classmates besides Neville.
“I am Ron Weasley.” The red haired boy said.
“And I am Harry Potter.” The other boy said. Hermione immediately recognized the name. Could it possibly be? The boy who had saved the wizarding world from “He-who-must-not-be-named”.
“I’ve read all about you,” She said “I got a few extra books for background reading you know? I don’t want lag behind everyone else in class. You’re in Modern Magical History and the Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century.” Wanting to show to the two boys what she already had learned, she still talked very fast.
Ron, who had been munching on a chocolate frog and who didn’t know what to say to Hermione, offered some to Neville. “Want some? It’ll cheer you up.”
Neville took the chocolate gratefully, and Hermione, feeling a bit more at ease, sat down to chat with Harry and Ron. They talked about Hogwarts, their excitement, and their fears. But soon, Hermione remembered their mission.
“We should keep looking for Trevor,” she said, standing up. “We’ll be back.”
As they continued their search, they heard muffled sounds coming from a compartment, inside was another first year crying while three boys stood in the compartment seemingly eating the boys sweets. When the boy in the middle turned around to see who stood in front of the compartment Hermione recognized in shock Draco Malfoy, the rude boy from Nocturne Alley. He recognized her immediately his face turning from a wicked smile to pure hatred.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the mudblood,” he sneered. “What are you doing here, Granger? Shouldn’t you be with your own kind?” The tall boys beside Draco turned around as well.
Hermione’s cheeks flushed with anger, but she held her ground. “I’m helping Neville find his toad. Now, if you’ll excuse us.”
Draco’s smirk widened. “Good luck with that. You’ll need it.” Then mumbling something and pointing his wand towards Hermione and she felt a force push her a bit. She couldn’t believe that Draco had just used a spell to push her, but not wanting any trouble, she took Neville by the hand and the two turned around and walked away as fast as they could.
“These boys were scary.” Neville said, sounding a bit out of breath.
“You have no Idea.” Hermione said. Still feeling Draco’s cold gaze on her back.
They finally found Trevor hiding under a seat in an empty compartment. Neville was overjoyed, and they made their way back to Harry and Ron.
“Did you find him?” Ron asked as they entered the compartment.
“Yes, we did,” Hermione said, smiling at Neville. “Trevor’s safe and sound.”
As they settled back into their seats, Hermione couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions. She had made new friends, but she also seemed to have made an enemy in Draco Malfoy.