Chapter 2
I follow Ron and Harry as the twins race to meet up with their own friends.
“Ah, an empty compartment!” I exclaim as we dodge inside. I sit beside Ron and throw my bag on the bench. The room felt cozy while there was enough space to spread out comfortably.
“Excited?” I ask Ron.
“Yes, and nervous too I suppose.” He replies. I was a little nervous myself. New school, teachers, peers, homework. It was all so, well new. Ron looks to Harry with a smile.
“I’m Ron by the way, Ron Weasley.” He formally introduces himself.
“I’m Harry Potter.” My eyes bug out. He was Harry Potter? The Harry Potter. The boy who defeated Voldemort.
“Woah.” I whisper. What were the odds of me even meeting him let alone sitting across from him on our way to Hogwarts.
“So-so it’s true?! I mean, do you really have the…the-“ Ron stutters.
“The What?” he asks. Ron looks around ominously like we’re being spied on and then whispers.
“The scar.”
“Oh, yeah.” Harry says and lifts up his hair to show us a small jagged scar on his head above his unbalanced glasses. We both lean forward to get a better look. It really did look like a lightning bolt. As cool as it may have looked for some reason, possibly due to the story behind it. I grew cold and rubbed my arms to keep warm.
“Wicked.” Ron remarks
“Blimey.” I say. Before Harry can say anything, a trolley comes by the compartment, full of sweets.
“Anything off the trolley dears?” A lady in a red smock asks with a smile. I nod and hop up to grab some snacks while Ron says something to Harry.
“Thanks.” I say to the lady and hand her some money. I turn around to see Harry holding up a bunch of coins.
“We’ll take the lot.” He says with a smile. The lady starts handing us all sorts of goodies and it was definitely way too much for us to finish on time. Ron looked thankful he didn’t have to eat whatever he brought with him. I help them pile the snacks on the seat before taking up my place once again.
Ron goes on to tell Harry about the various treats as I open my Chocolate frog. I spy Ron’s rat Scabbers perched on his knee with a Bertie box over his head. Silly rat. I thought as I flipped over my card to see the wizard Merlin! Cool, one I hadn’t gotten before. I place it in my book for safe keeping and turn to the boys.
“These aren’t real chocolate frogs, are they? Harry asks as he grabs one and looks perturbed.
“No, it’s a charm.” I say as I shake my head.
“Besides it’s cards you want. Each packs got a famous witch or wizard, for collecting. I’ve got about 500 myself. I’m looking for an Agrippa but no luck so far,” That was quite a lot even for one person. “How come you don’t know about these?” Ron continues and gives Harry a confused look.
“He lives with Muggles Ron, use your head. Sorry Harry.” I say to him.
“Hagrid said that word too, muggles.”
“Ah, yes. Non wizard folk. I’m surprised your relatives know about Hogwarts and let you come. Many muggles are quite frightened of the wizarding world.” I tell him. I could only rely what my uncle had told me as I didn't know any muggles that knew wizards and witches existed.
“I almost didn’t get to come. Hey, I got Dumbledore!” Harry exclaims.
“I’ve got about six of him.” Ron says and I roll my eyes.
“That makes sense, you have 500. Harry can I see?” I ask. He hands me the card and I clear my throat.
“Considered by many the greatest wizard of modern times, Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the Dark Wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the 12 uses of dragons blood and his work on alchemy with his partner Nicolas Flamel. Professor Dumbledore enjoys chamber music and ten pin bowling,” I read out. “Cool.” I say and hand the card back over. "Grindelwald's related to the famous witch Bathilda Baghsot. She's written some of our text books."
Just then a soft voice comes from the compartment doorway.
“Has anybody seen a toad? A boy Neville’s lost one." A girl with thick curly hair says.
I shake my head and stand to introduce myself.
“I haven’t seen any toads around. I’m Emery.”
“I’m Hermione, nice to meet you.” She takes a glimpse down at my bench.
“Hogwarts A History.” She states.
“Yes, it’s just something to pass them time. I had read the book over the summer but thought it would be appropriate for the train ride.
“It’s one of my favorites actually.”
“Really?!” I smile at her. Maybe we would be fast friends then. I turn towards the boys. Ron was holding his wand up in the air. Was he gonna try a spell? Oh boy, here we go.
“Oh, are you doing magic, let’s see then.” Hermione says as we stand side by side. Ron turns back to Scabbers.
“Aghhem. Sunshine, daises, butter mellow, turn this stupid fat rat yellow!” Nothing happens to Scabbers and Ron just shrugs.
“Are you sure that’s a real spell? Well, it’s not very good is it? Of course, I’ve only tried a few simple spells myself and they’ve all worked for me.” Hermione says and makes her way over to Harry.
“For example,” She says and points her wand at him. “Oculus Reparo.” There was a tiny flash and his glasses righted themselves on his nose. Harry takes them off to inspect them and his eyes widen. They looked much better than they did before.
“That’s better, isn’t it? I’m Hermione Granger, and you are?”
“Harry Potter.”
“Are you really? I know all about you of course. I got a few extra books for background reading and you’re in Modern Magical History, The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the 2Oth Century.” She finishes.
“Am I?” Harry asks dumbfounded.
“Harry you do know your kind of, well famous right? ” I ask and he shakes his head.
“Goodness, don’t you know? I’d find everything I could if it was me. She says pointedly and turns to Ron.
“I’m… Ron Weasley.” He says with a full mouth.
“Pleasure.” She grimaces and looks back over to me.
“Do you know what house you’ll be in? I’ve been asking around and I hope I’m in Gryffindor. It sounds to be the best. She says.
“It is Dumbledore’s house.” I say.
“That’s right. I guess Ravenclaw would be okay. As long as I’m not in Slytherin.” Ron says.
“What’s wrong with Slytherin?” Harry asked with a confused look.
“You know who’s house. Everyone dislikes it, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad." I say. Uncle had said he had a close friend from Gryffindor house who served the Dark Lord during the war.
“Uh, you three better change into your robes. I expect we’ll be arriving soon. Hermione says and walks out the door.
"What did you mean I'm famous?" Harry asks.
"Well everyone knows what happened to your parents. I'm sorry by the way to bring it up that way, uh anyway. strangers have probably talked to you before." I say
"In Diagon alley actually." I nodded. It would probably always be like that.
"Well, I should change, see you guys in a few." I grab my bag and head for the door. Hermione reappears and looks at Ron.
“You’ve got dirt, on your nose by the way. Did you know? Just there.” She points to her own nose and I laugh as I make for the bathroom compartment.
…….
When the train stops it’s dark outside. The train whistle bellows, and we grab out trunks and bags. There was a line to get off the train, but it moved rather quickly. Once outside we all walked along the platform towards the luminated stairs. A large figure up ahead roared.
“Right then! First years! This way, please! Don’t be shy! Come on now, hurry up!” He says to all of us as we walk past the older students. We drop our luggage once again and I try to squint to see our surrounding but it’s just too dark.
“Hello Harry!” The man says as we all stop in front of him.
“Hey Hagrid! This is Ron and Emery.” Harry says. I wave to him and his eyes linger on us for a moment before speaking.
“Hello Ron. Nice to meet you Emery.”
“Whoaa!” Ron exclaims at the big man. Hagrid’s smile widens.
“Right then. This way to the boats! Come on, now. Follow me.” He turns and says. We’re quick to follow in his footsteps towards the shore of the lake where many boats are waiting for us. Ron Harry and I quickly find a boat and start to climb aboard. Hermione comes to my side of the boat.
“It’s four to a boat, mind if I join you?” I smile and reply.
“Not at all.” And scoot over to make room for her.
“Wicked.” I hear Ron mutter as the boat starts to move. Eventually we come upon the school. I had seen a picture before, but this was so much bigger than I had thought it would be. I was in awe. The castle like structure sat on jagged rocks that almost glittered in the moonlight. Tall towers rose into the sky and looked as if they touched the clouds. And the long draw bridge that was placed in front of the castle looked like it went on forever in either direction. It must be another way to get to the main door. We finally make it to a small boat house and take turns disembarking from the rocky boats.
“Woah look at all those stairs.” Hermione says as I turn around.
"Oh no. This should be fun." I mutter. There were at least 400 hundred stairs to climb as said by a Ravenclaw a few paces behind us as we finally made it to the top we crossed through a large courtyard where I could catch my breath. This led us to a large door we walk through to another set of stairs.
“Up the stair now, you’ll find professor McGonagall waitin for yer.” Hagrid tells us and leaves.
“If we have to do this next year I’ll die.” I tell Ron as we climb the last set of steps to find a lady dressed in green robes tapping her fingers on a stone banister. She gives us a smile and says.
“Welcome to Hogwarts.”