The Train
The last few weeks of August flew past the next thing Anne knew it was the evening of the 31st of August and Anne and Luna were trying to pack her trunk.
Outside Anne’s room they could hear an argument between Remus and Sirius. “Sirius you cannot let Harry take his broomstick with him!” Remus yelled. “There are rules for a reason!” Remus was trying to drop off Harry and Anne’s freshly laundered robes when he found Sirius and Harry try to fit Harry's broom into his trunk.
“Anne!” said Remus exasperated as he placed her robes on her bed. “please try and make sure your brother doesn’t try and get on the team this year!”
Anne nodded as she tried to fold her jumpers. Anne and Luna were spending one last evening together before she left for Hogwarts.
“Well that’s the clothes and your equipment packed” Luna pointed out cheerily “and now there's just…”
“The books!” said Anne as she looked towards the mountains of books, she had accumulated over the past eleven years.
There was a large pile of children’s books she was leaving behind including the Malory Towers which had only lasted her a few days, but she had enjoyed them anyway.
There was another pile including her required schoolbooks of which there only eight but some of which such as One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi were quite big. Anne had of course already read all of these books twice as she had bought them three weeks ago. She and Harry had found a name for Harry's owl in a History of Magic and had called her Hedwig. Anne had read One Thousand magical Herbs and Fungi three times as she had always loved plants.
The third category, however, was the largest. These were the books she wanted to take but was worried she wouldn’t have space for most of them. It contained a lot of muggle literature including some of the books she had been bought for her birthday such as her Latin textbooks, her copies of Shakespeare and Austen collect works, and her copies of the Iliad and the Odyssey. She had just finished reading them and had found them fascinating! She had loved all the different monsters and the gods and the brave hero Achilles and the wise Odysseus! She was also, of course, trying to take her well-read set of the Anne of Green Gables books because although she knew them by heart, they were very comforting to her.
There was a second pile of extra books she wanted to pack which were magical books. This included all the books that Anne had bought with her birthday money from Sirius. As she had been so busy reading the first-year textbooks she had not read as many as she would have liked to.
She had flicked through the other six Standard Book of Spells and gone through her new Divination book with Luna and Mr. Lovegood, but she had not been able to go through all her new history books. She had already read A Modern Magical History, she had felt a bit weird when she reached the chapter about her and Harry. She was looking forward to reading the rest of her History books as she had already read a History of Magic and she couldn’t wait to know some more details about the events.
Anne had already filled half her trunk with her cauldron telescope and clothes. Even with very careful packing, she wouldn’t be able to get more than a few extra books in!
“I believe I told you that your trunk was very special Anne” Remus pointed out as he folded her Ravenclaw quilt and placed in the bottom of the trunk. “Your trunk will expand on the inside as you need it to, whilst staying the same size.”
He carefully took her folded clothes and placed them on the bed and moved the cauldron containing her potions ingredients and equipment as well as her telescope to one side of the trunk. Remus demonstrated how deep the trunk could go by placing a stack of ten books twice the height of the trunk, neatly into the trunk. As the trunk got deeper as he put the books in, but the trunk was still the same size on the outside!
Anne beamed at her Uncle; he had known she would want to pack as many books as she could, so he had given her a self-expanding trunk!
Anne and Luna took the books out from the trunk and started to organize the books by subject. They put Anne’s children’s books back on the bookshelf, and then placed the large stacks of books into her trunk. Anne left a few things out to put in her satchel for the train ride tomorrow.
As Anne finished the packing Athene came sleeking into the room. Athene looked around confused at the trunk in the middle of the room. Anne had already decided to leave Athene at home when she went to school, Athene wasn’t as young as she once was, and Athene was already comfortable at Elm Grove, she didn’t want to upset her cat by moving her into a new environment if she didn’t have to!
“Anne?” asked Luna cautiously when they had finished packing “You’re not going to forget me are you, I mean you’re not going to replace me, or anything are you? Luna had tears in her eyes as she asked this question. Anne could tell that Luna had waited till the last possible moment to ask her this question.
“Luna you’re my best friend!” Anne pointed out “you’re my only friend!” Anne chuckled. “Of course, I won’t replace you and you’ll be coming in a year too!” Luna smiled and returned to her usual dreamy self and went home as it was nearly nine o’clock as it had taken them so long to pack.
The next morning, they all had to get up at the crack of dawn. They all had several bacon sandwiches and Anne had her fruit. Anne packed her school bag with her chicken and spinach sandwiches, a box of fruit, her new wand, her copy of Revolutionaries in the Magical World which she had started reading the night before, and her doll Rose. She wasn’t sure whether to pack Rose or not, but she had her since she was six months old, and she wasn’t going to leave her behind now! She had also been given some pocket money to spend on the train.
Sirius and Harry struggled their way down the stairs with Anne’s trunk which was rather a lot heavier than Harry’s.
“What have you put in here Anne? You do realize Hogwarts has a library, right?” Harry asked his sister. Anne blushed.
“Moony!” complained Sirius “If you’re going to get the world’s biggest bookworm a self-expanding trunk, couldn’t you make it a bit lighter somehow?” Remus laughed and placed a long-lasting feather-light charm on Anne’s trunk. “Thank you Moony! Now, why didn’t you do that before we picked this up!” Sirius protested.
“You never asked me to!” Remus pointed out mater of factly.
Sirius growled about the trials of living with a pair of insufferable know it all’s under his breath whilst he and Harry placed Anne’s trunk securely in the back of boot next to Harry's and then loading Hedwig. It was only half-past six, but they might have been traffic and they didn’t want to be late for the train for Harry and Anne’s first year at Hogwarts!
Anne was particularly anxious about being late which is why they had packed the night before and were leaving the house an hour early. Anne needn’t have worried though because they arrived at Kings Cross at just before ten o’clock and when they reached platforms nine and ten, the clock said it was only five minutes past ten.
Harry and Sirius went to the barrier between platforms nine and ten first at a run. Once they were safely through Remus looked over at Anne.
“You ready?” he asked patiently. Anne nodded and she and Remus both grabbed hold of the trolley and pushed it toward the barrier. Anne shut her eyes and winced when they were about to collide with the barrier but when she opened her eyes she didn’t see a brick wall but a nearly empty platform and a scarlet steam engine waiting to make yet another journey to Hogwarts.
Two of the only people standing on the platform were Harry and Sirius. There was also a family with two sons with dark red hair and a twin boy and girl who looked no more than about three and both had dark hair and were causing mayhem, running around the platform.
“Averett, Aislynn, come back here! And don’t poke at your brother’s owl he might bite” called a man with dark red hair like his older sons.
“Don’t worry Landon, they’re fine!” his wife comforted him. The wife had long dark hair and a lilting Welsh accent. “There’s nothing to worry about! We’ve got the boys here in plenty of time and they’ll both be fine!” The father seemed slightly less anxious at his wife’s words and he started checking with his sons that they had packed everything.
Anne and Harry went to find a compartment and Anne changed into her robes. Harry said he would change later, but Anne just couldn’t wait to wear them again! She then settled in to read her book, she had just reached the chapter on Circe and having read about her in the Odyssey she was interested in the difference between the muggle and magical interpretations of her. She had not got past the first two pages however when the compartment door opened. It was one of the two boys from the platform. He had dark red hair and a face full of freckles, he did not have Weasley red hair but a darker shade.
“Hi!” said Harry.
“Salue!” greeted Anne.
The boy looked at her in shock “saluete!” he replied. “Do you mind if I join you I don’t really know anyone!”
“Sure!” Harry replied eagerly.
The boy returned a minute later with his owl which was tawny and his father who was helping him with his trunk. “Are you sure you’ve got absolutely everything son?” his father started “you’ve got your wand? And some emergency money?”
“I’m fine dad! If I’ve forgotten anything, I’ll just send Scardi!” the boy said indicating the tawny owl.
“Alright, son! Holy Salamanders!” exclaimed the man in shock “You’re Harry and Anne Potter!” The man’s father had just recognized the other two students sitting in the compartment, his son looked nonplussed. After the man had calmed down, he introduced himself “Landon Scamander, it’s an honor to meet you both! And this is my son Irwin!”
Once his father had thanked Harry and Anne profusely for saving the wizarding world he left the compartment. After Irwin had said goodbye out the window to his family, he came back into the compartment, the platform was starting to fill now and the Scamander’s left.
“Sorry about dad! He’s always like that! He’s always panicking or nervous about something!” Irwin apologized earnestly.
“That’s alright!” Harry laughed “Anne’s the same- that’s why we’re here so early!”
“Do you know Latin?” asked Irwin interested.
“Only conversational” Anne admitted shyly “I’ve been too busy reading other books.”
“Oh, fair enough!” replied Irwin, as he sat down next to Anne. They were soon joined in their compartment by Ron and Neville.
A few minutes before eleven o’clock Irwin’s brother poked his head around the door. He was already dressed in his school robes and he had a prefect badge like Percy’s but his was black and yellow and had a badger. “Hiya Irwin” greeted his brother cheerfully “I see you’ve made yourself some friends!” Irwin and Anne had been reading the chapter in Anne’s book on Circe Irwin reading over her shoulder and the other boys had been catching up.
“My name is Rolf, I’m a prefect so if any of you lot need any help you can come find me, it doesn’t matter what houses you get sorted into I’ll be happy to help anyone!” said Rolf warmly. “Look Irwin I’ve got to go- the prefects are having a meeting in a minute. I’ll check in with you later ok mate?”
“Ok,” said Irwin quickly barely looking up from his book. Anne had a feeling that Rolf was going to make a much better prefect than Percy! Rolf was just so open and warm whereas Percy was sometimes a bit stuck up. It wasn’t that Anne didn’t like Percy! It was just that if she had a problem or she needed someone to talk to she felt she would much rather talk to Rolf than Percy. Maybe being so open and friendly though was why Rolf was in Hufflepuff though Anne reasoned.
After having read for a while Anne and Irwin discussed the different interpretations of Circe. “I think that Circe isn’t really a monster as such she was just using her powers,” reasoned Irwin.
“Yes, but she was keeping Odysseus away from Penelope! He stayed with her for another a year!” who was starting to open up.
“Odysseus isn’t exactly known for being loyal! He spent seven years sleeping with Calypso!”
“Yes that’s true” considered Anne. “Maybe him being unfaithful is a good thing though!”
“What makes you think that?” asked Irwin curiously.
“Well,” said Anne still thinking “in total Odysseus spent eight years with Circe and Calypso. Odysseus was cursed to spend ten years away from Ithaca. The longer he spent with them..”
“The longer he was safer from the perils of the sea such as Scylla and Charybdis!” Irwin finished. Anne and Irwin beamed at each other. Ron and Neville’s mouths were agape in shock. Harry, however, was laughing softly.
“What in the name of Merlin are you two on about?” asked Ron confused. The other boys had not been listening properly to Anne and Irwin’s conversation but had tuned in at the end when Irwin and Anne had started finishing each other’s sentences.
“Circe!” they answered in unison. Neville and Ron still looked confused. Harry, on the other hand, was beaming.
‘What are you smiling out mate?” asked Ron
“I don’t think we need to worry about Anne making friends anymore!” he said indicating the two people sitting opposite them.
Not long after that, the sweet trolley came by, Harry bought so many sweets! He had always had a sweet tooth, but this was going overboard, there were five of them sitting in their compartment and they had enough to go around for everyone!
Harry Neville and Ron were playing trick or treat with the Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans, whilst Irwin and Anne read a chapter on Merlin. The compartment door opened again and Rolf was back.
“Hi guys! I’ve just done my patrol duty; do you mind if I join you lot?”
“Sure!” Harry answered. Rolf settled himself into the last available seat next to Irwin.
“Oh, hi Rolf!” only just noticing that his brother was there as he had been so absorbed in his book. Rolf just rolled his eyes, used to be ignored when Irwin was reading. Anne waved at him.
Anne looked at her watch and realized it was one o’clock and she decided to get her lunch out. Harry hadn’t even bothered to get out his lunch he was too busy filling up on sweets! Anne tucked into a chicken and spinach sandwich and offered them around. Remus had made far too many in case she had wanted to share with people.
“Yes please!” said Rolf “I need to eat something proper before I tuck into some of those sweets!”
“Interesting combination!” said Irwin perplexed as he chose a sandwich “Chicken and spinach,” he said thoughtfully before taking a bite. “You have good taste!” he told her as he took another sandwich.
After Rolf had had a few sandwiches, they cracked open the Chocolate Frogs. “Look!” exclaimed Irwin who was always more interested in the cards than the frogs “It’s Circe!” He showed the card of the beautiful witch to Anne. “Would you like to keep the card? I’ve already got a few of her” he asked her.
“Oh yes please!” replied Anne.
Anne and Irwin soon got bored with the sweets, and they returned to their book. Rolf found himself bombarded with questions from the other boys.
“What are the Professors like?” asked Harry
“How’s the food?” asked Ron
“How do we get sorted?” asked Neville.
Rolf chuckled and started to calmly and patiently answer their questions. He was just explaining to them that there was nothing to worry about from the sorting, all they had to do was try on the hat when there was yet another interruption!
Three boys stood in front of the compartment door. One of the boys had a pale face and bright blonde hair. “Hello” he sneered “we heard Harry Potter was in this compartment. So, it’s you is it?” he asked sneering in Harry's direction.
“Yeah,” said Harry proudly “and who are you?” he asked defensively.
“I’m Malfoy, Draco Malfoy, and this is Crabbe and Goyle,” Malfoy said indicating the two thuggish boys on either side of him.
“You’ve still got sweets!” Malfoy said pointing towards the still large pile of sweets in the middle of the compartment. Crabbe and Goyle had greedy looks on their faces, Malfoy started to reach for the sweets.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Rolf advised Malfoy.
Malfoy noticed Rolf for the first time. He had previously been paying attention to the other side of the compartment where Harry was sat. His eyes then flew to Rolf’s badge. “Oh right.,” said Malfoy nervously backing his way out of the compartment. “Come on you two!” he said to Crabbe and Goyle prompting them to leave.
“Thanks!” Harry told Rolf, holding out his hand.
“That could have gotten ugly!” Ron sighed with relief.
“No problem mates!” Rolf chuckled shaking Harry’s hand. “Let me know if you have any more problems from him, I hear that the Malfoy’s are a nasty piece of work!”
The boys spent a few hours laughing about making Malfoy feel like an idiot and asking more questions about Hogwarts. At one point in the afternoon, they were interrupted by an annoying girl with bushy brown hair, but she soon left.
“Goodness look at the time!” exclaimed Rolf looking out the window where it was starting to get dark. “We’ll be at Hogwarts soon; you boys best get your robes on!” Anne went into the corridor for five minutes whilst the boys changed.
Half an hour later the train pulled into Hogsmeade station. “This is where I leave you kid’s I’m afraid,” Rolf told them. “I have to supervise people towards their carriages, you five will be taking the boats, just follow Hagrid you can’t miss him, he’s ten feet tall, don’t worry about your luggage it will get collected.”
Rolf hadn’t been lying, Hagrid wasn’t easy to miss. He was ten feet tall so towered over everyone and was yelling “First Years! First Years this way!”
Anne, Harry, and the rest of the first years followed Hagrid to the enchanted boats. Anne settled into a boat with Irwin, Harry, and Ron which started bobbing its way towards the school.
Suddenly the boats came around the corner, and Hogwarts was in view. Hogwarts! It was so beautiful, so intimidating, so magical!!
They got out of the boats and started to walk up the steep path to the school. Hagrid knocked loudly on the door and the first years waited nervously for the door to be answered.