Beginners: book 1, Goblet of Fire

The Hogwarts Express

"Sorry," I knock on the door of a compartment, swaying slightly from the movement, "can I sit in here? All the other compartments are full." Inside, are Hermione, Harry, Ron, and Ginny.

"Sure," Hermione says. "Um, Ginny this is Elizabeth, we met at the cup."

"Beth," I say, extending my hand, "and it's more like they saved me."

"Yeah I heard, must've been scary," Neville said.

"Got a nasty break, but it would've been worse if they weren't there."

"Anyone would've done it," Harry says, staring at my lap.

"Right, well I'm going to go see some friends," Ginny says, standing. "Nice to meet you, Beth." With that, she leaves, closing the sliding door behind her. Hermione gestures to the now empty seat beside her and I take it.

"So, you're a transfer?" Harry asks, somewhat timidly.

"Yeah, so I grew up here, in London, but when I was 11 we moved to the US to, um, be with family. I was on the list for Hogwarts, even got a letter, but dad wanted me to stay close. I went to Ilvermorny instead. Then dad got a job at the ministry, and seeing as I was already in we asked if they'd take me late, and Dumbledore said yes. The cup was his first official job as a MACUSA-Ministry Liaison. Didn't go as planned."

"My father works for the ministry too, been mayhem for a few weeks," Ron chuckles.

"So, how does this work? Have you already been sorted?" Hermione says.

"I don't know honestly; I think I just follow the first years. What house are you guys in?"

"We're all in Gryffindor, so are the rest of the Weasley's," Harry says. "All the houses are great, though," he adds quickly.

"That's not what I heard from dad, now he was in school 30 years ago, but he says Slytherins are right bastards." They all break into smiles; a warm feeling begins to replace the bowling ball.

"Yeah, well I didn't want to offend you just in case your father and mother were Slytherins," Harry says through his smile.

"God no, dad was a Ravenclaw, and my mom's American, but I bet she'd be in Gryffindor."

"What does your mom do?" Hermione asks.

"Um," I stammer for a moment, "my mom is actually dead, that's why we moved."

"Oh," Hermione looks startled, "I'm sorry."

"Don't be, wasn't your fault," there's a terse silence. "I hope I'm in Gryffindor," I break it with, "Ilvermorny has houses to, I was a Thunderbird."

"Was it nice there?" Ron asks

"Yeah," I lie, but it's an easy one. "Beautiful, but I can't wait to live in a castle."

"It is pretty cool," Hermione smiles.

At that moment, a giant orange cat appears from behind Hermione's bag and crawls onto my lap. "Oh, Crookshanks stop it, you'll get her all hairy, down," she tries to shoo him away.

"No I love cats, never had one, dads allergic." I notice Ron's giving him a nasty glare.

"Ron, give it up he was doing the right thing, just because you lost your rat," Hermione says, kicking his shin lightly.

"I still don't like 'im." He says back.

"Crookshanks had a mission to kill Ron's rat, Scabbers last year, but he uh, lost him," Harry says, filing me in.

"Sorry to hear about your rat Ron," I say, even though who would want a rat as a pet.

"Turns out he wasn't that good of a rat anyway."

"I do hope we have a calm year," Hermione says wistfully.

"But where would the fun be in that?" Ron responds sarcastically.

"Um... sorry?" I say.

"Every year something bad seems to happen to us," Hermione says.

"Yeah, first year was..."

"Quirrell," they all say in unison.

"Then the Chamber," Ron says, shuddering.

"Then, well, Sirus." Harry finishes.

"Who?"

And they launch into the retelling of their time at Hogwarts. The whole story takes almost two hours, mostly because Hermione constantly fact-checks Harry, even on the little things. By the time they're done we're all much more comfortable in the cabin, surrounded by boxes of treats from the trolley.

"Wow," I say, "and I thought my time at school was interesting."

"Really?" Harry says around his chocolate frog.

"Well, I'm proud of the mischief I got into, but nothing like this."

"Oh, you'll love Fred and George then," Ron chuckles.

"Who'll love us?" Two tall boys have appeared in the doorway. Identical, with shaggy ginger and long, handsome faces. "Ah you must me Beth, you left quite an impression, almost out shinned us."

"Which isn't possible, of course," says the other.

"Beth, this is Fred and George," Ron says as they squeeze their way on either side of Ron, sandwiching him between them.

"So, what do you think the special event is this year." One of them says I can't tell which.

"The what-?"

"Dad-"

"-and Percy-"

"-Bill-"

"-Charlie-"

"-mum-"

"- were all talking about this special event that Hogwarts is putting on all summer long."

"Got pretty annoying after a while." My brain is spinning from the back and forth of the twins.

"So, any theories?"

"No idea," Harry says, shaking his head. One of the twins takes a pumpkin pasty off Ron's lap, earning a nasty glare. Harry, who has been squished into the window, gets up and sits next to me, seeing as the twins plan to be staying.

"So,"

"Beth,"

"What's your life story?"

"What makes you deserve being friends with the boy who lives?"

"They do know who he is in America right?"

"George!" Harry says, looking at me apologetically.

"I actually grew up here, but yes everyone knows of the great Harry Potter in the US as well," I say, smiling.

"Really? That's not boring at all."

"I guess, although nothing like this group."

"Too true."

"Well, with that we should be off."

"Angelina is expecting us."

"Very nice to meet you, Elizabeth." And they leave, my head still going in circles.

"They're a little much," Ron says sheepishly.

"Oh, this place is so much better than Ilvermorny."