꧁𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝑀𝑦 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡꧂ (𝐹.𝑊.)

4 - Second Impressions

On the train, I sat with Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

"So what was it like in America?" Hermione asked

I told them all about my life in the summers with Noah, Adam, and Jenny, and during the school years at Illvenmorny. I told them about my advanced classes and the night I found out I was coming to Hogwarts.

Harry raised an eyebrow "I dunno about this Noah boy..."

"We're just friends, Harry."'

"That's what they all say." Muttered Ron

Hermione swatted him with her newspaper "Be nice, Ronald!"

I laughed "I already like you." I said to Hermione.

She smiled and continued reading her newspaper.

Just as I was about to ask what Hogwarts was like, two redheads walked in.

"Room for two more?" One of the twins asked

I looked at Harry, and he just shrugged.

"Sure," I said.

Harry scooted closer to me, making no room for anyone to sit next to me. One of the twins pretended not to notice this gesture and sat on the other side of Harry.

The other twin sat in between Ron and Hermione and wrapped his arms around their shoulders.

"Okay so how do I tell you two apart?" I asked

"Well, I'm Fred. I have more freckles and I'm a bit shorter than George." The one sitting next to Harry said.

I nodded "Okay, good to know. I'm sure I don't have to explain the differences between Harry and me?"

Fred laughed "I think I can spot the differences pretty well."

"I dunno Freddie, they look pretty similar." George joked.

"I'm obviously the better-looking twin." I clarified

"Lies," Harry said with a laugh

"Is it though?" Fred and I said at the same time.

I looked past Harry at the redhead and laughed. He also laughed. Harry glared at Fred, making us laugh more.

"So what house do you think you'll be in?" Hermione asked

"Well at Illvenmorny I was in Wampus, the house that favors warriors.

"I'm just hoping for anything but Slytherin," I muttered

"Maybe you'll be in Gryffindor!" Ron said excitedly

"Hopefully. If not I won't see you very often." Harry said

"Well, at least I'll see you more than I used to."

"True."

The six of us sat in silence for a bit.

"So what's Hogwarts like?" I finally spoke up

"It's brilliant!" Harry's eyes lit up as he told me stories of Hogwarts, with Ron and Hermione occasionally jumping in.

Once Harry's story was done I was amazed. "Illvenmorny was amazing, but this sounds so much better."

Fred grinned "Just wait till you see some of the pranks George and I play."

"I bet I could do better."

The compartment went silent.

"We'll see about that." George scoffed

The twins had a mischievous glint in their eyes that I had a feeling I would be seeing quite often.

We talked for a bit about the World Cup, Hogwarts, Pranks, L.A., Ilvenmorny, teachers, houses, and pretty much everything we could think of until a few boys walked in, who introduced themselves as Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas, and Neville Longbottom. 

Soon, the twins had left and the boys were reenacting the world cup. Ron was telling Neville how they had sat in the top box when a tall blond grey-eyed boy with the name of Draco Malfoy walked in.

"For the first and last time in your life, Weasley." He sneered. Behind him stood two oafs who looked like they had the physical abilities of a rock and the brain capacity of a goldfish. Not the animal, the cracker.

"I don't remember asking you to join us," Harry said casually

"Weasley, what is that?!" Draco said, ignoring Harry, pointing at a lace cuff dangling out of what must have been Ron's trunk.

They went on for a while, Draco was saying quite a bit of rude things about Ron's family.

Suddenly, the sweet guy I met in Diagon Alley was replaced by a cold, cruel monster. I zoned out, not wanting to hear it.

Eventually, he left. Ron, in a fit of rage, slammed the compartment door so hard the glass broke.

"Ron!" Hermione almost screamed

I pulled out my wand "reaparo." and fixed the glass.

The train stopped and we all got off. It was pouring out, but as I stepped onto the platform with Thor's cage in my arms, I got a full view of the castle.

"Holy shit." I gasped and turned to Harry "This is Hogwarts?"

He smiled "Yep."

"Welcome to the best place on Earth." a voice said from next to me. I looked over and saw that it was George 

I smiled at him and looked up at the castle. I think that night I smiled more than I normally do in a month.

"Hi, Hagrid!" Harry called to an enormous figure a little ways away.

"All righ', Harry? Well hello, Hensley! Did a good job at keepin' yer secret, didn' I?"

I smiled yet again "You sure did! Thank you, Hagrid!"

"See yeh at the feast if we don' drown!" A bunch of younger kids who couldn't have been older than 11 or 12 followed him and got into boats.

"Ooooh I wouldn't fancy crossing the lake in this weather," Hermione said with a shiver.

I followed my brother and his friends to a carriage that looked like they were being pulled by nothing. Harry explained to me that first years (fifth-graders at normal American schools) rode boats across the lake.

We climbed into a carriage and I realized that Neville was with us. The door snapped shut with a 'click' and we rode off into the night.