The Raven's Call

The Hogwarts Express

Sunday, September 1st 1991.

My first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! I look over at the cork board on my bedroom wall, my Hogwarts letter proudly pinned next to the moving picture of myself and my adopted family Amos, Celeste, and Cedric Diggory. I then hear a knock at the door. "Atticus! It's time." Amos's voice calls out from the hallway.

I quickly throw on my 1st year (not-yet-sorted-into-a-house) robes and uniform, as I was too excited to wear my normal clothes today. I brush my messy, black, curly hair with my fingers before running to the bathroom to brush my teeth, almost running into Cedric on the way. "Sorry!" I call out to him, squirting the toothpaste onto my brush, before shoving it in my mouth. I hear him laughing as he exited the hallway.

I look at myself in the mirror for a moment; My green eyes.. Olive skin.. Dark curly hair.. and the dusting of freckles across my nose. I look nothing like a Diggory.

I grab my breakfast and scarf it down. "Woah, Woah, Atticus! It's not going anywhere!" Amos tells me with a grin. "I know!" I reply with my mouth full. "But I am!!" Cedric and Amos laugh at my enthusiasm before I rush them to the car, dragging my trunk along behind me. My brown and white pet ferret and childhood best friend, Bandit, climbs up onto my shoulder from my pocket and nuzzles into my neck. "Hey, Bandit! You look just as excited as I am!" I say with a giggle as Amos helps Ced and I put our trunks in the car.

***

Here we stand, watching other wizarding families enter through the famous platform 9 and 3/4 gate. I say 'gate', but it's an enchanted brick wall. Kinda cool, I've seen Cedric go through twice before, but now? It's my turn! I take a breath as I watch Ced run through for the third time and Amos rubs my back, comfortingly. "Are you ready?" He asks me, with a smile. I nod. "Ready!" I stare at the wall, take another breath and push my trolley ahead of me, running straight at the wall.

I had never seen the other side of this wall until now, but platform 9 and 3/4 was bustling with students waving their families goodbye as they enter the train. The Train!! It's just as cool as I had always imagined it to be! Cedric was waiting for me on the other side, a bright smile plastered on his face. "Welcome to The Hogwarts Express." He tells me, helping me push my trolley over to where the rest of the suitcases were held.

We then enter the train, Cedric offers to sit with me, but I shake my head. "You go sit with your friends, I'll find somewhere else." I assure him, as I leave to find a compartment. I pass a few full compartments before finding an empty one. "Perfect." I whisper before walking in and closing the door behind me. I take a seat, opening up my favourite book; Tales of Beedle the Bard. I have a 9-hour train ride ahead of me, so it's the perfect time to read. I bring my knees to my chest as I lean back against the wall in the corner of the train compartment, diving into the world of Beedle.

***

A soft knock sounds from the door of my compartment. I look up from my page, seeing a girl my age with wild hair. "Excuse me? Have you seen a toad anywhere? A boy named Neville lost one." She informs me. I close my book, keeping my finger in as a bookmark. "I'm sorry, I've been reading the whole train ride, and I sure haven't heard any croaking." I say with a small smile. She smiles back at me and nods. "Sorry to bother you... Are you enjoying that?" She asks, seeing the book in my hand. I nod. "It's my favourite." Her smile brightens. "Mine too." The girl then exits, seeming to continue helping this 'Neville' kid, though not a moment later, the candy lady and her trolley walk slowly past. I put my book down and rush over with my coins. My smile fades as I see the empty trolley.

"What..?" I ask softly, looking up at the candy lady. "Sorry, sweetheart, the kids a few doors down bought the lot." She tells me before continuing on her walk down the train. I pout, closing the door before sitting back down, Bandit scrambling out of my pocket. "Sorry, Bandit.." I say sadly as he crawls up onto my shoulder, cuddling into my neck. He always knew how to cheer me up. I make myself comfortable again and continue to read my book, with Bandit falling asleep around my neck like a scarf.

***

The train pulls itself to a stop, students piling up in the corridor. I finish the last page of my book and place it into my robe's pocket before joining the others. I hear a voice call from outside. "Right then! First years! This way please!" I exit the train with my fellow first years, to see a huge man with a big, bushy beard. He greets one of the students by name; Harry, who then greets him back. "Hi Hagrid!" "Woah..!" A ginger haired kid exclaims. "Right then, this way to the boats! C'mon now!" Hagrid instructs, leading us down towards a lake, surrounding the beautiful castle.