Mamihlapinatapai

Arrival⋆｡°✩

Draco and Atlas pushed their trollies along until they were in between platforms 9 and 10. The two boys made up from their squabble at Diagon Alley. They looked at each other and smirked. They ran full speed at the brick wall in front of them.

"Slow down!" Narcissa called after them.

They closed their eyes as they were about to impact the wall, but no crash came. They opened their eyes and looked around. Atlas looked at the scarlet steam engine in awe. He looked at the platform full of people. The sign above them read 'Hogwarts Express, eleven o'clock'. And behind them was an archway that said Platform Nine and Three-Quarters on it. The smoke from the engine drifted above the crowd of people. Cats of all different colors and breeds weaseled in between people's legs while owls hooted at each other.

The two boys pulled their trollies along to an empty compartment. They helped each other to put their items inside. Narcissa hugged both of them while Lucius just gave them a subtle nod. The two boys boarded the train and sat in the compartment. Crabbe and Goyle shortly joined them in the compartment, followed by Pansy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As the scarlet engine hissed to a stop, the five of them filed out. Atlas shivered at the cool night breeze. A lamp came over the heads of the students, producing bright light. "Firs' years! Firs years over here!" Someone called. "This way to the boats! Come on, now, follow me." Atlas followed closely behind Draco on the slippery steep path. "Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec."

"Oooooh!" All the students awed. The narrow path they were walking on opened to the edge of a huge black lake. Atop a mountain on the other side was a ginormous castle.

"No more'n four to a boat!" Draco and Atlas boarded a boat with Pansy. Crabbe and Goyle fought for the vacant seat, Goyle winning. Crabbe grumbled and boarded another boat with other students. "Everyone in? Right then, forward!" All the boats at once started gliding across the dark lake. Atlas peered over the boat and into the dark water. He ran his hand across the freezing water, quickly pulling it up. When the boats reached the other side, the students got out and walked up a flight of stone stairs. Hagrid knocked on the castle door and it swung open. A tall black-haired witch with emerald green robes was awaiting their arrival. "The firs' years, Professor McGonagall."

"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here," She replied. The students followed her down the hall to a small chamber. "Welcome to Hogwarts. The start of term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend your free time in your house common room. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn you house points. Any rule breaking, and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup. The sorting ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you wait. I shall return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly." She exited the chamber.

Draco started walking through the crowd, so Atlas followed him. Atlas realized he was walking towards the boy from Madam Malkins. "It's true then, what they're saying on the train. Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts. So it's you, is it?"

"Harry Potter?" Atlas wondered. He looked at the boy and saw the lightning bolt scar on his forehead.

"Yes," He replied. He looked behind Draco, at Atlas.