Wonder 1st year

Hogwarts

When I hear my alarm, I spring out of bed, heart racing with excitement. I'm going to Hogwarts! The thought hits me like a jolt of electricity. I throw the blankets off and dash to the corner of my room where my packed trunk waits, ready for the adventure ahead.

I haul it downstairs, placing it by the kitchen table, my mind buzzing. I don't waste any time grabbing breakfast, shoveling cereal into my mouth as fast as I can. As soon as I'm done, I leave my bowl on the floor for Buddy, my golden retriever, to lick clean and race upstairs.

"Mum!" I yell, bursting into her room, but it's empty. I hear water running in the bathroom and knock before walking in.

"Morning, sweetie," Mum says, splashing her face with water. Her eyes are bright, reflecting the same excitement I feel.

"Morning! Are you ready to go?" I ask, practically bouncing on my toes.

She chuckles. "Almost. Have you packed everything?"

"Yep! All my things are downstairs in the kitchen."

Mum glances at the clock, drying her hands. "We've got twenty minutes before we leave."

"Okay!" I dash downstairs again, hauling my trunk into the car before I nearly forget the breakfast bowl still on the floor. I quickly toss it into the sink, and just as we're about to head out the door, I run back inside to find Buddy waiting. He jumps up at me, his big paws landing on my legs, tail wagging.

"I'm going to miss you, Buddy," I whisper, ruffling his fur as he licks my face.

"Lily, we need to go!" Mum calls from the doorway. I give Buddy one last hug before heading out to the car.

The drive to King's Cross feels like an eternity, even though it's probably not that long. As we park near platform 9, I start to feel the nervous excitement bubble up again. Mum and I walk through the station, looking around for the secret entrance to Platform 9¾.

We stop when we see a family pushing trolleys, trunks piled high, standing near the brick wall between platforms 9 and 10. I approach the woman who looks like she knows what she's doing.

"Excuse me," I ask politely, "Do you know where Platform 9¾ is?"

She smiles kindly. "Right through the wall, dear. Just take a running start, and don't worry—it won't hurt."

I hesitate, my face betraying the flicker of nerves. She points to a group of students, showing me how they do it, and I watch as they disappear into the bricks without a trace. Taking a deep breath, I turn to Mum.

"Love you," I say softly, and she pulls me into a tight hug.

"Love you too, sweetie. You'll do great."

I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat before gripping my trolley and charging toward the wall. My heart pounds as I close my eyes, bracing myself, but when I open them again, the world on the other side is entirely new.

The platform bustles with excited students and the sound of the train's whistle fills the air. The Hogwarts Express stands gleaming in the morning sun, steam curling around its red exterior. I take in every detail—the crowded platform, the families saying goodbye, and the students boarding the train with wide-eyed wonder just like me.

I board the train, navigating through the corridor, looking for a compartment. Eventually, I find one that isn't too crowded. I knock softly, opening the door to see three other kids around my age.

"Can I sit here?" I ask, and the boy with messy black hair nods with a friendly smile.

"Sure! I'm Harry—Harry Potter," he says, and I blink. Wait, the Harry Potter?

I take a seat next to the girl with bushy brown hair. "Nice to meet you, I'm Lily."

The boy next to Harry introduces himself next. "I'm Ron Weasley," he says, smiling.

"And I'm Hermione Granger," the girl adds, sitting up straighter, clearly pleased to meet new people.

As the train begins to move, we chat about how excited we are. The trolley lady comes by with snacks, and we all grab something to eat as we talk about Hogwarts.

"What house do you want to be in?" I ask them, curious.

"Gryffindor, of course," Harry replies confidently. Hermione and Ron agree, mentioning their preferences for either Gryffindor or Hufflepuff.

I pause, considering my answer carefully. "Slytherin or Gryffindor," I finally say.

They look at me, a bit surprised, but I shrug. "I like a challenge," I say with a smile, feeling more certain. There was something about Slytherin that intrigued me.

As we near Hogwarts, excitement builds, and soon we're stepping off the train at Hogsmeade Station. The sight of the castle in the distance is breathtaking. It looms tall, its spires reaching toward the sky, bathed in the soft evening light.

A giant man introduces himself as Hagrid and leads us down to boats by the lake. I join Harry, Hermione, and Ron in one of the boats as we paddle toward the castle. The water reflects the shimmering lights of Hogwarts, and as we approach the shore, I can hardly believe this is real.

We step out of the boats, the castle towering over us, and I feel a strange thrill of anticipation. Whatever happens next, I know one thing for sure—I'm finally here. Hogwarts. My adventure is just beginning.