Two Steps Behind

Three

I stood, frozen and unable to move. I was going to miss my train if I couldn't find the platform. I looked around, seeing only platforms nine and ten. With nowhere else to go, I went down to the two platforms.

After a while I saw someone around my age run into a wall and vanish out of the corner of my eye. Huh, fake wall? I decided that it didn't hurt to try, unless I slammed into the wall.

Gripping my trumpet in one hand and my luggage in the other, I slowly began to run at the wall, gaining speed. I closed my eyes just as the wall neared my face and was pleasantly surprised when I didn't break my face on a wall.

When I opened my eyes, I was transfixed by what I saw. There, right in front of me, was an elegant red train with the words "Hogwarts Express" in gold lettering along its side. The passengers all wore robes with one of four colors accenting the black: ruby, cobalt, gold, or jade.

I dropped my stuff off with the person taking luggage, making sure to keep three things on me: my wand tucked in my pocket, a satchel full of books under my robes, and a canteen of water on my belt. I boarded the train. Finding an empty car, I took a seat and leaned on the window to watch people board the train.

Ten minutes later, we were en route to Hogwarts, with the train chugging along. I heard murmurs from students in other cars as I remained alone until I heard a knock on the door. When I turned to look, I saw two boys my age looking in. One was wearing a cobalt blue robe with hazel eyes, a curly chocolate mop of hair, and fairly narrow features. The other had on a maroon robe with bright ginger hair and blue eyes.

"Hey mate, can we sit? Everywhere else is full." The blue robed one asked.

I nodded, tentatively pulling my satchel closer on the seat. The pair walked in, sitting across from me. They seemed like friends, sitting close and chatting for a bit before the ginger looked at me.

"You look gloomy, somebody spill your butterbeer?" He asked, seeming genuinely concerned.

"Nah," I responded politely, "Just, new to all of this. My parents–well really my mom–never told me about any of this magic stuff."

The pair looked at each other suspiciously. Then the dark haired boy asked "Your American?"

I smirked, my accent must have given it away. "No shit Sherlock. The name's Alyx."

"Nick," The ginger replied, "Nick Norman. No I'm not a Weasley"

"Whats a-"

"Luke Chase" The brown haired one interjected, "Ravenclaw"

"Ravenclaw? What's that?" I asked

The pair were now staring at me like I had done something wrong before they went and explained all they could about Hogwarts. They explained how people were sorted into houses and gave me tips and tricks on how to succeed. They told me about the events of the Battle of Hogwarts, but did not go into detail. I figured it was a touchy subject, so I left it alone.

It was dark when we finally arrived at the castle. People poured out of the train and I heard the loud voice of Hagrid calling to first years.

"Might wanna follow the first years Alyx, need to get you sorted and all" Luke said.

"See you in a bit, maybe" Nick called, as he and Luke walked away leaving me to follow the first years.

Hagrid led us up to the edge of a massive lake with boats. He helped everyone get in, eight to a boat. I was put into one of the last boats with seven twelve year olds. While I tried to act politely, they probably found me cold and hard to interact with. That was, I will admit, the most awkward fifteen minutes of my life.