Several hours later, Rose peered through the compartment window, and through the murk of the oncoming night, she descried the silhouette of a tiny platform not far into the distance. She turned to Lily, who was sitting across from her.
"Is that Hogsmeade Station?" she asked. Lily leaned closer to the window.
"Yes, we're almost there, guys! We better change into our uniform. Come on, boys, step outside the compartment so that we girls can change first."
"Why don't you ladies step out first?" James stretched his arms behind his head, leaning back comfortably, and propped up his feet against the wall next to the window - just above Lily's head. He was clearly in no hurry to move. Lily shot him an irritated look.
"Out you go!" She commanded, reaching over to give him a gentle shove. James raised his hands in mock surrender, a playful grin on his face.
"Fine, fine," he said, sliding off his seat. The boys shuffled out of the compartment, leaving the girls to change in peace. A few minutes later, the boys and girls switched places, and soon the train's whistle signalled their arrival at Hogsmeade. Smartly dressed in their school uniform, the five of them filed out onto the platform along with the other students. The chill in the air hit Rose like a wave, and she shivered, pulling her hood up over her head. The sound of the students' chatter and laughter mingled with the whistling of the wind. Rose glanced around the platform, trying to take in the scene. Her gaze landed on a giant figure standing by a lamppost, his massive frame wrapped in a tattered coat. The warm light illuminated his shaggy hair and long, bushy beard - black, peppered with gray. Her eyes widened in recognition. It was Hagrid! She had heard so many stories about him from her parents - how he was the Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts, but more importantly, a dear friend to Hermione, Ron and Harry.
"First years come on over!" Hagrid called, his voice booming over the crowd of children. "Leave yer trunks by the train; the house-elves will take 'em ter the castle for yeh!" Lily ushered Rose, Hugo and Albus in Hagrid's direction.
"Go on, you three! Hagrid will take you to Hogwarts. James and I will meet you in the Great Hall!" She soon disappeared in the throng of older students heading in the opposite direction towards the carriages.
As Albus, Rose and Hugo approached the half-giant, Hagrid's eyes widened, and he knelt down to get a better look at them.
"Blimey! Look at yeh lot!" He exclaimed. "You look just like yer parents back in the day!" His gaze swept over them. "I almost thought Hermione, Ron and Harry were standin' here like they were eleven again!" For a moment, he seemed almost overcome with emotion, his eyes glistening. He blinked back his tears, before shaking his head and standing back up. "Ah, we best get goin' if we want ter make it in time fer the feast! First years, follow me ter the lake!" He beamed down at the trio one last time, his face a mix of joy and nostalgia, before he turned around and led the first-years down the hill to the bank of the Black Lake.
As they walked, Rose noticed a boy with icy blonde hair and pale skin jog up to Hagrid. "Why do only the first years sail across the lake while all of the other students take the carriages to Hogwarts?" he asked, an avid curiosity evident in his tone. His blue eyes twinkled in the darkness as he waited for Hagrid's answer. Hagrid chuckled, pleasantly surprised by the boy's inquiry.
"Ah, that's a good question, lad! An old tradition, it is! Goes way back to the foundin' of the school. Could be an initiation rite, yeh know? Not sure how it started, but the journey across the lake is about showin' yeh that yer time at Hogwarts won't be all fun and games. It takes hard work, dedication, and a bit of courage to graduate from Hogwarts!" The boy nodded solemnly, pulling out a small notebook and quill from the pocket of his robes and jotting down Hagrid's explanation. Rose recognized him now - it was Scorpius Malfoy, the son of Draco Malfoy, her parents' childhood nemesis. There was something strikingly earnest about him in that moment, as he was writing down this newly discovered fact, a look of focused determination on his face. Rose felt an inexplicable certainty that Scorpius was a kind soul, despite his father's infamous cruelty. It was a judgement she couldn't quite explain - a gut feeling.
They soon reached the edge of the Black Lake, its dark waters shimmering under the light of the moon. Hagrid gestured to the line of small wooden boats bobbing gently in the water. "In yeh go, everyone!" Rose climbed into a boat with Hugo and Albus. Hagrid, due to his size, took a boat of his own, but even still, the boat looked almost comically small beneath his bulk. Once all of the students had settled into their boats, the boats began to move, gliding across the water towards the magnificent castle that loomed in the distance. The towering stone spires seemed to touch the clouds, and the castle's many windows glowed warmly, illuminating the darkness. The boat journey was tumultuous; the waves rocked the boats as they cut through the water, and Rose couldn't help but imagine the Giant Squid lurking beneath the surface.
"What if one of the merpeople pops out of the water and grabs us by the legs?" Hugo joked. "Shh! They'll hear you!" Albus shot back, his eyes wide with fear. At one point the trio had to grip the edges of their boat as it tipped precariously, but thankfully it did not topple over, and they made it to the shore unscathed.
Hagrid led the first-year students to the main entrance of the castle. "Welcome to Hogwarts!" He bellowed, and as he spread his arms wide, the massive doors swung open magically, revealing Professor McGonagall waiting inside.
"Good evening, students," the headmistress greeted them, her voice firm but warm. "Welcome to Hogwarts," she echoed the gamekeeper and groundskeeper. "You will soon be sorted into your Houses. Follow me."
DISCLAIMER: The entire Harry Potter universe is the creation and property of J. K. Rowling. I make no claim to ownership.
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Rose Granger-Weasley and the Unleashing of Power
FanfictionFollowing Voldemort's death during the Battle of Hogwarts, it seemed as though peace had been restored to the world, and that nothing bad could transpire ever again... until a new dark wizard rose to power and instilled fear in the hearts of witches...
