Alice Barnes

Hogwarts Express

(Alice's wand^^)
Over the past two months, Alice had been reduced to playing with Artemis, reading her school books, eating, and worrying about her upcoming school year. Professor McGonagall had said that she was supposed to be able to get through to Platform 9 3/4 through the entrance in between platforms nine and ten at Kings Cross, but there was only one problem, Alice had been there before and there was no Platform 9 3/4. This is no good.
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It was the morning of September 1st, Alice was excited yet extremely nervous. Alice and parents were going to leave at 9:20, to be able to reach the station by 9:50. Alice again woke up at 6:00, she made another round through her already packed trunk to make sure she wouldn't forget anything. By this time it was 7:30. The family went downstairs and had a last breakfast together, making it 8:00. They all got ready and by the time the last straggler was downstairs, it was 8:45. Mr. Barnes had set his watch for 9:15, so they could have time to get a cab ( how they were going to disguise the trunk and Artemis, he didn't know) Alice spent this thirty minutes reading a muggle book, her mum spent the time knitting something of which the final product will remain unknown, and her dad watched the television.
Suddenly Alice's dad's watch rang. It was 9:15 and time to leave for Hogwarts!
"Okay everyone get your jackets on, it's fairly cold outside," Alice's mom said. Alice went to go get the jumper her grandmother had given her and quickly pulled it on.
"Alright, you ready to go?" Her dad asked, she nodded in return.
"If you could carry my trunk, I would be even better." Alice made the best puppy-dog face she could, although it wasn't very good. Her dad went to go pick up her trunk while she got Artemis into her cage.
The threesome walked down the street slowly, but got to the cab quick enough.
Again, Alice's dad hailed a cab.
The three got into the back of the car with struggles.
"What's that trunk for?" Mumbled the cab driver.
"Uhh. She, um, is going on a trip," her mom replied.
Are you actually kidding mum? You could've at least not stuttered.
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It was now 9:45 and the family had arrived at the station. Luckily, they had carts Alice could put her trunk in. Five minutes later, they had arrived at the cross between platforms 9 and 10.
Oh god, I'm going to be late! What if the train had already left? I missed it.
At the exact moment Alice was trying not to cry, six red heads had walked to the platform. Surprisingly, Alice noticed them before someone said anything.
"Muggles aren't supposed to see... We have to be discreet... Shove off Ron... Where's the Platform... Platform 9 3/4..."
Alice knew she had found her safe haven. Another boy had walked up behind her, his family had already left. The two made eye contact and Alice realized this was the boy from Diagon Alley. And from her reading, Alice realized this was Harry Potter. From the look he was giving her, he didn't know how to get on the platform but through this family would help. He looked to shy to ask for help so Alice spoke up.
"Umm, do you know how to, you know, enter the platform?" She chose this wording because for some reason if they actually hadn't been wizards and witches, they would just tell them to walk twenty feet to platform 9 or 10.
"Oh, are you two first years," said the woman," Ron here is too. All you have to do is run through the wall separating 9 and 10. Percy, show them."
The what looked like oldest child ran through the platform, seemingly without death.
"Well we aren't able to get into the platform, like Professor McGonagall said so, I guess we will see you next year," the family had decided that Alice would stay for Christmas and see how it was, but if she didn't want to she could write them.
Alice's mum looked on the verge of tears. Alice went up and hugged both of her parents. They the walked away. Alice turned back to the woman.
"Hmm, okay are you ready," Alice nodded," Okay, it's your first time so we'll have you go with one of the twins, Fred you'll go in with her."
The other twin, who looked identical said with a sad enthusiasm,"He's not Fred, I am!"
"Honestly woman, you call yourself our mother." Alice could feel that something was wrong about this and she knew that her mother had originally picked Fred.
"Just kidding mum, I am Fred. And come on or were gonna be late!" Alice ran over to Fred.
"Okay so all you have to do is run straight through the wall, best if you close your eyes." he said grabbing her hand.
Then the two were off. Alice didn't care if the other boy didn't die, she thought she would. She was waiting for the impact when,
"Are you going to open your eyes or what, you didn't die," Fred said.
Alice opened her eyes and realized that she had in fact not died, for which she was very grateful. At that moment, the other twin came in.
"Well nice to meet you. I'm George,"
"I'm Fred,"
"So what's your name?" They said the last part in synch.
"Alice. Alice Barnes." She said.
"Charmed," said George.
"Truly a pleasure," said Fred.
They put their arms around her sort of skipping, yet still guiding her towards the train.
From that moment on, the three knew that they would be very good friends.
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Alice tried to find a compartment throughout the train, maybe she could possibly make some friends in her own year. She had promised Fred and George she would come visit them during the train ride though.
While walking through the train, Alice found a certain Hermione Granger struggling to carry her trunk.
"Hey! Mione!" Alice shouted and almost at once they saw each other.
"Oh! Alice how are you?" She yelled running, to give her a hug.
"I'm fine! You?" Alice asked
"Wonderful. Do you want to find a compartment?" Hermione said
Alice nodded her head and the duo began to make their way to the back, checking all of the compartments. Finally they were at the last compartment they and still hadn't found one that was empty.
"Let's hope this one is free." Said Hermione.
Alice pushed open the door to find two boys sitting their. Harry Potter and the boy from the family. Alice was pretty sure it was Ron.
"Umm, do you mind if we sit in here? Everywhere else is full," said Alice.
"No, not at all." Said Harry. 
Hermione and Alice made their way in, helping each other put their trunks on the racks while Alice put Artemis in his cage on the seat.
"By the way I'm Alice. Alice Barnes,"
"And I'm Hermione Granger."
"Hi I'm Harry Potter,"
"And I'm Ron. Ronald Weasley, " Alice prides herself for remembering everyone's names.
For about the next hour they talked, although Harry and Ron didn't seem the fondest of Hermione. Again, surprisingly Alice was accepted easily. The trolley rolled around and Harry had bought everything. Everything.
About an hour later, Alice remembered she had to visit the twins.
"Umm, I hate to leave but Fred and George made me promise to come visit them so I'm going to go say hi," Alice hated to bring this up because she felt like she shouldn't leave Hermione but She thought everyone would be okay. Everyone nodded when Alice had said this, so she started to make her way out. She shot a " sorry " look at Hermione and left to go to the middle of the train.
She entered a compartment that included of two identical red-heads( that Alice could fairly tell apart, only time would help this skill) and a boy a little bit shorter with brown dreadlocks.
"I'm back. Don't worry, I haven't been murdered." Alice walked ink the compartment.
"Oh hi," George said.
"How has the last hour fared?" Said Fred.
"It's fared, and I know two more people than I did this morning, excluding you two." Alice spoke.
"Well, let's make it three. Let's welcome the fabulous," Fred said in a announcer voice
"The mischievous and wonderful," continued George.
"Let's not forget handsome," said the other boy. Everyone in that carriage laughed.
" Lee Jordan!" The twins yelled simultaneously. Again, laughter.
Alice set by Lee and the four of them started to talk. The topic went anywhere from pranks, to professors, to the Houses( Fred and George told her that you had to fight a troll to get sorted, but Alice highly doubted that), and themselves. Two quick hours later, Alice left with a much more definite smile and a little boost of confidence that might come out in the form of a prank.
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Alice had spent the rest of the train ride with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Everyone had become better friends by the time the train stopped, yet the boys still weren't as fond of Hermione as they were of her, which Alice felt horribly about.
The four made their way out of the train and heard a loud voice.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over here!Follow me!" Yelled the voice.
"Hagrid!" Harry exclaimed.
"Who's Hagrid?" Alice asked. Out of all the teachers Fred, George, Lee, and her talked about; he wasn't once mentioned.
"He's the game-keeper at Hogwarts." Said Ron.
"Oh." Said Hermione and Alice.
They made their way over to Hagrid and were told to get in a boat, four people per boat. The foursome got into the boats and started to wait until they got to see Hogwarts.
"Alrigh' yer firs' view o' Hogwarts is comin' up in a minute." Said Hagrid
And as soon as Hagrid said that, a humongous castle appeared.
Alice had never seen anything as beautiful.