Hogwarts?

~1~

When I woke this morning it finally hit me that I was about to leave to go to Hogwarts. Hogwarts. I've heard great things about Hogwarts. This will be my second year. When I was little we moved to the states but my father got a job transfer back to England. We got a letter from my old Wizarding school saying that I would be transferred to Hogwarts. My mum cracked open my door slowly. "Tessa, darling. You should be getting ready."
"Yes mother." I reply and get out of bed.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not scared of leaving. I'm only scared of rejection. I'm transferring to a new school. I'm sure I won't make friends fast. All the people in my year have probably already made friends. I was probably going to be the only new second year.

After I got ready my older sister helped me carry my bags out to the car. She envied me because she didn't get into Wizarding school. My father was so happy when I got my letter. My mother is a muggle so I'm a half blood. We got to the train station I looked at my ticket and asked my father where platform 9 3/4 was. He had gone to Hogwarts as a young boy so he knew how to get there.
We came to a wall in between platform 9 and platform 10. "Alright Tessa, you're gonna get a running start." He told me. "You're suggesting I walk through walls? Father I think you've been watching far too many cartoons." I joked. "Tess, just do it. I'll be in right after you. Come on now, you have to get to your train in 5 minutes or you'll be left." I took my trolley and went with a running start towards the wall. I went through it with ease. Like magic. Oh... well..

My father came through a few moments later. "Alright, now. Tessa sweetie let's go." He led me to the train. "How peculiar. Platform 9 3/4." I mumbled to myself. I loaded my things onto the train. "Write to us, will you?"
"Yes, father, I will write." He smiled and kissed me on my forehead. "Good luck this year Tess." I smiled and boarded the train. A few moments later it started to move.

I walked up and down the aisle looking for a compartment that wasn't full but it was nearly impossible to find one. I found one around the middle that only had 3 people in it. One boy was smaller with red hair. He was holding some kind of rat. There was a girl in there too. She was very pretty, with long curly hair. The other boy in there was also smaller with messy dark hair and circle shaped glasses. He looked familiar.

I guess I had been staring because the girl turned to me. "Need something?" She asked me. "Oh uh... do you guys mind if I stay in here for the ride? All of the other compartments are full." I asked.
"Not at all. Please, sit." The boy with red hair motioned for me to sit down. "Thank you very much." I smiled at him.

"Oh, excuse my rudeness," I held out my hand for the girl to shake "My name is Tessa Alexander. I'm transferring to Hogwarts from a Wizarding school in the states. This is my second year." She shook my hand. "Nice to meet you. I'm Hermione Granger." The boy with red hair shook my hand. "Pleasure to meet you. Ronald Weasley. You can call me Ron though. I prefer Ron." He said awkwardly. I looked at the mysterious boy with dark hair who hadn't said a word yet. "And you are?" I asked. "Oh, sorry just... thinking. I'm Harry. Harry Potter." He shook my hand. "That explains why you're so familiar. Big talk in the states, you are." I smiled at him. "Really?" He asked. "Yeah. News travels farther than you think."

We talked for a while until we heard a voice over the intercom. "Attention students: we will be arriving at Hogsmeade station in 10 minutes. If you haven't yet put on your uniforms I suggest you do so soon, thank you."
I realized I hadn't changed into my uniform yet. "Pardon me, I should go change now."

I got up and went to a changing room in the back of the train. I changed out of my jeans and button up shirt and into my uniform. When I came back the trio were laughing. They must be good friends. Must be nice. I sat back down quietly.

Soon the train arrived at Hogsmeade station and people started getting off. I tried not to get run over by other students as I got off the train. "Your bags will be taken to the school. Do not worry." A very tall man told people passing by. "Hagrid!" The trio yelled and hugged the man. And so I was left alone. I slung my purse over my shoulder and followed the mass of people. Seemed like the best plan.

I heard whispers behind me. "I saw her sitting with Potter and his friends. Yeah I hear she's a second year and she transferred here from the states. Bloody American." A voice said quietly behind me. I just ignored them and kept walking. I heard the same voiced laughing behind me and suddenly I felt rocks being thrown at my head. "Oi! Bloody hell!" I turned around to see a boy with platinum blond hair throwing rocks my way. His friends were laughing "Hey American!" I turned away and kept walking. "Don't ignore me!" He caught up to me and pushed me. "Ah!" I fell to the ground and scooted away hurriedly. "Malfoy leave her alone!" I heard a girl's voice. I looked up to see Hermione from the train. "I'll have you know she's no American." She told him. "Yeah so piss off Draco!" Ron said from behind her. He walked away scowling at them.

Hermione held out her hand to me. "Th-thanks." I brushed the dirt off my robe. "That Malfoy is going to pay some day." Ron said, clenching his fist. "I assume you're acquaintances, then?" I questioned. "Wish I could say I wasn't." Ron replied.

We all boarded boats and made our way to the large school across a very large moat. On our way to the school Hermione whispered to me "I think we'll be fine friends." I smiled. I hoped so.
When we got to the school Hermione told me to stay close to her so she didn't lose me. She took me into a grand room. It was big and had four long tables. "This is The Great Hall." She explained. "Wow." There was so many people. After a while the headmaster called everyone to be quiet. "That's Professor Dumbledore." Hermione whispered to me.
"Would all the first years gather?" All of the first years gathered in front of Dumbledore. He pulled out an old hat. He called it the Sorting hat. It sorted the first years into their groups out of the four. There was Slytherin. Father says there's not a wizard who was in Slytherin who didn't go bad. There was Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and lastly Gryffindor, which Hermione and her friends were in. "I hope you get sorted into Gryffindor." Hermione turned to me.
Professor Dumbledore cleared his throat. "I have an announcement to make. We have a student here transferring from the states. She is a second year. Miss Alexander would you kindly step up so you can be sorted into your house?" He asked me. I stood up from the bench I was sitting at. I walked up to the chair beside Professor Dumbledore. "Curious. A hat with a mouth." I mumbled. I sat down in the chair just as the first years. He placed the hat on my head. It thought for a good minute. It felt like forever. I was praying to the gods not to be put in Slytherin. "Hmm..." The hat hummed. "S-" It started but stopped. "No, no that's not right." It muttered to itself. "GRYFFINDOR!" The hat yelled and I ran and hugged Hermione. Ron and his twin brothers patted me on the back and some hugged me. "Congratulations, Tessa." Harry congratulated me. I smiled shyly in response. I have to admit, I think I already have a crush on Harry. But I don't want to ruin any chance as a friend with him.

After the feast we all went to our towers and settled down. I went to the girls' dorm. Hermione helped me get cozy. "Thanks so much. I really didn't think I'd make friends coming here. It means a lot to me." She smiled and hugged me. "We best be off to bed." She told me. We all changed into our pajamas and got in bed. I was looking at the picture of me and my family on my nightstand. We were running around on the beach. I smiled. I thought about how I felt bad for my sister. I got into Wizarding school and she didn't. Poor MacKenzie. I fell asleep with that thought.
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Word count: 1541