Welcome to Hogwarts

Chapter 4

"Hey! Why don't you stop staring and help him?!" A voice shouted, it was stern and leader like, maybe a year 8 or assistant teacher. "You alright?" The voice asked, holding a hand out to help me up. I nodded, letting myself be pulled up by the hand. When I looked up I was face to face with a guy with a pointed nose and the straightest posture that I have ever seen. "You've gotta be careful on school platforms newbie!" He said, smiling kindly at me. "Thanks for helping me up. But I do have a name besides newbie, you're aware of that right?" I said, keeping my voice happy but still taking a jab at the guy. The boy laughed "Feisty one we've go here eh? I like you. The names Edward, I'm a 7th year Gryffindor. Nice to meet you." Edward held out his hand for me to shake. "Lake Landor. Nice to meet you." I said taking his hand and shaking it. Just then, a gigantic looming shadow blocked out the platform lights, leaving Edward and I in the dark. "I see a straggler! We've been looking for you everywhere!" The gruff voice exclaimed, stepping out into the light. My breath caught in my throat, the man was about as tall as the lamppost he was standing next to, and you could've easily fit 5 or 6 of me in his girth. He had a bushy black beard, and identical curly hair that reached his shoulders. "Don't be surprised, that's Hagrid. You're going to be seeing a lot of him. Trust me, he's a good guy." Edward whispered, handing me my stuff and gently shoving me forward. Hagrid put his big hand on my shoulder, guiding me to the left most edge of the platform. "Get with a partner, and take a boat. I'll take you're luggage and owl." He explained, taking my stuff from me and disappearing with them.

I scanned the glassy black water of the lake, then to the little white boats all floating in a neat line. All of them were filled, except for one at the back of the line. There was a single girl sitting in it, dark brown hair fashioned into a choppy pixie cut. She seemed to be fascinated with the black water of the lake, leaning out of the boat the slightest bit to touch the water and ruin her image that was reflected in it. I assumed it would retake a naturally blue-green color during the day, but it was already dark outside by the time we reached the campus. "Can I sit here?" I asked quietly, I felt that if I talked too loudly, another ripple in the water would ruin her reflection. The girl looked up at me, studied me as if I was some sort of strange alien, then nodded approvingly. Every one of her movements were calculated, nothing was unplanned, or energy wasting. Cautiously stepping onto the boat, I managed not to fall into the lake and ruin the girl's reflection. The little white vessel did rock a bit, but our robes were both still dry. Without a word the boats began methodically floating down the river, and the air was taken out of my lungs for the third time that day. Peeking out of the tree line was a magnificent castle, illuminating the grassy hill it perched upon. Like a king's crown on a green velvet pillow. I heard excited murmuring from my fellow peers, all of them elbowing each other in excitement. I looked at my boat partner, who now had moved on to staring at the castle. Again, there was no waste in her movements. This time it looked like she was meticulously calculating the floor plans of the massive building. "So.... I never got to catch your name... " I said after the castle disappeared behind the trees, I didn't want to distract her calculating after all. "Juniper. What's yours?" She asked, tearing her eyes away from the tree line. Juniper was surprisingly nice, not at all angry that I disturbed her deep thoughts. "Lake Landor. Pleasure to meet you!" I said, bowing over exaggeratedly. Juniper smiled wide and giggled. She had the kind of smile that seemed natural on her face when it appeared, like it was there all along but you just didn't notice it until now. 'Huh. This is the first positive interaction I've had so far.' I thought to myself happily.