My Tale {Book One in the Hermione Granger Series}

Chapter Five

The rest of the holidays went in a blur, with me reading my new books, spending time with my friends, and also my family. Before I knew it, it was August 31.

I woke up at 4am, already having my things packed the night before. We all got dressed and ate breakfast before setting off. We arrived at Kings Cross Station, and Mum pulled me over to the third pillar between platform 9 and 10.

Mum said "Walk through that pillar there" whilst pointing at the third pillar.

"Here, take my hand and come through with me" Dad said. I then took his hand, whilst pushing my trolley that contained all of my stuff, and then we walked through the wall. WAIT A SEC? WE WALKED THROUGH A WALL?!?!? Awesome.

And then we were at Platform 9 and ¾. There was a scarlet steam train in front of us, named the Hogwarts Express. Mum and Dad helped me load my gear into a compartment, before saying goodbye - they had to work; they are dentists. I then sat in my compartment, got changed into my robes, and started re-reading Hogwarts: A History. Wow, I thought, I never knew that ceilings could be enchanted to look like the sky above. As time went on, the station and train became more and more crowded.

A few people were talking about houses, and I asked a few of those what the houses were and what they were about. "The houses are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. Gryffindor is for the brave and those who value their friends; Ravenclaw is for those who are really smart; Hufflepuff are for those who are loyal and friendly; and Slytherin are for those who are sly and sneaky" one person said. I like the sound of Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, I thought before continuing reading.

Soon, a chubby boy walked into my compartment, and asked me "Can I sit here?"

"Yes" I replied.

He then started crying. "Why are you crying?" I asked.

"I've lost my toad again," he said.

"Did you want me to help you look for it?" I asked, trying to be helpful.

"Please" he responded.

"My name's Hermione. Yours?"

"Neville".

We then split up and started looking for the toad.

I walked past a lady with a trolley whom asked me "Anything off the trolley, dear?"

"Yes please" I replied, buying 5 pumpkin pasties and 2 cauldron cakes before looking for the toad again. I met up with Neville and we walked into a compartment together. Inside were a red-haired boy and a black-haired boy. "Has anyone seen a toad? Neville's lost one" I said.

"We've already told him we haven't seen it" the red-haired boy said. I turned my attention to him, and he was holding a wand.

"Oh, are you doing magic? Let's see it, then" I said before sitting down.

"Er - all right" he replied before clearing his throat and saying "Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, Turn this stupid, fat rat yellow". He then waved his wand, and nothing happened. That is one stupid spell, I thought, it didn't even work.

"Are you sure that's a real spell?" I asked, "Well it's not very good, is it? I've tried a few simple spells just for practice and it's all worked for me. Nobody in my familt's magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, I mean, it's the very best school of witchcraft there is, I've heard - I've learnt all of our set books off by heart, of course, I just hope it will be enough - I'm Hermione Granger, by the way, who are you?" I continued saying very fast.

The red-haired boy muttered "I'm Ron Weasley".

And then the black-haired boy said "Harry Potter". Wow, Harry Potter. He's famous. Oh my gosh! I've met a celebrity!

"Are you really?" I asked. "I know all about you, of course - I got a few extra books for background reading, and you're in Modern Magical History and The Rise and Fall of the Dart Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century" I explained.

"Am I?" Harry asked. Wow, he didn't know, I thought.

"Goodness, didn't you know, I'd have found out everything I could if it was me" I said before continuing, "Do either of you know what house you'll be in? I've been asking around and I hope I'm in Gryffindor, it sounds by far the best, I hear Dumbledore himself was one, but I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad... Anyway, we'd better go and look for Neville's toad. You two had better change, you know, I expect we'll be there soon". Neville and I then left and we continued looking for his toad.

I walked out of the drivers' compartment - I was asking when we would be arriving -and then I suddenly saw three boys walk into Harry and Ron's compartment, and decided that I should intervene before they get themselves into trouble and it was also crowded in the corridors. I walked in, to find sweets all over the floor and Ron was picking up his rat. "What has been going on? I asked.

Ron started talking, ignoring me, "I think he's been knocked out. No - I don't believe it - he's gone back to sleep. You've met Malfoy before?"

"Yeah", Harry said, "I was getting my robes from Madam Malkins and Malfoy started talking to me whilst I was getting my robes fitted, asking me about Quidditch and saying that he was going to bully his father into getting him a broom, and then he started talking about the houses, before saying that Hagrid is savage, and then asked me where my parents were and then asked if they were 'our kind', before leaving."

From what Harry said, I got the impression that Malfoy was quite rude and probably placed a lot of emphasis on blood status - something I was going to have to watch out for.

"I've heard of his family" Ron said, "They were some of the first to come back to our side after You-Know-Who disappeared. Said they'd been bewitched. My Dad doesn't believe it. He says Malfoy's father didn't need an excuse to go over to the Dark Side. He then turned to me before asking "Can we help you with something?".

"You'd better hurry up and put your robes on, I've just been up to the front to ask the driver and he says we're nearly there. You haven't been fighting have you? You'll be in trouble before we even get there!" I responded.

"Scanners has been fighting, not us" Ron replied rather rudely, "Would you mind leaving while we change?".

"All right - I only came in her because people outside are behaving very childishly, racing up and down the corridors" I said, "And you've got dirt on your nose, by the way, did you know?", and then I went back to my compartment. When I sat down, a voice echoed throughout the train saying "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately". I then stood up and waited for the train to stop.

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Dedicated to MixieMarie