The Stone

Chapter Five

The train doors opened and one by one the students pushed their way towards the door and piled out onto a tiny, dark platform. Bella shivered from the sudden impact of cold air and pulled her robes tighter around her trying to figure out where to go next. You would have thought they would have put a sign up or something for the first years. 

Then, a light that came from a lamp came bobbing over the darkness and Bella felt Hermione clutch onto her arm making her roll her eyes. Nothing was going to hurt them, this was Hogwarts for God sake!

"Firs' years! Firs' years over here! All right there, Harry?" A gruff voice called out and Bella found herself looking for the dark haired boy finally spotting him close to the man who called out. Except, this wasn't a man at all, he looked like a giant. He had long scruffy hair and beard and small beetle eyes. 

Hermione nudged her. "Come on, that's us!"

 Bella let Hermione drag her towards the small crowd that had begun to form in front of the giant man. She found herself next to Harry who smiled at her making her blush before smiling back. Hermione was looking at the man with her mouth open and nearly choked on the bug that flew into her mouth. 

"That's why they say close your mouth or you'll catch flys" Bella whispered chuckling and Hermione glared at her whilst wiping her tongue on the back of her robe. "Gross"

"C'mon, follow me -- any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!"

Slipping and stumbling, they followed the giant man they now knew as Hagrid, down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. It was so dark on either side of them that Bella thought there must be thick trees there. Nobody spoke much. Neville, the boy who kept losing his toad, sniffed once or twice and Bella reached over to pat his back soothingly. 

"Don't worry, he'll turn up"

Neville looked at her with red puffy eyes. "You really think so"

"I know so" She smiled and Neville smiled a long with her, he seemed happier now that's for sure. 

They continued following Hagrid in silence and with every step they took, Bella found herself getting more and more tired. Today has been a long day and all she wanted was to curl up into bed after a good meal. 

"Ye' all get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."

There was a loud "Oooooh! " and stomach growling...thanks to Bella...

The narrow path had opened suddenly onto the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers.

"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. Bella and Hermione were followed into their boat by Ron and Harry. "Everyone in?" shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself. "Right then -- FORWARD!"

"I probably should have mentioned this before, but I hate boats" Hermione whispered to Bella. 

Bella looked at her. "Too late now, besides, I'm sure it will be a small trip"

Just then, the fleet of boats moved all at once on their own causing the children to gasp and hold onto the side of the boat in fear that they would fall out and into the lake. The boat ride was smooth and Hermione soon felt herself relax and gaze around her in wonder just like everyone else. Bella couldn't believe that she was actually here, that it wasn't a lie and that her parents weren't waiting for her to come off the train and be like 'FOOLED YOU!'