Hermione

Hogwarts Express

The train whistled as the clock read five to eleven, it was time to go. Hermione hugged her parents tightly and her mother began to cry.

"Stay safe sweetheart, we will write to you everyday and I know you are going to do great things."

"It'll be alright kiddo, before you know it you'll be home for Christmas." Her dad said grinning but obviously holding back tears.

She hugged her parents one last time and climbed onto the train trying to find a compartment to sit in. Finally she found one with a young girl sat staring out the window.

"Can I sit here?" Hermione asked tapping on the compartment door.

"Yes sure." The girl replied nodding.

Hermione struggled as she lifted her belongings up onto an overheard shelf before sitting down opposite the girl, next to the window. Catching sight of her parents she noticed her father had his arm round her mother's shoulders as she sobbed, her only daughter was leaving for Hogwarts. Suddenly the train blew one last whistle as the clock struck eleven and started moving away slowly. Hermione waved at her parents and she noticed the girl opposite her was also waving frantically. Soon enough the platform was out of sight as they entered a small tunnel and coming out the other side they were greeted with the view of some tall, London buildings. Hermione wiped away a tear from her eye and noticed immediately the girl pull out a tissue and do the same.

"I'm Hermione." She said suddenly, they were going to be sitting together for a few hours and she didn't want it to be in silence.

"I'm Lavender" she responded. "Lavender Brown." She had bushy hair just like Hermione's but it was blonde and tied up in a ponytail. "Why are you in your robes already?" She asked frowning as Hermione took off her hat.

"I don't want to get into trouble, if a teacher comes round I don't want to be seen out of uniform."

Lavender snorted sarcastically and rolled her eyes before looking out of the window.

"What?"

"Nothing... Nerd." She said under her breath.

Hermione knew she didn't like this girl and decided to ignore her. Pulling out a wizard book from her bag and losing herself in the pages.

Two hours passed, Lavender had fallen asleep and Hermione had her nose deep in a second book when suddenly there was a sudden tapping on the compartment door. Lavender groaned as she woke up and Hermione watched as a plump boy with dark hair pulled open the door.

"I've lost my toad! Have you seen it?!"

Immediately Lavender lifted her feet up onto the chair and squealed. "That is disgusting! Who brings a toad with them?!"

The poor boy looked as though he was about to burst into tears and at that moment Hermione would've taken anything to get away from Lavender.

"I haven't seen it, but I can help you find it if you'd like?"

"Really? Oh yes please!" He replied smiling. As Hermione walked over to him he held out his hand. "I'm Neville by the way."

"Hermione." She replied shaking his hand.

They both split up in different directions, asking if anyone had seen it. Hermione approached a compartment with only two young boys sat inside surrounded by what looked like to be all the food from the trolley that went round the train. She recognised them as the boys she saw run through the wall to platform nine and three quarters.

"Has anyone seen a toad? A boy named Neville's lost one." She asked and both boys shook their head. Hermione noticed that the boy with fiery red hair was holding his wand tightly in his hand.

"Oh, are you doing magic? Let's see then." She said eagerly, never having seen anyone else perform a spell before.

The boy cleared his throat and pointed his wand towards the rat on his lap.

"Sunshine Daisies Butter Mellow Turn this stupid fat rat yellow."

He waved his wand and a few sparks flew out the end but other than that nothing happened, the rat stayed asleep.

"Are you sure that's a real spell? Hermione asked breaking the silence. "Well, it's not very good, is it? Of course, I've only tried a few simple ones myself but they've all worked for me." Her eyes darted all across the compartment looking for something to cast a spell on, then she noticed the boy with dark hair was wearing glasses and decided to take the opportunity.

"For example..." Sitting down opposite him she pointed her wand at his face. "Oculus Reparo."

There was a familiar swish as the middle band of the glasses repaired itself.

That's better, isn't it?" She grinned. The young boy looked back at her and smiled gently whilst the red haired boy continued eating. There was a breeze coming through the slightly open window and Hermione's eyes widened as she noticed something on the boy's forehead.

"Holy cricket! You're Harry Potter!" She exclaimed. "I'm Hermione Granger. And you are?" She turned to the red haired boy, who was still eating.

"I'm Ron Weasley." He said with his mouth full of jelly sweets.

"Pleasure." She replied, half disgusted. Looking at them both, Hermione noticed they were still in their own clothes, like the majority of the students on the train.

"You two better change into your robes. I expect we'll be arriving soon."

Neither of the boys replied, they just sat staring at her, Ron raised his eyebrows and Hermione knew instantly she wasn't going to get along with him and decided to carry on looking for Neville's toad. She stood up and went to walk out of the compartment but quickly turned back round, her long bushy hair bouncing as she did.

"You've got dirt on your nose by the way. Did you know?" Explaining to Ron "Just there." She wiped the side of her nose as he mimicked and then carried on walking out.

*

A few hours passed and it was starting to get dark, Neville still hadn't found his toad and Hermione had helped him look everywhere. They had decided to have a rest and were sat in a compartment by themselves. Neville had fallen asleep and was snoring loudly, meanwhile Hermione had her nose in another book.

A voice soon echoed through the train: "We will be arriving at Hogwarts in five minutes. If you haven't already, please get changed into your school robes and leave your luggage on the train. It will be taken to the school separately."

Hermione quickly packed her book away and started organising her bag whilst Neville, who had been awaken by the announcement, pulled out a sandwich and quickly ate it.

"Why are you eating now?"

"I'm hungry." He replied with his mouth full, spitting out a piece of bread.

Hermione looked at the young boy in disgust and quickly turned back to her bag.