Lucy Jones 1: The beginning of a tale (HP fanfiction)

8 The Castle

Lucy and Hermione go through the wall. They arrive on platform 9 and three-quarters.

Lucy looks at the train and at everyone on the platform. She sees everyone who'll go to Hogwarts. Some step on the train, while others are talking with their parents. She can't believe this is real.

'Lucy, we must hurry. I think the train is almost ready to leave.' Hermione reminds her of the time. Lucy looks at the clock. They only have a few minutes left.

Lucy follows her, and they take place in one of the empty compartments on the train. Hermione looks out of the window. 'I'm happy we found an empty compartment. The train is packed.' Lucy says, relieved.

'That's true.' Hermione answers: 'What do you think of the school and the system of the different houses?' She asks eagerly.

'I don't know.' Lucy says honestly. She remembers the boy from when she bought her robes for school. He asked in which house she would be. 'Do you know how many houses there are?'

'Oh.' Hermione says, surprised: 'There are four houses, and when we arrive, we will be sorted by a ceremonial hat.'

'Which are the four houses.' She remembers Slytherin and Hufflepuff. He didn't like the last one, but maybe it wasn't bad.

'You have Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Slytherin and Ravenclaw.' Hermione names, and she explains what the different houses stand for.

Lucy thinks her new friend would be placed in Ravenclaw: 'How do you know that.'

'I've read it. My parents bought me this book. It's called Hogwarts: a history.' Hermione tells Lucy: 'Do you want to read it?'

'I would love to. Would you let me read your one?' She asks, hoping she can. She doesn't have any books that weren't in the required list.

Hermione smiles: 'Of course! Do you like reading?'

'I love it.' Lucy is happy they have so much in common. They both like to read and learn new things.

Afterwards, they discuss some spells and potions they will learn this year. Around midday, they both eat the food they brought; Lucy had been given sandwiches this morning.

Someone opens the door to their compartment. 'Hey, have you seen a toad somewhere?' the boy asks: 'I lost mine.' He looks stressed about losing his pet.

Hermione says: 'This is Lucy, and I'm Hermione. We have not seen your toad, but maybe we can help.'

'What's your name?' Lucy asks him.

'Neville, my name Is Neville', the boy looks relieved that someone offers help.

'I will go to the end of the train, then you two go to the front.' Lucy instructs them. Neville tells her in which compartments he already asked about his toad, and Lucy walks in that direction.

In the first compartment where she looks are sitting three boys. Two of them are almost identical.

'Have you seen a toad? A boy called Neville lost his.' They say they haven't seen one.

She opens another door: 'Hello, have any of you....' She wants to ask them about the toad. There are four boys inside. Probably all first-years.

'What are you doing?' A boy complains.

She looks at him and recognizes him from the store. He is the one that asked about the houses. 'I'm trying to ask something.' She replies.

He recognizes her. 'I wasn't really asking. Just leave.' He tells her, and another boy looks at him impressed: 'What Draco said, go away.'

Lucy turns around and decides to go away. It's time to go back anyway.

She walks back slowly to her compartment. Hermione takes something out of her suitcase: 'You should get into your uniform. We're almost there.'

Lucy takes her advice, and when they're both changed, they open the curtain again and look outside. They know there is nothing to see yet, but the different environment outside makes both girls smile. Only a few moments away from their new school.

Lucy steps off the train. She follows a voice: 'First-years here, first-years here.' It's Hagrid. She is happy to see him again. Hermione follows, and all the first years are now standing around a lake.

The man points at some boats on it: 'Four par boats, please.'

Hermione leads Lucy to a boat. While Lucy tries to sit down, she looks at her feet. She doesn't want to fall into the lake on her first day.

'Hey, Lucy.' She hears and looks up, surprised. 'Hey Harry, how are you?'

'We're here.' He says. They're both extremely excited. 'this is Ron.' He points next to him. A boy with red hair, who doesn't hide the surprise on his face: 'You two know each other.'

Lucy only nods, while Harry says: 'We live in the same neighbourhood.'

Lucy introduces them to Hermione, but then it's silent. The boats move over the lake. The castle appears. Their first look at it gives them chills. It is so beautiful; it would really have suited a fairytale. When they arrive, they climb out of the boat, and Lucy follows Harry inside the building with Hermione close by.