The Train Ride

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"I have everything," Estella insisted to her father for the final time, trying to keep from bouncing on her toes. The Hogwarts Express puffed steam into the air behind her as the students swarmed Platform 9 ¾, bidding farewell to their families.

"Well you really mustn't be late," Albert Blackwood insisted, loading his daughter's trunk onto the train with a huff.

"Oh she'll be fine," Amelie cut in briskly, waving her husband aside. She placed her hand on Estella's shoulders and looked her in the eye. "Remember Occlumency for the Sorting?"

Estella nodded and shut her mind to prove her capability. Her parents had insisted on training her to block her mind from a young age so no one should find her true identity. Amelie pressed her lips into small smile of approval.

"Good," her eyes grew serious. "Whatever house you go to, whatever you decide to do, remember what we've taught you. In the end, it's your choice."

Estella nodded as her mother pulled her into a brief embrace before stepping back.

"We're proud m'girl," Albert added, clapping his daughter on the shoulder.

Estella gave her parents a final smile before she turned and stepped into the train, butterflies afloat in her stomach. She briskly trotted down the corridor trying to avoid the slamming compartment doors and tangle of bodies. As she reached the end of the train cars she desperately hoped for a place to sit, even just an empty compartment.

"Penny Blackwood!"

Ella spun around at her name to see a smiling Hermione motioning her toward a seat. "I was waiting for you, I thought you'd never find your way here." She scrunched her nose in displeasure. "It was rather crowded."

"Tell me about it," Estella agreed, flopping the seat with a sigh of relief.

Hermione looked at her in amusement before seeming to remember something. "Oh!" She reached in her pocket and pulled out a list of some sort. "I was just making sure I had all my things. Did you by chance look through our textbooks yet?"

The bushy haired girl looked all too eager and Estella couldn't suppress her grin. "I've read every word," she admitted.

Hermione looked rather pleased. "Oh I'm so glad I'm not the only one, I was quite worried about being too far ahead, but then it was all too interesting and I couldn't stop, and..." she trailed off before shaking her head. "Well I just got a bit carried away."

Estella shook her head. "I understand," she smiled slightly.

"Anyways, I never got to know much about you," Hermione learned forward. "Since your parents are witch and wizard, what do they do?"

"Well my father works at the Ministry in the Magical Creatures Department. He pretty much makes sure they aren't seen by muggles," Estella giggled. "You can imagine their reaction to seeing a mermaid while sunbathing." Hermione grinned. "And then my mother works in the Department of Mysteries, I'm not quite sure exactly what she does, she never tells me," Estella continued truthfully.

"That sounds fascinating to grow up with," Hermione responded, she paused before adding slightly quieter. "My parents are dentists."

"They're doctors for... teeth right?" Estella scanned her memory, trying to remember all that her parents had taught her about Muggles.

"Yes, exactly," Hermione beamed. "And you won't believe some of the stories they tell me.."

Estella proceeded to listen to the crazy antics of the Muggle world while still in awe with the fact that she had a friend. She desperately hoped it lasted.

"Well we best change into our robes," Hermione began a while later as the duo sat munching on their pumpkin pasties. Estella nodded reluctantly and stood to follow her friend, grabbing her bag.

After heading the the lavatories and changing, Estella was on her way back to the compartment when a small boy bumped into her. She wobbled unsteadily for a moment before regaining her balance and turning to confront her obstacle.

"I'm so sorry!" The boy squeaked. "It's just I've lost my toad and my grandmum will kill me if I don't find him and.."

"Hold on," Hermione appeared from behind the boy. "He's got to be around here somewhere. We'll help you find him."

The buy have them a look of immense gratitude. "Really? Thank you so much, I just don't know how I could have lost him already."

"And your name is.." Estella asked curiously.

"Neville. Neville Longbottom," the boy held out a shaky hand.

Estella felt all the blood drain from her face and didn't meet the boy's gaze as she shook hands. "Nice to meet you. Penny Blackwood." Her voice warbled a bit at the end and Estella had to refrain from wincing. These boy's parents had been tortured to insanity by her mother. Their pale faces hung in her mind as memories of that horrid visit to St. Mungos returned. Amelie had wanted to show Estella exactly what the products of her mother's decisions were.

"I'm Hermione Granger," Hermione's curt voice shook Estella out of her reverie. "We'll start looking down here," she gestured for Estella to follow her down the train. The redhead nodded and quickly walked away from the reminder of her past.

Countless compartments later, Estella felt like giving up the search. It was just a ruddy toad anyways. Hermione however insisted on continuing.

"We can't give up now," she pressed.

Estella sighed as her friend pulled open yet another door and stuck her head through.

"Has anyone see a toad? A boy named Neville's lost one." Hermione's voice paused. "Oh are you doing magic? Let's see then."

Estella followed the bushy haired girl warily into a compartment that held two boys. One she distinctly recognized as a Weasley, there was no mistaking the red hair and physical features as he stuffed a jelly slug into his mouth. Leaving Hermione to scold him, Estella turned to the other boy and her stomach dropped.

Harry Potter sat looking at her uncertainly, green eyes wide behind his wire framed glasses. He had black hair that stood up in random directions and most of all, there was a red scar that stretched across his forehead in the shape of a lightning bolt.

Estella shook her head to rid herself of her disbelief and held out a hand. "Hi. I'm Penny Blackwood."

"Harry Potter," the boy shook hers carefully.

Estella had to bite her tongue to keep herself from asking all the questions she had wondered for years. She was distracted by Hermione's voice again.

"Are you sure that's a real spell?" her friend sniffed at the Weasley. "Well it's not very good is it? I've tried a few simple spells on my own and they've all worked fine for me." Hermione pulled out her wand with a flourish, "For example: Oculus Reparo!"

Harry's glasses snapped back in place and the boys looked on in amazement.

"Bloody brilliant," Ron grumbled, still sore over his failed attempt.

"Holy cricket!" Hermione exclaimed, her eyes widening as she looked at Harry. "You're Harry Potter!" At his dumbfounded expression, she continued "I'm Hermione Granger," she hesitantly turned to the Weasley. "And you are?"

"Ron. Ron Weasley," the boy spoke around a mouthful of chocolate frog. Estella rolled her eyes in amusement.

"Well I expect we'll be arriving soon," Hermione stood to leave before turning to Ron one last time. "You've got dirt on your nose by the way, did you know? Just there," she gestured to the spot before spinning around and exiting.

"What a know it all," Ron grumbled, rubbing his nose till it was pink.

Estella grinned. "She's very smart actually, but I apologize for the blunt approach." Harry smiled slightly at her and she felt a bubble of happiness. "Nice to meet you, I hope to see you both soon," she added before following her friend, unaware of just how much she and Harry Potter would become connected in due time.

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