A Harry Potter Fanfic

Chapter 2

---------- Chapter 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"De? Wake up, De!! The Hogwarts Express leaves at 11. We need to get all the way to Kings Cross," Harry gently murmurs, shaking my shoulders. I mumble something at him, and with supreme effort, I sit up.

"Are you excited?" he asks, sitting opposite me, his feet crossed under him.

"I think I'm more...afraid?" I confess. I mean, up until two days ago, I assumed I was a...what was that word? Ah, muggle. And now, I'm suddenly a witch? And I'm going to a school full of witches and wizards? I'm independent and up for a challenge, but I'm not crazy!

"Don't worry. Hogwarts is brilliant! You'll love it, De," Harry comforts, his tone taking on a wistful edge. A small smile plays on his lips and I smile a little at that. Harry should smile more.

"Harry, I'm awake. You can go to your friends if you want...I don't want you to feel like you need to babysit me," I mutter.

"It's okay. Really. Ron and Hermione are sucking each other's face down there..." he murmurs, and a wicked grin takes over his face, "sometimes it's weird. The three of us have been friends since our first year, and it took all that time to confess their feelings to each other!" he chuckles.

"Oh, so they're together? No wonder there's so much sexual tension there," I murmur mostly to myself. "Harry? Tell me about Hogwarts please," I beg, wanting to know as much as I can before actually stepping into Hogwarts.

"Like I said, it's brilliant! In Hogwarts, we have four houses. Each house has their own common rooms, and a separate tower, actually. It's...just amazing! You have to see it!" he thrills, a huge smile on his face. "Hmm, but the castle was destroyed...I guess we'll get to explore the new Hogwarts together," he continues, pursing his lips.

I nod and climb off the bed. I grab my toilet bag, a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. I head to the bathroom, wash up, change and head down stairs for breakfast. And Harry was so not kidding about Ron and Hermione!

They look like they're wrestling! Gosh! Now THAT'S passion! I grin to myself and tiptoe into the kitchen, where Harry seems to be a little green, a disgusted look on his face.

"They're like vacuum cleaners!" he mumbles, fixing himself a sandwich. I snigger and grab the loaf of bread, fixing myself breakfast. Harry and I take our food and head to the dining room.

We have a quiet breakfast, the both of us absorbed in our own thoughts. And soon, too soon, we set off for Kings Cross.

A new chapter of my life is about to begin! This is going to be AMAZING!

***

"What platform are we leaving from again?" I call over my shoulder at Harry.

"Nine and three-quarters," he calls back nonchalantly, continuing his discussion with Ron and Hermione (who decided PDA wasn't acceptable, THANK GOD!).

Nine and three-quarters?! I glance at the huge signs over my head. Nine...Ten...but no platform nine and three-quarters! Oh! I get it! Prank the new kid!

"Very funny, Harry! Now be serious!" I turn towards him, a pout on my lips. I notice Ron checking me out, which makes me feel really uncomfortable! Harry must have noticed it too, because he and Ron exchange a glance, and Ron stops looking at me. Harry turns back to me and smiles, "Come with me, I'll show you how," he offers kindly.

He pushes his little trolley a little faster, until we're at the same pace. Everyone in Kings Cross gives the four of us weird looks, but I beam. I'm so excited!

"Okay, trust me, De. Just walk right through that pillar," Harry whispers under his breath. I roll my eyes and grin sarcastically at him. He grins back and pushes his trolley confidently towards the pillar between platform nine and ten. And that's when the most fantastic thing happens! He disappears!! Through the pillar! Can you believe it?!

I turn back throwing a shocked look at Ron and Hermione. They just nod encouragingly, and I gulp. I take a deep breath, square myself and push my trolley towards the pillar. Just as I'm about to hit the pillar, I close my eyes instinctively, and when I open my eyes; I'm standing on a crowded platform!

I take a look up at the sign, and a huge 9 and ¾ greets me eyes. I can't help but grin! Walking through walls; check! Bring on the magic!

Harry is suddenly by my side, chuckling at my expression. A huge scarlet steam engine with the words 'Hogwarts Express' in gold is waiting, with students and parents everywhere. Harry nudges me, and leads me into the steam engine. I look around in excitement. I wish I had 50 pairs of eyes! There's so much to see!

I watch all the students and parents, trying to see if there's any way to tell them apart from muggles. I see many little kids looking nervous, and the older students look calm, happy and comfortable. Harry gets tons of looks, people even whisper as he passes by. Harry seems oblivious to the attention though. I guess Harry is a big shot in school. That's kinda cool.

We walk all the way to the back of the steam engine, and we find an empty compartment. Harry helps me carry my bags and stores them above my head, while Ron and Hermione trudge their things along into the compartment.

There's a shrill whistle, and all the goodbyes on the platform keep my face pressed against the window, not wanting to miss a thing. Eventually all the students board, and the steam engine begins moving, picking up speed. Then it takes a turn, and the platform disappears.

Just then, the door to our compartment slides open and a girl with red hair and freckles walks in confidently. She lifts her bags into the overhead compartment, and sits in between Harry and I. She takes Harry's hand and whispers something to him. They continue this whispered discussion while I wonder who on earth she is.

Hermione mouths that the girl is Ron's sister, Ginny. Eventually, Ginny realises I'm sitting beside her, and turns to introduce herself. I found out that Ginny is pretty darn cool. She's a year older than I am, and so full of life and vivacious.

After exchanging some pleasantries, she goes back to talking to Harry, while Ron and Hermione begin snogging again. But it's fine with me, the quiet allows me to pay my full attention to the scenery that we speed by. It's so beautiful! Even the ride to the school is so magical! I can't imagine what the school itself will be like!

***

A pair of gentle hands shake my shoulders, snapping me out of my dream. I must have fallen asleep. Harry stares down at me, a wide grin on his face. "We're at Hogwarts, De!" he exclaims in excitement. Immediately I'm wide awake. Harry helps me carry my bags down and I take it from there.

We step off the scarlet steam engine, into a lush meadow looking place. There are carriages waiting, but nothing seems to be attached to the carriages. I wonder where the horses are?

And then the first carriage begins moving! Without any horses! Oh my god, magic! I beam stupidly, watching the carriage. Everyone has already changed into their robes, but I still feel a little awkward in mine. Hermione is the Head Girl. She has this shiny red badge on her robes, and she had her chest puffed out, so insanely happy at the honour. I smile at the memory and look up.

Harry, Ron and Hermione are nowhere in sight! And only three carriages are left. I pull my bags towards the last carriage that seems to be empty. I try and wrestle my bags onto the wide open space at the back of the carriage, when a long, pale hand helps me.

I look up into a pair of mesmerising grey eyes. I grin my thanks at the tall boy. He asses me for a few seconds before a sort of lopsided smile brightens up his face. He gestures for me to get into the carriage and I step in gladly, already excited about the actual school. I stare out, and I feel the pale boy's eyes on me.

Eventually, I turn towards him, a curious look on my face. My eyes rest automatically on his chest, not because of...well, okay, he has a very nice chest, but my eyes were automatically attracted to the shiny red badge that said 'HEAD BOY'.

Just as I'm about to say something, his hand shoots out towards me. I stare at him a couple of moments, and then I take his hand.

"Draco Malfoy," he murmurs in his soft, rich voice.