A Dark Heart's Passion and a Rebel's Good Cause

Chapter Two

The train stopped and I clutched onto Mione. My heart was pounding and my calm demeanor was failing. I began to chew on my lip nervously, closing my eyes as I took deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth. "Oh don't panic! If you panic I'll panic!" Mione squeaked, and I nodded furiously.

"Trying." I breathed, feeling my feet move forward. I let them carry me off the train, and towards the booming voice that was calling for us first years. I clambered into a boat, Terri sat inside it too. So did the girl with the pigtails and a boy from her compartment. Mione frowned.

"Lettie?"

"Mione!" Neville waved her over to a boat, he was sitting with Ron and Harry. She bit her lip, looking back to me.

"No more'n four ter a bo't!" I heads the groundskeeper yell, making me groan.

"Meet as soon as we hit shore?"

"As soon as!" Mione nodded quickly, then took off. She sat beside Neville, blushing furiously as she avoided eye contact with Ron and Harry. I sighed, turning to the people I sat with.

"I didn't tell you my name earlier. I'm Hannah, and this is my friend Ernie." The girl whispered, I smiled kindly.

"Nice to meet you both again. I hope you get the house you want, which house do you guys want?"

"Ravenclaw wouldn't be bad, I suppose Hufflepuff wouldn't be either." Ernie shrugged, looking down. "I'm not cut out for the bravery stuff." He waved it off dismissively, and I nodded.

"Gryffindor would be great, but honestly, I don't mind what house I get. My goal is to make friends and make memories." I smiled at Hannah's answer, nodding happily.

"Well you've made one friend already! I look forward to making a few memories!" I giggled, and she grinned happily. I turned to Terri. "And you?"

"Ravenclaw." Was all he said, so it kind of put a damper on things and we fell silent. "You want Gryffindor, right?"

"Eh. I don't think I'm cut out for the whole bravery thing either-"

"Bull!" Ernie laughed, Hannah giggled and Terri looked amused.

"Seriously!" I giggled myself, hands up in surrender. "I mean it. I'm not brave at all. I can be outgoing, but I can also be really shy. I'm really impatient though, and have a bad temper, but I'm good at reigning it in. I wouldn't mind Ravenclaw, but I don't think I'm cut out for Hufflepuff." I shrugged, they all nodded, Terri seemed to be a bit happier now.

"Yeh'll be gettin yehr fir' look o' Hogwarts here'n a minute!"

"What's his name?" I asked, looking at our gamekeeper. He noticed and smiled at me, so I returned it, waving happily. He chuckled, pointing to my left. I looked, and my jaw dropped. It was so beautiful! The moon glinting off anything with a smooth surface, giving everything a feint glow. The lake rippled smoothly beneath us, and I couldn't help but to trail my hand in the water. I giggled furiously as it splashed up some, cooling my warm face.

The highest towers peaked out from behind the clouds, looking mighty and proud. Hogwarts stood tall agains the night sky, oak front, double wide doors seeming welcoming. The gates opened as if to say, 'Welcome to your new home!', and a quote that Nymphie had told me rang in my head. Something the headmaster had once told her in her time here.

Help will always be given at Hogwarts, to those who ask.

And ask I will. I'm going to inform Dumbledore of what I already know, and continue to keep an eye on things at home for him. I've already figured out that Snape is a spy. I don't think Dumbledore would've hired him otherwise. I want to be a spy as well. My mind raced with thoughts as I stumbled out of the boat, waiting on Mione. "I can't believe how beautiful it is!" She breathed, I nodded in agreement. Hagrid marched us up, knocking on the doors. A stern witch in emerald robes thanked him, bringing us inside. "You got quiet." Mione whispered, but my heart was pounding in my ears.