Two Gryffindors and a Slytherin

All Aboard The Hogwarts Express

It's finally here... the day I board the 'Hogwarts Express' from Kings Cross Station in London at precisely 11 o'clock on Platform 9¾ , (sorry I've checked my ticket so many times that I've memorised exactly what it says) I'm just too excited! My mother and father are seeing me off today, they don't start their new jobs for another week, so we were able to spend so much time together over the last month since we've been in London. It's been so nice not having to settle for either a goodnight or good morning kiss from my father as well, because he was always rushed off his feet with assignments they were the only times I saw him. We stayed up late last night, us three, talking way into the night about how magical a Christmas is at Hogwarts, and what an amazing Headmaster Dumbledore is (I was shocked to realise he was old enough to have taught my parents and me).

But still, today is the day... my trunk has been packed for the last week, I kept unpacking and repacking it to spark the anticipation growing within me. The scary thought of what house I might be put in had seemed to have disappeared today, all I could think about is my first walk into the Great Hall, or my first sleep in my dorm or even my first lesson, I've heard so many wonderful things about the teachers at Hogwarts... I just can't wait to get started!

10:50, we're on the platform now and I'm hugging my parents and saying my final goodbyes, when my mother says "Right, now you're sure you've got everything yes? Remember we don't expect you to have the exact same experience we had, because after all we went to Hogwarts a long time ago but I promise you're going to love it. I know you'll miss your friends back in France, how could you not, but you'll make new friends in your house or even get closer to people in other houses" she says while giving my father a nudge and a wink. "You're going to have a great year", she continues, "I can feel it, and... all going well at the Ministry, we should be able to have the perfect family Christmas you've always wanted."

"Yes, I'm really looking forward to that, I hope you and father enjoy your new jobs at the Ministry and don't miss me too much" I say, with a cheeky, sarcastic grin. "I'll make you proud, and I'll write to you as much as I can..."

10:55, "but look I really should be getting on the train now and finding a seat, chances are I'll be on my own but at least I'll have a nice view to distract me".

"Ok love, we'll see you very soon, we love you!" and with that I left my parents on the platform and boarded the Hogwarts Express. Now, time to find a seat. The train journey isn't exactly short and sweet, so sitting on my own didn't sound the most appealing, but I didn't know anyone yet, sure this would be a great time to make new friends but I couldn't help but think about how annoying it would be if I became really close with a group of people who ended up being in a different house and we never spoke again.

Still, I had to sit somewhere, so I began walking through the corridor of the train as it began to move, slightly bashing the windows with my elbows as I walked. After what felt like half an hour of peering into full compartments and getting strange looks from it's contents, I finally came across a familiar face.

"Hey, errr, Skye wasn't it?" said a voice from the distance. It was Neville, the boy I met in Diagon Alley. "If you'd like, you can come and sit with us?".

As I peered into the compartment in which he was sat, I noticed a young girl with fiery red hair seated opposite him baring a welcoming grin, "Hi there, you must Skye, Neville mentioned we might have a new girl this year, the names Ginny Weasley, it's nice to meet you?"

"Oh hey, yep I'm the new girl. It's nice to meet you too. Thanks for letting me sit with you, for a moment, I thought I would be wandering the corridor aimlessly the whole journey" I say, nervously laughing as I sit myself down next to Neville, who is holding what appeared to be a chocolate frog collectors card. "Ah, finally catch one did you?" I joke.

"No, it's an old card, I was just showing Ginny my collection, I've got like 15 Dumbledores!" Neville replied, with a slightly torn smile thinking about his many failed attempts to actually eat any of the frogs the cards belonged to.

"Yeah, he's quite common, I've got like 7 of him myself".

"My brother likes collecting those," Ginny chimed in, "has a huge draw full at home, can't seem to get enough, it's a bit sad really".

"Yeah, wouldn't know what that's like," I respond, slowly rolling my eyes with sarcasm and turning to Neville who's packed what seemed like a suitcase full of them. And in that instant, we all burst into laughter, the conversation ran pretty easy from there, I got on with them like a house on fire.

We were about half way there, when I started to focus my attention on the window, the passing view outside was extraordinary; fields, upon fields of freshly cut sparkling green blades of grass baring daisies and dandelions, the lakes glistening in the midday sun like sapphires and the occasional flock of birds humming a soft, sweet tune as a they flew.