THE CHOSEN ONES | hp universe {one}

chapter fifteen

— CHAPTER FIFTEEN —

THE NIGHTMARE

Hermione was coming back. The train is due in any second and I decided to wait in the freezing cold for her in my Weasley jumper at the train station. I could hear the chuffing of the train and squealed excitedly to myself. I was the only person waiting here apart from the usual station staff that unload the baggage and, surprisingly, Quirrel.

Quirrel had joined me on my carriage as there wasn't anymore space on the others.

"E-E-Elizabeth! N-Nice to see you off to the t-trains," He said, faintly smiling.

"It's good to see you too, Professor," I replied out of politeness. The rest of the journey was uncomfortably silent but I never liked to make conversation with him. He gave me the creeps. As we were both about to exit the carriage, it jolted and threw us off to the side. Quirrel held his arm for my to take and balance on. However, at the touch of his forearm, Quirrel and I screamed at the strange, burning sensation that came from the contact. I retracted my hand and wanted to ask Quirrel what had happened but he was already gone — long gone.

My cheeks and nose had morphed into a rosy red colour from the cold and I rubbed my hands together, both from anxiousness and utter frostbite. The Scotland mountains are a chilly place in the winter.

The train began to slow as it rounded the corner and I could see the maroon red locomotive approaching the station. The windows looked as if the cold had frozen them shut and small icicles hung from the top railing. Spiderwebbed ice covered the windows and it was impossible to see in so I wouldn't be able to spot which compartment Hermione was waiting in.

The train eventually stopped and the workers got straight to work, pulling the baggage out from the storage under the train. Students slowly filed out of the train and hissed at the sudden cold, rubbing their arms and hands in an attempt to keep the warmth.

I stood by the gate so whichever exit Hermione got out of, she would spot me as she left for the school. Many people passed, many older students particularly who just wanted to be in the warmth. The younger students seemed to dawdle by the train, waiting for their friends so they could travel back to the castle together.

At last, I spotted the large frizzy hair that belonged to my best friend, exiting the train, scanning across the crowd. I excitedly pushed through the crowd and tackled Hermione in a hug from behind. She was about to pick up her bag until I knocked her over slightly.

"Excuse m- Lizzy!" Hermione squealed, quickly turning around  to hug me back, "I missed you so much. Thank you so much for my books, I absolutely love them! I've already finished two of them."

"I'm glad you liked them," I chuckled.

"I'm sure you're wondering where your gifts are from me. Well, I couldn't get anything whilst at Hogwarts so I had to buy them after Christmas so they're wrapped up in my bag," Hermione smiled, patting the top of her bag lightly.