two rings and bad things

3_ a new journey

"Wake up Ed!" Kai yelled while bouncing on the bed.

She rubbed her eyes, and then realized what today was.

"Yay! I get to go to Hogwarts today!" She exclaimed.

Ed got dressed, faster than ever before, and made sure all of her school things were packed in her trunk.

They all made their way to King's cross station, but Ed was very confused when she didn't see a platform 9 ¾. She was sure that's what the ticket had said, but her mom answered her question before she even asked it.
         
"Don't work honey, just walk through that brick wall right there. It will lead you straight to the train."

Ed hesitated, but she listened to her mom anyways and pushed her cart into the pillar.

In an instant, she saw herself looking at a magnificent steam engine with bright red paint and black accents.

She stood there for a second, amazed, and pushed her cart forward just in time as her family came through the barrier.

It was time to get on the train, but, for the first time since she received her letter, felt a wave of nervousness come over her. She hugged her family tightly, realizing how much she would actually miss them once she left.
         
"By Ed, we love you!" Her family said, joyfully.
         
"Bye, love you too!" She responded as she stepped into the train, almost reluctantly.

She found an empty compartment to sit in and put the window down to wave at her family, one last time, as the train started leaving the platform.

Ed sighed and sat down, her nerves now even greater, but this was resolved when another girl her age with medium-length, light brown hair opened the door.
         
"Is it alright if I sit here?" She asked.
         
"Sure!" Ed replied, eager to make a friend.

The girl sat down beside her, and it appeared that she too was very friendly.
         
"I'm Malorie Blight, by the way, what's your name?" the girl said.
         
"Edeline Koldings," she responded with a smile.
They talked for a little while about their summer vacation until Malorie asked,
         
"So, what house do you think you'll be sorted into?"
         
"I'm not sure yet," Ed said back, shocked for a second that she knew what Malorie was talking about. She had only learned about the wizard world a month ago, but it already felt strangely familiar to her.
         
"I'm probably going to be a Slytherin, my whole family was." Malorie said, with a sad look approaching her face.
         
"What's wrong?" Ed asked, concerned.
         
"My parents died during the first war from death eaters when I was only a baby. I live with my aunt and older sister, but I still wish my parents were here to see me accepted into Hogwarts."

Ed felt terrible for her.
         
"I'm so sorry, Malorie..." she started, but she couldn't think of anything else to say to comfort her.
         
"That's alright, I know they're still with me. Besides, at least now I'll have a friend like you by my side," Malorie said as they both smiled.

Before they could talk anymore, another person walked in.

But this time, Ed knew exactly who it was.
         
"Hello Koldings. Guess we keep running into each other, if you know what I mean," the boy said.

Ed rolled her eyes, thinking back to the day she ran into him at Diagon Alley.
         
"Hi Malfoy," she responded.
         
"Well, I guess as long as you don't knock me over again, we're going to sit here. Everywhere else is full," he explained.

Two other larger boys walked in as he said this, and Malorie and Ed suddenly became very uncomfortable.

Malfoy must have noticed this, because he assured them almost immediately.
         
"Don't worry, Crabbe and Goyle may look intimidating, but they're quite idiots actually."