The little Engine of Friendship Open

Yougle Crenshaw was standing between platform 9 and 10, her hands on the handles of her over filled cart. Both her parents had unexpected urgent business at the ministry today, and had only left these directions: Go to platform 9 3/4. The Hogwarts Express is the only train there. The rest should be obvious.

She understood the directions perfectly fine. In fact, it was safe to say she understood more than fine. The problem was, Yougle couldn't find a platform 9 3/4. She had been roaming around for what seemed like ages, yet there seemed to be only platforms with whole numbers.

It wasn't until now that Yougle began to feel all panicky and nervous. What if she missed the train? What if she was able to get on the train, but the sorting hat said, "Hogwarts Express!" and sent her straight back? And what if nobody liked her? That wasn't an unlikely possibility, as Yougle did seem to find trouble wherever she went.

So, she stood between the platforms nervously, waiting and panicking a little. After all, it was still a little while before the train would take off. Maybe platform 9 3/4 would appear only a few minutes before the Hogwarts Express departing. But as she watched the time trickle by, numerous muggles gawping at her outfit and cart questioningly, Yougle grew more and more uncertain. She looked around, trying to see if she spotted and others of her kind.

She breathed a huge breath of relief. Not too far away, she saw another witch pushing an equally filled cart around to various muggles, trying to ask where platform 9 3/4 was, but nobody knew what she was talking about. It seemed the girl had been there for a while, but Yougle had been too transfixed in panicking herself to notice her.

Being lost with someone was better than being lost alone. Besides, maybe the girl knew how to get on platform 9 3/4 and had just been asking about something else. So, a little less panicky, Yougle gripped the handles of her heavy cart once again and walked until she was next to the girl.

"Hullo. I'm a first year too." Yougle said. "Any idea at all on how to get to the platform?"

September 1st, 2024, 10: 37 am, 23 minutes before the train leaves.

[/quote]
Another muggle looked curiously at her as she asked her where she can find platform 9¾. Then Karina nervously walked away. She was losing hope. Maybe she wasn't meant for Hogwarts? She couldn't even problem-solve this situation. She sighed, looking at her shiny shoes, her father had bought her on her 11th birthday.

Suddenly, Karina saw another witch walk up to her. She had black hair and gorgeous, blue eyes. She turned to hear her ask Karina;

"Hullo. I'm a first year too. Any idea at all on how to get to the platform?"

Karina stood, frozen in one spot. Someone, finally someone knew what she meant. Finally she replied.

"Oh, umm hi there, I'm Karina. Are you new to Hogwarts, too? My mother never told me how on Earth I was supposed to reach the Hogwarts train. Maybe we need to find a special code or password. What do you think? "

Karina stood, as though she was paralyzed. They were running out of time. Karina then spotted a wizard. He was tall. Probably not a 1st-year like Karina and the other witch. Maybe he knew how to get onto the platform? Karina signaled the young witch to follow her as Karina walked towards the tall wizard. He had brown hair with green eyes. He was pushing his trunk on a cart as well. On top of the trunk stood a gorgeous snow owl. With white feathers, she looked magical.

Karina tried to hurry up to him, but he kept walking. He was walking towards platform 9. Or was it 10? Was there something Karina and the other witch couldn't see? Was there a secret door? Suddenly Karina did a gasp. She was sure that she wasn't the only one to see this. The boy was gone! He had disappeared into thin air! Karina blinked, rubbing her eyes. What a day! She thought. She must be exhausted, seeing things now, blinking nervously she turned to her cart. Then looked at the wall. Maybe it was a portal to Hogwarts?
....................................................................................................................................................................

Yougle's mouth dropped straight open. She blinked a few times and pinched her arm to make sure that she wasn't dreaming. Unfortunately, it hurt. Just a second ago she had clearly and most definitely seen a wizard...even saw his eye colour and everything. She was sure she hadn't imagined him. Judging by Karina's bewildered expression, she had seen the wizard too.

The boy had been considerably tall, probably a 4th or 5th year, and Yougle was pretty sure he had been pushing his overfilled cart to a platform (was it 9 or 10?). His green eyes had darted around, as if making sure nobody was watching, and he started to break into a run. Before Yougle could see where he was running to, a group of teenage muggles blocked her vision. When they walked away, the boy had disappeared from sight. Just like that.

Yougle didn't know how or where he disappeared to. But whatever happened, it was probably near the narrow wall of bricks between the sign for platform 9 and 10. Key word: probably. If her guess wasn't right, then Yougle wasn't sure how she would get to Hogwarts at all.

With a negative moment's hesitation, Yougle went over to inspect the brick wall and beckoned Karina to come too. She looked at the time and gulped. The Hogwarts Express would be leaving soon. But pressing her hands against the brick wall, she felt...

...

...um...

...nothing. Yougle almost fell forward into what would probably be cement but cement, but (thankfully) caught herself just in time.

...

Now Yougle was so bewildered that her mouth didn't even think to drop open.

...

"Karina! I...I think I many have found something!"

September 1st, 2024, 10: 42 am, 18 minutes before the train leaves.

[/quote]
Karina looked at the wall, that seemed to have disappeared under the young witch's hand. The Karina pressed her hand on the wall. It too, had went through!

"I-I think we have to go through..."

Karina nervously looked at the girl. Karina grabbed her cart and turned to face the wall. She was going first.

Well, I mean, what's the worst that could happen...? She thought, still eyeing those around her. Karina had to make sure that she went through without anyone noticing her. She didn't want to cause any commotion.

Karina nearly jumped as another witch walked up from behind. She had long, blonde hair, almost reaching her knees.

"Are you going to go in or what?"

Karina didn't like her attitude. She looked at her, and gulped.

"OH MY GOD! JUST GO!"

She was now yelling at Karina. Suddenly, the girl pushed her aside.

"You must be a 1st-year. I am a 4th year, Hufflepuff. And I am going to be late, if you guys want to keep standing here, you can..."

And with that, the girl left. Through the wall. Only her tone ringing in Karina's mind.

Karina looked at the big clock on the wall. They had 16 minutes until the train left. And they still had to put their trunk onto the train, find a good seat, and for starters -make their way onto the train....

Karina looked into her pocket, it was filled with 5 galleons her mother gave her, to buy a snack while on the train. She did a sigh. The coins wouldn't come in handy if they couldn't board the train.

Karina, dragged her cart to the other end of the train station, (leaving the girl, completely confused), and with all of her power, ran.

Yougle gulped. She was now utterly alone (other than the fact that there seemed to be hundreds of muggles on all the platforms surrounding her). Upon contact with the brick wall, Karina had disappeared. Vanished, like the boy with green eyes and the girl with blond hair. Yougle stared at the wall nervously. What could go wrong, right? The blond-haired girl was a fourth year, and she went through it. It had to be safe...right?

Yougle was still doubtful, having not used the gateway herself. Hopefully she wouldn't get stuck while she was crossing. If she did...she didn't even want to think about thinking about what could happen.

What good will not thinking about something do? The logical part of Yougle's brain asked. If it will happen, it will happen. If not, then it will not happen. It's not like you're supreme lord of the universe or anything.

Correction: Yougle will neither avoid thinking about it nor overthink it, instead she would just panic like a normal person would do.

But, Logic reasoned, What good will panicking do -

Shush. Shutupshutupshutup. You're not making this any better, me.

Yougle pushed her overloaded cart to the other end of the platform, just like Karina did. Then, before she could stop herself, she started to run at top speed, which was...not very fast. Bracing herself, she went straight through the wall -

- went through a dark tunnel -

- and came out the other side.

See? Logic tried to tell her. I told you we would be alright -

But Yougle was no longer listening.

The entire scenery had changed; all around her were witches and wizards with overloaded carts, talking and laughing with one another. On the top of the brick wall from this side were not signs labeled 9 and 10, instead the numbers 9 3/4. On the right of, a large, reddish train in perfect condition was gleaming in the sun, the words 'Hogwarts Express' on it. Even the smoke seemed lighter, and the sun seemed to shine a bit brighter.

September 1, 2024, 10: 46 , 14 minutes before the train leaves

[/quote]
Karina entered the portal, a weird feeling rushed through her body. The energy, as if she was being teleported into the unknown. She had never been through a portal of any kind. It was such an unexplainable feeling. She finally exited the portal. Standing, staring. Staring at what was in front of her. Her trunk came crashing to the ground and her bunny popped through the open cage.

“12 minutes until the train leaves! All witches and Wizards, aboard!” Cried the train driver.

Karina hurried to grab her black-and-white rabbit. There were possibly over 200 witches and wizards. 1st years, 2nd years, 3rd years, and so on. All of them were cramming onto the train. On the train, bright golden letters shined, The Hogwarts Express. Karina turned to the young witch next to her, realizing that she wasn't the only one confused but also amazed.

Suddenly some man took Karina trunk, he was going to deliver them to the train.

"Hi, I never caught your name... And do you wanna sit by me?"

Karina nervously looked at the girl. Hoping for a good answer, she picked up the remaining carrots that had fallen out of her bunny's cage. She started towards the train, chills running down her spine. What was awaiting her? A school year... But not a normal school year. A magical, enchanting, school year.

As Yougle stared around in wonder at the platform 9 3/4, at the thick puffs of glorious white smoke that poured out from the red train, the driver of the Hogwarts Express called out loudly while sticking his head out a window, "12 minutes until the train leaves! All witches and wizards, aboard!" Yougle immediately snapped back to reality from her wandering thoughts and saw that a grown-up wizard in a uniform had taken Karina's and her luggage to the train for them.

"Hi, I never caught your name... And do you wanna sit by me?" Karina asked, looking at her.

"Oh, yeah, um, sorry for forgetting to introduce myself." Yougle said hurriedly, grimacing internally at her carelessness. Seriously, Karina had introduced herself, why didn't Yougle remember to..?

And that is why panicking is not good, Yougle's brain told her. Shush, she thought in response.

"My name is Yougle. Yougle Crenshaw. And yeah, I would love to sit next to you on the train!"

Yougle smiled a little, which quickly turned into a mini grin. She wasn't even at Hogwarts yet, and there was already someone who (possibly!) wanted to be her friend. Like...wow! How awesome!

Together, Yougle and Karina walked towards the Hogwarts Express.

September 1st, 2024, 10: 49, 12 11 minutes before the train leaves

[/quote]
The girls walked onto the steps of the train. Well Karina did, she couldn't see whether or not Yougle went aboard. Karina ran around the train, searching for an empty cabin. Suddenly she spotted on towards the back of the train. She quickly took a seat inside it, saving a spot for her new friend.

Karina looked around in her bag. Searching. Searching.

"Aha! I found it! My Box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavoured Beans!"

She popped the lid open. Waiting for Yougle. Waiting. Waiting. Maybe she lost her route to the cabin?

Suddenly, nearly jumping out of her soft, cushioned chair/bench, a train worker came in.

"Hey there, gal. Just you today?"

She had the accent of someone from the southern states of the U.S. But what would a Texan do all the way in Europe? Anyways, that didn't matter.

"No ma'am. I'm waiting for someone. She should be here any moment."

"Well, she'd better get her quicker because this train is about to move. I'll check on y'all again shortly. Until then, can I get y'all anything?"

Karina shook her head, no. And smiled. She was getting nervous. Maybe it was best if she hadn't run off, away from the girl. Who knew where she was now? Was she lost? Did she follow Karina?

Yougle gingerly stepped onto the Hogwarts Express, having less-than-great prior experience with trains. So. This was the glorious train that was going to take her to Hogwarts, the train she had heard about ever since she could remember. Nice. Though looking around, she didn't really see Karina anywhere...where could she be? Yougle walked through the long corridors, looking at the filled or half-filled compartments left and right, hoping to spot her new friend somewhere.

For a horrible second, the annoying part of Yougle's brain who always saw the worst in everything suggested that maybe Karina had abandoned her. What if Karina didn't see her as a friend? What if...what if she found new friends already? That horrible second passed and Yougle vowed to assassinate the annoying part of her brain for utter uselessness. If it was going to dwell on everything, then it would at least dwell on something useful. The voice became silent.

Walking a few more steps, pausing every few seconds to peer through compartment windows, Yougle finally spotted the familiar blond hair of Karina sitting in an empty cabin at the end of the corridors. Moving with a slight bounce in her steps, Yougle slid the compartment door open and plopped down on the cushions across from Karina. She mentally marveled at the comfiness.

"Sorry, I got a bit lost on the way," Yougle said, apologizing for her slowness. Realizing that she hadn't really looked around yet other than searching for her friend, Yougle's wandering eyes fell on Karina's box of Berttie Blott's Every Flavour Beans. One of her favorites. She brightened at another thought. "Oh, and that reminds me. I've brought a snack too!"

Yougle rummaged her pockets, frowned, looked some more, then opened her trunk. Finally, she took out a few bags of Pepper Imps. "I've heard the ride to Hogwarts is a long one. Mum says so. Speaking of Hogwarts, what house do you want to be sorted into? I was thinking that Ravenclaw would be cool."

September 1st, 2024, 10: 59, 1 minute before the train leaves