28 May 2023, 00:15
The Journey to Hogwarts
Friday, September the 1st, 2023
Dialogue: #03733b
It was September the first which meant that today I was going to board the Hogwarts Express and go to Hogwarts where I would learn how to cast spells, how to brew potions, and maybe how to play Quidditch. I had already packed all of my clothes and school supplies yesterday so I didn’t have to worry about doing any of that today. I went to sleep very early as well so that I would have plenty of energy for the upcoming day, and so I was very well rested when I woke up at 7:00 in the morning. Before getting dressed, I did my usual morning workout, took a longer than usual shower, and brushed my teeth using the magic toothbrush that I had bought in Diagon Alley some time ago.
My mother had ironed all of my clothes the day before so that I’d walk into the train station looking my best, and I must say, she did a very good job at it. But then again, she had over a decade of experience so what did I expect? I put on my socks, and then my clean white shirt which took me a minute to button up. After that, I put on my pair of black slacks and then I put on my belt which slid quite easily through the belt loops on my slacks. I then took my school tie and tied it around my neck before securing it firmly in place. I then took my handsome black watch and carefully put it onto my wrist. I would take my apple watch with me but it’d be nothing more of a useless accessory since electronic devices didn’t work at Hogwarts.
I took a good look at myself in the mirror before going downstairs for breakfast, and I must admit, I looked quite good. For breakfast, my parents had made an omelet with bacon and after my whole family finished eating, we put my lunch and my leather suitcases into the car and left. The journey to the Kings Cross Train Station wasn’t that long since we lived in London and it only took about eight minutes for us to ge there. We arrived at 10:02 so we were there much earlier then most students. My father and I took my luggage and got out of the car along with my mother and younger sister Penelope before making our way to Platform 9 & 3/4. My father and I went on board the third car from the front of the train and picked a compartment in the middle to put my stuff in. Once we were finished, we went down to the platform where I said goodbye to my family before they left.
As I waited for the train to leave I took out a book called “A History of Magic” and begun reading it to pass time. As I read, the train slowly filled with children on their way to Hogwarts. At some point, the door opened and when I looked up, I saw a boy who was out of breath standing at the door. The boy appeared to be quite young compared to some of the other students I saw outside while taking occasional glances away from my book, so I assumed that he was a first year just like myself. He was pretty short and he had some freckles on his face. He had light blue eyes by the looks of it and his hair, which was ruffled up as if he hadn’t had the time to comb it, was a grayish color. He was wearing a red t-shirt with a drawing of a car on it, a pair of jeans, and some converse sneakers.
I looked down at my watch and saw that it was 10:43. I looked back up at the boy and said “Hey.” “Hi.” The boy said in response. Looking down at his feet, I noticed some suitcases that he had carried over here. “Do you need any help putting those up?” I asked him. “Yes please, thank you.” The boy said. “You’re welcome.” I said as I stood up and put my book face down where I was sitting a moment ago. I then took one of the boy’s suitcases and lifted them up onto the rack opposite of me. “Is this a good spot or do you want me to place your stuff elsewhere?” I asked the boy. “No, that’s a good spot.” The boy said as he handed me another suitcase. This one was significantly heavier then the previous suitcase so I assumed that this is where the boy had put all of his books and other school supplies. I lifted it onto the rack like I did with the other suitcase, and once I was done I turned around to face the boy.
Seeing a third suitcase, I said “Do you need help with that one as well or can you handle it?” “I can handle it.” the boy answered. I picked up my book and sat back down where I was sitting before to let the boy put his suitcase up. “Thanks for the help.” The boy said as he closed the door to the compartment and sat down across from me. “My mom would have helped but she was busy today so she couldn’t stay for long. And my dad already left for work so he couldn’t do anything either. I’m Evan by the way, and you are?” I noticed that the boy spoke quite fast, as if he was in a rush. “Rodney Hughes.” I replied. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Evan.” I then stretched out my hand for the boy to shake. He shook it and said “Nice to meet you as well Rodney.” He took a quick look at my book and then returned his attention to me. “Do you want to talk or would your rather keep on reading that book?” “Well, we can talk once I finish reading this chapter.” I replied. “Alright, I’ll leave you to it then.”
Some time later, the door to the compartment opened once again and looking up, I saw a girl standing there. There was much more noise outside the compartment by now so I assumed that it was quite close to 11:00, and looking down at my watch and seeing that it was 10:54, I saw that I was correct. I then looked up at the girl herself. The girl was a few years older then me and the boy, but not too much older so she was probably a third or a fourth year. The girl had what appeared to be hazel eyes and blonde hair that was tied up in a ponytail. She was wearing a comfortable sweater, a pair of light blue jeans and a pair of tan chelsea boots.
I was about to greet the girl but Evan beat me to it. “Hello.” he said. “Would you like to sit here?” “Um…” The girl said as she looked around the compartment. “sure.” She then took her suitcases and put them on top of the rack above the boy. After she was put the last one up, she took out a book and sat down next to Evan before beginning to read it. I looked at it’s title and saw that it read “Advanced Transfiguration”. Either this girl was really smart, or Hogwarts already taught Advanced Transfiguration by her age. I hoped it was the latter, but considering everything my parents told about magic and how hard it was to learn it, it was probably the former. “What’s your name?” Evan asked the girl, interrupting my train of thought. “Mine is Evan.” The girl looked up from her book. “If you really wanna know, it’s Anastasia. Now I have a book to read so it’d be nice if you didn’t disturb me while I’m at it.” “Alright.” Evan replied.
The journey to Hogwarts was pretty quiet for the most part. I was reading my book, Anastasia was reading hers, and Evan was toying around with a Rubik’s Cube, scrambling it, and then solving it again. Once I had finished reading Chapter Six of my book, I closed it and placed it on my seat. “Can I try?” I asked Evan. “Yeah sure, you can try once I’m done with it.” Solving a Rubik’s Cube was a pretty cool skill in my opinion, especially when you could do it in a matter of seconds like my dad’s older brother. Or if you could do it to larger sized cubes like a four by four, a five by five, and so on. “You know,” Anastasia started as she lifted her eyes up from her book for the first time during the whole ride, “I once turned an ink pot into a Rubik’s Cube.” “Did you really?” Evan asked with his eyes open wide. “How?” “With a lot of practice.” The girl said, ending the conversation. Once Evan finished solving his Rubik’s Cube, he scrambled it and gave it to me to solve, and having have solved a Rubik’s Cube many a time, I easily solved it.
Evan and I took turns scrambling and solving his Rubik’s Cube, and I must admit, time passed by very quickly. At some point, the door to our compartment opened and a plump little witch stood there with a trolley full of sweets on it. “Anything off the carts dear?” She asked. I looked down at my watch and noticed that it was 12:43, or around lunchtime. While Evan quickly begun ordering some food off of the cart followed by Anastasia, I went to my suitcases and pulled out a container containing the Caesar’s Salad which would be my lunch for today. I also took out a fork and after closing my suitcase, got to eating. We ate our food in near silence with just a few bits of conversation here and there, but other than that, the rest of the journey was pretty silent.
Once we finished eating I went back to reading “A History of Magic” because I didn’t want to solve the Rubik’s Cube anymore, Anastasia went out to change into her school robes and continued reading “Advanced Transfiguration” once she came back, and Evan fell asleep at some point. Time passed quickly here as well, and before I knew it, we were nearly there. I knew because at some point, we heard voice say “We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes. Please leave your luggage on the train as it will be taken to the school separately.” Hearing this, I woke Evan up and said “Hey Evan, we’re almost there, it’s time to change into your school robes.” “What?” He asked in confusion. “Get dressed.” Anastasia said. Realizing what was going on, Evan quickly went to his suitcase and started getting dressed while put my book into my suitcase before pulling out my a plain black robe and slipping it on. Anastasia had already left the compartment to give Evan some privacy while he changed, and I followed her example.
“That was fast.” I said. “Yeah.” Anastasia replied. “So, you’re a first year huh?” “Yeah, and you?” “Fourth.” “Will you be learning advanced transfiguration this year?” “Yes, but not with the rest of the class.” “So you’re pretty smart for your year, huh?” “When it comes to transfiguration, yeah.” “Wow.” We stood there in silence for a moment, when all of a sudden, the door to our compartment opened and Evan, who had now changed into his school robes, invited us back in. The train had already begun slowing down and soon enough, it had stopped completely. Anastasia opened the door along with many other kids and a moment later, the corridors of the trained filled up as everyone tried to get off the train. I however, sat in my seat, waiting for the corridors to clear out a bit.