Tuesday, 1st of September, 1987.
Hogwarts Express.
I am in a compartment by myself on the Hogwarts Express. I am thrilled to be on the train, but less thrilled about being by myself. The train hasn’t even left yet though, so perhaps there is hope I won’t be alone the whole way to Hogwarts!
I have nothing much to report about my morning. I woke up to Electra throwing a pillow at me and yelling, “FIRSTY! LITTLE FIRSTY! GET UP!” After I got up and got dressed, I went to eat in the bar of the Leaky Cauldron. Then we went to King’s Cross Station, entered Platform 9¾ and boarded the train. Well, Electra and I boarded. My mum waved, Dad talked to someone else’s dad, and Rigel whined about not getting to go.
The train is starting to move now. I am heading to an adventure! To a new life! And — oh. Someone has come into my compartment. Excuse me, journal, I am going to talk to her.
I am back! Her name is Aura Simons, and she is also a first year. Aura is a round-faced girl, with big, brown eyes that look as though they may know everything. However, she says she doesn’t know anything at all. Aura is muggle-born. I know this means we can’t be friends, but I don’t think sitting with her on the train ride will hurt anything, right? I won’t be disgraced as a blood traitor if I just sit with one. I think.
Two boys have just run into our compartment and are ducking down so no one looking in the window would be able to see them. This train ride is more interesting than I thought it would be.
The first boy’s name is Percy Weasley. I’ve heard of his family. Blood traitors, but still Sacred Twenty-Eight, which my family isn’t even. He is very much a ginger, shockingly so, in fact. The other boy’s name is Oliver Wood. I’ve not heard of the Wood family, but I can tell by his Wimbourne Wasps shirt that he is not muggle-born. He is probably half-blood then.
The first boy, Weasley, is yelling at the second, Wood, now.
Weasley: “You idiot! You nearly got us both in trouble before we’ve even started school!”
Wood: “Oh I did not. Calm down! No harm in a little fun.”
Weasley: “A little fun? A little fun?! You let a bludger out in the middle of the corridor!”
I couldn’t help myself, I laughed. The idea of a bludger in the corridor was funny, and how angry it made the first boy was funny. He was all red in the face.
Both boys are sitting in the compartment with Aura and I now. Wood is explaining the rules of quidditch to her with Weasley introjecting things now and then. I am content to watch and write in my journal.
An older student came by to tell us it is time to change into our robes. Wood and Weasley left, and Aura and I changed. We’re sitting in silence now. Both of us too excited and nervous to speak, I think. The train is slowing down. We’re almost there!
I just realized, neither Wood or Weasley asked my name.
