Chapter Six

Disclaimer: It all belongs to J. K. Rowling, except my personal gratitude which she has to share in equal parts with notsosaintly and Dark Beta!

Scene: The next day. Slytherin Common Room. The gang is taking a break from studying. Alastor has rounded up some pumpkin juice and six glasses. Xiomara is out of the room for a minute; Filius and Pomona are digging into Mona's book bag after more chocolate frogs. Robert and Minerva are busy tucking the components of a project back into their book bags and talking quietly.

Robert: Well, think about it, Minna; the name is the same, the hair color is the same, and you are stud... (He stops and lowers his voice to nearly a whisper) you are studying to be an Animagus.

Minerva: (Also barely above a whisper.) But I've only been at it about a month, Robbie. There's no knowing what my animal form will turn out to be, if I succeed at all!

Robert: You'll succeed. Well, if you turn out to be a wombat, I'll admit I was wrong, but I'm going to start looking for a nice little collar with a bell on it for your next birthday. And by the way, I do have a brother and two male cousins on my Da's side. Maybe the book means you'll end up with one of them.

Xiomara: (re-entering) I found it alright, Al, but you didn't tell me the Bloody Baron felt free to wander in and out of the girls' loo any time he pleased!

Alastor: I assumed if you met him, you'd be able to handle him, lass. Now, come take these glasses off my hands, you lot, I feel like a bloody barmaid!

Pomona: I hate to tell you, Al, but you don't have the figure for it!

Filius: Never mind the figure, does he have the book?

Alastor: What makes you think I'd have it?

Filius: Because A. Nobody else does, B. You and Xia are the only two of us who haven't read at least a chapter yet, and C. I saw you sneak it into your bag yesterday.

Alastor: (Pulls the book out of a pocket in his robes. It looks a bit more battered than it did last time we saw it.) I spent last night testing this thing for every curse, enchantment or booby-trap I know of. It seems to be clean.

Filius: Some of those tests are almost as alarming as the spells they're meant to guard against, Al. I hope you...

Alastor: I made sure to recant them all once I was sure the thing was clean. (He opens the book. There is a loud bang and a puff of smoke from the book.) Er, except for that one.

Pomona: Just for that, I vote Al to be the next one to read! That way if any more of his little "tests" are in there...

Minerva: I second the motion!

Alastor: All right, all right. Chapter Six: The Journey From Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.

Harry's last month with the Dursleys wasn't fun.

Robert: Why am I not surprised?

True, Dudley was now so scared of Harry he wouldn't stay in the same room, while Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon didn't shut Harry in his cupboard, force him to do anything, or shout at him - in fact, they didn't speak to him at all. Half terrified, half furious, they acted as though any chair with Harry in it were empty. Although this was an improvement in many ways, it did become a bit depressing after a while.

Minerva: But he's still in the bedroom with all the books, isn't he?

Harry kept to his room, with his new owl for company.

Minerva: And the owl too.

He had decided to call her Hedwig, a name he had found in A History of Magic. His school books were very interesting. He lay on his bed reading late into the night, Hedwig swooping in and out of the open window as she pleased.

Pomona: Along with all the flies and mosquitoes? Urgh!

Filius: I really hope Harry had the sense to bring the spiders up from the cupboard! He'll be needing them!

It was lucky that Aunt Petunia didn't come in to vacuum anymore, because Hedwig kept bringing back dead mice.

Minerva: Well, at least he'll be well fed. Er...

Xiomara: (aside to Robert) If you're planning to pursue this relationship... make sure you do all the cooking.

Every night before he went to sleep, Harry ticked off another day on the piece of paper he had pinned to the wall, counting down to September the first.

On the last day of August he thought he'd better speak to his aunt and uncle about getting to King's Cross station the next day,

Filius: Isn't that leaving things a little till the last minute?

so he went down to the living room where they were watching a quiz show on television. He cleared his throat to let them know he was there, and Dudley screamed and ran from the room.

All: (snicker)

"Er - Uncle Vernon?"

Uncle Vernon grunted to show he was listening.

Robert: Like a boar. Heredity in action.

"Er - I need to be at King's Cross tomorrow to - to go to Hogwarts."

Uncle Vernon grunted again.

"Would it be all right if you gave me a lift?"

Xiomara: Getting away from Vernon ought to give him a lift!

Grunt. Harry supposed that meant yes.

"Thank you."

He was about to go back upstairs when Uncle Vernon actually spoke.

"Funny way to get to a wizards' school, the train. Magic carpets all got punctures, have they?"

Robert: Yes, they hit some carpet tacks.

Pomona: (earnestly) Oh, are high taxes why they were so expensive before they were banned?

Alastor: The broomstick makers didn't like the foreign competition, so they got the duties raised.

Harry didn't say anything.

"Where is this school, anyway?"

Alastor: Why is he suddenly taking an interest?

"I don't know," said Harry, realizing this for the first time. He pulled the ticket Hagrid had given him out of his pocket.

"I just take the train from platform nine and three-quarters at eleven o'clock," he read.

Robert: Why not nine forty-five? Nine and three-quarters at nine and three-quarters, get it?

Minerva: Have you ever tried to get an eleven-year-old awake, kempt, fed and packed - not to mention the familiars! - in time to drive to the train station during the morning rush hour? I don't think so!

His aunt and uncle stared.

"Platform what?"

"Nine and three-quarters."

"Don't talk rubbish," said Uncle Vernon.

Filius: Banana peels! Apple cores! Discarded bits of parchment!

Pomona: I don't think that's quite what they mean by "talking rubbish", Flit.

Filius: I know but who could resist such an opening?

"There is no platform nine and three-quarters."

Alastor: Hah! Never assume what you see is all that's there, Vernon!

"It's on my ticket."

Alastor: Not that I'd consider a ticket sufficient evidence, either.

"Barking," said Uncle Vernon, "howling mad, the lot of them. You'll see. You just wait. All right, we'll take you to King's Cross. We're going up to London tomorrow anyway, or I wouldn't bother."

Xiomara: And we don't like you, either!

"Why are you going to London?" Harry asked, trying to keep things friendly.

Pomona: Ooh, good social instincts! Definitely a Hufflepuff!

"Taking Dudley to the hospital," growled Uncle Vernon. "Got to have that ruddy tail removed before he goes to Smeltings."

Pomona: A lion has a tail and a very fine tail,

And so has an elephant, and so has a whale,

And so has a crocodile, and so has a quail -

They've all got tails but me.

Xiomara: Mona, I hadn't realized you felt deprived. Just let me take care of the matter for you...(pulls out wand.)

All: NO!

Harry woke at five o'clock the next morning and was too excited and nervous to go back to sleep. He got up and pulled on his jeans because he didn't want to walk into the station in his wizard's robes - he'd change on the train.

Xiomara: Even a Muggle might think he looked better in his robes than in Dudley's hand-me-downs.

Pomona: I don't know. Someone who looks sloppy in a "normal" way will still attract less attention than someone who looks well dressed in an "abnormal" way.

Alastor: A bit of mess is a good way to make sure nobody pays attention to you.

He checked his Hogwarts list yet again to make sure he had everything he needed, saw that Hedwig was shut safely in her cage, and then paced the room, waiting for the Dursleys to get up.

Filius: Hmph! He could have let the owl have a little more time to stretch her wings.

Two hours later, Harry's huge, heavy trunk had been loaded into the Dursleys' car, Aunt Petunia had talked Dudley into sitting next to Harry,

Minerva: Bribed him with sweets, probably.

Pomona: I'll bet conversation between those two has tailed off.

and they had set off.

Robert: If they get bored they can tell tales!

They reached King's Cross at half past ten. Uncle Vernon dumped Harry's trunk onto a cart and wheeled it into the station for him. Harry thought this was strangely kind

Alastor: Boy has good instincts.

until Uncle Vernon stopped dead, facing the platforms with a nasty grin on his face.

Alastor: If Vernon ever needed to disguise himself, all he'd have to do would be to look pleasant.

Xiomara: I think a Polyjuice potion would be easier!

"Well, there you are, boy. Platform nine - platform ten. Your platform should be somewhere in the middle, but they don't seem to have built it yet, do they?"

He was quite right, of course.

All: That's what you think!

There was a big plastic number nine over one platform and a big plastic number ten over the one next to it, and in the middle, nothing at all.

"Have a good term," said Uncle Vernon with an even nastier smile. He left without another word. Harry turned and saw the Dursleys drive away. All three of them were laughing.

Alastor: I wonder if they're planning on coming back for him after he's had a good scare or if they're hoping they've seen the last of him.

Harry's mouth went rather dry. What on earth was he going to do?

Pomona: Doesn't anyone plan ahead in the future? When I went to catch the train my first year, the instructions for getting onto the platform came with my letter! My parents were scared silly that I'd slam into the wall and break something.

Alastor: Somebody's testing Harry, I reckon. Wants to see how he'll handle it.

Robert: More likely the spells they use to reproduce all those letters recognized him as wizard-born and assumed he wouldn't need instructions and no one remembered to add a category for "wizard born but Muggle raised."

Alastor: With Dumbledore in charge, nobody thought of that? Right.

He was starting to attract a lot of funny looks, because of Hedwig. He'd have to ask someone.

He stopped a passing guard, but didn't dare mention platform nine and three-quarters.

The guard had never heard of Hogwarts and when Harry couldn't even tell him what part of the country it was in, he started to get annoyed, as though Harry was being stupid on purpose.

Getting desperate, Harry asked the guard for the train that left at eleven o'clock, but the guard said there wasn't one.

Pomona: That's hard to believe.

Minerva: But a good thing - who knows where Harry might have ended up?

Filius: I think he'd have sense enough not to settle into a seat until he'd found out for sure where the train was going.

Xiomara: I don't know...if the alternative was going back to the Dursleys...

In the end the guard strode away, muttering about time wasters. Harry was now trying hard not to panic. According to the large clock over the arrivals board, he had ten minutes left to get on the train to Hogwarts and he had no idea how to do it; he was stranded in the middle of a station with a trunk he could hardly lift, a pocket full of wizard money, and a large owl.

Minerva: You'd think Queen Boadicea could rise up and tell a first year how to get through now and then.

Pomona: Is that really true? I mean about Boadicea being buried under the platforms?

Robert: It's true, all right. Even the Muggles have legends about it! But she's buried deep enough that even if someone started digging I doubt they'd ever find her.

Filius: And even if she'd stayed on as a ghost, she might not know how to go through the gateway. There's no proof that she was a witch, much as we'd like to believe it.

Alastor: If she was a witch, why did the Roman Muggles win?

Hagrid must have forgotten to tell him something you had to do, like tapping the third brick on the left to get into Diagon Alley. He wondered if he should get out his wand and start tapping the ticket inspector's stand between platforms nine and ten.

Minerva: Not the right answer, but at least he's still thinking!

At that moment a group of people passed just behind him and he caught a few words of what they were saying.

" - packed with Muggles, of course - "

Robert: Packing with Muggles is unreliable. I always use bubble wrap.

Harry swung around. The speaker was a plump woman who was talking to four boys, all with flaming red hair.

All: WEASLEYS!

Filius: Once again, some things remain constant!

Minerva: You mean Constance!

Filius: Her too.

Robert: What do you think, Min, are these Connie Weasley's descendents?

Minerva: Or Peg's or Bryan's or Anne's or Will's or...

Xiomara: Hey, they know what causes that now.

Alastor: At least that's the official story.

Each of them was pushing a trunk like Harry's in front of him - and they had an owl.

Pomona: What's wrong with toads? Flit has two; I have one. They're very useful against cutworm and other garden pests.

Heart hammering, Harry pushed his cart after them. They stopped and so did he, just near enough to hear what they were saying.

Alastor: The boy's picked up quite a few useful skills already.

"Now, what's the platform number?" said the boys' mother.

"Nine and three-quarters!" piped a small girl, also red-headed, who was holding her hand, "Mom, can't I go..."

Pomona: ...to the loo?

Xiomara: ...to the Dark Side?

Robert: ...to Uranus?

"You're not old enough, Ginny, now be quiet.

Filius: That's a bit rude.

All right, Percy, you go first."

What looked like the oldest boy marched toward platforms nine and ten. Harry watched, careful not to blink in case he missed it - but just as the boy reached the dividing barrier between to the two platforms, a large crowd of tourists came swarming in front of him and by the time the last backpack had cleared away, the boy had vanished.

Pomona: I wonder if Hogwarts pays those tourists to obstruct the Muggles' view every year?

Xiomara: No, but maybe they should!

"Fred, you next," the plump woman said.

"I'm not Fred, I'm George," said the boy. "Honestly, woman, you call yourself our mother? Can't you tell I'm George?"

Robert: Want to bet?

"Sorry, George, dear."

"Only joking, I am Fred," said the boy, and off he went. His twin called after him to hurry up, and he must have done so, because a second later, he had gone - but how had he done it?

Now the third brother was walking briskly toward the barrier - he was almost there - and then, quite suddenly, he wasn't anywhere.

Xiomara: Sure, he was - he was on Platform nine-and-three-quarters!

There was nothing else for it.

"Excuse me," Harry said to the plump woman.

"Hello, dear," she said. "First time at Hogwarts?

Pomona: Hogwarts? No, I was hoping you could direct me to the International Owl Fanciers Convention!

Ron's new, too."

She pointed at the last and youngest of her sons. He was tall, thin, and gangling, with freckles, big hands and feet, and a long nose.

"Yes," said Harry. "The thing is - the thing is, I don't know how to - "

"How to get onto the platform?" she said kindly, and Harry nodded.

Minerva: Does she interrupt everybody's questions or just children's?

"Not to worry," she said. "All you have to do is walk straight at the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Don't stop and don't be scared you'll crash into it, that's very important.

Xiomara: "Don't be scared." Always worrisome advice.

Best to do it at a bit of a run if you're nervous. Go on, go now before Ron."

"Er - okay," said Harry.

He pushed his trolley around and stared at the barrier. It looked very solid.

Filius: Oh, that this too, too solid barrier would melt...

He started to walk toward it. People jostled him on their way to platforms nine and ten. Harry walked more quickly. He was going to smash right into that barrier and then he'd be in trouble - leaning forward over his cart, he broke into a heavy run - the barrier was coming nearer and nearer - he wouldn't be able to stop - the cart was out of control - he was a foot away - he closed his eyes ready for the crash -

It didn't come...he kept on running...he opened his eyes.

Robert: Just as he smashed into a cluster of Hogwarts faculty, breaking numerous limbs and causing his instant expulsion.

Filius: You don't think the teachers take the Express, do you?

Alastor: Not unless they're totally poverty stricken.

Minerva: When teachers do ride the Express, they get comp tickets.

A scarlet steam engine was waiting next to a platform packed with people. A sign overhead said Hogwarts Express, eleven o'clock. Harry looked behind him and saw a wrought-iron archway where the barrier had been, with the words Platform Nine and Three-Quarters on it. He had done it.

All: Hurrah! Yea, Harry! (and so on.)

Smoke from the engine drifted over the heads of the chattering crowd, while cats of every color wound here and there between their legs.

Xiomara: Why aren't the cats in cages like the owls? Discrimination, I call it!

Minerva: Telling someone to put a cat in a cage will get you brought up on cruelty charges.

Pomona: Yes, it would be hard on the cat...

Minerva: Oh, it's not the cats the Ministry is worried about.

Owls hooted to one another in a disgruntled sort of way over the babble and the scraping of heavy trunks.

Xiomara: See, they don't like being caged either.

Robert: When you think about it, after the owl's been to Hogwarts once, there shouldn't be any need to take them on the train. Just turn them loose and tell them, "I'll see you at school."

The first few carriages were already packed with students, some hanging out of the window to talk to their families, some fighting over seats. Harry pushed his cart off down the platform in search of an empty seat. He passed a round-faced boy who was saying, "Gran, I've lost my toad again."

"Oh, Neville," he heard the old woman sigh.

Filius: That's all right, boy. They're out of fashion anyway. I just hope Scaramouche and Papagena don't find out about this!

Xiomara: Somehow I don't think your toads would much care that their species will someday be out of fashion as familiars, Flit.

Alastor: I don't know...you can never be sure how much an animal is taking in.

A boy with dreadlocks was surrounded by a small crowd.

Alastor: Right, what are dreadlocks?

Minerva: A common hairstyle in Jamaica. I think it has something to do with their religion.

"Give us a look, Lee, go on."

Robert: At what, his hair or his religion?

The boy lifted the lid of a box in his arms, and the people around him shrieked and yelled as something inside poked out a long, hairy leg.

Xiomara: Maybe they got one of those cats boxed after all.

Minerva: The minute he lifted the lid, a cat would erupt like Mount Vesuvius.

Harry pressed on through the crowd until he found an empty compartment near the end of the train. He put Hedwig inside first and then started to shove and heave his trunk toward the train door. He tried to lift it up the stops but could hardly raise one end and twice he dropped it painfully on his foot.

"Want a hand?" It was one of the red-haired twins he'd followed through the barrier.

Alastor: A hand? No, but he could use a new foot.

"Yes, please," Harry panted.

"Oy, Fred! C'mere and help!"

With the twins' help, Harry's trunk was at last tucked away in a corner of the compartment.

"Thanks," said Harry, pushing his sweaty hair out of his eyes.

"What's that?" said one of the twins suddenly, pointing at Harry's lightning scar.

"Blimey," said the other twin. "Are you -?"

"He is," said the first twin. "Aren't you?" he added to Harry.

Xiomara: Ah, so's your Mum!

"What?" said Harry.

"Harry Potter," chorused the twins.

"Oh, him," said Harry. "I mean, yes, I am."

Pomona: ...but we were expecting someone taller.

The two boys gawked at him, and Harry felt himself turning red. Then, to his relief, a voice came floating in through the train's open door.

"Fred? George? Are you there?"

"Coming, Mom."

With a last look at Harry, the twins hopped off the train.

Minerva: ...skipped down the platform...

Robert: ...and jumped at the chance to spread the news.

Harry sat down next to the window where, half hidden, he could watch the red-haired family on the platform and hear what they were saying.

Alastor: ...once again displaying excellent observational skills.

Minerva: Not everyone considers eavesdropping a required life-lesson, Al.

Alastor: They should.

Xiomara: Well, maybe old Dumbles was right to leave him with those Dursleys after all. He obviously learned his snooping skills from his Aunt Petunia.

Their mother had just taken out her handkerchief.

"Ron, you've got something on your nose."

The youngest boy tried to jerk out of the way, but she grabbed him and began rubbing the end of his nose.

Alastor: That's it, embarrass the lad in public.

Robert: Good thing she didn't spot Harry's scar, she'd have tried to rub that off too!

"Mom - geroff." He wriggled free.

"Aaah, has ickle Ronnie got somefink on his nosie?" said one of the twins.

"Shut up," said Ron.

Robert: What a comeback!

"Where's Percy?" said their mother.

"He's coming now."

The oldest boy came striding into sight. He had already changed into his billowing black Hogwarts robes, and Harry noticed a shiny silver badge on his chest with the letter P in it.

"Can't stay long, Mother," he said. "I'm up front, the prefects have got two compartments to themselves - "

Robert: Mentioned oh so casually...

"Oh, are you a prefect, Percy?" said one of the twins, with an air of great surprise.

Xiomara: We thought the P stood for Pompous Ass!

"You should have said something, we had no idea."

"Hang on, I think I remember him saying something about it," said the other twin.

Robert: Wait for it.

"Once - "

"Or twice - "

"A minute - "

"All summer - "

"Oh, shut up," said Percy the Prefect.

Minerva: Obviously that rapier wit runs in the family!

"How come Percy gets new robes, anyway?" said one of the twins.

Minerva: So there will be something to hand down to the next generation. I heard Will say there wasn't going to be enough left of his robes to pass on when his little brother starts at Hogwarts, and poor Connie has a cauldron that's been in the family since her great grandmother's day! The bottom is wearing awfully thin.

"Because he's a prefect," said their mother fondly. "All right, dear, well, have a good term - send me an owl when you get there."

She kissed Percy on the cheek and he left. Then she turned to the twins.

"Now, you two - this year, you behave yourselves. If I get one more owl telling me you've - you've blown up a toilet or - "

"Blown up a toilet? We've never blown up a toilet."

Alastor: (looking at Robert and Minerva) Didn't you two try to blow up a toilet in your second year?

Minerva: (wincing) Don't remind me! There was a hearing to determine whether I was misusing my scholarship! And if we hadn't been caught before we could do any real damage, things could have gone a lot worse! Robbie tried to take all the blame...

Robert: But you wouldn't let me.

Minerva: Well, how could I, Sir Chivalrous, when I was right there casting explosive spells beside you? Anyway, we've been very careful not to cross the line since then!

Pomona: How can you misuse a scholarship to blow up a toilet?

Minerva: Well, it was more a question of whether I was taking it seriously enough. Vandalizing school property made them think I didn't appreciate what I had.

Robert: Besides, it turned out that the joke wasn't very original. It's been Dumbledore - I mean, done before.

(All, except Minerva, stare at him as the implication sinks in.)

Xiomara: You're bloody joking!

Filius: Did he tell you that or did you dig into old detention records?

Minerva: Both, actually.

Pomona: Did they even have indoor toilets when Dumbledore was a student?

Minerva: Mona, he's not that old!

Robert: They did, but they had one less when he was finished! Anyway, the wizarding world has had indoor plumbing a lot longer than the Muggle world.

Minerva: More consistently, too. And we've always known better than to use lead. No offense, Mona - the Muggle world has come up with some amazing things - but reading about the plumbing in ancient Rome made my hair stand on end!

"Great idea though, thanks, Mom."

Minerva: Bad idea, lads, and Mum should learn to guard her tongue.

"It's not funny. And look after Ron."

"Don't worry, ickle Ronniekins is safe with us."

Alastor: Like he'd be safe with a couple of baby basilisks!

"Shut up," said Ron again. He was almost as tall as the twins already and his nose was still pink where his mother had rubbed it.

"Hey, Mom, guess what? Guess who we just met on the train?"

Pomona: The hero of this book!

Harry leaned back quickly so they couldn't see him looking.

"You know that black-haired boy who was near us in the station? Know who he is?"

"Who?"

Filius: Three guesses, who would be starting at Hogwarts this year who's famous enough to get us this excited?

"Harry Potter!"

Harry heard the little girl's voice.

"Oh, Mom, can I go on the train and see him, Mom, oh please..."

"You've already seen him, Ginny, and the poor boy isn't something you goggle at in a zoo.

Xiomara: Please do not feed or annoy the Harrys.

Robert: But if you want to make the glass disappear, that's ok.

Is he really, Fred? How do you know?"

"Asked him. Saw his scar. It's really there - like lightning."

Minerva: A poor simile, since lightning vanishes as soon as you've seen it.

"Poor dear - no wonder he was alone, I wondered. He was ever so polite when he asked how to get onto the platform."

Filius: Well, what were you expecting: "I destroyed Voldemort, and if you don't tell me how to get onto the platform right now, you're next"?

"Never mind that, do you think he remembers what You-Know-Who looks like?"

Pomona: Do your arithmetic! He wasn't even two years old!

Their mother suddenly became very stern.

"I forbid you to ask him, Fred. No, don't you dare. As though he needs reminding of that on his first day at school."

Alastor: As if he could avoid being reminded of that on any day!

"All right, keep your hair on."

Pomona: It's a wig?

A whistle sounded.

"Hurry up!" their mother said, and the three boys clambered onto the train. They leaned out of the window for her to kiss them good-bye, and their younger sister began to cry.

Xiomara: Cheer up, kid. Just think of all the girl-talks you can have this year, just you and your smother - I mean mother.

"Don't, Ginny, we'll send you loads of owls."

Xiomara: Heavily loaded, too.

Filius: They'd get the owls drunk? What rotters!

"We'll send you a Hogwarts toilet seat."

"George!"

Robert: Or possibly Fred.

"Only joking, Mom."

Minerva: No, he wasn't.

The train began to move. Harry saw the boys' mother waving and their sister, half laughing, half crying, running to keep up with the train

Minerva: (sternly) That could be dangerous!

until it gathered too much speed, then she fell back and waved.

Harry watched the girl and her mother disappear as the train rounded the corner. Houses flashed past the window. Harry felt a great leap of excitement. He didn't know what he was going to - but it had to be better than what he was leaving behind.

Filius: Hear, hear!

Alastor: As it happens, the lad's right, but that's a bloody big assumption to make, sight-unseen!

The door to the compartment slid open and the youngest redheaded boy came in.

"Anyone sitting there?" he asked, pointing at the seat opposite Harry. "Everywhere else is full."

Alastor: Actually there're plenty of seats. I just couldn't think of another excuse to come get a good look at you.

Harry shook his head and the boy sat down. He glanced at Harry and then looked quickly out of the window, pretending he hadn't looked. Harry saw he still had a black mark on his nose.

"Hey, Ron."

The twins were back.

"Listen, we're going down the middle of the train - Lee Jordan's got a giant tarantula down there."

Robert: Hey, one of Harry's old roommates got accepted too!

Xiomara: Now that's a familiar!

Alastor: Wouldn't want it getting too familiar, myself.

"Right," mumbled Ron.

"Harry," said the other twin, "did we introduce ourselves? Fred and George Weasley.

And this is Ron, our brother. See you later, then."

"Bye," said Harry and Ron. The twins slid the compartment door shut behind them.

"Are you really Harry Potter?" Ron blurted out.

Alastor: It couldn't hurt to make him show some identification.

Harry nodded.

"Oh - well, I though it might be one of Fred and George's jokes," said Ron.

Alastor: Bright lad. Learned from experience, I'd wager.

"And have you really got - you know..."

He pointed at Harry's forehead.

Harry pulled back his bangs to show the lightning scar. Ron stared.

"So that's where You-Know-Who -?"

Alastor: Wasn't listening much when his mother was talking to the twins, was he?

"Yes," said Harry, "but I can't remember it."

"Nothing?" said Ron eagerly.

Minerva: Honestly, he was only a baby! What do they expect of him?

Pomona: Maybe they should ask him to remember a few past lives while they're at it?

Robert: Have you been talking with Sybil again?

"Well - I remember a lot of green light, but nothing else."

"Wow," said Ron. He sat and stared at Harry for a few moments, then, as though he had suddenly realized what he was doing, he looked quickly out of the window again.

Alastor: Maybe there are some scars on the landscape you can stare at, boy!

"Are all your family wizards?" asked Harry, who found Ron just as interesting as Ron found him.

"Er - yes, I think so," said Ron. "I think Mom's got a second cousin who's an accountant, but we never talk about him."

Minerva: Doesn't that sound suspiciously like the Dursleys in reverse?

"So you must know loads of magic already."

The Weasleys were clearly one of those old wizarding families the pale boy in Diagon Alley had talked about.

Minerva: Well...

Robert: Sort of.

Filius: They're highly respected in what I consider the best circles!

Pomona: Right!

"I heard you went to live with Muggles," said Ron. "What are they like?"

"Horrible - well, not all of them. My aunt and uncle and cousin are, though. Wish I'd had three wizard brothers."

"Five," said Ron. For some reason, he was looking gloomy. "I'm the sixth in our family to go to Hogwarts. You could say I've got a lot to live up to. Bill and Charlie have already left - Bill was Head Boy and Charlie was captain of Quidditch. Now Percy's a prefect. Fred and George mess around a lot, but they still get really good marks and everyone thinks they're really funny. Everyone expects me to do as well as the others, but if I do, it's no big deal, because they did it first.

Robert: See what your sisters are in for, Minna?

You never get anything new, either, with five brothers. I've got Bill's old robes, Charlie's old wand, and Percy's old rat."

Filius: Are rats in style in the 1990's?

Robert: Forget the rat, what are they doing buying Percy new robes but sending Ron to school with someone else's wand? You can make do with old robes if you have to, but your own wand...!

Alastor: Trying to keep the boy down, are they?

Ron reached inside his jacket and pulled out a fat gray rat, which was asleep.

"His name's Scabbers and he's useless, he hardly ever wakes up. Percy got an owl from my dad for being made a prefect,

Robert: An owl too? This is ridiculous!

but they couldn't aff - I mean, I got Scabbers instead."

Minerva: (Absently.) Mona, do you have any more chocolate frogs?

Ron's ears went pink. He seemed to think he'd said too much, because he went back to staring out of the window.

Alastor: Loose lips sink ships, boy.

Xiomara: Oh, yes. Once gossip pairs you with someone, it's a matter of pride to move on! ^{* 1}

Alastor: Wasn't quite what I meant...

Harry didn't think there was anything wrong with not being able to afford an owl. After all, he'd never had any money in his life until a month ago, and he told Ron so, all about having to wear Dudley's old clothes and never getting proper birthday presents. This seemed to cheer Ron up.

Alastor: Misery loves company.

"...and until Hagrid told me, I didn't know anything about being a wizard or about my parents or Voldemort - "

Ron gasped.

All: (GASP! )

"What?" said Harry.

"You said You-Know-Who's name!" said Ron, sounding both shocked and impressed. "I'd have thought you, of all people -"

"I'm not trying to be brave or anything, saying the name," said Harry, "I just never knew you shouldn't. See what I mean? I've got loads to learn... I bet," he added, voicing for the first time something that had been worrying him a lot lately, "I bet I'm the worst in the class."

Xiomara: Take the bet, Ron! Harry can afford to lose a Galleon or two!

"You won't be. There's loads of people who come from Muggle families and they learn quick enough."

Pomona: And don't you forget it!

While they had been talking, the train had carried them out of London. Now they were speeding past fields full of cows and sheep. They were quiet for a time, watching the fields and lanes flick past.

Around half past twelve there was a great clattering outside in the corridor and a smiling, dimpled woman slid back their door and said, "Anything off the cart, dears?"

Harry, who hadn't had any breakfast, leapt to his feet,

Xiomara: See, if you'd let Hedwig fly a little longer, she could have brought you back a gopher or something!

Pomona/Filius: Bleagh!

but Ron's ears went pink again and he muttered that he'd brought sandwiches. Harry went out into the corridor.

He had never had any money for candy with the Dursleys, and now that he had pockets rattling with gold and silver he was ready to buy as many Mars Bars as he could carry - but the woman didn't have Mars Bars. What she did have were Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, Licorice Wands, and a number of other strange things Harry had never seen in his life.

Pomona: Ohhh, I remember! There's nothing quite like your first sight of all those new kinds of treats!

Xiomara: A girl never forgets her first time, eh, Mona?

Pomona: (Too caught up in sweet dreams to catch the double entendre.) Mmmmm...

Not wanting to miss anything, he got some of everything and paid the woman eleven silver Sickles and seven bronze Knuts.

Minerva: Great Merlin! How dare they charge the poor boy such exorbitant prices?

Xiomara: Apparently the boy's not all that poor.

Ron stared as Harry brought it all back in to the compartment and tipped it onto an empty seat.

"Hungry, are you?"

"Starving," said Harry, taking a large bite out of a pumpkin pasty.

Ron had taken out a lumpy package and unwrapped it. There were four sandwiches inside. He pulled one of them apart and said, "She always forgets I don't like corned beef."

"Swap you for one of these," said Harry, holding up a pasty. "Go on - "

"You don't want this, it's all dry," said Ron.

Alastor: Well good, it'll be harder for anyone to slip a potion in undetected!

"She hasn't got much time," he added quickly, "you know, with five of us."

"Go on, have a pasty," said Harry, who had never had anything to share before or, indeed, anyone to share it with. It was a nice feeling, sitting there with Ron, eating their way through all Harry's pasties, cakes, and candies (the sandwiches lay forgotten).

"What are these?" Harry asked Ron, holding up a pack of Chocolate Frogs. "They're not really frogs, are they?"

Pomona: For heaven's sake, Harry, we have chocolate rabbits in the Muggle world. Are they real?

Robert: You do?

Pomona: Well, mostly around Easter.

He was starting to feel that nothing would surprise him.

Minerva: Robbie, you know what we've never done? Enchanted some First Years' chocolate frogs to make croaking sounds!

Robert: I like it!

"No," said Ron. "But see what the card is. I'm missing Agrippa."

"What?"

"Oh, of course, you wouldn't know - Chocolate Frogs have cards inside them, you know, to collect - famous witches and wizards. I've got about five hundred, but I haven't got Agrippa or Ptolemy."

Robert: You know who should really be on a card? Whoever invented Chocolate Frogs!

Pomona: Now that's genius!

Harry unwrapped his Chocolate Frog and picked up the card. It showed a man's face. He wore half-moon glasses, had a long, crooked nose, and flowing silver hair, beard, and mustache.

Underneath the picture was the name Albus Dumbledore.

Minerva: YES! There is justice in the world!

"So this is Dumbledore!" said Harry.

"Don't tell me you'd never heard of Dumbledore!" said Ron.

Filius: I'd have thought Harry's comment made it clear he has heard of him.

"Can I have a frog? I might get Agrippa - thanks - "

Harry turned over his card and read:

ALBUS DUMBLEDORE

-----------------------------------------

CURRENTLY HEADMASTER OF HOGWARTS

Considered by many the greatest wizard of modern times, Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the Dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel. Professor Dumbledore enjoys chamber music and tenpin bowling.

Minerva: Nicolas Flamel? He created the only known Sorcerer's Stone! Also sometimes called the Philosopher's Stone.

Xiomara: How do you know these things, Minna?

Minerva: I read.

Harry turned the card over and saw, to his astonishment, that Dumbledore's face had disappeared.

"He's gone!"

"Well, you can't expect him to hang around all day," said Ron. "He'll be back. No, I've got Morgana again and I've got about six of her...do you want it? You can start collecting."

Minerva: You can never have too many of Morgana!

Filius: Especially in that off-the-shoulder robe...

Xiomara: Well, now you know what to look for, for the Christmas Dance, Mona.

Pomona: Xia!

Ron's eyes strayed to the pile of Chocolate Frogs waiting to be unwrapped.

"Help yourself," said Harry. "But in, you know, the Muggle world, people just stay put in photos."

"Do they? What, they don't move at all?" Ron sounded amazed. " Weird!"

Minerva: Mona, if you hadn't shown us pictures of your family, I wouldn't have believed that.

Harry stared as Dumbledore sidled back into the picture on his card and gave him a small smile. Ron was more interested in eating the frogs than looking at the Famous Witches and Wizards cards, but Harry couldn't keep his eyes off them. Soon he had not only Dumbledore and Morgana, but Hengist of Woodcroft, Alberic Grunnion, Circe, Paracelsus, and Merlin. He finally tore his eyes away from the druidess Cliodna, who was scratching her nose, to open a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.

Robert: Now it's going to get interesting!

"You want to be careful with those," Ron warned Harry. "When they say every flavor, they mean every flavor - you know, you get all the ordinary ones like chocolate and peppermint and marmalade, but then you can get spinach and liver and tripe. George reckons he had a booger-flavored one once."

All: Bleaaargh!

Ron picked up a green bean, looked at it carefully, and bit into a corner.

"Bleaaargh - see? Sprouts."

Pomona: Excuse me?

Filius: He didn't mean you, Mona.

They had a good time eating the Every Flavor Beans. Harry got toast, coconut, baked bean, strawberry, curry, grass, coffee, sardine, and was even brave enough to nibble the end off a funny gray one Ron wouldn't touch, which turned out to be pepper.

Minerva: I told you he was a Gryffindor!

The countryside now flying past the window was becoming wilder. The neat fields had gone. Now there were woods, twisting rivers, and dark green hills.

There was a knock on the door of their compartment and the round-faced boy Harry had passed on platform nine and three-quarters came in. He looked tearful.

"Sorry," he said, "but have you seen a toad at all?"

When they shook their heads, he wailed, "I've lost him! He keeps getting away from me!"

Filius: He heard he was out of fashion and hopped off in a huff.

"He'll turn up," said Harry.

Xiomara: But I think I've got a toad-flavored bean here, would you like it?

"Yes," said the boy miserably. "Well, if you see him..."

He left.

"Don't know why he's so bothered," said Ron. "If I'd brought a toad I'd lose it as quick as I could. Mind you, I brought Scabbers, so I can't talk."

The rat was still snoozing on Ron's lap.

Alastor: Secretly taking in every word they said...

"He might have died and you wouldn't know the difference," said Ron in disgust. "I tried to turn him yellow yesterday to make him more interesting, but the spell didn't work.

Pomona: Poor Scabbers. He always wanted to be a blond!

I'll show you, look..."

He rummaged around in his trunk and pulled out a very battered-looking wand. It was chipped in places and something white was glinting at the end.

"Unicorn hair's nearly poking out. Anyway - "

Xiomara: Why does that sound vaguely...

Pomona: Xia...!

He had just raised his wand when the compartment door slid open again. The toadless boy was back, but this time he had a girl with him.

Filius: Those never go out of fashion!

She was already wearing her new Hogwarts robes.

"Has anyone seen a toad? Neville's lost one," she said.

Filius: That's a pick-up line I've never tried. "Excuse me, Miss, can you help me find my toad?"

She had a bossy sort of voice, lots of bushy brown hair, and rather large front teeth.

"We've already told him we haven't seen it," said Ron, but the girl wasn't listening, she was looking at the wand in his hand.

(Xiomara smothers fit of giggles. The others ignore her.)

"Oh, are you doing magic? Let's see it, then."

She sat down. Ron looked taken aback.

"Er - all right."

He cleared his throat.

"Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow,

Turn this stupid, fat rat yellow."

Filius: That's a spell?

Robert: It's not even in Latin!

He waved his wand, but nothing happened. Scabbers stayed gray and fast asleep.

"Are you sure that's a real spell?" said the girl. "Well, it's not very good, is it? I've tried a few simple spells just for practice and it's all worked out for me. Nobody in my family's magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, I mean, it's the very best school of witchcraft there is, I've heard -

Alastor: And how would she have heard this if she's Muggle-born?

I've learned all our course books by heart, of course, I just hope it will be enough -

Xiomara: She's memorized her course books?

Robert: What sort of maniac would do a thing like that?

(All stare pointedly at Minerva)

Minerva: Oh, sod off.

I'm Hermione Granger, by the way, who are you?"

She said all this very fast.

Harry looked at Ron, and was relieved to see by his stunned face that he hadn't learned all the course books by heart either.

Minerva: Well get cracking, boy! What have you been doing all summer?

"I'm Ron Weasley," Ron muttered.

"Harry Potter," said Harry.

"Are you really?" said Hermione. "I know all about you, of course - I got a few extra books for background reading, and you're in Modern Magical History and The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century."

Pomona: Not to mention, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

Robert: Flourish and Blotts must have been out of that one.

"Am I?" said Harry, feeling dazed.

"Goodness, didn't you know, I'd have found out everything I could if it was me," said Hermione. "Do either of you know what House you'll be in? I've been asking around, and I hope I'm in Gryffindor, it sounds by far the best;

Minerva: You heard correctly!

I hear Dumbledore himself was in it, but I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad...

Filius: (Trying to keep a straight face) Er...not too bad, no.

Robert: It's a great life if yer don't weaken, mate!

Anyway, we'd better go and look for Neville's toad. You two had better change, you know, I expect we'll be there soon."

Alastor: And just why didn't she mention Slytherin in that list of "acceptable" houses? She's obviously got plenty of ambition and determination!

Xiomara: Not to mention, she's hard-working! If you're not a 'Puff, you ain't got the stuff!

And she left, taking the toadless boy with her.

"Whatever House I'm in, I hope she's not in it," said Ron.

He threw his wand back into his trunk. "Stupid spell - George gave it to me, bet he knew it was a dud."

Alastor: You got it from one of those pranksters and you trusted it? You're lucky it didn't turn you yellow!

"What House are your brothers in?" asked Harry.

"Gryffindor," said Ron. Gloom seemed to be settling on him again. "Mom and Dad were in it, too. I don't know what they'll say if I'm not. I don't suppose Ravenclaw would be too bad,

Filius: No, I don't think it would.

but imagine if they put me in Slytherin."

Alastor: Imagination is a wonderful thing.

"That's the House Vol - , I mean, You-Know-Who was in?"

Alastor: I wonder what year he'll start at Hogwarts? Has he been and gone already, or not started yet, or...

Pomona: Well, is there anyone named Voldemort in your house right now, Al? And would that be a first name or a last name?

Alastor: Nobody's born with a name like that, lass. He'll have changed it from something else. (Grimly.) If I find out his original name was Alastor Moody, I'm going to be very upset!

Minerva: Oh, now how likely is that, Al?

Alastor: That's the trouble, Minna. Evil can sneak in anywhere...

Others: DON'T SAY IT!

"Yeah," said Ron. He flopped back into his seat, looking depressed.

"You know, I think the ends of Scabbers' whiskers are a bit lighter," said Harry, trying to take Ron's mind off Houses. "So what do your oldest brothers do now that they've left, anyway?"

Harry was wondering what a wizard did once he'd finished school.

"Charlie's in Romania studying dragons,

Xiomara: Charlie's in Romania studying to be a charred crackling.

and Bill's in Africa doing something for Gringotts," said Ron.

Alastor: "Something"? Could he be a little less vague?

"Did you hear about Gringotts? It's been all over the Daily Prophet, but I don't suppose you get that with the Muggles - someone tried to rob a high security vault."

Harry stared.

"Really? What happened to them?"

Minerva: Well, for starters, the goblins forced them to eat a lot of dog-biscuit crumbs they'd got from somewhere...

"Nothing, that's why it's such big news. They haven't been caught. My dad says it must've been a powerful Dark wizard to get round Gringotts, but they don't think they took anything, that's what's odd. 'Course, everyone gets scared when something like this happens in case You-Know-Who's behind it."

Minerva: That dog next door bit me. Do you think You-Know-Who's behind it?

Xiomara: I fell off my broom. It's got to be a plot by You-Know-Who!

Alastor: Don't be too quick to limit your suspect list.

Harry turned this news over in his mind. He was starting to get a prickle of fear every time You-Know-Who was mentioned. He supposed this was all part of entering the magical world, but it had been a lot more comfortable saying

Robert: Moldy-shorts!

"Voldemort" without worrying.

"What's your Quidditch team?" Ron asked.

Filius: Tactfully changing the subject...

"Er - I don't know any," Harry confessed.

"What!" Ron looked dumbfounded. "Oh, you wait, it's the best game in the world - " And he was off, explaining all about the four balls and the positions of the seven players, describing famous games he'd been to with his brothers and the broomstick he'd like to get if he had the money.

He was just taking Harry through the finer points of the game when the compartment door slid open yet again, but it wasn't Neville the toadless boy, or Hermione Granger this time.

Alastor: Ah, expanding the suspect list...

Three boys entered, and Harry recognized the middle one at once: it was the pale boy from Madam Malkin's robe shop. He was looking at Harry with a lot more interest than he'd shown back in Diagon Alley.

Alastor: Not a good idea to pique their interest until you know their motives.

"Is it true?" he said. "They're saying all down the train that Harry Potter's in this compartment. So it's you, is it?"

"Yes," said Harry. He was looking at the other boys. Both of them were thickset and looked extremely mean. Standing on either side of the pale boy, they looked like bodyguards.

Robert: Oh, Merlin, I can see where this is going!

Minerva: I had my suspicions when Harry met him in the robe shop. You did too, didn't you Al?

Pomona: What? You're thinking these three are...

Filius: The latest incarnations of Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle. Yes, Mona.

Xiomara: And again, some things remain constant.

"Oh, this is Crabbe and this is Goyle," said the pale boy carelessly, noticing where Harry was looking.

Pomona: Sounds like you guys called it!

"And my name's Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."

Minerva: Draco? Poor lad. Trust the Malfoys to do that do a child.

Ron gave a slight cough, which might have been hiding a snigger. Draco Malfoy looked at him.

"Think my name's funny, do you?

Minerva: No, I think it's tragic!

No need to ask who you are. My father told me all the Weasleys have red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford."

Robert: A Malfoy speaks the truth! Call the Daily Prophet. This calls for a Special Edition!

He turned back to Harry. "You'll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort.

Minerva: Ach, crivens, what a wee snotter! ^{* 2}

(Others look at her blankly.)

Minerva: Oh, sorry. I must have been channeling there for a minute.

I can help you there."

Pomona: By going away?

He held out his hand to shake Harry's, but Harry didn't take it.

"I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks," he said coolly.

Pomona: As I was saying...

Draco Malfoy didn't go red, but a pink tinge appeared in his pale cheeks.

"I'd be careful if I were you, Potter," he said slowly. "Unless you're a bit politer you'll go the same way as your parents.

Filius: All right, I'll hex you very politely!

They didn't know what was good for them, either.

Xiomara: Fresh air, regular exercise...

Pomona: A balanced diet...

You hang around with riffraff like the Weasleys and that Hagrid, and it'll rub off on you."

Both Harry and Ron stood up.

"Say that again," Ron said, his face as red as his hair.

"Oh, you're going to fight us, are you?" Malfoy sneered.

Robert: (as Harry) No, I'm going to dodge past you and sprint the full length of the train with the three of you thundering hopelessly after me. Then, just before I reach the engine, I'm going to climb out a window onto the roof. Then I'm going to shout insults back in the window until you abandon all common sense and climb out after me. I will then go tearing along the roof of the moving train with you and your hulking goons panting and lumbering along in my wake. Then...

Minerva: Robbie, that's good! You should write your own book!

"Unless you get out now," said Harry, more bravely than he felt, because Crabbe and Goyle were a lot bigger than him or Ron.

Minerva: A lot bigger than he or Ron.

"But we don't feel like leaving, do we, boys? We've eaten all our food and you still seem to have some."

Goyle reached toward the Chocolate Frogs next to Ron - Ron leapt forward, but before he'd so much as touched Goyle, Goyle let out a horrible yell.

Xiomara: DON'T TOUCH ME, I'M NOT LIKE THAT!!!

All: XIA!

Scabbers the rat was hanging off his finger, sharp little teeth sunk deep into Goyle's knuckle -

Filius: Rat rings - the latest thing in accessories!

Robert: Flit, sometimes I wonder about you.

Crabbe and Malfoy both backed away as Goyle swung Scabbers round and round, howling, and when Scabbers finally flew off and hit the window,

Alastor: Scratch one rat.

all three of them disappeared at once. Perhaps they thought there were more rats lurking among the sweets, or perhaps they'd heard footsteps, because a second later, Hermione Granger had come in.

"What has been going on?" she said, looking at the sweets all over the floor and Ron picking up Scabbers by his tail.

All: OUCH!

"I think he's been knocked out," Ron said to Harry. He looked closer at Scabbers. "No - I don't believe it - he's gone back to sleep."

And so he had.

Filius: Now that's savoir-faire!

"You've met Malfoy before?"

Harry explained about their meeting in Diagon Alley.

"I've heard of his family," said Ron darkly. "They were some of the first to come back to our side after You-Know-Who disappeared. Said they'd been bewitched. My dad doesn't believe it. He says Malfoy's father didn't need an excuse to go over to the Dark Side."

Alastor: Now will that be Casius's son?

He turned to Hermione. "Can we help you with something?"

"You'd better hurry up and put your robes on, I've just been up to the front to ask the conductor, and he says we're nearly there. You haven't been fighting, have you? You'll be in trouble before we even get there!"

"Scabbers has been fighting, not us," said Ron, scowling at her.

Minerva: Ten points, Mr. Scabbers!

"Would you mind leaving while we change?"

"All right - I only came in here because people outside are behaving very childishly, racing up and down the corridors," said Hermione in a sniffy voice. "And you've got dirt on your nose, by the way, did you know?"

Robert: He's in training to be a Niffler.

Ron glared at her as she left. Harry peered out of the window. It was getting dark. He could see mountains and forests under a deep purple sky. The train did seem to be slowing down.

He and Ron took off their jackets and pulled on their long black robes. Ron's were a bit short for him, you could see his sneakers underneath them.

A voice echoed through the train: "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."

Alastor: I always keep mine with me.

Others: We know.

Robert: And you're always late to the feast because of dragging it down to your dormitory.

Harry's stomach lurched with nerves and Ron, he saw, looked pale under his freckles. They crammed their pockets with the last of the sweets and joined the crowd thronging the corridor.

The train slowed right down and finally stopped. People pushed their way toward the door and out on to a tiny, dark platform. Harry shivered in the cold night air. Then a lamp came bobbing over the heads of the students, and Harry heard a familiar voice:

"Firs' years! Firs' years over here! All right there, Harry?"

Hagrid's big hairy

(Pomona automatically claps a hand over Xiomara's mouth.)

face beamed over the sea of heads.

"C'mon, follow me - any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!"

Slipping and stumbling, they followed Hagrid down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. It was so dark on either side of them that Harry thought there must be thick trees there. Nobody spoke much. Neville, the boy who kept losing his toad, sniffed once or twice.

Robert: That's it, lad, sniff him out!

"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."

Xiomara: After a few years at Hogwarts we're all round the bend!

Pomona: In a good way, of course.

There was a loud "Oooooh!"

The narrow path had opened suddenly onto the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers.

"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. Harry and Ron were followed into their boat by Neville and Hermione.

"Everyone in?" shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself.

Filius: It sounds like Hagrid would weigh a lot more than four First Years.

"Right then - FORWARD!"

And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over them as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood.

Filius: And a girl with yellow eyes stood up in her boat to get a better look, overbalanced and shortly became the first in her year to meet the Giant Squid.

Xiomara: Morgan's bones, I'll never live that down!

"Heads down!" yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff; they all bent their heads and the little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of underground harbor, where they clambered out onto rocks and pebbles.

"Oy, you there! Is this your toad?" said Hagrid, who was checking the boats as people climbed out of them.

Alastor: He missed the ruddy thing on the train... and yet it somehow made it into one of the boats and turned up when they landed? Something's fishy here...

Minerva: Toads are amphibians, not fish.

Alastor: You know what I meant.

"Trevor!" cried Neville blissfully, holding out his hands.

Then they clambered up a passageway in the rocks after Hagrid's lamp, coming out at last onto smooth, damp grass right in the shadow of the castle.

They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, oak front door.

"Everyone here? You there, still got yer toad?"

Filius: The toad's still here but Neville's gone missing!

Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.

Alastor: And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the end of Chapter Six.

Minerva: What time is it?

Xiomara: About ten minutes to four.

Minerva: Oh, blast, I've got to go! I promised I'd help Tommy Riddle with his Transfiguration project.

Pomona: Who?

Alastor: Tommy Riddle. First year, one of mine. Really bright. Seems to be a pretty nice little kid.

Xiomara: Right then, we'll have to wait till tomorrow to hear anymore. But I may as well take the book, since I'm the only one left who hasn't read at least once.

Alastor: Oh no, you don't! You'd be peeking ahead trying to find out about that "Madam Hooch" person! I'll keep custody of it till tomorrow.

(Xiomara sticks her tongue out at him, and the kids gather up their bags and - for the moment - go their separate ways.)

^{* 1} "Ships" Get it? Get it?

^{* 2} If you don't get this one, read "Wee Free Men" by Terry Pratchett.