The Train (1)

When the day finally came to go to Hogwarts, Isabella was beyond excitement.

"Mom! Dad!! Hurry! We can't be late! Ahhh I'm so excited!!!" Her luggage was ready an hour earlier than planned. Her father chuckled.

"Calmez-vous!" Her mother said in French. It meant calm down. "You vill not be late, so calm down." Her French accent was very thick.

"Ok.... but still... I'm too excited, can't we just get there early? Please!!!" She pleaded with her parents.

They both sighed but smiled to see their daughter so happy.

"Alright let's go then." Her mother said.

Isabella jumped with happiness. "Let's apparate, it's faster that way."

She grabbed her mother and father's hand tightly. She hated apparating, it made her feel queasy. But since this was the fastest way she had to deal with it. Getting to Hogwarts was really all that mattered to her right now.

In the blink of an eye, they were at King's Cross Station. Isabella stumbled a little, her father grabbed her to help her regain her balance. The muggles seemed not to notice that they had just appeared out of no where. There must have been a protection spell preventing them from seeing magic.

Isabella didn't waste time and grabbed her father to go to Platform 9 3/4.

They reached platform 9 and 10, but there was no 9 3/4.

"Mom! Dad! Where's the station? Do you think they got my ticket wrong? Oh no! What if I miss the train." Isabella was running her hands through her hair which was what she did when she was nervous.

"Don't worry about it. Come." Her father gestured towards a wall.

"What?"

"Come, look."

Her father stepped behind Isabella and her cart.

She started pushing them towards the wall. What was he thinking?! They were going to crash!

But when they reached the wall, they did not crash. Instead they went through it.

Isabella was in awe. The wizarding world in Britain was certainly interesting. She looked all around, there were many people in long robes, many students. She saw the sign "9 3/4".

"Wow." Was all she could say when she saw the train. It was a big red train, with many cars and black and golden designs. Students were boarding already. Along the sides were the words "Hogwarts Express" in golden letters. It had a big engine, puffs of steams already rising.

"I first rode this train twenty years ago. And now it is your turn." Her father smiled at her.

Her mother on the other hand was starting to get teary. And she wasn't the only mother who was on the verge of tears for their departing children.

"Alright Bella, got your money? Wand? Extra robes, quills all that?" Dad asked.

"Yep. I double checked before we left." Isabella said.

"Ok. Good. You'll write to us as often as possible, won't you? At least once a week." Her mother said, while wiping her eyes.

Isabella nodded. She turned to hug her parents. "See you at Christmas?"

"See you at Christmas." Her parents nodded and hugged her.

As Isabella walked off she waved to her parents in the distance. She didn't know many people, but she at least hoped she'd meet some people. Isabella knew that the "prefects" and "head boy and girl" knew that she was new to the school. Perhaps she'd find them? When she put her luggage away in a separate car, a girl who looked a few years older than her stopped her. The girl had greenish blue eyes with long wavy blond hair. She had a long face, and was also quite tall but she looked very intelligent.

"Hey, you must be the French student?" She asked politely. Her robes matched Isabella's, except for a pin with a "P" on it.

"Yes." Isabella replied.

"Alright then, let me show you where other third years might be. Welcome to Hogwarts by the way."

"Thanks!"

Isabella followed the prefect down a few cars. People were still getting seated and settled in.

"So here we are. I'll let you look around. A cart with sweets usually comes around during the first part of the trip. It's a long trip, we'll arrive at Hogwarts around evening. So get settled in. My name is Beth, so if you need me you know my name." Beth left after that. She seemed friendly enough but perhaps a bit strict. Were all Ravenclaws going to be like that?

She started walking down the train car when another girl stopped her.