The Journey from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters

The final month leading up to Harry and Cheyenne's departure for school was spent on Wisteria Walk; since their meeting with Hagrid and his pink umbrella the night he'd come to rescue Harry, the Dursleys were even nastier than before, something Cheyenne hadn't thought would've been possible. Although it was quite amusing to watch Dudley turn and fall all over himself trying to get away whenever he saw either one of them and it was a relief Harry didn't get locked up in his cupboard anymore, or even forced to do anything he didn't want, his aunt and uncle had now taken to completely ignoring him whenever he was home. This was a significant improvement to his usual treatment, although Cheyenne knew it affected her best friend after a while. Who wouldn't get depressed being ignored by their family? 

It was because of all this that Harry was encouraged to stay over the Figg household, where Arabella allowed him to keep his new school equipment and owl upstairs in Cheyenne's room with her granddaughter's own things. The pair spent the remainder of their summer holed up in Cheyenne's room, pouring over their new books and practicing spells together until late into the night while their owls swooped in and out of the window as they pleased. When they'd both been thinking of names for their new pets, Harry and Cheyenne had come across a few in A History of Magic; he's named his snowy owl Hedwig, while her tawny was dubbed, Hermes. And every night before they turned in, one of them would cross another day off the calendar Cheyenne had hanging on the back of her bedroom door, eagerly counting down the days to September 1st. 

As August ended, Harry and Cheyenne discussed how they were going to get to London to catch their train at King's Cross station, knowing Arabella didn't have a drivers' license, let alone a car. Harry suggested asking the Dursleys, but it was quickly decided they would only be used as a last resort as Arabella pointed out both their bikes had racks on the back they could put their trunks and owl cages on, so they could bike to the local station and catch a train into London. Harry and Cheyenne quite liked that idea, especially since they knew Arabella would be able to walk them to the station and take their bikes home afterward. Plus, it gave her and Cheyenne the chance for a proper goodbye until the following summer. 

Like most of the rest of that month, Harry spent the night, although Cheyenne did take him back to Number 4 Privet Drive to say goodbye to his aunt and uncle. Neither of them seemed bothered by the idea that it would be about nine months before they saw their nephew again, so the goodbyes were brief, and the duo were back on Wisteria Walk not even ten minutes later. The rest of their day was spent in Cheyenne's room, packing their supplies and double checking their Hogwarts lists to be sure they had everything before dinner. Arabella made the three of them a nice meal and some snacks, which they enjoyed in the living room together along with a couple of movies before she shooed the pair off to bed around nine, knowing they would be up early the following morning. 

The elder woman was right, of course; Harry and Cheyenne were both awake by five o'clock the next morning, so wired with a mix of excited and nervous energy neither could even think of going back to sleep. Having already decided to wait to put on their wizard's robes until they were on the train to school, the pair dressed in a pair of jeans and t-shirt each, double-checked their school lists to be sure they had everything packed, shut Hedwig and Hermes safely in their individual cages, and then set about trying to find something to do until Arabella woke. Since neither could concentrate long enough to play a game or pay attention to what might be on the telly, Harry took to pacing the length of the room while Cheyenne watched from the desk chair, occasionally voicing aloud some of the questions that filled her head, like what Hogwarts might be like, how it must look, what kind of people they would meet there, etc. 

Arabella rose a few hours later and made breakfast, which included some of Harry and Cheyenne's favorites, as a nice send off until they returned for the next summer holidays. When they were all fed, Arabella helped the pair bungee cord their trunks and owl cages onto the back of their bikes and they headed for Woking Station, where they would catch the 9:15 AM train. 

"It's a long journey to the school, so you're going to get hungry." Arabella said, handing Cheyenne her old rucksack after she and Harry had managed to get their trunks onto the train, "I made your favorite sandwiches, packed some crisps and juices. Oh, and a thermos of tea, too, so be sure to drink it before it goes bad." Cheyenne smiled, grateful, as she shrugged the bag on, "Now, I want the two of you to behave yourselves, all right? I don't want to get any letters saying you've got into trouble. Study hard and do your best, I want to see good marks!" 

Harry and Cheyenne exchanged an amused look before Cheyenne hugged her grandmother tight, "We'll do our best, nan, I promise. I'll miss you." 

Blinking back tears, Arabella wrapped her arms around Cheyenne's waist and squeezed gently, her voice hitching when she spoke, "Oh, my girl, I'll miss you, too...but I am so very happy and proud of you." The two broke apart and Arabella cupped Cheyenne's cheeks to kiss her forehead before meeting her gaze, "Now you promise me you'll send me a letter with that owl of yours' every now and again, all right? I want to hear all about your adventures." 

"I promise, nan." Cheyenne squeezed the older woman's hands and kissed her cheek tenderly as one of the train conductors called for any final passengers to board, "I love you." 

"I love you, too, Cheyenne. Now hurry, neither of you want your luggage to leave without you." Arabella ushered Harry and Cheyenne onto the train, squeezing her granddaughter's hand one last time before the door closed behind her. Cheyenne hurried to their seats to lean out the window and wave as the train began to pull away from the station; Arabella continued to smile after them, lifting a hand in farewell just before she faded into the distance. Cheyenne pulled herself back onto the train once she couldn't see her grandmother anymore and flopped down into the seat next to Harry, who smiled reassuringly and took her hand in his now, rubbing her knuckles soothingly. He knew better than anyone how difficult being away from Arabella was going to be for Cheyenne, probably more than she was likely to admit aloud. 

From a very young age, Cheyenne had always had an independent and responsible kind of personality, which, Harry was sure, was due to how she was raised and what was expected of her growing up. No one could rightly saw Arabella had come close to treating Cheyenne the way the Dursleys had treated Harry, but Cheyenne had had her own set of responsibilities in the house, which not only included chores and her schoolwork, but care of their cats and, at times, her grandmother as well. Arabella was more than capable of caring for herself and Cheyenne, but she was getting on in her years and often required assistance, especially when she was injured. Harry had no doubt Arabella's recent recovery still plagued his best friend's mind and she was worried about having to leave her grandmother alone so soon to go to school. She was just as excited about this new stage in their lives as he was, but that still didn't make her worry about Arabella any less. 

"She'll be all right, Chey, you know your nan's tough. She can handle herself, and, if you miss her too much, you can write her a letter. I'm sure she'll be happy to get them." Harry smiled as she peered up at him; she smiled quietly in agreement and leaned her head on his shoulder. 

"I know...it's just going to take some time to get used to being away from her for so long. But at least we have something to look forward to at this new school, all the things we're going to learn, the things we'll see. And, we won't have to deal with Dudley anymore." 

"Definitely an added bonus." Harry chuckled as they looked out the window, watching the brick houses fly past, the sky overhead a bright cyan blue, a brilliant, unblemished canvas stretching from one horizon to the next. Cheyenne hummed her agreement under her breath, hoping that going to an all-new school, especially without their childhood bully there to dog their every step, would be beneficial enough that they could better fit in and maybe make some new friends. 

The pair fell into a comfortable silence for a while, absorbed in their own thoughts, neither feeling the need to fill the space with chatter as they enjoyed one another's company. The trip overall took a little less than an hour, between them having to switch trains at Clapham Junction, get off at Victoria station, then catch a subway car to King's Cross and St. Pancras International before they reached their destination at around 10:07. It was a relief for both of them when they were able to get their hands on a couple of trolleys to wheel their trunks into the station. 

"Okay." Cheyenne huffed, brushing a few stray strands of hair out of her face and tucking them behind her ear, "So, where are we supposed to go?" 

Harry fished in his jeans and pulled out the envelope Hagrid had given him; their tickets glinted in the station's fluorescent overhead lights. 

"It says we need to catch the Hogwarts Express here on platform nine and three-quarters." 

"Okay, so let's -" Cheyenne paused as Harry's words registered in her head and she leaned over for a look at their tickets, her eyebrows pinching; there, clear as day, the tickets read: Hogwarts Expression, Kings' Cross Station, Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, 11 o'clock AM. "What in the world...? There's no such thing as a platform nine and three-quarters..." She straightened, frowning, and met Harry's confused gaze, "Is there?" Harry frowned and glanced up and down the rows of platforms, reading the big plastic signs that lined each of them. One of them had a large number nine hung above the entrance, and the one after it was dubbed with a large number ten. And, right between them, there was nothing at all. Cheyenne worried her bottom lip and eyed the walls separating each platform, wondering if perhaps Hagrid had forgotten to tell them how exactly they were supposed to get to platform nine and three-quarters. It had to be hidden, just like Diagon Alley, she was sure...after all, if there was a whole hidden world of magic, there had to be a platform nine and three-quarters, right? 

Other travelers were starting to take notice of Harry and Cheyenne now thanks to Hedwig and Hermes, casting the pair funny looks as they passed while they tried to figure out what to do; although it seemed the most logical option, the preteens decided, after a quick glance around, that they shouldn't try to flag down any of the train station staff; none of them looked as though they knew a thing about magic or the wizarding world. There had to be something they could do or someone around here who would be able to help them, there was absolutely no way they were the only witch or wizard at King's Cross station today; there had to be other wizarding families nearby, parents seeing their kids to the school train, so Harry and Cheyenne just had to keep an eye out for anyone that looked unusual or any kids around their age that had trunks or pets like theirs'. 

"Do you think we should try tapping the inspector's stand with one of our wands?" Harry whispered, nodding to the ticket stand sat between platforms nine and ten; Cheyenne worried her lip again, unsure, and glanced at the large clock above the arrivals' board, which now read quarter to eleven. 

"I suppose we could try it..." She conceded, somewhat pensively, surveying their surroundings to be sure no one was watching while Harry searched his trunk for his wand. As Cheyenne's gaze swept the station, a group of people passed behind her and Harry, catching her eye. 

The group looked to be composed of a plump woman with her five, fiery haired children. As she looked closer, Cheyenne spotted four identical trunks in each of the boys' trolleys and – her heart leapt – perched atop the eldest's was an owl! 

"Harry!" Cheyenne grabbed his wrist and pointed after the group; Harry looked up from his trunk and his eyes widened, "C'mon, we have to follow them!" 

The pair hurriedly pushed their carts after the family and paused when they did, keeping enough space between them that they didn't intrude, yet still close enough to hear what they were saying. 

"Now, what's the platform number again?" The woman asked, turning to the boys. 

"Nine and three-quarters!" The young girl holding her hand piped up, looking up at her mother with wide, doe-like eyes, "Mom, can't I go, too?" 

"You're not old enough yet, Ginny, now be quiet, dear." The woman indicated for the eldest boy to come forward, glancing around for a moment, "All right, Percy, you're first." 

Straightening his shoulders, the young man marched briskly toward the wall dividing platforms nine and ten. Both Harry and Cheyenne did their best to keep their eyes on him, watching carefully so they wouldn't miss anything, but just as the boy neared the barrier between the platforms, a large crowd of tourists swarmed before them, blocking their view. By the time the last bag had been cleared, the boy had disappeared. 

"Fred, you're next." The plump woman was now speaking to a pair of identical twins. 

"I'm not Fred, I'm George." The boy huffed, "Honestly woman, you call yourself our mother? You can't even tell us apart?" 

"Sorry, George, dear." 

"Only joking." The boy turned his cart toward the barrier and grinned devilishly at his mother, "I am Fred." Cheyenne stifled a giggle as the boy started forward at a brisk pace; it looked like she and Harry were going to have some very interesting classmates. She would have to see if she couldn't find Fred later and strike up a conversation. His mother, though, was shaking her head with a somewhat exasperated look on her face, although Cheyenne didn't miss the bemused twinkle in her eye as the boy's twin called for him to hurry. A second later, Fred vanished, too. But, how...? 

The third brother was now making his way toward the barrier, but then, when he was only inches away, he, too, disappeared without a trace. Harry and Cheyenne looked at one another, amazed. 

"Excuse us." Cheyenne called out to the woman, smiling sheepishly when she and her last two children turned; the youngest boy, a tall, thin, gangly youth that still needed to grow into his hands, feet, and long nose, looked about her and Harry's age, "Pardon us for intruding..." 

"Hello, dears." The woman gave the pair a warm smile, "First years, hm? Ron's just starting at Hogwarts, too." She indicated the young man, who nodded. Harry gave him a brief nod in return as Cheyenne inclined her head and gave a polite smile. 

"Yes, erm...well," Harry looked at Cheyenne, gathering his courage, before turning back to the woman, "The thing is, uh, neither Chey nor I really know how to -" He indicated toward the barrier. The woman's expression softened in understanding and Cheyenne felt herself relaxing at the kind expression on her face, her smile causing the corners of her eyes to wrinkle. It reminded her of Arabella and how her laugh lines often appeared when she smiled. 

"How to get onto the platform?" She finished kindly as Harry and Cheyenne nodded. She put a gentle hand on Cheyenne's shoulder, squeezing reassuringly, "Oh, not to worry, dears, it's very simple." She indicated toward the barrier, "Now, all you have to do is walk straight at that barrier between platforms nine and ten. The important thing to remember is not to stop and not to be afraid of crashing. Always best to do it at a bit of a run if you're nervous." She gently steered Cheyenne forward, "Why don't the two of you go on now, before Ron, it might help." 

Cheyenne glanced back at her best friend, who gave her an encouraging smile, "I'll be right behind you, Chey." He promised; she nodded and turned to face the barrier again, doing her best not to be intimidated by how solid it looked. 

(Remember, just keep going and don't stop, I won't crash...I hope...) Cheyenne took a deep, steadying breath and pushed her cart forward. People rushed past her, jostling her from either side on their way to platforms nine and ten as she started to pick up her pace, slow at first, then steadily getting faster; images of her crashing flashed across her mind and a voice yelled at her in the back of her mind she was going to get herself into trouble. Distantly, she could hear Harry yell after her to stop, but she was going too fast, and the barrier was too close; she couldn't tell if the trembling in her hands was from her trolley or from her own fear now. She bent over the handlebars and clenched her eyes, bracing herself. 

But...there was no crash...she started to slow, from a run to a jog, then a brisk walk, and finally, a stop, as she squinted through her eyelashes. Her eyes widened. 

Before her stood a large, scarlet steam engine and a platform packed with people; a sign hanging from the ceiling dubbed the train the Hogwarts' Express, due for departure at eleven o'clock. Cheyenne stared, transfixed, for a moment before whirling around to find a large wrought-iron archway in place of the barrier, with a plaque that read Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. She'd made it... 

(Harry...) Cheyenne's gaze fell to the spot she'd just come through and she bit her bottom lip, hoping her best friend would have the same burst of courage to get through the barrier, just as she had. (I know you can do it, Harry...it isn't as hard as we thought. You can do it.) 

As though he could hear her encouraging thoughts, Harry suddenly appeared through the wrought-iron archway; Cheyenne started to smile, but it quickly faded when she noticed he had his eyes screwed tightly shut...and he wasn't slowing down! 

"Harry!" She moved her trunk out of the way and braced herself by planting her feet and holding her hands out to catch his trolley; her voice jolted him, and Harry's eyes snapped open, meeting hers'. He started to slow, trying to stop himself before he crashed into her; she caught the edge of his trunk and stumbled back a couple of feet before Harry finally managed to get his trolley under control. His eyes were wide as he searched her face, but she smiled reassuringly, reaching out to put a hand on his arm, "It's okay, Harry, it's okay. We made it!" She beamed, indicated toward the platform, "We're on platform nine and three-quarters!" 

Harry stared out over the crowd with the same wide-eyed amazement Cheyenne was sure she was displaying herself. Smoke wafted from the train engine, drifting out over the heads of the crowd and intermingling with the cocktail of excited chatter, calls of cats and disgruntled owls, and the scrape of heavy trunks being dragged along the platform. 

"C'mon, let's fine seats." Cheyenne grabbed her trolley and led the way through the crowd, bypassing the first few carriages since they were already packed with students, some of whom were leaning out the window to talk to their families while others fought over seats. The pair passed a young, round-faced boy along the way, catching a snippet of his conversation with his grandmother on their way past, "Gran, I've lost my toad again." 

"Oh, Neville..." They heard the woman sigh before they were out of earshot. Further along, they noticed a crowd gathered around a boy with dreadlocks, who was holding a medium sized box in his arms. 

"Give us a look, Lee, go on." 

The boy grinned and lifted the lid of the box, causing the crowd around him to shriek and yell as whatever was inside poked out one long, hairy leg. Cheyenne felt an uncomfortable shiver skitter down her spine and she quickly turned away as she and Harry pressed on through the crowd. 

Finally spotting an empty compartment near the back of the train, Harry and Cheyenne put Hedwig and Hermes inside first before they tried to drag their trunks, one at a time, toward the train door. That was the easy part...now trying to get their trunks up the steps, that was going to be tricky...they'd had a difficult enough time just trying to get them on and off the trains getting into London and they knew they were probably going to have to muscle them onto the Hogwarts Express now, too. More than once they dropped them on each of their feet. 

"Hey, you two want a hand?" A voice asked as Cheyenne quickly moved her trunk off Harry's foot, giving her best friend an apologetic smile before turning to find the owner, seeing it was one of the red-haired twins they'd followed through the barrier. 

"Yes, we would, please." She smiled gratefully at the young man, who nodded, then turned to call over his shoulder. 

"Oy, Fred! C'mere!" 

With the twins' help, Harry and Cheyenne were able to carry their trunks onto the train and tuck them into the overhead luggage racks in their compartment. 

"Thank you so much, we really appreciate the help." Cheyenne beamed at the brothers and tucked a stray strand of hair out of her face as Harry swept his sweaty bangs out of his eyes. One of the twins, she thinks was Fred, started to smile in return before his attention was caught by something on her cheek. 

"What's that?" He cocked his head, pointing to the oddly shaped cluster of scars under her right eye; Cheyenne immediately put a hand to her cheek, feeling her face warm as she ducked her head. 

"Blimey," George breathed, having noticed the lightning shaped scar on Harry's forehead, "Are you two -?" 

"They are," Fred looked at Cheyenne, who peeked up from under her bangs shyly, "Aren't you?" 

"What?" Harry frowned, looking between them. 

"Harry Potter and Cheyenne Power." the twins chorused. 

"Oh right, them..." Harry sighed, "I mean, yeah, we're them." 

The boys gawked at the pair and Cheyenne's blush deepened as Harry turned red around the ears, too. Much to their relief, a familiar voice floated in through the open train door. 

"Fred? George? Are you there?" 

"Coming, Mom." George called, glancing over his shoulder as he left the compartment; Fred kept Cheyenne's gaze for a moment longer, looking as though he wanted to say something, but then decided better of it and followed his brother. 

Exchanging a silent look, Harry and Cheyenne took the seats by the window where, half-hidden, they could watch the red-haired family talking out on the platform. The boys' mother was just taking a handkerchief out of her bag and reaching for her youngest son. 

"Ron, you've got something on her nose." She grabbed the boy before he could jerk out of the way and began to rub the end of his nose. 

"Mom - geroff!" He growled, wiggling free. 

"Ah, has ickle Ronnie got somefin on his nosie?" Fred teased in a cutesy, high-pitched voice most adults reserved for infants or toddlers. 

"Shut up." Ron grumbled, disgruntled. 

"Where's Percy?" Their mother asked, looking around as she tucked her handkerchief back into her bag. 

"Here he comes now." 

The eldest of the boys came striding toward them with the same dignified walk he'd used when he'd strode through the barrier, already dressed in his billowing black Hogwarts robes. Harry and Cheyenne couldn't help but notice the shiny silver badge with a capital P on it pinned to his chest. 

"I can't stay long, Mother." He said briskly once he'd reached the group, "I'm due up front with the other prefects, we've got two compartments to ourselves -" 

"Oh, are you a prefect, Percy?" Fred gasped, as though he'd been taken by surprise. "Why, you really should have said something, we had absolutely no idea!" Cheyenne had to press a hand to her mouth to stifle her giggles. 

"Hang on," George cocked his head and rubbed his chin, "I think I do remember him saying something about it once -" 

"Or twice -" 

"A minute -" 

"All summer -" 

"Oh, shut up." Percy scowled at the twins as Cheyenne was giggling into her hand and Harry was fighting a smile. 

"How come Percy got new robes this term, anyway?" Fred huffed. 

"Because he's a prefect," their mother smiled fondly at the eldest boy, "All right, dear, I won't keep you. Have a good term and be sure to send me an owl once you're all settled in." 

She kissed Percy's cheek, and he disappeared back into the crowd while she turned her attention to the twins once more. 

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

"Blown up a toilet?" George quirked a brow, "We've never blown up a toilet." 

"That is a great idea, though." Fred grinned, "Thanks, Mom." 

"That is not funny." Their mother frowned, stern, "And you two be sure to look after Ron." 

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

"Shut up." Ron huffed, crossing his arms. Despite being younger than the twins, he was already almost as tall as they were; his nose was still pink from when his mother had rubbed it. 

"Hey, Mom, guess what?" Fred turned his attention back to his mother, excited, "Guess who we just met on the train." 

Harry and Cheyenne glanced at one another and sank down in their seats in an attempt to hide. 

"You know that pair of kids that were near us in the station, the black-haired boy and the brunette girl? Know who they were?" 

"Who?" 

"Harry Potter and Cheyenne Power!" 

Harry and Cheyenne were sure the excited squeal that followed this had come from the little girl. 

"Oh, Mom, can I go on the train and see them? Mom, please?" 

"You've already seen them, Ginny, those poor kids aren't something you can ogle at in a zoo." Her mother told her firmly before turning back to her son, "Are they really, Fred? How do you know?" 

"Asked them, saw their scars. They're really there, like lightning and stars." 

"Poor dears." The woman frowned, "It's no wonder they were alone...and they were ever so polite when they asked how to get onto the platform." 

"Never mind that, do you think either of them remember what You-Know-Who looks like?" 

Their mother pressed her lips together into a thin, white line, looking at the twins sternly. 

"I forbid you to ask either of them such a thing, Fred. No, don't you dare." She poked him in the chest, "Neither of them needs to be reminded of something like that on their first day of school." 

"All right, all right, keep your hair on." Fred sighed as the whistle sounded. 

"Oh, hurry!" Their mother quickly ushered the three boys onto the train and closed the door behind them; they leaned out the window to kiss her goodbye while their little sister started to cry. 

"Oh, don't cry, Ginny, we'll be sure to send you loads of owls." Fred smiled reassuringly at the young girl. 

"Yeah, along with a Hogwarts toilet seat." 

"George!" 

"I was only joking, Mum." George chuckled as the train began to pull away from the station. Harry and Cheyenne watched the boys' mother wave after them while their sister, now half laughing, half crying, was running to try and keep up, but they soon gathered too much speed and she fell behind, waving, too. The pair watched until both the woman and her daughter disappeared round the corner, then turned to look at one another as houses whizzed by the window, feeling their hearts leap in their chests with excitement. Even if they didn't know exactly what they were headed toward, they knew it had to be better than the life they were leaving behind. 

The door to their compartment suddenly slid open and the pair noticed it was the youngest of the ginger-haired brothers who poked his head in. 

"Is anyone sitting there?" He indicated to each of the empty seats beside Harry and Cheyenne, "Everywhere else is full." 

"No, no one's claimed these seats yet." Cheyenne smiled and got up, "Here, you can take my seat, I'll sit here." She took the seat beside Harry as the boy nodded gratefully and sat down. He stole a glance at the pair, then looked quickly out the window, pretending as though he hadn't been looking. Cheyenne cocked her head, noticing he had a black mark on his nose. 

Before she could point it out, a voice at the door drew their attention again, "Hey, Ron." The trio looked up to find the twins leaning against the door frame. "Listen, we're headed down to the middle of the train, Lee Jordan's got this giant tarantula we want to see." 

"Right..." Ron mumbled as the twins turned to Harry and Cheyenne. 

"Hey, we never did introduce ourselves, did we?" Fred smiled, "Fred and George Weasley. This is our younger brother, Ron." He indicated the boy sitting across from them, "Hate to run, but we'll catch up with the two of you later, all right?" His gaze lingered on Cheyenne as he spoke and she smiled shyly, tucking her hair behind her ear again. 

"Bye." Harry and Ron said together as George nudged Fred and gave his brother a knowing grin before they left, sliding the compartment door shut behind them. 

"Are you two really Harry Potter and Cheyenne Power?" Ron blurted out as soon as they were gone. Harry and Cheyenne looked at one another, then smiled together and nodded. Ron rubbed his neck, suddenly sheepish, "Ah, well, I...I thought it might have been one of Fred and George's jokes...do you both really have...you know?" he gestured to their faces. 

As though they were in sync, Harry and Cheyenne pushed their hair away from their faces, revealing their scars. Ron stared from one to the other, then back again. 

"So, that's where You-Know-Who...?" He stared at Harry's scar as he spoke. Harry nodded, letting his bangs fall back into place. 

"Yes, Harry seems to have borne the brunt of the spell, but neither of us can really remember it." Cheyenne smiled apologetically. 

"Nothing?" Ron leaned toward them eagerly as Harry shook his head, then paused, thoughtful. 

"Well...I can remember a lot of green light, but...that's about it." He looked at Cheyenne, who nodded her agreement, "That and a laugh, but not much else." 

"Wow," Ron breathed, staring between the two for another moment before seeming to realize what he was doing as he turned to look out the window once more. 

"So, are all your family wizards?" Harry asked after a stretch of silence, just as curious to know about Ron's family as he was them. 

"Erm, yes, I think so," Ron furrowed his brows, as though deep in thought, "I do think Mom's got a second cousin who's an accountant, but we don't really talk about him." 

"You must know a lot of magic already, then." Cheyenne smiled, thinking back to what the pale boy in Diagon Alley had told her and Harry about old wizarding families. No doubt the Weasleys had to be one of them. 

"I heard the two of you had to live with Muggles," Ron deflected, his ears pink, "What're they like?" 

Harry scrunched his nose at the thought of the Dursleys, "Horrible...well," He sighed, "Not all of them...Chey's nan was at least kind enough to help us...but my aunt, uncle, and cousin..." 

"They're just terrible." Cheyenne put a comforting hand on her best friend's, squeezing reassuringly as she gave Ron a small smile, "It still would have been cool to grow up with three older brothers, though." 

"Five, actually," Ron sighed, his eyes downcast, "I'm the sixth in our family to get my letter to Hogwarts, so you could say I've got a lot to live up to...Bill and Charlie've already left – Bill was head boy and Charlie was the captain of the house Quidditch team. Now Percy's been made a prefect...Fred and George like to mess around a lot and pull pranks, but they still get good marks, and everyone likes them. Everyone expects me to do as well as they did, but even if I do, it wouldn't be a big deal since they did it first..." He leaned on the arm rest and leaned his head against his knuckles, "Never get anything new either, having five older brothers...I've got Bill's old robes, Charlie's old wand, and Percy's old rat..." 

As he spoke, Ron reached into his jacket and pulled out a fat gray rat, which was fast asleep. 

"His name's Scabbers...he hardly ever wakes up, so he's useless...after he was made a prefect, Percy got an owl from my dad, so we couldn't afford -" he caught himself, the blush in his ears deepening as he glanced out the window again, "Well...I got Scabbers..." 

Cheyenne gave Ron an understanding smile and nudged Harry, inclining her head toward the other boy, knowing out of the two of them, he would understand Ron's situation the best since he hadn't had money of his own until the previous month. Harry smiled quietly at her as he told Ron about how he'd had to live with the Dursleys, the hand-me-downs he'd gotten from Dudley, and how he'd never been given any proper birthday presents from any of his family. Ron seemed to cheer up a little at the knowledge that he wasn't alone. 

"...until Hagrid told me about everything, I had no clue about being a wizard or about my parents or Voldemort -" 

Ron inhaled sharply and stared incredulously at Harry, who blinked, "What?" 

"You just said You-Know-Who's name!" Ron breathed, his voice a mix of shock and awe, "I'd have thought you and Cheyenne, of all people -" 

"We aren't trying to be brave or anything, saying his name," Harry said quickly, "We just..." he glanced at Cheyenne, "We didn't know we shouldn't...but that's what I mean, we've still got loads to learn about this world..." He glanced away now, suddenly unsure. Cheyenne rubbed his hand with her thumb, knowing Harry had been worried about how well they would fit in at this new school since they'd returned from Diagon Alley, even more so because of his background. Who wouldn't be unsure of themselves after just discovering a part of themselves shortly before school started? "I bet I end up as the worst in the class..." 

"You won't be, Harry." Ron gave Harry a reassuring smile now, "There are loads of people who come from Muggle families, and they all learn quick enough at Hogwarts." 

Cheyenne gave Ron a grateful smile, glad for his added support; as the boys had been talking, the train had carried them out of London and into the farmlands, where fields full of livestock sped past the window. Harry and Ron fell into a comfortable silence, watching the scenery go by as Cheyenne dug a book out of her rucksack to read. 

At around half past twelve, a great clattering noise outside in the corridor drew the trio's attention and they looked up as a middle-aged woman slid the door open, giving them a wide, dimpled smile, "Anything off the trolley, dears?" 

Harry looked at Cheyenne then, his eyes wide in excitement and she stifled a giggle, knowing he would be chuffed at the chance to buy candy where he hadn't been able to before. Ron, meanwhile, turned pink round the ears again and muttered that he'd brought sandwiches as Harry pulled Cheyenne into the corridor, eager to get his hands on as many Mars Bars as he could carry. She followed him easily, looking forward to having a bit of a treat to go along with their lunch. 

The strangest thing, though, was the woman didn't seem to have any of the candies they were quite used to, but, rather, a supply of treats neither of them had ever seen in their lives. These included Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans, Dooble's Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, and Licorice Wands, just to name a few. After a quick discussion, the pair decided to get a bit of everything and split the cost, handing the woman eleven silver Sickles and seven bronze Knuts. 

Ron watched them bring their load back into the compartment and tip it onto the one empty seat left with raised eyebrows. 

"Hungry?" 

"Starving." Harry huffed as he flopped back down in his seat while Cheyenne dug out their lunch; she handed Harry a couple sandwiches, bag of crisps, and a juice box while Ron unwrapped a small, lumpy package that held four sandwiches of his own. He wrinkled his nose as he pulled one of them apart. 

"She always forgets I don't like corned beef..." 

"Oh, corned beef, I haven't had that in ages." Cheyenne smiled, setting her rucksack apart and holding out her sandwiches, "Here, I'll trade you, Ron. Do you like ham?" 

"Oh, you don't want these, Cheyenne, it's all dry." Ron protested, turning pink once more, "She hasn't got much time to make these, you know, with five of us..." 

"I don't mind if it's a little dry, Ron." She smiled reassuringly, nodding in encouragement as he hesitantly traded her ham sandwiches for his corned beef ones. "And you can just call me Chey, you know." Ron nodded and gave a small, grateful smile as they tucked into their food. 

"You're welcome to share our candy, too, Ron. I don't think Chey, and I'll be able to eat all of it ourselves." Harry chuckled as Cheyenne nodded; they were both thrilled at the prospect of sharing something with another persona side from each other. They'd always shared food in the past since Arabella often packed enough in Cheyenne's bag for the both of them, but they'd never had the chance to share or trade any of what they had with a third party. It felt nice, being able to sit there and enjoy their lunch before starting in on the pasties, cakes, and candies they'd bought off the trolley. 

"What are these?" Harry asked as he inspected a pack of Chocolate Frogs while Cheyenne looked over from nibbling a pumpkin pasty. 

"They aren't real frogs, are they?" She furrowed her brows, feeling less and less surprised by the minute. 

"No, they're just chocolate." Ron bit into a Licorice Wand, "But see what the card is inside. I'm missing Agrippa." 

"Huh?" Harry blinked. 

"Oh, right, neither of you know." Ron chuckled, "Chocolate Frogs come with collectible cards of famous witches and wizards. I've got about five hundred in my collection now...I'm just missing Agrippa and Ptolemy." 

Exchanging a look with Cheyenne, Harry took out one of the Chocolate Frogs and unwrapped it; she leaned over to get a look at the card, which depicted a thin, older man donned in deep purple wizarding robes and a matching wizard hat. His expression was kind, giving off a very wise, grandfatherly vibe as he smiled up at the pair of them from behind a pair of half-moon spectacles, perched at the end of his long, crooked nose, and with a flowing silver beard/mustache, which matched his long hair. Written underneath the picture in neat cursive was the name Albus Dumbledore. 

"So, this is Dumbledore!" Harry looked up as Cheyenne took the card to get a closer look, admiring the detail put into it as she flipped it over to inspect the back, which read: 

ALBUS DUMBLEDORE 

CURRENT HEADMASTER OF HOGWARTS 

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

Cheyenne turned the card over once more and was startled to find Dumbledore had disappeared. 

"He's gone!" She turned to Ron, wide-eyed. 

"Well, you can't just expect him to hang around all day, can you?" Ron chuckled, "Don't worry, he'll be back." he turned to the card he'd just unwrapped and snorted, "No, I've got Morgana again and I've already got six of her...do you two want it? You can start collecting, too." 

Ron handed the card to Harry and eyed the pile of Chocolate Frogs on the seat, waiting to be unwrapped. 

"Go on and help yourself." Harry told him with an earnest smile, peering curiously at the card in his hand, "You know, in the Muggle world, people usually just stay put in photos..." 

"Do they really?" Ron looked up from unwrapping another Chocolate Frog, "They don't move at all? That's so weird!" 

Cheyenne smiled, bemused, then glanced back at Dumbledore's card again, watching as he slid back into frame and smiled up at her. Ron soon turned his attention to the frogs, far more interested in devouring them than looking at the Famous Witches and Wizards cards, but neither Harry nor Cheyenne could bring themselves to tear their eyes away. Before long, they had another Dumbledore card, as well as one of Hengist of Woodcroft, Alberic Grunnion, Circe, Paracelsus, and Merlin. After she'd read the back of each card, Cheyenne put them into a pile and tucked them into the front pocket of her rucksack for safe keeping while Harry opened a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. 

"You'll want to be careful with those." Ron warned, "When they say every flavor, they mean it – they do have the ordinary flavors, like chocolate, peppermint, and marmalade, but there's also ones like spinach, liver, and tripe." He made a face, "George reckons he got a boogie-flavored one once." 

Digging into the bag, Ron pulled out a light green bean, examined it for a moment, then took a bite out of the corner before reeling back, "Argh...see? Sprouts." 

The trio took turns trying out the Every Flavor beans and sharing a laugh whenever one of them got a really bad one. They weren't too bad, thankfully, the worst of the bunch being a dog food flavored one Cheyenne was unfortunate enough to eat, which she washed out of her mouth with a sip of tea. 

While they had their fun, the countryside outside the window had transformed from neatly groomed fields to wild woodlands, winding rivers, and rolling hills. 

Just as they were closing the bag of jellybeans, there was a knock on the compartment door, and it slid open to reveal the round-faced boy Harry and Cheyenne had passed on the platform. He looked haggard, with wide, tear-filled eyes, while his bottom lip trembled. 

"Sorry to interrupt...but have any of you seen a toad at all?" 

When they shook their heads, the boy burst into tears, "I've lost him! He keeps getting away from me!" 

"I'm sure he'll turn up somewhere." Cheyenne told him soothingly, putting a reassuring hand on the boy's arm as she offered him some tissues. He sniffled as he took them and wiped his nose. 

"Y-yeah..." he murmured miserably, "Well, if any of you see him..." he left before he could finish his thought while Ron shook his head after him. 

"Don't know why he's so bothered over a toad." he snorted, "If I had one, I'd lose it as quick as I could. 'Course, I can't really talk, since I've got Scabbers..." 

The rat hadn't stirred once from where he snoozed in Ron's lap. 

"He might have died, and no one would be able to tell the different." Ron wrinkled his nose in disgust. "You know, I tried to make him more interesting yesterday by turning him yellow, but the spell didn't work. Here, I'll show you." 

Setting Scabbers aside, Ron stood on his seat to rummage through his trunk and plopped back down with his wand in hand; it was very battered looking, with large chunks of wood missing from the body and something white glinting at the tip. 

"Unicorn hair's nearly poking out..." Ron frowned, examining the wand briefly before he shrugged, "Anyway..." 

He'd just raised his wand when the compartment door slid open once more. The boy who was missing his toad had returned, but this time he was accompanied by a girl with thick, curly brown hair and large front teeth. 

"We already told him we haven't seen his toad." Ron told her with a scowl; his words were ignored, however, when the girl took notice of the wand in his hand. 

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

She took a seat beside Cheyenne, who scooted over to make room. Ron looked taken aback as he glanced at Harry and Cheyenne. 

"Er, all right then." 

Clearing his throat, he raised his wand once more, "Sunshine, daises, butter mellow, turn this stupid fat rat yellow." He waved his wand over Scabbers, but there was no visible change to the rat's appearance, he just stayed gray and still did not stir from his slumber. 

"Are you sure that's a real spell?" The girl sniffed, "Well, it isn't very good, is it? I've tried a few simple spells myself and they've all worked for me." She sat up proudly and plunged on without giving either Cheyenne or the boys the chance to answer, "Nobody in my family's magic at all, so it was ever such a surprise when I got my letter. I was pleased, though, of course, I mean, Hogwarts is the very best school of witchcraft there is, you know – I've already learned all our course books by heart, so hopefully that will be enough – I'm Hermione Granger, by the way, who are all of you?" 

Harry and Ron looked at one another, stunned; it'd never crossed their minds to try and memorize everything in their course books...Cheyenne cocked her head slightly, having read through most of the books herself, and was impressed by the other girl's dedication to her schoolwork. 

"I'm Ron Weasley." Ron muttered. 

"Harry Potter." Harry nodded quietly. 

"Cheyenne Power." Cheyenne smiled timidly in hello. 

"Are you really?" Hermione looked between Harry and Cheyenne with great interest, "I know all about the two of you, of course – when I went to get my books, I purchased a couple extra for background reading. Did either of you know you're in Modern Magical History, The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century?" 

"Erm, no, we didn't..." Harry looked at Cheyenne, at a bit of a loss while her eyes lit up. 

"Oh, those books sound fascinating...I really should have thought of picking up some extras..." She sighed as Hermione nodded her head. 

"I highly recommend all those books, they're quite good. I am a tad surprised you don't have them already." She cocked her head, "If I were in your shoes, I would have found out everything I could." Cheyenne nodded and rubbed her neck, "Do any of you know which house you'll be in yet? I've been asking around and I'm hoping I'm put in Gryffindor, it sounds the best by far; I've even heard Dumbledore was a Gryffindor." She paused, as though to let that sink in while she hummed thoughtfully, "But then, I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad, either...Anyway, we'd better go and look for Neville's toad." She rose briskly to her feet, "You three had better change, you know, I expect we'll be arriving soon." 

With those parting words she left, taking the toadless boy with her. 

"Whatever house I'm in, I hope she isn't." Ron gruffed, stuffing his wand into a pocket of his jacket, "Stupid spell...George gave it to me, bet he knew it was a dud..." 

"What house are your brothers in?" Harry asked, turning back to Ron. 

"Gryffindor." Ron sighed gloomily, "Mom and Dad were in that house, too...dunno what they'd say if I wasn't put into Gryffindor. I don't suppose Ravenclaw would be too bad, but just imagine if they put me in Slytherin." 

"That was the house Vold -" Cheyenne caught herself and smiled sheepishly, "I mean, You-Know-Who was in, wasn't it?" 

"Yeah." Ron leaned back into his seat, staring sadly out the window. 

"You know, I think the ends of Scabbers' whiskers do look a tad lighter." Harry piped up in an effort to get Ron's mind off houses, "Oh, what do your oldest brothers do now that they've left Hogwarts, anyway?" He cocked his head, curious about what wizards did once they'd finished school. 

"Charlie's studying dragons abroad in Romania and Bill's off in Africa working for Gringotts." Ron sat up a little straighter, seeming to remember something, "Hey, did either of you hear about what happened at Gringotts? It's been all over the Daily Prophet...but then, I suppose you wouldn't get that, living with Muggles – someone tried to rob one of the high security vaults." 

"What?" Harry and Cheyenne's eyes widened in astonishment, "What happened to them?" 

"Nothing, which is why it's such big news!" Ron breathed dramatically, "The culprits haven't been caught. My dad says it must have been a powerful Dark wizard if he was able to get round Gringotts without being caught. No one thinks they took anything either, which is even stranger. 'Course, everyone gets scared when something like this happens, especially if it means You-Know-Who is behind it." 

Harry and Cheyenne looked at one another with identical frowns as they absorbed this information. Both were getting more scared and uncomfortable the more they learned about You-Know-Who; even if it was a part of entering the magical world, both had been far more comfortable saying the name without having to worry. 

"Hey, what're you Quidditch teams?" Ron asked, deciding to change the subject. 

"Erm." Harry turned sheepishly back to Ron, "We don't really know any..." 

"What?!" Ron's mouth fell open as he stared at Harry, dumbfounded, "Oh, just you two wait, it's the best game in the world -!" Needing no further encouragement, Ron was off, explaining all about the four balls used in the game and the position of the seven to eight players on each team, telling Harry and Cheyenne all about the famous games he'd gone to see with his family and the broomstick he'd get if he had the money. Just as he was getting into the finer points of the game, the compartment door slid open once more, but this time it wasn't the toadless boy, Neville, or Hermione Granger. 

Instead, three boys strode in as though they owned the place themselves; Harry and Cheyenne immediately recognized the one in the middle as the pale boy they'd met in Madam Malkin's robe shop. He stared at the pair of them with piercing grey eyes, a great deal more interested than he had been in Diagon Alley. 

"Is it true?" He looked between them, "They're saying all up and down the train that Harry Potter and Cheyenne Power are in this compartment. So, it's you two, is it?" 

"Yes," Harry frowned, eying the other two boys while Cheyenne subconsciously shifted closer to him; both boys reminded them eerily of Dudley, though they looked to have more muscle than their childhood bully, not to mention they looked a great deal meaner. The way they stood on either side of the pale boy, they looked more like hired bodyguards than companions... 

"Oh, this is Crabbe, and this is Goyle." the pale boy introduced, waving a hand in each boys' direction lazily, having noticed where Harry and Cheyenne's attention had been drawn, "And I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy." 

Ron coughed into his hand, hiding a snigger. Draco Malfoy immediately whirled on him and narrowed his eyes. 

"Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask yours. Red hair, freckled, hand-me-down robes, you must be a Weasley. My father did always say they had more children than they could afford." 

Malfoy turned back to Harry and Cheyenne, "You'll both soon find out some wizarding families are better than others. Neither of you want to go making friends with the wrong sort." He smirked and held out a hand, "I can help you there." 

Harry and Cheyenne glanced down at his offered hand before they met his gaze again. 

"I think we're more than capable of telling who the wrong sort is for ourselves, thank you." Cheyenne told him coolly as she crossed her arms. Malfoy flushed a light pink, and he narrowed his eyes once more. 

"I'd be careful if I was either of you." He drawled after a moment, "Unless you're a bit politer, you both could end up going the same way as your parents. None of them knew what was good for them, either. You hang around with riffraff like the Weasleys and that grounds keeper, Hagrid, and it'll end up rubbing off on you." 

Both Harry and Ron got to their feet, Ron's cheeks slowly reddening as Cheyenne gently grabbed at Harry's sleeve, as though to stop him. 

"Say that again." Ron ground out from between clenched teeth. 

"Oh, you're both going to fight us, are you?" Malfoy sneered, quirking an amused brow. 

"Not unless you get out now," Harry told him as he squared his shoulders, trying to appear braver than he felt, knowing Crabbe and Goyle were a lot bigger than him or Ron. 

"But we don't feel like leaving, do we, boys?" Malfoy shifted to the side, moving as though he was going to take a seat next to Cheyenne, "See, we've eaten all our food and you three still seem to have some." 

Goyle had started reaching for the Chocolate Frogs next to Ron as Malfoy spoke and Ron leapt forward to stop him; before he could touch Goyle, however, the larger boy let out a sudden yell that made everyone else in the compartment jump. The source of his yell quickly became apparent as Goyle swung his arm around; with his sharp front teeth dug deep into the meat of his knuckle, Scabbers hung from Goyle's finger, barely missing Harry and Ron as Goyle swung his arm wildly in an attempt to dislodge the rat. Crabbe and Malfoy backed away as Goyle flailed, howling, and sent Scabbers flying into the window with a dull thud; Cheyenne quickly stooped to make sure the rat was all right while Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle fled, either in fear of finding more rats hidden among the sweets or the sound of approaching footsteps as Hermione Granger reappeared in the doorway. 

"What has been going on?" she asked, taking in the sight of the messy compartment, from the sweets scattered across the floor to where Cheyenne stood with Scabbers cupped carefully in her hands. 

"Looks like he's been knocked out." She said to Ron, who picked Scabbers up by the tail and looked him over before he snorted. 

"No, I don't believe this, he's gone back to sleep." 

Cheyenne sighed in relief at knowing the rat was unharmed while Harry picked up the fallen treats. Ron frowned as he put Scabbers back in his pocket, looking between Harry and Cheyenne as she joined him on the floor. 

"Have you two met Malfoy before?" 

Cheyenne told him about how they met him in Diagon Alley. 

"I've heard of his family." Ron scowled. "They were some of the first of You-Know-Who's followers to come back to our side after he disappeared. Told everyone they'd been bewitched, but my dad doesn't believe any of it. He says Malfoy's father wouldn't need any excuse to go to the Dark Side." He turned to face Hermione, who still stood in the doorway, "Can we help you with something?" 

"You three had better hurry and put your robes on, I've just spoken to the conductor, and he says we're nearly there." She said briskly, furrowing her brows, "None of you have been fighting, have you? You'll get yourselves into trouble before we've even arrived!" 

"Scabbers was the one fighting, not us." Ron huffed, scowling, "Now, would you mind leaving so we can change?" 

"All right, I only came down this way because people out here are behaving very immaturely, racing up and down the corridors." Hermione sniffed, turning to leave before she paused and turned back to face Ron once more, "You've got dirt on your nose, by the way, did you know? Just there." She pointed to indicate where the dark spot was before she left. Ron wrinkled his nose and glared after her as Harry and Cheyenne peered out the window. The sun had almost completely disappeared behind the western mountains now, turning the horizon a brilliant combination of orange, yellow, and pink while the sky overhead slowly darkened into a blanket of deep purplish blue. The train was losing speed, the grind of the wheels against the tracks slowing. 

The trio got to their feet and Cheyenne turned away from the boys to change, exchanging her muggle clothes for her long black robes; her and Harry's robes seemed to fit them rather well, but Ron's appeared a bit short on him, so much so it wasn't difficult to see his trainers just under the hem. 

A voice came on overhead, echoing throughout the train, "We will be arriving at Hogsmeade station in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage onboard, it will be brought up to the school separately." 

Cheyenne could feel her stomach churn uneasily and she automatically reached for Harry's hand; he squeezed it tightly, looking just as nervous as she felt while Ron had paled under his freckles. Cramming their pockets with the last of their sweets, the trio joined the crowd filling the corridor as the train slowed to a halt. 

Pushing and shoving one another, the crowd surged for the train doors and stepped out onto a tiny, unlit platform. Harry pulled Cheyenne out of the crowd, and she leaned into him for warmth, their breath intermingling in the cold night air. From one end of the platform, they spotted the light of a small lamp as it came bobbing toward them, suspended high over the heads of the other students, while a familiar voice made their hearts leap. 

"Firs' years! Firs' years this way! Yeh all right there, Harry, Cheyenne?" 

The pair tilted their heads back to look up into the large, hairy face beaming down at them from over the crowd and smiled in greeting. 

"C'mon, follow me -" He ushered them over before looking out over the students once more, " - any more firs' years? Mind yer step now! Firs' years follow me!" 

Once off the platform itself, the first years followed Hagrid down a steep, narrow path, mindful of where they were walking as they slipped and stumbled over rocks and dirt they couldn't quite see. Tall walls of darkness rose up on either side of them, thick forests that likely stretched on for miles in both directions. Nobody spoke much, although there was the occasional sniffle from the boy, Neville, from somewhere behind Ron. 

"Yeh'll get yer firs' look'a Hogwarts in a second." Hagrid called over his shoulder after a stretch of silence, "jus' round this bend here." 

A chorus of 'Oooooh's!" rose from the group. 

At the edge of the trees, the narrow path opened onto the edge of a great black lake. On the other side of the wide, mirror-like surface, perched atop a high mountain, was a vast, looming castle. From this angle, the group could see the great many turrets and towers that made up the upper portions of the structure, each window aglow with warm, flickering light, only further emphasized by the backdrop of the dark, starry sky. 

"No more' four or five to a boat!" Hagrid called, waving a hand to a fleet of little boats sat at the water's edge. Harry, Ron, and Cheyenne were followed into their boat by Neville and Hermione. 

"Everyone in?" Hagrid looked over his shoulder, situated in a boat all his own, "Right then – FORWARD!" 

As though on cue, the fleet of boats pushed away from the shore and began to glide across the lake, which sat perfectly still, its smooth surface an impeccable duplicate of the night sky. Still, nobody spoke, mesmerized by the great castle that slowly drew closer as they crossed the expanse of the lake toward the cliff on which it stood. 

"Heads down!" Hagrid's yell made a few people jump as the first row of boats reached the cliff face; the students all bent their heads down as they were carried through a thick curtain of ivy, which hide a wide, cavern-like opening in the rock, and through a long, dark tunnel that appeared to take them right under the castle itself. At the other end of the tunnel, they reached a wide, underground harbor, where the boats parked themselves along the shoreline once more so they could clamber out onto the rocks. 

"Oi, you there! Is this your toad?" Hagrid turned to regard Neville as he checked the boats to be sure no one left anything behind. 

"Trevor!" Neville cried in relief as he took the toad from Hagrid with a grateful nod. Hagrid pat his head and then led the way through a narrow passageway and out onto a smooth patch of damp grass cloaked in the castle's looming shadow. From there, they trod up a flight of stone steps that led to a huge, oak front door. 

"Everyone here?" He turned to regard the group gathered around him, glancing at Neville briefly, "You there, still got yer toad?" 

After ensuring all was as it should be, Hagrid turned to the large door, raised one gigantic fist and knocked three times.