13 At Hogwart's Gates

As we finish getting changed, the train exits a dense forest and from our cabin, you could see a massive castle sitting in the middle of a sprawling lake. The castle wasn't like a normal European castle in layout but had the architecture for sure, but it was more open than a regular castle.

I stare out the window at the castle in awe "Looks like we are going to arrive soon." I couldn't help but gawk considering it is the grandest thing I've seen in both of my lives.

Both Harry and Ron come over to the window to get a look at Hogwarts. They seem even more taken aback then me so I feel a bit justified.

"Amazing" Harry mutters.

"Wicked" Ron says excitedly.

As we are looking at Hogwarts we hear running steps heading towards our cabin. We all turn to see a boy with slicked back blonde hair, green eyes, and a sharp face smiling at us from the doorway. He has two fat kids behind them that are pretty tall for their age but certainly don't look the brightest.

"I heard Harry Potter was in this cabin, is it you?" he points at me. I respond with a smile and point to the actual Harry.

He raises an eyebrow and looks at Harry "You're the boy I met in Diagon Alley, aren't you? I guess our friendship was meant to be." He turns to Ron "And I would suggest you choose your friends better, Potter."

"What's wrong with Ron?" I ask genuinely curious.

The boy merely snorts. "He's a Weasley." He turns back to Harry and extends his hand. "I'm Malfoy by the way, Draco Malfoy."

'My cousin... He introduces his last name first huh? Must be a mommies boy.'

Harry just stares at his hand for a second then looks up and smiles, "I think I'm pretty good at picking friends actually."

Draco pulls back his hand and scoffs "You will soon learn potter, some families are better than others." He glares at Ron as he walks away. I immediately roll my eyes at his words.

Once they are gone I look at Ron and Harry "What an ass." This causes Harry to laugh and Ron to nod with a smile.

Ron looks at me curiously "By the way, where are you from? Your accent."

I am a bit blindsided by the question. I have been so used to everyone around me speaking with Irish, British, Welsh, and Scottish accents. That I forgot I have one different from them.

"My mother was American, so I was raised there." I say with a small smile.

Harry seems to pick up on my past tense "I'm sorry for your loss."

A bit of genuine sadness passes my heart, no one has ever told me that. "It's okay... It has been a LONG time since she passed."

Ron catches on slowly "Sorry."

I just wave him off as I stare off into space towards a train station we are approaching.

The train jerks as it starts to come to a stop and the students start coming out of their cabins preparing to get off, especially the older kids who are eager to see their friends again. As we are about to head out two older kids, twins, who look exactly like Ron just more handsome and taller show up at the door.

They ignore Harry and I looking right at Ron "We will be waiting for you in the Gryffindor seats, make sure to give the troll a few good licks before you head over." the one on the left says.

"Yeah don't wanna embarrass Percy now you, I can see the headlines now 'Younger brother of Prefect Percy dies during sorting'." The one on the rights adds they both laugh as they walk away.

"Brothers I assume?" I ask Ron

"Yeah, the slightly taller one is Fred the other is George, then I have three other brothers as well, William the oldest, Charlie the second, and Percy the third and current Prefect of Gryffindor," Ron says counting on his fingers

"What was that your brother said about fighting a troll? Why would you be fighting a troll?" Harry asks.

"That's how we are sorted into houses, Gryffindor for the Brave, Ravenclaw for the smart. Slytherin for the pure-bloods and Hufflepuff for the leftover." Ron states a matter-of-factly.

I look at him with a tinge of pity "Ron that isn't how we are sorted, you won't have to fight a troll, probably ever. They don't just keep a troll at Hogwarts… I think."

I can hear Harry let out a sigh of relief causing me to look at him 'You believe that???'

As the train finally stops people are rushing out in droves. We follow in the crowd and hear a big voice yelling.

"Firs' years, Firs' years over her'." As I see the man I recognize him, Hagrid. Someone Sirius knew pretty well and the man Sirius gave his bike to make sure Harry arrived at the Dursleys safely. That was just before he went on the hunt for Pettigrew.

As all the First Years gather around Hagrid, Harry, Ron, and I make our way to the front.

"Hey, Hagrid," Harry says. Hagrid responds with a smile and a small wave.

"You know him?" Ron asks a bit cautiously.

"Yeah, he picked me up and helped me shop for my school supplies, he is nice." Harry smiles as he says this but Ron looks thoroughly unconvinced.

"C'mon, Firs' years need ta' follo' me, be sure ta' watch yer step." Hagrid said after seeing all the first years had gathered.

He leads us down a dark slippery slope which leads to the lake, a lot of people were bumbling down the hill especially one kid who fell down and nearly rolled into the lake. He was lucky I noticed him roll by me and I managed to catch his arm as he went by, stopping him.

At the lake were a large number of boats waiting for us, they were rowboats but they didn't have oars. Ron, Harry and I sit in one together as I look back I see the kid I caught from rolling down the hill looking around like he had no one to sit with.

"You can come to sit with us if you want." I offer, I hear Ron sigh as I say this.

The kid looks like he just won the lottery and heads towards us, as he steps in the boat he nearly falls over from the swaying water. When he finally steps in all the way the boats begin to move on their own heading towards the castle.

"Thank you." He looks at me gratefully

"It's no problem, I'm Soren Black, this is Harry Potter, and the redhead is Ron Weasley." they both smile at him and Harry gives a small wave.

He looks wide-eyed at Harry for a second but noticing all of us staring at him he puts his head down blushing.

"I-I'm Neville… Neville Longbottom." his face lights up like a tomato.

This time it's my turn, my eyes go wide "Longbottom? Like THE Longbottom?"

He looks kind of confused "Yes?"

I grab his hand "Your parents are freakin hero's man" I shake his hand vigorously but his face goes pale when I mention his parents, it looks like I just shot his dog in front of him.

He looks at Ron and Harry who both look confused, then looks back at me "Could you please not mention them... please?" I stare at him hard.

"You should be proud of your parents." This time I speak in a lower voice so Ron and Harry can't hear.

"I know… I am… it's just a sore subject." He looks kind of ashamed of himself as he says this.

I look at him but he won't meet my eyes "Sorry, how about I give you some good information as an apology…. Bellatrix Lestrange is dead." Neville looks up at me with wide eyes, I only smile back.He does indeed look a little satisfied.

Harry starts to speak up but he is cut off by the jerk of the boat as it hits the shore. I pat Neville's back for affirmation before standing up.

Hagrid's voice rings out "C'mon firs' years, don' wanna leave them waitin' now do yah?"

Everyone gets out of their boats and start to follow Hagrid. Luckily, the hill on this side of the lack isn't as steep.