Hogsmeade Station

~~~(POV: Alexander Aevum)~~~

~~~(Location: Hogwarts Express)~~~

~~~(Date: September 1st, 1991)~~~

~~~(Time: 3:20 PM)~~~

The train ride is almost over. I look toward Neville and see his nervousness. He doesn't do well with other people. I'm not much of a people person either, but I can hold a conversation.

"Neville."

I say his name to get his attention. He lifts his head.

"Have some confidence. We're all new here. We're all walking into the same situation. New people, new place, and the fate of which house we get are equally out of our hands."

He doesn't know how to respond to my advice out of nowhere. Granger still has her face in the book. She's a bookworm through and through. Not like I can say much, though.

"How are you so relaxed?"

It's just my personality. Add that to the Occlumency, and I'm level-headed and composed. He looks at me, waiting for advice to change his life.

What works for me won't work for others. No matter how old he grows, he'll always have a piece of that awkwardness in him, but I might have some advice.

He's too young to be a practitioner of Occlumency, but I can tell him the trade secret of all wizards staying calm.

"It's called Occlumency. I suggest you learn it to tone down the way you are."

Granger raises her head from my book fast at the mention of my use of Occlumency. She ensures she doesn't make eye contact with me, the smart girl. If one can use Occlumency, they can likely use Legilimency.

She looks ready to ask a question, but the train whistle blows, telling us we are arriving at our destination. Neville gets up nervously as the train comes to a halt, and Granger sighs. She closes the book and holds it out to me.

"I said give it back when you're done with it. Not at the end of the ride."

I leave the compartment without saying another word. I look around Hogsmeade Station. It's small and perfect for unloading new and returning students. There are even buildings for the conductor and driver to rest while the train moves.

I see a giant man walking up from the docks.

This must be the groundskeeper, Rubeus Hagrid. He's a half-giant. Supposedly his mother was a giantess. The rest of the first years exit the train and look around as if lost.

"First-years, come with me!"

He repeats it a couple more times. We all make our way toward him; his true size is astonishing compared to us. I look toward the dock and the Black Lake, also known as The Great Lake. We follow Hagrid to the docks, each fitting four persons into a boat.

Hagrid needs one to himself. I sit with some random kids that I haven't met before. They're talking to each other as we slowly float across the lake.

"Make sure you duck up ahead!"

Many kids duck but see there is no need to. Only Hagrid has to.

About halfway across, the castle starts coming into view. The first thing we see is the lights and then the general shape of the castle after a few more seconds. It comes entirely into view.

The rowboats land at the docks, and I stare at the castle. It truly is a masterpiece.

"Follow me. I'll be taking you to Professor McGonagall. She'll take care of you from there."

We follow Hagrid up to the lawn outside the Viaduct Courtyard. The Chamber of Reception should be beyond this; after that is The Grand Hall, where we'll be sorted into our houses.

The castle's size is unknown to me, and I'm sure I'll have fun exploring it in the following years.