I. Arrival at Hogwarts

Rose Weasley and Albus Potter were still standing by the window of their compartment, hand still raised from waving, when the compartment door opened. "Can I sit down?" Asked a black-haired girl who was pulling a bulky suitcase behind her and carrying a small, red cat in her arms. "Sure!" Said Rose and Albus helped her to move the luggage to her suitcase on the shelf. James had joined his friends and Victoire, her cousin had also disappeared, so they were alone in the compartment. "Thank you," said the black-haired woman, "I'm Amanda. Amanda Barnes." "Rose Weasley." "Albus Potter." After everyone had introduced themselves, it wasn't difficult for them to keep a conversation going. "My dad is allergic to cat hair," Amanda admitted, "but when that guy from Hogwarts took me to Diagon Alley to buy my school supplies, I fell in love with Boris instantly!" unfortunately died two years ago. ", said Rose," And Mom doesn't want a new one, unfortunately. I got Mimi for that. " but even for an owl she sleeps a lot. "" Better than Arnie. My brother, James, put some sleeping drug in his food to keep him calm, "Albus said. Rose grinned. "I also considered buying an owl, but then Boris came along and the Hogwarts guy said I could use the school owls.", Amanda said and caressed her cat lovingly, "my mother is a psychiatrist, she almost instructed him when he said I was a witch. "Albus and Rose laughed, Amanda grinned. Then she frowned. “Your parents have already been to Hogwarts, haven't they?” They nodded. "Do you think I'm disadvantaged by that, or something? After all, I didn't have the best grades in my previous school and the kids who grew up with magic-" "Oh, don't worry. My mother has muggles as parents too and she was best of the year every year. "Rose rolled her eyes and the concern faded from Amanda's face.

When a chubby little witch pushed open the compartment door and offered them a whole car full of - for Amanda - exotic sweets, they eagerly rushed for chocolate frogs, Bertie Bott's beans in all flavors, magic drops, licorice wands and much more. "Look out, she still tastes boogers!", Rose warned Amanda, when she had just put a light green bean in her mouth, and giggled at the expression on her face.
During dinner, Albus and Rose told Amanda everything they knew and considered important about Hogwarts (they would be taken to school across a lake allegedly home to a monster, the ghost of Griffindor was almost headless, first years almost never came to the Quidditch team, and so on) and time seemed to have passed in a flash when a loudspeaker sounded asking them to put on their school robes and leave the suitcases on the train.The excitement had visibly increased, more and more often they saw students running up and down the hall, they either looked at the clock or out of the window so as not to miss their first glance at Hogwarts. "Are we going to see the school at all?", Amanda asked, "we are being brought to Hogsmeade, you said, Albus." "I think so.", He answered seriously and looked for the passing landscapes - meanwhile it was no longer just fields , Meadows and bodies of water, they had seen one or the other town and wondered whether magicians or muggles lived there, or both - after the castle.
But as is usually the case in such situations, it was Rose who discovered Hogwarts when Albus pulled his watch out of his robe pocket. "Why don't you tie it around your wrist?" Asked Amanda, who had watched with amusement as the remains of her lunch emerged from the depths of his pockets. Albus was about to reply when Rose gave a low scream and pointed to a silhouette in the distance. "There! There is Hogwarts!"
The four towers protruded majestically and mysteriously from a thicket of trees and for a moment the view of the illuminated old castle walls was clear. "Like in a fairy tale," Amanda whispered enthusiastically.

Wizards and witches squeezed through the dense crowd of people and animals, prefects shouted instructions so loudly and often that they would certainly get hoarse and the three eleven-year-olds preferred to wait until the current had loosened a little.
They got out and just drifted with the crowd until they heard a powerful voice: "First year! First year over here! First year!" "Hagrid!" Rose stated enthusiastically and they meandered through the crowd until they were in front of the half-giant stood. "Hi.", He said, grinning at her through a bushy beard. "Had a good trip, yes?" Albus and Rose nodded, Amanda a little unsure. "Is that a giant?" She asked in a whisper. Rose shook her head. "Just a half-giant!" She corrected, beaming.
Little by little, the rest of the first years came and Hagrid led them away from the carriages to a dark lake with many small boats waiting on the bank. "I'm Rubeus Hagrid," he introduced himself, "Keeper of the keys and lands of Hogwarts. For your first year at Hogwarts you will be brought in these boats. Four of you in one boat at a time and be silent during the journey, okay?"
The students quietly climbed into the swaying boats. Albus, Rose and Amanda were joined by a boy whose white-blonde hair shimmered unnaturally in the light of the lanterns attached to the bow. Albus and Rose knew who that was: Scorpius Malfoy. They nodded briefly to each other and then continued to look ahead as the boats brought them closer and closer to the school.
Once Amanda thought she saw tentacles peeking out of the water, another time someone squealed in surprise, but otherwise the journey was silent except for the gentle lapping of the water.A gaunt witch was waiting for them on the other bank, her long, nut-brown hair tied in a tight braid. "Amy Redford," she said when they were all more or less certain, "Potions teacher. Follow me, first year." She waved to Hagrid and then walked ahead to a large, ornate gate. The students followed her in silence.
When they were all gathered, she smiled at the children and said in a raised voice: "The other students are already in the Great Hall, where you will also hold your welcoming ceremony. Before that, however, you will have to wait in a room away from the hall I'll pick you up. Keep calm and don't be frightened if the ghosts of the school organize a reception for you in their own way. "She made a casual gesture and the gate swung open. "Welcome to Hogwarts!"