I carefully folded my clothes and put them into my trunk. I was leaving for Hogwarts! It was my first year. I was quite nervous, but mostly excited.
"Come on. Matilda! Hurry up! You're gonna be late for the train!" shouted my eldest brother, Stephan.
"O.K, O.K, I'm coming," I said impatiently. "I - just - need - to...." I picked up the heavy trunk, but staggered under the weight. Stephan came up. "Why on earth would you pack so much stuff?" he asked, sighing impatiently. "Here, let me do the Levitation Charm." He raised his wand and said, "Wingardium Leviosa!" The trunk flew up into the air.
"Ooh, will I be able to do that soon?" I asked.
"Oh yeah, easily," said Stephan. "Now hurry up - mum is getting frustrated with you!"
I ran down the stairs, to see my mum standing there, yes, looking a little frustrated. "Oh, come on will you?" she asked. But her voice softened and she said, "Are you excited much, Matilda?"
I nodded my head rapidly. "I'm so excited! I think first year is going to be the best, don't you think?"
Mum nodded her head slowly. "Anyway Matilda, let's go." She checked her watch and then exclaimed, "We've got five minutes until the train leaves! Hurry hurry!"
"O.K! Calm down, mum!" I said, grinning. My other brother and my sister came into the room. "So, all ready Matilda?" my sister asked.
"Yup, and I just can't wait!" I said.

***

We soon were at the station and the train was about to leave.

I quickly jumped onto the train and it pulled off. I waved frantically at my parents, brothers and sisters. They became smaller and smaller, until they disappeared.
I was trembling a bit, but I thought, Don't be a baby! Come on, go and find yourself a compartment! I inhaled, then walked down the train. It seemed like they were all full, until a voice suddenly shouted, "Hey, girl! Oh, sorry! But come - come in here. You see, my compartment is empty so come and join me! Really, do! I want a friend, and you look like a very nice person!" The girl had been talking very quickly.
I was surprised at the sudden outburst, but I walked slowly into the girl's compartment.
"Oh, how rude of me! I really should have introduced myself, but I forgot! That happens sometimes, you know!" The girl took a breath, then went on. "My name is Isabella Lilly. What is your name?"
"Oh - er - uh, my name's Matilda Weasley," I stuttered.
"Oh, that's a nice name!" said Isabella. "You see, I'm quite a talkative person - sorry if it bothers you!"
"Oh, not at all!" I said quickly, though it did a tiny bit. I studied Isabella closely. She had hazel hair, green eyes, like mine and her face was pale. Her eyes sparkled every time she spoke and I thought she looked like a nice girl.
"So, do you have any brothers or sisters?" Isabella asked.
"Oh, yes, lots!" I said. "I'll go from oldest to youngest. O.K, there's Stephan, Anna, Esther, James, Elizabeth, Jane, Claire, Jack, Ethan and lastly, Luke. He's four. Stephan is fifteen, soon to be sixteen, Anna is thirteen Esther is thirteen too, but Anna is two months older than her, James is twelve, Elizabeth is ten, younger than me, Jane is nine Claire is eight, Jack is six and Ethan is five."
"Oh my, what a lot of brothers and sisters you have!" exclaimed Isabella. "Lucky you! I don't have brothers or sisters, but I don't mind that much!"
"Oh well, the boys are sometimes tiring and Jane is always saying she's bored, which I hate, but Jack and Ethan and Luke are adorable little boys. They are just like little gentlemen!" I laughed and Isabella laughed with me.
Just then, a lady with a trolley appeared.

"It's the trolley lady," Isabella whispered to me. "She brings all sorts of sweets on her trolley!" Then, in a louder voice, "Hello, could we have the lot?"
The trolley lady replied she could.
After Isabella had paid, she said to me, "You should taste the chocolate frogs. They are delicious!"
I took the chocolate frog out of its wrapping and tasted it. Yes, it was yummy.
"Ah, I'm tired," sighed Isabella, "which is kind of surprising. It always seems like I'm not!"
I laughed, but just then, a boy entered the compartment. "Uh, hello! Can I join your compartment?"
"Sure!" said Isabella. "Sit down."
The boy smiled then said, "My name is Tom. Nice to meet you. And, by the way, maybe we should change into our Hogwarts robes."
When they were, they had just reached Hogwarts! It seemed like only seconds they were in the boats and carriages and soon they were at the entrance of Hogwarts!