Cordelia was standing by a sign that said "PLATFORM NINE AND TEN." She was going to go to Hogwarts for the first time! She was only eleven, a first year. She clutched her potions book tightly. She was excited and eager to do potions - imagine brewing up all these Potions, and maybe she could even make up one herself! Her thirteen year old brother had told her all about Potions - there was the lucky Potion, Felix Felicis, and The Draught of Living death, and Polyjuice Potion.
Cordelia's wand was an unusual wood, Acacia wood. It had unicorn hair and dragon heartstring. She had got it from Ollivanders.
Cordelia's owl hooted gleefully. She looked down at it. His name was Tawny. She had named it herself.
'OK, just through the brick wall,' whispered Mr Colt. 'But don't let the Muggles see you go through it - just go towards it casually.
Cordelia was still amazed about actually going through a brick wall - how was it possible? Well, it was magic, thought Cordelia.
'Let's go,' whispered Mr Colt. He moved forward casually towards the brick wall, then slid through it.
Cordelia stared at the brick wall for a moment.She went slowly towards it What if she couldn't go through it? She edged closer, then slid through it. She opened her eyes, for she had been keeping them closed and found herself in a completely different station. Above her, a sign read, PLATFORM NINE AND THREE QUARTERS.
Cordelia looked around for her father, and saw him looking at her, grinning.
'Well, you better hop on the train, it'll be leaving in-' he glanced at his watch, '-five minutes.'
'What!' Cordelia wanted to go to Hogwarts, but she was still a bit nervous about going there by herself.
'Don't be worried, I'll sent a letter to you every day, if you want,' said Mr Colt, smiling.
'I'm not worried!' Cordelia said indignantly. She hugged her father.
Mr Colt kissed her on the head, then said, 'Well, off you go.'
Cordelia jumped onto the train, just as it hooted.
'Goodbye, dad!'
'Bye, my darling!'
The train started to move. Cordelia waved and waved at her dad, but then the train rounded the corner, and then her father was gone.
Cordelia walked down the train, looking into compartments as she went along - she didn't want to be with any people, she preferred to be alone.
Finally she spotted one lone compartment. She went inside it, and sat down. She glanced out of the train window - it was beginning to rain.
She sat in her compartment for a while, beginning to doze. Then suddenly the compartment door slid open, and a red haired girl stood there.
'Oh...are you...?'
'Uh..no, you can come in..' said Cordelia. She watched the girl as she sat down on the seat opposite Cordelia.
They watched each other for a while. Finally the girl spoke. 'So...what's your name?'
'Er..Cordelia,' answered Cordelia.
'I'm Alvie,' answered the girl.
Cordelia did not answer.
After a few minutes of silence, the trolley lady opened their compartment door. 'Want anything, my dears? Chocolate frogs? Cauldron cakes? Anything?'
'Yes please,' said Cordelia.
'How much would you like?'
'Seven cauldron cakes, six chocolate frogs, pumpkin juice, and and sherbet lemons, please,' said Alvie suddenly. 'That's for the both of us.'
Cordelia looked at her, and for the first time smiled.
Alvie looked at her for a moment, then smiled back. She handed Cordelia three chocolate frogs, which Cordelia opened curiously. What were Chocolate Frogs? To her surprise, the Chocolate frog jumped out of the wrapping and onto her lap.
'You can still eat it,' Alvie said. 'Thanks,' she said to the trolley lady, who smiled and went away. 'Well, I suppose we better get into our robes now as well...'
'Yeah,' said Cordelia. She smiled at Alvie again. She seemed nice, after all.