Started: 04-25-03 Completed: 05-30-03CHAPTER ONE – OFF TO HOGWARTS
“It’s time to bring them in, my fellow colleagues,” Albus Dumbledore said in a serious tone. The rest of Hogwarts staff was quite taken aback. They rarely see Albus that serious and they knew he meant business.
“Albus, can’t it wait?” Prof. McGonagalle said worriedly. “I mean, it’s not exactly such a good idea to let them in now. Not when that You-Know-Who is still out there after them.”
“It is time,” Albus replied gravely and left without saying another word. The Hogwarts staff looked at each other, not knowing what else to do.
Sitting silently at another corner of the meeting table, Prof. Snape was deep in his thoughts.
Jude found it hard to believe that she and her friends were on their way to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Come to think of it, she couldn’t understand why were she and her friends chosen to be in this school in the first place. One night, she found that a strange-looking white owl coming through the window of her 4-storeyed apartment with the offer letter and the next morning, on the last day of her primary school year, she was approached by her best friends Rach and Becka who also got a copy of the letter.
It was also surprising that their parents actually allowed them to go to this school. They didn’t even expect their parents to agree on this so easily. They were even surprised that their parents didn’t tell them anything about why they were accepted into the school. Looks like they have to find out for themselves.
They took the plane to London, where it was said that they’ll get their school equipment there. They met with one of the seniors in that school; the famous Harry Potter (as told by their parents). He had the brightest green eyes and the friendliest smile that the trio was immediately acquainted to him. He took them to a place called Leaky Cauldron and brought them into a world behind the wall of the shop, called Diagon Alley. They were dazzled to see the place over-run with wizards and witches and other magical people. After a long way to the wizarding bank at Gringotts (they were surprised at knowing that they have a bank account for them) and of shopping in Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions, Flourish & Blotts, the apothecary and other shops, Harry took them to the place they have been waiting for: Ollivanders: Maker of Fine Wands since 382 BC. They were measured by a tape that was alive and tried loads and loads of wands. Finally they’ve been chosen by their rightful wands: Becka had an 8 ¾ inch wand a combination of phoenix feather and redwood that sent out a mixture of yellow and orange sparks—like the colour of fire itself; Jude got a 7 inch wand a combination of dragon heartstring and ash that sent out a shower of green and brown—colours of the jungle—sparks; and Rach had a 7 inch wand a combination of phoenix feather and maple which sent out a mxture of blue and red sparks, almost like an aurora.
Lastly Harry took them to the pet shop to get their pets. The trio looked around, unable to decide what to take as pets. They never had a pet before and they certainly were not sure whether if the pet they choose are going to be suitable or not.
“Go ahead, take your pick,” Harry said kindly. “Don’t be shy. The rules have bended a little. You are allowed to choose any house pet to bring to Hogwarts.”
“But…But I don’t know if we can afford it,” Jude said worriedly, eyeing her money pouch that was filled with Galleons, Sickles and Knuts.
“Don’t worry. Choose any pet you like. Our Headmaster Dumbledore said it’s his treat. He’s been expecting you.”
That eased the trio’s mind a little, although still curious about why the sudden red carpet treatment. Jude picked a German Shepherd and named him Max. Becka had her eyes caught to a black tom cat and immediately took him in, naming him Salem. Rach had no interest in furry animals, but she was attracted to a huge 2-feet-long python. She chose him and named him Slipper.
Now, after three days in Shireland Hotel (a hotel that allows pets), they were on the train called Hogwarts Express on the way to the wizarding school. It wasn’t easy finding the platform. They had to ask for help from their new-found friends Darren Hawkins and his sister Angelica to find Platform 9 ¾. The Hawkins siblings were really friendly and nice to them and they became friends almost immediately. On the train they introduced Bertie Bott’s Every Flavoured Beans and Chocolate Frogs and all other delicacies. They even made another new friend who so happens to choke on one of the Beans and Jude had to save him. His name was Tony Brixius.
Jude had a habit of observing people and that’s what she did when her other two girlfriends chit-chatted with the Hawkins and Tony. Darren had dark-brown hair and a nice set of blue eyes. His sister also had the same eyes, only that her hair was brownish-blonde. Tony, on the other hand, had golden-blonde hair that reached his shoulders and sparkling green eyes, almost like Legolas in LOTR, but he wore black from the neck down.
“Why the black complexion, Tony?” Jude asked suddenly, surprising her friends.
“I…I…Well, if you must know, that’s because,” Tony lowered his voice, “my family and I were forced to become followers of the…You-Know-Who. I’m covering up the scars the Dark Lord left on me.”
“No way!” Darren said, amazed. Tony nodded.
“Who’s ‘You-Know-Who’? What’s his name?” Becka asked, Rach nodded behind her in agreement. Their three new friends stared at her in bewilderment.
“You’re not supposed to say his name! It’s a forbidden language to us all!” Darren exclaimed.
“It would be suicidal to say his name! Horrible!” Angelica’s face was going white.
“The Dark Lord loves it when people say his name. Gives him power, gives him recognition,” Tony mumbled, looking down at the train floor.
“Uh…excuse us for a second,” Jude said and dragged her girlfriends by the collar to the toilet. “We sorta need to change into our robes now.”
“What gives, Jude?” Rach asked, surprised at Jude’s sudden attitude.
“Shh! Don’t you think it’s kinda weird? I mean, as soon as we’re out of primary school, we’re suddenly offered to this really cool but weird school, our parents let us go to this school without as much as an explanation or a question, then a few days ago we were given the red carpet treatment by this Senior Potter and this so-called Headmaster Dumbledore, now we’re in a middle of not knowing who this mysterious You-Know-Who, whom I don’t know! What’s going on here?”
“I know less than you do,” Becka replied, slipping into her robes. “Do you remember that look on this Mr. Ollivander’s face when we waved our wands? It was like he was amazed at the wand that chose us. I mean, it’s just a wand. What’s the diff?”
“Speaking of which,” Rach chided, “did you girls notice that everyone in that Diagon Alley was actually looking at us? They had that sort of look in their eyes, like we’re celebrities or something. Those Hawkins siblings and Tony also had that look when we first met. You girls may think it’s cool but I think it’s weird.”
“Looks like we’re caught in a conspiracy theory. We won’t be able to trust anyone easily, not even that friendly Senior Potter. Although that scar on his forehead was pretty cool,” Jude commented.
“Hey! You’re not swooning over him now, are you?” Becka and Rach looked at her slyly.
“No! Of course not! I have better things to do than falling for someone at first sight! Besides, he’s not my type.”
Suddenly, the train grounded into a halt. The trio heard Darren calling them. This means that they have reached their destination. They came out of the toilet fully dressed in their robes. They followed the Hawkins and Tony out of the train and into a crowd of students standing in front of a beetled-eyed giant. And what a giant he was! His face was all built out of hair. His hair was scraggly, as if he hadn’t combed it for the last 20 years, and his moustache and beard were so long, it formed a blanket on his tubby belly. But in spite of his savage looks, he had a very jovial and lively voice. He was no other than Rubeus Hagrid, the Hogwarts gamekeeper.
“Right! Ev’ryone ‘ere? Stand in place so I can summat see ye,” Hagrid said in his thick Scottish slang. “Blimey, if it ain’t da girls from yonder! You girls! Come ‘ere, lassies! Let me ‘av a good look at ye!”
The trio was quite surprised to see Hagrid gesturing at them. They timidly went towards the giant, receiving amazed looks from the students, just like Rach described it. They gazed at the giant towering over them like a huge mountain of hair. Hagrid took their chin one by one and scrutinized them quietly, then beamed and said, “Aye, lassies. You’re da ones Dumbledore wuz awaitin’ fer. Lovely lass ye ar’. What’s yer names?”
“Judith Light, sir,” Jude replied.
“Rachel Yearne,” Rach said, smiling as cute as possible.
“Rebecca Levi,” Becka said. Somewhere in a distance, she thought she heard someone caught his/her breath.
“Right. Ye girls ar’ comin’ with me in my boat. Alright, children! Come along with ol’ Hagrid ‘ere! Second years, yer carriages ar’ thataway!” Hagrid called out, and just like the trio’s parents, he didn’t explain what the reason of his mysterious behaviour towards them was. They went to the jetty and sat on (to their amazement) the oar-less boat with Hagrid. Jude tried her luck in asking.
“Uh, Mr. Hagrid, sir, I was wondering…”
“No need sirrin’ me, lassie. Just plain ol’ Hagrid, aye?” Hagrid grinned. “What wuz ye wonderin’ about?”
“Why is Headmaster Dumbledore expecting us? I mean, this is so weird. We’re just mere kids from Asia who just finish primary school. Why would this school want us?”
“Aye, dat’s the mystery now, yes? I ain’t tellin’ ye girls nothin’. Ye will find it out quite by yerselfs actually. Ye not gettin’ anythin’ from ol’ Hagrid ‘ere!”
“Why not? We just wanna know…” Becka was cut short by Hagrid’s call to the rest of the students.
“’Ere we ar’ now, boys and girls! Hogwarts!”
The trio looked up and stared in awe at the legendary Hogwarts Castle, standing tall strong and proud yet dark and mysterious. There were some bats hovering around and the moon was well-lit in the sky. Jude was fascinated—she loves scary and mysterious stuff. Becka cringed a little in the back at the eeriness of the castle. Rach looked at it as if nothing was special about it. Some of the other students oohed and ahhed at it.
Soon, they reached the shore. Hagrid helped the trio off the boat and led all the new students of Hogwarts up a flight of stairs towards the castle door, holding a large lamp. He knocked at the huge door at upon reaching there and, before long, footsteps were heard from the inside. As the door opened, there stood Prof. Minerva McGonagalle, as stern and firm as ever. Hagrid bowed to her respectfully and said, “The first yearers, Prof. McGonagalle, all here. Including The Ones.”
The Ones? Who is he talking about? The trio looked at each other in surprise.
“That’ll be all, Hagrid,” Prof. McGonagalle replied. “You may leave. I’ll take it from here.”
Hagrid left from the back, taking the students’ pets and luggage with him. All the students went in and Prof. McGonagalle shut the door behind them. She called for their attention and said, “The Prefects will come and show you the way to the Great Hall. The three of you, please follow me.”
She was gesturing the trio. They looked at each other again. Things were getting weirder and weirder. They followed her into a long hallway and found themselves in front of a door guarded by two griffin-like statues. Prof. McGonagalle said a password “Tiger balm” and the statues slowly made way, revealing a spiral staircase. She went up, followed by the trio. They came into a huge wide office with loads of books and parchments and a great deal of interior design. There was even a beautiful red phoenix perched on a bird stand, looking at them curiously.
“Stay where you are, girls,” Prof. McGonagalle said before she left. “If you’re hungry, there is a table that has food just for you. We will be right back.”
So saying, she left hurriedly, leaving the trio to fend for themselves.
“This is totally weird. Ever since we left Sabah, everyone’s been acting weird,” Becka commented, putting her hands on her waist.
“I guess this is the wizarding life for us,” Jude shrugged. “We have no choice but to wait. Let’s dine!”
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