The Stranger
It’s 1st September, the day to return to Hogwarts. Harry Potter, with his two best friends; Ron Weasley and Hermione Grange, is standing at the platform nine and three quarters, ready to board the Hogwarts express.
On either side of him Hermione and Ron are standing. Ron is talking to his mother about what seemed like his old school robes and Hermione was politely saying her last goodbyes to the Weasleys before going to Hogwarts.
“Harry, let’s go and find an empty compartment before they become full.” Hermione half said and half shouted as she climbed on the train. Harry followed her and was just about to climb the train when he noticed a girl standing near the barrier that connects platform nine and three quarters with the muggle platform. She was talking with a boy and was very beautiful. She had fair skin, gorgeous brown colored, non frizzy and a little wavy hair, and her beautiful smile.
Harry didn’t know how much time had passed. He just stood there, dazed. Suddenly, the girl looked at him and their eyes locked. She smiled and Harry felt as a current passed through his body. A sudden emotion passed through his mind; recognition.
He didn’t know where he had seen her, but he surely had. There is no way that he had seen her for the first time.
Just then, he heard the loud whistle of the stream engine and their eye contact broke. He peeped again where that girl was standing as he moved aside to let Ron climb on the train, but the girl was nowhere in sight. He sighed and followed Ron to the compartment where Hermione was sitting. Luckily she saved the whole compartment for themselves.
As Harry sat down he heard a screeching noise and looked out of the window. There, standing a little away from the train, was that same girl but this time an owl was sitting on her shoulder. She turned, said something to the boy with her, laughed and with a swish of movement she disappeared again.
“What are you looking at Harry?” Hermione asked her friend. “Umm...nothing” he lied quickly. How could they not see that girl or heard that noise? He thought and then shook his head.
Luckily for him, Hermione and Ron bought his lie and started talking about their summer holidays. Harry had stayed with the Weasleys for the summer. But he didn’t felt like talking about it, and Ron was giving a fair share of stories from his side too. So there was no need for him to contribute anything to the talk.
His mind was still on the platform, with the girl. He was not paying any attention to Hermione and Ron. He just felt like he knew her, like he had seen her before. But it is impossible, he thought. Why? Because he not only not remembers her name but where he might have met her too. This is enough to doubt that he had seen her or not.
He was brought back to his senses when Ron shook him.“Ummm....sorry. What did you just say?“he murmured.
“Are you even listening to us?” Ron asked raising an eyebrow. “Harry what happened?” Hermione asked worriedly “Since you left the platform you are a little off.” She worries a little too much, Harry thought. “No, I am fine.” He lied again. For some reason, he don’t want to tell them about the girl.
The rest of the journey was silent from Harry’s part. He didn’t say a single word and soon they had arrived at Hogwarts.
As the three of them climbed out of the train, a familiar voice spoke “F’rst yea’s th’s way.” And a giant outline of Hagrid came into view. He turned towards them and smiled broadly.
He then turned to guide the scared first years. Harry felt a hand on his shoulder. He spun around and saw Hermione pointing towards the direction everyone was heading. They too, went with everyone.
On reaching the place, Harry’s mouth fell open as he saw many carriages with basically nothing to pull them. Hermione saw his confused look but rolled her eyes and said “Seriously, haven’t you guys ever read Hogwarts : A history?” Harry simply shook his head.
“That book is absolutely boring. I wonder how you read it in the first place.” Ron commented while climbing in a carriage. Harry and Hermione followed him and soon the carriage started moving. Harry personally thought that these carriages were drawled by invisible horses because the carriage kept giving him bumps once in a while.
As the lightened castle of Hogwarts came into view, he suddenly felt at home. This had been practically his home for the last year. He smiled broadly at the castle standing in front of him with pride.
