Chapter 5: Aboard the Hogwarts Express

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"OH MY GOD! I'M UP, I'M UP!" Gwen said as she got out of bed after hearing Athena hoot crazily for two minutes.

How can anyone sleep in when they have an owl like Athena to wake them up every morning? Gwen grabbed some clothes and went to the bathroom.

Before she entered she turned to look at Athena. "You know that I love you but you're a pain in the arse." Athena just hooted happily.

Gwen was ecstatic that she would be going back to Hogwarts. Nothing could change her happy mood. She even hopped into the shower happily and started singing at the top of her lungs.

When she finally stepped out of the shower she immediately slipped over the water and bumped her head hard against the wall.

"Ohhhhh." She groaned in pain. A series of meows and hoots came from the outside. "I'm fine!" Gwen called out to them.

She got up and changed but the pain was still there.

Gwen walked out of the bathroom still hearing the noises the owl and the cat were making. "Okay, It's time for me to put you both in-"

Gwen immediately stopped when she found the twins sitting on the bed.

"How did you two get in here?" Gwen asked as she looked at them weirdly. "That's for me to know and for you to question it for your entire life," Fred said.

Gwen raised a single eyebrow. "You picked the lock with a hairpin." She stated with certainty.

"Yes." They both answered together. She sighed and ran a hand through her hair.

She packed the last of her things and pulled out her Hogwarts uniform from the bottom of the trunk to the top. She tried to close it but the trunk was too full for its small size

"Here, let me do it," George said as he grabbed the trunk and placed it on top of the bed.

"Thanks but how are you going to-" She started to ask but stopped in mid-sentence.

George sat on top of the trunk and forcefully sat on it multiple times. Although the method was quite unconventional, it still worked.

"Hmmm, Well done." Gwen finally said as she patted him on the shoulder.

"Anyway, let's go."

"Come on you two. In your cage." Gwen told Athena and Atlas.

Athena obeyed and flew into her cage without any help at all, pretty used to the procedure. A smile came across Gwen’s face as she went to close the cage.

Atlas finally emerged from under the bed, looking around confused.

"Come here, sweetheart." Gwen cooed as she slowly bent down and the cat made his way towards her.

"You called?" Fred said as he came next to Gwen with a cocky smirk on his face. She grabbed Atlas with one hand in and hit Fred playfully on the shoulder with the other.

When she closed the small door of the cage, the cat gave a sad meow. "Don't worry," Gwen assured the little cat. "I'll let you out when we arrive on the train."

Gwen turned to the twins. "Can you like... carry my stuff down the stairs? I slipped after I walked out of the shower sooo..."

The twins both laughed and Gwen couldn't help but blush at the embarrassment. "No problem," Fred said.

"It's true. We got used to your clumsiness and that's one of the reasons why we love you." George continued. Gwen’s face was as red as a tomato.

The three of them left the room. Fred and George were holding Gwen’s trunk while Gwen held onto Athena's and Atlas’s cages.

When they finally went down all the steps the twins placed the trunk next to the others and she set down the two cages.

Gwen noticed Hermione and Ginny who were listening to Mrs Weasley. Gwendolyn Hamilton, being the curious person that she was, went up to them to find out what they were saying.

"Good morning." She announced and they all echoed back the same thing.

"You've got everything with you, Gwen?" Mrs Weasley asked the brown-haired girl. She nodded her head and hummed yes. "I think so."

"I was just telling the girls about the time a made a love potion."

Gwen couldn’t help but look at Mrs Weasley in surprise and shock. “Really? Did you give it to Mr Weasley?”

Mrs Weasley shook her head. “Not exactly, I gave it to another guy that I once had a crush on. How Arthur and I get together is a much longer story.” She admitted and Gwen let out a giggle.

"Alright, boys and girls. It’s time for us to get going.” Mr Weasley called out as he looked at his watch.

Everyone started to grab on to their trunks and cages to leave the small pub. When the group left the Leaky Cauldron two black cars from the Ministry were waiting for them.

They split up into two groups. Hermione, Ron, Harry, Percy and Mr Weasley went to the first one while Fred, George, Ginny, Mrs Weasley and Gwen went into the second one.

Gwen went to put her trunk in the back easily with the others due to the extension charm placed. Gwen then helped Ginny with hers and took both of her cages to the back of the car.

It was silent for the first few seconds of the trip and as usual, Fred and George were the first to break it.

“Be prepared for this year. Wood is going to drive us insane. He already had it bad during the last three years, I can’t imagine how he'll be this year.” George admitted while Fred nodded his head in agreement.

“Trust me, I know. He mailed me a letter of motivation and six pages filled with plays and Quidditch moves. But you can’t blame him, it’s his last year and he just wants to win.” Gwen admitted as she played with the hem of her sleeve.

Fred scoffed. “Oh please, you’re only saying that because of that crush you have on him.” Gwen’s cheeks were getting warmer.

“What? that’s not true!” Fred and George gave her a look and it didn’t take a genius to know what they were thinking.

“Okay, so I did during my second and third year but that’s it.” She admitted.

“You sure?” Ginny said from Gwen’s left with one raised eyebrow. Gwen silently thanked Ginny for her support. Note the sarcasm. “Yes, I’m sure!” She exclaimed.

“Come on you three. Leave her alone.” Mrs Weasley told her children and Gwen gave her a look saying ‘Thank you.

Gwen no longer has a crush on Oliver, his over the top Quidditch talk quite literally started scaring her.

The Ministry car stopped when the car once they arrived at the station. The children and Mrs Weasley got out of the car one after the other and went to grab their trunks from the back.

The other ministry car was parked right in front of theirs. The other group were already out and loading their luggage on the trolleys that Mr Weasley must have got for them.

Mrs Weasley returned with two other trolleys. Ginny and Gwen put their trunks in one while Fred and George put theirs in the other.

Everyone made their way towards platform nine and three quarters, passing by other witches and wizards and numerous muggles. “It’s better if we do it in pairs. Harry, come with me.” Mr Weasley announced.

Mr Weasley and Harry went first, then Ron and Percy, Hermione and Mrs Weasley, Fred and George and finally Ginny and Gwen.

"Let’s go, Gin,” Gwen exclaimed excitedly as they started to make a run towards the barrier.

They both closed their eyes as they passed through. Gwen opened her eyes and saw the scarlet red train and the smoky air.

“Here we go,” Gwen said as Ginny finally let go of her. Gwen took out her trunk off the trolley and Ginny copied what she did.

"Do you want me to stay with you?” Gwen asked Ginny generously. “No, there’s no need Gwen. I can already see my friends.” “See you later then.” She said as she waved at her.

"Bye Mrs Weasley.” Molly Weasley gave Gwen a small hug. “Bye Gwen. Be good and study hard, you hear me. Do well in your O.W.L.s, they’re very important for your future. Did you hear me, boys?” She called out to Fred and George.

"Yes, mum!"

Mrs Weasley turned back to Gwen with a more serious look. “Make sure that they at least try to behave themselves.”

Gwen nodded with a smile. “I’ll try my best.”

The train’s whistle started going off and they hurried aboard the train, everyone walking in different directions. “Here this one's empty,” Fred said as he opened the compartment door.

Fred took his friend’s luggage and put them on the shelf above their heads to allow them more space.

Gwen left the cages on the seat and opened Atlas’ cage. The little cat got out and stretched its legs. “Aww,” George said as he looked at him with a look of adornment and Gwen couldn’t help but snort at the reaction.

She sat down on one side by herself, facing the twins. “Finally some peace,” Gwen said as she lifted both of her legs on the vacant part of the seat.

Fred shook his head. “Don’t worry it won’t be long till we’re disturbed.”

“Most likely by Wood to recite the motivation letter to us.” George continued.

“Shhhh. Don’t jinx it!”

Lee Jordan opened the compartment door quickly, catching the other's off-guard. He was wearing his school uniform with his prefect badge pinned neatly on his chest.

“What are you doing here?! We have to go to the Prefect meeting!”

Gwen’s eyes widened in realization. “Oh my Godric! I forgot about that.” She shouted as she hopped up from her seat. “Well, get changed. QUICKLY!!” Lee yelled as he closed the compartment door and ran down the train corridor.

"I can’t believe I forgot. I’m going to be a terrible prefect. I just know it.” Gwen started muttering to herself as she got her trunk on the seat and pulled out her school uniform and prefect badge.

With a flick of her wand, she made the compartment blind fall, keeping the compartment private from outsiders. Gwen started changing in the compartment.

“Oh hey! What are you doing?” Fred yelled?

“I’m getting changed. Don’t worry you won’t see anything I promise you.”

Gwen got her shoes off using her feet themselves, one of the shoes hit George right in the nose. Then she grabbed the skirt, wore it over the trousers she was wearing and split the latter off. She took off her shirt to reveal a white tank top and started buttoning the white school cotton shirt.

Then came her red and gold tie and her black school shoes. She pulled her hair in a high ponytail and wore the robes over her uniform.

Gwen was finally ready once she placed her well taken care of Rowan wand in the pocket and clipped on the prefect badge on the robes.

“See you guys later,” Gwen said to the twins breathlessly and left the compartment.

Gwen ran down the train corridor, not wanting to arrive even later. Her desperation caused her to bump into multiple children on her way there. One Slytherin even started yelling profanities at her.

“Hey, Malfoy! Suck it or I’ll take away some points!” Gwen threatened as she walked backwards to show the white blond-haired boy her shiny badge.

Her threatening resulted in Gwen slamming into the trolley lady and her trolley.

“Oops sorry!” Gwen apologized to the trolley lady as the woman grabbed her by her arms to stop her from falling.

“I’m here! Sorry, I’m late.” Gwen exclaimed as she finally entered the prefect compartment.

The head boy and girl (Percy and his girlfriend Penelope Clearwater) looked upon her with an unimpressed look. “You may sit down, Gwendolyn,” Percy said as he pursed his lips.

Gwen nodded and went to sit down in the only space left. Lee had already sat down next to a Ravenclaw girl who he had once said that he had a crush on.

“Hey, Lyn.” Gwen looked on her right and saw the one and only, Cedric Diggory.

“Oh, hey. So you’re a prefect too. What are the odds? I was pretty sure that they would make you Captain, you're great.. at Quidditch. I mean, not that you aren't great at other things as well. So, hey.”

Cedric gave her an amused look and Gwen quickly looked down and cringed to herself. "Thanks, I was made Captain as well," Cedric admitted hesitantly as he tried his best to impress the Gryffindor girl.

“Congrats then. Oliver isn’t going to like that.” Gwen said which made Cedric’s smile fade away.

“Wait, why not? Do you think that I did something to make him dislike me?” He asked.

“No, I didn't mean that. Oliver tends to hate everyone who even tries to compete with him in Quidditch. And are all Hufflepuffs like that?” She asked him with curiosity.

“Like what? Please don’t tell me that you’re one of those people who think Hufflepuffs are irrelevant.”

Gwen’s eyes opened wide at the insinuation.

“No, no, nothing like that. I love Hufflepuffs, my mother and brother were Hufflepuffs and I also was almost a Hufflepuff. What I meant is that, are all of you Hufflepuffs always like.. you know... feel like it’s important to make people like you?”

"Well, no, at least in my case. It depends on the person. If someone doesn't like me just for the sake of not liking me then I don't particularly care. On the other hand, if a person like you, nice, funny, kind and smart, would think bad of me, I would question what I had done to make a person like that not like me.”

Cedric finally finished and Gwen had to look away to not let him see her blushing.

"Yeah, I completely understand you,” Gwen replied as her eyes landed on the fruit bowl on the table.

Gwen didn't completely understand him. She just liked the part where he complimented her.

Percy clapped his hands loudly which made Gwen jump in her seat and look forward.

Percy and Penelope, the two rule loving heads, were telling them the 'Prefect' system.

Gwen tried to listen to what they were saying but Gwen, along with some others were uninterested and bored out of their minds.

Gwen was thinking about how different things would be if she were back in her compartment.

Gwen would probably be playing Exploding Snap with Fred and taking turns to take a Bertie Bott's Bean while George plays around with Atlas.

"All of you have the right to use the Prefect bathroom. The password word is ‘Eucalyptus Leaf’. We will tell you later on about your day and night shifts. And fifth years, don’t forget that you have to show the first years around after the Hogwarts feast. Good day, and be responsible.” Penelope told all the Prefects who were all too happy to leave.

“I'll see you later, Lyn,” Cedric said as the two stepped into the corridor. Cedric went to one side of the train while Gwen went to the other.

"Yeah, see you!” Gwen called out, cringing again at the fact that her voice went an octave too high. Cedric turned around and winked at the green-eyed girl, then turned to continue his journey.

She stepped back to her senses and decided to go to the bathroom after getting the urgent need to pee. She started internally yelling at herself for standing there like an idiot and replayed all of the awkward things she said.

When Gwen left the bathroom, the train went to a sudden stop which made her almost fall. All the lights went out so she took out her wand and whispered 'Lumos' to shed some light.

Lots of students popped their heads out of their compartments to catch a glimpse of what was happening. “Get back inside!” She whispered to all of them with a new sense of authority.

“What’s going on?” A Ravenclaw fourth year asked. “I don’t know just go back in.”

The Ravenclaw, amongst most of the others, went back inside. Some of the others didn’t so Gwen glared at them and pointed her index finger to the left telling them to go back inside. Thankfully, they all listened in the end.

Gwen walked down the corridor with her wand to guide her way. She thought that there might have been something wrong with the engine or something similar.

She spoke too soon.

From one side of the train, Gwen saw two floating, black, hooded figures. Gwen gulped when it dawned to her what they actually were.

Dementors.

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