• Chapter 5 – An unbelievable journey


    During the month that followed, Jamilly read avidly the books recommended by the seller, finding out that on the first three, the story of the brother and the destruction of "The You-Know-Who" (she did not know who he was and the lack of reference to his name made her feel very angry) was present in all. She also discovered a lot about the Laws of Dragons's Protection (there were really dragons in the UK!?) and the protections that were cast to prevent them from being spotted by Muggles (she realized later that Muggles were people devoid of magic and concluded that the use of spells and magical barriers explained a lot); she also learned that many witches had been distinguished by several inventions and spells's discoveries. Her last book was exclusively about her new school, and the more she read the more she desire to be there at that moment. When she finished this last one, Jamilly decided to start reading her text books: since she never had any contact with the magic world, she was afraid of falling far behind the other students.

    Finally, August 31st arrived, ie, the day before departure to school. Jamilly started getting increasingly restless, having awaked very early that day. She dressed up slowly, began to gather her books and school supplies, changed the newspaper of Cliodne's cage (it was the name of a medieval witch who could turn into a bird that Jamilly found in her History of Magic's book), which had not returned from her hunting night (she sincerely hoped that her owl didn't gif her witht more dead rats...) and went down to breakfast.
    "Good morning!" She said happily when she entered the kitchen. Jamilly had decided that she shouldn't stay so sad that she hadn't seen Draco, after all she would be with him the next day…
    "Good morning" Hellen and John said in unison. To them make the revelation they did had been the hardest thing in their lives, but for great happiness to both Jamilly was acting just like before all this hapen.
    "Hellen and I were talking and for us to be at 11 am at King's Cross station we will have to leave here at dawn," said John, "and so today there aren't readings until later for the young lady!"
    In the previous nights she had stayed awake until the wee hours unable to put down her books. So far her favorite subjects were Charms and Transfiguration, although the latter appears to be quite difficult… "Okay..." she said conforming.
    During the rest of the day Jamilly got all the school supplies (and believe me that was more than much), some clothes, pajamas and anything else that is needed when you travel (she didn't really know what is normal to take to a magic school). She also packed her baby picture with her brother and their biological parents and a picture of a birthday party she appeared flanked by John and Hellen. Pleased with the cupboard she went to take a walking through the village that she wouldn't see for a couple of months.

    On the following dawn, her big (and heavy) suitcase was being loaded in the trunk of the car (Cliodne would travel in the back seat with her) and Jamilly looked one last time to the house where she had past so many good times and where she had made so many discoveries. She entered in the car, closing the door behind her and John drove toward London…
    Were 10 o´clock when they stopped in front of the busy english train station. Helen went for a troley while Jamilly and John began to take the baggage out of the car and fifteen minutes later John hustle the troley, paving the way throught the station. "What is the platform's number?" He asked.
    "Nine and three-quarters" Jamilly replied that, because she looked so many times at the ticket, had memorized all the information contained therein.
    The couple looked at each other "Platform what?" Asked simultaneously.
    "Platform Nine and three-quarters" repeated Jamilly and took from her pocket a sheet of letter of admission to the school of magic. "It says that the platform is not visible in the Muggle's world, and that I must cross the barrier between platforms 9 and 10..." she said as if it were the most normal thing in this world, though their contact with the world of magic was based on the trip to Diagon Alley with John and Helen and their many days of readings.
    John and Helen were increasingly astonished "This thing of having magical places hidden in plain sight doesn't please me not even a bit..." said John suspicious of Jamilly's explanation. "Here you go..." he said handing him a leather's purse that tinkled when he drop it in the girl's hand. "It's the rest of the money magical we exchanged in the Diagon Alley. It's more usefull for you than for us..."
    "Thank you..." she said truly grateful for the gesture. "Well I gotta go. There are only fifteen minutes until the train depart and I have yet to find a seat." she said as she approached John and Hellen hugging and kissing each one of them. "I'll see you at Christmas. I'll send Cliodne with news as soon as I can..." she said as she picked up the troley and hustle it towards the barrier, being observed by the couple who, amazed, saw her disappear in the solid arches.

    Jamilly was now in front of a big red and black locomotive that, through chimney, layed great thick clouds. She hustle the troley to one of the entrances but failed to get her suitcase on board of the train because the rung of the latter found himself several inches above the platform. When she was beginning to despair, two boys with redheads strictly identical approached her "The maiden needs help?" Said the first half in jest. “Don't worry: the Weasley twins are here to save the day!" Continued the second.
    Jamilly smiled at both, "I would appreciate a hand with this suitcase..." she said a little shy because she didn't want to abuse of anyone's good will.
    "Why only one hand when we offer four!?" Said the first, again. "But only for now: we need them later." said, looking very seriously, the second. And each one taking one side of the bag hoisted it into the train, leaving Jamilly with the task of carrying the cage. The twins appeared after leaving a chariot "I hope you do not mind sharing a carriage with boys..." they both said.
    Jamilly smiled once more "Of course not..." she said remembering that she hadn't yet introduced herself "I am Margarett, but you can call me Maggy." she said quickly.
    The twins smiled "This is George..." said the first one pointing to his brother “...and this is Fred." said the second indicating his twin. "We have to go. A friend of us has a giant spider in a suitcase" they said while they began to pull away. "See you at Hogwarts!" They cried at the end of the corridor.
    Jamilly entered the compartment that the twins had gone inside and found two occupants: a boy with red hair and pretty freckled and the black-haired boy she had seen in Diagon Alley. The boy seemed to recognize her too. "Hello .." Jamilly said shyly. "Fred and George put my suitcase here. Do you might if I stay with you?" she asked with fear of having to look for another chariot where she could stay.
    Both boys smiled, but was black-haired boy that replied, "Of course not. Be our guest..." And with that said she entered the carriage and sat by the door putting Cliodne at her side. "My name is Harry Potter and this is Ronald Weasley," said the boy with black hair.
    Jamilly was lost in her thoughts: the guy said his name was Harry Potter and that was the name of her missing brother, but he couldn't be him… Finding him couldn't have been so easy. There should be dozens if not hundreds of Harrys with the surname Potter. Slowly she began to become aware of her surroundings just in time to hear the red-haired boy who smiled at her, "You can call me Ron. Everyone calls me Ron... And you? "
    "Margarett. Margarett Smith but everyone calls me Maggy. "She said starting to feel more at ease and setting aside the doubts that plagued her.
    "This is your owl?" Asked Harry.
    "Yes. This is Cliodne. The Smiths gave it to me when we went to Diagon Alley. I think, although they aren't used to this kind of thing, they wish to hear from me as many times as possible..." she said.
    "Your parents are Muggles?" Ron asked interested. "My father works at the Ministry of Magic in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office. He loves everything that has to do with Muggles..." he said.
    If Jamilly hadn't read about the creation of a law forbidding witches to enchant Muggle's objects, she would be shocked by that statement, but aparently Harry hadn't read the same books as her. "Yes and no. The Smiths are Muggles..." she said pausing at the moment. Perhaps she had already said too much. She still hadn't told her boyfriend what had happened and was about to do it to two complete strangers. But there was something in Harry that made her feel as she could tell him whatever it was.
    "Then your parents are Muggles." Noted Ron that didn't understood the girl's hesitation.
    "No: the Smiths are Muggles. I never knew my parents. They died when I was a baby and since then the Smith were the ones who took care for me. They told me the truth when I received the letter. Apparently my parents were wizards..." she finally said, feeling much relieved to have shared with anyone what was happening in her new and confusing life.
    "My parents also died when I was a baby. My uncles raised me all these years and never told me I was a wizard. I just found out when Hagrid delivered me the letter." And when the other two looked at him quizzically (the cards were never delivered in person) he said "My uncles didn't want that I found out the truth, so when I received the letters they destroyed them..."
    After that they talked about the Magical world (ie, Ron spoke and Jamilly and Harry absorbed all the information they could) and the about the Muggle's world (this time it was Ron who listened as the brothers reported things like telephones, internet and theme parks among others). At lunchtime, when cart's woman passed, the three were like best friends. Jamilly and Harry that hadn't brought food from home bought several pieces of all the sweets and cakes that the lady was carrying: Cauldron Cakes, Pumpkin Pasties, Chocolate Frogs, Drooble's Best
    Blowing Gum, Bettie Bott's Every Flavor Beans , Licorice Wands and others that both of them had never heard of (not everything can be learned in books, isn't it true!?). The three were having a wonderfull time, trying everything and the brothers were asking Ron what was every one of those strange sweetness, as he answered them very spirited.
    Later a boy came asking if they had seen his frog, going away to came back a few moments after hanging out with a girl with brown hair that was already dressed in uniform. After some embarrassing moments for Ron (his twin brothers had taught him a fake spell that obviously didn't work out) and some exhibitionism on the part of the girl (who introduced herself as Hermione Granger), she and the boy (who they knew now, was called Neville) were gone.
    While recovering from Hermione's visit, who had boasted about having memorized all the textbooks (Jamilly thought, very upset, that only a very pretentious person would do such a thing... ok that she had read all the books and that she knew a large part of them by heart, but no one heard her crying it to the seven winds!!!), Ron told them about the school's teams (his parents and brothers had all gone to the Gryffindor and he had a great fear of not continuing the legacy), about a very strange robbery that had happened in Gringotts (because, contrary to custom, nobody had been caught) and Quidditch (the sport of wizards). They were much more animated when the compartment door was opened again and three boys entered.
    "It's true that Harry Potter is in this chariot?" Asked one of the boys.
    Jamilly, who had her back to the door and still hadn't turn over, felt the bones freeze with the sound of that voice. At this moment, she wasn't prepared to deal with the drama that would unfold when he finds out that she was there. "Yeah." Harry said simply. Jamilly could see that he didn't like even a single bit of that he was seing, which made her stay even more quiet: now that she finally had made new friends, they didn't seemed to like Draco.
    "These are Crabbe and Goyle." Draco said. Judging by the size of shadows they cast on the carriage floor, Jamilly thought that they were cabinets and not people. "And I'm Draco Malfoy." Said a voice rather arrogant that didn't appealed at all to Jamilly: he resemble his father talking.
    Ron let out a little laugh that wasn't ignored by Draco "You think it's funny!? My father was absolutely right: the Weasleys are all redhead, freckled and have more children than possessions..." he said with disdain. Jamilly felt increasingly disgusted with his behavior. And suddenly, her worst nightmare (at least what seemed at that moment be her worst nightmare) come true "And who are you?" Asked dryly.
    Jamilly took a deep breath to gain courage and turned slowly. "Margarett Smith. Very pleased to meet you or not..." she said when she was facing the three intruders. The expression on Draco's face said it all: he could expect to see a lot of things, but his girlfriend at the train with Harry and Ron wasn't, without a doubt, one of them.
    Draco pulled himself together as fast as he could (Harry and Ron seemed to not have notice a thing, perhaps because they was too busy looking at the two beasts who accompanied Draco and where advancing ever more into the chariot) and said, finally turning his eyes to Harry, "Within the world of wizards there are some families better than others and I can help you understand the differences…"
    Harry looked at him with a reproachful look, "I can find out for myself, thanks." He said dryly. And at that moment Jamilly realized she could never have all the people who she liked together in one room, unless she wanted to watch a boxing match.
    "Do as you want, Potter. Don't say I didn't warn you." Draco said in a threatening tone. His two henchmen had begun to steal the sweets and pastries still wrapped up and he looked Jamilly who had the most reproachful and disappointed look that he had ever seen in her eyes. And they were looking at him. Feeling bad for the first time since he had entered on that train (he is a big idiot but really likes Jamilly; don't forget that love can change people. Or not...) Draco turned to his bodyguards "Let's get outta here. We wasted too much time..." said starting to leave the room, followed by the other two.
    Jamilly felt extremely ill. She never expected to see such an attitude on the part of her boyfriend and all this leads her to question whether she knew him that badly. Beside her Harry and Ron were talking but she didn't hear a single word of what they were saying and she was only pulled of that kind of trance by the sound of the door opening. She hoped it was Draco to apologize about his attitude, saying he only had behaved that way to impress his friends, but to her great disappointment it was just Hermione to warn them that they should change clothes because soon they would arrive at the destination. When she left, the three opened their bags, removed the ropes from inside, and after removing their coats, they dressed them up.

    Once the train stopped and they went out into the cold air that night (even with long cover they were trembling with cold) they saw a light shining above their heads and the giant Jamilly had seen in Diagon Alley with Harry smiled at them. After all the first year students were gathered, Hagrid led them to near the lake where there were several small boats (each with four seats). When they got there they had the most beautiful sight ever (at least that's what Jamilly thought, nothing that she read in the books had prepared her for such a magnificent landscape): on the other side of the lake, nestled atop of a great mountain, was a castle like the ones in the fairy tales, with great walls, towers and turrets and numerous tiny windows that were immensely bright. Jamilly, Harry and Ron went to one of the boats and were followed by a boy who they didn't knew, much to the unhappiness of Hermione and Neville, who had approached them.
    Once all the students were on boats, and with a simple order of Hagrid, they began to slide through the dark waters of the lake. When the boats stopped at some kind of underground harbor, everyone left the boats and walked behind Hagrid across the lawn that led to a huge oak door. The giant knocked at the door that was opened to them by a tall, black hair and stern face witch, Hagrid greeted her and letting them know that she was Professor McGonagall, deputy director of the school.
    She led them to a small room where everyone was very cramped. Professor McGonagall then began by telling them they would have to be sorted and that would determine in which of the four teams each one would be (Jamilly didn't remember reading about any of that, which made her nervous...) until the end of their stay in the school, ie, during the next seven years, and shortly afterwards left the room saying that soon she would come get them. Throughout this time, Jamilly could see from the corner of her eye, Draco looking at her and it wasn't helping no even a bit with the nerves she felt.
    Shortly thereafter, Professor McGonagall came back and after had them put themselves in line, they proceeded to the great hall, where already all other students (divided into four large tables) and teachers (all on a table that was in the far side of the room, facing all the other) were sitting. Since looking around and face all those who were staring made her uncomfortable, Jamilly looked at the ceiling seeing it with so many stars as that the sky outside, and even having read about it, it was difficult to believe that it was only a spell. When she finally stopped, they were positioned in front of the other pupils.
    Professor McGonagall left the hall and returned to it with a small bank that had a very old and patched up hat above it. Jamilly, like many other first years, looked inquiringly at this hat when it made the most unthinkable thing of all: it began to sing!

    "Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
    But don't judge on what you see,
    I'll eat myself if you can find
    A smarter hat than me.
    You can keep your bowlers black,
    Your top hats sleek and tall,
    For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
    And I can cap them all.
    There's nothing hidden in your head
    The Sorting Hat can't see,
    So try me on and I will tell you
    Where you ought to be.
    You might belong in Gryffindor,
    Where dwell the brave at heart,
    Their daring, nerve, and chivalry Set Gryffindors apart;
    You might belong in Hufflepuff,
    Where they are just and loyal,
    Those patient Hufflepuffis are true And unafraid of toil;
    Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
    if you've a ready mind,
    Where those of wit and learning,
    Will always find their kind;
    Or perhaps in Slytherin
    You'll make your real friends,
    Those cunning folk use any means
    To achieve their ends.
    So put me on! Don't be afraid!
    And don't get in a flap!
    You're in safe hands (though I have none)
    For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
    (This lyric isn't mine, but I find the hat so funny that had to included it)


    Everyone applauded and the hat bowed, before Professor McGonagall start calling the students by their names to be selected. The process was very simple and Jamilly felt much more relieved: the student was called, sat on the bench and had the hat placed on his head and the Thinking Cap would scream his sentence.
    While the first new students were called to go on and be selected, Jamilly thought that from what the hat had said in his song, of all teams that the school had the Slytherins seemed to be the most unpleasant. And looking at this team´s table, she confirmed exactly what she was thinking: the oldest pushed the youngest, they offended one another, they booed every time one of the new students was selected for one of the other teams, they beat with the mugs on the table every time one went to their own… Looking at them Jamilly was almost certain that there was nothing good that could be expected from them and that this team shouldn't be her place.
    The first of those Jamilly had meet to be selected was Hermione Granger, who went to Gryffindor and first one could see Fred and George cheering in the crowd, while Hermione joined them. Neville was also in Gryffindor and very clumsily joined Hermione and the others. Draco was called shortly after, he was immediately placed in Slytherins ("Oh no!" Thought Jamilly), sat at the table of his new team and started watching his girlfriend, that, at moment, just wanted to be a mouse so she could get in the first hole she could found (as though she remembered what had happened to the owl, forget the idea quickly, ignoring the unpleasant sensation in her stomach). When the teacher called Harry, the hall was filled with murmur, he advanced towards the bench, sat on it and held to the edges of the seat while the teacher put the hat on him, after a few moments the latter decided that Harry was now a Gryffindor.
    Jamilly now felt really lost: her boyfriend was in the Slytherins (who, by the way, hadn't good report nor they seemed nice or friendly or reliable...) and her new friends (almost certainly Ron would also be there) were in Gryffindor. She hadn't had much time to get lost in her thoughts because half a dozen people later, she heard McGonagall call "Margarett Smith." She walked nervously to the bench, and the last thing she saw was Harry sending her a confident nod and Draco straightening up in his place.
    In the dark that was inside the hat, she heard the same voice that had sung "Well, well well… A difficult task, a very difficult this one will be." It said slowly "One of the brightest minds that Hogwarts has seen in recent years and that will take you very far if you make good use of it, very brave and loyal, very good qualities, very good indeed; Ah... Here's something interesting... a big problem in dealing with authorities and following orders" he said, dropping a small chuckle "So many different qualities, so many chances and only a final option..." he continued, giving Jamilly some time to think and she quickly came to a decision: as much as she loved Draco she couldn't imagine herself in the Slytherins by his side, not after everything she had heard about that team and the bad impression that it had caused her. So she did the only thing he could remember "Not Slytherin. Please not them..." she pleaded in thought. The hat seemed to have recived the message "Well, well... It is the second time today I hear this and I have to ask if you sure that..." he said. Jamilly didn't need to think more to be sure that this would be the best decision for her: if Draco really liked her he would get beyond the fact they were in different teams. The Thinking Cap seemed have got it "Well well, one already out, there are only two more to go… Where will I put you!?" He continued to wonder. Jamilly was getting more nervous because she hadn't the slightest idea of how much time had passed since she placed the hat; was there a time limit to be selected and, if she passed this time, would she be sent back home!? She started thinking about all the people who had known so far and how much fun she already had had and the idea of leaving and left all of that made her sad. The last thing she remembered was Harry's waved and how she had felt confident and at home. "Um.. Yes I think this might be a good choice for you." Said the hat, leaving Jamilly confused. "Your team will be GRYFFINDOR!!!" It screamed loudly so everybody could hear.
    When Professor McGonagall took the hat from her, Jamilly risked a brief glance in Draco's direction (which, in case you are curious, had a shocked expression on his face, as if he'd just take with an invisible pie in his face) before she join her new family, because it was just what she felt that this team was: a big family where everyone protect and help everybody (she was right, at least in theory...).

    She loved Helen and John, but there and then, amid all those strangers, she felt more at home than she ever felt...