A Muggle at Hogwarts

“Come along!” Mrs. Weasley shouted as the group of us made our way through King's Cross Station. I did my best to follow along, but was so mesmerized by everything I saw around me. This was my first time here at King’s Cross. England in general, and it was so beautiful. The stone walls stretched high to the ceiling where it met with a glass ceiling, which lit the transit with warm sunshine.

“Violet?” I heard someone shout, and I snapped out of my thoughts. I hurried through the crowd of people and caught up with group.

“You really mustn’t wander off like that,” Mrs. Weasley gasped when I approached. “It’s very easy to get lost with so many people.” She smiled as she patted me on the back. “Now, let’s get you going.”

“Let me help you with your things,” Harry said as he walked over to Mrs. Weasley and me with his cart. “I’ll be taking you through the platform.”

“Thanks,” I smiled. I glanced past Harry and watched at Mrs. Weasley gave Ron and Ginny kisses on their foreheads and wishing them well. She watched in tears as Ron headed through the platform, followed by a hesitant Ginny. She stopped and looked over to Harry and me, but when she locked eyes with me, she quickly turned away and sped through the gateway.

“We should probably get going,” suggested Harry.

“Yes, of course,” I smiled.

I walked beside Harry and approached the portal. As we neared, my hands reached out for the cart and clutched onto it.

I breathed heavily. “I-I don’t know if I can do this…”

“Just going for it is your best option,” said Harry,

“No, I mean, I don’t know if I can literally do this. Get through the portal. I’m a Muggle, afterall. What if I can’t get through? I mean, I saw what happened with you and Ron...and that definitely didn’t look pleasant.”

Harry laughed. “Come here,” he whispered as me pulled me towards the cart. He placed his arms around me and held onto the handle. “Now, just hold on. We’re going to run.”

“RUN!?” I practically shouted.

“Just close your eyes, if it helps.”

I let out a heavy sigh. “I am trusting you, Harry Potter. Don’t make me regret this…” I said closing my eyes.

“Ready?”

“Not—”

“GO!” Harry laughed as he pushed the cart forward.

My eyes snapped open. “No, I’m not ready!” I objected while reaching for the handle. And to my unfortunate timing, I opened my eyes just in time to see the brick wall flying towards my face. Quickly shutting my eyes again, a terrified screech escaped my mouth as I waited for the pain to hit me, but it never came. Instead, my feet began to slow, and the sound of steam and chattering filled my ears.

I hear Harry laugh. “You can open your eyes now.”

My eyes fluttered opened, and the first thing I saw was the golden letters that read “Hogwarts Express” along the black and red train. My hand slipped from the cart and I placed it over my mouth in complete awe.

“This was definitely worth running into a wall…” I whispered.

“It wasn’t that scary,” grinned Harry.

“Not scary?” I repeated with astonishment. “I don’t know how you do it, but I was scared out of my mind!”

Harry only laughed in response.

“Hey, don’t laugh!” I snapped, though I couldn’t help but smile myself.

Harry and I boarded the crowded train, with people continuously walking back and forth along the narrow aisles. Harry told me to stay close to him, so that I wouldn’t get separated from him.

Suddenly, a group of girls came out of a compartment and right between Harry and me.

“E—excuse—Harry—!” I tried to call out to him, but Harry continued down the corridor without realizing that I had been halted by the group of girls. As they walked down the hallway, I got swept into their crowd, and before long I didn’t recognize where I was. I quickly began wandering around the train searching for Harry and the others.

The door to a compartment slid open and someone came rushing out. I jumped back against the wall just as the girl ran through the hallway, shoving aside anyone in her way.

“It’s you…”

I looked before me and was taken back by the figure before me. It was just my luck to run into him, of all people.

“Draco,” I muttered.

“We’re on a first name basis, are we?” A crooked grin formed on his face. “Well, what are you waiting for? Come in,” he invited as he stepped aside to let me into the compartment he had claimed.

“That’s alright,” I declined. “I’m actually looking for Harry and his friends. We got separated,” I explained.

“Of course, you are.” Draco rolled his eyes as he leaned against the door. “You two seemed friendly. Coming through the platform with his arms around you and all. Pathetic, really.”

I crossed my arms. “You’re a bit of a jerk, you know that?”

“Excuse me?”

“You are,” I replied without a moment of hesitation. “Is there really nothing nice you can say about others? Seriously...doesn’t it get old?”

Draco scoffed and took his eyes off me. He remained silent as he crossed his arms over his chest.

I sighed heavily. “I’m sorry. Um...I probably should get going.”

Just before I walked off, Draco reached out and took my hand. “Wait,” he whispered. He looked down the hallway at the approaching people before quickly turning his attention back to me. “Come talk to me for a while. I’ll even…” he paused, and I could tell it was difficult for him to say his offer. “I’ll even help you look for Potter if you still want to.”
I took my hand away from Draco and looked away to hide my flushed face. “I—I don’t know…” I bit my bottom lip. “I guess...umm...just—just for a little bit. Okay?”

“Good,” he smirked, “because I have something for you.”

He motioned into the compartment and I walked in without a second thought. I heard the door close behind me, and my heart couldn’t help but jump. In that moment, my mind couldn’t stop racing. Perhaps this wasn’t a good idea.
Draco fiddled with his luggage before pulling out a silver package held together emerald ribbons. He smiled and casually handed it to me as he sat down on the scarlet seats.

“What is this?”

“Open it,” Draco urged.

I hesitantly took the present from him and unraveled it to find a shiny black box. Opening it, I was in complete awe.

“A silver rose…” I gasped. A smile formed on my face as I gently took the flower out from it’s case and examined it. “Is this real?”

“It’s chocolate, actually,” Draco said while leaning against the compartment door. “I had it made...especially for you.”

“Why for me?”

“Because you’re new,” Draco charmingly replied.

I shook my head and laughed. “Do you do this for all new students then?”

“Only for you,” Draco smiled, “because you’re special.”

My heart stopped. The smile faded as I let out a heavy sigh and placed the chocolate rose back into its case. Draco looked at me confused

“Is something the matter?” he asked.

I took a seat but wasn’t able to bring myself to look at him. “What if I told you…” I began, “that I was from a different world? One where magic doesn’t exist?”

“W-what do you mean?” stuttered Draco.

“I mean, what if I was from a world where everyone was a Muggle? Would you still be doing all of this for me?” I asked as I looked up at him.

Draco swallowed hard. “But that would mean you, too, are a Muggle...”

“...Yes, it would.”

Draco broke eye contact with me, and I could feel the awkwardness setting in. He began to shift his weight around, clearly uncomfortable about the situation.

A soft, nervous laugh escaped from Draco’s lips. “I would say that’s quite a story,” Draco finally spoke up. “You wouldn’t be attending Hogwarts if you were a Muggle. Right?”

I shrugged. “Well, that’s the beauty of magic, isn’t it? Making the impossible possible.”

Draco sat silently in the seat and couldn’t meet my gaze. In all honesty, I was in a bit of awe seeing Draco so quiet. But I knew it was probably better this way, and hopefully this would discourage him from whatever pursuit he had in mind.

“Look,” I sighed, “I really should get going. Um...thanks for this, but—”

“You’re really not going to try it?” Draco interrupted as his head shot up.

I was completely taken back by his response. However, I recomposed myself and shook my head. “I really—I shouldn’t,” I said as I tried to give him the present back. “You should save it for someone—”

“At least try one,” Draco urged.

Without waiting for my response, Draco took the box and reopened it. He unwrapped the silver foil and before my very eyes, the rose began to bloom chocolate petals!

I gasped and a smile stretched across my face. “That. Is. Awesome!”

A grin formed on Draco’s face as well. “That’s not even the best part.”

He took one of the petals and leaned towards me. Hesitantly, he reached the chocolate petal towards my trembling lips. I could feel my face becoming red with heat as I slowly parted my lips. As Draco grew closer and closer, I became more and more terrified, which only cause my nervous tremble to worsen.

The feeling of Draco’s fingers brushing against my lips and the smoothness of the chocolate in my mouth sent a strange, tingling sensation throughout my body. I could feel the warm of the chocolate sliding down my throat and warming my entire body as it did so.

“How do you like it?” asked Draco as he leaned back in his seat.

“It’s so smooth and delicious!” I exclaimed happily. “Try some!”

“It’s fine. It’s supposed to be your present, so you can do with it as you please,” he replied with a heavy sigh. “If you must...I guess you can give some to that Potter and his mates…” Draco trailed off and looked away embarrassed. “But just remember!” he snapped. “This is your present. They shouldn’t eat it all!”

I laughed and took the chocolate rose from Draco’s hand. I plucked another petal and popped it into my mouth. I leaned it towards Draco and said, “Well, perhaps they can wait for a bit longer. You and I can finish this chocolate together and then we can go look for them. Does that seem fair to you?”

Draco simply smirked and reached over to take a petal. That smile of his grew wider as he popped the chocolate into his mouth and leaned back into his seat.