He grins at her.

"I think you'll make a great Gryffindor."

"...thank you."

"You're welcome. What do you do for fun?"

"You sure do like that question, huh."

"I, um. I like helping my Gran with her garden."

"I do the gardening at home too. What do you grow?"

And now she has a shyly enthusiastic boy talking about various magical plants and fungi!

She listens attentively and asks questions.

And soon they can hear the train whistle. "We should probably put our robes on."

"I'm already in mine, I can step out if you want."

"Please."

Sarah steps into the hallway and waits for them to tell her she can come back in.

It takes only a couple of minutes. Many things can be said of robes but "difficult to put on" is not one of them.

"So, Neville, which class are you most looking forwards to?"

"Herbology."

"I'm not surprised. You seem to know a lot about it already."

Small smile.

And soon a crowd starts forming outside their compartment.

"Are you all ready to get off?"

They are!

Then perhaps they should join the crowd. There was an announcement about leaving their things on the train so Sapphire puts her bag in the upper rack.

The crowd slowly goes through the door and onto a tiny, dark platform. Then a lamp comes bobbing over the heads of the students, and Sarah can hear a familiar voice:

"Firs' years! Firs' years over here! All right there, Sarah?"

Hagrid's big hairy face beams over the sea of heads.

"I'm excited."

"C'mon, follow me—any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!"

Slipping and stumbling, they follow Hagrid down what seems to be a steep, narrow path. It's dark enough on either side of them that there must be thick trees there.