On September 1st, 1991, Harry Potter boards the Hogwarts Express to travel to Hogwarts. After dark he arrives at Hogsmeade Station and travels across the Lake to the school, where he is Sorted into Gryffindor. He experiences his first Welcoming Feast after which he follows Percy, the Gryffindor Prefect, up to Gryffindor Tower. He falls asleep in a four-poster bed in the First Year dormitory.
The evening before: Harry asks Uncle Vernon to take him to King’s Cross the next morning. Vernon agrees only because the family is going into London anyway to have Dudley’s tail removed.
“Funny way to get to a wizards’ school, the train. Magic carpets all got punctures, have they?”
— Uncle Vernon
5:00 am
Harry wakes up early, too excited to sleep, and paces his room waiting for the Dursleys to wake up
7:00 am
The Dursley’s set off for London
Two hours later, Harry’s huge, heavy trunk had been loaded into the Dursleys’ car, Aunt Petunia had talked Dudley into sitting next to Harry, and they had set off.
10:30 am
They arrive at King’s Cross. Uncle Vernon puts Harry’s trunk onto a cart and wheels it into the station for him.
“Well, there you are, boy. Platform nine — platform ten. Your platform should be somewhere in the middle, but they don’t seem to have built it yet, do they?”
— Vernon Dursley
10:45 am
Harry asks a guard for help but the man doesn’t know what he’s talking about
10:50 am
Harry feels lost and frantic.
Hagrid must have forgotten to tell him something you had to do, like tapping the third brick on the left to get into Diagon Alley. He wondered if he should get out his wand and start tapping the ticket inspector’s stand between platforms nine and ten.
10:55 am
A few minutes later he meets Molly and the Weasley children and discovers how to get through the barrier.
“Hello, dear,” she said. “First time at Hogwarts? Ron’s new, too.”
She pointed at the last and youngest of her sons. He was tall, thin, and gangling, with freckles, big hands and feet, and a long nose.
“Yes,” said Harry. “The thing is — the thing is, I don’t know how to –”
“How to get onto the platform?” she said kindly, and Harry nodded.
“Not to worry,” she said. “All you have to do is walk straight at the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Don’t stop and don’t be scared you’ll crash into it, that’s very important. Best do it at a bit of a run if you’re nervous. Go on, go now before Ron.”
With the help of Fred and George, Harry gets his trunk onto the train and settles in for the trip.
11am-8:30pm: The journey north to Scotland
While traveling aboard the Hogwarts Express, Harry meets Ron Weasley —
“Anyone sitting there?” he asked, pointing at the seat opposite Harry. “Everywhere else is full.”
— Fred and George —
“Harry,” said the other twin, “did we introduce ourselves? Fred and George Weasley. And this is Ron, our brother. See you later, then.
— Neville Longbottom —
“Sorry,” he said, “but have you seen a toad at all?”
— Hermione Granger —
“Has anyone seen a toad? Neville’s lost one,” she said. She had a bossy sort of voice, lots of bushy brown hair, and rather large front teeth.
— and Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle.
“Is it true?” he said. “They’re saying all down the train that Harry Potter’s in this compartment. So it’s you, is it?”
Early afternoon
The Trolley Lady comes by and asks if they want to buy anything. Harry buys some of everything and shares with Ron.
8:30 pm
The Hogwarts Express pulls into Hogsmeade Station. The sun set around 8:20 so it’s quickly getting dark.
8:45 pm
The First Years follow Hagrid to the edge of the Lake and board boats to sail across to the castle.
9:00 pm
The First Years are greeted by McGonagall in the Entrance Hall
Commentary
Notes
Related Images:
