THE JOURNEY FROM PLATFORM NINE AND THREE-QUARTERS
He rummaged around in his trunk and pulled out a very battered-looking wand. It was chipped in places and something white was glinting at the end.“ Unicorn hair’ s nearly poking out. Anyway—” He had just raised his wand when the compartment door slid open again. The toadless boy was back, but this time he had a girl with him. She was already wearing her new Hogwarts robes.
“ 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.
“ We’ ve already told him we haven’ t seen it,” said Ron, but the girl wasn’ t listening, she was looking at the wand in his hand.“ Oh, are you doing magic? Let’ s see it, then.” She sat down. Ron looked taken aback.“ Er— all right.” He cleared his throat.
“ Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, Turn this stupid, fat rat yellow.”
He waved his wand, but nothing happened. Scabbers stayed gray and fast asleep.
“ Are you sure that’ s a real spell?” said the girl.“ Well, it’ s not very good, is it? I’ ve tried a few simple spells just for practice and it’ s all worked for me. Nobody in my family’ s magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, I mean, it’ s the very best school of witchcraft there is, I’ ve heard— I’ ve learned all our course books by heart, of course, I just hope it
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