Chapter One: On a Red Steed
I would remember the first time I saw the Hogwarts Express for the rest of my life.
I had woken up at sunrise, like every day. It was the first time I had been allowed in a hotel, and I spent a lot more time standing under the hot water then was really necessary. My breakfast was a lot larger then I was used to receiving, at least I wouldn't have to sneak off later to find something to tide me over. At eight AM I was on was on the curb, and not five minutes later the taxi service was pulling in. The driver helped me put my trunk in the boot, and then we were off.
We arrived by nine, which gave me a two hour window to do anything needed before the departure. This was beneficial, because when I arrived between platforms nine and ten, there was nothing to greet me. No signs. No one looking to guide anyone. After searching the station again, and returning I was desperate. I didn't want to do it, but I didn't really have a choice now did I?
I need to see…And suddenly the world changed. I pulled up my hood, and made sure that no one would see me for the freak I was. But now I could see it. The pillar between platforms nine and ten shimmered like the blacktop back at the orphanage on a hot summer day. I pushed that part of myself back, and everything became normal again, then strode towards the wall with purpose.
I passed through the façade, and everything seemed to go dark for half a second before I was standing on platform, the signs reading Platform 9 ¾. The train itself was a bright red, the shade reminded me of the apples we picked every autumn. I quickly made my way onboard, and again had to use my freakishness to mussel my trunk onto the rack. Then I hunkered down next to the window, and hoped that no one would join me in the room.
At almost eleven however, the door opened to reveal a pair of red headed twins. "Oi, these seats taken?" I shook my head. I didn't want them here, but what choice did I have? Between the two of them, they hoisted another trunk onto the racks then departed with a salute, leaving me and someone who I hadn't even realized was there. She was a little shorter then me, maybe a year younger too. She looked nervous, probably as nervous as me. Father Mathews words echoed through my mind. 'You're a big boy now Harry. God wants you to look after his children that are younger then you.' So I sucked in my breath, and said hello.
"Hi… I'm Harry. What's your name?"
She seemed to take that as an invitation, and finally came in out of the corridor. She sat across from me, and pulled her legs up, wrapping her arms around them. She kept her face partially hidden from me. "Ginny… Ginny Weasley."
"You looking forward to you first year too?" Her eyes darted around, nervous.
"It's your first year too?"
I nodded, trying to keep the smile on my face. "Yeah… I was supposed to come last year, but apparently I got kind of lost. No one knew where I had ended up. Didn't get found until February."
"You can stop smiling."
I almost faltered. "Why?"
"Your not really happy. You're just pretending."
I let the smile drop, my fear spiking. What did I do to give it away? I'm such a freak, can't even smile right anymore. Or can she just tell how much of a freak I am. "If you want I can help you find another compartment. If you don't want to sit with me." I turned my head away in shame. I'm a freak, I don't deserve friends. She whimpered, then replied. "No… I didn't mean it like that. It's just… I didn't think you would want to sit with me."
I turned and gave her an appraising look. She had pulled her face out so I could see it, chocolate colored eyes stared out at me, her face framed by fiery red hair. I could tell that she had been crying, and the urge to help overwhelmed all my instincts to stay distant. "Why were you crying?"
She turned and looked out the window. "I tried to sit with my brother… he chased me out of the compartment. He's such a jerk." She seemed to withdraw more, and the way she was shaking, I knew that she was on the verge of tears again. Damn it! I couldn't stand to let people cry… especially alone.
"Hey, come here." I patted the seat next to me. She hesitated a moment, but then switched to sit next to me. I wrapped my arms around her, and she started crying into my shoulder. "Don't worry… everything's gonna be alright." After a few minutes of crying, she just sat there quivering in the aftershocks. I reached under my shirt and pulled out my cross. It was a simple silver cross on a silver chain, Father Mathews had given it to me when I turned nine. It was all I had left the man that I considered my father. Of everything I owned, it was my most prized possession.
"Oh Heavenly Father, watch over your child and stand by her in her time of need."
"What are you doing?"
I looked down into Ginny's eyes, they were confused and questioning. I stumbled over my words. Everyone here was a witch or wizard… he was one too. Was it still right to be doing this? "I'm praying… I'm asking God to watch out for you. He'd be better at it then me anyway. And you seem like a good person, he'll definitely look out for you."
"Why didn't you ask him to look out for you?"
I looked away, trying to hide my shame. "I'm not good enough for that. He's already given me more then I deserve. Besides, there's no point. God doesn't look out for…" I clamped my mouth shut. Her voice was forceful this time, how she could go from crying to angry so fast, I didn't have the foggiest. "Hey! What were you about to call yourself?"
I kept looking away. I didn't want to see her eyes… but I knew I couldn't lie either. It would only make things worse. "God doesn't look out for freaks or monsters. And I'm both, so it doesn't matter." Then she growled, I assume at me, and punched me. It was probably hard for her, but I barely felt it. "Your not a monster! Or a freak! Who told you that?"
"Father David. He runs the orphanage."
"And why are you a freak? Or a monster?"
"Because I do weird things… I grew my hair back overnight last year. And I can see things… and I can talk to animals… and…" I couldn't say anymore. If I told her then she would tell everyone else. And then I would be alone here too… not that I didn't deserve it. I tried to pull away from her, but she locked her arms around me, and pulled me back to her.
"Then let me ask you, am I a freak?"
I shook my head. "No. You're a nice girl."
"But I did weird things too… I once turned my brothers hair yellow. And I can talk to animals too. And," she looked around, making sure that no one was listening, then leaned in and whispered into my ear. "I can turn into one too."
I looked down at her, shocked. How could she say that! Didn't she know what that meant. I couldn't help the tears that started to well up. She quickly realized what she had done. "No, no, no, don't cry!"
"No… you can't be like me. You're a nice person… just tell me you were lying. Please!"
She looked remorseful, "I can't. I'm telling the truth. What's wrong? Lots of people do weird things! It's called accidental magic." I couldn't help it, I buried my face into her shoulder and cried. "You don't understand. If you're like me… then you'll get punished like me. I can't…"
"No one will punish us. The professors wont punish us, the prefects wont either. I promise."
It didn't help. She wouldn't understand, and I couldn't bring myself to tell her. How do you tell a little girl that God didn't love her? That everyone would eventually abandon her, and her life would be nothing but misery? I don't know how long she held me there, but I remember waking up. I was sprawled out across the seat, my head in her lap. She was stroking my hair, and she looked really nervous. I looked up and asked without thinking, "What's wrong?"
She let out a squeak and I saw the blush creep up her neck. "Your… your… your Harry…"
"Yeah, I told you that when you came in."
"No! Your Harry Potter!"
I turned my head, and looked away, embarrassed. "I'm not. I'm Harry Mathews."
"No, you're Harry Potter, you've got the scar. Why are you lying?"
"I'm not lying! I don't want to be Harry Potter. Everybody knows Harry Potter… everyone loves Harry Potter. I don't deserve that. I'm not a good guy. I'm Harry Mathews."
She grabbed my head and forced me to look at her. She stared into my eyes, and it felt like all the times Father Mathews and Father David and been looking at me when I had done something wrong. After about a minute, she said very calmly. "Ok. Your Harry Mathews. I'm Ginny Weasley. And we're gonna be best friends. Deal?" I looked at her dumbly. "Uh… what?"
"You prat! We're best friends now. Don't what me."
"But… don't I get a say?"
"No. I'm a girl, and girls are always right. So you're my best friend now whether you like it or not."
I just continued to stare at her.
- Bloodlines: Echoes -
No matter how I tried to explain it to her, Ginny wouldn't hear anything of what I said. Eventually I just gave up. When the train arrived, we were led with the other first years down a winding trail to the lake where boats carried us off, to shouts by the grounds keeper of "No more then for to a boat!" The sight of the castle was definitely beautiful, is windows like stars glimmering in the night sky. But all to quickly we were across the water and left to wait to be sorted. When the stern Professor McGonagall said that we would be sorted, I nearly lost it. This was where the good were sorted from the bad, and I was going to be put in among the bad. And Ginny would too. After she left, Ginny pulled me aside. "There's no good or bad here Harry. They're just Houses. It's like… getting told where to sleep. No big deal. And no matter what, I'm going to be in the same house as you."
I stared at her, wide eyed. "You… you can't. You have to go where they tell you."
She shook her head. "Nope. It's you and me. Two best mates against the world."
I didn't have time to respond before we were summoned inside the Hall. It was breathtaking. The ceiling glittered, and exact replica of the sky above. Four sets of tables ran the length of the hall, with banners draped over them. An eagle, a badger, a snake, and a lion. Then we all stood and waited. And one by one we were sorted. And then finally, the moment I had dreaded arrived.
"Mathews, Harry."
I walked up and sat on the stool. And then the hat was placed on my head, and a voice whispered in my ear.
"Well, well, what do we have here. Mr Potter in disguise… I thought I might never see you here. But no matter. Now, where to sort you. You definitely have the mind for Ravenclaw. Your loyalty is truly legendary as well, not many have passed into these hallowed halls and retained their faith for even a single day. You've definitely the courage for Gryffindor. And cunning… well you are here behind a hidden name. What is more cunning then tricking the whole world. So many choices, but you can only go to one house."
"Where… where will Ginny go?"
"Miss Weasley… I don't know yet. Haven't had a chance to look into her head… but if she's anything like her family, then Gryffindor."
I paused… was it alright to ask?
"If Gryffindor is where you want to be, then I wouldn't be the one to stand in your way."
Wait… it could read my mind?
"Why yes, I can indeed. And while you may not be as courageous as some, you most definitely have the potential, so have a great time in, GRYFFINDOR!" The last word was shouted for everyone to hear. I quickly pulled off the hat and returned it to the professor. And most of the people present were applauding… applauding me.
I hurried over to the table where I was being waved, beneath the lion, and sat among those already sorted. Time ticked by, and before I knew it, Ginny was sitting on the stool. And we waited, we waited for several minutes before it shouted again. "GRYFFINDORE!" Ginny looked like I imagine I had, and rushed down to sit next to me.
After the sorting finished, Professor Dumbledore stood and the noise died down. "Welcome all of you fine students to another year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Hopefully you have used your break to empty your heads, and are ready to fill them anew. Now, before we sit down for a lovely supper, I have a few announcements. First, I would inform our first years, and remind the rest of you, that the Forbidden Forest is off limits to all students. Second, there is to be no use of magic in the corridors between your classes. Third, a number of items have been added to our list of banned objects. Please see Mr Filch for a complete list. Lastly, if you encounter any problems, please speak to your head of house or a prefect. Now, tuck in!" He clapped his hands with the last words, and a wave of food appeared across the Hall.
I tried not to let it show how hungry I was. But gave up after my first few bites. After the feast concluded, we were led up to through the castle, and to the Gryffindor common room, informed along the way that the door to our dormitories was hidden and locked by rotating password.
In the common room, we were informed quite plainly of the separation of the boys and girls, and that boys shouldn't try to ascend to stairs to the girls dormitory. The common room was alive with activity, and I was a bit overwhelmed by it all. Ginny seemed to notice, and drug me over to one of the quieter corners. "Harry, go to bed. Go up to your dorm and get some sleep, I'll meet you down here first thing."
"You promise?" I knew I sounded like a child, but I was too tired to care.
"I promise." So we separated.
I went up the stairs, and quickly found my room, shared with several other boys. But unlike back in the orphanage, the beds were lavish, and we each had our own desk and wardrobe. And the beds had curtains. I quickly changed before anyone else arrived, and climbed into bed before closing the curtains. Then I prayed.
"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and for give us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. God… I made a friend today… please don't send her to hell with me. She's really nice, and her name is Ginny Weasley. I know you don't like me, but please, don't punish her. She's a good girl, I can tell. She's nothing like me. Take her up to Heaven with you, put her sins on me. I'll do anything… just… please don't hurt her. Amen"
AN: As I promised, first chapter. I named this a companion piece to Warrior, and it is to a degree. The stories aren't happening at the same time, but I'm taking several of the things that I came up with for that story, and am recycling them here. This story might be a little bit more… emotional then Warrior. Warrior is meant to have a bit more action in it, where as Bloodlines will definitely be about people. Enjoy.