Chapter1: finding the truth
The train let out a burst of steam and slowly moved out of the platform, children craned out of the window waving to their parents still on the platform, then the train rounded a corner and everyone went back to their compartments.
Albus hurried down the train trying to find an empty compartment, finally he saw what he was looking for. There was the compartment right at the back of the train was empty except for one boy sitting by the window reading 'the hobbit'. He had messy black hair which hung forward obscuring most of his face.
¡°May I sit down" Merlin looked up and nodded then turned and looked back at his book.
Merlin stared down at the book but not taking in a word, he was thinking, he was now sitting on a train surrounded by witches and wizards. He had been quite amazed when half way through his summer holidays a strange man had come to the orphanage where he lived proclaiming there was a whole world of wizardry to whom Merlin belonged and that there was even a school teaching people how to do magic. Merlin had been far more surprised to know there are more people in the world that could also do magic and wondered how he had never met one. Or perhaps he had but didn't realise.
That he could do magic was no surprise for him as he had been using these strange powers he possessed for a long time now to protect himself against the constant bullying he had to endure. He had however also used for others gain, in healing wounds almost without effort.
It had been on a wet Tuesday and Merlin had been sitting on his bed having just escaped from McCauley who had been trying to chases him threw the orphanage with his friends. To do what to Merlin he did not know but he knew it would not be present. As he sat he heard an outbreak of swearing as something slammed into the door, plainly McCauley and his friend had caught on that he was in his room and were trying to get in. Merlin sighed and leant back, he knew there was nothing to be freighted of now. The door was locked despite the fact that there was no lock. But merlin had used a spell that would prevent all entering his room unbidden. Were he had learnt this he did not know he had just found about three years ago that he could do it, but only when he wanted to use it. He could not just think of the words he said, that was impossible. After about ten minutes of pointless trying to get in the boys left him in peace until there was a loud knocking on the door just before lunch. Merlin got up to answer it, as he placed his hand on the door handle there was a soft click and the door fell open to revile Mrs Claxton standing next to a rather small slightly dumpy man with a round face and wearing the oldest assortment of clothes Merlin had ever seen. A striped woollen jumper over what over which he had pulled a football shirt. Merlin stared,
¡°This is Merlin Coleman, what did you say your name was?" said Mrs Claxton looking and the stranger.
¡°My name is professor Longbottom and I am here to see merlin about his secondary education"
Merlin's suddenly caught sight of movement at the end of the corridor. It was Liam one of McCauley's friends trying to sneak down the corridor thinking this man was here to foster merlin no doubt and there-for Liam would of course tell him about all the strange thing that happened around merlin and any other lies he could think of to try and stop merlin getting fostered. Merlin knew that he had to stop Liam and his eyes fell on the small suitcase next to one of the bedrooms from some sleep over. his eyes moved suddenly, he had become so accomplished at moving things like this had he no longer had to even speak and the suitcase zoomed out into the middle of the corridor so fast no one would have seen it move even if they had been looking. But professor Longbottom's eyes were fixed on Merlin's face and as merlin moved the suitcase the professor saw merlin's eyes suddenly glow orange for a fraction of a second.
¡°Right I'll leave you to it then, you can come and get..."
CRASH Liam collided with the suitcase full on with a bone crunching thud, obviously he hadn't been looking where he was going he was in such a hurry.
¡°right I may I enter" asked professor Longbottom politely pretending not to hear Mrs Claxton's yells about not running down corridors and it was his own fault really to Liam who was slowly getting up off the floor.
¡°Sure" said merlin pleased to have an excuse to shut the door. And sitting himself back down on the bed. He did not lock the door as he knew Mrs Claxton would see to it that he was not disturbed.
The strange man looked at him for several seconds before asking:
¡°Do you know why I am hear?"
Merlin shook his head. How could he know except that it was about school. But what was there to be questioned? He already know he would be going to green wood because everyone from the orphanage went there.
¡°I am here to offer you a place at Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry as we think you may have some of the qualities needed to get into the school"
Merlin stared. There were other people then in the worked who could do what he could do. He was not competency unique. Having had the feeling of being singled out all his life the news to know he was normal among some people was wonderful to hear.
¡°What do you learn at a magic school then" he asked
¡°Do you want to come then" the man asked sounding curious "and do you believe what I've told you?"
Merlin nodded ecclesiastically of course he wanted to come! What in the entire world would make him refuse.
¡°Well you will learn how to control your powers and how to use then in the right circumstances. This year will however be slightly different as something very special that hasn't happened for over 20 years" he suddenly looked sheepish as though he had given away more than he had planned. "Anyway this is the letter that gives you all the details" and he passed Merlin a heavy envelope that seemed to be made f parchment with a heavy wax seal on it bearing a coat of arms. An eagle, a badger, a snake and a lion all surrounding the letter 'H'. As merlin opened the envelope two pieces of heavy parchment fell out onto the bet, he picked up the first one and began to read:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
headmistress: Minerva McGonagall
¡
Dear Mr Coleman,
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry/. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on the 1 September. We await your owl by no later than the 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Neville Longbottom
Deputy headmaster
As merlin finished reading he picked up the second piece of parchment which read:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Uniform
First-year students will require:
Three sets of plain work robes (black)
One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
One set dress robes
Please note that pupils' clothes should carry name tags
Set Books
All students should have a copy of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potion by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
A Fight Against the Dark Forces (for Beginners) by Haud Nox
Other Equipment
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, slandered size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad
PARENTS ARE REMINTED THAT FIRST-YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS
Merlin looked up at professor Longbottom.
¡°Were can you get all this stuff?" he asked
¡°London" replied professor Longbottom "but I must leave you now. Are you okay to make your way there alone if I give you instructions as I have to go and see another potential first year"
Merlin nodded, he had travelled round London before on his own after all and if you got them further away it couldn't be that difficult to get there? He listened carefully as he was given instructions on how to get to Diagon alley from the orphanage before professor Longbottom handed over a small purse of money and explained about the coinage. It sounded simple enough and he was just about to ask how to get to the platform number it said on the ticked he had just been given before professor Longbottom left with a wave of his hand having obviously not heard Merlin's question.