Dan was counting down from ten in the back of his mind. His patience was wearing thin, as well as his tolerance for being surrounded by other people.
The boy seated next to him-Andrew or Alex, he wasn't really paying attention-was right next to him, attempting to tell him a story about his summer vacation. The only problem? Andy was right next to his neck, a sensitive area, and spittle was flying from his mouth onto Dan's skin. He was already cringing inwardly.
Abruptly, Dan stood up, cutting Austin off midsentence. "Sorry. I-uh, forgot something." Dan sped out of the train compartment, staring down the hallway.
He'd almost forgotten in his haste to stop the spittle monster that he was actually on his way to Hogwarts. It was expected, after all-Dan had grown up learning about the magical school from his pureblood parents. Although he was excited to attend and learn, he was a bit hesitant about being around so many people all the time. He needed his space.
Starting down the hall, he started peeking in the train compartments to find an empty one. So far his search was unsuccessful, but he stopped when he heard a faint thud.
"The hell was that?" he muttered, striding toward a compartment near the back of the train, the source of the noise. He peeked inside and his eyes widened.
A trunk had fallen off the rack over the seats, and clothes were everywhere. The first thing he registered was all the pastels and bright colors this person wore. Then the trunk itself wiggled, and Dan reeled back.
A head popped out from under the trunk. "Oh. Hello!"
It was a black-haired boy with the bluest eyes Dan had ever seen. He couldn't recall ever seeing this boy before. Wherever he was from, it wasn't sunny, judging by his abnormally pale skin.
When Dan realized this kid was waiting for a reply, he blinked. "Oh. Uh. Hi. Are you...are you okay?"
Seeming to just now realize his predicament, the boy looked down at himself. "Oh, yes, this happens often. Thanks for your concern! I'm Phil, what's your name?" He didn't even bother to try to unearth himself. He just laid there, beaming up at Dan.
"...Dan," he finally replied. "Do you want some help? It can't be comfortable under that trunk."
To Dan's surprise, the boy blushed slightly. "Actually, I think I'll just stay down here. It's actually quite nice."
Dan arched a brow. "Really?"
Phil nodded, a little too enthusiastically. "Really!"
In one swift motion, Dan stooped down and tugged on Phil's arm, yanking him out of the mound of clothes…
...and shrieked.
"W-Why aren't you wearing any clothes?!" Dan screeched, quickly turning around and the tips of his ears going red.
"I was trying to change into the robes we're supposed to wear, but my trunk fell," Phil reported sadly. "Now I can't find them in this mass of clothes…" Dan could faintly hear Phil rummaging through the mess.
"Oh, for Christ's sake," Dan grumbled, turning around and starting to sift through the disaster. This wasn't exactly how he'd pictured his first day at Hogwarts-helping a boy wearing only his underwear sort through his clothes.
Suddenly, the clothes next to his foot shifted. Dan froze. "Um, Phil-"
Something furry and definitely alive suddenly scampered up Dan's pant leg, making him scream so high-pitched Phil covered his ears.
"GET IT OFF!" Dan fell onto the ground, shaking his leg up and down while still shrieking.
"Okay! Hold on, let me-" Phil started.
"It's trying to get in my fucking underwear-stop-shit!" Dan let out a string of curses as Phil helplessly started yanking on Dan's pants.
"Don't pull my pants off!"
"But Susan-"
"Who the bloody hell is Susan?!"
Both boys were so preoccupied they didn't hear the door swing open as a female voice started, "Why did someone screa-"
The pair froze as they turned toward a blonde stationed in the doorway. They realized how this might look and both turned beet red.
"Uh-"
"We-"
The girl burst out laughing. "Okay guys, pretty sure this goes without saying, but no hanky-panky on the train, okay?"
She grinned as the two only gaped at her. "I'm Louise. A prefect in my fifth year." She tapped on her badge next to her Hufflepuff colors. "Just find me if you have any questions." Louise was still grinning. "I'll leave you to it, then."
As the door slid shut, silence fell and Dan realized Phil had pulled the furry whatever-it-was out of his pants.
It was a bloody ferret.
"Meet Susan," Phil said proudly, as if the damned creature hadn't just tried to mate with Dan's underwear. "She's very sensitive, so be nice."
Dan groaned and dropped his face in his hands. At least the first day couldn't get any weirder, right?
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A few hours later, Dan and Phil were both successfully changed into their Hogwarts robes, minus the House colors. Phil was a Muggle-born, so after helping him clean up his clothes, Dan had tried to explain the different Hogwarts houses.
"So what House do you think you'll be in?" Phil asked, juggling the demon ferret around in his hands. "Hufflepuff sounds pretty good to me. I'd like to be next to the kitchens as well." He grinned.
Dan shrugged. "Most of my family has been in Slytherin, but who knows? My mum was a Ravenclaw, and my dad's brothers were in Gryffindor. I really don't mind. They all sound great."
"Susan would like any House," Phil stated proudly, holding the ferret aloft. "She gets along well with badgers, though. I once had several badgers. They were named Belinda, Billy, Bobby, Brenda, Barry, and Thor…" Phil proceeded to tell Dan about the horrors of letting pet badgers outside.
He tried to keep a straight face, but he finally started laughing. "Okay, Phil, but who keeps badgers as pets? And why, for Christ's sake, would you name them Betty?"
"Belinda."
"Whatever. What kind of weird animals do you horde?"
To Dan's surprise, instead of getting offended, Phil just laughed. "Yeah, it's a little weird, I guess, but they were so cute. They would've liked you, Dan."
Dan scoffed. "I don't keep pets."
"Aw, come on! You should get one. You'd like it."
"Phil, no."
"But-"
Just then, the whistle sounded, signalling to the boys that the train had arrived. Dan had momentarily forgotten his panic while talking to Phil, but his stomach suddenly felt like bees were mating inside of it.
"Dan, you don't look too well."
"Gee, thanks, Phil."
Phil inspected him, frowning. "Are you sick?"
Dan scooted back slightly. "No...just...nervous, I suppose."
Phil brightened. "Oh! You don't have to be nervous, Dan! Everyone here will be super nice!" He stood, lifting his trunk down and pulling Dan to his feet. "Come on. We've got people to meet, and friends to make."
"Friends?" Dan stuttered, surprised, as Phil yanked him out of the compartment, following the flow of traffic.
Phil looked back at him and grinned. "Sure! You've already made one, right? We're friends now, aren't we?"
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As they walked closer and closer to the grand castle, Dan took the time to reflect on what a crazy day he'd had so far, and he wasn't even inside the castle yet. But what about later? Would he fit in with the other kids okay? What if Phil decided not to be friends anymore, and no one talked to him? What if he couldn't keep up with his classes? What if…
He was shaken out of his thoughts when Phil tugged on his sleeve. "Dan! Look! We get to ride in those!" He was pointing excitedly at small boats waiting to carry them across the lake. Dan's gut twisted. Oh, fuck.
"This is so cool, Dan! Maybe there'll be fish!" As Phil excitedly speculated about there being magic fish, Susan jumped off of his head and onto Dan's shoulder. After about a five-second panic attack, Dan turned to the furball on his shoulder, and he could've sworn it winked at him. The next thing he knew, he was being pulled into a boat with Phil and two other guys.
"Hello!" Phil smiled brightly at the two others. "I'm Phil and this is Dan. What's your name?"
"I'm PJ," the first one announced. "Future Ravenclaw," he added proudly. "At least, that's the plan."
"I'm Chris," replied the second one, digging into his pockets. "Oi, Peej, have you seen Remy?"
"Not since he crawled up your pants."
"Who's Remy?" Phil asked.
"Pet rat. Named him after a Muggle film. My dad's a wizard, mum's a Muggle. She always liked Muggle films and Dad thought they were the craziest things." As Chris spoke, he kept digging around in his robes until a scruffy rat was proudly presented.
"Nice ferret," PJ commented, nodding toward Dan, who hadn't spoken yet.
"Oh, Susan? She's not mine, she's Phil's." Dan tried to give the ferret back, but she dug into Dan's shoulder and refused to budge.
Phil laughed. "She likes you, Dan. Told you animals liked you."
"Bloody hell, Phil, I'm not taking care of a damn ferret."
"Dan, be nice, I told you she's sensitive."
"Phil. She's a ferret."
"A ferret with feelings, Dan."
PJ burst out laughing. "I see you two get along quite well. How long have you been friends?"
Dan groaned. "We met a few hours ago."
PJ and Chris laughed the entire way to Hogwarts.
As the lot entered the main hall, a professor told them to hush as the Headmaster solemnly stood at the front.
"Who's that?" Phil whispered.
"That's the Headmaster, the most well-known wizard in the wizarding world," Dan whispered back. "Felix Kjellberg, a Swedish wizard. He also has the most subscribers."
"What?"
But then Professor Kjellberg started to speak. "Welcome to Hogwarts! I look forward to another fabulous year with my bros!" He smiled out at the students. "Which is you, by the way. Now, a few words! Dumfan! Fitta! Horunge! Javla! Now eat!" He sat back down.
"What'd he say?" wondered Phil.
"No one ever knows." Chris strained his eyes to the tables. "Those must be where the four Houses sit."
"Cool! Dan, look! That guy is making those pastries float!"
"Phil, it's a fucking magic school, what did you expect?"
"I want to learn how to make pastries float, so they can float right into my mouth." Phil went on. "What are you looking forward to?"
Dan thought for a moment. "Sleeping."
"Da-an."
Just then, the professor came back to the gathering of nervous first-years. "Yes, listen. I'm Professor Dawson, and you will be called in alphabetical order up to the Sorting Hat. Put it on your head, find which House you'll be in." He smiled. "All Houses are good Houses, so have fun."
Dan could practically feel his gut stabbing itself as his peers went up one by one to the rather disheveled hat. What if it didn't give him a House? What if it told him there was a mistake? What if…
Phil nudged him and gave him a smile. "It'll be fine, Dan," he whispered. "Don't worry. You'll get a House and we'll have a great time here, okay?"
Dan nodded, unclenching his fists. "Right."
"You, me, and Susan." Phil affectionately patted Susan's head.
Then… "Howell, Daniel!"
Dan gulped as he made his way up to the hat-without tripping, thank God-and sat as the Sorting Hat was lowered onto his head.
Hmm, the hat was quiet for a moment. Great potential in you, boy. You have the ability to do so much. But do you have the ambition to do it?
Dan squeezed his eyes shut. Was he supposed to answer?
Quick-witted, sarcastic, slightly mouthy, the hat continued. But loyal, committed to whatever you take on, and you work hard...even if you have a tendency to procrastinate. I've decided.
The hat opened its mouth. "SLYTHERIN!"
A loud burst of applause came from the tables as the hat was taken off Dan's head and his eyes turned to the far left table, where people in green scarves waved at him with bright eyes.
He sat in a daze, not even aware of the others giving him pats on the back and welcoming messages. He watched Phil take the stand a few minutes later.
After just a few moments, the hat blurted: "HUFFLEPUFF!"
Loud cheers came from the table right next to Slytherin's as Phil trotted over and sat exactly opposite the aisle from Dan. Susan jumped off Dan's shoulder and gracefully landed atop Phil's head. Dan had forgotten the damned thing was even on his shoulder. Oh, God, did I go up to the front with Susan on me?
As he groaned, Phil turned to grin at him. "We did it, Dan! We're officially Hogwarts students."
Dan couldn't help but to give him a smile back. "Yeah...I guess we are, aren't we?"
"Are you still nervous?"
"No. Just a little overwhelmed, I suppose."
"Overwhelmed? Why?"
"Well, Phil, someone has to keep you out of trouble, don't they?" Dan smirked at the opposite boy. "And I've decided that's going to be my job while we're here."
A slow smile spread across Phil's face, and he offered his hand to Dan. "Alright, then, it's a deal. You'll keep me out of trouble and I'll keep you from staying in your bed all year."
Dan took his hand and shook it. "It's a deal."
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So here you go! I posted this story on my Tumblr, but decided to let you all read it as well.
Tell me what you think and I may continue! I have a lot of ideas for this story.
Bye now.