A/N: This is the first story I'm writing in English. As it isn't my native language, please excuse grammar and spelling mistakes. If you want to beta-read it, just contact me.

The story is a prequel to a RPG I'm playing on http/forum.herr-der-ringe-film.de

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and related characters are and remain the property of J K Rowling, Bloomsbury or Scholastic Books. Harry Potter characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of Warner Brothers © 2000/2001. No infringement of copyright is intended by this fic.

Phoebe Rotherford was developed by Kasumi, Bryony Maycroft by Tulipa. Orion Yaxley however is my own creation.

The other Side

The scarlet engine of the Hogwarts Express was already heating up on Platform 9 ¾. The hall was buzzing with life – owls were hooting in their cages, parents tried to say goodbye to their children or were desperately looking for them to hand over some item their precious sons or daughters were about to forget. A blond girl was running after her cat that obviously escaped its basket, trying to catch it before the train left.

On the edge of the platform, a woman and a boy materialized out of thin air. 13-year old Orion Yaxley was clutching the arm of his mother and just started to relax. As an old and wealthy pure-blood family, the Yaxleys had the rare permission to bring their son to the platform by side-along-apparition. Even though the expression on his face didn't show it just now – he thought he'll never get used to this sickening sensation remarkably like being squeezed through a very tight rubber tube – he was extremely proud of it. It was one of the rare privileges his noble descend still provided.

Slowly, he straightened his shoulders and turned to his father who had just appeared beside them. Without speaking a word, he took the trunk from his father and made his way into the train. He would have appreciated a reserved compartment coming with the privilege. He looked around hoping to find one of his friends, but all he saw was unworthy scum. He didn't want to know how many of them were more than half muggles.

And of course, they all wear those embarrassing muggle-things, he thought, one could even feel out of place in his School robes. His mood continued dropping as he moved along. This just wasn't right. He should have earned respect of this vermin. But they seemed to prefer staring at him for some reason.

Finally, he had wriggled his way into the train and strut through the corridors. Almost all the compartments were already taken. Everywhere people were giggling, talking, exchanging presents or showing their new acquisitions over the summer. He could swear he saw one of those stupid 4th year Gryffindors with a tarantula. But he honestly didn't want to know more about that. At last, when he started getting really annoyed, he saw a familiar face. A dark-haired girl, wearing her School robes sat in one of the last compartments of the train.

"Hi Phoebe", Orion said, dragging his trunk in and stowing it on the luggage rack. "I'm so glad to finally see someone normal. Honestly, it's getting worse every year, isn't it?"

The girl looked up to him and smiled. "You bet. But what can you expect with a headmaster like that?"

Orion smirked. It felt good to be among decent people. Phoebe Rotherford was one of Orion's best friends since his first day at Hogwarts three years ago. They had met on the train, sharing a compartment and their pride in wearing proper wizarding robes even outside school.

"Have you seen Bryony yet?" he asked her, but knew the answer before she said it.

"No – has she ever managed to arrive before the train started moving?" Phoebe replied and grinned.

"O.k. I'll just go bid farewell to my parents. Care to accompany me outside?" he asked her and added: "Surely you don't want to miss the spectacle afterwards."

Phoebe got up, smiling. "You're right. That's always worth it."

Phoebe and Orion left the train and Orion directed himself to his parents who were waiting a bit outside the main crowd. They had the air of people who were aware of their social status – they observed the crowd, looking rather stiff and possibly a bit disgusted. It was evident that they considered themselves as above this riff raff.

"Mother, father, I've come to take my leave." Orion bowed slightly, shook his father's hand then hugged his mother.

"Have a nice term, son. And don't forget to write to us if you need anything," said his father.

Mrs. Yaxley nodded, and added: "Don't get you into trouble, my boy."

Orion smiled: "I won't, mother. You should know me. I never even lost a point to Slytherin." It's the art of not getting yourself caught.

"And you better keep it that way, son" answered his father.

Orion knew – his name, the status of his family hadn't popped up just out of thin air. It was the fruit of centuries of efforts. Nothing but the finest manners and actions were expected of him.

"I won't disappoint you, father." With a last "Goodbye", he left his parents. The Yaxleys weren't famed for their overwhelming expression of emotion.

Phoebe, who had been waiting for him a bit apart, came back to him. While they boarded the train again they could watch "the spectacle" they had anticipated. Their friend Bryony Maycroft came running through the barrier out of Muggle-London. She was desperately clutching her trunk and the basket of her cat. Her school robes were flattering behind her. The train already started rolling when she caught the handle of a door and jumped in just before it closed definitively behind her.

Orion and Phoebe laughed and walked back to their compartment. Bryony would find them there eventually, after fighting her way through the entire train. When Orion opened the door to their compartment the smile froze on his face. It wasn't empty anymore.