I want to thank all of you guys who reviewed. I have tried to improve with the reviews you have given me. I know some of you are wondering if I am going anywhere with this story, so I want to assure you all that I have some ideas. But for now I have to make the setting of the story. The fun should come in chap 4 or 5.
Disclaimer: I am not Rick Riordan or J.K Rowling unfortunately.
Well that's it. Read on
Harry
Kings Cross Station was as crowded as ever. Ron and Hermione had already gone through the barrier of platform 9 ¾. Harry wheeled the trolley so that he was facing the blank stretch of wall that was actually the barrier. Of course, the muggles wouldn't know that. They would just walk past the wall like it was any other ordinary wall. As wizards, they knew better.
Harry ran through the barrier and found himself in platform with a steam red train labeled "Hogwarts express". Ron and Hermione were already waiting for him so that we could board the train together.
Together we hauled our trunks up the train with some difficulty, and walked down the isle trying to find an empty compartment. Unfortunately for them, after they had walked down more than half of the train, they still could not find any empty compartment. All of them were already full, packed with students who were happily talking after the long break. Now that the students were finally reunited, they had many adventures from their holidays to share with their friends.
Harry, Ron and Hermione continued to trudge to the back of train. Nearing the end, they saw a compartment which was mostly empty except for a teenage boy wearing a bright orange T-shirt and was of about 17 years old doing his final year of Hogwarts like them. However, Harry was sure he had never seen this guy before. The teen had put his leg up on the seat opposite him, his head was leaning against the window and his eyes were closed. In short, the teen was sleeping soundly. His trunk was already stowed away in the overhead compartment.
Harry glanced at his friends, all of whom were staring at the boy. They looked to Harry and had a silent agreement. Harry then stepped in and tapped the sleeping teen on the shoulder.
The teen instantly woke up. His hands instinctively went into his pocket. It must be his wand, Harry thought. However, the teen did not pull out his wand. He merely kept his hand in his pocket and looked at them with a confused expression.
Deciding to break the awkwardness of this situation, Harry introduced his friends. "Hello, this is Ron and Hermione, and I am Harry, Could we share the compartment with you since everywhere else is full?"
"Uh, sure." The boy replied. The teen immediately removed his feet which were on the seat opposite him and sat up.
They went into the compartment and sat facing the teen. He still had not introduced himself, and so they sat in silence, staring at each other.
"Who are you?" Ron said abruptly after sometime.
The teen looked at him, and Harry realized that his eyes was sea green, like an ocean. The boy replied, "Oh, I am Percy." He simply said.
Ron nodded.
It was Hermione's turn to ask a question. "Where are you from? You are certainly a new person, since I've never see you before."
Percy seemed to struggle with answering that question.
Finally he replied, "I'm an exchange student from America."
"What school are you from in America? Which year are you going into at Hogwarts? Does Dumbledore know about this? How-" Hermione launched a jumble of questions.
"Hermione stop. He's new here. Give him a break with the questions" Ron said, slightly annoyed.
"But obviously don't you want to know more about him?"
"We can ask him later. He's tired, we woke him up just now. Let him rest."
"But-"
"Dumbledore will introduce him, I'm sure."
"Oh you do? You know very well I'm smarter than you are."
"You're too smart for your own good!"
"Ronald, I-"
"Shut up! Both of you!" Harry yelled. Ron and Hermione never stopped bickering when they disagreed on something.
Both Ron and Hermione stopped their bickering and stared at Harry. Percy, who was sitting opposite him, looked at them too, with a look of amusement, like he'd seen such arguments before.
"Well, I would like to know which school you came from in America." Harry told Percy, looking at his orange T-shirt with the words CHB on it
"Um, it's called Castle Half Blood" Percy replied after a pause and looking down at his own T-shirt.
Harry could tell that Percy wasn't telling the truth, but he decided to keep his suspicions for later. He wondered vaguely why anyone would lie about where they came from. Harry thought that maybe Percy's headmaster had told him not to reveal the name and whereabouts of his school. He knew that because other wizarding schools such as Beauxbatons and Durmstrang both did not like to reveal much about their schools in fear of an attack. Naturally, Harry assumed it was similar in Percy's case.
However, Hermione was not convinced.
"I've never heard of wizard schools in America. As far as I know, there are no wizard schools in America." Hermione said.
Now Percy looked uncomfortable, and with a hint of nervousness? Harry thought he saw a flicker of nervousness pass Percy's face for a moment. Then it was gone, replaced by a lopsided smile.
"There is. How can I not know where my school is?" Percy said calmly. "Now if you don't mind I would appreciate if you let me take a nap." With that, Percy put his head against the glass window as before and closed his eyes. His raven black hair was slightly covering one of his eyes.
Harry saw Percy's breathing slowed down into a natural rhythm and knew that he had really fallen asleep. Wow. This guy could sleep in an instant, he thought. He looked at Ron and Hermione, both of with were looking at the sleeping boy.
"Well what do you think of him?" Harry muttered to his friends.
"He seems suspicious not telling us truthfully about his school in America. Harry I'm sure there is no wizard school in America." Hermione said quickly.
"Then he must be lying. But why would he? What does he have to hide?" Ron asked.
Harry took a deep breath decided to tell them about what was nagging him about Percy. Hoping his friends would believe him, he said "He could be a Death Eater spy like Malfoy. Do you feel the aura of power around him?"
"Yes! I was going to ask you that too! He feels powerful. It feels like power is practically radiating off him." Ron added.
"True. I agree with you Harry. He could be a Death Eater. We have to watch out." Hermione whispered.
"What do we do then?" Ron asked fearfully.
"I say we try to keep an eye on him and see what he does. If he tries anything, we go to Dumbledore. Agreed?" Harry replied.
"Fine" Said Hermione and Ron in unison.
-Line Break-
For the rest of the train journey to Hogwarts, the three friends shared about their holiday during the school holidays. They ate Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans, Ron played wizard's chess with Harry while Hermione read a book. Every now and then shooting a glance and the sleeping Percy who slept like a log.
Time seemed to fly by and the train started to slow down. They changed into their robes and got their trunks from the rack above before Ron tapped Percy on his shoulder, rousing him from his sleep.
Harry watched as Percy got up and grabbed his trunk from the overhead compartment and set it on the floor with no difficulty. Then all of them stepped down from the train like the other students and onto the station platform.
Together, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Percy walked to the docks where the students were boarding boats to sail to Hogwarts castle.
Harry glanced back at Percy again who was captivated by the view of the castle. Maybe, he thought, maybe Dumbledore might explain about this exchange programme in the great hall.
Aaand that is the end of this chapter. I know its not that long but I don't really have the time to write long chapters as that would mean a longer time to update. Pls review. Like I said before, feel free to comment and criticize on anything. Or you can PM me if you want. Thank you
