Chapter Two

The day had finally come, and Thomas was a bundle of nervous energy and barely contained excitement. His mother had spent the night before and the whole morning trying -and failing- to hide her anxious and fearful thoughts. Myro had drilled Gally very sternly on how he expected his son to behave, and to help Thomas settle in as best he could. To his credit, in the week leading up to the big day Gally had been the model of civility, but Thomas suspected that that had more to do with his own excitement at returning to Hogwarts than anything Myro had said to him.

Stepping through the barrier was like bursting a sound bubble. As Thomas hit the other side he couldn't help but exclaim in wonder. The platform was awash with noise, laughter and shouting, warm sunlight alighting on the many, many, many hurrying forms. The air was full of an intoxicating concoction of steam and new clothes and something herby, and there was a tingle laced amongst the excitement that felt like Magic.

Thomas had never been this excited in his life.

They made their way through the crowd, Thomas paying little attention to his mum as she listed off out loud everything she had done and everything they needed, stumbling over the word robes and beginning to worry that she hadn't packed his Remembrall. Chuck assured her she had, and Thomas turned at his voice, grinning when his mum simply smiled almost bashfully and squeezed Chuck's shoulder in thanks.

Gally disappeared almost as soon as they hit the platform, and Myro assured Alexandria that this was totally normal, and that Gally wasn't new to this, remember? She smiled, relaxing, but her face was still etched with a worry that reminded Thomas that his mum was a much better person than him. He found it difficult to even just abide Gally, but his mum worried about him because she cared about him. Even if he was a snide little slinthead every now and then. Thomas had to admit that in the last few weeks he had noticed a softening in Gally's attitude towards her, and he hadn't heard the word mudblood in a while. But Thomas still thought he was a crank, really.

Thomas's first sight of the train enthralled him. Steam and grey smoke coiled and danced around the engine, which gleamed a ruby red in the light, the beautiful golden gilding catching and scattering the light. Polished to a deep shine, the contraption was breath-taking, and Thomas couldn't contain the glee that rose up from his toes, exclaiming loudly and looking to his mother. She was teary-eyed but grinning so widely that Thomas new her face would hurt when she stopped. She embraced him in a tight hug, and as she pulled away Thomas heard Chuck laughing. He looked at him.

"I forgot, you've seen it before!"

Chuck nodded, blushing a little as he looked up at Thomas.

"I was louder than you the first time i saw it though, much more embarrassing."

Thomas simply grinned and ruffled Chuck's hair, both of them laughing as a voice called Thomas's name. He turned to see Minho sprinting towards him, dancing between the people moving along the platform.

"Thomas! Chuck! Hey you two!"

He grabbed Thomas in a bear hug, drawing back to high five both him and Chuck.

"Hey Mr Darwin! Mrs Edison! You excited?"

His last words were directed at Thomas, and his grin lit Thomas's up in return.

"Like you wouldn't believe! You?"

"Course i am, you deadhead." quipped his friend, and Thomas laughed, crying out indignantly when Minho dodged his swat and clipped his ear.

"Gotta be quicker than that, Tommo."

Thomas rubbed his ear with a laugh, promising he'd get his friend hack for that. Minho simply grinned wider, and tipped his fingers in a mock salut.

"I have to get back, my mum'll be going nuts. My sister gets on ASAP to bags a good carriage, and mum's worried the train will leave early with me still on the platform, as if! I'll find us a carriage, yeah? See you shank!"

Without waiting for an answer the bigger boy was off, weaving through the crowd expertly and making Thomas laugh again. The anticipation to be off grew, even as the feeling of missing his home began to dawn.

"Right you."

Myro's voice was warm and gruff, and when Thomas looked at him he could see his mother's worry and pride mirrored in his blue eyes. Thomas smiled, reaching over to hug him. Myro chuckled and ruffled his hair as he drew away.

"Lets get you on this train, yeah? Can't have Minho fighting off the sixth years trying to steal your carriage on his own, can we?"

Thomas laughed and agreed, gathering up his rucksack from where he'd left it at his feet. Gally was nowhere in sight, and Thomas was relieved, really. It would be all very fine and well having someone older to walk him through the day, but in truth Thomas would rather find his way with Minho than have Gally hold his hand. And he suspected Gally would agree.

After kissing his mum's cheek and giving her a brief hug goodbye, Thomas had thrown his arms around Chuck and the younger boy had clung tightly to him in return. Thomas had readied himself for saying goodbye to his mum, had been expecting it for years. But he had not thought to prepare himself for the sharp sting of sorrow he felt while hugging his little brother goodbye.

Gally was, and forever would be his step-brother. But Thomas saw Chuck very decidedly as his little brother, and as he drew back, he saw the sadness in Chuck's brown eyes. He bumped the smaller boy's chin with his knuckles, smiling back when he gained a smile from him.

"It'll be Christmas before you know it, and i'll have so many stories to tell you. I'll bring you so many things back."

He tried to persuade Chuck to agree with him.

"You've got free reign in my room, kay?"

At that, Chuck did cave, smiling at Thomas in a way that let him know he knew what he was trying to do, and that he was letting it work. As Thomas hoisted his rucksack higher on his shoulder and reached for the handle of his trunk, Chuck reached out to grab his arm.

"You'll write to me?"

Thomas grinned and nodded, love warm in his chest.

"Of course, and you me, yeah?"

Chuck's eyes were eager, serious.

"Promise?"

Chuckling and ruffling the chocolate curls, he bent down so they were eye to eye.

"I promise. Don't get into trouble at school, okay?" he joked, Chuck never got into trouble. The younger boy simply nodded, and as the whistle blew Thomas straightened up, flashing his parents a grin and returning his gaze to Chuck's young face.

"I have to go. I'll miss you, Chuck. I'll write first thing tonight, okay? Bye!"

With an excited wave, he was off, dragging his trunk over the bustling platform to where the train gleamed like a jewel amidst the silver smoke.

Seated in a carriage with Minho and a few of Minho's friends whose names he couldn't remember, Thomas felt the excitement brewing heavy in his stomach. Minho grinned at him, eyes gleaming, and he grinned back. This was going to be the best thing ever!

As the train pulled away, he waved frantically at his family through the window, laughing as Chuck bounced up and down like a kangaroo on caffeine.

It was finally happening. He was off.