Chapter Two

I woke up the next morning after a night of fitful sleep. The bed was partly the cause, but also the giddy anticipation. If I was right I was going to be sitting on the Hogwarts Express in but a few hours.

A quick look at the clock told me I still had an hour left before my portkey would whisk me away. I slid of my bed and stretched my limbs; a yawn drew deep in my throat. I went over the content of my trunk, counting the books, the potion equipment, the bronze looking telescope, and my new clothes. I could not help to but pick up my new school robe.

It was made from cotton, cheap but durable, it was very soft. I fastened it around my shoulders. Swinging around I studied my reflection in an old dusty mirror hanging on the wall. I struck an intimidating sight, the robe making me look broad. An image tarnished by my bare skin peeking out through the gap in the front, my polka dotted boxers, and, not to speak of, my new found height made what little impression I made mute.

I threw on some trousers, and crawled into a day to day robe, sparing my shirt for later. It was a dark green robe. The difference between the Hogwarts robe and this one was in design. The Hogwarts robes were meant for work and to protect the wearer's clothes from stains and scrapes and was fit to put on over anything. While this day to day robe was more like a sweater. It reached all the way down to the floor, bunching up a bit around my feet. That it would drag on the ground and get dirty did not worry me, much. I had seen enough wizards spell the dirt away from their shoes and robes when they stepped into shops. Problem was the 'underage usage of magic' law. I had to wait until I got to Hogwarts before I could even entertain the thought of using magic.

Not to claim that I even could even if I tried. Though Hermione could repair Harry's glasses on the train, though, she had had the entire summer to read her books from cover to cover. Which reminded me, I should probably read one myself. At least peruse one or two a bit.

Picking up the book I considered a good starting point I descended down into the leaky cauldron's main room. The rickety staircase creaking loudly as I made my way down with the blueish cover of Magical Theory in hand. I was going to read it while eating a hearty breakfast.

The old wrinkly bartender, Tom, gave me a toothless smile and waved a lazy good morning in my direction. I shouted an order for a serving of buttered toast and honeyed porridge and I plopped myself down at one of the window tables. I put the book down, gingerly fingering the cover before I opened it.

Big bold cursive letters proclaimed the books title followed by a much more humble 'by Adalbert Waffle'.

Turning the page presented the book index. And without surprise, it started with an author's foreword. I skimmed over the sparse paragraph that warned that the book contained theoretical knowledge. That the art of magic, and its understanding, was individual and as precise as predicting the weather, hard to do and with fleeting results. That the book aimed to teach these theories, and help the reader understand magic in all its forms.

Nothing that I had not already guessed. I turned the page, and started to read the introduction.

A few minutes after, Tom placed my food down on an empty spot beside me.

"Already at it I see," the old man chuckled, "could not wait until school start, eh?"

I smiled at the levity in his voice and grunted a "yup".

"Well, don't let me distract you anymore have a nice meal."

I shook my head in an exaggerated attempt to clear my head of distractions and returned to read. Absentmindedly eating between paragraphs.

After reading through the first chapter I could only conclude one thing. Magic was magic. It was as boundless as it was limited. The only thing I could say I got from reading the chapter was that magic was not something you should do willy-nilly and without forethought. For it was first and foremost your own will and soul that set the limit of what you could do. But it also warned to not dabble in what you did not understand… which was a contradiction. Cause the very first line was:

"Magic is as obvious as it is enigmatic. The more you try to understand it the weaker your grasp of it is."

Which implied that mastery could never be achieved… It was a bit of a head twister for sure.

Glancing up at the clock it showed it was just short to half past ten now. Scrounging up a sickle to pay for the meal I hurried my way up to my room quickly packing the book into the trunk. I threw on a shirt underneath my robe. I made sure to take a firm grip on the trunk as I fished out the postcard with the other hand.

My heart beat rapidly as the clock ticked to half past. I took a deep breath awaiting the gut wrenching feeling of portkey travel. Preparing to not stumble and fall like I did yesterday.

That never came…

Had I been wrong? I looked at the clock, it was half past ten. And I watched it tick over to twenty nine to eleven. Then it dawned on me. Maybe I was supposed to make it to King's Cross train station by myself… but why was the portkey stamped with another ambiguous number. By logic I could only interpret it to mean it would activate again… but it did not.

Then out of nowhere I felt something hook my innards around my navel. It was all the warning I had before the whole world around me twisted out of view. I instantly regretted eating breakfast earlier as I struggled against the nausea. Then quicker than I expected the world manifested and came to a jarring halt. Unprepared and completely unbalanced I was flung to the ground. It was felt as if someone had shoulder thrown me to the ground.

The world spun around me for a few more moments as I tried desperately to figure out up from down.

I took two deep breaths, before sitting up. I quick scan confirmed that I was on the nine and three quarters platform. Many hundreds of voices and screeching birds mingled into a general hubbub. Robes and a myriad of suits, dresses and more casual clothes just made the scene into what I always imagined how the platform would look and feel.

The large red engine of the Hogwarts' express was spewing clear white smoke. A great clock hanged over the platform telling the crowd the time. I still had more than enough time.

With trepidation I stood to my feet and proceeded to weave my way through the tightly packed platform, passing parents and children saying their lasts goodbyes. A few hugs there a firm handshake there. I even saw a young girl get firmly kissed on the cheek, much to her apparent objections. Lacking parents of my own I could freely jump onto the train.

It took me only a moment to find an empty compartment it seemed most students had yet to climb on board.

After a light struggle I managed to shove my way to heavy trunk up onto the baggage netting above the seats. Sighing I let the knot of excitement in the pit of my stomach stew a bit. Letting the fact that I was on the Hogwarts' Express fully set in.

I was on the Hogwarts' Express! I leaned onto the window sill, staring out over the crowd of actual witches and wizards. Heck I was one now! Diagonally had been a fun expedition, now this, this was a full on adventure.

Then my eyes caught something. Out of the solid side of the ticket booth at the back of the platform came a pair of tall redheads, identical redheads. With a startling shock I froze where I stood. For the two was no other than Fred and George Weasley. But their presence could only mean one thing… I was not in twenty-seventeen anymore.

Not only had I been transfigured into an eleven year old, I had also been sent back in time to boot!

Staring transfixed at the booth I was awarded with another sight and someone I could only assume to be harry potter. The movies did not make his unruly and almost bushy hair, in my mother's words it looked like a rat's nest. He looked skinny and small in his overly baggy clothes and made him look particularly thin. He was pushing a trolley on which a golden cage sat with the snowy owl Hedwig perched inside.

Rumpled by the revelation I sank down onto the seats. I was yet to be even born…

If I was right it was nineteen-ninety-one, three whole years before my own birth.

The question popping up into my mind was 'Why?'

Was there a reason that I was transported not just to London but all the way back to ninety-one? And that would also meant the whole Voldemort business was still going on. Luckily enough the first year would not have much danger in it. At least it would not have a big petrifying snake slithering around. When I thought about it the third year would be a breeze compared to the chamber of secret business.

After a while a whistle blew and I could hear the conductor make the last call for departure. The platform had been slowly emptied but now there was a sudden rush for the procrastinating students as everyone tried to get on the train. I could only shake my head, who in their right mind would ever risk missing the train to Hogwarts of all things. If my parents where here they would had to struggle to keep me for even a minute.

From my spot I saw a very notable lanky tall and freckled redhead scramble on board just in time. The train had already started to pick up speed when he finally managed to drag his weathered trunk on board.

I could not help a malicious chuckle at the struggle.

Soon the train was out of the platform and was truly picking up speed, and what I could only fondly remember to be the British suburban started to pass outside the window.

A timid knock brought my attention away from the window and to the compartment door. It opened to reveal a round-faced boy, a fat warty toad clasped to his chest as if he was afraid of losing it. With a slight shock I knew who it he was.

"Come in, come in and take a seat," I boldly told Neville Longbottom before he worked up the courage to ask. His shy expression flushed at how easily I had read his intent.

"Thank you," he said. He struggled to get his trunk through the door one handed. It took him a moment before he got it in, far too stubborn or afraid to put his frog Trevor down. I did however help him lift his luggage up into the luggage compartment. By the time it was done Neville was red in the face from the exertion. "Sorry for bothering you."

"I do not mind." I said and offered a handshake, "Emrik Oscarsson by the way."

"N, Neville Longbottom," Neville stuttered briefly but recovered superbly. It was interesting seeing him this timid and shy knowing what awaited him in the future.

"Good to meet you."

"You too."

I sat back down. It was then I noticed Trevor was not in Neville's hand anymore. And the compartment door was still open… I searched the compartment with a quick glance and failed to spot the small wort skinned amphibian.

"Where's Trevor?" I questioned. Maybe if Neville caught the toad before it managed to get too far away there would not be such a search after it. At least it might spare Neville the pains.

"Oh, no," he exclaimed. "Not again!"

Ran for the door, his head looking this way and that way.

"Nan is going to kill me!" and he was gone. Far too worried about finding his wayward toad.

I contemplated helping him out but thought better of it. He would never learn anything if people helped him all the time. I idly wondered if I was changing things, now that I was here and had interacted with Neville would it change how he met Harry and Ron?

It only took Neville a minute before he came back with his toad in hand. Now I really wondered if I had changed things…

"Thanks, never noticed he had run off!" Neville grinned happy to have caught the amphibian before it had the time to take distance. "Caught him trying to make it to another cart."

Neville sat down, and placed the toad down beside him, completely oblivious at how it was already making leaps for the door. I shifted and nudged the door closed before Trevor managed to make it out. I think I have never seen a toad look so sad just sitting there staring at the door. That was what I imagined the toad was as it sat there.

I hummed agreeably.

"Is this your first year, at Hogwarts I mean?" Neville asked fiddling with his fingers.

"First year, got my letter the last minute."

"Oh, m-must have been scary, not being accepted…" He trailed off unsure.

"Oh no, I did not even think I-" I halted in my words before I revealed a bit too much. "It came as a big surprise. I am muggleborn, haven't even preformed any accidental magic at all!"

Neville's face went slack, dumbfounded even at my revelation. I knew about his struggle and ridicule he'd suffered before he through need performed his first ever trace of magic. It must have been a fear he had, that his magic was not enough to be accepted, and now here I was claiming to have less potential than him and I did get accepted. Something I really wanted to know how… though I guess, if I should follow what the Magical Theory told me it was 'magic'. To understand it is to know nothing.

I was still trying to wrap my head around the concept that the less I knew the more I could do. How I was supposed to do that and still learn and understand spells was beyond me… Maybe that was the key…

I scattered my thought.

"Y-you do not look like a muggleborn to me," Neville said eyeing my green robe. Compared to me he was the one looking like a muggle. Which drew a smile from my lips.

"Watching and learning," I spoke it like a mantra, which it technically was.

Neville furrowed his brow. "What?"

"I observed, and watched wizards and witches while I went shopping in Diagonally, and I learned from what I observed."

"Oh, I see," Neville said. I suspected he did not really understand what I meant. Maybe that was his problem… he did not truly pay attention to his surroundings. It would explain why Trevor got away from him so easily all the time. Why he always seemed to forget things in general.

A few minutes dragged on in awkward silence as I settled to look out at the passing view. Neville shifted around, not fixing his eyes to anything. But he managed to gather enough courage, or maybe the words, to ask.

"Do you know what house you will be in? I hope I get into Gryffindor my whole family has been Gryffindor you know." Neville hurriedly said.

"No, though," I pondered the thought about it. What house would I be in? Pottermore had placed me in Slytherin, and I really liked Slytherin, from its colours and emblem to their traits. But joining them would mean a lot of trouble down the line, and dealing with Draco. Gryffindor did not appeal to me, except for getting closer to Harry Potter and his gang. Hufflepuffs had their merits but not a place I actually wanted to go, and Ravenclaw was outright cruel and cold towards any who did not conform. So the choice was obvious to me, but how would Neville react? I did not know how he would react, but since he was a Longbottom it stood to reason he would be predisposed to not like Slytherin house. So I shook my head, "no, I do not know, but I think the sorting will place me in the right house in the end."

"Yeah." Neville said.

"Do you know anything about Hogwarts?" I asked before we fell back into silence. I was trying hard to maintain a good impression on the boy. And making him comfortable with me before house politics could create an unbridgeable gap in our relationship would help me get an in inside Gryffindor.

Neville couldn't tell me anything new about Hogwarts, I actually knew more about it than him it appeared after a few minutes, but I smiled and egged him on with a question here and there when he managed to trail off or became unsure. It was fascinating watching the excitement roll off of him, an excitement I shared though for slightly different reasons. He told me of the Great Hall, the maze like stairs and the talking paintings. Of myths told by his uncles, aunts and grandmother. His stories of course were limited in details thanks to being second hand knowledge but it was nice nonetheless.

The Honeyduke Express trolley lady came and went shortly afterwards. Neville bought a humble selection of magical candy, a couple of chocolate frogs and a cauldron cake. I did have the sickles to pay for some but I choose not to. They were the last of my money, though I do not know what use they would be to me. It's not like I had anymore waiting for me. And I did not know how long I would be here. Maybe it was only for this first year, a sick joke it would be if so.

With little else to talk about we fell into companionable silence. I brought out my potions book, if I had to waste time I would do it reading up on potions. If Snape was anything like the books and movies depicted I'd want his favour, what limited fashion I could get at least, from reading up on his subject. Beforehand.

The first few chapters detailed the importance of correct heating and ladle techniques. It was important because some ingredients reacted differently in different heating as well as the mixing of them. The ladle techniques was there to help mix the ingredients correctly. An example was given for the sleeping draught, where you left the mixture to simper until the last minute where you slowly stirred the potion clockwise in how many hours you wanted it to last. If you are too hasty it would last only minutes not hours, to slow and… well it might not mix at all or last so long you would never wake up…

This was taught to first years…

Leaving the thought of the dangers involved behind I read on to why literary just waving your wand above the potion was an important step, or steps depending on the potion. To what I understood you would make mud otherwise. It was described as sprinkling magic on top the potion made the potion magical. Of course, again some ingredients did not need the wand waving because of the highly magical nature of them.

I quirked an eyebrow at the term "standard" ingredient. It was a glorified tea blend, or flour. It was there for taste and body for the potion, to thicken it or to dilute. I could literary use grass from the yard if I wanted to. Tough some potions needed a certain consistency to mix properly. So I guessed there were different types of pre-packaged mixes for this. I scrunched my nose at the idea. I'd rather make my own if I had to... I wonder what flour would do. An Idea to ask Severus about...

I couldn't help snorting at the image of a disgusted looking Snape staring down at me when I would ask him.

[hr]

Night fell outside the windows, and I think I fell asleep somewhere along the line because the next time I was aware I was shaken awake by Neville.

"We are slowing down, I think we are getting close now." He said as he sat back down. An excited grin was sporting on his face. Hogwarts was close, really close now. I could not help my own grin. But all that was outside was black trees illuminated by the moon. Splotchy grey clouds drifting in the heavens. Many thousands of stars were twinkling, far more than I was used to seeing. Rarely did I travel so far from civilization to get such a view.

Listening for the train, I could hear that it has slowed down, and I believed I saw the trees pass by not as fast as it had done earlier that day.

Within minutes I could clearly notice how the train was slowing down, not just see it.

"Better put on our school robes," I said and reached for my trunk. It took a bit of work not to have it fall down. It weighted a ton! My school robes were folded on top of the rest of my stuff, and with reverence I picked the black cloth up. My heart was hammering in my chest with excitement.

So close…

I put it on, my green robes fitting perfectly into its wise arms. It was meant to fit over clothes and, now I understood, robes too.

With a screech the train came to a halt, soft glowing light illuminated the platform outside and gave it a mysterious feel. I could hear dozens of compartment doors slam open and commotion began. Everyone, from small first years to big seventh years had this excited air among them as they hurried to get off the train. The first years, some more confused and lost than others was bumped around and herded outside by the flow of students.

I quietly followed Neville outside into the cool September air. I took a breath of it and enjoyed the coolness of it. It helped me to stay calm against the chaos and noise as well as my own swirling emotions. Trying my best to observe and take in the scene in front of me.

"Scouse me," an older boy said and pushed past me and the flow of students continued out beside me. I felt my cheeks heat in embarrassment, I had been blocking the doorway.

"'Firs' years over 'ere, firs' years over 'ere!" A familiar gruff voice shouted above the clamour. Hagrid, the half-giant of a man towered above everyone, his lantern held high. Small beady eyes glinted in the soft light through scraggly bushy hair and beard. I quickly ducked between the skirts of two older girls, making the one behind the other stumble but laugh. I smelled a faint trace of lavender, perfume.

I quickly attached myself to the group of first years. More than a few staring wide eyed at the giant of a man waving his big lantern this way and that to gain attention.

"Is tha' all of yeh? Follow me then!"

And like chicks after the mother duck, we followed Hagrid down a narrow path, past brambles and needled branches, to a small beach lined with wooden boats. Big enough for three each. The whole way I had tried to spy Hogwarts castle through the trees, but to no avail. The small harbour only gave a broken view of forest and a grassy field. Though I could see, framed against the starry sky the towers of the Quidditch pitch on the far side of the black lake. A detail I would not have seen against the dark shape of the Forbidden Forest if I had not known to look for it.

Hagrid instructed for three students for each boat. I tried to spot Neville in the crowd, but the darkness and ever shifting nature of a gaggle of children made the task near impossible. I had hoped to stop him taking a dip in the lake, but it seemed not to be. Then again assuming he would now.

I did however spot Ron Weasley. The kid stood head and shoulder above most others, or he would if he stopped slouching. But he still stood as the tallest first year. Next to him I spotted none else than Harry Potter himself. I only managed to see a very unruly tuft of hair and a glint of his glasses before he and Ron climbed into a boat with another boy. I failed to remember his name, and house in general.

Shrugging off the knee-jerk reaction to present myself to the Boy-who-lived, something I knew he was not too enthused about to begin with, and would quickly grow to dislike over the years. I would let him settle for a day or two, or until I ran into him between classes. Though I suspected I wanted to meet and shake his hand for a lot of other reasons than others.

Seeing my chance I climbed on board one of the last remaining boats. While I had been mussed in my own thoughts the rest of the students had quickly clambered into their own. Two other children, girls, or witches. One black haired, and the other brown, golden brown if my eyes were not tricked by the lantern in Hagrid's hands.

I smiled and waved at them as they both went quiet. They had been whispering to each other but now they acted as if they hadn't.

"Hello, name's Emrik," I introduced myself, extending my hand to shake. I got a funny look from the two and they eyed me up and down, but they shook my hand.

"Pansy Parkinson."

"Daphne Greengrass." They introduced themselves. So this was Pansy. I looked the girl over. Her hair was short shoulder length, brown and fuzzy. Skin a slightly darker tone, tanned. Nose small if slightly upturned. Otherwise quite soft rounded face. Under the school robe I saw a white shirt, and a grey skirt. She wore knee high socks, and a pair of dainty looking shoes.

Daphne in contrast looked plain. High cheeks and near black straight and long hair. She wore a thin brown sweater together with a pair of jeans trousers. The contrast between the two was however mostly skin deep as they both acted similar enough to make me believe they shared a common background. Pansy being, at least later on, a staunch supporter of the Death Eater agenda, spurred on by her parents apparent involvement. Little was actually known about the Greengrasses, but by how Daphne had been shown to follow Pansy, or at least be in the same clique as her. Spending more than some effort to collectively harass Potter.

There was little time to say more as Hagrid drew his comically small umbrella and tapped his own boat which he himself had all to himself.

"Off we go 'en," he boomed so we all could hear.

With a mighty tug the beached boats started to move, as if led by an invisible rope. I marvelled at how smoothly, and eerily quiet the boats moved through the water, only the slight sound of rippling water from the wake was what they made. Many of the students murmured in awe and amazement. Daphne and Pansy however was not too impressed. Privileged magicals, at least make a show of being impressed. While they were brought up with magic in many different forms I was certain they had never ridden a self-moving boat before!

Within moments for many, the long awaited sight of Hogwarts Castle came into view as we passed around the cape and onto the lake proper. Its silhouette a stark contrast against the clear sky. Hundreds of lit windows, and the overall massive building inspired awe.

Within moments we crossed the large lake and soon we passed into the castles massive shadow, making it hard to see far. The warm golden glow from the windows reflected of the water in blotchy spots until we passed under a huge archway, where our boats sidled up to a small dock, barely enough room for them all.

I noted that no one had fallen into the lake as I stepped onto land. I was sure Neville should have… or was it someone else. Eh, it did not matter in the end.

Standing atop a winding stairway stood a green robed witch, a wide brimmed pointy hat sat upon her head, the tip fashionable crooked. It could have been none other than McGonagall. Her entire posture commanded respect. Her chin slightly raised as she stared down at us.

"This way children, follow me."

McGonagall turned with a flick of her robes and strode through the doorway at the top of the stairs, her head held high. The light from within too inviting and all of the first years followed her.

I hesitated at the bottom. I couldn't believe it. I was finally at Hogwarts, this was the beginning of an adventure for many years to come.