2: Kings Cross

Harry stood at Kings Cross Station, lips pursed in anger and nerves; his uncle had just driven off laughing his head off. 'Platform nine and three quarters, really!'

Fighting back tears Harry dragged his trolley along the bustling platforms. Crying was weak, he was strong. He told himself sternly.

Platform 8…9…10.

Standing in the middle of 9 and 10 Harry chewed his lip, looking up and down the platforms. Surely someone else here must be going to Hogwarts.

He looked a pitiful sight, with his over large clothes and tapped up glasses. His petite form was being jostled everywhere, and he had to keep hold of his trolley just to stay upright. Hedwig was squawking in her cage, annoyed with the rough movement.

Then Harry saw a tall, majestic blond man ushering two children his age towards the barrier between platforms 9 and 10, he was accompanied by an equally blond, equally majestic women. What Harry noticed about this couple was that they seemed to be wearing long, dark green, flowing cloaks. They didn't look too out of place in the Muggle world, since the cloaks were made to look like long coats. As Harry had seen items like that advertised in Diagon Alley he recognised them as wizarding cloaks.

Sighing in relief he followed the group cautiously, then watched in amazement as the man and young boy disappeared through the wall seperating platforms 9 and 10. Quickly he caught up with the women and young gir before they could disappear tool, "E…excuse me." he stuttered, unsure of what to say, "How do you get through the barrier?"

"You're new too? It's Rose and Draco's first year as well." The blond women smiled down at him, her gaze falling on his forehead for less than a second. The girl nodded and held out her hand, Harry shook it.

"Hi, I'm Harry."

Rose smiled, "Rose." she said "Why don't you come through with us, you just sort of lean against it and you fall through." She gestured towards what Harry thought was a solid brick wall.

Harry looked at her as if she was mad. Rose giggled and added, "Some people run at it but that just creates attention."

The blond women put her hand on his trolley, "You two go through first, I'll take your trunk for you dear." Harry nodded nervously.

Together they leant against the barrier, Harry holding onto Rose's trolley as they fell through. When they got to the other side Rose giggled again, "I've always wanted to do that." Harry couldn't help but smile at her as he turned to look behind him and sure enough the wall still looked as solid as ever. Then he noticed the man and boy waiting not far from the barrier, Rose started pushing her trolley towards them. "Come on, Aunt Cissy will bring your trolley through in a minute."

When they arrived at the place where Rose's family were waiting the blond boy stepped forwards, Harry shook his hand, "I'm Draco Malfoy."

"Harry, Harry Potter." Harry said his last name bashfully; he had already experienced the power his name had on people. However, Draco masked his shock quite well, only taking a quick glance at his forehead, before grinning "Shall we go find a compartment?"

By this time Rose's Aunt Cissy had arrived with his trolley, "I'm so sorry, we didn't introduce ourselves properly. I'm Nacrissa Malfoy, this is my husband Lucius and our son Draco. Rose is Draco's cousin." Harry noticed she didn't mention Rose's surname but didn't comment. Maybe it was Malfoy as well.

Lucius flicked his wand and levitated their trunks onto the train, "On you get." Nacrissa hugged Draco and Rose. And patted Harry on his shoulder reasuringly, making Harry wince, but he hid it well, just not well enough as he noticed Mr. Malfoy looking at him.

The trio wandered down the length of the train looking for a free compartment, soon they came to one. "Let's sit in here." Draco said, leading the way.

They had only just sat down when a red head appeared in the doorway, "Is there any free room?" He asked.

Draco sneered, "Not for you freckles." The red headed boy blushed. "Lets see," Draco continued, whilst Harry looked on, curious. "Red hair, second hand robes and a dirty face, you must be a Weasley." He said the word 'Weasley' as though it was a disease to be avoided at all costs.

The red head's blush deepened, "So? Who are you?"

"Draco Malfoy." Draco drawled, leaning back in his chair, crossing his arms and looking as though the red head shouldn't have to ask. Harry noticed that the red head's blush rapidly disappeared leaving the boy quite pale and sickly looking. Then he noticed Harry. "Hey! Aren't you Harry Potter?" He seemed to perk up as he said this.

Harry nodded, the red head's eyes widened, "Do…do you have the s…scar?"

Harry nodded again, lifting his fringe up, only slightly annoyed at the attention it gained. The red head gaped for a second before stepping into the compartment, "I'm Ron, Ron Weasley." Draco snorted in disgust.

Harry looked at Draco questioningly, what had this boy done to him?

"Old family feud." Rose leaned over to whisper in his ear.

"Who said you could come in?" Draco sneered.

"It's a free world isn't it?" Ron sat down across from Harry. "So what house do you want to be in?" He had obviously decided to ignore Draco.

Harry shrugged, "I don't know much about them."

"Well," Rose got in before Ron could, "Gryffindor is for the brave and foolish," she tried not to sound too nasty but Harry could sense the negative tone, "Hufflepuff for the loyal, Ravenclaw for the intelligent and Slytherin is for the cunning."

"I'll be in Gryffindor." Ron said, "And they aren't foolish." He glared at Rose, who just smirked.

"I'm Slytherin." Draco stated confidently.

"Me too." Rose and Draco shared a smile.

"Oh, I don't know." Harry said thoughtfully, "I'm not that clever or brave, I'm not sure about the other two."

"Hufflepuff's for duffers." Draco said simply. "Ravenclaw's not too bad but I'd die if I was put in Gryffindor."

"Why?" Harry asked, but before Draco could answer, the door slid open and a bushy haired girl walked in along with a shy looking podgy boy, "Has anyone seen a toad? Neville's lost one."

The four of them shook their heads, Draco muttering "Don't people respect a person's privacy!"

Then… "Oh, hi Harry!" it was the girl who Harry met at Diagon Alley. She squealed in excitement. "I've read those history books, you're in all of them!"

"Errr…great." Harry muttered, he hated attention.

Neville stared at him too, specifically at his forehead, then he blushed and glanced at the floor, "Hey, Trevor!" the toad hopped over Hermione's foot and out the door, Neville followed it eagerly.

"Well, I guess I'll see you later." The girl founced out of the door, following Neville.

"Thank god she's gone." Draco sighed, lounging back in his seat.

"Mmmm." Ron looked reluctant to agree. "I hope I'm not in the same house as her."

Harry caught Rose's eye and they both turned away, giggling.

"What?" Draco and Ron exclaimed before turning and glaring at each other, which only made the others giggle harder.

"Anyway," Draco turned to Harry, "how do you know her?"

"She was in Diagon Alley when we went to fetch our school things."

"Must be muggleborn then." Rose said, with a warning look at Draco, who curled his lip in disgust.

The rest of the journey past without incident, Ron left around lunchtime, much to Draco's pleasure. And the two cousins told Harry all about the wizarding world. Including the game of Quidditch which Harry couldn't wait to have a go at, although, he was never very good at sport at school, although, that was mainly because of Dudley making sure he would never be in any condition to play sport.

When it came to changing into school robes Harry wanted to but couldn't find to courage to ask Draco to leave with Rose but he kept his back to the wall and changed quickly, Draco didn't seem to notice anything. But Rose narrowed her eyes at him when she returned, upon seeing his awkward expression, making him blush slightly, and look away.

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