The Flying Frog-

"Why was the Hogwarts Express already there when Negi's group showed up if it had left in the morning with the regular students?"

The train leaves at 11:00 AM and arrives sometime in the early evening (~5:00 PM). I reason that there must be some sort of apparition/teleportation spell that could transport it back, if needed urgently, to its starting place at King's Cross. Since Negi's group showed up at ~7:30PM, there shouldn't be any time scheduling problems.

"What year is it for the HP-verse?"

5th year. I have, however, moved up HP's timeline up several years and one week; events that should have taken place in Sept. 1, 1995 are now happening in Aug. 26, 2003 to accommodate MSN's timeline.

August 26, 2009
Friday 7:47 PM
Onboard the Hogwarts Express

Entering one of the many empty compartments, the three set their respective belongings down on luggage racks and made themselves comfortable upon the seats, with Asuna on one side, facing the other two boys. Negi once again took out his book, and resumed perusing its pages.

Asuna, never one to stay quiet, was the first to break the silence, asking, "Negi, isn't this train magical? Shouldn't we be worried about, y'know, it breaking? I'm sitting right on it."

Remembering what had happened several times with flying brooms, Negi quickly reassured her, explaining, "I've heard that the train itself isn't really magical, just that the method of propulsion is by magic. Since you aren't touching the engine or any of the moving parts, there shouldn't be any trouble. Moreover, it seems that Magic Cancel often doesn't work against non-offensive or ambient magic anyways."

"That's good. Wouldn't want the magic school to collapse just because I stepped inside, eh? Oh, and do you mind explaining why we have to go directly to Hogwarts to meet and get the Headmaster's support? Wouldn't using Ayaka's artifact be much more convenient?"

"Ah, that's because-"

"Because Hogwarts has a plethora of wards and barriers designed to prevent unauthorized entry, even to friendly forces," supplied Fate. "There is no way to predict whether or not the artifact would work in such conditions."

Asuna raised her eyebrows at this sudden display of interest. "And you know this information because?"

"Kosmo Entelekheia," came the curt reply.

"Oh." Silence ensued, but only for a few seconds, as this was when a lady pushing a cart laden with food suddenly entered the compartment.

The plump woman spoke up, asking if they wished to purchase anything on the pushcart. The overburdened cart displayed a variety of sweet items (apparently made by a company called Honeydukes) that were completely foreign to Asuna, whose confusion could be clearly seen on her face. After all, most people would not expect a candy cart to be selling actual Jelly Slugs, or Bertie Bott's EVERY Flavored Jelly Beans, and…were those Acid Pops really synthesized from acid?

Taking the initiative, Negi cheerily ordered a few chocolate frogs and licorice wands for himself and the other two occupants of the compartment, bypassing the odder selections of sweets.

Then, Fate asked for a cup of hot coffee, no decaf. The lady apologized, and informed him that the Express didn't have any at the moment, and that even if it did, coffee was unfortunately not allowed to be served to minors. The train was usually full of excited children, after all, and there was no need to turn that into overexcited children on caffeine.

Fate frowned, and for a moment, Asuna feared for the poor woman's life.

However, this feeling was quickly alleviated when he reached over into his small messenger bag and pulled out a can of coffee that he had apparently purchased during on the airplane. He opened it, and began to sip the liquid with an air of no concern.

Asuna and Negi collectively sweat dropped; what was the point of asking for coffee when he already had some on hand?

As the situation was defused, the candy cart lady exited the area, kindly reminding them that they could call down the corridor if they needed anything else.

Negi coughed, and spoke up again. "Anyways, shall I give a brief overview of the teachers and the Headmaster for you guys?"

"You should, I myself do not need to hear it, but I doubt the Princess has studied up on this extremely important trip beforehand."

"Hey now!" she interjected. Then, sighing, "Alright, Negi, go on. I guess I should at least know the names of the people I'm going to meet and what our schedule is."

Lauching into his lecture, Negi decided to start with information about Hogwarts itself and brief summary of their current plans.

"Well, as you know, we are currently headed for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It teaches students from age 11 to 18, for a total of 7 years. The core curriculum is composed of 8 subjects, including Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, and Defense against the Dark Arts. We will probably be introduced to the teachers later today, and you've already met Professor Snape, who I think is the Potions Master. Students are separated according to houses-"

"Houses?" interrupted Asuna.

"There is a magical hat that sorts them into a House based on their base personalities or ideals," continued Negi. "The houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin."

"Anyways, the headmaster is Albus Dumbledore, who wields tremendous power in the politics of magical England. We are planning to meet him tomorrow afternoon after Ayaka-san and the others have arrived to attempt to persuade him to support our plan to terraform Mars."

"Hmm, speaking of which, when are they arriving again? Early afternoon, right? So are we just going to hang out at the school waiting for them?"

"Um, yes, basically," answered Negi.

"I see. Guess I'll just look around and explore the castle then."

As she chatted, Asuna opened one of the Chocolate Frog wrappers, and was shocked to find that it was magically animated, or at least until she caught and touched it. The frog ceased its jumping and became a regular, non-magical, mundane bar of chocolate, but reverted back to an amphibian shape and jumped away after she put it down.

Fate, meanwhile, snatched up the card that had fluttered to the ground, and after a moment of appraisal, put it back down on the table, smirking. It portrayed Fulbert the Fearful, who, according to the card's backside, had apparently been too "cowardly to even leave his own house" and died "when his roof caved in" on him.

Asuna wasn't sure whether to laugh at or feel bad for him.

During this time, Negi had taken out his pactio card with Ayaka and was currently engaging in conversation with her, confirming the second entourage's arrival time and briefly summarizing tomorrow's agenda. Satisfied with the situation on her end, he ended the telepathic conversation.

Just as he desummoned the card, the compartment doors were abruptly opened, revealing Snape saying, "We will be arriving at Hogwarts in about 4 and a half hours, I suggest that your group sleep for a few; the distance between the train stop and Hogwarts itself is rather far, even on the thestral carriages. I will be back in around 3 hours to remind you to prepare to exit the train."

Then, just as abruptly as he had appeared, he turn around, closed the doors and left.

Negi and Asuna decided to take the man's advice, but Fate, already nursing a second can of coffee, opted to stay awake and requested Negi's copy of Hogwarts: A History to keep him company.

True to his word, Snape poked his head inside the compartment after three or so hours, informing them ready for disembarkment and to change their muggle clothing to wizarding ones, as school rules applied even to visitors.

Fate, who had remained awake, had already changed before Snape had entered, leaving only the redheads in need of new clothing. Asuna had stored various types of wizarding clothing into her pactio card beforehand, and so was able to swap her shirt and pants for black robes within seconds.

This left Negi, who departed for the bathroom with his change of clothes in hand. He returned within a few minutes, retrieving his book and repacking it inside his backpack. Asuna stuffed the remaining Chocolate Frogs into her bag as well, deciding that even though they looked and behaved oddly, they did taste rather wonderful.

August 27, 2003
Saturday 1:21 AM
Hogsmeade Station

Snape led the way from Hogsmeade Station's exit to a single carriage harnessed to two thestrals. Turning to the visitors, he informed them, "It's traditional for most students to take carriages up the castle gates; I will apparate there and await your arrival." With a small crack, he disappeared.

Asuna, who was rather startled by Snape's sudden dissapparition, voiced her question after they boarded the carriage and seated themselves upon the plush seats, asking Negi, "I assume Apparition is some type of teleportational magic? Why can't you do that instead of taking the bus or train?"

Negi replied rather sheepishly, "You need a license to do it, and in Britain you have to be at least 17. Japan's age requirement is even higher."

"Also, there's much dispute over international usage of Apparition, and as everyone knows, the longer the distance, the harder it is to apparate successfully," came in Fate.

"Haha, everyone, huh?" Asuna replied sarcastically.

As the carriage neared Hogwarts' iron wrought gates, Professor Snape's silhouette came into view, and after it had slowed to a halt, Negi, Asuna, and Fate descended from the carriage. They were greeted by the sight of the teacher manipulating various invisible seals ingrained directly into the metal. After Snape finished opening the gate, the four quickly made for the entrance of the castle. It was, after all, pitch dark and bitterly cold in the open.

However, before they could actually enter Hogwarts, Snape suddenly blocked the trio's path towards the front doors.

"I'm sure that you're all privy to the fact that this school can never keep a permanent Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," he stated, "And due to this, the usual teaching abilities of these yearly replaced teachers are…rather low, if you ask me.". With a look of distaste on his face, he continued, "But this year's Umbridge is even worse than that golden boy Lockhart. Springfield, Averruncus, you would do well not to inform her of your magical specialties."

Negi, puzzled, asked, "Are you referring to lighting, wind, and earth type attack spells? Does he have a grudge against my type of magic?"

"She, not he. And no, Umbridge does not hate those spells, but rather the fact that muggles, through hard work and effort, can perform them. Even though your feats of magic far surpass those performable by a regular human, she will still regard you in a bad light."

Then turning to Asuna, who was looking rather perturbed by this Umbridge's apparent bias against regular people, Snape said, "And as for you, who cannot perform regular magic at all, I would expect her to treat you as a lower class citizen, even if you are royalty."

Finishing his lecture, Snape proceeded to open the oaken doors to reveal the Great Hall, darkened and empty in the late night, and declared, "Well then, I sincerely hope that you enjoy your stay at Hogwarts."

Welp, that's it for the second chapter. Once again, if you spot ANY mistakes, please tell me and I will fix them.

Also-would you guys prefer for the MSN characters to be sorted into House housing (haha), or stay in their own private lodgings?