From The Veil
Author's Note: Harry Potter does not belong to me but to the Goddess J.K. Rowling.
Summary: Harry has everything he could ask for after he steps through The Veil in The Department of Mysteries. He has a family. But is he ready for what that could truly mean?
Chapter One
"Harry, get up!" someone said. "We can't be late for the Hogwarts Express! This is your first year taking the train. It'll be bad luck."
Harry groaned. He opened his eyes slowly. He looked around.
He wasn't in The Veil Room anymore. Instead, he was in a spacious but messy room. There were socks on the floor, posters on the walls and a desk with a sketchbook on it. The sketchbook was opened. Harry could see a number of coal drawings on one of the pages of the sketchbook.
"Harry! C'mon, get up!" said the person from earlier.
Harry stared at the young man at the doorway of the bedroom.
He was a boy with a dark hair carefully styled in an effortless coif. He was tall and muscular. He had brown eyes. The boy in front of him reminded Harry of a model from a magazine ad.
"Er- sorry. What was that?" said Harry. He blinked. He rubbed his eyes. No, I'm still here, thought Harry.
"We're going to be late if you don't get up now," stated boy. He scowled. "You've talked about the first day of school all summer. I thought you wanted to get to the Hogwarts Express early so that we get the first choice of seats on the train."
Harry's mouth was dry. However, he managed to find his voice. "Right," he said. "I'll be down in a second."
The boy seemed appeased. "Good," he said. The boy shut the door with a snap.
Sarienta crawled out of Harry's beside covers. Are we there yet? she asked.
Harry laughed. It was a hysterical sound . Yes, I think we are.
The Hogwarts Express whistled.
"Write to your father, Anna and I about your Sorting," said Lily—his mother. She looked exactly like she did in Harry's old photo album from his Old World (as Harry began to think of it). The only difference was that her green eyes seemed brighter and her laugh lines were a little more prominent.
"But don't write too often," said James—Harry's father. He was tall and built sturdily. He looked older than he did in Harry's photo album. He had a small scar on the side of his cheek. "Sometimes it's better to live life than to write about it."
Lily rolled her eyes. "Don't listen to your father. Write to us as often as you'd like. I, for one, will look forward to your letters."
"Me, too!" said Harry's younger sister, Anna. Her hair was a dark auburn. She had green eyes like Harry and Lily did.
"Will do," replied Harry. He felt bereft of words. He wasn't used to having parents.
"Take care of him, William," said Lily to Harry's brother. "You're the oldest. Make sure he doesn't get into any trouble."
The boy sighed in exasperation. "Yes, I know, Mum. You already told me this. I'll take care of our little Harry here," said William. He ruffled Harry's messy hair.
"Hey!" said Harry instinctively. It was strange but Harry felt as if William and Harry had done that exchange numerous times before.
The train whistled again.
"Go on now before the train leaves without you," said Lily. She sounded mela
He stepped onto the red Hogwarts Express with one final glance at his new family.
"All right. Let's find Fred and George," said William to Harry. Harry frowned. He felt his stomach tighten in knots.
"Fred? George? You mean Fred and George Weasley?" asked Harry.
William looked at him strangely. "Yeah, Fred and George Weasley, my best mates. Why do you sound so surprised?"
Harry shrugged. "Oh, no reason," he said. He thought quickly. "I just thought you might want to find them yourself."
William snorted. "Right. Harry, you begged me to let you sit with us."
"I did?"
"Don't act stupid."
Harry frowned.
"Right. Well, I decided it was best that I spend time with people my own age," said Harry. "I want to make friends from my year and all that... so meeting people on the train is probably a good way to start."
William looked confused. "All right… if that's what you want," replied William.
"Yeah, that's what I want," said Harry. "I'll see you later, William."
"Later, Harry."
The two separated.
Harry walked along the corridor of the Hogwarts Express. Students were milling about. They talked and chatted. Harry felt nervous but excited.
Harry had a number of questions on his mind. But he knew he'd have to wait to get answers. For right now, he needed to act normal. He needed to blend in.
Here, I'm Harry Potter-the second son of James and Lily Potter. I have an older brother named William and I have a younger sister named Anna. I am twelve-years-old and this is my first year at Hogwarts.
I'm not the End-Bringer. I'm not the leader of The Resistance. I'm not an Auror. Not here.
With that mantra set, Harry began to search for any empty compartment to sit in. Many of the train cars were full. However, Harry found a familiar compartment somewhere in the middle of the train car.
A girl with bushy hair was there. A boy with bright red-hair sat across from her. A round-faced boy with a serious expression sat next to the boy.
Harry gulped. "S-sorry. Wrong train car," said Harry. He shut the door and quickly walked away.
Harry felt shaky. He paused and took in a few deep breaths.
Hermione, Ron, he thought. You're here. You're alive.
Harry didn't know what to do. How should he react?
I'll figure it out later, he decided.
Harry found another train car a few minutes later. It was one of the only train cars with seats left so he Harry went inside to take a seat.
"Hi," said Harry to the people in the train car. There was a pretty girl with her hair up to her shoulders who sat next to the window. There was a girl with curly hair sitting beside her. A boy with dark hair and blue eyes sat across from them.
"Oh, hello," the girl by the window said. She smiled at him. She had a very pretty smile.
Harry tried to smile back. "Do you mind if I have a seat?" he asked.
The girl shrugged. The boy nodded. The curly-haired girl looked on impassively.
Harry entered the train car and pulled his luggage onto the overhead compartment.
"Oh, you're a Potter!" said the same girl with short hair.
Harry noticed that she was looking at the name-tag that was engraved onto his luggage.
"Yes, I am," said Harry. "My name is Harry. Harry Potter."
"I'm Tracy Davis," answered the girl.
"I'm Trevor Boot," said the boy.
"Amanda Brocklehurst," said the final occupant of the train car.
Harry nodded. Then, he sat next to Trevor Boot.
The train compartment was quiet. After some time, Harry decided to end the silence. He needed some intel. This was the perfect time to gather some information.
"Are you excited?" asked Harry to Davis. "I've waited for my first day at Hogwarts ever since I can remember." He didn't know if that was true, but it was a likely story.
"Oh, yes," responded Davis. "I've heard so many great things about it. I'm glad I got accepted."
"Yes, I'm excited, too," said the boy, Boot.
"What do you think about the Headmaster?" pressed Harry. "Have you heard anything about him?"
"Dumbledore is one of the greatest wizards on Earth," said Boot with authority. He gave Harry a queer look that said, 'Everyone knows that.'
Harry cleared his throat. "Right."
"My mother speaks very highly of Dumbledore," replied Davis. "He is, of course, the only one who can beat You-Know-Who."
Harry frowned. What did she say?
"He's the only one who can beat You-Know-Who?" said Harry again.
Boot rolled his eyes. "Do I hear an echo?" he said.
Mandy Brocklehurst cleared her throat. "Don't be a prat, Boot," she said. "You know there's one other person who can beat You-Know-Who."
Here it is, thought Harry.
"You mean The-Boy-Who-Lived?" said Boot. "I don't know about that."
"Oh, you're such a pessimist, Boot," said Davis with an eye-roll.
"Why should I be otherwise? If Dumbledore can't even beat You-Know-Who, then how can anyone else be able to?"
"Children, children!" said Mandy Brocklehurst. "Now is not the time to bicker."
"What do you say, Potter?" asked Boot. "What do you feel about The-Boy-Who-Lived?"
"Well…" began Harry. He thought quickly. "Shouldn't he be somewhere on the train?"
"Oh, yes!" said Davis. "My Mother told me something like that. Apparently, Neville Longbottom should be in our year."
Harry's mouth was dry.
Neville is The-Boy-Who-Lived?
Boot seemed pleased. "Yes, I heard that as well."
"Well, then, I suppose we'll be able to see what he's like in-the-flesh," said Harry.
"I suppose so," agreed Boot.
There will be more excitement in the next chapter! Stay tuned.