The rest of Harry's trip to the magical market seemed uneventful in comparison to the odd encounters he had within the first two shops. Even Hagrid's gift of a snowy owl, Harry named Hedwig, paled in comparison. The rest of the summer was even more dull. Harry had spent his days locked in his new bedroom, Dudley's second bedroom, with his new owl. Between the time doing various household chores, and watching Hedwig circle circle his room, Harry studied all of his school books.
On the morning of September first, and after a lot of convincing on Harry's part, Vernon Dursley dropped Harry off at Kings Cross Station. Unfortunately, Harry arrived with no idea where to go, at least the boy was two hours early. With the extra time on his hands, Harry decided to explore the station, with hopes of locating a witch or wizard on his travels.
Half an hour into his wanderings, Harry caught a glimpse of the bushy haired witch he had seen at Madam Malkin's on his birthday.
"Come on Mum, Dad!" The girl tried to coax her parents into moving faster. She was practically running around her parents in excitement as they pushed the young witch's trolley.
"Relax Hermione, there is well over an hour before they train departs," Hermione's mother called after her over eager daughter.
Timidly, Harry approached the little family. "Um, excuse me," he cleared his throat.
A soft smile spread across the father's face that helped to put Harry's nerves to rest. "Yes?" The elder man asked.
"Um, I don't know how to, um? How do I, um?" Harry attempted to speak, but his throat was dry and his heart began to race. Harry scratched the back of his neck to avoid eye contact with the older man.
"Do you need help getting onto Platform 9 ¾?" Hermione asked, loud enough to draw the eyes of the other commuters, "I do!"
"Hermione, use your indoor voice," Hermione's mother said softly.
"Sorry Mum," Hermione apologised, before going back to Harry. She was bouncing on her toes as she talked, "Professor McGonagall told me that all you have to do to get on the platform is to run into the barrier between platforms nine and ten. It's a portal to the Hogwarts Express."
"Oh," Harry said in disappointment. Hagrid hadn't told him that. The half giant just gave him his ticket and bid him good luck. Maybe he wasn't supposed to find the train, maybe he wasn't meant to go to Hogwarts. "Hagrid hadn't told me that," He continued.
"He probably just forgot," Hermione said, her bouncing slowed for only a moment, "Here, watch!"
"Hermione, wait one moment please," Hermione's father's voice stopped Hermione in her tracks.
"Oh right," Hermione skipped over to her parents and gave each of them a quick hug and kiss, "I'll see you at Christmas."
"It was nice meeting you…," Hermione's father trailed off.
"Harry Potter, sir," Harry introduced himself as he accepted a handshake with the man.
"As in THE Harry Potter?" Hermione asked with eyes wide, "I've read all about you!"
"Is this about how I defeated the Dark Lord guy?" Harry asked, "Look Hermione, I was just a baby and I don't remember what happened. All I want to be is just Harry. Can I be just Harry?"
Hermione didn't even have to think about it for a moment, "Of course you can, as long as you'll be my friend."
"Deal."
"Alright children. Hermione, your mother and I have to get to the practice. Alister Jenkins popped a crown last night and that needs to be repaired," Hermione's father said.
Harry furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.
"My parents are dentists," Hermione explained.
Harry nodded in understanding.
"Alright love, we'll see you at Christmas. It was nice meeting you Harry," Hermione's mother said.
"You too, Mr. and Mrs…. um, Dr. and Dr. …?"
"Granger," Mr. Granger answered.
"Goodbye Mum, Dad. I love you," Hermione, once again placed a kiss on her parents' cheeks. She took her trolley and raced towards the platform barrier.
Harry gave a small wave to the dental doctors before he followed his new over enthusiastic friend to the platform.
Instead of being met with a solid brick wall, Harry and Hermione were met with the breathtaking sight of a scarlet tank engine.
"Amazing, isn't it?" Hermione asked with an awestruck smile. She let out a satisfied sigh before she started to push her trolley towards a duo of older students that were loading the train.
"Most definitely," Harry agreed. He shook his head to break out of the shock, and he raced after his new friend.
With the help of the two older students, who the duo learned were called prefects, they settled into an empty compartment. Their trunks were safely stashed away over their heads.
Hermione let out a content sigh as she sank further into the plush compartment bench with her copy of Hogwarts: A History. She always kept exactly three books in her messenger bag, which always hungover her shoulder. One book for learning, one book for fun, and a back up book. "Have you read any of your texts yet?"
"Yes," Harry answered, "I've read every one of them. I even read through my copy of charms and the one you have a couple of times." Harry reached up to where his trunk was stashed, and pulled out his potions book. "What about you?"
Hermione perked up, "I thought I was the only one!"
Harry smiled brightly, "I love reading, especially about magic!"
"Me too."
The new friends settled into a comfortable silence; they only halted their reading every once and awhile to check that the other was still there. That was until a red headed boy, with dirt on his nose and wore second hand clothes, barged his way into the compartment.
The boy's eyes scanned the compartment, landing on Harry momentarily, before he spoke up, "Do you mind if I sit here?" He directed the questions solely at Harry, "Everywhere else is full."
Harry looked over his book to meet Hermione's eyes for a moment before he shrugged. "As long as you remain quiet, I don't see why not," he answered.
After that, Harry and Hermione returned to their respective book. They didn't even look up when the redhead tried to start a conversation.
"I'm Ron, Ron Weasley," The boy, once again, ruined their perfect silence in an attempt to gain Harry's attention.
"I'm Harry, and that is Hermione," Harry quickly introduced them with a grumble. "Now if you don't mind, we are trying to read. Please be quiet," he continued.
It only took ten seconds for Ron to break the silence again. "So what houses do you think you'll be in?" he asked.
Both bookworms chose to ignore Ron.
"I think you'll be in Gryffindor, like me," Ron continued, "My brothers told me we have to face a troll to be sorted."
Without even putting her book down, Hermione mumbled, "Do you seriously believe that? Do you know nothing about Hogwarts?"
"What do you know?" Ron sulked, "Mud-"
The compartment door slid open once more. "Anything from the trolley dears?" The trolley witch was an old, plump woman with a kind smile.
Ron gritted his teeth, "No thanks, I'm all set," he said as he raised a brown paper back filled with smashed sandwiches.
Harry sat up straighter, and placed his book beside him on the bench. He reached into his pants pocket and retrieved the few coins left over from his visit to Madam Malkin's. "Would you like anything Hermione?"
Hermione shook her head as she lowered her book, "You don't need to spend your money on me Harry," she politely declined. As if on queue, her stomach grumbled causing Harry to smile.
"I want to," Harry offered again, "If you're hungry, you should eat something. Besides I don't have a shortage of coins."
"Yeah, sod off. Let the boy buy some candy if he wants it," Ron snapped.
Both Harry and Hermione turned to look at Ron in shock.
"It's his money, let off it," Ron continued.
"I am just going to stop you there Weasley. You don't get to talk to people like that," Harry gritted. He took a calming breath before turning back to the trolley witch, "We'll take the lot."
The trolley witch looked at Harry's outstretched hand, "That'll be more than enough dear. The entire lot is only five galleons."
With a smile, Harry traded five galleons for a mountain of wizarding sweets. He dumped the pile of treats on the bench beside Hermione, "Take what you'd like," he offered as he settled down on the other end of the bench. Out of the corner of his eye, he seen Ron reach for a chocolate frog, "Hermione," he added.
A devilish snarl spread across Ron's reddening features as his greedy little fingers snapped to his side. He let out a low growl as he watched the boy, who was supposed to be his best mate, completely ignore his existence.
Ron was about to retort when the compartment door slid open once more.
A girl, the one who Harry had seen with Draco and his father, popped her head into the compartment. "Has anyone seen a toad by any chance?" She asked. The girl's eyes met Hermione's, causing a smirk to cross her face, and for Hermione to blush.
Harry looked between Hermione and the new arrival before he shook his head, "No, I'm sorry, I haven't."
The girl's shoulders sagged and the smirk fell from her face. "Okay, thank you anyways," she spoke with a softness, and an air of importance that no eleven year old should possess. "If you do happen to cross one, his name is Trevor, and he belongs to a first year boy named Neville Longbottom."
"We'll keep an eye out for you," Hermione said, offering the girl a small smile.
The girl gave Hermione a small half-smile in return. "The poor lad hasn't even gotten to school yet, and he already lost his toad. I'd like to get Trevor back to where he belongs as soon as possible," she continued.
"Would you like something to eat for your search?" Harry asked as he motioned the pile of snacks between Hermione and himself. "We have more than enough for the two of us."
"Um," The girl mumbled as she tugged at the ends of her sleeves. She looked between the faces of the compartment, landing on Ron's reddening face. She took a deep breath, and straightened her shoulders before continuing, "You know what? I would be delighted. I can always do with another pumpkin pasty in my life, thank you."
"Take what you want," Harry replied.
The girl reached over Hermione, kept eye contact with the other girl the entire time, and plunked a pumpkin pasty off the top of the pile, "This will do, thank you," She straightened herself up, and tucked the treat into her Hogwarts robes pocket. "I'm Atlas, by the way, Atlas Black."
"I'm Hermione, and this is Harry,: Hermione introduced herself and her new best friend. The smile fell from her face and her jaw clenched as she turned to motion Ron, "And that is… that is Ron."
"My cousin told me he met you in Diagon Alley, it's nice to meet you in person Harry. I look forward to a friendship with the two of you," Atlas said with a slight bow of her head.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Ron exploded with a sharp launch from his seat.
Atlas' eyes widened, and she took a stiff step backwards into the hallway.
"You offered the spawn of a known mass murdering death eater some of your candy, but you refused to give me some?!" Ron exclaimed, his face grew to match the colour of his hair, "I am mean to be your best mate!"
"I-I-I-," Atlas sputtered as her breathing quickened, and her aura of strength shattered. Her usually vibrant blue/green eyes paled as they ran around the room quickly. "I-I-I. I'm sorry, I'll just go."
Harry launched out of his seat and gently grasped Atlas' wrist before the girl could dart down the hallway. "Please don't go because of him, Atlas," he spoke softly so he wouldn't spook the girl further.
Atlas looked at Harry with wide, wary eyes.
"Atlas, it's okay," Hermione whispered.
Atlas' head stiffly whipped towards Hermione.
"It's okay," Hermione repeated.
Harry paused for a moment and waited for Atlas' breathing to calm a bit before he turned to Ron. "I am NOT your 'best mate'. Frankly, I don't even like you," Harry hissed. He rubbed gentle circles on Atlas' wrist to keep both Atlas and himself calm.
Ron was about to interrupt, but Harry cut him off with a raise of his free hand.
"You have been nothing but rude to Hermione since you got here, and now Atlas? I don't know who Atlas' parents are or what a death eater is, but she hasn't done anything but try to help our classmate look for his toad. So if anyone is going to leave, it'll be you," Harry kept his voice stern and calm.
Atlas gasped. No one had ever stood up for her before. Her eyes shifted between Harry, whose free hand was in a fist at his side; and Hermione, who was watching Atlas with pleading eyes.
Ron mumbled something under his breath about liars and stupid mudbloods under his breath before he shoved his way out of the compartment; he knocked Atlas to the ground in the process.
Atlas clenched her jaw in pain as she scrambled to her feet. "Thank you, Harry, for standing up for me. You didn't have to do that," she said with an uneasy smile, "Thank you, both of you, but I have to get back to searching for Trevor."
"Any time Atlas, the prat had it coming," Harry replied as he held out his hand for a handshake, which the girl accepted with a small smile.
"See you at Hogwarts?" Hermione asked eagerly.
"See you at Hogwarts," Atlas smiled.
Chapter Two Notes: It's been brought to my attention that all the characters are ooc. True. But I'd like to believe that they would act that way when placed in those situations. If it's too ooc for you, I'm sorry, you can read something else.
Any questions or concerns would greatly be appreciated. I'm not a professional writer, none of this is beta'd, and I do this for fun.
See you next time.
-TheAtlasBlack
