Authors Note: I know that this and the prologue are both really short. Sorry, I'm setting up the story, and really don't want to change Point of Views in the middle of chapters. Next chapter is already written and will be up tomorrow. I'm hoping to have my new chapter written by Friday, but it may be Saturday, I was having trouble with a part. Either way, it shouldn't be too long.
Disclaimer: Characters and setting belong to the wonderful JK Rowling, who has set so many imaginations aflame. The plot is based (rather closely) off of Blood Drips Heavily on Newsies Square, which I assume belongs to Michael Goorjian, the director. If not, I do apologize to whoever it does belong to. I also have quotations from the original Blood Drips scattered about, none in this chapter that I can remember.
Gilderoy Lockhart slipped out of his ward easily, the nurses rarely paid much attention to him as the others in the ward needed a lot more help than he did. He made his way to Kings Cross Station, asking people as he walked through the big city. They suggested "cabs" or "the tube" but he knew he had no money. Finally someone gave him a "tube pass" and sent him down telling him which "line to take". He must have followed the directions fairly well as he was standing in front of large black trains fairly quickly. His nurse had told him the previous day that to get to the Hogwarts Express one must go to platform 9 ¾. He had some trouble finding it, but finally did when he saw someone disapear through the bricks between platforms nine and ten. He went to put his hand up to the it and was surprised when he fell through. The giant red train was just leaving as he hopped on, hiding out in one of the bathrooms, leaving an "out of order" sign displayed on the door. He may not have his memory anymore, but he had been a Slytherin and the cunning never left.
He amused himself during the ride by listening to the children who past by through the closed door. A group of first years had taken post outside the door and were discussing the houses at Hogwarts. He decided this was highly important information and paid extra attention. He listened to them describe Ravenclaw's studious nature, and realized that couldn't be him. He didn't remember ever studying. Then they talked of Hufflepuff's loyalty and kindheartedness, that definitely wasn't him. He wasn't even loyal to the nurses. Gryffindors were brave. That could be him, he was brave. If he wasn't he wouldn't be hiding in this bathroom. Lastly, they discussed Slytherin. Slytherins were sneaky, oooh, he was definitely sneaky. But wait, they had just added evil. He couldn't remember ever being evil. He must be a Gryffindor! He giggled to himself when one young girl complained that she could never be in Gryffindor because "the red and yellow ties will make me look horrible. Blue really is my color."
A rough plan was quickly formed. Sneak out of the bathroom when the train stopped. Get through the castle gates. Follow a group of students with red and yellow ties and sit with the other Gryffindors. He didn't know how they were supposed to be "sorted" but he knew he was a Gryffindor so it didn't matter.
When the train stopped, he waited until he no longer heard anyone moving through the cabin of the train before departing his bathroom. He walked, trying to look as non-chalant as possible, to the carriaged being pulled by the scary winged horses. They looked creepy but youngsters were getting into the carriages without giving the creatures a second looks so they had to be safe. He snuck into the last carriage, which was almost full of really young looking children, younger looking than him. They gave each other weird looks before someone whispered "teacher". The children were on their best behavior, though they did talk a bit, up to the castle while Gilderoy tried to figure out where the teacher was hiding.
When the carriage stopped, he tried to stay in the shadows as he slouched up the way into the castle, scouring the necks of the students to find yellow and red, finally he noticed a group of red heads with red and yellow ties on their necks. If he followed them he'd be fine! They went into what seemed to be a giant dining room, that looked like it had no ceiling as he could see the stars, and sat down at a long table. He sat down at the same table, not with them, but with younger looking students who pointedly ignored him. Gilderoy thought this was just fine with him, and ignored him as he heard names called and watched an old tattered hat be put on children's head. The hat would then call out one of the names he knew denoted the houses. Soon he noticed a very tall man coming towards him. When the man asked him to come with him, Gilderoy did without protest, figuring he was in trouble for not allowing the hat to sort him. Not that it mattered, he was obviously a Gryffindor.
