Harry had finally been able to enter Platform 9&¾ with the help of a kind woman and her numerous children, but there he was. Staring at a Crimson Red Steam Engine. The hustle and bustle around him shook him out of his awe. He approached the train
Smoke from the engine drifted over the heads of the chattering crowd, while cats of every color wound here and there between their legs. Owls hooted to one another in a disgruntled sort of way over the babble and the scraping of heavy trunks.
The first few carriages were already packed with students, some hanging out of the window to talk to their families, some fighting over seats. Harry pushed his cart off down the platform in search of an empty seat.
Harry was about to board the nearest kart when he saw an unmistakable platinum blonde head through the crowd. Harry not wanting to seem desperate, despite how much he was, made his way through the peoples and found Draco flanked by two adults, unmistakably his parents with the same blonde hair. "Draco" Harry said as he approached them.
Draco smiled and turned to Harry. "Hello again Harry." Draco said before turning to his parents. "Harry I'd like you meet my parents." To Draco's right was his father and to his left was his mother.
Draco's father stepped forward offering his hand to Harry. "My word, Harry Potter." He said before shaking Harry's hand. "Lucius Malfoy. It's a pleasure to meet you. I was skeptical when Draco explained your meeting." Lucius motioned to his wife who was fussing over Draco's collar. "Narcissa dear, his collar is fine. Come meet Harry Potter."
Draco's mother, Narcissa, turned her attention to Harry. While a very attractive woman, she had the look that something in the air seemed to bother her nose with a mildly annoyed scowl. She turned her attention to Harry and the scowl vanished. In its stead was a polite yet reserved smile. "A pleasure Mr. Potter." Narcissa said with such genuine pleasure.
Narcissa's expression seemed to sadden slightly. "I was an acquaintance of your mother's back when we both attended Hogwarts. She tutored me in Potions. A Brilliant young woman your mother was." Narcissa said before placing a hand on Harry's shoulder.
Harry fought the shock away internally. "I didn't know. Until a few weeks ago, I didn't know anything." Harry said trying his best not to sound pathetic. It bothered him having to explain that the entire Magical World was new to him. It should have been a part of his entire life.
Narcissa nodded and her expression returned to the scowl. "Yes, I heard from my son that you've been raised by muggle relatives. I didn't know Lily had family." Narcissa said. "She never spoke about her family. It was most shocking that you, Harry Potter, would be raised by Muggles of all people. To think the son of James Potter would be left in the care of lowly Muggles. Its an insult to your collective houses."
Lucius chuckled. "Now, now Narcissa, let the boy be. I'm sure there will be a time and place to go into all that." Lucius said with a calming smile. He looked at Harry and winked. "I'm sure he's just excited to board the train. Speaking of which, you two better get going."
Lucius did a quick look over the train. "Draco, I believe young Blaise Zabini is currently boarding the carriage second to last. You'd best go and introduce Harry to him." Lucius said before revealing his wand from within his walking stick and giving all the boy's luggage a quick wave causing them to float. "Do be sure to meet up with Vincent and Gregory. I promised their Fathers that you'd look out for them. We both know they are not the most intelligent boys around, far from it. It will serve you well to have them at your side." Lucius explained in a tone that made it obvious there was to be no question in the matter.
Draco nodded and started to pull his now weightless luggage behind him. "Come on Harry, I'll introduce you to some friends." Draco said leading the way.
Harry nodded and said his goodbyes to Mr and Mrs. Malfoy. Dragging his floating luggage made the quick stride easier. Harry followed Draco's lead and entered the carriage. Draco did quick look into the compartments and found who he was looking for.
"Hey Blaise." Draco said entering the compartment. He lifted the next to weightless luggage onto the overhead rack.
"Draco." Blaise said from his seat. He closed his book and noticed Harry standing behind Draco. "Who's this now Draco?" he asked standing to his feet.
Draco smirked and stepped aside to let Harry into the compartment. "Blaise Zabini, meet Harry Potter." Draco said sounding very smug.
There was a moment of silence. "You having a laugh Draco?" Blaise asked sounded a little offended. "Harry Potter, yeah. That'll be the day."
Harry wasn't sure what to say so he just stood in silence waiting for Draco's lead. "Oh go on Harry, show him the scar." Draco said crossing his arms confidently.
Harry smiled and lifted his hair revealing the lightning bolt scar. Blaise was shocked and stared at the scar. "By the Styx, you really are Harry Potter." Blaise said before realizing his lack of courtesy offered Harry his hand. "Blaise Zabini." He said with a smile.
Harry returned the smile and the handshake. "Just Harry is fine. Nice to meet you." Harry said. "If you don't mind." He gestured to his luggage. "I want to get these up there, before they stop floating."
Blaise nodded and stepped out of his way. Harry placed his luggage in the overhead and took a seat. "Uhm should look for Vincent and Gregory?" Harry asked Draco. "Your father was quite insistent that you find them."
Draco sighed and rolled his eyes. "We might as well. Who knows what they're getting themselves into without a brain between them." Draco said leaning against the open door frame. He caught Blaise's confused and dismissive expression.
"Oh, don't look at me like that. You think I want them tailing me when I've got the likes of you and Harry?" Draco asked rhetorically. "Father was dead set on me having them around. I'm to keep them in line. To be the brain to their brawn."
Letting out a final sigh Draco stood up straight. "I'll go find them. Wait for me here. This should take long." He said before leaving.
This left Harry alone with Blaise. "So Draco tells me that Slytherin is the house of the ambitions. Are you planning on Slytherin as well?" Harry asked Blaise, attempting to make conversation. "I mean, I like the sound of Slytherin, just don't know what the others are."
Blaise nodded. "Well, most everyone that Draco associates with will be Slytherin." Blaise said leaning forward a bit. "Its expected of certain Families. Slytherin for generations. That being said, there are three other houses."
Harry was enthralled by Blaise's explanation. "There's Ravenclaw, for the smart ones. Some say what they have in intelligence, they lack in common sense. Then there's Hufflepuff, for the diligent and loyal. Then there's Gryffindor. Some would say it's the house of the Brave and Courageous. Others, like Draco's Father, would say it's full of arrogant plebeians."
"I'm more of fair sort. So I'll tell you there nothing wrong with any of the houses, just depends on your priorities." Blaise said smoothly. "Most folks Draco would introduce you to are going to end up in Slytherin. It's just how things are for the Old Families."
Harry was dumbfounded but nodded along. "So it's a family tradition to be in Slytherin? That's why Draco is already decided on it?" Harry asked.
Blaise nodded. "Pretty much. I'm the same way. The Zabini Purity wouldn't allow it." Blaise said, then noticed Harry's confusion. "From what I'm told. The sorting takes into account how much magic you've got in your blood. For Families like the Malfoys, or the Notts, not a single drop of Muggle blood in them. My family is the same. We'd never allow Mudblood to ruin our bloodlines."
Harry wasn't sure what a Mudblood but was concerned he might be one. "What's a Mudblood?" he asked very worried.
Blaise grimaced sucked air through his teeth. "Oh, well. A Mudblood is someone with any Magical Blood in them." Blaise said getting quieter. "A Witch or Wizard born from Muggle parents is commonly known as a Muggleborn. Not to be used in polite company, Mudblood is the rude way to talk about them."
Harry nodded. He quickly remembered that both of his parents were magical, which meant he wasn't a Mudblood. "So what would someone like Draco be then?" Harry asked. He didn't want to be rude, but his curiosity taking priority.
Blaise had a small smile. "Well people like Draco, and myself, would be considered a Pure Blood. We can track our bloodline back generations." Blaise said sounding a bit proud. "We are the way it should."
Harry wasn't sure but he liked the sound of being able to see how old your family is. He wish he knew more about his. "Draco is taking his sweet time." Blaise said stretching his arms out in front of him. "I wonder where Theodore or Pansy are."
No sooner was Harry going to ask about Theodore and Pansy did the train jerk forward and start moving. "Looks like we're finally on our way." Blaise said as he reached for his book. No sooner did he open it did the compartment door open.
There was a short girl with a black pixie bob haircut and a small face. "Draco said he was here!" she practically shouted at them. Her attention fell on Harry and her eyes widened. "You!"
Blaise snorted. "Well, good to see you to Pansy." He said returning to his book. "Harry, meet Pansy Parkinson. Pansy, stop staring." He flipped a page and waved his hand in dismissal.
Harry wasn't sure what had just happened, but he stood up and offered his hand anyway. "Nice to meet you." He said. She slowly took his hand and shook it lightly. "You're a friend of Draco's?" he asked sitting back down.
There was a laugh behind Pansy as a boy appeared. He was tall and thin, with a certain expression as if he was just getting out of bed. "Friend is putting it lightly." He said gently pushing Pansy aside. "Theodore Nott, a pleasure." He said shaking Harry's hand.
Pansy huffed and stomped a foot. "Theodore Nott, I've told you a million times not to sneak up behind me!" She exclaimed only to be met with a snicker.
Theodore completely ignored her tantrum and sat down next to the window. Eventually she stopped raging at Theodore and sat down next to Harry. "So Harry, Draco mentioned you live with muggle relatives. That must have been absolutely dreadful." Pansy said in a dramatic fashion. "I couldn't even begin to imagine."
Harry smiled at her over exaggeration at how bad muggles were, but remembered his own personal experience with his relatives. "Let's just say I'm happier being where I belong." Harry said gesturing around him.
They all laughed a genuine laugh that made Harry feel more at ease.
Harry spent the next few hours getting to know his new found friends and learning what to expect from the Magical World from their perspectives. Eventually one of the older students came by and suggested they change into their school uniforms as they would be arriving at Hogwarts soon.
Before long the Hogwarts Express pulled into the Hogsmeade Station. Harry was excited to be dreading his sorting. He hadn't even given it any thought so far. All of his new friends had explained that they would be in Slytherin as their parents had, and their parents, and their parents. He wanted to be in Slytherin like them.
Blaise had been a little less favorable to the other houses once Pansy and Theodore arrived, but was still barely fair about the Sortings. 'There's nothing wrong with the other houses, just the people in them.' Harry wasn't sure what to expect from the other houses. He just knew that he liked the people that were going to be in Slytherin.
CHAPTER END
