The rest of august passed in a blur for the family of two. Harry and Bella had read all of Harry's new text books, and made notes on things he didn't understand. Harry was excited about all his magical studies, but he was really looking forward to History of Magic. Ragnok had been visiting all his life, and told fantastic stories of Goblin sieges and glorious battles. He had told Harry the gory details when his mother hadn't been there, and Harry couldn't wait until he got to study them properly.
On the morning of the 1st of September, Harry woke up early and immediately began jumping around the room, packing all the last minute items he needed, like his toothbrush and Hedwig's food. He carried the owl down to the kitchen and gave her some bacon and water, which were received gratefully by Hedwig.
Bella came in a moment later, already dressed for the day in a long denim skirt and a blue blouse. Dressed as she was, with her dark hair pulled back, she could easily pass for a woman 10 years her junior.
"Getting up early and feeding Hedwig without my asking?" she remarked "Who are you and what have you done with my son?" She chuckled, moving to the fridge to pull out food for breakfast. Harry just rolled his eyes and petted Hedwig. "I'm just excited" he said, and began listing, for the third time that week, everything he was looking forward to. Bella smiled and loaded up plates with bacon and eggs, as well as fruit salad.
By the time Harry had run out of steam, it was almost time to go. Bella called upstairs to him. "Harry, it's 9:00. If we don't want to rush, we need to get going in the next couple of minutes". There was no sound for a second, before a trunk came whizzing down the stairs to land at Bella's feet, followed by her son wielding his ring foci. Bella fixed him with a glare. "You, car, now" she ordered, through her eyes danced with mischief. Harry grinned and levitated his trunk out to the Gringotts provided car. Luckily though, it looked like it was on tiny wheels, so no neighbours would be suspicious.
The trip to Kings Cross was uneventful, and 40 minutes later they were wheeling their way inside. "Ok, we're earlier than I thought, so how about a milkshake?" Harry agreed and moved to a bench to wait while Bella fetched the shakes. Suddenly a voice rang out from behind.
"Hermione, be logical. There is no Platform 9 and 3/4. It was probably a mistake that they gave you that ticket. Let's just go and ask where the 11:00 train leaves from". Harry turned around to find a young family sitting on the other bench. The girl had curly brown hair, similar to her fathers, and light freckles on her nose, like her mom. He couldn't help but assist. "Excuse me, I couldn't help but overhearing" he began "Did you say you were looking for Platform 9 and ¾?"
The older man laughed, glancing around. "Just a joke lad. We know there is no Platform 9 and ¾". Harry nodded, "Yes there is sir. Your daughter is going to Hogwarts as well, first year?" The man sighed in relief. 'Yes, do you know how to get onto the platform?" Harry nodded. "Why don't you come with me and Mum? I can help your daughter, and Mum can help you guys?" The father nodded, relieved, and the girl was practically bouncing in her seat. "Daddy, can I go and talk to him. Maybe he can tell me a little about Hogwarts. He seems to know so much about it". The father nodded.
Bella chose this moment to reappear. "Honestly Harry" she said, shaking her head. "You could make friends in an empty room, couldn't you?" She laughed, before turning to the family. "Hello, my name is Bella Figg. I'm Harry's mother". The girl's parents introduced themselves as Emma and Daniel Granger, and their daughter Hermione. The three adults watched as the two kids were chatting, comparing their knowledge and experiences.
Eventually however they had to break the pair up to get on the platform. With the assistance of the adults, they soon had their trunks stored and Hedwig safe on bench. They both said goodbye to their families, tears being shed and promises exchanged to write regularly. Both the kids got on the train, though there was still over 40 minutes until the train left.
"I'm just so excited about Hogwarts. I hope I can get in Ravenclaw, but it's an honour no matter which house we're in. But wouldn't Ravenclaw just be brilliant. I hope we're in the same house. What house do you think you'll be in?" Hermione managed to say all that in one breath, and Harry was impressed. She was what Ragnok would call an ysfera, or knowledge-seeker. She accumulated and hoarded knowledge like a Goblin accumulated treasure and wealth.
"I don't mind what house I'm in. I don't know if I would like Slytherin, because a lot of people are from all magic families, and they're not known for being fair on muggleborns. I think I would like to be in Gryffindor or Hufflepuff. Being fair sounds alright, but I would also like to be a man of action. If there was a compromise between the two of them, I would go in that".
It was Hermione's turn to look impressed. "That's very well-reasoned" she said "Most people would have just named a house because they like it. I would like to be in a compromise between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. Using my intelligence to help people"
The two looked at each other for a minute before grinning. In that moment, they both knew they had found a friend, a best friend. Neither would say it, but there was an undercurrent.
Halfway through the journey, the snack trolley came by. Hermione perked up, looking at the magical sweets on offer, before shaking her head and sitting back down. Harry saw this and bought enough for the both of them to share. He divided them equally, setting them on the seat next to Hermione on the chair. Hermione immediately protested.
"Harry, I can't take these" she said "They're yours. And I can't eat that much sugar, my parents would kill me". Hermione kept glancing at the sweets longingly.
"Hermione, I bought those ones for you" he said "And you're probably going to burn off the energy tonight, from being nervous. Besides, the castle is in Scotland, and that's still 4 hours away. You need something to keep your energy up". Hermione debated with herself before opening up a chocolate frog. It tried to jump away, but harry caught it for her. "Careful with these, they jump around a lot".
Hermione smiled and took the frog, delicately biting its head off. Her eyes widened and she quickly devoured the rest. Harry smirked. "I take it you liked your first taste of independence?" he asked. Hermione smirked back and nodded. This was the start of a beautiful friendship.
A few minutes later, their compartment was barged into. Expecting blonde and aristocratic (his mother had warned him about the Malfoys), he was shocked to see bright red hair and freckles in front of him. The sneer was the only thing he had been expecting.
"Do either of you Mudbloods know where Harry Potter is?" he asked, completely ignoring Hermione (Harry supposed it was because she was a girl, and the Wizarding world wasn't the forerunner on gender rights) and focusing on Harry. Harry's hand twitched to be able to use his rings, but before he could, Hermione stood up angrily. "We will not be answering any questions when you use that disrespectful tone. Get out, and come back when you can be civil". Harry grinned and moved his hand, causing the door to slam in Ron's face. The redhead turned puce and raged for a while before storming away.
Hermione turned, bemused. "How did the door slam?" she asked. Harry slid up his sleeve. "Don't tell anyone, but I have a different form of a wand, a ring foci. I will be using my wand for show, but my rings are what I'm best at"
Hermione looked at the rings, amazed. She liked her wand, but she had never felt truly comfortable with it. Maybe she could get one of these foci?
Harry could see the faint longing on Hermione's face. 'I guess I know what to get her for Christmas' he thought before diverting her attention to other things.
When they almost reached the castle, they changed into their robes. Harry stood outside while Hermione changed, guarding the door almost fiercely. When she was finished, they swapped and Hermione guarded the door with the same staunch loyalty.
When the train stopped, they both disembarked, Hermione carrying Hedwig's cage, cooing at the owl. Harry could practically sense the contentment coming off Hedwig as Hermione stroked her through the bars.
They met a large man named Hagrid who invited anyone who wanted to come down to his hut for tea. Most of the muggleborns shied away from him, and most of the purebloods scoffed and turned away. The half-bloods looked interested, but it was only Harry, and then Hermione who accepted, making sure to arrange for a meeting that Friday.
The trip to the castle was magical, seeing the castle all lit up was something they would never forget. They all walked through, gawking at different things, even Harry, who had seen the silver mines and diamond deposits in Gringotts. This definitely ranked up there with the best things he had seen.
After being handed over to another Professor, this one with a tight bun and a stern expression, they were ushered into the Great Hall. Golden plates sparkled, glass shone, everything was alight and cheerful. Except for the Head Table. It had at least 3 people frowning, all for different reasons.
Dumbledore was frowning because the boy looked… good. No sign of malnutrition, no scars, apart from the one on his forehead. No signs of abuse at all. How was this possible?
Snape was frowning because James Potter had returned to Hogwarts. He knew the brat wasn't James Potter, but with the resemblance, it was easy to overlook Lily's features and hate the boy. Damn Potter.
Quirrel was frowning because his Master was frowning. Voldemort couldn't use his Legimency on the boy. It was like his mind was covered in soap. He just kept sliding around, never getting in. He wondered if the boy knew what he was doing, or if it was a natural talent. Either way, it would require watching.
Harry was aware of all these facts (Goblin training involved daily surprise attacks, so situation awareness and scanning a crowd were second nature to anyone who had completed it, as Harry had) and slammed up his Goblin Occlumency shields. He could feel someone trying to gain purchase of them, and failing. He had a clue whom it was.
The sorting hat sang its song and began calling names. It went past the A's, B's, C's, D's, E's, and F's, all with no mention of Harry. That only meant one thing, and Harry sighed in relief. No one knew about Bella. He might actually be able to keep her safe from Dumbledore and his cohorts.
The sorting hat got to the P's and right after Patil came "HARRY POTTER". The entire hall burst into whispers as Harry walked up to the sorting hat. He hated not claiming his mother as his, but to keep her safe, her name must never be involved. He sat down on the stool and the sorting hat was placed on his head.
'Hmm, Mr Figg, are you?' said the hat. 'My compliments to your mother, you have an astounding mind. Bright enough for Ravenclaw, fair enough for Hufflepuff, enough cunning to rival Slytherin himself and A Gryffindor in all but name now. But where to put you? You would do well in any house. I leave the choice to you'.
Harry had some questions first. 'Does anyone else know about my mother besides you? Can you be read with Legimency? How do you know what house I should be in? Have you ever given the choice over to someone before?'
The hat chuckled. "In order of your questions, No one knows, I can't be read at all, for my mind is not structured the same as a human or other fully mobile creature. I am reading you personality, as well as any other possible traits that might manifest. Imagine your mind is a landscape. If you have a particular type of nature there, you go with people who have that nature. You are a mix of all natures, all mingling together evenly, so I have no idea where to put you. And I give the choice often, though most of the time the person goes along friendship or family lines"
Harry nodded a little. 'I'd like to go into Gryffindor please. Being smart is good, being fair is good, and being cunning is good, but you need to have the bravery to use them. I suppose that is true for the rest, but I want to be a leader, and leaders are expected to be brave before anything else'.
The hat said nothing more to Harry, but Harry felt a sense of satisfaction and pride when the hat opened his mouth and yelled. "Gryffindor!"
Harry handed back the hat and went over to the Gryffindor table, sitting next to Hermione, who gave him a hug. "Welcome to Hogwarts" he said jokingly and Hermione laughed. The rest of the sorting went quickly; Dean Thomas sitting on Harry's other side, opposite a boy named Seamus Finnegan. Neville Longbottom sat opposite Harry, resolutely staring at his plate.
Harry was just beginning to wonder when dinner would be served when one of the last names was announced. "RONALD WEASLEY". The redheaded prick from the train stood up and walked up to the sorting hat. The hat barely touched his head before the hat screamed out…
"SLYTHERIN".
Most of the hall went silent. A Weasley, going into Slytherin? It was impossible. But the green trim and badge was already on his robes, and he was slowly walking towards his new housemates. The hall was still silent when the last person, Blaise Zabini was sorted into Slytherin and the Headmaster rose.
It was to deathly silence he said "Welcome to Hogwarts" and Hermione and Harry exchanged looks. It was going to be a long year.