A/N: As before, I quote some phrases from canon
Close to noon, their attention was caught by a clatter outside the corridor. The door to their compartment slid open. There was a woman beyond, pushing a food cart laden with treats. She smiled cheerfully, her cheeks dimpling.
"Anything off the carts, dears?" she asked.
Harry leapt up, eager for food. Having had a rather large breakfast at Hogwarts, Callidus wasn't feeling very hungry.
"Three of everything," Malfoy called out. "For all of us to share. Oh, and the large box of Chocolate Frogs. My treat, of course."
Harry was surprised by Malfoy's generosity. Callidus, however, was suspicious. He didn't think this was a gift. More like a favour that Malfoy would want to reap the rewards of, later. Malfoy paid the woman, who handed them their treats, which they set down on the empty seat next to Callidus. There were Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs. Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, Licorice Wands, and various other things that neither Harry nor Callidus had ever seen before.
"Try the Chocolate Frogs," Malfoy said. "They're my favourite. Though I've already collected the whole set of cards."
"Cards?" Harry asked.
"Oh, I suppose you wouldn't know, being raised by muggles and all. Chocolate Frogs contain collectable cards of famous witches and wizards. Go on, take a look."
Callidus and Harry both unwrapped their Chocolate Frogs. Callidus's card contained Gifford Ollerton (Famous Giant slayer, killed the giant Hengist of Upper Barnton), and Harry got Albus Dumbledore. As for Malfoy, his card contained Dzou Yen, who was a Chinese alchemist.
"This one's pretty rare," said Malfoy. "Do you want it?" He held the card towards Harry.
"Uh - sure, thanks," Harry replied, smiling weakly at Malfoy. Harry seemed more fascinated by the moving figures on the cards then he did with the chocolate itself. Callidus, who had grown accustomed to seeing moving portraits, was not as enraptured as Harry was with the Chocolate Frog Cards.
The boys managed to make their way through the entire mound of treats (except for a few of the Every Flavour Beans which looked questionable). Sated on sugar, Harry and Malfoy both seemed more relaxed in each other's company. Malfoy was describing the joys of flying to Harry when there was a knock on their compartment. The round-faced boy that they had seen earlier asked them if any of them had seen a toad.
Malfoy looked as though he wanted to sneer at the boy, but having caught Harry's warning look first, the blond somehow held himself back.
"Sorry, we haven't seen a toad anywhere," Harry replied.
"Have you tried a summoning spell?" Callidus asked.
"A summoning spell? I can hardly even get my wand to spark," the round-faced boy said mournfully. "Well, If you see him -" The boy shut the compartment door behind him as he left.
"Summoning spell?" Harry asked. "Could you really summon a toad?"
"I read about the spell in a book - I haven't actually tried it yet. Dumbledore wouldn't let me use my wand over the summer," Callidus replied.
"Why wouldn't Dumbledore let you?" Malfoy asked, puzzled. "What's he got to do with whether you can use your wand or not?"
"Oh, I was staying at Hogwarts over the summer," Callidus explained. While it was tempting to keep jabbing at Malfoy, the boy seemed to be trying to be nice.
"Really? I thought students weren't permitted to stay at Hogwarts over the summer," Malfoy replied with an expression of doubt. Callidus shrugged. It was probably true - he hadn't seen any students while he was there. But he wasn't about to explain his circumstances to Malfoy.
"Can you show me the summoning spell? I haven't had chance to try any spells yet," said Harry. Even Malfoy brightened at the suggestion of attempting magic.
"Alright - but it's a fourth year spell, so don't be surprised if you can't get it to work. The incantation is Accio and the wand movement is like this." Callidus moved the wand in a rainbow-like arc. "It's important to have the object clearly in mind. We could try with - oh - perhaps the Chocolate Frog cards."
The three boys pulled out their wands, and with intense concentration, they uttered Accio over and over, fixated on the cards.
"I think I got it to twitch!" Malfoy crowed. But Callidus hadn't seen any of the cards twitch at all, and said so. This earned him a sore look from Malfoy. All three of them were so intent on attempting to summon the Chocolate Frog cards that they jumped when the compartment door opened again.
"Has anyone seen a toad? Neville's lost one," said the girl at the entryway in a bossy voice. She was with the round-faced boy. She had bushy brown hair that reminded Callidus a bit of Hagrid's shaggy locks, and rather large front teeth.
"Hasn't anyone ever taught you to knock?" Malfoy snapped with irritation. Probably because he had failed to get the cards to 'twitch' again, and was starting to give himself a headache from trying.
But the girl paid him no heed. "Oh, are you doing magic then? Let's see it." She looked at the three of them expectantly.
"We're not here to provide you with a show," Malfoy sneered. Plus, none of them wanted to admit that they couldn't get the spell to work.
"I've already tried a few simple spells just for practice and it's all worked for me. Nobody in my family's magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, I mean, it's the very best school of witchcraft there is, I've heard - I've learned all our course books by heart, of course, I just hope it will be enough - I'm Hermione Granger, by the way, who are you." This was all said very fast.
Harry looked bewildered. Malfoy was incredulous and perhaps disgusted, while Callidus was annoyed. She had learned all her course books by heart? Ha. Regardless of whether she had memorized her textbooks or not, Callidus was determined to do better than her in classes. There was no way he'd let some bushy haired nag get the better of him.
"I'm Harry Potter," Harry said.
Callidus glowered, while Malfoy looked like a bird had just pooped on his perfectly polished shoes.
"Are you really?" said Hermione. "I know all about you, of course - I got a few extra books. for background reading, and you're in Modern Magical History and The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century."
Harry looked dazed. Malfoy and Callidus were both growing increasingly irritated. Especially the way the girl claimed to know 'all about' Harry, based on what she had read.
"Mudbloods," Malfoy muttered. Callidus couldn't hear much more except for the words "-hopelessly uncouth."
"What did you say?" the girl said, her voice rising.
"What makes you think I have anything to say to someone so ill-bred?" Malfoy spat out.
Offended by his scornful tone, Hermione sputtered. "Ill-bred?"
"Oh, is that an echo I hear?" Malfoy added maliciously.
Hermione opened her mouth and raised her finger, only to close it again.
"Well, since it looks like you've exhausted the extent of your vocabulary, perhaps you'd best be off," Callidus drawled. He had had enough of listening to the garrulous windbag acting like she had any claim on Harry.
The girl narrowed her eyes at him, while the round-faced boy looked like he wished he were anywhere else but here.
"Were the words I used too big for you to understand? How about this: Go Away," Callidus said coldly.
With an angry huff, the girl slid the compartment shut with such force that it banged. Malfoy was looking at Callidus with something akin to admiration. Harry still looked bewildered.
"Well - that was - something -" said Harry, staring at the closed door. He turned his attention back to Malfoy and Callidus. "You two were kind of mean to her." He sounded reproachful. But neither Callidus nor Malfoy were repentant.
"She shouldn't have spoken to you that way," said Callidus. "As though she believes everything she read in a book. The authors who wrote the book never even met you!"
"I guess so," Harry replied, but he seemed uncertain. Harry turned to Malfoy "So - what's a mudblood?"
Malfoy looked at Harry his pale face became downright translucent. It was evident that Harry meant it as an innocent question. Harry had no idea that 'mudblood' was a terrible epithet used to describe muggleborns. But if Malfoy explained the insult, then he'd have to explain that he just made a slur against Harry's mother whom everyone knew was a muggleborn. Callidus's expression remained neutral, but inside, he was gloating. The foolish blond had slipped up.
"It's - er - well - it's one of way of saying muggleborn," Malfoy stammered out faltering under Harry's green eyes.
'Coward,' Callidus thought (even though, in the similar circumstances, he might do the same thing. Callidus didn't know the measure of his own courage.)
"It's an insulting way to describe muggleborns," Callidus clarified. He kept his tone neutral, not looking over at Malfoy. Callidus didn't care for the blond, but he'd prefer to let Harry draw his own conclusions about Malfoy's character.
Harry frowned, as he thought over the words 'mud' and 'blood' applied to muggleborn witches and wizards. His lips were pursed, and Harry looked unhappy.
"Why would you say something like that?" Harry asked accusingly, not taking his eyes off of Malfoy.
Malfoy looked panicked. He had no answer on hand for his behaviour. But he also looked remorseful. Callidus had a feeling that the blond didn't regret his words - only regretted upsetting Harry, whom he clearly wanted as a friend.
"I - er -" as Malfoy stumbled, Callidus wondered whether he would apologize. Had Malfoy ever had to apologize for anything in his life?
"Maybe you should go," Harry said softly.
"I'm sorry!" Malfoy blurted out. "I didn't mean it!" Callidus didn't believe him. Well, he believed Malfoy was sorry, but he also thought that Malfoy meant to say 'mudblood.' He was also surprised that the blond was capable of apologizing.
Harry bit his lower as he considered Malfoy's words. Unlike Callidus, Harry was more likely to offer someone a second chance. "Fine. But if you say it again, I don't want you around me." After hearing Harry's pronouncement, Malfoy could only nod. Callidus huffed. Harry was too nice. But then again, Lily had a forgiving personality as well.
The boys fell into a heavy silence. Malfoy still looked upset. Harry appeared indifferent, and watched the landscape with interest. But before long, there was a knock on their compartment door. It slid open to reveal a pair of girls that neither Harry nor Callidus had seen before. One of the girls had dark brown hair with an upturned nose, and the other girl had dark blonde hair, with cool grey eyes.
"Draco," the dark-haired girl simpered. "Vincent and Gregory said that you were here. Aren't you going to introduce us to your your new friends?"
"Pansy, Daphne" said Malfoy, looking a bit irritated but also a bit guilty. "This is Harry Potter. Oh, and Callidus Prince. Prince, Potter, this is Pansy Parkinson and Daphne Greengrass."
Both girls only gave a cursory nod to Callidus before turning their attention over to Harry.
"We've heard all about you, Harry," the dark-haired Pansy Parkinson said. Her gaze rested on his forehead, as though seeking out the lighting-bolt scar. But then she turned her attention back to Malfoy. "Draco, you really hurt Gregory you know."
"Not you too!" Malfoy whinged, already feeling like he had been raked through coals all day. "I'll talk to him about it later."
"You're the famous Harry Potter?" said Daphne Greengrass, the dark blonde girl.
"Er - I suppose, so," said Harry, still uncomfortable with his fame. Plus, the two girls were watching him like a pair of hungry hyenas moving in for a kill.
"You suppose?" Parkinson sniggered. "Are you, or aren't you?"
"Pansy -" Malfoy said, with a tone of warning, and steely eyes. Parkinson looked over at Malfoy, and then sniffed snobbishly, but she kept her mouth shut. But Harry smiled at Malfoy with gratitude, and Malfoy looked stupidly happy (or so Callidus thought).
"You must have that scar then," Greengrass said, glancing at his forehead. Unlike Pansy, Draco hadn't warned Daphne Greengrass off, and the girl wanted to sate her desire for gossip.
"I have scars."
"I mean, that one on your forehead. From the killing curse," Greengrass continued. Harry just frowned.
"You're being rather impolite," Malfoy said to Greengrass pointedly. Greengrass only shrugged, and her smile said 'I don't care.'
"So what was it like, defeating the Dark - uh - You-Know-Who?" Greengrass asked Harry, when it was evident that he wouldn't show his scar.
"Erm - well, it happened when I was just a baby," Harry replied, squirming under the two girl's indiscreet interest. Callidus frowned. Really, they were just as bad as that Hermione-girl, though in an entirely different way. Didn't it occur to them that the day Voldemort was destroyed was also the day Harry's parents were killed? Or did they not care?
"Surely you remember something," Daphne prodded.
"Well then, pray, tell us all about your memories when you were a one year old," Callidus cut in. "Though, judging by your fatuous behaviour, it'd be remarkable if you remembered what you did yesterday, let alone ten years ago."
Greengrass's grey eyes flashed at the insult. She looked over at Malfoy expectantly. "Are you going to let him speak to me that way, Draco?"
Malfoy looked like a fieldmouse, caught between a fox and an owl. "You shouldn't have been so rude," Draco said weakly.
Daphne let out a squeak of irritation. "Let's go Pansy," she said, dragging her friend by the arm. Parkinson looked as though she wanted to protest. But upon seeing her friend's furious expression, she allowed herself to get pulled away. When they were gone, Malfoy slid the compartment door closed again.
"What did you say that for?" Malfoy asked Callidus with exasperation. "She's probably going to write home to her parents to tell them all about what happened, and then her parents are going to tell my parents and then - Arg!"
"If it bothers you so much, then shouldn't you have defended her?" Callidus asked.
"Well - she was being pretty annoying, talking to Potter that way," Malfoy muttered. Callidus raised an eyebrow. Did Malfoy have no self-awareness at all? Harry, who noticed Callidus's expression snickered. Malfoy may have fancied himself as some sort of pureblood princeling, but he was just another eleven year old boy (and a childish one at that, for all his manners.) It was difficult to take someone seriously when their behaviour was so puerile.
Soon, they were almost at Hogwarts. The sky had darkened, and the view outside their window showed mountains and forests. The boys all put on their new school robes in preparation for their arrival. When they felt the train stop, the three boys shared a look. Harry and Callidus both felt nervous. Even the Malfoy had lost his arrogant expression, and looked a touch uncertain.
The students pushed their way off the train and onto the dark platform outside. Both Harry and Callidus turned their heads when they heard Hagrid's familiar voice, calling: "Firs' years, Firs' years over here! All right there, Harry, Cal?"
Hagrid's eyes crinkled as Harry and Callidus smiled up at him. His familiar face had calmed their anxieties.
"C'mon, follow me - any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!" Hagrid bellowed.
They were taken down a dark, steep and narrow path. Harry stepped with silent care, while behind him, Callidus could hear Malfoy quietly cursing and complaining. As they rounded a bend, they caught sight of Hogwarts, glittering across an onyx lake. It was the first time Callidus had seen Hogwarts from this angle, and it took his breath away. Hogwarts castle was just as impressive from a distance as it was up close. All the windows seemed to be lit, and the turrets and towers proudly pierced the sky.
The first year crossed the lake in small boats. Callidus, Harry, Malfoy, and another boy named Blaise Zabini shared a boat. Callidus was afraid that he'd get motion sick. To his surprise, the boat glided smoothly across the lake, with hardly a bump. Much better than travelling by thestral. Or Side-Along Apparition. Or even Floo.
Unlike the train, Callidus sat next to Harry on the boat. When they were floating along on their way, Harry leaned towards Callidus.
"What does fatuous mean?" Harry whispered. If Callidus could have seen in the dark, he would have noticed Harry's flushed cheeks. Harry was uncomfortable admitting to his ignorance. But Harry trusted Callidus enough to know that the other boy wouldn't mock him for not knowing. It had been evident from their summer letters that Callidus enjoyed explaining things.
"It means foolish or silly," Callidus replied softly.
"Am I going to have to know words like that? Everyone's going to think I'm such an idiot for not understanding," Harry lamented.
"You'll be alright," Callidus replied, trying to reassure Harry. "I know a lot more words than most people because I like to read."
A/N: Please Review!
Poor poor Hermione. I feel so bad for her :( She'll be important later in the story.
Kids can be so vicious at that age. But then again, adults can be vicious too. I remember how everything used to feel so intense between about 11-19. So yep, there'll be strong feelings and drama.
This is quite a short chapter, but I can get them out faster that way.