Disclaimer: NOT Blonde, Not rich, not living in Britain, initials are not JKR therefore don't own. Love the characters and the setting so am just playing, I get nothing but the reviews my readers give me. Authorship shared with Darkshadowedrose.
A/N:32 Reviews for such a short chapter, here is your reward. I can be bribed. Also a short Explanation Child Abuse is a horrible thing always but abused children almost always tell themselves lies especially when the abuse comes in the more benign forms and they are this age, Harry in this story has been abused but he has been taught to blame Dumbledore not Petunia for his emotional neglect. Harry hasn't reached a stage in the maturation process where he recognizes the fact the very inequality of how he was treated constitutes one of the more benign forms of child abuse.
Trust is a Relative Thing
Chapter 6 Aboard the Hogwarts Express
The morning of September 1st, Harry made breakfast while Petunia made lunches as was common. Petunia tucked a some scones into his lunch kit and then set a large thermos of tea with two cups attached on the counter next to it, in addition to the bottle of water and juice box Harry had already set aside. At his questioning glance she said, "I'll explain later." The family had a quiet breakfast, Petunia got the car keys and she watched as Harry packed the last loose items from his room in his trunk. Harry took the photo of his parents from the desk and was about to tuck it into his trunk when his aunt asked, "What is that?" without a word Harry handed it to her.
Petunia examined the picture in its silver frame. It reminded her of a family picture session she and Vernon had had with Dudley when he was a baby. It also reminded her of a similar moment between herself and Lily when Lily was a baby. She sighed "Lily" almost under her breath.
Harry opened the window and took Hedwig from her perch. "Go to Hogwarts girl. I'll see you there." He cleaned her perch and threw away the litter that sat it the tray under it. Then he tucked it into his trunks third compartment. His room now looked unoccupied.
Petunia reluctantly handed the picture back to Harry. "You're very like her you know. Outwardly you're like your father but deep down you have her heart and mind." Harry took the photo back and tucked it in his trunk. He swallowed.
"Will you be coming back for Christmas? It will be at Marge's."
Harry shook his head no.
"Easter?"
"Probably not. I think I'll want to stay and study."
"This will still be your home, and I think Dudley will miss you."
"I know, but you and I both know Uncle Vernon won't. It's better I'm only here for the summer break from now on."
Petunia reluctantly nodded. It was odd, there was a heavy feeling in her chest she couldn't describe. "Let's go."
They loaded the car. Half way to London, Petunia couldn't handle the silence. Normally silence was the normal state of things between her and Harry, all their previous trips to London had been silent.
"Your mother was so excited to go to Hogwarts, she couldn't sit still. When she came back her stories were so fantastic I got horribly jealous. I wanted to see and live in a castle. It didn't help Lily was always everything I wanted to be smart beautiful, talented. She even got to marry a lord. That was always one of my childhood dreams.
"Her stories included that once winter hit the castle was cold, so cold she suffered from chilblains until an upper year took pity on her and taught her a warming charm...She talked about the train and the candy on the trolley. You and I both know that between your sensei and I, you aren't fond of sweets so I sent the three orange currant scones with clotted cream and tea to tide you over until the feast at school. The thermos with extra cups is in case you make some friends...Write let me know how things are. If you need something let me know." She pulled into Kings Cross. "Alright your ticket, does it say which platform? I remember it was between platforms but I don't remember which ones."
"Nine and three quarters."
"So between nine and ten. Forty-five minutes. Do you want to wait on this side or just go through?"
"I'll go through."
"Alright Harry, good luck." Petunia shocked herself and him by giving him a brief hug. "You walk through the wall between the platforms as if it isn't there. Do write." She watched as he disappeared then turned and left the station.
Harry thought he would remember that brief hug always. He did as he was told and soon found himself beside a scarlet steam engine with the excitement his Aunt mentioned his mum feeling, rising like the tide. He climbed a board and stowed his trunk. He sat by the window and observed the students arriving. Some arrived out of nowhere hanging onto a parent further down; that was apparition according to the books for the muggleborn. Many others seemed to arrive out of a fireplace on the platform not far from where he was sitting. Flooing. Still others came through from King's Cross. At twenty until eleven he noticed a stately older witch with a large red handbag a long green dress and a tall hat with a vulture on it, come through the fireplace. She was shortly followed by a chubby blond boy that looked to about his age and slightly distressed. "Come along, Neville. I don't have all day."
"Sorry Gran, I just wanted to keep a good hold on Trevor as we went through the floo."
"Yes, yes, of course although honestly, what was your grand-uncle thinking, a toad. You can barely take care of yourself. Here I've un-shrunk your trunk. Have a good term and do nothing to disgrace the family. Study hard and mind your manners if Minerva has to send me one bad report..."
Harry decided that he didn't like the old witch very much. She treated her grandson the way Vernon used to treat him. Harry knew from his sensei that the best way to get the best from others was to treat them with respect. Usually the kids who made fun of his second hand clothes stopped when he didn't seem to let it bother him and still treated them with the respect sensei demanded in the dojo. Some of them even came to respect him in return. Of course it didn't hurt that they knew that he knew how to hand them their asses in a fight situation. Thinking about his sensei made him think about their goodbye.
Mid August Harry had knocked on Sensei's office door. He'd opened it. Harry had bowed respectfully.
"Yes Harry, did you need something?"
"Sir, I've been accepted to the boarding school my parents went to in Scotland and I wanted to give you notice so you could find someone to help clean the dojo and help with the Saturday classes."
"I see thank you Harry. How do you feel about this?"
"It's an opportunity I won't get if I stay here, sir."
"Is that all?"
Harry's demeanor changed. "No, part of me is terrified I'll do something to screw up, and ..."
Harry's sensei had long ago figured out that Harry stayed on a sufferance from his Aunt and Uncle. They provided for the boy's needs and a smidgen more Harry's presence in his dojo was proof of that, but no more. Love, affection and praise were a rare if not nonexistent things in Harry's home life. But they also did not abuse him in a tangible way; the worst they were guilty of was emotional neglect. Sensei tried to make up for this lack by offering Harry additional classes in exchange for work and lavishing the boy with well earned praise and doing his best to provide a moral compass. The result was Harry sometimes confided in him.
"Is this a good thing or a bad thing?"
""Good, I think, I've already found out a little about my parents I didn't know before. I get to..
"Get to what?"
"Get away from my Uncle. Get away from the constant calculation the ever on alert. But I'll miss you and the dojo."
"Life is about change Harry, it sounds like this might indeed be a good thing." Sensei had seen enough interaction between Harry and his family not to need an explanation. "Embrace it. Will you be back for Michaelmas and Easter breaks?"
"No Sir I'll probably stay at school."
"Then I'll teach you some new katas and exercises with your bo and a bokken to practice until we see each other next summer." The day before Harry's departure Sensei had gifted him with a new larger Gi, a bo, a bokken of his own, books about tai chi and kendo, and the admonishment to practice hard everyday and take care of himself. Harry wound up carrying the staff but the bokken tucked nicely into one of the sets of loops in his trunk's third compartment.
A knock sounded from the door of the compartment. The chubby blond boy from outside was at the door. "Mind if I ?"
"Sure."
"Thanks I'm Neville Longbottom. You are?"
"Harry Potter. So you're my god brother."
"God brother?"
"Well what else does the wizarding world call it when the mother of one boy is the godmother of the other and vice versa. That is assuming your mother's name is Alice."
The boy got a very sad look on his face. "Yes, my Mum is Alice, I'm sorry I never knew. Mum hasn't been well for a...well since I was a baby and my Gran raised me. I'd always wondered who my godparents were...and why they weren't around, but if it was your parents it makes sense now."
"Sorry, If I brought up bad memories or anything. Here let me help you with that." Harry knew with his healthy fit body he would be much more able to maneuver Neville's trunk, than the chubby boy. As he'd watched the platform he had noticed a general trend of wizarding kind to be unfit. "Anyway it's nice to meet you, Neville. I hope we can be friends." Harry held out his hand.
"I'd like that Harry." Neville took in the boy in front of him. He was dressed neatly in muggle clothes in shades of blue and gray, and wore a gray fedora so his scar wasn't readily apparent.
"So I heard you grew up with Muggles. What was that like?"
"It was okay. Different than growing up with magic I bet. My family never liked it when I did accidental magic. I bet your family liked it when you did it."
"Yeah." Neville said in a very subdued tone.
Harry could tell he obviously said something wrong so decided to set the tone for this new friendship. "Okay, obviously I said something wrong and rather than wreck this new friendship with a misunderstanding, how about you tell me, so I don't do it again."
Neville swallowed nervously. "I didn't do accidental magic for a long time. My family thought I was a squib. It wasn't until my Uncle Algie held me out the third story window and dropped me and I bounced that I did any magic at all."
"That's ruddy awful, why didn't anyone stop him? He could have killed you."
"Welcome to the magical world where it's better to be dead than a squib."Neville spoke without thinking then got a shocked look on his own face then covered his own mouth in his shock. A moment later he put his hand down and while still blushing he said. "Don't tell anyone I said that. Gran would... Uncle Algie isn't all bad. He was really pleased I got into Hogwarts, he bought me my toad."
Harry refrained from commenting, remembering what Hagrid had to say about toads.
A second later a knock came from the door. A bushy haired brunette stood at there. "Do you mind if I join you?" She smiled and showed prominent front teeth.
Harry arched an eyebrow at Neville in question. He had never had much to do with the girls at school. They had preferred to make fun of his clothes and messy hair, not that this girl would have any room to do so given her own bush. He had been more into advancing in kenpo, drawing, staying near the top of the class and out of the way of the school bullies Malcom MacDonald and Piers Polkiss than into the girls.
Neville shrugged and said, "Sure."
"I'm Hermione Granger." she extended her hand.
Neville looked shocked for a second. Harry pegged the girl as Muggleborn and extended his own. One of the things the etiquette book his Aunt got him, mentioned that Witches didn't extend their hands to shake, that proper behavior dictated the wizard extend his hand and if the witch allowed, it he was to kiss the back of the witch's hand like someone out of Victorian times. "I'm Harry Potter."
"Are you really?"
"Last time I checked."
"I know all about you of course-."
"Oh? Somehow I doubt that. Given that I've never given an interview and I have read what was written about me, I can tell you none of it was true. Except maybe some about what happened when I was a baby." Harry had determined that anyone who claimed to know him that had "read" all about him, was not high on his list of potential friends. He wasn't completely saying no way just not likely. He shook the hand she'd extended.
Hermione got a very abashed look on her face. "None of it's true? Then how dare they print it?"
"I ask the same question, but I expect money had something to do with it." Harry said in a subtly sarcastic tone. "Neville may I present Miss Hermione Granger, muggleborn witch and fellow future student. Miss Granger, Mr. Neville Longbottom."
This time Neville extended his hand and Miss Granger took it. She was surprised when Neville lifted her hand and lightly kissed the back as tradition dictated. Harry fought the urge to snicker at her surprised look. Find out all about magic indeed, she had probably focused on reading her school books and history not on culture and laws the way Petunia had him do. All of them startled when they felt the initial lurch of the train leaving the station.
"So are you both as excited as I am to go to Hogwarts, it's supposed to be the best magical school there is. It was such a surprise when I got my letter, but once I understood I was so pleased of course. Have you done any spells? I have, just a few simple ones but they've all worked."
"Miss Granger are you aware that you broke the law?" Harry asked he really didn't want to listen to this all the way to Hogwarts.
"I did?" she bleated.
" Yes it's the decree of the reasonable restriction of underage sorcery. People under seventeen are not allowed to do magic unless it is to save their life when not at school." Harry said.
"I didn't know that." she half wailed. "It wasn't in any of our textbooks or in the histories I read. I mean I practically memorized our books...Are you sure? It would be awful to be expelled the moment I got to school."
Neville spoke up to soothe her. "Harry's right such a law exists. But I think they make allowances for children who haven't been to school yet because our control of our magic is pretty erratic. And there are ways around the rules as well."
Hermione was quiet after that at least for awhile. Harry appreciated the silence while it lasted. He pulled out Magical Theory and started reading and making notes in the margins using a mechanical pencil.
"You shouldn't do that."
"What?"
"Write in books."
"You shouldn't be so bossy. A, it's part of how I study and b, it's my book I bought it and I can write in it if I please. Honestly. Do you have the sense God gave a goose?"
Hermione got another chagrined look on her face, and went quiet again.
Neville sat, not comfortable with the situation but unsure of how to change it. He could see that Hermione had certain notions of how things should be. Harry was challenging those notions starting when he said the books lied for money, continuing on when he pointed out Hermione obviously didn't know everything since she hadn't known about the restriction on underage magic, and now his saying he could do as he liked with his things. All of which were true. "So Hermione in your reading did you find out how we are sorted?"
"No, I hope I get into Gryffindor. I heard that Dumbledore himself was in it, but I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad..."
Harry mentally made note of the fact Dumbledore had been in Gryffindor. Hagrid had been extolling the virtues of that house over the others and had given Harry an outright warning away from Slytherin which probably meant Gryffindor was where Dumbledore wanted him to go. Thwarting the plans of that man was a large part of who he intended to be, but he had every intention to do it in such ways that if the old man objected he would look the fool hence Harry's efforts to know the rules inside and out before stepping into enemy territory. After all as Sun Tzu said, the highest form of generalship is to balk the enemy's plans.
"What about you both, where do you think you'll be sorted?"
"Does it matter?" was Harry's sardonic reply.
Harry's reply overlapped with Neville's dismal, "I'll probably be in Hufflepuff." Things got quiet again until seemingly in unison all three children's stomachs rumbled and they all reached in to various bags /boxes and pulled out lunch. Harry's was sandwiches, Petunia had made not only a roast beef and cheddar with lettuce and tomato, but also two cucumber sandwiches that were Harry's favorite, she had included a bag of crisps, some celery and carrot sticks and a pear. Neville had a picnic basket that had a spill proof tureen of a beef, barley and vegetable soup, some Cornish pasties, and an apple and some biscuits for dessert. Hermione had a large salad, a muenster cheese sandwich and an orange. As each of them thought the others lunches looked delicious they all decided to share, and they used the cups on Harry's thermos for the soup. As they shared they asked questions about each others pre-Hogwarts school experiences.
Neville had been home schooled as was common in the wizarding world and he was really looking forward to Herbology.
Hermione had gone to an all girls junior academy after infant school but hadn't had friends between being the smartest person in the school and her occasional bursts of accidental magic. She wasn't sure which class sounded the most interesting but she was sure she would miss her literature class and foreign language classes.
Harry was quick to state he had attended a public primary school where he had done well academically but had been average in most other ways. He had looked at all the classes and was looking forward to Potions as he felt it was a combination of cooking and chemistry both of which he had enjoyed when he was in primary school.
Midway through lunch the blond bigot from Diagon Alley opened their compartment. He was flanked by two large hulking bodyguard type boys. "Honestly Longbottom, one would think to have more pride, two mudbloods. A pureblood like yourself should think of what you owe the family name. But then again an almost squib like yourself can't be choosy I suppose. Come on Crabbe, Goyle, Potter is somewhere on this train supposedly let's go find him." Then he left.
"Who was that? And what did he mean calling us Mudbloods?" Hermione asked.
"That was Draco Malfoy..." Neville stopped too embarrassed to continue.
Harry took it on himself to explain. "You see Hermione there are certain factions in magical society that feel anyone who comes from...non magical roots, are inferior. Mudblood is an extremely derogatory term for muggleborn wizards or witches. I am technically a half blood because my mother was muggleborn as you are. Malfoy, the prick and probable member of a family in one of those factions, saw me with my muggle aunt who raised me in Diagon Alley and made the assumption I was muggleborn. It's all a crock of... My mum left me a letter stating she thinks that some of those families have problems with the consequences of inbreeding, mental retardation, insanity, and declining magic levels. My family the Potters, in general marry muggle every five generations and have no such problems."
"Mine too, in fact mine is just about due. I won't be marrying a pureblood. If not muggleborn I'll at least marry a half blood." Neville stated.
"How positively...gothic. Professor McGonagall didn't say anything about this."
"Of course not. The magical world lives in secrecy. Muggleborn witches and wizards are brought into this secret society to maintain that secrecy. I could be wrong but I would bet that any muggleborn that doesn't choose to come gets their powers bound and memories wiped. I would also bet that a compulsion is put on the families of muggleborn students so they can't talk about magic to anyone not in on the secret."
"But that's..That's horrible."
"Yes but that hasn't stopped the magical world from regularly producing people like Hitler, I mean just in the last half century Voldemort," Harry paused when Neville squeaked before continuing, "Grindelwald. Magic isn't all hearts and flowers, wave a wand and everything is wonderful."
Neville looked around, "Where's Trevor?"
"Trevor?" Hermione asked.
"My toad!"
"Relax Nev," Harry said. "We'll help you look. He probably got out when Malfoy came by."
"Maybe we should get into our robes first so people will know we're first years." Hermione stated.
"Works for me."
Neville nodded they stepped out long enough for Hermione to change, then she waited while they did. They had only searched a few compartments when. Harry decided there had to be a better way. Hogwarts: A History had mentioned student leaders in each house that wore a badge with a P on it. Harry helped continue the search until they reached a compartment where a person was wearing such a badge. "Could you help us? Is there a spell or something that you could use to help us find Neville's toad?"
The prefect whose robes were trimmed in green and silver looked amused. "What do you know a firstie with the ability to apply magical solutions to problems."
"Leave them alone Marcus." A girl wearing blue and bronze trimmed robes said.
"Aw Sandra, I'm just having a little fun."
"Marcus Aurelius Flint, Aunt Eleanor will kill you if you do anything that might cost you that prefect badge. You wouldn't have it now if Benton MacNair hadn't been so stupid with it last year and gotten himself expelled."
"Easy cousin. I'll help them. Yes there's a spell it's called "Accio" then what ever it is you wish to summon. With a wand movement similar to gathering something into your arms the tricky part is if it's something alive or breakable to be careful to visualize that thing coming without hitting anything or squashing it. Care to try it?" he asked fully expecting them to refuse.
"But what about the restriction?" Harry asked.
"Once you're on the train it no longer applies."
Marcus looked at Neville. Neville shook his head no, then at Hermione.
She looked at Neville a moment then reluctantly shook her head no.
He looked at Harry; Harry itched to try it. After a look at Neville, Harry nodded.
Marcus smiled he doubted a firstie could do the spell. His cousin Cassandra Yaxley frowned at him.
Harry said "ashio" to confirm the spell.
Marcus corrected Harry's pronunciation.
Harry nodded and pulled out his wand. He closed his eyes took a breath to find his center. He pictured clearly the toad Neville had arrived in the compartment with then the toad floating safely from where ever he was into his hands. "Accio, Trevor the toad."
A moment later he was rewarded by Trevor floating through the door.
"Oh my goodness Harry you did it!" Hermione exclaimed.
Harry grinning handed the toad to Neville. Then He turned to the prefect. "Thank you very much for your help. I couldn't have done it without you." Then he and his two companions returned to their compartment.
Marcus Flint and his cousin sat there stunned. Slytherin prefect, captain of Slytherin quidditch, and sixth year Marcus regarded himself as very able with magic. A firstie had just done a fourth year charm. Flint shook himself free of the shock. "I hope that firstie gets sorted into Slytherin. That kind of focus and control would be so good."
Cassandra Yaxley was the oldest of four Yaxley children born to the current head of house, she was also a borderline squib and knew it. Most of her family shunned her as if being an almost squib was catching. The exceptions were Marcus and her much younger cousin Aaron both of whom were in Slytherin. She was in her seventh year in Ravenclaw because she was smart and liked research. But she would be the first to admit, if her theory wasn't tip top she would have failed her owls. And most families of her father's acquaintance wouldn't consider her as a wife for their sons because she barely got in to Hogwarts and her OWL practicals in the subjects requiring magic (Transfiguration, Charms, DADA) had been P's her theory had been outstanding giving her acceptable overall. Her Potions and history OWLs had been acceptable as well. She was taking NEWTs in Arithmancy, Herbology, Astronomy, and to her fathers absolute fury Muggle Studies for they were the only classes she had gotten exceeds expectations or better in. She wondered what she would do at the end of the school year, but right now there was a larger puzzle to solve. "She called him Harry, you don't suppose?"
"It's possible. It's hard to tell with his hat on. Father asked me to report on his activities. I declined saying that would be like making war on children. He told me I could hold to my scruples for now but a day would come when he would expect obedience."
"Don't they all." Cassandra knew that as a borderline squib her future was anything but pleasant. Cassandra had noticed something else that she somehow doubted her cousin had. Most magic users took their wand and the wands of others for granted, seldom did they actually notice the wand another wizard used. Harry's wand was clearly a custom wand. Ninety-nine percent of magic users would never consider the expense that getting a custom made wand brought. Yet here was a mere firstie with a custom wand. That meant one of two things either he was showing off or his magic was very unique. Given what he had just done she leaned towards the later.
Back in the compartment with Neville, Hermione and Harry. The trolley came by, Harry on Neville's recommendation got a couple of Chocolate frogs paying about ten knuts. They all settled in to read their school books.
Harry so he could be prepared.
Neville because he thought maybe studying would help convince himself he was meant to be there.
Hermione studied because she was afraid she would put a foot wrong with Harry and get slammed again. Her father had warned her that reality was not necessarily found between the pages of books and she should be careful of believing it did. Her mother was like her, she lived and breathed books, and had always overruled her father. But maybe, just maybe her father was right this time.
A half hour before they figured they would reach Hogsmeade, Harry pulled out the tea and scones Aunt Petunia sent with him and he shared with the other two. Then the train pulled into Hogsmeade station. Their year at Hogwarts was about to begin.