Chapter 8
Platform 9 3/4 was a buzzing hive of magic. Standing on the muggle side of Kings Cross, Harry could feel how the wall was hollow, how there was a great expanse of space through the brick work.
He had a trolley, on which stacked a trunk spelled to be lighter than it actually was, and carried his old backpack from the forest, stuffed with his robes and some snacks. Sy was around his shoulders, hidden as well as she could be with a notice-me-not charm. They had taken muggle transport to the station, mainly due to Sy's request. Harry didn't want to risk another 'we are not birds' session from her any time soon, and if that meant squeezing next to people on the underground, then so be it.
Sirius was at his side, tail wagging, snuffling at a rubbish bin and some cigarette butts on the ground. Harry hovered, guarding his trolley and watched his godfather in his animagus form.
"There's something strange, when a man turns to dog and back again," Sy said.
Harry nodded, thoughtful. "It does look pretty weird. He says it's not painful, but my eyes hurt just looking at it. Can you imagine? Bones breaking, reforming, shrinking. Where does the extra mass go?"
"I do not like to imagine it."
Harry hummed. "Perhaps there's a catch-all? A space set out for the human bits for all the animagi? Or maybe it's just all transfiguration. Wandless, wordless transfiguration? Maybe not."
"You are talking magic again," Sy said. "I don't much care to hear of this train-fig-mating."
"Would you rather be munching on a juicy cricket?" Harry kept a stock of Sy's favourate treats in his bag, knowing she'd be hungry on the trip. They were docile, and he picked one out of the bunch and had it climb its way out of the top and hop into his palm. "Look at it. Poor thing."
He held it up to Sy with only the barest guilt. She needed to eat, after all, and snakes couldn't survive on grass and leaves. He wouldn't think of making her try just to favour some brain-less insects.
"Delicious thing." Sy caught it, and drew it slowly into her mouth.
Still, Harry couldn't help but wonder if things had been different, and he be matched with talking insects instead of snakes, if he'd feel any different. With magic, he couldn't even be sure that insects were too dumb to speak. Hadn't he just discovered the pixies hiding in the curtains of Grimmauld place? He could control them, but they were less insects and more… creature. Sentient creature perhaps.
Sirius' ears perked up and he stopped circling the rubbish bin. His nose pointed into the crowd, his tongue hanging out. Without warning, he bounded off, scoring past muggles, nearly knocking down a pile of suitcases, to bark at the heels of a family of redheads.
Harry could guess who they had been waiting for. The Weasleys had been part of the Order, and Sirius mentioned how their twins were a particularly fine addition to the family. Sirius lapped up the attention, mostly given by the youngest, a girl with a dearth of freckles over her nose and cheeks. Their mother, a soft woman with a frazzled air about her wagged her finger at Sirius.
Harry had a smile as his godfather whined and drooped his ears. Sirius led the Weasleys back to him. Harry wiped his hands down his trousers, and swallowed.
"Harry!"
He braced himself. The Weasley matron rushed at him and reached out to grab his shoulders.
Harry stepped away. "Hello Mrs. Weasley."
The woman seemed a little put off by his refusal of a hug, but a warm smile bubbled up. She took a step back to take him in.
"You're all grown up now. And so handsome, just like your father."
Harry smiled. "I keep hearing that," he said. He was worried she'd try hugging him again, but with that much exuberance she might accidentally squish Sy. He didn't want Sy's tentative approval ruined before he'd even gotten there. Sirius had sent quite a few letters to allow an exemption to the rules for first year pets.
"Mum, you're embarrassing him," said the Weasley girl. She seemed embarrassed herself, cheeks red and hiding halfway behind her brothers.
The twins snorted and nudged each other in the ribs. Identical in looks and manners, Sirius had mentioned them as valuable sources of information and mischief. There were two other boys, one older with glasses and strict, straight tie. The other was Harry's age, and had a spot of dirt on his nose.
"Oh, Ginny, don't be silly. You're not embarrassed, are you dear?"
Harry opened his mouth, and then closed it as he shrugged. "I… guess not?"
"Well good. It must be so exciting, entering Hogwarts for your first year. Ron's going this year too. Ronald?"
Ron sucked in the corner of his mouth. "Yeah, mum?"
"Come over here. You've got a spot on your nose. Let me get that for you."
Mrs Weasley pulled Ron's head close, the boy letting out a squawk, and really tackled at rubbing away the grime on his face. Harry hid a grin, biting his lips, and turned to see Sirius stepping out of a bathroom, human once more.
His arrival took Mrs Weasley's attention off her youngest son. "Sirius Black! That was very irresponsible of you, changing in the muggle bathrooms. What if someone had seen you? A dog going in and you coming out?"
Sirius chuckled. "Well, some would say I was a dog in any form."
As they chattered, Ron caught Harry's eyes and mimed his exasperation. Harry grinned. He didn't know what to think of the Weasleys yet, but seeing the family together and acting as a family should, it bought a touch of warmth to his chest. Sirius was his godfather, yes, but he had only been living in Grimmauld place for a little over a month. They tried to simulate the easy going nature the Weasleys experienced since birth.
"Sorry about my mum," Ron said. "She can get a bit much."
"It's no problem," Harry said.
Ron looked at him oddly. "You got a cold or something? Why are you talking so slowly?"
"Ron!" Ginny punched her brother lightly in the arm, then shot Harry an uncertain look.
Harry cleared his throat. "Uhh. It's just temporary. I've got.. uhh something. Yeah." He nearly groaned. Sure, keep stuttering and they'll really think you're mentally impaired, he thought.
"Alright. I'm Ron. Not Ronald. Only mum calls me that."
"Harry."
Ginny snorted. "Ginny."
"No one asked you, Ginny."
Her face turned. The girl stomped off with a ferocious look. Ron snickered.
"That wasn't very nice," Harry said.
"Well, you didn't see what she did to me this morning. Laid out two of Fred and George's slip and slides at the top of the stairs and nearly made me crack my nose on the way down. Don't get caught up. She's a real devil."
Harry's eyebrows rose, and he looked at her retreating back with a touch of caution. "Aren't you worried she'll get back to you?"
Ron grinned. "Nah, not til Christmas at least. She's not old enough to be going to Hogwarts this year. Reckon she's a bit jealous. I don't envy her, being stuck at home with mum and the chickens. Besides, I figure I'll come up on top next time, learning magic and whatnot."
The conversation broke as Sirius reigned everyone in with a wave. "Alright folks. The older ones know what to do. Just go smash your noggings at the entrance and if you're lucky, you won't fall flat on your face on the way through."
One after another the Weasleys rushed the wall, disappearing within. When it was Harry's turn, he took his spot with hesitation. He knew there was magic behind it, either giving the illusion of a brick wall, or turning it into a portal of some kind. He wasn't worried he wouldn't go through. No, the magic was thick, resting heavily on his second sense. He'd never been close to anything so spelled up, and felt just a little light in the head at the thought of running into it.
Harry took a deep breath. Perhaps if he went fast enough, it wouldn't matter. He gripped the handles of his trolley and started into a run.
The wall came closer. Closer. Then he smashed into the magic, stumbling as his outer awareness was engulfed. It was like the air was vibrating, thrumming with energy, and Harry stumbled.
Then he was clear. The world opened back up as he emerged onto the station proper. Excited voices and the hooting of owls filled the air where previously had been idle chatter. Harry wheeled his trolley around the Weasleys and felt his heart rate slow.
It had only been a split second, but the sensation! It was like he had been squeezed. An instant of new-found claustrophobia. He had never felt encroached on when he was in his cupboard. He had his outer mind then, letting him feel everything that was around him. But when that 'everything' was magic, it was too chaotic, too much.
Harry let a long breath out through his nose and took in the Hogwarts express. The train, painted a majestic red and puffing out steam, already had carriages packed full of students. Others stood with the families on the station, saying goodbye as the Weasleys were doing.
He turned as a hand fell on his shoulder. Sirius handed him a package, clumsily wrapped in paper decorated with lions. "This was your fathers," he said. "He'd let me borrow it back when… Anyway, you should probably have it now."
Harry squeezed it. The package was soft and light. Something of his fathers? He bit his cheek as a heavy wave of emotions rose up, and nodded. "Thanks."
Sirius ruffled his hair. "No worries kiddo. With that and the double M mark two, you'll be all set." He looked at Harry with a stern crease in his forehead. "Do your best not to get the map confiscated, alright? It's not something that should get into the wrong hands."
Harry nodded, and was then pulled off by Ron.
"Gotta go find a carriage now, mum. See you at hols!"
"Bye Sirius!"
They found an empty carriage near the end of the train, and helped each other get their trunks stored. Harry tucked the package securely into his bag, saving it to be opened later when he had some privacy.
Ron crumbled onto the seat and stretched his legs out. "So what's it like? Living with Black, I mean. Fred and George tell so many stories. He's like a hero to them." Ron straightened and fixed Harry was a suspicious look. "You're not a giant prankster too, are you?"
Harry shrugged. "Not a giant one, I guess."
"But yeah, sorry about what I said before. I mean, it's fine if you're a slow talker, or whatever. I wasn't making fun or anything like that."
"That's okay. I don't really mind."
A commotion started up outside their carriage. Ron pressed his face to the window to look. Harry peaked over his shoulder.
A small contingent of Aurors apparated in. They looked very formal with red robes, wand holsters and the badge at their chest. Harry's eyes lit up as he spotted Peter in the mix. Standing straight with his shoulders tucked back, the man's stomach wasn't so obvious. He fitted in perfectly with the others.
In between the six on-guard Aurors, was a very familiar old woman, and a very familiar boy. It was as if the moment Harry spotten Neville, that everyone else on the platform did as well.
Murmurs of the Boy-Who-Lived flew around the platform and a crowd naturally gathered around them, unwary of the Auror's intimidating presence. They parted as Neville's Gran fixed his collar and sent him off.
Ron stuck his head out the window. "Hey Neville! Over here!"
Neville spotted him, seeming to relax, and headed over to the nearest carriage entrance. Ron slid the door open for him, and Neville came in, pausing as he saw Harry, before offering up a grin.
"Hey! So you made it to Hogwarts after all. I wasn't sure if you would. One sec, I told Kate and Susan I would save a carriage for them." He took a quick glance around. "We should all fit, shouldn't we?"
Harry shifted up to make room. Soon enough, the two girls joined them. Susan was blonde, hair to her shoulders and clipped with two pins over her right ear. Her cheeks were still chubby and she greeted Neville with a hug. Kate leaned against the side of the doorway, shorter than most their age, and had dark pigtails.
"Hey Neville, Ron." Kate nodded at Harry. "Harry Potter right? My dad talked about you."
Harry frowned. "Your dad?"
"Yeah. Peter Pettigrew. Our parents were good friends at Hogwarts."
Harry's mouth fell open in an O. He could see the resemblance now that he looked. They both had the same slightly stumpy nose, the colour of the eyes and the slight slouch when she stood. That was probably why she looked so short.
Introductions went round, with Susan Bones giving him a shy grin. Attention soon turned to the fact that Harry was a bit of a novelty.
"I remember reading about you," Susan said. "And what happened to your family." She shot a glance at Neville. "I hadn't thought anyone else had survived."
Harry nodded. "I didn't know I was supposed to be dead either. My godfather, Sirius, was really upset. He blames himself for not finding me sooner."
"Yeah, that sounds like him," Kate said with a frown. "So you don't know what happened? Where were you living then? All these years?"
"No. I was with my relatives. My Aunt and Uncle. They're muggles, but out of all of us, they're probably the ones with the best idea. Sirius sent an owl a week or so ago, but they haven't written back. I think he means to visit them in America, even he'll have to go through customs and do a bunch of paperwork." Harry left out how they'd abandoned him in the forest. He hadn't even told Sirius, with how over protective the man seemed to be. He wasn't huge fans of his muggle relatives, but he didn't want them hurt.
"Muggles, eh? That must've been a bummer," Ron said, throwing his hands behind his head. "No magic at all. All they have is elek- elect-"
"Electricity? Yeah, it was pretty normal." Harry shrugged, not enjoying this strain of questioning. "You alright, Neville?"
The boy groaned. "I was enjoying not being the one in the spotlight," he said with a grin. Then he sobered. "But yes, I'm alright, thanks to you. And I notice you can speak now."
"You two have met?" Ron said, at the same time that Susan's eyes widened.
"Oh!" She turned to Neville. "You didn't tell me it was Harry who saved you."
Neville rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, I didn't really know his name at the time. You didn't write it down or anything. Hey, do you still have your snake?"
"Snake?" Ron pushed himself back into the chair. "You have a snake?"
"Dad didn't say anything about that when he visited."
Harry hummed. "Sy was sleeping upstairs. She likes taking naps," he said to Kate. "Do you want to see her?"
"Yeah, of course!" Kate said. Susan looked eager too, though Ron was a little green around the gills.
"Alright, hold on. Let me ask her first." He peaked under his collar and stroked Sy's head to wake her. "Hey. Want to show off a little?"
Ron gasped. "You're a parselmouth!"
Harry looked up, focusing back on his English. "Yeah. I know."
Sy flicked out her tongue. "I taste many young humans."
Harry snorted. "I'm glad I don't have to taste them," he said.
"You're really speaking to the snake?"
Ron was shushed by Katie who was leaning forward trying to get a peak. Harry shuffled away, feeling awkward that a girl was trying to look under his shirt. For whatever reason.
"It's too noisy. Maybe if you give me another cricket," Sy said.
"Really? You've sunken to accepting treats for tricks?"
"Oh be quiet, you. You know what? Fine." She untangled herself from around his neck and travelled down his sleeve. She poked her head out of the end and Harry was quick to support her with his other arm. She was getting quite heavy.
"Merlin," Ron said in a hush.
"She's pretty. What did she say?"
"She says you're very loud," Harry said. "And she tried to make me give her another cricket."
"I think she's gotten larger from last I saw her," Neville said. "Though I much prefer it when she isn't hissing and trying to bite me."
Sy shifted in Harry's hands and Ron inched back. "She'll be good," Harry said. "She promised not to bite anyone." Well, that wasn't exactly what Sy promised, but Harry figured it amounted to the same thing anyway. Sy wasn't going to bit without provocation, and he trusted her enough to decide what amounted to provocation for herself.
"Say something to her," Susan asked. "The language sounds very strange. Not at all like regular snake hisses."
"Really? I hadn't realised. It sounds just like normal English to me."
"Yup, there's extra sounds and everything."
Harry turned to Sy, thinking. "Hey Sy. Have you ever talked to another snake before?"
She bobbed her head. "Occasionally, when one came to contest my territory. More threats than talks, I suppose. And my mate, though he did very little conversion either."
Harry cleared his throat, fighting off a blush. "Were you talking the same way as you do with me? I mean, does it sound the same to you?"
"I talk more to you than any other snake. It is difficult to know."
"I hear it too," Neville said. "You're right, Suze. It's not like normal hisses at all."
Susan grinned and ducked her head. "It was just something I'd noticed, is all."
Kate laughed, bumping shoulders with her. "And you keep complaining about your piano classes. Came in useful for something other than 'smacking out dull tunes,' didn't it?"
"Oy! I didn't say that."
"I don't know, mate. Sounds a bit freaky to me." Ron, who'd been silent since Sy came out, was still eyeing her warily.
Harry frowned. "What do you mean?"
Ron fidgeted as everyone turned to look at him. "It's just that… you know? Parseltongue is a bit of a Slytherin thing isn't it? Snakes and all that. You're not going to get sorted into Slytherin are you?"
Harry blinked. He'd honestly not given his house a single thought. Sure, Sirius said he and his parents had been in Gryffindor, but what house Harry would be in was left open to air. It wasn't as if he could just pick and choose, right?
"I don't know. I suppose we'll have to find out when we get there. It's not that big of a deal, is it?"
"What? Of course it is! Your house is your family. You get to earn points for the house cup, and play in Quidditch, and share dorms. And besides, every dark wizard ever has-"
Neville nudged Ron in the side. "It's alright, Ron. You don't have to worry. We'll still be friends if you end up in Slytherin."
The Weasley turned red around his ears. "What? No, I mean-"
"You wouldn't want us to be friends if you were in Slytherin?" Neville asked with mock hurt. "But we grew up together. You'll always be the first person who broke through my rough exterior and discovered the real Boy-Who-Lived." He wiped off an invisible tear as Kate scowled.
"Stop quoting that stupid article, Neville. Ron has to live it down some time."
"Yeah! I was eight. And I never said any of those things."
Harry laughed along as the topic turned from one thing to another. When the food trolley rolled round, they all shared a couple of cauldron cakes and chocolate frogs, Ron groaning when he found another Albus Dumbledore card. Before he knew it, it was time to get into their robes.
"This is it," he hissed to Sy. "We're arriving at Hogwarts."
AN: Damn, I lied. He was supposed to receive an owl from Sirius while on the train about the Dursley situation. Didn't feel right to stick it in though. Pretend the owl got a bit tired and went for a dip in a lake.
Lots of chatter this chap. A whole chap just for the train. Argh. Be prepared for the grand entrance next time. There are some hints as to how it'll go.
Many thanks to the people who left reviews. Encouraging or thought provoking ones, it's always good to get a reaction from you guys. I know the story isn't perfect. I miss things sometimes and appreciate people calling stuff into attention.
Thanks for reading. As always,
L. Thatcher
