Chapter Nine – Old Friends … and a New One

A/N: So many people have faith in this story. I thought I was being silly writing and posting this. Thankyou to Haunted! Thankyou everyone who's reading this. This chappy's gonna be long methinks.

Typically, a Wolf Moon fell upon September the first. Three days and nights out of a month, Remus turned into a wolf, and as luck would have it, the moon fell on September first. Remus and I had said our goodbyes the night before he'd transformed. I'd make my own way to Kings Cross to get on the Hogwarts Express, to finally attend Hogwarts.

I awoke early the morning I was due to leave for Hogwarts. I got up, showered and changed then went downstairs and made sure things were left out for Remus when he changed back. As much as he was a safe-ish wolf under the influence of the Wolfsbane, I was under strict orders to not take any chances. I wasn't planning on being at Kings Cross until half past ten, but it took an hour for me to get there by Muggle taxi … which was my plan on getting to the station.

XXX

The taxi got me to Kings Cross for twenty five past ten. I paid the Muggle, and placed my trunk on a trolley. Remus had told me how to get onto platform nine and three-quarters, so I walked up to the barrier between platforms nine and ten, and found myself on a hidden platform, tingling with magic. Standing at the platform was a scarlet steam engine, with several coaches attached behind it, and hundreds of students were swarming around the platform with their families, saying goodbye.

I felt a small pang of guilt at the fact that Remus was shut up in the house alone tonight, but then, I told myself, I deserved to come to Hogwarts. At least I hoped I did.

I wandered down towards the end of the train, and pulled my trunk into an empty compartment, thinking that if I didn't see Ron until I got to Hogwarts, it wouldn't be the end of the world.

I'd just settled down when a boy, around my age, with untidy black hair and glasses appeared, carrying his snowy owl. He looked slightly familiar to me, although I couldn't think where I might have seen him before.

He glanced at me as if he hadn't seen me sat there (well I was sat behind the door) and mumbled, more to himself than me, "I'll go and find an empty …"

"You can sit in here," I said quickly. "I don't think I'm that scary."

The boy apparently sighed with relief and put his owl down on the seat next to the window. Being me, I started playing with the owl through the bars. She was a beautiful and friendly owl.

I overheard the boy struggling with his trunk, and got up to give him some help when I heard other voices, "Want a hand?" Now that voice was more familiar than the boy's appearance.

The next thing the voice said hit me like a brick wall. "Oy, Fred! C'mere and help!"

Fred and George.

It had really been years since I'd seen them.

Smiling, knowing the boy was in capable hands, I returned to playing with the owl. Well, pretending to play with the owl. The three boys entered the compartment, dragging the trunk. "Need a hand?" I asked innocently, turning towards them.

The twins were a lot taller than they had been he last time I'd seen them. And a lot older … I hadn't seen them since before Mum had died, I'd been eight, they'd been in Hogwarts. They still looked identical; one of the perks of knowing them was being able to tell them apart. George had a birthmark on the right side of his neck. That and I could sense who was who through my abilities.

George stood up straight when he looked at me. "Well of all the people … How are you?"

I grinned. "I'm good." I noticed the black haired boy glancing from the twins to me, looking awkward.

Fred was busy looking at the boy's forehead. "What's that?" he asked, pointing at something on the boy's head.

George moved to look at what Fred was pointing at. "Blimey," he said. "Are you …?"

I was getting confused, but opted to stay quiet.

"He is, aren't you?" Fred continued.

The poor boy was starting to look even more confused than I felt. At least I was used to the twins. "What?" he asked.

"Harry Potter," the twins said together.

All was revealed. I'd recognised him because I had photos at home of Mum, and Dad, and their friends. I'd been told that Harry Potter's father and my Dad were best friends, and he'd been pointed out to me on the photographs. Harry looked just like his father. I didn't realise how close in age Harry Potter and I were … but then, no one had told me.

"Oh, him," Harry was saying. "I mean, yes, I am."

He started to go red, probably from the fact that the twins were staring at him with open mouths. I smiled to myself as I heard Molly Weasley call the twins outside for one last goodbye. Harry sat down on the seat opposite and stared determinedly out of the window. I could hear the twins mocking Ron in the background.

"You're Harry Potter?" I asked, trying to make conversation.

Harry nodded in reply.

"That's cool. I'm Tara. Black. Are you starting this year too?"

Another nod. He thought for a moment then asked me, "Do you know those twins?"

Smiling I replied, "I used to live next door to them. For eight years. Then … my Mum died, so I went to live with my godfather. I haven't seen them much since." I left out the parts about Remus being a werewolf and my Dad being in Azkaban, hoping Harry wouldn't ask.

But he did. "How come you didn't go and live with your Dad?"

"He's in prison. I don't want to talk about it," I replied, hoping he'd get the idea. I just didn't want all of what did he do questions from Harry … it was Harry's parents people believed Dad had betrayed.

I could hear Fred and George telling Molly they'd bumped into me and Harry on the train, and I heard Ginny begging Molly to come and see Harry. Harry was shifting uncomfortably in his seat.

"So what's it like being famous?" I asked, keeping conversation going.

Harry shrugged. "Didn't even know I was until about a month ago. It's kinda scary," he admitted.

We both jumped as a whistle sounded. The train began to move, pulling out of the station. The door of the compartment slid open and who should enter but Ron. I couldn't resist smiling as he said, "Mind if I sit in here? Everywhere else is full."

Harry shook his head and I said, "Carry on, Ron. Not like you don't know me," I added, poking him with my toe as he walked past.

I noticed Ron sneak a glance at Harry, then look out of the window again pretending he hadn't. I sighed. Ron could still be an idiot sometimes. "Right," I said, "Harry, this is my good childhood friend, Ron Weasley, and Ron, this is my newfound possible friend if he wants to be, Harry Potter. Happy?" I added, looking at Ron. His ears started going red as the twins slid the compartment door open.

"Hey, listen, we're going down the middle of the train – Lee Jordan's got a giant tarantula down there," Fred informed us.

Ron mumbled something that sounded like, "Right."

"Harry," said George, "Knowing Tara you've already been introduced to our brother, Ron. I'm George and this is Fred. We'll see you later then."

"Bye," said Harry and Ron. I just waved.

The twins had left the compartment door open, and me being lazy flicked my wrist and drew it shut with my magic. It was my turn to go red as Harry looked at me in amazement. Luckily for me, Ron decided to draw attention away from me and blurt out, "Are you really Harry Potter?"

I groaned inwardly. Subtle, Ron, really.

Ron looked a little sheepish. "I thought Fred and George might have been joking …" he started.

"Hey!" I said. "I introduced you. Would I lie to you Ron?" I asked all innocence and smiles.

"Yes."

"OK, good point." I leaned back against the seat and noticed Harry smiling to himself.

Ron was studying Harry again. "Have you really got … you know …" He was waving his hands towards Harry's forehead.

Harry pulled back his fringe, revealing a thin jagged line on his forehead, in the shape of a lightning bolt. Even I was impressed.

"I can't remember anything," Harry said quickly, as though he expected us to ask.

Ron looked slightly disappointed. "Nothing at all?"

Harry shrugged. "Just a lot of green light, but nothing else."

Ron was staring at Harry again. I kicked his leg as subtly as I could and he turned to look out of the window again.

"Are both your family's wizards?" Harry asked.

Nodding, I replied, "Mum was half Muggle, half witch … my Gramma Tillie's a witch, Granddad's a Muggle. Dad's a pure-blood wizard."

"And she's a Sorceress," added Ron. Noticing Harry's confusion, he explained briefly, "Being born on midnight at Halloween means you don't use a wand for your magic. You just are magic. It's not even really understood by the Wizarding world either."

I just shrugged. "You saw me shut the door. It's not as great as it sounds."

"I think it's great," said Harry. "Are all your family wizards?" he added, aiming the question at Ron.

"Er … I think so. Mum has a second cousin, who's an accountant, but we never talk about him."

"So you two must know loads of magic already," Harry said.

"What about the Muggles you went to live with?" I asked. "What were they like?"

"Horrible," said Harry. "Well, my aunt, uncle and cousin are. Wish I'd had three wizard brothers."

Ron looked out of the window again. "Five," he said. "I'm the sixth in the family to go to Hogwarts. Bill and Charlie have already left … Bill was Head Boy and Charlie was Quidditch captain. Percy's a prefect, Fred and George mess around a lot, but still get really good grades, and everyone thinks they're really funny. Everyone expects me to do as well as the others, but if I do it's no big deal because they did it first. I never get anything new either. I've got Bill's old robes, Charlie's old wand and Percy's old rat."

"Ouch, you got Scabbers?" I asked, poking at the dead looking fat furry lump in Ron's hand. I love animals but Scabbers is pointless.

It was brilliant, sat in the train with my oldest friend, and now my newest friend. I hoped we'd all be in the same house together; we seemed to get along well. I was already really looking forward to my first year at Hogwarts.

A/N 2: Hmm … Will have to change the chapter structure, it's too much like to book. I'll work on it for the future. Sorry about the book-like-ness. I'm only just starting … I promise I'll get better.