Author's Note: Hey, everyone! Once again, thank you so much for reading and supporting this fiction, with your reviews, favorites, and alerts. It means a lot. I hope you all enjoy this chapter! =)

No Trigger Warnings

Chapter 11

Harry shoved his way back onto the platform and glanced around at the sea of people that was still swarming it. He's small, I'll never see him here! He thought as he felt his heart began to pound with barely suppressed panic.

Think just a moment, he told himself in a way to calm him down. Cloud is not dumb. He saw something and ran for it. Was it something he wanted me to see or was it something else that merely interested him? Cloud had promised that he'd stop keeping secrets, but Harry would have to admit that he didn't fully believe Cloud could be beholden to that promise. After all the secrets that were dug up about him in his seventh year, he had no doubts that he still had a few. So far, he'd had very few issues with Cloud though. He had even kowtowed to him when they'd had the argument about turning in Vernon or not by writing McGonagall. He finally steeled himself, I am certain that this is something he wants me to see.

He rushed into the crowd, apologizing profusely while keeping his eyes glued to the ground. It seemed he virtually scoured the platform to no avail until -

"Well, hello there. Aren't you cute? Shouldn't you be on board with your owner?"

Harry turned to the sound a felt himself immediately blush scarlet. There was Ginny Weasley, dressed in a lovely black and yellow summer dress petting the white cat that was rubbing against her legs.

"Mrow."

We are going to have words when we get to Hogwarts, Harry instantly thought. His mind raced through the dozens of possibles way to start this conversation and he threw out every single one of them. He just focused on the cat and said, "Cloud! What are you doing?! The train is about to leave!" He walked up to them in what he opened was a confident manner, but his heart was thudding and his legs felt weak. "Hi there! I'm so sorry you had to deal with my cat. He's a stubborn sort."

Ginny glanced over to him and smiled. "He's a nice cat. I love kitties!"

"He's a pain in the arse."

She couldn't help but giggle and he was certain his face was now beet red. "I'm sorry. I should introduce myself. I'm Harry, Harry Potter."

As was usual now, her eyes widened and her mouth dropped and she seemed to go weak in the knees herself. He hadn't forgotten that she had virtually hero-worshipped him as a little girl and he sincerely hoped she'd get over the phase faster this time around.

"Ha-Harry Potter!"

He immediately put a finger to his lips and she clamped down on the girlish squeak that almost left her lips. When he glanced around, he saw that Mrs. Weasley was a small distance away, still talking with the rest of her boys. It was almost enough for him to abandon her to seek out Ron, but he stamped down on that idea and focused on Ginny. He wanted to be friends with her faster and since Cloud opened this unique opportunity, he should jump on it.

"Sorry. I know I'm famous in this world, but I'd prefer fewer people know about it right now. I don't really feel like the hero everyone seems to worship me as."

"Oh o-of course. I'm so pleased to meet you! I - I mean, I know you just said you don't like it, but I've always looked up to you."

"Well, er uh thank you," Harry replied. "But I don't really feel anything other than normal. I'm not even sure if I'm that good of a wizard yet."

"I'm sure you'll do great at school. You're Harry Potter!"

"Please, Ginny, I don't have any special powers." He realized his slip up almost as soon as he noticed it and her face, which was already porcelain white, went even paler - if that was at all possible - and he was certain she was about to faint. "Ah, I'm sorry! I - uh - I - I heard one of your brothers over there calling your name earlier. I didn't mean to do that."

"That seemed to be enough to jar her from the shock and she said, "Oh, okay. For a moment there, I thought you could...read minds."

"Oh no no no no! I can't do that. I just overhead your brothers calling you while I was looking for Cloud, that's all." He startled when he heard the train whistle. "Merlin's beard, I have to run! Come on, Cloud!" The platform had nearly emptied while they were talking and only a few stragglers like himself were waiting on the platform. Cloud was already way ahead of him, jumping nimbly back onto the steps to the train.

He leapt for the steps just as the train began to surge forward and he pulled himself into the carriage. Cloud was waiting for him at the top of the stairs and Harry glared down at him.

"Mow!"

Harry was on the verge of giving the cat a lecture, when a person nudged him out of the way and was abruptly reminded of where he was. To show his annoyance with the cat, he picked him up and manhandled him back into the carriage; Cloud hated being picked up and yowled as he went in search of the carriage again.

"Oh, Harry, I'm so glad you made it," Hermione squealed when he entered their cabin again.

"We saw you running to catch at the last minute."

"Yeah, no thanks to this furball," Harry grumbled.

Cloud finally managed to wriggle out of his grasp and seemed to glare right back at him, before going about licking the fur that had gotten ruffled by Harry. No one else had come into the cabin while he'd been away and he felt himself deflate at not seeing Ron. He hadn't even really had the opportunity to see him on the platform. He'd seen the twins and Percy, but Ron must have been on the other side of Mrs. Weasley. If Trevor went missing again, he'd have a reason to explore the train and find his other friend.

The first round of conversation involved which house they all thought they were going to be in.

"My parents were in Gryffindor. My gran expects me to be in Gryffindor, but I just don't know. It's supposed to be the home of the bold and the brave and I'm just not that. I bet I'll be in Hufflepuff," Neville said, a little gloomily.

"There's nothing wrong with Hufflepuff," Hermione immediately said. "Did you know Newt Scamander was a Hufflepuff? He's pretty much the father of magizoology."

"Oh, I didn't know that," Neville replied, looking hopeful. "It's not that I think being Hufflepuff would be bad, but I don't want to disappoint my gran."

"Sorry, Neville, but it sounds like your gran expects too much of you. You shouldn't try to force yourself into anything. Besides, you're still a kid. You'll have time to grow and try your strengths," Harry replied, thinking about how the clumsy, chubby child would grow into a force to be reckoned with.

"Harry's right, Neville. You still have loads of time to figure it all out. As for me, I have a feeling I'll probably get sorted into Ravenclaw. From what I've read, it's the house that loves to learn the most."

"Yep, and we know you and your books," Harry replied with a grin, satisfied with knowing that Hermione would be a Gryffindor just like him.

"How about you, Harry? What house do you think you'll be in?" Hermione replied. There was a small blush lingering on her cheeks from his book comment.

"I imagine I'll be in Gryffindor. My parents were both Gryffindors. I don't feel particularly bold or brave, but I think that's where I'll go. If I get sorted into another house, I'll be happy with it, as long as it's not Slytherin." He shuddered at the thought.

"I must say Hogwarts: A History certainly talked about Slytherin house and tried to stay neutral, but even I was under the impression that it is not a well-liked house."

"Well, almost all the noble children from the most powerful families go into Slytherin. They hate muggleborns and just from my contact with some of the other kids, they all treat every act like it's a power play of some sort," Neville replied. "It was very stressful. I really don't want to go there. Gran doesn't like many of their parents anyway. Ohhh...I hope I don't get Slytherin."

"I'm sure you'll be fine, Neville," Harry said. "I read in a book - and I can't remember which book," he added hastily at the gleam in Hermione's eyes. " - that you can sort of choose your house, or the judge will at least take it into consideration."

"I would hope so. You'd think they want everyone to get along," Hermione replied. The topic evolved into Quidditch from there and eventually Hermione became bored enough to pull out a book, while Harry and Neville talked around her. The witch with the trolley came a few hours into their journey and, just like the first time, Harry bought a little of each and persuaded Neville and Hermione to help him eat through it all.

They were halfway through the candy when Neville suddenly began looking around his area. "Where's Trevor? Trevor!" There was very little besides the candy to hide under, so it was quickly determined that he slipped out when the witch with the trolley had come along.

Harry immediately jumped up. "We should go looking for him."

"Where would a toad go?"

"I guess we better find out," Harry replied.

"Come on, Neville, we'll help you find him faster. He must be around here somewhere," Hermione agreed with Harry.

"Are you sure? This isn't exactly your responsibility. I'm supposed to be looking after him," Neville said with melancholy.

"We're your friends! Of course we'll help you find him," Hermione said, seeming to be delighted at the idea of having friends once more. Harry couldn't help but feel a pang at the thought that such a brilliant - albeit a little bossy - girl such as her had never had a true friend before.

Harry had never thoroughly explored the Hogwarts train before and even though he had an understanding of how big it was, he still was surprised as he went from compartment to compartment and didn't run into a single Weasley for nearly thirty minutes. The first one was naturally Percy who, surprisingly enough, didn't seem enthusiastic about helping a student search for their pet. Hermione actually lectured him for that, but Harry was glad to not have Percy breathing down their necks the whole time. He wandered off alone to the other half of the train.

He saw Fred and George and Lee Jordan next. He was offered sweets, but Harry just smiled and declined, claiming he had enough sweets back in his compartment. After what seemed like ages, he finally pulled open a compartment and almost lost himself with a grin as he saw Ron seeming to gear up for a rather orange colored Bertie Botts Every Flavored Bean. Harry glanced around the compartment and noticed Justin Finch-Fletchley and Ernie Macmillan.

As he glanced around, he caught sight of Wormtail nibbling on a Cockroach Cluster and he felt his anger flare. What he wouldn't give to reach over and grab the putrid rat right now and force him to reveal himself, but he managed to tamp that feeling down just in time to hear Ron ask, "Are you alright? What's wrong?"

"Oh, sorry, I don't care much for rats. Anyway, hi, I'm looking for a toad. Have any of you seen one?"

"Oh hullo, Harry! I almost forgot you. You remember me, right?" Justin suddenly piped up, grinning at him with the same uncontrollable excitement that all the other first years had.

"Of course! Nice to see you again, Justin! Think you're ready for school?"

"I hope so," he replied. "Oh, sorry, Ron, Ernie, this is Harry. We met at the Muggle Integration tour that Professor McGonagall took us on."

Harry smiled and held out his hand. "Nice to meet you! I'm Harry Potter!"

Ron was just reaching for his hand when the movement died midway and his mouth dropped open. His eyes roved his forehead and it took a minute to get his voice back. Ernie appeared to have gone into shock.

"H-harry Potter? Wow! I didn't realize you were my age," Ron finally said, his face flushing scarlet. "But wait...what were you doing in the Muggle Integration tour?"

"My aunt and uncle raised me and they...didn't really tell me about magic. Professor McGonagall decided to include me. I must say, it was very useful, but I don't feel like I learned a whole lot. Are your family wizards?"

"Oh yeah," Ron replied. "My mum and dad are wizards. Their relatives are wizards and then I have five older brothers and a young sister. They're all magical too."

"Harry Potter, I'm so pleased to meet you! I'm Ernie! My family is pureblood, too. I could tell you more about magic!"

"Wow! Growing up must've been so exciting!"

"Why don't you join us?"

"Oh, no, sorry, I can't. I wouldn't want to leave my other friends, Hermione and Neville. Oh, right, and I'm looking for Neville's toad. Have any of you seen it?" They shook their hands. "Okay, I have to keep looking. I'll see you all at Hogwarts!"

Harry walked away with an extra spring in his step and felt his chest was full to bursting with happiness. It felt good to see his friends as young and innocent, not scarred and worn by the terrible war. He faltered just slightly as he realized they will probably end up suffering in the end anyway, but he hastily shoved that thought aside. He and Cloud had discussed the war several times and both of them had come to the conclusion that he'd have to be a little older and his powers a little stronger before they could make any serious plans.

He continued down the train and not ten minutes later, ran into someone he was not looking forward to meeting. Harry could hear his obnoxiously reedy voice through the door. He sighed heavily and braced himself, but he had to pull this off.

" - father wanted me to go to Durmstrang, so that I wouldn't have to put up with the mudblood lover Dumbledore, but mother didn't want me so far away."

Harry knocked and shoved open the door, to see Draco Malfoy, Gregory Goyle, Vincent Crabbe, and Theodore Nott all staring up at him with less than pleasant expressions.

"Who do you think you are, barging in here?" Malfoy snarled at him, immediately leaping to his feet. Crabbe and Goyle cracked their knuckles like usual and he had a feeling they'd flank Malfoy if the cabin was big enough to allow it.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I was just looking for a..." The words died on his lips as he a strange black creature suddenly focus on him with beady eyes. "What is that?!"

Draco smirked and turned to the creature, running a loving finger over its burnt orange head. "This is my companion Kalos. It's a fruit bat or, as they're commonly known, a flying fox."

Draco Malfoy already had his companion! This year was already turning out worse than he thought it could be. "Where'd you get it?"

"Australia, not that it's any of your business," Malfoy replied with a nasty smirk. "Now, I'm going to ask again, who do you think you are, barging in here?"

Harry had difficulty wrenching his eyes away from the bat as it stared at him from his perch on Malfoy's shoulder with a quizzical and - dare he say it? - rather cute expression. Finally, he shook himself and asked, "Have any of you seen a toad?"

They all burst out into nasty snickers.

"A toad?! I'd be embarrassed to even own one."

"Well, that's what my friend has, a toad, now if you'll excuse me…"

"Wait!" Malfoyo stopped the door with a hand and a look of confirmation crossed his face. "You're Harry Potter."

All at once, the cabin fell silent as they all stared at him.

"Yes, I am. Pleased to meet you. And you are?" He kept it polite but he had a feeling his voice sounded anything but interested. He likened his mood right now to bristling, not unlike Cloud when he was upset, so he took a few breaths and attempted to unruffle himself.

"Malfoy. Draco Malfoy. This is Vincent Crabb, Gregory Goyle, and…"

"I'm Theodore Nott. I don't need you to introduce me, Malfoy."

The blonde rolled his eyes, but he self-satisfied smirk never left his face. "My father told me you'd be starting Hogwarts this year. You said you've already got some friends, but I can introduce you to some real friends. Slytherin house is where the best go and you'd do well to go there."

"I'll think about it. I haven't thought much about what house to go into. I'm assuming you get to pick right?"

"Something like that," Malfoy replied with a smirk.

"We don't think you quite understand. You have to pick a side," Theo replied.

"What side?"

"There are some wizards who seem to think that every mophead who produces some sparks deserves to go to Hogwarts. We're the side who thinks it should be kept strictly among the old blood, the purest," Malfoy said, staring at him rather piercingly. "As a descendant of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter, surely you must agree."

"Umm...I really don't know much about the situation, but I do know that my mum was a muggleborn. I don't see any reason why she shouldn't have been able to come to Hogwarts."

Draco shook his head sadly. "You would've been born of much purer stock if the Potter family had taken any pride in their bloodline. You can right that wrong!"

"I'm only eleven! Why is it important for me to pick sides now? I can't even do it later?"

"You could be corrupted."

"Corrupted by who?"

"All the mudblood loving scum that reside at Hogwarts. Only those in House Slytherin take this issue seriously."

It took all of the patience that Harry could summon not to punch Malfoy in the face. Not that it would've ended well with three of his buddies there to jump on him, but he decided to make his escape instead. "Look, I'm looking for a toad right now and I'd like to find it before we get to Hogwarts. Maybe we can talk about this once we get there?"

"But then you'll have already been sorted!"

"I guess I'll figure it out then," Harry replied with a bite of annoyance and finally slammed the door shut in Malfoy's face. Merlin's beard, he doesn't know when to shut up!

He finished searching his half of the train and headed back to his own compartment.

"No Trevor?" Neville asked, looking on the verge of crying.

"I'm sorry, Neville, but no one's seen him. I'm sure he'll turn up," Harry replied, giving him an encouraging smile.

It was then that Hermione decided to show up and she said, "We'll be reaching Hogwarts soon. You should put on your robes."

Just as she said it, a familiar voice called out over the train: "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."

Hermione and Neville filed out into the corridor where the rest of the students were gathering, but Harry hesitated. He glanced back at Cloud was staring up at him earnestly.

"Don't worry, Cloud. You'll be at the castle in no time," Harry said, though he felt silly reassuring a cat and also silly since Cloud knew perfectly well what was going to happen.

What he was not expecting was for Cloud to get a suddenly determined look on his face, prep up, and suddenly lunge for Harry's shoulders.

"Aaah! Geroff me, Cloud, you can't go to Hogwarts with me right now!"

"Don't look Dumbledore in the eye," Cloud whispered into his ear, before pivoting to jump back onto the seat cushion where he landed so gracelessly he almost smacked into a wall.

Harry felt a cold shiver run down his back at his words before he headed out of the door, closing it behind him.