Express

Okay, they sway me when they approve of Avin coming along. It does take a lot of negotiation in my parents' part with the headmaster, but it get through in the end. So here I am at Platform 9¾ with Avin in his human form after saying goodbye to my parents.

Avin's human form still have a touch on gold in it. His hair is golden blonde while his eyes are two sets of warm amber. He stands just about my height, though rather scrawny like I have not feed him for weeks.

"Remind me to feed you more. This form makes me feel like a cruel master," I tell my familiar.

"Aye, aye, mistress," he replies cheerfully, winking. Despite being in human form, Avin is still as dramatic as ever. "Oh, looky! That's our assignee," he exclaims, before skipping off. I follow behind in normal pace.

The headmaster of Hogwarts has assigned a personal tour guide for us. Why I asked why someone would do that, he mentioned something about earning some 'extra points'. Then he handed over a portrait and went poofed.

"Hello, I name is Oliver Wood, fifth year," the taller boy introduces himself. Arsene must admit, his looks is even more pleasing in the eyes compared to the portrait. Flashing us a smile, he says, "You must be Arsene Noirmelns and Avin Goldstein."

"Hello, Oliver Wood," Avin replies in a sing-a-song tone. "I can't wait to study at Hogwarts. It sounded very interesting from what my mis— I mean Arsene, my friend, told me."

He pauses, looking over to me. "It sure is. Did your parents go to Hogwarts?" he asks me.

"They said that they've been there once, but they said that it was a very good place and convinced me to enroll."

"Well then they must be right, because I really do enjoy studying at Hogwarts. As you will, too, I'm sure. Did you come alone, by the chance? I don't see your parents with you."

"Yes. We departed half an hour ago."

"You came alone?" his voice sounds surprise.

"Arsene and I are very independent beings," Avin chides in.

The Hogwarts Express, the school's train, arrives just in time. Students move into the train while saying goodbye to their parents.

A father and son catch my attention on my way in. They both have platinum blonde hair. The boy is in the same age as me. He glances at my direction when he notices my stare, before shrugging and heading in.

"They are the Malfoys," Oliver tells me as I walk ahead of him. "Very rich and powerful, though I won't recommend getting close to them. Rumors say that Lucius Malfoy is a member of Death Eaters. This way," he directs us to a cart and I open the door.

"What's that? Like grim reapers?" Avin asks, occupying a seat next to me while I sit near the window. Oliver sits opposite of me. "Arsene's granduncle is one. Maybe she knows him."

"No, silly," he just laughs at my familiar. "Grim reapers don't exist. Death Eaters are supporters of You-Know-Who."

"No, I don't." He also wants to say, "No, they really exist," but knows better.

"Really? Never heard of him before? Your parents never told you those scary stories about them?"

"I don't have parents. I only have Arsene," Avin answers honestly, to which Oliver replies with, "I'm sorry."

"That's okay, Oliver. It was a long time ago. I've never even met them before," Avin says with a wide smile plastered eternally on his face.

The train starts moving and we enjoy the silence by viewing at the scenery. Oliver will occasionally comment on some of them, other times offering some snacks for the journey. Then, when it is time for them to change into their school uniform, he excuses himself.

"Why do I have to come, too?" Avin asks, more curious than lazy.

"Because you'll need to change. We should give Arsene some privacy."

"But why? It's not like I haven't seen her naked before."

Oliver coughs, unsure of what to say. "This is different. Arsene is a grown up now. You can't watch her change." Then he just off and drag Avin out.

I already know what the uniform looks like, so I just magically transform my outfit into it, with a few alteration. Instead of flat shoes, I transform my footwear into a pair of thigh high boots made in black leather. Since I cannot wear pants, I add a pair of lacy shorts underneath my skirt, which I have lessen the length to make movement easier.

While the coat is cute, it is not up to my liking. So I change it into a fitting female tailcoat, with its tail rippling down to the length of my ankles, just like how the original coat is supposed to reach. This design also helps shall I require a lot of movement.

One last thing, I add a silver tag on my chest, with my name graven on it. And since I know Avin will need a name tag, too, I create another one with similar design for him.

The door pushes open. I turn around to see a brunette. Her hair is big and her uniform tidy.

"Have you seen a toad? A boy named Neville lost one," she says, then pause to look at my newly altered uniform. "That's not our uniform," she says.

"It is. I just made a few adjustments to it," I simply reply.

"Hogwarts rules and regulations clearly states that we are not allowed to wear anything for school aside from the uniform, and that clearly does not look like one," she says pointedly.

"It doesn't break a rule if I still wear it. You are just looking at it in a different point of view," I say in a matter of factly. "Besides, I think yours need a little bit of makeover, too." I am about to reach out to her, but she steps back.

"Oh no, you don't. I won't be dragged into this mess when the teachers singles you out."

"Suit yourself," I counter. "Anyway, you were telling me about a missing toad? Perhaps I can be of some assistance. Any special features of it I should know about?"

She is just about to say something when Oliver and Avis make their return. The girl is practically gaping at them—even the scrawny Avis.

"What have you done to your uniform!" is Oliver's first reaction upon seeing me.

"Just a few alteration. Totally legal, if you must know."

"That was exactly my reaction just a few minutes ago," the girl exclaims.

"And who are you?" he turns to her, causing thin pink dots to color her cheeks.

"M'name's Hermione. Hermione Granger." Oliver introduces us to her.

"Avis? Like the bird spell?" Hermione asks.

"Haha, very funny. But truly, I was named that in hope that I can fly," Avis says.

"And can you? Fly?"

He gives his signature smile, arching an eyebrow. "What do you think?"

"I've never fly before, expect for planes."

"I've never been in a plane before."

The two get along well, and soon Hermione is sitting in our cart, toad forgotten. Oliver notices how quite I am in the entire journey.

"You don't talk much, do you?"

"I tend to cause trouble when I open my mouth. Quite frankly, I'm not in the mood to cause it."