Warning : English isn't my first language.

Warning : No Beta.

Lal's parents are the fucking worse but there is nothing new there. She knew they were serious when they told her she'd have to go to the train station the muggle way. Because they were too busy, had something more important to do, as if Lal still needed them to magically travel herself wherever she wanted to go.

Funny they found the time to accompany her in a muggle area so she could take a cab though.

Less funny that they didn't give her any muggle money to pay the driver.

"Miss, I really need you to pay me now," the man says again. He's bend sideways so he can look at her through the passenger window. "You said you had money with you."

Lal straightens up and draws her luggage closer to her. "I already gave you money."

"What, that ?" The galleon she gave him catches the light between his thumb and index finger, while two others lay forgotten on the passenger seat. She isn't sure she got the amount right because what the hell does she know about muggle currency, but she isn't willing to give him more. The man sighs, then gets all condescending with her like adults tend to be with children.

Except Lal is eleven years old, she doesn't need anybody to be condescending with her. Her frustration goes up another notch.

"Look, they're really pretty… things, but I can't —"

Lal keeps her eyes on him but tuns him out. She has a hard time holding still, her foot tapping an impatient rhythm against the floor. Zamza snuggles against her where he is tightly wounded around her thigh, and she gives back the caress.

She's still late though. She needs to go right now if she doesn't want to miss the train, and she isn't sure how easily she'll find the platform. She knows where it is, in theory, but the train station is big, and there's a lot of people, and she can't let the muggles see anything they shouldn't see —

" — you understand right ?" The man asks. "Now be a sweetheart and —"

A car speeds beside him, honking loudly, drawing his attention from her. Lal turns on her heels and bolts toward the station's entrance. The man's screams in her back are the one good thing that happened to her since her morning started.

The station is big, and there's a lot of people, and at any other time she would have taken the time to look around. To look at the high ceiling made of glass, the strange stairs which only go up or down, and maybe even learn about muggle money. As it is she's too focused on her mad dash and sneaking past the crowd all around her. The luggage she's rolling behind her has less chance not bumping into people, but she can't bring herself to care.

She has only one anyway and it's not too big. It could do much more harm if it felt as heavy as it should be, full as it truly is, but her parents bothered to take care of at least that for her. It is a rare instance of them being useful to her, and she isn't looking forward to hearing them brag about it all day long until their next feat.

Lal's heart leaps in her throat when she glances at a clock high up on a wall. She has just about ten minutes before her train leaves. She could not miss it — she will not miss it. It's her first year at Hogwarts at long last, and by Merlin she will not let anything goes in her way.

She clutches harder at her luggage, speeds up, rounds a corner and there are the trains. Their sight help her swallows back her panic just a bit.

Then someone barrels into her from her right, and Lal, once more, has to face the trial of not murdering someone even if magic would assure she never gets caught.

So maybe continuously looking up to make sure he doesn't run past his platform while running at full speed wasn't the best of idea. And maybe he should have looked first that nobody was in the way before making a beeline towards the man in uniform for information.

Colonnello still thinks running into someone is just his morning giving him yet another middle finger.

It's the day when he is finally going to set foot at Hogwarts and everything was supposed to go perfectly. His mother made sure of it, planned everything to a T. How everything went wrong just because he stumbled over his words when using the floo powder, he has yet to figure it out.

He should have waited for his parents to find him wherever he ended up to. It couldn't be that faraway from the correct street because Colonnello knows how to use the floo powder. He used it plenty of time before after all.

But the bus was right there, and he had muggle money with him because his father is a paranoid, and he figured he could do it. He knows a thing or two about the muggle world too. He also figured the show of independence would reassure his parents that they aren't about to let their baby off into a cruel world — Colonnello is every inch his eleven years, thank you very much.

Turns out he couldn't do it. If it wasn't for his mother and the extra hour in their schedule, he would have never made it in time, and he's barely in time at all as it is.

A pair of hands yanks him by his collar before he can fall, and Colonnello finds himself literally nose to nose with the girl he ran into.

"Can't you look where you are going ?"

The girl is pissed, her face all scrunched up in warning, that much is clear. The reddish hues in her brown eyes make them appear almost red altogether caught in the light as they are. She's pissed, but it can't be just because he ran into her by accident, so Colonnello isn't about to just let her take her frustrations on him.

"Hi," he smiles at her, "how are you ?"

The girl narrows her eyes at him, shakes him once. His backpack bounces on his back, full of everything he'll need at school but so light still, and god magic is so cool, and he couldn't wait to arrive at Hogwarts — oh shit, he needs to catch the train before —

"Is that how you say sorry ?"

Falco peaks downwards to fly low above their heads and the girl gives it a quick glance. Colonnello takes the opportunity to glance down at her... centipede ? wrapped around her thigh. It can only make her a witch, right ?

"Listen —," he starts, his hands rising but he still has no idea where to put them. Colonnello was never afraid to get physical with anybody, especially not when the threat was real. But he was never in this position with a girl before, and he's taller than her, and all around bigger, and it can't be very fair now, can it ?

The girl tilts her chin up, her dark hair falling backwards showing more of her face. She has a scar just beside her right eye, and he wonders if it affected her eyesight.

" — you're really pretty," he blurts out.

The girl blinks at him and he blinks back. Oh god, did he just —

She'd have kneed him in the stomach if he didn't block it. He bends down under her arm to free himself from her grip, catches her by the wrist intent on bending her arm in her back. The girl doesn't miss a beat though and spins around at the same time he moves, her fist flying towards his face. Colonnello catches it in his hand and doesn't let either of hers go.

"You know how to fight ?" She raises an eyebrow at him, like she wasn't about to beat him up just because he ran into her by accident. She didn't even fall. Colonnello likes her.

"My dad is an ex-soldier. Taught me a couple of things. You ?"

She shrugs. "I wanted to learn how to kick ass."

Colonnello's incredulous laughter quickly turns into a genuine one. The girl — her name, he needs to catch her name — takes advantage of that to free her hands but doesn't lash out further. She gives him a smirk and oh — she is pretty.

The loudspeakers go over the next departures, reminding them of the time, and he's pretty sure he's sporting the same face of horror and panic as her.

Her new friend is running again, trailing her luggage behind her before he can fully process the situation, but he is quick to follow. Until someone catches him by his elbow and yanks him backwards.

He slept in. He slept in. On the day when his magical adventures are to begin of all the days in the world.

The wizard sent to accompany him to the magic train safely gives him a weird look when he finally shows up at their point of meeting. He looks even scarier like that, all tall and slim and bony, but Skull can't really blame him. He makes a note to himself to be in his best behavior —

— then forgets all about it once they settle into their way to the station. He's pushing his luggage in front of him all by himself, barely restraining himself to reach over and touch all of his stuff to make sure they're still real.

They still are, from his books about magic, and his cauldron to brew magic potions, to his parchments and inks and feathers, because apparently the magic world turned its back on new technologies at some point.

He can't stop himself to reach into the front pocket of his sweater to feel his magic wand. It's in his protective case right now but he held it for real a first time in the magic wand shop, in the magic alley full of others magic shops and wizards and witches.

Because, as it turns out, incredibly enough, amazingly enough, the-best-thing-that-ever-happened-to-Skull enough, not only magic exists but Skull can use it. Skull is a wizard, off to his magic school where he'll learn how to use his magic and get his magic degree.

He still can't believe it's happening but it doesn't matter because it's still happening anyway.

His assigned wizard gives him looks because he can't hold still, skipping and jumping and taking off in short sprints but he doesn't care. He couldn't arrive in Hogwarts soon enough. And Skull would never leave it if he could, but having to spend only two months out of twelve at the orphanage for the next six years is the second best thing that ever happened to him.

They arrive at the station and Skull forgets all about his luggage duty, too busy looking at everything. The place is big, the ceiling so high, and they're so many people, and it's so noisy, and the trains — where were the trains ?

He runs a few feet ahead trying to take it all in, craning his neck here and there and keeps running. And keeps running.

He looks back at some point to share a comment with his wizard only to realize he's not there. Only to realize he's not anywhere in sight.

Skull freezes, part in panic and part because he knows not to wander around when he's lost and someone might be looking for him. And his wizard is looking for him right ? He must be, he has all of Skull's luggage, and taking care of him until he is in the train is what he was told to do !

Skull waits but his wizard doesn't show up and he starts reassuring himself. His wizard doesn't have all of his stuff. Oodako is right there with him, and his magic wand is in his pocket, and his school uniform with other first necessities are in his backpack. Even if his wizard doesn't magically manage to send his stuff to him somehow, he can make do with what little he's got on him just fine.

He's gonna be just fine. He just has to find the platform 9 3/4 and runs straight into the brick wall. He can do that, it's nothing. He's eleven years old, not some helpless baby. Finding his way in an enclosed space can't be that hard.

Skull can't let it be that hard because he is a wizard and goddammit he's going to his magic school one way or another.

He can't run full speed because then he can't look around for clues but the urge to do it anyway is strong. He's running out of time, and the train won't wait for him and then what ? He has to totally look like a lost child too, and the security is bound to catch up to him at some point, and then what ?

Skull doesn't want to think about it. His relief is palpable when two other running children speed past him, with what have to be wizards pets. There's a hawk and a… whatever it is the girl has wrapped around her thigh.

He takes off after them, uses all his years of running away from consequences and punishments and responsibilities to catch up to them, and snatches the boy by his arm to make him stop.

The boy catches the girl's arm in turn too, and the momentum almost make all three of them fall.

"What the hell ?" They both barks at him and Skull wonders if they are siblings or something.

"Wait," he says, raising one arm in surrender. He doesn't dare let go of the boy, even if logically he knows he could be wrong about them. But it's the only lead he has right now. "Please, I'm sorry, I just need help."

"With what ?"

"I'm lost and I'm looking for the same platform as you. I think so anyway. I hope so," he adds, a little desperately maybe because the girl stops trying to set herself free and looks up at him too. "You're… you're that too, right ?" He barrels on despite their look of confusion. "Me too. I mean I'm a human but —"

"What did you say ?"

Skull shuts his mouth at the girl's tone and isn't sure he wants to open it again. "I'm human ?"

"And what are we then ?" The boy's tone is amused enough but Skull stays wary anyway.

"You're —" he looks around to make sure no one is listening and lowers his tone — "that," he ends up saying anyway because Minerva was very insistent about how the magical world is one big secret world which have to remain secret. "And I'm — " God, what is the word again ? Skull knows it isn't human, but he translated it like that in his head and now he doesn't remember the original term. Maybe if he shows them Oodako but —

"A muggle ?"

"Yes !" He beams, then sobers up just as quickly when the girl marches forward and stops right in front of him.

"Looking for the platform 9 3/4 ?"

"Yes ma'am." He tries for a smile but she's already showing his back to him.

"If I miss the train I'm going to kill you both."

Skull does think they should have something to say to that, but the other boy only starts running after her and he doesn't want to be left behind. When he spots the brick wall the girl is running straight to, a new vague of excitation hits him and he speeds up.

He would have been the first to pass through the wall if somebody didn't feel like yanking him by his shirt to slam him against it.

He came here before, a few days ago so his parents could show him how to end up in platform 9 3/4. They still went with him today so Reborn has to wonder what was even the point. He lost them in the crowd as soon as he could, alongside the tracking spell they put on him.

It became ridiculously easy to do so. Really, how old do his parents think he is ? He'll be eleven years old soon, and the sooner they'd realize it, the more fun he'd find back to outsmarting them.

He came here before but he couldn't ever get enough of the muggle world. His parents certainly make sure he has as little of it as possible. There was nothing to see according to them but Reborn begs to disagree.

People born without magic, who took on the world and shaped it to better suit them anyway, and even succeeded better to do so than magic did in some aspects… Reborn thinks there is everything to see in the muggle world, and a lot to learn, and he was always an avid learner.

He steps out of the escalator and goes to the other one beside it to start his descent. Up and down, up and down, he's at it for almost fifteen minutes now. His high viewpoint allows him to see more at once, the things he's interested in — the people and the infrastructure and the various muggle jobs at display — as well as the things he ought to be wary to — like his parents who might still be lurking around for some unthinkable reason.

A couple gives him a look and Reborn smiles at them just so, and ease them up enough that they do not interact with him. It's the fifth time it happens though, and he takes it at his cue to go on his way once he hits the floor.

He can't let anybody takes his seat in the train anyway, and doesn't want to be there for the tearful goodbyes. He would have made his way to the platform without trouble if it wasn't for the boy.

Reborn walks past him and back tracked immediately. He is around his age, sat against the brick wall, looking straight up at the magic one several feet away, apart from when he is writing in his book.

It's the white coat he's wearing that caught his attention, one commonly wore by the smartest of the muggles if he's not mistaken. The baby alligator on his leg is just a bonus.

"You see anything interesting ?"

Green eyes look up at him through round glasses. The boy gives him a once over then go back to his observations. "You're a wizard," he says in a way that only Reborn can hear.

Reborn doesn't bother to point out that it's the same for him. All his wizard stuff is piled up behind him. "What gave me away ?"

The boy shrugs. "You're about my age, alone but you don't look lost or worried in any way. You don't look like you're looking for someone either, and i don't see anyone who might be your parents around, which means they don't see you as defenseless as your status as a child should make you, especially in a public space like this. You were walking like you knew exactly where you were going and what you were doing and —" the boy pauses to take a deep breath, and Reborn is surprised he lasted that long for starting — "you have a lizard on your hat. A domesticated one I assume. My observations so far showed that wizards like having original pets."

"How," Reborn drawls, "impressive." The boy's pencil stutters to a halt. It's only then that he looks up at him again, with a somewhat surprised expression on his face. He's quick to look away though, his head hung low, his face shadowed by his green locks. Reborn isn't sure if the blush on his cheeks was really there. "What's your name ?"

"Verde."

"Call me Reborn." He crouches beside him. "Won't you tell me more, Verde ?"

Reborn didn't mean to lose himself in the conversation. It's not really even a conversation, more like a back-and-forth of questions which bring other questions, with occasionally some answers from either of them which bring even more question.

He's comfortably sat cross-legged on the floor before he realizes it, and with the both of them they blacken the pages of Verde's book easily one after another.

Verde's demeanor made a one eighty once he was assured of Reborn's attention. He went from an apathetic bored boy to an enthusiastic one, gesturing wildly with his hands to the rhythm of the excitation in his voice. The big smile on his lips lights up all of his face, and Reborn is sure he has no idea how many times a minute he pushes his glasses back up his nose or sweeps his hair out of his sight.

It's cute. Reborn tells him so. Verde blushes, and blushes harder when he tells him how he caught his earlier blush too.

The loudspeakers' announce of the next departures is like a cold shower. He bolts upright, and a wave of frustration hits him when Verde is too slow to catch up.

"Come on, get up. We're going to miss the train." He raises him up by his hand, then hides in his back, face to face with his luggage. "Don't look back."

"What ? Why —"

Reborn offers his index finger for Leon to crawl onto. "Shine," he whispers to her, and waits for the blinding light to surround them to cast his spell.

Verde's luggage shrinks considerably in size, and there's a pang in his chest at the thought of not being able to use his magic as freely anymore once he starts Hogwarts in due form, but it's a small price to pay for his new-found freedom.

Verde looks at him dumbly for a moment while he puts his bags in his pockets, Keiman cradled in his arms, but he catches on quickly.

"What —" he starts, an already familiar light shining in his eyes but Reborn can't indulge it right now.

"Later. Come on."

"What about your —"

"It's already in the train."

They start running, and it's ridiculous that they even feel rushed because they're obviously going to make it. They're not far at all, and once they cross through the wall it is only a matter of getting on the train.

The crowd thickens the closer they get, and at first Reborn thinks it's because of them. Two children, alone, and running at full speed is bound to attract attention after all. But then he notices the three other children running at full speed too opposite them.

They're making a beeline for the platform 9 3/4. One of them takes the lead, a purple haired boy who definitely isn't aware of all the eyes on them, and Reborn speeds up without even realizing.

He gets two fistfuls of his shirt to tug him sideways, and use the momentum to spin them around and slam the boy against the side of the wall which isn't enchanted.

It brought the two others to a stop too, thankfully.

"What the hell ?" Three voices take offense in unison.

So maybe Reborn likes to do things… dramatically. So what ?

There's a flash of red at the corner of his eyes, followed by hands on his wrist and shoulder in a bruising grip. He winces.

That's what, apparently.

Fon is sick to be treated like a child by his family. Yes he is young still, but no he is not a child anymore. He is eleven years old already.

They should have listened when he warned them about the portkey malfunctioning. Fon wouldn't have warned them in the first place if he didn't think it serious enough to be talked about.

He warned them multiple times, relentlessly, and yes it was because he was worried it would work wrong on his big day. How they used it as a point against him is still beyond him.

The portkey did go wrong. It could have been way worse, he was grateful to note when they appeared a far cry from where they should have. At least they appeared both in the good country and the same town they were targeting.

At least they appeared at all.

Fon doesn't ever want to talk about how they managed to find their way back to the station, no matter how Huo insists on how fun it was. Ever.

He takes a deep breath when they walk in, tries to calm himself down so Lichi will stop tugging at his hair. Things start to look up from then on. Things don't stay good for long.

There's an unusual crowd around the platform 9 3/4 and it isn't even the problem. The problem is that Fon is looking at it from the other side, separated by the trains in between. He doesn't know when they'll leave, but they're not moving yet and there's a clear path towards his goal.

Fon hasn't the time to take the long way round. He needs to get there right now if he doesn't want to miss the train. He can go over there and through the wall before the security catch up to him, he's sure of it. He is a fast one after all.

But not fast enough that his sister doesn't yank him back into her embrace after only one step towards the platform's edge.

She sighs exaggeratedly. "How many times must I remind this family that I am now free to use my magic as I please for it to stick in your heads, uh ?"

Fon looks up, Huo's strands of blond hair tickling his forehead, an apologetic smile on his face. In the next blink he's on the other side of the railroad, in the middle of the crowd with his belongings and all.

Other children are there too, seemingly the cause of the commotion. His first thought is that he can't walk through the wall with all the muggles there looking at them. Then he spots the two children caught in what looks like a fight and he stops thinking altogether, his body taking over.

He's over there in no time, faltered somehow in his movements like he bumped into someone even when there was no one on his way. He catches the wrist and shoulder of the one in an all black suit, the one who has the other boy's shirt bunched up in his fists.

And if Fon lets his frustration seep into his vice-like grip, making it just that much stronger, no one can tell.

"Let him go."

"Hello to you too, where did you come from ?" Black Suit smiles at him and Fon smiles back. Of course he just has to be of the annoying type.

Another boy in a white coat stops close by, too close to be neutral, and when Fon doesn't see recognition in the boy pushed against the wall he's quick to catch the newcomer in his grip. He snakes an arm around his neck and bends one of White Coat's arm in his back.

There're aborted shouts and movements from the crowd.

"Let him go," Fon repeats.

Black Suit doesn't smile anymore. He lets go, slowly, reaches an arm for his friend and Fon reaches back for his victim. They exchange the two boys without trouble.

"I think you misunderstood the situation." Black Suits says casually, smirking again.

"'Misunderstood ?'" The boy at his side splutters, clutching at his hand. Purple, he names him. "You slammed me against a brick wall !"

"Rightfully so."

"You strangled me," White Coat butts in. "I had nothing to do with it."

"I did not." There's a beat of silence, and Fon supposes he deserves the nasty look send his way. He tries for a sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry. He left me no choice."

"Oh please, you went straight to threatening me. If anything —"

Loud coughs from behind him cut Black Suit off. Fon looks back at his sister, standing a bit faraway next to his luggage.

"Hey kids," she waves at them, and he wonders what she finds so funny. "Not to worry you or anything, but you do realize your train is leaving in about —" she looks sideways to a clock up in a wall — "two minutes now yeah ?"

Her words scatter the crowd like a lightning bolt while Fon and the other children remain frozen in place. Until another child appears from thin air in the middle of them all, that is.

This is not what Verde imagined when magic came knocking at his door. Or, more precisely, slipped into his mailbox.

Verde didn't imagine magic would ever come into his life really. They thought the letter was a fluke at first. But as it turned out it was all true, and Verde had never been more glad to have been wrong in his life.

The days following the news were the most exciting of his life. Their trip to Diagon Alley alone blew his mind for days on end — blew all three of their minds. So much new concepts, things to question, things to understand. So much… magic.

It was a bit difficult at first for his parents to swallow all of it down. Not because as scientists they could not accept the concept of magic, but because it was a bit hard to believe an entire secret magic world succeeded to hide from them for so long — his dad's words. Even harder to believe that they were hiding by practically being in full sight — his mom's words.

Verde is of the opinion of all these authors who once said that magic is only an undiscovered and unexplained science, no matter that they didn't know that magic actually existed. Verde knows it does now, and not only he gets to study it, but he can also use it, even when there isn't any known wizards in his family.

He is going to do the most of it, to dedicate himself to research magic until the rest of his life. He couldn't wait for the day he'd start his magical studies. The first thing he did each morning since he received the letter was cross the day on his calendar.

And all that only to end up surrounded by screaming children looking on whom to put the blame onto. Verde tuns them out and walks away towards his parents hovering nearby. They crouch before him in a hurry.

"Verde, sweety —"

"I'm fine mom, don't worry. We're just waiting for the people to go, and then we'll walk through the wall."

"But Son —"

"I'm fine dad, just hurry up to your appointment. If anything goes wrong I'll wait for you to come back with a security officer."

His parents reach for him and he stays still under their touches, if only because the mayhem behind him can't be much reassuring at all. But everything is fine, Verde could manage. He's eleven years old, it's hardly made him unable to look after himself.

"Where's your luggage ?"

"Magic," he only says and doesn't give them time to question him. "Just go now, mom, dad."

It takes another few incentives from him for his parents to listen. Verde watches them go for a bit before going back to his... acquaintances.

They're still screaming at each other and looks closer to break in an all out brawl than when he left. The sides are clearly defined too, even if he is sure it's not done on purpose. The girl and the blond are in one side, his Aggressor and the boy he saved on the other, so Verde supposes it puts him on Reborn's side.

He doesn't feel like taking part in the screaming match however. If anything it only keeps the focus on them longer, and the train certainly isn't going to wait for them.

Verde tuns them all out once again to indulge himself in his favorite hobby, namely, observing the world revolves around him.

That's how he notices them. Thanks to the looks of his Aggressor's sister towards an empty spot. Thanks to the others who keep stumbling and bumping against the void, too busy getting in each other's faces to notice.

Verde walks over where he suspects the invisible someone is. He raises his hand, but didn't actually expect a hooded figure to appear a split-second before he makes contact.

He doesn't scream in fear alongside the others, he does not.

They did not think this through. No, scratch that, they did. This is their big trial after all, their chance to prove themselves and gain some independence — and Merlin knows they are in dire need of every scrape of independence they can get.

Viper thought through every step of their journey, the proof being, everything went perfectly. Their parents dropped them in the muggle world, and then they made their way to the station with no problem.

Now making themselves invisible helped them greatly, sure, but that's what is called coming up with a simple and efficient plan. It wasn't even that easy, Viper couldn't fly too high in case something went wrong, and had to consistently make sure to not bump into anyone or anything. Besides, muggles couldn't seem to stop looking at their cloak and hood as if they aren't common things in the muggle world too.

They went unnoticed on their way to the platform 9 3/4 without once asking for help from anybody, let alone their parents. Now they just have to walk through the wall, take their seat in the Hogwarts Express, in the compartment where their belongings are already stored — the only help they were allowed to have.

The problem is, well, they have multiple problems actually.

They're still invisible, facing a brick wall, and doesn't know when they should make themselves visible again. It's a busy station, and sure people are all minding their own businesses, but what if someone happens to be looking just when they appear back ? They'll keep looking, even if only for a moment, and Viper doesn't need anybody to see them walk through a wall.

And they have to appear back before they can do so because they have no idea if they can walk through while invisible. What if the two spells interact badly with each other ? Viper isn't even using his magic right now but their psychic powers, and they aren't about to risk it. If they're ever going to die, it isn't gonna be by being stuck in a brick wall of all things.

The growing numbers of noisy kids around them is by far the greatest of their problem at the moment. They are drawing even more attention on a magical platform while surrounded by muggles, getting louder and louder and tougher, and Viper struggles more and more to avoid contact with them.

Where in the world are their parents ? Merlin, is that how they look from an external point of view ? Like a — like an eleven years old ?

Viper couldn't become an adult fast enough. But right now they need to —

Their eyes land on the only adult witch around, only to realize said witch is already looking at them. At a still invisible them.

They startle, badly, bumping against the closest kid to them. It's a hard blow to their confidence in their powers, but the woman has a lot more experience than them in magic, there isn't much they can do about it. She walks forwards, straight to them it seems at first, only for a wave of magic to wrap around them all and the platform.

Viper appears at long last, relieved, and feel a hand on their back. They're familiar with the screams which ensue, always took delight in them, but much less familiar with their own which slip past them, but no one needs to ever know that. They don't wait for them to recover, instead turn on their heels straight through the wall.

They're almost immediately push back by the people on the other side trying to cross through. They would have been, but the others kids were quick to follow them, and they're all but used as both a shield and a spear to push past all the adults blocking the way.

The Hogwarts Express already on its way is the sight that welcome them. The train is leaving. Slowly for now, but still —

The train is leaving.

The strings of curses in their back is surprising, but they echo their own thoughts perfectly. When the others kids all brush past him running madly, Viper isn't sure about what to do.

Viper hasn't the time to decide what they want to do either that the purple one turns back, snatches him by the arm and starts running again.

What do they think they're doing ? The train is already leaving !

Purple Boy frees his hand to run ahead but they don't stop. Maybe they have a plan. Maybe they could still make it. Maybe —

Purple Boy jumps on the train, finds his footing on an open window, and the stutters in their steps is so brutal they all almost fall down head first.

"Are you crazy ?" The blond one screeches over the train's noises, but Purple Boy is already climbing up to the roof instead of letting himself in through the open window.

"Just jump !" he screams back. "You can do it !"

Viper cannot and will not do it. But lo and behold, and they swear it on Merlin's beard, the crazy people alongside whom they're running start to actually build their momentum.

This isn't happening.

The blond speeds up, taking the lead, the rest of them lining up behind him — Merlin, they're really going to do it.

This couldn't be happening.

It is happening anyway right in front of them, and Viper supposes they might as well line up too and do it. They're gathering their courage when —

"Are you kids out of your minds ?" They're incredibly relieved to look back at the witch running after them, looking positively horrified. There is someone else who is sane and sound of mind. Viper looks back ahead, and the next thing they know they're on the roof of a moving Hogwarts Express. "Fon," the crazy witch screams again, "catch !"

Viper could not care less what it is she threw at whoever this Fon is. They are on the roof of a moving train, laying flat onto their stomach, and this was not part of their perfectly crafted plan.

The wind and their beating heart are deafening them, but from the sounds they manage to catch the landing isn't going smoothly for the others either. They bring a hand to their hood so it stays put over their face and remind themselves to breath.

They're fine, everything is fine. They didn't miss the train and they didn't use anybody else helps for that. The witch was only helping this Fon kid, and Viper just happened to be in the vicinity of this help.

Their parents didn't need to know anything about this anyway.

"Excuse me, is everything alright ?"

Viper is fine. They'll be better as soon as they find their way inside the train somehow, but hopefully someone is already on their way to fetch them.

"Hello ? Do you hear me ? Is everything alright up there ?"

First thing first once they recover is to catch these people's names so they could avoid them for the rest of their life. Who need that type of crazy in their life ? Viper isn't ever going to acknowledge them ever again in any way whatsoever, and everything will be just fine.

"Excuse me ? Please answer me."

It takes them multiple seconds to understand that the voice comes from down there. Viper crawls painfully slowly to the edge of the train and look downwards.

"Oh, you're there, it's good !" The boy is halfway out of the window. The wind is messing up his hair and vivid green eyes shine through round glasses. "Is everything okay, do you need help ?"

He has a scar in the form of a lightning on his forehead. Viper's heart skips a beat, and maybe it stops beating altogether.

Merlin's beard, is that —

" — Harry Potter ?!"

- huo throws fon's luggage at him, somehow, magically, don't ask me

- (it's her also who teleported them on the train's roof, in case you didn't catch it)

- lal almost falls down from the train because of her luggage

- viper are one big fan boy of harry, yes

- luce is already in the train while all of this take place because she is the one and only reliable eleven years old of them all

—

I have no idea how eleven years old are supposed to act, let alone speak, I'm sorry ksdflql. The tense might be a bit confusing too but I tried. And if you noticed a decrease of quality starting from Fon's pov, it's my tiredness which seeped through my writing.

—

This took SO long to write guys, god. I worked on it all day long yesterday. And i plan to bring in Luce's pov at some point too, fjlkdjf. I plan to have each of their pov at each chapter but yeah, no, i'm not so sure about it anymore lmao. I'll try because that's how i planned this story format but don't count too much on it.

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Welp folks, here's my Hogwarts AU. Guess that makes me a legitimate fanfiction writer now lmao. The Harry Potter books and movies are such a vague memory tho, so don't except too much accuracy please (or any sldfjlfkm). Also if someone would be so kind as to summarize the main plot lines of the first tome, i'll gladly and gratefully take it haha.

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I hope you liked the chapter. Any and all review are appreciated. Thank you for reading !

- w.h