CHAPTER 25: ALL ABOARD

After changing into their robes, Myles and Beckett returned to join Harry and Ron in conversation. Ron was apparently worried about which House he'd be in.

"Our dad was in Slytherin," Myles told him when he dreaded the prospect of being a Slytherin, "so it can't be that bad."

"Speak for yourself," Ron said. "When all your family's in Gryffindor, you try liking You-Know-Who's old House."

"Whatever," Myles rolled his eyes.

"I hope you get in Gryffindor, Ron," Beckett sympathized with their new acquaintance. "I can't imagine not being in the same House as my brother."

"Same here," Myles admitted. "Whatever House I'm in, I want it to be the same as Beck's."

"So, you never went to school before this?" Harry asked the twins.

"Nope," Beckett stretched his arms. "Our brother, Artemis, always tutored us,"

"So we never needed ordinary school," Myles finished. "He'll be our History of Magic professor, so that means,"

"There's no escaping him," Beckett concluded.

"You mean Binns retired?" Ron's eyes went wide. "My brothers told me he was the most boring teacher ever—even Percy had trouble staying awake in his class!"

The four boys kept conversing for a while then. Myles and Beckett exchanged a concerned glance at Ron's mention of an attempted robbery at Gringott's on the same day they met Harry there. Once he told them all he know about that, Ron started talking about a wizard sport called Quidditch.

"I don't think our dad was too good at that," Myles recalled something he overheard at the Leaky Cauldron. "He said he could never stand a chance against your dad, Harry."

"Really?" Now Harry seemed even more interested to learn about this game. Ron gave them a full-on lesson about the game, detailing famous matches he and his brothers attended, famous figures in it, the best teams, and of course the rules. Beckett listened intently, and Harry along with him, but Myles kept thinking about how the aerodynamics of flying brooms must be like.

Eventually, the door to their compartment slid open to reveal a pale blonde boy. Myles recognized him as the boy Lucius motioned to back at the train station. On either side of the young Malfoy stood a pair of big, mean-looking guys.

"Oh, you're Lucius Malfoy's son!" Beckett apparently recognized him. "My name's Beckett Fowl, and this is my twin, Myles."

"Hello." Personally, Myles wasn't inclined to get involved with the Malfoys given how uneasy his parents seemed about their patriarch; however, since they were already face-to-face, he didn't suppose there was any point being anti-social.

"Draco Malfoy. So it is true?" Draco brushed past the Fowl twins and focused on Harry. "They're saying all down the train Harry Potter's in this compartment. So it's you?"

"What's that to you?" Beckett was getting annoyed with people pestering their new friend about his identity.

"You'll all soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others. I can help you with that, Potter—you, too, Fowls," he extended a hand, clearly thinking he's made a brilliant offer. Harry held his gaze unwaveringly.

"Good one," Beckett laughed. "No way someone would say that and mean it. Right, guys?"

Draco's snow-white cheeks got a pink tinge in them.

"I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks," Harry said coolly.

"Wait…" Beckett's smile faded, and he got a surprised look on his face. "Draco, were you being serious?" Seeing the look on Draco's face, he broke into laughter again. "Oh, wow! I'm gonna have fun with you, then!" Myles held back a snicker.

"I suggest you leave now, Draco," Myles advised him. "Potter doesn't seem interested, and we Fowls only take valuable offers."

"I would be more polite, if I were you," Draco spoke like he was trying to contain himself. "You hang around riffraff like the Weasleys and that Hagrid, and it'll rub off on you. Potter will end up like his parents, if he's not careful."

At that, Beckett, Harry, and Ron all stood up. Beckett looked serious this time.

"Oh, you're going to fight us, are you?" Malfoy sneered.

"I can take all three of you at once," Beckett stated confidently.

"You really ought to leave now," Myles warned from his seat. "Beckett is a trained fighter, and we never let people insult our friends." If it was just him and Beckett there, he doubted Draco and his cronies would have bought it…but they also had Harry and Ron there. With four angry people staring them down, the henchmen's nerves seemed to waver.

I can practically smell their fear, thought Beckett as he adjusted his stance. The corner of his lip turned upward a bit. These saps are clearly untrained. The way they stood showed him as much. Knocking them over would be a piece of cake! Only if I need to, though…

Eventually, the one on the left cracked and ran out of the compartment. Seeing his friend chicken out, the other soon followed. Draco heard their footsteps, and the pink on his cheeks turned slightly brighter before he went after them, a bead of sweat on his brow.

"Well done, everyone," Myles congratulated them.

"Are you really a trained fighter?" Ron asked Beckett. Beck nodded.

"Butler trained us in martial arts ever since we could walk," he explained.

"But Beck's the only one who's any good," Myles clarified. His twin smiled proudly. "So, Harry, you've met Draco Malfoy before?"

"In Diagon Alley," Harry affirmed, "we were getting our robes fitted around the same time."

"I've heard of his family," Ron said darkly. "They were some of the first to come back to our side after You-Know-Who disappeared. Said they'd been bewitched. My dad doesn't believe it. He says Malfoy's father didn't need an excuse to go over to the Dark Side."

Myles remembered his own father telling the whole family about a friend who became a Death Eater. As a matter of fact, Artemis Fowl Senior eventually went into hiding in order to marry Angeline and keep her out of harm's way, once he realized the blood purist group posed a real threat.

"Can we help you with something?" an annoyed Ron asked a new entrant. There stood Hermione Granger, the girl who tried helping Neville find his toad earlier.

"You and Harry should hurry up and change into your robes, like Myles and Beckett have. I've just been up to the front to ask the conductor, and he says we're nearly there," Hermione alerted them. Myles smiled knowing he and Beckett were about to see their fabled new school. "You haven't been fighting, have you? You'll be in trouble before we're even there!"

"You don't think we'll get detention, do you?" Beckett's usually tan face went pale. He still remembered Artemis's warning about the super serious punishment teachers gave out.

"I certainly hope not," Hermione responded gravely, "but you should count yourself lucky if you don't."

"Thank you, Hermione," Myles said. "If you keep quiet about this, we would appreciate this. Our brother may not approve."

"Very well, then," she sniffed, "but you'd better not make a habit of it. I only came in here because people outside are behaving very childishly, racing up and down the corridors."

"I wanna see Hogsmeade station!" Beckett sprang to the window excitedly, even ignoring the stockpile of sweets Harry evidently bought during the Trevor escapade. "Do you think we could see Hogwarts from there?"

"Would you mind leaving while we change?" Ron scowled at Hermione. Myles couldn't imagine why—she had been nothing but considerate, informing them of their imminent arrival and warning them about getting into trouble. Then again, maybe Ron didn't like being told what to do.

"All right—you've got dirt on your nose, by the way," Hermione seemed offended. Ron glared after her as she left.

"I think I'll go out for a bit, too," Myles decided to get up.

"You've got to see the view," Beckett breathed. Harry joined him at the window. Myles shook his head affectionately and left. He thanked Hermione for the warning, but he never really got to thank her for telling them about the train's progress.

"Wait, Hermione," he called to her. She turned around, seeming a little surprised. "Thank you for telling us we're close. I also noticed you were helping Neville with his toad." For some reason, he felt his face get a little warm. "Anyway, I don't think we got to have a proper discussion. Hopefully, we're in the same House!"

"Oh, it was nothing," Hermione replied eagerly, but she was clearly pleased. "So, what House are you hoping to be in? I keep thinking Gryffindor sounds the best by far, of course, Ravenclaw would be okay, too."

"Gryffindor seems to be the popular choice, and Ravenclaw's emphasis on intelligence is cool," Myles conceded, "but I'd be happy with any of them—my father was in Slytherin, so it can't be as bad as people say."

"Slytherin? But You-Know-Who was in it—that doesn't make everyone in it bad, of course, but it seriously tainted their reputation."

"Maybe some great new wizard could change their reputation someday. Oh, but the four Houses' history is fascinating! Do you know of it?"

"Oh, of course I read all about the four Houses—I figured I should do some research on a school I'm attending, after all."

"Right? Beck thought it was boring, but Artemis said he was glad to see me taking the initiative. He's our older brother, by the way."

A voice echoed through the train, interrupting their animated conversation. "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."

As you've probably noticed by now, the storylines have collided more remarkably now. I want the boys to impact the story while still having their own stuff to deal with, so hopefully we'll see something worth more than just a rewrite of Harry Potter. The fact they bring their own perspectives and personalities should theoretically keep things interesting!

TITLE: This chapter contains the twins, the golden trio, and the prick. All aboard, indeed!

INTERACTION WITH MALFOY: In the book, Draco and his posse had the upper hand. In this story, however, he's messing with the Fowl twins. Never mess with a Fowl.

INTERACTION WITH HERMIONE: Myles never got to have a proper conversation with her earlier, so I figured I would set the stage for their friendship here, since (as mentioned in earlier author's notes) I believe he would connect with her easily, given how their personalities could mesh.

BECKETT'S EXCITEMENT: Of course, Hermione mentions childish behavior and Beckett rushes to the window XD

ENTRANCE TO HOGWARTS SCENE? I would have included the voyage from the station to Hogwarts from start to end, but what's the point when the book already describes that so well? Instead, I'll probably give the twins' first impression of the school in the next chapter.

I hope you enjoyed this! The twins have officially met the main players in their year, and they're about to start a new chapter (:p) in their lives!

I OWN NEITHER HARRY POTTER NOR ARTEMIS FOWL. DO NOT SUE ME, ROWLING OR COLFER!