Parts of this are word for word from the first book which I own a copy of but nothing more in case you thought I did.
When Harry goes to sleep that evening his Auntie Rowena smiles.
"Happy birthday my wee lad! How has your day been?" Harry smiles too and tells her about Diagon Alley, his new owl Hedwig and the strange man who had sold him a wand.
Surprisingly the woman doesn't seem too impressed by this. Her nose crinkles slightly as if there were a bad smell.
"Oh- you won't need a wand lad. They're a bit of a beginners thing. I'm sure you'll find it a lot easier to just use your magic then direct it through one of those things." Harry frowns, "But don't you worry- you'll run circles 'round them. Did you say you were going to Hogwarts?" The boy nods and Auntie Rowena grins.
"Then we'll have to step up your training- eh? Don't want you to get pushed around by a bunch of ninnies, do we?" The witch reclines in the blank space made of his dream, perched on something half imagined.
"You know about Hogwarts?!" The woman nods smiling at Harry's shock.
"Well- almost every magical child from Britain goes there. Of course I've heard of it. In fact- there's rumoured to be something there that I'm quite interested in retrieving." The boy is thrilled at the opportunity to go to the same school his tutor went to.
"What is it?" The woman pats her student on the head.
"Now don't you worry about it my dear- I don't have the time to track it down so I guess it'll have to stay where it is." She sighs wistfully. Harry leans forwards.
"But I could look for it! You've taught me a tracking spell so if it's near where the castle is I could find it for you!" Rowena smiles.
"Oh, Harry! What did I do to deserve an apprentice like you?" The boy blushes and the older witch smiles down upon him, "Now- why don't we get onto magic. We're going to show those wand users what they're missing out on!" And so Harry practises his spells and charms and his ingredient gathering- his mind providing various challenging environments to test his skill.
It is nearing his usual wake up time when Rowena stops him, grinning widely.
"Oh- just look at you! I remember when you were a wee little thing who didn't know Thurizas from Wynn- now look at you! Are you sure it won't be too much trouble to find one little thing for your Auntie Rowena?" If Harry were less naïve he might have noticed how much she was simpering. As it is he doesn't.
"It's no trouble at all- you've done so much for me!" So the old witch smiles.
"Okay then- what I'm looking for is a small red stone. Some people call it the 'Philospher's Stone' and what I've heard is that it's going to be hidden somewhere in your school." She then grins widely, voice pitching up in excitement, "I think it could help weaken my curse." The boy nods determinedly.
"I'll definitely find it then!" Rowena bends down, pressing a kiss against his cheek, hands settled on either shoulder.
"Oh- I knew I could count on you! I'll see you tonight my boy!" She waves as he begins to slip into the waking world.
"Goodbye Auntie Rowena!"
It isn't long until Harry is sitting on the Hogwarts Express.
For some reason Cas had insisted that it was something that had to happen so they had went along with it. All of his things had been neatly packed into his trunk with the help of Jody and after a somewhat tearful goodbye and a promise to write he had been bundled into his own compartment to wait for the train to leave.
"Anyone sitting there?" A young red-headed boy stands in the entrance pointing to the seat opposite Harry. 'Everywhere else is full.'
Harry shakes his head and the boy sits down. He glances at Harry and then looks quickly out of the window, prentending he hadn't. Harry it about to ask about the smudge on his nose when the door opens again, admitting two more red-heads who seem to be familiar with the boy in front of Harry.
"Oh- didn't notice you there." Says one boy looking to his mirror image.
"Fred and George Weasley." The other speaks and they each gesture to the other when either name is called and Harry can already tell that any efforts at remembering who is who will be futile.
"And this is our brother, Ron."
"Nice to meet you, Fred, George, Ron. I'm Harry Potter." The younger boy just gawps.
"Blimey," says one of the older boys, "Are you-?" The other continues. Harry presumes they are twins.
"He is! Aren't you?" he stares curiously at Harry.
"What?" Harry stares back at them.
"The Harry Potter." Harry just watches them. He opens his mouth to speak.
"Well I-"
"Destroyer of Dark Lords-"
"Teenage Dream for at least half of the school-"
"Slayer of Eldritch Abominations?" Then Harry nods.
"Oh- yeah- him. I suppose I am." He shrugs and the twins nod to each other. Simultaneously they extend their arms towards him, shaking a hand each.
"Well- good to meet you-"
"Prankersters extraordinaire at your service-"
"From Dungbombs to asking out girls-"
"You can't go far wrong with Weasley Inc." The two then duck out the door, taking a second to mess up their brother's hair before they do.
"Bye ickle Ronniekins." Ron just stares at the closed door, face pale.
"Are you okay?" The ginger shakes his head.
"They've never done that before- I think they're planning something." Harry frowns.
"I'm going to guess that's a bad thing." The boy nods, freckles standing out against his almost ill complexion.
"Yes. Very." They sit in silence for a while as Ron tries to recover from the shock.
"So are your whole family wizards?" The innocuous question seems to help calm the boy.
"Er- yes, I think so. I think Mum's got a second cousin who's an accountant, but we never talk about him."
"So you must know loads of magic already." Harry can feel the excitement at finally being in contact with people like him.
The boy doesn't answer the question.
Harry presumes he's being modest or careful- a good idea really. Auntie Rowena had told him it's never wise to let anyone know the true extent of your power.
"I heard you went to live with Muggles. What are they like?" The boy looks somewhat disgusted, as if they were talking about bugs or road kill.
"What do you mean by Muggles?" Ron's eyebrows raise in shock.
"You mean you don't know!" Harry nods slowly, "Muggles are people who can't use magic."
"Oh," Says Harry, "Yes- I suppose I did then. I lived with some rather horrible Muggles when I was younger but someone helped me escape from them. The Muggles I live with at the moment are the best!" Ron stares at him in wonder as the boy grins from ear to ear.
"I mean it would be nice to know more magical people but that's what I've come here for." The ginger smiles.
"Yeah- I guess it is."