Chapter 5 Big Steps
A Properly Reared Wizard Disclaimer: I do not own Harry potter, or any of the Harry potter characters, and am making no money from this story. Some portions of the text may have been taken directly from HP and the sorcerer's stone. They are marked with {'s. Anything you recognize I do not own and am making no money off of. Archiving: Want, ask, take, have
The night before Harry was to leave for Hogwarts Maria and Sara sat him down in the living room of the house they were staying in. They had a few last things for Harry to take with him to Hogwarts.
"Here Harry. We think this might come in handy," Sara said handing him a vial with what looked like two extremely large wolf canines in it. She handed him a second vial filled with what looked like blood.
"Is this.blood?" Harry asked holding the vial up to the light for a better look.
"Yes Harry. It's blood. The blood of a Dire wolf to be precise. We waited until tonight to give it to you because the fresher it is the more potent it is. Now don't lose it. It's very rare seeing as how Dire Wolves are thought to have died out with the Irish Elk at the end of the last Ice Age," Sara told Harry.
"There was one last thing. A bundle of Dire Wolf fur. It would be best if you harvested it yourself," with that Maria's shape changed. She became a wolf the size of a mustang. Her forequarters and head were much larger in proportion to the rest of her body than a normal wolf's. Sara handed Harry a pair of scissors.
"Well go on. Take some fur. It's still Maria under there." Harry moved slowly toward the wolf and cut a handful of fur. Once he had finished Sara said, "Don't forget to get some whiskers as well." Harry cut two whiskers from each side. He then handed the fur and whiskers to Sara who placed them into secure containers. Once she was done Maria changed back with a "POP".
She shook her head, panting. "It's been a while since I've done that. Too long."
Harry looked stunned. "Wha. how.?"
"Harry, there are things about us that you don't know. You don't need to know so don't ask. When you need to know, we'll tell you OK?" Maria told Harry firmly.
Sara looked pointedly at the clock and then at Harry. "Put that away in your trunk and then go to bed. You have to leave early in the morning."
"Who will be taking me to the train station?" Harry asked.
"I'll be taking you to the train station, but first we need to stop by the Leaky Cauldron to pick up the school supplies that tom is storing for you. So we'll need to leave early, about 6:30 to get your stuff and make it to the train station on time. You need to go to bed. Now, Harry." Maria told him shooing him up the stairs to his bedroom. She made sure that all of his things were packed for the train tomorrow.
Early the next morning, after breakfast, Maria and Harry were waiting for the car to take them to London. What happened the night before still puzzled Harry so he asked Maria about it. "How did you turn into a wolf Maria?"
"It's a long story Harry. The short answer is that I'm older than I look. Earlier in my life I became (not entirely voluntarily mind you) what can only be described as a Were Dire Wolf. The transformation is, for the most part, under my control, now anyway. That's all you need to know right now."
As she finished saying this a car pulled up. It was being driven by the same sergeant as their first trip to London. He got out of the car and helped Harry load his trunk into the boot of the car. After helping Maria and Harry into the car he handed Harry the cage with Hedwig.
"So Ma'am, where are we going this morning?" the sergeant asked as they passed through security.
"Well Sergeant, first we will be going back to the Leaky Cauldron. There Harry will pick up the rest of his school supplies. After that we will be going to King's Cross Station so that Harry can catch the train to the school that he will be attending this year," Maria told him.
After a quiet ride, they pulled up outside of the Leaky Cauldron. They went inside to speak with Tom. Tom directed them to where Harry's things were stored so that he could pack them. Harry began to pack his things and discovered that no matter how much he put into the first compartment it never quite filled. After he finished packing his things, both in the trunk and in his backpack, he went back out to where Tom and Maria were speaking.
"Have you got everything, Harry?" Maria asked.
"Yep, I've got everything. Are we going now?" Harry said to Maria.
Maria turned to Tom and told him goodbye. She and Harry then went back out to the waiting car. "Sergeant to King's Cross Station please."
"Yes Ma'am," the sergeant said starting the car.
After they got to the station the driver asked Maria if he needed to wait for her, but she told him that she had another way to get back to the base.
Maria and Harry got out of the car and walked into he station. They headed for Platforms 9 and 10 with Harry's trunk and owl on a pushcart. When they got there Harry asked, "How are we going to get onto Platform 9 ¾?"
Just as Harry asked the question, what appeared to be a small mob of children, accompanied by a lone adult female, surged into the station. There were four boys and one young girl, all of them redheads. The woman spoke to the youngest boy, "Now, what's the platform number again?"
"9 ¾ Mum," the girl piped up. "Can't I go with you, please?"
The woman, her mother, turned to her and said, "Now Ginny, you know you can't, this year anyway. Next year you'll be going with your brothers to Hogwarts."
She turned to the boys and ushered the first one through what looked like a solid support. "All right. You next Fred," she said to one of what looked like a pair of identical twins.
"Jeez woman. Can't you tell your own children apart? I'm George," the twin told his mother snottily.
"Sorry George," she told him.
"Only Joking. I am Fred," the twin, Fred, told her.
She looked exasperated and shooed him through the support.
Maria walked up to her with Harry in tow. "Excuse me, but is this the entrance to Platform 9 ¾?"
The woman looked startled by Maria's question but then she noticed Harry's trunk and owl. "Why yes. It is. Are you going to Hogwarts?"
Maria poked Harry. "Well go on. Answer the lady."
"Yes ma'am. It's my first year," Harry told the woman.
"It's my son, Ron's first year as well. Come over here Ron," she said beckoning to the youngest boy.
Suddenly Ginny noticed the scar on Harry's forehead. She tugged on her mother's sleeve. "Mum, Mum! That's Harry Potter!"
The woman took a closer look at Harry. She turned to Maria, who was obviously with Harry. "Is that right"
While this was going on Harry and Ron were talking.
"Hello, my name is Ron Weasley," Ron said introducing himself.
"Harry Post*." They shook hands.
"So Harry, is this your first year at Hogwarts?" Ron asked.
"Yep. Before they died my parents went to Hogwarts, so my Guardians thought it best for me to attend when my letter was delivered," Harry told Ron.
"Say, you're an American."
"Well, sort of. I did grow up in America and I am an American citizen, anyway. So Ron, how do you get onto the platform?" Harry said looking at the support the others had gone through earlier.
"Oh, that's easy. You just walk through it. Best too run a bit if you're not sure." Ron explained. "Here I'll go first," Ron said turning and running at the support/ barrier. To Harry's amazement, he went right through it.
Harry turned to Maria, who was about to answer Ron's mother, and asked, "Can I follow Ron through the barrier, Maria?"
"Just a second Harry," Maria answered. "Do you mind if we finish this on the other side of the barrier?" she asked Ron's mother.
"Sure, not a problem," Ron's mother said.
Maria turned to Harry and told him, "Sure Harry. I'll be right behind you."
As Maria ha given him permission, Harry walked calmly through the barrier with his guardian following closely behind.
On the other side of the barrier Harry saw scarlet steam engine beside a platform packed with people. Harry moved aside so that Maria could come through the barrier. As he did so he noticed a sign of wrought iron hanging above the barrier. It read "Platform 9 ¾", and next to it was a clock with the time 8:35 on it.
After making sure that Harry was in one piece and had all of his luggage Maria shooed him off to find a compartment for the trip. As Harry was walking off a boy came by asking if anyone had seen a toad. Upon receiving a negative answer he walked off asking other people.
Maria turned to discover the woman she had been speaking with earlier.
"I neglected to introduce myself earlier" Maria said holding out her hand. "My name is Maria Post."
The woman took Maria's hand. "My name is Molly Weasley. Was that really Harry Potter?"
"Yes, that was really Harry Potter, and I'm one of his guardians," replied Maria.
"His guardians? Where has he been? The whole wizarding world has been looking for him the last ten years!" exclaimed Molly.
"I'm one of the ones who made sure that he had a relatively normal and happy childhood free of being a celebrity. I'm just here to make sure that Harry gets on the right train. Now that that's done, I'll be leaving. It was really nice meeting you." With that Maria turned to go back through the barrier. As she did so, she contacted Harry one last time. {Harry, sweetie, Sara and I will be in England for two more weeks, just seeing the sights. If you need anything, just owl us, after that you know how to contact us, either send us a letter via the library, or contact one of us mentally. Be good, but have fun, and watch your back.} After passing through the barrier she headed for the nearest ladies room, entered an empty stall, and disappeared.
Harry walked through the train looking for an empty compartment. After finding one he set his stuff down, checked on Hedwig and settled in.
The Weasleys stuck their heads into the compartment. One of the twins, Fred, asked if anyone else was planning on sitting there and would Harry mind if Ron sat there. When Harry said "no" the twins shoved Ron into the compartment. As they did so Molly yelled through the window, "Be good you two! No pranks!"
"Alright mum. We'll send you a toilet seat!" the other twin, George, yelled.
"What?! George!" Mrs. Weasley yelled.
"Bye mum! Got to go!" Fred yelled leaving the compartment.
Ron got his stuff settled and sat across the compartment from Harry. He said, "Are you really Harry Potter? I thought you said your name was Harry Post?"
Harry kind of sighed. [I'm gonna get this a lot aren't I?] "Yes my name is Harry Potter. But I grew up thinking of myself as Harry Post."
"Can I see. you know," Ron said pointing to Harry's forehead.
[That's gonna happen a lot too isn't it?] Harry thought to himself, but lifted his bangs so Ron could see his scar anyway. This seemed to satisfy Ron ass he settled in and kept quiet until the train began to move.
A few moments after the train began to move a blonde haired, silver-eyed boy entered the compartment. It was Draco. He had with him his trunk and eagle owl. He seemed a little down, but when he noticed Harry he brightened right up.
"Harry! There you are! Do you mind if I sit in this compartment?" Draco said.
"Not at all, Draco. It's good to see you." Harry replied pointing to an empty place beside him. Draco set his stuff down next to Harry's and sat down.
Harry pointed to Ron, whom Draco hadn't noticed, and introduced them.
"Draco, this is Ron Weasley. Ron this is Draco; we met in Diagon Alley when I got my supplies. Draco you never did tell me your last name."
"My last name's Malfoy." Draco said.
Upon hearing Draco's last name, Ron sat up and started an argument.
"My father says that your family's no good."
"Yeah well my father says that the Weasleys have more children than they can afford.
This continued for a while until Harry had had enough and put a stop to it.
"Stop it! Both of you!"
"But!" both of the boys cried.
"I said enough! Ron, have you ever actually met or talked to Draco in person before?"
"Well no."
"And you Draco, the same goes for you. Have you ever talked to Ron before?"
"No." Draco said sullenly.
"Ron, Draco is not his father, just like you aren't identical to yours. So both of you leave it alone! I would like to be friends with both of you."** After Harry said this Ron and Draco both settled down for a while.
After sitting there sulking for about ten minutes Draco remembered something.
"Hey Harry, I remembered what you said and looked up the Bikini Atoll. You were right. I did have to look for it. I had no idea that Muggles had weapons that powerful." Draco said to Harry.
"Yeah and that's before a thirty year arms race between the Communist countries and pretty much everyone else," Harry replied.
Ron looked bewildered, "What are you talking about?"
"Bikini Atoll is where the American Military tested their hydrogen bomb for the first time. It will be uninhabitable for the next several millennia." Harry explained to Ron.
Ron looked dumbfounded and appalled. "Were there any people on it?" he asked.
"No. The government moved all of the people off first, but they can't go back to their native land or retrieve anything they left behind." Harry explained to Ron while Draco nodded having read all of this when he looked up the island.
They heard a muffled gasp form the doorway. Standing there was a girl with frizzy brown hair who had her hand over her mouth.
"And who are you?" Draco asked snottily.
"Hermione Granger. I came by to see if anyone has seen a toad when I heard you talking. I didn't think Hogwarts prep schools covered that kind of history," she replied.
Ron said, "This is Harry. He grew up in America, their school's teach history differently."
Draco looked uncomfortable but decided not to express his qualms.
Harry looked at Hermione and told her that none of them had seen a toad and that if any of them saw one they would hang on to it. "Whose toad is it?"
"It belongs to a boy named Neville Longbottom," Hermione told him.
"Huh, that must have been him on the platform," Harry said almost to himself. With their assurances that they would keep an eye out for the toad, Hermione left.
They were talking when the door to the compartment opened. In the doorway stood a blonde girl flanked by to boys who were kind of thick set and mean looking.
"Draco, there you are. I've been looking for you," the blonde girl shrieked.
"Pansy, I asked you to leave me alone," Draco told her, exasperated.
"Did you see that stupid mudblood looking for the toad?" Pansy said with a snotty sneer.
Upon hearing the word Mudblood Ron lost it and Harry got mad. He might not have known what the word meant, but he knew it wasn't anything good. Draco saw Harry and Ron's reactions and didn't want to lose the potential friendships, plus he didn't like Pansy anyway, so he decided to get rid of her before Ron lost what little control he had.
"Pansy get out of here, now! And take your goons, Crabbe and Goyle, with you!"
"But Drakie!"
"I've told you not to call me that! Just leave!"
This seemed to offend Pansy so she left taking her goons with her.
Once Pansy left Draco turned to Harry and Ron and said, "See why I ditched her, Crabbe and Goyle? I'd rather have friends like you than be friends with a bitch like her."
"You're not kidding," Ron said chuckling.
Draco saw Hedwig's cage. "Is that your owl? She's beautiful."
"Yeah. That's Hedwig. Do either of you have a pet?" Harry asked.
Draco pointed to the other cage amongst the luggage, "That's my eagle owl, H?phestus."
Ron reached into his coat, "All I have is this stupid rat. It was my brother's pet before I got it," he said pulling a limp rat, which was missing a front toe on one of its front paws, out of his coat pocket.
There was something off about the rat. Harry could feel it. Something about it made his skin crawl and the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
"This is Scabbers. Not much is he," Ron said. "Hey want to try out this spell my brothers sold me?"
Ron pulled out his wand and tapped Scabbers. "Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow. Turn this lazy fat rat yellow." Nothing happened.
"Um Ron. what was supposed to happen?" Harry asked.
"Scabbers was supposed to turn yellow."
"Oh, is that all, well let me try something," Harry said. He put his hand over Scabbers and his palm began to glow. When the glow faded Scabbers was a bright yellow.
"Where'd you learn to do that, Harry?" Draco asked.
"It's something my guardians taught me," Harry explained before changing Scabbers back to his normal shade.
Harry pulled out his backpack and began fishing around in it. He dug deeper and deeper, eventually sticking his head into the bag looking for something.
"What are you looking for, Harry?" Ron asked, puzzled.
"I've got some snacks in here somewhere." Harry said digging deeper into his backpack.
Just then a knock sounded and a witch poked her head into the compartment. "Anything off the cart dears?" she asked pointing to the cart she was pushing.
Ron looked sullen and said, " My mum packed me some sandwiches." Harry saw that Ron might not have spending money so he thought he'd get snacks for them all.
"I'll have a little of everything please," Harry said pulling out the pouch with some of his money in it.
They were sorting through the small pile of goodies left behind by the witch. Ron pulled out a package and opened it. Out hopped what looked like a frog made of chocolate. Ron grabbed it and took a bite. This caused Harry to wince. Draco noticed Harry's reaction and reassured him. "It's just a spell that makes it move. It's not a real frog or anything." When Ron finished eating the Chocolate Frog he looked into the package and pulled out a card.
"Aww. It's just a Dumbledore. I've already got three of these. "Ron said handing the card to Harry.
Harry took a good look at the card. The picture of Headmaster Albus Dumbledore on it waved and smiled. On the back of the card it read:
{"Albus Dumbledore Currently Headmaster of Hogwarts Considered be many the greatest wizard of modern times, Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of Grindlewald in 1945, for the discovery of the 12 uses of dragon's blood and his work in alchemy with his partner Nicholas Flamel, the only known maker of the Philosopher's Stone. Professor Dumbledore enjoys chamber music and ten pins bowling."}
When Harry turned the card back over to see the front Dumbledore was missing from the picture. Harry asked Ron about this and Ron's reply was, "Well you can't expect him to hang around on the front of a card all of the time, can you?"
This led to a discussion on how they spent their summers. Draco and Ron's summers were pretty normal, for them. Harry's response to the questions about his summer was quite different. "I met the most interesting group of kids in the town near the airbase where we were staying. They're known as 'The Them'."
"'The Them'?" Draco asked.
Ron said, "Do you think they're Muggles?"
"I'm not sure whether they're magical or not. Their leader, Adam Young, was.it was like.like we knew each other somehow. Plus he was taking lessons in 'Witchcraft' from a really nice lady with the weirdest name I've ever heard. Anathema Device-Pulsifer. And he had the strangest Dog. The month or so I spent in England was much more interesting than usual."
Ron dug through the candy pile a little more and pulled out a bag marked "Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans". He pulled out a green one, bit into it, and went, "Blech! A spinach one!"
Harry was perplexed, "What?"
Ron explained, "When they say every flavor, they mean every flavor."
"They look like Jelly Bellies, except Jelly Bellies are only sweet flavors. You know, green apple, caramel.etc"
A while later the compartment door opened and in walked Hermione. She was still looking fro the toad but had decided to take a break. "Are you really Harry Potter? I've read about you."
"Yeah. How'd you recognize me?" Harry asked Hermione.
"I saw your scar. Did You-Know-Who really cause that?"
"Who? Oh, you mean Voldemort," Harry said. The others flinched at the name looking incredulous that Harry could say it.
"How can you say his name Harry?" Draco asked.
"Yeah. Aren't you scared?" Ron asked.
"Why would I be afraid of a name? Fear of the name increases fear of the thing. And fear is power. I won't give Moldy Voldie any power over me." Harry said confidently.
"You do know about Voldemort, don't you? Whet he did" Hermione asked wonderingly.
"Yes. I know about Voldie, what he did, and what he tried to do to me. My guardians have told me all my life. I'm grateful that they did. I needed to know. It's a part of my past and therefore a part of me."**
"Draco turned to Harry and said, "So Harry. Given anymore thought as to what House you are hoping to be in?"
"I'm still not sure, my father was in Gryffindor." Harry said. "I've read about the Houses and I think I'd fit well either there or in Slytherin."
"Slytherin!?! How could you consider Slytherin? Everyone knows that only Dark wizards come out of Slytherin!" Ron shouted, appalled that Harry could even think of being in any House other than Gryffindor.
"Sly, cunning, and ambitious does not mean evil. Besides, you think Gryffindor hasn't produced its share of evil wizards and witches? (A/N: you all know who I mean. That rat Peter Pettigrew!) Or that when it was crunch time there haven't been Slytherin witches and wizards fighting on the side of good?" Harry told Ron.
"But.but!"
"What most witches and wizards consider Dark magic isn't necessarily evil. Intent is what matters in magic. It is intent that governs whether a spell is evil or not, most of the time.**"
This stuns Ron and Draco both, but for different reasons.
"Besides, even if we do end up in different Houses that doesn't mean we can't still be friends? Don't let yourself fall prey to the same prejudices that you accuse Slytherins of, Ron."** Harry then said, "Still, I think Gryffindor would be the best fit, considering."
Hermione looked perplexed by this last statement, "Considering?"
"Considering the way my Guardians have raised me." Harry told her somewhat smugly.
"You've mentioned these 'Guardians' of yours before. Who are they?" Draco asked, puzzled.
"They are the people who took me from Godric's Hollow the night Voldemort destroyed it. They have raised me ever since. They saw to it that I had a happy and relatively normal childhood. They also saw to it that I was prepared," Harry told him.
"Prepared? For what?" Ron asked having gotten over the snit he was in from the way Harry spoke to him earlier.
"You know, I'm not quite sure. Anything, would be my guess," Harry said.
They read until about ten minutes before they arrived. Hermione, who had left earlier to continue searching for the toad, poked her head into the compartment and said, "Hadn't you better change into your school robes? We're almost there."
The boys realized she was right and dug through their trunks to pull out their school robes.
As they finished changing Ron and Draco noticed Harry check something at his wrists, tug his sleeves down, and stick what looked like a knife into the top of one his boots. He then pulled the pants leg down over the top of the boot so that the "knife" couldn't be seen.
"Hey Harry? What was that about?" Ron asked.
"Yeah, what's that at your wrists?" Draco added.
"Oh, you mean these?" Harry said and pulled back the sleeves of his robes exposing the knives in the quick draw sheathes strapped to his wrists.
"Or do you mean this?" Harry said bending down to pull a "knife" out of his boot. He handed it to Draco to inspect.
"This is an Atheme!"
"Yeah. It was a Birthday present from Maria," Harry said taking the Atheme back from Draco and placing it in his hidden boot sheath.
"Why do you have those?"
"I like to be prepared."
"Prepared for what!?!?"
"Oh, anything. I was a boy scout."
The train pulled to a stop and they all stepped out onto a tiny dark platform. They had been told to leave their trunks and animals on the train, so they did. Harry kept his backpack and wand, like Ron and Draco.
As the students stood there shivering in the cold night air a light came bobbing up the path. A familiar voice called out, "Firs' years! Firs' years this way!" It was Hagrid. He led them down a path to a dock on a dark lake. Along side the dock was a series of small boats.
"No more then four to a boat!"
Harry, Ron, Draco, and Hermione got into one boat. Once all of the students were in the boats they began to move. It was a long ride. As the shore came into view something attacked the boat the four of them were in. Harry slashed at it with the knives from his wrist sheathes and it backed off and disappeared.
The boats came to a stop in a cavern. Once they got out, Harry began digging through is backpack for something to clean his knives with.
"Oy there, this your toad?" Hagrid called having found the toad when he made one last check of the boats. "Ever'one here? Good." Hagrid then led them up a stone path, and then up a large flight of stairs and stopped in front of a huge set of double doors. He knocked three times.
A/N: Draco will not be goodygoody!Draco but he won't be Evilbastard!Draco either. *After all, Harry has known his name to be Harry Post for most of his life.
**Harry is after all, an American Military brat. That's bound to change his personality at least a little.
I would not object to a Marauder MST of this story. In fact, I think it would be funny, but I don't want to write one right now.
A Properly Reared Wizard Disclaimer: I do not own Harry potter, or any of the Harry potter characters, and am making no money from this story. Some portions of the text may have been taken directly from HP and the sorcerer's stone. They are marked with {'s. Anything you recognize I do not own and am making no money off of. Archiving: Want, ask, take, have
The night before Harry was to leave for Hogwarts Maria and Sara sat him down in the living room of the house they were staying in. They had a few last things for Harry to take with him to Hogwarts.
"Here Harry. We think this might come in handy," Sara said handing him a vial with what looked like two extremely large wolf canines in it. She handed him a second vial filled with what looked like blood.
"Is this.blood?" Harry asked holding the vial up to the light for a better look.
"Yes Harry. It's blood. The blood of a Dire wolf to be precise. We waited until tonight to give it to you because the fresher it is the more potent it is. Now don't lose it. It's very rare seeing as how Dire Wolves are thought to have died out with the Irish Elk at the end of the last Ice Age," Sara told Harry.
"There was one last thing. A bundle of Dire Wolf fur. It would be best if you harvested it yourself," with that Maria's shape changed. She became a wolf the size of a mustang. Her forequarters and head were much larger in proportion to the rest of her body than a normal wolf's. Sara handed Harry a pair of scissors.
"Well go on. Take some fur. It's still Maria under there." Harry moved slowly toward the wolf and cut a handful of fur. Once he had finished Sara said, "Don't forget to get some whiskers as well." Harry cut two whiskers from each side. He then handed the fur and whiskers to Sara who placed them into secure containers. Once she was done Maria changed back with a "POP".
She shook her head, panting. "It's been a while since I've done that. Too long."
Harry looked stunned. "Wha. how.?"
"Harry, there are things about us that you don't know. You don't need to know so don't ask. When you need to know, we'll tell you OK?" Maria told Harry firmly.
Sara looked pointedly at the clock and then at Harry. "Put that away in your trunk and then go to bed. You have to leave early in the morning."
"Who will be taking me to the train station?" Harry asked.
"I'll be taking you to the train station, but first we need to stop by the Leaky Cauldron to pick up the school supplies that tom is storing for you. So we'll need to leave early, about 6:30 to get your stuff and make it to the train station on time. You need to go to bed. Now, Harry." Maria told him shooing him up the stairs to his bedroom. She made sure that all of his things were packed for the train tomorrow.
Early the next morning, after breakfast, Maria and Harry were waiting for the car to take them to London. What happened the night before still puzzled Harry so he asked Maria about it. "How did you turn into a wolf Maria?"
"It's a long story Harry. The short answer is that I'm older than I look. Earlier in my life I became (not entirely voluntarily mind you) what can only be described as a Were Dire Wolf. The transformation is, for the most part, under my control, now anyway. That's all you need to know right now."
As she finished saying this a car pulled up. It was being driven by the same sergeant as their first trip to London. He got out of the car and helped Harry load his trunk into the boot of the car. After helping Maria and Harry into the car he handed Harry the cage with Hedwig.
"So Ma'am, where are we going this morning?" the sergeant asked as they passed through security.
"Well Sergeant, first we will be going back to the Leaky Cauldron. There Harry will pick up the rest of his school supplies. After that we will be going to King's Cross Station so that Harry can catch the train to the school that he will be attending this year," Maria told him.
After a quiet ride, they pulled up outside of the Leaky Cauldron. They went inside to speak with Tom. Tom directed them to where Harry's things were stored so that he could pack them. Harry began to pack his things and discovered that no matter how much he put into the first compartment it never quite filled. After he finished packing his things, both in the trunk and in his backpack, he went back out to where Tom and Maria were speaking.
"Have you got everything, Harry?" Maria asked.
"Yep, I've got everything. Are we going now?" Harry said to Maria.
Maria turned to Tom and told him goodbye. She and Harry then went back out to the waiting car. "Sergeant to King's Cross Station please."
"Yes Ma'am," the sergeant said starting the car.
After they got to the station the driver asked Maria if he needed to wait for her, but she told him that she had another way to get back to the base.
Maria and Harry got out of the car and walked into he station. They headed for Platforms 9 and 10 with Harry's trunk and owl on a pushcart. When they got there Harry asked, "How are we going to get onto Platform 9 ¾?"
Just as Harry asked the question, what appeared to be a small mob of children, accompanied by a lone adult female, surged into the station. There were four boys and one young girl, all of them redheads. The woman spoke to the youngest boy, "Now, what's the platform number again?"
"9 ¾ Mum," the girl piped up. "Can't I go with you, please?"
The woman, her mother, turned to her and said, "Now Ginny, you know you can't, this year anyway. Next year you'll be going with your brothers to Hogwarts."
She turned to the boys and ushered the first one through what looked like a solid support. "All right. You next Fred," she said to one of what looked like a pair of identical twins.
"Jeez woman. Can't you tell your own children apart? I'm George," the twin told his mother snottily.
"Sorry George," she told him.
"Only Joking. I am Fred," the twin, Fred, told her.
She looked exasperated and shooed him through the support.
Maria walked up to her with Harry in tow. "Excuse me, but is this the entrance to Platform 9 ¾?"
The woman looked startled by Maria's question but then she noticed Harry's trunk and owl. "Why yes. It is. Are you going to Hogwarts?"
Maria poked Harry. "Well go on. Answer the lady."
"Yes ma'am. It's my first year," Harry told the woman.
"It's my son, Ron's first year as well. Come over here Ron," she said beckoning to the youngest boy.
Suddenly Ginny noticed the scar on Harry's forehead. She tugged on her mother's sleeve. "Mum, Mum! That's Harry Potter!"
The woman took a closer look at Harry. She turned to Maria, who was obviously with Harry. "Is that right"
While this was going on Harry and Ron were talking.
"Hello, my name is Ron Weasley," Ron said introducing himself.
"Harry Post*." They shook hands.
"So Harry, is this your first year at Hogwarts?" Ron asked.
"Yep. Before they died my parents went to Hogwarts, so my Guardians thought it best for me to attend when my letter was delivered," Harry told Ron.
"Say, you're an American."
"Well, sort of. I did grow up in America and I am an American citizen, anyway. So Ron, how do you get onto the platform?" Harry said looking at the support the others had gone through earlier.
"Oh, that's easy. You just walk through it. Best too run a bit if you're not sure." Ron explained. "Here I'll go first," Ron said turning and running at the support/ barrier. To Harry's amazement, he went right through it.
Harry turned to Maria, who was about to answer Ron's mother, and asked, "Can I follow Ron through the barrier, Maria?"
"Just a second Harry," Maria answered. "Do you mind if we finish this on the other side of the barrier?" she asked Ron's mother.
"Sure, not a problem," Ron's mother said.
Maria turned to Harry and told him, "Sure Harry. I'll be right behind you."
As Maria ha given him permission, Harry walked calmly through the barrier with his guardian following closely behind.
On the other side of the barrier Harry saw scarlet steam engine beside a platform packed with people. Harry moved aside so that Maria could come through the barrier. As he did so he noticed a sign of wrought iron hanging above the barrier. It read "Platform 9 ¾", and next to it was a clock with the time 8:35 on it.
After making sure that Harry was in one piece and had all of his luggage Maria shooed him off to find a compartment for the trip. As Harry was walking off a boy came by asking if anyone had seen a toad. Upon receiving a negative answer he walked off asking other people.
Maria turned to discover the woman she had been speaking with earlier.
"I neglected to introduce myself earlier" Maria said holding out her hand. "My name is Maria Post."
The woman took Maria's hand. "My name is Molly Weasley. Was that really Harry Potter?"
"Yes, that was really Harry Potter, and I'm one of his guardians," replied Maria.
"His guardians? Where has he been? The whole wizarding world has been looking for him the last ten years!" exclaimed Molly.
"I'm one of the ones who made sure that he had a relatively normal and happy childhood free of being a celebrity. I'm just here to make sure that Harry gets on the right train. Now that that's done, I'll be leaving. It was really nice meeting you." With that Maria turned to go back through the barrier. As she did so, she contacted Harry one last time. {Harry, sweetie, Sara and I will be in England for two more weeks, just seeing the sights. If you need anything, just owl us, after that you know how to contact us, either send us a letter via the library, or contact one of us mentally. Be good, but have fun, and watch your back.} After passing through the barrier she headed for the nearest ladies room, entered an empty stall, and disappeared.
Harry walked through the train looking for an empty compartment. After finding one he set his stuff down, checked on Hedwig and settled in.
The Weasleys stuck their heads into the compartment. One of the twins, Fred, asked if anyone else was planning on sitting there and would Harry mind if Ron sat there. When Harry said "no" the twins shoved Ron into the compartment. As they did so Molly yelled through the window, "Be good you two! No pranks!"
"Alright mum. We'll send you a toilet seat!" the other twin, George, yelled.
"What?! George!" Mrs. Weasley yelled.
"Bye mum! Got to go!" Fred yelled leaving the compartment.
Ron got his stuff settled and sat across the compartment from Harry. He said, "Are you really Harry Potter? I thought you said your name was Harry Post?"
Harry kind of sighed. [I'm gonna get this a lot aren't I?] "Yes my name is Harry Potter. But I grew up thinking of myself as Harry Post."
"Can I see. you know," Ron said pointing to Harry's forehead.
[That's gonna happen a lot too isn't it?] Harry thought to himself, but lifted his bangs so Ron could see his scar anyway. This seemed to satisfy Ron ass he settled in and kept quiet until the train began to move.
A few moments after the train began to move a blonde haired, silver-eyed boy entered the compartment. It was Draco. He had with him his trunk and eagle owl. He seemed a little down, but when he noticed Harry he brightened right up.
"Harry! There you are! Do you mind if I sit in this compartment?" Draco said.
"Not at all, Draco. It's good to see you." Harry replied pointing to an empty place beside him. Draco set his stuff down next to Harry's and sat down.
Harry pointed to Ron, whom Draco hadn't noticed, and introduced them.
"Draco, this is Ron Weasley. Ron this is Draco; we met in Diagon Alley when I got my supplies. Draco you never did tell me your last name."
"My last name's Malfoy." Draco said.
Upon hearing Draco's last name, Ron sat up and started an argument.
"My father says that your family's no good."
"Yeah well my father says that the Weasleys have more children than they can afford.
This continued for a while until Harry had had enough and put a stop to it.
"Stop it! Both of you!"
"But!" both of the boys cried.
"I said enough! Ron, have you ever actually met or talked to Draco in person before?"
"Well no."
"And you Draco, the same goes for you. Have you ever talked to Ron before?"
"No." Draco said sullenly.
"Ron, Draco is not his father, just like you aren't identical to yours. So both of you leave it alone! I would like to be friends with both of you."** After Harry said this Ron and Draco both settled down for a while.
After sitting there sulking for about ten minutes Draco remembered something.
"Hey Harry, I remembered what you said and looked up the Bikini Atoll. You were right. I did have to look for it. I had no idea that Muggles had weapons that powerful." Draco said to Harry.
"Yeah and that's before a thirty year arms race between the Communist countries and pretty much everyone else," Harry replied.
Ron looked bewildered, "What are you talking about?"
"Bikini Atoll is where the American Military tested their hydrogen bomb for the first time. It will be uninhabitable for the next several millennia." Harry explained to Ron.
Ron looked dumbfounded and appalled. "Were there any people on it?" he asked.
"No. The government moved all of the people off first, but they can't go back to their native land or retrieve anything they left behind." Harry explained to Ron while Draco nodded having read all of this when he looked up the island.
They heard a muffled gasp form the doorway. Standing there was a girl with frizzy brown hair who had her hand over her mouth.
"And who are you?" Draco asked snottily.
"Hermione Granger. I came by to see if anyone has seen a toad when I heard you talking. I didn't think Hogwarts prep schools covered that kind of history," she replied.
Ron said, "This is Harry. He grew up in America, their school's teach history differently."
Draco looked uncomfortable but decided not to express his qualms.
Harry looked at Hermione and told her that none of them had seen a toad and that if any of them saw one they would hang on to it. "Whose toad is it?"
"It belongs to a boy named Neville Longbottom," Hermione told him.
"Huh, that must have been him on the platform," Harry said almost to himself. With their assurances that they would keep an eye out for the toad, Hermione left.
They were talking when the door to the compartment opened. In the doorway stood a blonde girl flanked by to boys who were kind of thick set and mean looking.
"Draco, there you are. I've been looking for you," the blonde girl shrieked.
"Pansy, I asked you to leave me alone," Draco told her, exasperated.
"Did you see that stupid mudblood looking for the toad?" Pansy said with a snotty sneer.
Upon hearing the word Mudblood Ron lost it and Harry got mad. He might not have known what the word meant, but he knew it wasn't anything good. Draco saw Harry and Ron's reactions and didn't want to lose the potential friendships, plus he didn't like Pansy anyway, so he decided to get rid of her before Ron lost what little control he had.
"Pansy get out of here, now! And take your goons, Crabbe and Goyle, with you!"
"But Drakie!"
"I've told you not to call me that! Just leave!"
This seemed to offend Pansy so she left taking her goons with her.
Once Pansy left Draco turned to Harry and Ron and said, "See why I ditched her, Crabbe and Goyle? I'd rather have friends like you than be friends with a bitch like her."
"You're not kidding," Ron said chuckling.
Draco saw Hedwig's cage. "Is that your owl? She's beautiful."
"Yeah. That's Hedwig. Do either of you have a pet?" Harry asked.
Draco pointed to the other cage amongst the luggage, "That's my eagle owl, H?phestus."
Ron reached into his coat, "All I have is this stupid rat. It was my brother's pet before I got it," he said pulling a limp rat, which was missing a front toe on one of its front paws, out of his coat pocket.
There was something off about the rat. Harry could feel it. Something about it made his skin crawl and the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
"This is Scabbers. Not much is he," Ron said. "Hey want to try out this spell my brothers sold me?"
Ron pulled out his wand and tapped Scabbers. "Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow. Turn this lazy fat rat yellow." Nothing happened.
"Um Ron. what was supposed to happen?" Harry asked.
"Scabbers was supposed to turn yellow."
"Oh, is that all, well let me try something," Harry said. He put his hand over Scabbers and his palm began to glow. When the glow faded Scabbers was a bright yellow.
"Where'd you learn to do that, Harry?" Draco asked.
"It's something my guardians taught me," Harry explained before changing Scabbers back to his normal shade.
Harry pulled out his backpack and began fishing around in it. He dug deeper and deeper, eventually sticking his head into the bag looking for something.
"What are you looking for, Harry?" Ron asked, puzzled.
"I've got some snacks in here somewhere." Harry said digging deeper into his backpack.
Just then a knock sounded and a witch poked her head into the compartment. "Anything off the cart dears?" she asked pointing to the cart she was pushing.
Ron looked sullen and said, " My mum packed me some sandwiches." Harry saw that Ron might not have spending money so he thought he'd get snacks for them all.
"I'll have a little of everything please," Harry said pulling out the pouch with some of his money in it.
They were sorting through the small pile of goodies left behind by the witch. Ron pulled out a package and opened it. Out hopped what looked like a frog made of chocolate. Ron grabbed it and took a bite. This caused Harry to wince. Draco noticed Harry's reaction and reassured him. "It's just a spell that makes it move. It's not a real frog or anything." When Ron finished eating the Chocolate Frog he looked into the package and pulled out a card.
"Aww. It's just a Dumbledore. I've already got three of these. "Ron said handing the card to Harry.
Harry took a good look at the card. The picture of Headmaster Albus Dumbledore on it waved and smiled. On the back of the card it read:
{"Albus Dumbledore Currently Headmaster of Hogwarts Considered be many the greatest wizard of modern times, Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of Grindlewald in 1945, for the discovery of the 12 uses of dragon's blood and his work in alchemy with his partner Nicholas Flamel, the only known maker of the Philosopher's Stone. Professor Dumbledore enjoys chamber music and ten pins bowling."}
When Harry turned the card back over to see the front Dumbledore was missing from the picture. Harry asked Ron about this and Ron's reply was, "Well you can't expect him to hang around on the front of a card all of the time, can you?"
This led to a discussion on how they spent their summers. Draco and Ron's summers were pretty normal, for them. Harry's response to the questions about his summer was quite different. "I met the most interesting group of kids in the town near the airbase where we were staying. They're known as 'The Them'."
"'The Them'?" Draco asked.
Ron said, "Do you think they're Muggles?"
"I'm not sure whether they're magical or not. Their leader, Adam Young, was.it was like.like we knew each other somehow. Plus he was taking lessons in 'Witchcraft' from a really nice lady with the weirdest name I've ever heard. Anathema Device-Pulsifer. And he had the strangest Dog. The month or so I spent in England was much more interesting than usual."
Ron dug through the candy pile a little more and pulled out a bag marked "Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans". He pulled out a green one, bit into it, and went, "Blech! A spinach one!"
Harry was perplexed, "What?"
Ron explained, "When they say every flavor, they mean every flavor."
"They look like Jelly Bellies, except Jelly Bellies are only sweet flavors. You know, green apple, caramel.etc"
A while later the compartment door opened and in walked Hermione. She was still looking fro the toad but had decided to take a break. "Are you really Harry Potter? I've read about you."
"Yeah. How'd you recognize me?" Harry asked Hermione.
"I saw your scar. Did You-Know-Who really cause that?"
"Who? Oh, you mean Voldemort," Harry said. The others flinched at the name looking incredulous that Harry could say it.
"How can you say his name Harry?" Draco asked.
"Yeah. Aren't you scared?" Ron asked.
"Why would I be afraid of a name? Fear of the name increases fear of the thing. And fear is power. I won't give Moldy Voldie any power over me." Harry said confidently.
"You do know about Voldemort, don't you? Whet he did" Hermione asked wonderingly.
"Yes. I know about Voldie, what he did, and what he tried to do to me. My guardians have told me all my life. I'm grateful that they did. I needed to know. It's a part of my past and therefore a part of me."**
"Draco turned to Harry and said, "So Harry. Given anymore thought as to what House you are hoping to be in?"
"I'm still not sure, my father was in Gryffindor." Harry said. "I've read about the Houses and I think I'd fit well either there or in Slytherin."
"Slytherin!?! How could you consider Slytherin? Everyone knows that only Dark wizards come out of Slytherin!" Ron shouted, appalled that Harry could even think of being in any House other than Gryffindor.
"Sly, cunning, and ambitious does not mean evil. Besides, you think Gryffindor hasn't produced its share of evil wizards and witches? (A/N: you all know who I mean. That rat Peter Pettigrew!) Or that when it was crunch time there haven't been Slytherin witches and wizards fighting on the side of good?" Harry told Ron.
"But.but!"
"What most witches and wizards consider Dark magic isn't necessarily evil. Intent is what matters in magic. It is intent that governs whether a spell is evil or not, most of the time.**"
This stuns Ron and Draco both, but for different reasons.
"Besides, even if we do end up in different Houses that doesn't mean we can't still be friends? Don't let yourself fall prey to the same prejudices that you accuse Slytherins of, Ron."** Harry then said, "Still, I think Gryffindor would be the best fit, considering."
Hermione looked perplexed by this last statement, "Considering?"
"Considering the way my Guardians have raised me." Harry told her somewhat smugly.
"You've mentioned these 'Guardians' of yours before. Who are they?" Draco asked, puzzled.
"They are the people who took me from Godric's Hollow the night Voldemort destroyed it. They have raised me ever since. They saw to it that I had a happy and relatively normal childhood. They also saw to it that I was prepared," Harry told him.
"Prepared? For what?" Ron asked having gotten over the snit he was in from the way Harry spoke to him earlier.
"You know, I'm not quite sure. Anything, would be my guess," Harry said.
They read until about ten minutes before they arrived. Hermione, who had left earlier to continue searching for the toad, poked her head into the compartment and said, "Hadn't you better change into your school robes? We're almost there."
The boys realized she was right and dug through their trunks to pull out their school robes.
As they finished changing Ron and Draco noticed Harry check something at his wrists, tug his sleeves down, and stick what looked like a knife into the top of one his boots. He then pulled the pants leg down over the top of the boot so that the "knife" couldn't be seen.
"Hey Harry? What was that about?" Ron asked.
"Yeah, what's that at your wrists?" Draco added.
"Oh, you mean these?" Harry said and pulled back the sleeves of his robes exposing the knives in the quick draw sheathes strapped to his wrists.
"Or do you mean this?" Harry said bending down to pull a "knife" out of his boot. He handed it to Draco to inspect.
"This is an Atheme!"
"Yeah. It was a Birthday present from Maria," Harry said taking the Atheme back from Draco and placing it in his hidden boot sheath.
"Why do you have those?"
"I like to be prepared."
"Prepared for what!?!?"
"Oh, anything. I was a boy scout."
The train pulled to a stop and they all stepped out onto a tiny dark platform. They had been told to leave their trunks and animals on the train, so they did. Harry kept his backpack and wand, like Ron and Draco.
As the students stood there shivering in the cold night air a light came bobbing up the path. A familiar voice called out, "Firs' years! Firs' years this way!" It was Hagrid. He led them down a path to a dock on a dark lake. Along side the dock was a series of small boats.
"No more then four to a boat!"
Harry, Ron, Draco, and Hermione got into one boat. Once all of the students were in the boats they began to move. It was a long ride. As the shore came into view something attacked the boat the four of them were in. Harry slashed at it with the knives from his wrist sheathes and it backed off and disappeared.
The boats came to a stop in a cavern. Once they got out, Harry began digging through is backpack for something to clean his knives with.
"Oy there, this your toad?" Hagrid called having found the toad when he made one last check of the boats. "Ever'one here? Good." Hagrid then led them up a stone path, and then up a large flight of stairs and stopped in front of a huge set of double doors. He knocked three times.
A/N: Draco will not be goodygoody!Draco but he won't be Evilbastard!Draco either. *After all, Harry has known his name to be Harry Post for most of his life.
**Harry is after all, an American Military brat. That's bound to change his personality at least a little.
I would not object to a Marauder MST of this story. In fact, I think it would be funny, but I don't want to write one right now.