Disclaimer: Of course, I do not own Harry Potter. Now and then I just borrow from the book

The Train Ride to Hogwarts

The last two weeks of Summer seemed to fly by, between delving into school books with the girls, teaching them the steps to a few simple potions, being dragged outside and playing board games. Severus felt like he was running out of time.

He enjoyed any time away from his house and with the girls. Whenever Severus had to be at home, he mostly kept to his room laying on his bed late into the night reading his school books and memorising potion recipes.

'Do you have anyone to take you to Kings Cross tomorrow?' Mrs Evans asked on the last day of August.

'My mother is working that day but I can catch the Knight Bus now that I have my wand.' Severus reassured Mrs Evans even though he was already dreading the trip.

'Would you like to come along with us?' Mrs Evans asked 'we have more than enough room in our van.'

'Thank you I would appreciate the lift.' Severus replied gratefully

Severus woke at five o'clock on the 1st of September and was too excited and nervous to go back to sleep. He got up and pulled on jeans and a t-shirt because he didn't want to walk into the muggle side of the station in his wizard's robes - he'd change on the train. He checked his trunk to make sure he had everything he needed and saw that there was a note from his mother attached to the lid:

I have placed a Feather-light charm on your school trunk so you can get it downstairs and over to the Evans house more easily.

He locked the trunk firmly and then paced the room, waiting for a decent time to make his way over to the Evans house.

One hour later, Severus hauled his trunk downstairs as quietly as he could, knowing the Evans would have to be out of the house early for the long drive to London, He made his way over to the Evans' house pulling his trunk behind him.

Knocking on the door just before 6:30, Severus was greeted by the sight of a sleepy-eyed Mrs Evans. Two trunks were sitting next to the front door; they were identical apart from the initials on each trunk, one was P.A.E, and the other one was L.J.E. Sitting next to the two trunks in a nice cage was the Evans's Barn Owl.

'Come and have some breakfast dear.' Mrs Evans helped him place his trunk with Petunia's and Lily's and ushered him into the kitchen where the girls were tiredly chewing on jam-laden toast. Severus gratefully filled up with breakfast.

'All right you lot, it's 8 am. Into the van! If you have forgotten anything too big to be delivered by owl then tough luck it is staying here!' Mr Evans announced.

Severus helped Mr Evans load up the van and hopped into the back seat next to Petunia and Lily, who was holding onto the Evans's Barn Owl. Mrs Evans wouldn't be joining them since she needed to drop off Rose and Tansy at their school. Mr Evens hopped into the car and they headed off.

'I don't think I have ever asked what your middle names are' Severus queried, as they made their way down the M1

'Our middle names are gemstones.' Lily explained. 'Petunia's is Azurite, a blue gemstone for her eyes, making her initials P.A.E. Mine's Jade, also for my eyes, making my initials L.J.E. Rose's, is Amber, for her golden-brown hair making her initials R.A.E. And Tansy, got Jet for her black hair and is T.J.E.'

They reached King's Cross station at 10:15 am. Mr Evans placed all their trunks on trolleys, secured the Evans' Barn Owl with Petunia and led them into the station and over to platforms nine and ten.

There was a big plastic number nine over one platform and a big plastic number ten over the one next to it, and in the middle, nothing at all except columns leading up to the ceiling.

'Ah, here we are, Platform nine and platform ten.' Mr Evans declared. 'Your platform should be somewhere in the middle, but I seem to have forgotten how to get on to it.'

'That must be the Muggle-Repelling Charm affecting you Mr Evans.' Severus explained 'If you want to join us on the platform, you will need to hold onto one of our trolleys as we walk straight at the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Try to ignore the compulsion to stop and leave, or you may cause the person you are with to crash into it.'

'You can hang onto my trolley Daddy,' Lily excitedly offered. 'We can do it at a bit of a run if you're nervous.'

'All right Lily bug, but that means we will go last to make sure everyone has gotten through safely. Petunia, how about you go first to show Lily and Severus how it's done.'

'Ok Father,' Petunia replied, marching briskly towards platforms nine and ten. Just as she reached the divide between the two platforms, a large crowd of tourists came swarming in behind her blocking Severus and Lily from seeing what had happened, and by the time the last rucksack had cleared away, she had vanished.

'Your turn Severus' Mr Evans encouraged

'Er - Right,' Severus replied nervously now that he was face to face with a brick wall.

Severus pushed his trolley around and stared at the barrier. He started to walk towards it. People jostled him on their way to platforms nine and ten. Severus walked more quickly. He was going to smash right into that ticket box and then he'd be in trouble - leaning forward on his trolley he broke into a heavy run - the barrier was coming nearer and nearer - he wouldn't be able to stop - the trolley was out of control - he was a foot away - he closed his eyes ready for the crash - It didn't come ... he kept on running for a few more steps … he opened his eyes.

A huge scarlet steam engine was waiting next to a platform that had quite a few people on it. A sign overhead said Hogwarts Express, 11 o'clock. Behind him was a wrought-iron archway, with the words Platform Nine and Three-Quarters on it. Severus beamed in delight, he was finally on his way to Hogwarts.

'I thought you would be more confident about going through the barrier since your mother is a witch' Petunia remarked standing off to one side, Severus hurried over to her.

'Being told you have to run through a brick wall and doing it are two very different things' Severus barked as Lily and Mr Evans suddenly appeared from the archway. They were panting, probably having taken the barrier at a run as well.

Smoke from the engine drifted over the heads of the chattering crowd, while cats of every colour yowled in displeasure about having been locked in a carrier. Owls hooted at each other in a disgruntled sort of way over the babble and scraping of heavy trunks. The first carriage on the train had a sign on the door saying: Reserved for Prefects and the Head Boy and Girl.

The second carriage was filled with older-looking students. They were there talking to friends, some were hanging out the windows to talk to their families, and some fighting over seats.

They pushed their trollies off down the platform towards the fourth carriage, where an empty compartment was quickly found at the end. With Mr Evans' help, their trunks were all packed away neatly under the seats of the compartment, and the Evans' Barn Owl was placed securely on a delicate-looking luggage rack above the seats.

Mr Evans kissed both of his daughters then pulled them all in for a hug. Severus was embarrassed but quite pleased to be included in the family hug.

'I must be getting to work now, but take care, all of you.' Mr Evans said as he straightened up, his eyes oddly bright.

They all waved goodbye as Mr Evans walked back up the platform and out through the archway. Lily began to tear up and when they got back to their compartment, she curled up in the corner next to the window. Severus and Petunia sat down next to her.

'Please stop crying Lily, This is it! We're off to Hogwarts!' Severus exclaimed

'Aren't you going to miss your parents?' Lily whimpered in a constricted voice.

'It's hard to miss people who are either never there or passed out drunk. I miss your parents more than mine.' Severus replied honestly

The time was getting closer and closer to 11 o'clock and the platform was quickly filling up with families, as they came to rush their children off to Hogwarts. A loud whistle sounded and the students all rushed to get on the train.

'It's not fair,' Lily cried wiping her eyes, 'you deserve better parents.'

The train began to move off from the station, and a lot of students waved and yelled goodbye out of the windows, as the train gathered speed and rounded a corner, the platform disappearing from view. As houses flashed past the window, Lily finally stopped crying and pulled out a deck of cards to play.

As soon as they got settled on the floor, the door of the compartment slid open and two boys stood in the doorway with their trunks. They looked like brothers with their black hair and expensive-looking robes.

The boy on the right had a narrow face with hazel eyes and untidy black hair that stuck up at the back. The boy on the left had long wavy black hair that fell over grey eyes with a sort of casual elegance.

They were both decked out in remarkably expensive-looking robes brought with the kind of money only old families had access to.

'Everywhere else is full, you birds don't mind if we share, do you?' the grey-eyed boy asked, giving what Severus thought was a smarmy smile towards the girls.

Without even waiting for a reply they entered the compartment with their trunks and shut the door behind them. The boys carelessly lounged close to the doorway with their legs outstretched blocking the entry. They noticed Petunia looking at them.

'We never introduced ourselves, did we? This fellow here is Sirius Black, and I'm Potter, James Potter.' The hazel-eyed boy remarked, arrogantly running a hand through his hair so it became even more untidy. 'Might we know the names of you two lovely ladies?'

'I'm Petunia Evans, this is my younger sister Lily and OUR friend Severus Snape.' Petunia spat her lips pursed in a sign that Severus recognised as annoyance.

'Are you always this uptight?' Black asked scornfully

'She's not uptight! She just doesn't know you, she is perfectly friendly to our family, Severus and her Ravenclaw friends.' Lily spoke up furiously.

Potter snorted in disgust. 'Ravenclaw! Figures, that house is full of boring know-it-alls, who think they are better than everyone else. But at least it's better than Slytherin! Don't you think?' He looked over at Black, who wasn't smiling anymore.

'My whole family has been in Slytherin,' Black groaned

'Blimey,' Squawked Potter, 'and I thought you seemed all right!'

Black grinned suddenly 'Maybe I'll break the tradition. Where are you heading, if you've got the choice?'

Potter lifted his wand. 'Gryffindor! Where dwell the brave at heart! Just like my dad.'

Severus snorted in amusement. Potter immediately turned on him

'Got a problem with that?'

'Well if you would rather be brawny than brainy then that's the perfect house for you. I'll proudly join my family's tradition of being in Slytherin.'

'You're just like the rest of my family, nothing but a Dark-Arts lover.' Black accused looking at him disgusted.

Lily looked from Potter to Black, an angry blush gracing her cheeks. 'Leave Severus alone! He's my best friend. Go away and find another compartment!'

'Oooh...' Potter and Black imitated her lofty voice; as they got up and left the compartment.

'See ya, Snivellus!' one of them called in a mocking tone of voice, the compartment door slammed behind them.

The train was now speeding past fields full of cows and sheep. Severus and Lily were finally able to enjoy a game of cards.

'Hey, Sev? Do you think the Trace can detect underage magic on the train or the platform?' Lily asked

'I don't think so. There are lots of people over the age of seventeen and their magic could be interfering with the Trace. Or it could be that the station and the train are coated with so much Magic, that the Ministry has no way of detecting it if someone underage casts a spell.' Severus promptly stopped talking when he noticed Lily giving him a faintly amused look, his cheeks reddened with embarrassment.

'You keep saying that you belong in Slytherin, but with so much knowledge you could easily join Petunia in Ravenclaw!' Lily mentioned, giggling at the looks of horror on both Petunia's and Severus's faces.

Around half-past twelve there was a great clattering outside in the corridor and a smiling, dimpled woman slid back their compartment door and asked,

'Anything off the trolley dears?'

Since breakfast seemed like ages ago, Severus stood up and went out into the corridor.

The trolley lady didn't have muggle sweets like Mars Bars and Popping candy like those he had seen in the corner shop and had never been able to buy. What she did have however were Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, Liquorice Wands and several other Wizard-themed sweets that no Muggle had ever seen. Never having tried any of them, Severus went a little overboard and got some of everything, paying the woman nine silver Sickles and seven bronze Knuts.

Petunia stared as Severus brought it all back into the compartment and tipped it onto an empty seat.

'Honestly Severus, that is too much.' Petunia scolded gently

'I've never had the chance to have any of them before,' said Severus, taking a bite out of the pumpkin pasty. 'You and Lily can have some as well, I'm not going to be able to finish it all by myself.'

'Thank you, Severus,' replied Lily, quickly grabbing up a Chocolate frog.

'Yes thank you,' responded Petunia delicately nibbling on a Cauldron Cake. 'But if you're going to buy so much, at least let us share the cost.'

They all shared the goodies around evenly and Severus picked up a Chocolate Frog. Unwrapping it, he deftly caught the frog as it leapt for freedom and looked at the card he had gotten. It showed a man. He wore long blue robes with a matching pointed wizards hat that covered most of his silver hair, his long silver beard was tucked into his belt and he held an old gnarled-looking staff.

Underneath the picture was the name Merlin

'Tuney, look Merlin was real!' Lily exclaimed, leaning over him to look at the card.

'I got him in my First-year as well, he seems to be very common.' Petunia remarked

Severus turned over his card and read:

Merlin, a Charms specialist sometimes known as "The Prince of Enchanters," is unquestionably the most famous wizard of all time believed to be part of the Court of King Arthur. Merlin was born sometime during the medieval era. It is said that Merlin's wand was of English oak (his grave has never been found, so this cannot be proven.) During Merlin's later years he assisted the four Hogwarts founders with their school for Wizards and Witches and he may have even helped Salazar Slytherin build his fabled Chamber of Secrets causing Salazar to dub him an honorary Slytherin. Merlin was one of the oldest Wizards to have lived, reaching the grand old age of eight hundred before he passed away.

Severus turned the card back over and saw that Merlin had disappeared.

'He's gone!' Lily exclaimed

'Well you can't just expect him to hang around, magical photos and paintings aren't like muggle ones, they are made to move around. He should be back soon.' Severus eagerly pointed down to the photo and sure enough as Lily and Severus watched Merlin sidled back into the picture on his card and tipped his hat to them.

Severus and Lily were fascinated by all the Famous Wizards and Witches they had found. Soon Severus had added Morgana, Alberic Grunnion, Nicolas Flamel and Cerce to his collection. Severus finally tore his eyes away from the druidess Cliodna, who was scratching her nose, to open a pack of Berty Bott's Every Flavour Beans.

'You want to be careful with those.' warned Petunia. 'When they say every flavour, they mean every flavour - you get all the ordinary ones like chocolate and peppermint, but then you can get liver, tripe and even bogey-flavoured ones.'

Lily picked up a green bean, looked at it carefully and bit into a corner of it. 'Oooh, Lime!'

'That's lucky' Severus responded as he picked up a brownish swirling one and took a small bite. 'I think this one is coffee, wow that's strong.' he coughed a bit as he tried to get rid of the horrendous bitter taste of the coffee.

Petunia looked at her watch. `Oh, we should hurry up and put our uniforms on, we must be nearly there by now.'

Severus peered out of the window. It was getting dark. He could see mountains and forests under a deep purple sky. The train did seem to be slowing down.

'I'll go and find a bathroom to change in, you two should have the compartment.' Severus offered as he collected his Hogwarts uniform from his trunk and walked out of the compartment.

Severus quickly walked down the corridor of the train and thankfully found a bathroom at the end of the carriage.

The bathroom was a bit cramped and more than a little uncomfortable, but Severus finally managed to get his uniform looking nice and neat.

Severus was walking back into the compartment when a voice echoed through the train: 'We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes. Please leave your luggage on the train and it will be taken to the school separately.'

Severus' stomach lurched with nerves as he rushed back and knocked on the compartment door. As Lily opened the door to let him in, he could see that she was just as nervous as he was.