Year one at Hogwarts
Chapter 2: Getting over Loneliness
"Oh, hi! I didn't think anyone was in this one."
The red haired kid looked up at him. His face was a little pale and had a few freckles that seemed to be fading. He looked about his height and size and was dressed in a convincing muggle manner with jeans, blue t-shirt and open button green sweater.
"It's ok come on in. I'll help you with your trunk."
They lifted his trunk into the compartment and packed it away then turned to each other, Tyler spoke first.
"I'm Tyler Solemn. I'm just starting at Hogwarts this year, how about you?"
"Please to meet you Tyler. I'm Jacke Walker and I'm starting too."
"Walker? Aren't you Daniel Walker's son from the Department of Magical Sports and Games?!"
"Yeah, he is and I am his son. But, I don't think I've heard of your family before."
Tyler got a little nervous but quickly shook it away before it made him look suspicious to Jacke.
"Well...my family doesn't really make themselves stick out. But, my dad works in the Ministry at the Department of International Cooperation."
"Oh he does? What about your mom, Tyler?"
"My mom? Well she doesn't need to work in the ministry since we have more than enough gold to support ourselves."
"Yeah, I now what you mean. My dad makes a lot of galleons so my mom doesn't really need to either."
After a while of silent sitting, a plump witch with a trolley came and the two boys were very hungry. After emptying their pockets of some galleons and sickles they were sickles they were snacking on Pumpkin Pastries and Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans. Then Jacke decided to speak again to his new acquaintance.
"Do you have any brothers or sisters?"
Tyler didn't want to talk so much but still answered him.
"No, I'm an only child. What about you Jacke?"
"Nope. I'm alone too, Tyler. It kind of gets boring, doesn't it?"
Tyler nodded in agreement. For some reason Tyler was getting more comfortable talking to Jacke but then the doors slid open and in walked a blond, short haired kid that looked about Tyler and Jacke's height and age.
"Hello. Er...there was nowhere else that I could go. Is it okay if I come in here?"
Jacke spoke first. "Sure, come on in. I'll help with your trunk...err"
"Reginald but call me Reggie and it's a pleasure to meet you."
Reggie turned to Tyler and extended his hand. Tyler shook his hand and Reggie started talking.
"Hi, I'm Reggie Falkner and I'm going to start at Hogwarts this year."
"Oh so am I. Tyler Solemn, great to meet you." Tyler was starting to ease some of his lonely nature. He was never so comfortable with other people before but it was something about these guys. "So Reggie, where do your parents work?"
"My dad is one of the Wizengatmot and my mom is a doctor."
"Really?" Tyler and Jacke seemed interested at this. "What's a doctor?"
"Someone who heals people." Reggie almost laughed at their confused faces. Think of them as Muggle Healers."
Jacke made a face of pure fascination which started to make even Tyler try to hold back his laughter.
"Well, Reggie, it seems like we have a little too much food here. Do you care to join us?"
"Yeah, thanks."
Reggie sat and they ate and chatted on which quidditch team would be on the top of the league when the sliding doors opened one more time. A brown haired boy with curly and bushy hair made his way in. He seemed their age and looked surprised.
"Oh sorry, I though this compartment was empty. It's okay, I'll leave."
But Tyler rose and spoke before the boy had a chance to head out. "No, no you could come in here. We don't mind another person."
"Thanks. Oh I'm Brad Carter, who are you?
"I'm Tyler Solemn."
"Jacke Walker."
"Reginald Falkner but call me Reggie."
"It's nice to meet you all! Er... are you surprised to be magical wizards too?"
Tyler couldn't believe his ears. "Are you Muggleborn, Brad?"
"Muggleborn? What's that?"
Jacke answered. "It means that both your parents are muggles or non- magical."
"Yeah, they are. My dad's an innkeeper and my mom is in insurance. So...you guys are from magic families or something?"
Tyler spoke first but a little hesitantly. "My family goes way back by 12 generations of wizards and witches."
Jacke spoke next. "My family comes from a line like that too. You see Brad when both your parents are "purebloods" or if 1 is and the other is "half- blood" then you are considered to be a pureblood wizard."
"What's a half-blood?"
Reggie decided to answer this for Brad. "It's when 1 parent is a wizard while the other is a muggle, like me."
"Wow! I didn't think the world of magic was so complicated. I didn't find out I was a wizard until I got my letter. A woman came to my house and explained everything to my parents and me. After a while, they agreed to send me to Hogwarts."
"So how does it feel?" Jacke didn't seem to be able to help himself. "I mean, to find out something which changes your whole world, how does that feel?"
"It feels like you're in a dream and then you wake up to a new stranger reality than when you were asleep. I did have to leave my old friends though. I just hope I'll be able to fit in with all this magic stuff."
"Don't worry. There have been plenty of people like you going to Hogwarts over the years and they catch on pretty quick. I'm sure that you will too," Reggie said slapping his back.
Reggie let Brad have his last pumpkin pastry and the four of them sat and chatted on until the subject got on about a new disappearance of a wizard in Ireland that was in the Daily Prophet. Brad didn't know what this was about.
"What's the big deal about this disappearing wizard?"
Jacke stared at him like he was mad but then he seemed to remember that he couldn't possibly know about this.
"The big deal is that You Know Who could be behind this like a lot of other disappearances."
Brad made a puzzled face. "You Know Who? Who's that?"
Tyler spoke. "Oh, it's what people call Voldemort if they're not brave enough to say his name."
Reggie let out a little yelp while Jacke stood up.
"Why did you say his name for, Tyler?"
"Jacke, I just am not afraid to say his name." Tyler was on the brink of sweating if he didn't think faster. "In fact, I think that all this He-who- must-not-be-named and You Know Who is all nonsense. It just makes people more scared of him."
Brad interrupted. "But who is this guy?"
Tyler, Jacke and Reggie in turn explained all about Voldemort's actions against muggles and muggleborns as well as his plans for trying to take over the world. Tyler kept using his name while the others didn't and again defended himself on being able to say his name when Brad again interrupted him.
"Yeah, I agree. I got no problem saying Voldemort's name either. What are you so scared of?"
Tyler was a little honored on how brave Brad made him look and decided to try and loosen his new friends' tension.
"Listen; just say the name and you will see that nothing bad will happen. Go on, go on."
Jacke and Reggie looked torn and hesitant. Tyler and Brad just stared and waited until Jacke spoke up.
"Vold...Vol...Voldemort!" Jacke was in shock with his mouth half open until he spoke again. "Wow...that wasn't so bad. Let me try again, Voldemort...humph I didn't know why I was so scared of. My parents made it sound like it's the end of the world."
Reggie then took a deep breath and spoke up too. "Voldemort!...wow, that didn't do much at all. It kinda feels nice to say his name; it gets rid of some of the fear."
"Exactly" said Tyler pointedly. "My parents taught me how a name that people are afraid of saying only makes it scarier than it is."
"Well Tyler, you are sure full of surprises. I think it will be great being at Hogwarts with you."
"Thanks Jacke. You guys too. I've never felt this open before. I think you'll be great friends."
Then the train went into a stop and a voice rang out all over the train saying that they've arrived at Hogsmeade Station. Reggie shouted like he was on fire.
"We're here! Hogwarts, here we come!"
AN: End of Chapter two. To answer questions (potential anyway) Jacke's name is spelled JACKE but it is pronounced Jake and he is not related to the Weasley's at all but it is seems very much like it, doesn't it? Next chapter will be Sorting a Separation where it looks like the new group of friends will be divided. Please review.