PreHogwarts:- Chapter 8

With heavy eyes Peter woke up on the 1st September. Stretching as far as he could he rolled over and landed heavily on his behind on the carpeted floor. Rubbing his eyes he slowly made his way to the bathroom to clean up, he could hear mumbling from the kitchen.

Slowly he dragged himself back into his room where he dressed, he pulled on a plain grey T-shirt and a black pair of trousers with black shoes.

Moving slowly he then made his way into the kitchen and grabbed a banana and an apple. He ate them as slowly as possible dragging out the experience that was about to hit him. He heard a yell from the living room signalling that his parents had moved in there.

"Peter get you're trunk now, we're late as it is!"

Peter shook his head as he moved into his room for the last time in what would be months and dragged his heavy trunk behind him, careful not to damage the carpet. As Peter passed the clock he looked up, it was only 9.30 in the morning and already his parents were arguing.

As he entered the living room he heard his father run over the plans again. As the 1st family they were going to the Leaky Cauldron where they would get a ministry car to the station.

His father threw some floo powder into the fire and then pulling Peter's trunk from him entered the fire and shouted in a booming voice "Leaky Cauldron"

Peter watched as his mother went next and lastly taking a long look round, Peter picked up Nibbler's cage and entered the grate after his family. In as loud a voice as he could muster he yelled "Leaky Cauldron"

The room fizzed out of focus as the world spun round and round and round. Peter closed his mouth thankful he hadn't eaten anything else, as it would have left his system rather quickly

When he got to the other end it was almost like he was with a different family. His parents were talking civilly to each other and putting on a great show as if they loved each other.

People around them commented on how they were a prefect family and that there had never been a better 1st family. Peter always found it funny that they thought they had the best family life it was the worse.

As the Minister of Magic everybody knew the Pettigrews they went to fancy dinners and always acted perfect when people were looking. Take 1st September, Peter was heading to Hogwarts for the first time this was a big event and so they all behaved as if it was the most important day on the calendar.

They all waved to the people in the small pub and then took a seat. They had to be seen. Tom the bartender came over with 3 butterbeers for them. They sat and talked about Hogwarts and had their photo taken for the Daily Prophet.

At 10.30 they left the pub and headed to the ministry car outside. Pretty soon they were at the entrance to Kings Cross station. Outside the entrance stood a group of people Peter knew instantly that they were with the press and that at least one was a Prophet representative, while the others were from various magazines such as the Quibbler. The family all stood together outside the train station waving to the cameras.

After the photo shoot they headed as one to Platform 9¾. Peter had never before been to the platform but had heard many times how to get onto it. Peter watched as his father took hold of his trunk and took a quick walk towards the barrier. As he disappeared the flashes of cameras started going off.

Peter felt his hand squeezed as his mother took hold of it and together they slowly walked towards the barrier. He was aware that the cameras were going off as he disappeared through the barrier with his mother.

Peter gasped when he saw the size of the train it was enormous, it was beautiful he wanted to be on that train then, he wanted to be left alone to be allowed this moment of newness that he felt.

As he stared flashes of light surrounded him signalling the arrival of the press onto the platform, quickly Peter regained the look of the 1st family, and tried to stand out as if he were above the other children on the platform.

They stood with they're backs to the train smiling as if this were the best place to be on this morning and then waited to be photographed again. Simon had prepared a small speech for the family and as the cameras went off he began to talk.

"On this fine day I am proud to be here with my wife and son watching the people who will be making our future; leave to learn the fine arts that is magic. I have not been here at this Platform since the day I left Hogwarts as Head boy. I am extremely proud that I now get to return to celebrate my son leaving."

Peter's mother then smiling continued from where her husband had left off.

"I am exceedingly proud that my son is leaving for Hogwarts. It is the finest school in the world. I am delighted that my Peter has been accepted and am eagerly awaiting hearing about how much fun he is having there, and how well he does."

Peter looked around him and noticed how everybody was ignoring them and saying goodbye to their families. Peter wished that he could be like them instead of standing here repeating a speech that his father had forced him to learn. He felt somebody poke him and snapped to attention.

"It is an honour to be accepted into such fine a school as Hogwarts. I look forward to meeting my peers and starting lessons. I hope to be sorted into a good house filled with people like myself…"

Peter prayed that his father remembered to interrupt him here, as he had no more speech planned. On queue his father jumped in.

"I'm afraid that we must cut this meeting short as we would like to say goodbye to our son and watch him onto the train. However we are willing for you to take photo's of our goodbye if you wish."

Peter smiled outwardly but inside he felt like screaming. His father never missed an opportunity for a photo shoot, even something like this where Peter wanted to be able to say goodbye to his family alone he was surrounded by press.

Peter watched as his father's assistant put his trunk with the others Peter put Nibbler into his pocket as his mother drew him into a hug. She was crying and Peter didn't want to let go of her.

"Don't worry mother, I'll be back home for Christmas"

Peter hated speaking like this but he knew that if he didn't speak properly his father would teach him a lesson next time he was home.

Peter then released his mother and turned to his father. His father stuck his hand out and Peter shook it. He was then pulled forward and felt his father pat his back a few times.

A whistle was sounded signalling the departure of the train.

Peter ran forward and jumped onto the train. He turned to wave goodbye to his family as he had been instructed and was blinded by flashing lights of the camera. Soon the Platform had disappeared and he was watching the countryside disappear.

Deciding it was better to find a compartment than continue standing he went and entered one of the first compartments he came to.

Inside sat three boys of about his age.

"Do you mind if I join you?"

"What do you think Nott, Avery should we let him sit with us?" said a boy with long dark greasy hair and a hooked nose.

Without waiting for the other two to answer his question he began to speak.

"Actually this compartment is full, and we don't want a rich, stupid ministry kid sitting with us,"

"I'm not a rich, stupid ministry kid."

"You're Simon Pettigrew's son though, that makes you the minister's son and a ministry kid"

Peter looked at them, he didn't like this guy, and slowly he began to edge out of the compartment.

"Where do you think you're going you don't leave until we say you can," came the voice of the greasy haired boy.

Without stopping to think Peter turned and ran from the compartment. He could hear the others chasing him and knew they were bound to be faster than him. He saw the end of the train; he had nowhere left to run.

He ran quickly to the left and opened the compartment door. The others were so close that the shorter one (Nott) managed to trip him. He landed flat on his face in a compartment.

"What do you think you're doing Snape?"

Peter looked up in front of him. He saw two boys of the same age. One had messy black hair and glasses the other had tidy black hair. They both wore the same white T-shirts, red and yellow trousers and red trainers. Peter thought they must be related.

"Black, what's it to you what I'm doing?"

The boy with glasses helped Peter to his feet as the other turned to the greasy haired kid.

"Snape, don't you ever talk to me like that, you should remember who my family is and what we can do to your family."

"Fine you keep that sad excuse of a wizard, Nott, Avery lets go."

The three bullies left and Peter looked at the two boys.

"Thank you, I'm Peter Pettigrew; umm… would you mind if I sat here, I don't really want to go back out there?"

"Sure you can sit with us, wait are you the minister's son?"

Peter looked down at the floor and nodded. He waited for them to tell him to leave.

"Well I'm James Potter, it's my first year at Hogwarts, and this is Sirius Black it's his first year too."

"Are you two related you look like each other?"

"Nope, never met Potter before today, wish I could say the same for Snape."

James looked at his friend "How do you know him anyway."

"My family are well, evil, they only associate with pure blooded families, and that's what those three are, I've been having 'dinner parties' with them since I was born. I hate them all, well except Snape's cousin she's alright, but I wish I was a Potter."

The three enjoyed conversations about how they hated their family (well except James he talked about how he liked his) and Quidditch, which houses they wanted to be in and then they just ate food from the trolley.

The time flew for the three new friends and before they knew it an announcement was being made over some sort of speaker system informing them to change into their robes as they were to arrive at Hogsmeade station in five minutes.

The boys quickly changed and were soon running towards the main exits of the train ready to go up to the school and hopefully get some food.