Disclaimer: I not own HP

A/n: Italic thought/memory>

Special thanks for Xenia Black for constant reviews.

Chapter 5: Chat at Hogwarts Express

"Opticos" He murmured a wandless spell that enabled him to see through any barrier. After the emerald eyes switched back from black to green, the Hogwarts Express only resembled a long corridor with people at the each edge.

In the very last carriage he detected a thin black hair boy, his former self sitting next to Neville and also joined by Ron, Ginny and Hermione. Their silver prefect badge had assured Alex that they were not sharing the same compartment, which will simplify his task. He almost forgot to slide the glass-panelled door. Fortunately, his knuckle was tapped, just before he slammed into it.

"Is there any empty seat here?"

"Oh sure" Hermione, Ginny, and Ron stood up "Our compartment is in front."

"Thanks" He stowed his trunk in the luggage rack and plumped down in the opposite seat to that imposter

"I have never seen you before" Hermione knitted her brows showing her bother of not knowing this student earlier. Alex was quite sure that able to identify all Hogwarts student was in her list for being perfect prefect.

"I am new"

"Oh" She sighed and introduced all her mates, which Alex already recognized "Welcome to Hogwarts then. I am Hermione Granger, this is Ronald Weasley, and those are Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom and Harry Potter."

"Nice to meet you, I am Riddle, Alexander Riddle" Their smile extremely turned into horrifying pale expression except Neville and the imposter of course. That bastard was so lucky that none of his friends noticed it. Hermione nudged Ron in his ribs.

"I know" Ron whispered while Ginny gawp at Riddle. Undoubtedly, she was evoked by her first year memories.

"You must think I am related to You-Know-Who."

"Don't you?" Ron burst out.

"May be, Come on! There are not only two Riddles in this universe. I hate people staring at me as I am the You-Know-Who." There is a bit of anger in his words.

"Sorry, we didn't mean it. Just…" Hermione tried to sort out this dispute

"Just we have the same surname. I am accustomed to being told this kind of answer. Why do people always mark a person from their bloodline?" said Alex sarcastically, brought the whole compartment to a complete silence.

"We really apologize. We won't talk about it again". Hermione mumbled uneasily.

His trick was quite successful to stop the unwanted interrogation though it didn't free all their dubiousness. Ginny still scrutinized him skeptically and warily as if Alex might harm them. He didn't blame her for being fretted, caused he understood what this girl had dealt with Tom Marvolo Riddle. Five years friendship had helped him to learn their personality.

"What house are you in?" Hermione asked politely.

"I dunno, I haven't been sorted yet."

"Do you have any idea, where do you want to be sort?"

"I…." The sentence was cut off by a sliding door. Malfoy.

"Ha, the entire dishonor Gryffindor rubbish are here in one compartment. A potty, two weasels, a brainless and a mudblood. I can't think of a worse league than this" Ron seemed ready to explode "Get out from here, Malfoy"

"Are you threatening me, weasel?" Crabbe and Goyle drew closer to Ron, as they had prepared to fight if it was necessary.

"Shut up, Malfoy. Remember how your father was landed in Azkaban by Harry?"

Malfoy's lip curled "My father was released two weeks ago. Dementors have left Azkaban and he always has a good connection with the minister, unlike you, mudblood"

"Your father's freedom is only temporary. Good always win against evil" Neville mumbled

"There's no good and evil. Sooner or later the Wizarding World will fall into He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's command"

"Never" It was the first time, Alex heard the imposter speaking

"Yes, it will. You have chosen the wrong side, Potter" He chortled and looked at Alex "And you, If you are wise, you won't associate with these rubbish"

They banged the door as they left.

"Ugly git" Ron grumbled. KNOCK. "What's that?"

Neville opened the window, a snowy owl flew in. Hedwig. That owl wheeled twice, landed on the imposter's shoulder and handed him a letter.

"Thanks, Hedwig"

While others watched the imposter unsealed the envelope, her yellow eyes scanned and blinked a few times at Alex before soared again and perched gently on his shoulder, clicked her beak and nibbled his ear affectionately as she used to do. She recognizes me. He stroke her feather tenderly, unaware of the others puzzlement.

"I guess she likes me" Alex grinned. Hope she doesn't disclose my disguise.

"You get an appeal towards birds" said Ron plainly, created peals of laughter and pleasanter atmosphere. They had reduced their distance, which resulted in a congenial chat.

"Ron, Ginny, I think we suppose to go to the prefect compartment now"

"What time is it?"

"It is already a quarter to five, Ron. The prefect meeting will be held in five."

"Oh OK. See you soon mates"

"We won't be long, Harry. We will quickly come back after the prefect meeting" said Hermione. The door was closed for a second time, leaving him, the imposter, and Neville behind. Neville was not disturbing or throwing a cautiously look. However, he could ruin his plan to question that imposter. Forgive me, Neville.

"Esledious" the spell was soundless and colorless, his pumpkin juice dropped and spilled on his robe.

"Ouch" Neville gibbered, stood up, and uttered an incantation to dry out it. But Alex was faster, another wandless flick had cancelled the magic.

"It doesn't work" A desperate moan had drawn that imposter's attention from the outside view. He cast a drying spell, which was again blocked by Alex

"You better change your robe"

"I think so." said Neville desperately left the compartment "I have no idea why this happened" Alex waited till Neville's footstep disappeared.

"So you are Harry Potter." Alex began the conversation to made eye contact.

"Yes" The imposter gazed at him

"I hear you were captured few weeks ago. I don't mean to be rough only curious. Can you tell me something about it?" Five seconds more will be enough. Legimens

"It is not a nice experience. You won't want to listen it"

"Just try it" Please don't turn away.

"Well, I am not really being captured. A mass death eater…………………………..……"

The compartment swan in front of his eyes; image after image was racing through his mind like a flickering film.

"Are you insane, Dumbledore?" An old man with long beard and half-moon glasses sat facing him in a place which seemed to be a dinning room

"No, I am not" He answered calmly.

"This doesn't make sense at all"

"Yes, it does make sense"

"Why I shall pretend as Harry?"

"Think about it, Remus. It is for everyone benefits, for Harry and the Wizarding World. From a trustworthy spy, we know that until now Voldemort failed to catch Harry. He won't stop tracking him. By convincing him that Harry is now secured in our hands, Voldemort will give up and Harry will be saved wherever he is. I am sure that you also realize how Harry's missing has brought a wave of panic in the Wizarding World, increase the pressure on them to find safety from joining Voldemort. Harry's return will stabilize the situation."

"How if Harry return when I am pretending as him?"

"Don't worry; what you do is provide him a way when he comes back. He won't need to answer all his friends' odd questions and unpleasant rumors."

"He will panic if he find out someone is placing him"

"Yes, he will be, but considering his character; he may find and warn us that there is an imposter at Hogwarts, in the same way as his fourth year"

"Why you choose me to do this job?"

"Remus, I believe that you are the only person in the Order who know Harry well. You have ever thought him a year. It won't be hard for you to imitate Harry. Furthermore, you are also a best friend of James. You can put a little bit of James in Harry and you are smart and able to control yourself. Those make you a right person for this job."

"I am a werewolf"

"You can tell his friends that every full moon, you practice advanced magic with me in my office. If Miss. Granger notices this, tell her that full moon built up power."

"When do you plan all of this? Don't tell me that this just pop up in your mind recently"

"Since Harry's missing. Perhaps before, I always afraid of this incident"

"Well, I will do it, Dumbledore. Can you promise me something?"

"What is it, Remus?"

"That you will find Harry before Voldemort does. I have strong feeling that Harry still alive somewhere. He must have his own reason for his departure."

"I promise you, Remus. I hardly believe that Harry is died. We haven't found his corpse yet"

"Who else are informed?"

"No one, only both of us just in case this information leaked out"

That's enough. He pulled himself back from the memory of the imposter, who was also known as Remus Lupin. Alex couldn't express his delight to have his ex-Professor and mentor again in Hogwarts.

"………………..finally Professor Dumbledore found me"

"I don't know what to say" It was the fact; he didn't listen to the story excluding the first and last sentences. "It was slightly different from what I imagine."

"That's what my friends said" Remus sighed before opening another Chocolate Frog.

Half an hour later, Neville came back along with Hermione, Ginny, and Ron.

The Hogwarts Express arrived in the next hour. Following his instinct, he set apart from his friends and went to Hagrid.

"You mus' be Riddle" Hagrid examined Alex closely and unfriendly.

"Yes"

"Follo' me, You s'posed ter join firs' year sortin'"

"OK" Alex lined up behind a black curly first year girl.

A/n: I am rushing a bit in this chapter, so I'm not explain so much details on their action and feeling, which I think is easy to guess. I am bad at details.