Chapter 9

THE HOGWARTS EXPRESS

The last few days of the holiday, no one really spoke with Ash who was hidden behind a secondhand copy of her Uncle Bill's The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1), having becoming reclusive since the trip to Diagon Alley.

Will and Sandra teased the Doxies that infested the pitiful curtains of his Godfather's home and engaged in fruitful jokes of Muggle 'magicians'. Sandra found a skittish rat that was crawling around in the bedroom she now regretfully shared with Ash that she named, Kneaz. Ash found their antics to be trivial and utterly pointless. It was not coupled with her immense dislike of rats. Marcus and Ellen had repaired their relationship while the children were shopping in Diagon Alley and were now the couple Will loved so dearly.

On the day the Hogwarts Express was due to depart at eleven o'clock Bill and Marcus had gotten everyone out of bed and shoved a bowl of oatmeal each down the throats of Will, Sandra, and Ash who was now engrossed in Magical Drafts And Potions by Arsenius Jigger ate her oatmeal while poring over the volume. Bill (who was by far, the most Muggle-oriented person in the house) called in for two Muggle taxis to take them to King's Cross. Fleur was staying behind because she was very tired, telling Bill to come back later for her. Ellen was also staying to tend to Fleur.

The minute the Muggle taxis had pulled up to the Flint's apartment, the heavens opened and rain soaked them all. The taxi drivers didn't have much of a complaint except the peculiar fashion of Marcus and Bill who were trying desperately to look like Muggles, but failing quite humorously.

Marcus wore a pair of baggy jeans that were ten sizes too big, held around his waist by a dragon-skin belt. The jeans flopped hopelessly over pointy-toed boots, Sandra had told Will, laughing hysterically that they were actually stilettos. He wore a deep green polo shirt that was squeezed over a white hand-knit sweater. Marcus was grateful he had thought to shrink his robes and place them in his overlarge pocket.

Bill, in spite of his upbringing as the son of a man who thought Muggles to be a fascinating species was dressed just as poorly. He first came out of the bedroom he and Fleur were staying in wearing a floral skirt, a bright green slicker, and strap-sandals, but now he was wearing a pair of pinstriped shorts over a pair of black jeans that were slightly less floppy than Marcus', sludge-green goulashes, and a flashy sequined tie-dye T-shirt over a dark red turtleneck. However, the taxi-drivers thought them both to be foreigners as they mistakenly handed their drivers Sickles instead of notes and said no more about it. Between the two of them, they finally got the transaction right and they walked in to King's Cross with about ten minutes to spare.

Bill took Ash with him, casually falling through the wall of platform 9 ¾ , then Will and Sandra were grabbed in the crook of their arms by Marcus and they were thrust through the barrier.
Before Will was a massive scarlet steam-engine issuing smoke and clouding the assorted knots of witches and wizards shepherding their children on the train. Marcus and Bill were now in the wizards robes. Marcus' – a deep green, Bill's - a somber black.

''Well, you all have a good term.'' Said Bill, hugging and kissing his daughter and niece. Marcus hugged each of them and gave Will an extra hug and kiss on the forehead.

''Yes, you all have a good term.'' He said, smiling.

The three of them walked in to the throng of children, looking around interestedly at all the people. There was an Asian boy, brandishing a glossy magazine at a crowd of older students, mostly girls and smiling.

''C'mon Ryan! Get us an autograph!'' girls shrieked.

There was also a young, round-faced man who was trying to calm down his daughter who was crying and yelling about a boy named Eric.

''Come ON Dad!'' the girl said sadly. ''Why can't I go too!''

''You're ickle Erinny.'' said a round-faced boy with light brown hair who looked to be Will's age.

''Eric!'' said a woman with long, dirty-blonde hair. ''Be nice!''

''Sorry mum.'' Eric said.

''It's alright, Erin.'' said the man soothingly. ''You can go next year.''

''No!'' Erin shouted. ''That git can't fly! He's like a lopsided crup! I can fly loads better than him!''

Will and Sandra laughed, Ash had stalked off early on in the crowd and they hadn't seen her. They climbed on to the train, heaving their light trunk up with ease, and avoiding people as they looked for a compartment.

The least-crowded compartment only had one other occupant – a pale boy with short, dark hair and dark eyes, sitting cross-legged by the window, scratching a jet black cat behind the ears.
Will opened the door, Sandra stood behind him. ''Mind if we sit here?'' Will asked. The boy looked up and uncrossed his legs.

''Alright.''

''Thanks.'' Will and Sandra sat across from the boy who held out his hand.

''I'm Sorin Valerui.'' He introduced, shaking Will's hand then Sandra's. ''You're – wow! You're William Malfoy, aren't you?'' Sorin asked, surprised.

''Yeah I am, Sorin.'' Will said. ''And this is my friend Sandra Weasley.''

''Hi, nice to meet you. Oh and this is Relia.'' He said, scratching his cat behind the ears again.

''Do you know anything?'' Sorin asked as the train suddenly picked up speed and pulled out of the station.

''About what?'' Will asked, giving Relia a good scratch behind the ears.

''You know – about the Dark Arts?'' Sorin asked, leaning forward.

''Why would I?'' Will asked.

''You mean you don't?'' Sorin asked, awed.

''No.''

''But how could you not-''

''Because my father is a wretched wanker.'' Will said. ''I've been living with my godfather for the passed week or so, I think.''

''You ran away?'' Sorin asked.

''Yeah, I did.'' Will said.

''You never said what happened Will.'' Said Sandra suddenly, after making sure Kneaz was stowed safely in his cage.

''Yeah, c'mon Will. Would you mind telling us?'' Sorin asked eagerly.

''You know something Sorin?'' Will asked.

''What?'' Sorin asked. ''Sorry if I offended you-''

''No, you didn't.'' said Will smiling. ''You're really the first boy my own age not to freak out that I was actually Draco Malfoy's son.''

''But I-''

''Do you want a story or not?'' Will interjected. ''Well, I dunno how long ago but this one night my father was having a sort of party with every other Death-Eater he knew and they were all drunk. My plan was to run off, but then Voldemort came.'' Surprisingly no one shuddered at the mention of his name. ''He's a monster. It's impossible to describe him. He wanted me to be Marked before I even went to Hogwarts but I said no, and I disowned my father. He told me not to show my face or he'd kill me, then I ran off anyway and now he's put up reward posters.''

No one knew what to say. Luckily an elderly witch peeked inside their compartment, pushing a food cart.

''Would you like anything dears?'' she asked them.

They pooled their money and bought as much Chocolate Frogs as they could afford. Sorin seemed more interested in the Famous Witches and Wizards cards than the actual chocolate.

''No!'' he moaned.

''What?'' Sandra asked, her mouth bulging with chocolate.

''I've got about twenty of Modesty Rabnott already.''

''Who's she?'' Will asked. Their compartment door slid open and Ash looked in at them.

''If you've even bothered to read any book on Quidditch you'd know that Modesty Rabnott was the witch who tried to stop Barnabas the Barmy from his barbaric treatment of the Golden Snidget bird. Who was-'' she said, as if she had absorbed the textbook.

''Get-'' Will began.

''Excuse me.'' said a voice. A young Japanese girl appeared next to Ash. ''If you had read the book Quarrels In Quidditch by Elvira Marvraith you would have remembered that it wasn't Barnabas the Barmy it was Barberus Bragge who had done barbaric treatment to the Golden Snidget bird. Barnabas the Barmy tried to teach trolls to do ballet.'' Ash opened her mouth to argue, but flaunted off, her nose in the air. The young girl walked timidly into the compartment.

''Hi.'' She said softly.

''Frog?'' Sorin asked, offering her one.

''Thanks.'' The girl said, sitting next to him.

''That was some piece of work you did back there.'' Will said, impressed.

''Well I love reading.'' The girl said, breathless it seemed with happiness. ''And I've always liked Elvira Marvraith's books-'' she stopped rambling and stared at Will, her eyes grew wondrously large. ''-Wow!'' she cried. ''You're William Malfoy! Oh! Oh! You're in 'Death-Eaters – Then and Now', 'Right Hands of the Dark Arts', 'Dark Dedications', 'A History of the Dark Arts', 'The Second War', and 'Death-Eater Deliberations'.'' She said.

''Really?'' Will asked, surprised. Sandra and Sorin both looked torn between impressed and worried.

''You didn't know?'' the girl asked. Will shook his head. ''Really! I would have researched every book in the face of this Earth if I was the son of Voldemort's right-hand!''

''Well, who are you?'' Sorin asked.

''I'm Yukiko Sakura.'' She introduced. ''I really don't have time to chat. Sorry!'' she stood up and walked toward the door, turning around. ''Oh, before I forget. Have any of you seen a dragon egg? A boy named Druce says he's lost his. A Chinese Fireball one.''

''A dragon egg? God, if this Druce really does have one I'll go starkers and jump in the lake.'' Sorin said. Will and Sandra sniggered. Yukiko smiled.

''Alright, I'll tell Druce then. He really did loose a dragon egg.'' She walked out of the compartment, but doubled back, her ebony hair flying in front of her face.

''Oh and we'll be getting there soon.'' She said. ''So you-'' she faltered at Sorin's name.

''Sorin.'' He said, his mouth crammed with chocolate.

''Right. Sorin, your face's covered in chocolate.'' Sorin looked at Yukiko weirdly as she ran off.

''Know-It-All.'' He mumbled under his breath, wiping his mouth with his sleeve.

As Yukiko had told them, the train stopped soon after she left their compartment. Everyone knotted confusedly together. A miffed, important-looking blonde-haired boy looked over the crowd of nervous first-years.

''First-Years follow me please!'' he yelled. His voice was sharp and cold. ''No pushing!''

''Shut up Reg!'' chorused the majority of the older students as they shoved their way off the train.

''I will not take that mockery!'' Reg yelled. ''I am Head Boy! Five points from Ravenclaw Euclid! And five points from Slytherin, Orion! Five points from Hufflepuff too Amelia!'' He avoided Gryffindor for obvious reasons as he had a red and gold Prefect and Head-Boy badge gleaming on his chest.

The boy named Reg led them off a train to a chilly, dark platform. He then walked off, his chest thrust outwards, staring around importantly as if he were some authority figure. At his leave a lantern bobbed overhead.

''Everyone 'ere then?'' a familiar voice called. Will, Sandra, and Sorin grouped together and Will and Sandra smiled. Vincent Crabbe was at the front of the line of first-years

'' 'Ello you two!'' Vincent said jovially.

''Hi sir.'' Will said. Vincent surveyed the three of them with a fatherly look in his eyes then straightened up.

''Right! Come on now!'' he led them to a fleet of wooden boats at the start of a mammoth black lake. ''No more than four ta a boat now! And no one better fall in, mind you!'' Vincent stood the first boat. Will, Sandra, and Sorin were joined by Yukiko, and the boats moved slowly across the lake.

In no time at all, the castle loomed before them. Their windows glowing like orbs amidst a deep black night. The boats docked and Vincent led them up a rocky bank to two towering oak doors. He knocked on the door and it flew open.

Standing there in gold silk robes was George Weasley.