Chapter 6 – The journey

Finally the time had come, "Potter, I'll miss you on morning runs. Now all I'll have is Astrid to tease and she's boring to tease. You have the gift of the gab my friend." Hakaan placed an arm around me and pulled me in. "I'm glad you're getting out of there, you'll be happier and I can't wait to hear all about it."

The Dursley's refused to take me to the train station but Ama, Hakaan and Astrid were taking me instead. They waited with me until it was nearly time to go.

'We'll see you at Christmas ok? I got a surprise for you all so you better be back Hari.' Ama said giving me a huge hug.

'I love you guys.' I told them before I turned and walked away, I must have looked insane because I closed my eyes and stepped through the barrier that looked like a wall, on the other side sat a red steam train. In that moment I'd never been so happy to read that extra book, Hogwarts: A history. It had been good for something it seemed.

"Wow." I looked around in wonder, I hurried to the train making my way to the back easily as I had no large trunk weighing me down, it was safely on my bracelet and Hedwig in her covered cage asleep.

"Can we help?" I looked up to see two red headed boys making their way over.

"Thanks guys but I think I'm good." I smiled at them.

"I'm Fred and this handsome guy is George. Also known as the Weasley twins."

"Well Fred and Handsome George, I'm Hari." They smiled at me, George beaming at me, before making their way towards the platform.

I sat back pulling out one of my books, The Fellowship of the ring. Astrid had given me the Lord of the rings trilogy to read as a going away present, so I got comfy by taking my boots off and placed my feet on the seat next to me and began reading. I wasn't very far into it when the compartment door opened and a red headed boy walked.

"Sorry, everywhere else is full, do you mind?"

"No help yourself."

He sat opposite me and fidgeted until he was comfy. I looked up and noticed him gawking.

"I'm Ron, Ron Weasley."

"Your brothers I met earlier then? The twins?" He nodded in reply, "I'm Hari."

We sat in silence for a while, Ron trying to figure out what to say, while I went back to my book, I could see why they were loved, I hadn't seen the films yet, I wanted to read the books first, so I was surprised, Hakaan had seen them already, he didn't bother to read the books first. The cubicle was quiet that was until the door opened and a bushy haired girl strolled in.

'Hello, have either of you seen a toad?' She asked inquisitively, she looked around like we were hiding it.

'Nope, no toads here, you should get an older student to summon it.' I said from behind the book, she squawked then left hurriedly. I in turn rolled my eyes and went back to my book.

Ron still hadn't spoken to me, he kept sighing, but I was very content with reading, that was until about an hour later the door opened again, I glanced up once more, this time, stood in the doorway, was a boy with blonde hair, a pointed face and was already wearing his black school uniform, behind him stood two large boys, they reminded me a lot of Dudley.

'Hello,' the blonde said, I moved my book which I had been resting on my knees, which had been pulled up by my chest.

'Hello,' I replied back, Ron repeating the greeting.

'My name is Draco Malfoy.'

Ron sniggered at the name, I narrowed my eyes slightly, 'It's not nice to make fun of someone's name, especially when they had no input on their name. Draco is the dragon constellation is it not?'

'You know your stars,' the blonde said sounding impressed while he started walking in to the compartment, the two boys followed but stayed near the door.

'The stars, they've seen all our history, from our creation through Vikings and empires, and still they shine brightly for us.' I said with a smile, Ron was scowling before he stood and walked out of the room. I frowned slightly, Ron it seemed didn't know how to speak to others very well, and even though I was friendly I also liked my own company.

'What's your name?' Draco asked me.

'Hari,' the boys grey eyes widened slightly but didn't say anything, 'And your friends?' I enquired to the big boys.

'Oh, this is Vincent Crabbe and this is Gregory Goyle,'

'It's nice to meet you Vincent, Gregory. So, what brings you down this far?'

'Scoping out the opposition.' Draco said without a worry.

'Opposition for what?' I asked him and I saw a slight smile enter his eyes.

'On who is going to rule our year.' He spoke with a slight smirk.

'Ah, I see, you're one of those.' I smiled, Hakaan had warned me of those who pursued the most popular title, I myself didn't care.

'One of what?' He asked offended.

'One of those who will do anything to get to the top.'

He smirked, 'Well, I am a Slytherin.'

'Oh are you? I don't see green on your robes Draco.'

His cheeks reddened slightly, 'My father was a Slytherin, and I will be one too.'

'Good for you, Draco. No one else will get it for you, you have to go get it yourself.'

'What about you, where do you want to be?'

'I don't really care, I suppose I could share values from all the houses, I just don't know which one would be at the forefront.'

'Like what?' Draco asked, his voice was filled with intrigue.

'I suppose I'm caring and loyal to those I deem worthy, hard-working, inquisitive and I like learning, I suppose I can be brave and brash when its needed but I can also have ambitions and wish to do the best I can. So like I said, I don't really care where I am.'

'Do you hope to be anywhere in particular?'

'I suppose Gryffindor, just because my parents were in that house, but I have a love of snakes, so who knows?'

'You love snakes?'

'Course I do, snakes are amazing creatures, they are beautiful and yet most are deadly.' Draco gazed at me with a strange look in his eyes.

'You're not like most people I have met.'

'Whys that?'

'You don't seem to care what others think of you.'

'Why would I care? You can't be friends with everybody Draco, you win some you lose some, it's the way of the world." He stared at me a bit more before he finally started fidgeting.

'I better go, it's been nice to meet with you Hari.'

'You too Draco, see you around.'

It was getting late, the sun was getting lower, though it wasn't set yet, Ron still hadn't been back and no one else had ventured in, I was a little glad for it, I would be surrounded in people for the next 4 months, I hoped I could find somewhere that I could be alone every now and then.

I changed when I felt the train starting to slow down, a look at my watch which told me that it was six thirty, at least now I knew the journeying times. Everyone began to filter out of the train, I heard Hagrid shouting for the first years, slowly I made my way over to him, I noticed Ron glaring at Draco, I wondered why Ron didn't like Draco, he had seemed ok when we had spoken and Ron hadn't really tried to get to know me.

'Come on then. First years, this way!' We followed in single file through a rough path made in the brush, the sun was floating lower casting long shadows in front of us until the brush thinned out and we were stood on a shoreline. My eyes ventured up to see something magnificent. Hogwarts castle.