OLD MAGIC

Chapter 5: Off to Hogwarts

There were many heartfelt farewells on the day he left for school that sunny September morning. Farley hid his tears, he would miss his friend but would see him on holidays and would keep watch on the border of the Forbidden Forest that lay next to Hogwarts. He gave his friend a tight hug an gave him a really cool picture of them both near the lake. The neat thing about the picture was only Harry could see the image. If anyone else looked at it, the image would be of his departed parents.

"Oh Farley, this is really great and I love the picture of my parents. Who found this?" Harry asked as he stared at the two images that moved back and forth at his command.

"Hagrid. He had got some photos from friends of your parents," Farley told him, pleased he had picked the perfect gift.

"It's wonderful and I'll tell him so when I see him. Thank you so much," Harry enthused, putting the picture carefully a way in his trunk. They hugged and a meow/growl complained within Harry's clothing.

Farley stepped back and eyed his friends moving chest in surprise. A small head popped out of a hidden pocket of Harry's jacket. The young half giant smiled and reached out to scratch the Kneazle's head.

"I see Wine is going with you. Good, you need an extra pair of eyes around you."

Harry smiled. "It's not like he would have stayed anyway, Farley, so Hagrid felt it wise to allow him to stay with me. Wine's very good at staying out of sight but, as I'm allowed a familiar besides an owl as a mail carrier, no one should comment."

"That's good to know," Farley said, giving Wine a parting pet before stepping back. "Well time for you to be off. Take care and see you at Christmas, Harry."

Harry flashed him a sad smile at the thought of leaving his friend, then turned away to get into the car waiting for him. Everyone waved madly and shouted farewells as he climbed in. The only one missing from the well wishers was Hagrid as he was doing his job greeting the new first years at the train station. Agatha had already given him a warm hug, a small package filled with fresh herbs, his favorite sandwich and pastry, and a warning to keep his wits about him at the cottage.

Darius, his muggle friend, was the one who volunteered to take Harry to the train station and they were using his car for the trip. He smiled as Harry climbed in beside him then started the car and drove off. The centaurs followed for a little ways until the car left the forest.

Cars weren't normally seen inside the forest so they had a large group studying it for a bit when it arrived then taking off when Harry got in. The road, which was little more than a dirt pathway that nearby farms used to collect wood, was full of ruts which made the car bump along, jarring their teeth. Finally, they got on the cobbled road that ran through this little village and were quickly on their way.

It would be a couple hour drive getting to the station so Harry's favorite music station was playing while he and Darius talked about the things he would see at Hogwarts.

No one would truly recognize him as the missing Harry Potter because it was thought safer for him to travel under a very well executed Fae glamor. It was the same one he'd worn when he went shopping in Diagon Alley. Now he would be nothing more than just one of the many eleven year olds milling about at the station.

When they reached London, Harry oohed and aahed at all the sights of a huge city. It was exciting and very noisy. The train station was even more chaotic but it didn't bother Harry as he found it all rather exciting.

He had a cart that carried his trunk and Hedwig's cage on top which he rolled easily toward the platform he was to leave from. When they halted at the tracks, Harry looked around for the platform he was supposed to meet the train on, but couldn't find it. Before he could ask Darius, he was distracted by a large family hurriedly moving closer toward them.

Darius saw the family as well and noticed where they were heading. Smiling he leaned close to Harry and said, softly, "watch that family closely, Harry."

Puzzled, Harry studied the noisy group. There were a set of twin boys around thirteen or so years old, a boy about his own age, and a much younger girl. A smiling, buxom woman stood behind her brood and was looking around a moment. When there was no one close except for Harry and Darius who weren't in view as they were standing behind another pillar but could see the group easily, she said in a brisk, warm voice, "George...Fred...make sure you have a running start..."

"We know mum," one twin said. "We've done this before you know, the other twin said cheekily, in the same identical voice as the first. Then the pair raced toward another brick pillar, with one behind the other, disappearing through it. "Alright, Ron...your turn," the mother called out.

The boy eyed the pillar uneasily but did as instructed, disappearing without a sound. Smiling, the mother took the little girl's hand and hurried through the pillar and out of sight.

Harry blinked in fascination at the neat trick. "That is so cool!" he said, amazed.

"And that's how you'll get to your platform," Darius chuckled, amused. "Here is where we part, Harry." He gave the boy a warm, farewell hug. "Good luck and stay alert. Send me letters on how you're doing, alright?"

"Of course. You stay safe as well and I'll see you over the holidays, Darius," Harry said, warmly. He flashed his mentor a huge smile, then moved his cart into position, took a deep breath and ran forward quickly. He burst through to another platform where an old steam train waited...it was magnificent. Breathless from the odd sensation of traveling through the pillar, Harry shook himself out and hurriedly pushed his cart down the platform, taking in the sights along the way.

He spotted Hagrid with no difficulty. The half-giant was directing the first years into the train after relieving them of their belongings that he would stow aboard the baggage car. Harry hurried up, gave Hagrid a small, secret grin as he turned over his trunk, received a small wink in return, then he made for one of the many passenger cars and climbed aboard.

The aisles were filled with children babbling to each other, older ones saying hi to their friends and the sounds of many doors sliding open and shut.

Peering into several of the compartments, he found them already filled. He was almost to the end of the car when he lucked out finding a nearly empty compartment. Sighing in relief, he slid the door open and went inside.

Sitting pensively in his seat was the red headed boy he'd seen earlier. The boy looked up and smiled tentatively. "Hello, my name's Ron, what's yours?"

"I'm Harry." Since his name was so common, his family felt there was no need to give him a fake one as it would only cause confusion when they learned who he really was.

"Pleased to meet you, Harry."

The door banged open just as Harry took a seat across from Ron. A female with big bushy hair stuck her head in and frowned. "Have either of you seen a toad? Neville apparently lost his familiar on the train somewhere," she said, sounding rather annoyed.

"Uhm, no can't say I have," Ron answered. Harry just shook his head.

The girl sighed, looked back down the corridor a moment before commenting, "well, I'm certain it will turn up somewhere. May I join you?"

"Certainly." Harry said with a shrug and a smile. Ron nodded too, eyeing her curiously. She smiled, closed the door, then sat down on the seat next to Harry.

She eyed both of them a moment then said, "my name is Hermione Granger, and you are?"

"Ron Weasley."

"Harry," he said with a polite nod of his head.

She frowned at him. "Harry what?"

Harry gave her a quiet smile and shook his head. "I'd rather not say, if you don't mind. Everyone will hear it later at the ceremony."

Hermione stared at him in puzzled confusion but decided not to push it. "Okay. Are you excited about going to Hogwarts?" She asked, brightly.

"Oh yes, very much. I've heard a lot about it," Harry said enthusiastically.

"I've been reading up on it in Hogwarts: A History and its really an incredible place," Hermione said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Oh yes, I've read that too and you're right, if half of what I read is true, Hogwarts is flat out amazing," Harry enthused.

Hermione looked pleased that someone else had a love of reading. "I think we're going to get along famously. I love to read and I intend to graduate at the top of my class."

Harry smiled at her enthusiasm. "Well I'm just hoping to do well and make friends. Across from him Ron grunted and sighed. "Not fond of school, eh?"

Ron blushed. "Not really but you can't go around without learning how to use your magic, can you? So school is necessary." He sighed then brightened. "However, there is Quidditch, my favorite game and I'm hoping to make the team."

"Oh, well that sounds like fun. I've watched a couple of games and thought it rather interesting," Harry admitted.

"Interesting? It's only the most exciting thing in the world!" Ron said, scandalized that Harry wasn't as enthused as he was about the sport.

"Well, there are other exciting things, Ron. That just happens to be one of them, and I hope to enjoy it as a team member too," Harry said, chiding the boy a little.

"Huh. You can keep all those other things but I'm glad you want to play. Maybe we'll get to be on the same team," Ron grinned, now in a better mood.

"That would be nice."

Hermione just rolled her eyes about the sport that Ron was so ga-ga over. She'd heard about it but wasn't all that in love with it. She was here to learn not play some silly game.

Suddenly, the door slid open again just as the train was beginning to move. The person had to hold onto the door or be knocked off their feet. The boy had amazing white blond hair and a haughty look on his face. His blue eyes stared at all of them with a faint look of distaste.

"May I sit in here, everywhere else is full up," he asked, reluctantly.

"Oh sure, come on in," Harry said, easily, not taking offense at the other boy's rather stiff manner.

Hermione eyed the blond haired boy with interest. "My name is Hermione Granger, what's yours?"

The boy eyed her with disinterest. "Draco Malfoy."

Ron straightened in his seat and stared hostilely at the stranger. "I know all about your family and none of it is very nice," he said coldly.

Draco gave the red head a frigid stare of his own. "I'm sure I don't know how you know anything about my family as I'm certain we don't travel in the same circles. Red hair and hand me down clothes mark you as one of the Weasley clan," the boy said, rather haughtily as he took a seat as far from Ron as he could.

Ron's face flushed with anger. "Not all of us are, oh so mighty aristocrats Malfoy. We don't consider ourselves that important in the scheme of things. The Weasleys have always been honest, hardworking folk. At Hogwarts none of those haughty airs will be tolerated as we're all supposed to be treated as equals so don't think you'll be getting any special privileges," he said nastily.

Malfoy eyes narrowed in anger but his voice was calm and flat. "I don't need or want special favors, but I do intend to be top of the class so stay out of my way Weasley and we'll be fine."

Harry was disturbed by the hostility both boys displayed. It sounded like a long time feud between their families. Time to step in and put a stop to the rising tension. "Excuse me, but we haven't been introduced. My name is Harry. Pleased to meet you," he interrupted quietly, extending a hand to the newcomer, a welcoming smile on his face while at the same time casting a wandless calming spell.

Draco blinked in surprise at the other blond haired boy with green eyes. "Uh pleased to meet, you," he said, showing he did have manners and that the spell was working as the anger had died from those ice blue eyes. "What might your last name be? White blond hair is very rare and I don't recall another family with the same trait as mine. Perhaps we're related?"

"No, I'm afraid we're not and I'd rather not give my last name just now. You'll hear it at the welcoming ceremony. I'm surprised to learn that these looks are rare. I must admit with blue eyes, they make you look rather stunnin," Harry said honestly.

He was rather intrigued. His own, temporary, appearance was derived from a close Fae friend of the family so he was a bit surprised to see a wizarding family with those same traits. He suspected the Malfoys had some Fae blood in them. How interesting.

Draco didn't know how to respond to this boy. Something about him was very different than anyone he'd met before. Harry had very good manners and was quiet assuming with an aristocratic air about him that he had. But he couldn't determine what family the boy could possibly be from. The fact he didn't want to give his last name led Draco to think Harry might be from a very prominent family and his name would cause a stir. He could hardly wait to find out what it was. Perhaps it would be wise if he made friends just in case.

"Actually, it is quite rare that's why seeing you with the same looks is rather a surprise," he admitted, fascinated. "I hope we can be friends?"

"I don't see why not. That's what I hoped find, new friends," Harry said, smiling sweetly.

Though calmer now, Ron still harbored resentment against the Malfoy boy. Not able to continue his tirade, he turned to stare at the passing scenery as the others began to talk about Hogwarts in general.

When he could get Harry alone, he would warn the boy about the Malfoy's and how much trouble and grief that family had caused so many wizarding families. He didn't want to see Harry misled or harmed by Draco by becoming friends with him.