Chapter 5: The Journey to Hogwarts

The Leaky Cauldron- Night Time

Naruto, Harry, and Hagrid were at the Leaky Cauldron after a day of shopping. While Naruto and Hagrid talked, Harry was in deep thought over something that has been troubling him the whole day. Hagrid noticed Harry and asked, "You alright Harry? You seem very quiet." Naruto looked over to Harry.

"He killed my parents didn't he? The one who gave me this-" Harry said as he pointed at his scar. Naruto's eyes widened in shock. "You know Hagrid, I know you do," Harry said. Both Naruto and Harry turn to Hagrid for the truth. Hagrid sighed and decided to give them the truth, "First, and understand this you two, cause it's very important, not all wizards are good… some of them go bad, a few years ago there was this one wizard who went as bad as you can go, and his name is v-... his name is v-..." Hagrid was hesitant to mention the dark wizard's name.

"Why don't you just write his name down?" asked Harry with Naruto nodding in agreement. "Can't spell it… alright, fine his name is Voldemort" Hagrid whispered. "Voldemort" Naruto and Harry said a little bit loudly but not too much to garner some attention. "Shhh- keep your voice down" Hagrid said to the boys, and the two looked around and luckily no one heard them.

Hagrid decided to explain to the boys about what happened by going over the details, such as Voldemort having a huge number of followers, and how he managed to kill Harry's parents except Harry himself. Harry was dumbfounded by this revelation and asked "Me? He tried to kill…me?" Naruto was shocked and wanted to know more. "Yes, that isn't any ordinary cut on your forehead Harry. A mark like that can only come from a curse… an evil curse at that" Hagrid said. "What happened to Vo-... you-know-who?" Harry asked. Hagrid looked out to the distance and said, "Some say he died, which I believe is codswallop in my opinion, nope I think he is still out there, too tired to go on, but one thing's absolutely certain-" Hagrid said with the boys leaning in closer to hear.

"Something about you managed to stop him that night, that's why you are famous Harry, that's why everybody knows who you are, you are the boy who lived" Hagrid said. Naruto finally understands why Harry was treated like a celebrity, but he still believes that there are some questions that need to be answered, but that can wait another time.

King's Cross Station

Naruto, Harry, and Hagrid arrived at the train station. Naruto was amazed at the locomotives and said "Wow!" Harry and Hagrid chuckled. "Come now Naruto, don't want to be late do you now?" Naruto pushed his cart and managed to keep up with Harry. The three arrive at the platform, Hagrid pulls out his pocket watch, "Blimey, is that the time?! Sorry you two, but I'm gonna have to leave ya cause… Dumbledore'll be wanting his… well he'll be wanting to see me now, uh your train leaves in ten minutes-" he said reaching into his pocket and bringing out two golden slips, "Here are your tickets, stick to 'em, it's very important you two, so stick to your ticket" Hagrid said.

Harry and Naruto looked at their tickets. Harry noticed something about the platform number, "Platform 9 and ¾? There has got to be a mistake. There is no Platform 9 and ¾-" Harry said, only to find Hagrid gone. Naruto, confused as well, decided to say "Let's ask around."

The two pushed their carts around the station and asked a man about the platform number, but the man thought they were joking around and decided to walk away. The two sighed. Luckily Naruto noticed something or rather someone. "Hey Harry look" Naruto points out to a group with the same carts and items.

The said group was a family of redheads, and what surprised the two young wizards was that one of the red-haired boys ran through a brick wall and managed to pass through it. Soon a pair of twins from the group also ran through the brick wall as well. Naruto and Harry looked at each other for a moment and then decided to go over to the group. "Um, excuse me… could you tell us how to-" Naruto asked pointing at the wall.

"How to get to the platform? Yes, not to worry, dear it's Ron's first time as well" the woman said, as a red-haired boy of the same age as the duo smiles at them. Harry also notices a young girl from the group blushing at him. "Now all you have to do is walk straight towards the wall between platforms 9 and 10" the woman said. Naruto got into position, "Best do it at a run if you're nervous" Naruto nods and turns to Harry. "See you on the other side" Naruto said as he ran towards the wall and passed through it. Harry did the same as well.

Naruto greets Harry, and they both look at where they are. Yep it was totally different than what they have seen in the muggle world as the trains were much different and they noticed some kids their age or older with their parents along with some other wizards and witches. The two heard the trains whistle. "Better get inside quick" Naruto said. Harry nodded, and the two brought their luggage to the employers before boarding the train. The train lets out a whistle before the wheels turn, and students wave goodbye to their parents before they embark on their journey to Hogwarts.

Inside the Train

Naruto and Harry found a compartment and sat inside. They look at the window viewing the countryside. "Never thought I would be far from home," Naruto said. Harry looked at him and asked "What was your home like?" Naruto, unsure on how to respond to Harry, decided to say "I wasn't really liked by most people… rather I was hated for something I don't even know. The people in my village treat me like I'm some sort of freak, monster, etc. Maybe they knew I was a wizard or something, but what I can say is that my whole life I lived alone not knowing who my parents were as I was an orphan trying to survive." Harry listened carefully, and if anything he sympathized with Naruto.

"Don't worry Naruto, we'll be friends no matter what" Harry said as he held out his hand. Naruto smiled and shook Harry's hand. Soon the two decided to change the subject by talking about some interesting stories and passing some jokes. Several minutes pass by and the red-headed boy they met at the station opens the compartment door. "Excuse me, do you mind? Everywhere else is full" the red-haired boy asked. "No not all" Naruto said, allowing the red-head to sit next to him. The red-headed boy thanked the two, and the two nodded. "I'm Ron by the way. Ron Weasley" the red-head introduces himself.

"Naruto Uzumaki" the blonde introduces himself and shakes hands with Ron. "Harry Potter" the glass wearing boy introduces himself making Ron go wide-eyed.

"So-so it's true? I mean, do you really have the… the…" Ron Stuttered. "The what?" "The scar?" Ron whispered. "Oh, yeah," Harry responded as he showed off his lightning bolt scar. "Wicked-'' Ron stared. The three were talking for a bit, until a trolley filled with sweets rolled up. "Anything off the trolley, dears?" the woman asked. "No thanks I'm all set" Ron said as he brought up a mushed up sandwich from his jacket. Both Naruto and Harry deadpanned a bit before taking out several galleons from their pockets. "We'll take the lot," Harry said. "Whoa!" Ron said looking at the amount of galleons Harry and Naruto had.

Time passed as the three talked about things they would expect for their first year at Hogwarts; Given that Ron was an expert at food, he gave info on the sweets both Naruto and Harry were eating. Also Ron decided to show off his rat, Scabbers, to the two. There seems to be a lot about Ron's pet that puts off Naruto, but Naruto shakes that thought off. The blonde grabs a box full of multi-colored jelly beans, and Ron explains how those jelly beans have every flavor ranging from the good and bad, along with how Ron mentions that one of his twin brothers got a booger flavored bean, which grosses Naruto as he spits out the bean.

Harry picks up a blue and gold colored package, "These aren't real chocolate frogs, aren't they?" asked Harry. "It's just a spell, besides its the cards you want, each pack's got a famous wizard or witch, I got about five hundred myself" Ron states. Harry opens his pack, but his frog leaped out and escaped from the window. "That's rotten luck, they only got one jump in to begin with" Ron stated. Naruto opened his pack and luckily got his frog and ate it. 'Hmmm… it tastes like chocolate and peanut butter' Naruto thought as he ate it. Harry looked at his card and said he got Dumbledore, while he looked at the holographic image. Naruto looks at his card and it was a middle aged man with light blonde hair, blue eyes, a thin white mustache, and appears to be dressed in a black suit with some blues mixed in. "Who is this guy?" Naruto asked, showing his card. Ron looks at his card and widens his eyes, "That's Gellert Grindelwald, the most infamous dark wizard of all time besides you-know-who, he's pretty rare" Ron explains. Harry looks at Naruto's card before going back to his, "Hey he's gone" he said as Dumbledore's image just disappeared. "Well you can't expect him to be there all day, can you?" Ron stated. The two put their cards away.

As they continued talking and eating, Ron mentions how his brother told him a spell that can turn his rat yellow. Harry and Naruto, wanting to see some magic, excitedly agreed. Ron pulls out his wand and as he is about to enchant the spell, the door compartment opens showing a girl. "Hey has anyone seen a toad? A boy named Neville lost one," the girl asked. Naruto looks at the girl and thinks 'wow she's pretty cute, way more so than Sakura' but this only saddens Naruto as he remembers his current situation.

"Oh, you're doing magic? Let's see then" the girl motions Ron to start. Ron starts, "Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, turn this stupid fat rat yellow!" he said zapping Scabbers. Nothing happened as everyone stared blankly. "Was that supposed to be the spell?" Naruto deadpanned. "Are you sure that's a real spell? It's not very good is it? Of course I've only tried a few simple spells and they all worked out for me, for example-" the girl said as she sat down next to Naruto across from Harry, and pointed her wand at him. "Oculus Reparo" she said as she fixed up Harry's glasses with the spell. Harry takes off his glasses and examines them. "That's better isn't it? Holy cricket, you're Harry Potter, I'm Hermione Granger… and you are?" she asks, "Ron Weasley" he replies with his mouth full of food. "Charmed" she replied, a little bit disgusted. And lastly, "Naruto Uzumaki, nice to meet ya" Naruto introduces himself, holding out his hand. Hermione smiles and shakes his hand. "Well, you three better change into your robes, I expect we'll arrive soon" she said as she left the compartment, "Oh and Naruto you've got some chocolate on your lips" she said as she licked her thumb and wiped it off before leaving. Naruto blushes crazily and looks at the other two as they smirked at him, "Don't laugh," Naruto says to them.

Hogwarts Station- Night Time

The train arrives at the station, and minutes later every student gets out of the train. The three, now dressed in their school uniforms, get out of the train and they notice Hagrid guiding the first years. The three walk up to him, Hagrid greets them and Harry and Naruto do the same. Ron stared in awe at the half giant, "Whoa," he said. They follow the half giant to the boats after learning that their luggages will be sent to their rooms. Soon the boats are on the lake being rowed to the castle, Harry and Ron are in a boat, while Naruto and Hermione are paired together, and soon they look at the huge castle in the distance in amazement.