AN: Wow guys, I have received over 100 reviews, and we have just hit chapter 10! My readers and reviewers I would like to thank you for the wonderful feed back, and the support to returning to the world of fanfiction it's been a blast so far writing this story! Please keep the amazing reviews coming and I'll keep the chapters coming!
Always,
HS
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Harry pushed his trolley through the busy station of King's Cross Station. He looked over at his cousin Dudley, who was more like a brother to him. He had short blonde, tall and had broad shoulders. Dudley clapped Harry on the shoulder as they weaved through the odd stares of people passing by because he had a cadged owl on top of his large trunk. He looked back at his aunt and uncle who were behind the two boys.
"Same every year full of muggles. Come along Platform 9 ¾ this way." said a loud female voice followed by four boys and one girl.
Petunia laid a hand on Harry's shoulder and said, "Be careful who you trust, Harry. Some will befriend because of who are and not for you being the special man you are."
"Yes Aunt Petunia. I'll be careful." said Harry watching the redheaded family. He shook his head. "They should know about the secrecy codes. I think they're all wizards."
"Come on Harry or you'll miss train." said Vernon. He was a large man with gray hair and mustache. "Pet, dear how are we get to the platform?" He asked looking at the brick wall.
"Harry I want you to walk straight through the brick wall through platforms nine and ten. It's better to do it in a bit of a run." explained Petunia.
Harry nodded and ran at the brick wall and vanished from view leaving an awe struck cousin and uncle. Petunia chuckled and ran through the wall followed by her son and her husband.
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Harry was met by a busy platform and greeted by a red steam engine. He smiled at the words that read HOGWARTS EXPRESS on the front of the train. He looked around the busy area for a mane of bushy brown hair. He smiled when he spotted Hermione.
"Hermione!" called Harry waving at the young witch who stood with an older man with short gray hair.
Hermione turned her head when she heard her name being called. She smiled, "Hi Harry!"
Harry walked over to Hermione and smiled brightly. "It's great to see you again." He turned his head upward slightly, "Hello sir. You must be Mr. McGonagall?"
"Hello Harry. It's good to see you. Yes, I am Richard McGonagall, and these must be your Aunt, Uncle and cousin. Hello, I'm Richard McGonagall. My wife teaches transfiguration at Hogwarts." He knelt down until he was eye level with Hermione. "Now, Minnie said she'd see you at school. Granny expects a letter no later then Saturday. I'll see you soon. Be good and don't study too hard and most of all have fun." He told her and kissed the top of her forehead.
Dudley and Vernon loaded Harry's trunk onto the train and handed him Hedwig. Vernon gave his nephew a one armed hug followed by Dudley. Petunia pulled her sister's son into a tight hug and shoved some money into his hand for later. She kissed the top of his head and smiled at the boy.
"You do well in your classes. Study and make friends. I expect a letter once a week young man." said Petunia.
Harry nodded his head, and the whistle blew signaling for the students to board the train. Richard nodded and winked at Hermione and watched the children board the train. He waved until the train vanished from view.
Richard walked over the Dursely family. He held out his hand to Vernon. "Richard McGonagall Mr. Dursely. If I may have the pleasure of you and your wife's company for a few minutes. Perhaps I could buy you lunch at the local diner?"
"Thank you Mr. McGonagall that would be lovely." said Petunia and they left King's Cross Station.
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Harry and Hermione found an empty compartment and sat down for the long trip to Hogwarts. Harry opened the window and let Hedwig out of her cage and told her to fly to Hogwarts. The snow white owl hooted and took off in the direction of the school. He closed the window and sat down across from Hermione.
"After I read your letter and it said that you read the first chapter of each book and took notes I decided to do the same. You are right it is hard to write with a quill." said Harry removing his glasses and cleaning them off with his shirt and putting them back on his face.
Hermione smiled at the messy black headed boy as she petted Midnight. "I'm glad someone besides me looked into the books. Oh, this is Midnight. Richard got him for me. Midnight this is Harry."
The black cat meowed at the wizard and moved from Hermione's lap to Harry's lap and rubbed her head against his hand. She yawned and curled up into his lap and fell asleep.
"Oh, she likes you. She's a good judge in character." said Hermione.
Harry smiled and gently ran his hand up and down the black cat's back as she slept. "What class are you look forward to the most?"
"There are so many! I really looking forward to potions and transfiguration. What about you?"
"Defense Against The Dark Arts and transfiguration." said Harry. "I find it neat that you can turn one object into another. Which house are you hoping to get into? My parents were in Gryffindor. I'm kind of hoping for that one."
Hermione shrugged, "I guess Gryffindor or Ravenclaw. I really don't know."
The two relapsed into a comfortable silence when the door slid open revealing a boy with black hair, large ears and was slightly chubby.
"Have any of you seen a toad I've lost Trevor." said the young boy.
They shook their head and answered, "No."
"Have you tried summoning the toad?" asked Hermione pulling out her wand. "Accio Trevor," and the toad jumped out of the boy's hood and into Hermione's hand.
"Oh, thank you!" he said taking the frog. "I'm Neville Longbottom."
"I'm Hermione Granger and this is Harry Potter." she said introducing her friend to the new comer. "Please join us. We don't know very many people."
Neville smiled at the couple and sat down next to Harry. Hermione turned to her purple beaded bag and dug through it for several minutes before pulling out large jar. She punched several holes in the lid and twisted the lid off of the jar. She told Neville to put Trevor in the jar until they reached school. He smiled and put his toad in the jar and put the lid on and sat it between him and Harry.
"So you think you're all smart because you helped him find his frog with magic?" said a boy snobbishly.
The trio turned their heads and saw a slightly tall redheaded boy with freckles all over his face. He wore slightly baggy clothes that looked several years old.
"So it's just a summing charm. My Granny showed me how to do a few spells." said Hermione. "She thought it would good to know some."
The redheaded boy noticed Harry's lightly blot scar on his forehead because his bangs had shifted slightly uncovering his scar, and his eyes widened at who was in the compartment.
"You're Harry Potter! It's true you have the scar!" said the boy. "I'm Ron Weasely by the way." He said sitting down next to Hermione. "This is Scabbers." He said holding out the rat.
Midnight hissed at the rat that was in the redhead's hands. She could tell something wasn't right about the rat. Hermione grabbed the cat before she could jump the rat.
"Keep that mangy cat from Scabbers." said Ron holding his rat from the cat.
"Please leave our compartment. We didn't invite you to sit with us anyway." said Harry. "Yes, I have the scar. It's because of this I don't have parents. Leave us alone."
"Aprentally you don't want a friend. I'm better then these too put together. A know-it-all and a Longbottom. Come find me when decide to have a real friend." said Ron and he left the compartment.
Harry moved over to Hermione and pulled her into a one sided hug when he saw tears in her eyes. "It's ok. Don't worry about the Weasel. You're not a know it all. I think it's nice that your Granny showed you how to do a few spells before coming to Hogwarts."
"Yea, Hermione. Thanks to you I found Trevor." said Neville. "Harry, I don't care if you're the boy who lived. I think it's stupid how they labeled you that anyway."
This made Hermione giggle, "I said the exact same thing Neville."
Harry smiled at the two before him. He was grateful that he found someone that would treat him and hopeful see him as just Harry and not the boy who lived. They spent the rest of the trip getting to know each other, and with each passing question they grew closer to each other and hoped to be in the same house.
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Richard sat back in his chair and pulled out his pipe and lit it. He took several puffs of it to light it. He studied the family in front of him. He smiled at the muggles grateful that Harry had such a good family to raise him. He was glad that he had read into the family after learning the events of James and Lily's untimely deaths. He had kept a watchful eye on Harry as he grew up. He didn't do it personally but he had several workers stop by over years or watch him from afar.
"So you're saying that this dark wizard will return to finish his job?" said Petunia in slight shock.
Richard nodded his head. "I will have Kingsely Shacklebolt place up wards around your house in the next few days. I wanted you to know that this is a great possibility."
Vernon shook his head and threw back his shot of whiskey he had ordered. He knew it was early for the drink but needed it to calm his nerves. "The wizard that killed James and Lily is coming back? When is this going to happen? Should we pull Harry out of Hogwarts?"
Richard shook his head, "No, Vernon. Harry must learn his magic in order to defeat Riddle. I am working on things as we speak in hope to stop from him returning. Andy has contacted several of my trusted and well trained aurors and trackers and curse breakers. I'm going to stop this before a second war breaks out. I will not let anymore lives be lost. Not if I can help it."
"So, what can we do Mr. McGonagall?" asked Dudley.
"Support Harry and believe him in what he tells you. He is going to be a very powerful wizard." said Richard. "I must go and I will keep you up dated on things as they progress. Thank you for understanding. If you should need of me take this." He pulled out a pouch and sat it on the table. "I trust you know the workings of floo powder Petunia?" She nodded her head and put away in her bag. "Floo call me if you need anything. Have a good day," and Richard left the diner and headed to the auror office to speak with Kingsely.
Dudley couldn't believe how not only Harry's life had changed today but their lives as well. He took a deep breathe and rose from his chair with his head held high. He would support his cousin and brother. Vernon and Petunia stood up and they left the diner for their home to wait on the auror to arrive to set up their wards around the house.
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The trio returned to their compartment after changing into their school robes. They decided to play Have You Ever. They laughed at some of the answers and Harry had done the most by getting in trouble with his cousin. Neville not much because of his gran not letting him really out of the house. They all found strange but Hermione found it cruel at some of things the family did to Neville to make his magic come along. Harry had noticed how Hermione was careful about answering the questions avoiding her parents all together. He mentally shrugged and in hopeful within time learn the truth about her parents.
The train pulled into Hogsmeade Station and it rolled to a stop. The students got off the train and the first years were greeted by a very tall and large man with wild hair and long beard. They followed him over to the boats as he instructed. Neville, Hermione and Harry climbed into the boat followed by Ron Weasely. They all slightly groaned at this out come.
Hermione gasped at the sight of the castle. She had been to Hogwarts once but her new friends didn't need to know that at lest not yet. But nothing compared to the sight before her. It was a massive castle made from centuries old stone bricks with large towers, thousands of lit windows and a spacious grounds. Hermione put her finger tips in the water and smiled as they made ripples in the water. She didn't notice in her happiness lily pads and lilies bloomed as the boats pulled them closer to her new home.
Neville tapped Hermione on the shoulder, "Your making plants grow on the water."
"Oh, oops sorry." said Hermione, who quickly moved her fingers from the water.
Harry squeezed his friend's hand, "It's ok Mya. I think it's great that you can do that. It makes you special."
Ron snorted at the complement. "Yea right. It doesn't make her special. It makes her freak."
Harry balled up his fist in anger. He hated bullies. It took all of his power not to punch the redhead. "She's not freak Weasely. Mya has more control over her magic then you do. You properly don't even know which way is up or down with your wand."
Before another word could be said the boats stopped, and the first years exited the boats. They followed the large giant they learned his name was Hagrid. The students entered the castle and into the entrance hall.
Hermione smiled when she saw Minerva. Minerva gave Hermione a small smile before turning her attention to the new students.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. Now, in just few short minutes you're going to walk through these doors and join your classmates. Your house will be like your family. Your behavior will earn points and any rule braking and you will loose points. The houses are Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor and Slytherin. I shall be back shortly." said Professor McGonagall and she left the students.
"So the saying on the train is true. Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts." said a boy with platinum blonde hair, fare pale skin, sliver blue eyes and was slightly tall and wore finely tailored robes. "I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy." He heard a snort from beside him. Draco turned his head and looked at the red head up and down. "You think my name's funny do you? Red hair and hand me down robe. You must be a Weasely. You'll learn that some wizarding families are better then the others Potter. I can help you there." He held out his hand to Harry to shake.
Harry studied the blonde head. He decided to take a chance. "It's nice to meet you Draco," and he shook his hand. "This is Neville and Hermione." He said introducing his friends and Draco shook there hands and he introduced Crabb and Goyle.
"We're ready for you now." said Professor McGonagall and led the first years out of the entrance hall.
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