CHAPTER FIVE
THE JOURNEY FROM
PLATFORM NINE
AND THREE-QUARTERS
Harry's last couple of weeks went by rather fast than he anticipated, and because he was so excited to go to school, Lily and Lupin had taken the liberty of giving him tutoring lessons for a majority of the classes he would take at Hogwarts.
One day, while practicing on making a potion that could cure stomach aches with his mother and uncle, there was a few things that still made Harry rather curious, he had learned previously from his mother that Gyffindor, Huffflepuff and Slytherin were three of the four houses at Hogwarts, so he asked them about the remaining one, to which they answered it was called Ravenclaw, which was what Professor Flitwick was placed in. As for Hufflepuff, Professor Sprout was part of it. Gryffindor was what Lupin himself, Dumbledore and McGonagall were in. When Harry asked them why they didn't mention Slytherin, his mom replied that its house was normally full of bad wizards and witches and there wasn't one who went bad in Slytherin, except for her old Potions teacher who used to teach her and Lupin, various others and ironically enough, Merlin himself.
"And would you hate me if I wound up in Slytherin?" Harry asked. *
Abashed, he quickly covered up his mouth, hoping he could take back the question he asked. Lily was surprised that Harry was embarrassed by his own question, to which she asked while giving her son the biggest hug a mother could.
"Oh sweetheart, is this because of that boy you met in Diagon Alley?" Harry nodded. "We could never hate you, you're the only child I have in this world, as such, it would be a shame if we lost you after we lost your father."
"But just say that I am put in…"
"— then Slytherin House will have gained a wonderful young wizard, wouldn't it? It doesn't matter to us, Harry." Lupin put in. "But listen, if it matters that much to you, you'll be able to choose Gryffindor over Slytherin. They take your choice into account."
"Do they really?" Harry asked, now feeling relieved.
"It did for us." Lily replied, nodding her head.
"Thanks, mom," Harry said. Thanks, Uncle Remus."
After some silence he asked something else that was on his mind, the same boy he met in Diagon Alley had used the term 'Mudblood', whatever that was.
"Incidentally, the same boy I met at Madam Malkin's said that he believed you were a Mudblood. I've been wondering, what's a 'Mudblood' ?"
Lupin sighed heavily.
"Your mother and I hoped that you'd never have to hear that dreadful word, Harry. Mudblood is a very offensive name for individuals who are Muggle-born to Muggle parents and their relations don't have any magical blood in them. Because of that, there are some — like your acquaintance — who think they're better than everyone else because they're what most people call Pure-blood."
Harry shivered, "That's horrible." He then raised an eyebrow and looked at his mother, "Then again, how is it possible you were born with Magical abilities despite the fact Aunt Petunia wasn't, mom? Or Dudley for that matter?"
Lily shrugged, "I'm not sure, sweetheart. But if I had to guess, it must've skipped a generation or two, so I must've been one of the lucky ones to actually have magical blood." She then made a serious look on her face, "But that's not the point, dear. The point is that… word is not a term one usually hears in civilized conversation. Harry, I want you to swear to us that you will never use that… disgusting word while you're at Hogwarts, no matter what."
Harry nodded, "I promise."
The very next day, when the big day arrived, Lily and Lupin helped Harry pack all of his supplies and they set off to Privet Drive to pick up Petunia and Dudley so they could see him off, they timed their operation just right, when Vernon was sure to be still fast asleep. They reached King's Cross at ten sharp with plenty of time to spare, they had applied Harry's trunk onto a cart and wheeled it into the station for him.
To Harry's surprise, there were lots of Muggles who looked at Harry and his family, it was as though they never had seen a wizard before, when Harry asked what was with all the eyes upon him, his uncle answered.
"Pay them no mind, Harry. It was like this when your mother and I were on our way to Hogwarts for our first year too. Remember: Just be yourself."
Harry nodded to ensure that he understood. As they walked between platforms nine and ten, Harry thought he saw something, it looked like red hair. As a matter of fact, it was. It was a plump woman who was talking to four boys, a single girl by her side, all with flaming red hair. Each of them was pushing a trunk like Harry's in front of him. Intrigued, Harry looked at his mom, who nodded, safe to say this family was friendly and going to Hogwarts too, all except the daughter who had to be no more than a year younger than him.
"Excuse me?" Harry called out to the plump woman.
"Why hello there, dear," she said beaming. "First time at Hogwarts? Ron's new, too."
She pointed at the youngest of her sons. He was tall, thin, and gangling, with freckles, big hands and feet, and a long nose. A smile spread across Harry's face, if there was a good ever chance for him to have a lucky day and meet new friends who were also wizards and witches, then this would be it.
Before Harry could ask how to get onto platform nine and three-quarters or make introductions, the plump woman noticed Lily and Lupin.
"Lillian, dear, so good to see you." She turned to Lupin. "And Remus, you're looking as healthy as ever."
"Hello, Molly." Lupin nodded warmly. "How are things?"
"Very well, thank you."
Lily beamed back, "Great to see you again, Molly." She turned to her son, "Harry, this is one of my and Remus's friends, Molly Weasley. And these are her kids…" She introduced every one of them as they approached in order, "Percy, Fred, George, Ron and Ginny. Molly, kids, this is my son, Harry."
The whole family of redheads were taken by surprise, Harry was having the happiest day of his life, and quite a young gentleman.
"How do you do?" Harry asked with a bow.
All of the Weasley's gave individual answers, but it was Ginny who, while giving her answer, was a little jealous of her whole family.
"Mom, can't I go…?"
"You're not old enough, Ginny, now be quiet. All right, Percy, you go first."
The oldest boy marched toward platforms nine and ten. Harry watched, careful not to blink in case he missed it — but just as Percy reached the dividing barrier between the two platforms, a large crowd of tourists came swarming in front of him and by the time the last backpack had cleared away, he had vanished, unable to prevent himself from not watching, Harry jaw-dropped, he quickly put it back up.
"Fred, you next," Mrs. Weasley said.
"I'm not Fred, I'm George," said one twin. "Honestly, woman, you call yourself our mother? Can't you tell I'm George?"
"Sorry, George, dear."
"Only joking, I am Fred," said that twin, and off he went.
His twin called after him to hurry up, and he must have done so, because a second later, he had gone — but how had he done it? Now the third brother was walking briskly toward the barrier — he was almost there — and then, quite suddenly, he wasn't anywhere.
"Are they always like that?" Harry asked Mrs. Weasley regarding the twins as he was unable to hold in his laughter.
"Oh, you have no idea, Harry," she answered with an eye-roll.
Harry, now having an idea of what to do, followed his mother and Lupin, but before leaving, he hugged Petunia and Dudley goodbye.
"Bye, Aunt Petunia. Bye, Dudley."
Petunia smiled, "Good luck this term, Harry."
Dudley nodded, "Have a good term, cousin. You'll write to us, won't you?"
"That's a promise," Harry called back.
And very soon, he was off with his trolley, Harry started to walk towards the barrier. People jostled him on their way to platforms nine and ten. He walked more quickly, he was a little nervous about him about whether or not he'd smash right into that barrier and if he'd be in trouble — leaning forward on his cart, he broke into a heavy run — the barrier was coming nearer and nearer — he wouldn't be able to stop — the cart was out of control — he was a foot away — he closed his eyes ready for the crash —
It didn't come… he kept on running… he opened his eyes. A scarlet steam engine was waiting next to a platform packed with people. A sign overhead said Hogwarts Express, eleven o'clock. Harry looked behind him and saw a wrought-iron archway where the barrier had been, with the words Platform Nine and Three-Quarters on it. He had done it.
Smoke from the engine drifted over the heads of the chattering crowd, while cats of every color wound here and there between their legs. Owls hooted to one another in a disgruntled sort of way over the babble and the scraping of heavy trunks. The first few carriages were already packed with students, some hanging out of the window to talk to their families, some fighting over seats. He passed a round-faced boy who was saying, "Gran, I've lost my toad again."
"Oh, Neville," he heard the old woman sigh.
"I'll help you find it." said Ginny, as she came rushing up from the barrier to provide assistance.
Mrs. Weasley at first was hesitant to let this happen, but some reassurance from Lupin and Lily, allowed her to have Ginny proceed. In the end, it turned out that out of all possible locations were Neville's toad, or Trevor, as Neville named him, happened to be not too far and was hanging around both one of the benches. Her good deed done just right, Ginny returned to her mother after being thanked by Neville's grandmother.
"If I were you, Neville," said Lily as she, Harry and Lupin introduced themselves, "you might want to put Trevor in a protective charm so he can't get out."
"I'll do exactly just that." Neville smiled, knowing there was a remedy to this sticky situation, "Thank you, Mrs. Potter."
Elsewhere, a boy with dreadlocks was surrounded by a small crowd.
"Give us a look, Lee, go on."
The boy lifted the lid of a box in his arms, and the people around him shrieked and yelled as something inside poked out a long, hairy leg.
In no time, Harry found himself a seat, as Lily and Lupin loaded his belongings into the cargo hold, Harry got a look see at the rest of the Weasley family arriving. Mrs. Weasley had just taken out her handkerchief.
"Ron, you've got something on your nose."
The youngest boy tried to jerk out of the way, but his mother grabbed him and began rubbing the end of his nose.
"Mom — geroff." He wriggled free.
"Aaah, has ickle Ronnie got somefink on his nosie?" said Fred.
"Shut up," said Ron.
"Where's Percy?" said Mrs. Weasley.
"He's coming now." replied George.
The oldest boy came striding into sight. He had already changed into his billowing black Hogwarts robes, and Harry noticed a shiny red and gold badge on his chest with the letter P on it.
"Can't stay long, Mother," Percy said. "I'm up front, the prefects have got two compartments to themselves —"
"Oh, are you a prefect, Percy?" said George, with an air of great surprise. "You should have said something, we had no idea."
"Hang on, I think I remember him saying something about it," said Fred. "Once —"
"Or twice —"
"A minute —"
"All summer —"
"Oh, shut up," said Percy the Prefect.
"How come Percy gets new robes, anyway?" the twins asked in unison.
"Because he's a prefect," Mrs. Weasley said fondly. "All right, dear, well, have a good term — send me an owl when you get there."
She kissed Percy on the cheek and he left. Then she turned to the twins.
"Now, you two — this year, you behave yourselves. If I get one more owl telling me you've — you've blown up a toilet or —"
"Blown up a toilet? We've never blown up a toilet."
"Great idea though, thanks, Mom."
"It's not funny. And look after Ron."
"Don't worry, ickle Ronniekins is safe with us."
"Shut up," said Ron again. He was almost as tall as the twins already and his nose was still pink where his mother had rubbed it.
Harry heard Ginny's small voice.
"Oh, Mom, can I go on the train and see Harry, Mom, oh please…"
"You've already seen him, Ginny, and the poor boy isn't something you goggle at in a zoo."
"Hey Mom, did you see his scar? It's really there — like lightning." Fred asked.
"Never mind that, do you think he remembers what You-Know-Who looks like?" George added.
Mrs. Weasley suddenly became very stern.
"I forbid you both to ask him, Fred. No, don't you dare. As though he needs reminding of that on his first day at school."
"All right, keep your hair on."
A whistle sounded.
"Hurry up!" Mrs. Weasley said, and the three boys clambered onto the train. They leaned out of the window for her to kiss them good-bye, and Ginny began to cry.
"Don't, Ginny, we'll send you loads of owls,"
"We'll send you a Hogwarts toilet seat."
"George!"
"Only joking, Mom."
"Write if you feel homesick, Harry." Lily called out. "Don't be afraid to get in contact. Love you, sweetheart."
"We'll be happy to stay in touch." Lupin said.
"I love you too, mom." Said Harry. "Bye, Uncle Remus."
"Take care, dear."
"Have a good term, Harry."
The train began to move. Harry saw his family, Mrs. Weasley waving, and Ginny, half laughing, half crying, running to keep up with the train until it gathered too much speed, then she fell back and waved.
Harry watched as all of the families disappear as the train rounded the corner. Houses flashed past the window. Harry felt a great leap of excitement. He didn't know what he was going to — but it had to be just as great compared to what he was leaving behind.
The door of the compartment slid open and Ron came in.
"Anyone sitting there, Harry?" he asked, pointing at the seat opposite Harry. "Everywhere else is full."
Harry shook his head, "Not at all, Ron. I'd be happy if you sat with me."
Ron beamed and sat down. He glanced at Harry, who had earlier been looking out the window, to admire the country view that was rapidly passing by them. Harry then saw he still had a black mark on his nose.
"Hey, Ron."
The twins were back.
"Listen, we're going down the middle of the train — Lee Jordan's got a giant tarantula down there."
"Right," mumbled Ron.
"See you later, then."
"Take care, Harry."
"Bye," said Harry and Ron. The twins slid the compartment door shut behind them.
When they were alone, Ron said, "I can't believe I am finally able to meet the Harry Potter."
Harry smiled modestly, "Guilty as charged."
"I'm just glad it didn't turn out to be one of Fred and George's jokes," said Ron. "And have you really got — you know…" He pointed to Harry's forehead. "The scar?"
Harry nodded and pulled back his bangs to show the lighting scar. Ron starred.
"So that's where You-Know-Who — ? "
"Yes," said Harry, "the sad thing is, I can't remember any of it."
"Nothing at all?" said Ron eagerly.
"Well — I remember a lot of green light, but nothing else."
The two then sat and talked for quite a while, safe to say, Harry was impressed Ron's family was so big.
"Are all your family wizards?" he asked.
"Er — yes, I think so," said Ron. "I think Mom's got a second cousin who's an accountant, but we never talk about him."
The Weasleys were clearly one of those old wizarding families the pale boy in Diagon Alley had talked about.
"Wish I had three wizard brothers." Harry said with a small hint of envy.
"Five," corrected Ron. For some reason, he was looking gloomy. "I'm the sixth in our family to go to Hogwarts. You could say I've got a lot to live up to. Bill and Charlie have already left — Bill was head boy and Charlie was captain of Quidditch. Now Percy's a prefect. Fred and George mess around a lot, but they still get really good marks and everyone thinks they're really funny. Everyone expects me to do as well as the others, but if I do, it's no big deal, because they did it first. You never get anything new, either, with five brothers. I've got Bill's old robes, Charlie's old wand, and Percy's old rat."
Ron reached inside his jacket and pulled out a fat gray rat, which was asleep.
"His name's Scabbers and he's useless, he hardly ever wakes up. Percy got an owl from my dad for being made a prefect, but they couldn't aff— I mean, I got Scabbers instead."
Ron's ears went pink. He seemed to think he'd said too much, because he went back to staring out of the window.
Harry didn't think there was anything wrong with not being able to afford an owl. After all, he'd never had seen so much money in his life until recently ago, and he told Ron so, all about his mother donating to charities and how his Uncle Remus came to inherit the fairly sized fortune James left him in his will and testament, this seemed to cheer Ron up a whole lot.
"… and until Mom told me, I didn't know anything about being a wizard or about my dad or Voldemort —"
Ron gasped.
"What?" said Harry.
"You said You-Know-Who's name!" said Ron, sounding both shocked and impressed. "I'd have thought you, of all people —"
"I'm not trying to be brave or anything, saying the name," said Harry, "I just never knew you shouldn't. See what I mean? I've got loads to learn… But then again," he recalled his tutoring, "I bet I'll do well in some of my classes, for mom and Uncle Remus gave me tutoring lessons over the summer. And if not, I'll get better as time goes by."
"That's true." Ron nodded in agreement. "Rest assured, Harry, there's loads of people who come from Muggle families and they learn quick enough."
While they had been talking, the train had carried them out of London. Now they were speeding past fields full of cows and sheep. They were quiet for a time, watching the fields and lanes flick past.
Around half past twelve there was a great clattering outside in the corridor and a smiling, dimpled woman slid back their door and said, "Anything off the cart, dears?"
Harry, having had breakfast, leapt to his feet, but Ron's ears went pink again and he muttered that he'd brought sandwiches. Harry went out into the corridor, pockets rattling with gold and silver he was ready to buy and the following was what he bought: a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, a pack Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, and eight Chocolate Frogs, which were some of the many delicious things Harry had been given to him on his birthday by Dumbledore, as well as a few bottles of pumpkin juice to share with Ron.
"Thank you, Harry." beamed Ron, upon Harry settling everything down and dividing it evenly.
"You're welcome, Ron." said Harry smiling, taking a bite out of a pumpkin pasty.
Ron had taken out a lumpy package and unwrapped it. There were four sandwiches inside. He pulled one of them apart and said, "She always forgets I don't like corned beef."
"Swap you for one of these," said Harry, holding up a pasty.
"You don't want this, it's all dry," said Ron. "She hasn't got much time," he added quickly, "you know, with five of us."
"Go on, have a pasty," encouraged Harry, Ron did so, leaving the sandwiches forgotten.
As they each had a Chocolate Frog, Ron was about to warn him, but Harry said, "I know they're not really frogs and it's just a spell."
To which Ron said, sighing in relief, "Would you mind if I see what the card is? I'm missing Agrippa."
"Of course," Harry replied.
It was common knowledge that Chocolate Frogs have cards inside them, which was a lot like collecting sports cards, save of course they had famous witches and wizards on them.
"I've got about five hundred, but I haven't got Agrippa or Ptolemy." Ron went on.
Harry unwrapped his Chocolate Frog and picked up the card. It showed a man's face, it was Dumbledore, he wore half-moon glasses, had a long, crooked nose, and flowing silver hair, beard, and mustache. Harry then remembered what Dumbledore's card said when he first came across it:
ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
CURRENTLY HEADMASTER OF HOGWARTS
Considered by many the greatest wizard of modern times,
Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the
Dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the
twelve uses of dragon's blood, and his work on alchemy
with his partner, Nicolas Flamel. Professor Dumbledore
enjoys chamber music and tenpin bowling.
Looking up from his flashback, Harry turned to Ron, "Any luck, mate?"
Ron shook his head, "No, I've got Morgana again and I've got about six of her…"
By the time the two focused on Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Ron asked his new friend, "I presume that you've had those as well?"
Harry nodded, grinning from head to toe, "Sure have, they're one of my favorites."
"Are they really?" Ron asked in amazement and Harry nodded again. He picked up a green bean, looked at it carefully, and bit into a corner. "Bleaaargh. Sprouts."
Harry had bit into a corner of one that was red with white stripes, a warm smile spread across his face. "Yummy — Peppermint."
Eventually, the countryside now flying past the window was becoming wilder. The neat fields had gone. Now there were woods, twisting rivers, and dark green hills. There was a knock on the door of their compartment and the round-faced boy known as Neville whom Harry had passed on platform nine and three-quarters came in. He looked much happier than he was earlier.
"Hello, Harry." Neville said, "Do you mind if I join you and your friend?"
When they nodded their heads in agreement, he sat down. Noticing the sweets, he looked at Harry.
"Would you care if I had some too?"
"By all means, Neville." Harry replied, nodding again. "Help yourself."
As Neville helped himself, Ron whispered to Harry, "Don't know why he bothered earlier," said Ron, "If I'd brought a toad I'd lose it as quick as I could. Mind you, I brought Scabbers, so I can't talk."
The rat was by now snoozing in Ron's left pocket of his jacket.
"He might have died and you wouldn't know the difference," said Ron in disgust.
"Ron, show a little respect." Harry said in a fierce whisper. "Wouldn't you feel a little bit of a heartache if Scabbers was missing?"
Ron shrugged after a little hesitation, "I guess."
Safe to say, all three were going to be fast friends. Neville told the two how came to wind up at his grandmother's house, adding to this, he also told how he was afraid he almost didn't make the cut on going to Hogwarts, but in the end, somehow, a miracle came though. He then heard Harry tell his tale and later Ron his own.
Later on, returning to his train of thought earlier about Scabbers, Ron went on and took the rat out of his jacket and onto his lap, "Yesterday, I tried to turn Scabbers yellow to make him more interesting, but the spell didn't work. I'll show you, look…"
He rummaged around in his trunk and pulled out a very battered-looking wand. It was chipped in places and something white was glinting at the end.
"Unicorn hair's nearly poking out. Anyway —"
He had just raised his wand when the compartment door slid open again, a girl was outside. She was already wearing her new Hogwarts robes.
"Has anyone seen a toad? A boy named Neville's lost one earlier," she said. She had a bossy sort of voice, lots of bushy brown hair, and rather large front teeth.
"We helped him find it," said Harry. "He was underneath a bench."
"It's true, I now have him in a protective shield charm." Neville said, indicating a sphere which was indeed covered by a charm.
"Well, that's convenient," said the girl beaming, she then turned to Ron, looking at the wand in his hand. "Oh, are you doing magic? Let's see it, then."
She sat down. Ron looked taken aback. "Er — all right."
He cleared his throat.
"Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow,
turn this stupid, fat rat yellow."
He waved his wand, but nothing happened. Scabbers stayed gray and fast asleep.
Ron looked at Harry, Neville and the girl quite embarrassed, Neville and Harry however, unable to contain themselves, laughed in amusement.
"Are you sure that's a real spell?" said the girl. "Well, it's not very good, is it? I've tried a few simple spells just for practice and it's all worked for me. Nobody in my family's magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, I mean, it's the very best school of witchcraft there is, I've heard — I've learned all our course books by heart, of course, I just hope it will be enough — I'm Hermione Granger, by the way, who are you?"
She said all this very fast.
Harry looked at Ron and Neville, safe to say he was surprised to see by his stunned face that here was someone who had learned all the course books by heart, when compared to the private lessons like he did at home. Neville on the other hand, was just as speechless as Ron.
"I'm Ron Weasley," Ron muttered.
Before Harry could introduce himself, Hermione spoke up.
"I know all about you, you're Harry Potter. I got a few extra books for background reading, and you're in Modern Magical History and The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century."
"Am I really?" said Harry, feeling dazed.
"Goodness, didn't you know? I'd have found out everything I could if it was me," said Hermione. "Do either of you know what House you'll be in? I've been asking around, and I hope I'm in Gryffindor, it sounds by far the best; I hear Dumbledore himself was in it, but I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad… Anyway, you three had better change, you know, I expect we'll be there soon."
"Thanks, we'll keep that in mind," said Harry.
And with that, Hermione nodded her head and left.
"Whatever House I'm in, I hope she's not in it," said Ron. He threw his wand back into his trunk. "Stupid spell — George gave it to me, bet he knew it was a dud."
"So what House are your brothers in?" asked Neville.
"Gryffindor," said Ron. Gloom seemed to be settling on him again. "Mom and Dad were in it, too. I don't know what they'll say if I'm not. I don't suppose Ravenclaw would be too bad, but imagine if they put me in Slytherin."
"That's the House You-Know-Who was in, right?" asked Harry.
"Yeah," said Ron. He flopped back into his seat, looking depressed.
"You know, I think the ends of Scabbers' whiskers are a bit lighter," said Harry, trying to take Ron's mind off Houses.
"So, what do your oldest brothers do now that they've left, anyway?" asked Neville, who was wondering what a wizard or witch did once they finished school.
"Charlie's in Romania studying dragons, and Bill's in Africa doing something for Gringotts," said Ron beaming. "Did you hear about Gringotts? It's been all over the Daily Prophet — someone tried to rob a high security vault."
Harry and Neville stared in disbelief.
"No, what happened to them?" Neville asked.
"Nothing, that's why it's such big news. They haven't been caught. My dad says it must've been a powerful Dark wizard to get round Gringotts, but they don't think they took anything, that's what's odd. 'Course, everyone gets scared when something like this happens in case You-Know-Who's behind it."
Harry turned this news over in his mind. Why would anyone want to do so such a thing? Didn't his mom tell him that robberies rarely happen there?
"What's your Quidditch team?" Ron asked.
"Er — I don't have any favorites," said Harry confessed. "Yet..."
"Same," said Neville.
"What!" Ron looked dumbfounded. "Oh, you wait, it's the best game in the world —" And he was off, explaining all about the four balls and the positions of the seven players, describing famous games he'd been to with his brothers and the broomstick he'd like to get if he had the money. He was just taking Harry through the finer points of the game when the compartment door slid open yet again, but it wasn't Hermione Granger this time.
Three boys entered, and Harry recognized the middle one at once: It was the pale boy from Madam Malkin's robe shop. He was looking at Harry with a lot more interest than he'd shown back in Diagon Alley.
"Is it true?" he said. "They're saying all down the train that Harry Potter's in this compartment. So it's you, is it?"
"Yes," said Harry, who felt annoyed. He was looking at the other boys, both of them were thickset and looked extremely mean. Standing on either side of the pale boy, they looked like bodyguards.
"Oh, this is Crabbe and this is Goyle," said the pale boy carelessly, noticing where Harry was looking. "And my name's Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."
Neville rolled his eyes in disgust, while Ron gave a slight cough, which might have been hiding a snicker.
Draco Malfoy looked at him. "Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask who you are. My father told me all the Weasleys have red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford."
He looked at Neville, "And you, you're obviously a Longbottom." Neville eyed him, "I think if anyone here has got a funny name around here, it's you."
He turned back to Harry. "You'll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there."
He held out his hand to shake Harry's, but Harry didn't take it, he simply shook his head instead.
"I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks," he said coolly. "Adding to that, I did tell you not to go insulting my mother when you called her a… whatever you said, good day."
Draco Malfoy didn't go red, but a pink tinge appeared in his pale cheeks.
"I'd be careful if I were you, Potter," he said slowly. "Unless you're a bit politer you'll go the same way as your father. He didn't know what was good for him, either. You hang around with riffraff like the Weasleys, Longbottom and that Mudblood mother of yours, and it'll rub off on you."
Ron stood up to defend his friends, "Say that again." he said, his face as red as his hair.
"Oh, you're going to fight us, are you?" Malfoy sneered.
"Unless you get out now," said Ron, more bravely than he felt, because Crabbe and Goyle were a lot bigger than him or Harry.
"But we don't feel like leaving, do we, boys? We've eaten all our food and you still seem to have some."
But just as Ron was ready to throw his first punch, Harry stopped him in time.
"Not now, Ron." he whispered. "We don't want to cause trouble before we arrive."
Malfoy smirked with triumph, "You see, Potter? You can make a good decision when you try." *
"Get lost," Harry said with a frown.
Without another word, Malfoy and his comrades left. Harry, Neville and Ron then heard footsteps, a second later, Hermione Granger had come in.
"What has been going on?" she asked.
"Nothing", Ron said sheepishly, he and Neville then fixed his gaze upon Harry, "You've met Malfoy before?"
To which Harry explained to both Ron and Neville about their meeting in Diagon Alley.
"I've heard of his family," said Ron darkly. "They were some of the first to come back to our side after You-Know-Who disappeared. Said they'd been bewitched. My dad doesn't believe it. He says Malfoy's father didn't need an excuse to go over to the Dark Side." He turned to Hermione. "Can we help you with something?"
"You'd better hurry up and put your robes on, I've just been up to the front to ask the conductor, and he says we're nearly there. You haven't been fighting, have you?"
"Malfoy was fighting, not us," said Ron, scowling at her. "Would you mind leaving while we change?"
"All right — I only came in here because some people outside are behaving very childishly, racing up and down the corridors," said Hermione in a sniffy voice. "And you've got dirt on your nose, by the way, did you know?"
Ron glared at her as she left. It was getting dark. Harry, Neville and Ron could see mountains and forests under a deep purple sky. The train did seem to be slowing down.
Harry, Neville and Ron then took off their jackets and pulled on their long black robes. Ron's were a bit short for him, you could see his sneakers underneath them.
A voice echoed through the train: "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."
Harry's stomach lurched with excitement, and Ron, he saw, looked pale under his freckles, Neville nervously trembled. They crammed their pockets with the last of the sweets and joined the crowd thronging the corridor.
The train slowed right down and finally stopped. People pushed their way toward the door and out on to a tiny, dark platform. Harry shivered in the cold night air. Then a lamp came bobbing over the heads of the students, and Harry heard a familiar voice: "Firs' years! Firs' years over here! All righ' there, Harry?"
Hagrid's big hairy face beamed over the sea of heads.
Harry replied, nodding with a smile, "Doing just fine, thanks, Hagrid."
"Good to hear." Hagrid answered with a warm nod and beamed back, he then turned to Harry's other classmates, "C'mon, follow me — any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!"
Slipping and stumbling, they followed Hagrid down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. It was so dark on either side of them that Harry thought there must be thick trees there. Nobody spoke much.
"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."
There was a loud, "Oooooh!"
The narrow path had opened suddenly onto the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers.
"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. Harry and Ron were followed into their boat by Neville and Hermione.
"Everyone in?" shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself. "Right then — FORWARD!"
And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over them as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood.
"Heads down!" yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff; they all bent their heads and the little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of underground harbor, where they clambered out onto rocks and pebbles.
Then they clambered up a passageway in the rock after Hagrid's lamp, coming out at last onto smooth, damp grass right in the shadow of the castle. They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, oak front door.
"Everyone here?"
When he got all answers in the affirmative, Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.
Author's notes:
* So that was my fifth chapter of the Sorcerer's Stone, and as always with every one of my stories, let me know what you all think so far by leaving your feedback in the comments area.
* The Harry Potter franchise, its characters, elements and everything else are owned and were created by J. K. Rowling.
* For those of you didn't gather as much, the talk Harry has with his mom and Lupin is almost similar to the one that he had with his son Albus Severus in the actual canon, so I thought it be better to use it here instead.
* When Malfoy says to Harry, "You see, Potter? You can make a good decision when you try.", that line is in reference is a nod to a line exchanged between Jack Napier and Gotham Police Lieutenant Aaron Eckhart in the 1989 movie version of Batman.
* Regarding Lily's talk about she had magical abilities compared Petunia, and it skipping a generation or two was a mass guess of mine as Rowling herself has never clearly explained how Muggle-born witches or wizards have magical abilities and some don't, that I think is a good guess as certain family traits can skip a generation gap or two in real life, such as hair or eye color, body type, etc.
* I'm not sure if Harry has a particular favorite Wizarding World candy, besides chocolate of course, so I made it Bertie Botts, as I myself love jelly beans to death, especially Jelly Belly.
That said, until the next chapter my fellow Wizards, Witches and Muggles:
I'm M. R. Parkerson signing off…
