Dear all,

I humbly apologize for uploading this late. You see, I've made a very stupid mistake. Please don't ask, I'm already bashing my head against walls for doing an absolute beginners mistake. Anyway, I had to write the whole bl... da... chapter again. As you can see, it's a bit on the longer side and I'm currently also writing term papers. Let's just say, I had to plunder my hidden stash of black and green tee.

Now, I usually hate answering reviews in a chapter but to make it short. The alert for the new chapter was me re-uploading the last one after some more corrections on spelling and grammar mistakes. I hope it doesn't happen with this chapter as well. But one warning ahead. I will do the same for the first two.

I hope you'll enjoy the next part.

Yours truly exhausted

Harry Potter, a Slytherin in Gryffindor

Chapter IV: First Impressions

Harry shot around, his heart pounding hard. In front of him, leaning in the door frame stood Moody. Harry frowned. He had thought that everyone had left. The man looked almost smug.

"You've got a good head on that shoulders of yours, but you need more knowledge before you can go and.. well, before you can openly defy the Ministry, even if they're in the wrong."

Harry's frown deepened and this time the other did smirk. He did not offer an explanation, though. In stead he pulled out his wand, causing Harry to tense up, which he waved over himself muttering just one word, Finite. He put it away again afterward and turned.

"You're a bit old for those", he pointed his walking stick the box of toys. "Your father's study is downstairs and your mother was a bit of a book worm. Refused to call that room next to it a library, but that's what it was."

Moody left and this time Harry did hear him moving. Not only did his cloths rustle but his wooden leg made very recognizable sound when he walked.

After a short moment Harry decided to follow. Some sort of instinct told him he could trust that man, even though Harry could not phantom where that supposed knowledge came from.

Moody knew his way around the house. Along the way he pointed out various things, like a hidden door that led to a separate part of the basement where his mother had set up a small potions lab, the dining room, the kitchen where the actual basement entrance was, his mum's library and, finally, the study which they both entered, Moody first.

The room was furnished elegantly but functional. The the thick burgundy red carpet and decorative drapes to both sides of the window where the brightest colors in the room. Shelves containing books and parchments adorned every bit of the walls and were made out of the same ebony wood like the massive desk. A small chandelier, that did not quite fit into the otherwise fairly modern house, hang from the ceiling. On the was some stationery, quills differently colored ink pots and dark green sealing wax.

"The room's a smaller copy of the study in the old manor where James grew up. But after Charlus and Dorea, your grandparents, got murdered he didn't want to return. That's why it looks so different from the rest of the house."

Moody seemed to have realized the questions Harry had and answered them in his gruff manner before the preteen could even ask.

"Most of all that is paperwork for family business, some of it is purely a financially matter others have to do with the other old families and is either some stiffly social codswallop or of political nature – not that that's it any better." He grumbled something unintelligible. "The Ministry consists of five major groups. The idiots who usually don't know left from right, the rule stickers who will go after you just for writing the wrong addressee, the honest and intelligent who are pushed into mindless jobs to keep them from improving anything, the mindless and corrupt – if you ever get to meet the Minister you'll know what I'm talking about, and ambitious and cunning and corrupt who are the power behind the ministry."

Moody looked intently and with both eyes at him. So Harry nodded as a sign that he had indeed understood.

"You're a minor so you can't stay here alone. Those aurors do have to report to their superiors."

"That's fine with me. I only want to collect my parent's schoolbooks and some family photographs. They can hardly deny me access if they did not allow Gringotts to put it into the vaults in the first place."

Moody hummed.

"Get what's in there as well." He pointed at small cupboard-like wooden box that was fastened over the mantelpiece. The cabinet had an ornate crest instead of a door.

"That one should have the Potter Family ring. You can only wear that when you are of age but it should also contain the family grimoire. That's a book about the do and don's of your family and it's history. Better make sure to keep your allies"

Harry was about to answer, but he was interrupted by a sound from the window.

Tap. Tap.

A large brown barn owl sat in front of it. In its beak it held a very thick envelop. A neat calligraphic script spelled out his name, H. J. Potter.

Harry opened the window and was about to grab the letter, when Moody boomed his name.

"POTTER, CONSTANT VIGILANCE."

Harry almost jumped into the air but pulled his hand back.

Moody waved his wand over the owl and its delivery a couple of times but nothing happened. It took so long that Harry wanted to tap his foot and start questioning.

"It's save. You're expecting a letter from Gringotts?"

Harry ignored the question and just took his letter. There were several parchments inside it. Three of them where held together by Muggle paper clips. He put those aside and read the letter from Grimclaw first.

Dear Mr. Potter,

as per our agreement we located the small package and looked through its contents. It held a letter explaining the circumstances of your parent's death, along with a copy of their last will. The later one was made shortly after you birth and names Lord Black as your godfather and by default your guardian. It also states that in case of their death you where not to be placed with your maternal relatives. The reading was held back by request of the Chief Warlock in an emergency meeting of the Wizengamot on the 2nd of November ,1981.

The letter addressed to you clearly names Peter Pettigrew as their secret keeper. Therefore, it will be important evidence in the upcoming trial of Lord Black.

We have taken the liberty of informing Lord Fawley about our meeting and the agreement. He is one of the most outstanding barristers. So was his father, who witnessed and validated your parents will. By yesterday evening he had agreed to take immediate actions and obtained permission to visit Lord Black in person. This morning he got Lord Black to agree and sign the agreement. The only stipulation made, was about the payment for Lord Fawley and the goblin fees to be taken from one of Lord Blacks vaults.

To avoid confusion we left further explication on the attached documents. Please note that these documents need to be filled out post haste.

Respectfully yours

Grimclaw

Harry picked up the three connected sheets next. It was an explanation, stating that the one in the middle was the original and the last one was his copy. Then it went on to tell him where to put his name. But before Harry did that he once more read through the contract just be sure the goblins hadn't altered anything else.

As ink was on his table he took the explanation sheet, turned it around, grabbed a quill and gave it a few tries to see if he could write his name properly. He really needed to get practice with these antiquated writing utensils or get a hold of a fountain pen.

Nevertheless, he managed to sign the paper in all the right places and carefully blew over it to make the ink dry faster. He took notice that the name automatically appeared on the copy and filed that information to review later.

The last parchment turned out to be a letter from Lord Fawley and therefore Harry just skipped over it. He would take time to read it once he got rid of his silent observer. While Moody was not noisily asking questions, Harry had no idea just how much that strange eye could be. Opting for being better save than sorry, he decided not to trust the older man with this.

Sure enough he found an envelop on the desk and put the contract in there and addressed it. The sealing wax was on the desk, but he couldn't find any matches. He started looking, when Moody lost his patience.

"What are you looking for, Potter?"

"Hm, oh.. matches, I guess."

"What ever for?"

"To seal the letter." Harry held up the sealing wax.

"Hand me that." He pulled out his wand again and flicked it to the wax stump. "Do you even know what you are doing."

"Yes, thank you." Harry swiftly sealed the letter and gave it to the barn owl.

"This is rather urgent, if you don't mind." His own snowy owl, that still had no name and had yet to leave his shoulder, shifted her weight and clicked hear beak. Harry took it as a sign of dissatisfaction and tried to placate her.

"Once we find you a name, beautiful, you will probably be send out more than you like. I've got quite a few letters to write."

"Potter, if you'd quit flirting with you're owl", Harry turned towards Moody and blinked. "I'm not dump, that was Black's name on that signature. What have you got to do with the man that got your parents killed."

"With all d..", Harry interrupted himself. "You were an auror?"

Moody nodded.

With great hesitation handed over the letter from Grimclaw. He should probably speak to Lord Fawley first before he let someone else in on what was happening. But as it stood, the barrister was not here. Then again, an auror was like a policeman, wasn't it? So Moody should know what all of that meant.

In the meantime, the ex-auror's face had turned ashen. Once more he pulled out his wand, lay it flat on his hand and clearly enunciated:

"Point me Peter Pettigrew."

The wand twirled and then pointed south-west.

"I'll be dammed", he mumbled as he sank down into one of the seats in front of the desk.

"Would you mind explaining, sir?"

"I arrested an innocent man. At least, if that", he waved with the parchment, "is true."

"And that spell, you just used..."

"That's for finding north but if you add a name or and object you can also use it for general tracking, as long as you know what you are looking for."

"So, what's the downside."

Moody grinned.

"It doesn't tell you how far it is. There's no limitations to distance. It just shows the points to the shortest." Moody raised from the chair. He had obviously caught himself again.

"I'm getting in contact with that barrister. He's good, but has no idea about finding and restraining Death Eater. For now, open that and look though it. I'm stacking the most important books on the table in the library."

That being said, Moody left Harry alone in the study which gave Harry the option to have a closer look on the Crest that decorated the small cabinet. Truth to be told it looked rather exotic. In the center was a small greenish yellow bird that had chestnut-colored flanks and a white ring around the eye. It sat on two crossed twigs or branches of different trees. Both had dark green leaves, one dull the other glossy. Each had at least one blossom and what Harry suspected to be fruits. Underneath was a comparatively large sea shell. The picture was framed by intertwined antlers and other tree branches, which Harry identified to be apple tree, and Ivy. The center piece was crowned by two long black fathers, crossing on top of two fluffier white. The background was what Harry believed to be a round, polished bronze shield.

Overall, it was very colorful and easily the most elaborate crest Harry had ever seen. He could not even begin to imagine how his family had ended up with something like that but maybe there was indeed some explanation – some time in the future.

As the cabinet had no knob or key he lay his hand against it, just to see what would happen. After all, when had moved his thumb over the crest on the pouch it had taken a tiny bit of blood. This time, however, he just got a tingly feeling and then he heard a soft lick. The door had opened.

The inside was bigger than it looked. Though it only held four objects. On the very bottom lay an incredible thick and large book. It reminded Harry a bit of a paving stone and was most likely just as heavy. He doubted he would be able to lift that. On top was, diagonally, a role like the ones he had seen in Baggis Baggage Bags. The other two items were a thin metal ring with several Gringotts keys, along with some others, and a ring which held a pale turquoise jewel that almost shone with an inner light.

Harry placed the tree smaller objects on the desk, even though the role was much heavier than he first expected, and returned for the book. He breathed deeply and reached for it. With a huge effort he managed to maneuver it into his arms and than made for the desk, as fast as possible.

BANG

Well, Harry thought, at least I didn't drop it.

The noise must have startled Moody, for Harry could hear his hasty footsteps.

"You all right there", he asked standing inside the door.

"Yeah, just got my hands on a bit of light reading", Harry joked and pointed at the grimoire. It's cover held the same crest as the cabinet had but on top and on the very bottom where silvery letters, or was it runes. Harry could not read it, that much he knew. On the parchment tube he found similar signs. Both looked like molten silver and completely free of any tarnishes.

Moody openly frowned.

"The Potter family is old, but not that old. It wasn't even added to that bloody book in the thirties."

"I would hardly know about that." The preteen commented as he opened the book and flipped over the first few pages. "How am I supposed to read that anyway", he wondered, accidentally speaking out loud.

"Well Potter, we know what electives you'll be taking then."

"Electives."

"You have to chose at least two additional classes at the end of your second year."

"What are they?"

"Ancient Runes, that's what you'll need if you ever want to read that. Arithmancy is a about magical properties in numbers. I doubt you need Muggle Studies and Divination is just plain rubbish. Either you're a seer or you're not. The last one's Care of Magical Creatures."

"Did my parents by any chance take that?"

"Which?"

"Runes."

"Both did. At last till their owls."

"Then I might as well pack these books, too."

"And end up in Ravenclaw, wont you?"

Harry snorted.

"You know that you have to return to your guardians? And we might as well hurry, before the Ministry sends another bunch."

"They can't say anything about me being here. I called my aunt yesterday. I have her permission."

Moody raised an eye brow as if he knew that he was not telling the entire truth.

"Staying here would be to obvious. The house is to well known, isn't it?"

Moody grunted.

"You got a trunk or something, Potter?"

Nodding, Harry grabbed into his coat pocket and pulled forth the miniature trunk. He sett it on the ground and tapped it, so it would re-size. Moody whistled from where he stood.

"Spend a small fortune on this one. Baggis' work?"

"Yes."

Harry opened the compartment for his books and they began packing. It took quite a while and Harry had to show Moody the other compartments. With a bit of transfiguration and charms they somehow managed to stuff a good part of the office into the empty room, that Harry had wanted to use for things that did not fit with the other compartments. They kept it to the most important things and packed several big boxes for the goblins to collect and put into the family vault. By three o'clock in the afternoon the house was mostly empty and Harry's trunk had barely enough space for the books that might have been changed. Harry even managed to convince Moody that it would be prudent for him to have his fathers old broom.

At the end of their little house cleaning spree they sat at the kitchen table, the only room they hadn't touched so far. As the charms had prevented any decay. Harry had used what ever he could find and prepared a simple stir fry, using spaghetti and any vegetable he could find. During the cooking he had felt the heavy stare of Moody and just managed to bit his lip before he gave a truly rude comment. Though, the ex-auror had tucked in after a first careful sniff.

In the spirit of shared work, Moody cleaned the kitchen after eating, with the exception of a charmed picnic basked where Harry had put the salvageable groceries – there was little sense in wasting perfectly good food after all. Harry had gone to often without to adapt such a mentality.

Therefore Harry allowed himself a break and sett cross-legged in the former living room in front of the fireplace. In his lap laid the open book, written by Bathilda Bagshot. He was browsing through the index of names in order to find something that might fit his lovely owl. It took quite a bit and the newly named Hedwig had screeched a couple of times at his suggestions, but they finally saw eye to eye on his last choice.

When they finally thought they had everything Moody moved all of the packing cases out the front door with a flick of his wand. Harry's trunk was already back in his coat pocket along with another few boxes, that he did not want in Gringotts.

"Now, lend me that owl of yours. She can make herself useful."

Hedwig stared greatly unimpressed at Moody but let him tie a piece of parchment to her leg.

"That's for the lawyer", he explained for once without further prodding. "I wrote that I'll be looking for Pettigrew and of our house cleaning. Your father and his friends were not only a group of troublemakers they also where rather brilliant if the didn't get on everyone's last nerve, that is. They might hidden something."

"How do we find that."

"Don't worry, if Black knows he'll tell. Fawley will not let the Ministry get their hands on the property before it's striped bare of your parents belongings."

The preteen nodded and left first. Moody closed the door and for the next fifteen minutes started waving his wand over it in complicated patterns. Every so often the wand or door would glow shortly. It was fascinating but Harry had no idea what the older man was doing and when the other finally turned away from the door he looked slightly exhausted.

"Expect another letter from Gringotts. They'll probably be suspicious little buggers as always and demand to know why I'm bringing the boxes."

"I don't understand why I can't go, anyways."

"There, still Death Eaters out there. Followers who managed to swindle their way out of prison."

"Would they dare do something?"

"Pettigrew is a coward, sneaky but still a weak wizard. The others are much more dangerous. They have the means to get away from getting caught."

Harry hesitated for a moment but decided knowing the answer was most likely safer in the long run.

"Where the Malfoys among them?"

"How do you know that pack."

"I met Draco Malfoy yesterday at Madam Malkins. He hung behind, when he was done and his father came looking for him. I decided not antagonizing anyone seemed the safest option."

"The son? If he turns out anything like that father of his. He's slippery. Claimed to be imperiused and somehow managed to avoid taking Veritasserum. He was a Death Eater alright. But he's more out for his own gain. Anything to give him power. And he's also the sort who hates anything Muggle."

"I'll be careful, but Draco is expecting a letter sooner or later."

"I don't blame the son for his father but with his upbringing nothing good can come out of it." Moody's voice held something final in it. The topic was closed for him and Harry excepted.

"Come, I'll drop you of at Bathilda's."

The rest of the afternoon was spent having tee with the old lady. She seemed lonely and no longer able to look after herself without aid. So Harry remembered his good manners and helped her quite a bit. It was just some basic cleaning, nothing that he didn't do at the Dursley's. Only, for the first time he got a very heart warming thank you for his efforts. He felt a bit, that he owed it to his mother. From the bits and pieces that he got to know about her from the people he had spoken with, he got the impression that that was what she would have done. In the end he stayed until after dinner and left only at quarter past eight. The old professor looked a lot happier, when he left and Harry promised himself that he would visit every time he went to see his parents grave.

His travel back with the night bus relatively uneventful. The bus had just dropped its last passenger before he had flagged it down. And so he got relatively fast back to Surrey as it started to collect some of the nighttime travelers.

Aunt Petunia was not overly impressed when he showed up on their doorstep at nine o'clock on the dot. For once, Harry did not let himself be intimidated and told her straight away that he needed to talk to both of them. Uncle Vernon and Dudley had been watching TV in the living room. When Harry entered the kitchen his uncle seemed even less inclined to talk to him than his aunt.

"I'll make this as brief as possible", Harry started after waving of Dudley who was contend enough to continue watching the movie and stuffing himself with sweets and pop corn.

"Did you find the letter, Aunt Petunia?"

She handed it to him. Amazingly enough she had kept it all these years, which did not only surprise Harry but apparently her husband had not known either.

"Why did you keep that", he grunted.

"That's not important. What you have to understand is that I should have never been left in your care." Harry screened the letter for the signature and sure enough it was Dumbledore's. "Albus Dumbledore is the headmaster of Hogwarts. And while he may be a very important person in my world because of his achievements he had no right to place me in your care." Harry carefully circumnavigated the words wizard and magic. He wanted their cooperation. The Ministry would be a pain as it was and he had no idea if Dumbledore would try to prevent him from moving out. Sirius Black had spent almost ten years in prison. They could try to declare him unfit as a guardian.

"Now, the person who should be my guardian has been framed for something he didn't do. It was pure chance that the evidence came up yesterday. He was sent to prison without trial. That leaves a couple of possibilities open that a barrister can exploit. Long story short. He'll most likely be free by next summer."

"Freaks and dunderheads", muttered Uncle Vernon. "Not even able to follow laws."

Harry ignored him.

"As I see it, there are only two possible outcomes of that trial. First, his name will be cleared and I'll move in with him. Second, his name will be cleared but he'll be declared unfit to care for me. That means, that either someone will want me to stay here or someone else will try to gain custody of me."

Petunia pursed her lips, a clear sign that she was dissatisfied with the second outcome.

"The barrister already wrote me and stated that in case of the second outcome he would make sure that you would gain custody. That means you'd be rid of me anyway, as you'll just write me a paper that says I could spend my holidays with my godfather."

"Will we", Vernon asked with a hiss.

"You will, because otherwise my godfather would just pop up every day. And there's nothing you could do about that."

"We'd finally be getting some compensation for having to put up with you."

"You wouldn't, Uncle Vernon. Taking in an orphaned child of relatives of friends is considered a great honor. Had you treated me like you own son, I, in return, would have been obliged to help should a child of Dudley's get accepted to Hogwarts."

"No grandchild of mine will ever turn out a freak."

Harry shrugged. He certainly hoped that would be true. But if his mother had turned out a witch, maybe, somewhere down the line, there would be an other magical child unfortunately enough to be born into this family.

"Vernon", interjected Petunia. Between the two she had more brains and could see the benefits of writing that permission.

"I'm currently looking into a way of contacting you using the normal post. This way you wont have any owls flying around your house. Speaking of which, my own will arrive here shortly. I'll make sure she stays quite and out of sight. She's needed to keep in contact with the barrister. He also requested that you write down how I came to be in your care, Aunt Petunia."

With her he needn't explain any further. She just nodded stiffly and got herself some paper and a pen. A few minutes later she handed it to him.

"You're staying until September, then."

"Yes, the Ministry is..." Harry tailed of but she probably got the meaning anyway.

That conversation was the last time he really spoke with his relatives. For the next weeks he kept mostly to himself if he was not outside maintaining the garden. It would most likely grow wild once he left but that was not his fault. He had always enjoyed spending time there and, therefore, the alternated between reading his new school books, one of his mothers supplementary readings for Muggle raised and pulling weeds out of the flower beds.

Within the first week of his visit to Diagon Ally he had even drafted a carefully worded letter to Draco. He made sure to include as little information about his dealings as possible. Harry was almost sure that Draco's father would read these letters, with or without his son's knowledge. He made sure to keep the conversations inconsequential and light. School topics were one theme he considered save. He even mentioned that he gained more knowledge about holiday's and customs. For the younger Malfoy's shake he compared some of them to their Muggle counterpart or even took the liberty of poking some fun – if only tentatively.

When the first of September finally came around, Harry still had the distinct impression that he was not yet prepared for what was to come. He had made reservations for his trip to Kings Cross on his last trip with the Knight Bus. Hedwig was in her cage this time around. He did not dare to just send her to Hogwarts. What if he did not find the entrance. Lord Malfoy's description had been rather vague.

He arrived at the station shortly after ten o'clock, which left him with almost an hour to find the platform. Logic demanded that it was located somewhere between the platforms nine and ten. Thus he made his way over there. In order to avoid suspicion he had put a thin shawl over Hedwig's cage. As long as the snowy owl kept quiet he could easily claim that he traveled with a parrot or something. His trunk was again shrunk in his coat pocket.

He readied himself for a bit of a wait. Hagrid had not told him, how to get to the platform. Harry guessed that he either forgot, which was entirely believable, or that someone may have been asked to keep an eye out for him. He positioned himself at the main entry to the platform and waited. There had to be other children who lived outside of the Wizarding world and who would enter the platform from the Muggle world. Asking the station staff was out of question. They would declare him mad.

Luckily enough after only fifteen minutes he saw a family approach the the platforms. They had two children with them. The older boy pushed a trolley with two standard Hogwarts trunks that he had seen in Diagon Ally. He was tall and Harry assumed that he was at least fifteen years old. Both children had curly, strawberry blond hair. The girl looked maybe two years older than Harry. But then again, he was not the best example for comparing age as he himself looked hardly older than nine.

On top of their trunks sat an empty owl cage and an other, that held fat tiger striped cat. Their cloths merged with the Muggles around them, something that could not be said for their parents. Both were waring robes that stood out in the mass of travelers. Fortunately they had at least forgone to wear a hat.

Harry tailed them closely to a stone pillar, trying to listen in on their conversation to see if he, indeed, got it right. Sure enough the mother reminded her daughter Marietta that she expected to see an improvement in potions this year. Her brother took the topic a little lighter and reminded her, that she'd only have to take the subject until the OWL's which Harry had found out where a sort of final exam after the fifth year. Marietta, however, seemed unimpressed and whined about having to go through that torture for an other four years and that he had had an easier time because he was a Slytherin. That confirmed Harry's estimations. The girl was a second year and the boy in his sixth or seventh.

Unfortunately for Harry they vanished when they went around the corner of the stone pillar. He had not dared to follow them to closely and now he had lost them. Well, at least he found the entry. He stood in front of the pillar and frowned. Was their some sort of mechanism he had to activate. Did he have to tap some stones with his wand.

Lost in his thoughts he had not heard another family coming around the stone pillar until a voice interrupted his musings.

"Excuse me, young man."

It was an old woman with the most curious attire he had ever seen. She was wore an emerald green costume. The collar of it had a fox pelt sewn on it. On the crook of her arm she carried a ridiculously large handbag. It was checkered but mostly red. The most outlandish, however, was her hat. On top of the large black piece of clothing, that practically screamed witch, sat some sort of stuffed bird. If the Muggles were not already suspicious of all travelers disappearing on platform nine and ten without ever boarding a train, this would definitely draw their attentions.

And here I thought we were supposed to be discrete.

Harry may as well have spoken that sentence out loud. For it must have been readable on his face.

"Well, Mr. Potter, are you going to get moving or will you let us pass through?" Her tone clearly stated her impatience. She was obviously a woman used to command others around and getting her way.

"I beg your pardon, Ms." Harry deliberately used the more modern and definitely Muggle way of addressing her, if only to see if it would tick her off. She seemed to be one of those characters that would walk all over you if you so much as gave an inch.

"Where would I pass through?"

She huffed.

"Just turn around and walk straight forward, boy."

"I think I'll pass. I have no intention of walking into a brick wall, Ms."

Oh, and now she pursed her lips, just like Petunia always did.

"That's Madam Longbottom, for you, boy."

"Considering the that during the last two generations our families have been rather close, pleas feel free to address me as Mr. Potter. I take it that I'm right when I assume that you are the mother of Lord Longbottom and, therefore, an acquaintances of my grandfather Charlus."

By the time Harry had finished his little come back she was pale. The memories he had likely awakened could not have been pleasant. So he turned towards the younger boy standing next to her. He was round faced and, like everyone else of his age group, taller than Harry. There was some dirt underneath his finger nails and on his trousers. Which could mean that he was either very clumsy or maybe he had knelt next to a flower bed. Otherwise he looked quite plump, as if he had never done any sports through out his whole life.

From his mom's diaries he knew that the boy was called Neville. She and his mother Alice had become rather close during their pregnancies. If he had to guess, so had probably been their fathers as they dealt with their hormonal wives and their own blunders.

"Hallo Neville, my name is Harry. I've only recently returned to the Wizarding world but through my mum's diaries I know that she and your mum were friends."

Harry had opted for the most informal approach. The other boy seemed rather nervous. Had he never met any kids of his age before? Who ever had raised him had done a horrible job at giving him a modicum of confidence.

"Hi", was the timid response that he got, along with a shy smile.

"So, you're a first year, too? Any subject you're looking particularly forward to?" Harry tried to draw him a bit out of his shell.

"Herbology. I like plants."

Yes, Harry could believe that. Plants, at least the Muggle plants, didn't have an attitude you'd have to deal with. An they were not bossy, like certain grandmothers. And, not to forget, they were quiet. It was probably an atmosphere that Neville would flourish in.

"You're probably going to be good at that class then. I've never had much of a green thumb." That was true. The only reason he had appreciated gardening was for the fact that it was outside.

While the boys chatted Madam Longbottom had found her composure again. Harry had subtly kept an eye on her. She no longer looked as pale and when she spoke again a bit of that bite was gone.

"You two can chat all through the train ride. For now lets move on to the platform. Mr. Potter, you are standing right in front of the passage." She had gotten his jab and started explaining how to go through.

Platform nine and tree quarters was busy with people even though there was over half an hour left before the Hogwarts Express was to leave. The red and black engine was heating up and smoke was slowly raising. In a few more minutes it would be enough to befog the whole crowd.

The first two or three carriages were already full. Students lent out of the window and were chatting with their relatives who had accompanied them to the train. Others were waving friends over to show them their compartment as cats of every color made their way through the peoples legs. Harry saw no need to keep Hedwig in her cage and removed first the shawl and then opened the door. She flew out almost immediately and carefully landed on his shoulder. A satisfied hoot and a short affectionate nip on his ear told him that he had done right by her.

They found an empty compartment in the middle of the train. With some difficulty they had hoisted Neville's standard trunk on board of the train and stored it under the seats. It was to much of a hassle to hoist it up into the rack where Hedwig perched herself. Next to her cage.

"Where's your trunk, Harry."

"Here." Harry showed him his shrunken trunk after fishing it out of his coat pocket.

"Oh, that's neat." Then, as if that had jugged his memory, he suddenly started looking through his pockets. He rashly left the compartment and shortly after Harry could hear him talking to his grandmother. He had lost Trevor, what ever that was. He contemplated helping him search, but the old woman could probably find it much faster using magic that he himself did not know.

"Hey Hedwig, will you watch over our things? I forgot to bring something to drink."

The bird bobbed her head and focused on the door. Harry left his schoolbag on the seat next to the window and left as well. On his way out he nearly stepped on a toad who had attempted to enter the compartment. Keeping in mind that Hedwig had also hunted the odd frog during the summer Harry shut it out. He found Neville on the platform and said that he would be back shortly and said his goodbyes to Madam Longbottom.

It did not take him long to leave through the iron gate, that had the platform's name written on top of it, and reenter the Muggle part of the station. Curiously enough you could see through the supposed wall and so he just managed to jump out of the way as another family entered. On his way back from the kiosk he overheard another family. Unlike Marietta's they made quite a bit of ruckus. There were four boys of different ages, a women and a girl who was probably still to young to attend as only the boys had a trolley and a trunk each. The oldest already wore the uniform, minus robes and hat, beneath his opened and worn jacked. He also was the only one to have a pet in form of an owl.

The plump woman was now asking for the platform and the little girl besides her spoke up. She, like the boys, had flaming red hair. It triggered a memory from one of Draco's letters in which he had told him that some families had distinguished features that would be recognizable. Draco had mentioned several families with red hair, though Harry could not recall the names.

They stopped a bit away from the entrance. The oldest boy, whom she called Percy, was the first to run through the barrier. The set of identical twins followed shortly after. When Harry turned around the corner and just slipped through he believed to see her looking at him. It could, of course, have been his imagination but for a moment it was as she had recognized him.

Crossing the barrier, he ran straight into the rest of the boys who probably waiting for the rest of their family. They looked rather puzzled when he showed up instead of their brother, who had just gotten ready to run. The oldest, turned towards him.

"You should not just go running around while your parents bring your brother or sister to the train. They'll be worried." It was quite clear that he believed Harry to be too young be a student.

Harry stopped and turned around.

"I'm a new student", he just said and turned to go on.

"Impossible. You can't attend Hogwarts before your eleventh birthday." Maybe his younger siblings had had a similar argument with him? But that was no reason to go and call him a liar, Harry thought and decided, he definitely didn't like him.

"Fist, I am eleven. Second, even if I was the younger sibling of someone already attending Hogwarts, my parents could have asked me to do something or given permission, which, third, you as an outsider would not have known, Forth, you are not an adult, you have absolutely no authority over me. Fifth, not that it's any of you business but my parents where murdered ten years ago."

The twins snickered. Obviously no one ever shut that annoying teen up for Percy currently looked a bit like a fish on dry land.

"Aw, the ickle Firsty..."

"..has bite."

"If he continues..."

"... we'll get along

"just fine", they coursed.

Harry's eyes shifted from one to the other as they spoke. He felt a headache coming. Those two would either be a real pain or amusing to watch, if they did not turn out as bullies. But they were likely skilled in driving everyone around them totally nuts.

"We are Fred"

"and George Weasley."

"But you can"

"call us Gred"

"and Forge." They introduced themselves and ogled him inquiringly.

Harry frowned at them. He had seen and heard the two as they pulled that trick with their mother.

"You are Gorge", he pointed at the twin to his right. "And you are Fred."

Now it was the two who looked flabbergasted. The were apparently so used to be mistaken for the other that it didn't occur to them someone may pay enough attention to tell them apart.

"Stop that nonsense you two. And I'll have you know, that I'm a prefect." It seemed Percy had composed himself again and stet himself to return the pleasure of a server dressing down. Their mother and younger siblings had turned up sometime in between and he probably felt that someone would back him up.

"Well, than it should be your duty to make the first-years feel welcome. And let me tell you, with that you'll just drive everyone away with your current attitude. I'll certainly find another prefect if I ever need help. You may want to read the handbook of school regulations again. My mother was a prefect and head girl. And the only thing that badge gives you is duties not privileges or the right to look down on everyone else." As Mrs. Weasley looked like she wanted to give him a piece of his mind for dressing down her son, Harry hurriedly turned towards the twins.

"It was nice meeting you Fred, George", he turned towards them respectively. "On that notion, you can call me Harry", and with a last grin towards the twins he left the family towards their own devices.

A short look on the clock over the heads of the crowed told him that the train would be leaving in ten minutes. When his view turned downwards again he spotted a family with blond hair that stood out in the mass of people.

The Malfoys. Lucius Malfoy looked just like he had on their first meeting and Draco seemed to make a big effort of emulating him. The only woman in the group of three must be his mother. Harry recognized that Draco got some of his softer features from her and as he approached them he also saw that her eyes were gray and similar to Draco's. Or was it the other way around?

"Good morning Lord Malfoy." Harry had startled the man slightly as he had come from a direction not in his field of vision.

"Good morning Mr. Potter. Allow me to introduce you to my wife. Narcissa Malfoy." He turned towards his wife. "Narcissa, Harry Potter", the as I'm sure you recognized was left unsaid.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Malfoy." Harry decided to go with the most polite way of greeting that he knew. Like with her husband he thought better safe then sorry.

"It's nice finally see who is behind the name that has my son so excited." The answer surprised Harry somewhat. He had expected her to be just as cold as Lord Malfoy but apparently his assessment was wrong.

"Draco as written quite a bit about his family." Again he opted for the polite version. For while his first letters had contained a lot of his fathers views. Harry had managed to coax him to give his own answers. Therefore, he ended up hearing his acquaintance almost swoon about his own mother.

Nevertheless, she seemed to understand like only a mother could. Her face may have remained almost expressionless but her eyes twinkled in amusement.

Harry turned to Draco, not giving him a chance to greet him first. He had found out a tidbit of information and wanted to see Draco's reaction.

"Hello cousin."

The blond did not disappoint. He lost his composure and looked at his parents for help. He had clearly not known that.

"Cousin", he croaked.

Lord Malfoy's eyelid twitched. If Draco's letters were to be believed he had just gone against everything his father had ever taught him about maintaining their reputation. Harry grinned. Mission accomplished. Moody would be proud of him. Breaking Draco slowly away from the hold his father and his views had, would most likely take years but then again, they would be attending Hogwarts for the next seven.

"Your mother was born a daughter of the most ancient and noble house of Black, just like my paternal grandmother, Dorea Potter."

"You must have done a lot of research, Mr. Potter. Draco told me that you were only informed of your true heritage this summer."

"I've a lot to catch up and I doubt I know everything I should but growing up in the Muggle world is not all that bad. At least I'll never expose myself as a wizard because I don't know anything about it."

"Are you saying, Mr. Potter", Lord Malfoy intruded on the conversation. "That Muggle Studies should become mandatory."

"If it's taught by a competent teacher, it may be an idea worth considering but only if the school governors finally include an extra course on Wizarding customs and traditions."

"A competent teacher?"

"Yes, like someone who has actually lived in the Muggle world as an adult and go to know their culture and technological advancements."

"A Muggle-born then."

"Actually, Draco told me about squibs. If I understood him correctly they can not get a proper education or work here and most live among Muggles."

Narcissa shot a sharp look at her son.

"Then he must have also told him, that they are usually not spoken about."

"Yes, but as children most of them would have grown up like any other child with a natural understanding of the Wizarding culture. So, who better to teach about the Muggles than a squib. A Muggle-born would take many things for granted that a squib who had to adapt would not."

"I see." Lord Malfoy said. Still, he seemed rather uncomfortable with the topic. "Going with your argumentation. Would you suggest a witch or wizard with Muggle upbringing to teach about our customs?"

That was a trick question. Harry could feel it.

"That depends." He chose the only way out he could see. "If said person lives all of the traditions there's nothing wrong about it. But normally Muggle-borns do not learn about them. If they do, than it's by trial and error. "

"A pure-blood then."

Harry just resisted shaking his head violently. It was not all about pure-bloods and Muggle-borns.

"Not necessarily, no. It would probably be best to have two teachers for the same subject. Someone raised only in the Wizarding world would probably not understand why Muggle raised children struggle with some of its views."

"The idea certainly has its merits, Lucius. Hogwarts doesn't practice the old holidays anymore and even our children forget their upbringing. It would definitely lead to less blunders committed in social gatherings."

"Yes dear, I coincide."

Harry felt like laughing. It seemed that even Lord Malfoy was whipped when it came to the demands of his wife.

A shrill whistle put the end to their conversation. It was the first warning. In three minutes the train would leave. Lady Malfoy ushered them to the next door.

"Where's your trunk, anyway", asked Draco.

"On the train, I've been here for an hour. Yours?"

"With friends. We found an empty compartment. Want to come?"

"I've found my would be godmother's son. I want to get to know him a bit. But I'll come by later." Harry looked at him apologetic.

"Who is it?"

"Neville Longbottom."

"Oh," It seemed that Draco knew about the shy boy but he didn't say something else. In stead he turned to his mother. "Mother, do you know how close we are related to each other."

"You are third grade cousins once removed", she answered with a tiny smile on her lips. "Now, do me proud, Dragon", she whispered as she bowed to his ear and gave him a short hug.

Both of them just made it on the train as the door shut automatically behind them. They split up to their respective compartments. Draco sat further at the end. While this was the wagon Harry and Neville had found their place in.

When Harry entered the compartment he found himself face to face with two girls. One of them was blond with pig tails, the other was a redhead, though not as fiery as the Weasleys'. Neville, however, was missing. Hedwig still sat on the rack, so it was at least the right compartment.

"Hello", he greeted.

"You've got a beautiful owl there. But it's very protective." Harry was not sure if the redhead meant that as a compliment or a complain.

"Hedwig is also very intelligent." He answered if only to see how she would react.

"Hm, she only started screeching when someone would sit right next to your bag." She giggled a bit. "Hannah tried sitting at the window but she wouldn't let her."

Hannah's already pink face became red as she blushed. The color stood out especially against her blond hair. She pulled a face.

"Oh, shut up Susan." But there wasn't much bite in it. "Neville is still looking for Trevor. An other girl with big front teeth and bushy hair is helping him. I didn't get her name, though."

"Hm, so you are Susan and Hannah." Harry pretended that their little banter was their way of introducing themselves. "I'm Harry."

Both girls seemed embarrassed and hurried to greet him properly.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Susan Bones and this is my friend Hannah Abbot. We've known Neville for years and he said we could sit with you."

"He said that your mothers knew each other."

"Nice to meet you, too." Harry assumed that Neville had already given his full name so he did not bother with it. "My mum's diary said that she and Alice got to know each other in school."

Susan looked scandalized.

"You can't just go reading other peoples diaries."

"How else would I get to know my parents", answered Harry confused.

"You should ask them. A diary is something very privet. How would you feel if someone was to read yours", Hannah added.

Harry frowned.

"But my parents are dead."

"Oh, my... I'm sorry", Hannah apologized and Susan had an understanding look in her eyes.

"I'm sorry. I should have realized."

"Didn't Neville tell you my name?" Harry was puzzled. Maybe the Wizarding world had never gotten their hands on pictures of him. It would certainly be a relieve and would make it a bit easier to make friends. With a bit of luck it would take a while until it was common knowledge that he attended Hogwarts.

Understanding dawned in Susan's eyes. She shock her head.

"No, he didn't. He just said that he met a new student.."

"He gave Susan and I your description, though. Black wild hair, glasses, green eyes, very thin and rather small."

Harry bristled. Of course he was short, how could he not be. He took a deep breath to calm himself down.

"So, why should have Neville told us your name?"

Susan and Harry shared a look. Harry knew, that she knew. But she hadn't said anything, so she probably would not in future. She just shock her head again and turned to Hannah.

"It's not important. Really."

After that the conversation turned towards their upbringing and subjects that they liked. When Neville still hadn't returned after almost an hour Harry got worried.

"I heard Neville say that he lost Trevor. Could it take that long to look?"

"Harry, Trevor is a toad, and this train is huge."

"I still don't understand why he keeps it."

"You just don't like it because it once somehow managed its way into your pocket, Susan, and ate your Frog."

"A toad shouldn't be eating chocolate. It completely destroyed the card and it was Beatrix Bloxam, too."

"Frog? Chocolate? Card?" Harry definitely did not understand what the girls where talking about.

"Ah, give me a moment." Hannah started searching through her stuff. "Here you go."

"Thank you", Harry said and tentatively took the little slightly odd shaped box.

Both girls looked eagerly at him, a strange smile on their faces.

"You know, you're supposed to eat that."

He readied himself for something very odd. It couldn't be too bad, if a toad had managed to eat and survive it. They also said that it contained chocolate and chocolate was never bad.

He opened the box.

For an odd moment he saw a frog made from chocolate in all its detail before it suddenly jumped. Only his sharp reflexes, honed from years of dodging his uncles fists, enabled him to catch it before it would have jumped out of the open window.

"That was a good one", Hannah commented.

"Good reflexes", came from Susan.

"They really only ever get one good jump, than the charm wears off."

"The chocolate tastes really good, too. It's better than most that you can buy in the Muggle world."

Harry stared at his hand that still held the Frog. It had stopped struggling against his grip. But what he thought most atoning – besides the amazing detail the Frog was formed with – was that his fingers did not stain, yet. Muggle chocolate would have already started melting.

It did melt however once he had bitten the head off – inside his mouth. And Harry was hooked. He loved chocolate, that was of course when ever he had managed to sneak a piece from his aunts watchful eyes, which was not often. The girls giggled has Harry sat there with closed eyes almost moaning. He would have to come out as a cupboard chocoholic.

"Is all chocolate like this?"

"There's a shop in Hogsmeade, that sells the highest quality chocolate in Britain, the Honneydukes", answered Susan. She lowered his voice conspiratorially and stage whispered the rest: "They even do owl orders."

"Oh no", Hannah groaned. "Don't tell me you're another chocolate lover. The best parts about the Frogs are the cards."

Harry blinked owlishly at her while Susan burst into laughter. Then he looked at other hand. The flat side of the box, was not only the opening but Harry could see a picture and a name written beneath it. He pulled out the whole card.

"Bowman Wright", he read.

"I already have that one twice", Hannah threw in.

"Me to, but I've only got it once."

"The backside has information about the witch or wizard. All of them are famous. And some of the cards are more common then others."

"1492 to 1560; Inventor of the Golden Snitch?"

"Oh, the snitch is one of the balls from Quidditch. It's the smallest and fastest. And extremely hard to see. The seeker must catch it to end the game and it also means his team gets a hundred and fifty points", explained Susan.

"Hm, it sounds like an interesting game. However, I should probably look for Neville. He seemed awfully shy. I don't want anyone picking on him."

"How will you do that? You don't know where he went to?"

"That's easy, Susan." Harry flicked his wrist and his wand appeared in his hand. He laid it on his flat hand and spoke clearly in a commanding voice. "Point me, Neville Longbottom's toad Trevor." The wand took a moment, than he pointed towards the front of the train.

"That's damn useful."

Harry just grinned at Hannah and left the compartment. He found the toad, or rather the compartment it was in, one wagon away. Judging by the voices the students were a little older than him. So he knocked. An older boy, blond with a badger on his pullover and a black and yellow stripped tie stepped out. He was very handsome and probably got much attention for his looks. Harry guessed him to be thirteen of fourteen.

"Can I help you."

"I'm sorry for intruding. My name's Harry and I'm looking for a lost animal. It's a toad and belongs to Neville Longbottom."

"What's it Ced", Harry heard someone say from within the compartment. Seconds later the door was open. "Aw, a Firsty. What does he want?"

Ced, if that was his name, sighed. He maneuvered the other boy back inside and asked if someone had seen a toad.

"How do you know it's here?" Asked one of the two girls that was sitting here. She, too, was what Harry believed to have identified as Hufflepuffs. Therefore Harry repeated his little charm.

"A Ravenclaw, if I ever saw one", commented a boy who sat at the window.

"That's not even in the first year books", added the second girl who had the second window seat.

"Well lets have a look under the seats. Maybe it's behind the trunks."

With a bit of effort they looked first under one row of seats. No Trevor. When they pulled out the trunk from the other side, where the girls sat at each end, they had more luck. One of them nearly shrieked when Trevor jumped on the seat. Harry quickly squeezed himself past Ced and grabbed it.

"Sorry, he mumbled. But he has a bit of a taste for Chocolate Frogs." He pointedly looked at the unpacked Frogs in her lap and left the compartment – easily as Ced had stepped out again.

"Thanks for the help."

"Why isn't your friend looking for his pet."

"Oh, he is. I think he already started in King's Cross. But when he didn't come back I got worried."

"You two may have gotten it wrong, you know", said the boy who had been silent thus far.

"What would they have gotten wrong?"

"Oh, they are guessing which first-year will end up in which house", he answered Harry.

"Ah, so they guessed it would be Ravenclaw because the charm was not what a first-year would know."

"You got it."

"Why did you contradict."

"Be cause most Claws are not overly helpful when it comes to getting involved. They would usually just point you towards the information that you need and than leave you to puzzle it out yourself. Tell me, are you going to look for your friend? Neville, was it?"

"Yes, to both. Though, I may drop the toad off first. By now Neville is probably at the other end of the train." The boy turned to the others.

"I say he'd make a pretty decent Puff."

Harry frowned at him. He, a Hufflepuff.

"I doubt it. Hufflepuff was loyal and hard working, wasn't it?"

"That, and we help our friends out when needed", said Ced who had taken his seat in between the girls again.

"You don't like hard and earnest work then", the girl next to the door asked.

"Now, that's a trick question. I don't mind hard work as long as the topic holds my interest."

"You'll get those classes too. History is especially boring", said the boy visa vi from Ced who had come after him.

"Those who do not know History's past mistakes are doomed", Harry quoted. It had been one of the librarians favorite. When ever he had hid himself from Dudley and his gang she had forced some knowledge down his throat. Some had even stuck.

"I say he's a Claw all right", spoke up the boy from the window seat.

"And he's to much of a goody to shoes for Slytherin even if he has ambition", piped up the girl on Ced's left and Harry's right.

"So, Harry, you are going to find Neville?"

"Yes, might as well be better if I take the toad with me."

"Why not leave it at your compartment."

"Oh, Hedwig could watch him all right. It may even prove profitable if I let her. I doubt that he would escape again."

"And just who is Hedwig", asked the girl from the window wearily.

Harry grinned diabolically.

"My owl."

"Hey man, you've got a major mean streak there" said the quiet boy on his left, next to the door. The others laughed.

"Is there a problem", interrupted a self-importand sounding voice Harry would have recognized anywhere. He allowed himself to pull a face, as Percy would not be able to see it. But it was inevitable that he would recognize Harry from the platform.

"Hello Percy, it's all right. There's nothing wrong here."

"Hello Cedric, are you sure that this boy..." Harry interrupted him before he got further.

"This boy, has a name, as I am sure your mother has told you by now", he threw the older boy the iciest glare he could manage. It probably wasn't all that effective due to his short high but that wasn't the point.

"After all, she recognized me due to how much I resemble my parents. Was she told to watch out for me and show me how to get on the platform?" Yes that was a bit of rude speculating but the older boy annoyed him, greatly.

"That's no way to speak to your betters, Potter."

"Would you like a repeat performance?" Harry did not wait for an answer. "First, the only thing you can be considered is older. Second", but Percy just left before he could really go into it and Harry left it be.

"Someone really needs to remove that stick from his", Harry's ranting got interrupted.

"Potter", questioned Cedric weakly and the preteen groaned.

"Well, yes." He turned around looking at the blond looking rather sheepish.

The second boy to his left burst out laughing but caught himself quick enough.

"Well, that solves it then. Slytherin it is. Nicely done."

"If you don't mind. I'd rather keep it quiet."

"That wont work", said Cedric who, too, had recomposed himself. "They announce your full name during the.. eh.. sorting process."

"Well, there goes that hope. I had counted on keeping it under wraps."

"Sorry, but you'll find out your true friends sooner or later anyway", said the blond. Cedric had gotten why he wanted to keep a low profile. "They'll probably know before we even arrive. At least a good portion of the students if you have spoken with the Weasleys. They're a rather chatty bunch."

"All right, thanks for the warning."

Harry pulled out his wand again.

"Point me, Neville Longbottom", and with that he left and dropped Travor of with Hannah and Susan, then he made his way to the back of the train. He was in the penultimate wagon when he saw Neville and the girl with the bushy hair. Not only that he could hear a familiar drawl, Draco. The girl was most likely a Muggle-born and had somehow set the blond off.

"Hello Draco", Harry greeted loudly and stuck his head into the compartment. "If you don't mind, I'll take these two out of your hair."

"Hair", questioned the blond without further greeting him.

"It's a Muggle saying", Harry waved him off. "I found Neville's toad, so we are leaving. That's why they were here, weren't they?"

A pug faced girl in sneered at him.

"Another mud.."

"Pansy", said Draco sharply before she could finish what would have doubtlessly been an insult.

"A friend of you?"

"Harry, these are Pansy Parkinson, Millicent Bulstrode Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle." Draco did the introductions. "We have more ore less grown up with each other."

"Nice to meet you."

"Everyone, this is Harry." Draco deliberately omitted the last name, of that Harry was sure. "And Pansy, if you want to be technical about it, Harry would be at least a half-blood. He's my third grade cousin once removed."

Harry raised a questioning eyebrow at him and gave Draco an additional imploring look. He would ask later a bout it.

"All right, I'll come by later, if you don't mind."

Draco shock his head and stood up.

"I may as well come with you, and Longbottom. The train ride lasts all day and that's more than enough time to just sit around." He closed the door behind him.

"Well, Neville, who's your friend", asked Harry, as they slowly returned to the middle of the train.

"I'm Hermione Granger." Her voice was somewhat bossy and the girls' description was correct. Her front teeth were not only rather large but crooked, too.

"Have you really found Trevor? How?"

"Yes, he's with Hannah and Susan. They're taking care of him and even promised not to give him any more Chocolate Frogs", Harry teased. "I used a charm to find him. Which reminds me, why haven't you asked an older student to help you?"

"We didn't think of it and some were rather rude. Speaking of which. It is rude not to introduce yourself, you know."

"I know, then again, Draco introduced me to everyone", Harry shrugged. You were sanding in the door with me, so you did hear my name."

"So you're Harry no-last-name."

"Hardly", Draco drawled. "Everyone has a surname."

"So, what's Harry's?"

"Has anyone ever told you.."

But Draco never got to finish that. They had just entered the corridor of the next wagon when a red haired boy caught up with them.

"Have you heard", he asked, without even bothering to introduce himself. "Harry Potter is on this train. I've even seen him on the platform."

The dark haired preteen nearly groaned. He was smaller than Hermione so he hid a bit behind her. The taller first-year hadn't seen him yet but Harry had easily identified him as the youngest Weasley. If he was anything like Percy they'd get along like an polar-bear in the Sahara or a pop-cycle in summer.

Hermione's eyes lit up in recognition but she bit her lips. Then she pointedly looked at Malfoy and stood directly and very close in front of Harry, facing the new comer.

"Yes, we heard. But he's not at the front of the train. Some of the older students said that he may be intelligent enough to hide. I heard he was raised among Muggles. Being suddenly famous would make anyone run for cover. By the way, it's rude to intrude on a conversation without so much as apologizing or introducing."

Harry was still slightly bewildered as to what Hermione was up to but Draco seemed to have caught on.

"Don't bother asking, Granger", his voice was free of any contempt that he may held for here and rather polite. He did sneer at the redhead though. "You can recognize most of the old magical families by prominent features in appearance or profession." He continued in a slightly more lecturing modes.

"The fine specimen of very rude example would be a Weasley. The more prominent features are fiery red hair, a lot of freckles, mostly dressed in either hand me downs or self made cloth, and fare more children than they can afford to care fore."

Well, Harry was admittedly speechless. That was incredibly tame for Draco. When the blond had written him about other old families he had gotten a ten inch long rant solely on the Weasley family.

The bushy haired girl didn't know that though and gaped at Draco, who just stared pointedly at her. When she didn't react immediately he non to gently stepped on her foot. That did the trick and Hermione closed her mouth again.

"Malfoy", hissed the red head.

"Is there something you want?"

"Neville, come and give me a hand. I can hardly go into the boy's toilet and help James wash out his eyes. Really, shouldn't you have thought of your allergy to cat's before getting on the train. Or at least when you saw them on the platform."

Hermione stirred a slightly slack-yawed Harry to the other end of the corridor always keeping herself directly behind so that he wouldn't be that visible. When they had reached the toilet the girl told Neville to see if someone was in and then shoved both boys in.

"She's brilliant", whispered Neville.

"She is, unfortunately she doesn't know that the sorting ceremony includes calling everyone by their whole name."

"Well, that sucks."

Shortly after they heard a knock and Draco saying that Weasley was gone. The quartet made their way towards Harry and Neville's compartment. Even Hermione tagged along and stayed for quite a while. She was mostly curious as to why he had not given his last name and now Hannah, too, learned that Harry was actually the famous Boy-who-lived.

The blond girl forgave him almost instantly, after hearing their little story about meeting the youngest Weasley. She asked the brunette how she had managed to keep herself together and they all got some more information about Hermione's childhood. She had apparently once met a Muggle celebrity on the street when she was much younger and pointed a finger in her direction. When she and her parents got home she had gotten the longest scolding ever. She admitted that she had almost been as rude as Weasley, even though the street had separated them.

Even though Susan was rather frosty towards Draco they managed to chat amicably amongst the six of them. The two guests stayed until a round lady with a trolly full of different things showed up and asked if they wanted some. Harry had stood up immediately. He did not really want many sweets but asked the others if they had brought something with them Neville, Susan and Hanna confirmed and Hermione had a sandwich in her compartment. Draco denied, he had just brought some money. So he asked for six cups and tree bottles of pumpkin juice, three pieces of cauldron cake and some Chocolate frogs. He stopped Draco from buying himself a whole lunch, as he wouldn't need it and send Hermione for her sandwich. Both were rather puzzled but the blond seemed to trust him enough to follow his lead.

Harry went out into the corridor and enlarged his trunk. From the large compartment he brought out the picnic basked and then put his trunk way. When he reentered the other four looked stunned.

"Where did you get that from", Draco asked.

Harry just grinned. He wouldn't give away his trunk. It may come in handy at a later point.

"Trade secret."

The blond grumbled – until Harry unpacked the sandwiches and fruits.

They shared among each other by cutting everything into even pieces, using the Tupper boxes as make shift plates. Draco, Hannah, Neville and even Susan got a crash course on Muggle picnics. Which was a bit odd, as they were sitting in a train but they seemed to enjoy it non the less. They finished their dessert with half a piece of cauldron cake. By that time Harry's left over food, which he had feared he would have to throw away, was gone.

"I'm stuffed", groaned Hermione.

"Why did you have so much food with you anyway", Hannah wanted to know.

"That bread was delicious. I've never eaten anything like it", added Susan.

"You've never been on the continent? They have bread like that over there", Draco commented. "But I've got to admit that I've never had one that was this fresh. You made it yourself, I presume."

Harry nodded.

"Last night. When they were sleeping. Took hours to get the smell out of the kitchen." Harry was to content to think straight otherwise he would have never said that much. Unfortunately Neville and Hermione caught it.

"Why would you do that. Shouldn't you be.. I don't know.. sleeping at night?"

"It's not that easy, Neville."

"So you just sneaked into the kitchen at night."

"Granger, before you go on, take a good look at Harry and tell us what sets him apart from Longbottom and I." Draco stood up and pulled Neville and Harry along with him.

"Well, Harry is shorter, than both of you. He's even shorter than me. And he's much more slender than Neville. Take of that robe Malfoy." Draco complied and stood behind Harry.

"Hm, he is really thin, isn't he?"

"Well, if you are done", Harry grouched. He did not like being stared at intently, as Hermione was doing now. In addition, he was a tiny bit sensitive about his height.

The topic was dropped after this but he implications Draco had made were very clear. They stayed on lighter themes after wards and Harry and Hermione learned to play Exploding Snap and how Quidditch was played.

It was late in the afternoon when Hermione and Draco left. Hannah and Susan had gone to change into their uniforms and Neville and Harry did the same in the compartment. Not all that long after, a female prefect with a blue and bronze tie showed up to tell them, that they should change. Her name was Penelope Clearwater but she left when she realized that they had already done so. They tidied the compartment a bit and put all of the waste in the plastic bag that Harry had gotten from the shop when he got his mineral water.

It was dusk, when the train slowed down and finally stopped at the station in Hogsmeade. Harry opened the window and let Hedwig out. She could fly the rest to the castle instead of being jostled in her cage.

A loud booming voice called over all of the noise the students were making.

"First-years, this way."

edited: August 18, 2014; 01:35