Chapter 9: Train Rides and First Friends

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Final Fantasy XIV ARR. HP is the property of J.K. Rowling and FFXIV ARR is the property of Square Enix.

Spells/Abilities/Primals

Mother Crystal

Thoughts/Echo Flashback/Parseltongue

Walking through the Fireplace was quite disconcerting for Harry as he and Zacharius made their way through the King's Cross hidden Floo arrival zone onto platform 9¾. It certainly didn't help that Harry landed in a faceplant on exit.

"You will get used to that in time just takes practice." Zacharius chuckled as he helped Harry off the floor.

"I would rather ride a Morbol." mutters Harry, dusting himself off as they walk towards the Hogwarts Express.

"No, you wouldn't. Trust me they smell worse in real life."

"How is that possible? I mean it is your memory of them while I was in the scroll." Asks Harry.

"I blocked out the true smell on purpose. Trust me it is much more terrible than what you experienced." Answered Zacharius.

Harry looks around as they walk through the crowded station. The Red steam train is quite a sight gleaming in the morning light. They pass by a young man and his grandmother.

"Gran, it looks like Trevor got away again." Says the young man.

"That toad has been nothing but trouble since your uncle got him for you." His gran answers.

"Yeah, I probably should have left him in the greenhouse back at the manor." He looks at his grandmother, "Will you be ok by yourself Gran?"

"I will be fine Neville, thank you for concern you just go and make me proud." She gives Neville a hug and shoos him onto the train.

Before he can get in Zacharius and Harry walk up to them.

"Hello madam, my name is Zacharius Clay. And this is my ward Harry Potter." Zacharius gestures to himself and Harry.

Neville and his Gran, who formally introduces herself and her grandson as Augusta and Neville Longbottom, shake hands with Zacharius and Harry.

Zacharius turns to Neville and asks, "Young Neville, might I ask if you are willing allow Harry to sit with you on the train. He has been away from the wizarding world until very recently when he came into my care."

Harry smiles brightly when Neville agrees and Zacharius leans down to speak with Harry before the two soon to be friends depart.

"Harry do you have everything?"

Harry nods and pats his pocket which has his shrunken trunk inside.

"Good be sure to take it out and unshrink it inside the train before you get off when you get to Hogwarts the House Elves there will send everything to your rooms. Hedwig will meet you there in the morning with the mail. Good luck, have fun and make some friends, yeah?" Zacharius smiles as he shoos Harry onto the train.

Augusta turns to Zacharius, "So you are the one Albus put the Potter Heir with?"

Zacharius shakes his head, "Not originally he was sent to his Muggle Relatives at first…" he pauses, "They were unsuitable guardians, however, and Albus vetted me after Garrick suggested that I should meet with young Harry."

"Why would Garrick want you to meet Mr. Potter?" asks Augusta.

"Harry's wand is made from some rare materials that I gave to Garrick. I had mentioned that I would like to meet the person who was compatible with them." Zacharius smile, "That as they say is that."

Augusta nods and the two of them share small talk about their charges.

Meanwhile on the Train….

Harry and Neville find a compartment to sit in and Harry helps Neville with his Trunk.

"There we go everything is stored now."

"Thanks Harry." Says Neville.

"No worries it is what friends do." Harry responds with a smile.

A shocked Neville looks at Harry and asks, "Are we?" He continues when Harry gives him a strange look, "Friends I mean."

"Well," Harry says, "I hope so unless you don't want to be."

"NO! I mean I would like that. It is just I do not have a lot of friends… any really." Neville responds quietly.

Harry smirks and sticks out his hand, "Well you do now."

Neville smiles and shakes Harry's hand.

"So, I hear you have a pet toad that likes to hop off." Says Harry.

"Yeah his name is Trevor. I got when my Uncle did something foolish and he prefers the greenhouse at home, but I wanted to bring him to Hogwarts."

"Really what did your Uncle do?" asks Harry then he cringes, "Sorry that is probably an uncomfortable topic."

"Nah, it is ok." Says Neville, "He hung me out a window by my ankle to try and scare me so my accidental magic came out. Most of my Family thought I was a Squib till I blasted my Uncle back into the house and floated down to the ground."

Harry stares at Neville, mouth slightly agape eyes dull. "I think you deserve more than a toad for that Nev… I think your Gran would be furious."

"Oh, she was. Uncle Algie is banned from the house for then rest of his life and is not to be left alone with me ever. She hexed him pretty bad too, even with the broken ribs I gave him when I blasted him back into the house." Neville smiles at the memory.

"Oh well that's good. I was worried for a sec." says Harry. "My guardian Zach says that sometimes magical's can be a little careless cause Magic fixes most problems. I'm glad that's not the case with your Gran.

"Me too." Neville smiles and nods. "My turn. Do you have a pet?"

"Taking turns, huh?" Harry smirks, "Well I have a snowy owl named Hedwig, who is staying at my house till she flies to Hogwarts tomorrow. I got her when Zach and I went shopping in the Alley for my birthday. We walked into the Owl Emporium and she immediately flew down onto my shoulder."

"Cool like she was waiting for you."

Harry smiles and nods, "Yep, the shop owner said the same thing…," He gets a thoughtful look, "say I just had a thought you said Trevor likes you family greenhouse, right? Maybe he is looking for some place similar to get comfortable. I'll ask Zach if he has a toad habitat in the store for you, he sells just about everything."

Neville shakes his head, "You don't have too." He starts to say.

"But I want to. Friends help Friends out, yeah?"

Neville chuckles, "Alright thanks Harry. We will have to find him first though."

Harry smirks, "Easy just ask a prefect to use the Accio spell to summon him back when the train starts going and voila! I have a shoe box we can poke holes in and put in a damp cloth to keep him comfortable till the toad habitat arrives."

The two settle down and continue to small talk. As they talk more and more students arrive and begin to fill the train. A rap on their door stops their conversation and with a soft "Enter" a young girl with bushy hair opens the door.

"Are you guys jerks?" she asks.

The two boys look at each other and shake their heads.

"Can I join you then? I was in my own compartment when some older kids saying that it was theirs and kicked me out." She looks at them with watery but hopeful eyes.

Harry and Neville share a look and nod, "Sure come on in."

The girl wipes her eyes and enters the compartment and sits down in the space next to Neville.

"Thank you. My name is Hermione Granger." She introduces herself.

After Neville and Harry introduce themselves ('Are you really Harry Potter? I have read all about you') the three sat in silence for a while unsure of what to say.

Blushing Hermione says, "Sorry I should have had more tact then that. Can we start over?"

Harry and Neville smile and nod. Soon the three are talking about their lives and their hopes for the new school year. Through the window Harry catches a glance of a gaggle of red heads coming through the barrier and onto the platform. Soon after a knock comes from the door and a young red head sticks his head in.

"Can I join you guys? Most of the other compartments are full. Names Ron Weasley by the way." He asks.

Harry and the others nod and welcome Ron into the compartment. Before they can introduce themselves to him two more red heads pop their heads in to speak to Ron.

"Hey Ron." Says one.

"Find a spot." Says the other.

"Did you?" they finish together.

"Yeah Fred and George these guys are letting me sit with them." He answers.

"Good, if you need us" says Fred(?)

"We will be in a compartment with Lee. He has a new pet he wants to show us." Says George(?)

"Toodles." They say and walk off.

Harry looks at Ron and asks, "Are they always like that?"

With a resigned sigh Ron nods his head. This causes them all to giggle a bit.

"Well it is good to meet you Ron. I am Harry Potter…"

"Really? Do you remember… sorry shouldn't ask that. Dad and Mum say I need to be more sensitive when I ask questions like that." Ron scratches the back of his head sheepishly.

"No worries. Anyways these two are Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom." Answers Harry.

The four sit and talk and the train begins its journey towards Hogwarts. Ron and Neville talk about their favorite quidditch teams with Harry and Hermione asking questions about the sport. Harry smiles at their enthusiasm and Hermione shakes her head and pulls out a book. Harry asks what book she is reading.

"Oh, just a book of stories I found in Flourish and Blotts, Wizarding fiction is interesting." She says.

Ron nods and says, "If you like my older Brother Percy likes to read fiction as well. I could ask him to recommend some to you."

Hermione beams at him and nods. A knock at the compartment door is opened to the Trolley Lady who asks, "Anything off the trolley dears?"

Ron shakes his head, "Mum packed me a lunch but I think she gave me corned beef again…"

Harry looks at Neville and Hermione and nods to himself.

"I'll take the lot." He says with a smile and hands over the galleons.

The rest of the ride is spent in companionable silence the train winding its way towards its destination.

* #$# ** #$# ** #$# ** #$# ** #$# ** #$# ** #$# ** #$# ** #$# *

Hello all I am finally back I am sorry it took me so long to get this out. And it is also a short one this time.

I kept trying to make it longer but everything I thought of just made it a tedious slog of a read through so I decided to keep it short. That is one of the reasons why this took so long to get out. The other reasons range from laziness to personal problems.

Next chapter is the meeting with Draco and the Opening Feast. Harry will also be partaking in the Phantasmagoria scroll training. Level-wise I say he is around level 15. Yes, he did some training off screen with Zacharius to get to there so he only knows the bare minimum. He will be experiencing the level 15 dungeon Sastasha in this expedition. No echo flash back today because Ron never pulled out Scabbers. I'd say everyone get off to a better start in my train ride then cannon huh? I hope everyone is staying safe. See you next time.

Oh One More Thing:

No GNB (Gunbreaker) for Harry he is going DRK (Dark Knight) all the way. Still deciding on whether the others will get Jobs or not.