Chapter 3 Platform? What platform?
Disclaimer: moneys a problem, therefore don't own potter. That and I try to have a joke with the chapter name.
Thoughts
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The day was finally here; Willow would be able to use magic rather than just practicing the wand movement or incantations. Today her and her best friend Dazar would start at Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry. The only problem was they were in north Yorkshire the Hogwarts express only stops at London and Hogsmead; of course they had stayed in London the previous night. It was about half ten in the morning, the train leaving at eleven, and Dazar and Willow were pushing their stuff through the crowds at Kings Cross, London. Dazar had quickly pointed out a wizarding family to Willow, they were all red-heads, and he had wanted to wait for them to go through the barrier before. What he hadn't told her was that Harry Potter would ask them for help soon, and Dazar had wanted to try and get into the same compartment by saying the others were full truthfully. This family (if you haven't guessed already) was the Weasley's.
The main problem was Willow couldn't see a platform 9 and ¾'s and by the time they reached the barrier between platforms nine and ten the Weasleys had already gotten onto the platform. "uum Dazar where is the platform," she asked looking to him.
"It's a glamour, sort of, just walk at the barrier and believe it doesn't exist," explained Dazar.
"Ok," replied Willow a little unsure but if Dazar said something was a certain way she had come to trust that he was normally right. Pushing her trolly ahead of her, Willow headed straight for the barrier between the two platforms. Arriving on the platform Willow was shocked by the great steam train on the tracks. She was broken out of staring at the train when the whistle went off.
"We must hurry," said Dazar and they rushed off to the train to get on board before it left.
# # # #
Harry had been talking to Ron Weasley for the last ten minutes or so, getting to learn about each other and the worlds they had grown up in. It was during a quiet patch were Ron had gone back to staring that a red haired girl opened the carriage door.
"Do you mind? Every other one is full," she asked, indicating both herself and the boy with long black hair behind her.
"Sure take a seat," replied Harry. He was surprised when the girl left her trunk in the doorway and sat down right next to the door. Harry was even more surprised when the boy grabbed the girls trunk and placed it in the luggage rack above her and then his own with what appeared to be next to no effort. Once the boy had sat down next to the girl, she extended her hand for Harry to shake.
"I'm Willow," she said, shaking Harry's hand.
"Harry Potter," Harry replied.
"Ron Weasley," Ron grunted.
"Dazar Nai," added the black haired boy as if it didn't matter about his name. They sat in silence for some time, Dazar could see Ron's curiosity beginning to kill the cat. 'three two one' Dazar thought at Willow, who giggled when right after the one Ron's mouth opened.
"How did you do that, with the trunks I mean," Ron asked suddenly.
"I read a book that tells you how to use your own magic to boost your strength, as we can use magic now it thought it would be a good idea to test it," Dazar answered. It was a half-truth as he had read a book that described just that.
"I didn't see your wand, or hear an incantation," replied Ron suspiciously.
"It doesn't need either, its more willing your magic than an actual spell," explained Dazar. Harry was wondering why these two hadn't reacted the way the rest of wizarding society had when they knew it was him. After a moment Willow opened her mouth, here we go thought Harry.
"So Harry, recon we will get a lot of unwelcome visitors when people realise you are here?" asked Willow.
"Probably," replied Harry, he was relived these two were not treating him like everyone else. Right after the word, 'probably', left his mouth Draco Malfoy along with two gorilla shaped students entered.
"Is it true?" he said" they're saying all down the train that Harry Potter's in this compartment. So its you isn't it,"
"Yes" said Harry, he was looking at the big idiots standing behind the boy.
"Oh this Crabbe and Goyle, and I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy," said Draco. Ron covered a laugh with a cough, Willow was finding it hard not to laugh for some unknown reason.
"They look about as smart as two short planks," said Dazar, he was grinning broadly.
"Be quite when your betters speak, Mudblood," sneered Malfoy.
"You think your better than me? Foolish pureblood brat. Do you recognise this?" Dazar replied at the end he held up his wand's box so Malfoy could see the cover.
"The symbol of the Immortal? That's got to be a fake. Listen Potter you should stop hanging around these riff-raff or you'll go the way your parents did," said Malfoy, although his face had gone pale green. "Crabbe, Goyle lets go," and they walked out.
"Are you really an Immortal?" Ron asked not really believing Malfoy, but the git had turned green. Dazar sighed and nodded his head, really hoping to keep it secret for longer. "Light or Dark?" asked Ron again.
"Grey," replied Dazar.
"Grey? Never heard of a grey one," said Ron.
"I do what I must to make light win, that makes me grey as I believe some evils are unavoidable, even acceptable. The Dark Arts being one of them," explained Dazar.
"I'm sorry but what is an Immortal," asked Harry.
"Immortals are powerful beings that come from other worlds, they are always Light beings," explained Ron.
"That's wrong," said Willow in a soft yet strong voice.
"How would you know, you're a muggle born," replied Ron, in disbelief.
"Because I've lived with one for the last few months," replied Willow.
"She is right you know," said Dazar, "Most living Immortals are either Dark, Grey or after something else. As far as I know I'm the only living Immortal that supports the light, but I'm still grey,".
"We also do not want anyone to know that Dazar is an Immortal, but that's unlikely now, however keep quiet unless it comes up in a big way," said Willow. Just as Harry and Ron were nodding their heads the door opened yet again. Standing there was a bushy haired girl, and a round faced boy.
"Have any of you seen a toad, Neville here has lost one," said the girl Bossily.
"I'm afraid not Neville, who are you miss.." replied Dazar.
"Hermione Granger," said the girl.
"I'm Dazar Nai, this is Willow, Ron Weasley and Harry Potter," said Dazar.
"Are you really Harry Potter, I've read about you, of course, in some books I got for extra study," replied Hermione but before she could go into a full babble Dazar cut her off.
"Whoa there reel in the intellect Hermione, none of those books got it right, I read them myself, and the only survivor doesn't even know what happened," he said.
"Hermione we go ask in other compartments, hopefully some one has seen Trevor," Neville said pulling Hermione to the door.
"Hold on, your Neville Longbottom right?" Dazar asked. Neville nodded his head.
"Sit down you two, we will help get your toad Neville," said Willow gently.
"I don't see how sitting down to talk will help but ok," replied Hermione. Once they had sat down opposite Dazar and Willow, Neville asked how they could help.
"I'm sure you are aware that you can summon things to yourself by magic, am I right?" started Dazar.
"That's right, but I don't know the spell or how it do it," replied Neville.
"As I don't know your toad, you will have to do it, take out your wand and say ACCIO. You need to also say what you want to summon and concentrate on it, you got that Neville," explained Dazar.
"Yes I think I do, ACCIO Trevor the toad," replied Neville raising his wand, after a few seconds Hermione spoke.
"Did it work? Nothings happening," she said.
"It worked, I felt the magic leave Neville's wand, things aren't always instant with magic Hermione, you should know that," replied Dazar. Sure enough a few seconds later Trevor, Neville's toad, came flying into the carriage.
"You said you felt my magic, how?" asked Neville after checking his toad for injuries.
"I suppose it can't hurt, and before I do say anything Hermione don't go off about books you read about this from, if you have a question just ask it. I am an Immortal, Neville," answered Dazar.
"An Immortal, is it true you can teleport? That you can use your blood to heal any illness and move from world to world? That you have access to other magic than that of your magical core?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, yes and yes Hermione. I can also change the air into any object I desire, as well as flight and many other abilities," replied Dazar calmly. Willow closed her eyes and sighed as she leaned into Dazar, snuggling into his shoulder.
"Tired," Willow whispered. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville watched amazed when Willow floated upwards. Dazar then moved into the corner underneath Willow and sat with his back to the corner. Willow floated back down and moved so she was behind Dazar's legs her own over his and so she was leaning against his chest. She wiggled around a little getting comfortable said something incoherently and was asleep in seconds.
"Sweet dreams," said Dazar quietly.
"Are you two…?" asked Neville stopping embarrassedly when Dazar looked up at him.
"Dating? No we are just friends, but she told me she feels safe with me. I don't know how we are going to deal with it at Hogwarts; she doesn't sleep well without me being near. I don't sleep much anyway so I normally end up watching," Dazar explained to the others.
"Why?" asked Ron leaning forwards a little he was curious.
"Her parents died when she was very young, she lived all her life in an orphanage where she was bullyed for being magical; the staff did nothing to stop it either. I'm the first person she met that didn't hate her for being magical and took her away from all that. That and Willow has had nightmares for a long time, all involving flashes of green light, and a high pitched laughter," explained Dazar. He stopped then seeing the pale look of Harry's face and the glint of recognition inside Harry's green eyes.
"I have dreams like that," said Harry "and a few others but I never worked out what it was, what it meant."
"You were dreaming of the night when Voldermort killed your parents Harry," said Dazar ignoring the flinch that all but Harry made when he said the Dark Lord's name.
"Don't say his name," hissed Ron.
"Why? Its only a name, Dumbledore says it," replied Dazar calmly.
"They say Dumbledore was the only one You-Know-Who was afraid of, and how do you know he says that name?" asked Neville.
"I know Dumbledore says Voldermort's' name because he said it when I went to enrol at Hogwarts," replied Dazar.
"You had to enrol? Why" asked Hermione curiously.
"My dear girl, do you truly believe an eleven year old mind would be able to cope? To become an Immortal you have to die first, the only thing about me that is the same is my mind. I am actually twenty years old, and yet for some reason Willow dose not care about that," explained Dazar.
"You are really twenty! And you died!!" said Hermione before fainting in shock.
"Dumbledore had a similar reaction, and now if you will excuse me I need to get some sleep," said Dazar smiling at Hermione's reaction.
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Hermione regained consciousness some time later it was a good thing to really as everyone else had fallen asleep. She had asked a prefect earlier how long it took to get to Hogwarts, and had set the countdown on her watch accordingly. They now had thirty minutes to wakeup and get changed. Hermione's actions woke up Neville who had been snoring gently beside her.
"Neville we have got about half an hour before we reach the station, do you think you can wake up the others, I'll get Harry up," she said.
"Sure thing Hermione," replied Neville. While he went to wake Ron, Willow and Dazar; Hermione worked on Harry.
"Harry, wake up," she said, there was no reaction so she tried louder. Not wanting to give up she grabbed Harry's shoulders, He awoke instantly and violently pushed her away. Hermione landed on the floor with a grunt.
"Sorry Hermione," said Harry said sheepishly, he then reached out his hand and pulled her up.
"Don't worry about it Harry, you didn't mean to hurt me," Hermione said wincing slightly as she got up. The thud Hermione made when hitting the floor had woken up Dazar, he looked around then went to coax Willow awake.
"We need to change into our robes, me and Willow will do it in the toilet next door as there are more boys than girls here," said Hermione once everyone was awake and aware.
"Of course, just be careful Malfoy and the Morons might be hanging around nearby," replied Dazar. This comment sealed it for Hermione, this guy may be twenty but he treated them all as equals.
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They had arrived at Hogsmead station just as Willow and Hermione had entered the carriage. An announcement had told them to leave their belongings on board and they had quickly found themselves on the station working their way over to a giant of a man shouting for first years. Hagrid was about twice as wide and half again as tall as a average man, had long curly had and beard.
"Hey Hagrid," greeted Harry smiling.
"Heya Harry, hope those muggles did not give you much trouble," replied Hagrid. After a few minutes of talking and some polite introductions, Hagrid yelled for the first years to follow him. They proceeded to walk down an narrow and slippery path down towards the great lake. At one point Willow slipped and fell backwards, Dazar with amazing speed got behind her, so that Willow fell onto him.
"Thanks," Willow said smiling stepping forward she took Dazar's hand to help stay stable,
"No problem," replied Dazar helping Willow catch up with the others. They rounded a bend and the castle came into view for the first time, it was magnificent. Dazar smirked as his senses told him that a few students almost fainted. The finally reached the lake shore and found a fleet of small boats.
"No more than four to a boat," said Hagrid point to the boats. Harry, Hermione, Neville and Ron got a boat, Hermione sitting next to Harry at the front. Willow and Dazar got a boat to them somehow, anyone who went near inexplicably moved away. Harry saw Willow whisper something to Dazar who nodded his head. All the boats set off by themselves once everyone was aboard, Hagrid at the front in his own boat. After about five minutes they were fast approaching a wall of vines. "Heads down," yelled Hagrid. The boats passed under the wall of vines and into a massive cave in the rock wall. The boats soon docked at an underground port that was lit by torches on the walls. They all disembarked and followed Hagrid out of the cave and up onto the wet lawn in front of the castle. They entered through a pair of great oak doors and were lead into a small room to the side of the great hall. Inside was a stern looking witch in all green with greying hair in a tight bun.
"Thank you Hagrid, I will take them from here," said Professor McGonagall.
"Wouldn't want to get on her bad side huh?" Harry muttered to Ron. Ron nodded in agreement.
"In a few moments I will lead you into the great hall where you will be sorted into your house, you house will be your home at Hogwarts, doing well in class earn you house points, any rule braking and you will lose house points. Now follow me to be sorted," explained Professor McGonagall. She led them out into the great hall, many of the less nervous first years looked around in awe. Hermione told Harry the ceiling had been charmed to look like the sky outside.
"This should be interesting, where do you think you will go?" Dazar asked Willow.
"As long as its not Slytherin and with you I don't care," replied Willow. All to soon they reached the top of the great hall. They watched as Professor McGonagall placed an old hat on a rickety three-legged stool.
"You will come up when I call your name and place the Sorting hat on your head, it will place you in the appropriate house," explained McGonagall.
"Abbot Hannah," a pink-faced girl with blonde pigtails put the hat on her head.
"Hufflepuff!" the hat yelled.
"Applegate Willow," said McGonagall no one moved "Applegate Willow," was repeated.
"I think she means you," Dazar whispered into Willow's ear.
"So that's my last name, cute," replied Willow just as quiet before leaving the line for the hat. She sat down and placed the hat on her head, the thing fell below her eyes.
Lets see what we have here, said a voice appearing in her head.
Are you the hat? Willow asked the voice.
Yes, now then were to put you, you have a thirst for knowledge but only what is useful, some courage, loyal and trusting to those who have earned it but only by treating you as you. But where to place you hummm…wondered the hat literarily thinking out loud.
Can't I go in Gryffindor? Willow asked the hat.
I don't see why not GRYFFINDOR replied the Hat shouting the last out aloud. Professor McGonagall went through several more names, Hermione went into Gryffindor after a few minutes of arguing with the hat. Neville went straight into Gryffindor, and Malfoy was in Slytherin before the hat touched his head; soon it got to Dazar.
Dazar quickly took the hat and placed it upon his head.
Hello Immortal, I wondered if another would appear said the hat.
You knew my mother Ellisande hat? Asked Dazar.
That is correct, I feel obliged to tell you that she was in Ravenclaw. Yet I believe you wish to be with the young Willow girl, replied the hat.
That is correct, answered Dazar.
I wish you good luck GRYFFINDOR, said the hat. Dazar went and sat down on the Gryffindor table, sitting next to Willow.
"What's wrong?" Willow asked seeing Dazar's slightly sad face.
"The Hat said my mum was in Ravenclaw, I chose to be with you instead. I was thinking about the past, that's all," replied Dazar. Willow nodded slowly then went back to watching the sorting. It took a while yet Harry finally got his turn to be sorted, after about five minutes of having the hat on Dazar was getting worried and reached out with his telepathy.
I'm not going in slytherin, no matter what you say, thought Harry.
You should go into slytherin Potter it is truly the best for you replied the hat.
Harry should go in Gryffindor hat the slytherin qualities you are picking up come from a fragment of Voldermort's soul thought Dazar interrupting their argument.
Are you sure young Immortal, asked the hat.
Yes, replied Dazar.
Fine GRYFFINDOR, shouted out the hat. Harry ripped the hat off and ran to the Gryffindor table ignoring the cheering.
"Why did you do that Dazar, and what you said it that true?" asked Harry.
"It is not my place to say Harry, I did not think you could hear my thoughts anyway. If you want to know anything ask Dumbledore," replied Dazar.
"Did the Hat consider you for Slytherin?" asked Harry.
"It never even bothered, let me choose to come here with no objections," replied Dazar "now let it drop". Unsurprisingly Ron went into Gryffindor, not long after Ron had sat down the food appeared. Everyone attacked it with gusto, about halfway through the Gryffindor house ghost floated over.
"Dazar, I am Sir Nicolas de Mimsy-Porpington, I must say it was a surprise when a being such as yourself chose my house," said Nicolas introducing himself.
"I chose Willow over my mother, Nick. And the fewer who know what I am the better," replied Dazar politely yet with great force.
"Yes of course, I will inform the other ghosts," replied Nicolas.
# # # # #
Once dinner was over there were a few announcements.
"Now for start of year announcements, the forbidden forest is exactly that and some of our older students should know that by now, the list of forbidden items now numbers over four hundred and can be found on our caretaker's, Mr Filtch, door. Finally the third floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bound to everyone who dose not wish to die a painful death. Now off to bed," said Dumbledore. As everyone started heading to the dorms, the first years following prefects, Willow noticed Dazar looking thoughtful.
"What are you thinking about," she asked him.
"Just thinking this third floor thing sounds like a good challenge," replied Dazar.
"Promise me you wont go there unless you absolutely have to," said Willow going white.
"I promise," replied Dazar nodding his head. They got to the entrance to the common room quickly; it was covered by a portrait of a overweight lady in a pink dress.
"Password?" it asked.
"Caput Draconis," replied Percy the Prefect. It moved aside to reveal an archway that they clamoured through. Once though Percy directed the girls through one door and the boys through another. It was not long before silence reigned.
A/N my apologies at the time it took to get this chapter out, but the other writers that read this know about the pain that is writers block. It's the main reason this is longer than normal. I have also condensed two chapters into one here. Anyone who doesn't like the fact every one of the good guys went into Gryffindor well tough. There was a plan to put Willow and Dazar in Ravenclaw, but I compensated by revealing in important bit of information early, it will also cause the other to doubt Dumbledore when he dose not tell Harry the truth about it later on. Next as with the books we will have Brooms Quiddich and Trolls.
If anyone feels like commenting on the chapter, anything from spelling and grammar to plot points. Feel free, only flamers will be ignored anyone else if I feel like your review needs a reply you will get one.