Chapter Two:

The Scarlet Engine

Thomas always knew one day he would be going to Hogwarts, he always knew he was a wizard. His family was one of the few pure blood families left in Ireland, Thomas however did not have very much contact with the wizarding world. While other young wizards would be cheering for their favourite quidditch teams Thomas would be watching Rugby. While young kids would be hearing about the legendary Harry Potter Thomas would be hearing the usual muggle fairy tails. This was all because Thomas' mother had cut herself off from their world when his father had gone.

Thomas stood at about five feet and was very wide for his age. He already had quite broad shoulders and was very clumsy when he walked. He had dark brown hair, which he got from his father, and blue eyes, blue like the ocean. He had attended muggle school for all his life and the idea of finally joining the world he longed for left him full of joy. Thomas would finally be where he belonged, finally in his world.

Over the next few weeks Thomas was unable to sleep, hardly able to eat and could think of nothing else besides his first day at Hogwarts. He has already read most of his text books and was started to re-read the ones he found most interesting. He went to bed every night with his father's old wand under his pillow and carried it around with him where ever he went. He could hardly believe it when he woke up on the first of September to his mother's voice calling for him to get up. He jumped out of bed and was dressed and down stairs in a matter of seconds.

"Are we leaving mum?"

"Soon, Tom, soon, but first we need to have a talk"

Thomas sat down at the kitchen table and gazed into his mothers eyes

"Tom, I know I haven't been fair to you, keeping you from the world you belong in..."

"Mum, it's okay I understand" lied Thomas he never knew why his mother had chose to pull out from the magical world and live a life among muggles.

"No, Tom its not okay, it was wrong, I shouldn't have done that to you, I just hope that you can forgive me for it"

"I do mum, its okay"

"It's just after your father..."

Those were the last words she was able to say before she broke out in tears. Thomas held his mothers hand and then sat it silence for a long time, only the sound of his mothers sobs breaking it.

Thomas was looking out the window of the car, he was finally on his way to King's Cross station. The plane ride was quite quick, it was the first time he ever was on a plane and he quite enjoyed it. His mother seemed to be fine, as if nothing had happened in the last few hours. Tom occupied himself by looking out the window at the people of London, its high rise buildings and its great scenery. It seemed like quite a short time before they parked outside King Cross station and were loading Thomas' trunk on a trolley. They walked into the station, his mother with a tear running down her face and Thomas with a big smile on his.

Thomas looked around, trying to find this platform 9 and 3/4 but the space between 9 and ten was filled with a solid wall.

"Mum, how are we going to get to the platform?"

At this his mother smiled. "Tom, we have to walk through the wall, here I will first, just don't be scared.

His mother walked straight into the wall and vanished, Thomas looked around and saw that no one had seemed to notice this. He took a deep breath and walked towards the wall, before he hit it he closed his eyes, when he opened them he saw he had entered the Platform.

"Wow, how did they manage to do that?" he asked his mother

"Magic" said his mother smiling

"Well I know that but..."

"Come on Tom, you are going to be late"

"Mom the train isn't even here yet"

As if on cue there was a loud whistle and a puff of smoke and the large scarlet engine pulled into King's Cross Station.

"That" his mother said "is the Hogwarts Express."

Thomas beamed, Hogwarts never seemed closer to him, it was finally time to enter the world he longed for.

The Hogwarts Express' doors swung open people started to rush onto the beautiful train. Thomas took his trunk of the trolley and handed it to a man that seemed to be loading the train with his wand.

"Well...mum, I guess I should get going"

Thomas just then realised how much he would miss his mother, she was all she had ever had. Sure he had muggle friends, but she had been the only person he really had a connection with. His mother seemed to know just how much he would miss her because she gave him a big hug.

"Tom, I will write you twice a month, okay?"

"Okay mum"

"you will be fine believe me, you are ready for this"

Thomas left his mothers grip and smiled at her. He was just about to board the train before his mother called out.

"Tom, remember stay out of the forest!"

Thomas entered the train and found himself a compartment. he shut the door and took a seat close to the window. He could hear countless people boarding the train and then her heard an argument break out, just outside his door.

"MUDBLOOD!"

"Don't call me that. That isn't very nice!"

"SHUT UP MUDBLOOD"

The compartment door opened and a girl, the same age as Thomas entered, she was crying and she sat down

"Can-I-sit-hear" she said between sobs

Thomas simply smiled at her and nodded his head.