DISCLAIMER: That part of this world and those characters you've seen before belong to their Creator: JKR. The rest is mine - although I cannot quit my day job as I make no $$$
A/N: The reward for waiting two weeks is not having to wait another two weeks. Enjoy!
CHAPTER FIVE: THE HOGWARTS EXPRESS
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1st, 1991 – ABOARD THE HOGWARTS EXPRESS.
The train slowly began to move forward. Harry had lowered the window in their compartment so the five of them could hang out the window and wave goodbye to the people on the platform. Harry, Hermione and Clarice were mostly waiving to the Grangers, Sirius, Sophie and Remus although they also waived to the Longbottom and Lovegood families as well. As their compartment moved further down the platform they saw the Weasley family and said goodbye to Ginny who seemed to be crying as she was now the only Weasley left at home. The Greengrass family was further down the platform and the three younger Greengrass girls were thrilled to see Harry and get to waive goodbye to him as well.
"I swear they can be annoying," Hermione whispered to him.
"Jealous?" Harry teased.
"Don't flatter yourself, boyfriend of mine," Hermione said. "You know they only like you 'cause you were nice to them when they were younger."
"Guess that's what I get for paying attention to girls," Harry teased earning a playful punch in the arm.
Harry then saw Lord Black who appeared to be in the process of being accosted by a tall, blonde haired man in black robes with some kind of cane. Instinctively, Harry drew one of his unregistered wands and kept an eye on the situation while the others continued to waive. He soon noted the blonde hair holding a wand behind his back. Harry suspected something; he did not know what and took subtle aim at the man hoping that if something happened it would happen when he was in range. The distance was still closing when he saw the man begin to raise his wand. Harry could think of no logical reason why a wand would be necessary at such time aside from an attack, and if that were the case a sneak attack on an elderly man.
Lord Black saw the wand and clearly stepped back as if avoiding and attack. That was all Harry needed to see and a faint red light shot from his wand hitting the assailant in the back and dropping him to the platform. Lord Black looked up in surprise and saw Harry and the others, but only Harry was looking at him. Lord Black nodded in thanks and then apparated away.
Harry was sure he would hear exactly what happened and who the would-be mugger was in a letter in the next few days. Near as he could tell, no one else saw what had happened, although there was a blonde haired woman now bending over the stunned assailant seemingly in a panic and looking around. Harry turned to waive at the people he liked as if nothing had happened. The train was picking up speed as his carriage passed the end of the platform. They soon turned a bend to the right and entered into a tunnel and the station was no longer in sight. The group took their seats.
Several compartments further along the train, Draco Malfoy looked pale.
"That how it's supposed to be done, Draco?" the boy across from him asked.
"Shut it Goyle," Draco replied.
Draco had been looking forward to this day for weeks. Not only was it the day he was to head off to Hogwarts where he fully expected to be the most respected member of his year and to have Slytherin House as his little fiefdom, but his father was sure that the Blood Traitor Lord Black might well be at the Station today. Lord Black had disowned Draco while his father was in prison for doing what was right for the Pureblood cause. His father Lucius had made it quite clear that the world had sunk to new lows when the word of Mudbloods and Blood Traitors meant more than that of a Pureblood believer. It did not take Draco much to believe that for it was the word of those people that had seen his father sent away to Azkaban and, his father had told him, it was only when they had seen the error of their ways that they had finally seen fit to release him.
Today, his father was to avenge the family name and restore Draco to his rightful place as the heir to the House of Black. There was no way Lord Black could refuse him, Lucius had told his son. Draco had watched from his compartment and Lucius walked up to the Blood Traitor with wand drawn yet hidden behind his back. Draco knew his father would give the man one chance to do what was right before forcing the issue and also hoped that the Blood Traitor would not see reason. He smiled with glee and told his friends to watch as the wand began to rise to wipe the arrogance from the old man's smug face. Then, to Draco's horror, his father simply collapsed.
"Thought it was the other guy who was supposed to cop it," another boy said.
Draco glared at Crabbe.
"Maybe they put a curse on him when he was there," the girl next to him said. "I mean they did let him go, but nothing in the paper said he was not guilty of anything. Maybe they put a curse on his wand."
Had anyone other than Pansy Parkinson said that, Draco might have given the idea some thought. However, while she was by no means homely and was his betrothed, Draco had no doubt that her intelligence stopped at the rudimentary ability to communicate. Still, it was the only thing that made any sense and it was a pity she had to be the one to say it first. Someone had attacked his father. Maybe Lord Black, but certainly someone, Draco thought. That had never happened before! People used to respect and fear the Malfoy name! Well, it was now up to him to see to it people did once again!
"So Harry," Hermione said sitting across from him, "was there a reason why you fired that stunner of yours?"
"You saw that?" Harry asked in surprise.
"I did!"
"Nailed Lucius Malfoy right in the back," Neville added. "Couldn't happen to a nicer guy, you ask me."
"You saw that too?"
"We all saw it, Harry," Clarice said. "Though I don't think anyone else did, aside from Lord Black."
"Oh bugger," Harry said deflated.
"Don't get yourself down, Harry," Luna said. "Hermione may not have seen what I did, but it sure looked like that man was about to hex Lord Black."
"And Death Eaters don't play nice," Neville added.
"That's what I saw too," Harry said. "They were having words it seemed and that man had a wand behind his back as if he was planning on using it. When he started to raise it…"
"I saw it too, Harry," Hermione said. "I just wanted to make sure you saw it. Still, we're not even out of the Station and you're…"
"I had to do something, Hermione!"
"I know," she said. "To be honest, I was drawing a wand when you fired."
"Me too," a couple of the others added.
"But the point is, we're supposed to be First Years who don't know that stuff," Hermione said. "My point is we need to be careful…"
"And let Lord Black get hexed?"
"No, Harry. Just don't get caught doing stuff like that."
"Hermione," Neville said, "he was being careful and we do know that. That was a Death Eater who was drawing on Lord Black. All that hit him was a stunner which is far less than the murdering scum deserved."
"How do you know he's one of them?" Clarice asked.
"Mum and Dad," Neville said. "They pointed him out to me. The man was Inner Circle, cold blooded killer type. Got sent to Azkaban a couple years back but ratted out some thirty or more of his former colleagues to get a light sentence. Considering how many he's killed…"
"What was he doing there?" Harry asked.
"His demon spawn is supposed to be starting with us," Neville replied. "Some brat named Draco."
"Parents must have hated him from birth to name him that," Harry chuckled.
"Harry?" Hermione asked.
Harry looked at his best friend reluctantly. It had actually hurt that she had accused him of something.
"You did the right thing," she said softly. "I just … I just don't want you getting into trouble is all."
Harry's face softened a little. "I know. Thanks. Like you said, we had not even left the Station and this stuff has to start happening. Given what we have to do this year…"
There was a knock on the door to the compartment and the kids turned and saw Percy and the Weasley twins through the glass. All three seemed to be laughing at something. Clarice, who was closest to the door, opened it.
"What's so funny?" she asked.
"You lot see that Death Eater pass out drunk on the platform?" one of the twins asked. "Funniest thing I've seen in ages!"
"Oh how the once mighty and feared have fallen," Percy added.
"We saw," Harry said.
"Just checking!" the other twin said. "Well, as fun as that was…"
"We're off!"
"Lee Jordan's got a tarantula!"
"Mega prank potential that!" The twins left.
"Speaking of pranks," Percy said, "you got your Warding Mastery right?"
Harry nodded.
"They teach the Fideleus Charm?"
Harry nodded. "It's not easy, but yeah. Why?"
"Long term planning," Percy said. "Fred said something about how cool it would be to put the Slytherin loos under it if they get too annoying this year."
"But there are Club members…" Hermione began.
"They would be told the secret," Percy winked. "Just an idea!" Percy then left saying he needed to find his girlfriend.
"It's not a bad idea," a girl's voice said. Harry looked up and saw Olivia Adair in the door. "Although I can't see what good it would do for some of them. Personal hygiene is not what it should be. You'd think they'd dissolve in water."
"To cast the charm I would actually have to be there," Harry said hoping to discourage such notions.
"That can be arranged," Olivia said. "Slytherin is the worst," she sighed. "Well, not all of us. The Club members are pretty good. The rest?" she shrugged. "Those that are not Death Eater spawn probably wish they were! The only reason they are not at our throats is none of them can touch us magically. It's clear, however, they hate us and anyone else in the Club."
"They don't know…" Hermione began.
Olivia shook her head. "Doubt if they can even suspect. Slytherin is not known for its piercing intellect. Purebloods? Most of us are. But that lot gives us all a bad name. Still, it could be worse. I'd hate to think what it would have been like for me now had I not been in the Club. Slytherin is supposed to be known for cunning and ambition which are not necessarily bad traits. Seems that the only ones with those traits are us Club member Slytherins. Rest are just bullies and bigots. Then again, there are others as well. My House just seems to have more than its fair share. Guess if that lot suddenly could not find a loo …"
"This is boring," Draco moaned after only a few minutes.
"Let's take a look around. Maybe there's someone we know," Pansy suggested.
"Like who?" Crabbe asked.
"Well," Draco said thinking, "aside from Mudbloods who need to be reminded of their place, my father did tell me there was someone aboard we should try to meet."
"Who?" three voices asked.
"Apparently that Harry Potter kid is aboard," Draco said. "Father said we should make sure he's on our side."
"Why?" Goyle asked. "Wasn't he supposed to have been the kid who beat the Dark Lord? Why on our side?"
"'Cause Father said so," Draco said. "I mean I don't believe that rubbish myself, but if he did that means he'd be really powerful, right?"
The others nodded.
"And having a very powerful ally is a good thing, isn't it?"
The others nodded again.
"So I think we should get up, find some mudbloods to humiliate and find this Potter kid. Who knows? Maybe he'd help us put the Mudbloods in their place?"
The others nodded as they rose from their seats.
The five of them were alone in their compartment as the train passed through the towns that surrounded London.
"In a way," Harry began, "Hermione was right. We should be very careful doing anything that might expose us given what it is we must do this year."
He now had their attention.
"Critical of the things is this Quirrell situation," he said. "We need to find out as soon as possible if he is what Sensei says he is."
"Should be easy enough," Neville said. "We do know spells that would reveal if he is possessed. Standard defense stuff that is."
"Problem is," Hermione said, "we can't just walk up to him and do the spell. I mean, what if he isn't possessed? He might then know we know more than we should and start asking the wrong kind of questions and the whole thing might be discovered."
"So?" Neville asked, "If they find out, so what? We already have our Masteries and we and the others know how to shift. Getting to and from Japan is not a problem."
"And what about the younger ones?" Hermione asked. "What about this year's Muggle Borns who have not been to Japan? Those are the ones we are keeping this secret for, not for ourselves."
"Oh yeah, sorry."
"On the other hand," Harry added, "if we were to use the spell and he is under active possession, he and Voldemort would know we know that magic. That, and we'd have to kill him then and there and that might lead to other problems such as our arrest and stuff. What we need is a way to both find out if he is possessed and if he is to off him without his being any the wiser."
"I thought Hermione was working on that," Clarice said.
"I am," Hermione began.
"But she hasn't told me or anyone what she's working on," Harry said. "Besides, we have no idea if her plan will work so we will need a back up."
Hermione sighed. "Actually, I think my plan will work once I work out the bugs and I do think I will manage that."
"That's all well and good," Luna said, "but it would be nice to know what you have in mind at least in a general sense."
"The spell I'm working on – well I think it's almost ready, but it does have some minor problems – anyway, it's is basically a kind of patronus charm. Now, unlike the patronus, it won't have a visible form or anything like that and won't go off hunting dementors or similar creatures or spirits. It will hit what it's aimed at and that's it."
"And how will a Patronus help?" Neville asked. "Voldemort is not a dementor or Lethifold or such."
"It's like a Patronus, but it's not," Hermione said. "The Patronus, as you know, is a magical manifestation of positive emotions and energy and is created by a sense of happiness. You know as well as I do that happiness and happy thoughts are food to those vile things and the Patronus gives them something tastier – for lack of a better word – than the real thing. Powerful enough and it might well give them the equivalent of indigestion. Anyway, I know that won't work on Voldemort.
"Sensei did tell us what happened to him in his timeline his first year. He defeated Voldemort and Quirrell just by touching the possessed physical being. Sensei said that Dumbledore said it was the love protections Harry's Mum had provided that did that. Voldemort is so consumed with hatred that love in any form is lethal to him and to whomever or whatever he is using as a physical vessel. Now, while Sensei does not trust Dumbledore's motives, he does believe Dumbledore was right in that respect.
"So, that's what this spell I'm working on is supposed to do."
"It's supposed to be like me touching him?" Harry asked. "Just how is that supposed to work?"
"It's supposed to mimic the effect, Harry," Hermione said. "A Patronus is a charge of happy, positive energy. This spell is a bolt of love, for lack of a better description. If this works, it would be like hitting him with a huge dose of love. Might kill him instantly, but it should be lethal to him none the less. That's the best part of it, really. Use it on anyone else and it would merely make them feel really good somehow, the word blissful comes to mine although I can't say exactly how until it's tried. Aside from the feeling – which would wear off in time – it would be harmless. But, while the arithmancy supports the hypothesis, the spell is not without problems…"
"Such as?" Harry asked.
"Well, you know how hard it was to learn the Patronus Charm?"
The others nodded. While they all could do it, it did take the better part of two years at school to fully perfect it.
"The arithmancy behind that charm made it the most difficult wand based spell we had to learn prior to our Master's levels," Hermione said. "In fact, many of the Master's levels were actually not as complex. Anyway, compared to the Patronus Charm, this one is at least an order of magnitude more complex. And we all know that while learning to do the Patronus was hard, what was really hard was learning to do it when we were under stress. It was hard under a relaxed situation when we could focus on it. It took loads of practice to be able to do it when we were not focusing on getting into the right frame of mind. This spell would make the Patronus look like child's play."
"Which means it's practically useless," Harry moped. "It could take years to learn to do it right even when you get it working and we don't have years."
Hermione nodded. "That, of course, assumes you have to learn it."
"What do you mean?"
"As a Spell Crafter we were taught something called 'Wand Loading.' It's not terribly practical in the real world, but extremely useful in the lab when we need to cast a new spell over and over and cannot dedicated months to actually learning it. After all, why learn a spell that does not work? So we learned how to load a spell into a wand."
"First thing we learned," Luna said. She had started Spell Crafting the previous summer. "At least in labs. Class room is all advanced Arithmancy at first."
"So why is this not practical?" Clarice asked.
"Because," Luna replied, "the spell loaded wand cannot be used for anything else until the loaded spells are discharged. Basically, the wand can do the loaded spells and nothing else. So…"
"Unless you have wands to spare, you're wandless," Harry finished. "But arguably we do have at least a wand to spare."
"That was my thinking," Hermione said. "We could load a spare, unregistered wand with the spell and use our British wands for class and stuff. The best thing about loading a wand is that you don't have to know the loaded spell at all. All you have to do is aim and use your magic to trigger a discharge. Any spell pushed through the wand would discharge the loaded spell. Now I'm pretty sure that wand loading may be regulated by our Ministry…"
"Why's that?" Neville asked. "I mean it sounds like loading might be beyond most people's abilities."
"You can learn it," Hermione agreed, "but few do. As I said, it is not practical outside of Spell Crafting really. But think about it. In theory, you could load a wand with Killing Curses. Leave that wand lying about and a magical child could cause it to discharge and…"
"I get your point," Harry sighed. "That problem aside, if you can get the spell to work, can you load wands with it?"
Hermione nodded. "In fact, given the complexity of the spell, that's the only realistic way it could be cast even by people as highly trained as we are. It just is not practical otherwise. The casting aside, there is another problem you need to be aware of…"
"And that is?" Harry asked.
"While I should be able to determine whether the spell has the desired effect on most people, I will not be able to make the same determination as to whether it will work as desired against Voldemort. In theory, it should destroy whatever 'vessel' he's inhabiting. But the only way to test that theory…"
"Is to actually use it on him," Harry finished. "Not ideal."
"Short of learning the Killing Curse or using another spell that can be lethal to anyone, it's the best I can come up with."
"On the other hand," Clarice said, "it would give us a few advantages."
"Oh?"
"Sure! First off, if it didn't work as we hope it will, what's the worst that could happen? Whoever sent the spell – assuming they're caught – would get in trouble for hexing a teacher. The spell is supposed to be harmless enough so if it actually harmed him, it would be written off as a freak accident. Same would be true if it did work as we hope and killed him. 'Oh? But it's not supposed to do that!'" she added in fake innocence.
"She has a point," Neville added. "Can't get into too much trouble for a 'harmless' spell that had a surprise effect on one person, can you?"
Harry nodded. "Still, I'd rather not just shoot the man in the back…"
"You did earlier today," Hermione huffed.
"That was different! He was a threat or at least he looked like he was going to be."
Hermione nodded. "So you'd prefer self defense or something like that?"
"Added excuse if questioned," Harry nodded. "And we have an idea how that could happen."
"We do?" Luna asked.
"Sensei gave us an outline – as it were – of what happened his First Year. While we are not certain this year will go exactly that way, we will know if the events that occurred far from the influence we may have on current time have continued to run as they did for him. If Quirrell had a go at that vault in Gringotts where Dumbledore kept the fake stone – which we should know sometime this week – then we know that the Quirrell story is continuing as it did then. If that's the case, provided we do not tip our hand too early and force him into another direction, we know roughly what will occur and approximately when.
"In Sensei's time, Quirrell made three attempts to kill him."
"Including the troll?" Hermione asked. The troll story was one of her favorites.
Harry shook his head. "That one was not an intentional attempt on Sensei. He just happened to be there…"
"To save his Hermione's life," Hermione sighed. "Would you?" she teased.
"Would I what?"
"Save me from a big, nasty troll?"
"You know I would. Although rescuing you from a troll is no big deal. Now a dragon, that would be a challenge!"
"So when will he try and off you?" Neville asked trying to get the discussion back on track convinced there was a snog coming.
"The first attempt was during the first Quidditch match of the season," Harry said. "Sensei made his House Team as Seeker…"
"No worries there," Clarice chuckled. "Wood's practically drooling over that possibility for both our W.I.S.E. League team and the House Team, assuming you are in Gryffindor, of course."
Harry nodded. "Quirrell hexed Sensei's broom during the match," he finished.
"Which, if it happened as it did in that timeline, would offer an excuse to hex him," Hermione said.
Harry nodded. "When could you be ready? When could you load some wands with this spell?"
"I should know if I can make the spell work within a month," Hermione said, "six weeks tops. Loading depends upon how many wands and how many charges per wand. Assuming, say, five wands with five charges … a good number … early November."
"And the first House Quidditch Match is in mid November," Harry nodded. "So all we have to do is keep this secret until then."
"Um…" Hermione began.
"Yes?"
"And our school work?"
"You really don't think you need to do that, do you?" Harry replied. "We aren't going to Hogwarts for school, you know."
"I know," Hermione sighed. "It's just weird."
"Well, with your Spell Crafting, the horcruxes and finding out about this Founder's Tower, we should be quite busy."
"What happened?" Draco said moaning.
"You were hexed," Pansy replied holding a wet towel to his forehead. "Quite badly, I might add."
"Who? Why?"
"There was a girl who doesn't know 'bout magic," Goyle said. "You said some things to her and were hexed for it."
"A Mud…Aaarg!" Draco wailed. "What?"
"Don't use that word!" Pansy scolded. "We all got hit with another hex. Use that word and you'll only hurt worse."
"You're fooling with me!"
"She ain't," Crabbe said. "The bloke said it does what it does an' there ain't nothin' we can does t' stop it. Gotta wear off, it does."
"When we get into Slytherin, we'll fix 'em good!" Draco declared.
"Don't think so, Draco," Pansy said.
"What do you mean? They won't stand for that!"
"The ones what got you was Slytherins," Goyle said. "They said you'll get if worse if'n you get sorted there an' don't wise up."
"I don't believe this!" Draco moaned. "When my father hears of this…"
"They said they ain't 'fraid of no convict scum," Crabbe said. "Said if'n you call Daddy an' he's fool enough to come runnin', they'll do him fer all he did durin' the war."
"Do him?"
"They said the only good Death Eaters are the dead ones," Pansy said. "And they said that's only 'cause they're dead."
"So what's all this mean?"
"It means being a Pureblood son of a Death Eater is not going to be healthy at Hogwarts," Pansy said, "nor in Slytherin House."
"Does Flint know?"
Pansy nodded. "And Mulciber. They're not about to do anything 'though. Flint said he tried last year and will never play Quidditch again."
"What?"
"The other Houses put him in the hospital for weeks every match. He's not willing to go through that again just for some stupid game, he says."
"What about our Beaters? They're supposed to…"
"They helped."
"Not too good if he still wound up in hospital," Draco said.
"No Draco. They helped put him there!"
"Why?"
"Because we are on the wrong side of history," Pansy replied. "That's what they said."
"Can we get on the right side?" Draco asked.
Pansy nodded. "Disown your parents and mean it."
"You've got to be kidding!"
"Flint said you don't have to. They don't hunt us or nothing. We leave them alone and they ignore us. But, if we act like we own the place, they'll remind us that we don't and there's nothing the proper Slytherins can do to help us then. Flint said to keep your head down, mouth shut and nose in the books. Stand out and you'll get hammered for it."
"But I'm a Malfoy!"
"I'm sure that will look wonderful on your headstone, Draco. This isn't what I expected either, but…"
"And Professor Snape? What does he say about this?"
"Flint says that Snape says to stay away from the others. Snape knew this would happen one day and tried to put it off, but the day is here and being associated with the Lost Cause is no longer an honor. We are to keep to ourselves and ignore the rest."
"He wants us to live in fear?"
"I guess he wants us to live first, Draco. These others … they don't seem to tolerate our way of life at all."
Sally-Anne Perks sat in the compartment crying after what the mean kids had said to her. It had confirmed all her fears. She had always been a little out of sorts before she learned why and had few friends at all before growing up. Her parents seemed almost afraid of her as well. Ever since something happened when she was five, and she could not remember what that something was, her parents had been distant and cold to her. When she learned only a few weeks ago that she was a witch, a real live witch, part of her rejoiced as it explained why she was different and the fact that there were schools where there were children just like her only added to the sense of relief. However, as soon as the nice lady had left, her parents made it clear that while they would send her to this school, they did so on the condition that she did not come back. They could not deal with her "problem" anymore.
Then, as hard as that was, there was still the hope that things would get better and she would make some friends. Being honest with herself, she really did not think she would make friends right from the start. She did not know anyone. But she had hoped she would not be bullied like she had been before. Then those kids came along.
She had been sitting in a compartment near the front of the train by herself. She did not mind, really. It was a bit of an adventure riding a train through parts of England she had never seen before. She was more than happy with watching the country roll by. Then three boys and a girl entered her compartment. She thought they were looking for her seat. The blonde acted like the leader, even though he was easily the smallest of the four and asked her if she was a Mud something. She asked what that word meant and he told her someone whose parents were not magical and she nodded and they immediately told her she should go home and never come back and … That was all she really remembered. They did not really do anything to her, but she just shut down and started crying and then they were gone. She now wondered if she would ever fit in anywhere.
"You okay?" a voice asked.
Sally-Anne looked up and saw an older boy and girl looking at her with what looked like concern on their faces. They introduced themselves as Olivia Adair and Robert Spencer. She was too afraid and too humiliated to answer or even nod or shake her head.
"The idiots who were picking on you have been dealt with," the boy said with a mischievous grin. "Regardless of what they may have said, that kind of attitude is not tolerated. You're parents are not magical, are they?"
Something made her shake her head.
"That's okay. Many of us are like you in that way," the boy said. "My Dad can't do magic either. It's nothing to be ashamed of."
"They're ashamed of me," Sally-Anne said in a soft voice.
"Oh."
"They said they never want to see me again," she added as the tears began to return.
"Sorry," the boy said.
"I know it's hard," the girl added. "I mean I can guess that it is. Again, you're not alone and shouldn't be. Come with us."
"Where?" she asked.
"At the back of the train are kids who don't care who your parents are or what they think," the girl said. "I'd like to say that everyone thinks that way, but I'd be lying. But, don't let the idiots get to you. Come with us. We don't bite."
"Um," the boy started, "I was told you did in the semi-finals."
"Well, she was pulling my hair!" the girl protested.
The boy seemed to recognize the confusion on Sally-Anne's face. "Martial Arts competition this past summer," he said. "Ollie here came in third."
"She cold cocked me twenty minutes in," Olivia shrugged. "Anyway, we'd like you to join our friends, if you want to of course."
Sally-Anne nodded cautiously. Compared to the only others she had met on the train, these two seemed nice enough and were not all that concerned about her past.
"Are there people like me?" she asked.
"A few," Olivia said. "Some who were born of non-magical parents and others who were raised that way. There even a couple whose non-magical families refused to understand them. We are what we are. We are only different if we let people think that about us."
Sally-Anne rose from her seat and followed the two out of the compartment.
Draco was not one to take a beating and change his attitude. He convinced his friends that while they might have to refrain from putting undesirables in their place for now, they still had every right to see who was on the train. He told them there was one kid his Father insisted that he meet and "take under his wing" so to speak and they had every right to find the kid and talk to him. He knew there were supposed to be twelve carriages on the train behind the two baggage carriages. The forward most was the Prefect's carriage which he was told to avoid. Only Prefects were allowed there, although he had heard tell that the forward part of that carriage was where the "Trolley Lady" was with her supply of sweets, which to his annoyance he had not yet seen. Thus the rest of the student body was in the remaining eleven carriages.
They passed through eight carriages from just behind the Prefects' Carriage and opened the door to the ninth. A large boy was sitting just inside the door.
"Where do you think you're going?" the boy asked in a hostile voice.
"To the back of the train, of course," Draco added with a slight sneer. "I am free to go anywhere."
"Keep that attitude shrimp and you'll find yourself invited to the Prefects' Carriage for the rest of the trip," the boy said turning and displaying a Prefect Badge. "Move back forward."
"But," Draco began. He stopped because his Father had said that there were only three ways one got to ride in the Prefects' Carriage. One was as a Prefect. One was on specific invitation as a friend or relative of a Prefect and while Draco was technically related to one Prefect, she was a Blood Traitor and he wanted nothing to do with her. The third way was as a form of detention, usually with loss of House points and yes, if that happened once he was sorted his house would lose points. That was not a good way to begin his schooling. Still, he was Draco Malfoy!
"Back end of the train is reserved," the boy said. "Move forward."
"Reserved for who?" Draco demanded.
"The people it's reserved for," the boy replied. "Move back forward."
"The train is open to anyone," Draco said. "Says so in that Hogwarts history book."
"You know what makes it a history book?" the boy asked.
Draco shook his head.
"It's about the past, Firstie! Times change. Move back forward."
"This is such rubbish!" Draco said turning. As he did, he saw two more Prefects with seven First Years behind them. Three of them he knew were Mudbloods, having picked on them before.
"Shut it Draco," Pansy hissed. "They're the ones that hexed you!"
Draco then proved he had a learning disability. "'Bout time some knew they weren't wanted. Worst thing that ever happened letting Mud … Aaargh!" he wailed collapsing to the floor.
The boy seated at the door looked at the writhing kid on the floor and then looked at his three friends. "I suggest you drag his arse forward and sit on him for the rest of the trip. We have friends who are wondering whether triced up Death Eater Spawn can fly without magic."
The three scared "friends" grabbed their now unconscious leader and did as they were told.
"Sorry 'bout that," the boy said to the other young kids. "Some people need remedial instruction. Although I think that one is beyond remediation. You may pass."
"What was that all about?" a boy asked.
"We don't like Death Eater spawn and that lot is Death Eater spawn."
"What's Death Eater?"
"Ever hear of the Nazi's?"
The boy nodded.
"Kind of like them, only dumber."
Sally-Anne was beginning to wonder just what kind of world this was. She and the others passed the older boy who was acting like a guard or something and into the passenger carriage her former tormentors had been barred from entering. That alone was at least a little exciting knowing she could go where other cannot, especially that lot. The carriage appeared no different than the others, but it seemed as if she had suddenly stepped onto an entirely different train.
In the forward part of the train, while the students seemed to be happy and talkative, they tended to keep in certain noticeable groups. This part seemed far less like that as if everyone regardless of age was part of the same group. True, compartments did hold children, but most had more than the usual four or so and unlike forward, almost all the doors were wide open and the occupants seemed to invite anyone who passed by in for a chat, although Sally-Anne and the others were clearly being herded further and further back. To sum it up, this group seemed happier and maybe even more mature or confident than the ones up forward and she wondered what that was about. She also wondered something else. It was clear that there were at least two languages being spoken in this part of the train and one certainly was not English. Yet only a small number of students even looked like they might be foreign.
They passed through three such carriages before crossing over into another one. This one stunned her and clearly had the same effect on the others. It was as if they had left the train altogether and entered a huge room with chairs, small tables, couches and the like. There appeared to be some kind of bar, although it was clear also that the "bar" was serving food and beverages that did not have an age minimum. While the room appeared to be about as long as a normal carriage, it was at least three times as wide. The only thing that told her she might still be on a train was the room rocked and swayed just like the other carriages.
"How?" a voice asked.
"Magic," Olivia said. "It's called a permanent expansion charm. Much roomier, don't you think? Courtesy of one of our benefactors. This is the forward lounge. We got food, drink, any candy you can get forward and such here. The last car it another lounge. So on with you! Enjoy your trip!"
Their escort left them standing there gaping at the elegant "room." There were several students scattered about. Some were eating and many were talking or playing games. The only one Sally-Anne recognized looked like Chess, except the pieces appeared to be animated and seemed to enjoy bashing each other to bits when moved. It was almost sensory overload. She swore she heard one of the occupants comment that they were enjoying the best sushi since getting back, which made no sense to her.
Sally-Anne took a seat at a table that was empty. While she wanted to make friends, she was still overwhelmed and her main reaction was to keep to herself and observe. Unfortunately, someone had other ideas.
A girl sat with her. She was young, probably about Sally-Anne's age, but had not been a part of the group that had been led back from the front of the train. She told Sally-Anne she was "mostly" Muggle raised, which Sally-Anne took to mean raised without magic.
"I'm Clarice, by the way," she said.
The girl seemed pleasant. "Sally-Anne? Can I ask you a question?"
"As long as it's not about whether I fancy a boy and if so who, shoot!"
"What's a Death Eater?"
The girl grew a little serious. "There was a terrible war in our world, the magical one, several years ago. Death Eaters were on one side. They were evil and liked killing. In particular, they liked killing non-magical people and anyone like us raised in that world. They believed we were less than human and such."
"They didn't win, did they?"
"Why do you ask that?"
"I met some kids who were really mean and some other said they were – um – Death Eater Spawn."
"No, they did not win," Clarice said. "But it was a close run thing, I was told and regrettably their attitude survived."
"Like skinheads?"
"Something like that, yes."
"Why are they even allowed…"
"One shouldn't blame the kid for their parent," Clarice said. "Unfortunately, some are not much better."
"And the people back here?"
"Many are like you, new to all of this."
"And you're not like me?"
Clarice sighed. "My real parents were magical. Death Eaters killed them when I was a baby. Most all the rest of us have that in common. I don't mean we all lost our real parents. It's just that all of our families lost people to the Death Eaters. Naturally, we don't like them."
"And what happened to you?" Sally-Anne asked.
"I had an older brother," Clarice replied. "He was also a baby then. He was sent to live with relatives who were not magical and very mean to him because he was. I was sent elsewhere and I can't tell you why 'cause I don't really know. I was adopted by a lovely mum and dad who didn't seem to care that I was different. But Daddy died of cancer when I was five and Mum and I were in a car crash when I was six. She died. I went to hospital where oddly enough my real brother was in the next room. Another couple who had adopted a magical daughter took us in."
"Are most Muggles mean to magical kids like us?"
"No. Most are not. Some are and as a result of what happened to my brother, the magicals are trying to help magical children in such situations. Why?"
"My parents were scared of me," Sally-Anne confessed. "When they found out I was really a witch, well…" She reached into her jacket pocket and handed Clarice a piece of paper. Clarice read it and Sally-Anne could tell the girl was not happy. It was a letter "To Whom It May Concern:" wherein the Perks stated they never wanted to see their "abomination" of a daughter again. Sally-Anne watched in silence as this Clarice waived to someone in the car. A tall young woman came over and Clarice handed her the note. That girl was also shocked when she read it.
"Hermione?" she asked.
"Why not? Harry's got plenty of space."
The girl nodded and walked forward out of the car with the note.
"What's going on?" Sally-Anne asked. "I'm supposed to show that to an adult and…"
"Oddly enough, you just did," Clarice told her and then launched into the most fantastic story about magic, friends and learning Sally-Anne had ever heard. It was all about three friends who learned they were magical and went off to a magical school in Japan and learned magic and by the time they were Sally-Anne's age had twenty years of education, including degrees. Sally-Anne found it hard to believe that the girl she was talking to who was born over a year after she was already had a doctorate. But, if magic can change time, why not?
"And I could do something like that too?" she asked in the end.
The girl named Clarice nodded and Sally-Anne was clearly interested.
Sally-Anne returned to the forward lounge car dressed in her Hogwarts uniform. She and the others from the forward part of the train had been sent to two compartments just forward of the lounge car where they found all of their stuff. She changed into her blouse, tie, Hogwarts jumper, skirt and robes and now stood with what she believed were about a hundred others in the magically expanded car.
"Right you lot," the older girl who had taken her letter said, "listen up! Hogsmeade in an hour so we're going to pass out this year's Club kit. Those of you here last year remember while we 'hide in the open' we want to let the troglodytes know who we are when they look at us. Maybe we won't have to hex them so much this year."
"Fat chance!" a voice called out followed by several laughs.
"You trying to ruin our fun Tonks?" another voice called out.
"As if I could stop you and your brothers, Weasley," she called back with a smile. "Anyway, new kit. You may have seen a few of us Prefects wearing it. Left collar point you'll wear the pin with numerals. The Roman numeral is your Hogwarts Year and the others are the year you joined the Club and the year you went off or will head off to Japan for a proper education. In my case, that's 'VII 8889.' We'll start with the seven Muggle Raised we rescued from the troglodytes all of whom have so graciously – and wisely – decided to joined us today. Hopefully the trolls will see this as a Hands Off or Wands Off sign. They'll be 'I 9192'. Michael Corner? Will you come up here please?"
A small boy approached and the older girl pinned his "I 9192" on his left collar. Sally-Anne was the last of the seven as she was last in alphabetical order.
"Okay then," she continued, "as the rest of us have been to Japan, we get additional goodies. Right collar shows what we've done, although only we will know that, right?" After the laughter subsided, she continued. "One diamond for those who have completed their O.W.L.s. A chevron for those who've done their N.E.W.T.s. Diamond over a chevron for one Mastery. Two chevrons for two Masteries. Diamond over two chevrons for three and three chevrons for four, although for now, there only a handful with that many. Also, above that kit are bars for non-magical stuff. One bar for completion of Secondary School, two for your bachelor's degree, three for Masters and four for a doctorate, again only a handful will get that many."
The devices were passed out and pinned on to all the students assembled. Clarice had been keeping close to Sally-Anne for much of the ride as if sensing she needed friendly company. She was one of the last to get her kit and when she returned Sally-Anne could see "I 8888" on her left collar and "IIII" on her right. "Welcome to the Club, Sally-Anne," Clarice said. "And don't worry about a home. We'll fix that as well."
Maybe being magical would not be so bad, Sally-Anne thought.