"Hurry up David! We're going to miss the stupid train!" Tom shouted to me as I struggled with my suitcase.
"Why don't you help me with this trunk instead of yelling at me to hurry up!" I grunted back at him. "Help me push it into the train."
"Fine." Tom just stared at it for a second and it was pushed into a carriage.
"How did you-" I started, but he cut me off.
"You forget I am extensively more powerful than you." He sniffed at me, gracefully climbing into a compartment. "And do me a favor. Don't sit with me on the train." He slammed the thick glass door in my face and I stepped back. I pulled my trunk down and started dragging it down the aisle. I found an empty compartment and sat down in it. I was shoving my trunk into the rack above the seat when a door slid open. When I turned to see who it was, the trunk crashed down on me, spewing its contents everywhere.
"Oh, let me help you with that!" The newcomer said, helping me as I threw all my possessions back into my suitcase. Together we got it shut and into the luggage rack.
"I'm Alexander, by the way. Alexander Potter. Well, Alex for short."
The boy had jet black hair that stuck up in the back of his head, and deep brown eyes. "David. David Riddle."
"David Riddle? I don't suppose you have a brother named Tom?"
"As a matter of fact, I do." I said grimly.
"Not exactly a pleasant sort, is he?" The boy questioned. "He just kicked me out of his compartment."
"He kicked me out too." I sighed. "He's pretty much the bane of my existence, so it was just great finding out he can use magic to hurt me now."
"Oh, so you grew up with muggles, I take it?"
"Muggles?"
"You know, non-wizards."
"Oh, yeah, I guess so. I grew up in an orphanage, so I have no idea what my parents were like." I told the boy dully.
"Oh, what's that like? My whole family are wizards." Alex told me, looking fascinated.
"Just normal, I suppose. We have about 40 boys and girls in the orphanage, and we all have to take turns washing the dishes, doing laundry, and things like that." I informed him.
"Washing the dishes? Laundering by hand? But- but you could simply use magic for all that and have it done in five minutes!" Alex exclaimed, appalled at the notion.
"The children are all . . . mag-mug-what you called them! They can't do magic and Tom and I didn't realize we could either. Well, maybe Tom realized, but he probably kept it to himself." I informed my companion.
"So, this Tom, what is it like having him as a brother?"
"Absolutely awful! He is a bully, he steals my things, hurts me, but acts like a perfect angel when the grown-ups are around. He always has to be the best at everything, and unfortunately he is. He will be much more powerful than I will."
"You don't know that for sure! Besides, a great wizard is not the one who can perform the most spells. The best wizard is the one with the biggest heart. It sounds like your brother does not have a good character, which will not be rewarded at Hogwarts." Alex's eyes were round and earnest. I felt like I was looking into his soul when I looked at him.
"Yes," I said averting my eyes. "So, tell me about the school. I don't know anything!"
"Well, the headmaster is Professor Dippet, and he is a great wizard, but no one is more powerful than the Deputy Headmaster and Transfiguration teacher! Perhaps you have heard of him. His name is Albus Dumbledore."
"Dumbledore? He was the one who told my brother and me we were wizards!" I said, excited to know something.
"Oh, yes, he would be the one to do that! He is also head of Gryffindor. I hope I am in Gryffindor, don't you?"
"I'm sorry, I have no idea what Gryffindor is!" I said, bemused.
"Oh, you see, there are four houses at Hogwarts. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. You are sorted into your house by the Sorting Hat, and the other kids in the house that are your age are the ones who you go to classes with. The house shares a common room, a table in the Dining Hall, and a Quidditch team. Gryffindor is for the brave, Ravenclaw is for the braniacs, Slytherin is for just plain evil people, and no one is really quite sure what Hufflepuff is for. What the heck is a Hufflepuff? Do you know?"
I shook my head no, and leaned against the cool window. I had a sick feeling Tom would be in Slytherin. I hoped with all my heart I would be put in Gryffindor.