Although it seemed as if it were many weeks until September first, in reality it was only about two. So when, on August thirty-first, Rogue's alarm went off at six in the morning, her thought was that it was someone's idea of a cruel joke: they weren't going until tomorrow. But in truth, with the six hours it took to get there, plus the time difference, leaving the day before was necessary. It was rather grumpily that everyone made their way to the X-Jet; Professor X included this time, and departed for London. To keep himself in a somewhat good mood, Logan reminded himself that he wasn't apparating, and there was no portkey.
The next morning, Hagrid met with them again for a few quick reminders, and their tickets. Logan stared at his ticket: the platform number must be wrong. He looked up to ask Hagrid, but found him gone. They were stranded in King's Cross Station with suitcases filled with magical items, and a ticket that said "Platform 9 ¾." Something was off. Hank turned at a familiar voice: it was Arthur Weasley, leading his children, and a woman who could only be his wife, through the crowd. "He'll know," he said and motioned the others to follow. When they reached the Weasley family, Arthur Weasley was nowhere to be seen, and neither were Charlie or Bill. Mrs. Weasley was holding the hand of a small red haired boy, who looked about eight, and the hands of two boys who could only be twins and looked about six. A smaller boy of about four was in her arms. Arthur, Bill, and Charlie all came around the corner holding tickets, a small girl of about three swinging on Arthur's arm. They had no idea the Weasley family was so big! Hank cleared his throat and approached Arthur, "Excuse me, I believe we met some time ago? I was wondering if you could tell me how to get on to-to the, uh,.." He trailed off, suddenly not knowing how to ask. Mrs. Weasley came to his rescue: "You must be the ones Arthur told me he helped some weeks ago. Yes the platform? Well its Bill's third year and this- Charlie stop that! - is Charlie's first year. She held her hand out to Hank, "Molly Weasley lovely to meet you. Are all these yours? All first years? Wonderful! Yes this is Arthur, but you've met him, and my eldest, Bill, Charlie- second child, Percy will be starting in about three years, Ron here won't start for another seven or so, Ginny over there, my youngest and only daughter and then the twins, Fred over there and George right here." She pointed to one of the twins, who was poking a bug with a stick. He looked up and pouted, "I'M not George I'm FRED. THAT'S George." Molly shook her head, "Sorry Freddie." 'George' looked up, "He's lying! I'm Fred THAT'S George." Molly sighed "Oh here I'll fix this," she leaned down and pulled the zipper of one of the twin's jackets down, revealing a sweater with a large F sewn onto it. The other had a large G. "There, now we can tell who's who." George ran up to Hank and held out his hand, pointing to the G on his sweater, "Hullo there I'm Gred and that's Forge." Rogue let out a quick laugh but quickly covered it with a cough. Molly shook her head and turned back to Hank, "Oh those two, any how you wanted to know how to get on the platform? Well watch Arthur, he'll take Bill and Charlie first." Arthur Weasley nodded and maneuvered Bill's luggage rack so it was facing the column between platforms nine and ten. "Grab hold now Bill, and you know what to do!" Bill took the luggage cart and began to push it towards the wall, breaking into a run. Instead of colliding with the seemingly solid surface, he slid through!
Molly nodded, "Okay Charlie, Arthur, you two next and I'll help them through." The same phenomenon took place, and the two Weasleys disappeared through the stone. Molly motioned to Kitty, "You first, best do it at a run if you're nervous." Kitty ran, and to no one's surprise, slid through the stone. She could do that any day of the week, but usually came out the other side, though this time, she didn't. Rogue, Evan, and Kurt all went next, successfully disappearing through the stone. Only Storm, Logan, Professor X, and Hank remained. Molly picked Ginny up and came to Professor X, "Would you mind taking her with you to her father? I can handle Percy and Ron but when you add Fred and George, everything is a challenge." Professor X took the little girl and set her on his lap, where she giggled and pointed to the wall. Professor X drove forward, through the wall, and onto Platform 9 ¾. Storm held out her arms for Ron, "I'll take him if you like." Molly nodded gratefully, "Thank you so much." Hank, Logan, Molly, Percy, Fred and George were now the only ones left. Hank pushed the cart in front of the barrier, and ran into it, leaving Molly and the kids alone with Logan. Molly looked him up and down and seemed to gather that running into the barrier wasn't something he would normally do. She walked towards the barrier, kids in tow, and pointed to it. "If you lean casually against it, you'll go through just the same." He nodded gratefully and watched her demonstrate before doing so himself, sliding through the wall and onto what could only be called a wizarding train station.
It was considerably noisier than an average train station: owls screeching, cats meowing, people hollering to friends and family, and the occasional whistle of the train. Rogue checked her ticket, the time of departure read eleven am. The clock read ten forty-three, so they had time to spare. Mrs. Weasley was fussing over Bill and Charlie, both trying to resist her many hugs and kisses. "Mum stop your embarrassing me in front of my friends! Mum I've got to go!" Bill gave her a quick hug and began making his way to his friends, leaving Charlie at their mother's mercy. "William Arthur Weasley if I get another letter this year saying you've blown off a class you'll have a Howler with your name on it!" She called to his retreating figure.
Arthur leaned against the side of the gleaming red Hogwarts Express. He ran a hand through his thinning hair and turned to Logan who was standing beside him, "So you've been living with muggles this whole time?" He suddenly became very excited, "You flew here! In that aeroplane! How does that work exactly? What keeps it in the air? I've always been fascinated with them." Before Logan could reply, Molly interrupted, "Arthur I hope you're not pestering the poor man with your muggle obsession!" Arthur seemed to shrink slightly, "Well dear, It's not an obsession really, more of a fascination…." Molly narrowed her eyes, "Well," Arthur continued, "What I mean is I was simply asking-" He was saved by the whistle of the train, signaling that the train was about to leave.
The train began to move, slowly making its way out of the station and beginning to pick up speed. Kitty made her way down the slightly crowded aisle to the last compartment. She pushed her suitcase onto the overhead rack and sat down onto the plush red seats. She heard the compartment door open and turned to find Charlie Weasley standing in the doorway. "What to play a round Exploding Snap?" Kitty raised her eyebrows, "Play what?" Charlie sat down across from her and puleed out a pack of cards. "Exploding Snap." He set a card vertically on the table conjured between them, and handed her one. "It's like building a house of cards, but with a challenge." Kitty placed the card next to his, waiting for it to fall but was surprised to see it stay upright. On her fifth card, it exploded. She sat, shocked, wiping the soot off her face while Charlie laughed his head off. Kitty snatched the pack away from him. "Rematch," she stated, and placed a card on the table.
Rogue had walked from the front of the train and back, but hadn't seen any familiar faces (granted she hadn't been trying very hard to look), aside from Bill. He'd given her a wave, which she returned, but as he was sitting with his friends, she'd moved on. The last compartment had been filled with smoke on her first pass of it, so she decided to try again. Kitty and Charlie Weasley were making a card tower, both leaning far back and turning away when placing a new card. Opening the compartment door, Rogue learned why: the card Charlie had placed exploded, sending the cards flying everywhere and filling the small space with more smoke.
Logan looked up from the copy of The Daily Prophet he'd been reading and sniffed. He, Hank, Professor X, and Storm were sitting in the last train car, which had been reserved especially for them. He went to the door and wrenched it open, pulling away coughing and hacking as wisps of smoke escaped into the room. "Logan, are you all right?" Professor X asked. Logan waved the smoke away, peering into the corridor as he did. Rogue was on the ground, half in the compartment and half out, her hair on end and her face covered with soot. Kitty's laughter reached him, and he stepped out to see better. Kitty was sitting on the bench, laughing and clutching a stitch in her side while Charlie picked up the fallen cards, still smiling.
Professor X entered the corridor, "What is going on in here? Where are Kurt and Evan?" Kitty stifled her giggles, "It's a game Professor. And, now you mention it, where are Kurt and Evan?" There was a Crack! and Kurt appeared above them, toppling onto Logan. "Elf!" Kurt sat up, "Oops, sorry Logan." He disappeared with a Crack! and landed next to Kitty. "Whoa! You can apparate? Bill's a third year and he's not allowed to do that! How'd you pass your test early?" Charlie was looking Kurt with wide eyed. The others were looking at Kurt warningly, silently (and in Professor X's case, mentally) telling him not to blow it and reveal his power. Kurt bit his lip and shrugged. Charlie continued, ignoring the awkward pause, "My dad told me about his apparition test. He said he failed four times and splinched his left arm on the fourth try. But on his fifth try he passed. Mom only failed once. I can't wait for mine, but you have to wait until your seventeen. How'd you pass early?" Kurt glanced in the others direction, pleading for help. Professor X cleared his throat, "This apparition, it's normal for you?" he asked Charlie. He nodded, "Bill can't wait for his test, but that's in three years." Professor X put the tips of his fingers together and leaned his chin against them, "Well, Kurt here took this apparition test early, at my recommendation." Before Charlie could reply, Evan came barreling down the corridor on a skateboard. "Evan! I told you not to bring your skateboard!" Storm cried, exasperated. Evan screeched to a stop, "I know Aunty O but it wasn't my fault. A kid was messing around with his wand and turned his shoe into the skateboard and I just- wait no that's not why I came down here! You'll never guess who I saw up near the front of the train!" He looked at all their faces, waiting for them to guess. Before they got a chance to, someone shouted down to Charlie. "Oops, got to go. I'll see you guys later!" he called, and ran down the hall to his friend. Storm turned to Evan and the others, "Let's talk in here." She motioned to the train car she, Logan, Professor X, and Hank had occupied earlier. She closed the door behind them and motioned to the chairs around them. The train car occupied by the adults was not a regular addition to the train, an exclusive to the situation. It was quiet large for such a small looking car, with red carpeting and even a chandelier hanging from a slightly vaulted ceiling. A coffee table sat in the center of the room; Logan's disregarded copy of The Daily Prophet lying half folded on top. There were a set of bookshelves leaning against the wall, several of the books piled on the table where Hank had left them. A large couch sat across from the table, flanked by two arm chairs on either side. The walls were a light tan, and at the far end of the car they curved inward, allowing a small balcony. A large grandfather clock stood in the corner, and a mahogany desk sat several feet behind the coffee table. It was easily the most extravagant room they'd ever seen on a train. In the left alcove sat a grand piano, lid closed. Of all the things…. Kitty thought. Evan tossed the skateboard on the nearest chair, which landed on it and bounced off: it had turned back into a shoe. Professor X steered his wheelchair to the desk, "Who is it you saw Evan?" Evan looked back at him, momentarily forgetting why they'd come in the overly furnished room in the first place. "Oh yeah! I was passing through one of the train cars and there was a really strong breeze but none of the windows were open! So I followed it and when I got to the compartment the breeze had blown into, I saw Pietro and Wanda! And when they saw me, Peitro laughed and told me that he and Wanda had gotten their letters too!"
No one spoke for a full minute. Finally, Professor X broke the silence, speaking directly to Evan, "Did they attack you? Harm, or try to harm, you in any way?" Evan shook his head and they lapsed into silence again. Again, Professor X was the one to break the silence, "I've just spoken(telepathically) to Erik(Magneto). He says Pietro and Wanda are indeed coming on this trip with us." Logan let out a low growl, "What do you recommend Charles?" Professor X sighed and leaned back, "We won't make the first move, or any move for that matter. If they strike the first blow, we will have no choice to retaliate, if, the blow was potentially life threatening. If not, we'll let the authorities handle it." Storm looked confused, "How would the police be any better than us?" Professor X smiled, "Not the police Storm, Albus Dumbledore. He will be, after all, their headmaster. Their fate will be in his hands should something happen." Kitty plopped onto the sofa, pulling out the exploding snap card pack. She waved it at Rogue who was watching, "Want to play?" Rogue sat down next to Kitty and grabbed a card, setting it on the table. Logan sat on the arm of the sofa, watching the card house grow taller and larger. "What exactly is the point of this game?" With a BANG! The cards flew everywhere, and Kitty turned to him, "To not blow the cards up." Logan swiped one of the cards out of the air and turned it over and over in his hand, it looked like a normal card, but normal cards didn't explode unpredictably when you used them. He tossed the card back on the table, singeing it when the card exploded and sniffed the air. "Some one's outside." Hank, who was closest to the door, opened it to reveal an old witch pushing a cart towards them calling out "Anything from the trolley?" to the closest compartments. Several kids came out to buy candy and sweets off the cart, and when they were done, the witch made her way towards the open door. "Anything sweet for you dears?" she asked. Kurt, always game for something sweet, made his way to the cart. The witch looked at the large group, and pushed the cart into the room. "Dumbledore said there'd be special guests on the train. Help yourself dears." Kitty, again feeling guilty that this Dumbledore was giving them free food, tried to give the witch money for the sweets. "Come, come none of that now, I can't accept that. Dumbledore said to make sure your visit was extra special. Of course, going to Hogwarts it can't much more special can it? But we can certainly try!" She gave Kitty a warm smile before departing the room, closing the door behind her. Kitty looked in dismay at the cart load of sweets left behind; it didn't feel right to keep it all. Professor X smiled, "My old friend is certainly making an effort to make his feel welcome." Kurt picked up one of the boxes and tossed it to Kitty, "Cheer up Kitty! There isn't that much left on the cart anyway. Plus, we're the last ones to get the cart so it's not like we're depriving someone of candy!" He opened the pentagon-shaped box to find a small frog. It gave a loud croak and jumped from the box onto the floor and began hopping away from Kurt. "Hey!" Kitty picked up the box while Kurt pounced on the frog, catching it in his hands. "Honeyduke's Chocolate Frog," she read. Kurt held the now solid and unmoving frog by its leg and made a face, "Why would anyone make a chocolate frog?" "I don't know," Evan said, biting the head of one, "It's pretty good." Kurt looked at his curiously, "What does it taste like?" Evan swallowed and answered unhesitatingly, "Chicken." The others laughed, and Rogue grabbed another box off the cart, "'Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans,'" she read. Opening the box, she shook a couple into her waiting hand. "They look like jelly beans!" The door opened again, and this time Jean and Scott entered. "We've been talking to some older students. They told us a lot about Hogwarts and said that we get sorted into houses!" Scott grabbed a couple of the beans from Rogue's hand, "Oh good I'm starved!" He popped a whitish one in his mouth, only to spit it back out. "Yuck! That tasted like soap! What kind of jelly beans are these?" Rogue shook the box in his face, "Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans." He took the box and read the back, "'Flavours vary from regular flavors like strawberry and watermelon, to more unusual flavors like curry and pumpkin, and even to flavors such as liver and tripe. A risk with every mouthful!'" Jean laughed as she opened a bag labeled "Drooble's Best Blowing Gum" and popped one in her mouth. "It tastes like blueberries," she said, and blew a bubble. The bubble detached itself from the gum and began to float in front of her. Evan read the back of the package, "'Bubbles can last for days.'"
The rest of the train ride was mostly uneventful, with the younger X-Men daring each other to eat a bean of someone else's choosing, and the others reading or watching. About half-way through the trip, Charlie Weasley came by to tell them that they should probably change into their school robes(and to have a rematch at exploding snap with Kitty, because she had won last time). After changing into the robes he had (reluctantly) bought, Logan, also after having read the wizarding newspaper twice, finally decided to try to read one of the books he'd bought in Diagon Alley. There had been around eleven choices of books about defending against the dark arts, but after seeing that seven of them were written by Gilderoy Lockhart, Logan had brought every single one with his name on it back to Flourish and Blotts, much to the confusion of the manager. He picked up one of the four he'd kept, The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection, and began to read it. If I'm teaching this subject, I have to have an idea of what it is I'm teaching, he thought. Although to Logan, it seemed easier to just fight rather than defend but that was because of his claws, which he was pretty positive the kids he was teaching didn't have.