Chapter One

First Impressions

Harry's P.O.V.

It was finally time for Harry to go off to Hogwarts and he couldn't have been more excited. He'd finally be away from the Dursleys, and for a whole year! He had been so nervous that he'd gone through his entire trunk just to make sure he hadn't forgotten. He'd even made his own mental check-list.

Textbooks: CHECK

Wand in Pocket: CHECK

Robes: CHECK

Hogwarts Ticket: CHECK

Finally, he checked off the last thing on his check-list and closed his trunk. He lured Hedwig back into her cage and made sure she was secure before he shoved and heaved his trunk into the Dursleys' new car. Aunt Petunia had somehow talked Dudley into sitting next to Harry and they set off to King's Cross.

They reached the station at half past ten. Uncle Vernon dumped Harry's trunk onto a trolley and wheeled it into the station for him. Harry thought this was strangely kind until Uncle Vernon stopped dead, facing the platforms with a nasty grin on his face.

'Well, there you are, boy. Platform nine - platform ten. Your platform should be somewhere in the middle, but they don't seem to have built it yet, do they?'

He was quire right, of course. They was a big plastic number nine over one platform and a big plastic number ten over the one next to it, and in the middle, nothing at all.

'Have a good term,' said Uncle Vernon with an even nastier smile. He left without another word. Harry turned and saw the Dursleys drive away. All three of them were laughing. Harry's mouth went rather dry. What on earth was he going to do? He was starting to attract a lot of funny looks, because of Hedwig. He'd have to ask someone.

He stopped a passing guard, but didn't dare mention platform nine and three-quarters. The guard had never heard of Hogwarts and when Harry couldn't even tell him what part of the country it was in, he started to get annoyed, as though Harry was being stupid on purpose. Getting desperate, Harry asked for the train that left at eleven o'clock, but the guard said there wasn't one. In the end the guard strode away, muttering about time wasters. Harry was now trying hard not to panic, but according to the large clock over the arrivals board, he had ten minutes left to get on the train to Hogwarts and he had no idea how to do it; he was stranded in the middle of a station with a trunk he could hardly lift, a pocket full of wizard money, and a large owl.

Hagrid must have forgotten to tell him something you had to do, like tapping the third brick on the left to get into Diagon Alley. He wondered if he should get out his wand and start tapping the ticket inspector's stand between platforms nine and ten.

He felt a finger tapping his shoulder, and he turned around to face a tall, muscular boy in a leather jacket and leather pants with raven-black hair with a red streak in the middle staring down at him.

Jake's P.O.V.

Jake's day had been going alright till he meet that small, skinny boy at King's Cross.

He'd done his usual morning routine. He'd woken up, jogged for five miles, eaten a bowl of Cheeri Owls and started doing some weights. Then he started packing for Hogwarts. He'd packed his weapons rack just in case he needed it. You never know when you might need a trusty dagger, maybe if you wanted to kill a dracaenae or when you wanted to cut some steak.

Jake Apparated to the train station and decided he might help some stragglers who didn't know where to go to find the Express, because that was just the kind of guy he was. It was a good thing he did, because he found two confused looking Muggle families who obviously had no idea where they were going. The first family was a rich-looking family who turned out to one a line of Finch banks and Fletchley hotels. The second one was a bushy-haired bookworm's family, who turned out to be part of the British Royal Family. He pointed both of them in the right direction, and received sincere thanks on both's behalf.

Deciding that he'd better get on the train, Jake turned to got to the barrier. And that was when he spotted the boy.

He looked small for an eleven-year old, and he was so skinny. Jake could definitely see those were signs of malnutrition. He could also see that he had the oh-so-familiar look of confusion on his face, and he had a snowy owl. That could mean two things: either he's a starving, homeless boy who found an owl and a trunk and is trying to find a train out of here, or he's a starved wizard.

Jake thought the latter was the answer.

Deciding to try and point him in the right direction, Jake tapped him on the shoulder.

The boy turned abruptly and looked up at him, literally.

'Correct me if I'm wrong,' Jake said, daring him to correct him. 'but I assume you're looking for the Hogwarts Express?'

'Yes, I am.' the boy said, sighing in relief. 'Do you know how to get there?'

'Yes, of course.' Jake replied, grinning. 'Follow me.'

The boy seemed relaxed by the grin and followed him gladly. Jake stopped in front of the barrier and said, 'All you need to do is walk straight at the wall between platforms nine and ten. Don't stop and don't get nervous, otherwise you'll crash into it.'

The boy looked at him as if he was crazy.

'You want me to walk into a wall? Are you mad?'

'No, I'm not. I'll even show you.' Jake said, walking through the barrier. Smirking he ran back through the barrier to show that no harm had been done to him.

'Believe me now?' he asked, hoping the boy wouldn't say no.

'Yes.' the boy said, nodding his head vigorously. 'So I just walk straight through the wall?'

'Yep, easy as pumpkin pie.'

The boy ran towards the wall, bracing for the impact that would never come, and then he disappeared.

'Oh! Are you mad?' Jake imitated, mocking the boy as he stepped through the barrier.

'Sorry if I doubted you.' the boy said, looking down at the ground.

'It's alright.' Jake said, noticing the boy's broken glasses. 'I can fix those glasses for you, if you want.'

'Oh, thanks.' the boy said, handing his glasses over.

Jake pulled out his elder wand and chanted, 'Oculus Reparo.'

The glasses repaired themselves instantly and Jake handed the glasses back.

'What's your name, kid?' Jake asked, smiling as he reached to put his wand back in its holster.

'Harry Potter.'

Jake's smile vanished as he wand dropped to the floor in shock.

Harry Jake thought, is that really you?

'What's the matter?' Harry said, concernedly.

'I once had a twin called Harry.' Jake explained. 'I was told that he died at fifteen months by someone who I trust dearly.'

'I'm sorry.' Harry said, angry at himself for bringing it up.

'It doesn't matter, Harry.' Jake said, mustering up the courage. 'Allow me introduce myself. Jake Theseus Potter, first-year.' he said, holding out his hand.