It's a New Day
Harry jerked awake to the sound of a train whistle. He was sitting on the Hogwarts Express. He looked down at his uniform that had no colours for a Hogwarts house and smiled. He remembered departing Platform 9 ¾, but then he must have nodded off for reasons unknown.
He rubbed his head trying to remember what he had been dreaming. Some sort of battle, or friendship, or an ancient magic? It was all a jumble. He then felt his forehead. It seemed as if something should have been there that wasn't there now. He had no idea really.
There was a knock at the door. "Excuse me, do you mind? Everywhere else is full." It was a young red-haired boy about Harry's age. Harry indicated the seat opposite him, and the kid sat down.
"My name's Ron, by the way. Ron Weasley."
"I'm Harry. Harry Potter."
"A pleasure to meet you Harry," Ron shook his hand and they got to talking.
As the trolley lady came by, Harry ordered some chocolate frogs for himself, and saw the look on Ron's face. He then got a few boxes of Berty Bott's Every Flavor Beans and tossed a packet of beans and a few frogs Ron's way.
They continued to sit and talk about what they thought Hogwarts was going to be like, and which Chocolate Frog cards they needed to complete the set.
Ron tried to demonstrate a spell his brothers had taught him when a girl stepped up to the door.
"Has anyone seen a toad? A boy named Neville has lost one. It was a gift from his parents."
"Sorry," said Harry with a shrug.
"Oh, are you doing magic? Let's see then."
Ron cleared his throat. "Eye of rabbit, harp string hum, turn this water into rum." The bottle of water Ron was aiming at didn't do anything.
"Are you sure that's a real spell? Well, it's not very good. Of course, I've tried a few simple spells, but they've all worked for me." Hermione sat down and looked about. She then pointed her wand at a Chocolate Frog card. "Wingardium Leviosa" she swished and flicked her wand and the card raised about a foot off the chair before fluttering down again.
"Wow. Better than anything I've tried," Harry muttered. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Harry Potter."
"I'm Hermione Granger," the girl said rather enthusiastically. "And… you are?" she asked Ron, who had a mouthful of chocolate, not all of which made it into his mouth.
"I'm Ron Weasley" he said around the half-chewed piece of chocolate in his mouth.
"A pleasure!" She said, looking somewhat perturbed.
"I'm looking forward to my magical studies," Harry told Hermione.
"Me too. I expect we will be arriving soon. I'm going to keep helping Neville. I'll see you all at Hogwarts." She got up and flounced out the door, ignoring the dirt on Ron's nose. Just as she stepped away, a slightly older boy with dark brown hair stopped and poked his head in.
"You okay Ron? Your brothers said they didn't know where you were."
"I'm fine Cedric," Ron answered. "I'm just making friends with Harry Potter."
"Ah, yes, I know the name." Cedric shook Harry's hand. For whatever reason, Harry felt relieved to see him. He had never met Cedric before, but he felt overwhelmed at the mere sight of him.
"Good to meet you, Cedric. I don't know you at all." Harry admitted, more to try and make this odd feeling go away.
"Well, I'll let your brothers know where you are Ron, and I'll see you at Hogwarts." He went off back the way he came.
"How do you know him?" Harry asked.
"Mainly through my brothers Fred and George. He is one of the few wizarding families near me. We see each other every now and again, along with the Lovegoods."
"Aren't they the owner of that newspaper?"
"The Quibbler. Yeah. Luna is off with the fairies, but she's a good kid. She lost her mum some time ago, but she and her dad seem happy together."
As Harry and Ron swapped stories of what they knew about Hogwarts and other wizarding families, Ron knowing more after hearing everything from his brothers, there was another knock at the door. There stood a blond boy with two stronger guys behind him.
"Sorry, must have been the wrong carriage. Oh, look, a Weasley."
"And who are you supposed to be?" Ron asked.
"Malfoy. Draco Malfoy." Ron couldn't help but smirk at the name. "You think my name's funny, do you? This from a broke little Weasley. And who's this guy?" he asked, turning to look at Harry.
"Harry Potter," he answered. He felt a bit more on his guard around Draco, but he didn't seem hostile, just entitled. And despite this, there was a want to connect to him.
"Ah, yes, Potter. Famous potion makers with a stash of wealth and income from your great grandfather if I remember correctly. Why are you spending time with a broke boy like a Weasley?" Draco sneered.
"Because money isn't what matters, but the kindness you give to others," Harry answered. That want to connect was fading fast.
"If you say so," said Draco, trying not to laugh. "See you at school." He walked off with his two cronies following close behind.
As the train pulled up at Hogsmeade station, Hagrid stood at the end of the platform calling for all the first years to come toward him. Harry and Ron, with Hermione, Neville, Draco, Crabbe, Goyle and all his other classmates right behind him, came towards Hagrid. They were all feeling a little intimidated by Hagrid's height, but Harry felt he was a good man beneath all the imposing muscle and towering stature.
As Harry got on the boat with Ron and Neville, Hagrid called out "Forward' and all the boats set off across the lake. As they rounded a corner, there was Hogwarts, shining with all its lights and in brilliant glory. It was breathtaking, and yet, for Harry, somehow familiar. He had never been to Hogwarts, but it felt wonderful to be back for whatever reason.
From the tallest tower of Hogwarts, looking down, the spirit that had come to Harry watched him approach the school. The spirit stood in the form of Niamh Fitzgerald, the only other witch to have ever seen and understood this magic during her time, although she had never used it. The spirit, however, was not a ghost of Hogwarts, but the magic that protected the school. Now that it had used its magic, it looked down upon what it had done to grant the wish.
The spirit knew Harry had some lingering memories of his past life, of what had gone before. However, as he settled into Hogwarts, they would all fade. His wish, to live peacefully with his friends had come to pass and would last until he graduated from Hogwarts. He and the spirits of his deceased friends had called upon a magic so great and ancient, that it had not been used since the founders. It allowed one to destroy a great evil and be granted a wish. So now Harry and all his friends who had died in the Battle of Hogwarts had a chance to start life again. Harry would go on to be a Gryffindor and a Seeker on the Quidditch Team. Without the dark plots of Voldemort and other dark beings around him to distract him, he'd do better in his studies as well. It wasn't clear yet what career path he'd take, but it was going to be magnificent. His love interest would also be unknown, as Ginny Weasley wouldn't be as drawn to him. But still, anything was possible. But, nonetheless, he'd be successful and happy in a peaceful world he had no idea he had brought about.
His parents, James and Lily, were so proud to send their son to Hogwarts. The spirit knew that Sirius Black was also on the platform when Harry had left that morning. The two were very close, and they had lived happy lives.
Their contact with the Dursleys was, to put it mildly, limited. Dudley was a jerk towards Harry through being the entitled brat he was. But, somehow, the future looked like a better relationship when they both matured.
The boats were docking, and the spirit felt itself returning to the place where it rested, awaiting to be called again in times of crisis. By the looks of it, that was not going to be for a long time now.
The end
A/N; My brain really began to unravel all the differences of what Harry's life would be like if Voldemort hadn't happened, but that would have dragged on. Would Snape be his potions teacher? Who would be the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher? I will leave it to your imaginations.
I also added in the Dursleys because I think Lily and Petunia would have let the kids visit in much the same way as canon Harry and Dudley do. I think that they could become friends if they aren't forced together, and Dudley makes the maturity leaps he does. Dis/agree as you will.
Well, that's that. I hope you enjoyed this. I made a lot up to try and tie things off, and that Sailor Moon fans can see all the comparisons, and that Harry Potter fans enjoy this whimsical little outing.
Until next time, stay beautiful!