Chapter Three
The Hogwarts Express

~ Disclaimer: Harry Potter, and all the characters, setting, and plot thereof, belong to JK Rowling. I additionally disclaim any right I may have to the copyright of the text below. Also the last two chapters as well because I forgot to put this on them. ~

The morning of 1 September dawned bright and warm over London. His trunk was packed and ready, sitting in the hallway, as it had been for the past week. Fort, his tawny owl, was sitting in her cage, pecking at a small pile of owl treats. After a couple of hours of lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, he got up to get changed into his muggle clothes – jeans, a t-shirt, and a pair of trainers – and sat back down on his bed. He was now wished he hadn't woken up so early: sleeping was much better than just hanging around. Eventually, at around ten o'clock, he went downstairs, to find the house in chaos.

'James!' his mum called as he walked down the stairs, where have you been? Go and get some breakfast.'

'I've already eaten,' James replied, earning him a raised eyebrow. 'Where's Dad? He said he was taking the morning off to come to the station, right?'

'He's with Albus,' his mum replied, glancing at the kitchen.

Albus had been getting steadily more upset that James would be leaving as the day approached, culminating in a tantrum yesterday with him refusing to go to Kings Cross with the rest of them.

'I'm not going, because I don't want James to go,' he said stubbornly, as James walked into the kitchen.

'Come on Albus,' his father sighed, 'it's only one more year, and you'll see him at Christmas, and Easter, and the whole of summer.'

'But that's only three times a year,' whined Albus.

'And James will write, right James?' his dad asked, looking him sharply.

'Er, yeah. Every week if you want Al.'

That seemed to brighten Albus up enough to get him out of the front door and into the family's battered old Land Rover Defender. They'd owned the car for as long as James could remember, but hardly ever used it. The last time had been a couple of years ago, when they all went to visit his dad's cousin. James hadn't liked them very much. The car was surprisingly nimble through the dense London traffic, and they arrived at King's Cross by half past ten.

'Isn't it getting a bit late?' he asked worriedly as they all clambered out of the car.

'No, no,' his dad replied.

They loaded all of James' things onto a trolley, before making their way across the large paved courtyard up to the entrance into King's Cross.

'I think it's this way,' his mum said, making her way across to the right and striding through the open ticket barriers. 'Ah yes, here we go,' she said as they approached platform nine.

James looked at the barrier between platforms nine and ten. It looked resolutely solid.

'Come on James.' He felt his dad grab his arm and steer him towards the barrier. 'Best take it at a bit of a run the first time.'

They broke into a run, heading straight for the still very solid looking steel barrier which came closer and closer and closer, until all of a sudden they were on a packed platform filled with smoke and steam. In front of him was a bright scarlet steam engine bearing the name Hogwarts Express on the side. Jutting out from the wrought-iron archway above him was a small sign with the words Platform Nine and Three-Quarters on it.

His mum, Albus, and Lily followed them through the barrier, and were now standing behind him.

'It looks just the same,' his mum muttered, staring at the steam engine.

'It's brilliant,' his dad shot back, grinning. James felt that he shared the feeling.

Fort began hooting happily in response to the multitude of other hooting owls as they all made their way through the crowds down the platform. They passed the first four carriages, which were already full of students, and wandered down to the middle of the train. Behind him, James saw a small group of older children crowding around a boy who was eagerly digging through a purple box of the Weasley's Snackboxes.

'Ah, there they all are,' Ginny said, surging ahead.

A group of eleven slowly emerged out of the fog covering the platform, half of them with bright red hair. Uncle Bill and Aunt Fleur were there, with Victoire, and Uncle George and Aunt Angelina with Fred and Roxanne. They were talking to Uncle Percy and Aunt Audrey, who were loading Lucy's things onto the train as her sister, Molly, looked on longingly.

'Ginny, Harry,' called Percy as they approached.

'Percy, how are you?' his dad said, walking up.

'Could be worse,' replied Uncle Percy. 'We were just chatting about the election.'

'Ah yes, of course. It's true that Kingsley's not staying on for another term then?'

'Afraid so. I tried to convince him to stay on – it's what the public seems to what, after all – but he wasn't having it.'

They lapsed into boring conversation as James sidled around to meet his older cousins. Lucy was talking gravely to Victoire about something or the other, while Fred looked on with a vacant expression.

'Looking forward to your first year, James?' said Fred as he approached.

'I think so,' replied James.

'It's gonna be a great year, we'll have a Potter back at Hogwarts, after all.'

James rolled his eyes as Victoire and Lucy turned to face them.

'It's alright for you, Fred, it's not like you ever do any work anyway,' snapped Lucy.

'What're you so worried about? Vic's the one with the exams.'

Lucy huffed and jumped onto the train, leaving Fred standing on the platform with a look like he'd just been slapped.

'Hey, Lucy, wait! What did I do?'

'What's wrong with Lucy?' James asked, turning to Victoire.

She was already dressed in her Hogwarts robes, complete with a gleaming blue Ravenclaw Prefect's badge on her chest.

'Nothing important,' she said, waving a hand. 'You don't look ecstatic yourself.'

'I'm just nervous, I guess,' shrugged James.

Victoire laughed. 'There's nothing to be nervous about. What is it, the sorting?'

'No, just, you know, friends, and...' James trailed off into a mumble about his dad.

'You'll be fine, James. You're bound to be in Gryffindor, so Teddy, Fred, and Lucy'll be around practically all the time. And if anyone does annoy you just give me a shout and we'll see if I can't land them in detention,' she added with a wink.

'Thanks,' he replied, giving her a weak smile.

He looked back up to his mum and dad, who were now busy congratulating Bill and Fleur on Victoire's becoming a Prefect.

'Yes, we are very proud of 'er. She takes after 'er father, of course,' Aunt Fleur was saying. 'Naturally, zere was never any doubt. We knew ze moment she got 'er letter what would be in eet.'

'Shush, Mum!' said Victoire, before reaching up to give her a kiss on the cheek. 'I should get going, I'm supposed to be meeting the Head Girl.'

'Yes, actually, you should get on as well James,' his dad said, turning to him. 'Now, remember not to do anything I wouldn't do—'

His mum scoffed.

'—and write often. Hagrid wants to meet you when you get the chance.'

'Give Neville our love,' his mum added.

'And don't let anyone get you down. Your cousins will always be around, and Teddy of course.'

The train let off a short whistle, and his mum began to load his trunk and Fort into the carriage Victoire had just disappeared into.

'Ask them if you need anything.'

James began to climb into the train carriage just as it began to slowly pull out of the station.

'And remember,' his dad shouted, striding alongside the train, 'if you get into trouble, Neville will tell us quicker than you can say "Hogwarts"!'

James stayed by the door as the wind began to whip at his face, looking at Lily running after the train, laughing with her arms outstretched. Eventually, the train gathered speed and left the station behind completely, and James began to look for a place to sit.

He found a compartment with only one other boy in it, slumped in his seat, with his face pressed against the window. He didn't look up when James opened the door and shoved his trunk inside before collapsing on the seat opposite. After a couple of minutes of sitting in silence, a loud squawk from Fort in response to a toad croaking somewhere else in the train finally seemed to wake the other boy up with a start.

'Oh, hello,' he said. 'Sorry. It's been a long trip.'

James looked at him quizzically.

'I flew in from Ireland this morning.'

'You flew?' James asked, surprised. He had flown in his grandparent's garden before, but an international journey was quite different. 'Do you have a broomstick then?'

The other boy's face fell. 'Oh, no. Erm. I'm not actually a— well my family's not— you know,' he leaned in conspiratorially, 'magic.'

'Oh, you're a Muggle-born! That's alright. I just thought, since you mentioned flying, you know,' James trailed off awkwardly.

'Yeah,' the other boy gave a hollow laugh, 'we flew in a plane.'

James looked at him blankly.

'You know, an aeroplane? Big metal tube with wings sticking out of it.'

The boy mimed an aeroplane with his arms outstretched either side of his body.

'Nevermind,' he mumbled. 'I'm Matthew, by the way,' he said after a minute.

'James,' replied James, 'James Potter.'

James thought he saw a flicker of recognition pass over Matthew's face, but apparently he thought nothing of it since he continued, 'So are all of your family wizards then?'

'Yep,' replied James easily, 'I've got some great-aunts and uncles who are Muggles though.'

'Wow,' Matthew's face held a faint trace of awe.

'It's nothing though, really,' James said quickly, 'it's not like I know loads of magic or anything. I only got my wand a month a ago. We're not allowed them until we come to Hogwarts.'

James' mention of Hogwarts set off a load of questions about the castle and the school and the lessons, which he answered as well as he could having never visited the place. They talked easily as the train carried them out of London and up into the countryside.

About an hour and a half into the journey a smiling, plump woman leaned into their compartment and asked if they wanted anything from the food trolley. James glanced at Matthew who muttered something about only having 'normal' money. He went up to the trolley and bought a large stack of chocolate frogs, a couple of boxes of Bertie Bott's Every-Flavour Beans, a bunch of Pumpkin Pasties, and collection of Cauldron Cakes.

Matthew looked curiously at the small pile of silver Sickles and bronze Kunts James had paid the lady. 'Is that wizard money?'

'Hm?' said James, who was already stuffing a pasty into his mouth. 'Oh yeah, haven't you seen it before?'

Matthew shook his head. 'No, someone from the Ministry of Magic came to give me my letter and they took us around Diagon Alley as well. Paid for everything. Apparently there's some kind of bursary.'

'It's quite simple,' James said, pulling out one of each type of coin from his pocket. 'There are twenty nine bronze Knuts to each silver Sickle, and seventeen Sickles to one of these golden Galleons. A Galleon's quite a lot though, so there's not much use having loads of them.'

Matthew looked sadly at the handful of coins. 'I'll bet I have loads to learn.'

'Nah, you'll be fine,' replied James, 'there are usually loads of Muggle-borns. My Aunt's a Muggle-born and she's the cleverest witch I know.'

'Really?' Matthew said, his face brightening.

'Yeah, she works for the Ministry. Head of the Magical Law Enforcement Department or something. Do you want anything?' James added, indicating to the pile of food next to him.

'Er, no, it's alright.'

'Go on, I got enough for both of us anyway,' said James, throwing a chocolate frog at Matthew.

Matthew caught the frog, and looked at it carefully, as though it might bite him he held it wrongly. He gently unwrapped it, and pulled out the card inside, reading it out loud:

Harry Potter (Order of Merlin, First Class), best known for his defeat of the dark wizard Voldemort at the Battle of Hogwarts in 1998, for which he was appointed to the Order of Merlin, is the youngest ever Head Auror. He enjoys spending time with his wife, celebrated chaser and Quidditch reporter Ginevra Weasley-Potter (Order of Merlin, Third Class), and their three children.

James felt a blush rising in his face as Matthew read out the card.

'Wait a second,' Matthew said slowly.

Oh no, James thought. He had been quite enjoying talking to someone who didn't realise who his dad was.

'Your surname's Potter,' he said.

'Yeah,' James mumbled in reply.

'But, then, is he your dad?! I've read about him in A Modern History of Magic!' Matthew rushed out, pointing at the card.

'Yes,' sighed James. The game was up. 'But I don't know anything about all that,' he added quickly, 'Mum and Dad hardly ever talk about the War.'

'What's an Auror?' asked Matthew, looking curiously at the card.

'Dark wizard catcher,' James replied shortly. 'They go after all the really dangerous criminals.'

'They didn't tell you anything about the War then? It seems really interest—'

'No, they didn't.'

'—ing. I'm really looking forward to our Modern History lessons, I hear that they're taught by a ghost!'

James snorted and turned to stare out of the window and watch the rolling fields and farms go past, filled with sheep and cows. Occasionally there was a glimpse of towering structures pumping out smoke and collections of little houses forming a small village. Matthew didn't say anything for a while, and James began to feel slightly guilty for his short replies.

'Sorry,' Matthew said after a while, 'I didn't mean to—'

'No, I'm sorry,' James said quickly. 'It's not your fault. And it's History of Magic that's taught by a ghost, I don't know who teaches Modern History.'

They lapsed back into a comfortable silence for a while, as the train continued to meander through the countryside. After a time, the compartment door slid open and Victoire walked in.

'How're you getting on?' she said. 'Your mum asked me to check on you.'

James flushed with embarrassment.

'I'm fine,' he mumbled.

'She said to make sure you put your robes on before getting off the train.'

'I'm quite capable of remembering to dress myself,' snapped James.

Victoire narrowed her eyes at him.

'I'll bet she's going to write to me like every day as well,' he huffed under his breath.

'If you're going to take that attitude I won't bother checking up on you,' she snapped.

James paused, remembering her earlier promise to give detentions to anyone who annoyed him. 'Sorry.'

'Good. There's nothing wrong with your parents writing to you, you know,' she said. 'Dad wrote to me every day in my first year.'

'Uncle Bill? Really?' James said, raising an eyebrow.

'Oh yeah, even more than Grandma Delacour. Who's your friend?' she added, looking curiously at Matthew.

Matthew, who had, until now, been staring at her, blinked for a moment. 'Oh, erm, Matthew Reed.'

'Nice to meet you, Matthew Reed,' she replied, grabbing a Cauldron Cake from the pile next to James. 'She also wanted me to remind you that Professor Hagrid and Professor Longbottom both wanted to see you, and you're not to go wandering off on your own and getting into trouble. And also not to spend all your money in one go,' she added, looking pointedly at the pile of food.

'I remember, I remember,' said James, rolling his eyes.

'Don't you roll your eyes at me,' she said mock-seriously, 'or I'll put you in detention.'

'You wouldn't dare.'

'Do you want to test me?'

'No,' James said quickly. He wouldn't put it past her to give him a detention.

'Good,' she said, before a sudden ruckus from further down the carriage distracted her. She ran off muttering something about those 'bloody Slytherins'.

'Who was that?' Matthew said, staring at the doorway where Victoire had just been standing.

'She's my cousin,' James said, waving a hand at the door and helping himself to another Pumpkin Pasty.

'Some cousin,' he said, though James had no idea what he meant. 'What did she mean "Professor Hagrid and Professor Longbottom want to see you"?'

'Hagrid's the Groundskeeper. He also teaches Care of Magical Creatures, I think. He knew my dad.'

'Oh. Professor Longbottom is the Deputy Headmaster, isn't he? My letter was from him.'

'Yeah, he went to school with Mum and Dad.'

'Woah. So you're, like, really well connected then?'

'Please don't remind me,' said James.

They carried on talking as the sky outside grew steadily darker. First with clouds and rain as they progressed steadily northwards, and then with the setting Sun. The train flew past the heaths and moors, occasionally passing a large lake or mountain. Eventually, an announcement rang out through the train:

'We shall be arriving at Hogsmeade station in ten minutes. Coaches will be provided to carry students to school. First years are reminded that they are to wait for the Groundskeeper and are not to take the coaches. Please leave your luggage on the train; it will be taken to the school separately.'

James glanced at Matthew, who had blanched at the thought of actually arriving at Hogwarts.

'C'mon, we should probably get dressed,' said James, pulling his robes out of his trunk.

- JP -

Thanks for all the reviews, follows, and favourites on the last chapter everyone! I said it last time and I'll say it again: if you made it this far, please do leave a review, even if it's only one word :).