Chapter 3 - The Train

Steam rolled heavily through the station, the cool air gave little resistance to cloud as it attempted to surround and obscure the entire station. A faint breeze wandered through, dispersing the steam, beating back the oppressive fog and clearing the path for the young students making their way towards platform nine and three quarters.

The platform was clearly and cleanly marked by the gilded numbers over a solid brick wall. The bricks were decorated with matching gilded bars, creating a perfect door-shaped outline through brick. Hanging from the top of this seeming doorway was a small sign which simply read, "Take care when entering."
Harry stood on the platform, clearly unimpressed with the crowd that wandered through King's Cross. There was nothing particularly special about today, beyond the numerous children preparing to leave for the upcoming school year. Harry was no different as he waited patiently for his Aunt to return with the trolley containing the rest of his things. He watched as numerous families arrived at the station and made their way toward the gilded doorway, amused at the ease at which he could identify the youngest and least worldly amongst the students by their levels of amazement at the enchanted wall.

"Ready?" Petunia's voice broke Harry from his reverie. He turned and nodded to her before making his way to the platform. It had been slightly more than two weeks since his trip to Diagon Alley and meeting with that obnoxious girl. He had little doubt that he would be seeing her on the train, but he could only hope that she would keep to herself. Especially if his aunt wasn't around for her to gush over.

Once Harry passed through the doorway, another wave of steam washed over him, momentarily obscuring the impossibly large platform. He glanced around, noticing the platform was nearly the same size as the station itself, though this only caused him to nod in respect. Clearly a fair number of charms and enchantments had been cast upon the station. Beyond the otherwise impossible size, the temperature was a comfortable medium, the platform was well lit despite no obvious source and the marble and carved stone ornamentation all screamed of expert mystic workmanship. Harry was impressed, clearly Hogwarts wanted its students to be immediately aware of the skill and wealth of its institution, and they had succeeded.

Harry looked around the platform a second time, though this time he wasn't interested in his surroundings, instead, he sought someone in particular. There! A bright shock of red heads in a sea of brown, black and blonde. The Weasleys had beaten him here, just as Ron had said. Glancing over his shoulder to be sure his Aunt was following him, Harry began to make his way through the crowds towards his friends.

Harry had only made his way about halfway across the platform before it started. The low murmur and chatter, the pointing of fingers, the double-takes. The crowd was starting to notice the scar under his short, but messy hair. He rolled his eyes and kept moving forward, hoping that it wouldn't get out of hand again. Finally, after charging through an ever thickening crowd as it grew bolder and started asking questions and calling for Harry's attention, he finally reached the Weasleys. "Ron!"

The young man with shockingly bright red hair turned and grinned at Harry. He was somewhat lanky, and a tad bit taller than Harry and he had already changed into his uniform robes. Between that fact and the sarcastic flourish, Harry knew that his friend was showing off his brand new robes. They were of fine quality, something Harry knew was as much a sign of the Weasley families success as it was the need for new clothes.

"Hey, Harry." Ron grinned broadly. "Check out the new robes! Dad just got another bonus for his work with the Muggle Prime Minister." He then glanced around, noticing that the growing crowd and frowned. "Still having problems with being a celebrity?"

Petunia had finally managed to fight through the crowd in her nephew's wake and took a deep breath, smiling broadly at Mrs. Weasley. "Good morning, Molly!" She glanced around for a moment before cocking her head to one side and asking. "No Arthur, today?"

The other woman, a healthy middle-aged woman, Molly Weasley, smiled. "Not today I'm afraid, Petunia. He had a hearing today that he couldn't get out of... Something about the sale of minor magical plants in muggle greenhouses. They keep him far too busy these days." She elbowed the younger woman playfully. "Honestly, I'm a little surprised to see you here. I told you that I could take Harry for you."

"I know, I know." Petunia rolled her eyes. "I requested this day off months ago, even before Harry got his letter. I didn't want to miss this for the world. Even if it means some long nights at the office with Arthur and reams of paperwork. Give him my regards, by the way. And tell him that I'll see him in my office tomorrow to go over the case for that poor man's phoenix. Weeks of litigation and no progress, maybe if he can get the Ministry of Magic to relax a bit in their onslaught we could make some progress..." She glanced at her nephew, a flash of worry as the crowd began to close around Ron and Harry. "Should we do something?"

Molly glanced at the crowd and let out a slight chuckle. "I don't think so..." She grinned as her own red-headed son stepped forward and began to tell off the crowd. Telling them to leave Harry alone, that he's just another kid off to Hogwarts and that they can bother him at school where they wouldn't gang up on the poor guy. "Ron's got plenty of practice keeping the curious off his best friend." She grinned proudly. "He'll make sure that Harry doesn't get overwhelmed. Hopefully they'll keep each other from letting this all go to their heads too..." The two women shared a grin.

"I suppose so, Molly. They've always looked out for each other, why would that change now?" The crowd began to disperse, leaving only a few stragglers who stared with naked curiosity.

After a few minutes a sharp whistle blew across the platform and parents began to usher their children onto the train. Petunia helped Harry lift his luggage onto the train, then she looked into his eyes with a proud expression. "Take care, Harry. Don't forget to write every week, even if it's just a quick note about your studies. Otherwise, I'll worry." She smiled and ruffled his hair and he acted playfully annoyed at their old ritual. "If I don't hear from you, I'll send you a Howler every day until I do..." She grinned mischievously at the look of horror on his face. "Now go. Enjoy your school year and I'll see you around the Holidays. And don't forget, I love you, kiddo."
Harry blushed with embarrassment and jumped up to hug Petunia, muttering "I love you, too" in her ear so no one else would hear him. Then, he jumped onto the train and waved at his aunt as the train began to pull away from the station. Petunia waved back, never looking away or moving until Harry was out of sight.

Harry, with Ron following shortly behind, wandered the hallways of the train, looking for an open compartment, or at least one with amiable company. He passed by compartments fill with whining first years, clearly worried about being away from home. He passed by older students, who looked at him with disdain at presuming to consider sitting with him. He especially hustled past the compartments where the students recognized him, desperately clamoring for him to join them. He passed by them all with mixture of disinterest and disdain.

Finally, about halfway back from the front of the train, Harry found a room with a sole occupant. He glanced around, and seeing no sign of other students or their things, he glanced at Ron and gestured at the door. Ron smiled and pulled the door open, revealing the young blonde boy dressed in the finest of robes, the boy looked up and cocked an eyebrow.

"Can I help you Potter?" He glanced sideways at Ron, giving the barest of nods in recognition before turning his gaze back to Harry.

"Oh, come off it, 'Malfoy.'" Harry rolled his eyes. "Anyone sitting with you?"

"No." The reply was curt and polite, but abrupt.

"What? No goon squad today?" Ron quipped, immediately followed by a faint "Oof.." as Harry elbowed him in the ribs.

Draco smirked at Ron's discomfort before looking back to Harry. "Crabbe and Goyle are in the next compartment. I sent them there, because I find it more interesting to sit and talk with myself than those imbeciles. If not for their father's connection with my family, I wouldn't even give those buffoons the time of day." He sighed. "However, if you wish to join me, I would not argue."
"Thanks, Draco." Harry walked into the compartment and dropped heavily onto the seat across from the blonde. He nodded off-handedly to Ron, who sat softly next to Harry.

The trio sat in relative silence for a few minutes, unsure where to go next. Before, finally, Draco broke the silence with a snort.

"So, Potter, is your mother still stirring up trouble in the Ministry?"

Harry smirked at Draco's intentionally tactless comment. "Is your father still being a brutishly stubborn ass?"

Draco shot a sideways grin at Ron. "At least my father isn't a muggle apologist. At least 'Ms. Petunia Evans' stands up on her own, not needing a Weasley to argue her cases for her."

Ron turned slightly red at the comment, before letting out a derisive laugh. "There'd be no need for my dad's job if your dad didn't keep making wild public statements."

The three sat glaring at each other for a long moment, before smiling and laughing together. The tension in the room melted away, to be replaced with respectful camaraderie. "It's been too long, Malfoy. Your dad to busy to bring you into London, anymore?" Harry grinned broadly with a wink.

"No. More an issue of him wanting me to get a head start on my education. He's spent tons of money and time hiring me the best magic tutors in Britain, so I would be top of my class at Hogwarts. Not that he had a reason to worry." Draco practically preened at his own compliment.

"Whatever..." Ron rolled his eyes and muttered, but said no more.

"Fair enough, I suppose..." Harry nodded and the trio lapsed into silence for a long few minutes, the years that had passed since the three had met in the Ministry-sanctioned daycares providing enough of a gulf to make awkwardness unavoidable. Eventually, the conversation revived and the hours passed slowly as the three discussed their parents, their schooling thus far and many other things.

The three had ascended to boasting about their magical prowess, their mystic lineage, their prominence in Britain and more. Draco constantly reminding the other two that he was the son of the most influential old-blood magical family in Britain, but both Ron and Harry could boast equally old descent and more modern appeal to counter the arrogant blonde's statements. Their boasting did not even pause as the concession cart wound its way past their door, as the boys each emptied their pocket change to buy each other expensive sweets.

Hours later, with full bellies and wild theories about the upcoming sorting, the trio were ready for the trip to be over. Fortunately, they knew that the Hogsmeade station was growing nearer by the second. The compartment had once again lapsed into silence when there came a knock on the door. Ron glanced between his companions before leaping to his feet and pulling the door open a crack.

"Yeah?"

A brush haired girl stood across the threshold and attempted to look around Ron's body as it blocked her view. With a huff, she looked Ron in the eye with annoyance.

"Have you or your friends seen a toad? Neville, here," She gestured behind her at a pudgy young man who looked both tired and panicked simultaneously. "He lost his toad. What was the name again?" She glanced at Neville for a moment.

"Trevor."
"Yes, Trevor. He was walking through this car when he lost it. Have you seen it?"

Ron glanced back at Harry and Draco before turning back to the girl. He shook his head. "Nope, no frog." He started to pull the door closed, but the girl pushed her foot in the way.

"You didn't even look or ask anyone..." She glared at Ron and pushed him bodily aside. She looked between the other two boys and Harry couldn't help but grimace.

Harry finally recognized the girl and her harsh little voice: This was the girl from the Alley. The one who had dismissed him for his aunt. He was used to sharing the spotlight with his famous aunt, and he had no problems, but she had dismissed him so utterly... He was annoyed then and he was still annoyed. He glared harshly at the girl, "Look. We don't have his frog. Even if we did, you're being so rude about asking, I wouldn't give it to you."

Hermione looked at Harry, recognition dawning in her eyes, as well. She rolled her eyes, looked between Harry and Draco, then back to Neville. The latter of the three remained in the hall, clearly too worried to enter. She sighed in mild annoyance and looked back at Harry. "Fine. If you want to be a brat about it, I won't stop you." She moved to leave before hesitating and speaking to Harry over her shoulder. "You might do well to remember who you really are, rather than who you think you are... Otherwise, I doubt you'll do very well at Hogwarts." Then she was gone, Ron shutting the door behind him.

Draco grinned and started to say something, but fortunately for Harry the whistle blew, signifying the train had finally arrived. Hogsmeade was right outside and Draco's comment was lost in the bustle of gathering their luggage and preparing to depart.