Chapter 7: The Pre-Hogwarts Program - The Hogwarts Express

10:12 - (Sunday) - September 1st, 1991 - The Day Off

King Cross Station, London, England

Arriving at King Cross Station, Hadrian was greeted by the sight of a busy bustling railway station. Large groups of non-magical mortals made their way through the station some running towards the platforms their trains would be leaving from. Large groups of formally dressed adults in suits, dresses and office workwear made their way through the station with coffees and food bought from the food stores in the station as they remained glued to the newspapers and other documents they had in their hands. And then there were the few who made their way through with large trunks, nervous parents following them looking down towards the pieces of parchment in their hands, wrung in their hands as they tried to look at the information written discretely upon the parchment.

Pushing the trolly Daphnae had picked up, the group of three made their way towards Platform Nine. The three didn't look out of place, all three were dressed well. Crisp white shirts, smart trousers - in Hadrian's case his enhanced corduroy and acromantula silk trousers, black jackets - Daphnis' case a black blazer underneath a long black jacket, and black boots, a recent purchase from a regular mortal store which was quite pricey but that came with the brand they had chosen to purchase from - Solovair. Hidden underneath their jackets were undetectable knives holstered in hydra skin hide holsters. Hadrian wore a flat cap over his hair to cover his face from anyone who may recognise him from his father's appearance. Though Hadrian had started to grow away from being his father's doppelganger he still had the trademark distinct Potter features. Daphnae had her tiara around her neck as a necklace to draw away untoward looks.

Coming to a dead stop near the platform, standing by a train which had just let out a wave of mortals, Hadrian pulled out the aforementioned parchment;

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. Of Wizards)

Dear Mr Potter,

Please note to access the Hogwarts Express you must make your way to King Cross Railway Station and make your way towards Platform Nine-And-Three-Quarters. To access the platform you must enter through the gateway between the middle column between Platform Nine and Platform Ten. The Hogwarts Express will be leaving at 11:00 sharp, and students should aim to be on the train by 10:55.

Note: Running into the gateway is advised for those who are nervous.

Please understand that non-magical relatives may not enter Platform Nine-And-Three-Quarters unless entering with prior permission from the Ministry of Magic or accompanied via an approved escort by the Department of Magical Travel approved by the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. As per the rulings of Minister Cornelius Oswald Fudge.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress,

Head of Gryffindor House,

Professor of Transfiguration

Looking towards the middle column the three decided to observe the gateway for now. Noticing a group of mortals making their way to the column the three noticed that the two adults kept their eyes shifting all over the platform, keeping watch over anyone who may be observing them, however, they missed Hadrian, Daphnis and Daphnae. The group comprised a mother, a father and two young daughters. The three women had bright platinum blonde hair which bordered on the line of silver and honey blonde. One seemed to be roughly 8-9 years of age while the other was 11 years of age. Their mother watched them with a fond expression hidden underneath that of a stern guarded expression being shown to everyone else, the father watched with eyes less soft than his wife but with a far more guarded expression, his hand often twitched as if calling out for something. His hand often looked like it was flicking out a wand.

The group settled in front of the point of entry as two by two the group ran towards the column their bodies disappearing into the stone. Turning towards the other, the trio had their eyebrows raised at what they had just witnessed.

"Subtly isn't in their nature is it?"

Daphnis choked on a laugh, his mouth curled into a smirk his eyes twinkling beneath the blackened glasses he wore. "No. It appears they like to walk that fine line," Daphnae responded dryly. As she looked towards Daphnis muttering a few words to him. Daphnis immediately sobered up reaching into his pocket and pulling out a dark silvered coin with red marks. Handing the coin over to Hadrian, Daphnae followed suit bringing out her coin with the mark of a Strophalos. "Hadrian these coins, serve one major purpose, they when flipped in your hands, will turn into matching silver Xiphos'. Hadrian nodded following along with their words, "The coin from myself, had the Strophalos carved into both sides, made up of silver has been made by elder cyclops upon request of Hecate. The sword uses dormant magic to cut through the magically resistant skin of magical creatures. The handles are built up of the same materials but are also slightly curved. With laurel and cypress built into the handles. The handles have three triggers built into the handle itself with enough training you will be able to manipulate the dormant magical energy around you." Daphnae finished her words looking to her pseudo-son, not that she would admit that, with pride. This moment was a long time coming but she found this moment difficult. Her hand made contact with his shoulder pulling his attention from the coin to her, in a small moment of affection she pulled Hadrian into a quick hug which Hadrian didn't do anything to combat accepting the same show of maternal love from someone he had grown to view as a mother.

As the hug broke, she leaned down to his ear, "I'm proud of you Hadrian, you've grown well under our care and will continue to grow more as you get older. You've grown far from the small scared boy we first met."

If Daphnis had heard the words Daphnae had shared he kept that to himself. His face was as straight as ever. Immediately he picked up from where Daphnae had finished. "And my coin is the symbol of your mother, carved in are red Amaranths, the flower of your mother, with Lilies the namesake of your mortal mother. The other side has a stag under a palm tree, a reference to your father and your grandmother Lady Leto." Looking off towards a clock he noticed it said 10:42, "This sword is slightly different to the one given to you by Daphnae. This sword is made up of moon-purified silver, this sword can remove the curse of Lyacon from werewolves." Hadrian's eyes widened at the words. His mother had never been known to show such kindness to werewolves considering the followers of Lyacon had often attacked her acquaintance, Lupa the wolf goddess, the mother of Rome, Remus and Romulus.

Acting upon the same feelings as Daphnae, he pulled Hadrian into a quick hug, "Hadrian you have made me proud. And I know your mother is proud of you, I know she hasn't been around for a while but believe me when I say she is proud of you, even if you are unsure of it." Hadrian looked at him with a level of shock in his eyes before schooling his expression into the same neutral expression he always did.

Pushing his trolley towards the column he went himself through the stone pillar. Driving through the feeling of being squeezed through a store, he was welcomed to the sight of snivelling parents and children saying goodbye to each other. Tears, on the faces of parents and young children leaving and staying with their families. The sizeable scarlet steam engine train stationary with the black driver's carriage in the front, and the red and gold sign stood tall on the front with the large white number standing bold;

Hogwarts Express

5972

Some families seemed to keep their owls in cages as they struggled to get them onto the train. Hadrian had a slight smirk as they struggled, for some reason the idea to send their avian creatures to fly to Hogwarts seemed to escape their minds. Before he had left for King Cross, he'd sent his owl - Hedwig and his crow - Badb off to make their way to Hogwarts and probably enjoy a good hunt on their separate ways.

The polished metal of the train gleamed in the sunlight, welcoming the embrace of Apollo's glow. Parents met up with other parents, chatting with each other, children met up with friends of theirs, and children forget their pets, causing them to run back to their parents to get their cats and toads.

'Heaving' up his trunk, he made his way onto the train at a carriage near the front, looking towards the empty carriage. Tucking his trunk underneath the bench he made sure to pull one of his books out. Hadrian had found himself interested in the work of Laurel Macha Greengrass, The Societal Requirements had been an excellent introduction to the inner working of Magical Britain, giving insights into the various factions of Magical Britain and the houses associated with each faction. Even though Hadrian's family had been historically associated with 'the Light' they had often entered alliances with 'the Grey families' most famously the Bones family, although they did share a good history with the Johansen family. Hadrian had found himself buying more of her books, like The Magical Houses of Great Britain, The Great Alliance and Study of the Union between the Houses of Olde, and A Case Study of the Noblest and Ancient Houses of the Magical Council of Lords and Wizengamont.

Locking the door, and pulling down the blinds, Hadrian pulled out his Hogwarts robes, tie and jumper he would have to wear. Putting the tie on, he unlocked the door and raised the blinds, as was required according to the rules on the sign inside the compartment.

Opening up, The Magical Houses of Great Britain, he had read up on his ancestor's actions during the 1600s.

Ralston John Potter

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Chf. Warlock, former Lord Potter, Founder of the International Confederation of Wizards, The Guardian)

Ralston John Potter was born on 19th June 1593 - died on 11th November 1679. Was known for leading the light and grey in arguing against the declaration of war by the Minister at the time, on the Muggle Society of Great Britain, and his actions allowed him to push for the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy (enacted in 1689 - made international in 1692. Ralston Potter entered the Wizengamont aged 25 following the passing of his father Ignotus Henry Potter III.

By the seventeenth century (the 1600s) wizard-muggle relations had hit their lowest, with the rise of Witchhunts, and the burning of innocent witches, and non-magical alike. The indiscriminate persecution of witches and wizards alike, regardless of age, social class or creed had caused many members of magical society to feel that their attempts at reintroducing magic into the non-magical muggle societies were tantamount to picking the firewood for their funeral. Generally, the belief came from seeing young children showing accidental magic publicly causing them to be taken and put through the test to prove their purity in the eye of the Christian god. This often meant throwing them into rivers, off cliffs holding onto brooms or just plain burning them at the stake. Often victims of the farce methods of research including trials where the victim would have no defence and serve as a way to justify the actions of the cowardly many.

The most notable British victim was Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, formally a member of the royal court of King Henry VII, who was discovered by the vicious muggles, had his wand broken, was then tortured for information on magic which was a common practice of the time led to the further capture, torture and murder of other wizards. After the short time of imprisonment Sir Nicholas, as he prefers to be called, was executed and is now known to haunt the halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A lesser notable case was the escape of Lisette De Lapin of Paris, France who was believed to be an advisor to the King and was captured but could escape merely days before her execution. Though she was never found after her execution it is theorised that her story was used for the character Babbitty in The Tales of Beedle and the Bard.

However, although the British Ministry has managed to keep information about the cause of the witchhunts to start to be forgotten, it is known amongst the old families that it was caused by some families who were known to use magic to manipulate and torture muggles. Said witch or wizard was caught by a congregation of muggles leading to the beginning of the witch hunt.

As the recently created, British Ministry of Magic, tried to liaise with the muggle British Monarchy, at the time the joint partnership of Mary II and William III failed to work with the British Ministry and point blank chose not to act causing Britain to take actions towards closing themselves away from regular non-magical society.

It was at this time that the Malfoy family led the more militant side of the Wizengamont whereas House Potter challenged them as the neutrals put forward the earliest copy of what we would now know as the International Statute -

As Hadrian was deep into his reading, the polished oak door opened to reveal Cynisca Bishop, red hair encapsulated in a worn-out blue hat fading in colour, a pair of black cargo trousers, a white t-shirt, the same black boots as when they met and a black pocket heavy army jacket. If there was one thing Hadrian could appreciate was a jacket with pockets. Pale purple eyes met his cold icy green, as the air developed a slight chill, the destructive realm of war met the calm order of the hunt. The air was palpable, but the tense atmosphere was broken by her, "Of all the compartments I could've found, of course, you had to be in it," she groaned annoyedly.

All she was met with was a raise of the brow, and silence. Growling slightly, she tried to reign herself in. "You don't have to sit here. You've chosen to." Her head swivelled to face him, her face screwed up in anger. 'Heaving' her trunk in, she placed it under the bench opposing Hadrian's ignoring him, she decided to pull out a book written in Ancient Greek. Something odd to Harry was that wizards and witches born to godly parents weren't dyslexic. However, they would find it easier to speak, read and write in Ancient Greek with enough effort a magical demigod could survive without the use or need of Ancient Greek.

As the train left the station, Hadrian and Cynisca looked up from their book to see a short bubbly, deep brown-haired, green and brown-green-eyed girl, with an excitable gleam in her eye and an impish grin on her face. "Hello! I was wondering if my friend and I can join you," she spoke very quickly in an uncomfortably excitable and joyous tone of voice.

"Tracey," so the girl's name was Tracey, registered in his mind, as he turned his attention back to his book. Ignoring the current happenstance, ongoing just wanting quiet. "Don't be rude," the voice from earlier grew louder as the owner of the voice got closer to the compartment. The voice was a little breathy but was also extremely cold and curt. The singer soon thereafter had a face attached to it. A slightly taller platinum blonde-haired girl, with icy blue eyes, Hadrian recognised her from Ollivanders, the girl who was watching him with an inquisitive expression. Her face like Hadrian's was unexpressive and gave nothing away but her face showed learned neutral coldness, like a mask worn to protect herself. Her eyes were cold and stern, with heavy reprimanding notes directed at Tracey.

"But Daphne," she whined, causing Hadrian to look at them irritated, Tracey didn't realise it but Daphne did as she watched him cautiously.

"But Daphne, nothing." She spoke putting an end to the whiny voice Tracey was speaking in, sounding like she was Tracey's mother. Tracey pouted at her, not adding to the parent-child dynamic of the friendship the two had.

But before Daphne could further reprimand her friend, Cynisca cut in, "Please come in," she spoke with a surprising level of patience or kindness. "It'll be good to have some company with you since Mr Sunshine and Rainbows over there won't talk." Hadrian didn't rise to the bait, as Tracey lightly cheered making her way into the compartment followed by a grateful but polite Daphne.

"I'm Tracey by the way. Tracey Davis," she spoke extending her hand out excitably. Bouncing lightly in her seat, like an ADHD-ridden child hopped up on every source of caffeine out there.

"Heiress Daphne Greengrass," Daphne introduced herself formally, in a well-trained manner, she extended her hand out with grace towards Cynisca who took it with her rough grip, causing Daphne to wince slightly in discomfort and she made a point of not offering Hadrian a hand since he didn't seem interested in conversation. But she noticed a slight raise of his eyebrows as she mentioned her last name, a possible pureblood child she hasn't met, meant a possible alliance that could be established, she was interested in him.

"Cynisca Bishop," Cynisca spoke introducing herself his a finger pointed towards herself, moving her book off of her lap and onto the side. "And this nerd isn't worth mentioning." She was met with Daphne's raised brow causing her to groan loudly, "Argh! Not you too!" If possible Daphne's brow went higher as Tracey looked lost, "He does the same thing too," looking towards Tracey, "You see it right! The eyebrow thing!" She spoke annoyed.

Tracey looked between the two with theatrical horror building on her face. "Oh! The horror, Daphne! It's like a male version of you!" She was met with both looking at her harshly with raised eyebrows, their eyes both coldly looking at her as she mumbled out apologies wanting their eyes off of her. Daphne's eyes left her first, but then they slowly were then followed by Hadrian's.

Deciding to get this over with, Hadrian looked in Daphne's direction, who sat next to him. Extending his hand to her, "Heir Hadrian James Artemis Potter," he spoke, "Pleased to make your acquaintance Heiress Greengrass." Immediately Tracey's head swivelled over to him, as Daphne in a slightly shaky manner took his hand with widened eyes.

But before any of them could speak, they were interpreted by a loud voice, coming from the hallway outside their compartment.

"Harry Potter," the voice exclaimed, their heads turning towards a tall, gangly ginger boy with a slightly large nose with dirt smudged on it. Hadrian looked at his robes, some were too big and others were too small with patches all over the trousers, and it looked like the robes had to be heavily readjusted to fit his frame. "You're Harry Potter," he spoke once again not taking notice of the annoyed expression on Hadrian's face, but the three girls did, while Tracey and Daphne decided to melt into their seats, Cynisca bounced on her chair lightly excited at the prospect of a fight.

"No," Hadrian spoke dryly, "I'm Hadrian James Artemis Potter," he spoke not willing to allow himself to be called 'Harry Potter'. It wasn't his given name and he wouldn't accept any other unless he found it to be acceptable.

"No!" The boy arrogantly spoke back to Hadrian, "Your name is Harry Potter! Everyone knows that!" The boy walked into the compartment reaching for Hadrian's hand who made sure to keep his hands away from him, "I'm Ron Weasley. Why don't you have the scar," he spoke not seeing Hadrian's begin to curl in disgust, "Do you remember anything from that night? Do you remember what he looked like? You know when You-Know-Who killed your parents," and that was the question that broke the camels back. He was excitedly asking these questions, Daphne's face seemed annoyed, Tracey looked nervous and Cynisca wanted Hadrian to start a fight.

Hadrian immediately stood up, his cypress-laurel wand drawn and pointed towards his neck. Ron immediately shut up watching Hadrian nervously, "Mate, what are you doing," he asked not realising he heavily crossed the line, but he learned that as Hadrian kicked out his leg from underneath him. Causing him to let out a loud yelp as he landed on his back, groaning in pain. He rolled on the floor in pain, as Hadrian deliberately stepped on his ankle before raising his wand to him throwing the Banishing Charm in his direction causing him to slide out and hit his head painfully on the wall. A loud cry left him, as he scrambled onto his feet and ran away down the corridor, wiping his eyes and trying to hide his tears.

Neatening himself out, Hadrian sat back down but couldn't focus back on his book. Turning towards Daphne who seemed to be watching him nervously, "Miss Greengrass," he spoke to her neutrally. Gaining her attention, "Are you by any perchance related to Laurel Macha Greengrass?"

Daphne took a second to calm herself down, gulping nervously, "Yes, she is my grandmother," she spoke in her usual tone of voice but a little more nervous.

Nodding with no intention to take the conversation further he took that information into his head, deciding to go back to his book he enclosed himself into the world of the book. But before Daphne who just noticed what the book was could ask the door reopened, revealing a bushy brown-haired girl. "Have any of you seen a toad, a boy name Neville lost one," she spoke with an Oxford accent. There was a demanding undertone, which caused a tick on the brow of every dweller of the compartment.

"No haven't seen any toads here," spoke Cynisca curtly. The unpleasant tone of the beaver-toothed girl disturbed their peace.

Noticing the book in Hadrian's hands she directed her questions to him, "Oh, you like to read? How far have you gotten with your books, I've read all of them. My favourite is Hogwarts: A History." She spoke similarly to the boy before her. "I've already learned all the spells in the school books. I'm the first witch in the family, my parents were ever so surprised to learn that I was a witch. And that all the things that happened around me were just magic. What house do you think you'll be in? I think I'll be in Gryffindor or Ravenclaw. I'd prefer Gryffindor like Professor Dumbledore, but I guess Ravenclaw would be cool." She said all of that in one breath the girls staring at her like she grew multiple heads, Hadrian kept his gaze on his book, but his hands were tensed around his book as if he was trying to hold himself back from being violent.

"You know it's rude to ignore someone," Daphne immediately looked at the girl like she had grown three more heads.

"And do you know it's rude to speak to new people without introducing yourself and to ask and make demands without doing so? Let also the manner you have spoken in." Daphne spoke her body in Pureblood Heiress mode, the girl's face reddened as she looked at them embarrassed.

"I-ve-I've got to go, I still need to help Neville," she spoke rushing on her words as she left the compartment quickly.

Cynisca and Tracey both looked amused as the girl as she scampered away. Daphne's face looked impassive as ever with a slight smirk curled on her lips, and Hadrian was as neutral as ever paired with his cold eyes. As the train continued on its journey, a flash of green appeared within the compartment, as the girls turned their heads away at the bright light, protecting their heads, Cynisca and Daphne drew their wands with a defensive stance, Cynisca of a trained warrior and Daphne with the grace and poise of a pureblood heiress trained in duelling.

Cynisca had her wand arm reached out with the other in a fist, one leg in front of the other, both slightly bent her body contorted into that of a stereotypical brawler-type pose. Daphne had her body face away from the source of the light, her arm outstretched towards the flash, wand in hand, surprisingly also made of Laurel, her wand arm facing palm upwards, her front leg bent whereas the back leg stood straight, her eyes had given away her inexperience in duelling, she may have been trained in the etiquette and theory of it but was inexperienced in the art of duelling and combative magicks. Tracey's reaction was the most unusual she didn't pull her wand out but got into the stance of a boxer as if she was ready to give whomever just invaded their compartment the 'ole' one-two'. Hadrian merely looked up towards the source of the light as it dimmed away.

The green light gave way to a crow. Cynisca looked downtrodden at the aspect of a fight no longer being on the table, Daphne sat down looking slightly embarrassed at her reaction, if the reddening of her neck and the pink around her already rose cheeks were anything to go by, as she sat down she did appear to be slightly ruffled as she worked towards neatening herself out. Tracey also looked slightly put out but marvelled at the magically enhanced crow, her brown-green eyes sparkled with excitement and a surprising level of curiosity at the appearance of the creature.

'So she not a complete idiot,' Hadrian thought to himself, as his eyes landed on his crow, putting his book away, he extended his arm outwards, and the avian creature, as it let out a loud call before diving down onto his arm, the claws gripping his arm firmly as it basked in his attention. Its formally amber eyes were now meshed with green and silver specks, and the feathers looked more like the night sky and looked like it could trap light with how deep the blackened feathers looked.

"Always the attention seeker," Hadrian murmured towards the crow. The crow looked indignant at his words turning his head towards Hadrian and butting itself head against Hadrian's much to the amusement of Cynisca and Tracey. Daphne watched on carefully trying to assess the situation.

But before anyone in the compartment could speak, the door slid open again. Unveiling a blonde with slicked-back greasy blonde hair, and grey eyes, along with two other burly-looking boys who could be classed as gorillas. Their stern visage was put off by the food stains and crumbs on their jumpers. Hadrian looked towards them his eyes pouring out disgust and words of anger ready to be hissed out. The third time a group of brats were about to piss him off. He dismissed Daphne and Tracey due to Daphne's grandmother being who she was and the value of Daphne's last name only served to add to her earning Hadrian's favour.

"Is it true," he spoke in regal sounding Southern accent although he could escape the West Country accent of where he came from. Met with raised eyebrows from Hadrian and Daphne which had Cynisca and Tracey rolling their eyes at the two, although Tracey did gain a dark irritated look in her eyes. "That Harry Potter is in this compartment. That's what everyone is saying up and down this train. I'm assuming it's you," he spoke to Hadrian not noticing the look of irritation in Hadrian's eye. He remembers the boy and his father from Flourish and Blotts and his grandmother's words about the actions of his father. "I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy," Cynisca let out a snort at the James Bond-esque introduction. Looking at her, his face curled further into disgust, "You again, you loathsome brute, your kind shouldn't be here," Cynisca's eyes hardened extremely, her eyes going from a pale purple to white as the air around her became toxic to breathe full of destruction and devastation.

Draco didn't take notice of this as did his two dogs, but the other three in the compartment did. "Greengrass, Davis, and a mudblood. Your company requires improvement Potter, I can help you there," he spoke his hand reaching towards Potter, only for it to be slapped away by Hadrian.

Meeting Hadrian's eyes for the first time he was welcome to a kick in the chest throwing him towards his two gorilla guards as his crow attacked them while Hadrian locked the compartment door, ignoring the threats he received from Draco and his cronies. Sitting back down he saw the stunned faces of Daphne and Tracey and a smirk on Cynisca's face as he returned his attention back to his crow, who preened in the attention she got from Tracey landed in her lap.

"What's her name," Tracey looked towards Hadrian before returning her attention towards the crow who nipped at her fingers.

"Babd," Hadrian spoke his eyes never leaving Tracey's hands making sure his crow was safe, something that Daphne took note of, "After one of the crow from of the Morrigan." Daphne slightly stiffened at that revelation, as the four in the compartment sat recovering from the tense atmosphere that they had to deal with.