Chapter 26 – Off to Hogwarts or encounters of the worst kind
Hermione and I had discussed Jean numerous times and always thanked her and wished her well were ever she was. She had mapped out movements and explained a lot right up to stepping on the train. After we got on the train it was whatever it would be or we made it to be. She got us training in a lot of areas. We even had a little wand-less magic we could do, what she could not help us with was people. We read books on etiquette to dueling, even how too politely curse in pureblood speak. Believing there was a proper way to curse or slur someone just got me to shaking my head. The wizards were definitely different than the muggles. We said goodbye to Dan and Emma and boarded the train early. From our compartment we could watch the platform and all that went on there.
A set of blonds entered the platform, two adults and a boy our age. They acted like royalty with their noses up in the air. Another group of three entered and you could tell they must be muggle. They looked like they had entered a wonderland and were quite lost.
"Hermione look what just came on the platform."
There was a very old man dressed in blue robes with stars that twinkled. His pointed blue hat matched his robes. He did not just walk onto the platform but he strolled as an impressive entity, his wand in his hand as if it was a scepter. Next to him was a roly poly boy who looks like he was trying to look important but knew he wasn't. On his left was a freckled red-headed boy who was trying to look important just because he was there. Behind them was the clowns, at least that was my first thought. First there was a waddling red-headed female dragging a young girl with her and three older boys. Two of the older boys split off to join their friends while the third paused to polish his badge with his robe sleeve.
The train started it journey so we pulled out a couple of books to read. About fifteen minutes later the compartment door slid open and entered two girls. "Hi I'm Daphne Greengrass and this is Tracy Davis, would you mind if we hid in here until we get to Hogwarts?" I had stood like I was taught a gentleman should. When I waved to the seats they immediately rushed by me and took the seats furthest from the door, that left me sitting by the door.
"Would you find it too forward to inquire what you two are hiding from on this train?" I asked.
"Draco Malfoy has been trying to get into Daphne's knickers for a while now." She giggled while Daphne frowned.
While I was wondering who would he trying that with an eleven year old, Daphne stated, "He's a royal poof but he want to throw his father weight around and I happen to be his target at the moment."
At that moment the compartment door slid open to expose a blond and two Dudley looking thugs on either side of him.
"What are you bints doing in here, get back to our compartment this minute and get away from these muggles."
"And you are?" I asked.
"Don't bother us you dirty mudbloods…" he started.
"Page fifteen of the pureblood book clearly states that that word is not to be used in mixed company." I asserted.
"I told you to shut up mudblood…" Draco was now resting in the arms of his two thugs with a bloody nose with my compliments."
"Well don't just stand there get him." Draco screamed.
The Red-headed Perfect that was policing his badge on the platform found the three stunned students on the compartment way floor. When he couldn't wake them he called a teacher who got them up to start the blonds whining. The teacher was not convinced that the first years, who were muggles, even knew the stunning charm and of course would not be powerful enough to use it.
/Scene Break/
The Great Hall was impressive when you saw it for the first time but soon it was… "Granger, Harry" and the sorting hat was dropped on my head.
"Holy Shit, you're Harry Potter!" said the hat in my head.
"Yes and I would appreciate your not telling anyone that information."
"No way, everything I see is confidential, but you know you have had all those turkeys running around for years trying to find you."
"Really not my problem Mr. Hat are you going to put me in Gryffindor like my parents?"
"Of course and the names Abe and I'll be putting you in Gryffindor just like I did with you two last time."
"Ah?"
"I don't want to know, I don't want you to ask, you've been here before…"
"Gryffindor!" Abe yelled.
While they all clapped at the table it was of no consequence and I joined Hermione seconds later. Neville got the big applause and welcome which was confusing but again of no consequence, I was with Hermione and at Hogwarts.
That is what we wanted but then came the Forbidden Forest is…yada, yada…and the third floor is off-limits to all that don't want a horrible death. "Hermione" I whispered, "Your trunk or mine just after curfew."
"Mine", she replied.
The 'floe' flared and Harry stepped into Hermione's trunk. "Harry this place is definitely not safe, did you hear that crap about a most horrible death on the third floor? Hell just telling kids that the third floor is off-limits is enough for half of the school to check out the floor and see what's going on."
"That's true but I think part of it was to get the entire halls attention focused, did you feel that surface scan, some one was mind probing."
"I thought I felt something like that, well we best get to bed, meet you in the common room for breakfast, I just can't wait to see what our schedule will look like."
I returned to my trunk and check to make sure they were all asleep before climbing out. I snuggled into my bed after I set my alarm clock; a silencing charm for Ron's snoring and I set a proximity alarm ward. The day floated away to a sound sleep.
/Scene Break/
Hermione was waiting downstairs in the common room reading a book. We then headed off to find the Great Hall which turned out to be many floors down. We sat at one end of the table and helped ourselves to a full breakfast. People filtered in and started filling up the table in no orderly fashion. Quite a while later Ron and Neville came in and for whatever reason decided that we were seated in Ron's private place.
"Get your asses down to the other end; this area is for the important people." Ron belched.
"I didn't see your name engraved on the seat so…" Ron made a mistake he pushed Hermione and the why came out, "Move mudblood."
I stood and faced him; he opened his mouth to say something and got my left to his stomach and when he bent over, my right to his jaw. He was a bit taller than me. He soon was a lot lower as he lay on the floor moaning. "Don't you ever intentionally shove a lady because you want her seat asshole." Neville had backed up and looked neutral. Some one else decided to enter the fray by grabbing my arm as if he was going to rip it off and spun me around. First mistake! As I spun my other hand lit on fire and I jammed it into the aggressor's chest. Well that is where I was aiming but it turned out to be an adult. Snape got a burning fire in his family jewels of course I claimed accidental magic; I was a poor first year after all.
Well they put out the grease fire and carted him off to the hospital and Madam Pomfrey. Professor McGonagall gave me a quick grin when she handed me my schedule. She after all had seen Hermione and me playing with fire balls before.
/Scene Break/
I had made enemies with Draco, Ron, and Snape but it seems I was the hero of the school.
There is one draw back about studying ahead you get bored quickly. Doing first year work when you are capable of third year does not keep your attention in class. All of the teachers recognized this and the next thing Hermione and I know is we are helping the teachers or demonstrating the spells. This does not ingratiate you with some people and in the pureblood community it was not to be tolerated that muggles could do more than a pureblood. From Slytherin you could expect this but there were plenty of purebloods in all the houses. Ron Weasley was the best example.
There were some funny parts in all the boredom of first year magic. In charms there were exploding feathers or feathers imbedded in the stone walls. In transfiguration a pin cushion literally crawled off the desk, across the floor, and tried to hide under McGonagall's desk others exploded in flames like potion cauldrons.
Snape at least learned that it was against school rules to lay hands on students but he was still the Master of point removal. So far my Head of House had been able to get me out of his Detentions for "reading the instructions", "not sitting straight" and of course the famous one "breathing excessively loud".
Now if they thought I forgot about the third floor I would be kidding even myself, I was curious. One simple unlocking charm showed me a three-headed dog. I left for the library. The next time I went I brought a broom, and a miniature wind up piano. The dog went asleep and I flew over or through all the obstacles. The logic test almost stopped me but I finally figured it out. The next room had a mirror and when I walked up it just dumped a red stone in my pocket. When I flew back out I made sure to miss all the alarms in the room and went back to the library for research. While the library was of no help the rumors later that year got me on track and I finally figured out what the stone was and soon after that, how the stone worked.
Hermione was no slouch when it came to showing the purebloods a thing or how a spell worked. First years were not very good; some purebloods had some training but still not up to Hermione's standards. A nasty insult got you some curse that even the teachers and Madam Pomfrey scratching their heads. You didn't spend half your life with your nose in a book and not pick up something.
Now with all this going on smart people might have though better than mess with us, no way, here comes Draco! It was Friday and we had just finished another lousy class with Snape. "Hay mudbloods, when are you ever going to learn your place, we purebloods are way better at everything…" He got to close to Hermione and she delivers a right cross to the nose.
"Hay pureblood you defiantly are better at leaking your pureblood all over the floor" Hermione was mad but was rubbing her sore hand as she stomped by Draco.
While Neville was my roommate along with Ron, Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan we seldom talked. Dean and Seamus were buddies with Ron but they were all considered just there for the fame as Neville was known as Dumbledore's golden boy or as Harry Potters deadly twin. It wasn't that Neville got into trouble or asked for anything it was just the way Dumbledore acted or the Dailey Profit reported.
While Harry Potter was still talked about no one knew where he was, all they knew was he was alive. That was proven by someone trying to claim the vaults of Harry Potter. The Goblins forcefully declared that Harry Potter's vaults were still his as he was alive; no comment was all anyone could get after that.
Dumbledore just kept manipulating, if there was a reporter Neville was tossed in his face. If something happened that was good and unclaimed Dumbledore gave Neville the credit. I even tried out for the Seekers position and got ignored. I can fly pretty well but the job went to Neville while Ron got the Keepers position. I laugh when I think about it; I didn't break my wrist by falling off my broom like Neville did during the tryout.
The students and the Dailey Profit seemed to pick up the term "Harry Potter's Deadly Twin". I wondered if they got that term from the same place they got all the Harry Potter information for the books.
Flashback:
The school was alive with rumors and actual sightings. The players were Neville, Ron and Lily Moon. Luck was with Hogwarts that day as most students were in their common rooms but there were enough Teachers, Perfects and students in the corridors. It was rumored that the three had opened and not closed the door on the third floor and a large three-headed dog escaped and was running through the halls. The next semi rumor was that the three ran into a Troll who also escaped and was stomping up and down the corridors of the school. Most of us were restricted to the Great Hall after a teacher came in and announced the fact. The dog was accompanied by a massive amount of flying keys. The three students were in the hospital for over three days, which meant that they were seriously hurt. Madam Pomfrey could normally fix you up in ten minutes. After that the rumors were wilder than science fiction movies. Neville was battling specters and rescuing something that saved the wizard world. One thing that was obvious was Dumbledore limping around the Great Hall and looking like he had gone ten rounds of Muggle boxing.
End Flashback:
It was now summer and France was fantastic. Dan and Emma had tried to get us bumped up a grade or two but Dumdum said no. I hired a dueling expert in France to teach us what he could on our weekends. Our weekdays were for the beach and fun although it was hard sometimes to get Hermione's nose out of those dam books. This of course worked for me many times. Hermione had a tendency to run to parents or whoever she thought could help. So with her in the dark on this and stuck in a library I had a chance to sneak out and unload a few pounds of gold I had made from the stone to the Goblins. I even got to deposit all the French Franks in a bank. They didn't want to open an account for a kid but when I dumped all those Franks on the table they changed their minds.