7. Chapter Seven

Staring one last time at the firm wall behind him in wonder Harry vacated the spot for the next arriving passenger. Better prevent a collusion.

Oh, a train were his ingenious thoughts the moment he noticed the red steam locomotive. Right after that he spotted the sign reading Hogwarts Express Platform 9 ¾.

Finally!

And moreover, he hadn't been killed in the killing spree on platform 9.

Success!

So far, Harry had enjoyed the train ride, what could eventually be related to having a compartment all to himself. And because they had left King's Cross just mere seconds ago.

Be it as it was, he was content with sitting on his comfy seat and taking in the past flying view.

Then the door slammed open and disrupted the sweet silence of his personal little heaven. Grrr.

It was smiley-face.

"Hello. I'm Ron." He seemed a bit lost. "Do you want to be my friend?"

"Of course, come inside." Harry motioned with his hand to the seat in front of him and smiley-face fell down on it with a sigh.

"I'm Ron. Do you want to be my friend?"

Smiley-face was as creepy as his little sister, Harry decided. Even more stupid than the typical wizard. Perhaps he had forgotten his brain at home. It wouldn't shock him if that was a possibility. It was the Wizarding World, after all.

"You just asked me that."

Smiley-face's eyes opened widely and a dumbfounded expression graced his features. It suited him pretty well.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm a little stupid sometimes. I have a brain defect."

"Um, it doesn't matter." There, mystery unravelled.

The boy leant forward as if to share a secret and Harry could make out the plethora of freckles that covered his face.

"My parents are siblings" Freckles – Harry loved giving people nicknames in his head - looked around again to secure no one had overheard and leant back again, relieved. Harry had the feeling that they were bonding. Bonding time yeah! Time for him to spill a secret.

"Oh I've got a stone thrown at my head" he confided in his new friend with a big grin. If that wasn't enough for bonding time than he was at dead ends.

"Boah, how embarrassing!" The other grunted with wide eyes.

"Yeah" What could he say? That villains in this world were unable to fulfil their job assignment? Not even his cousin would be dump enough to throw a stone at someone he wanted to kill. And a brain defect due to incest was no less embarrassing!

Thankfully, they were interrupted before an uncomfortable silence could settle in their compartment as a trolley with a huge display of sweets appeared. And a lady. A creepy old lady with short curly grey hair. She peered inside their compartment and fixed her gaze on Harry. She had horrific red cheeks. Looked like a painted face. He repressed a shudder.

"Hello children, do you want some sweets?" Her voice dropped until it was so deep that her vocal chords were so troubled it sounded hoarse. Harry's shudder returned forcefully.

Smiley-face, oblivious as ever – but who was he to judge that kid when he himself had a perfect functioning brain – looked at the creepy lady and showed her the bag he had in his hands.

"No, I still have crumbs." He looked pointedly at the bag of now identified crumbs to support his statement. "From biscuits my mom baked for me last year." Smiley-face then added as an afterthought.

"Err" was everything Harry managed as reaction. Bloody hell. Was there a handbook for situations like this? Something like "How to handle awkward situations" or "What you should keep in mind while dealing with stupid people". That would be awesome and gratefully accepted.

In the end, he threw a forced smile in Freckles direction.

Was it working? Pity he couldn't read his mind to be absolutely sure he handled this right. But, on careful deliberation, it was probably for the best. Who knew what he would find there. Uh, it was better to stay away from this thoughts. They were as sure nightmare material as it was certain that Queen had fabricated the most amazing hit of the year. It was his personal mantra: "The show must go on". Oh shit, now he had the song stuck in his head. Back on topic. Problem: Awkward silence, because of Freckles mom. Solution: Change topic.

Huh, that sounded easy. He grinned. At least his brain was awesome.

"Yes, now a completely unrelated topic – I just have to show off briefly –look here, how rich I am!" He put out his hand that had previously searched in his pockets for the galleons he had spare from his shopping trip with Hagrid. The golden coins shined nicely on his presented hand and played their part as distraction like a professional.

"WOW" was all Smiley-faces brain could come up with as reaction. Hopefully, it was enough to keep him busy for a while. Considering the open hanging mouth, the widened eyes and the unflinching gaze which was firmly locked on his galleons, he doubted they would encounter more problems.

It was confirmed now.

His brain was awesome.

"Jup, but I'm not going to buy a thing", Harry exclaimed smirking at the creepy lady, which eyes were like Smiley-faces staring at the coins in his hand. At his comment they flickered to his face, taking in his gleaming eyes and - looking away – she carried on with her trolley while trying to act nonchalantly about the money that slipped through her fingers right in front of her nose.

Take that, creepy bitch. He was Harry-Bloody-Potter, awesomeness in person! Revenge was sweeter than all the sweets on her trolley combined. The ones who wanted to challenge him should better watch out before he came and destroyed them. Nothing and nobody stood a chance to defeat him.

Because HE WAS AWESOME.

AN: Sorry for the delay! Christmas hols and all. But I hope this chapter cheered you up a bit:D