A week had passed since his trip to Diagon Alley with Dumbledore and today was the day Theodore would leave for Hogwarts.
He was feeling a little conflicted, on one hand now that his suspicions about being tricked and getting shipped to an asylum were put to rest, Theodore was excited to go, but on the other knowing magic is real had given him a whole new set of questions and paranoia to worry about, not to mention the fact he will be leaving Evangeline and the only life he's ever known behind. What if Hogwarts is more terrifying and dangerous than the group homes? At least he knows how to get by in a place like this.
During the short period Theodore had the time to process and prepare fully for Hogwarts. He extensively gone over all his books in an attempt to absorb as much of the history, events, spells, and dangers that makes up the magical world.
In his research Theodore came across names that were already familiar to him, such as Dumbledore. Turns out the people in that pub and his new magical friend, Hermione, had a reason to be star struck when they heard Dumbledore was in Diagon Alley. In 1945 Dumbledore dueled what was considered one of the darkest and most powerful wizards in history who's name was Gellert Grindelwald, and won without killing him, thus saving the wizarding world.
Theodore found that very interesting, what was believed to be one of the most powerful wizard in history was a dark magic user, hmm. He had to admit, although he still thinks Dumbledore is a bit loose in the head, Theodore was genuinely impressed by that, and a little afraid. To think he was alone with someone who could've easily destroyed him if he wanted to for hours... Theodore shuddered. Moving on from that, there was another name Theodore recognized.
Harry Potter.
When he was in Diagon Alley, everywhere around him Theodore could hear people muttering the name Harry Potter, but he could never listen close enough to hear what exactly they were talking about, so he just assumed maybe Harry Potter was some insignificant celebrity that bored people fawn over for no legitimate reason, like Muggles do with actors. But he was very wrong.
According to the book "Year by Year Archives of Magic History's Most Noteworthy People", Harry Potter is famous for being the first to survive a killing curse and defeating a dangerous dark wizard, who went by Voldemort, when he was just a baby in 1980. Him and Harry Potter has the same birth year. That event led to people dubbing Harry Potter as The Boy Who Lived, and to ensure his privacy he was sent away to live with muggle relatives as he was orphaned the same night. At least he's not in a group home.
Theodore blinked, wondering if he read this right or if this book was a prank. Harry Potter survived and defeated a dark magic user before he was even one year of age. Either that wizard was pathetic when it came to magic or dark magic itself is not all that great. The latter option would explain how someone like Dumbledore could defeat a dark wizard, but raises a question on why nobody else could do it if a baby could. Maybe dark magic is like a wand, not everyone is compatible with it and if you aren't, instead of failing it destroys you instead.
That's pretty dark if you ask him.
Theodore sighed, suddenly feeling exhausted, and slapped the book shut. Evangeline, who has been sneaking into his room the past week to sleep next to him before he leaves, moaned and squirmed around under the covers at the noise. She's always been a light sleeper. He looked at his clock, four in the morning already.
Nerves had been bothering Theodore all night, the reason he wasn't asleep right now, and why he was binge reading most of his magical books for the second time since he got them. Theodore doesn't want to be thrown into an alien world unprepared, and books are the only tools he has at his disposal to study from, but sleep is also required to be a normal functioning human being.
Theodore never got the sleep he wanted, and as he packed his books away, he couldn't help but sigh lightly at Evangelines soft sniffling as she watched him pack up from his bed. Hearing her cry right before he leaves for a year is not encouraging, the quiet but piercing sound nearly sending Theodore into a fit on whether or not going to Hogwarts really is a good idea and if its too late to cancel as he was walking out the door.
Dragging his wheel less suit case out onto the concrete steps Theodore looked to the parking lot to see Precious waiting by her car, angrily picking at her nails and growling "ERRAHH" at her own fingers every few seconds. Dear Lord, Theodore knows he's not supposed to hate anyone under any circumstance, but Precious is a remarkably cruel challenge to that rule. Thanks to The Madam canceling the three nights in the crate punishment she had planned, Precious had more of a repulsion towards Theodore than usual, often times spitting by his feet whenever he passed her in the yard, and in return Theodore develop a greater repulsion to her as well.
Absolute disgrace.
Theodore worked against his urges to not sneer at his only mode of transportation as he walked by her to stuff his luggage in the tight-fitting boot of her car. Precious grunted like the pig-woman she is and told him they'll be leaving for Kings Cross station in ten minutes, muttering about a bacon butty as she waddled off. Bacon? Ugh, and to top it all off, Precious is into cannibalism.
Theodore smirked at the comparison, he and Ruta had started calling Precious "pig-woman" during their first month at Croydon Group Home for Boys and Girls. Sometimes they would still talk about their first experience with her, Precious was hot on a younger man who use to deliver the fish for their fish and chips, she was very vocal about it and often turned to the children in the yard to talk about how attractive he is.
That was something that disturbed Theodore and Ruta to no end, watching how flustered that woman would get when talking about his 'hard chest' without him ever hearing about it, in their favor the man found it highly disturbing too when they decided to tell him. Three weeks after they first arrived Ruta spotted the man delivering the fish and she thought it would be good for him to know about how Precious likes to imagine him, specifically asking him if he knows what Precious meant by wanting to "see how his pink panther pounces", feigning her ignorance.
Least to say that man wasn't pleased, cursing over how the group home could let someone like that work with children. When Precious came by to flirt, the man let her have it, making serious complaints over the way she talks to children and calling her appearance as pretty as a pig caked in mud, ending with the saying if you put lipstick on a pig, it's still a pig, referring to Precious's heavy soft pink makeup.
Now, a forty-year-old woman delivers their fish.
'Theodore.' Ruta said softy behind him.
Theodore turned around and immediately felt conflicted. She was still crying, why? Please stop, else he'll start then he won't hear the then of it from Precious till they get to Kings Cross. Evangeline parted from him, her breathing was quavering and Theodore could see her fight against it hard before speaking. When Evangeline tried to talk her voice cracked and another sob broke out.
Theodore stood uncomfortable; her reaction was of the same severity as the time their old bullies killed her stray cat for mischievous fun. Him going away for a year was as painful to Evangeline as losing a loved one? Shifting from one foot to the other, a deep pit settled in his stomach, Theodore felt like he was about to make the greatest mistake of his life.
'I can't believe it Theodore, i can't believe Precious is taking you to Kings Cross station.' Evangeline rushed to wipe away dripping tears. 'It's unbelievable, there are so many volunteers The Madam could've used to take you there, but still she chose Precious. A final fuck you.'
Theodore smiled big, letting go of a quiet laugh before coiling his arms around her and squeezing possessively like a snake clinging on to a high branch in wind.
'Here.' Evangeline pulled away and grabbed something from inside her jumper. A small fuzzy black box. Theodore knew immediately what it was and threw up both his hands to reject it. 'To remember me by Theodore.' Evangeline spoke as quick as her hands while she clipped the necklace around his neck, over top of his cross.
'Evangeline, I've told you I can't-' Theodore pulled at the little pendent, a sparkling Polaris, the brightest angel in the sky. 'I can't take your dad's last gift to you.'
'You're not taking it, you're borrowing it. You'll only be gone for a year, when you come back, I'll take it back.' Evangeline insisted, crossing her arms. She's not goanna let up. 'It's for luck, so you won't forget me.'
Theodore sighed, a small smile tugging at his lips. If he returns it now, this will turn into a long-heated dispute, as it always does. Evangeline waited till the last second to give it to him on purpose, this way there's no room for argument. Theodore just doesn't understand why Evangeline is always so bent on getting it as far away from herself as possible, without ever really throwing it away. It was a hassle that sounded so aimless and draining Theodore couldn't begin to understand her motives behind it.
After a few more seconds, the sneaking smile won and Theodore broke out into a large grin. Evangline is always so persistent and head strong, no matter the situation. He nodded to tell her it's safe with him and again Evangeline threw her arms around him, whispering 'thank you' over and over. Such an odd response.
'I'VE GOT MY BACON BUTTY, IN THE CAR NOW!' Precious screamed from the doorway. Has it been ten minutes already?
For the third time they parted, but this one felt cold, final, like he would never come back. Theodore didn't like it. Evangeline helped him with one more push to fit his luggage in properly and they shared slamming the door shut. Theodore jumped in the back seat of Precious car, slapping away an embarrassing tear from his eye.
'Evangeline, protect my radio at all costs.' Theodore blurted out, not even meaning to, but it made her smile and she promised she would.
Precious grunted as she started up her car, pulling away quickly, shaving her tires on the tarmac, and slamming the breaks on the sidewalk way too fast. Theodore looked in the back window to see Evangeline, standing alone and trying to keep her face dry from sticky tears, but her smile was still there. Theodore waved once more before Precious bolted forward and down the road.
Theodore gripped his seat like he was in a rollercoaster. Imagine they get in a car accident, and he dies. His last words to Evangeline would be "protect my radio at all costs." Theodore let his head fall against the window, why did he say that? It's so stupid.
The journey to Kings Cross station was disgusting and unnerving to Theodore. Precious bacon butty stunk up the whole car and mixed with the scent of cigarette smoke and air freshener. Theodore could taste the stench, it feeling like balls of hot air going down his throat as he breathed, and Precious refused to roll the windows down. It didn't help his rolling stomach that Precious shifted gears every few seconds either. Shitty old car.
A whole hour he was stuck in that revolting pigsty of a car, but it felt like he were trapped in there the whole day. When they pulled into Kings Cross station Theodore opened the door and nearly fell out, ignoring Precious screeching at him to stop being dramatic. Some people walking around them stared, visibly uncomfortable at the sight of Precious grabbing Theodore's shirt and whipping him around this way and that in frustration until she was able to rip his luggage from her small trunk.
Theodore sneered, she doesn't even have enough will power and decency to blend in in public. If she's not careful, someone's going to call security to check them out.
Precious went off to get him a luggage trolly, Theodore didn't know why as he only had the one suitcase. All his magical belongings were taken to Hogwarts by Dumbledore the day they went to Diagon Alley to avoid suspicion from the Muggles, the only thing Dumbledore let him keep were the books since they could be easily written off as fantasy novels.
Precious announced she was back with a grunt and had Theodore place his one suitcase on the trolly. Naturally, he was the one to push it. Precious led him to the platforms, an instruction from the Madam in ensure he wouldn't get lost trying to find it, and without asking if he felt comfortable going the rest of the way, Precious left him without a word. Theodore thought that was really kind of her and he means that.
The rumbling of the train was so foreign to Theodore, who had never seen a train up until now. It was weird, the floor felt like a giant washing machine, and the noise; the machines screaming like they're in pain had his ears ringing. Theodore has never been in a place like this before, he's hardly stepped out of the group's homes at all, only going to school or small shops nearby, this was all so surreal. The platform he was on was more busy and crowded than even the hallways during the early morning rush.
With a shaky, nervous arm, Theodore took out his acceptance letter. It says he should be looking for platform 9 3/4. What does that mean? Theodore twirled his head around, feeling lost, and spotted signs attached to stone pillars with numbers on them. That must be what the letter is talking about.
He wheeled his trolly along the stone pillars, careful not to bump it into anyone in the packed train station, and found a space between platforms nine and ten, but there was no 9 3/4. Theodore looked at the instructions again, 9 3/4 that's what it said, but it doesn't exist? This must be magic, hidden like the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron, but how could he activate it? Dumbledore took his wand to Hogwarts.
Theodore thought for a second, maybe he only needs to stand in-between the two platforms? He tried that. Nothing happened. Again, he looked around for someone to do something magical so he could mimic it, but everyone here is appears to be Muggle. Is he in the right place? Anxiety bloomed in his chest at the thought, what if Precious purposefully screwed him over by bringing him to the wrong station?
Just as Theodore begun to breath too fast for his lungs, a guard caught his eye. The man was watching him, closely, but it was like he didn't want people to notice him staring at a young boy, shifting his eyes to all the Muggles moving about. Is this danger? More panic set in as the guard moved, but not to him, the guard went to one of the brick pillars, standing right next to it. He looked at Theodore to see if he were still paying attention, and then he tilted his head towards the wall on the pillar.
Theodore was having trouble following, the guard did it again, this time squinting his eyes at all the Muggles passing by, but not at Theodore? Oh? Is platform 9 3/4 in that wall? Does he want him to go... through it? Because nobody ever gave him a password. Ok. Theodore turned his trolly and pointed it towards the wall, he flicked his eyes back at the guard, he's was smiling and nodding as he surveyed the nearby Muggles. Ok…
Theodore counted down from five to one, his therapist told him that's helps with nerves, it didn't, and slowly moved towards the wall. He looked back at the guard; the man was waving his hand towards himself.
Faster? Theodore listened, going into a brisk, and then a sprint. Just as he was about to hit the wall, Theodore closed his eyes on reflex, jerking his arms away from the handlebar nervously, expecting to crash into the wall and hurt himself, but that never happened. He felt weightless, the ground beneath him disappeared like he was floating in the void of space, then he felt solid ground underneath again.
Theodore opened his eyes for them to be assaulted by bright white light. Where is he? Once his vision cleared, Theodore saw he had somehow made it outside. In front of him was a beautiful vintage scarlet steam train, unlike those ugly modern rectangular ones he saw before, and all around him people were dressed in those weird medieval robes. He actually made it, this is the first thing he's ever done in his life without the aid of a guide and the thought made him light headed.
Pushing the muggle world aside, Theodore walked into his new life, the sense of accomplishment overriding his previous feelings of dread and abandonment. Now, Theodore was excited, and terrified, look at all those people who know a lot more than him. His legs felt like jelly as he walked along the platform, studying and judging every person that went in his field of view.
From the looks of it, he was the only parentless child here, that's to be expected but never comforting. Thankfully, one of the train guards noticed he was alone and rushed to his side to help him with his luggage. The curly-moustached man was kind enough to load his luggage into the train and take his trolly away, parting from his side with a sad smile that was a little irritating to see. Theodore doesn't like help when they look at him like that, it's not like he's hurt or crying.
There was a small uncomfortable tug at his heart as Evangeline suddenly broke into the security of his mind, the memory of her sparkling tears as he drove away made his skin feel like it was being doused in that cold stinging rain before a storm. Was Evangeline storming right now? Theodore doesn't want to join her, so he broke his eyes away from the train, the gateway to a world without his sister, and scoured around the platform to see if Hermione had arrived so he'll have someone to keep his brain occupied, if she remembers him.
After ten minutes of looking, he didn't spot her, hopefully she's still coming. But in his searching Theodore spotted some other people who stood out from the crowd.
The first family he noticed had a boy that looked to be about his age. He had uncomfortably tight slicked back platinum blond hair and a scowl like a bird had granted its luck on his shoulder as he stood judging the badly dressed wizards and witches as harshly as Theodore did. His family was dressed better than everyone else, the father, a tall broad man with long blond hair, was in robes but they looked good. A short fuzzy natural material, they were midnight black with old silver Celtic knots decorating the boarders, and his expression was condescending like his son but without the ice. The mother wore a long fitted dark green dress and sported a fat silver fox stole, a rich family then.
Probably purebloods.
She placed both her hands on her son's shoulders and playfully brushed her long black and blond hair over his face, tickling his nose and cracking that stone cold glare of his into an playful smile. The father put an end to that quick, pulling her away and bumping the middle of his sons back with the butt of his snake-headed cane so he moved towards the train, his loving goodbye.
Maybe not having a father isn't so bad, if there's a chance he'd be like that. That one communicates with his son the same way a jockey does with his horse. Theodore receives more genuine care from his pseudo sister.
On the opposite side, another family, much larger than the lonely rich only child one, caught his attention as well. They looked like they're on the brink of homelessness, their clothing was as high quality as the donated garments group homes provide. Theodore looked down at his own tattered shirt, a bland baby blue dress shirt stained with black smears and scorch marks, the aftermath of a time when Theodore magically set fire to something in anger. This family had lots of holes in their shirts, do they get angry too? Every one of them had bright red hair, the colour of hot anger, and they were either round or scrawny, except for this one boy traveling with them.
Huddled in the middle of that loud lively family, the boy, who looked to be his age as well, had messy black hair much like black wool on an outlier sheep, and circular glasses. Could that family even afford glasses? His shirt wasn't wreaked either, just baggy. A family friend maybe, he stuck out like a sore thumb.
Whatever. Neither of those families looks like good company, one felt too stuck up and proud for Theodore's own undeserved ego to handle and the other too loud and poor for his... ego… again.
Theodore shook his head and decided to wait in the train alone. If Hermione remembers him, she'll find him on her own when she gets here, hopefully. If not, maybe whoever he ends up with will be as enthusiastic and friendly as her.
He spent so long looking for Hermione he hadn't realized how full the train had gotten in those minutes. The halls were completely packed with bodies who could barely move as they rushed like rats to set themselves up for the trip. Owls in cages were everywhere, a minefield of talons. Those bars should be strong enough to keep them in? Theodore hoped, eyeing a particularly large black owl biting at the metal of its cage beside him.
Theodore needs to find a compartment fast, to get away from all these people and their owls. Moving down the train Theodore got pushed and shoved by hundreds of different hands, all working overtime to get their owners in a compartment with their friends. Anger and irritation boiled in his veins after nearly tripping over twisting feet several times, feeling like he was trying to escape sentient vines in a fantasy jungle, they kept slapping his ankles and grabbing his toes.
Just as Theodore found an empty compartment and was about to let himself fall in it, the rich only child from the cold lonely family he saw before slammed the palm of his hand across the door in front of him, forming a barrier to stop Theodore from entering.
'This compartment is for purebloods only. Are you a pureblood? I wouldn't think so since I can't name you off the top of my head.' The blond spat at him. Dumbledore warned him about the authoritarian mindset of many purebloods, Theodore thought he was joking.
'Where's the plaque saying it's purebloods only? Can it only be seen if you're pureblood, some sort of special power none of the rest of us got that allows them to see things that aren't there?' Fucking schizoid, his brain shouted dumbly like it was Simeon. Theodore's had enough today, it's only eleven am and he's exhausted, already having to adapt to so many changes in his otherwise bland life. He just wants an empty compartment.
'Oh! Oh! You don't see the plaque stating "purebloods only"? Well, I apologize sincerely for not recognizing your disability, Mr. Handicap, because clearly you're blind! The plaques are right in front of you!' The boy gestured with his thumbs at two large human guard dogs Theodore didn't see before standing right behind him. Faces like soldiers, they started hitting their fists in their hands. 'You want to know what happens when you piss on pureblood territory? No? Then I suggest you get moving.' His word was final and Theodore didn't have the energy to bite back.
He stared the shorter boy down for a few moments, searching for any evidence that they're bluffing, but found none. Their demeanor only got uglier as his reluctance went on.
'You're not worth it.' Theodore muttered as he brushed past the blond boy. Feeling pride when he caught his winning smile drop into a frown at the insult from the corner of his eye.
Funnily enough, It didn't take as long to find a second empty compartment-no, never mind, there's a shy pudgy boy sitting in a corner. He looked at Theodore mouse-like and gave him an awkward smile. Theodore supposed it would be unrealistic to expect a completely empty compartment on a train this busy, but at least this boy doesn't look like he wants to rip his head off. No owl either.
'Mind if I sit down?' Theodore asked.
'Yes.' The boy said quickly, but then blushed. 'I mean no! Yes-you can sit down.'
Theodore sighed and sat opposite to him. In the silence he studied the boy. Round-faced with bucked teeth, and the way he moved reminded Theodore of an abused puppy, excited to meet someone new but unsure if the person is going to kick him.
'Hello.' The greeting felt out-of-place after such a long pause. 'My name is Neville Longbottom. Pleased to meet you.'
'Theodore Riddle.'
'Cool. Are you a first year?' Theodore nodded his head.
'Me too. I can't wait to get there! My grandparents told me all about it! They said house elves actually make food for you-isn't that wicked? I've always wanted one, but my family doesn't believe in keeping house elves, apparently they're well taken care of at Hogwarts though.' Theodore shrunk down in his seat, what is a house elf? 'What house do you think you'll get in? My family's hoping I get in Gryffindor.' Atleast Neville is talking about something he understands now.
'Slytherin, probably.' There was a sudden change in atmosphere, Neville became very quiet and lost his smile, bowing down with his tail between his legs.
'Oh, I've heard about that house.' And that was all he said.
There was a distance between them now, it felt like Neville was prodding him with an invisible pole to keep him away. Theodore was confused by what put it there, was it because he said he'll probably get into Slytherin?
'You-know-who, he was a Slytherin.' Theodore heard Neville mutter to himself as he stared out the window, the train lazily woke up with an irritated hiss as it slowly begun to move.
You-know-who? Was Neville talking about Voldemort? The book Theodore was reading this morning kept referring to the dark wizard as that. It's weird to shy away from someone because they said what school house they'll most likely get in, has no other house produced wizards like Voldemort? Unimportant. Theodore decided to forget about it, one person shrugging him off like that will never be a big issue.
Theodore was marvelled at the scenery as the train took them away from civilization, they were over a wide body of water. He watched the blue surface with excitement, wondering if since dragons exist, maybe big sea serpents he can talk to exist too. To pass the time he imagined a big green one with frills on its head racing with the train underneath them.
'Excuse me, can I sit with you two? The other compartments- oh, Theodore. Hello!' Theodore looked to the door to see Hermione walk into his space and plop down right next to him. Already dressed in the Hogwarts robes, she held her head high and had a wide smile. 'I haven't seen you since Diagon Alley, what have you've been doing since then?'
'Nothing really. All I did was read my books over and over-'
'-So did I. I've already taught myself a couple spells at home. What about you, have you done any work?' Hermione asked and Theodore felt put on the spot.
'I can't risk practicing magic in a group home, too many Muggles.' On a beat Theodore defaulted to that answer, feeling pressured to have an excuse for not teaching himself any spells. Theodore never wanted anyone to know he's an orphan but getting embarrassed is worse-he just realized that he could've lied and tell her his family had nosy muggle relatives over. Once again, his brain called him a dipshit.
Hermione's cheerful expression did a 180. 'A group home? I'm so sorry.'
'What's a group home?' Neville pipped up. Hermione almost jumped like she only now noticed he was there.
'Oh, it's, it's, um. Have you heard of an orphanage?'
Neville nodded. 'Yeah, that's where muggle children are kept when they don't have parents. We don't have anything like that in the wizarding world, when a magical child loses their parents, they go live with close relatives. Are you Muggleborn?' Hermione nodded enthusiastically. 'Cool! I thought it was really interesting when I first learned about orphanages from my gran, it goes to show how different muggle culture is from ours.'
Theodore rolled his eyes.
'Well.' Hermione started. Theodore had an inkling from the way she straightens her back and folded her hands, a proud smile on her face, that Hermione enjoyed knowing something Neville doesn't. 'A group home is basically the same thing as an orphanage, but rebranded. The only thing that's changed is the name and the conditions needed to be put in there. Orphanages, for example, took in every child who lost their parents and held them there, whether or not they had relatives, until they were adopted or reached maturity. In group homes, there's a new system in place where children will be held by something called a foster family, which is a family who volunteers to raise the child until they're adopted so they have the chance to live in a family home setting, and group homes exists for children who can't get adopted or find a foster family, most often because of bad or dangerous behavior.'
Did Hermione forget she was talking about him? She's still smiling, like an office worker giving a client the rundown of the company's sales. Theodore suddenly found it difficult to breath and twisted away from them towards the cracked open window for some air. His face feels so hot.
'I'm so sorry Theodore. I didn't know you live in a group home.' Theodore physically deflated hearing the concern in Neville's voice. Move on! Lesson learned! Theodore was wrong, letting them know he's an orphan. 'And I'm sorry for giving you the cold shoulder after our introduction.'
Theodore was dangerously close to snapping at Neville. 'Don't worry about it, just change the subject.' And thankfully they listened.
It only took a minute for the both of them to forget about that sensitive conversation and fall into the laxer topic of muggle culture vs magic culture. Theodore took no part in it, choosing to watch them from his corner, but not really listening to either side. He learned Hermione is a haughty girl, cutting off Neville when he was sharing something about magical lifestyle to explain how she's already read about that and giving her own explanation on it, despite never experiencing it.
She wasn't this... obnoxious in Madam Malkins. People change before you the more you get to know them, and Theodore found himself regretting calling Hermione a friend right away, he doesn't feel much of a connection with her at all. Why couldn't Evangeline come with him again?
'My toad!' Neville shouted, patting away candy wrappers left from candies the two bought off of the trolly lady four hours ago. Theodore grimaced when a sticky wrapper landed on his wrist, the green slime reminding him of snot. Sweets and anything with sugar are disgusting, both in taste and looks. 'Trevor!'
'What about a toad?' Theodore asked, sounding bored as he shook the wrapper to the floor.
'I've lost my pet! He was right here! This is the second time this week, my gran is going to do a number on me I know it!'
'Calm down Neville, we'll help you find your toad.' Hermione said. "We"? Theodore doesn't care about any toad, wild or pet. They're completely useless, just get another.
Hermione started calling out orders like a general. 'Neville, you look around in here. Theodore, you go down this side of the train and ask if anyone saw Trevor and I'll do the same on the opposite side. We only have four hours to find him.' Ridiculous.
'You're really going to help me look?' Neville sounded like he was on his knees, talking to Jesus who just materialize to answer his prayers.
'That's what good friends do, right Theodore?' Was Hermione asking him because she can sense he doesn't care about the toad at all?
'Here's the thing-' Theodore almost refused, but realized going out look for the toad means he won't have to stay trapped in here, this space has felt uncomfortable and stiff like his therapist's room since the group home talk. If he's lucky he might even find an empty compartment to camp out for the rest of the way. 'Yes i'll help.'
Five compartments going down and nobody seen it, none were empty either. Theodore was getting a little irritated over the number of odd looks people were giving him when asking for the toad, he remembers Dumbledore telling him toads are way out of style in the wizarding world (why were they ever in style the first place?) so that explains their reactions. On the sixth compartment when a girl said to her friend, he looks like someone who would own a toad Theodore made it a rule to say immediately that he is looking for someone else.
Compartment number seven. Theodore didn't bother knocking. 'Have you guys seen a toad, a boy nam-'
'No we have not.' An older short-cut blond boy interrupted without looking up from his journal. Everyone in this compartment was acting like Theodore wasn't there, not even looking at him. It was a nice change from the prodding stares he's been getting though.
'Ok. Well, if you do see it-'
An older girl with flat shoulder length auburn hair slapped her book in her lap and stared him down like a bossy secretary who hates her job. 'We'll make sure to throw it out the window.'
'Oh...' It took Theodore a few seconds to process what she just said. The four older students were looking at him now, glaring.
'Ok.'Theodore chuckled with a nervous grin as he slid out from the door frame and shut it. On the other side Theodore could hear them complain about him for being an "annoying stupid first year", calling him "Toad Boy"
Why did he agree to look for the toad?
This was so unnecessary. Thirty minutes of dealing with different personalities and not a single person on the train saw the toad, no empty compartment either. Giving up Theodore sulked back to his original spot and sighed when he saw Hermione was already back and was talking to Neville animatedly, hands flying around like there's bugs attacking her.
Theodore didn't have the chance to sit down before he was bombarded with the news that the legendary dark wizard slayer and the savior of the wizarding world, Harry Potter i.e. The Boy Who Lived, is on this train and Hermione met him during her search for Trevor, whom nether her nor Neville found. From her description, Harry Potter was the same boy he saw on the platform, the one with the messy black hair and circular glasses who was traveling with that red head family. What he remembers, Harry Potter looked lost, scared and confused.
'Dark wizard slayer my ass.' Theodore mumbled so the other two won't hear.
The remaining four hours were rather uneventful, aside from the occasional panic from Neville whenever he thought he saw Trevor, the ride was calm and pleasantly quiet. Theodore was even able to snag a couple twenty-minute naps here and there before they arrived. Hermione gently shook him awake ten minutes before so he could change into the Hogwarts robes.
As he did so there was an announcement telling them to leave their things behind so they could be brought up to Hogwarts separately. That sounded normal, that is until they came to a stop and Theodore looked up in time to see all the luggage vanishing in the blink of an eye.
Dazed Theodore stumbled as he twirled around, nether Hermione or Neville seemed bothered by that. Theodore slid open the door, no one outside cared either, not one mention of it. Shaking his head as if to rid it of stars Theodore followed his two new friends out.