Note: Another chapter of The Trickster, Harry's Last month at Dursleys and then a train ride to Hogwarts...Constructive criticism is appreciated. Please, guys, inform me how I could have done it better.
After a long wait, the time came for Harry to go to Hogwarts.
His excitement was palpable and He knew he was ill-prepared for his return to the Magical world. But he got some of the basics done so that he doesn't do something untoward due to ignorance.
His meditation exercises were coming along nicely. Now he could create Astral Projection within minutes of his meditation. Now his Astral form can go to nearby areas without exhausting himself. His whole perspective of the world as it is beginning to change. Earlier he thought just he had the problems but now that he could observe the world around him, his view broadened. He was always sympathetic to all kinds of animal and insect alike. Just ask his spider friends who keep him company during his solitude confinement. But this ability began to endear him to connect much better with the animal. He now began to understand why this was a very important step for tricksters before they were taught other arts. Though his empathy still did not sit well with Dursleys. He may think Dudley as somewhat redeemable because it's not his fault he wasn't shown how to be really a "normal" person. "Normal" view of Vernon and Petunia disgusted him.
Though coming back to his progress in Astral form, he still could not do much with it. But it gave him time to go through all the reading he has done for the day without compromising his rest. Now he could ponder on his reading in this time. It gave him a much better perspective for further studies. He also has seen a significant improvement in his memory retention and callback.
All this meditation gave him better sleep and rested mind for him to work with.
All the basic reading assigned for Muggleborn student was completed. He was now going through Wizarding Etiquette and mannerisms books which were very confusing. Though it was not much different to how royal still behave today. He could now compare how holidays of the Muggle world and Magical world were almost coinciding but they were celebrated for different reasons altogether.
Apart from all this, his revenge for Dursleys got a sufficient boost. He weaselled another thousand pound during last month. When he took a break from his readings, he got out to explore. He was still planning to leave them in ruin ... well almost ruin. However disgusting they were, but they were family. His mother's account of Petunia was still a lot different than in person.
He still avoided Dudley and his gang. They were still hell-bent on making his life miserable. Though Dudley still avoided him in his home. Outside it was altogether different.
He's one of the trips to antique shops were helpful to browse through their tomes. He didn't found anything interesting but He got an old pocket watch for himself. Though when he asked him about the book on Trickster and if he had anything more on that. He told him though he had nothing he could connect with others to get him something more on that. Harry told him his interest was mostly on these books nothing else.
His potions for eyes were working as expected. He stopped using his glasses by the end of the month.
He had started to include some physical training in his daily routine. Nothing extreme, just some running in morning and stretches. Well if Yin-Yang theory of Japan is to be believed. Physical and Mental strength were two sides of the same coin.
Amina started him on some advanced mind shielding. But his progress left a lot to be desired.
1st September 1991,
The day started with the usual morning routine, He prepared breakfast for Dursleys and then he got ready for his departure. He had packed everything in his trunk with some books in his pouch for some light reading. As an agreement with Vernon, He had asked him to take to King Cross Station and he will not be intruding upon their Christmas holiday.
After some grumbling, Vernon took him to King Cross Station at quarter to Ten. As soon as he dropped him in parking, he left without any sort of acknowledgement. King Cross was alight with Hustle and bustle of the daily going crowd. He still managed to make it to platform 9 as per instructions, he took his Trolley to platform 10 near the end. He knew that there is supposed to be a Magical Archway to 9 and three quarters. He focused his all intent in finding out if anything magical was present near him. Thanks to his mental exercises he could tune out the cacophony of noises and concentrate on his own magic. After getting no result for some time, he finally got a similar radiance near one of the Pillars. Conveniently all regular people were avoiding that part of the station despite the morning rush should have been his clue.
After mentally preparing for a moment, he slowly dragged his trolley through the pillar. He kept his posture as confidant as possible, though he was nervous.
On the other side of the pillar, crowds of student and their families occupied most platform. A scarlet steam engine was waiting next to a platform packed with people. A sign overhead said Hogwarts' Express, eleven o'clock. Harry looked behind him and saw a wrought-iron archway where the barrier had been, with the words Platform Nine and Three-Quarters on it. It was as if he has travelled to another time in past. It was similar to the hubbub of Diagon Alley. He silently manoeuvred to get on the train.
Though he tried, it still proved to be very difficult to get by. He got pushed around and suddenly he stumbled into someone.
"Sorry, Mister... " Before he could even start to apologize for this situation he found himself in.
"Watch where you are going, you stupid boy" came the retort from the man still keeping his nose in the air. This kinda irked him, though he was sorry for stumbling into him, it didn't warrant this kind of response. Harry bit his words and brush past man to the train. When he got into the train, he even chose to forget about his encounter with "Gentleman" as he was happy to relieve him of his burden.
"Well, that ought to teach him some humility." As he began to toss the pouch he got himself as a compensation. He quickly found an empty compartment for himself. After placing his trunk on the rack, he began to explore his newfound pouch. He got a good amount of galleons and some change from it. After emptying it, he threw the pouch in dustbin outside. He didn't know if there were any magical way to locate it. So it's safe to just dump the pouch. After settling into his seat he took out his Magical Genealogy book and started reading.
After some time train gave a horn and started to move. He closed his book to stare out the window of the Hogwarts express, looking at the beautiful English landscapes that were passing by.
"Excuse me, do you mind?, Everywhere else is full," A young ginger-haired boy asked entering his head in the door after a knock.
"Sure, not at all," Harry said gesturing him to enter. The boy looked very unpresentable with a smudge on his nose. His hair was unkempt as if he has made an enemy out of the comb. But he still kept his tongue as he was similar not so long ago.
"I'm Ron by the way, Ron Weasley" He introduced after settling up.
"Harry Potter, pleased to meet you" Harry replied and placed his book to the side of his bag.
Ron's eye momentarily widened. "And have you really got ... you know..." He began pointing to his forehead.
Whatever generosity he has been feeling for the boy vanished instantly. His face showed his displeasure to him but Ron still ignored it.
"You know its kinda rude pointing or asking these things." Harry sighed not at all pleased with his behaviour.
"Sorry about that." Ron had the decency to apologize and he sincerely looks abashed.
"So, you remember anything about ... you-know-who?" Ron asked with some uncertainty.
Well, that comment ruined all the sympathy Harry had built for him and he began to ignore his very existence and continued reading with his book.
Ron tried to get his attention for some time but when he refused to entertain him, he settled after muttering something about jerks and all.
After some time, someone knocked on the door and girl with bushy brown hair strode in without waiting for any reply. "Rude ..duh," Harry thought of his luck in encountering all sort of rudeness since crossing the Archway.
"Hello, have any of you seen a toad? A boy named Neville has lost one." She said in a bossy tone. Harry instantly didn't like the girl but still kept his cool. "No, I have not".
"Don't know why he's so bothered," added Ron. "If I'd brought a toad I'd lose it as quick as I could. Mind you, I brought Scabbers, so I can't talk." With that, he brought out a disgusting looking rat from his robe pocket.
"Well you should be his friend if he offers that rat to me ... it looks juicy," Amina called out in his mind. "On second thought, I am not going to eat that he smells disgusting... and something is wrong with that rat" Harry could almost picture Amina scrunching her nose at that comment.
As fast as she came, with the same speed, she left without even bothering to introduce herself. He began to contemplate if all the children his age will be the same snotty and arrogant. "Not that you are any different.." quipped Amina almost instantly. "oh you hush..." Harry playfully snorted.
When a lady with a trolly full of chocolates and treats came, he took a handful of chocolates and snack. Ron had shown he got packed sandwich or something. Harry silently offered him some of the chocolates but still refused to speak to him. "Well, he should know that his even unintentional words can have some consequences."
After eating his fill, he placed his head on the train wall and started to nap. Within moments of his sleep, his astral form came into existence. Leaving his body to rest he began to observe his surroundings. Ron was sitting idly petting his rat. Harry dismissed then and started to roam train, he saw many of students catching up with their friends. Some talking loudly and some playing various games with each other.
After some time he became bored and got back to his body. He began to practice some of the spells he read about. "Well how about now I give him some payback," Harry thought of some mischief. He tried to lift his book which was placed on the side. After some deep concentration book began to float in the air. Well, this was not getting Ron's attention so he now tried the same thing on Ron's rat. The rat started to rise from his hand and began to roam the whole compartment. Ron was flabbergasted, he started looking around as if searching for someone. He opened the door and called out. "I know you this is your doing Fred or George. you know mom will be angry if I tell her." But there was nobody in the hallway. After seeing this Ron hurriedly left the compartment. As soon as Ron left, Harry dropped the rat on the seat. Rat also followed his owner in the same way.
He felt a slight strain on his astral form for this excursion. Still, he continued it on his book in brief intervals.
Sometime later again someone knocked on the compartment door and entered momentarily after that. By now he was fed up with these rude interruptions. The blond boy in question, the rude intruder number 2, was similar to his age, most likely another first-year. At least he was clean and wore some high-quality robes.
So he thought to do some kind of prank on him, he focused on the book to shot momentarily into the roof and dropping directly on his immaculate blond hair. His guest only saw that a boy his age sleeping nothing else. This got him scurrying out of the compartment without sparing a glance.
Harry broke into a peal of laughter at this. But suddenly he felt weak and a slight pull towards his body. He didn't resist and got back to his physical body. He slowly awoke from his slumber, still feeling somewhat exhausted from his practice and prank. He ate some of the chocolates and after some reading again stated to nap.
Thankfully no one disturbed him till the train began to slow down and the announcement came to leave their luggage on the train as they were approaching their destination. He adjusted his cloth and packed his book in the pouch and locked his trunk.
After a while, the train came to a stop. Harry left off the train. A big man waved his arms calling all first-years over.
"Firs' years! Firs' years this way! Come on, don't be shy!"
Harry strode over hesitantly.
"Hello my name is Hagrid, I will take you to Hogwarts " He introduced focusing his lamp on gathered crowd.
They began to follow him to a lake where there were a number of boats. All the students loaded in the boat with no more than four in one.
And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over them as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood.
"Heads down!" Hagrid called. The first boats had reached the cliff. Boat by boat, students ducked down as they passed into a dark tunnel, following it until they reached a small harbour where everyone scrambled out of their boats.
The students then began heading up a passageway, led by Hagrid. They came up in a grassy area, shadowed by the large castle before heading up a flight of stone stairs and grouped up at the large oak door.
"Everyone here?" Hagrid asked.
Everyone looked at one another, and no one said anything. Hagrid nodded, turned, raised one of his hands and knocked three times on the large oak door. Harry suddenly felt his stomach tighten and bit the inside of his cheek, suddenly feeling more excited than he had all day. Amina gave him a mental nudge to compose himself. He gathered himself and placed a cool expression on his face.
The door swung open at once. Professor McGonagall in emerald-green robes stood there. She had a very stern face and Harry's first thought was that this must be her teacher persona, which screamed as if to dare someone to cross her.
"The firs'-years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.
'Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here." She pulled the door wide.
The Entrance Hall was so big you could have fitted the whole of the Dursleys' house in it. The stone walls were lit with flaming torches like the ones at Gringotts, the ceiling was too high to make out, and a magnificent marble staircase facing them led to the upper floors. They followed Professor McGonagall across the flagged stone floor. Harry could hear the drone of hundreds of voices from a doorway to the right – the rest of the school must already be here – but Professor McGonagall showed the first-years into a small empty chamber off the hall.
They crowded in, standing rather closer together than they would usually have done, peering about nervously.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room."
"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours."
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can" focusing on Ron then turning to face all others "while you are waiting. I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly." She left the chamber.
Again crowd of student began to chatter, he gave a brief glance to all of his supposed year mates. Amina chose the moment to rise out of his skin and moved to robes opening near hand and discreetly began to taste the air.
"This air is charged with magic here, I can feel this castles magic. It feels so ancient yet humming with power." mentally transmitting her thought to him. He gave a nod in acknowledgement. Even he could feel the giant source of magic though he had none of the experience. He was familiar with his magical core.
Even Diagon alley was not this lively, he could feel somewhat similar in Gringotts but it was still not comparable to this beauty.
Before he could continue, Professor McGonagall ushered them in Great Hall. This place is humongous he noted to Amina, His whole school building could fit here. It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles which were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering silver plates and goblets. At the top of the Hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. Professor McGonagall led the first-years up here so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them.
He was still pondering over hall when Professor came with a Hat and placed it on a stool. He closed his eyes and began to feel the magic all around him before he knew the whole hall burst into applause. He broke from his reverence and joined the crowd.
After that Professor McGonagall started the Sorting Ceremony, she began to call names after name and the respective student came forward and placed the hat on their head. Hat began sorting them in their appropriate houses.
"Potter, Harry!"
And in an instant, the whole Hall went quiet and looked towards Harry. As he stepped forward, whispers suddenly broke out like little hissing fires all over the hall.
'Potter, did she say?'
'The Boy-who-lived Harry Potter?'
The last thing Harry saw before the hat dropped over his eyes was the Hall full of people craning to get a good look at him. Next second he was looking at the black inside of the hat. He waited.
'Hmm,' said a small voice in his ear. ' Interesting, what a talent, you are sure an enigma Mr Potter. I could feel your magic in sync with you which is rare these days, you value and trust your magic explicitly,... Oh a Naga as a companion, I look forward to your adventure Mr Potter. But now I must sort you. I can see your thirst of knowledge with plenty of ambition, I have never seen a more suitable candidate for Slytherin. But Still, I would love your input ... So where shall I put you?'
'Where is it you'd think I will be best in?' Harry thought.
The hat suggested. "You could be great in every house but Slytherin will push you to be greater, With your companion, its best suited for you."
'Okay,' Harry thought.
"So Be It!" the Hat shouted.
"Slytherin"
Author notes: That's it for Sorting, Harry is now sorted in Slytherin but what this means for him, Well anyone who thought I am bashing ron.. plz spare me your sentiment. Because this story will not be bashing of any kind. No Dumbledore bashing or Weasleys or Hermione. and my intention was to show Ron as somewhat immature... well he is. any Ron fan, I might not be able to expand more on him as a character. next chapter Harry gets a taste of what being Slytherin is all about.
