After another thoroughly restless night, Gavin donned his fine suit once more and left The Leaky Cauldron. He headed out into the streets of London. The muggle side. Unfortunately, there was no other way for him to catch the express, and there was no way he was going to use floo powder. He only used that when there was no other choice. He'd never liked the stuff. Give me a broomstick any day! He used it when he needed to travel between countries or escape somewhere in a hurry, but otherwise, he just preferred other methods. He could have apparated, but there seemed little need for that since the express went that way anyway.
The muggle world was bustling as always. He nodded politely as he almost walked into a middle-aged man. The man skirted around him with a nodded apology and hurried on, clearly late for something or other. What he didn't miss about the muggle world was all the noise. The clatter of carriages, the snorting and neighing of horses, the yells of the morning papers and travelling salesmen, and the endless chatter as people hurried about their business. Even so early in the morning, many muggles had already started their day.
He could have taken a carriage to the station, but he much preferred walking. It wasn't too far. Barely forty minutes. He admired the buildings as he went, old grey stone that would likely last an age. Many of the buildings had already been standing for hundreds of years, since the last great fire. It was hard to believe muggles thought a bakery had caused it. It was amazing, the things they could trick themselves into believing when faced with something fantastical. Luckily, the dragon had been dealt with before the whole city burned and new breeding and conservation laws had been put in place to stop such things from happening again.
Gavin felt a little less worried than the day before. The streets he walked were slightly less busy than Diagon Alley, and he'd be able to spot another of his kind in ten seconds flat. There was a certain distinctive flair to wizarding garb. Muggle fashions seemed to change far more often, but with less colour and character. Most of the muggles he passed were wearing simple suits of black, grey, or brown. Some wore chequered patterns, but the majority were simply plain. It was the ladies in the muggle world who had the most flair, particularly during the spring and summer, when floral patterns became the norm.
He could already hear the deafening huff and puff of the trains before the station came into view. It was a fairly simple, yet distinctive, design. The plain, blocky building had two glass arches in the upper half with a small tower between and arched doorways lining the lower floor. On the tower was a clock, giving those outside a way of knowing when their train might leave. It was just after eight, and the Hogwarts Express would leave at around half-past nine. It was a long way to Scotland, especially where they were going. Hogwarts was right up in the highlands, a place few muggles dared venture. It was rare, but once or twice a year some careless hiker got caught by the misdirection spell and had to be guided back to the nearest muggle town.
After waiting for a carriage to clatter by, Gavin crossed the street and hurried through one of the small, arched doorways into the station. Puffy white clouds billowed from the waiting steam engines, filling the small hall with a deafening hiss and chug. Gavin winced as one of the trains made a loud whistling hoot in warning as it chugged and lurched its way back down the track. The station itself was fairly busy, even this early in the day. It was the start of the school year for muggle schools as well, so those heading off to country boarding schools were arriving to catch the train. There was also the usual flood of travelling businessmen and random travellers rushing about with small cases or large trunks.
The trunks were often being pushed on large two-wheeled trolleys by the station guards. However, there were some families who carried the heavy leather boxes between them. Gavin well remembered those early days when coming to the station with his family had been a rare treat. It had always amazed them to watch the muggles struggle with such things. He and Elijah never had to worry. Their father had their trunks and other valuables taken care of. The guards from the Hogwarts Express would come out to collect their luggage and transport it with a levitation spell, though they would, of course, walk as if they were carrying it so as not to scare any watchful muggles. Things had changed little since those early days, though he noticed more guards and more trolleys these days.
Thinking of his father, Gavin tried to walk as if he was someone important. He was dressed in the black and green outfit from the day before, which was really quite fine. Surely, only a gentleman would wear such garb. The problem was, he'd been out of the pureblood sphere for so long that he'd forgotten how the upper classes were supposed to act. How did one walk when one had status? Gavin was far more accustomed to shirking his shoulders and trying to act small. Moving silently in the shadows. Going unnoticed. Being invisible. Blending in. He wasn't exactly looking to draw undue attention to himself, but he was now a professor at a respectable institution. It seemed proper to walk with the poise to reflect that new station.
It seemed few people were paying him any mind as they bustled back and forth. Muggles and wizarding folk alike. That put his mind at ease somewhat as he strutted his way towards platforms nine and ten. His green eyes flitted back and forth warily for anyone following him. There shouldn't be, but old habits die hard. He'd been on guard for so long, it was hard to turn off those self-preservation instincts. He wasn't even sure he wanted to. Those instincts had kept him alive. He fought the urge to drop his shoulders and duck his head, reminding himself to stand tall. As both a pureblood and a professor, he needed to act like it.
He gave a tight smile to a family on their way to the platform. Hogwarts students were unmistakable, even when travelling incognito in the muggle world. Their smart clothes didn't give them away, but the stacks of leather trunks and animal cages certainly did. He even saw one or two with large cauldrons set on top. There was a short queue for the platform already, all of them trying to look inconspicuous. They stood eyeing each other, raising questioning eyebrows to see who'd make the next move. Gavin glanced at the ornate clock hanging on the far wall. There was time yet. The train wouldn't be ready to depart for over an hour.
He hesitated a moment, trying not to break his step. It would be rude to cut in, however, he didn't have a trolley of his own, so he didn't need a run up or much space. He could simply follow the next child through on their heels. A large part of him thought it would be better to wait, but the other part promptly reminded him who he was. Would a pureblood of his status simply wait in line? Of course not. He didn't recall a single time he'd had to wait as a child going to school. He was also a professor, and should head through as quickly as possible and make himself useful, directing the flow of students and keeping the entrance clear. Newer students likely needed a little guidance on which carriages to use.
With that in mind, he continued walking, barely breaking stride as he walked straight towards the stone column between platforms nine and ten. There was a student in front of him, following the guard that was pushing his trolley towards the invisible entrance. Gavin only slowed enough so as not to step on his heels as he followed them through. As soon as his foot touched the other side, he took a sharp left so as not to bump the young boy, who'd stopped as predicted to get his bearings.
"Move it or lose it, kid." He laid a hand on his shoulder and steered him aside, making way for the next people to step through. "Remember, turn as soon as you step through and move out of the way or the next person will take out your heels," Gavin instructed with a pat on the shoulder. The student was clearly a first year. He was small and bright-eyed, looking around in wonder at the flood of people on the platform. The young boy thanked him before hurrying off to find his luggage. Gavin huffed fondly as he looked around.
The Hogwarts Express was just as he remembered it. A huge, shiny black steam engine with the school logo bolted on the side. There was a string of deep red carriages running down the track, ready to go. The smell of burning coal lingered on the breeze, and there was a familiar hustle and bustle as students clambered on board and parents called out their goodbyes. Excited yells and wailing tears, parents holding back as younger children bawled their eyes out. One older brother was comforting his little sister, who clearly didn't want him to leave for school. It would be a good few years before she could join him.
For old time's sake, Gavin made his way up towards the steamer at the very front. He wanted to get a good look at the old girl. She was clearly being well taken care of. She looked shiny and new, as she did every year. He was pretty sure they waxed and buffed her at the start of each school year to impress the first years. He also thought she'd had a fresh coat of paint recently. Every carriage seemed to gleam in the early autumn sun. The driving compartment was empty for the moment as the men helped heave heavy trunks into the maroon carriages. A nostalgic sigh slipped out as he reached the front of the huge locomotive. It had been over fifteen years since he'd stood on this platform. He'd had no reason to visit the school since graduating, and even then, there was no need to get the express. He could simply apparate to Hogsmeade and go from there. It hasn't changed a bit…
"Pudding!" Gavin frowned at the hysterical cry. A group of students were looking for something at the edge of the platform. A young girl, possibly another first year, was kneeling by the train, trying to see underneath. Uh-oh…She'd clearly dropped something. The surrounding students seemed just as concerned. One of the older ones had also knelt down to look, though from their turning heads he could tell they were having trouble seeing anything in the shadows beneath the train. "There! Oh, Pudding! Come back!" A pet. It had to be. You wouldn't talk to a simple trinket like that. The girl got to her feet and hurried further up. "Please! Pudding!" Gavin sighed softly. The poor girl was almost in tears.
She stopped short as she almost ran into right into him. She stepped back a little, brown eyes darting down to the tracks before looking up at him warily. Her reaction was expected. He probably looked intimidating considering his formal dress and the scar across his nose. He followed her gaze and huffed as he finally got his first look at Pudding. It was a fluffy cat that had once been a pale cream colour. The jump to the tracks had left sooty smears all over its fine coat, and it was clearly quite scared as it hurried along the tracks beneath the train looking for somewhere to hide.
"Levioso!" Gavin was careful as he snagged the ball of fluff with his wand and levitated the stunned, mewling fuzzball from beneath the train. "Come on, come here…" His voice was gentle as he held out his free hand and scooped the quivering feline against his chest. The girl watched nervously as he hushed and soothed Pudding, who was yowling indignantly at being handled in such a familiar manner. Despite that, Pudding never raised a paw against him as he stoked the dusty fur and offered comforting words. "Hang in there, I'll get you clean…Tergeo." With a small flick of the wrist, the soot disappeared from the silky cream coat to leave Pudding pristine and purring once more. "You got a cage for this one?" he asked as he turned his attention to the young girl.
"Yes, thank you so much! I only opened it for a second, and she bolted!" The young girl was clearly flustered as she led the way back up the platform to her waiting trunks and the metal carry cage on top. It was little wonder Pudding had tried to escape. There was only a thin blanket at the bottom to protect her paws from the metal beneath. Pudding growled in his arms, clearly outraged at the prospect of being returned to such poor conditions.
"It's tough for animals to be in places like this…The cages are cramped, the platform is loud, there's a lot of people…that's why the platform rules say to keep cages shut until you've boarded." Gavin returned Pudding to her carrier and clipped the door shut, leaving her yowling in discontent once more. He huffed fondly as he watched her pawing the thin bars. "Once you're on board in a compartment, you can let her out, but maybe wait until the train leaves the station…You don't want her escaping the compartment and getting off again." The girl thanked him and agreed that she wouldn't open the door on the platform again. Her parents swiftly found them and thanked him for his help before taking over and getting her packed off onto the train. Gavin huffed fondly as he watched.
He'd never gotten that sort of treatment. His father had always been quite distant with him and his brother. The only time he gave any input was when they did something to tarnish the family name. Befriending mudbloods, dating outside the pureblood sphere, causing trouble at school, and choosing dangerous career paths. Gavin ignored him on all counts, and even Elijah had his limits. It had been different once he'd met Tina. Her parents had been very much involved. They'd brought her to the station every year and carried her luggage, refusing to leave until she'd listened to all of their reminders and well wishes. Gavin was touched that, in later years, they'd extended that care to him as well. He hadn't known them back then, but Tina had said that during the first year, they'd been terrified. Being muggles, the platform was as far into the wizarding world as they could go. They'd been beside themselves at having to send their only daughter to a strange new place with all these outlandish people.
Gavin squeezed himself through the crowd of lamenting parents and excited children to board the train for the first time in years. It smelled of freshly cleaned upholstery, as it did every year. There was a lot of chatter and shouting in the carriages as children found their friends and claimed compartments as their own. He took his time walking up and down, noting the chatter dying down as he popped his head through the doors. Students from multiple houses sat huddled together, laughing and joking, excited for the coming year. The newer students largely stuck together, unless they had older siblings to take care of them.
He dutifully called out reminders about keeping pets caged until the train left the station, no wand-waving until they reached the school, and telling them to change into their robes before they reached the other side. The older students would get carriages up to the castle while the first years would meet the groundskeeper and take the boats across the lake. He still remembered the light, fluttery feeling of excitement in his chest as he'd seen the castle from the water for the first time. It had been after sunset, so the windows had twinkled with warm, glowing light as they'd sailed across. He'd envied the first years ever since. The carriages didn't quite offer the same sense of wonder, but it always felt like coming home. He'd also enjoyed watching the sorting ceremony, often using enchanted paper to write notes to Tina and bet a few coins on which house various students would be sorted into.
After walking up and down the train, he settled on finding a compartment at the front. Students often sat in year groups with many of the older ones towards the front. Prefects also had their own carriage, and they were already in their robes ready to take turns prowling the train, making sure the other students were behaving themselves. It was good to see the various house members on friendly terms. Each house had four prefects. Two boys and two girls. All in their fifth to seventh years. There was also one head boy, a Hufflepuff this year, and a head girl, who was in Ravenclaw. They greeted him politely, likely assuming he was a parent dropping off their child.
He was surprised to find a compartment in the front carriage left empty, so he slipped inside and took a seat. The padded bench hummed beneath him. The locomotive's coal chamber was being filled, ready for departure. Since it would be a long ride, Gavin settled in and closed his eyes. He was tired after his lack of sleep the night before. Phck, I haven't slept properly since…He couldn't really remember a time he'd slept properly without being medicated. Probably not since my first year at the ministry…That wasn't about to change anytime soon. Even then, sitting alone in the carriage, his ears were focused. Voices yelling their goodbyes outside, the prefects in the compartment across from him, footsteps thudding in the hall outside, and the rumble of the train itself. His eyes snapped open as he registered heavy steps heading his way. It was an instinctive reflex as he twisted and shrank out of sight in a whizz of brown fur. There wasn't space to huddle beneath the solid benches, so he settled for shrinking into the corner beside the sliding door where he might escape notice.
"…delivery scheduled for next week, so they should be here in time for the first years' first class." Gavin blinked his large green eyes. I know that voice! He remained small and huddled as the door swished open and the men from Diagon Alley stepped inside. It was no surprise that Nines didn't notice his presence, and Connor was too busy putting his leather case on the overhead rack. Connor hummed in agreement with whatever Nines was talking about as he took his case and add it to the rack. "My main worry is whether they'll be mature enough for re-potting when they arrive."
"At least there's less risk of deafening the students if they're re-potted early," Connor teased as they sat across from each other. Luckily, Connor was sitting on the same side as Gavin, so he was less likely to notice his hunkered form. Nines sat opposite, leaning his chin on his hand and gazing vacantly towards the window. He seemed quite elegant as he crossed his long legs and leaned back. Gavin flicked his tail lazily as he curled up in a disgruntled ball. He couldn't exactly turn back and sit down like nothing had happened, and the door was closed, so he couldn't slink out and find somewhere else to sit either. He either turned back and admitted he got spooked, or he sucked it up and spent the journey hiding by the door. Maybe I can slip out when the food trolley comes…Phck, I could go for a Pumpkin Pastie…Anything with cinnamon would do, really. He blinked as Nines frowned and sat a little straighter in his seat. "I'm thinking of introducing the seventh years to dugbogs this year. We don't bring such dangerous beasts to the school, of course, but there's a small bog just inside the Forbidden Forest." From their conversation, Gavin assumed they were both professors.
"Are you sure you want to get that close? They can be quite dangerous." Gavin couldn't help purring his agreement as he stretched out one paw. He held back from clawing the carpet. The trolley witch wouldn't appreciate that sort of thing, especially not from a grown man. Connor waved it off, insisting that the seventh years were more than competent. They were even allowed to go inside the forest, so long as they were supervised and didn't get too deep. The centaurs were watchful of their territory, but generally tolerated them on the outskirts. It would be a valuable lesson for them, seeing dugbogs in their natural habitat and learning how difficult it was to harvest their tongues for potions. Students needed to learn to value their world and all the creatures within it, not to simply see them as valuable resources. "I feel very much the same every time I introduce the sixth years to my venomous tentacula. Many of them are surprised by how easily it can be handled, with the right touch." Gavin shivered at the reminder. The damned thing had almost strangled him during his first class caring for it. Phck, these guys are crazy! He blinked as Nines' lips lifted at the corners and he turned his head.
"What is it?" Connor was well acquainted with Nines' ticks, and something had clearly caught his attention. Gavin hunkered down, small heart racing as Nines' vacant gaze drifted towards him and scanned the base of the door. "Oh! Hello…Where did you come from? Are you lost?" Gavin balked as Connor's voice became soft and gentle. He moved slowly as he crouched down and held a hand out for him. Phck! It had been a while since he'd last had to act like a cat. He growled low in his throat as he eyed the gentle hand, laying his ears back and baring his teeth. "It's alright…I won't hurt you…" Gavin batted his hand as he continued to reach out, though he was careful not to use his claws. "Animals usually like me…" Connor sounded a little put out as Nines chuckled low in his throat.
"You can't win them all…" His silvery eyes almost seemed to glitter in amusement as he looked in their direction. It was like he held some secret knowledge as his gaze roved over Gavin's hiding place. "Leave him be for now. He may feel more sociable later…You can sit on the bench beside me. I promise I'm not as handsy as my brother." Connor gave an indignant scowl at the jibe and was surprised as Gavin took him up on his offer. Anything to get out of Connor's reach. He hopped up and settled at the far end of the padded bench, eyeing Nines warily as he seemed to stare at him. He flicked his tail, returning the eye contact as he settled in a disgruntled ball.
"I'm hurt…" Connor returned to his seat, still a little surprised at the rejection. Gavin almost sighed in contentment. Much as he'd never admit it out loud, it was nice to be curled up on a padded seat rather than the worn carpet. He eyed his unwitting companions for a while, but they seemed to have gone back to their discussion about the coming year. He had to admit, they sounded nice. Nines had a deep baritone that almost seemed to thrum through his small chest as he spoke. The very sound of it set him purring in contentment. Connor's voice was softer. If Nines' voice was sinful like salted caramel, then Connor's was something more comforting, like hot chocolate on a cold day.
The rocking of the carriage, the puff of the train, and the soothing voices soon lulled Gavin to sleep. His ears twitched lazily as he slept, purring like a motor. Not that anyone would hear him over the chug of the locomotive. It didn't take long for the nightmares to find him. His small body trembled as the memory of searing pain crept up on him. His tiny heart started racing until a strange sense of calm settled over him. He wasn't really aware of it at first, but it felt nice. He turned his head a little, finding the pleasure increased. It was like having an itch scratched, or doing a really nice stretch. He raised his head, slowly noticing the gentle touch on his chin. He purred his loud approval as those fingers continued to scritch and tease up around his ears…Nice…He rolled on his side and curled around the large hand that soothed his fluffy stomach, loosely gripping the sleeve with twitching paws.
"Anything off the trolley, dears?" Gavin lurched upright with a start as the door slid open with a clank. His green eyes blew wide, mortified as he realised what he'd been doing. Nines had withdrawn his hand, lips softening as he looked down. The old lady with the food trolley paid no mind as Gavin bolted. He heard Connor's cry of surprise as he left, hurrying to the nearest discrete place where he could turn back and wallow in shame. He could still hear the gentle murmurs from the small compartment as Nines and Connor bought some tea and cauldron cakes. Gavin, now back in human form, leaned on the wall cringing into his hands as he thought about what he'd just done. Sure, it was normal behaviour for a cat, but he wasn't a cat! He'd curled himself around Nines' fingers, nudging and nuzzling for more. His skin was still tingling across the back of his neck. "It's been a long time since I've seen you, dear." Gavin flinched at the sudden greeting, still reeling.
"Uh-yeah, I just took a post at the school." The kindly old lady didn't look surprised at all as she paused beside him with her trolley. He smiled, warm with nostalgia, as he looked at all the goods. Cakes, candies, chocolate, tea, coffee, and a stock of other soft drinks. He and Tina always used to buy snacks from the trolley. She'd always stuffed her face with chocolate frogs, and he'd gone for pumpkin pasties. It seemed the trolly witch remembered. The silver-haired woman smiled as she tapped the plate with her wand and handed it to Gavin. He was touched. "How did you remember that?" He swore he almost purred as the smell of cinnamon reached his nose. She had his usual mug of black coffee ready, too.
"Oh, I never forget a face, dear. Especially not the ones who compliment my food so nicely." Gavin was sure his ears were going to turn red. Upon trying the pumpkin pastie in his first year, he'd declared it the best thing he'd ever tasted. He remembered saying to Elijah that the only thing that could make it better was if it was warm with a mug of coffee. In seconds, he'd had both and was very much the happiest first year on the train. He'd pestered her for three years for her secret, but she'd refused to give it away. After that, he'd always bought an extra pastie to eat on his first night at school. "For later." He huffed gratefully as he accepted the small paper bag, levitating his plate so that he could pull a few coins from his pocket.
With a final word of thanks, she continued on to the staff compartment to stow her trolley and relax. She'd make a few more rounds before the journey was done. They had a long way to go. Gavin sighed as he held his mug and plate, eyeing the various closed compartments. He balked at the very idea of going back to Nines and Connor. He still couldn't believe the shameless way he'd writhed on the bench, pawing and nuzzling, desperate for Nines' touch. The memory of it chased him as he sneaked past the door.