Chapter 5 - The journey from Platform nine and Three-Quarters

September 1st 1991

I woke up early, I mean not like I was GOING TO FREAKING HOGWARTS!!!!

I made sure everything I needed was packed and ready to go, one of my trunks laundry list of features was that it could change size and had a built-in featherweight charm, so now I was sitting on my bed running through my list.

All spells are wandless and now non-verbal, I will have to make a conscious effort to relearn using a wand

Lumos

Spongify

Alohomora

Colloportus - the locking spell

Homenum Revelio - the human presence revealing spell

Sagitta iactum - the arrow creation and launching spell

Avis - conjures birds that can be used offensively, the number depends on magic used

Depulso - the spell that throws things and people away from caster

Flipendo - a mini version of Depulso, even though only appearing in the video games, turned out to actually work.

Patronus - I can hold it in the wispy form for about 30 seconds.

Will need to look into Occlumency, read that book on animagus and get a head start on arithmancy and ancient runes. I wanna be able to make my own spells as soon as possible.

Other spells to learn

Disillusionment charm - don't wanna rely on the invisibility cloak even if it is a deathly hallow. I also decided to look into other stealth spells.

Accio - I've had vetting results but one things certain, I know making a book wobble and fall off the bed side table doesn't count, neither does the pen zipping by my head and embedding itself into the wall.

Transfiguration in general, in the books both Dumbledore and Riddle use it in their fighting style, I need to know how to use it in a fight and how to circumvent it.

Finally spells and charms like the featherweight one, maybe there's a collection of spells that could be used to enhance strength, durability etc.

Prank spells - for fun and possible offensive capabilities.

Happy with my list I headed down to breakfast, phoenix wand tucked up my sleeve, the other safely in my trunk.

I had, in my joy of being in Diagon alley, forgotten to purchase any kind of wand holster, maybe I could order via owl?

Anyways, in my excitement I had woken up at 5.30am and unable to go back to sleep I silently walked around four privet drive.

This house hadn't been kind to me, at least not at first but eventually it did become some sort of home, though it may only be so for one more summer at most if all went to plan.

But if not at least I'd made life here bearable.

By eight Dudley had woken up, I got some bacon and sausage going, by eight twenty Petunia had come down.

By half past so had Vernon, I dished up what had turned into a full English and had made myself a decent portion too.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Petunia glare at Vernon and nod in my direction.

"So boy, you're leaving for that freak school of yours today?"

"Yes uncle Vernon, I'm leaving for my school of Magic today, and no, no need to worry, I'll be getting myself there. It should be only take quarter of an hour but I plan to leave plenty early to beat the crowds." I was going to risk getting whiplash and hail the knight bus, so had this response ready to go.

"Right, well….good then….and when will you be back?"

Hopefully I won't be, except to say my goodbyes at least, and to check in on Dudley I think to myself, outwardly I say,

"Around the start of summer, it should be the end of June."

"Hmmmph. Very well, listen out for the post then and get it when it drops."

I broke internally with the revelation of the true power of plot.

"Ahh, but Uncle Vernon, there's no post on Sundays." I say grin a mile wide.

He glared at me and I can almost see the start of his face changing colour, but half way to yelling he sort of…deflates, sighs and continues eating.

Petunia and Dudley decide to now do their impression of a fish.

We finish the meal in silence.

I spend my last stretch of time with Dudley just talking and joking, at about nine I know it's time to make a move.

"Hey Duds, I've got to go."

He looks down.

"Yeah.."

One more bone crushing hug and one last check I head out of the door, stride up the street, and when I know I'm alone hold my wand out.

'CRACK-CRACK-B-B-BANG'

After being thrown about on the knight bus I disembarked at Kings Cross, with plenty of time to spare. I'd split the sweet selling money with Dudley, so as I had the time I went and sat in the McDonald's across the street from the station.

As I sat chewing on what passes for a burger I thought about the tasks I would need to complete to stop the war before it could get into full swing.

The Horcruxes were the obvious thing,

The locket is currently in 12 Grimmauld Place with Kreacher

The Diadem in the Room of Requirement

Hufflepuff's cup in Bellatrix Lestranges Vault at Gringotts

The Ring and also the Resurrection stone in the Guants shack

Lucius Malfoy has the Diary

The piece in my head

The piece that is now attached to Quirinus Quirrell, the main piece that survived Godric's Hollow, also the smallest slither of his soul not currently in my head.

The snake horcrux isn't created until some point between the end of first year and the start of fourth, and will have to deal with this second to last most likely.

Outside of the horcruxes I need to slowly undermine the pure blood dogma, but how to do this I had no clue, so I sat and pondered.

A vague plan begins to form; and as it does I practise my evil laugh

"Mwhahahaha." I say to myself while the bloke two seats down gives me a confused look. I mean, I was an eleven year old with an owl atop a large old time-y style trunk, I probably looked quite mad.

It's now 1030am and I'm sat across from platforms nine and ten watching for wizards to reveal the correct wall to go through, eventually I overhear them first, a small family of three, the brown bushy haired heads of two granger women and short brown hair of the granger patriarch.

Obviously the old wizard Dumbles must've engineered the situation so I didn't know how to get on the platform forcing the meeting with the Weasleys. The Potterheads online had theorised this was part of the long manipulation to have Harry walk to his death willingly; unfortunately for Dumbles I knew how but not the where.

Hermione stood between a few of the pillars and found the one she was clearly looking for and grabbing her parents hands marched right through it into nothingness.

I dashed forward not waiting for the Weasley clan to show and felt a wave of magic flow over me as I passed through the barrier to the platform, reminding me of that first step of the plane when travelling to a warm country.

Then I saw it, the Hogwarts Express. Bright red and gleaming, the same awe I had when seeing Diagon alley engulfed my every thought. I'd be lying if I said it didn't get the emotions going.

I saw Hermione face buried in her parents midriffs in a bear hug squeezing all she can, her face hidden by the mass of bushy hair.

Not wanting to interrupt, I nipped around them and headed towards the back of the train, as I approached the last carriage I could hear a commotion followed by a number of redheads piling through the barrier, I hurried onto the train and got comfortable in the first empty compartment I could.

As the hustle and bustle of London fell away to green fields I settled into the beginner's guide to runes book, normally for third years starting runes, but hey I plan to get ahead and quickly.

Half way through a fascinating passage about the way language effects spells with the same intended outcome the compartment door slides open. Despite the changes to the timeline somehow by power of plot the first wizard my age I meet is still Draco Malfoy.

"And who might you be?" He demands, platinum blonde hair slicked back, a look on his face as though he had shit under his nose looking down on everyone he sees and bookended by two gorilla looking 11 year olds.

"Actually, first tell me if you're pure blood. No point in wasting time on a mudblood." He says, mostly to himself. Well no doubt you've heard of me, I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."

Without missing a beat and despite a lack of audience I retort,

"Pleasure, the name's Bond, James Bond, half blood apparently." I reach my hand out to offer a handshake, it stays there in the air awkwardly. "Please just call me James though." I say laced with faux flattery.

Draco looks at me suspiciously while accepting the handshake.

"Well I don't recognise the surname as a wizard one so your mother must be the magical one in your family, nice to meet you Bond, with me are Crabbe and Goyle."

I received two grunts of acknowledgement from his bookends.

I was about to reply when I heard a voice, but not the one I had been expecting.

"Err…excuse me…has anyone seen my toad?" Asked Neville Longbottom, nerves apparent from the shaking.

"Ahh the loser of the longbottom's, I wonder if you're still barely a squib, Hogwarts standards are slipping clearly if they're letting you in." The bookends let out low gurgles which I guess you could call laughter. "Well at least it'll be interesting-"

"You're rather rude, you know. Neville only asked if you'd seen his toad." Hermione interrupted.

Hermione was stood to the left of bookend number 1, and so could not see into the compartment.

"And who might you be?" Draco sneered.

"Hermione Granger, muggleborn, first year." She said with hand outstretched expecting a handshake.

"Urgh, get away from me mudblood. A word of warning Bond, be careful who you choose to be friends with, you may be half blood but that doesn't bar you from having the right sort of friends. We'll see you in class, or the dorms if you're a Slytherin."

With that they were gone.

"Is there someone in this compartment Neville?"

"Yeah, I heard him say his name was James Bond."

"Hmmm"

She stepped into view.

"Oh, hey Hermione." I say as nonchalantly as possible as though only now being interrupted from reading my book.

Her face dropped in recognition and she let out a high pitched squeal,

"HARRY!"

"He said his name was James." Said a confused Neville.

Once Hermione had stopped talking at x3 speed Neville and Hermione sat down.

"So you had no idea when we spoke last?" Hermione's face scrunched up.

"I had realised I was doing 'magic' but didn't know I was a wizard. Or about Hogwarts." I lied smoothly. "Oh Neville, you should check the toilets for your toad and if you can't find him, find someone who can use accio to find him."

Neville thanked me and hurried off to get his toad.

"Well that's a surprise, have you read our books yet I can't wait for…" Hermione and I talked about the classes, we were discussing transfiguration when Neville returned with his toad and three redheads trailing after him.

Neville sat down and Weasley twins squeezed in while pushing Ron forward.

"Hello firsties, He's George Weasley." Motioning to his twin.

"And he's Fred Weasley." The other copied.

"And we think that as big brothers-"

"Outstanding ones may I add, brother mine"

"Quite."

"We saw our dear 'ikkle Ronnikins here, somehow in a compartment all alone-"

"Looking ever so sad for himself-"

"So we dragged him here to force him on some unlucky persons to adopt him as a friend."

They said all this blindingly fast, shoved Rob into the seat and backed out of the compartment.

"See you Fristies later, maybe even in the Gryffindor common room, and if you get lost, and need our help-"

"It may behove you to ask someone more mature-

"But that doesn't mean Gred-"

"Or Forge-"

They then synced up.

"Would be happy to come to your aid."

The compartment slid shut and there was an awkward moment of silence.

"Idiots." Ron muttered under his breath. "Hi, I'm Ron, Ron Weasley, you just met my brothers Fred and George, sorry about them, is it ok if I join you?"

Silence settled in the compartment again.

Oddly it was Hermione who broke it by laughing, soon we were all chuckling at the twins performance, after that everyone became more comfortable and Hermione wanting to ask anything and everything about magic started an interrogation on Ron and Neville.

"Woah, woah, woah, I don't even know your names yet, then I'll answer what I can." Ron said grinning while Neville gave a suppressed smile.

Hermione, not to be deterred, started.

"I'm Hermione Granger, muggleborn."

"Neville Longbottom, pureblood, not that it matters."

Ron gave a low chuckle at that.

"Harry Potter, yes I still have the scar, no I don't fancy showing it off, this is my owl Hedwig, actually I think I'll let her out." I rattled off. "And, half blood."

Both Ron and Neville picked their jaws off the floor at the statement, I caught the glance between the two boys as I unbolted Hedwig's cage and as she ruffled her feathers I slipped her a couple of owl treats and leant over to open the window enough.

"Hey Hedwig, think you could find Hogwarts alright?"

She gave an indignant hoot, pecked my finger effectionally and took off northwards.

Once the boys had pulled it together, aided by a nudge to Neville's side and a light kick from Hermione, they began to chat about their lives till now.

Eventually the four of us settled into comfortable conversation when there was a knock at the door.

"Anything from the trolley dears?" The little old lady pushing said snack trolley asked.

"Four of everything you have please." I spoke up before anyone could respond, there were arguments from all three of them but they relented once they had the pile of snacks in front of them.

As I cracked I open my first real life chocolate frog, Ron asked the compartment,

"So what house do you guys think you'll be in?"

I caught the chocolate frog mid jump.

"Well they say that Gryffindor is the best house but Ravenclaw would make me happy too." Replies Hermione.

"That's fair, and you definitely wouldn't want to end up in Slytherin, bunch of snakes them lot." Said Ron as though imparting great wisdom.

"I only showed any signs of magic a couple of years ago, I'm probably gonna end up in Hufflepuff." Neville muttered while looking at the floor morosely.

"Hey, Neville, I reckon you're a Gryffindor. Just you wait." I say. If I can encourage him to become Deathly Hallows confident Neville sooner, he'll be the better for it.

"My whole family has been Gryffindor, I'll probably end up there." Said Ron, though there was a look on his face I couldn't place. I remembered a post I'd seen years prior where someone said that Ron, Hermione and Harry embody the three not-Gryffindor houses. Harry shows Loyalty to those he considers friends, even when they are on the wrong, Hermione, Ravenclaw for all the obvious reasons and Ron, Slytherin; for the ambition he shows wanting to be the most successful from his family as seen in the mirror of erised. They are all in Gryffindor because when it matters, they choose Bravery over their traits that fit them into the other houses.

Of course some people swap Harry and Ron around because of the Sorting hat, but Ron doesn't have the kind of work ethic for Hufflepuff. (Honestly the Hat should put people into the house with the trait they need to work on most, but never mind.)

Everyone now looked at me for my answer.

"I'm thinking Ravenclaw for me, I only found out about the Wizarding world recently l, so I think I want to learn as much as I can about it. I've read ahead as far as I could. Though I'd be happy with Gryffindor as that was both my parents' house."

"Well, I think that there will be some disappointment with that especially after so many people have read your books." Ron said while Neville nodded in agreement.

"Erm, what? I exclaimed, with enunciated exclamation.

"Books about…me?" I asked, there had been plenty of fan fics where someone had published books about the boy who lived all based of one line regarding Ginny read them when she was younger. It shocked me how a throw away line could affect what is now my reality in the Wizarding world.

"Yeah, there's a few, I think number five came out last year. They're quite popular."

"Not very good though."

"Rather childish." Neville and Hermione both say at the same time.

"I read only what's in the history books of course, though very little is said in any of them." Continued Hermione.

"I think I'll have to read them myself, see what kind of rubbish people believe about me." I say, mostly to myself.

"Yeah, especially when the first ones called 'Harry Potter and the

All three laugh at my discomfort with the novels

Another awkward silence threatened to kill the conversation until Hermione asked.

"I wanted to say earlier Harry, what is it you're reading?"

"Oh, the runes book that third years get, it looked interesting and I do want to get ahead."

"Definitely a Ravenclaw." Ron directed at Neville.

"Get ahead? But I only have this years book and a couple of history ones…" Hermione said dejectedly.

"Hermione, I have a miny library and Hogwarts Library is huge from what I've been told. I lend you any of my books you might want to read." I assured her.

She broke out into a massive grin at the promise of books.

Neville pulled out a pack of exploding snap and at risk of my eyebrows I asked how to play.

The day turned to dusk and a short message rang throughout the train.

"Approaching Hogsmeade Station, arriving in forty five minutes."

I briefly wondered if it was a recording or someone using sonorus, then realised the movement around me.

"Hellooooo, Harry, I said we need to get our robes on." Said Ron.

Hermione had left the compartment while we changed, she had been so eager she had arrived at the platform in hers.

There was another and final warning fifteen minutes before arrival.

As we disembarked into the rapidly fading light I could hear Hagrid yelling his

"Firs' years! Firs' years this way."

Once we had all gathered he brought out a list and counted heads to confirm we were all there. He then nodded to the conductor who had gotten off the train then turned his attention to us.

"All right this way, mind your footing."

We then walked for ten minutes sloping down a winding path, trees towering above even Hagrid.

We eventually came to a small dock set back from the rest of the lake,

"No more than four to a boat." Hagrid spoke, voice booming above all our heads.

Hermione, Ron, Neville and I managed to clamber into the lake. Hagrid did a second head count and got into the last boat at the dock.

"Forward!"

The boats shunted forward and quickly the tall trees have way to the view from the lake, Hogwarts now towering over us, the whole castle lit up, this apparent tradition was reversed during the graduation process at the end of seventh year.

One thing the Wizarding world had going for it was that when they did spectacle, the really did spectacle. Hogwarts was stunning, no wonder Harry fell in love with this place when all he'd ever known was his version of the Dursleys.

All of us sat in silence and in awe as we appreciated the sight and drink it all in. As we started to approach the other shoreline I could see the boathouse where Snape has his famous death scene in the movie, even though it was in the shrieking shack in canon. We passed this and headed to a cave a little further up.

"WATCH YOUR HEADS!" Hagrid baritone echoed along the low tunnel as vibes hung low. We meandered through the tunnel until met by some stairs. One by one the boats allowed us to disembark before they drifted out of sight. Once all out Hagrid led us up to flights of stairs.

"The first years Professor."

"Thank you Hagrid."

Hagrid left through the door behind her.

McGonagall looked at us sternly. After her spiel about the houses and their qualities she led us through the door. As in canon we had just left a side room adjacent to the door way leading into the great hall. Once again I was blown away by the real life version of the great hall and it's enchanted sky ceiling. It didn't have a static view, it was as though it was slowly moving, as though showing the whole cosmos, but always returning to the same view of the sky, that was, I assume, directly above us.

The sorting went as expected, though Hermione ended up under the hat for nearly seven minutes, making her a hat stall, something that hadn't happened in years, I wonder if it had been trying to convince her of Ravenclaw?

It went on until.

"Potter, Harry." McGonagall's voice smothered by silence, then murmuring.

I stepped forward, plonked myself on the low stool and felt the hat droop over my head, it being almost comically large on me.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here? How very refreshing." Said the hat, directly into my head.

It was then I realised that a sentient piece of fabric could probably now see every last secret in my head. Including…

"Oh yes, oh yes, let us discuss, we have plenty to, I think." It even chuckled.

Well this could be bad I thought.

"This isn't a one way street you know. Just talk."

"Fine then. What happens now?"

"You tell me Mr. Interdimensional Traveller." It laughed at its own joke.

"Look, just put me in Ravenclaw, okay?"

"Oh come now, in a rush already? I've never spilled any secrets and wouldn't start with yours." It paused clearly enjoying this.

"Ravenclaw hmmmm…we'll you got the brains and the aptitude for it but you'd do so well in Slytherin, all those ideas of how to change what's to come, it does have a certain ring of ambition…."

"NO!" I yelled in my head.

"Hmmmph….fine….or perhaps you'd be better off in…"

Panic overtook me as I'd clocked what the Hat had said.

Ahahaha worlds meanest cliff hanger

Sorry about the long break, family and work come first, I've already started on next chapter, dw, this will continue.

:)