The morning of his first day came and went by as quick and audacious as a summer storm. He'd packed everything the night before but his mother insisted on bringing more and more items: a rain jacket (never know when it will rain!), flashlight (you'll be thanking me later!), fanny pack (Oh I know you don't wear them but just bring it anyways!), and sunscreen. Jason wanted to get going straight away because he didn't want to miss the eleven o'clock train, conversely, Audrey wanted to keep Jason home for as long as possible.
As the taxi cab pulled up to Shadow Drive Audrey was forced to abandon her attempts to stock a second trunk. The ride to the train station was quick, and so was the train to London. The train went right to King's Cross Station, and when the train stopped. Jason wheeled off his big cart with all his belongings and followed Freya's lead. She trotted along the front, where after a few minutes, the group had arrived at a large brick column in between platforms nine and ten.
Freya youthfully put her hands on her hips and gazed at the wall," Well I never thought I'd be back here again," she said reminiscently," Come now Jason, go ahead." She moved aside, and Jason stared at the brick wall.
"Uhm, can I get some context please?" Jason never liked when people assumed he should know something.
Freya frowned disapprovingly," I thought you'd have figured it out by now," Jason's eye twitched," Just run straight at that wall, fast as you can go, and you'll reach platforms nine and three-quarters."
Audrey looked concerned," Are you sure that's safe Mum?"
Freya rolled her eyes," For goodness sakes, we'll be here all day." And she took off in a run towards the wall. Shocked, Jason could hardly believe his grandmother could run like that at her age.
Right as it looked as if she'd crash into the wall, she disappeared from thin air.
Weeks ago, this may have shocked Jason but he was no longer surprised by the basic magic of the wizarding world. Audrey stood with her hand covering her mouth when he began to push the cart forward before taking longer strides and turning into a full on sprint. As the red wall neared him Jason got tight with fear but continued to push and he almost cried out in terror when he made contact with the wall, but instead it absorbed him, like he'd just ran into Jell-O.
Suddenly, he appeared onto a new platform, no longer in King's Cross, but one that reminded him of Diagon Alley. He looked towards the sign," Platform nine and three-quarters."
All around him wizards and witches rushed about, shouting at both little children and teenagers, running up and down the platform lugging their trunks onto the scarlet Christmas-like train. Owls in cages were passed through train windows, while groups of kids were saying their last goodbyes to their Mums and Dads.
Next to him, a large group of wizards stood by talking, five or six of them having fiery red hair. Others kept coming up to the group and shaking their hands, one by one, with a lot of thanks, while a boy with black hair and spectacles led one of the red-haired girls onto the train, before pecking her a kiss goodbye, and then hugging another girl with bushy brown hair before stepping off the train. Jason moved away from the group in search of his grandmother. He almost worried she'd hop on the train herself in excitement.
As he found his mom and Nan, Audrey had a big smile on her face," I think you're in good hands Jason, that gateway has some style." And with the realization that this was Audrey's first bit of magic, he was gripped in a tight hug.
Hugging her back she whispered into his ear," I'll miss you dear, stay safe," and she gave him a kiss goodbye on his forehead.
Not totally prepared or ready to leave her endearing presence yet, Jason looked towards his grandmother, who was wringing her hands in a frenzy," Ohhh Jason! Good luck!" And with a final hug Jason stepped towards the train which gave a loud and long whistle with it's horn, and Jason looked at the clock near the platform entrance.
10:59
"Uh-oh," Jason muttered under his breath. He began rapidly unloading his stuff from the cart, when an older boy walked up to him. Though, Jason noticed this boy's walking was not perfectly in step, and there was a slight delay in his left leg, perhaps a limp.
"Need a hand?" Asked the boy courteously in a deep voice.
"Yes please," Jason nodded furiously.
The boy had bright blue eyes and a tall, muscular build, with some light stubble curated by long luscious brown hair that almost ran down to his shoulders.
He grabbed one end of the trunk and onto one of the spare bags Audrey had prepared, while Jason took his own schoolbag. The boy stepped up with one end onto the train and heaved it up with impressive strength as Jason pushed it from the bottom, though truthfully, he didn't need to do much pushing. He grabbed onto the rails and pulled himself onto the train as it slowly began to move.
He took one last look at Audrey and Freya and waved. He wasn't sure, but he thought he could see a tear run down Audrey's rosy pink face.
They were at the very end of the train and they entered the last cabin with Jason's luggage, squeezing into a compartment with a hooded figure inside.
"Mind if we put this feller's stuff here Edgar?" Asked the helpful boy as he opened up the compartment door.
The hooded figure didn't respond in an exact way but seemed to be nodding his head. The long haired boy was intent on entering regardless, and hauled the massive trunk onto the overhead compartment with no trouble.
"There we go, that's all settled," the boy dusted off his hands and gave a brilliant smile showing his perfect teeth, extending his forearm towards Jason," The name's Will, by the way. I'm a seventh year." Jason took his hand and shook it, noting his iron hard grip.
"Jason— Jason Thomas." he let go, "I appreciate your help, I think I would have missed the train without you."
Will reached his arms out, stretching," No worries mate. Couldn't have left anyone out on the platform, last time we left a student behind they crashed a flying car into the school, then got attacked by an angry tree." They botch chuckled heartily. "Can't get much of a worst first day than that. Though that sort of stuff gets you written into school legend."
Jason felt extremely relaxed by his demeanor and began to sit down, when Will made for the compartment exit.
"Don't mean to leave you so soon Mate, but I've got to check in with the conductor and give the prefects some marching orders." Will said regretfully.
Jason was a little annoyed by this but didn't let it show," No worries, I'll see you around."
"Likewise. If you need any help or advice, just give me a holler, I'll be in the hallway." He paused then added," That goes for anytime too, you being a new student and all. You'll have a great time!" He gave Jason a wink, then slid out into the hallway, leaving Jason alone with the hooded boy, who hadn't really seemed to acknowledge his or Will's presence too enthusiastically.
A pause of awkward silence engulfed the compartment as Jason looked upon the boy. He wore the black school robes with the hood on, and though Jason couldn't quite make out his face since he was fixated on the plains and farms that passed outside the window, he could see his large icy pale fingers that were decorated with an assortment of black rings, and streams of long curly hair escaped the encroachment of his hood. Jason shuttered, as if his hands turned the room cold. He had a long, slender body.
"Hello." Jason tried to break the awkwardness. "I'm Jason, what's your name?" It took a few seconds but the boy took his gaze away from the window and turned his attention towards Jason, revealing his black eyes and even paler face.
"Oh," the boy had a very soft, low, slow-spoken voice, as if he hadn't spoken in years," My name is Edgar Willow," and to Jason's surprise, Edgar extended his forearm. Jason shook it, and his hands were icier than he'd even imagined.
"So, Edgar, how do you like Hogwarts?" Jason cringed as he said it, not very satisfied with the quality of the question he'd just asked.
Edgar solemnly folded his hands together," It is a very fine school in terms of education. If it's knowledge you're after you'll be happily rewarded."
Jason sat still wondering how a teenager could act so stewardly. Edgar continued," I'm in Ravenclaw, by the way. I don't suspect you'll be in my house, but assuming you're a fifth year we may have some classes together." Jason detected a glimmer of hopefulness.
He mentally took notice of the jab he'd just taken, that he wasn't smart enough for what Lucy had described as,' The smart house,' but elected to ignore it. "Yeah that'd be great to have some classes together," Jason said amiably, though he wasn't all too sure if he liked this strange boy.
Edgar's lips expanded horizontally, which Jason figured was his way of smiling. "I have something very fascinating in my robes, you know."
Jason didn't have a clue what he had hidden but figured it'd most likely be something like a phial of blood, or perhaps some animal parts.
"Oh. Really?" Jason asked cautiously.
"I can show you, but you can't tell the prefects. Not even Will. I know he wouldn't want to turn me in but if he didn't he'd likely get disciplined as Head Boy." Edgar leaned forward with his hand inside his robe, like he was rummaging around for something.
Now becoming curious, Jason agreed to see it," I won't tell anyone, promise."
Edgar's face seemed to brighten as much as his pale skin let him," Good. Now..." Edgar gripped something in his robe and yanked it out," BEHOLD!"
Raising the glass jar into the air, Jason disappointedly examined what buzzed around inside of it. It was only about the size of his thumb, but the insect whizzed around the container at a dizzying pace, and was a sapphire blue color, with a large stinger taking up half its body. Jason slumped backward, not really as hyped up as Edgar had become. "What is that?" Jason asked.
Edgar lowered the jar, and tucked it sort of beside his robe as to conceal it from the compartment entrance should anyone walk in. "This, is a billywig. Rapid creatures, and extremely difficult to catch. The billywig has a stinger that causes levitation and extreme giddiness."
"Why are you keeping it?" Jason asked carefully.
A mischievous look cross Edgar's face. "Well, for starters, it's quite a harmless prank to embarrass anyone who tries to harass me," he continued, glancing towards the door," And, the sting does produce quite a wonderful sensation. You have to be careful not to do it too often though, or else you'll be stuck in levitation permanently, which would be quite embarrassing. Anyways I'll be using an invisibility charm to sneak him in, his names Horatio by the way."
Jason looked at Horatio, a lot more impressed then before, and at that moment a shadow crossed over the compartment door.
Scrambling, Edgar buried the jar back into his robes just before the compartment door slid open. Standing at the entrance was a girl with light brown skin. Her face was very clear and pretty and her jet black hair was tied back in a neat ponytail.
Instantly Edgar stood up and made for the door. "Oh I, really got to use the bathroom." He said nervously as he squeezed past the girl at the entrance, and promptly scurried away from the compartment.
"Name?" Asked the girl impatiently, who happened to be holding a clipboard.
"What do you need my name for?" Jason asked curiously without malice.
The girl lowered her clipboard impatiently. "What else would I want to know your name for other than attendance?" She spouted in a rapid, unforgiving voice. "I happen to be a Ravenclaw prefect." She said haughtily, buffing out her chest and pointing her nose up towards the ceiling, exposing her already visible prefect badge. "Now I'll need to know your name."
"Jason Thomas," irked, he instantly disliked her attitude, much rather preferring Edgar back in the car as his company.
"Hmm. It says here you're a fifth year. I've never seen you before, you must be new, aren't you?" She sniggered under her breath," Well you've done yourself a great start by making friends with the school vampire. Willow's a freak. " She said shrilly," Everyone thinks he's a vampire, you know. Pale skin, always wearing his hood. No friends. Always has weird things in his robe. You know we saw a blood phial in there once? We suspect he needs some on him for whenever he gets thirsty." She gave a crude laugh," It's a wonder they let him into the school, really. Vampire's are quite dangerous, I wouldn't be surprised at all if he forgets dinner one night and bites someone in his sleep."
Now becoming more irritated at the girl's remarks, Jason rebutted," He seems pretty nice to me."
Jason could see a nasty vein pop from the girl's head. "Well," She breathed in sharply and raised her voice," If you want to be a loser who's only friend is a freak like him, be my guest! And good luck making friends with that stupid accent of yours!" The door slammed shut and shook the windows of the compartment, the girl angrily stomping away.
Alone now, Jason looked out the window and suddenly yearned for his mother. The delicious smell of her famous lasagna, how she always asked him about his day, and most of all her infectious smile whenever Jason did something to make her proud. Feeling fuzzy yet empty, Jason stared off at the now hilly landscape that raced by outside the window.
He heard the door slide open and instinctively jumped up, expecting the brash girl to have come back. But instead, it was the girl that he met in the wand shop, Lucy Gardener.
She politely stood by the entrance," Hi Jason. Are any of these seats taken?"
Much relieved to have some more normal company, Jason obliged.
"That was Ablah Shafiq by the way." She said scornfully as she rolled her blue eyes, simultaneously dropping her handbag onto the floor with a loud Thud!
"She never learns, really. Of course, she's top of the class," Lucy gritted her teeth," Real friendly bloke she is. All the teachers hate her attitude." She began rummaging through her bag.
Jason sighed," I think she's got a superiority complex, she also couldn't stop talking about Edgar and how he's a vampire. What a load of garbage." Jason said mockingly.
Lucy frowned," Well I don't know if that's untrue."
"What do you mean?"
"Well he barely eats, you see how skinny he is? And I always see him drinking this red-colored liquid. Not to mention he's always wearing a hood, as if he's afraid of sunlight." Lucy paused, thinking deeply," I wouldn't say that he's definitely a vampire, it could all just be a collection of little coincidences, but it wouldn't entirely surprise me if he were. But, even if he were a vampire he's totally harmless. A bit strange and creepy, but nothing I'd ever worry about."
Lucy pulled something out that looked like a newspaper. "So what happened?"
Jason was confused at first, but then she handed him the newspaper, 'Daily Prophet', pointing out one of the subsection's headlines.
ROBBERY: GOBLIN THIEF STEALS FROM WIZARD
On Wednesday July 31 the Department of Magical Law Enforcement reported a home intrusion and theft by a goblin into a wizard's home, stealing valuable family jewelry. The unusual act of a goblin stealing from wizards speaks volumes to the current political climate regarding goblin rights in Britain. The "Gringotts Massacre," that took place on May 1 of this year where Lord Voldemort, a dark wizard, murdered 7 goblins, has created a larger rift than ever between the Ministry of Magic and the Goblin Liberation Association (GLA). The GLA did not comment on this theft, and their narrative continues to remain the same: Procure goblin rights such as wand-carrying and equal acceptance in wizarding society through political channels. The wizard who was robbed, Jason Thomas, a Hogwarts student, was not open for questioning.
"I didn't even know this was in the news." Jason said, intrigued.
Lucy put the paper back into her bag, "So what really happened?" She asked inquisitively, folding her hands together.
Jason told her everything about the attack, Gringotts and the funny looks he got from the goblin guards, Freya's theory that the necklace may be goblin made, and described the goblin with horrible scars. "Any goblin you know that looks like that?"
Lucy shrugged disappointedly," Sorry, no. I don't really see goblins all too often. They freak me out a bit to be honest."
She thought silently," It had too have been really valuable for a goblin to steal it, they may be greedy creatures but they're usually fair in their dealings, perhaps more so than wizards."
There was silence for a bit, but then Lucy reached back into her yellow handbag and pulled out a set of cards. They were fiery red and had a phoenix drawn on the cover that was flying in the air, wings flapping and all. These real-life moving pictures were one of the many things that amazed Jason about the wizarding world.
"Want to play Beast Brawls?" Lucy held up the box with the phoenix next to her face and offered an inviting smile.
"Sure, I don't know how to play though."
"No worries, I'll teach you."
The game was simple enough. Lucy gave Jason three random cards to start with. The cards all had different beasts on it, Jason got a centaur with a longbow, a flubberworm, which was about as useful as you can guess, and a basilisk, a ridiculously long giant snake with deadly venom. With their wands, they raised their cards into the air, each hovering on their side of the compartment, faces hidden from the other.
Lucy counted," 3. 2. 1... GO!" And their cards instantly manifested into little, almost holographic like beasts. In this 3-D form they looked exactly like the real beast, except "game-sized" and see through, floating in midair. Lucy explained that they'd have to fight to the death upon listening to the orders of their card holders.
Quickly, Jason attempted to analyze Lucy's beasts but before Jason could glance up, Lucy, with a flick of her wand sent a large rhinoceros-like creature towards his centaur and promptly impaled it with it's horn. Jason pointed at his basilisk and directed it to help the centaur, but it was too late as his centaur was dead, crying out in pain," It has been foreseen I'd die on the field of battle!" Then disappearing heroically.
Amazed now, Jason watched his basilisk chomp into the rhino, and the rhinoceros staggered around, turning red. Smiling, Jason was about to direct his basilisk towards Lucy's other beasts, but as he was about to do so, Lucy's phoenix clawed it's eyes out. Jason pointed and flicked his wand towards the phoenix but could no longer control his now red basilisk that was blinded by the phoenix.
"Hey that's not fair!" Jason bickered towards Lucy.
"All's fair in this game," Lucy smirked as she sent her final beast, a dragon, to finish off his basilisk.
Roaring loudly, the dragon scorched Jason's basilisk, roasting it to it's death, and then promptly swallowing his flubberworm whole.
"No fair! How come I got a flubberworm and you've got a dragon?" Jason reveled enthusiastically, but not admitting his loss.
"That's the luck of the game. Plus, you got a basilisk which is the most powerful card!" Lucy exclaimed, collecting the returned cards and shuffling them back into the deck. "My brother and I play this game a lot. He usually beats me but I'm not so bad."
"Does your brother go to Hogwarts too?" Jason asked.
Lucy stiffened up a little bit," Yes, his name's Will and he's a seventh-year. I also have a third-year sister, Elizabeth."
Jason connected the dots," Oh I met him earlier, Will, he helped me bring my stuff onto the train! He seems really nice, not to mention he's Head Boy!"
"Yes he's wonderful. Everybody loves him so much." Lucy said flatly in a matter-of-fact way, with a twinge in her voice. Trying to change the subject, Lucy asked Jason if he had any siblings.
"No I haven't got any."
"Your parents must be muggles, right? Considering you barely knew anything about Hogwarts when I met you. What's it like living with muggles? I'm taking a muggle studies class," Lucy questioned him with intrigue.
"Well." Jason began slowly, not really wanting to talk about this," My Dad died before I was born, and my Mom and I lived in an apartment in the city while I was in America, she's a chef. Since this summer, we'll be living in my Nan's house in Surrey."
Lucy's face saddened a bit, regretful for having asked," I'm sorry about your Dad. What was life like living in the city?"
Jason talked a bit about his run-down high school, his apartment, his friend Alex, his former job and some of the general city things that non-city people want to know about. He directed a few questions back to her.
Lucy happened to live on a wizarding farm. She had a full house, with two siblings, parents, and two grandparents all living together. Her Mom even worked at the Ministry of Magic.
"How long until we get there?"
"Dunno, maybe an hour I reckon. We should get our robes on."
Jason pulled out his black school robes from his trunk and slid them on, feeling rather uncomfortable.
"So... we're supposed to wear these all the time?" Jason asked dubiously.
"Only during classes." Lucy answered briskly.
"I feel ridiculous wearing this."
Lucy gave him an estranged look," Stop being a wuss."
There was a knock on the door and Jason looked to see who it was. Entering now, Edgar returned to the compartment, making a bit of a squinted face upon seeing Lucy. Jason wanted to ask him about his bug but didn't want to break his promise about not telling a prefect.
"Hey Edgar, how's it going?" Lucy feigned a friendly smile.
Edgar sat besides him," Jason," Edgar said in a low voice, ignoring Lucy," The bee is in the dark."
"What?"
Edgar twitched his head towards Lucy, then patted something within his robes, referring to his billywig.
"Oh, I see."
"What are you guys talking about?" Lucy asked, clearly feeling like she didn't understand something between the two.
Then, for the fourth time, there was a crushing sound at the compartment door as it was thrown open from the outside.
"Scurried away pretty quickly there, Ed-boy. Got something you're not supposed to have? I reckon I can take off house points from Ravenclaw before term starts now that I'm a prefect. Hopefully your friends don't get too mad at you. Oh right, I forgot, you have none," The boy in the entrance cackled loudly in front of his other friend, who stood behind him laughing.
The boy's face looked like a troll, he had unkempt curly black hair, a large nose and he bore a wicked smile that showed off his bad yellow teeth. His friend stood behind him like a gorilla in clothing, flexing his arms as he bellowed over in laughter.
Jason stood up, "That's not true" he said coarsely.
The troll-faced boy stopped laughing and a disgusted look crossed his disgruntled face," You must be the Yank on-board everyone's talking about," he spat at the word Yank," Goodness they'll let anyone into Hogwarts these days. Too bad the Carrows aren't back to set these filth straight."
Jason's fists bawled up in anger as Lucy stood up besides him," Shove off Claudius, God forbid the Carrows return then this place would go straight back to Hell."
Jason snorted," Claudius? Who're you named after, Santa Claus?" Jason resisted the temptation to cheer "ho ho ho."
Claudius rested his eyes upon Lucy," Dear Lucy," he made a "tsk tsk tsk," sound," I've seen your company has really went down the toilet hasn't it? Look at you and your new little friends," sadistically, he did a sweeping motion with his arm to signify Jason and Edgar," A vampire and a Yankee, I suppose that's what happens when you're in the market and pickings are slim," Jason could see a vein bulging from Claudius' forehead in anger," Out with the old, in with the new, right?" Claudius was leaning into the apartment with a maddening look of anger on his face.
Jason glanced towards Lucy and saw her face strained in fury.
"You leave. Now." Jason rumbled through gritted teeth.
"Make me," taunted Claudius.
Jason got ready to throw a punch as Claudius reached for his wand, and luckily Jason's second of hesitation likely saved him from getting expelled on his first day.
Will entered the cabin next to the gorilla-shaped boy, Will's large presence making both boys look small in comparison," Is there a problem in here gentlemen?"
Claudius whipped around, concealing the look of anger on his face from moments ago. "Yes actually there is," he pointed a fat finger at Edgar, who was still sitting in his seat," This boy's got a billywig on him, hidden in his robes."
A shadow of doubt crossed Will's face," A billywig, eh? Quite a rare thing to have in Britain, seeing as they're Australian insects. I don't reckon they'd survive this climate, not to mention they're near impossible to catch." Will stepped into the compartment and made a gesture towards Edgar to open his robes.
Edgar's hand trembled slightly and obliged, opening his robes, and Jason caught his breath. But to Jason's delight, there was no jar that could be seen under Edgar's school robes, just another set of black underclothes.
Will looked at Edgar up and down with a raised eyebrow and serious expression, then around at Lucy and Jason before turning his attention back to Claudius, who to Jason's joy stood dumbstruck with his mouth gaping open.
"No— it was there, in a jar, I saw it just a minute ago, Sir!" He added on to try and win some brownie points, but to his dismay, William Gardener was not one to appreciate suck-ups.
"I don't suppose you want me to check his undergarments, do you Mr. Flint?" Will crossed his big arms, standing as a grown man next to a naughty boy, looking thoroughly annoyed," Regardless, everyone on this train will be double checked upon entering the castle. Why don't you help me haul everyone's luggage toward the luggage cart so Mr. Filch can have an easy time unloading." Will exited the compartment brushing past Claudius and his friend and beckoning them to follow, his long shiny hair illuminating his serious face.
Claudius shot a dirty look toward the three before slamming the door shut and stalking behind Will.
Jason and Lucy sat back down.
Edgar's thin lips smiled triumphantly," I think I reckon who'll get to meet Horatio first," elbowing Jason with his bony arm.
"What's his deal with you?" Jason peered over towards Lucy, running his fingers through his brown hair and down his head.
Lucy was no longer red-faced but sat cross-legged with her head resting on her hand, half-gripping her wavy hair," He's been a bloody git to me ever since the Battle of Hogwarts. He was always a bit foul some but he was tolerable at the least, it seems like the summer's made him a little," Lucy searched for the right word," Unhinged..."
"Battle of Hogwarts?" Jason asked in confusion.
Lucy straightened up as her mouth dropped and even Edgar fully turned his body towards him in astonishment. "You haven't heard of the Battle of Hogwarts? No, you definitely will not be sorted into my house." Edgar continued," It's only the most important moment of wizarding history in the 20th century, maybe of all time! And it happened last May, at school."
Intrigued, Lucy and Edgar switched off trying to explain all the events surrounding the battle. Lord Voldemort's rising, the death of Albus Dumbledore, the fall of the Ministry of Magic, the ferocious and bloody battle that took place in the very school that Jason was going to now, and Harry Potter's final defeat of the dark wizard and his army.
A loud screeching sound overcame their conversation as Jason could feel the train coming to a halt his body thrusting forward.
Lucy's face perked up," We're here."