Chapter 3- Welcome to Hogwarts

Hagrid Pennyworth dropped Harry off at Kings Cross Station promptly at 10:30 a.m. The train was set to leave the station at 11:00 so that gave him plenty of time. Harry was to enter onto Platform 9 ¾ in order to board the train. Despite all of his efforts however, he could not seem to find any Platform that was labeled 9 ¾. He did, however, notice that there were a number of individuals around his age carrying some peculiar baggage including cages that held animals such as owls. Just as he, himself carried a bat. Harry thought these individuals must also be going to Hogwarts just as he is. He heard some of them talking about Muggles which confused him greatly. He was not sure what a "Muggle" was. He then saw a mother with four sons and one daughter. The three older sons ran hastily towards the wall that separates the platforms and then seemed to suddenly disappear. Harry was baffled and confused.

Harry- "Ma'am, may I ask how they did that? The boys? How did they go through the wall like that?"

Mrs. Weasley- "Well young man, all you have to do is run into the wall and you will go right through it and get to where you are going, simple as that."

Harry's scared, so he walks towards the barrier and then starts running – and then he's through. He sees a train, leaving at 11, on the right platform – he made it! Harry heads towards the end of the train looking for space, but has trouble maneuvering all his bags. The redheaded boys Harvey and Denton (twins) come to help him. As they're all getting settled, the others realize that he's Harry Wayne. Harry watches as the redheads all get off the train to say goodbye to their mother.

Back on the train Harry sits down in a section of the train across from Harvey and Denton and they begin to strike up a conversation. Harvey and Denton are twins and look exactly alike down to the smallest details. The only way that Harry can tell them apart is that their personalities differ greatly.

"So, you're the famous Harry Wayne! I can't believe that you're right here in front of me!" Harvey said excitedly.

"I…did not realize that I was famous!" Harry said with complete naiveté.

"You don't seem so great to me", said Denton. "You just seem like a regular kid."

Just then, an attendant comes up and greets the boys.

"Would you like a nice snack for the ride?" asks the attendant. "I've got some freshly made chocolate covered frogs that you boys will love!"

"We'll take three chocolate covered frogs" says Harry.

"No thanks," Harvey says; "I think I'll just have a piece of fruit if you have it. I don't really like chocolate…or frogs."

"Suit yourself mate, I think they're delicious!" Denton says as he smiles and bites into the chocolate covered frog. Harry takes a breath and gets ready to take a bite from his chocolate covered frog when suddenly a boy come up from out of nowhere in a huff and a puff.

"Why excuse me," says the boy. "Have you seen my pet toad?"

"No, I don't think so Harry says. Is there anything unique about your toad so that if we see it we will know it is yours?"

"Why, yes, actually; my toad has a quite unique marking on its' back. I'm Neville by the way…..Neville."

"Nice to meet you Neville," said Harvey. "I wish I had a toad instead of this pet rat."

"Well, perhaps my pet cat could swallow up your rat," said a female voice from someone that was standing behind Neville."

"Well Hermione, we don't want that now do we? Oh, this is my friend, Hermione Kyle."

"Why don't you just use your magic to transform the rat into a toad?" Hermione asks.

"Well, uhhhhhh…..honestly, my spells so far have not worked." Harvey said.

"You've got that right brother! They have been epic failures!" Denton said with a smirk.

"Like you've done any better Denton!" Harvey replied back.

"What about you? Have any of your spells worked?" Harry asks Hermione.

"Why, yes in fact; the spells that I've tried have worked. Even though I am from a non-magic family, I have learned quite a bit." Hermione declares.

"I'm Harry Wayne. It is very nice to make your acquaintance." Harry says.

"Oh, I know who you are. You are famous. You are in a bunch of magic books!" Hermione contends.

"I don't see why he's so famous. He just seems like a regular goody-two shoes to me." Denton once again adds.

"So…..which houses do you want to be in?" Hermione asks. "I hope to be in Gryffindor."

"I…..I….don't know. I guess I hadn't thought about it." Harry said in a puzzled manner.

"Come Hermione, I still need to find my toad! Where would a toad get off to on a train?" Neville says.

Hermione looks back at Harry. "You'd better think about it. Which house you're going to belong to."

There were so many things it seemed Harry had not taken the time to think about. What house he was going to be in? Harry did even know there were houses. He just thought it was one big school. What had he gotten himself into?

"So, you're Harry Wayne….hmmmph," came a voice that shook Harry out of his daydreaming trance.

"Yes, yes, I'm Harry Wayne." Who is asking?"

"I'm Draco. Draco Napier. The little girl is right you know…..about figuring out which house you're gonna be in. You need to think about the future. Hanging out with these side show phonies won't get you anywhere. Why don't you come sit with me so I can give you the real lowdown on Hogwarts?"

Harry sensed something a bit dark and menacing about Draco. His eyes seemed to pierce right into Harry's soul. And that grin. What was it about that stupid grin?

"Sorry Draco, I think I'll stay where I am but thanks. I'll…see you at school I suppose," Harry said.

"Your loss," Draco said as he started to walk off. Then he turned around with that conniving smile and added, "Harry, think about the future!"

"I'm glad he's gone. That guy gives me the creeps!" Harvey added.

"Everything gives you the creeps," Denton chimed in. "You walk around like everywhere you look there's GHOSTS and GOBLINS!"

"Harvey's right," Hermione chimed in. "Draco is not the kind you want to mingle with. I wouldn't touch him to scratch him. Come on. Get your robes on, it's almost time to get off the train."

An announcement comes over the speakers in the train….

"GOOD AFTERNOON. WE HAVE ARRIVED AT OUR DESTINATION. PLEASE LEAVE YOUR BAGGAGE TO BE COLLECTED. ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR DAY."

Harry, Harvey, Denton and Hermione all get off the train and take a glance at everything they see all around them, including the giant castle towering in the distance.

"Ahhh, I see ya made it!" A bellowing voice shouts.

"Hagrid!" Harry called out. It was so good to see a familiar face, Harry thought.

"You'll all be comin' with me now….come…..come….no time to waste lads" Hagrid said while leading them into a boat. The boat then led them across the lake and towards the castle. Harry was filled with anticipation as the boat got closer and closer to the large castle. He was thinking about how the castle looked more like something out of a fairy tale rather than a school. Harry was thinking about all the twists and turns his life had taken in his ten years life-span. He went from his happy younger years living at Wayne Manor to being stuffed into the tiny room under the stairs at Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon's to now being about to enter a school that looked like a castle in order to learn and practice magic! Perhaps this was fate! But is there such a thing as fate? Harry didn't know for certain but he was about to find out what fate had in store for him!

"All right lads, come on then," Hagrid says while opening the large door to the school. Hermione, Harvey and Denton step forward first. As Harry follows behind, Hagrid stop him and puts his hand on Harry's shoulder.

"Alright Harry, this is it. You're about to take your first step into a much larger world. Are you ready?" Hagrid asks.

Harry thought again about fate as had earlier. He still was not completely sure about fate, but he knew that his destiny was waiting for him behind those doors.

"Yes Hagrid. I'm ready," Harry replied.

"Very good then….WELCOME TO HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY" Hagrid declared.

To be continued…..