Disclaimer: All characters and story plots belong to J.K Rowling, some of my spelling will be quite different to British spelling, so please bear that in mind when reading. Happy Reading!
A Morning on Platform 9¾(1986)
The crisp morning air was alive with the hum of excited chatter and the rhythmic clatter of trunks on cobblestones. On Platform 9¾, families bade tearful farewells while the scarlet train waited, billowing clouds of enchanted steam into the rafters. Amidst the bustling crowd, a boy emerged, weaving effortlessly through the throng.
He was striking—a mop of shoulder-length black curls with streaks of crimson framing a pale face, his eyes twin flames of emerald that glowed faintly, betraying the presence of dormant power. Dressed in light blue jeans and a crisp white shirt with the sleeves casually rolled, he carried an air of nonchalance that belied his youth. Though small in stature, his sharp gaze and poise made him seem older than his eleven years.
Casting a bored glance at the emotional goodbyes surrounding him, he shrugged off the scene dismissively and made his way into the train. Choosing a compartment at the far end, he set down his trunk, drew out a peculiar book inscribed with runes no ordinary soul could decipher, and lost himself in its pages.
New Encounters
Outside the train,Amelia Bonescrouched to level with her niece, her gaze soft but stern.
"Remember, Susan," she said, her voice carrying the weight of wisdom, "there are those who will seek your friendship for reasons that serve them, not you. Be discerning."
Susan Bones, red-haired and freckled, nodded dutifully but with the eagerness of youth. "Yes, Aunt Amelia. Now, can I go? Hannah is waiting!"
Amelia smiled and embraced her niece tightly before releasing her to the platform. Susan, accompanied by her best friendHannah Abbott, boarded the train in search of a place to sit.
After wandering through several compartments, they paused before a cabin occupied by the mysterious boy. He was engrossed in his book, seemingly oblivious to their presence.
"Excuse me," Susan said shyly, her cheeks flushing. "Would it be alright if we joined you? Everywhere else is full."
The boy looked up briefly, shrugged without a word, and returned to his reading.
Taking this as a yes, Susan and Hannah exchanged triumphant smiles before settling in. The two began chatting, their voices filling the space with a warm energy that the boy seemed content to ignore.
Moments later, the door slid open again. A brunette and a blonde entered, the latter carrying herself with a composed elegance.
"Hi," the brunette said brightly. "Mind if we join you? Everywhere else is packed."
Susan hesitated, glancing at Hannah, who shrugged. "Of course," Susan replied. "Come in."
"I'mTracy Davis," the brunette said with a grin. "And this is my friend,Daphne Greengrass."
"I'm Susan Bones," she replied, gesturing to Hannah. "And this is Hannah Abbott."
Pleasantries were exchanged, though Daphne offered little more than a cool nod. Her sharp eyes kept darting to the boy at the window. Tracy and Hannah filled the space with animated chatter while Susan and Daphne contributed occasional remarks. The boy, however, remained silent, his attention fixed on his book.
The four of them conversed for some time, with Tracy and Hannah doing most of the talking, while Susan contributed occasionally. Daphne, however, remained largely silent, her gaze fixed out the window at the vast expanse of trees and the distant Scottish mountains, though her attention would occasionally flicker toward the boy who was absorbed in his book.
After a while, they agreed to change into their dress robes, and called out to the boy. He closed his book with deliberate care and looked up, sensing a faint but unmistakable familiarity in the air. His expression faltered as his eyes met Daphne's—something in the depths of her gaze sent a ripple of recognition through him. For a moment, he was caught in a stupor. His mind raced to comprehend the connection, but when he snapped back to reality, he found himself meeting the curious stares of the others.
Susan:"You... seemed to freeze for a moment there."
Boy:"Apologies... I just... felt something familiar."He glanced briefly at Daphne, then turned back to face the others."What were you saying?"
Daphne gave him a cool, inscrutable look, but Tracy and Hannah exchanged knowing glances, intrigued.
Susan:"I'm Susan, by the way. Susan Bones."
Hannah:"Hannah Abbott. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Tracy:"Tracy Davis. Just call me Tracy—my full name isn't nearly as exciting."She rolled her eyes, a hint of playful annoyance in her tone.
Daphne:"Daphne Greengrass. Heiress to the Greengrass family."
The boy regarded them all with a certain distance, his voice tinged with the unmistakable accent of old pureblood families.
Boy:"Ladies, a pleasure. I'm Henry."
The girls were momentarily taken aback by the abruptness of his introduction.
Daphne:"Just 'Henry'? No last name?"Her voice was laced with a mixture of curiosity and condescension, her noble airs evident in her tone.
Susan:"That seems a bit curt, don't you think?"
Daphne raised an elegant eyebrow and flipped her hair dismissively, unimpressed.
Henry:"For now, it's only my first name. My last name will be revealed at the Sorting anyway."He turned toward Susan."But you were saying something, Miss Bones?"
Susan:"Susan will do. Um, if you're keeping your family name a secret, it must be important, right?"
Henry merely shrugged, his expression unreadable."It is, but I prefer to share it only with those I deem worthy."
Daphne smirked, her voice dripping with derision."Ah, so you're judging us, then?"
Henry:"Isn't that what everyone does? The same applies to all of you, I imagine."
Daphne narrowed her eyes, not quite believing him."How can you be so sure?"
Henry met her gaze with quiet confidence, his tone steady."You are Daphne Greengrass, heiress to one of the most ancient and esteemed houses of wizardkind. Your every action is measured, each glance a calculation of potential allies, wondering who might seek your favor for power. Beneath that frigid exterior, you wear the mask of a pureblood princess, hiding your true thoughts and feelings."
He turned his attention to Susan, his words piercing through the silence."Miss Bones, niece of the esteemed Amelia Bones, head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and heiress to Most Ancient and Noble House of Bones. You too are careful in your alliances, seeking those who will value you for who you are, rather than for your family's influence. But you do not hide behind a façade. You are simply searching for friends who will accept you for yourself."
Henry's gaze shifted to Hannah."Miss Abbott, though you are not an heiress, you are still heir presumptive to a Noble house. You wear a bright smile, masking your vulnerability, for you fear that beneath it, you will be seen as weak. And Miss Davis,"he said, turning to Tracy,"You are a half-blood, often judged, sometimes rejected for your blood status. You wear a mask of bravado, hiding the pain of exclusion with your cheerful demeanor."
His voice was icy, detached, but his words rang with a quiet truth that struck deep into each of them.
The girls were left speechless, each of them grappling with the intensity of his observations.
Tracy:"How... how did you know all of that? Are you some sort of seer?"
Hannah:"You're not... seeing the future, are you?"
daphne:"are you reading our minds?"
Susan:"That's not true..."Her voice was a little unsteady.
Henry:"I'm not a seer. I don't predict the future or read minds. It's all in your eyes."He shrugged, as though it were the simplest thing in the world.
Daphne's gaze faltered for just a moment, though she quickly masked it with a cool exterior."Maybe. But I still don't believe it,"she said, though her voice lacked conviction.
Henry:"It doesn't matter whether you believe it or not. It's your life, after all. Live it for your sake, not for anyone else's."
Daphne fell into a contemplative silence. Who was this boy? He had effortlessly pierced through the walls she had so carefully constructed, and it frustrated her. He was undeniably handsome, but that was hardly what troubled her. It was the sheer audacity of his words, the unsettling truth in them. To her surprise, Susan seemed equally shaken, her thoughts clearly preoccupied.
Tracy:"Actually, we wanted to ask you something before—"
Henry:"Yes?"
Susan flushed deeply, clearly embarrassed."We're almost at Hogwarts... we need to change into our robes."
Hannah and Tracy stifled their giggles, casting teasing looks at Susan. Meanwhile, Daphne remained lost in her thoughts, her mind tangled in a web of confusion and curiosity about Henry.
Henry:"Right. I should change as well. See you all at the Sorting."
He nodded curtly and left for the restroom, leaving behind a trail of uncertainty in his wake.
As the compartment door closed behind him, the conversation turned to one subject.
Hannah:"Who is this boy?"
Tracy:"I don't know... but there's definitely more to him than meets the eye."
Daphne, still absorbed in thought, hardly noticed the conversation around her. Her mind kept returning to Henry—the boy who had seen through her carefully crafted exterior, the boy who seemed to know more than he should. the same happened to the bones heiress.