Today's the day.
Harry woke up on the morning on September 1st with a manic smile he had to fight to control.
Today's the day!
He hurriedly took a shower and got dressed. He tried flattening his hair down ("A losing battle there," the mirror snorted at him) and wished briefly that he had thought to research how to make his hair grow faster before he laughed at himself.
I want my hair to be longer.
He focused on an image of how he pictured his hairstyle and pulled the warmth of his magic from his chest ("core" as one of the books has said) down to his hands.
"Much better my dear," the mirror crooned.
Harry ignored it to eye himself critically. His hair was exactly how he'd pictured it in his mind. It went down to the middle of his neck and instead of sticking up wildly, like it usually did, it laid in soft waves. His fringe was long enough to cover his entire forehead which conveniently hid some of his scars. He supposed there wasn't much to do about hiding the scar on the right side of his face, he'd already tried to remove it with magic before.
Harry's green eyes were shining an even brighter than usual behind his new glasses. They were expensive, but harry liked the way that the silver frames matched his green eyes.
He didn't normally care how he looked but today was the day. For once in his life he wanted everything to be perfect.
Harry chose a pair of his new jeans, a black tshirt that had a band logo for Queen on it (one of the bands Professor Snape swore his mum loved), and his red trainers. He knew that he had nicer and newer trainers and boots now, but he felt a little possessive of his red ones and thought they'd be the best to wear today.
Properly satisfied that he looked as good as he was going to, he inspected his room to make sure he packed everything. He had packed his trunk last night and had left out his satchel, which had a couple of his new books, journals, and one of his school robes in it.
He sighed happily as he pulled his bag over his shoulder and grabbed the handle of his trunk.
Today's the day.
***
When Harry came through the entrance to Platform 9 3/4 (Magic brick walls must be a thing for Wizards...) and saw the Hogwarts Express for the first time he gasped.
It was beautiful.
A huge scarlet colored train that proudly stated 'Hogwarts Express' in gold letters on the side. There must be at least a dozen carts attached to it for seating.
All around the train there were children running, students laughing, and parents fussing over them. Owls hooted to one another in a disgruntled sort of way over the babble and the scraping of heavy trunks.
The first few carriages were already packed with students, some hanging out of the window to talk to their families, some fighting over seats. Harry pushed his cart off down the platform in search of an empty seat.
He found one at the end of the train and discreetly pointed his wand, which felt bloody weird to use, at his trunk and whispered, "Wingardium leviosa."
He grinned to himself, pleased the now floating trunk was much easier to push into the baggage compartment.
He took a seat, in the corner of the compartment, and watched the families surreptitiously out the window.
He felt the same bitter longing now that he used to when he would watch families at the playgrounds. He wondered if his Dad would brag about him to the other parents or if his mum would tear up at the thought of him leaving.
Emotions get you killed.
Harry cleared his mind and turned away from the window. There was no use in wondering about what might have been. Thinking about the past and 'what if's' was just a way to make yourself weak and weakness was a vulnerability. Vulnerabilities get you killed.
After Harry heard frantic parents and siblings yelling their final goodbyes through the window, the compartment door slid open.
He raised his wand and leveled it towards the chest of a red headed boy who immediately paled beneath his freckles and raised his hands.
"Oi, I was just gonna see if I could sit here. The other compartments are full," the boy said. "But I can leave if you wanna be be alone," he added hastily.
Harry studied him for a moment. The boy had on black robes and dusty white trainers. His hair was a shocking shade of red, although orange was really a closer color match, and an insane amount of freckles. He was a good few inches taller than Harry, like most bloody people he thought bitterly, but held his arms out awkwardly as if he wasn't quite sure of himself yet.
"Yeah, go ahead." Harry jerked his head towards the seat opposite him, hoping the boy would get the hint not to sit next to him. He lowered his wand to his lap, although he didn't feel comfortable enough to put it away just yet.
"Thanks," the red-headed boy kept a wary eye on him but moved to the seat Harry had indicated.
"I'm Ron by the way."
Harry nodded at him, "Harry."
Ron eyed him carefully, he held his composure hoping he wouldn't ask for a surname, then nodded.
"Are you a first year?" Ron asked.
"Yep." Harry nodded. "Got my letter a couple months ago."
"Me too." Ron grinned. "'Course my brothers already told me all about what it would say but it was wicked finally getting it."
"Are your brothers wizards too?" Harry asked curiously.
The other boy nodded. "Yeah, my whole family is. I think my Mom has a second cousin or something that's a squib but they don't talk to us much."
"How many brothers do you have?" Harry always wished he'd had an older brother. He thought it would be nice to have someone to talk to and hang out with that would understand him. Dudley had been about a year older than him but he was the least brotherly person imaginable.
He had met a set of three boys at a food pantry once who were brothers and they all worked together to get food and sleep and supplies. He'd been jealous of the easy way they talked and joked with each other. The older one had kept a protective eye on the younger two and in turn Harry saw the younger ones watching the eldest with admiration.
He was glad he only ever saw them the one time; it was pointless wishing for things you could never have.
"I've got five brothers and one sister," Ron said, breaking through Harry's thoughts. "Bill's the oldest and he's already graduated and works for Gringotts as a curse breaker. Then Charlie, he's out of school too, except he dropped out, and he's a dragon tamer out in Romania. Next is Percy, he's a fifth year prefect for Gryffindor. Then there's the twins, Fred and George, they're in third year, both Gryffindor. Then me. Then my sister Ginny, she won't start Hogwarts until next year."
Harry's jaw nearly dropped. "There are seven of you?"
Ron nodded, looking embarrassed for some reason. "Yeah."
"That's brill!" Harry said. "I bet you guys do loads of stuff together! Wish I had six brothers and sisters!"
Ron perked up a bit when Harry said that but grinned ruefully and shook his head. "No way, it's a nightmare, mate. All my brothers have done something brilliant while they were students. Bill was Head Boy, Charlie was Quidditch Captain, Fred and George are really funny and have loads of friends. If I even want to be noticed as more than 'just another Weasley', I'll have to do something insane. Plus, you never get anything new, either, with five brothers. I've got Bill's old robes, Charlie's old wand, and Percy's old rat."
Harry was surprised Ron owned Charlie's wand. He seemed like a soft kid but clearly he'd misjudged him. Interesting.
Harry eyed Ron with a bit more respect and wariness. "What'd ya do to Charlie?"
Ron looked at him and scrunched his brows together. "What? What do you mean?"
"Well, Ollivander said ya won't get any good magic if ya use someone else's wand and then I read how a wand only lets ya really use it if you beat the owner in a duel, or kill 'em." He narrowed his eyes at Ron, "Ya didn't kill him, did ya?"
Harry had no moral dilemma against killing anyone, especially if it was in self-defense, but thought it would be a bit much to kill your brother just so you could have his wand. Especially if you could do magic without it.
Ron's blue eyes widened and he looked at Harry in shock. "I-I didn't- well- I- bloody hell- I didn't kill Charlie!" Ron sputtered. "He got a new wand when he graduated, cause his was worn out, and he gave me his old one!"
"Oh." Ron just got a little less interesting in Harry's opinion. "Sorry, just figured ya wouldn't wanna use it since it didn't pick ya, or whatever tosh that creepy old wand maker was tellin' me."
Ron looked a little surprised still but relaxed back in to his seat. "I mean you don't get as good results, I guess, but it'll still work. Lots of families like mine pass down wands if they can't aff- I mean, as a tradition."
Ron's ears pinked up, as if embarrassed about his family not having enough money for new wands for all of them. Harry figured maybe Professor Snape was right and that people in the wizarding world did care quite a bit about money.
Harry shrugged and told Ron casually, "This is the first time in my whole life I ever got to wear clothes that are just mine." He grinned a bit, "Shoulda seen me a couple days ago, wearin' clothes I found in a dumpster, wasn't I?"
Ron looked at him in surprise again, and was about to open his mouth to comment on that, when the train compartment slid open.
Harry had his wand aimed right at the new arrival's head before he realized who it was.
"Oh, hey." He grinned at Susan who was glaring at him.
"Harry Potter!" She put her hands on her hips while she glared. "What did I say about us being friends?"
Harry glanced in Ron, wondering if he knew what she was mad about. He groaned out loud when he saw that Ron just now realized that he was The Harry Potter.
He turned back to Susan quickly, hoping that Ron wouldn't turn out to be crazy about him like other people he met were, and shrugged. "Dunno. Did ya say we were friends?"
Susan rolled her eyes and sat down next to Ron.
"Yes," she said primly. "You and I are friends. And do friends point their wands at each other? No, they do not."
Harry felt a bit pleased at the thought that Susan wanted to be his friend. They hung out quite a bit over the last two weeks, but she didn't say they were friends until now. "Well I didn't bloody well know it was you, did I?"
Susan rolled her eyes again and turned to Ron. "Hello, I'm Susan Bones." She stuck her hand out to him, just like she did to Harry in the library when they met.
"Ron Weasley."
They shook hands and both turned back to facing Harry.
"Have you shown Ron all the stuff you can do?"
Harry shook his head but internally preened a bit. Susan sounded like she was bragging about him already, which was a nice feeling to have.
Before he could even answer the compartment door opened… AGAIN.
Susan giggled as Harry pointed his wand at the newcomer, a girl with bushy hair pulling along a boy Harry met at the Quidditch Supplies store in Diagnon last week.
"Urgh." Harry groaned out loud. "Why are there so many bloody people openin' this door?"
Ron and Susan both laughed out loud at his dismay while the girl who Harry still had his wand pointed at looked indignant.
"Well," she huffed, "I was going to ask you if you've seen a toad on the train, but clearly you don't care about helping your fellow students." She narrowed her eyes at him, "And I'd appreciate it if you would lower your wand."
Harry ignored her, keeping his wand pointed at her, and looked at the boy beside her. "Nellie, right?"
The round-faced boy shook his head. "Neville," he whispered.
Close enough.
The girl puffed up a bit at being ignored. "Well if you haven't seen Neville's toad then we'll just be going."
She spun around to walk off when Susan spoke up.
"I bet Harry can summon it."
Neville looked at Harry with hope written all over his face. "C-could you? M-my gran will b-be mad if I lose him."
The girl in the doorway started talking again, in a brisk tone, "Of course he can't, we aren't allowed to do magic outside of Hogwarts."
"We aren't allowed to use our wands outside of Hogwarts," Susan corrected her, winking at Harry.
Ron looked from Susan to Harry and gaped. "Can you do magic without your wand?"
Harry shrugged, not enjoying the feeling of all the students in the compartment looking at him in shock. "Some stuff," he mumbled avoiding their eyes.
He lowered his wand from the girls face, pocketed it, and focused on his magic.
I want to find Nevilles toad. I want the toad to come to me.
Harry remembered how a book said that a lot of magic was based on intent and visualization so he focused hard on how a toad would look and feel in his hand.
"Might wanna move," he smirked at the girl.
"Wha—" the girls question was cut off as a toad came zooming past her to Harry's outstretched hand.
"Bloody Hell," Ron whispered reverently.
Susan clapped enthusiastically while Harry handed Neville his toad, who whispered a quiet thanks, and the other girl stared at him with her mouth wide open.
"That's amazing," she said. "I'm Hermione Granger. This is my first year at Hogwarts."
Harry swore then and there that he would never call her 'Hermione'. For one, she'd been rude. For two, it was a bloody mouthful.
Ron and Susan introduced themselves while Harry just nodded and tacked on "Harry" after they were done.
Neville and Hermione were standing in the doorway still, awkwardly, and Harry sighed. "D'ya wanna sit?"
They both quickly scrambled to sit, as if worried Harry would take it back after he offered.
Hermione sat next to Susan while Neville sat on Harry's side, but the opposite end of the bench.
Hermione leant forwards towards Harry and clasped her hands together eagerly. "You must be very powerful. I read that wandless magic is incredibly difficult!"
Harry cringed. He'd liked when Susan sounded like she was proud of him and bragging a bit, but Hermione sounded more like all those strangers on the street who wanted to shake his hand and worship him.
"Harry," Susan said slowly. "Why are you threatening everyone with your wand? I thought you said that spells were easier for you without it? I'm all for you defending yourself, obviously, but wouldn't you rather do it the way you're better at?"
"Dunno, habit I guess." Harry shrugged, trying to sound casual and clenching his fists to keep them from shaking.
Harry knew exactly why he was pulling his wand; it was pure instinct. He stored his wand, and held it, just like he did his pocket knife on the streets.
After a year or so of being defenseless, he finally got the knife from a crazed old drunk on in London.
The fact he only got the knife from the old man because he had stuck it in his leg wasn't important. What mattered was that it saved him from being attacked more than a couple times.
He couldn't always stay calm enough to call on his magic, but most people, or at least most kids, left him alone pretty fast after he got out his knife. Adults never cared if he had a knife or not, but he tried not to think of those incidents.
Susan didn't look like she bought his lie, so he quickly changed the subject.
"D'ya have any siblings that are witches or wizards?" Harry asked Hermione, "I don't have any at all, and Susan don't either, but Ron's got five brothers that are wizards and one witch sister. Isn't that bloody brill?"
Ron shot him a grin, clearly pleased that Harry was so impressed by his large family.
Hermione sat back in her seat and shook her head. "I'm an only child," she explained. "And my family isn't magical at all. My parents were shocked, but ever so pleased, when Professor McGonagall came and explained it all to me."
Harry was surprised that Professor Snape didn't go see her since he was the one that came after him both times to deliver his letter.
Neville quietly said he didn't have any siblings either, although he looked a bit sad about it. Harry thought maybe Neville would have liked some brothers too, so he gave him a small smile of understanding.
"What do your families do for jobs?" Hermione asked the other students. "I think there's so many amazing careers! I can't wait to research more about them."
Ron was explaining what all his brothers and his dad do for work. Apparently his dad was in charge of Muggle items that have been tampered with by magic. Harry thought that sounded pretty cool, and told him so.
Susan was explaining what her aunt does at the DMLE when the door slid open again.
Harry jumped to his feet this time and bit out a growled, "God damnit," and pointed his wand at the next intruder.
Next time I'm locking the bloody door after I get on, Harry thought angrily.
Ron and Susan clutched on to each other, their different shades of red hair clashing together, laughing their heads off. Hermione looked scandalized; whether at his language or him pointing his wand at another student, he didn't know. And Neville just talked softly to his toad, seemingly not worried about the commotion. Harry liked that about Neville quite a bit. Calm during a commotion, that's a good trait to have.
Harry glared fiercely at the person standing in front of him, recognizing him from Diagon Alley, but struggling to remember his name.
"Oh," he said, lowering his wand and sitting back down. "Malfoy, Draco Malfoy," Harry drawled, imitating Dracos tone from when he introduced himself.
Draco looked dazed for a moment, before expertly wiping the look off his face and appearing to be almost bored.
"Potter," he said, extending his hand to Harry, who shook it quickly before letting go. "I saw a toad flying down the train and somehow I guessed you were involved."
"Harry summoned it, wandlessly!" Hermione gushed.
"Of course he did," Draco scoffed. "He's one of the most powerful wizards in the world."
Harry made the mistake of making eye contact with Susan when Draco said that. Susans lips twitched a bit at Dracos compliment, and she winked at Harry again, which sent Harry in to a laughing fit.
Draco rolled his eyes and politely asked Neville if he could sit next to him.
"I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy," Draco said to the rest of the compartment.
They each introduced themselves again, except for Harry since Draco clearly already knew him.
Draco grimaced slightly when he shook hands with Hermione but Harry figured it was probably because the girl was still looking around the room in wide eyed wonder.
Ron didn't even try and shake his hand, he just nodded at Draco coldly when he said his name. Maybe they already knew each other?
Hermione turned to Neville. "Your turn Neville," she said brightly, bringing the conversation back to its previous topic. "What do your parents do for work?"
Harry saw that Susan winced a bit at Hermiones question and worried that Nevilles parents were dead too, like his and hers were.
"Ya don't gotta answer Nev," Harry said, hoping the question wasn't going to upset the boy.
"I-it's fine," Neville said softly. "Th-they were aurors b-b-but they d-don't work anywhere now."
"Blimey," Harry moaned. "Are all of ya related to the bloody police?"
Hermione looked confused, and Susan giggled, but Ron muttered darkly, "Not Malfoy."
Harry turned to Draco, "What 'bout you then, huh? Is your mum or dad a cop?"
"Er- what's a cop?" Draco asked, bewildered.
"Muggle Aurors," Susan replied.
"Oh," Draco shifted a bit, glancing around uncomfortably. "Er- no, Potter. My parents are not aurors."
Harry nodded at him in approval. "Good to know, they got their priorities right, don't they?"
Ron made a choking sound, and looked a bit pale, while Susan nearly fell on Hermiones lap she was laughing so hard. Hermione looked as confused as Harry was, but Nevilles lips twitched in amusement.
"What's so bloody funny?" Harry asked Susan sharply.
She shook her head at him and shot a sideways look at Draco, who had gone rather still and was avoiding eye contact with Harry.
"Nothing," she said. "Just funny how much you hate police officers and aurors."
Harry was pretty sure she was lying, but he let it pass since she let his lie pass earlier.
Draco let out a relieved sigh and quickly, clearly hoping to change the subject, asked Susan, "And idea what house you'll be sorted in to Susan?"
She shook her head, her dark red hair swinging as she did. "Nope," she said brightly. "Auntie Amelia was in Hufflepuff though so I'd be pleased with that. Although, I'm sure Harry's going to Ravenclaw, so I think that would be fun as well."
Hermione lit up. "Harry, do you think you're going to Ravenclaw?"
Before he could answer her, Ron scoffed. "Course he isn't, Harry's going to be in Gryffindor."
Harry turned to Draco and Neville, "What are they talkin' 'bout?"
Draco looked appalled. "You don't know the Hogwarts houses?"
Harry just shrugged. "I keep hearin' 'bout 'em, but I dunno what any of it means."
Hermione bounced in her seat a bit. "Well there's four houses you can be in at Hogwarts. You get put in a house based on your personality. It's so you can spend time with witches and wizards who value the same things you do. I read all about it in Hogwarts a History."
"So I'm gonna be with a bunch of kids who are like me?" Harry asked, not really understanding.
Draco sighed from beside him. "Sort of," he said. "Basically there's four houses and each house has its own sleeping area and common room. Each house has different ideas and traits it values. For example there's Hufflepuff—"
"Where they value hard work and fair play," Susan interrupted.
Draco glanced at her and nodded, "Yes, then there's Ravenclaw—"
"Where they value knowledge and wit," Susan interrupted again, smiling brightly at Draco.
Draco sighed, clearly not enjoying the interruptions, and continued, "Plus there's Gryffindor—" he glanced at Susan but this time it was Ron who spoke up.
"Where everyone's brave and courageous," Ron said, puffing out his chest a bit.
Draco rolled his eyes at him. "Then there's Slytherin, the best house, which values ambition, cunningness, and resourcefulness."
Ron snorted and all of them looked at him. "Oh come of it, everyone says Slytherin is evil. That's where You-Know-Who was."
Harry was glad that Neville spoke up just then because it looked like Draco was gearing up to fight with Ron and Harry wasn't sure whose side he would take.
"Merlin was a Slytherin," Neville whispered, blushing furiously as they all looked at him.
"Really?" Hermiones eyes were bright. "Merlin was in Slytherin? Well that makes sense of course, after all he must have been very ambitious to become one of the most famous wizards in the world."
Draco, who hadn't seemed very fond of Hermione when she first introduced herself, gave her a smug look. "You're right, Granger. People think it's bad to be a Slytherin but I think it just means you want to be great. Which house would you prefer?"
"I think I would do best in Ravenclaw," she said seriously. "I enjoy learning quite a bit. Although I suppose Gryffindor would be pleasant as well."
Ron nodded, "I'm probably going to go to Gryffindor."
Harry looked at him curiously, "Why do you think that?"
Ron scratched his nose then shrugged while Draco sniggered quietly. "All my family was in Gryffindor. I'm sure it's in our blood."
Harry looked at him nonplussed and cocked his head to the side. "But I thought they said that it's based on the personality not blood, ain't it?"
The tips of Ron's ears turned pink again. "What, do you think I'm not brave?" he said, sounding a bit indignant.
Harry quickly shook his head, hoping he didn't make him too angry. "No, I dunno if your brave or not. 'M sayin' ain't you pretty ambitious? Wantin' to be better than all your brothers?"
Harry wasn't sure why Draco and Ron both looked so horrified, but Harry and Neville laughed at it.
"Well you might be a Hufflepuff Harry," Hermione said suddenly. "You must be a very hard worker to be able to do wandless magic."
Susan shook her head. "You should have seen him in the library, he's a Ravenclaw for sure."
"But he defeated You-Know-Who!" Ron stated. "That means he's really brave!"
Neville responded, "Or he's very cunning."
Draco nodded eagerly. "Yeah, Harry, you could be in Slytherin!"
Harry, who felt rather itchy at all of them studying him, as if they were trying to divine what house he'll go to, shrugged.
"I think they're all brill," Harry said honestly. "I don't care where I go."
Privately though, he thought it would be nice to be with Susan, since she had declared herself to be his friend.
They changed topics to discuss their future classes. Neville, Susan, and Draco debated on which courses would be most useful for different careers while Hermione listened eagerly and Ron put his opinion in occasionally.
Harry scooted closer to the wall, and further from Draco, and watched the countryside go by.
Around half past twelve there was a great clattering outside in the corridor and a smiling, dimpled woman slid back their door and said, "Anything off the cart, dears?"
The smile quickly slid off her face as Harry had his wand pointed across Draco at her.
"Why I never!" she gasped. "You, young man, have appalling manners!"
Ron, Draco, Susan, and Neville all started roaring with laughter. Draco even had tears of mirth pooling in his eyes and the witch glared at them and slammed the door.
"Harry!" Hermione hissed. "You can't keep threatening everyone who opens the door!"
Harry shrugged, pocketing his wand. "Can too."
Neville laughed even harder at that and clutched on to Draco.
Harry felt rather irritated, and hot around the collar, at them all laughing at him. He glared at them and told them coldly to cut it out.
Draco sat up, wiping the tears off his face, and took a few breaths to compose himself.
"Merlin," he said, "apologies, Potter. It's just," he chuckled again, "she just told Harry Potter that he has bad manners."
Oh.
Hermione started giggling now too, apparently the laughter of the other four was contagious.
Harry rolled his eyes and tried not to give in but eventually, when he pictured how the trolley lady would react if she knew who she had just refused to sell candy to, he started laughing along with the rest of them.
***
Eventually it began getting dark outside. The scenery had turned more into mountains with dark skies; rather than the blue skies fields it started at.
The girls temporarily left the compartment to go get changed while the boys pulled their robes on.
When the train slowed down a voice echoed through the train: "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."
Harry stomach was fluttering with nerves, and the rest of his classmates sitting with him looked like a mixture of nervousness and excitement when the train finally stopped and they all walked together to the exit.
Today's the day.