Boating

An awkward and quiet journey later and the train had finally arrived at its destination, a place called Hogsmeade. Hermione, despite panicking for most of the rest of the journey sticks closely to him while all the other students do their best to stay away, Nanthisk's occasionally glares and hisses trumped his own dead-eyed stares for the moment, unfortunately...

A large bearded man who was only beaten in height by Kali's cousin Trorgonnos begins guiding them towards the large castle in the distance, though, he occasionally sends a 'stealthy' inquisitive stare at Harry over his shoulder, whipping his head forwards whenever Harry locked eyes with him. The action was incredibly obvious, enough so that even the children around the man noticed...

"Ooooo..." Hermione quietly gapes in wide-eyed fascination at the castle, almost stumbling over herself or a crack in the ground with how intent her focus is. "Have you ever seen anything like this? It's something straight out of a fantasy book! And we're going to study there!"

Personally, the Lich's Ice Palace was larger and more impressive to Harry, but each to their own. It wasn't like he could show it to her anymore with how it collapsed... Along his stolen gold...

"A'right, this way to 'tha boats, come on then!" the big man announces as he leads the many First Years, "Five to each boat, and no thrashin' don't wanna attend 'tha ceremony soaked through do'yeah?"

They all nod and Harry with his hanger-on steps onto one, many people avoid it due to Nanthisk but a couple musters their courage and sit with them, not wanting to sit in a boat on their own.

A boy with short brown hair and a set of identical twin sisters who appeared to have Indian ancestry. Terry Boot, Padma and Parvati Patil introduced themselves, the former trying to keep his eyes from Nanthisk while the girls seem strangely comfortable with it.

"Nice pair of twins don't you think, Master?" Kali telepathically asks, which he elects to ignore.

"What's your name?" Padma, or was it Parvati asks them.

Hermione's eyes widen at that, realising she hadn't actually gotten Harry's name yet...

"Harry."

"Harry? You mean like-" Terry Boot starts in surprise.

"Like Harry Potter? I'd hope so, that is my name." he drawls, inwardly snickering at the group's reactions. Particularly Hermione who seemed stunned that she'd spent hours upon hours alone with a 'hero'.

"Maybe she's imaging you rescuing her from a tower?" Kali remarks.

"So then, the books... Are any true?" Terry timidly asks.

"Depends, which ones are you talking about?"

"Err, like, you saving a princess?"

"Does the daughter of a tribe leader count?"

"I think so?" Padma wonders aloud, "A kingdom is just a big tribe isn't it?"

"Then-, slaying a dragon?"

"You killed fleshless ones..." Nanthisk adds with a hiss.

"That wasn't really me though, was it? I was just suped-up on the Lich's magic-juice." Harry replies to the snake, only to look up and see the awed stare of the sisters.

"You're a Parselmouth?" Parvati asks in surprise.

"I assume that means snake-speaker? That's what the blonde asshole on the train called me." he shrugs, ignoring Hermione's outrage at his language.

"It's dark... Only Dark Lords can speak with snakes..." Terry Boot states.

"And yet you'd announce my status while trapped with me on a boat..." Harry sends him a pointed look.

"Only the British and other European countries think it's dark... Back in India it's a treasured talent that helps save hundreds of people every day... Not only is it perfect for curing venom and poison, it also enhances most other known healing spells." Padma explains.

"Then You-Know-Who should've been a ruddy healer then." Terry grumbles while still minutely scootching himself away from Harry.

"You-Know-Who? You mean Voldemort right?" Harry inquires.

"Yes! But it's not polite to use his name like that!" he looks around conspiratorially, "Who knows who'll hear you!"

"I killed him didn't I? I can call the guy whatever I want." he retorts, waving off Terry's concern. "It's not like he can do anything about it, anyway." he adds, remembering Grindelwald's certainty of the Dark Lord's survival.

"So... What house do you want to end up in?" Parvati asks.

"Anything but Slytherin, a Half-Blood like me wouldn't survive a day there." Terry states.

"Half-Blood?" Hermione questions.

He crooks a brow at her, "You know? If your parents are magic or not? To be Pure-Blood you need two magical parents, sometimes all magical grandparents too depending on who you're talking to."

"And? Does it mean anything?" Hermione presses, worried and curious.

"Not to me, but my mum said you'd find it hard finding work as a Muggle-Born, good grades or not. Mum gave up trying to become a jewellery enchanter after getting rejected for years..." he explains thoughtfully before turning back to the now catatonic-looking Hermione.

"What kind of fantasy is this? Racism, really?" Harry could hear her muttering under her breath.

"Comfort her, Master. You're not Pure either, not in blood or soul..." Kali mentally says to him.

He lets out a sigh and nods, "Don't worry Hermione, I'm Half-Blood but they all seem to treat me as Pure-Blood in their books, shows that enough achievements will force them to acknowledge you." he says while giving a few restrained pats to her shoulder.

"He's right, plus, if Britain won't have a talented witch then most other countries will take you. There's a reason why most Muggle-Borns don't stay after graduating Hogwarts." Padma adds with a reassuring smile.

The bookworm gives a small sniffle and nods, "Y-you're right... I just need to show that I deserve to be here like everyone else..."

"That's the spirit!"