Chapter 3: Hogwarts Express

AN: Callum won't be the part of "golden trio", in fact, he won't be part of any particular friend group as he is an adult and it is hard to make best friends with 11-year-olds. Although he will interact with the golden trio and may help them directly or indirectly. This story won't deviate much from canon initially. I never said I will do something completely unique and different and change the canon, Some events will be changed depending on how MC handles certain situations. I hate it when authors change facts written in the books to accommodate their story, like getting a wand of a different unique core from Ollivander other than the Phoenix feather, Unicorn hair, or Dragon heartstrings, when it's clearly written that all Ollivander wands are of these three cores. This is basically a story of how I will live a life in Harry Potter Universe if I get a chance.

So, please read a few more chapters before you make up your mind if you want to read or not. Thank you for your criticism.

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I was laying in bed after dinner still bursting with excitement over the events of the day.

'It felt so surreal to be in the Wizarding world and witness magic. I can't wait to try doing it myself but can't yet. I don't exactly know how the trace works, is it in the wand or my magic?', I briefly considered location like if magic is done near my vicinity they will consider me responsible, in fact, that's what happened when Dobby levitated the cake but blame went to Harry. But I rejected this theory as in Wizarding households people do magic all the time near underage wizards.

'Also in the fifth book, the order of the phoenix members were doing magic while secretly protecting Harry like apparition or even disillusionment charm, Tonks even packed Harry's luggage via magic. Nothing triggered the trace, so it's safe to say that magic done in the vicinity won't trigger the trace. Maybe House elf magic is special and Dobby linked his magic to Harry's after doing it, like stealing and then planting a false clue on someone else to shift the blame'.

'Ahh…, I don't know, it's not my job to make sense of every small plot hole JK Rowling left. I just know that I can't use magic yet.'

Bored, I started going through the books, they will at least help me understand magic a little more. I picked up Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling and started reading it. It was an interesting read on how magic and spells work, what role does incantation play, what role wand motions play, etc. But most importantly it comes down to will and intent, a fully-fledged wizard can do spells without any incantation of wand motion, some can do low-level spells without even the wand if they hone their will and intent, that can only be done with practice and it takes many years to master. It also mentions how magic goes on a growing period between the ages of 11 and 17 and matures fully at 17. That's why this age is the best time to learn magic. Before 11, the magic inside the body is very immature and out of control, trying to learn before 11 will only exert a wizard's Magical core and will be damaging instead of beneficial.

Days passed and September 1st began to approach. Having read so many novels and fanfics in my past life, I'm a fast reader, I had already read all of the books by the start of August already, and the urge to perform magic was becoming unbearable. I started meditation hoping it will somehow increase my magic and control over it. I'm not it works but it doesn't hurt to try.

Finally, it was the day, I woke up early and got ready with my luggage which I had already prepared three days ago. Mother made my favourite breakfast for everyone today for my farewell. At 10:00 AM I bid goodbyes to everyone and mother helped me to board the bus to Kings Cross Station.

"I will miss you, Callum, write letters as frequently as you can, I would have written to you every day if they gave me the address. Honestly, what's the point in hiding the school address? Now, are you sure don't want me to go with you and help you get on the train".

"Don't worry mother. I will be fine and I will miss you too. I will try to write as often as I can."

She hugged me goodbye will slight tears in the corner of her eyes and then I boarded the bus.

After reaching Kings Cross I brought out the ticket Professor McGonagall gave me while showing me the platform (AN: I forgot to mention this in the previous chapter, sorry).

I dumped my luggage onto a cart and wheeled it to platform 9 just as a tall teenager ran past me with his cart directly into the barrier between platforms 9 and 10. No one other than me seems to have noticed this phenomenon despite being such a crowded area.

I followed the teenager's footsteps and ran directly through the barrier to the other side. What awaited me was a truly magnificent site of Hogwarts express in all its scarlet glory waiting next to a platform packed with people.

I wheeled my trunk through the crowd to a carriage that looked like it hasn't been filled yet and loaded my trunk with some difficulty. I found an empty compartment and tucked my trunk in the corner of the compartment as there is no way I can lift it to the top of the rack and sat down wiping the sweat from my brow.

There was still half an hour till the train departs, I looked out the window trying to see if can recognize anyone from the appearances described in the books. I think I recognized the Malfoys standing two carriages away, blonde father and son and dark-haired mother, their expression cold and aloof as if they were looking down on everyone, which they are.

I couldn't recognize anyone else in the crowd till I saw a group with mops of red hair a few minutes before the departure.

'These must be the Weasleys', I thought as walked past my carriage. 'If they are here, then I think I missed Harry in this crowd. Oh well, I will see everyone at the sorting anyway.'

I was thinking that I was going to be the only one in this compartment, just then a couple of girls entered. One was Asian, other had reddish-blond hair.

"Is anyone else sitting here?", the Asian girl asked.

"No"

Then both brought out their wand and said, "Wingardium Leviosa", while pointing at their trunks, and it slowly levitated to the top of the rack.

"I wanted to do it since last year", reddish blonde-haired girl said excitedly. "Me too", replied the Asian girl with a grin.

"Um…, excuse me! Are we allowed to do magic now?", I asked a little timidly.

(AN: Please understand that if the MC is acting clueless, it doesn't mean he is actually clueless. He is trying to act like a muggleborn orphan wizard. This question above also acted as sort of an opener for small talk.)

"Yes, Decree of underage sorcery doesn't apply in Hogwarts express, it's also a part of Hogwarts. This is your first year, right?", Asian girl replied and asked.

"Yes, My name is Callum, which year are you in?"

"Nice to meet you, Callum, We are in the second year, I'm Cho and this is Marietta", she said as they sat down opposite me.

'I suspected as much, what are the chances I met a named character so soon', I thought as the girls began to talk amongst themselves.

As they were talking, the train began to move, I looked out the window as the platform began to flash past with people waving their hands in goodbye.

'Finally, now is the time', I thought as I pulled a box out from my inner jacket pocket. I opened the box and there was a wand lying on the cushion. I hadn't even tried to hold it since the first time in the shop because it was too much of a temptation to try magic.

As soon as I took hold of it, deep blue sparks came out of the end and a jolt went through my arm again. 'I thought it was just a first-time phenomenon, does this wand likes to shock me?'

I wasn't the only one shocked, it seems like Cho and Marietta were also surprised out of their conversation.

"Sorry, it happened on its own", I quickly apologized.

Cho recovered quickly, " No worries, we were just a little surprised. So, are you going to try magic?"

I nodded excitedly, " I don't know how it will go but I will try Lumos, I read that it's the easiest spell".

"Oh let's see it then, and yes Lumos is very easy and safe compared to charms like Levitation, most can do it in their first few tries." Cho said

I held the wand tightly and did the proper motion from the book and said, "Lumos".

The wand's tip glowed brightly in white light.

"That's amazing, you did it on the first try", Marietta exclaimed.

I smiled, this feeling of doing my first magic was stunning. I tried to concentrate to see if I can increase the magic output and make it glow more brightly. At first, nothing happened, then slowly it began to glow brighter and brighter. Then suddenly the light's colour changed from white to blue and it continued to glow brighter and brighter. I started feeling vibrations in my arm. Now it was becoming so bright you couldn't keep your eyes open.

"Say Nox quickly", Cho said in a slight panicky voice.

I said Nox quickly and the light was gone instantly I rubbed my eyes to remove bright spots dancing in front of my eyes. I opened my eyes and saw that the girls were still rubbing their eyes. I think they got the full blast of light as they had no warning. They finally opened their eyes but they were still slightly teary.

"Merlin's beard, you almost blinded us. I think you should not do any more magic without the supervision of a professor. You will get loads of opportunities to do magic in Hogwarts. It's safer for everyone." Marietta said and Cho nodded.

"I'm sorry again, I tried to make it a little brighter, but it got out of control", I apologized as I put the wand back in its box and into the pocket quickly.

I sat quietly watching houses flashing past me as both girls got into their conversation again.

'I have to work on controlling my magic, I have a long way to go but at least I feel I'm talented at magic getting such results when doing it the first. I would have been very disappointed if I didn't at least get a few sparks of light in the first few tries. I should ultimately aim to at least do small spells even without the wand, for that control is the key, which I will get with lots of practice', I was musing these things and what are my plans for the future when 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?"

I shook my head but Cho and Marietta each took a few candies. Seeing them eat, I also got a little hungry, so I took out my grilled cheese sandwich that Mother parcelled for me for lunch.

Seeing me eat the sandwich Cho must have felt awkward eating the candies, she offered me a chocolate frog but I declined politely. I actually like grilled cheese sandwiches. After lunch, I was getting bored so I took out the book, A guide to muggle-born wizards, it was the only one I hadn't read yet.

It mentioned a lot of things like important places, a brief history of magical Britain, prominent witches and wizards, Dumbledore and many others were mentioned here. Lastly about Dark Lord Voldemort and the war he waged upon the magical society and how it all came to an end by a little boy Harry Potter, who somehow vanquished the Dark Lord.

As I was in the middle of the reading, Marietta observed the cover of the book and asked, a little surprised, " Are you a muggle-born?"

"Yes, why is it surprising?"

"Just a little, We couldn't have guessed that from the way you did magic with perfect wand motion and you don't feel uncomfortable with all things magic, normally muggle-born wizards take time to get used to things in magical society", Cho explained.

"Yes exactly, one of our muggle-born friends was so surprised by chocolate frogs when he saw it the first time he fell off his chair, but you didn't even bat an eye", Marietta added.

I realized I was acting too normally and made some mistakes.

"Oh it's nothing, I just studied the books thoroughly that's all and I have already seen chocolate frogs in Diagon Alley, believe me, I was very surprised by everything I saw in Diagon Alley. That's why I'm reading this book, so I can get used to magical society quickly", I tried explaining.

"You already read the books huh, you are definitely going to be a Ravenclaw", Marietta said.

"Ravenclaw is a house right?", I asked.

"Yes, we are also in Ravenclaw, only the smartest people get sorted into Ravenclaw. You look pretty smart, you will fit right in".

"What about the other houses?", I asked.

Then they began to tell me all about the houses and what they represent. I noticed that when they talk about Slytherin, they didn't like the house much. It seems like no one likes the house of Slytherin.

I have thought briefly about possible houses I can get sorted in.

'It's either Ravenclaw or Slytherin, I'm not particularly brave nor do I want to make loads of friends, so Gryffindor and Hufflepuff are out of the question. I am somewhat cunning and as for ambition , I want to enjoy this life without regret, which I won't be able to do because I won't be satisfied till I reach the ranks of Dumbledore and Voldemort and possibly even surpass them, which in itself is a grand ambition. So Slytherin could be an option. As for Ravenclaw, as Marietta said I'm smart and I like to read things which interest me and magic is the most interesting thing for me'.

'Speaking of Sorting Hat, I have no way of stopping it from reading my mind and finding out that I'm from another world. I can only hope it just somehow read only my nature and character without delving too deep into the memories. Or even if it finds out that I'm from another world it keeps quiet about it. This is definitely a plot hole by JK Rowling, a talking Hat that can read Children's memories. It has to be under oath or something to divulge anything it sees in memories. Well, no point in worrying about it now'.

Time passed slowly and the sun had already set when the train began slowing down. I heard a lot of commotion from outside and saw students running up and down the corridor. It seems we are going to reach Hogsmeade soon. I took off my jacket and pulled on the long black robes. I didn't forget to transfer my wand into the pockets of my robe.

The train slowed right down and finally stopped. People pushed their way toward the door and out onto a tiny, dark platform. Then a lamp came bobbing over the heads of the students, and I heard a voice calling First years. I waved my hands to say goodbye to my fellow passengers and went towards the lamp and saw Hagrid greeting a dark-haired boy who I assumed to be Harry Potter.

I followed Hagrid to the lake with other first years and got my first looks at the majestic castle that perched atop a high mountain. It was a stunning sight to see, with a starry sky above it and its own reflection in the lake below.

We reached a fleet of boats and Hagrid's voice called out, " No more than four to a boat".

(AN: Sorry, I won't be doing Hagrid's accent as it won't always come out as uniform. Please imagine it, I know you all can.)

I scrambled into an empty boat shortly followed by a blonde boy and two more that looked too big to be in the first year. I instantly recognized Draco Malfoy and his two goons Crabbe and Goyle. I tensed a little but they were too excited to pay attention to me. It's not like I was afraid of them for being a muggle-born. They are in the end just little kids and nothing they say will affect me in any way. I just want to avoid the trouble of talking to them.

"Everyone in?" shouted Hagrid, from his own boat. "Right then— FORWARD!" And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over them as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood.

"Heads down!", I heard Hagrid as we approached the face of a tunnel covered with a curtain of ivy. We were carried along the dark tunnel underneath the castle until we reached a kind of underground harbor, where we clambered out onto rocks and pebbles.

Hagrid picked up a toad and asked a pudgy boy if that is his pet.

"Trevor", Neville shouted holding out his hands. Then we clambered up a passageway in the rock after Hagrid's lamp, coming out at last onto smooth, damp grass right in the shadow of the castle. We walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, oak front door.

"Everyone here? You there, still got your toad?", Hagrid said

Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.

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