Chapter 6: Hogwarts express

Harry checked that his trunk was still in his pocket before moving to the pillar that Professor Flitwick had made certain to point out to him a week prior. Glancing round to make sure that no-one was paying any attention to him, he made as if to lean against the pillar and instead, stepped straight through.

The platform beyond the magical portal was rather empty, which didn't surprise Harry as there was over an hour to go before the train departed. Checking that his blond wig covered his hair (and the fringe shielded both his scar and eyes from casual glances), Harry made his way confidently across the platform to where several men were doing something to the train engine which involved some wand waving. As he made his way to them, he glanced up at the sign hanging over the platform, one that had the number of the platform in a white circle while the legend Hogwarts Express was just below, painted in gold against a red background.

"Is this platform only used for Hogwarts?" He asked as one of the men glanced at him and the engineer chuckled.

"Nay, lad. Are you muggleborn?"

"Muggle-raised." Harry said with a slight shrug. "I'm a half-blood. Dad was a pure-blood, but he died when I was young."

"Ah, well then. You've seen those signs in the muggle part of the station that change? Well, the words on that one do as well. The spells cast on that sign means that it's easy for the station-master to change what it says."

"Ah, that makes a lot more sense." Harry said. "Thank you for telling me."

"No worries." the chap grinned. "If you want to board, you can, but keep out of the first and last carriages. The first is reserved for the Prefects and Head Boy and Girl while the last one holds the Hogwarts supplies and other stuff."

Harry gave the distant carriage a long look, prompting another laugh.

"It's bigger on the inside, lad. Takes quite a bit of magic to do, but you'll probably learn in your sixth or seventh year."

"Thanks again." Harry smiled and the engineer nodded before turning back to his job. Making his way to the third carriage, he stepped into it, then paused at the sight of the corridor stretching twice as far as the carriage was long.

"Bigger on the inside, just like my trunk." He muttered to himself as he passed the first door, which was ajar to show that it was a bathroom. Moving along, he chose a random compartment and stepped into it, pulling his trunk out of his pocket and expanding it. Placing it on the floor, he used the key to open the Bookcase and stepped back as the shelves rose out of the trunk and unfolded, displaying his collected books.

"Let's see." He mused as he ran a finger along the spines. "I've already read the first-year school books, so something to pass the time… something sci-fi perhaps… Aha! Insurrection by David Weber and Steve White… Looks interesting."

Pulling the book out, he tapped the gem at the top of the shelving unit, causing it to fold up and sink back down, tugging the lid closed. Another tap shrunk the trunk again and he returned it to his pocket before sitting down and opening the book, raising an eyebrow at the opening quote.

"Politics is the womb in which war is developed… okay, this looks like a good novel already."

Leaning back, he began to read.

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"Excuse me, but do you mind if I sit here?"

Harry looked up at the nervous voice and smiled as reassuringly as he could at the brown-haired girl.

"I don't mind at all. I'm Harry."

The girl gave him a long look, then smiled, showing teeth very slightly too large for a perfect smile. "Hermione. Hermione Granger. Muggleborn. You share the same name as the Harry Potter, the Boy-who-lived… but his hair is black. As I was boarding, I heard someone say that Harry Potter was starting Hogwarts this year and that it would be a political advantage to befriend him and…"

Laughing, Harry held up a hand to stop her. "I know about the name and yes, Potter is quite famous."

"He's mentioned in Modern Magical History, The Rise And Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events Of The Twentieth Century."

"I've read those." Harry admitted. "They each say different things happened on that night, but where did they get their information from?"

Hermione opened her mouth, then paused.

"Only four people were there when it happened and three are deceased." Harry continued. "And I'm pretty sure that since he was only a year old at the time, Potter wouldn't have been able to give much of an explanation."

Hermione looked blank for a moment, then she stumbled forwards, dropping her trunk.

"Move it!" Sneered the blond who had shoved her. "Get your stuff out of the corridor so that your betters can get past. Come on Goyle, Crabbe. Let's find Potter, keep an eye out for anyone with black hair."

Hermione glared at the blond as he stalked off, but Harry caught the pain in her expression.

"Sit down." He said gently, guiding her to the bench opposite him. "Anything you want out of the trunk before I put it on the rack?"

"I… it's rather heavy." Hermione said quietly. "It's why Dad put wheels on it for me… how?"

Harry smiled at her as he put the trunk down in front of her. "We've got a journey of several hours ahead of us… I hope you packed lunch."

"Dad had trouble just lifting that down from the boot, and you just… how?" Hermione asked in shock.

"I'm a bit stronger than I look." Harry chuckled. "So, did you want anything from there?"

"Well, I was thinking to re-reading my year one spell-book." Hermione admitted as she opened up the trunk and rummaged carefully through it. "I think it's… aha! Here it is!"

Harry let her close the trunk before picking it up and stowing it, ignoring how her eyes widened.

"…how?" She finally asked. "Are you part-giant or something?"

Harry smiled at her. "Let's just say… something. I'm unique."

Hermione stared at him as he picked his book up and settled down to continue reading.

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The piercing sound of the whistle jerked Harry out of the Heartworld/Fringer political infighting of the Terran Federation and its slide towards outright war. Refocusing on reality, he glanced out of the window.

"Huh, eleven o'clock already?" He asked rhetorically as Hermione looked up from her own book. A moment later, the carriage jolted as the steam engine began to pull the train out of the station. "Well, in about six hours, we'll be at Hogwarts. You looking forwards to it?"

Hermione nodded eagerly and Harry frowned thoughtfully.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but have you studied wizarding customs yet?"

Hermione looked at him blankly and Harry sighed as he stood up, reaching for her trunk.

"Trust me and put your book away for now."

Hermione returned to book to her trunk and watched as Harry put it back and then brought his own trunk down. Her jaw dropped as the bookshelves rose and unfolded.

"Wha… Oh my! So many books!"

"I have a system." Harry said. "Left, fiction, mainly sci-fi and fantasy. Middle, anything related to school and right, other important books. Now… ah, here we are. Read this."

Hermione accepted the thin book he gave her and peered at it curiously while Harry closed his trunk.

"A Brief Guide To Wizarding Customs by Theophilus Chivalrius?"

"Professor Flitwick recommended it to me." Harry explained, gaining a near-worshipful look. "There are quite a few nasty potholes that, unless you know about them in advance, will effectively destroy any hope you may have of getting a good career after Hogwarts. This book will help you avoid most of them."

"Thank you." Hermione replied as she opened the book and Harry picked up his novel once again. As he did so, a trio of red-heads hustled past, dragging their trunks and glancing into the compartments as they passed. The youngest of the three looked at Hermione, who was intent on her book, shuddered and moved on.

"Odd." Harry mused.

"Hey, did you know that refusing to shake someone's hand if they offer it at their first meeting is a sign that you hold them in extreme contempt?" Hermione asked without looking up.

"I should." Harry chuckled. "That is my book."

Hermione blushed, but continued to avidly devour the book's information.

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"…and my parents were quite relieved when they found out that there was a reason for all the odd things that had been happening." Hermione said as they finished tidying up the wrappers and boxes of their respective packed lunches. "When Professor McGonogall explained that at Hogwarts I'd learn to control my magic, they were very relieved."

"My relatives don't like magic at all." Harry shrugged. "They hated having me around, so me leaving for Hogwarts? They're probably still celebrating."

"Oh, I'm so sorry…" Hermione offered and Harry shook his head.

"It's fine, I didn't like them either and by Christmas, I'll have a new place to stay."

Hermione obviously didn't know how to respond to that, so Harry changed the subject. "Which of the four Houses do you want to be in? I think you'd be an obvious Ravenclaw…"

"I want to be in Gryffindor." Hermione chirped happily. "Headmaster Dumbledore was a Gryffindor and as soon as I read about him, I knew I wanted to follow him. He's not only the Headmaster of Hogwarts, he's also the Chief Warlock and the Supreme Mugwump!"

"I wonder how he finds the time." Harry mused, causing Hermione to almost lock up as she realized she hadn't considered that aspect of Dumbledore's career before. Before she could gather herself, the door slammed open and the blond boy who had barged past Hermione at the start of their journey stood scowling in the doorway.

"Have you seen Potter?" He demanded and Harry tilted his head slightly.

"Sorry, apart from the sweets lady and the people I've seen scurry past, I've only seen Hermione here. Until you arrived, that is."

The blonde snarled and slammed the door closed, stalking off and Hermione blinked.

"You know, you never told me your full name."

Harry moved to the door and opened it slightly, peering out to check that no-one was coming, then he pulled his wig off, causing Hermione's jaw to drop.

"Harry James Potter, at your service." He laughed, then he donned the wig once more. "And before you accuse me of lying, I never actually said I wasn't him."

Hermione blinked several times as she ran their interactions through her head, then nodded unwillingly. "But, why the disguise?"

"Because I wanted to see if I could make a friend who would see me as me, not as the Boy-who-lost-his-parents." Harry replied.

"That… makes sense." Hermione allowed. "Are you going for Gryffindor as well?"

"I'll probably try for Ravenclaw." Harry shrugged. "Sure, both my parents were in Gryffindor, but from what I've read, everyone expects me to follow them and I don't like being pressured into doing things."

"…oh." Hermione whispered. "So…"

Harry sighed. "Look, why not make a deal. Whichever one of us who goes first chooses the House they prefer and the other one joins them. That okay?"

Hermione nodded. "Deal. Now, what's that book you're reading? Is it a magical thing?"

"Muggle science fiction." Harry said with a wry smile. "I like to stretch my mind where possible."

"Really? Have you come across the Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey?" Hermione asked. "My dad gave it to me to read when I was eight and I really enjoyed it!"

"I don't think I've heard of that series." Harry mused. "what's it about?"

"Well it's about a colony world that's virtually abandoned technology but that uses teleporting dragons to fight off a space-fungus that threatens to eat everything and everyone on the planet…" Hermione started and Harry settled back on his bench, letting her words wash over him as she explained the basics of the series.

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