Ch. 14 Family and a train

It was exciting to finally get my own wand, the thing that'll follow me on my path as a wizard. The tool with which I will create magic better and better magic.

I spent the next month and half plowing through my school books. Every charm, jinx, and curse I could learn, I would master with the wand and then train it wandlessly. It feels great to make progress in something obviously magical. That's the main reason I got into potions and Herbology so much, it was different, fantasy like and I could learn it. Aunt Amelia did kinda get mad at me for doing some spell in the house, so I had to set up some dummies outside and practice on those.

Aside from the school stuff, I've been learning some neat party tricks like changing hair colors, making some controllable firecrackers and a few little pranks here and there. Susan really liked when I made a bunch of paper airplanes fly and dogfight in the backyard. She also like when i put on a little puppet show with Tilly, each of us animating a puppet, but she was way better than me at this. It does help me work on my control though so I wasn't embarrassed to kill two birds with one stone. as much as I want to grow stronger and learn more about magic, I really care about this little family of mine.

Aunt Amelia actually started taking us out during the weekends of my last two weeks home. Although she is a pure-blooded witch, she was a very good friend of my mom when they were younger and she was shown how the muggle world actually worked through her. That's why she actually brought the both of us to the muggle side of things like an amusement park, which Susan was both in love with and horrified of.

It was a fun couple of weeks.

September 1st, 1988.

"Alright Aedan, time to go! The car is here!" I hear aunt Amelia yell from downstairs.

I've got my trunk in necklace form, Artemis in her cage, wand and knife on each arm and my glasses on. Everything is packed and I'm heading downstairs.

"You could've just had Tilly bring me there on the knight bus aunt Amelia, I know how busy you are." I said as I got downstairs.

"Don't say such things. My nephew is heading off to Hogwarts, I can make time for that every year." She declared in a huff.

"Do you have to go? I really don't want you to?" Said Susan with teary eyes.

"Yeah. I'm gonna miss you lots Susan, but this is something every witch and wizard has to do. And in three years you'll join me over there too." I said gently as I bent down to her level.

"Then you have to write lots!" She declared.

"I promise." I promised while ruffling her hair a little.

"Alright, let's go kids." Cut in Amelia while pushing us out the door.

We got into one of the ministry's enhanced cars, which was a black 1960 Bentley S2, classic British car, with tinted windows, expanded and refurbished interior. Perfect for any ministry official to get around the muggle side in.

Susan sat right next to me and Amelia went near the driver to tell him he could take off. My little cousin/sister is really cute as her brown hair swings around with her head when she tries to look at everything around us. My aunt and I just watch her with a smile as she does so.

We arrived at Kings Cross station an hour in advance. We get out, I grab Artemis and head in with my family.

On our way to the platform I see a bunch of witches and wizards hurrying about in odd clothing and robes, running along with trunks, a variety of uncommon pets, and while screaming to hurry along or complaining about muggles. It really makes me marvel at how the Statute of Secrecy hasn't been broken yet and how far muggles will go to logically deny the possibility of the fantastic. Both sides have their own faults on this point.

We got to the wall between platforms 9 and 10, I take a look at aunt Amelia, she nods and I walk through with steady steps. As I was about to hit the wall, I felt like I was passing through a kind lightly resistant jelly, and a second later I was through. I took some steps away from the door and was welcomed by a sight more interesting than the movie.

I saw a horde of frantic men and women all over the place, with yelling, hugs and kisses happening everywhere. Pets were complaining, kids and teens were getting together and catching up. I saw a bunch of papers flying around the platform and then spotted the iconic sign of platform 9 3/4. Following that was the sight of the crimson machine, stolen by wizards in 1830, launching their biggest ever memory and concealment charm operation. It was certainly a memorable sight, with its clean, crimson body, powerful whistle and matching compartments.

"Wow!" Exclaimed Susan coming in from behind me. "It's huge!"

"Alright dear, you'll get your time on that train soon enough, but stay with me today." Said Amelia sternly.

"Alright Aedan, stay safe, don't be afraid to write even if there's nothing wrong, and I doubt I'll have to worry about your grades, but that doesn't give you an excuse to break rules and go crazy. If you cause any trouble you'll get a howler right in the middle of breakfast you hear me?" She then said to me in an equally stern manner.

"Yes ma'am, I'll do my best." I answered as if a soldier.

"Good, now off you go. Get yourself a compartment before they're all full and make some friends while your there. I know I didn't give you much of a chance to make some growing up, but it's important." She said softening her expression.

I smiled at her concern. I then took a breath, stepped forward and gave her a deep hug.

"Thanks aunt Amelia, for everything. I know it's hard raising us, but thank you for caring. I love you." I said while hugging.

She froze when I hugged her, but she softened a lot when she heard the 'i love you'.

She looked at me with moistened eyes, wiped both corners and said softly "I love you too Aedan."

I let go, give Susan a hug and head for the train with Artemis. With one last turn to wave at them, I step into the train.

I found an empty compartment to sit in, made sure Artemis was all good above me, took out some 4th year books and started to read. Coincidentally, I also spotted a train of rushing red heads a few minutes before it was time to set off. Makes me remember that there's going to be Bill, Charlie, Percy in the school this year and next year the terrible duo will join.

At eleven sharp, the whistle echoed throughout the platform and the Hogwarts express set off.

As I was reading in my compartment time passed quickly. There was a few times when people opened the door making me look up but no one actually talked to me. The girls tended to gasp when they saw me look up before hurrying away and the guys looked at me, pursed their lips and left. Both reactions were weird in their own way.

Halfway through the ride though, an older girl, with short bright pink hair, opened the door with some tears on her face.

It was everyone's favorite metamorphmagus, Nymphadora Tonks. She should currently be a 4th year Hufflepuff student. She was truly a beautiful person in the books, and I'm not talking about looks here. She is someone who is selfless enough to help those in need and courageous enough to fight again Volde-shorts and his Death Cucks, and able to be true to herself in the pursuit of who she cares for. Although I thought she was wasted on Lupin and that it was an immense dick move on Rowling's part to kill her in the final battle, but she's probably on of my favorite female characters. Gonna see if I can change her fate later on.

"Is anyone sitting here?" She asked in a slightly cracking voice.

"No, you're welcome to join me." I answered breaking out of my my musing, gesturing for her to sit and putting down my book.

"Thanks, I'm Tonks by the way, 4th year Hufflepuff." Said the girl as she sat down, rubbing her eyes and sniffling a bit as she introduced herself.

"I'm Aedan, 1st year nothing. So how come one of my big bad seniors is currently crying?" I asked trying to make her chuckle a bit a her situation.

"Ha. Cheeky firstie I have here then." She said breaking out of her melancholy a bit.

"Sigh. One of my housemates came and yelled at me saying I was stealing some guy i never meet she confessed to. She said I seduced him and kept on insulting me until some other girls joined in and I couldn't take it." She explained with some pain on her face.

"How could you be stealing a guy if you don't even know him?" I asked baffled at the irrational situation.

"Well that's what happens to people like us doesn't? We can change our appearance so people want to get us to date their dream person." She explained, but there was one part bugging me from that explanation.

"What do you mean by 'we' and 'us'?" I asked for clarification.

"Metamorphmagi like us can change our appearance so people want us to fulfill their fantasies." She explained, but then she saw the weird look on my face and asked "what?"

"I'm not a metamorphmagus." I said with an awkward tone.

"Wait what? But your hair! Your ears! Your eyes! Your face!" She exclaimed in surprise and disbelief.

"Well I've got some complicated and really personal reasons behind most of that, but the face should be all me and I'm pretty proud of it." I proclaimed whilst puffing out my chest and lifting my head a bit.

"Haha! Prat!" She said as she laughed out loud.

"That hurts. I'm really proud of this face of mine." I said in fact hurt.

"Alright alright, it is a good face." She said with a chuckle. "But still acting like a prat." She then declared.

I then over exaggerated having a wounded heart and make Tonks burst out laughing.

It takes her a few minutes to calm down again.

"But seriously, you look like that and it's natural?" She asked incredulously.

"Well, it's not exactly natural, but I'll stop anyone even thinking of trying to get these features the same way I did and that's all I'll say about the subject." I said in a serious voice.

"Well aren't you mysterious." She said ending the questions on my looks.

"So Aedan the first year, what house do you think you'll get?" She asked in a excited tone.

I thought for a second before answering. "I don't really know to be honest. I think I could fit in pretty much all the houses: I have courage and bravery, I work hard and am loyal, I seek knowledge and possess intelligence, I have ambition and can be cunning."

"Wow someone's full of themselves." Said Tonks mockingly, wearing a grin.

"I don't really think like that, it's just what I've done and what I plan to do in the future which tells me this. Now if you ask what house I want to be in, it's an easier answer by processes of elimination. Let's start with the most obvious house, Slytherin. Although I personally think there is nothing wrong with the house nor it's ideals of ambition and cunning, it's almost been reduced to a cesspool of bigotry and supremacy, letting those with the deepest pockets or bigger fist rule since the rise of the Dork lord." I explained.

Tonks jaw hit the floor if it could when she heard me say Dork Lord.

"Next is Gryffindor. Although they are brave and willing to step up for what they believe is right,they lack any thought behind their actions. Bravery must be tempered to avoid recklessness and proper knowledge must be known to have the correct target to truly do the right thing, because without knowledge it's only self-delusions. Although they are not bigoted, they have a problem of quick judgement and stubbornness stopping them from admitting fault. So I although I can fit into the house, I am personally against it."

"Now for Hufflepuff." I started and heard Tonks gulp as she readied herself because of my previous dismantling of the other houses.

"It's ideals are great, hard work and loyalty should be things all wizards should truly aspire to. The problem comes from the mentality students have regarding it and people's general opinion of it. And that comes from the single phrase 'and Helga Hufflepuff took the rest.' It brings down the students opinion of their own house as the house of the leftovers and the normal without them even realizing it. There's also a problem with being too united, as it makes everyone on the same level and if you're not you get ostracized, leading to a lack of outstanding students. Although these problems are there I still can see myself grow in it, making friends and proving myself through hard work." I concluded about the house and Tonks had a thoughtful look after I was done speaking about her house.

"And lastly the house I personally think I'm most likely to get into, Ravenclaw. It prizes knowledge and those you seek it, something I've had since young. The problems with the fact that students in the house have come to only strive for grades as proof of their intelligence, instead for truly understanding a subject, they simply memorize it and regurgitate that onto tests and homework. They also forget to spread that knowledge as Rowena herself decided to do when she helped found the school. Now they lord the knowledge they think they have over others and believe themselves superior without even being able to apply said knowledge properly." I said finally finishing off my long-winded explanation.

"Well, you're definitely a Ravenclaw. No other house is gonna take someone who had that much to say on a single subject and a simple question." Tonks simply answered with a mocking look on her face.

That makes me burst out with laughter at the response, cause I actually agreed with it. Can't see anyone who gets into any other house say that much on such a simple question.

"You do make good points though." She added after she finished laughing.

"Thanks." I answered

We then started talking about some random things about Hogwarts she knows and some funny spells I'd learnt. It went on until we heard the announcement that we'd arrive soon.

"It was nice talking with you Aedan, you were fun. And thanks for the advice about those girls. I'll head back to change into my robes." She said as she got up to leave.

"No problem Tonks. It was really nice to meet you. You're a blast." As replied.

She then left and went back to her stuff.

'Well, time to get changed.' I thought to myself.