Chapter 7: Hogwarts Express Part 2

Very long chapter, there were a lot of things I didn't want to put in separate chapters so I put almost everything in the same chapter.

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"So your father works at the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office at the Ministry of Magic, but he has no idea about the non-magical world" she said confused, "that… isn't it?"

"Something very stupid and a fatal flaw in the magical government system... yes, yes it is"

"So?" She asked very disappointed in the administrative effectiveness of the ministry.

"Wizards are not interested in the Muggle world, and they end up despising it, so they have almost no contact with it. Only people like you, children of non-magical or mestizo parents have real contact with it, but once they discover magic they move away from their previous world, since they are fascinated with the power and possibilities that it brings. For that reason, almost no one usually takes Muggle studies at Hogwarts, some already know it and others despise it, causing offices related to the world not-magical world lacks trained personnel for its purpose. I apologize to my father for my opinion, but even if he likes the non-magical world, he doesn't really see it beyond what the magical world shows him about it"

"This is something very irresponsible, there should be people who know what they are working on, maybe I should see if in the future I can enter the ministry to do this work properly"

"From the little I've talked to you, I can see that you're brilliant, don't settle for a small goal like an office under the magical law enforcement department that everyone despises if you can attack the root of the problem. Aim high, by putting in the effort, I think you could become a great Minister of Magic and change the status quo of the wizarding world."

"You really do think so..." she said somewhat hopefully until something clicked in her mind, "wait... if what you said is true, why do you seem to know so much about the non-magical world?"

"Ever since I had the chance, I've secretly escaped into the muggle world and seen it with my own eyes, which I don't understand why other wizards don't. They have so many wonderful things of their own, wizards have their heads so full of themselves that they forget that there is something beyond themselves. I have also taken my sister, our friend and her father with me a few times"

"That sounds great, I would have liked to be able to do the same with the magical world, I don't know anything about it other than what you're telling me" she said somewhat dejectedly.

"If you want, you can join our adventure group, and we will organize a tour of the magical world, but in return you would have to be our guide through the muggle world"

"That would be fantastic, I agree" she answered quickly very excited

In the middle of our talk, someone knocks on the door, and we said "come in" almost at the same time. A somewhat older lady entered with a cart full of various sweets and food. "Do you want something from the cart? Darlings"

"Give me some chocolate frogs and frosting candies" I asked the cart lady.

I pay for my order and I notice that Hermione looks at the cart and the sweets I bought from the side of her, but she doesn't order anything for herself.

"You want something, my treat, consider it a gift for our first meeting"

"No... it's okay, I told you that my father is a dentist, and he doesn't like me to eat a lot of sweets" she said somewhat depressed.

I look back at the cart lady who was about to leave and stop her.

"Give me one of each of what you have"

Hermione looked at me when I put so many varieties of goodies on the seat.

"Here you go, help yourself"

"But I already told you that I..."

"Hermione, the wizarding world has its methods to treat the teeth, you won't have any problems, besides, your father won't know you did it unless I tell him, and I don't plan on blackmailing you so soon"

She kept holding back, even though she could see that she really wanted to try the magical candy, so I just rolled my eyes and picked up a chocolate frog and pointed my wand at it.

"Engorgio" I recited as I waved my wand.

The box began to grow until it was almost the size of a football. Hermione looked at me stunned by my sudden spell, then an almost imperceptible sadistic smile appeared on my face and with my wand still pointed at the box, I opened it.

"Flipendo"

My spell went off and hit the frog that was about to jump out of the box. The giant frog shot into Hermione's face, who didn't react in sudden surprise. The frog had latched onto her face, she was screaming and swinging her arms in front of her fearfully trying to pull it away.

I was laughing harder than usual until the frog left Hermione's face by jumping onto her seat before going still. Hermione had messy hair and a red face, and she wouldn't stop breathing heavily as she held her chest, trying to calm down.

"JAJAJAJA..."

"Why did you do that?" She yelled at me angrily.

"If Hermione doesn't go to the sweets... then the sweets will go to Hermione, haha" I was also red from my laughter, a level that I rarely reach.

"I hate you" she roared as she pummeled me with her little fists.

"It's ok...it's ok it was a joke...calm down you don't want to be accused of murder on a train" I tried to stop her, since she has more strength than she can pretend.

"You could have just offered them to me like a normal person" she said, still angry.

"You weren't cooperating, so I decided to use a more drastic method. Now, would you like to try the magic sweets as an apology for what I just did" I said as I handed her a pumpkin pie.

She looked at me with piercing eyes for a moment and then forcefully snatched the cake from my hands and started eating with her cheeks puffed out and a frown on her face as she looked at me.

"How about?" asked.

"It's okay"

"Well you have one of each to eat so enjoy them, too bad they don't sell non-magical candy here"

"For?" With her mouth full, She asked in confusion.

"Most magic candies are fun, but impractical to eat. There are times when I like to eat a plain chocolate bar without anything magical happening" I replied as I grabbed my giant chocolate frog and sang "Reducio" with my wand, returning the frog to its normal size.

Hermione looked at me, still angry, but more interested in the spells I cast. She set aside her food and stared at me, declaring that she still hadn't forgiven me before asking.

"Those spells...?"

"A year before we are going to Hogwarts I began to practice various spells, in no particular order, I saw those that seemed easy and practical and decided to learn them"

"You're lucky to have seen them so far in advance, I've only tried a few simple spells that have worked for me in the short amount of time I could."

"Do you want... to practice some magic?" I asked her, trying to make her forget my earlier joke.

She paused for a moment before chuckling lightly, pulling her wand out of hers and pointing it at my face.

"Sure... Densaugeo!"

I was not expecting this. The spell hit me and I could feel my front teeth getting heavier and growing several inches before stopping. By the time the effect wore off, it looked like he could chop wood with them.

"Didn't you say you liked my big teeth and that they made me look beautiful? Well, now you have bigger teeth than mine, so you must be more beautiful than me" she sneered mischievously.

"Well, I didn't expect that" I laughed along with her "but you're right that I find them cute, what's more, if you hadn't seduced me with your teeth I wouldn't even have spoken to you" I spoke strangely because of my teeth enlarged.

"Well, now you look just as cute"

"I don't think so. As you said, I must be like five times more handsome than you right now, kneel before the beauty of my big teeth and beg me to accept your humble appreciation" I said, with one hand on my chest and with a superb tone, stepping on the seat where she sat.

She laughed a little at my joke, or at my teeth and the way I talked, but she didn't seem mad about before anyway.

"Then, are we even?"

"Arguably"

"Okay. I wanted to ask you, this spell is not in the first year books, where did you learn it? You don't seem like the kind of person who learns joke spells" I asked really intrigued.

"When I saw you in the bookstore so concentrated it seemed to me that if the other children were like you, I would be far behind, so I bought some extra books and found it in one of them"

"Ohh... and you haven't practiced it before?"

"Not really, it's the first time I've used it, I thought it was correct in this situation" she said puffing out her chest showing that she had taught me a lesson.

"And haven't you thought it's a bit dangerous to cast a spell you've never used on someone's face before. I mean you could have lost control and grown my teeth until they pierced my stomach, and I'd have died here, or maybe you would have I did the spell wrong and my head would have exploded and by the time you can call someone to help us it would have already been too late" I told her with no intention of actually scaring her.

"No…I…I didn't think…" she said as she turned pale at the thought of what could have happened if that happened.

"Relax, I'm just telling you to be more careful next time, or use it on someone other than me."

"Sorry, I won't do it again"

"Okay, what do you think if we continue practicing some spells that don't affect our own person, I'll even teach you some that I've learned, but first let's remove these teeth before someone sees me and grants me your title of 'beaver queen'"

She glared at me once more. While I placed my suitcase on the floor and then open it and get inside it. Hermione was interested in my suitcase, it's a small expansion spell, it was just a 2.5x2.5 room where I kept my stuff for school.

I went out with a mirror and a book. I had the book in my hand, it was one that I personally personalized with the merchant using the best materials, inspired by Snape's potions book. I had decided to have my own notebook where I could write down my findings and experiences on my path of magic.

I handed Hermione my book along with a quill.

"Can you write down the spell you cast on me and reference the book you got it from? I think I'll practice it later when I feel like cutting down trees or taking revenge"

"Yes, of course" She take the pen, ignoring what I said about revenge.

She started writing it while I used the mirror to see my teeth, while I shrank them, so I wouldn't go too far and make them shorter. Hermione finished writing and flipped through other pages where I had written some notes and other spells or potion formulas, as well as some notes about the animals I hunted during my camping trip with the Lovegoods.

"... eh... could you lend me this book, it has several useful annotations, I say yes or do you mind" She asks somewhat insecure.

"If it's okay... if you want we can share it, I write down everything that seems to be useful to me. You're very intelligent, and we could have more results working together, take it now, and then we'll fill it out as the year goes by"

"Great...thanks" she said, genuinely pleased to try to learn.

"Well let's keep doing some magic" I said raising my wand.

She followed me, and for a while we continued to cast harmless spells or exchange some ideas. It was quite entertaining, and I was able to teach her some spells that I learned in the past, as well as tell her about some experiences I had with them while I hunted the Gnomes in my Garden. We went on like this for a while until we got tired and decided to just sit and rest while we ate some leftover candy.

Time passed and much of the journey was over. We talked for some time over various things until the door suddenly opened and a somewhat chubby boy with tears running down his face appeared in the doorway.

"Sorry, have you seen not a toad?"

"No"

"Neither do I"

"I've lost him again, he always tries to escape from me" cried the boy.

"Okay we'll help you find him" Hermione said trying to comfort him.

"I think that if he always escapes from you, you should stop looking for him and set free"

The boy cried harder hearing what I said, and Hermione gave me a dirty look.

"You're not serious, I thought you said you're not as bad as you seem. I thought you'd agree to help him" Hermione replied.

"I have no problem helping someone in need, but maybe I've spent so much time with people who love animals that some of their ideas have rubbed off on me. If your toad always tries to get away from you maybe it's best to let it go. Maybe he's better off, it would be cruel to force him to do your bidding, unless you're the kind of person they don't care about. If he leaves and don't come back, he can show that you would be happier elsewhere,if he comes back it means that they have a future together, but if you don't give him a choice it just shows how selfish you can be."

"But it's a gift from my grandmother" He continued crying.

"Maybe you do have reasons to want to keep it, but you'll have to decide if you want to keep it the way your grandmother wants it and hope he gives up trying to escape... or, give his the opportunity to choose whether to seek a better life alone or stay with you of his own free will"

The boy kept crying without knowing what to do. Hermione wanted to refute what I said, but she couldn't think of anything, so I decided to give the final blow.

"Tell me Hermione, if I had you trapped next to me at all times to be my friend and on several occasions you tried to escape from me because you suffer being with me... Wouldn't you rather me let you choose whether to be with me of your own free will than forcefully hold you back to love me?"

That left her completely defeated, even she seemed to sigh heavily as she realized that she did not think of such a situation being replaced by the toad. But she still seemed determined to help the boy.

"You may be right, but at least let him make the decision once we get to school, let's not leave the lost toad on the train to bother other passengers"

"Thank you... thank you..." The boy was almost shouting happy when he saw that they were going to help him find her toad.

"Hermione Granger" introduced herself before giving me a sharp look as if it was an order.

"Red Weasley" I said at Hermione's penetrating gaze.

"Neville...Neville Longbottom" he stammered.

"Well let's go find your toad" Hermione said as she stood up.

"You can go, I still believe that you should set his free. I'll stay to rest for a while they look for him" I said as I laid me down on the seat.

"Well" Hermione just sulked a bit, but she decided to move on

"I'll take care of the fort until you come back" was what I managed to say before they left.

I wasn't lying about setting Trevor free, he always caused Neville trouble as I recall. Also, I didn't want to run into Potter and my brother, not that I'm going to stay out of the whole story because I'm sure it won't be possible, but I hope to have some distance and move on my own. As for Hermione, I didn't think to take her away from them and prevent her from going to meet them, we can be friends without it interfering with the trio's adventures I guess...maybe if I try to change some things.

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(This part is an extra, completely unnecessary, rookie writer error. You can skip it if you want, it's just the same scene from Hermione's perspective. The next scene is in the next /---/)

Hermione POV.

I was waiting for the train to start moving as I went back through Miranda Goshawk's 'rule book of spells'. I still remember the red-haired boy I saw in the bookstore, he looked so focused and dedicated...and he had something mysterious about him that made me so curious.

Should I have tried talking to him? Although he didn't seem like he'd take it well if I interrupted his reading, I wouldn't have taken it well. Focus Hermione, you can't fall behind, you have to work harder to catch up.

At that moment someone knocked on the door before opening it and my brain could not process what my eyes saw, it was the same child as in the bookstore.

"Hello, can I sit here?" he asked me.

His presence was very strong, he seemed completely sure of himself even though he had a very serious face, I didn't connect what he said for a moment, but I was able to react fast enough not to look bad.

"Ehh... oh, yes of course" silly Hermione, don't be nervous I told myself as I answered his in such a clumsy way.

He sat in front of me, he still had that serious face, maybe he's angry, I could make him angry if I ask him... On the other hand, his hair color is so weird, but it looks so natural at the same time. His eyes too, they are blood-red, although not as strong as his hair. Will he be a Vampire? I read about them, but they're not supposed to go to Hogwarts.

He was looking out the window while I was looking at him surreptitiously using my book as a cover, outside the train there was a red-haired girl running, she seemed to be talking to him, could it be her friend? Or her family? They don't look much alike.

He stuck his hand out the window and waved to his, and for a moment when he turned around I could see a smile on his face. He exuded a great tranquility and looked handsome along with his peculiar appearance, it seems that he is not at all angry if he can give such a sincere smile.

He turned to look at me, I think he saw me watching him, it's a shame. I covered myself with my book as fast as I could, but my hands were shaking a little. He didn't say anything, so I went back to give him another look. He was taking a book out of his suitcase, good thing he didn't pay attention to me.

The book he started reading was so torn and neglected, I figured someone with as much love of reading as I would treat his books well. What a disappointment, we could have been friends, but I would not hang out with someone who treats his books like that.

"You should take better care of your books" I said, somewhat annoyed, but I regretted it in an instant. I didn't know where I got the courage to tell him, I was just thinking that I should be nicer to his things, but I ended up talking nonsense in an arrogant way. I hope I didn't get into trouble before I even got to school.

"It's not that I don't take care of them…" he replied.

Silly Hermione, as someone who likes to read so much, wouldn't bother with her books. I had to open my mouth and make him confess that his family couldn't buy him new ones. That's why you can't make friends.

I tried to apologize as soon as possible, and luckily he didn't get mad at me, he said she couldn't know that his family was poor because it was the first time we met. I certainly can't blame him for his situation, I would be the same if he were in his shoes. If my family were in the same condition, even the most battered book would be a treasure. He is something different from the other children, the others would have already yelled at me even if it is the first time we met as they have done before, it is quite good, maybe if we can be friends.

Although he was wrong about something, if I had seen him before. I should tell him? Although that would leave me in a bad position, since the excuse of before for judging him would not work. A part of me wants to tell the truth, but another part doesn't want to lose the opportunity to establish a friendship. I guess I'll say it, and it will be what God wants.

"Well... actually, I saw you once..." I finished telling him that I saw him waiting for a reproach.

He didn't do what I expected, he didn't ask me to apologize to him for earlier even if I had seen him before, well it was from afar and I wouldn't have been able to judge his economic status in that situation, but I still expected something. No, he apologized to me for not paying attention to me at the time, I may just say it for the sake of saying it, but he makes me feel good that he cares. Also, it seems that he was also eager to enter Hogwarts, maybe he was someone like me who just entered the wizarding world, but that couldn't be if he said that he was preparing for a whole year.

"It's ok, I saw you from afar..." I started talking without realizing everything I was saying. I felt excited to find a like-minded partner, and I ended up saying many things without controlling myself until I felt a pair of hands on my mouth. I was about to complain, but in an instant I felt something going through my body that gave me a sensation of tremendous calm, it seemed that I was in the most comfortable bed in the world and I felt completely safe. He withdrew his hands and the feeling was gone, it's a pity, he wanted to continue feeling it, but he couldn't tell him, maybe he used magic, but I haven't read of any magic like that yet.

"Please stop..." He told me.

Again I did not control myself and I embarrassed myself. I told him so many things for no reason without even introducing myself first, maybe he is not interested in anything I say. Maybe he's right that I talk a lot, although it was kind of rude to say that he knows more about me than his own sister, I didn't say that much either... I think...

"I'm sorry... I'm Hermione Granger" I decided to introduce myself to correct my mistake.

He seemed a little taken aback, though I couldn't quite make it out, as his face didn't seem to change during our entire conversation.

"It's a pleasure, I'm Red... Red Weasley"

"Red?" I asked again out loud without meaning to. I couldn't understand why someone would be called that, his parents wouldn't have given him that name just because of the color of his hair, would they? Maybe it's a custom of wizards, I have to investigate before asking the wrong questions and humiliating myself in front of the other kids again.

"Long story..." he answered my question.

I didn't think someone I know would change their own name just because they liked someone else better, I mean it would be nice if they changed it if it was a horrible name but... He also said something about introducing himself to others and being easy to recognize, I don't know if was he serious or was it a joke, his face still didn't change, and I don't know how to react.

Quickly, seeing my confusion, he made it clear to me that it was a joke and I only thought of apologizing to him, since I didn't understand him because of his seriousness and I didn't want to look bad, but he dropped another bombshell.

Silly, silly, silly because we have an awkward conversation again, how was I supposed to know I had a problem like that, although that would explain some things, no child would be that serious. Why I always have to say the wrong things when I'm trying to talk to somebody?

I tried to apologize because he might feel bad about his situation, but he said to stop apologizing for everything. He's right, I haven't done anything but apologize in all our talk, but he makes me nervous, and I don't know how to act.

I tried to calm me down, and although he asked me to change the subject I was curious. He said that he didn't bother him, so I didn't see any problem in asking him a bit about his condition, so I did. It seems like I talked a lot again, so after realizing it I tried to shut up, so he could talk.

He told me stubborn, and I got a little angry even though he may be right, but my anger quickly went away when I heard him say they couldn't find the reason for his condition which was kind of sad, but I get very interested when I talk about the mediwizards.

I told him that I found them interesting and ended up blurting out other things like my father was a dentist on the road again due to nerves.

He suggested a game for both of us to know each other's world. It seems that he also wants to know the non-magical world, that's great, we could exchange a lot of knowledge with each other and I could see more the distance between the other children and me. I wanted to agree right away, but I didn't want to sound desperate, so I just gave in as he gave me approval.

And the game seemed great to me, until I touched my weak point. 'Me missing my friends'... if it could be, if I had them. I wanted to lie so as not to look like a loner unfriendly, but maybe he would realize, so I simply told the truth.

I thought that like before he would just ignore him, or so he hoped, but he told me that I have a bossy attitude and that's why I don't have any friends. Whoever believes himself to tell me such a thing, we barely know each other, he doesn't know anything about me to judge me that way. I was irritated, maybe... it's because maybe he's right.

He explained to me what he meant. That he also had problems because of his attitude. Maybe if I'm a bit bossy sometimes and if he's right that I can't control it, maybe I didn't realize when it started, but if he tells the truth maybe if I can correct it and start having friends. I also mention that true friends would accept me as I am, as I would like to have them if they really would be like that.

He was right about some things, so I just accepted it and told him he may be right... but it's not just my fault, it's not, the others didn't try to make friends with me either. They've made fun of my looks and even though I tried of looking for other ways to please them, although I tried hard to get good grades to try to make them like me by showing my ability, they only moved away from me even more.

He laughed at what I said, but still his face didn't move much. I didn't understand that he was so funny, and reproached him. Now that he tells me why he's laughing, I realize I hadn't looked at it from his point of view. What is it like not making friends at school compared to being able to end up being abandoned by your parents for not being able to express emotions, I wouldn't know what to do in that situation. I didn't want to show him that I was less than him, but I knew that I was nothing in comparison, so I just accepted defeat.

I thought I'm done, but he started making fun of my teeth and hair, which make me look beautiful, like it's true, everyone has told me how big my teeth are and how messy my hair is. I told him to stop teasing me and wanted to change the subject because I could feel tears starting to form in my eyes.

But he said that he didn't make fun of me, that they really made me look pretty with a childish aspect. I didn't want them to tell me that she was a little girl, but I did feel very good with what he said. I, actually... look pretty? Is the only thing I could think of, since it's the first time that another kid my age seems pretty to him instead of just something else to make fun of.

Now I wanted to change the subject even more because I was getting really red from the ideas running through my head, so I decided to pick up our game and ask him about his upbringing.

It seemed like he was homeschooled, not like I haven't heard of it before, but I was a little surprised that all the children of wizards did. He also mentioned his brothers again and was curious if they could maybe be like him, maybe the red-haired girl who ran the train if she was his sister. So I decided to ask.

"With me, we are 8" he told me

I was in shock. Eight brothers? That's quite a lot, it's not impossible, but it would be very rare. Maybe wizards have different traditions and since in the Middle Ages they wanted to have many descendants, or there is some other reason. Now that I was a witch maybe I would also have to have so many children? All the women who told me how painful their labor was coming to my mind, for a moment I thought if I could get off the train and go home and go to a normal school, as silly as the idea sounded. But he said that it was just a particular case of his family that was looking to have a daughter. I get it, but just like he said, I too would have given up long ago.

We continue to talk about many topics. I found out that all the fear I felt of being left behind was false, because the children of the magical world are not that familiar with magic until they go to Hogwarts, and that I can be at a higher level with everything whatever I studied. Except for Red, who according to him was different from the other children who, like me, he studied much earlier to be prepared.

He also told me what his father worked for, but... how can someone who works in close contact with the non-magical world not know anything about him? He is completely useless, although I didn't say it because I didn't want to disrespect his family.

It seems that he also thinks like me, it is incorrect that someone who is not trained should occupy such an important place, he also told me that wizards despise the Muggle world, I do not understand why, and it seems that Red does not either. I think it is very good if he thinks that way.

I considered that perhaps coming from a family of non-wizards it would be easy for me to learn about the misuse of Muggle artifacts and perhaps be able to seek employment in that office to try to correct that error. But he told me I shouldn't do it, for a moment I thought he didn't consider me capable, after all I'm just a girl who still knows little or nothing about this new world and I got a little depressed, but what he told me made me give up. Realized that I was wrong. What he said made me very happy, he thought that I should aim higher, that I could become a minister of magic, I hadn't thought about it, but inside I felt that it sounded better and better.

But then I realized something, Red knows the muggle world so well that compared to other wizards based on what she says, why?

It turns out that he was escaping to see a world different from his. I would have liked to do the same, going out with friends to see the unknown would be nice. But it would not be just ideas in the future, he let me join his adventure group, I could travel through the magical world and get to know more places in exchange for showing them the non-magical world, that would be fantastic. I'm already waiting for the moment to come.

Talking with him, despite not expressing anything on his face, became very comfortable, as if talking to him was natural and without barriers. His compliments made me happy, and his complaints made me sad, everything was very simple once you got used to it... I don't know why I was never able to talk this way with any other child.

We passed the time lost in our conversation until someone knocked on the door. An old lady pushing a cart full of sweets, they looked so curious and appetizing, but I wasn't going to eat them. Not that I couldn't afford them, my parents changed several pounds to gallons, so I have something for when I'm in school, but my family doesn't like me to eat a lot of sweets, so I have to hold back...but maybe one wouldn't be bad.

Red bought some chocolate and cold hard candy as he mentioned it, I guess it resembles his personality...or well, what he looks like. He looked at me with my uncertain face, and he seemed to think that he couldn't afford them, and he offered to buy me some, but I had to decline.

Then he decided to buy one of each, I don't know what for, I don't think it's to rub it in my face, he's not that kind of person. He offered them to me again and gave me very good reasons to do it, but still I didn't want to disobey my parents, I felt it was wrong.

I saw how he rolled his eyes at my insistence, maybe if I had to accept it. He already bought them, I could pay him back, but I don't think he would accept, maybe buying him something in the future would be fine.

his hand. Was he planning to do some magic on the candy? He cast a spell and the box grew. I was fascinated, I had practiced some simple spells that worked, but I still quite like being able to see more forms of magic.

Then something happened that he didn't expect, the one who never changed his face once in our conversation smiled slightly, but that smile didn't give me a good vibe. When he opened the box that seemed to have a chocolate frog in it, he cast another spell and I couldn't react in time when I saw something fly into my face and by the time I realized it everything went black.

I felt like something was clinging to my face. I shook everything I could trying to get it off, I was scared, I couldn't breathe well, and I couldn't see anything. As simple as it was to take it off, I couldn't think clearly and just waved my hands strongly to try to get it off my face

Then it just jumped out of my face to land on the seat in front of me to stay still, it was a chocolate frog that almost suffocated me. I couldn't stop breathing heavily trying to catch my breath and all I heard was the laughter of the person who caused all that. I'd be amazed at the loud laugh she gave considering his condition, if it wasn't for the fact that I was completely furious. He nearly killed me, well maybe not, but he still gave me a terrifying scare.

I asked him very angry why the hell he did such a thing, the only thing he told me was that it was so that I would accept the sweets that he bought. Couldn't he do it like a normal person and not like a fucking lunatic? "I hate you" I yelled at him and, forgetting all the manners I was taught as a child, I began to hit him to relieve my anger.

He asked me to stop, that it could cause murder... 'says the person who almost killed me'. I stopped hitting him because I calmed down a bit more after releasing some of my fury, and he decided to use the sweets as an apology. He could have just pushed a bit more and all this wouldn't have happened, I was about to give in before he threw a frog in my face. I no longer had the patience to think if what I was doing was right or wrong, so I just forcefully grabbed the cake from his hand and started eating while he stared at it.

He asked me how it was, but he didn't want me to think that I forgot all this, so I just told him that it was fine, which was true, but I still wanted to show him my discontent. He mentioned that he would like them to offer non-magical sweets as well, since he likes the simplicity of just eating a sweet without anything magical happening, and now I think I get it a bit... I won't see those chocolate frogs like before. If I had to choose, I would prefer the sweets that don't jump in my face to those that do.

He grabbed the lifeless frog next to him and again cast a spell on it to make it shrink. If it hadn't been for the shock and fury I had earlier, I would have analyzed the spells he cast, as even though I was able to perform some, I still had a lot of interest in what could be done with magic. Now that I saw him again, I was going to ask him about them.

I still showed a grumpy face on purpose even though I calmed me down quite a bit after eating, and I asked him. He had learned them during his year of preparation, how lucky he was, I would have liked to be able to do the same, it is unfair.

He offered me if I wanted to practice magic trying to overlook his previous offense and there I remembered that spell that was out of the requested books, that spell that seemed very horrible at the time, but now seemed to be the most appropriate.

I involuntarily put on a very malicious smile, knowing that I was going to have my revenge. I took out my wand and pointed it directly at his face.

"Sure... Densaugeo!"

I could see how my magic worked perfectly well, even though it was the first time I tried it. His front teeth started to grow longer than my fingers, he had mentioned that he liked mine, so I gave him his own. 'Take a little of your own medicine' is what I thought while laughing quite a lot. I don't like to think that I am spiteful, but I felt very satisfied with this.

He seemed to take it well too and didn't get mad, he told me that I was right that he thought my teeth were cute, and it was only because I seduced him with them that he approached me, ha, like it was possible. But I thought it was funny when he demanded that I kneel because of him having teeth bigger than me, even more so when it sounded so strange not being able to close his mouth.

We both laughed at the situation and made a truce, it seemed as if what happened before had never happened. I think that's how feels having friends to joke with.

He asked me where I learned it from, and I told him where and why. So he then asked me if he had used it before and when I told him no, he presented me with some guesses as to what might have happened. I had just realized how irresponsible I was, I could have done something horrible if something went wrong. He tried to calm me down after looking I so terrified, and worked, but I will still remind myself not to be so impulsive in the future.

Then he suggested that we continue practicing magic, even he was going to teach me new spells. I was very excited and happy, it seemed like it was Christmas. But he also mentioned a joke about my "beaver queen" title, in the future I will take revenge once again. 'I am not a beaver queen, you are a beaver queen' I thought angrily.

I saw him put his suitcase on the floor, and he will open it and then go into it. That surprised me, before I hadn't realized that the suitcase was bigger inside than outside, 'it's an extension spell' I guessed.

I saw him take out a mirror and a book. He handed me the book, it seemed of very high quality and very expensive. It didn't seem to agree with what he said that his family was poor, but then I remembered that he said he had worked to buy some things.

He asked me if he could write down the spell in the book and he mentioned something about taking revenge, but I didn't say anything, since I planned to do the same. When I reviewed the content I realized that it had many annotations and some drawings or photos, it was like a diary, but at the same time as a study notebook. It had several interesting things, from opinions about some spells to some experiences applying them in nature. For a moment I was amazed, since it was different from the books I had, and it would be very helpful for my study.

I hesitated for a moment, but asked him if he would lend it to me, I wouldn't be mad if he didn't as, it seems to be very personal. But he agreed and offered me to work together on it, his offer was impossible to refuse, it was better than I wanted. I could learn a lot from him and have someone to study with, and I wouldn't have to worry about ending up alone like in my previous school, so I accepted quickly.

We continued to practice magic, and he told me a little about his adventures, they were very interesting, I hope to be able to go on his excursions with him, but we will have to wait for our vacations. At that, someone opened the door, he was a crying child, it seemed that he had lost his toad and was looking for him.

...

I finished my search angrier than when it started. I couldn't believe that two brothers could be so different, how annoying. Furthermore, I tried to hurry up because we were arriving, and I haven't even changed.

I go back to my compartment and find Red lying on the seat asleep, it seems that I will have to wake him up.

/--------------/

3rd person POV.

In a compartment near the end of the train sat a small and emaciated boy, he looked a few years younger than he really was due to the poor nutrition and mistreatment he suffered during his childhood. He had black hair and green eyes, he wore round glasses that seemed to have been crudely repaired several times.

He was looking at a skinny, freckled, red-haired boy with a long nose who had opened the door to his compartment.

"Is anyone sitting there? All the other cars are full." he asks.

"Sure" answered the boy with the glasses.

The redheaded boy is about to sit on the seat when two other redheads, completely identical, come out of the door.

"Hey Ron" said one of them

"Let's go see Lee Jordan, he has a tarantula, and we want to see it" The other of the twins continued.

"Harry, have we introduced ourselves? Fred and George Weasley."

"And this is Ron, our brother. See you later" they said and went to see Jordan's spider.

The children continued talking among themselves. Ronald Weasley was very surprised to learn that the boy in front of him was the famous Harry Potter, who defeated You-Know-Who. Likewise, Harry was just as interested in Ron, a boy from a wizarding family who must have been in contact with magic since he was very young, unlike him who, due to the death of his parents, had to live in a family like the Dursleys.

"...I wish I had three wizard brothers," Potter said as he recalled the scene as he entered the station.

"Six," Ron corrected somewhat dissatisfied, "I'm the seventh in our family to go to Hogwarts. Bill and Charlie are done. Bill was class leader and Charlie was captain of the Quidditch team. Percy is now prefect. Fred and George they are very joking, but despite that they get very good grades and everyone considers them very funny. And then there is my Twin brother Red, he is a phenomenon that has no feelings, but even so, things always turn out well for him. Everyone waits I hope I'm as good as the others, but if I do, it won't be much of a big deal either, because they already did it first. Besides, you never get anything new, with six brothers. They gave me Bill's old robe, Charles's old wand, and Percy's old rat. I wish I had new stuff like Red, but I don't have any money. He's lucky the Lovegoods' daughter likes him, so his dad gives him a job to pay for her own stuff" The redheaded boy groaned as he showed off his patched robes, his somewhat chipped wand, and a fat gray rat he pulled out of his jacket "His name is Scabbers and he's useless, he hardly ever wakes up. Percy got an owl from my dad

for being made a prefect, but they couldn't aff — I mean, I got Scabbers instead" Fixed while his ears turned red as he realized that he had talked too much.

"Do you have a twin brother? Why he's not here with you?" Harry asked remembering how close Fred and George were, thinking that Ron would have the same relationship with his brother.

"I wouldn't sit in the same cabin as him even if it was the last one on the whole train," Ron complained.

"Don't they get along?" Harry asked, confused at the different relationships the twins had within the same family.

"I don't even think we're really brothers, if it wasn't because he got his letter to Hogwarts I'd still believe he's a vampire like my older brothers used to say" he said before trying to change the subject.

The children continued to talk about various topics after that. Time passed and at one point the lady from the cart passed by to offer them if they wanted something, Ron was a little embarrassed by the poverty of his family and that he had no money to buy anything from the cart and would have to settle for the sandwiches that his mother had prepared for him and refused it. Harry, on the other hand, being the first time he had any money of his own and expecting what it would be like to be able to eat sweets, he decided to buy a bit of everything himself.

Harry offered Ron some of his candy as Ron's mouth watered. He resisted a little at first, but ended up accepting, and they ended up eating together during the trip. Harry was able to learn various facts about the wizarding world from Ron after opening a chocolate frog containing an Albus Dumbledore card.

They passed like this for a while until someone knocked on his door. A rather chubby boy that Harry had seen earlier at the station entered.

"Excuse me, haven't you seen a toad?" Said the boy crying.

When they both shook their heads, he moaned louder.

"Maybe if I let him go, he always runs away" he said before leaving without another word.

The sad appearance of the boy for the loss of a toad seemed strange to the two children.

"I don't know why he is so sad. If I had a toad I would have lost it before I got to Hogwarts" Ron said even though he had brought a rat because his parents couldn't buy him another pet. Ron looked at the almost motionless old gray rat and said "I could be dead, and you wouldn't know it" At that moment he had an idea to show off in front of the famous 'boy who lived', he took out his worn wand and said to the Potter boy "Yesterday I tried to turn it yellow to make it more interesting like my brothers told me, but the spell didn't work. I'll show you, look..."

He was about to wave his wand at him when the compartment door swung open again, cutting him off. The toad boy had returned together with a girl, she had quite long front teeth, a lot of brown hair and was dressed in Muggle world clothes, as she hadn't had time to change until now due to the interesting conversations with her traveling companion.

"Has anyone seen a toad? Neville lost one," she said in a bossy voice.

It seemed that the girl had noticed her tone and remembered what she was told not long ago, she changed her face a little, but she decided to ignore it for the time being and continue looking for the toad first.

"We've already told him no" Ron replied, somewhat annoyed, but the girl didn't hear him. She was more interested in the wand she had in his hand because she had recently been practicing various spells, and she became interested in what other children had to offer.

"Oh, are you doing magic? Let's go see it then." She sat down and Ron looked puzzled.

"Eh…okay" he cleared his throat "Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, Turn this stupid, fat rat yellow" he recited.

He waved his wand, but nothing happened, the rat was still the same color it always was. The girl seemed disappointed, she thought that she might see other people casting some spells like she did before, although within herself she relaxed a little to see that not all children were as good as her or her partner at casting spells, thus removing some of the pressure that was previously self-imposed.

"Are you sure this is the correct spell?" The girl asked, "Well, it doesn't seem very effective, does it? I tried a few simple ones and learned some while riding the train, and they worked. No one in my family is magic, it was quite a surprise when I received my letter, but I was also very surprised." happy, of course, since this is the best school of magic, as far as I know. I've already learned all the books by heart, of course, I hope that's enough... I'm Hermione Granger. And you? "He said everything quickly.

Hermione, seeing the state of shock of the two children, scolded herself and turned a little red when she saw that she did have a problem with speaking very fast as she had been told.

"Ron Weasley"

"Harry Potter"

Hearing the redheaded boy's name, she was a little surprised to realize that he was the twin of the strange boy that had been accompanying her throughout the journey, but she put those thoughts aside when she heard Harry Potter's name.

"Is that really you?" Hermione said "I know all about you of course, I got a few extra books to prepare myself more, and you figure in History of Modern Magic, Defense Against the Dark Arts and Great Magical Events of the 20th Century."

"I am?" Harry said feeling confused

"My God, you don't know. If I were you, I would have looked up everything I could about myself if I was famous," said Hermione before turning to Ron, "And you're Red Weasley's brother?" She ask, intrigued by the great difference between these two children, who did not have the slightest resemblance apart from their age.

"You met my monstrous brother, you should get away from him before he gives you a big scare with his dark wizard face" He said, he was grumpy like every time they talked about his brother.

"Don't talk about him like that, he's serious, but he's a great wizard" said Hermione furiously, remembering the serious and peculiar, but nice boy she had met, not understanding why the others didn't bother to interact with him more. To be able to see that he is not a bad person just because he looks that way.

"If you believe that, you must have your eyes as bad as his head to not see what he really is"

"Come on Neville… let's keep looking for your toad" Hermione told the boy that he had been completely ignored so far, and she left very angry that they insulted her ability to read people.

"I hope I don't end up in the same house as her" said Ron.

"Which house are your brothers in?" Harry asked upon hearing it.

"Gryffindor" Ron said, and his mood dropped again "Mum and Dad were there too. I don't know what they're going to say if I'm not there. I don't think Ravenclaw is that bad, but imagine if they put me in Slytherin, I'm sure my brother will be. I'm sure he'll become a dark wizard when he leaves Hogwarts, but no one else seems to see it"