Past and Present

He climbed into the train, determined to find a compartment where other first-years were seated. After searching for a few minutes, he spotted a compartment with two girls and a boy inside. They seemed friendly enough, so he knocked and opened the door.

"Would you mind if I joined you?" he asked.

"No, come in. We still have some free seats, and the more, the merrier," the blond girl said.

"Thanks," Harry replied and stepped inside.

"Where is your trunk?" the red-haired girl asked.

"Shrunk in my pocket. I didn't think dragging it through the corridors would be smart when I could just use the shrinking feature," Harry explained.

"That's true. I wanted one of them, but we still had the old three-compartment trunk from my uncle in the attic, and it's still perfectly good to use for me. At least it is spelled feather-light," the brown-haired boy, Terry Boot, said.

"I'm Hannah Abbott," the blond girl introduced herself.

"Susan Bones," the redhead said.

"I'm Harry Potter, nice to meet you all," Harry said, receiving an expected reaction of shock.

"Come on, I'm just an eleven-year-old kid like you. And if you've read any of the books Romanio Lockhart wrote, forget them. None of the things he wrote are true. I grew up with my Muggle aunt and didn't know about the magical world until I got my Hogwarts letter."

Terry laughed. "I told you so," he said, addressing Susan, who was blushing.

"I've been trying to tell some of the girls that I know from growing up that there was no way any kid, not even the one that defeated You-Know-Who, could do some of the things in those books. Lockhart just has a blooming fantasy."

"But why didn't it say that they were just made-up stories?" Susan asked, miffed.

"I don't know, but my barrister is on it. I don't like that my name is used without my consent, especially if people make up ridiculous stories about me. While I'm no slouch in what I learned at school and in sports, I doubt I could ever have tamed a rampaging Hippogriff with four. I only could walk and talk properly at that age. And stopping a flood by freezing the water with six? I didn't even have a wand until a bit over a month ago," Harry scoffed.

Hedwig hooted, agreeing with him.

"Oh yes, sorry. This stunning lady here is Hedwig, my familiar. She's a moon owl, and a feather from her is part of my wand core," Harry said while Hedwig looked around smugly.

"She's really a moon owl?" Hannah asked, awed.

"Yes. I felt a pull coming from Eeylops when I walked by with Hagrid, the gamekeeper of Hogwarts who was looking after me while I stayed in Diagon Alley until school started. I went in there and found her. I think she tested me when she stared into my eyes in a dark corner."

"I just couldn't look away. Then she flew down on my arm, nicked my finger, and I felt my magic connecting to her. It was amazing. On the way back to the Leaky Cauldron, Hagrid told me she was a moon owl," Harry shared.

"Wow. That's an even better story than those in the books," Susan remarked. "I mean, there hasn't been a moon owl that was bonded to a witch or wizard for centuries. Some people have seen one flying in the night; I know Auntie Amelia told me about having seen one when she had just started her career as an auror and had been on a stakeout at a full moon night. She looked up information about the owl as she was sure to have seen silver feathers, but she never saw one again. It's seen as a sign of good luck to see a moon owl," she explained.

"Why did you stay in Diagon Alley and not with your Muggle relatives?" Hannah asked.

"My relatives will have to defend themselves in court for several crimes against me. Let's just leave it at that," Harry said curtly. The other three exchanged glances, realizing that Harry didn't want to discuss it further, so they dropped the subject.

"Did you all grow up in the wizarding world?" Harry asked.

"Susan and I did, Hannah grew up in both worlds," Terry replied. "My dad is a barrister at law and works with two others in their law office. My mum is working as his secretary. I live with my aunt. My parents died in the war against You-Know-Who. She is the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement at the Ministry," Susan shared.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Susan," Harry said.

"It's okay. Auntie Amelia is great and treats me like her own daughter. I still miss my parents, but at least I have Auntie," Susan reassured him.

"My father works as a Herbologist for a nursery in Suffolk for magical plants used in potions. My mum is a Muggleborn, and as she didn't find a good job in the magical world, but my Muggle grandparents have a successful chain of boutiques, she started working for them. First, she was a shop assistant, but she made her degree in design and management and is now responsible for half the boutiques my grandparents have and will take over the business once Grandpa and Grandma retire," Hannah shared.

"Good for her. Does it happen often that Muggleborns don't find good jobs?" Harry inquired.

Susan and Terry shared insights into the challenges faced by Muggleborns in the magical world, with Susan explaining the prevalent prejudices, especially within the Ministry. She disclosed that career advancement often depended on blood status and family influence, with the Law Enforcement department being one of the few that valued skill over lineage. Susan amusingly recounted her Aunt Amelia's frustration with incompetent applicants, particularly during recruiting tests for the auror program and magical patrol.

Curious about the prospects for qualified Muggleborns, Harry asked, keeping his mother in mind. Susan explained that many Muggleborns started as trainees in larger companies to learn a craft. However, governmental institutions and businesses owned by pureblood supremacists posed challenges. Terry added that while there were such obstacles, progress had been made since the end of the war, and opportunities existed in businesses run by those who valued talent over blood status.

As the conversation unfolded, Harry nodded in understanding. Hedwig, perched on the luggage rack, maintained her vigilant stance. Harry, too, prepared for the journey, placing his trunk in the rack and tapping it to enlarge in case he needed anything. A smaller backpack containing essentials for the journey found its place under his seat.

Curiosity turned to the upcoming Sorting Hat ceremony. Terry posed the question, "What houses do you think you'll get sorted into?"

Susan contemplated, "I guess Hufflepuff. Most of my family on Dad's side was there, though Mum was a Gryffindor."

Hannah chimed in, "I think I'll also go to Hufflepuff. Both my parents were there, though Gryffindor could also be possible for me. My Mum used to scold me for being as reckless as a Gryffindor."

Terry confidently stated, "I'm relatively sure I'll go to Ravenclaw. I love learning new things, and I don't think I'd fit in with the Gryffindors." Each expressed their expectations, adding an air of excitement and anticipation to the journey ahead.

....

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