This term is already starting well
September 1st 1976
The train rolled out of the station, leaving a trail of steam to breath for the poor souls that had decided to wave their kids goodbye. They had thought it would be a good idea and now they stood in a shit-ton of smoke from the gigantic red and golden train that was slowly but surely leaving Kings Cross on its way to Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Somewhere on the train Henry Jekyll was franticly looking for his friends. He was sure they had to be somewhere around; he had only lost them for a few minutes. His bag was heavy and because Henry never worked out and refused to do any kind of sport, the bag weighed even heavier on the poor boy. Henrys only hope was to find Robert and Gabriel in one of the compartments in this wagon or else he would have to give up because his bag was getting heavier by the second.
“Do you need help with that?”
Henry turned around, definitely not almost having received a heart attack because he was very fidgety and was running on 2 hours of sleep and 3cups of coffee. Nope, never. Behind him stood a girl slightly taller than him. She finished tying her black, wavy hair back and looked at him.
“Mina, hi, I didn’t hear you coming.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“I don’t think- I mean, no thank you. But you haven’t seen Lanyon or Utterson anywhere, have you?”
“They´re probably somewhere on the train.”
“You´re so helpful sometimes, Mina.”
“I know. Anyway, gotta go, Abraham visited his family in the Netherlands during the summer, so… you know.”
“You guys shouldn’t be smoking weed on the train, really.”
“That’s coming from the right person, isn’t it, Mr. Victorian cough syrup?”
“Now you´re just being mean.”
Mina Harker laughed, turned around and disappeared into her compartment. Henry focused again on finding his friends while walking down the corridor. He had only gotten halfway down the hall, when right next to him the compartment door flew open and smoke came out of said compartment. Henry coughed as he breathed in. It felt like acid, burning his nostrils. He coughed some more for good measure as a blonde girl in Hufflepuff attire pushed past him, turned back to face the door and shouted “I´m never traveling with you again!” at the other two people, that were clearer to see now that the smoke had almost disappeared, before running off in the direction of Minas compartment.
Right after her a boy stormed out. He had messy black hair with white strands, a rectangular pair of glasses and was dressed in the attire of Gryffindor. He stumbled to a halt right before Henry, who took a cautious step back.
“Hey Victor.”
“Henry!”
“Trouble with Elizabeth?”
The shorter boy sighted.
“Yeah… you know how girls can be.”
“Do I?” Henry raised an eyebrow “Are you sure it´s not because you almost caused an explosion? Again?”
“I read the instructions this time!”
“Do the instructions say >heat concentrated chloroform in a shaking train compartment without a proper air vent<?”
“No. But it´s not my fault!”
“Sure, whatever. Have you seen Lanyon and Utterson somewhere?”
“No, sorry. Creature, what about you?”
Nobody knows how “Creature” became a student after basically being “born” in their fifth term, but somehow the wizarding world just shrugged and accepted the 2-meter-tall patchwork-boy as a student without asking questions.
“Not asking questions” is a lie.
This is my book. I´m the narrator.
You´re a shitty narrator if you lie in your own narrative.
Oh, shut up and go pester Henry or something!
Okay. There were questions, a lot of them, because wizards are stupid by default and very neglectful in terms of science. Because science is a muggle thing, as well as basic education. You notice that if you take a look at the subjects taught in wizard school. In case you don’t know it very well, the wizard education system lacks any kind of scientific subjects, like math or physics. So we can conclude that wizards don’t know shit about science and everything that isn’t magic.
Naturally, they didn’t believe Victor when he told them that Creature hadn’t been built by magic, but sheer mad science. After some checks they had to believe him, because, while Creature had magical talent, they didn’t have any other sign of magic. So they just shrugged it off and continued on with their day.
And since wizards aren’t very religious people, they didn’t hunt Victor and Creature with torches and pitchforks for challenging god or something.
But to Henrys despise Creature hadn’t seen his friends either, so he said his goodbyes and continued to walk down the corridor. He took a look around and noticed he was alone. This was probably the best chance he would get for a long time.
Oh, so you decided to talk to me!
“Don’t get too excited, I don’t plan on doing it very often.”
What a shame. I guess you want to make a new deal?
“Yes, well, we can probably agree that we can´t keep doing it like last year. Letting you out every night is far to risky and you just leave me in the worst places in the morning. Not to mention the increased lack of sleep.”
What do you suggest then, Henry?
Hydes voice sounded like a purring cat inside his head. Henry pinched his nose and let out a sigh.
“I suggest you get my free periods when I don’t need to study.”
Can we talk about that again when we get our timetables?
“Seriously, Edward-“
“Jekyll!”
Henry spun around. A curly haired boy stuck his head out of a compartment just a few steps behind him. He surveyed Henry a short moment then leaned his head to the side.
“Looking for Lanyon and Utterson I presume?” It wasn’t really a question, but Henry felt the need to answer.
“Yes, I-“
“The last compartment on the left.”
“Thank you.”
The boy nodded and closed the door again, sitting down next to his blonde friend. Henry sighted. Sherlock Holmes was many things and unobservant was none of them. He, as well as his brother Mycroft had known what the matter with him was the moment they met Hyde for the first time during their fourth year. For some reason Henry couldn’t fathom, they had decided not to snitch on him. Hyde had provided the very helpful explanation that “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that snitches get stitches.” But despite that, Henry still was followed by the constant fear that someone would find out about his secret.
Anxiety. Don’t we all just love it?
He finally opened the door to the compartment and was greeted by the smell of more coffee.
“Hey guys!”
The two boys looked at up at their friend.
“Henry!” Utterson, the smallest of them greeted with a happy grin.
Meanwhile Lanyon moved his legs down from the seats so Henry could sit down, giving his friend a wide grin.
Hastie Robert Lanyon, who would hex you if you were to call him Hastie, was a tall boy of 17 years, with caramel skin and chocolate-brown curls which he managed to keep chin long and somehow both perfectly styled and wildly sticking out in every direction at the same time, what never ceased to amaze Henry in every way possible. He had always looked up to Robert ever since they met. You can imagine his delight when they both enrolled at Hogwarts. Luckily, Roberts parents weren’t very conservative, despite being a pureblood family and never had a problem with Henry, whose father wasn’t a wizard, like his mother.
They drew the line though when Robert was sorted into Hufflepuff. Neither Henry, nor Utterson, Hyde or the narrator had any idea why that was a bad thing. Hufflepuff is a great house, thank you very much.
Aren´t you a Slytherin?
Yeah, and what about it? Honestly, I think the rivalry thing is just fucking stupid and I know I’m not the only one who thinks that. And since this is my book, I do what I damn well please.
Henry sat down next to Utterson, who he was equally happy to see as Lanyon.
Ahem
Hyde, one more time and you go to the time out corner for two chapters.
Okay, where was I? Ah yes, there was no way Henry was pining for his kindergarden-friend since their third year, nooooooooo…
They had a good laugh about Jekyll’s story on Victor almost setting his compartment on fire and shared their own summer stories while Utterson tied his hair into a low ponytail and finally changed into the school uniform after Lanyon had reminded him the fifth time to “put on your stupid uniform or so Merlin help me!” And then, finally, after a long exhausting train ride, the Hogwarts express came to a halt.
They were there.