wow its big
Chapter 6
Wow… its big!
So we are here. Kings cross station is before us and I'm now shitting myself. Its real its actually going to be happening. I mean I’m going to a school to learn magic. I’m holding my Holly and phoenix feather wand in my hand which is currently hiding in my pocket. Sam has the trolley with all my things on it ready to take them inside. “You don’t have to go if you don’t want to, you know.” I know I don’t have to he has said this a million times since I told him I was going. I don’t thunk he wants me to go but he has no choice. This is a once and a lifetime opportunity and he knows it. I don’t think he would be so petty as to hold that against me. I know that if the roles were reversed that I would let him go. Besides its not like I’m not coming back.
“Yeah I know. Its just real now you know? Before this it was just talk but now…” I look up at him. I'm trying to control my breathing but my chest is starting to get heavy and I can feel the pressure behind my eyes. A small dollop of tear threatens to fall down my cheek. “I’m going to miss you.” I am, so much. He was the first person to show me any true form of compassion. He was the first one to show me he loved me. In spite of all my issues he has been nothing but my rock and I love him for it. No one can replace him.
“I’m going to miss you to short stuff.” He puts an arm around my shoulder and and gives me a squeeze. I wipe whatever is left in my eyes, harden my resolve. I can always apperate back. We have talked about that. Walking into the station there is a steady stream of people moving around in multiple directions. We go over to the path between platforms 9 and 10. I see a family in front of me. They were quite a big family, with about 5 kids and the small but very plump red headed lady was trying to get them into some resemblance of order. She wasn't having much luck. I didn’t here what one of the taller twin boys said but I watched as he finished saying it, grinning and running into the wall. I was about to scream out and stop him but a quick realisation and I’m like yeah the wall is magic duhhh. He disappears and his twin follows. We walk up to them and I give the woman a smile. Sam does to but I think he's smiling more at the carnage that had just been taking place rather than just giving her a smile for the sake of it.
“Hello dears. Do you need any help getting onto the platform?” I shake my head, Alice has already gone through it with me and I'm feeling quite comfortable in my ability to walk in a straight line. “No problem dear. Ron off you go, your next. Ginny hold my had we will be going straight after Percy. The Small red headed boy nodding and taking a breath he sort of runs but walks into the wall passing through it and onto I’m guessing is platform 9¾. The older boy follows as does the woman and a young girl. Which through extreme deliberation I came to the conclusion was called Ginny.
“You ready?” Sam asks me.
“Hahahaha, fuck no but to quote some great man at some point in time ‘Fuck it’.” He laughs that sexy laugh and we walk through the entrance together. I do have to say that the magical world seems to like their elaborate entrances.
What proceeded made me grin and smile a genuine smile so big it threatened to split my face. I see a tidele wave of people moving around a huge red steam engine. Chatter loud but unclear. Trunks and trolleys moving around. Guided but students and parents alike. Owls hooting as their cages are moved onto the train. I see floating trunks. Its incredible. If this is a taste of things to come, then I’m so glad I’m a wizard. The atmosphere is alive, and that might not be far from the truth. On the other side of the barrier I could feel magic. Just floating around the surface of the entrance which if I assumed correctly was the the magic leaking off the entrance. It gave me no idea of the magnitude of the power on the other side. The train itself has magic coming off it in waves. The people waving wands sending my what I'm now assuming is magic sensor of some kind, haywire. Its so much I feel like I’m bathing in it.
“Would you like me to give you a few minutes alone?” Sam breaks me out of my stupor.
“Huh?” I must have been looking around like I was going to pee or something.
“If I didn’t know better I could have sworn you were about to jism your pants. I’m going to guess your getting that feeling again?” I nod, I have told him all about the feelings I get around magic. I have even talked about it to Alice. She was telling me that its not that common to be that hyper sensitive to ambient magic but after finding out Ive been doing loads of magic that even she cant do yet without a wand, she thought it might be that. She said she was going to go check the library when we get to school.
Sam gives me a hand with my trunk. Ive made it feather light but I like to made him feel all alpha male. He always gets a big kick out of it. So with that done and the whistle to tell us that we had only a few minutes left I give Sam the biggest tightest hug Ive ever given anyone. After a few seconds we pull apart slightly and he brings a had to my cheek. “You know where I am if you need me.” I nod again, cant bring myself to say anything. I think he knows I don’t like goodbyes. He gives me a loving kiss. Something soft and gentle and tenderness he doesn’t often have. He's telling me he loves me, that he's here for me.
“I’ll make sure to write and tell you everything before I go to bed tonight.” he smiles and gives me one final swift hug and I get on the train and get into the compartment that I put my stuff in. no one else was in there so I tried to see Sam. I see him and give him one last wave before the train starts to slowly move forward. I keep waving till I no longer see him.
It hits me I’m on my own now, for the first time in years I’m out for an adventure. Lets fuck shit up.
Not having any shit yet in order to fuck it up I instead opt to read one of my school books again. Ive already read them the moment I got them. Its been so interesting learning about all the other avenues of magic that I have never even contemplated before. I especially love potions. The shit you can make with that and you don’t even need to be magical to do it. I want to do enchant runes but we don’t start that till third year so I got a book on the basics when I was in the book store. Again its something that doesn’t need a wand so I can use it for jobs until I come of age and can use it in earnest. I did talk to Alice about how this whole trace thing works. She had said that we are all registered with the ministry. It seems that they have some automated process. Which if right means I could have a way to bypass it. When things become automated then it become easier to find loopholes. The only issue would that be would be sneaking into the ministry. As you can imagine that thought alone sends a wicked smile to appear on my face. That might be something I might attempt in the future if it means ridding myself of this fucking trace.
Its not long before Alice turns up and sits herself down. She says she's only popping in as she wants to meet up with the rest of her friends. Its not worries. We talk for a bit then her friends Rachel turns up and whisks her away to talk to some boy. He was and I quote ‘fit as fuck’. Made me want to go see for myself. I’m not left alone long before someone just barges into my compartment sits down in the corner of the room and starts to cry.
I have no fucking clue about what to do here. I cant see her face due to the mass of bushy brown hair that is blocking my view of her face. I’m not good with people crying. I know I should be with the amount that I do but for me its just a way of stress relief. Though Sam has been showing me that there are other ways I can alleviate stress and they were, very, very good fun. I know I don’t cry for long so I just leave her and assume she will sort her shit out and she will probably feel better.
Nothing else better to do I pull out my rolling pouch and set up the skins. Rolling one with the stuff we got from Diagon ally I pull out my Zippo that Sam got me as a reminder of him. I didn’t need a reminder but its nice to have something from him with me and I can use it and think of him. The clicking noise seems to draw the attention of my new guest. Turning her head to the side a bit she looks through the corner of her eye and sees me. I don’t see much of her but I see enough to know her eyes have just gone wide. I just wave and say hello.
She quickly recovers, which impresses me, sorting out her errant hair. She's a cute little thing but she has these big ol teeth that you cant help but look at. “Wanna talk about it. I have been told I’m a good listener but then that was only Sam saying it so I suppose it doesn’t count.” she gives a little chuckle then her eyes dart to the joint going into my mouth. He eyes burgle out of her head at this. “sorry I will open the window I didn’t even think.” she just starts to point at it in my hand.
“isn't that illegal?”
“Not in the wizarding world.” is say with a big Cheshire cat grin. “Its used in calming droughts and other potions.” and its is after reading through my potion books I was surprised to find out that why the apothecary had so much in, its a commonly used item. She just nods her head at me understanding. “I’m Harry Potter what's your name?” She manages to spit her name out in-between blushes. Hermione does the whole star struck thing that I got with Alice but Alice wasn't that annoying about it. Well she didn’t relish in telling me about things in my life I would rather not talk about, you know like the death of my parents. Interestingly enough she had told me one of her books that was about famous witches and wizards had told her that I was residing with my last servicing relatives and was living a happy and healthy childhood. I burst into laughter a that. She looked a bit insulted when I told her that that was a bunch of shit.
“But how can they publish it if its wrong?” she looked genuinely confused that something in a book that was professionally printed just happened to be a complete lie.
“Don't always believe what you hear. Its not always gospel of Paul. No I spent my life on the streets. Had it not been for Sam and the guys I would probably be dead now. The streets are tough at 7. but its okay now though. Me and Sam are together have been for months now and thanks to a few jobs that me and the guys pulled off last year we have had no worries about money or a roof over our head. Its been nice actually. I never knew what stability was like until I got some.” finishing with a giggle I let that information sink in. I didn’t think it would be so hard for people to believe that that's how I lived. Mind you, whoever is the one that is writing these books needs to start handing over some fucking royalties if they want to start making up lies about me. And to at least make me sound cooler in the process.
“Anyway, what's with all the tears? Want me to kick someone arse?” she laughs and says no. she tells me that some red head was giving her jip after he tried to impress her with a spell that didn’t work. He was nasty to the other kid there to. I think she said his name was Nevill. Poor guy just wanted to find his frog so she helped. The more she talked and told her story the more I liked the girl. She was sweet and innocent, she tied to help someone she didn’t know. Not traits I get to see to often.
“Don't worry about it he sounds like a right tit. Don’t let people like that get to you they ain’t worth it and they sure as hell don’t care about you so don’t worry. People like that get what's coming to them.” giving me an award winning smile she continues her story.
“Thing is he said he knew you.” Huh. I wouldn't hang out with someone like that. He sounds awful. “He said he was friends with you. That is if your the same Harry Potter he was talking about.”
“Wait! Hold on a second. Go back to the beginning. How am I his friend?”
“When I first walked in he was telling the two other people there that he was friends with Harry Potter. That he saw you in the platform and you were saying your going to be best of friends. He said you have been for years and that we should as his twin brothers. He said they were in third year.”
“My friend Alice is in third year but I don’t know any twins…” the it hits me. The family in kings cross. The ginger kid that went after the twins. If I remember rightly the twins are the notorious Weasley twins. “She has mentioned the Weasley twins, she says they love to prank people and that they get into trouble all the time. I didn’t know they had a brother though. She never mentioned him. I did see their family at kings cross. Their mother asked me if me and Sam needed help. That was it I didn’t even say a word to her let alone him. How did he even know my name?”
“Your scar is more famous than you are and it is quite distinct.” I never though about my scar before. I always just thought I got it from one of the many kicks to the head I received from the Dursley's. According to Hermione it was given to me because of the killing curse that I survived. Alice didn’t say anything about that but I get the distinct impression that Hermione is a little less social than Alice is. Maybe she just had enough decorum to not mention it as it might be a touchy subject. Luckily it isn't and we just move on form the conversation.
We talk about school and what lessons we will be having. We get on the subject of houses when the door to the compartment opens and Nevill enters and we get formally introduced. He's nice but very shy. I don’t get much of a conversation from him but he seems harmless so I leave be. We get disturbed by Alice who just so happens to bring along the Weasley twins. They seemed very eager to meet me. From the gibberish that I could understand Alice has regaled them with stories of some of my mischief and that made them wanna meet me more. In all fairness I wanted to meet them too and I’m so glad I did. I think it may be the start of a beautiful friendship. I did mention their dick head of a brother they said it sounded like something he would do and that they would sort it.
Everyone seems to be having a blast, even scared Nevill has a big smile on his face as he laughs at the jokes being tossed around. It gets to that time where we have to get changed and everyone leaves. Only me and Hermione are left and she's looking at me weirdly as I just strip and get changed I have boxes on so its not like she's getting a show. Ive become comfortable changing in female company. So many years of living with Tash will do that to you, the girl has no shame. “Are you not changing?” I ask “We’re getting close.”
“I’m not changing in front of you!”
“What? I'm covered and your covered. What's the matter?”
“Your a boy this is wrong!” I cant help but laugh at this. I forget she doesn’t know I have no interest in girls.
“I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable but if it makes you feel any better. I don’t like girls like that. I kinda have a boyfriend.” she's just looking at me.
“Really?” her voice is high pitched and screechy. It was a bit painful to listen to actually. I just not my head affirming the answer.
“Yeah. Sam, he is the one. We have been together since the guys and me when to London. We came back and we have been together since. We share the flat together.” she looks amazed
“that's fantastic, Ive never had a gay friend before.” now I know this sounds weird but I have never thought about it like that before. To me it was always just about me loving Sam and him loving me. None of the guys have ever described it as such. I mean, I know the term and I know what it means and now that I think about it that is what it is. Ive just honestly never but the two together. Strange.
Either way this pleases her enough to start getting changed and before you know it everyone one comes back and we pick up where we left off. Next stop Hogwarts and to try some of this food the twins keep going on about. It cant be that good, can it?
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The train came to a stop and we all filed out like good little worker ants. Me and Hermione and Nevill say goodbye to the others and with the help of some of the older older students guiding us, I’m going to take a wild swing and saw that these are the prefects that Alice has been telling me about. They point us into the direction of Hagrid. I could tell it was him by the fact that he's fucking huge and hard to miss. After calling all the first years over he takes us to the lake shore like where there were boats lined up ready for us to get into. They really seem to like the entrances in the world of magic and when I think about it, if you could make the world cooler wouldn't you? I know I would and I plan to hopefully do just that.
The trip on the boats was amazing. The night was mild and the sky was clear. All the stars were there for you to see. It was beautiful, when the castle came into view for the first time. Okay! This is fucking awesome. The castle looming over us its reflection in the water slowly being disturbed by the ripples from the boat. The castle is gigantic. It seems to stretch up to the very heavens. Towers spiking up into the clouds.
All of a sudden something happens and its feels like I just went through the barrier at platform 9¾. It was like being fit by a small slap it was so obvious. Looking around everything is different. It sparkles more. Its radiating magic like nothing Ive ever seen. It makes the ambient magic around Diagon ally look like an amateur attempt at what Hogwarts has. It feels like I'm being charged to my very core. I see the giant castle looming in the dark no longer as just a castle. No no no, its so much more. This place is sacred. This land the castle is built on means something to the world, its important to the users of magic. I don’t need someone to tell me this. Its evident. I can see why they would have a school here. Even the people around me seem to feel something. Does this place help you connect to your magic making it easier to learn? I can see how this would make sense. I will have to look up a bit of history on the place. It didn’t say anything about it in Hogwarts; a history. Maybe this famous library that both Alice and Hermione seem to have coveted.
We enter the tunnels underneath the castle. The roof is smooth and rounded and to the right there is a stone walkway. The lake isn't tidal judging by the look of the algi growing along the water line. The boats stop next to the walkway and we all get out. Its amazing that all of these boats just knew exactly where to go and where to stop. Magic is awesome and I'm going to have to see how they do that. I could think of a few ways I could use that for something fun or hell even something for graft.
We collect near a door where a very stern looking witch stands waiting. “Welcome to Hogwarts.” she pauses for a second making sure she has every-bodies undivided attention. “The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room.”
“The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.” This chick needs to get laid. She is far to intense. Looking around again I cant help but think that she's trying to scare the shit out of us. Maybe its a way of making her life easier. If we are shit scared then we will go out of our way not to get in trouble or in my case get caught.
“The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting.”
“I shall return when we are ready for you, Please wait quietly.” I can hear whispers of people asking how we get sorted into our houses. I’m lucky I have an Alice and she's been through it. I can manage a stupid hat easy. But I don’t tell them this. Let them suffer like their parents obviously want them to, or they would have told them what it will be.
“Its true then? Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts. I can hear the murmurs as they all wonder who it is. I can feel Hermione put a hand on my shoulder. Bless her, yep definitely a keeper. This blond little fuck wit comes up to me a big smirk on his face. “I am Draco Malfoy and I could be a good friend to you.” looking right at me and holding out his hand for me to shake. I just raise an eyebrow. This pompous little prick. Ive had bigger dicks for breakfast. He’s eyeing up Hermione and I'm not liking the looks. “You have to be careful about the friends you make here Potter. Better to not make friends with the wrong sort. Wouldn't want to stain your reputation by associating with mudbloods.” now this took me off guard, Ive not heard anyone mention this before and it wasn't refereed to in any books so I’m assuming its a slur, a bad one with the way some people began to scowl and other gasp. Okay shit stain, not today.
“Let me make this very clear. The only one here that is dirty here is you, you seem to be covered from all the shit you seem to talk.” he's not happy now. The hand retracts and I can see it hover above his wand. I’m not taking risks and don’t even go for my wand. I use the spell that stops people moving fuck I forgot what it is. Luckily I don’t need to know the incantation or wand to do it so with a dangerous smile I look at him. Features frozen in mid curse, his hand clearly pulling his wand from his pocket. He doesn’t move any more and just stands there. “ah ah ahhh. Not so fast little blond bitch. You ain't shit. Don’t fuck with me or you will wake up in the lake every morning. Understood? Blink twice for yes.” he blinks twice and I just leave him there like that until the professor comes back and takes us through to the great hall. I'm tempted to just leave him there and see how long it takes them to realise but I don’t want to stick a target on my back from the staff. The kids are fair game but I want to make my live easy and I need the teachers on side for that.
We are all lined up outside the colossal doors taking us to the great hall. The deputy head mistress takes us in and down towards the staff table at the end of the hall. We have to pass all the other students. They are sitting on the tables that line the room. There are four, one for each. You can feel all the eyes of the room on you. It got a bit intense.
They called out our names one by one and we go forward and stick the sorting hat on our heads. The hat shouts out the house and they cheer for their new member. The group dwindles down and they finally reach the p’s. My name gets called out and I take some tentative steps forward then move with confidence. Ive robbed people this is nothing, this is nothing. The hat is plonked on my head and in my ear and here a whisper. Then a loud shout that practically scared the shit out of me.
Hmmm. What do we have here?
Hey. What's up?
Well this is certainly more entertaining than most restarted 11 year olds. You've done some serious stuff kid.
Your point being?
Hahahaha. Your going to give that old arse licker Dumbledor a good run for his money. But where to put you? I see you stupidly running into danger seems to be your thing, Gryffindor would be perfect for you but I also see ambition and a thirst to prove yourself. The night in London is evident of that.
Its fun! Running head on into things.
Well I have my answer, better make it
“GYRIFFINDOR” The hat shouts loud enough to rattle my head. I smile and I go take a seat next to Hermione. I look across the hall to the Ravenclaw table to see if I could see Alice. I do and I catch her eye. She gives me a big smile and a wave but I can see she's a little sad. So am I but after hearing all about the houses from her I knew I could only be one of two places. I’m guessing I’m more stupidly brave than I am ambitious. I can see why. After the clapping stops and the other first years are sorted into their houses. Turns out that blond prick is in Slytherin, dodged a bullet there I think. The twin’s brother Ron is here though so I can have everything but its negated a bit when the twins come over and sit on either side of me.
“So we have ‘the Potter’, then do we George?” he wraps his arm round me. I’m a bit stumped at what to say. The seem rather pleased to see me.
“Indeed we do dear brother and with this great power we shall covert all of Hogwarts most beautiful woman.” getting progressively louder and preclaiming it all like he's the king declaring a new law, he swings a arm over Fred’. I hear a chuckle to my right and catch Hermione’ eye and we both laugh along with everyone else. How little you know boys. They leave me be after a few minutes of talking to go back to their food. The fact that the food appears out of no where is cool. Even the food makes a fabulous entrance.
We eat, we drink, we chat happily meeting all the Gryffindor’s, first years and more. Having already having the twins on side was a nice touch. I would always prefer to be the right hand of the devil than in his path and these boys leave a wave of destruction in the wake.
I wave at Alice to come over but she seems to not want to. If he mountain wont come to mohammod or something like that. I walk over to the Ravenclaw table and go to take a seat but the girls sitting there are just looking at me.
“Can we help you?” Is she turning her nose up at me?
“Yeah you can move your arse along so I can talk to Alice.” she looks offended and I don’t give a toss. Alice is sitting with a little smirk that she's trying and failing to hide.
“Well, I never! How da...”
“Maybe you should then maybe you wouldn't be such a wanker.” I just stick my leg in the gap between her and her rather large friend. “there we go, make room for the fairy.” Alice is audible laughing now and I'm trying so hard to keep a straight face that its starting to get uncomfortable. Better put these bitches in their place before they think that they can run rings around me. “So Alice, hows the grub over here, any different from the gryffs over there?” Well that was all it took to start a conversation with her. We had a few people who joined into our conversation at points and it was quite fun. I met Cho Chang who I got into a neat little discussion about Quidditch. She's a second year and she gets to try out for the team and from what her friends seem to be saying is that she good. Plays seeker which is the one that catches the little ball.
Personally I think just flying around looking for a little gold ball seems fucking boring. Let me have a go at chaser that seems like the most fun. You get to basically play football on a broom and have avoid getting hit by things flying at you at 100 miles an hour. Which is awesome as football is shit when you have to run all the time. I know I train and stuff but the running is only so I’m fitter than the Rozers. Don’t wanna have to do it all the time.
I go back to the gryffs not long before dinner ends and we are lead to our dorms. We follow Percy who is the twins’ brother. He seems like a nerd but seems canny. The common room is enormous with comfy chairs littering the place with a scattering of tables. There are a few super soft couches in front of the fire where it would be perfect to sit and chill in front of. Everything seems to be in a shade of red and gold and honestly is a bit to much. Its not exactly tasteful but then again I like brightness is my house. Its very homely I suppose.
Turns out I'm sharing a room with that prick Ron but Dean and Seamus seem really cool and I have the sneaking suspicion that Seamus bats for my team if the looks he was giving Dean had anything to do with it.
Getting into the large four poster bed all on my own and for the first time since I arrived I’m feeling very alone. I normally have Sam her to keep me warm and cuddle me and look after me if I'm having my night terrors. None of that today. I go to sleep thinking about what I miss the most about him. It was a long list no wonder I fell asleep.