The Boy who Disappeared.

September 1st 

Harry cracks his eyes open as he hears talking.

"Cmon, time to get up. It's the big day! Hogwarts, here you come!" Antonin says, pulling Harry's covers off.

Harry grins, rubbing his eyes. He sits up, looking around the room. Antonin leaves him to change. He changes into some old jeans and a muggle band tee. He ties up his hair, which reaches past his shoulders. He moves to a mirror in the corner, where he looks at his reflection. His wings flutter, and his tail swishes, both black with purple outlines. His horns, one black and one purple, stick up from his tangled hair. His scar, the one he got from defeating the dark lord, streaks across his eyes, fanning out over half his face, shaped like a lightning storm. He looks away, glancing towards his trunk. He grabs his wand, slipping it into his pocket as he enters the main room. He sits down beside the fireplace, staring into the flames. Antonin hands him a bagel, cheese spilling out the sides. Harry takes it, munching on it as he imagines what house he'll be in. He hopes to be in Ravenclaw, he thinks he's pretty smart. He finishes his bagel, thanking Thorfinn for making it before Antonin moves to another room.

"The trains at 11. It's 10 right now, so we should get ready. Pack your book in your trunk and move your stuff to the living room. We'll leave at half past." He goes to a separate door closing it behind him.

Harry guesses that it's their room, but he doesn't know for certain. He goes to his room, putting his book into his trunk and buckling it shut. He levitates the trunk to the main room, picking up Adra's cage and bringing it with him. He sets his trunk down next to the bookcase, setting Arda's cage on top. He waits patiently, looking around the room every so often. Soon, Antonin comes out of his room, smiling at Harry.

"Take your cage. I'll take the trunk, You dont have to wear a cloak today; we'll be apparating straight onto the platform. You won't be returning for Yule or Easter holidays; if you do, we won't be here. Cmon, then grab Adra, and we'll get going." He takes Harry's trunk, moving to the middle of the room.

Harry picks up Adra, holding Antonin's hand as he apparates them to Kings Cross. Harry opens his eyes as he hears chatter around him. He sees families moving around, chatting, and helping kids onto the train. Antonin leads Harry through the crowd to the back of the train. He hands Harry his trunk, ignoring the stares from other people.

"Get a carraige near the back. Dont let anyone bully you. Uhh, owl us when you're sorted, and enjoy yourself. I'll see you in summer. Bye, kid." With one last smile, Antonin dissapparates, leaving Harry alone. 

Harry drags his trunk on board, ignoring the way people are pointing at him and backing away. He flicks his tail, getting his trunk on board. He finds an empty compartment, putting his trunk in the holders with Adra's cage. He looks out the window, staring at the happy families. Suddenly, a train horn blows, sending everyone scrambling onto the train. Harry watches the platform empty of kids, leaving behind parents. Another horn blows, this one making the train start to move. Harry watches the platform speed by, disappearing when they move to the countryside. He watches the green hills roll by, flocks of sheep and cows appearing here and there. Suddenly, the compartment door opens. Harry turns to see a frizzy-haired girl standing there, gawking at Harry. Harry gets annoyed.

"It's not nice to stare. What do you want?" He asks

"What are you?" She asks, nervously shifting from foot to foot. 

Harry rolls his eyes.

"I dunno, I was born human, though." He shrugs. "So, why are you here?" 

"A boy called Neville has lost his toad. I was wondering if you've seen it." She replies, her voice taking on a snarky tone. 

Harry shakes his head, 

"Sorry, haven't seen no toad. Hope you find it, though." 

The girl nods, abruptly closing the door and walking away. Harry turns back to the window, watching as the sun slowly stretches across the sky. A few minutes later, the door opens again, this time, a slim blond boy entering, dragging his trunk and a cage with him.

"Mind if I sit here? Everywhere else is full." He asks, not looking at Harry.

"Sure," Harry says, hearing the boy gasp when he looks up. 

"Your wings are so pretty. And your horns. Merlin, you even have a tail! Are you human?" The boy asks, curiosity filling his voice. 

"Yes. I was born one. Don't you think im a freak? A monster?" Harry asks, turning to face the boy. 

"A monster? No! You seem really nice. I'm Draco, Draco Malfoy." He replies, reaching out his hand.

"I'm Harry, Harry Potter," Harry says, shaking Draco's hand. 

Draco stops.

"You're Harry Potter? The boy who disappeared the night he defeated the dark lord?" He asks, his voice full of awe.

Harry looks at him in confusion.

"Who? I don't know any 'dark lord. '" He says.

"Really? You don't know your own story? Well, I'll tell you if you want, you're very famous." 

Draco sits down beside Harry after shoving his trunk and cage in the holders. 

"Alright then. I'm listening." Harry says, turning to face Draco.

Draco smiles and begins to tell him the story all about his life. Harry listens with curiosity; Antonin or Thorfinn never told him anything like this. Just as Draco is telling Harry about the time the Dark Lord broke into the house, a knock at their carriage door interrupts them. A gangly, ginger-haired boy enters, looking disgusted at the sight of Harry and Draco. 

"What are you? A freak?" The boy jeers.

"No, I am not. Now, I suggest you leave before I blast you out the window." Harry says, taking a step towards the boy and fanning his wings.

"I'm not scared of you, monster. You have no power. You deserve to rot in a zoo." The boy laughs, and Harry hears more laughter outside of the carriage. 

Harry gets frustrated. Draco moves forward, facing the ginger boy.

"Says you. Red hair and a hand-me-down robe? You must be a Weasley." He sneers, turning away to go sit down. 

The ginger boy whips out his wand, pointing it at Draco's back. Harry reacts quickly. He growls, lightning sparkling out his fingers. The boy turns to Harry, a glint of fear in his eyes. Harry hisses at the boy, stepping closer to defend his only friend. The boy runs out, shouting about how there's a monster on board the train. Harry calms down, taking his wand and locking the door. He sits back down, his tail flicking around. Draco continues his story, talking all the way through the countryside. An announcement says they will arrive at Hogwarts soon, and the boys get changed. Harry struggles with his robes, seeing as they don't have holes for his wings. Draco helps him, slicing thin lines through the fabric, helping Harry pull his wings through. 

They arrive at the station, stepping out of the carriage and walking over to a large shape that is calling over the first years.

"Firs' years! Firs' years over here! You got ye toad? Follow me!" The shape leads them to a dock, boats littered around the sides. 

Harry and Draco take one boat, no one else daring to get closer to Harry. The large man looks around, taking count of everyone. 

"Everyone on a boat? Alrigh' then, forward!" He shoots out a pink umbrella that somehow makes the boats all start forward.

They peacefully row out of the dock, coming round a side to see a magnificent castle, standing high on an edge of rocks. They sail forward, watching the lights in the castle shimmer against the night. Other kids attempt to splash Harry with the lake water, right until a tentacle emerges from the water, and Harry pets it. They approach the cliffs, going under and reaching a covered dock. They all get off the boats, lining up in front of the large man. The doors open, and he leads them into a corridor. Harry can hear chatter through the walls, and he gets excited. A strict-looking lady appears from a set of doors, from which Harry can hear the most sound from.

"Hello, children. You will now follow me into the great hall, but before you can take your seats, you must be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Follow me in silence, please." She announces.

She turns to the doors, pushing them open, and walking in. Harry gets shoved to the back of the line, Draco just in front of him. They enter the hall, everyone looking at them. Harry can hear multiple gasps as he enters, and he flicks his tail nervously. The lady stops in front of the group of first years, taking out a list from her robes. She places a wooden stool down in the middle of the stage, placing an old frayed hat on top. 

"I will now read out your name. When you are called, come up and try on the sorting hat. It will tell you what house you are in. Abbott Hannah!" She says, shouting out the first student's name.

A little girl walks forward, sitting down on the stool as the lady puts the hat on her. It takes a few moments before the hat screams out, "HUFFLEPUFF!" A table towards the side claps loudly, and the girl walks off to join them. The lady keeps calling out names, the kids all walking off to join their tables. 

"Malfoy Draco!" The lady says, and Draco walks up. 

Harry smiles at him, and he smiles back as the hat gets put on his head. He waits for a few seconds before the hat screams, "SLYTHERIN!" Harry claps for him as he goes to the far left table. More names are called until there's only Harry, the ginger boy, and a few others. 

"Potter, Harry!" The lady calls. 

The entire hall goes silent as Harry walks up. He can hear gasps and shrieks of fear as he sits down and the lady puts the hat on his head. It just fits over his horns.

Well, well, who do we have here? Harry Potter? How curious. You have lots of bravery, and you are very talented, oh yes. You have a thirst to prove yourself, and you are ready to jump headfirst into danger. Let's see, the best house for you is,

"SLYTHERIN!" The hat calls. 

No one claps, except a few polite people. Harry goes to join Draco, who is smiling at him widely. The lady pauses for a few seconds before calling up another name.

"Weasley Ronald!" She calls.

The ginger boy from before walks up, sitting down on the stool. A few seconds later, the hat bellows, "GRYFFINDOR!" And a table in the middle claps loudly for him. The lady calls up a few more people, before Draco grips Harry's arm, whispering in his ear.

"The last one is my childhood friend. Blaise. Let's hope he gets put in Slytherin!" Draco says, turning to look at his friend.

"Zambini Blaise!" The lady calls, and the boy, being the last one, walks up and sits down.

A second later, the hat screams, "SLYTHERIN!" And their table claps for Blaise, who sits down next to Draco. 

"Hey, Draco, who is this? Made a new friend on the train? Oh! You're Harry Potter! Nice to meet you, Im Blaise." Blaise shakes Harry's hand. 

"Nice to meet you, too. Im starving." Harry says, looking to the front as an old man stands up. 

"Hello, students! I am Professor Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts! I have a few start-of-term notices. For first years, the forbidden forest is completely out of bounds for every student. Next, do not enter the room on the third corridor on the third floor unless you wish to die a very painful death. Now, let us eat!" He claps his hands, and the plates in front of them fill with all sorts of food. 

Harry watches everyone dig in, and he grabs a few things that look good. He nibbles on his food, finding it tastes good but somehow off. He looks around the staff table. He meets eyes with a professor, who has scars everywhere and grey hairs despite him looking quite young. The professor politely smiles at him before turning to continue his conversation with the strict lady from before. Harry turns to his friends, who are chatting about what their timetables will be. 

"I heard Professor Lupin is a very good DADA teacher! He's apparently the best in the school! I can't wait to have him." Draco says, pointing to the professor, who just smiled at Harry. 

"I can't wait for Potions. Professor Snape is our head of year, so it'll be better than most lessons." Blaise says, discreetly pointing to a teacher on the other side of Professor Lupin. 

The boys continue chatting until the plates of food vanish, and Dumbledore stands up and wishes everyone a good night. They walk out of the hall, down to the dungeons with the other Slytherins. They wait in the common room with the other first-year Slytherins. Professor Snape suddenly walks in, calling all first years to listen up. 

"Hello children. I am Professor Snape, your head of house and your potions master. If you head down that passageway, you will arrive to your dorms. There are two in each dorm, your names are on the door. Have a good night. Curfew is 9," Professor Snape says, walking out. 

Harry, Draco, and Blaise all walk down the corridor, Blaise finding his dorm first and wishing the others goodnight. Harry finds his dorm next, and by some miracle, he's sharing it with Draco. They enter their dorm, finding their trunks at the foot of their beds. Draco takes his clothes and toiletries to go and get ready for bed as Harry gets changed in the room. He pulls off his robes, hanging them up, and pulling on his pajama bottoms. He prefers to sleep topless as it's more comfortable for his wings. He grabs his copy of Hogwarts: A History and continues reading it. He hears the door open, and he sees Draco standing there. Draco walks over to his side of the room, which consists of a bed, a wardrobe, and a desk; Harry's side reflecting it. He puts his things away, placing his wand on his bedside table and sitting down on his bed. He looks over to Harry, a pink tinge flitting across his face.

"Goodnight, Harry. See you tomorrow." He says, lying down and pulling the covers over himself.

"Night, Draco," Harry replies, turning to his side and putting the light out. 

He lies there for a while, thinking about his day. He can't wait for tomorrow. He can't wait for his classes to start. 

He can't wait to learn some magic.