Altered Atlas

Harry woke up early on the day of the travel to Hogwarts. Harry had wanted to ask Severus so many things but was hesitant to do so. Thankfully Dudley asked more than enough for the both of them and his curiosity was thus sated. Harry dragged his trunk to the living room and had a simple breakfast, thanking his Aunt for the same afterwards. Aunt Petunia had just pursed her lips at Harry and his speech and then looked away.

Dudley’s monitor lizard had a whole big case to itself and Harry had only his owl cage containing his new owl Hegwig apart from his trunk. Dudley had two trunks full of stuff and assorted bags as well. Aunt Petunia fussed over him and kept repeating the same things over and over again and again, to eat, to sleep well, to study hard, to keep his father’s name in his right and bright, to write to her and more.

Dudley smiled brilliantly and agreed to the instructions flawlessly. He assured his mother that he would do all she asked and more. Aunt Petunia was most pleased with the response. She didn’t rattle off a similar list to Harry though and seemed to be avoiding him completely. Harry didn’t say anything and just gulped a pill to calm his nerve. They would be using the floo again to get to the station as that would be most convenient.

Severus appeared then and after a hug to his son and a peck to Aunt Petunia’s cheek, summoned the house elf to take the luggage to the train station as those would not fit into the fireplace. The house elf was a comparatively new one, purchased by Severus just before the birth of Dudley. The house elf chirruped its ‘yes master’ and vanished with a snap of its fingers along with all of the luggage.

Aunt Petunia went first through the floo and Dudley followed. Harry went next and Severus again brought up the rear. Harry stepped into a crowded platform and went to stand by his things and Aunt Petunia and Dudley. Guards started loading the luggage to the train and Severus got in one of the firs carriages and reserved for the staff of the school. Aunt Petunia gave Dudley a big kiss and a quick hug and stood back to let the boys climb the train.

“Shall we Harry?” Dudley asked.

Harry nodded his affirmation.

Both got into a compartment to the middle of the train and found it to be empty much to their relief. Dudley stuck his head back through the window to wave his goodbye to his mother. Harry stayed put in his seat, feeling vaguely nauseous and unprepared for what was to come. When the train started moving, Harry joined Dudley to wave his goodbye to a rapidly diminishing Aunt Petunia. Both waited till she was out of sight to return to their seats.

“Well, that wasn’t so bad now, was it?” Dudley asked merrily.

“Yeah…” Harry answered deflating into his seat. Dudley too leaned back and sat down at ease. It was then a boy slid the door to their compartment and looked around it. The boy was Harry’s age, with very very red hair that was shorn almost to the scalp. He also had a scar going over his face from eyebrow to cheek that looked red and like it hurt. His eyes didn’t look too kind and Harry gulped involuntarily.

“Can I sit here? Everywhere else is full.”

“Of course. Please come in,” Dudley invited.

The boy grunted before coming and sitting by Dudley. Perhaps Harry looked too spooked. He certainly was sweating profusely. The compartment was cool but Harry swiped his hair aside to get some air in his face. The new boy frowned at that and blurted out, shocking Harry, “You are Harry Potter.”

Harry blinked twice before giving a jerking nod to the statement.

“I am Ronald Weasley. You can call me Ron though.”

“Hi Ron,” Dudley spoke up. “I am Dudley Snape. And this here is my cousin, as you correctly said, Harry Potter.”

Ron narrowed his eyes again. He seemed to look at Harry with something akin to distrust but then just looked away.

A lady with the snack trolley came then and asked the boys if they wanted anything. Harry touched his money pouch in longing but dared not to talk with the woman he did not really know. Ron bought a chocolate frog and Harry stared at the convulsing half eaten body in shock and awe. Dudley bought two lollipops and took out the two tiffin lunches Aunt Petunia had packed for them, Harry’s one considerably smaller than Dudley’s.

“Want a bite?” Dudley asked Ron.

“I don’t like corned beef.”

“No problem.”

“Is he mute?”

“Who?” Dudley asked.

“Your cousin,” Ron said pointing out to Harry. Harry pushed back into his seat some more.

“Hmm. No. Just not a very good talked so tends to keep to himself.”

“Oh. Ok.”

“C’mon Harry, say something to your new friend.”

“Hh-hell-o,” Harry stuttered out.

Suddenly Ron’s eyes were filled with glee and he laughed out aloud. “Scared, Potter?” He asked.

“Nn-no.”

“Oh, shush, leave him alone. Don’t make him cry,” Dudley interjected.

“Does he cry very easily then?” Ron asked.

“Depends on the day of the week I guess,” Dudley answered with a small laugh of his own.

Harry felt his face blaze in embarrassment. They were talking about him as though he was not even there. He looked outside as the train seemed to be slowing down and decided that he didn’t really want to be friends with this Ronald very much.

The train came to a stop and everyone clambered down. A hairy giant was calling all the first years to him and Harry latched onto Dudley’s cloak so as not to lose contact with him. They all were taken over a lake in dinghy little boats that rocked hard with the slightest ripple. Harry felt like he was going to die any second. When they reached the other side, Harry had to hold onto his knees to get his breathing back to normal.

It was as they were waiting outside the dining hall that Harry saw for the first time the most beautiful boy he had ever seen, with white blonde hair, a confident smile and swarming with friends and well wishers. Their eyes met for a second and Harry felt like he was going to swoon. The effect of the pill had stopped so he swiped another one into his mouth. Dudley gave him a look at that but didn’t say anything.

Their teacher came back and ushered them into the dining room, a majestic space filled with all sorts of magic happening simultaneously. The room was filled with four long tables that contained quite a lot of students and to one side of the room a line of chairs that seated the staff of the school. On a chair in front of them lay a dirty old hat and Harry knew from the stories Dudley had told him it was the sorting hat.