Chapter four
The twin's last month at the Durley's was full of studying for the school year. When Uncle Vernon had tried to lock their school supplies away in their cupboard Chris had pulled his wand out and threatened to give the entire family a pig's tail. Of course Uncle Vernon had no idea that Chris's wand wouldn't have let him do that if he had tried to.
His wand was 12 1/2" long, made of Laurel, and had a Unicorn hair core. When Chris had his wand in his hand Ollivander told him, "It is said that laurel wand cannot perform a dishonorable act." So Chris and Harry got to spend the rest of their summer reading about the world they were about to join based on an empty threat.
Chris had insisted that Harry read the first chapter of each book they bought for school so they wouldn't be behind. They also practiced how to hold their wands as they didn't want to accidently get hurt.
By the time August came and went Harry and Chris had mastered the Swish-and-Flick ,along with the correct pronunciation, of Wingardium Leviosa and they knew the theory behind making a perfect Draught of Living Death. Although Chris knew that if he wanted to succeed in Potions he would have to talk to the professor as soon as possible to explain his condition.
On the night of August Harry and Chris were in a heated debate on how they would get to the train station tomorrow morning.
"Why can't we just ask Uncle Vernon to take us?"
Chris gave his brother a look. "The man already hates us and magic. The last thing we need to do is ask him to take us platform nine and three-quarters."
"I don't get why you don't want to just ask." Harry said with confusion.
"Harry the platforms at the train station go from numbers one through ten. There is no such thing as three-quarters of a platform. It's a wizard thing."
"So you want to take the-"
"The Knight Bus." Chris confirmed interrupting Harry. "According to one of the books I bought all we have to do is raise our wand in the air and bus will appear to take us where we want to go.
Harry looked suspicious, "Where did you find that information? We read the same things and I don't remember reading about anything called the Knight Bus."
"It was in one of the books Draco told me buy."
"I knew it! You bought those books after I told you not to. That Malfoy boy is bad news and I don't trust him."
Chris gave Harry and his crossed arms an unimpressed look. "Harry, first of all, you may think you were born first, but that doesn't give you the right to tell me what to do. Second of all, I already told you that there was something about him and the way he talked. Didn't you think it was strange the way he kept saying what his father thought instead giving his own opinion."
"No. What was strange was you not defending Hagrid when he when Malfoy called him a savage. Hagrid was nothing but nice to us and you repay him by not defen-"
"I did defend Hagrid. Besides he wasn't calling Hagrid a savage he said that what his father said. You were standing right there when I told Draco that I would introduce them when school starts so he can form an opinion that doesn't belong to his father."
"Fine, but if he insults Hagrid again I'll learn a hex just to use it on him."
"No you won't." Chris tells him with a look. "If Draco insults Hagrid or you, for that matter, I'll handle it. Okay?"
Harry nods his head. "Okay. Now about the Knight Bus. Is it safe?"
"It's the only safe and legal way we can travel. We can't apparate until we're seventeen and our fireplace isn't hooked up to the floo network."
"I don't know what any of that is."
"Just read the book I bought, Brother-Mine. It will explain everything you need to know."
Chris went to his trunk and gave the book ,A WIzard's Guide to Traveling by Bathilda Bagshot, to Harry. "Read this so you know what to expect when we get on the bus tomorrow morning."
"Hello there lads, I'm Stanley Shunpike. Where to?"
Chris and Harry were standing outside of the Dursley's house at five o'clock in the morning. They wanted to be out of the house before their relatives woke up so they wouldn't have to deal with them on their first day of freedom.
"We need to get Kings Cross station. We start our first year at Hogwarts today." Harry told the man eagerly.
"Hogwarts you say. Well climb aboard and I'll get there."
Chris handed the man fourteen sickles and in return he got his ticket, a water bottle, and a toothbrush. Harry, despite Chris's warning last night, gave Stan eleven sickles for his ticket and a cup of hot chocolate.
Two minutes into the ride and Chris was watching barely able to withhold his laughter as Harry tried valiantly to stop his hot chocolate from spilling on him.
By the time the ride was over Harry had managed to get his beverage all over his clothes and in his hair.
"Here Harry use the water to get the chocolate out of your hair."
"Are you sure? You're not going to drink it?"
"Harry If I was going to drink it I would have done so already. Take the water bottle and go clean your hair. I'll put our trunks on a trolley and go stand by the platforms. If we're lucky another you know what family will show up and we can ask them how to get to our platform you know where.
Two hours later and their luck pulled through when Harry noticed a family of redheads showed up talking about platform nine and three-quarters. They watched curiously as the woman who must have been the mother called one of the kids name Percy and told him to go first. Percy walked in between platforms nine and ten and kept walking and right as the boy reached the wall a crowd of tourist showed up and blocked their view. By the time the crowd was gone so was the boy.
They watched as the mother called up one of the twins, Fred, and told him to go.
"I'm not Fred, I'm George," said the boy. "Honestly ,woman, call yourself our mother? Can't you tell I'm George?"
"Sorry, George, dear?"
"Only joking, I am Fred," said the boy, and off he went. HIs twin called after him to hurry up, and he must have done, because a second later, he had gone-but how had he done it?"
Now the third brother was walking briskly towards the ticket barrier-he was almost there-and then, quite suddenly, he wasn't anywhere.
"Should we ask them how to do whatever it is they're doing?" Harry whispered.
"You do it. I'll stand back, but first. Their hair it's-
"Red. The entire family has red hair."
Chris nodded. "Right. That's what a thought."
"Don't worry Brother-Mine. You'll get there." Harry said nudging Chris's shoulder before walking towards the family.
"Excuse me," Harry said to the mother with Chris standing beside him.
"Hullo, dears." she said. "First time at Hogwarts? Ron's new, too."
She pointed at the last and youngest of her sons. He was tall, thin and gangling, with freckles, big hands and feet and a long nose.
"Yes," said Harry. "The thing is neither my brother nor I know how to-"
"How to get on to the platform?" she said kindly, and Harry nodded.
"Not to worry," she said. "All you have yo do is walk straight at the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Don't stop and don't be scared you'll crash into it, that's very important. Best do it at a bit of a run if you're nervous. Go on, go now before Ron."
Chris and Harry looked at each other and a silent talk before Harry grabbed his trolley and started walking towards the wall. Chris watched silently as brother sped up and then ran at the wall before disappearing from view. Chris gave a nod to himself and then did the same thing.
A steam engine was waiting next to a platform packed with people. A sign overhead said Howarts Express, 11 o'clock . Smoke from the engine drifted over the heads of the chattering crowd, while cats wound here and there between their legs. Owls hooted to each other in a disgruntled sort of way over the babble and the scraping of heavy trunks.
"Does the train look as beautiful to you as it does to me?" Harry asked Chris.
"It looks okay, but I bet it's supposed to be red right?"
"Yeah. It's red and shiny."
Chris frowned. "Come on. Lets get on the train."
The twins pushed through the crowd until they found an empty compartment near the end of the train. Harry put Hedwig inside first and then started to shove and heave his trunk towards the train door. He tried to lift it once by himself and the second time Chris tried to help him but both times the trunk fell.
"Want a hand?" It was one of the twins from the family they'd met.
"Yes, please." Harry panted and Chris nodded.
"Oi, Fred! C'mere and help!"
With the twins help, Harry and Chris's trunks were tucked away in a corner of the compartment.
"Thanks," said Harry, pushing his sweaty hair out of his eyes.
"What's that said one of the twins suddenly, pointing at Harry's lightening scar.
"Blimey," said the other twin. "Are you-?
"He is," said the first twin. "Aren't you?" he added to Harry.
"What?" said Harry and he looked at Chris confusedly.
"Harry Potter " chorused the twins.
"Oh, him," said Harry. "I mean, yes, I am."
The twins looked to Chris. "So that would make you-
"Chris Potter. Yes I am." Chris said before they could start talking back and forth again.
The two boys gawked at them and while Harry was blushing in the face. Chris was getting ready to snap. Then to both boys relief a voice came floating in through the train's open door.
"Fred? George? Are you in there?"
"Coming, Mum."
With on last look at the Chris and Harry, the twins hopped off the train.
"That was weird wasn't it. Do you think the whole school is going to act like that?" Harry asked sitting down next to the window.
"Considering when we went to Diagon Alley and people acted like that as well. I'm pretty sure we can almost guarantee it."
Harry looked out his window, "Look we can see that family from here."
They listened as the mother tried to keep her children in check. Their banter even brought a small smile to Chris's face. They listened as the twins told their mother that they met the Potter Twins and their sister gushed. "Oh, Mum, can I go on the train and see them, Mum, oh please..."
"Wow," Chris said. "Creepy much."
"How is it creepy? It seems like everyone wants to meet us."
"Yeah and it's creepy when they do it too. Hopefully by the time she gets to Hogwarts the novelty of meeting will have worn off. Otherwise, she'll only be meeting one half of the Potter Twins."
A whistle sounded from somewhere and they turned to watch the family say their goodbyes, but when the sister started to cry Chris turned his head away again.
The train started to move.
The door of the compartment opened and the younger boy from the family came in.
"Anyone sitting here?" he asked, pointing at the seat opposite Harry and next to Chris.
"Yes," Chris said turning to put his legs in the seat. "but you can sit over there." He pointed at the seat next to Harry.
"Hey, Ron."
The twins were back.
"Listen, we're goin down the middle of the train- Lee Jordan's got a giant tarantula down there."
"Great," mumbled Ron.
"Harry, Chris," said the other twin, "did we introduce ourselves? Fred and George Weasley. And this is Ron, our brother. We're happy to see fellow twins on the way to Hogwarts. We expect great things. See you later, then."
"Bye," the boys said. The twins slid the compartment door shut behind them.
"Are you two really the Potter Twins."
They nodded.
"Oh-well, I thought it might be one Fred and George's jokes," said Ron. He pointed at Harry. "And have you really got- you know..."
He pointed at Harry's forehead.
Harry pulled back his fringe to show the lightning scar. Ron stared.
"So that's where You-Know-Who-?"
"Yes," said Harry. "but I can't remember it and neither can Chris."
"Nothing?" said Ron eagerly.
"Well-I Remember a lot of green light, but nothing else."
"Wow," said Ron. He sat and stared at Harry for a few moments before looking at Chris. "What about you? Harry has got a scar because of You-Know-Who, but what did he do to you?"
"None of your business." Chris snapped before looking out of the window. If Ron tried to ask him more questions he was leaving to go find Draco. He ignored Harry and Ron and instead went to his Head Space. It was nice little space inside his head that he went whenever he was either bored or Uncle Vernon was especially rough with his punishments. There was nothing but himself and fog in the space. He usually spent so long in the space that it was hard to come out of it. He was the headspace for so long that he missed a woman come buy selling candy on a trolley and a bushy-haired girl come in looking for a toad.
The sound of the compartment door opening again made him 'wake up' and he looked towards the door to see Draco come in.
"Hello Draco. Would you like to sit down?"
"Christopher, lovely to see you again." He looked briefly at Ron. "No. I don't believe I will sit down. You're sitting with a Weasley after all."
Harry and Ron stood up. Apparently they had bonded while he was 'asleep'. "What's that supposed to mean?" Ron said.
"Harry sit down. Draco if you don't want to sit with us give me a moment to get dressed into my school robes and I'll join you for a walk around the train."
Draco turned his nose up. "Fine. I'll wait with Crabbe and-"
"No," Chris interrupted.
"Draco looked confused. "What?"
"I said you and I would go for a walk and we will. Your companions however have to go."
Draco looked at him and Chris raised his eyebrow. "Crabbe, Goyle. You heard him. Leave."
The two boys left and Chris grabbed his trunk and put on his robes. "Let's go."
"You're just going to leave with him?!" Ron exclaimed.
"Of course I am."
Ron glared at him. "Why? Don't you know his whole family is evil. His fathe-"
"The why is quite simple actually. You appear to have become friends with Harry. Which is good." he smiled at Harry. "However you and I are not friends. Draco Is my friend. I'll thank you not to insult him or his family in our presence and In return I'll keep him from insulting you and your family. Draco, Let's go."
They walked in silence until they were at the very back of the train. "This one looks empty. Let's talk in here."
They walked in and sat down.
"Did you mean what you said to the Weasel? About us being friends."
Chris looked over to see Draco wearing a guarded look on his face. "I don't make a habit of saying things I don't mean. My word is my law. Also don't call him Weasel. His name is Ron Weasley. Use it."
"Our family has been feuding for generations. He's likely to call me worse if he gets the chance."
"Just because your family is fighting doesn't mean you have too. Have you ever heard of Romeo and Juliet?"
"I certainly won't be falling in love with a Weasley. My father would have a cow."
"I didn't mean you would fall in love with him. I meant maybe the feud could end with the two of you before anyone, mainly your parents, live to regret it. All you have yo do is be civil."
"That's a good point."
"Good. Because I intend to be hang out with my brother if we end up in separate houses and I certainly won't be keeping our friends separate. You'll have to be civil with him and any friend he makes."
Draco nodded. "Okay."
"That includes muggleborns. My brother has a kind heart and isn't going to care about something like a wizard's blood-status."
"My Father-"
"Isn't going to be at school to hold your hand." Chris told him sternly. "Your father's generation is the reason so many children in our generation have no parents. Whether they're in jail or dead. They shouldn't have brought children into the world if they intended to be in the middle of a war."
"I see you read all the books I told you about."
"Of course I did. And If we're going to move any further in this friendship what I'm going to say next needs to be said,"
Draco looked reluctant to hear more. "Okay. Go ahead."
"Voldemort was an idiot." Chris said.
Draco flinched. "Don't say his name."
"Any grown man that doesn't know how to kill two babies does not deserve the amount of fear from the world that he has." Chris told him with no room for arguing in his voice.
"I don't understand," Draco admitted.
"Do you know how easy it is to kill a baby. If he was really determined to kill me and Harry all he had to do was throw us out of the window. We were on the second floor."
"I never thought about it like that."
"The fact that you have to is ridiculous. I read about your family in the old newspapers I bought, but I hid them from Harry."
"Why hide them. He already seems to hate me." Draco had a pout on his face that Chris was careful not to mention.
"I love my twin, but he is easily influenced by what other people say. If I had shown him all that propaganda about your family there would be no hope of you two ever getting along."
"Some people think that the Dark Lo-"
"His name is Voldemort. I don't care what anyone else says. I'm going to use his name and I want you too as well." Chris said interrupting him.
"You've got to stop interrupting me. I hate that." Draco said with a frown.
"Okay, but what were saying."
"Right. Some people say that Voldemort isn't really dead. It's likely that his old followers will join him again when that time comes."
Chris looked Draco in the eye. "Well, if your father is half the man he's claimed to be in the interviews I read I hope he's smart enough not to align himself with a man that can't even kill to two babies."
"Me too Christopher." Draco agreed. And if his voice carried a small quiver in it when he spoke, well, that's between Draco and Chris and neither boy will tell.