A Summoner in the Wizarding World

Chapter 2: Hogwarts Castle

"...My name's Harry Potter. Nice to meet you too."

When I spotted no flash of recognition on her face, my half-formed hypothesis was confirmed. Harry Potter must not be the Chosen One in this timeline - although he most likely lost his parents early on, and grew up in the normal world. Unbeknownst to my revelation, she excitedly resumed the conversation.

"Have you started on the textbooks yet? I've learnt all of them by heart, just in case of course, and I already tried a few spells myself. Not all successfully, mind you. I have to read all the reference books we bought in Diagon Alley, my parents would not let me buy new ones until I finished..."

I felt this body's memories react somewhat to that - it appears 'Harry' has also started with some books, who could've known. His memories about them were a bit blurry, though how much of that's due to reading without much light, I can't be sure. No wonder the round glasses felt so thick.

"I tried Lumos already, but I must've done the wand movement incorrectly, since it looked like this- " I moved my wand in the pattern, lighting the tip quite weakly, to Hermione's curiosity "-would you happen to know why?"

Her reaction to that honest question was, of course, to try it and succeed in producing a brilliant light almost immediately. We then dug through thousands of pages of Charms that she brought, stopping to exchange notes and debate, looking like two nerds in their zone. Which I suppose we kind of were.

When the train finally jolted, beginning its departure, me and the bushy-haired bookworm went into brief silence as London's landscape receded into the distance, our heated argument temporarily forgotten. I agreed with the 'Harry' inside: it really was magical.

The two of us then opened our books and read quietly. Our ride until sundown was quite smooth, both literally and figuratively. Double seating and soft seats notwithstanding, Hermione's dedication towards someone she just met was quite nice, albeit slightly overwhelming. 

Since she did not wander about and felt content exchanging with a fellow nerd, thus sparing intrusion of the Malfoy menace, we learnt quite a bit from and about each other. Apparently enough so that by the end of the ride, I was biting off a chocolate frog head with Hermione wondering out loud how accurate it is to the real version.

The peaceful time passed slightly too quickly for my liking, however, and soon we were leaving the carriage at Hagrid's booming voice.

"Firsties over 'ere!"

The Groundskeeper held aloft a lantern, its glow flickering on his enormous frame and the lake's shifting waves. The first-years left their trunks on the carriage and crowded around the man, myself and Hermione included.

He gave a glance and a nod to all of us, which I suppose is only for attendance. It was only when a pompous Neville strolled over that Hagrid winked, his gruff beard lifting into something that might be a smile.

"Doin' alright', lad?"

The Boy-Who-Lived nodded in return, eager to show everyone his acquaintance and importance - to my own annoyance, most seemed to agree. Hermione spared him a glance, her eyes widened at the lightning-shaped scar on his forehead. She was about to rush over for questions when I held her back.

"Do you know him?" I asked "because if you don't, running at him would be rather rude."

"Of course! Don't you? He's Neville Longbottom, the Boy-Who-Lived! I saw him in at least five of the 'Modern History' books; he defeated Voldemort!"

At the name, a few students looked startled and scared, giving both of us a wide berth. I sighed and wordlessly pulled her to the boats. Hermione looked affronted but didn't start to protest, seeing as another pair was about to join us. The twins introduced themselves as Parvati and Padma Patil, a gesture which we returned. At my name, both shared a glance before Padma started to chat with Hermione.