The Avengers: The Marvelous Masquerade

A New Year

(Authors Note: Hiya! This is a Harry Potter/Marvel crossover, but it should be noted that all I'm doing is taking characters from Marvel and inserting them into the Harry Potter universe. As such, there won't be any Harry Potter characters in this story. This is just a fun one that I'll be working on over the summer, but feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think! Happy reading :)) 

The Hogwarts Express was never late. Among other things, this was perhaps one of the greatest truths of the Wizarding World. This was also the reason that Steve Rogers was in such a state of distress on September 1st, 2012.

His thin, wobbly legs pounded the pavement of King's Cross Station as he dodged and weaved his way through the huddled mass of people making their way along. The watch strapped around his spindly wrist taunted him as the hands ticked closer and closer to Eleven O'Clock. Steve's heart was pounding, beads of perspiration starting to form underneath his thick blond hair.

Pushing his cart through the crowd while mumbling excuses and apologies, the boy approached Platform 9 ¾ . Pausing to take a deep breath, Steve slicked back his hair and straightened his clothes. Gripping the cart's handle, he closed his eyes and launched himself forward, straight into the brick platform. When his blue eyes fluttered open, he found himself standing in Hogwarts Station.

To his great relief, Steve saw that the Hogwarts Express was still there, although its engines were roaring with impatience as it awaited its annual journey. Parents were lined up along the edge of the platform, waving their last farewells as students leaned out the windows. Steve quickly dropped off his trunk at the luggage compartment, making it in the nick of time as they prepared to close the cargo doors. With his backpack slung over his shoulder, Steve pelted to the closest train car and scampered aboard.

All eyes in the car turned to him, and Steve found himself greeting a wave of unfamiliar faces. First years. Steve dipped his head to the new students and hopped into the next car to find a crowd of sixth years. He ignored the usual bouts of giggles and continued on to the next car. It was there that he found his fellow fifth years. A familiar face emerged from the nearest compartment; a Slytherin boy of average height and build with thick, mahogany hair, dark brown eyes, and designer sneakers that cost more than Steve's apartment.

"Late already, Rogers?" the boy said with a leering smirk. Steve pursed his lips.

"A pleasure as always, Stark," he murmured, slipping past the boy.

"Oi! Steve!" Steve craned his neck to see a tall, muscular boy with black hair beckoning to him. He burst into a grin, rushing through the car to tackle his best friend, James Buchanan Barnes.

"Bucky," Steve exclaimed, wrapping his friend in a tight embrace. "Sorry I'm late." he mumbled as he pulled away. The two boys claimed the last empty compartment in the train.

"Never mind that," Bucky answered, waving his hand in dismissal as he plopped down on the seat opposite Steve. "Was Stark bothering you again?" he asked with a slight frown. "I'd be more than happy to go shut him up for the next week." Steve chuckled as his friend's hands curled into fists.

"Then he'd sneak some nasty potion into your food for revenge," he answered. Bucky shrugged.

"You always were the righteous one," he replied, his broad shoulders relaxing. "Now," the brown-haired boy continued. "How is she?" Steve sighed.

"Not well, I'm afraid," he admitted, scratching the back of his neck. "The doctors at St. Mungo's are saying it doesn't look good." Bucky's sea-blue eyes widened in concern.

"Steve, you know," he said after a moment of silence, his tone cautious. "If anything ever happens to your Mum, you...you can always come stay with us." Bucky reached across the compartment, placing a comforting hand on Steve's knobby knee.