A good Beginning (Harry Potter)

Chapter 9: Hogwarts Express

Harry was so excited for today, today was the day that he would finally go to Hogwarts, make eternal bonds of friendship. His dad had given him his invisibility cloak and hold told him a lot of information on secret passages he didn't have the map with him. His mum had made him read all of the textbooks, which Harry found extremely simple. However, the thing which Harry was most excited for, was the use of a wand. With a wand, Harry's lessons with Dumbledore can be even more advanced and Dumbledore promised him that he could teach Harry Firendyre.

He was on Platform Nine and three quarters, his parents had gone to talk to some other aurors on the platform, so Harry decided to check out the front of the train with his trolley in hand. His dad had put several extendable charms and a light weight charm on his trunk; as a gift, his dad purchased the trunk with a switch which opened up a small house for Harry to live in if he ever needs to.

Harry was so lost in his thoughts of excitement, that he didn't realise several red headed children charging into him, and knocking him down. All of his luggage fell from the trolley and his glasses also toppled over, causing him to be partially blind.

'Sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going. Could maybe help me find my glasses?' Harry asked politely; when handed his glasses, he saw three red-headed children staring at him intently, two of which Harry could have sworn was the same person. Harry then turned his head to see someone who he presumed was their mum and a small pretty girl who blushed when Harry was staring at her.

'Sorry mate, I didn't intend on crashing into you', the boy who looked closest the Harry's age said, 'I'm Ron Weasley, this is Fred and George and that's my sister Ginny Weasley'. Harry nodded at all of the children, but turned his eyes back to Ron when he realised that his eyes lingered a bit too long on none other than Ginny.

'I'm Harry' he replied smiling, 'for now my surname is irrelevant because I really don't want to attract any attention. Anyway, it was nice meeting you Fred, George, Ron, Mrs Weasley and Ginny'.

Harry reassembled his trolley and went back to his parents; his mum was getting extremely emotional and even started crying for a bit, whereas his dad continued to tell him about different secret passages and how useful they really are. Harry hugged them goodbye and climbed onto the train and found himself an empty compartment. He sat there quietly reading a book when Ron knocked on the door of the compartment and asked if he could sit there.

'So anyway, who are you Harry, I promise that I won't think of you in a different way!' Ron nagged. Harry sighed and lifted his bangs to reveal his scarlet lightning bolt scar which Ron gasped at in admiration and awe. 'You're Harry Potter? Wow'.

As if on cue, the twins walked past the compartment and saw the scar, and shared the same incredulous look as Ron. Eventually they left the compartment to go and find someone called Lee; Ron and Harry brought a lot of food from the trolley. Ron proved himself not just to be a fanboy and Harry was really starting to take a liking to the boy.

'This is my pet rat Scabbers. He's pathetic isn't he, I was given him when my brother Percy was made a prefect and got given his own an owl, you can hold him if you want' He handed the rat over to Harry, who looked at the rat absentmindedly until he realised something rather peculiar about the rat, it had some markings as if it were wearing a suit.

'Say Ron, how long has this rat been in your family?' Harry asked

'Oh around 10-11 years'

'Isn't that an awfully long time for a rat to live?' Harry started to suspect that this rat was not only an animagus, but Peter Pettigrew, the man who sold out his parents. Before Ron could reply from Harry's question, a bushy haired girl in school robes appeared, she looked around the compartment.

'Have you guys seen a toad, a boy called Neville has lost him, it's kind of important to him'. The girl said in a very bossy attitude; Harry smirked.

'Have you tried the summoning charm? Accio Trevor!' Harry said whilst flicking his wrist; seconds later, a toad came flying into the compartment, and into Harry's hand. The girl looked at Harry very jealously but also in admiration.

'Wow, thank you! You can do windless magic? I thought that you're a first year like me, I'm Hermione Granger by the way, and you two are?'

'I'm Ron Weasley and this is Harry Potter' Ron replied whilst shaking her hand.

'You're Harry Potter, I've read quite a bit about you, is it true that you really survived the killing curse?'. Harry nodded and lifted his bangs to reveal a lightning shaped scar.

'Wow!', Hermione said whilst goggling at his scar, 'I should probably return Trevor to Neville, it was a pleasure to meet the two of you!' She said beaming whilst standing up. She left the compartment, leaving Ron and Harry time to get to know each other even more, until a blond, snobby boy with tow beefy children walked into the compartment as if they owned the place.

'Is it true, Harry Potter is on this train?', He turned to Harry and held out his hand, 'I'm Draco Malfoy'. At this Ron snickered, causing Malfoy to turn to Ron in disgust. 'I know who you are, hand me down robes, red hair, tears in your clothes, you're obviously a Weasley, a family which has too many children than they can afford'. Harry was now glaring at Malfoy in disgust.

'I'm sorry but you want to become friends with me but you're insulting my friend here because he doesn't have as much money as you; you might want to reevaluate how to make friends' Harry growled. For a moment Draco looked extremely offended, but then began to become fuming, no one had ever rejected him in this humiliating way.

'Fine Potter! But just realise that you've made a grave mistake today, humiliating me, rejecting my friendship. I can tell we won't get along Potter!' he spat.