Episode 4.Part 1

Episode 4. Part 1

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- ...what's the platform on the ticket? - asked a red-haired, curly-haired woman, with lush forms and ... a large brood of redheaded children of different ages.

- Nine and three quarters, Mom. Same as always," someone answered her.

- Do you want to meet them, Harry? - Dudley asked very quietly. - Someone really wants us to meet them.

- A woman, spinning around the children like a hen, her four sons, who are clearly wearing each other's clothes, and a whiny little girl? None of them clearly know how to appreciate what they have. They don't know the value of money. The children are spoiled by their parents, despite their apparent poverty. No, I don't want to meet them," Harry also replied quietly.

- You've become too cynical and untrusting, cousin," Dudley sighed. - But you're right: if we meet them, we'll either lose our freedom, thanks to the red hen, or we'll gain envious...

- So, thanks for the hat idea, Dud. This way, they won't recognize me...

***

- Harold. Dudley," Malfoy greeted as he entered the compartment.

- Hello," the cousins nodded. Draco pointed behind him:

- This is Vincent Krebbe and Gregory Goyle. The other compartments are occupied. Do you mind if we join you? - he said as if he were doing him a favor, but Harry nodded anyway. The boys settled in and struck up a conversation that quickly turned to faculty competitions and then back to an old question. - So where would you like to go?

- Draco, my cousin is known as "The Boy Who Survived," the "hope of the magical world." Which department do you think he should get into - according to people - and what do you think they would think if he was allocated to, say, Slytherin? - With an irritated shrug, Dudley asked. - It's silly to judge people by their departmental affiliation, you know? - Malfoy Jr. didn't understand, and neither did his companions. But they still had many hours to go before the festive feast at Hogwarts with smart people...

***

- Has anyone seen Toad? A boy named Neville has lost a toad," a girl with disheveled hair and the look of a nerd asked, unabashedly walking into the compartment.

- A toad? If they offered me the chance to take a toad to Hogwarts, I'd hang myself. That's old-fashioned! - Draco exclaimed. Harry and Dudley rolled their eyes, looking at each other and sighing. They wanted to break Malfoy's patterns already out of purely sporting interest, but patience was running out...

- No. We haven't seen Toad. Advise the boy, named Neville, to seek help from the elders. Judging by the history of Hogwarts, they should be on duty at the train," advised Harold. - But before you break into the compartment next time, knock.

- What's that for?

- Silly girl! What if we were changing into our school uniform at this moment? - The girl blushed and hurriedly hid away from the five identical sneers...

***

- They say Harry Potter is on the train! Have you seen..." One boy, the youngest of the redheaded brood, peered shyly into the compartment. Harold turned hastily to the window.

- No. We haven't seen him," Dudley reacted instantly, signaling to his new acquaintances not to give him away. But the redhead's attention had already shifted...

- Malfoy! Why were you allowed to study at Hogwarts?!

- Weasley. Your parents probably send their kids to school because there's nothing to eat at home!

- Those two don't seem to be getting along," Harold remarked in surprise.

- For me, Me, to get along with the Blood Traitor?! - Draco shrieked...

***

- First years, all to me...

- Boat across the lake?! In this cold?! Come on," the picture-perplexed national hero, indignant! - Where's the magic?!

- Hush, Harry," Dudley's voice trembled. He was very afraid of open water, especially in such quantities, especially at night. But he didn't want to show his weakness. It was a good thing Harold knew his cousin well, and so stealthily, thanks to his robes, took his brother by the hand. The cousins swore to themselves, to take care of each other...

***

- Dudley Dursle! - exclaimed the tall, stern-faced woman who introduced herself as Minerva McGonagle.

- Go on, Dud. And don't be afraid of anything. I'll try to get into your department," Harold whispered to his brother, pushing him to the coveted stool. And Dudley found the strength to straighten up proudly and march to the distributing hat with dignity. He sat down, McGonagle lowered the hat onto his head, it slid down over his eyes and was silent for nearly a minute before she gave her verdict:

- Gryffindor!

***

- Harold Potter! - Harry twitched, exhaled, and boldly stepped "into the lion's mouth." This time the hat was silent for nearly five minutes, suddenly vehemently disputing the boy's desire to be in the same department as his cousin. And yet she gave in, agreeing that the desire to protect her brother was a quality peculiar to Gryffindor, and by no means to Slytherin, and that not only those from the Green Faculty become murderers...

***

He had waited a long time for this moment. From the moment he found out that they would go to school the same year. He endured his brothers' taunts for a long time, waiting for his lucky chance. And here it was, that chance. A chance to rub his brothers' noses in it!

Ronald Weasley walked resolutely over to Harold and sat down on the bed next to him, looking around in a hostile manner:

- Harry, do you mind if I take the bed next to you? - he asked, as if casually.

- No," the hero of the magical world answered muffled, rummaging through his new sizeless bag and not so happy about the fact that he preferred it to the classic heavy suitcase. It would have been easier to look for pajamas in that one. But the owner of the all kinds of bags store, seeing the gold galleons in the hands of the cousins, greedily sparkled his eyes and advised to take these bags from him, which were seven times more expensive than the suitcases. Sure, you could carry most everything in them, the weight didn't feel and the size didn't change, remaining a small Muggle-style sports backpack, but finding things in it, as it turned out, was very tricky. Harry suspected that there was some trick that the salesman had forgotten to tell him and Dudley about. And they, the pickpocket thieves, were too appreciative of the properties of dimensionless backpacks with many pockets from which things could only be removed by the owner to notice it at the time.

As he searched, he didn't realize who was asking his permission and trying to impose on him in such a foolish way. However, Potter was well aware: the bed next door was Dudley's bed, and no one else's. So he answered irritably:

- If you had been more attentive, you would have noticed that it was already occupied, and there were things on it signed in my brother's name. - The redheaded boy, completely stunned by this completely unexpected answer (because he was sure it was impossible to refuse him), looked around again and noticed that the bed was indeed not a second pillow at all, but someone else's Muggle backpack:

- Oh... that's a shame. Okay," he said, batting his eyes stupidly. But he decided to give it another shot: it was his only chance! - I'm Ron. Ron Weasley. - Hearing the familiar name from the redheads, Harold shuddered as he struggled from his backpack, caught himself on something and cut himself until he was bleeding. In the same instant, suddenly all the dimensionlessness of the bag disappeared, leaving the usual backpack and the things he was looking for at the very bottom. It instantly dawned on him that it was all about the blood. Only now the backpack would not give his things to anyone, identifying the owner by the drop of blood he had just left in the backpack. - I have five older brothers and a younger sister. She won't be going to Hogwarts until next year and...

- Heard your name on the assignment. - Ronald continued to complain about his family, not even noticing that his interlocutor was fascinated by the prospects magic was giving him. After all, how many things could be hidden like this, with his blood!

The friendship that the younger Weasley boy had dreamed so hard and for so long was not destined to begin...

***

- Hello, Mr. Filch. Principal Dumbledore said at the celebratory dinner that you might have a list of prohibited objects for use in school. And you must also know where to read the school rules. My cousin and I would like to make sure we don't violate anything," Dudley said politely to the shocked old man. He had been the Hogwarts quartermaster for many decades, and in all that time no student had ever approached him with such a question. Of course, he didn't believe the boys. Still, he was obliged to show them the lists, so he invited them into his closet and gave them what they needed. And then watched as the cousins carefully read the rules, quietly discussing something among themselves and making some notes on their parchment. When they had finished, the brothers thanked the steward and left. The old man waited for a nasty thing to happen...

***

- Perhaps we should turn you, Mr. Potter, and you, Mr. Dursle, into a pocket watch. - A stern woman, Minerva McGonagle was extremely unhappy with the people she secretly hoped would help her faculty win this year's school trophy. They dared her to be late for her class! However, she also hid her surprise because unlike all of her freshmen over the years, her cousins had not reacted in any way to her transformation from a cat to herself. - Maybe you'll be on time, then.

- We're sorry, Professor, we got lost," Dudley guiltily bowed his head and explained his tardiness, not relying on the uncommunicative cousin who, unlike him, felt no guilt at all, and therefore stubbornly and even defiantly looked the Dean in the eye.

- Into the map, then? I hope you can find your seats without a map! - the woman pursed her lips in a disgruntled way that made them look more like strings, but she did not punish the boys: she had asked Albus for years to create some kind of map of the main school rooms and corridors for first-years, who often wandered in the first year, but he refused, which caused a lot of problems.

The cousins bowed their heads slightly, gratefully, and immediately settled down at the only available desk, taking out their parchments, writing down the topic of the introductory lesson and the basic principles of transfiguration. When the professor was distracted and began to talk about the possibilities the children would have after diligently studying her subject, Dudley, carefully whispered to Harold:

- Harry, we must study the castle. Especially since I seem to sense that there are many secret passages in it that no one else knows about. - Potter looked at his brother with great interest. A flame of anticipation of glorious fun was kindling in his green eyes. The very thought of exploring an ancient castle gave him an excitement comparable to that of a child, which he hadn't felt in a long time, if ever.

- Yes, and make a map," he smiled. - We'll do that in our spare time...

Since then, the boys hadn't missed a day off from exploring at least one corridor. And they found, thanks to Dudley's abilities, a lot of secret passages...

- Professor Snape, I don't know why you have such a preconceived notion of me," Harold said slowly and calmly, but barely able to contain his irritation, addressing the Potions Master, who obviously did not like him. - But I came to this class to learn the subject, not to show off my non-existent knowledge. Considering that today is an introductory class, you ask strange questions. The letter didn't say that I had to read the textbooks before the semester started, nor did it have assignments, so I didn't study this summer. Hermione seems to know the answers to your questions, but she's just the kind of person who likes to learn and memorize books by heart. It must give her some kind of self-confidence," he glanced with a touch of pity at the embarrassed blushing girl, who lowered her hand momentarily. - However, I didn't notice anyone else wanting to be interviewed by you," he now defiantly looked around the class, as if to say he didn't see the "forest of hands" but only the frightened children's eyes. - I suspect that most of my classmates are now praying that you don't ask them.

As for my fame, you're quite right: I don't deserve it. - Severus Snape, known in certain circles for his restraint and self-control, raised his eyebrows in surprise. Harold paused before finishing: - But rest assured: I will earn it. - Gryffindor instantly lost three points, but the sullen professor no longer clung to Potter and spent the entire pair pondering why he couldn't read at least the surface thoughts of the boy and his cousin, though even his godson, Draco Malfoy, who had been taught occlusion since infancy, read freely as an open book...

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