ch 42. Way to Hogwarts

September 1, 1991, Sunday. King's Cross 10:35am

"Where are they?" Harry asked impatiently. He's holding his trolley with his luggages and Hedwig's cage.

I just said, "Dude, they have four kids to prepare. Give them some time. We're already here. We just need to go through that barrier over there." I only have one suitcase.

I have my pets in my Beast Space. I'm not going to put my babies in a cage just for a train ride. I just said that they already flew toward Hogwarts.

Before Jolly apparated us near the station, I said goodbye to Nana, Penny and Nick. I'm relieved to know that Nana has company while I'm away at school.

A few minutes later we heard a familiar voice ranting while saying ,"packed with Muggles, of course--". Then she saw us standing there. Molly came over and said, "Sorry you two. We're running late. Now, go to the platform and Goodluck at Hogwarts."

She pulled us toward the Weasleys and one by one they entered the barrier.

Ginny said while blushing, "Goodluck Harry."

"Thanks!" Harry replied with his ears visibly red. He immediately passed through the barrier and into the other side.

Before my turn, I didn't forget to tease the girl by saying ,"Awwww, how sweet!" I immediately run and dodge Ginny's jab. 'Hahahaha'

At the other side of the barrier, I saw the iconic Hogwarts Express. I really want to take a picture but I know we're pressed for time.

We said goodbye to Molly and Ginny who followed us from behind.

Me, Harry and the Weasleys came to find some empty compartments near the end of the train. They had some trouble with lifting thier luggages. I was able to carry a few and help them out. At this point, the people on the platform were mostly parents that accompanied thier kids.

Percy separated saying he needs to go to where the other prefects are. Fred and George also left and look for their friends.

In our comparment, Harry and I sat by the window opposite each other while Ron sat next to me. All three of us had a dumb smile on our faces due to our excitement.

At 11:00 am, the trains starts to pull out of the station.

I exhale a sigh, 'So, this is it.' The scenery outside change into a vast green landscape. There was silence in the compartment.

I'm taking in and enjoying the scenery. I'm not sure why Ron and Harry became quiet. So I asked, "Why the silence guys? Don't tell me you're having motion sickness?"

Harry said, "I'm just anxious on how people will react when they know my name. I mean, you've seen the scene back in Diagon Alley. People might have expectations of me I can't meet."

'Oh, that's tough.' I can't really relate. I just said, "I actually can't relate to your problem Harry, so I'm not the best person to give you advise on your concerns."

He look dejected. But I continued, "I can only say that someone else's expectation of you is theirs, not yours—and therefore it is their problem, not yours. ..."

When Harry heard it, it took a while before it sinks in. He laughs, "Thanks mate. Yeah you're right. That's their problem not mine."

I nodded and the turn to Ron and asked, "And you, what's you're deal?"

Ron didn't want to say it at first but still said, "You guys know I had five brothers before me. They all made a name in Hogwarts. Bill was a head boy. Charlie was captain of the Quidditch team. Percy is now a prefect. The twins became infamous pranksters and are liked by everyone."

I think he got a bit lost in telling his problem that I heard him say, "Everyone had/have thier own thing. Who am I going to become in school?"

'Ugh, again I can't really relate'. I plainly said, "Uhm dude. If everyone else is already taken, then just be yourself, duh."

Ron furrows his brows as he mumble, "Just be myself..,be myself..". Then he had a look of epiphany and nodded with smile at me.

I just thought, 'That works? Well as long as it does the job.'

And then a woman passes by with a cart, offering candy. I immediately asked, "Ma'am, what are your best sellers?" The woman was surprised by my question but still gave her recommendations.

I bought a lot of each kind to her delight. I turn around and asked, "Do you guys want some? My treat."

Ron and Harry are used to my sudden impulse specially regarding food so they didn't shy away. They weren't even surprised when I brought out packed lunches and when I insisted on eating them first before munching over the sweets.

Harry even picked up the habit of calling me 'mom' as a joke from Kyle and the others.

When we were eating sweets, Harry opened a box of chocolate frog. An animated chocolate frog jumped out the windows. He said, "Oops, Sorry Marshall. I know you have a pet peeve about wasting food."

I just said, "It's the frog's fault. I don't mind."

Harry then saw a man inside the box. Ron saw it and said, "Oh you got Dumbledore, I have lots of him."

Harry read the description un the box, "Considered by many the greatest wizard of modern times, Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the Dark Wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragons blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel. Professor Dumbeldore enjoys chamber music and ten-pin bowling."

When I heard that, I just rolled my eyes and exclaimed to myself, 'Oh com'on! I didn't remember this part in the movies. So they already encountered Nick's name from the start?!'

While we're having fun eating sweets, our comparment door suddenly open and a distraught boy kept looking around our comparment. He asked, "Have you seen a toad?"

Harry said, "Sorry we haven't." And the kid exited politely and close the door.

Ron said, "Even his toad is more lively than my rat. You guy's want to see a spell I created to turn Scabbers yellow?" He didn't wait for our opinion and started waving his wand.

Then the door opens again and this time a girl peek in,she asked in a bossy tone, "Have you seen a toad? A kid named Neville lost it..Oh, are you casting a spell, can I watch?" she didn't wait for us to answer her question and just sat next to Harry.

Ron was dumbfounded but still continued with his rhymey spell. I brought out roasted peanuts from my pouch and began eating it as the scene in front of me unfold.

The girl the said, "Is that really a spell. I think it's not a very good one...I tried a few spells....my whole family are Muggles... surprise..... letter...I even memorized..."

'Woah, I knowing she can 'talk' but actually seeing her 'really talk' is quite something.*munch*munch*

The three then look at me, I just waved them off, "Don't mind me. Just keep going. I'm Marshall by the way.." *munch*munch *

The girl is weirded out by me but still introduced herself, "Hermoine Granger."

Ron said his name and followed by Harry. When she heard Harry's name she began another long rant about the books she read about him..... She even asked around which house we think we'll be in. She declared she's going to Gryffindor.

I had enough Hermoine for the day, so I said, "Weren't you looking for a toad. I suggest to ask a prefect for help. "

She realized that she lost track of time and got up and leave but not without saying, "You guys should change into your school robes because we're almost at Hogwarts."

I joked, "Sure, but after you leave. Unless you want to peek at us changing."

She blushed and slammed the door. The three of us just laugh.

"I hopes I'm not in whatever house she's in." Said Ron.

I quickly said, "Then be prepare to be disowned by your family. The girl just said she wants to be in Gryffindor."

Me and Harry just laugh at Ron's face when he realized what he just said.

'Now after Hermoine it will be..' I sense the souls around us and found three people moving in our direction. I recognize one of them so I immediately said, "Guys, we better change into our school robes."

I lifted my shirt up exposing my upper body. Years of doing football and Taekwondo really shows. I'm still waiting for my body to hit puberty but I atleast see contours in the right places.

As I expected, the door open again. There are three boys looking at us changing. I immediately yelled, "Àaaaaaaahhhhh!!! Perverts!!! Malfoy you pervert!! I already sensed it back in Madam Malkin's. You're always glancing at me and Harry. Now you waited for us to start changing clothes!!!!!!!"

Draco and the other two just stood there looking at us with our shirts off. They got startled and froze in place when I yelled.

The commotion attracted the attention of the kids in the hall and the ones in the other compartments. When they look at us, they saw Malfoy and his lackeys at our door looking at the three of us with our shirts off.

I used telekinesis to slam the door and close the curtains. Harry and Ron then look at me. They were both red from embarrassment. I just proceed to change into my school robes and act as if nothing weird happened.😙😙😙

"What?" I asked them with a blank face.

""Marshall!!"" The two start to throw punches and low kicks. I just endured their assault. It ended with us laughing.

A short time later, the train stop. It was already dark outside. We tidy up and got our luggage and made our way out of the train.

"First-year! This way, kids! Come on up! Don't be shy! First-year!!!..." We immediately hear Hagrid's voice calling out the first years. He said to leave our stuff on the platform and follow him.

He leads us to a steep, narrow path in the darkness of the night. The path led to the edge of a great black lake. From where we stand, we can see a vast castle with many turrets and towers. It is perched atop a high mountain on the other side of the lake.

Hagrid points at the boat by the shore and said, " Four on each boat. Be careful now.."

Me, Ron and Harry boarded a boat and to our surprise, Hermoine joined us. We just kept silent about it. The boats start to move forward.

My attention is in the water. I can sense the creatures below. I started to play with the water and playfully called out, "Hello, big fella"

"What are you doing?" Hermoine asks me.

I smile at her and said, "Just saying hello to the big guy down there."

She gave me a frown and said, "What are you----!!" She didn't get to finish her question as she was surprised to see a large tentacle jump out of the water with the tip pointing near me.

I smile and touch the tentacle's tip and said, "Hello, Here's a greeting gift from me." I then reached in my pouch and brought out a big Tupperware full of crab cakes.

I dump the crab cakes on the water. The tentacle quickly coiled around them and sunk in the deep dark water.

Feeling satisfied, I return to my seat to see everyone looking at me. I asked, "What?"

"What was that!?" Harry asked with glee in his eyes.

Ron was the one who answer, "That's the giant squid Fred and George talked about. They said they played with it last year. I didn't belived them then, but now I think they're telling the truth."

I nonchalantly said, "I'll find time later to dive down there. I want to see how big the squid is. You guys want to come?"

"You're mental, mate!" Ron commented on the idea. Harry just shakes his head.

"You're going to get yourselves expelled!!" Hermoine yelled at me.

"Ehem!" Hagrid gave us a look to quiet down.

We focus again on our travel over the lake. We are reaching the cliff on which the castle stood. Hagrid then yelled out, "Heads down!". He duck down to avoid a curtain of ivy.

I just laugh at the scene when the kids follow his warning. Pass the ivies, is a dark tunnel. From the looks of it, we're directly below the castle.

We reached a small harbour and began docking. We alighted from the boat and climbed up a stair that has a large door.

Hagrid instructed us to wait. While waiting, a hoard of ghost passed by and talkedto us. Some of the kids got scared and Hagrid spent time calming the group.

The huge door open and a elderly witch in emerald-green robes came out and stood in front of our group.

I try to calm and reassure myself, 'Bring it on!'

~end chapter ~