Express Away

The soft rays of dawn crept through the curtains, painting the room in hues of gold and amber. Harry Potter lay in bed, his green eyes fixed on the ceiling above him. Today was the day. Today, he will finally go to Hogwarts. 

He didn't really need to. That thought lingered at the edge of his mind, persistent and undeniable. The truth was, he had already mastered everything the school could teach him. Seven years of course material—from the basics of Lumos to the complexities of non-verbal magic—was nothing but child's play for him anymore. But Hogwarts wasn't just about learning spells and brewing potions. It was the place he had dreamed of long before he ever stepped into this world.

"Hogwarts," he murmured to himself. In his past life, he had always dreamt about how it would be to visit Hogwarts. It had seemed so real and yet so unreachable. How many times had he read about its towering spires, its moving staircases, its enchanted ceilings? How many nights had he imagined walking its hallowed halls? And now, it was no longer a dream but a tangible reality. 

He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the silence of the room wrap around him. The Dursleys—or rather, this world's better version of them loved him like their own son. And he was grateful to have such familial love after a long time. Strange, how things turned out. It was almost enough to make him question the stability of this world he now inhabited, but he'd stopped looking for answers long ago. This was his life now, and he had made peace with it.

Would Hogwarts be the same as he had imagined? Would the teachers, the students, the very air of the castle carry the magic he'd always believed it would? Or would it all be a disappointment, a hollow echo of the world he had read about?

He sighed and sat up on his bed, his gaze falling on the wand resting on the bedside table. Yggdrasil heartwood and three cores. Perhaps the only wand in the world that had such a combination. He had never read about anything like this. A wand usually only has a single core, but to have three cores together… Well it was something that Harry had never thought would be possible. 

A small smile tugged at his lips. Perhaps that was why he was so eager to go to Hogwarts despite having no need for it. It wasn't about learning magic—he already had that. It wasn't about proving himself—there was no one he needed to impress. It was about the experience, about stepping into the world he had dreamed of for so long. He wanted to walk those halls, feel the ancient magic that guarded the castle, see the Great Hall's enchanted ceiling, and maybe—no definitely—lose himself in the Forbidden Forest. And also the library, he planned on reading all the books there. 

And then there was Quidditch. He couldn't help but smile, thinking that if the story followed the original plot then he would be on the Quidditch team by next week. And of course he knew all about it now, considering the Weasley boys had given him a thorough training. More like they explained the game and Harry just instinctively took over. He couldn't help but chuckle as he remembered Fred and George's faces when he destroyed them in that little game. 

Speaking of the Weasleys, Harry would meet Hermione for the first time in a few hours from now. Is she the same? Is she still Muggleborn? Considering the Dursleys are pureblood wizards, she could also be from a wizarding family right? Well he will know soon, anyway… 

As he swung his legs over the side of the bed and planted his feet on the floor, a strange reluctant feeling filled him. He didn't really want to go to Hogwarts. He wanted to stay with his family. Shrugging the feeling off, he glanced towards the clock on his bedside table. 7:00 AM. Well, he should get ready if he wanted to get to the station in time. With that, he took a change of cloth from his walk-in closet and headed to the bathroom. 

Harry walked into the living room, fully dressed into casual clothes. The smell of tea lingered in the air, a comforting reminder of mornings spent with his family. Petunia was sitting in her usual spot on the couch, sipping tea and skimming through the Daily Prophet.

She looked up as he entered, her lips curling into a warm smile. "Good morning, Harry," she greeted, setting the newspaper aside. 

"Morning, Mum," Harry replied, taking a seat on the sofa. He stretched slightly, his movements unhurried.

"Your dad's gone to pick up Sirius," Petunia said, her tone casual as she reached for her tea. "Abigail's still sleeping. She stayed up late last night, too excited about your big day."

Harry nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "I don't blame her. It's not every day someone goes off to Hogwarts."

Petunia tilted her head, her sharp yet kind eyes studying him. "Are you excited?"

Harry paused, considering the question. "Not much, but a bit," he admitted with a shrug. "I'm curious more than anything."

Her smile widened as she leaned back in her chair. "Fair enough. It's a big day, after all." She took another sip of her tea before asking, "What would you like for breakfast?"

Harry leaned against the backrest, thoughtful. "I don't know," he said after a moment. "But I'd love to take a treacle tart with me."

Petunia chuckled softly. "You and your treacle tarts. I'll make sure you have plenty."

"You are the best, Mum," Harry replied with a grin. 

Petunia smiled and got up from her seat. She kissed Harry's forehead before going towards the kitchen. 

As Petunia busied herself in the kitchen, the sounds of clinking pots and soft humming filling the air, Harry sat in the living room, staring at the fireplace. The flames flickered and danced, their warmth contrasting with the cool morning breeze drifting through the open window. His thoughts wandered to the journey ahead—Hogwarts, the Sorting, meeting his classmates, and the uncharted path that awaited him. Despite the anticipation most children felt about their first year, Harry couldn't muster the same excitement. He had already studied everything Hogwarts had to offer. What was there to truly look forward to?

His musings were interrupted as the fire suddenly roared and flared green. Harry's gaze snapped to the hearth just as Vernon stepped out, dusting ash from his coat. Hot on his heels was Sirius, looking groggy and disheveled, as if he had been dragged out of bed minutes ago. His long hair was tied back in a loose ponytail, and his robes looked slightly crumpled.

"Morning, kiddo!" Vernon boomed. He flashed Harry a grin before brushing the last bit of soot off his sleeve. 

Sirius yawned and stretched, his gray eyes lighting up when they fell on Harry. "Morning, pup," he said, his grin matching Vernon's. "You ready for the big day?"

Harry gave a small shrug, "Morning, Dad. Morning, Sirius." He leaned back into the sofa, his tone casual. "I wouldn't say I'm excited. If I could, I'd rather stay home with all of you than go to Hogwarts. But I don't really have much of a choice, do I?"

Vernon let out a hearty laugh, his broad shoulders shaking. "That's my boy! Always full of surprises." He settled into an armchair, still chuckling. "Most kids can't wait to get away, and here you are wishing you could stay."

Sirius shook his head in disbelief, plopping down on the sofa beside Harry. "You're serious?" He raised an eyebrow. "You're the first kid I've ever seen—or heard of—who isn't excited about Hogwarts. When I was your age, I couldn't sleep the night before. Couldn't wait to get out of the house and into some proper mischief."

Harry shrugged, "Well, we'll see what Hogwarts has to offer… I'm more curious than excited, really." He flicked his finger towards Sirius, sending off a spell. 

A soft golden glow emanated from his fingers, and sped towards Sirius. Before Sirius could react, the light enveloped him, leaving him feeling instantly refreshed. The fatigue from his hurried morning vanished, and he truly felt fully alert as though he'd just had a strong shot of espresso. 

The golden glow didn't fade entirely, though. It shimmered and shifted, flowing across his disheveled robes. Within moments, the crumpled fabric smoothed itself out, the colors deepened, and the stitching seemed to realign, making the outfit look impossibly luxurious—fit for an elite gathering. The entire transformation took seconds, leaving Sirius looking as though he'd stepped out of a high-society gala.

Harry smiled, "There, awake and ready to take on the day. Properly."

Sirius blinked, looking down at himself, then back at Harry. His jaw dropped. "You—you just—how—?"

"Magic, Sirius…" Harry chuckled. "Though I guess it's not something most first-years can do, is it?"

Sirius stood up to inspect his now-pristine robes. "Not even most adults can do wandless magic like that! And you did it so effortlessly..." He looked at Harry with something between awe and pride. "I can see why you are not as excited about Hogwarts as you should be."

Vernon chuckled from his armchair, watching Sirius's reaction with amusement. "Told you the boy was something special."

Sirius collapsed back onto the couch, still inspecting his robes with a bemused grin. "Special doesn't even begin to cover it, Vernon," he muttered, shaking his head in amazement. "This boy's rewriting the rules of magic before even stepping foot in a classroom."

Just then Petunia's voice rang out from the kitchen, "You boys done showing off? Breakfast is ready!"

The aroma of sizzling bacon, sausages, eggs wafted through the living room. Harry joined Vernon and Sirius as they moved to the table, which was already set with a hearty spread. Juices were being poured into glasses by the pitcher as Petunia walked out of the kitchen with a large basket, which she handed to Harry. 

"Your treacle tart, darling," She said with a smile as she noticed Harry's hungry eyes looking at the treacle tart. 

"Smells wonderful as always, Mum," Harry said. 

Petunia smiled warmly. "Thank you, love. Let's just hope Abigail doesn't take forever to get ready this time."

As if on cue, the sound of light footsteps echoed down the stairs. Abigail appeared, dressed neatly in a pale blue dress with her auburn hair tied back in a simple ponytail. Her blue eyes sparkled with excitement as she entered the room. 

"Good morning, everyone!" she chirped, sliding into her seat next to Harry.

"Morning, Abby," Harry smiled. "Hungry?" 

"Starving," Abigail replied as she grabbed a piece of toast and piled it high with butter and jam. "Mum, this smells amazing!"

"Thank you, sweetheart," Petunia said, beaming. She placed a platter of pancakes in front of Abigail and gave her a quick kiss on the head. "Eat up. It's a special day for your brother."

"Yeah, he is going to Hogwarts right…" Abigail said with a sad expression.

Harry noticed Abigail's sad expression and gently nudged her shoulder. "Hey, what's with that face? You'll have the whole house to yourself. No big brother to tease you."

Abigail's lips quivered, and she looked down at her plate. "But it won't be the same without you, Harry. Who's going to help me with my chess moves or sneak me extra biscuits when Mum's not looking?"

Petunia chuckled from her seat. "I'll pretend I didn't hear that."

Harry leaned closer, his voice soft. "You're going to be just fine, Abby. And I'll write to you every week. You can tell me all about how boring it is without me."

"Promise?" she asked, her blue eyes hopeful.

"Promise," Harry replied with a grin. "Maybe I'll come back once or twice too… I'll just have to sneak into a Floo…"

Vernon let out a hearty laugh, shaking his head as he reached for his coffee. "Sneak into a Floo? I'd like to see that! You'd probably end up landing in a broom cupboard somewhere."

Harry smirked. "It's a risk I'm willing to take, just to check in on this one." He ruffled Abigail's hair, earning a playful swat from her small hand.

Abigail giggled, her mood brightening. "You'd better not get stuck, Harry. I'd have to come rescue you!"

Sirius chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Don't worry, Abby. If Harry ever gets himself in a jam, I'll make sure to fish him out."

"Thanks, Sirius," Harry said, his tone slightly sarcastic. "Nice to know you have so much faith in me."

Petunia stood, wiping her hands on a dish towel. "Alright, everyone, finish up. We need to leave soon." She glanced at the clock, then gave Vernon a pointed look. "And that means no dawdling, Vernon."

Vernon grumbled good-naturedly, draining the last of his coffee. "I don't dawdle, Pet."

"Could have fooled me," Sirius muttered under his breath, earning a stifled laugh from Harry.

As the family got ready, Harry stuffed his trunk into his subspace pouch along with the basket given by Petunia and some treats that Sirius had bought him the day before. 

Abigail, who was following Harry, handed him Hedwig, "Don't forget to write to me." 

"I won't. Promise," Harry replied ruffling her hair.

The bustling noise of platform 9¾ surrounded them as Harry stood before the train with his family. Wizards and witches moved with an air of excitement as they helped their children with their luggage, trying to find a compartment for them.

"Alright, Harry, do you have everything?" Petunia asked for the twentieth time. 

Harry chuckled, "Yes, Mum. I'm all set." 

Vernon clapped him on the shoulder grinning. "Then off you go, son. Show them what a proper wizard can do."

"Don't forget to write, Harry!" Abigail piped up, clutching onto his t-shirt. Her wide blue eyes shimmered with emotion.

Harry crouched down to her level and smiled. "I won't forget, Abby. And I'll send you the best stories about Hogwarts. You'll feel like you're there with me."

"Better keep that promise," she said, her voice soft but firm.

'Have I ever broken a promise to my dear sister?" Harry smiled, ruffling her hair before standing back up. He was waiting to catch a glimpse of the Weasleys. So far he was yet to see them. 

"Harry! Over here!" a familiar voice rang out, breaking through the chatter.

Harry turned to see Ron hurrying toward him followed by the rest of the family. 

 "Ready for Hogwarts?" Ron asked, stepping forward.

"Yeah, I guess." Harry replied. 

Ron grinned, his ears tinged with excitement. "It's going to be amazing! Fred and George say the Sorting is the best part—they won't stop teasing me about it."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Teasing you about what?"

"Oh, you know," Ron said, rolling his eyes. "Telling me I might end up in Slytherin just to wind me up. As if that'd ever happen."

Before Harry could reply, Mrs. Weasley approached with a warm smile, holding out a hand to Petunia. "Lady Dursley, it's so good to see you again."

Petunia smiled graciously, accepting the handshake. "Molly, always a pleasure. I trust the family is doing well?"

"Oh, they're a handful, as usual," Mrs. Weasley said, her eyes twinkling as she glanced at her children. "But they're excited to start another year."

Fred and George appeared beside Harry, their grins identical and mischievous. "Harry, mate," Fred began, "first year's the best time to learn the ropes."

"And by ropes, we mean all the secret passageways and tricks of the trade," George added. "We're happy to share our wisdom—for a small fee."

Harry chuckled. "I think I'll manage, but thanks."

As the adults exchanged pleasantries, more people stopped to greet Vernon, Petunia, and Sirius. A few even shook Harry's hand, their gazes lingering with curiosity. Being part of two of the most prominent wizarding families certainly attracted attention.

Finally, Ron nudged Harry. "Come on, let's get a good compartment before they're all taken."

"Go ahead, Harry," Vernon said, his voice warm. "We'll be watching until the train leaves."

Harry nodded, his heart full as he turned to Abigail one last time. "Be good, Abby. And no sneaking into my room while I'm gone."

"I'll only do it once or twice," she teased, though her smile didn't quite hide her sadness.

Soon it was time for the train to leave, and after final goodbyes, Harry and Ron took their seats in the empty compartment they found. Harry leaned out of the window, his heart swelling at the sight of his family and friends waving him off. Sirius stood tall, his usual confident grin softened by the warmth in his gaze. Beside him, Mrs. Weasley fussed over her brood, but even she took a moment to wave energetically.

As the train began to move, Harry saw Petunia and Vernon stand arm in arm, their smiles wide and proud. It was a stark contrast to the send-off he'd once imagined receiving from them in another life—one he was glad he didn't have to live.

His gaze shifted to Abigail and Ginny, both running alongside the train, their laughter and tears mingling as they called out their goodbyes. Ginny's fiery red hair glinted in the sunlight, and Abigail's blue dress billowed as she kept pace.

"Write to us!" Abigail shouted, her voice cracking with emotion.

"I will!" Harry yelled back, his own throat tightening.

As the train picked up speed, the two girls slowed, finally stopping as they clutched each other for support. They waved until Harry could no longer make out their faces, their figures becoming small specks in the distance.

Ron, sitting across from Harry, grinned. "You've got quite the send-off. Your sister's adorable."

Harry smiled, "Yeah, she is. And she's not going to let me forget if I miss even one letter."

"Well," Ron said, leaning back, "guess we've got the whole train ride to figure out what Hogwarts has in store for us."

Finally, Harry was on his way to Hogwarts. He glanced out the window, the countryside blurring past as the train picked up speed. In about an hour and a half, he knew the trolley lady would pass by, and shortly after, he would meet Hermione Granger for the very first time. 

For now, he and Ron chatted about Hogwarts, Quidditch, and their families. Eventually, Ron pulled out a well-worn wizard chess set, his face lighting up with excitement. 

"Fancy a game?" Ron asked. 

Harry sighed with mock reluctance. "You know I'm rubbish at chess, but sure, why not?" 

It didn't take long for Ron to absolutely destroy him in every game. Harry laughed as one of Ron's pawns clubbed his knight off the board with relish. "I'm great at magic, but chess? Might as well be a Muggle for how bad I am."

Ron grinned. "It's all about strategy. Don't worry, I'll teach you."

Before Harry could protest, a great clattering sounded from the corridor. The door to their compartment slid open, revealing a smiling woman pushing a trolley laden with sweets.

"Anything off the cart, dears?" she asked kindly.

Harry stood up immediately. "Oh, yes please!" 

The trolley lady smiled as Harry looked over the treats. 

"How much can I take?" he asked, his voice carrying a mix of excitement and innocence. He had bought some of the treats Sirius had bought him yesterday, with him but he had left the majority of it back home. Now he was eager to get his stock up. 

The trolley witch chuckled. "Well, as much as you can pay for, dear. What'll it be?"

Harry grinned. Perfect. "In that case, I'll take five packs of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, three packs of Licorice Wands, and… let's say four packs of Chocolate Frogs. How many come in a pack?" 

"Fifteen in each," she replied, raising an eyebrow at the growing list. 

"Perfect," Harry said. "I'll take a dozen of Bubble Brew, four packs of Pumpkin Pasties, three packs of Cauldron Cakes, three packs of Drooble's Best Blowing Gum…" He glanced at the trolley, still not finished. "Do you have anything else?" 

"Acid Pops, Sugar Quills and Chocolate Cauldrons" she said, slightly confused if this was a real purchase or a childish whim. "Are you sure you want that many?" 

"Oh okay, I'll take four packs each." Harry replied, smiling. "Oh, add two more packs of Chocolate Cauldron." 

The trolley witch's smile faltered as she started calculating the total. "That'll be… well, that's quite a lot. Let me see… about nineteen Galleons and seven Sickles." She hesitated, unsure if this boy truly understood how much that was.

"Here you go," Harry said cheerfully, pulling out the exact amount from his pouch and dropping it into her hand without a second thought. 

The witch blinked in surprise. She had expected a sheepish grin and a hasty change of mind, but this boy clearly had the money to back his whims. "Well then," she said, recovering quickly, "let me pack this up for you."

Ron's jaw dropped as he watched the trolley witch pack up what looked like almost the whole cart. His mouth moved soundlessly for a moment before he managed to find his voice. 

"Blimey, Harry! Nineteen Galleons? You could've bought yourself a Cleansweep one with a few more galleons." 

Harry grinned as he helped the trolley witch lift the bags onto the seat. "I'm stocking up. I figured I won't be going back home until Christmas, so it's best to be prepared."

Ron shook his head in disbelief, still staring at the growing pile of sweets. "Prepared for what? The Hogwarts Sweets Famine of 1991?" 

Harry chuckled, settling back into his seat. "It's not just for me. I've got you and the twins to share it with, don't I?"

Ron blinked, clearly caught off guard. "You're sharing it? With us?"

Harry looked at him as if he had gone mad, "You expect me to finish all of them myself?" 

Ron let out a laugh, shaking his head. "Well, no, but I didn't think you'd just… you know, share all this without a second thought. Most people would guard this lot like a dragon with its treasure."

Harry shrugged, opening a pack of Chocolate Frogs and tossing one to Ron. "What's the point of having it if you can't enjoy it with your friends? Besides, I'd get sick of it before I even got through half of this stuff."

Ron caught the Frog mid-air and grinned. "I'm not complaining, mate. You're like Christmas come early!" He unwrapped the Chocolate Frog and glanced at the card inside. "Oh, nice—Merlin! You collect these?"

"I do." Harry replied as he opened a pack of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Bean.

Ron was already digging into the pile, pulling out a Sugar Quill. "Wait till the twins see this. They'll think they've found their long-lost triplet. You'll have to watch out, though—they'll probably try to prank you into trading all the good stuff for Puking Pastilles or something."

Harry smirked. "Let them try. I'll just bribe them with some of the extras. It's a win-win."

Ron laughed, biting the top off of the Sugar Quill. "You're all right, Harry. Proper mental, but all right."

They were happily munching on sweets, the wrappers piling up quite a bit. Harry glanced at the door, thinking, Any moment now. Right on cue, it slid open to reveal a teary-eyed Neville and a bushy-haired girl, who looked determined, his other supposed best friend, Hermione Granger. 

"Sorry," Neville sniffled, "but have you seen a toad at all? He is gone missing again"

Harry and Ron both shook their heads. "Lost him, have you?" Ron asked, popping a Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Bean into his mouth. His face immediately twisted in disgust. "Ugh, earwax! Brilliant."

Neville sniffed harder, his voice wobbling. "He keeps escaping! I'll never find him!"

Ron leaned back casually. "Maybe he's trying out for the Frog Choir early."

Neville didn't laugh, but Harry smiled. "Want me to help you look for him?"

Neville glanced nervously at the bushy-haired girl beside him, who was standing like she'd just been given a quest by Merlin himself. "No, it's fine," Neville mumbled. "Hermione's already helping."

"Oh, trust me," Harry said with an easy grin, "it'll be faster if I help."

Hermione's eyes narrowed, her expression sharper than a goblin's quill. "Excuse me? Are you implying I can't find a toad?"

Harry raised his hands in mock surrender, a laugh bubbling in his throat. "Not at all, Miss…?"

"Hermione," she said, drawing herself up like she was delivering an important lecture. "Hermione Granger. And you are?"

"Harry. Harry Potter." He gestured toward Ron, who was still eyeing the Bertie Bott's box warily. "And this here is Ronald Weasley, though he insists on Ron."

At Harry's name, both Neville and Hermione froze, their jaws dropping as if he'd just announced he was the Minister for Magic.

"Harry Potter?" Hermione repeated, her voice a mix of awe and skepticism.

"That's me," Harry said with a shrug. "But don't get your hopes up. I'm not nearly as interesting as those books make me sound."

"Yeah, right," Ron snorted, leaning forward with a grin. "You are just a perfectly normal guy." 

Neville's mouth opened and closed like a fish, while Hermione's sharp gaze flicked between Harry and Ron, clearly recalculating everything she'd thought about Harry Potter.

"Anyway," Harry said, breaking the silence with a wink, "about that toad—do you want me to help or not?"