Chapter 5: Chapter 5: The train rides to Hogwarts and a Death
For 11 years, I had dreamed of this moment, of standing before the towering brick wall that led to my ultimate goal. With a grin of anticipation hidden behind my calm exterior, I stepped through the magical barrier of Platform 9 3/4 and emerged on the other side, where the Hogwarts Express sat waiting. Boarding it, I made sure to keep my composure and not draw too much attention to myself. Carrying two shrunk multiple-compartment trunks, one green, and one red, in the form of necklaces around my neck.
The green trunk contained all the essential tools and equipment I needed for my Vigilant operations, as well as my meticulous plan for my first year at Hogwarts. The red trunk, on the other hand, was filled with all the necessary books for school, including the seven years of Hogwarts textbooks and a comprehensive guide to potion-making. Until last month, my magical abilities had not fully stabilized, despite having read every book in Regulus's bedroom. I could only control accidental magic that left me exhausted. But in recent times, I have made progress, and my magical core had grown stronger. Through my consistent meditation, I could sense the growth, and I noticed that my magic was taking on a more liquid form, unlike the gaseous state it used to be.
As I settled into my compartment, I felt a sense of excitement for the journey ahead. I knew that the challenges I would face at Hogwarts would require all my skills and knowledge. Despite my confidence, I was always looking for ways to improve and enhance my abilities and Hogwart was the best place to do that. I had thankfully arrived at the train station early to secure a compartment for myself. As I opened the window to let in some fresh air, I saw Celeste, my pet dragon, eagerly flapping her wings. I couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm, even though flying on the train was out of the question.
Hearing some sounds on the platform I looked out to see the family of redheads, the Weasley cheer for a person. Although I saw earlier, I didn't want to engage with them knowing the character of each person. They reminded me too much of a younger version of Olivier and I preferred to work alone and avoid any unnecessary connections that might hinder my progress. I knew that building relationships with others could be a distraction and potentially hold me back from achieving my goals. As the cheers for Harriet Potter grew louder, I closed the window to drown out the noise. I wasn't interested in the fame and attention that came with being the "girl who lived" or "daughter of heroes". I was more focused on honing my skills and gaining knowledge to become the best wizard I could be knowing how the professor at Hogwarts treated Harry in the cannon I didn't want to rely on them. Their lack of teaching degrees and common sense was a constant source of frustration for me. But I was determined to make the most of my time at Hogwarts, despite any obstacles that might arise.
Twenty minutes into the train ride, I heard a knock on my compartment door. Assuming it was the trolley lady, I got up to open it, but to my surprise, it was a younger version of Bellatrix, dressed in a Hogwarts uniform. My body immediately tensed up as I asked her, in a calm but monotone voice, what she was doing there. As soon as I spoke, she seemed to snap out of a trance-like state and tried to reach for her wand. But I was quicker and had already disarmed her before she could even grab it. I held her wand up like a knife and pressed it against her throat, staring into her eyes with a cold and emotionless expression. I asked her again, in a stern and menacing tone, what she was doing there.
However, it turned out to be unnecessary as she suddenly fainted, revealing a new feature. She grew taller, her facial features became less pronounced, and her hair turned pink. At that moment, I remembered that Nymphadora Tonks, Andromeda's daughter, had been a metamorph magus since birth. Unlike me, who unlocked this ability through a ritual, Tonks was born with it. It appeared that being around the Black family in this timeline caused her personality to change, becoming crueler and less like her cannon self. But as I looked at her clothes I could tell that despite my original assumption, she was still a Hufflepuff.
I carefully carried her into my compartment and laid her down on the opposite couch. I placed her wand and trunk beside me, intending to return them when she regained consciousness. With no desire to engage in a conversation with her or any Black, I went back to my reading. As for why she was crying, I had no idea. It was not my concern. However, if I were to make a guess, it could be due to Nymphadora's struggles in school, as described in the original book, or potentially bullying from her fellow housemates for her ability. However, I cannot say for certain without further evidence or information
After just 10 minutes, there came a knock at the compartment door.
This time it was someone who was expected, the trolley lady. Deciding to buy a few chocolates for Tonks, I opened the door and greeted her, "Good morning, may I have a few chocolate bars, please?"
"Of course, dear," she replied with a warm smile, "Here you go."
I paid her and took the chocolates back to my compartment, where Tonks was still fast asleep. I placed the chocolates on the small table next to her and settled back into my seat.
As the train rumbled down the tracks, I watched the scenery change outside my window and lost myself in thought.
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Pov Tonks
I woke up with a throbbing headache and wondered how it got so bad. Memories of the past few hours flooded back, and I realized I was in a stranger's compartment. My heart raced as I wondered what he might have done while I was asleep. But thinking about how all the boys at Hogwarts wished to do something to me but didn't dare because my aunt helped me regain my composure. The situation was uncomfortable, to say the least. His eyes were cold, and I couldn't read his mind.
To break the silence, I started, "Can I ask who-"
Before I could finish, he interrupted, sighing, and answering with a bored tone, "I'm Alexander Queen. And no, I didn't do anything to you while you were asleep."
I felt relieved and slightly embarrassed for assuming the worst. I sat up and saw my trunk and wand neatly placed in the overhead rack.
"Thank you for taking care of my things," I said, trying to ease the tension.
"It's no big deal. I didn't want your things to get stolen or anything," Alexender replied dismissively.
I nodded, feeling grateful yet annoyed at his attitude. Something about him rubbed me the wrong way. I decided to tease him a bit, asking why he wasn't wearing a robe.
"I don't like wearing them. They're too stuffy and uncomfortable. And if it stays between us, I could ask you the same thing yet I didn't, so stop asking," Alexender replied with a raised eyebrow.
I couldn't help but smile, intrigued by his response. Despite his rude demeanor, I found him intriguing. I wondered what secrets he was hiding beneath his aloof exterior.
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Several hours later, towards the end of the journey, a boy knocked on Tonks' compartment door. She recognized the voice as Neville Longbottom, a friend of her younger sister. She quickly opened the door and Neville rushed in, still crying uncontrollably.
Alexander rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath, "Great, just what we need, more drama."
I shot him a dirty look before turning my attention to Neville. "What's wrong, Neville? Why are you crying?"
Neville took a deep breath before managing to speak through his tears. "It's Trevor. I found him dead."
Tonks' face fell in shock and sympathy for Neville's loss. "I'm so sorry, Neville. When did this happen?"
Neville wiped his tears and tried to compose himself. "I-I searched for him with a friend because he escaped earlier but I found him dead in his cage."
I put a comforting hand on Neville's shoulder. "We'll figure it out, Neville. We'll find out what happened to Trevor."
Alexander, still disinterested, went back to his book, pretending to ignore the conversation.
Neville looked up at me with grateful eyes. "Thank you, Tonks. I don't know what I would do without your help."
I gave him a small smile. "Don't worry, Neville. We'll get through this together."
Neville nodded, taking a deep breath and wiping away his remaining tears. "I just don't understand how this could have happened. Trevor was my only friend on this trip."
I gave him a sympathetic pat on the back. "I know, Neville. It's a tough situation, but we'll find out what happened."
As they sat in silence, I began to think about what could have caused Trevor's death. I remembered seeing a strange figure lurking in the hallway earlier, and I couldn't shake the feeling that it might be connected to Trevor's death. Frustration began to set in as I couldn't shake the sense that something wasn't right. I knew that I needed to get to the bottom of this, for Neville's sake and Trevor's memory.
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