Capítulo 13: Hogwarts Express
1st September 1991, London
Finally came the day of my departure to Hogwarts. I was now standing before the orphanage already dressed in my Hogwarts uniform, which consists of a plain white buttoned shirt with a striped tie, and a grey V-neck jumper over it. Instead of a skirt, I had black trousers and on my feet were rather nice black dress shoes. And as a finishing touch were the plain long black robes with a pointy hood that give the uniform a witchy feeling. Madam Malkin said that the details of the uniform will be colored after the Sorting Ceremony.
I changed into the uniform after I woke up this morning as I don't feel like changing on the train. In my right hand, I hold the handle of a large simple brown suitcase. It was a suitcase that McGonagall bought me in Diagon Alley. I have in it my clothes, necessaries, course books, and school equipment. Although I have my enchanted trunk that I stole from Avery, I must play the role of poor orphan Muggle-born. I can't say that I found an enchanted trunk simply lying around.
My enchanted trunk was currently shrunk and in my pocket. In it, I have my more questionable stuff, like the book full of Blood Magic and the silver athame knife, and other items that found their way into my possession over the years.
In my other hand is a silver cage with my owl that I bought a few days after the shopping trip with the Transfiguration Professor and other Muggle-borns. I first visited the Eeylops Owl Emporium but there wasn't any owl that caught my eyes. Fortunately, there was another owl shop in Knockturn Alley with more interesting owls. There I found my owl. She is a pure white barn owl with a pair of pitch-black eyes. I named her Yuki. I still haven't decided if I should make her my Familiar as I can only have three.
When Anna found out that I suddenly have an owl in my room, she asked me where I got her. I just told her that Yuki came to me herself and that every witch has her owl. That it was a witch thing. She didn't know that much about Wizarding World so she believed my small lie. If McGonagall or someone asks how I got my owl I will say that it was a gift from Anna.
I already said goodbye to the Director, Melissa, and Anna after breakfast before I left the orphanage. They didn't want to send me off alone but I persuaded them that I can get to the King's Cross Station by myself. A quick Confundus Charm did the work. I cast it with my spare chestnut wand so the Ministry couldn't trace me. Hmm, I should probably do something about the trace on my Yew wand.
I felt a little guilty about what I have done to them, especially Anna as she took care of me the most and became my friend, but I really don't like public transport. It's too much disruption to my personal space, furthermore, it's a long way from the orphanage to the station. And if I go by myself I can simply Apparate there.
"Hold on tight Woody," I said to him as he was again hanging on my long braid.
I activated my Presence Concealment and Disapparated away with a popping sound and feeling like my body was forced through a very tight rubber tube. I appeared at a certain place in King's Cross Station without anybody noticing me. I didn't even use my wand as Apparition was one of the few spells that I could use wandlessly.
{I still don't like this weird teleportation skill of yours. It's uncomfortable as hell.} Agony complained in my head. After the first time, I was successful at Apparition, she threw up. But instead of vomit, it was an acid that came out. That time I had to apologize to the Director for her destroyed flower bed of lilies.
Anyway, the only things that I could do without the need for a wand were Magikinesis, Elemental spells, Apparition, and Patronus Charm. From the looks of it, my black demonic heart is pure enough to cast a corporeal Patronus.
I soon found the magically hidden entrance to Platform 9 and three quarters. I was there more than an hour before the express departure so there wasn't any loud family of redheads. McGonagall gave me the instructions on how to get to the Platform, not that I needed it. I walked through the seemingly solid wall that divided platforms nine and ten.
What greeted me was the sight of a shining red stream engine. Real respect to the wizards that successfully stole such a big locomotive. The platform was already packed. I canceled my Presence Concealment and walked onto the train while levitating my large suitcase behind me.
On the train, I found a free compartment and took a seat next to the window after I put my suitcase on the shelf overhead. I put the cage with Yuki right next to me. I didn't know what to do so I took 'Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them' from my suitcase and started to read while Woody climbed onto my left shoulder.
After a while of reading the train departed. Looks like I have the compartment for myself. The ride was pleasant and quiet until some hours later the door to my compartment was slid open by a bushy-haired brunette. "Have you seen a toad? A boy named Neville lost his." She asked and looked at me. "Oh, it's you. We met in Diagon Alley." She said and sat on the seat across from me. Well, there's go my quiet ride.
"We should properly introduce ourselves this time. My name is Hermione Granger." She offered me a hand.
I took her hand. "Suou Green."
She noticed Woody on my shoulder and her eyes widened in surprise. "That's a Bowtruckle! I read about them in the 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'. They are quite rare and could be found only in England, Germany, and Scandinavian forests. A Bowtruckle serves as a tree guardian for its home tree, which is usually a tree with wood from which you can make a good wand. They eat insects and are usually peaceful creatures but if the tree in which it lives is threatened, it has been known to leap down upon the woodcutter or tree surgeon attempting to harm its home and gouge at their eyes with its long, sharp fingers. How did you get one?" She said in one breath. She really is a know-it-all. I don't know why she recited all that information, If she wasn't cute I would have kicked her out of my compartment.
"That's Woody. I found him one day about a year ago and since then we have been friends." I answered her.
"That's fascinating. But can you even have him in Hogwarts? I didn't see a Bowtruckle on the list of allowed pets." Woody waved his arms threateningly at her. Looks like he doesn't like to be described as a pet.
"I got permission from the Headmaster." As McGonagall promised, a day after her visit, an owl delivered me a parchment with permission signed by Dumbledore himself.
"Oh right. Have you seen the toad?" So she still remembers the reason why she came here.
"No, but I can try something." I pulled out my wand and did a wordless Accio Charm. Then under the shocked gaze of a certain bushy-haired witch, a big toad appeared in my hand.
"Here," I said and throw the toad at her.
Despite her shock, she caught the toad in her arms. "How did you do that!? I don't know a spell like that and you didn't even chant or do the wand movements. Are you really a Muggle-born?"
Of course, she didn't know about this spell as the Summoning Charm is a fourth-year charm. It's one of the spells that I learned ahead of time as it's a really useful Charm. I visited Flourish and Blotts a few times during the summer and read several books there while I was under Presence Concealment. Thanks to my perfect memory, that was even better after I learned proper Occlumency, I can remember things with a just glance so I don't really need to buy books.
And why should I chant and idiotically wave my wand around? I also don't feel like hiding my magic talent and power. If I end up in the House I think, I will need to show off my power. I don't want to hide my power only to get bullied as I am not a Chinese protagonist with masochistic tendencies.
"Who knows? I am an orphan after all." I said bluntly.
"Ah, sorry." She looked uncomfortable after my answer. Not that I care.
"Well, it was nice seeing you again Hermione. Bye-bye." I gently pushed her out of my compartment with my magic and closed the door behind her. Now I have my piece and silence back.
...
A voice echoed through the train: "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."
The ride down to Hogwarts finally came to its end at Hogsmeade Station. The people pushed their way out of the train on the small platform. I calmly waited until the herd of children exited the train and walked out too with Woody again hanging on my braid.
I was greeted by a night sky and cold wind. Not that it bothered me but the same couldn't be said about the rest of the first-years shivering around. A lamp came bobbing over the heads of the students and a deep booming voice was heard. "Firs' years! Firs' years over here! Anymore firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years, follow me!" It was a giant of a man with a head full of hair and a bushy beard, Hagrid.
We followed the half-giant down on what seemed like a steep and narrow path. Others were stumbling and slipping because they couldn't see in the dark. But that was not a problem for the demon me. Nobody spoke much as they had all their attention on the road before them.
"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here. "
There was a loud "Oooooh!"
The narrow path had opened suddenly onto the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky was a vast castle with many turrets and towers.
Hogwarts.
"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. I picked a boat on the side and seated myself, but Hermione soon joined me along with a chubby blond-haired boy with a big toad in his hand. He only awkwardly said hello to me and sat there nervously. He looked very shy. Hermione on the other hand was peeking at me with curiosity. Sigh.
{Oh congratulations, you successfully gained the attention of a little girl. What a sinful demon you are~.} Agony said sassily.
My eyebrow twitched. 'Don't spout nonsense! She is just curious about the magic I showed her.' I yelled at her in my head. Agony likes to strike at me whenever there is a chance. She will really bring me into agony one day.
"Everyone in?" shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself. "Right then -- FORWARD!"
The fleet of little boats moved off by themselves and glided across the mirror-like surface of the black lake. Everyone was silent and looked at the magical side of the towering castle above us. The boats then reached the cliff and continued through the dark tunnel that was hidden by a curtain of ivy. The tunnel seemed to take us right underneath the castle. Eventually, we reached some underground harbor where we clambered out onto rocks and pebbles.
We climbed out of the boats and walked up the flight of stone steps and crowded before the huge oak front door. After Hagrid assessed the group he knocked three times on the door with his gigantic fist.
The door swung open at once and what greeted us was the sight of McGonagall in emerald-green robes and a very stern face. I waved at her but she ignored me, too occupied by her intimidation of the first years. Rude.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here. " She said thinly.
Professor McGonagall pulled the door wide and we followed her across the flagged stone floor of a giant entrance hall that was lit with flaming torches. I could hear the drone of hundreds of voices from a doorway to the right but Professor McGonagall showed us into a small, empty chamber off the hall and we crowded in. We were standing rather closely together, more than I would have liked.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room."
"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rulebreaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours."
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting. " She gazed at a few unkempt students.
"I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly. "
She left the chamber. Some students were murmuring something about tests we will have to do to get sorted. Then a few of them jumped and screamed at the sight of twenty ghosts that streamed through the back wall.
How would the ghost's soul taste? I thought while I was starting intensely at a certain ghost. He noticed my stare and looked scared by it.
McGonagall soon returned and shooed the ghosts away. Then, she let us out of the chamber, back across the hall, and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall.
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