บท 3: The train ride..

After boarding the train Christian decided to get his own cabin after arriving early. Alex had no problem with that. Boarding in the middle area himself he laid out in the cabin reading about the different families and who was related to whom. Despite it having been a somewhat boring book he powered through it.

Having one suitcase stashed overhead with a duplicate of his belongings to hold appear more normal he started to doze off. After a very jostling bump on the track, he woke up. He was no longer alone as another 2 students sat across from him. Both stared a little at him now that he was awake. Smiling the two nodded before continuing their conversation.

Unable to go back to sleep Alex placed his book behind him. After a half hour, he noticed the boys were talking about comedians. Making a few jokes here and there himself the three of them started to talk and the comedians of the times. Alex realized both boys were muggle-born.

They were the first to go to the wizarding world in their families. The only saving grace is that both grew up around the same public school in America. Reuniting in Yorkshire before receiving the acceptance letter, the boys became ecstatic. Military kids had it rough sometimes.

"So, Alex what house do you think you will end up in?" Adam asked. His voice was a little deeper than most kids and squeaked a little his age. But the boy spoke great American English. With a slightly hooked nose that pointed the boy would have to get a thick skin if he wanted to be ok.

"I think he will be Gryffindor. From what I read in the paper he is a brave sort. Winning a few practice duels last weekend. Think I even heard you beat a third year in an exposition." Luis said excitedly. His accent thick and heavy. It was no surprise to find the boy spoke a perfect impression of Dezi Arnez. As a Puerto Rican descent, he embraced any Cuban Latino performers wholeheartedly.

"Hope not Gryffindor. Maybe Slytherin. I don't think Hufflepoof is for me." Alex stated while reaching for his water bottle. As of late his need to drink water had been increasing.

"What about Ravenclaw? Don't think you will be a fit in there." Adam said grabbing a bottle of water himself. Before he could answer an attendant came through with a tray full of snacks and goodies.

"To be in Ravenclaw one has to be regal and very intelligent. I am neither of those. So who knows really." Looking at the cart Alex bought a few things that looked somewhat safe. Unlike Christian, he didn't take a strong interest in the magical treats. So there was always trepidation before eating any.

Luis looked ready to devour the whole cart. Sweets happened to be his weakness. Alex looked at him before asking him to try each of them for him. "No problem, can't believe you are too chicken too."

"Eh, not a fan of surprises," Alex smirked. Looking at the cart he wonders if there is some extra water. "Excuse me, can I buy some more water please?" Hoping the attendant had some he held his breath.

"Of course let me finish my rounds and I will bring you some." The attendant smiled backing out. She went on her way of selling treats. It would be another hour before she circled back.

"Alex maybe you should go to the medical car," Adam said once he saw the sweat Alex had coming down his face. "Don't worry I will make sure he doesn't eat all your snacks."

"Maybe you are right." Alex stood up and started walking down the cars. Making a stop at the bathroom he decided to go wash his face.

*Splash, splash!* The water didn't help. Looking in the mirror he noticed an unusual thing. His left eye resembled a snake. Stumbling back against the door he hit his head.

*Thunk!* He left a little dent.

"What in the world is this nonsense?" Standing back up Alex looked closely at the mirror. His left eye turned back to normal then flickered back to a snake. "Shit am I going crazy?" Calming himself down he watched in horror as his right eye took on a snake as well.

*Knock, knock!* Is anyone in there?" A voice came from the other side.

"Yeah. Give me a few minutes I am not feeling well!" Alex started to panic as he could swear he saw scales appearing. His skin started to blister and then flake. For the next few minutes, he spent his time groaning in pain. Staring at his hands that looked like a lizard he wanted to cry. "Fucking hell!" Using his regenerative abilities only eases the pain so far.

*Knock, knock!* Is anyone in there?" A voice came from the other side once again. "Are you ok?"

"Grraok," Alex croaked before slapping his hand over his mouth. "Yes, I am fine just having some trouble is all."

"I will get a nurse ok?" The voice said before leaving.

"No, it's ok!" Realizing the person was long gone Alex started to panic. "Ok, there has got to be a spell to fix this!" Standing up straight he passed through the knowledge in his mind and thought some more on his ability. 'Wait a minute my healing ability should be able to target this. I just need to control it better. I have to focus on getting better.'

Channeling and focusing on his healing Alex's body burned with magic energy. All across the train, the lights flickered off and then back on. In a few moments, Alex had molted the scales off and watched in fascination as his body returned to normal. He had a slight headache but was fine nonetheless.

"Ok, that worked. But what if it comes back? I will have to look this up later. Maybe Christian knows since he is studying the Ani whats it called." Looking around Alex pulled out his wand and fixed the bathroom.

He compressed the scales and put them in his pocket. As for his hair that fell out, he flushed it down the toilet. Burning might have sent some alarms off or something. Checking everything one last time he left the room.

"Oof," Alex had bumped into the attendant from earlier. "Are you ok? I put some of the water in your car with your friends." The attendant said with a disarming smile.

"I am doing better thank you. Sorry for bumping into you." Alex scooched pass her and went back to the direction of his car.

"No problem young master." The attendant said under her breath. She then stepped inside the cabin. Giving it a thorough check over she checked under the sink. Finding an elongated fingernail she picked it up. A grin appeared on her face. "So the curse has him as well. This should help in bringing him to our side later." With a flick of her wand towards her pocket, a woman appeared the spitting image of herself.

Switching the clothes back onto the person she cast a spell giving her the memories she gained since she abducted her. In a few minutes, the woman would wake none the wiser.

"Now with that taken care of, time to start my implantation." Removing a shrunken skull from her bra and clasping it, she started an incantation. Bit by bit the skull broke apart and she started to shrink down to a child. The whole process took five minutes. Looking at her new self she groaned in disappointment. "I forgot the body would look completely different. Well, I guess I can play this role. Haven't been this color before. Need to fix this hair though." With a swish of her wand, the undergarments shrunk. Reaching into her socks she pulled out a pair of clothes befitting a first year. "Let's see the memories say the skull's name was Tatianna Crouch. Why does that name sound familiar?" Exiting the bathroom "Tatianna" walked about through the cars. 'Now to find a girl to buddy up with.'

Finding a trolly with a black-haired girl she entered and began chatting her up. It took only an hour to realize who she was in. She had changed into the body of the last "free" member of the disgraced Crouch family. For good and bad she knew she could make this work.

Over with Christian and Neville in Harry's car.

"So Harry, why are you so wimpy?" Christian tried to get the boy to get some confidence. "Take Neville here. I have been talking to him. Explaining the sky's the limit if you had a little courage." If one didn't know any better one would swear Christian was a salesman trying to sell some kind of potion.

"I get what you are saying, Christian. But it isn't that easy." Harry said downcasted.

"Fine fine we will see. I know. Taking out his wand he pretended to cast a spell on Harry. Christian mumbled a few words that were mostly gibberish. He put his wand away right as a girl with long black frizzy hair came in.

"Sorry to interrupt. Are you all doing magic in here?" The girl asked.

"We are. What's it to ya? Want to watch?" Neville said gulping. He looked to Christian absolutely embarrassed.

"Pftt," Harry couldn't control it. He let out a little laugh.

"Guffawed" Ron just stared gobsmacked then snickering.

Christian looked with a smile. "Do not mind him. He is practicing new ways to speak. Seeing a girl to try it out on he gave it a go. Come in and show us some spells if you know any." Looking at Neville Christian gave him a pat on the back. "Good show there." His smile was earnest he was proud that Neville tried. He realized the girl was Hermoine. Just not the movie appearance one. More of the one from the book.

"Ok. I know only a little. The name is Hermione by the way." Taking out her wand, she pointed it at Harry and fixed his glasses. "Oculus repairo." Seeing it fixed up she remembered the reason she came into the room. "Oh did anyone see a boy named Alex. Heard his cab mates were looking for him."

"Huh, I just saw Alex walk pass about 15 minutes ago. Looks like he was heading from the bathroom." Christian said. "He might have the bubble guts as he puts it."

"Bubble guts? What's that?" Ron asked a little weirded out by the phrase.

"Oh, I think it's when you have the belches. I think that's what gran calls it." Neville said.

"Then why not call it the burpees?" Harry asked confused.

The boys continued to guess wrongly. Christian just waited to see if any would get it right. Seeing Hermoine's face turn a little red he figured she knew what it was.

"I think she figured it out. Share with the class, Miss Granger." Christian said as he sort of snickered behind his hands.

"It means.. its.. No, I can't say. Excuse me I have to go." Standing up Hermoine fled the compartment.

"Wow, what a spoilsport. So Christian what does it mean?" Ron asked as he ate the snack his mum prepared for him earlier.

As Christian started to explain the car turned into a bunch of gagging and puking. It was no surprise Neville was the first to lose it followed by Harry then Ron. Christian spent a lot of time with his feet tucked in his seat as the boys threw up over the floor. Ron's pet scabbards had fled the room right when it started. This didn't escape Christian's eye as he muttered a little spell on the rat.

'Don't know what's going on with you Alex but hopefully, you don't miss this opportunity.' As he thought to himself he was surprised at the amount of puke Neville had. 'God, why did he eat so much.' Grinning to himself wryly he regretted telling them the meaning a little bit.

When Alex made it back to the cabin. No one was inside.

"Well, shit guess they went exploring. Seeing a bunch of water by his seat. He started drinking after checking no magical tricks had been implanted in the room. "All good. I am too tired for a practical joke." Writing in on a slip of paper and burning it with his wand he flipped his seat to the bed mode. Much to his surprise, a rat was in the cushions. "What the hell are you doing there? Guess you are hungry."

Picking up one of the treats Alex fed to the rat who immediately fell asleep. Finding it unusual he checked the rest of the treats. Only the one he talked about eating earlier was laced.

*Poof!* A small bit of a smoke cloud appeared in front of him. It was a little spell he and Christian came up with when they wanted to pass a message. Pulling his journal from his carry-on Alex had to curse himself for almost missing his chance.

Looking at the passed out rat he started casting multiple spells on him. The first was a locator spell he designed, the second a charm Christian came up with to alert him every time the rat changed forms, a mind-reading spell. That one took the longest. Alex finished right in time.

A few minutes later his cab mates returned.

Seeing the Unconsciousness Rat Luiz grinned. "Damn and here I thought I get the chance to pull a prank on you. The sleeping powder would have worked right as we returned." Grinning to himself he picks the rat up by the tail. "Ouch, it bit me." Dropping the rodent Luiz grabbed his thumb.

"Hahaha, that's what you get. You might need a rabies shot. Hey, where did it go?" Adam asked seeing it nowhere in sight.

"Who knows?" Shrugging his shoulders Alex dropped the remains in the trash of the treat. Finally laying down he curled up and started sleeping.

"Woah he's out like a light," Luis stated waving his hands in front of Alex. "You think he is ok?"

"Yeah. Just tired most likely. Let him rest. Wait did you not read the paper?" The other gave him a head shake of no. "Do yourself a favor and read it. You will learn a lot. But at least he isn't snoring out loud this time." Adam grabbed a book and started reading.

The book was How to fit in with the Wizarding World. Plopping back down Luis started reading the paper. Every now and then he looked towards Alex. His eyes had pity.

Alex himself was having a nightmare. In the dream, he was chased by a giant snake. Any time he was far away from it a giant black bird would fly above screeching giving away his location. Finally having enough of it Alex stood in the center of a black clearing. Facing them both head on he felt like he would go crazy from fear. Reaching out his wand appeared in hand. He pointed it defiantly at the two creatures. They just stared at him.

The next moment Alex woke up from shaking.

"Hey, we are here!" Adam said smiling. Luis already had everyone's carry on bags down. "Let's go!"

Standing up the trio made their way. Alex looked energized but still a little thirsty. Giving himself a once over he relaxed. There's nothing to do for now but get some food.