Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling does.

Chapter 3: The Hogwarts Express

Harry was excited, it was approaching his eleventh birthday and that meant his Hogwarts letter would arrive soon. He was currently on the swings at the park; Dudley was nowhere to be seen. Of course, this had been ordinary in the last few years. Dudley and his gang had learnt not to provoke Harry rather quickly after Harry learnt how to deal with them. Tom's memories were very helpful with this - Tom had experience with bullies from his time at the Orphanage. Harry now had a more average build for his age due to regular meals of reasonable size, he had also joined the local Football team to get some additional exercise. Petunia had subsequently convinced Dudley to join the team as well, Dudley's immense width made him well suited for the position of Goalkeeper. Harry had also put his increasing talent in Potion brewing to use by taking potions to make exercise have a more effective impact on his body.

Harry's magical skill was already significantly advanced, and he had also become proficient in Occlumency, his Legilimency skills were still developing, the art was more difficult and subtle. He also hadn't had the opportunity to his test himself against the mind of a wizard. Harry had found himself to be particularly gifted at Duelling and Transfiguration and had begun learning 5th year material in these subjects. He had also reached 5th year material in Potions, which he was quite skilled at. He had also begun to read some recently acquired Transfiguration guides on the use of Transfiguration in Duels, as Tom hadn't delved into this aspect of the subject much. Along with advancing his Transfiguration skill, Harry had also accomplished his first full Animagus transformation two days ago. His form was that of a Black Peregrine Falcon and had taken Harry a year and a half to learn. Tom had never attempted to become an Animagus; and so there were no memories to help Harry accomplish the transformation faster. In the other subjects that Harry had studied he found himself to be of above average skill and with the help of Tom's knowledge to speed up the learning process, was in the process of studying 4th year material. Of course Harry had also looked into some more advanced spells not taught at Hogwarts to make sure he was prepared enough to defend himself if needed, this included some darker spells.

Just last month, on Dudley's birthday trip to the zoo, Harry had been surprised to find that he was a Parselmouth after having a conversation with a Python. Harry had originally assumed he had understood Parseltongue in Tom's memories because Tom understood it , but now Harry had found that he actually possessed the ability. The discovery had given Harry the curiosity to research his lineage, he didn't expect the talent had been inherited from an ancestor; the idea that Tom had transferred the ability to Harry along with the memories certainly made sense. The talent would be extremely valuable to Harry since he would need it when he retrieved some of Tom's Horcruxes. But he would also need to keep it a secret, especially at Hogwarts, since it would make people wary of him were it to be revealed.

Although Harry was no longer avoided by the children at school, he hadn't made any real friends. He didn't feel any sense of belonging in the muggle world, and couldn't relate to his classmates; especially with the Tom's memories making him feel more mature than other children his age. However, school was much more bearable for Harry now that he didn't need to worry about Dudley's gang, he was also able to work to his full potential without fear of the Dursley's reaction to his impressive marks, which were even more substantial with the complete unlocking of Tom's memories.

It was getting late, so Harry decided to start heading back to number 4. Harry gave Mrs. Figg a wave as he passed her on the way.

Harry checked the post first thing the next morning, something he had been doing for the last few days. After grimacing at the sight of a postcard from Vernon's sister, Marge, Harry was delighted to find that his Hogwarts letter had finally arrived, the letter was addressed in emerald-green ink to:

Mr H. Potter

The Smallest Bedroom

4 Privet Drive

Little Whinging

Surrey

Turning the envelope over, Harry inspected the purple wax seal bearing the Hogwarts coat of arms, and then quickly ripped the envelope open to read his letter.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,

Supreme Mugwamp, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Mr Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no longer than 31 July.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

Harry pulled out a ticket for the Hogwarts Express and a second slip of parchment containing the list of necessary books and equipment; he'd need to convince Vernon to take him to Diagon Alley. Harry also decided that since it what was nearing his birthday he would buy himself an Owl, which he'd use to send the letter confirming he would be attending Hogwarts.

Initially, Uncle Vernon had rapidly become angry when Harry informed him that he'd received his Hogwarts letter. However, after mentioning the fact that attending Hogwarts was free and that he would only need to return to Privet Drive during the summer holidays, Vernon had warmed to the idea promptly and agreed to drop Harry off at the Leaky Cauldron.

After entering Diagon Alley, Harry had quickly bought himself a trunk containing an extra hidden compartment. Afterwards, Harry visited Flourish and Blotts to buy all his first year textbooks as well as some other more advanced books, particularly on Transfiguration; that he planned on keeping in the secret compartment of his new trunk. After refilling his potions ingredients at the Apothecary and buying his other equipment, Harry made his way to Eeylops Owl Emporium, to purchase a pet. He bought a beautiful snowy owl, which he swiftly sent on her first delivery with his confirmation letter to Hogwarts.

With only one item left to purchase, Harry headed towards the shop he'd been the most excited about visiting, Ollivanders Wand Shop. A tinkling bell rang somewhere in the depths of the shop as he stepped inside.

"Good afternoon," said a soft voice. Harry, who had been examining the thousands of narrow boxes piled neatly right up to the ceiling, turned swiftly towards the source of the voice. An old man was standing before him, his wide pale eyes shining like moons through the gloom of the shop.

"Hello," replied Harry, surprised that Mr Ollivander hadn't seemed to have aged much since Tom had bought his wand over 50 years ago.

"Ah yes," said Mr Ollivander. "Yes, yes. I thought I'd be seeing you soon. Harry Potter. You have your mother's eyes. It seems only yesterday she was in here herself, buying her first wand. Ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow. Nice wand for charm work."

Mr Ollivander moved closer to Harry, gazing at Harry with his creepy silvery eyes. But they bothered Harry very little as he was eager to hear any more information about his parents that Mr Ollivander could tell him.

"Your father, on the other hand, favoured a mahogany wand. Eleven inches." 'So I've been using dad's wand' realised Harry. "Pliable. A little more power and excellent for transfiguration. Well, I say your father favoured it – it's really the wand that chooses the wizard, of course."

Mr Ollivander had come so close that he and Harry were now almost nose to nose. Harry could see himself reflected in those misty eyes.

"And that's where…"

Mr Ollivander touched the lightning scar on Harry's forehead with a long, white finger.

"I'm sorry to say that I sold the wand that did it." He said softly, causing Harry to recall Tom's memory of buying his wand. "Thirteen and a half inches. Yew. Powerful wand, very powerful, and in the wrong hands… Well, if I'd known what that wand was going out into the world to do…"

He shook his head and then seemed to realise Harry was just here to buy a wand.

"Well now – Mr Potter. Let me see." He pulled a long tape measure with silver markings out of his pocket. "Which is your wand arm?"

"I'm right handed, sir" said Harry, although he had recently begun to attempt spell casting with his left hand. This had only been progressing slowly, but he hoped he would eventually be competent enough to use dual casting with both his new wand and his father's old wand, which would otherwise be kept on Harry as a back-up.

"Hold out your arm. That's it." He measured Harry from shoulder to finger, then wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit and round his head. As he measured, he said, "Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance, Mr Potter. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers and the heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons or phoenixes are quite the same. And of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard's wand." This was why Harry was glad that his father's old wand worked so well for him.

Harry suddenly realised that the tape measure, which was measuring between his nostrils, was doing this on its own. Mr Ollivander was flitting around the shelves, taking down boxes.

"That will do," he said, and the tape measure crumpled into a heap on the floor. "Right then, Mr Potter. Try this one. Beechwood and dragon heartstring. Nine inches. Nice and flexible. Just take it and give it a wave."

Harry took the wand, not feeling anything from it, and waved it through the air, Mr Ollivander snatched it out of his hand almost at once.

"Maple and phoenix feather. Seven inches. Quite whippy Try –"

Harry still not feeling any connection, allowed Mr Ollivander to snatch it back without bothering to give it a wave.

"No, no – here, ebony and unicorn hair, eight and a half inches, springy. Go on, go on, try it out." But this too, felt like just a stick in Harry's hands, there was no connection like he knew Tom had felt, when his wand had chosen him.

The pile of tried wands was mounting higher and higher on the spindly chair, but the more wands Mr Ollivander pulled from the shelves, the happier he seemed to become. Perhaps a wand wouldn't choose Harry, and he would just have to continue using his father's wand, which wasn't a bad match. Although, Harry knew that Tom had gone through almost every wand in the shop before finding his.

"Tricky customer, eh? Not to worry, we'll find the perfect match here somewhere – I wonder, now – yes, why not – unusual combination – holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple."

Harry took the wand. He felt a sudden warmth in his fingers, and knew this was his wand, it felt right, like being reunited with a part of himself he hadn't realised was missing. Harry raised the wand above his head, brought it swishing down through the dusty air and a stream of green and gold sparks shot from the end like a firework, throwing dancing spots of light on to the walls. Mr Ollivander cried "Oh bravo! Yes, indeed, oh, very good. Well, well, well… how curious… how very curious…"

He put Harry's wand back into its box and wrapped it in brown paper, still muttering, "Curious… curious…" If Harry were certain Mr Ollivander wasn't an Occlumens, then he might have risked discovering what was so curious by using Legilimency.

"Sorry," said Harry, "but what's curious?"

Mr Ollivander fixed Harry with his pale stare.

"I remember every wand I've ever sold. Mr Potter. Every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand, gave one other feather – just one other. It is very curious that you should be destined for this wand when its brother – why, its brother gave you that scar." Ollivander paused, watching Harry's reaction. "Yes, thirteen and a half inches. Yew. Curious indeed how these things happen. The wand chooses the wizard, remember… I think we must expect great things from you, Mr Potter… After all, He Must Not Be Named did great things – terrible, yes, but great."

Harry quickly left the wand shop after paying seven gold Galleons for his new wand. But he was troubled by what Mr Ollivander had told him, therefore he decided to take a break and buy some ice cream at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. As he sat staring at nothing in particular, with his ice cream mostly melted, Harry pondered how he felt about this new development.

Harry felt slightly sickened that his wand could be the brother to Tom's wand, that had performed so many terrible crimes, all of which Harry had seen. But he also understood that he and Tom were connected in a unique way, and this didn't necessarily mean Harry was, as he had worried, similar to Tom.

But this wasn't the thing that worried Harry most about what he had discovered. It was the thrill he'd felt when Mr Ollivander had said he expected great things from Harry. Harry did want to be great, and this frightened him because Tom had felt the same way. Was he too similar to Tom?

'No' thought Harry, this didn't make him evil, he wasn't the same as Tom. Harry made his own choices, and he could still do great things… After all, he was prophesised to vanquish Tom.

Feeling better, Harry left the ice cream parlour and made a quick stop at a shop that sold a variety of magical items. While inside, he purchased two wand holsters, one for his primary, Holly, wand to go on his wrist and the other around his ankle, to hold his father's wand as a back-up for now. He hoped to eventually be proficient enough to use both wands simultaneously.

Afterwards, Harry left Diagon Alley with his new purchases shrunken in his pocket, and took a bus back to Little Whinging.

Harry spent the remainder of his summer continuing to study from Tom's knowledge, but he also reviewed the First year textbooks to make sure he would remember the material at the start of term.

On September 1st, the Dursleys were happy to take Harry to Kings Cross Station and Vernon, eager to get rid of his nephew, repeatedly asked Harry if he was certain he would be staying at Hogwarts for Christmas.

Harry said goodbye to the Dursleys, just as happy as they were to be parting company. Harry assumed Dumbledore had expected Aunt Petunia to inform him on how to get onto the platform, as he knew from Legilimency that Petunia had been onto the platform whenever Lily took the express.

Harry headed towards the barrier that was the entrance way to platform nine and three quarters, receiving the occasional glance because of his large school trunk and snowy Owl, that he had decided to name Hedwig. As he arrived at the hidden entrance, he found that a large family of redheads were preparing to pass though it. So he waited for them to go first, before following them through the hidden barrier and onto Platform 9 ¾.

Smoke from the engine drifted over the heads of the chattering crowd. The first few carriages were already packed with students, so Harry pushed his trolley off down the platform in search of an empty seat. As he moved down the platform, Harry passed many students saying their goodbyes to their families.

Harry pressed on through the crowd until he found an empty compartment near the end of the train. He put Hedwig inside first and then levitated his trunk up and into the carriage. Once his things were all stowed away, Harry sat down next to the window to observe the families seeing their children off to school, feeling slightly depressed that he had no-one to see him off. While watching the crowd, Harry noticed the red-haired family that he'd followed onto the platform were saying goodbyes, and there seemed to be four of them attending Hogwarts this year. Harry wondered what it would be like to have such a large family.

A whistle sounded and the train began to move. Harry saw the boys' mother and their sister, half laughing, half crying, running to keep up with up with the train until it gathered too much speed; than she fell back and waved.

Harry watched the girl and her mother disappear as the train rounded the corner. Houses flashed past the window. Harry felt a great leap of excitement. He was finally going to Hogwarts, where he belonged and would be able to finally interact with other wizards and witches his age.

The door to the compartment opened and the youngest redheaded boy came in.

"Anyone sitting there?" he asked, pointing at the seat opposite Harry. "Everywhere else is full."

Harry shook his head and the boy sat down. "Hi, I'm Ron Weasley." The boy said, while holding out his hand to Harry.

Harry shook his hand replying, "Hi, I'm Harry… Harry Potter." The boy's mouth hung open and his eyes darted to Harry's forehead.

"R-really! I mean… are you really Harry Potter!" Ron exclaimed as if he wasn't sure whether to believe Harry.

"That is what I just said" replied Harry sarcastically.

"Oh – well, I thought you might be joking." said Ron, the tips of his ears turning pink. "And have you really got – you know…" He pointed at Harry's forehead.

This irritated Harry, but he reluctantly pulled back his fringe to show the lightning scar. Ron stared.

"So that's where You-Know-Who-?"

"Yes…" replied Harry, uncomfortable with how eager Ron was to ask these awkward questions that Harry really didn't want to talk about on his first day of school. Harry had never spoken to others about his past and living with both the Dursleys and Tom's memories had made Harry very secretive.

"So… do you remember anything?" said Ron eagerly, with no regard for the impact his words would have on Harry, who remembered everything about the night his parents were murdered. The tactless questions had progressively irritated Harry, finally causing him to explode at the redhead.

"DO I REMEMBER ANYTHING!... HOW CAN YOU ASK SUCH A STUPID QUESTION!" Harry shouted, while leaning towards the terrified boy. "Are there anymore questions you'd like to ask about the night my parents were murdered before I leave?"

"N-no…" Ron squeaked out.

"Good," said Harry removing his luggage from overhead and slamming the door shut behind him. Harry stormed down the hallway, fuming at Weasley's stupid question. As he continued towards the front of the train searching for a new compartment, Harry barely noticed they were now speeding past fields full of cows and sheep.

"Excuse me?" Harry turned, to see a girl with lots of bushy brown hair and rather large front teeth; she had a bossy sort of voice. "Have you seen a toad? Neville's lost one," she continued.

But Harry was still annoyed at the Weasley idiot, therefore he abruptly answered, "No, sorry" and continued down the train to search for a compartment.

Harry finally came to a stop around midway down the train, in front of a compartment occupied by only one person, most other compartments had been too crowded for Harry to contemplate joining. He knocked on the door before sliding it open. "Excuse me, do you mind if I sit here?" asked Harry, pointing to the empty seat opposite the person, that he could now distinguish as a tall black boy with high cheekbones and long, slanting eyes.

"No, help yourself…" answered the boy. After putting his trunk away, Harry sat down next to the window; "I'm Blaise Zabini," introduced the boy holding out his hand. From Voldemort's memories, Harry recalled that the Zabini Family had remained neutral during the war. Harry shook Blaise's offered hand, unsure whether he should tell Blaise his full name after Weasley's reaction.

"Hi, I'm Harry…," Blaise's raised one eyebrow in a silent question; Harry decided to give his full name, hoping Blaise wouldn't have a similar reaction to Weasley. "Harry Potter… I didn't know whether to tell you since this Weasley boy started asking all these annoying questions after I told him, so I left the compartment."

"I see… I hear there are quite a few Weasley's attending Hogwarts this year, hopefully the rest won't be as annoying as their brother" said Blaise.

"Yeah… hopefully," Harry answered, "I don't suppose you know what house you'll be in?"

"I'll most likely be in Slytherin, but perhaps Ravenclaw. The Zabini Family are known for their cunning and ambition after all." Blaise answered, Harry recalled that Blaise's mother was a famously beautiful witch who had married several times, with each of her wealthy husbands dieing a mysterious death, leaving her a lot of gold. That certainly suggested she had ambition and cunning, if she was behind the deaths and had managed to get away with it. "Where do you think you'll go?" asked Blaise.

"To be honest, I wouldn't mind any of the houses, and I think I have traits from several," said Harry, "I expect that I'll be sorted into Slytherin though, as my personality fits there best. But it's possible I could be a Gryffindor since my parents were both in that house. I just hope I'm not in the same house as Weasley." Harry was quite sure he'd be a Slytherin, which didn't bother him; as he hoped to try and improve their reputation with the other houses.

Around noon there was a great clattering outside in the corridor and a smiling, dimpled woman slid back their door and said, "Anything off the trolley, dears?"

Harry, who had only ever had muggle sweets, leapt to his feet and bought some of everything and paid the woman eleven Sickles and seven bronze Knuts, Blaise chose to buy only his favourites.

Harry had been enjoying trying all the different Wizarding sweets, and after eating a Chocolate Frog he was surprised to find a card in the empty wrapper. Harry picked up the card and stared at a man's face he was familiar with from Tom's memories. The man wore half-moon glasses, had a long crooked nose and flowing silver hair, beard and moustache. Underneath the picture was the name Albus Dumbledore. Harry turned over the card and read:

Albus Dumbledore, currently Headmaster of Hogwarts.

Considered by many the greatest wizard of modern

times, Professor Dumbledore is particularly famous for

his defeat of the dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945,

for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's

blood and his work on alchemy with his partner,

Nicolas Flamel. Professor Dumbledore enjoys

chamber music and tenpin bowling.

Blaise had been surprised at Harry's eagerness to trying every type of Wizarding sweet, and had finally decided to ask Harry about it. "So, did you not grow up in the Wizarding world?" Questioned Blaise, "I mean, all anyone ever heard was that you'd gone into hiding for your protection."

Harry assumed that Blaise was unsure what Harry's reaction would be; after hearing about Weasley's awkward questions. "No, I was left with my mother's sister and her family in the Muggle world. They didn't want me to know, but I found out I was a wizard when I was 7, but I've been very isolated from the Wizarding world," answered Harry, attempting to avoid any further questions, Harry asked, "So, do you have any siblings attending Hogwarts?"

"No," answered Blaise, "I'm an only child, but I do have a cousin in Ravenclaw, she's a sixth year prefect."

"Knowing a prefect will be helpful if you get caught breaking rules by her," said Harry.

"That reminds me, did you hear about Gringotts?" Blaise asked Harry, who shook his head, "It's been all over the Daily Prophet, someone tried to rob a high-security vault."

"Really… were they caught?" asked Harry, interested to know as he planned on eventually breaking into Gringotts to steal Hufflepuff's Cup from Bellatrix Lestrange's vault.

"No, they got away, but Gringotts says that nothing was taken since the vault was emptied the same day," answered Blaise.

'That's strange', thought Harry. Breaking into Gringotts must have been extremely difficult and would have taken a lot of planning. But whatever they were after must have been very valuable to risk the break-in. Harry wouldn't mind learning how the robber had entered and escaped the Goblin bank without getting caught.

Coming out of his contemplation Harry noticed it was getting dark. He could see mountains and forests under a deep-purple sky. "I think we should probably put on our school robes now," said Harry.

After changing into their robes, the two boys spent the rest of the journey talking, until a voice echoed through the train: "We'll be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train; it will be taken to the school separately."

The train slowed down and finally stopped. People pushed their way towards the door and out on to a tiny, dark platform. Harry shivered in the cold night air. Then a lamp came bobbing over the heads of the students and Harry heard a voice call: "Firs' years! Firs' years over here!"

The voice belonged to a giant of a man. Illuminated by the light from the lamp, Harry was able to see that the giant's face was almost completely hidden by a long shaggy mane of hair and a wild, tangled beard, but Harry could make out his eyes, glinting like black beetles under all the hair.

"C'mon, follow me – any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!" continued the giant, in a voice that Harry vaguely recognised from Tom's memories. Harry realised who it was as Tom had only ever met one person as large as this man, he was called Rubeus Hagrid and had been a student at Hogwarts. Tom had framed Hagrid for the opening of the Chamber of Secrets, resulting in Hagrid's expulsion during his third year.

Slipping and stumbling as they followed Hagrid down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path; Harry resolved to visit Hagrid and get to know him; after all Hagrid was another victim of Tom Riddle, just like Harry was.

"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."

There were gasps and appreciative noises as Hagrid led them down the narrow path which had opened suddenly on to 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. Harry thought it looked brilliant; seeing it in Tom's memories was nothing compared to experiencing it first-hand.

"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. Harry and Blaise were followed into their boat by a round-faced boy and the girl who'd asked Harry if he'd seen a toad on the train. The girl mostly ignored Harry; so Harry assumed she was annoyed at him for earlier, while the round-faced boy was too busy trying to keep a hold of his toad to talk.

"Everyone in?" shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself, "Right then – FORWARD!"

And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over them as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood.

"Heads down!" yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff; they all bent their heads and the little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy which hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of underground harbour, where they clambered out onto rocks and pebbles.

"Oy, you there! Is this your toad?" asked Hagrid, who was checking the boats as people got out of them.

"Trevor!" cried the round-faced boy blissfully, holding out his hands. Then they clambered up a passageway in the rock after Hagrid's lamp, coming out at last onto smooth, damp grass right in the shadow of the castle.

They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, oak front door.

"Everyone here? You there, still got yer toad?"

Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.