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The Yankees Nephew and the Philosophers Stone	By : Wilde_Guess Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 5806 -:- Recommendations : 5 -:- Currently Reading : 5
Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter Universe I am making no money from this fanfiction

Chapter List
- 11
- 12
- 13
Chapter 12. Going to Hogwarts in 1984.

Saria and Pet were pulling the last of seven shepherd’s pies out of the oven for lunch. Saria would be turning fourteen in October. She now weighed a shapely one hundred fifteen pounds, and stood five foot four. She asked, “Why are we doing this again, Mom?”

“Saria, it’s not ‘again,’ and it’s womanly pride. Molly Weasley and I are professional stay-at-home-mums, and I won’t let her think that she’s the only woman who can feed our combined lot without a telephone and a chequebook like Andi Tonks does. Besides, with everything that everyone else is up to, it’s hard to get everyone together otherwise.”

It was mid-day on the fifteenth of August 1984. According to the family schedule, it was a rare ‘magic and relaxation’ day. So, instead of magical and no-Maj ‘summer school,’ practicing and rehearsing for concerts, or performing at concerts; all the magical teens and older-than-toddler kids were at the Burrow, either practicing magic, or flying their brooms.

Even if they weren’t practicing their music today, Pet didn’t want the younger kids in Ashford. It had been non-stop drizzle in Little Whinging all day, and the only kids not on the edge of musical burnout were the ones too young to do anything more than sing. And her two energy-filled four-year-old boys and their two very frequently hosted four-year-old friends were the worst of the lot. So, with the choice being either her lounge or Molly Weasley’s sunny back garden; the garden easily won.

Petunia added, “On top of that, your A Level results came in this morning, so John is Apparating in for lunch, too.”

The front door opened, allowing Danny and Delilah to enter. Danny was now five foot ten, and weighed one hundred forty pounds. He had just a little more growing to do, since he would be turning seventeen in December. Delilah, at almost nineteen, was more or less finished growing any taller at five foot five and one hundred twenty five pounds. Neither teen had any tattoos, and only Delilah had any piercings; one earring on each ear lobe. Both teens were wearing their hair in its natural colouring, and other than the length of Danny’s hair, both were wearing their hair rather conservatively. Danny was also clean-shaven. Otherwise, the pair were dressed exactly like you would expect the proprietors of a Harley-Davidson Motorbike Dealership to be dressed.

While they were removing their helmets and boots, Danny announced, “Hey Mom, Delilah and I are here. But we can’t stretch lunch out too long. The shop’s a madhouse today, especially for a Wednesday. I’ve spent almost as much time on the showroom and shop floors as I have in the office being taught how to run the place.”

Delilah added, “The clothes and licensed merchandise, for both Harley stuff and the band, are selling like crazy, too. I’ve been going almost non-stop.”

Pet asked, “I thought your Dad was helping you with it.”

As Delilah and he walked into the expansion-charmed kitchen, Danny told her, “He is, but Dad isn’t quitting the State Department, so he can only duck in once in a while during the day mostly, and that’s only when we aren’t performing a concert somewhere. And the other guys he and Uncle Frank found to help tide me over ‘til I get up to speed running the place are helping, too.

“But even with the band and soon college, I didn’t buy the place as a trophy. I bought it to work on and sell bikes. At least when we bought it, we were able to get rid of or pay off all the debts the dealership had from before. But we need to ‘strike while the iron’s hot now, and build up our cash reserves for the tough times.”

Pet remarked, “I still don’t get why you had to buy a motorcycle dealership when you can’t even get a full motorcycle license for at least four more months.”

Danny sighed while replying, “I had to buy the shop in February ‘cause it came up for sale in February. Like I told Dad and you back then, Harley Davidson franchises almost never come up for sale, and the shop’s in Guildford to boot. I had to spend a lot of my savings to buy the place, but I’d intended to buy a dealership or at least a franchise and build from new anyway. If we go home after Harry’s taken care of the Terrorist, I can sell it to him if he’s interested. It’ll also be much easier for me to get a franchise back home from the Motor Company if I’ve got a track record of successfully running a dealership here.

“I’m just glad that Dad and Uncle Frank helped me get the deal done without all the ‘garbage’ debt the old owners were trying to slide in from their other properties. The debts from Guildford itself were nothing to sneeze at.”

Changing the subject, Saria asked, “What did Delilah and you ride here?”

“One of the ‘demo’ Sportsters, with Delilah driving. She doesn’t like the big bikes, and I can’t even get “L” plates myself ‘til I get my license in December.”

The door opened again, admitting a slow-speed stampede of teens and children. David was the first one to deposit shoes in the genkan and make it to the kitchen. He was still the same age to the minute as his live-in girlfriend. But he was now taller and heavier than her, at five foot eleven and one hundred thirty-five pounds. While he was hungry, the hug and kiss he and Saria eagerly shared was the real reason for David’s rush.

Pet asked, “Did you wash and dry your feet before you came in here?”

“Yes, Mom; and I did wear my shoes, too.”

Newly seven-year-old Paul helpfully supplied, “He did, Mum; when he used the Floo.”

While he walked in, almost eleven-year-old Aaron offered, “Don’t be a tattler, Paul.”

“M not a tattler Aaron, and Mum gave up on makin’ David wear shoes in summer before she and Dad got married.”

Looking to derail any squabbling his younger brothers had otherwise planned, David asked, “So Danny, are you going to start selling bikes out of the driveway like Dad did Caddies, or did you bring the paperwork to have Dad sell it?”

Danny replied, “Neither one, but I’ll ask Dad if he wants me to start doing that. He’s got all the salespeople doing better, but you can’t beat Dad if he decides to sell something.”

“How good a salesman is your dad, anyway?” Bill Weasley asked. He was still just shy of two months younger than his best friend. He was now two inches shorter and ten pounds lighter, too.

Danny told him, “Good enough to sell a Sales Manager his own desk in order to get a job selling Cadillacs.”

“You’re taking the… Mickey!” Bill retorted.

“No, he really isn’t, Bill. My birth-father used to joke with Dad about it when he was still alive” David told him.

While kids continued to clear through the front genkan, John, Sirius, and Remus entered through the rear. While he removed his shoes, John asked, “What’s this about my selling my old sales manager his desk?”

Bill asked, “Did you?”

While he stepped out of the genkan into the kitchen proper, he replied, “Yes. It was a ‘spite sale,’ because when I asked him if he needed any more salesmen, he told me ‘no,’ and he was rather rude about it. He was about to hand me the money, too; before he shrugged and told me that it was an advance on my pay, and to give the business office my information and start selling cars. It was a Tuesday, and that’s the hardest day of the week to sell a car at a dealership. I sold three Cadillacs and a Buick the dealership thought they’d never sell.

“But why are you talking about my selling cars?”

Danny answered, “I had Delilah drive one of the demo Sportsters to get us here for lunch. I’d almost forgotten about you selling extra cars out of our driveway back in Mokena.”

John replied, “I can’t ride the newer Sportsters because of the shifter, and I won’t mess with anything I can’t ride myself. If you bring a touring Harley with a ‘heel and toe’ shifter, or some of the older trade-ins with the shifter on the right, I might be able to help you that way, when we aren’t all on the other side of the world playing a concert.

“Otherwise, Frank and I managed to find you the few replacement people you needed to get Guildford whipped into shape. Your year over year numbers are good now for all categories, and you should be able to just let your managers run the place now.”

Danny opined, “That’s not why I bought it, Dad. I’ll keep ‘learning’ while Michael and I go to college to fly, but I’ll end up taking up both fixed wing and rotary training. After I graduate from that, I’ll just fly my own stuff when we aren’t doing the music stuff, and I’ll run my dealership. Flying is Michael and David’s thing more than mine, and I was only going to become an airline pilot to go to college with Michael and to save the last of the money I’d need to buy the shop I already own now.”

Announcing his presence, Harry asked, “Does your motorbike fly like Uncle Padfoot’s?”

Danny told his four year old brother, “No, Harry. It’s my motorbike only because I own the dealership that owns the bike. I’m trying to sell it, just like all the rest of the motorbikes I have in Guildford. And the Ministry won’t let me sell motorbikes with charms like that already on them, not even to wizards and witches.”

“Okay. Can you take me for a ride on it?”

Danny laughed before he answered, “No, Harry. But if you’re good for Mom with lunch, Uncle Padfoot can give you a ride on it before I have to go back to the shop.”

Molly Weasley, the last of the bunch to enter through the front, opined, “You might want to give Harry a ‘rain check’ on that, Danny; he, Dudley, and Neville Apparated to Arabella’s place while I was helping Ronnie over instead of waiting.” Molly helped her daughter Ginny, who had just turned three four days ago, remove her shoes so she could follow her brothers.

“From Devon?” Pet asked in alarm.

“‘Snot that far, Mrs. Dvorak. And Gran and Grandpa said that if I could do it to just go ahead and do it” Neville offered.

John sent a silent Adfero message, and less than a minute later they head a double-crack in the back garden, followed by a knock at the back door. Six foot two Michael, who was closest, opened the door to admit Herbert and Augusta Longbottom.

While she and her husband slipped off their shoes, Augusta asked, “Neville, did you really Apparate here from Devon?”

Neville innocently answered, “Yes, Gran. Harry and Dudley helped me learn it all summer, and build up my magical… stamina? Yes, that. I’ve only gone back and forth between here and the Burrow about eight times or so.”

Augusta sat down in shock. Herbert calmly asked, “You haven’t Splinched yourself, have you?”

“No, Grandpa. Dudley told me how bad it hurt, so we took it real easy ‘til I was sure I could make it all the way.”

Herbert calmly told his grandson, “Neville, your Grandmother and I thought you were ‘make-believe’ asking instead of asking for real. I’ll let you keep doing it, but it’s like crossing a busy street. You have to have one of us grownups at both ends if you’re going to Apparate somewhere.”

Changing tacks, he told his wife, “And you can help me tell my idiot brothers to go suck eggs and quit browbeating Neville into having an accidental magic outburst when I’m not looking, too. Squib my f… foot.”

Pet started to become upset for a different reason before David assured her, “Mom, I put a warming charm on the food when it started looking like we’d be a while before we served it out. And Saria and you both did great with it, judging by the smell.”

Pet invited, “Herbert and Augusta, you’re welcome to join us for lunch, and we’ve got plenty. I’m serving shepherd’s pie and steamed green beans for the main course. We’ve all gotten together to share the older kids’ O and A Level results.”

The two elder Longbottoms looked at each other before Herbert answered, “We’d be delighted. We hadn’t told our elves to make us anything yet, so I’ll just call one and have them not bother until tea later today.”

§§§

Lunch turned out to be a lunch for seven adults, and twenty-five kids. Beyond the fifteen children John and Pet had of their own, plus the two nephews and one niece they had for Hogwarts, they also had several guests. Bill Weasley had come along with David, and Charlie Weasley came over with Aaron. Percy Weasley came over with Paul, and Ronnie behaved himself by using the Floo with Molly’s oversight and help while his three fellow four-year-olds Apparated. Six year old twins Fred and George came over since everyone else had, and Ginny was tagging along with Ronnie, Dudley, and Harry. Tom Daley, along with Joe and Max Stock were David’s guests for the rest of the week. They had Floo’ed over with the bunch coming from the Burrow, after taking the Knight Bus from their homes elsewhere in the UK that morning.

So, food and guests were moved from Number Four to Number Two, which had enough room to feed everyone. Even the expansion charms of Number Four’s kitchen and dining room had their limits. Delilah, Debbie, Pixie, and Sally helped with Lily and Alameda, along with Alameda’s and Lily’s bottled breast milk and baby food. Lily wasn’t fully weaned yet at thirty-two months, but she was also eating solid food. So, she got to sample some of Delilah’s shepherd’s pie while Alameda tried some mashed peas along with his milk. Ginny was barely weaned herself, but she enjoyed Pet and Saria’s Shepherd’s Pie almost as much as she did her mum’s.

With the blessing said, and food being passed around, John asked, “Did anybody look at their results?”

Aaron replied, “Not yet, Dad. Mom wanted us to wait ‘til you were here, too.”

Joe offered, “We got ours this morning in Desford before we came out here, Sergeant Dvorak; and Tom got his in Cokeworth. I got low A’s in most of my O Level stuff. I got a high B in English History, and a middle C in Latin. The low score in Latin was a bit of a shock, but the test was hard this year.”

Max groused, “And I got my… butt chewed by Dad and Mom again for not taking mine.”

John opined, “Your parents set your rules for life in general right now, Max. But did they get you any correspondence courses for the stuff you hadn’t seen in three years?”

“No, Sergeant. But they said that they hadn’t gotten anything for Joe, either.”

Joe said, “Sergeant, Max was helping Andy mostly with his Wizarding stuff, and he really didn’t keep up with the no-Maj stuff when we went to Ilvermorny. I did do some of it all on my own. While I was helping Andy with his no-Maj stuff, I picked up enough helping Andy with his A Levels that I decided to try my O Levels, just to see what I’d get. I’ll need that correspondence stuff like ‘yours’ had in order to even have a chance at passing A Levels, though.”

Tom volunteered, “I got all As, Sergeant Dvorak. But my folks got the correspondence stuff for me after my first letter home, where I mentioned that David was doing it. Dad’s hoping that even if I take my A Levels late, that I’ll still get good marks and go to college like he did, and get on with him at Rolls-Royce. He still isn’t quite convinced that the Wizarding World is all that, and he wants me to get a ‘real’ job.

“Bill and I’ve already written to Gringotts, and they have no problem hiring qualified Muggleborn wizards and witches. In fact, they prefer Muggleborns over purebloods, since we tend to work out better working for Goblins. So, I still want to become a Curse Breaker for them once I’ve taken my NEWTs. And with the grades Bill and I are earning, and the extra work the Professors have us doing instead of flying through the years, we should have no trouble getting on with them.”

Bill himself announced, “We got our results late this morning through the Muggle Post. All As for me.”

Charlie added, “I haven’t seen enough of Percy’s schoolbooks from London to even think about trying them myself. I’m having to work hard enough with just the magical stuff Mr. Lupin and Mom have us working on. But the Dragon Reserves are always hiring, and that’s what I want to do with my life anyway.”

Aaron asked, “Speaking of school stuff, are they going to let me start Hogwarts with Charlie? We haven’t gotten my Hogwarts Letter yet that I’ve seen.”

John told his son, “You got your Hogwarts Letter the day you got your wand. I talked with the Headmaster this morning, and he gave me the updated book and supplies list. So, he’s letting both Sally and you start early. But if you either of you start struggling, you will be held back a year.”

Sally opined, “That won’t be a problem, Uncle John. Aaron’s doing better than me with everything. But I’m doing better than Charlie, and my magical stamina is better than his, too. Mr. Lupin has us mostly into second and third year spells, and Professor Slughorn has just started us on third year brewing. I can cast silently for all the first year spells, and Charlie only gets about half of them.”

Dudley asked, “Was last June the last of the nasty tests?”

After everybody finished laughing, David replied, “We’ve got some more, but it won’t be like it has been. We’ve gotten better at not upsetting Harry and you, haven’t we?”

Harry said, “You aren’t as bad, but you guys still don’t play with us when those tests come up.”

Lily asked, “Will birdie bring test?”

After everyone quit laughing again, Paul told her, “Not this test, Lily. The postman brought the letter that said how they did on the tests this morning. The birdie brings the letter for the tests we take at Hogwarts, and the postman brings the letter for the tests we take in London.”

“Okay” the girl asked before rediscovering that she liked shepherd’s pie more than her mashed peas.

Finally, with all the dishes and glasses from lunch cleared, the results letters were passed around and opened.

Andy went first, announcing, “Low B on English Literature, and High B on English History. All As on everything else.”

Everyone congratulated him. Everyone younger than him also cheered. He was also the only test taker that year from their end of Privet Drive to score that low.

Sally went next, as the youngest of the A Level test takers. She told the group, “A star in maths and Latin, and As in everything else.”

A.D. announced, “All A stars except for geography, which was an A.”

Everyone else got all A stars. Danny sighed visibly in relief, stating, “With the garbage going on at the dealership those weeks, I thought for sure that I’d failed at least some of the tests.”

Debbie asked, “Still okay to move in with you through the week if I get on with you at King’s?” Delilah was attending King’s College in London to become a Nurse-Practitioner, since she’d taken her A Levels and started a year ago.

Delilah replied, “You aced your interviews with them Debbie, even being an ‘early start.’ And both John and Uncle Frank made ‘careful’ and generous donations to their endowment. You’d have had to get truly awful A Levels for them to turn you away. But, we’ll want to take copies of your results in to them tomorrow, so they can pull up the official results and get you enrolled, ‘cause admissions close this year a week from today.”

Michael asked, “You still on for Salford, Danny?” The University of Salford in Manchester was a major UK University with a well renowned aviation and aerospace department.

“Yeah, though I’d rather that it was Lewis. You know that we’re going to have to get extra flight training on top of what they offer, right? Especially me?”

Michael replied, “Yeah. But on the academic side, they’re on par with Embry-Riddle. And since David’s getting one of his choppers moved over here and hiring an instructor pilot, you should have that covered.”

David added, “I’m actually buying at least a full-instrument Hiller over here, they’re cheap enough. Once we’re ready for turbine engines and tandem rotors, I’ll have to import one of mine, since I’m not sure about starting a second helicopter service company here in the UK. There’s not a lot of quality Wizarding Historians in the UK right now, and if I manage to get on teaching at Hogwarts, I won’t quit until someone I’ve taught is ready to take over. And we’ve still got the music going and paying the bills too.

“When we get there, if Andy decides to stay here and he’s still interested, I might though. We’ve got a few years of college and flight training to figure that out, though. Unless you’ve found a great price in a ninety percent stake in British Airways or something?”

Everyone got a laugh out of that. Andy opined, “I wanted in with Orchard Muni ‘cause he started it. I still want to fly choppers, but I’m not sure I want to start a flight service company from a bare hanger like Uncle Rick did.”

Aaron countered with, “Wouldn’t that actually be a better tribute to birth-Dad, though? Especially if you have to carve your place out in the market instead of building the market, too?”

David suggested, “If you want it, Andy, I’ll help you build it. And who knows? Maybe I’ll end up working for you. After all, the biggest reason birth-Dad started Orchard Muni in the first place was ‘cause he couldn’t afford to keep flying Chinooks unless someone else was paying the expenses.”

With that thought expressed, the group finished their desserts (except for Harry and Dudley, with Neville and Ron in ‘solidarity’ at their own insistence) and cleared the table. The under-five kids went back to Number Four for their afternoon naps, with David, Aaron, Saria, and Pixie helping. Sirius and Remus offered to Apparate Debbie and Delilah to the Admissions Office at King’s College so they could take care of Debbie’s registration that afternoon. While Remus stayed with the girls, Sirius came back and spent the rest of the afternoon with Danny, starting with driving him to work on the back of the Sportster. The girls would meet up with Danny in Guildford once they’d finished up with Debbie’s admissions.

On his way out, Sirius said, “Hey John, Danny; ‘R.’”

Danny asked, “What?”

The ‘skiving’ Senior Auror replied, “It’s quiet around the office, but not that quiet. Now I can honestly tell Scrimgeour that we talked about ‘R.’ How’d you get the afternoon off, John?”

“I told Jonah and Oscar the truth. I’ve also still got comp time to burn, even with all the concerts. In fact, I’ll be in at the dealership in a while myself after I change out of my suit and in to something more appropriate for a motorcycle dealership.”

In a matter of minutes, John and Pet were alone at Number Two. Pet asked, “Have David and Aaron talked to you about their OWLs?”

He replied, “David has. He asked about taking them this spring. He’s confident that he’s ready. I’ve quizzed him myself, and I think he’s right. That was the other reason I went up to Hogwarts this morning.

“Professor McGonagall told me when I asked her that David, Andy, and A.D. are all ready to take their OWLs, and that David might be ready for his NEWTs, too. I’ve already told David that I would listen to his Professors’ advice before telling him either yes or no. And, Danny, Michael, and Pixie are supposed to take their NEWTs this spring, too. Too bad I can’t ‘ship’ them to Hogwarts to take them along with David. Still, they’ll have their magical education out of the way, which will be a blessing.”

“Why aren’t you more upset with Dudley and Harry still Apparating?”

“Pet, I’m trying to let you handle it. But beyond that, I’m actually relieved that they can Apparate without Splinching themselves. Even without the Terrorist, there are bad people out there. If Harry and Dudley can get away from them, it’s all right by me. And, since both our homes here in Ashford and the Burrow are warded Wizarding homes, the Ministry can’t aim underage magic sensors into them. Our homes are also diplomat’s homes, and they need a warrant from the Department of International Cooperation signed by the Minister herself to even try to aim detectors at us. With the boys not having wands, the Trace wouldn’t pick them up anyway.

“And only the Weasley and Stock boys and Tom Daley have the Trace cast on their wands still, anyway. Ours had their Trace removed the day we registered their wands at the Embassy. Otherwise, what good would it do for them to carry their wands if they couldn’t use them without the Improper Use of Magic Office constantly breathing down their necks?

“I won’t go against you, Pet. And, I think Harry and Dudley were suitably punished for disobeying you. But, I’d suggest that we follow the Longbottoms’ example and allow them to Apparate between here and the Burrow to keep in practice; providing that at least Danny or Michael is around here, and Molly or Arthur is home there.

“Any of them can send me an Adfero if one of them Splinches, and I can put them back together if it isn’t too bad, or bullshit the Mediwizards that it was accidental otherwise if Poppy isn’t able to come out here. While we shouldn’t abuse it, we are having to stay here because Harry is supposedly going to have to finish the Terrorist off for good someday. So, if Dumbledore occasionally has to send his School Healer out to reverse the occasional Splinching, or at least one more Splinching, it’s just part of the cost of doing business for him.

“And no matter how much he wants to ‘keep up,’ we don’t let Dudley Apparate more than twice a day until he’s older and his magical power and control have improved. Harry and Neville looked fine, but Dudley was paler than normal behind the freckles.”

Pet agreed, “He was also a little ‘draggy,’ but I thought that was just from flying all morning.”

“He was more magically tired, Pet. But a good meal and a nap fix both problems, so no worries. And provided we don’t let them go into full magical exhaustion, it’s still no problem. All three boys are powerful enough; otherwise they wouldn’t be Apparating from one garden to another, much less all the way out to Devon. Ron’s got enough power too. But his control isn’t there, or even close, and he knows it.

“Danny and Michael can both Apparate and side-along others anywhere in the UK easily. They just don’t flaunt it because they can’t get their licenses yet. The reason we had the Ministry out to the dealership when Danny bought it was to set up and certify our Apparation area, even if only family and friends will actually use it. They and Pixie will get their licenses when they turn seventeen. David, Aaron, and Paul ‘know better.’ Unless I teach them early, they won’t try it otherwise.”

They stood up, hugged, and kissed. Pet told him, “We’d best get over to Number Four, so the older kids can get some rehearsal time in, at least the ones who aren’t napping.”

John laughed, agreeing, “David misses his ‘nap time’ almost as much as the little ones miss him. And I want to see if I can get that white Sportster Delilah rode in for Danny sold before we close for the day.”

With shared laughter, the couple left one home for their other home next door. The Sportster was sold at about ten minutes after four in the afternoon.

§§§

Saturday the first of September 1984 was a repeat of two years previous, with eleven extra players. Harry and Dudley were just old enough to want to go and see their older brothers and cousins off, and also just old enough to go along. And Ronnie also wanted to see his older brothers off. Since Neville usually went along with everything else the other three boys did, and since he was the best behaved of the four, he also joined along. The four Stocks and three Daleys also joined the group at Ashford instead of King’s Cross.

Six year old Fred and George Weasley were “old enough” to go along for the trip, too. But they weren’t even close to being well-behaved enough. So after breakfast in Ashford, they got to spend the morning with Arabella Figg, along with their sister Ginny, Lily Dvorak, and young Alameda Dvorak.

The extra people riding into London meant that the expansion charms put on John’s, Remus’s, and Arthur’s FX4s all got a workout that morning. Frank did not have an expansion charm on his James Young Limousine. But, he also occasionally needed to have Muggles who didn’t know about magic ride in the car, so he couldn’t have an expansion charm put on the car even if he wanted to.

This year, Wilbur and Howard cooked as well as served breakfast, and no wedding anniversaries were forgotten. The expanded party, which now included the Stocks and Daleys had a good meal before braving Saturday traffic into London. Once again, they managed to park close enough, after all the non-drivers were dropped off. This year, Remus, Arthur, Wilbur, and Howard parked the cars, while the rest of the large party entered King’s Cross Station at just before ten in the morning.

Molly unobtrusively cast her charms on the luggage carts before the group walked into the station, and she started her routine. This year, she addressed Percy.

“I’m amazed we weren’t caught in traffic, but the station is already packed with Muggles, and the Hogwarts Express leaves in about an hour. What’s the track again, Percy?”

“It’s Platform Nine and Three Quarters, Mum! Doesn’t everybody know that, though? And why can’t I go this year?”

“You can’t go this year Percy because you’re still too young. But, your turn is coming up soon.”

Molly’s act managed to attract one family of Muggleborn student and Muggle parents. All three were slightly out of breath from running from the far end of the concourse. They were also all ash-blond haired, blue eyed, and of average weight for their height. The father was six feet and two inches tall, the woman was five feet and six inches tall, and their son was five feet even.

The man asked with a medium Swedish accent, “Are you talking openly about the train we’re not supposed to openly talk about?”

The woman added more sensibly, and with a lighter accent, “And can you help us find it? We thought you’d have some kind of signs, and you crazy English use odd fractions for everything else, so why not railway platforms, too?”

After laughing just a little bit at the woman’s statement, Molly quietly assured them, “First off, relax. I put a Muggle Repelling charm on the kids’ luggage carts, so all the Muggles who weren’t looking for the Hogwarts Express were already clearing off before I said what you heard me say.

“Second, we English do get crazy with fractions, and on the Wizarding side we still use fractional currency, when even English Muggles got rid of that thirteen years ago. Just the same, you don’t want to rub our noses in it. None of mine were offended, and we’ve actually got more Americans than British in our party this morning. But some might take offense. I’m Molly Weasley, and the two school-age gingers closest to me are my sons Bill and Charlie. Charlie’s starting first year, too.” Charlie waved at the three Swedes.

The man introduced, “I’m Folke Odinson. My wife is Helga, and our son is Thorin. We got our Hogwarts letter late, because Durmstrang interfered. I’ve worked for Volvo here in London for two years, and after the… jerks from Durmstrang talked to us, I’ll work here at least another seven, even if I’m mopping the floors. Your Professor McGongle took us where we needed to go, but with everything else going on, she didn’t remember to tell us how to find the train, and we forgot to ask. I thought it would be like the Leaky Cauldron, where at least you could see it if you had magic and looked.”

Rich Daley extended his hand, saying “Rich Daley. I work for the aircraft side of Rolls-Royce in Birmingham, and almost the same thing happened to me two years ago. So, we’ll take care of you, and our kids will take care of your son, too.”

Joseph introduced himself, “Joseph Stock, I work for Caterpillar Tractor in Desford. This platform is not user friendly, especially not for no-Maj ‘foreigners’ like us. My oldest was a third year transfer from Ilvermorny our first year here, and we couldn’t find it without help, either.”

The introductions finished up quickly, including the four drivers who had just come in, and the group started to walk towards the hidden gate. Once the group was on the platform, the new students started talking directly to each other.

Thorin asked, “You guys aren’t going to make fun of my name, are you?”

Charlie assured his (hopefully) new friend, “Not enough to really hurt your feelings. We usually don’t name our kids after Norse Gods here. We also drive on the ‘wrong’ side of the road for what you’re used to, British Wizards have some weird names too, and the kid walking up to us is named for the inventor of the most popular sport in America.”

A.D. told him, “I go by ‘A.D.,’ but my full name is Abner Doubleday Dvorak, the third. So, ‘weird’ names run in the family for me. My kid sister Sally is starting early this year, and I’m so far ahead in my studies that I don’t know what year I’m in. Really.”

The three boys laughed, and their tension mostly melted away. Thorin shyly asked, “Do you get looked at a lot? You look like that rock band that’s been popular for the past couple of years. I saw them early this summer in Stockholm when we went home on vacation.”

After he quit laughing, A.D. assured his new friend, “I laughed ‘cause we are that rock band. And we really do descend from the classical composer Antonín Dvořák too

“Some of us are no-Maj, and the three oldest Wizarding ones of us are going to a ‘hedge academy’ day school. But David, Andy, Sally, Aaron, and I are in Hogwarts. Aaron’s starting this year, too.

Aaron reintroduced himself, “I’m still Aaron Dvorak, Thorin, nice to meet’cha. Do you sing or play a musical instrument?”

Thorin shyly replied, “No, and I can’t write poetry either, not even in Swedish. I have all of your albums, though. I’m interested in zoology. But you can’t take the Magical Creatures classes until third year.”

Charlie assured Thorin, “No worries, Thorin. I’m the same way, and they haven’t disowned me. And Hogwarts is the school Newt Scamander went to. He’s one of the most famous Magizoologists there is today. Professor Kettleburn really knows his stuff except for not getting mauled, and our groundskeeper Hagrid is at least as good.”

Thorin was happier hearing that.

Danny and Michael helped their Hogwarts bound siblings and friends find a compartment towards the back of the train. They got all of their trunks, plus Mercury’s and Athena’s cages loaded onto the train. Meanwhile, Rich Daley was talking to Folke Odinson.

“Remember, if an Owl shows up with a letter from Thorin, ask it to wait while you read your son’s letter and write a reply. The owls the school has for the students will wait, but not for very long. David’s and A.D.’s post owls will wait longer, but if your kid sorts into a different ‘house’ or dormitory set, he might not be able to borrow them. And those two owls are also shared between seven other boys, so they might not wait that long, either.

“We’ll want to exchange numbers, along with Joseph Stock, Remus Lupin, and John Dvorak. Joseph and Teri aren’t magical, but Remus and John are.”

“What about Sirius Black?” Folke asked.

Sirius, who was walking by, replied, “I live with Remus, since we were friends since our first year together at Hogwarts. The phone’s in Remus’s name, and since I’m an Auror, I work odd shifts. So, if you call for either of us, you’ll either get Remus or the answering machine more often than not.”

David was telling his little brothers goodbye first. “I know you guys will miss me even more with Aaron gone too, but I’ll still come home on some of the weekends.”

Harry sniffled and replied, “We know, David. It still sucks that you’re gone.”

David wiped a tear from Harry’s eye with a handkerchief and told him, “You meant to say that it still stinks, even if you hear us older kids say exactly what you did. You’ll understand when you’re older.”

“I wanna understand now, David. Please?” Dudley added.

“Dudley, have Danny or Michael explain it to you. They’re better than me at stuff like that.”

Both boys hugged and kissed their older brother, telling him, “Be sure to hurry home, David.”

“I will” the almost fourteen-year-old boy replied.

Meanwhile, Aaron was also talking with Paul. “Be sure to keep an eye on the younger ones while I’m gone at school. Since David and I are both at Hogwarts now, it’ll be you they come up to.”

“Guess so, Aaron. Why don’t they go up to Michael or Danny, though? Not that I mind…”

“You never did, Paul; and it was you they followed. We were always used to going to David, ‘cause I was always used to going to David, and you just followed me. ‘Sides that, we were big enough to scare away the monster under the bed, but little enough that you weren’t embarrassed ‘bout asking us to.”

The two boys hugged each other, before seeing their next younger siblings walk to them. They quietly told each other “switch!” before Paul walked over to David.

“Where’s Saria, David?” Paul asked.

“Waiting for me to take care of you guys. Why?”

“I don’t want you two hurting ‘cause you had to say goodbye to us little kids instead of saying goodbye to her.”

“Don’t worry ‘bout that, Paul. We’re the older ones, and we’re supposed to help take care of you as well as each other. And where are Dudley and Harry?”

“Still talkin’ with Aaron and telling him goodbye. And Percy’s watchin’ Ronnie ‘n’ Neville say goodbye to Charlie and Bill.”

“You’re learning, Paul. I’ll see you on the fourteenth.”

With one last hug and kiss, the two brothers parted.

Sirius was doing “double-duty” this morning. His eleven-year-old cousin Nymphadora (Call me Tonks!) Tonks was leaving for Hogwarts that day, too. She, and her parents Ted and Andromeda had just shown up at the Apparation point moments ago, and he was helping her find a compartment on the express.

As the three adults and one eleven year old walked toward the rear of the train, Sirius saw someone from work he’d completely forgotten about.

“Vera Lobosca! I’d forgotten that I’d be meeting you this morning, sorry. And is this Chiara?”

Vera Lobosca was in her mid thirties, stood five feet five inches tall, and weighed about one hundred thirty pounds. Her almost twelve year old daughter Chiara was five foot two and weighed one hundred twelve pounds. Both mother and daughter were fair skinned with blue eyes. Where the mother was a honey-blond with longer hair, the daughter’s hair was silver and shoulder length.

The two adults shook hands and Vera replied, “Yes. I was also looking for your friend Remus Lupin?”

Remus walked up to the group and informed them, “That would be me, Vera?”

After shaking hands again, Remus informed them, “I spend most of my time as a independent magical instructor for House Dvořák. They know about my ‘furry little problem,’ and none of them have any problems with it.”

Chiara spoke for the first time to the group, asking, “Did they see you transform?”

Remus replied, “Some of them have, looking through a reinforced window into my vault. And they saw that before I started Wolfsbane therapy. The two boys closest in age to you, David and Aaron Dvorak, are also Animagi, both of them are red foxes with silver eyes. The rest of House Dvořák also knows, and they’ll keep your secrets.

“They can all also cast the Homorphus counter-curse at need. That’s a newly invented counter-curse that will force a Werewolf back into human form temporarily, how long depending on the strength of the wizard or witch casting it. And it also doesn’t counteract the Wolfsbane potion, which is also a good thing; though if someone needed to use the Homorphus counter-curse on someone dosed on Wolfsbane, it raises a lot of questions.”

Trying to calm a now thoroughly embarrassed Chiara, Tonks said, “Wotcher, Chiara! I’m ‘Tonks,’ and ‘furry little problems’ don’t bother me. I can also run like hell and lock a door behind me, but I don’t think we’ll be needing that.”

The two girls looked at each other, and the last of the tension broke. After they finished laughing and hugged, Chiara asked, “So how’s this going to work for me?”

Remus told her, “You’ll go to the Hospital Wing half an hour before sunset for the seven days preceding the full moon to take your Wolfsbane Potion. On the night of the full moon itself, you’ll take your last dose for the month and go out into the Forbidden Forest to transform. With the Wolfsbane, you won’t be dangerous to humans, and as a Werewolf nothing else will be able to hurt you. And with the entire Forbidden Forest to run in, you might not scratch or bite yourself at all. At least that’s what Headmaster Dumbledore believes. He’s also tweaked the wards for the Forbidden Forest so that transformed Werewolves can’t leave the forest.”

Chiara opined, “The last part sounds sketchy to me, but at least I won’t be crazy and trying to attack people. Just so long as there aren’t any perverts waiting to see me get starkers to romp in the woods. The Wolf will stay well away from them. The Girl will kick their bollocks into Patay.”

“Don’t you mean pâté Chiara?” Tonks asked.

“That too, Tonks. But I meant the small village in Northern France where they and their bollocks will land after I kick ‘em.”

After the group finished laughing, Chiara and Tonks hugged and kissed their parents goodbye until Christmas and boarded the train. Ted Tonks, Sirius, and Remus helped the two girls with their school trunks.

At the other end of the train, David gave a quick good-bye hug and kiss to Saria and another to his mother. He started to get on the train, but stopped. A first year boy was running toward where he was boarding. The kid had brown hair and eyes, and appeared to be of average size for an eleven year old. David got back off of the train and the kid stopped in the middle of their group to catch his breath.

When he had, David told him, “You can join my friends and me if you want. Name’s David Dvorak. You are?” David extended his hand toward the boy.

While grasping David’s hand, the boy answered between breaths, “Judah Kowalski. ‘M not observant other than kosher when I can, but I don’t shorten my name, either.”

“No problem, Judah. Let’s get your trunk on the train before it leaves without us. Your mom didn’t want to come onto the platform?”

While they carried Judah’s trunk into their compartment, he answered, “No. I took the Knight Bus out here. Mum doesn’t go out in public much, ‘cause of my older brother Jacob. He got in trouble during his last year of school, and people say bad things ‘bout her ‘cause of that. They say that Jacob went off to serve He Who Must Not Be Named, but that’s bullshit. Mum’s mum was Muggleborn, and Grandpa Kowalski was a Muggle who fought against Grindelwald. Don’t say nothin’, okay?”

“Sure thing, Judah. I wouldn’t go saying it to anyone else today if I were you, though. I’m also sure that it’ll all come out really quickly anyway. But every minute you have without having to deal with the bullshit is all right by me.

“The only guy who’ll be in our compartment that I can’t vouch for keeping their mouths shut is Thorin Odinson, but that’s ‘cause he’s also a first year, and I’ve only just been introduced. The rest of our group I’ve known since first year or longer. And out of the nine, three are cousins, plus my younger brother Aaron for the fourth. So, I would tell them if it comes up. And, if they act shirty, tell them that I said you were cool.”

The two boys worked comfortably together while they opened the compartment and got Judah’s trunk into it. They heard Pet outside the compartment ask, “Where did Saria go?”

Aaron leaned out of the window and answered, “Delilah’s friends from King’s showed up early to pick them up. Delilah and Debbie are showing Danny and Michael around their campus, and their apartment, Saria too. Remember?”

Pet replied, “I thought she’d at least see her boyfriend off before taking off.”

David leaned over his brother and told her, “She did, Mom. They’ll be back in Ashford before Mass tomorrow, I’m sure of it. And they’re all responsible, so they’ll be fine.”

“Mums worry, David. What if Aaron was off in London running around?”

“Point, Mom. I’ll be sure to write, Aaron will too.”

With other good-byes exchanged, the train started backing out of the station. Once everybody sat down, Bill decided to finish the introductions.

“Just in case you two ‘new guys’ missed it, I’m William Arthur Weasley, and I go by ‘Bill.’ I’m starting third year this year, and my electives are Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, and Care of Magical Creatures. I’ll also take my OWL and NEWT for Muggle Studies, but the class is a waste of time for me, ‘cause with hanging out with David and his family, I’ve been immersed in the Muggle world.

“I’m the rhythm guitarist or bassist as needed for the Dvorak Magic Band, and I also play bass now for The Treasures. I can even sing good now, thanks to David, stage fright, and a strong desire to help my family out with money while the money’s there. If either or both of you ‘new guys’ sort Gryffindor like all of us, and are musical, you might be able to play in, that’ll be David’s call. If you sort any other house, you might be able to also, but it’ll be a little bit harder to work out. If you stick with us, musical or not, we’ll stick with you, even if you sort Slytherin. Slytherin’s a good house, but He Who Must Not Be Named got most of his followers from that house, even if the guys and girls in Slytherin now aren’t that bad. Gryffindor and Slytherin is a serious rivalry, but we’re brave enough to stick with our friends, even if they’re sorted into Slytherin. I’m also studying curse breaking, and that’s what I’ll do after passing my NEWTs.”

Aaron joined in with, “Aaron Russell Rush-Cook Dvorak, I go by ‘Aaron.’ And my older brother David has been here too long already. I’ll tell you guys about him when I get back.”

Bundling a confused David up, Aaron guided him to the next compartment over to find Saria waiting for them, or at least for David.

“Surprise! Saria and you haven’t had a lot of ‘alone time’ this summer, and she’d also wanted to ride the Hogwarts Express. Danny and Sirius’ll be meeting us at Hogsmeade to side-along Saria back to London before anyone really realizes that she was there.”

Bill and Charlie followed in with David’s trunk, which they placed under one of the benches, before retreating back to the main compartment.

As a parting shot, Aaron reminded them, “Don’t forget about the Trolley Witch. See you at Hogsmeade!” Saria and David were left alone in the compartment, with David’s school trunk, and a charmed picnic basket.

After they hugged and kissed each other for a few moments, Saria explained, “This was actually Danny’s idea, although I was all on board once he got Uncle Sirius to go along with it. Sirius’ll side-along me ‘back’ to Delilah and Debbie’s apartment in London. Sirius is backing Danny up to make sure that nothing bad happens. It’s also giving Danny an excuse to come out and see Hogsmeade, even if it’s only for an hour or so. I will be spending the night at Delilah’s place in Lambeth, along with Danny, Debbie, and Michael.

“Pixie cast enough of a ‘notice-me-not’ charm on this compartment so that nobody else tried to sit in it. She also helped me get one ‘first year’ uniform, or at least enough of one for me to use the bathroom if I need to later. That, and a tube of lube are on top of the hamper, so why don’t we get that stuff taken out and set out of the way.”

They removed Saria’s change of clothes, which was actually a complete Hogwarts first year uniform, along with the ‘tube o fun’ from the hamper. This revealed a selection of cold sandwiches, potato salad, biscuits, sweets, lemonade, water, Coca-Cola, and even a demi-bottle of Champagne. Saria reminded David, “If we touch that stuff, we’ll want to do it early on, so you don’t still have it on your breath when we get to Hogsmeade.”

David asked her, “Do you want the Trolley Witch stopping by?”

“Not really. I’ve tried just about every Wizarding sweet in the UK already, and neither one of us really likes that pumpkin juice stuff. We’ve got water, lemonade, pop, and even Champagne, so we should be good.”

David silently recast the ‘notice-me-not’ charm on the door, along with locking and silencing charms, and turning the windows into the aisleway translucent. He put a ‘one-way’ charm on the outside windows, so Saria and he could see out, but people trackside wouldn’t be getting a show from them.

Saria opined, “We’re overdressed now, David. Unbuckle my sandals, please?”

Saria was wearing nice flat sandals, jean-shorts, and a tube top, local UK fashion be damned. Likewise, unlike his first year, David was wearing a very loose tank top under a long-sleeve flannel shirt he’d made into a jacket and left unfastened, cutoff jean shorts, and flip-flops. David stooped down and unfastened Saria’s sandals. He stood up, and they each unfastened the other’s shorts. With a gentle caress from their partner, they both now stood completely nude, and stepped out of their ‘puddles’ of clothing…

§§§

Back in their original compartment minus David, Aaron continued, “That was my older brother David. He runs our band out here. By age he should be a third year like Bill, but he’s worked way ahead. All of us Dvoraks have worked ahead at least a little, and our cousin Andy Floyd has, too. Andy’s had to, ‘cause he started school late; but that’s for him to tell.

“Charley Weasley, my cousin Sally, and I will also get sorted tonight along with the two of you. While we could sort into and do well with any house, we’re both hoping for Gryffindor. I’m already approved to take Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, and Care of Magical Creatures this year along with the core subjects, since I’m way ahead in them. I hope to become a Healer after I pass my NEWTS, and I’ll be doing at least some of my Healer training at Hogwarts with Madam Pomfrey.”

Next up was, “Joseph Howard Stock Junior, and I go by ‘Joe.’ Dad’s ‘Joseph,’ so no worries there. I’m in fifth year, and ‘cause of the band, I’m not a prefect. Like everyone in here who’s already sorted, I’m in Gryffindor, but I’m cool with and have friends in all the other houses. I’m from the same part of America where David and Aaron came from, and Max and I went to Muggle School with them ages ago. I’m the drummer for the Dvorak Magic Band, and one of two drummers for The Treasures.

“My younger brother Max and I started Magic School at Ilvermorny in MaCUSA, and we were both Wampuses there. We aren’t trying to study ahead, but we’re doing extra work to learn the magic stuff better. I’m also keeping up on my Muggle schooling too, I just took my Muggle O Levels last June.”

He was followed by, “Maxwell Taylor Stock, Joe’s younger brother. I go by ‘Max.’ I’m a fourth year Gryffindor, and I play keyboards for both the Dvorak Magic Band and The Treasures, though I’m only a ‘backup’ for The Treasures most of the time. I have recorded on some of our Treasures songs, though; along with the Dvorak Magic Band album we just released. I hadn’t been keeping up my Muggle schoolwork. But my Dad’s making me do it now, so there is that. I’m also struggling with Latin, so I’ll be more likely to need help than to give it.”

A.D. was in his now-usual spot next to the window. After cracking the window open, casting the needed charms, and lighting up, he introduced; “I’m Abner Doubleday Dvorak the Third, and I go by ‘A.D.’ I like to smoke, and I dislike rats. However, the smoke shouldn’t be an issue for the two of you who aren’t related to us, since Charlie and you will likely be in ‘regular’ first year dorms instead of with the rest of us boys. Don’t know what they’ll do ‘bout Sally, since she’s just a little better than me at soprano saxophone. She and I both play sax for The Treasures, and now the Dvorak Magic Band, since we’re both here.

“I’m taking Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, and Care of Magical Creatures this year. I’ll be taking my OWLs for sure, and possibly my NEWTs as well. I’ve also started some of my Potions Mastery work under Professor Slughorn, and Professor Snape has also agreed to help train me, especially after I pass my NEWTs. I’ve passed my Muggle A Levels with high enough marks that I will also be attending Muggle College after passing my NEWTs along with earning my Potions Mastery. David’s actually doing almost the exact same thing, except in History.”

Sally opined, “Sally will do just fine, I’m sure. Oh, that’s me… Hannah Sally Dvorak, at your service, and not to be confused with Hannah Amana Dvorak, who is my Mom. I’m starting a year early like Aaron, but I’m probably going to take my time instead of skipping years at Hogwarts. Doing that on the no-Maj side was bad enough. I wouldn’t sleep in a common bedroom with the bunch of you even if they’d let me, and that’s if I even sort Gryffindor with the rest of you. I want to do that, but we’ll find out later tonight. Either way, I’ll just make friends with my roommates and go from there. And I’m not just a little better than you A.D., ‘cept maybe in your dreams.”

Andy introduced, “Down, girl! It’s not like you have to audition against your older brother or anything, anyway. I’m Andres Augustin Floyd II, and I go by ‘Andy.’ I’m not heir to the head of House Floyd; that would be one of my older twin brothers, who moved out before I could remember. I’m staying with my Uncle John here and going to Hogwarts ‘cause the people who run Ilvermorny are a bunch of dicks as far as I’m concerned.

“I started Hogwarts four years late, but I’ve almost completely caught up. I should be a sixth year, but I’m officially a fifth year, and I’ll be taking my OWLs this spring. The late start is ‘cause I have dyslexia, and I’ve got it pretty bad. But unlike Ilvermorny, Hogwarts was willing to work with me and help me work past and through the dyslexia.”

“What’s dyslexia?” Judah asked. That was actually the first thing Judah had said since entering the compartment.

Andy continued, “Well, Judah, that’s where your eyes are plugged into your brain wrong, and it can’t be fixed with either Magic or Muggle Healing. Sometimes, letters, numbers, or musical notes will float, flip around, or dance. Despite that, I’m an ace bluesman, and I’m also starting on Healer training. I’m taking Arithmancy, and Ancient Runes. What time I have left over right now I’m spending learning Healing, starting with Anatomy.

“I still plan on working as a helicopter pilot after school, too. But with everything else going on, I’m working on that slowly right now.”

Tom added, “I’m Thomas Moore Daley, and I go by ‘Tom.’ I’m an observant Roman Catholic, but I’m not an arsehole about it. I also have Irish ancestors back there somewhere, but my parents and I don’t think of ourselves as Irish at all. I’m a third year like Bill, and I also plan on becoming a Curse Breaker with Gringotts when I pass my NEWTs. I also help out with the band. But while I can do all sorts of things now to support a band, and I can tell good musicians from bad, I can’t perform or write music at all. Bill and I are really good at Transfiguration and Charms, and we’ve both worked ahead in Runes and Arithmancy.”

Next up was, “Charles Septimus Weasley, and I go by ‘Charlie.’ I’m also ‘ahead’ in my studies, but nothing like Bill or the rest. I’m into Magical Creatures, Herbology, and working outdoors with nature in general. I plan to work for a Dragon Reserve or a Wizarding Zoo once I pass my NEWTs. I don’t have any Muggle schooling. Bill and I were homeschooled by Mum for the ‘common’ stuff. Our younger siblings are going to the American School in London, though, for that.”

This left only the two entirely new members of the group to introduce themselves. The first one to go was, “Thorin Folkeson Odinson. Everyone calls me ‘Thorin.’ My Dad was named for the famous Swedish diplomat, but it was my Mum who was actually in my country’s Foreign Service before she and Dad married. I learned English from her, which is why I speak as well as I do.

“Dad works for Volvo in their London Office. Volvo own several flats in Islington, so that’s where we’re living now. But Volvo also has Dad traveling all over the UK, and we own our house back home in Gothenburg.

“I should have gone to Durmstrang. But they’ve never been friendly to first generation Wizards or Witches. The new Headmaster there is also an exiled Death Eater from the UK, whose parents were from Leningrad. So, I’m going to school here.

“I’ve always been interested in zoology. Since there is such a thing as magizoology, that’s what I plan on doing once I pass my NEWTs. Dragons are especially interesting to me, although I’ve only known that fire breathing flying dragons were real for a couple of months or so.”

This finally left, “Judah Casmir Kowalski, and I always go by ‘Judah,’ never ‘Jude.’ I’m an agnostic Jew who eats Kosher when I can but works Friday nights and Saturdays. Don’t try selling your religion to me, and we should be golden, since I won’t try selling the one I don’t follow to you. My paternal Grandpa and maternal Grandma were Muggle Jews, so I’m not buying any blood purity bullshit, either. But I did grow up in a Wizarding household, even if we kept to ourselves mostly. I know a lot more about the Wizarding World than Muggle society.

“You’ll figure it out soon enough anyway, but my Grandpa is that Jacob Kowalski. My older brother is also Jacob Kowalski, but Perry got mixed up with a bad crowd somehow. He was expelled from Hogwarts in the spring of ’81 because of a potions accident another student suffered brewing a potion for him. That guy, who was actually Perry’s closest friend, was killed; so someone had to pay, I guess.

“Perry didn’t take it well at all, even with the Aurors clearing him of any criminal wrongdoing. He was barely home a week before he took off again, and he’s never come back or even written. After Dad ditching us, that was almost more than Mum could take. She didn’t have to work outside the home to keep the house going before, and she sure didn’t after Perry ran off.

“What’s worse is that everybody claims that Dad and Perry were Death Eaters. That’s pure bullshit, but I only know what they didn’t do, not what they did. Even Hogwarts seems to be in on it somehow. They didn’t send my acceptance letter until yesterday morning! I had to scramble like mad to get into Diagon Alley and buy my school stuff and wand.

“Mum wasn’t bothered by it at all. She didn’t really want me to go, so she was eventually going to call a ‘hedge academy’ and sign me up with them to learn magic. But I wanted to go to Hogwarts, and I think I still do. I intend to restore my family’s name. It used to be that being a Kowalski meant something honourable. I shall make our name honourable again.”

After a tense moment’s silence, a knock sounded on the door to the compartment. A.D. quickly dumped his cancer stick out of the window. Aaron opened it, to be greeted with, “Anything off the trolley, dears?”

The eleven teen and near teen children quickly made their purchases. The Trolley Witch left the group once more to their own devices.

After locking the door, Aaron said, “Sorry to rush the end of your smoke, A.D. But we didn’t pack any sweets in our basket, unlike what we did for David.”

“No problem, Aaron. I was close enough to done anyhow.”

Turning back to the group at large, particularly Judah, Aaron told them, “We in House Dvořák and House Floyd have information that isn’t readily available to the public at large. First, neither Peregrine Kowalski nor Jacob Peregrine Kowalski are, were, or would even think of working with the Death Eaters or their Terrorist Leader.

“Second, Peregrine Kowalski is strongly suspected of being the head of a criminal organization known as “R” or “The Cabal.” The Aurors want to talk to him, but they don’t have any evidence to issue an arrest warrant. But he is known to still be alive and well.

“Third, Jacob Peregrine Kowalski, while not being in any legal trouble, is being sought by the Aurors as a missing person. They don’t believe that he disappeared willingly. And while they aren’t convinced that he was killed, they aren’t sure that he is alive, either. So, they’re searching for him, kidnapped or free, dead or alive.

“Finally, the reason your brother was expelled was partly because he was hunting for, and found at least some of the Cursed Vaults. His excessive zeal to find them had him pressure his friend Duncan Ashe to brew the overpowered Erumpet Potion that killed him when it blew up; though Duncan himself was at least as enthusiastic at helping Jacob find them as Jacob himself was in looking. Duncan became a ghost instead of passing On, so we know some of what I just said from Duncan himself telling us.

“But while Duncan hasn’t lied to us, there’s a lot that he’s not telling us, at least not yet. And while he probably won’t stop you from looking for the Cursed Vaults yourself, he’s said as much as that he would refuse to help you find them. Just the same, he is interested in meeting you again. And, before you ask, Duncan has no better idea than we do whether Jacob is alive or not, or where he is if he is still alive.

“So, we would suggest that you start Hogwarts by starting Hogwarts. Make friends, and we all hope you include us in that number. Go to classes and learn magic. After all, that’s what students are supposed to do at a magic school. Take up a new hobby, or continue one you already have. Live life, and figure out what happened to Jacob when the time comes. David and I both plan on taking and passing our OWLs and NEWTs this year, and A.D. does as well. However, since all three of us plan on working at Hogwarts, we will still be at the school during the school years after this one sometimes, even if we aren’t regular students. Bill and Tom will be here four more years after this one. Charlie’s in your year along with Thorin, Andy will be here at least one more year after this one, and the rest of us are not going to ‘jump’ years like David, A.D., and I…”

“Speak for yourself, Aaron!” Sally interrupted. “But I won’t be bailing this year, and I might not bail next year, either. Point’s the same, though. You’ve got friends to help you when you need it and you’re ready. Just take the time you need and do it right, so that we’re helping you instead of saving you.”

Judah was overwhelmed by what he’d just been told. The group was interrupted by another knock at the door, though. Aaron opened it to reveal a first year boy of Indian heritage. The boy was four feet and nine inches tall, and appeared to weigh about seventy-eight pounds. This was two inches shorter than Judah for the same weight, and six inches shorter than the one hundred five pound Aaron. The boy had thick black hair cut in a short but stylish way, his skin colour was light for his race, and he wore black horn-rim glasses with a silver bridge and silver wire bows holding the lenses in. He was already wearing his Hogwarts Uniform, with the addition of a slightly longer than normal scarf.

The boy said, “I’ve been looking all over the train for you, Judah. I thought we were going to sit together?”

“Rowan, ‘Dvoraks’ happened. Everyone, this is Rowan Khanna. His family owns the Khanna Arboretum in Kent, where some of the finest wand woods in the world are grown. He also helped me with my Hogwarts shopping yesterday. Rowan, from the door ‘round, these are Aaron Dvorak, Charlie Weasley, Bill Weasley, A.D. Dvorak, Sally Dvorak, Andy Floyd, Thorin Odinson, Tom Daley, Joe Stock, and Max Stock.”

Rowan snarked, “And I’m Siraj Ud Daulah, pleasure to meet you.”

After the group already in the compartment finished laughing, Aaron quipped, “Namaste, noble Nawab; and you look quite young and dashing for someone who’s been dead for one hundred twenty-seven years.”

After the laughter died down again, Aaron offered, “If you don’t have anything you need in your other compartment, you could join us here? Or, Andy could help you shrink your trunk and bring it here?”

To Rowan’s uncertain expression, Judah offered, “They’re cool, Rowan. Unless you had other friends who were expecting you to remain with them?”

Rowan relaxed slightly and answered, “Only Ben Copper. Could he come here, too?”

A.D. offered, “If he’s not a rat, sure. The compartment has an automatic expansion charm on it, and we have more than enough ‘real’ food to share. A.D. lit another Old Gold to make a point about ‘rats.’

After watching the smoke completely leave the compartment without getting close to anyone else, Rowan replied, “I’m sure he won’t complain, though how do you get away with smoking at Hogwarts itself?”

A.D. chuckled and informed Rowan, “I’m very discrete, I don’t gas anyone out, and I avoid rats.”

Aaron added, “He’s also stuck next to the window in our room, we’re all family or friends just as close, and he’s always bitching when David makes us do pushups and stair climbs every morning. If you sort Gryffindor, you’re welcome to join us for that, the physical exercise actually helps your magic grow stronger.”

§§§

Forty-five minutes later, the introductions finished up with the last two boys to join the group. “I’m Rowan Arjuna Khanna. I’m from rural Kent, and my family has owned our Arboretum for over one hundred thirty years. Before that, most of it was part of the Longbottoms’ lands. But one of my ancestors rescued a Longbottom, oddly enough, from Siraj Ud Daulah. So, when that Longbottom and my ancestor returned to England with much gold but no land, the Head of House Longbottom was kind to us. Our family has always grown wand wood, but we’ve truly prospered here. I have some Longbottom ancestors as well.

“While my younger brother Ashok and I know my family’s business just as well as anyone alive, my real passion is to become the youngest Professor teaching at Hogwarts in history, or at least in modern history.”

Aaron opined, “Well, you certainly look the part, especially with the scarf you’re wearing. Albus Dumbledore favoured such a scarf as a student and younger man, and if you know anything about no-Maj television programs in the UK, the Fourth Doctor from Doctor Who, who was also a brilliant person, wore a similar one.”

This left only Ben Copper to introduce himself. He was on the younger side of actual eleven year olds starting Hogwarts that day. He was of the same height and weight as Judah, but he looked just a bit softer and more timid than the agnostic Jew. He was also blond haired and blue eyed, though his hair was darker than the near-white hair of Thorin Odinson.

He finally introduced, “Benjamin Britten Copper, I go by ‘Ben.’ I can sing and play clarinet, but I get stage-fright very easily, so I’m not sure about playing in a band, even if you guys could fit a clarinet into a rock band. I’m Muggleborn, and my Dad is a newly tenured Professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London. I’ve only known about the Wizarding World since my eleventh birthday on the seventeenth of July.

“Professor Sprout brought me my Hogwarts Acceptance Letter. She told me about the Wizarding World and she even un-charmed my Mum’s kettle, which I’d buried in the back garden. I charmed it to play Downtown when I was nine. I buried it after I couldn’t get it to stop whistling Downtown when I was nine.

“I almost missed the train this morning, since Mum and Dad had to send me alone. The only reason I found the platform was because of some crazy witch with a bunch of children going on about all the Muggles and naming the platform two or three times. I slipped in the back of the queue that formed on the barrier after she’d introduced herself to the others. I didn’t catch her name, and I was so scared and relieved that I didn’t even notice who I was lined up behind.

“I haven’t a clue about what I want to do with my life. I guess that’s part of what you learn at Hogwarts, or at least I hope it is. I’m an only child, but Mum’s still young enough that I might get a brother or sister still.”

Andy asked, “Who was the bigoted cunt I had to rescue you from? And I thought that was you who bumped my ankles and heels with your baggage cart.” To Ben’s horrified shock, Andy added, “We’ve all been there once or twice, Ben, so no worries and well met. The ‘crazy witch’ is Bill and Charlie’s Mum, and she charmed Bill and Charlie’s luggage cart to scare off the real Muggles. Now, the bigoted cunt?”

Ben, who was already speaking shyly and quietly, answered in a background voice, “Merula Snyde is what she said her name was.”

Aaron huffed and opined, “Fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree, I guess. There was a Quentin and Morgana Snyde sentenced to life in Azkaban at the end of the last war. Marked Death Eaters the both of them, though they were identified fairly late in the game. They almost bought ‘Imperius Defenses’ like the Malfoys, Notts, and so on. However, Quentin’s sister-in-law, Verucca Buckthorn-Snyde, denounced Quentin and Morgana both, seeing the two convicted and sentenced. Verucca also got herself appointed guardian over Merula, and the rumours are that Merula’s family vault is shrinking faster than one would expect. Verucca is reputedly eyeballs-deep in R, so that should explain it, or at least close enough.

“In any case, Merula Snyde is someone to watch carefully but keep your distance from. She might just be a messed-up kid trying to straighten her life out. ‘Innocent until proven guilty’ is real, and not just a platitude. But then again, an insectoid Manticore is nothing more than a scorpion that was allowed to achieve its greatest potential. Merula Snyde deserves the exact same respect, for the exact same reason.”

Judah exclaimed, “Woah, Aaron! Who crawled up your arse and died?”

Aaron replied calmly, “There is a reason many of us Dvoraks are working as hard as we are in our studies, and it isn’t merely pride or record-setting. The Wizarding War that ended on Halloween of 1981 didn’t end on Halloween of 1981. It is only an armistice. The war will start again in a few years’ time. There is also a prophecy in play, that someone of my house will be the one who needs to end ‘He Who Shall Not Be Named’ and his followers for good. The rest of us have sworn to be ready, come the day, that we shall prevail and that the Terrorist and his minions shall live and fight no more.

“All of us, including Sally and me, got our wands before the end of 1981. We haven’t just ‘played’ with them – we’ve trained in magical defense and fighting along with the Hogwarts Core Subjects and our chosen electives since that time, even before starting school. David, Bill, Andy, A.D., and I can cast fully corporeal Patronus charms – silently. We can also silently cast the Homorphus counter-curse; the real one, not the bullshit in that Lockhart book. The Homorphus counter-curse temporarily forces a transformed Werewolf back into human form; how long depends on the strength of the caster, and the desire of the target to not transform back. We did it, and we’ll do more yet, to defeat the Terrorist and the Death Eaters; not to have bragging rights on the Hogwarts Express. We Dvořáks are a warrior house, we fight for what we know to be right, and we fight to win.

“R is an unseemly distraction. Yet, they’re dangerous in their own right, even never having allied with the Death Eaters. Jacob, your father is likely one of R’s leaders. Your brother is not involved with R as far as we can tell, if he’s even still alive. If your father is innocent, we have no quarrel with him, and he can easily take care of himself. Likewise, even in the tiny likelihood that your brother is fully and willingly a part of R, we will make every effort to capture him alive and unharmed, and deliver him to the authorities. Unlike with the Death Eaters, members of R did not have to commit murder in order to join. So, in order for the Ministry to prosecute someone in R, there needs to be evidence that the person actually committed, conspired to commit, or helped commit an actual crime.

“I suggest that right now we all ditch the heavy shit and share and eat our lunch, even if it’s a bit late. Even those of us who ate breakfast ate it rather early, and judging by the sounds Judah’s and Ben’s stomachs are making not all of us had the time for even that.”

The laughter of the boys was nervous yet sincere. The picnic basket’s contents plus what they’d bought from the Trolley Witch barely managed to get the job done.

§§§

Six fifteen saw all thirteen students changed into their robes and once again sharing far less bellicose conversation. Charlie opined, “Once flying lessons start, I’m gonna hafta work with all three of you. I still find it hard to believe that the two of you,” he said while gesturing to Judah and Rowan, “have never been on a broom.”
Judah defended himself by saying, “We live in a Muggle area, and not in an area like yours where even the Muggles either know about magic or have been Obliviated so many times that their brains are soup.”
Rowan added, “I only said that I’ve never played Quidditch. I can ride a broom just fine. It’s just Ashok and me at home, and we didn’t socialize that much. We used our brooms as tools to inspect the tops of our trees and for other work.”
Ben started to look even more miserable before Charlie said more gently, “Relax, Ben. I get that you’re afraid of heights. My little brother Percy’s afraid of heights, too. But I helped him learn to fly, and he actually enjoys it now, although he’s nothing like my littler siblings in the air. We won’t take the piss, and we can get you flying too, I promise.”
There was a knock at the door. Aaron unlocked and opened the door, admitting David and Saria. Both of them were in full uniform complete with hats and cloaks draped over their arms. He announced to the compartment, “I’m David Dvorak, and this is my girlfriend Saria Cook. She was never here. I know the names of all but two of you?” David and Saria stepped into the now larger compartment and sat down.
Judah replied, “No problem, David. The smart guy with the specs is Rowan Khanna. His family owns the Khanna Arboretum. The blond guy next to him is Ben Copper. He plays clarinet, and once you drag it out of him, tenor sax, plus he can sing. He’s ‘new-Maj,’ and his dad just got tenure at the Royal Academy of Music. No rats, A.D. doesn’t smoke even if he’s been smoking like a chimney, and you came in here alone even if your version of lonely is more like what a guy my age fantasizes about alone in their bedroom with a box of Kleenex.”
After the roaring laughter from all but one of the boys and none of the girls mostly died down, David groused, “Har, har, har.”
Deciding to divert a potential argument, Rowan asked, “Aaron told me that you found the Hogwarts Charter?”
David actually blushed slightly in happiness rather than the extreme embarrassment he had felt. He answered Rowan, “Do you have any guess when it was signed?”
Rowan answered easily, “Hogwarts was founded in 990 AD, so it was pretty quick after that.”
David informed his fellow history buff, “Good logic, but history is people, so logic doesn’t always work. The Royal Charter was issued in 1040 by King Macbeth of Alba, as a reward to Headmistress Helga Hufflepuff for the three witches she sent to help him defeat Duncan the First. And the ‘Birnam Wood walking to Dunsinane Hill’ schtick from Shakespeare’s play wasn’t a misunderstood promise of a long reign, but a dire warning. Macbeth heeded the warning. So, while he lost the battle of Dunsinane Hill, he lived and reigned for more than three more years before he was finally killed in a different battle altogether.
“I read the Muggle history and I studied the personalities of the different Kings of Alba and Scotland. Macbeth was the first one who wasn’t a total jerk to wizards and witches, so I started there. The Royal Charter itself was mixed up with the Commissary Reports. But it’s the only surviving document signed by a Hogwarts Founder, and one of very few if any signed by Macbeth.”
“Damnit!” Rowan exclaimed. But his eyes sparkled in excitement while he smiled broadly. He further asked, “Do you think I can see it?”
David smiled back while replying, “That’s for Headmaster Dumbledore to decide, not me. But, if you go through your Head of House after the first week or so, it shouldn’t be any problem. In fact, the Headmaster had been talking about having a copy framed and put on display in the Trophy Room, which is open to all students. If you’re really into history, though, I’m sure you’ll want to see the actual charter. Like I already said, give ‘em a week or so for the new school year to settle down and it shouldn’t be a problem.”
The guard’s announcement over the Wizarding PA cut off any further conversation. “We will be arriving at Hogsmeade Station in the next five minutes. For individual compartments, your outside compartment door will open onto the station platform. Please be sure to leave all of your baggage and pets on the train. Staff will have your personal effects moved up to your dorm room and bed for you. Follow the signs posted for your year. Once again, we will be arriving at Hogsmeade Station in the next five minutes. Individual compartment outside doors will open onto the station platform. Please leave all of your baggage and pets on the train. Follow the signs posted for your year. Thank you, and please watch your step.”
Everyone in the compartment waited until what little crowd behind them had passed by. David reminded the group, “First years, go beyond the locomotive and turn to your left. Hagrid will be taking you across the Black Lake in small magical boats. For those of us who’ve already been sorted, continue on to the carriages that either appear horseless or pulled by gaunt winged horses.”
“What are those ugly things, David?” Ben Copper asked.
“They’re Thestrals, Ben. In order to see them, you have to have seen and comprehended death. But they’re actually kind and gentle creatures for the most part. They are carnivorous carrion eaters, though.”
David and Saria were at the very back of the group, even further back than A.D., who was fireboxing one last smoke before the Start-Of-Term Feast. They were both looking for Sirius Black and Danny, so Saria could get back to London. They found Sirius Black quickly enough. They also found Headmaster Dumbledore, whom they did not expect to find.
The Headmaster offered, “Mr. A.D. Dvorak, if you keep walking discretely towards your carriage to the school, I won’t have any need to discover what has caught fire very close to here. Your friends are not in trouble, or at least not in trouble with Hogwarts, and your cousin will tell you anything else you need to know at the feast itself. Mr. Aaron Dvorak, you are also not in trouble but you will remain behind with your brother and his girlfriend.”
Dumbledore received a quiet cough or three in reply while A.D. walked just a little more quickly. Aaron turned around and walked back to David and Saria.
The Headmaster continued, “Miss Saria Cook, you are actually the first Muggle to ride the Hogwarts Express since we started running it in 1830. The Ministry Wizarding Railway as a whole doesn’t carry that many Muggle passengers. We do have an alarm that informs the Hogwarts Headmaster if they have any stowaways however, Muggle or otherwise.
“Fortunately, I called on Sirius Black to investigate the matter quietly rather than placing an official call to the Magical Patrol or the Aurors. He came clean very quickly, especially since he didn’t know about the alarm, or that even when all parties are consenting the House Elves who provide the cleaning services to the train will still inform me if activities not normally conducted in railway carriages take place. Knowing the circumstances, I instructed the guard and the Trolley Witch to ignore things they preferred to ignore anyway.
“Like I told your cousin, neither of you are in trouble with Hogwarts or the Railway. You might be in trouble with your guardians, since this is somewhat further north than they expected you to travel. However, since a ‘responsible’ adult was involved more or less from the beginning, you yourself might not be held ‘responsible.’ But that is not my decision to make. You will actually be returning to Ashford late tonight in the company of Auror Black.
“But in the mean time Miss Cook, you will in the company of Mr. Aaron Dvorak, ride across the Black Lake in one of the boats provided. You will quietly observe, and when you are called, you will actually be sorted into a house. After your sorting, you will join your house for the Start-Of-Term Feast. You will tell them that your wand got broken on the train, and that you will be leaving after the feast to go home and obtain another.
“After the feast, I will allow you to discretely bid David a good-night and good-bye, before I have Sirius and you Floo back to Ashford. Arabella already knows, and she actually finds the situation amusing enough that she isn’t at all bothered having the two of you Floo through. Now I believe that you should be moving along. Hagrid will be waiting for the two of you, Miss Cook; and the carriages are waiting for you as well, Sirius and David.”
With nothing more to say, the five individuals split up to take their own particular paths to the castle.
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The Yankees Nephew and the Philosophers Stone