37 Hogwarts

I bowed and ran over my cart and bowed, the gate came closer and closer. I couldn't stop. This was the ultimate test of whether Hogwarts was real or not. Perhaps the two Gods had tricked me. That it was some kind of illusion. I had no reason to doubt, of course, but my stomach began to turn in anticipation.

Before hitting the wall, I squeezed my eyes shut and waited for the inevitable blow. But it didn't come, he just ran on and Alaric squeezed my shoulder. I opened my eyes. A fiery red steam locomotive stood at a crowded platform.

On a sign above my head I read 'Hogwarts Express, 11 o'clock'. I turned to see a wrought iron arch where the ticket inspector's booth had been, with the words Platform 9 3/4 above it. I had succeeded. This is a definitive start to my new life, I am now bound by no limits.

There was a clear smile on my face. The smoke from the locomotive floated over the heads of the bustling people on the platform, as the wizards in the funny hats and cats and frogs of all shapes and sizes rushed across the platform.

Lucifer looked at the other cats, his third pair of legs completely invisible. Even if I put all my strength in my eyes I could barely see anything magical about him. He had a kind of disdainful look in his eyes. He clearly didn't really feel at home among all these 'lesser' animals.

Owls hooted grumpily at each other. Invicta tried to ignore the other owls, she had her wings over her head to shelter from the light and noise. But after an owl started screeching right next to her, she couldn't ignore it anymore and started screeching back.

I gave her some food to calm her down but she was clearly unimpressed. The owls' caws were so loud that you could barely hear the sound of the hum and scrape of heavy trunks.

The first carriages were already for the most part full. I pushed my cart further, I was looking for Nathan and maybe Samantha. Although I felt more comfortable with Nathan. Alaric squeezed through the crowd and made room for me and my mother.

We did get a few weird looks of course because of our skin color, but it wasn't as bad as I expected. At the end of the train we discovered an empty compartment. I put Invicta inside and, with Alaric's help, began to slide my trunk to the door of the train and hoisted it up the stairs.

Of course I could have juggled several trunks if I wanted to but that didn't seem like a smart idea as it's not usual for an 11 year old boy to be able to do that. Before I got into the compartment I could see the red heads of the Weasleys.

They stuck out very easily compared to the rest of the wizards. They had flaxen second-hand clothes that were either too big or too small. One of them had a very self-righteous look.

It had to be Percy, the future prefect. I saw them heading our way so I took a quick sip of the potion Lycan had prepared. It had a very bad taste. I also almost threw up when I tasted it. I swallowed it as fast as I could and turned to the glass.

I took off my sunglasses and I saw that my eye color was clearly changing. After a while it mixed between a kind of orange and purple and it finally turned blue. An interesting combination with my white hair.

Now I looked even more like a Malfoy. I turned back and nearly hit the Weasleys' head, Arthur. I observed him completely, he actually looked a lot like the actor in the movie. Maybe a little thicker.

I apologized, "I'm sorry sir. I didn't mean to bump into you." Mr. Weasley raised his eyebrow and looked at me from head to toe. ''No problem. I should have been more careful too." He replied to my apology.

A boy of about 10 steps forward and points at my hair. "Is he a Malfoy?!" said Ron, presumably in a contemptuous voice. Apparently the Malfoy family was often talked about in their home, and probably nothing good.

Then the twins emerged. "They kind of look like them." Fred said, I think. I really had no idea which of the two it was.I felt bad for their mother. I mean it's almost impossible to tell them apart. Later that is easier to discern as one of them is missing an ear.

"Maybe it's a disowned part of the family tree," said Fred/George with a grin on his face. Shortly after one of the two said this, one of the two was hit on the head. One of the two... You know I'm tired of guessing who's who so I'll call them Gred now.

Gred turned and looked at his mother with an angry look, "What was that necessary for!" He said with genuine surprise in his voice. "It doesn't matter if he's a Malfoy or not, he behaves and you don't." Mrs. Weasley said with an ominous look in her eyes.

She then apologized to me, "Sorry honey, what's your name?" I took my eyes off Gred and held out my hand. "My name is Anthony Alucard, nice to meet you." She took my hand and shook it, "Nice to meet you Anthony, this is Fred and George." She pointed to the twins.

But she didn't do it separately so I didn't know which of the two was Fred or George. "They are starting their first year. I hope you can be friends." She said but she didn't look at me. She didn't let the twins out of her sight.

The twins growled together what seemed like, "I'm sure" or "We'll see" I couldn't understand them well enough. Mrs. Weasley was pleased with that and I introduced myself to the rest of the family.

After the brief meeting, I said goodbye to Alaric and my mother. Alaric gave me a fistbump and for some reason had a rather gloomy look in his eyes. The Weasleys also said goodbye to their family and for some reason Ginny was crying.

Ron also had a gloomy look in his eyes. It was of course boring to suddenly be alone in such a full house. I took my place in the compartment and the rest of the Wealseys accompanied me. They soon struck up a conversation and Percy was mainly interested in me.

Which I couldn't really appreciate. He was nice but very self-absorbed and the conversation was just boring. During the conversation, I kept sneakily looking at the door to see if maybe Nathan or Samantha came in. After a while the train finally picked up speed and I waved one last time to Alaric and my mother.

Lucifer had already fallen asleep on my lap and Invicta seemed exhausted too. After a while there was a knock on the door of their compartment. A boy came in, it was a boy with smooth black hair. It was Nathan.

When he saw me there was a big smile on his face. He looked around the nearly full compartment and I made room for him next to me. He sat down next to me and gave me a fist bump. He also put his trunk above us with his owl.

He also had a small bag with him but when he put his hand in it almost all of his arm disappeared. "I already got some cake and all kinds of sweets from the lady with the cart." Just when he said this my stomach started to rattle violently.

A wide grin appeared on his face "Would you like one by any chance?" Nathan said, his grin getting wider and wider. He was starting to look a bit like that cat from Alice in Wonderland. I started to feel a bit like I wasn't going to get the candies for free.

"Please." I answered quickly and I dived for the cake and candies but I couldn't get them. Nathan laughed and Fred and George also began to enjoy the spectacle that took place opposite from their seats.

I sighed, "Fine, what do you wish me to do, Your Majesty?" I said with a half bow for dramatic effect. This was exactly the question he was waiting for. "I'll give you some candy if you do my homework the first week." Nathan said with a smug smile.

He had been planning to do this for a while, I could tell from his face. I shook my head, "No way Jose, I can buy my own candy later if I want." This was clearly not the answer he wanted.

"But I have a picture of Dumbledore out of a chocolate frog!" he said in an urgent tone. This, of course, changed the story. I was very interested in those pictures and there was no guarantee that I would get the Dumbledore picture myself.

"Fine, let's make it a game. If you beat me with rock paper scissors, I'll do your homework. But if I win I can have the picture and half of your candy.'' Nathan seemed to be deep in thought after my words but seemed to be happy with my deal.

"Fine" he said and shook my hand. ''Alright on three'' I said. He nodded, ''One, Two, Three.'' But before I said three I silently cast Confundo on him. Which obviously blocked his sight slightly but also confused him quite a bit.

I picked rock and he picked scissors. I was victorious. I stood up and let out a victorious roar. Lucifer clearly didn't like that and meowed at me and jumped off and hid under the seats. ''I'VE WON! NOW GIVE ME THE MEANS OF PRODUCTION!'' I shouted loudly. So loudly apparently that someone barged into the compartment. It was Samantha. But we didn't notice her.

''YOU CHEATED!'' Nathan complained loudly. I simply brushed him off ''There were no rules, I simply did everything to achieve victory. And how sweet it is.'' I exaggerated whilst sticking my hand in his face in an L shape.

After a while he finally retaliated and I got the goods. I was very satisfied with myself. I didn't feel scummy in the slightest. Samantha had begun assimilate with the background but she finally spoke up.

''H-Hey Anthony, Hey Nathan.'' She said in a small voice. Everyone finally noticed her and I greeted her with a handshake and made some room to the left of me. She sat down and the three of us began talking.

Nathan still had a snarl every time he spoke to me but I didn't mind. Trickery is allowed on the battlefield. The sky began to become darker and darker. Of course there still was a single rain cloud following us, Raiden.

''It's time to get dressed in our cloaks.'' Said Percy and we followed his commands. After a while I could finally see the castle. The absolutely magnificent castle... I could already feel my blood pumping. This is where the fun begins.