9 chapter 9:George and Lee

The boy was lying on top of the first car that was right behind the engine and Fred, George and Lee couldn't see the boy's face. He wore none descript clothes and they weren't sure if he had black or brown hair because of the steam that kept on blocking their view.

"OY!" Fred shouted, cupping his hands over his mouth to increase the volume.

Harry was surprised to hear someone calling him and he stood up and faced three older students on the roof with him. He knew he was spotted and looked around for an escape. He was about to run when he realized that the Toad that accompanied him was still there sitting beside him.

"Go on, your free" Harry mumbled and Toad seemed to have understood him and headed towards the edge of the roof and leapt to freedom.

As Fred, George and Lee walked cautiously towards the boy, the Hogwarts Express blew its whistle and all four on the roof saw the approaching tunnel that the train was about to enter.

"DUCK!" Fred screamed and hit the deck, followed closely by his twin and their friend. Fred stared at the boy they were curious to talk to, but he seemed suicidal as moved closer to the end of the first car.

"HE'S CRAZY!" George yelled as seconds before the boy hit the stone arch that was the entrance to the tunnel, he leaped down, narrowly crushing his body. The three third years couldn't see anymore as they were plunged to darkness and they coughed as they inhaled the smoke from the train.

A few seconds later Fred. George and Lee could see again. All three were shaken at near the death experience they encountered. They warily checked if there were tunnels ahead and when it was clear they approached the spot that they assumed the boy had jumped down to.

Fred climbed the ladder and looked around the section that connected the engine and the first car.

"He's not here." Fred said. He tried the door that lead to the prefect's car and frowned and looked back at his twin whose head was hanging down from the roof. "And the door is locked from the inside."

"It's... It's gone now... Trevor." Neville Longbottom sniffed as he wiped his eyes with his hanky.

"I'm sure it will turn up Neville, don't worry..." Hermione said gently. The two of them had searched every compartment on the entire train but the toad remind elusive. They had attempted to ask the help of the prefects but the older students appeared disgruntled for the moment and were in a foul mood.

"Are you sure?" Neville asked hopefully as he stared outside the window.

"Positive" Hermione said. "He'll turn up soon and..."

WHACK!

Neville's eyes widened as his missing toad slammed into the glass window of his compartment. "TREVOR!"

The toad recognized its owner where it had experienced several life and death situations and immediately leapt again and somersaulted into freedom.

"Well he did turn up." Hermione said faintly. Unsure of what to say to the crying boy she took out her book on transfiguration and began reading.

"TREVOR..." Neville sobbed he gently touched the slime that his pet left on the window.

"Do you think he's dead?" Lee asked as they entered their compartment, their faces serious as they were still shocked at what happened.

"I don't know... I hope not." Fred said. "Did you get a good look at him?" Fred asked his twin.

"No... But I know he's smaller than us, like a second year or even a firstie." George said thinking hard for possible candidates to their mysterious prankster. "Who the hell is he?"

Antechamber

Minerva McGonagall rushed towards the awaiting first years, the sorting hat clutched in her hands. She had been delayed by the complaints from the prefects that their badges were missing. She was not impressed at their irresponsible behavior and had scolded them sternly for not taking the role of prefects seriously.

Most blamed the Weasley Twins for this, but she knew it was not their style as they liked to do flashy pranks and loved taking the blame. Nevertheless she would talk to the twins tomorrow to investigate the case of the missing prefect badges.

The Deputy Headmistress schooled her features to the stern face everyone was used to seeing. She took great care of her reputation as a strict and fair teacher, and she wanted the new first years to learn that she was not a person to be messed with.

"Gather round!" Minerva said and the first years, huddled in a group instantly obeyed her. She eyed the students with a critical eye, mentally taking note of who she already knew.

Draco Malfoy stood there arrogantly, lording over the other first years. Minerva narrowed her eyes at the spitting image of Lucius Malfoy... she knew the boy was trouble. Neville Longbottom was there looking around cautiously... her eyes slightly softened as she saw Alice's face in the boy. She hoper young Neville had inherited Alice's flair for transfiguration.A brown haired girl was lecturing to a red headed boy that she was sure was a Weasley and she hoped Hermione Granger would end up in her house. She was lucky to be the teacher assigned to introduce the young girl to the wizarding world and found Hermione Granger intelligent and very promising.

Her eyes scanned for another boy, whom she held when he was a year old as his parents invited her to their son's birthday party. She couldn't spot him and she frowned... did the boy who lived plan on coming to Hogwarts?

"I am Professor Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress and the Transfiguration professor. All of you know... that Hogwarts is sorted into four houses. These houses will be your family in your stay here, and your actions, achievements and mistakes will either earn or lose points for your house." Minerva began as the first years listened to her speech.

Harry stared at the strange looking worn hat that seemed to be alive as it twisted and shifted on the stern woman's grip. It looked interesting... and the young boy's curiosity was piqued. He subtly moved closer to the woman, behind her back and waited for the right moment.

Suddenly strange transparent beings burst through a wall, talking among themselves and several first years shrieked and rushed towards the Deputy Headmistress for protection. Harry smiled and used the opportunity as Professor McGonagall was overwhelmed by the bodies that surrounded her, clutching her green robes in fear.