The morning sun cast a warm glow over the bustling platform of King's Cross Station. Families hurried about, pushing trolleys loaded with trunks.
Amidst the excited chatter and laughter, Arthur Damian Reeves, a solitary figure, navigated through the crowd. His gray eyes remained wary, avoiding the gazes of strangers. In his hand, he clutched a weathered, emerald-green ticket bearing the Hogwarts crest.
As Arthur approached the barrier between Platforms 9 and 10, his memories took him back to a time before this moment.
A young Arthur sitting in a secluded corner of his godfather's house. He was surrounded by a pile of books, his only companions during years of isolation.
Arthur's eyes were glued to the pages, absorbing every word of magical lore and spellcraft. Loneliness had become his shield against a world he had little interest in.
Blinking away the memory and he focused on the barrier. With unwavering determination, he set his sights on the barrier, ready to step through to Platform 9¾.
As he approached, a friendly voice called out. "Hey there! You're off to Hogwarts too, right?" Arthur turned to find a bespectacled boy with unruly black hair, accompanied by a tall, red-headed family and two others that he believed to be his parents.
Arthur hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded, his guarded demeanor intact.
Hello," the boy continued. "I'm Harry, and this is my family, the Potters. These are our friends, the Weasleys."
Arthur offered a brief nod but said nothing, his discomfort with people evident.
Mr. Potter, James, extended a hand and said with a friendly smile, "Nice to meet you. Hogwarts is a fantastic place. You'll enjoy it."
Arthur reluctantly shook Mr. Potter's hand before stepping through the barrier, leaving behind the memories of his secluded past. The journey to Hogwarts promised new adventures, but his guarded heart remained hesitant in the company of others.
**********
As the Hogwarts Express chugged along the tracks, Arthur found himself alone in a compartment, far from the bustling chatter of other students. The rhythmic clatter of wheels against rails provided a comforting backdrop, drowning out the noise of the world outside.
Inside his compartment, Arthur leaned against the window, his gaze fixed on the passing scenery. He was surrounded by books, his ever-faithful companions, each one a portal to a world less complicated than the one outside.
Minutes turned into hours as the train journeyed onward. It was during this solitude that Arthur's mind began to wander, his thoughts inevitably drifting to the encounter on the platform. He had never been good with people, and the presence of others left him feeling exposed and vulnerable.
Suddenly, the compartment door slid open, breaking his reverie. A well-dressed boy with slicked-back blond hair stood there, peering inquisitively.
Mind if I join you?" the boy asked, his tone polite but with a hint of arrogance.
Arthur, startled by the interruption, hesitated for a moment before nodding silently, indicating the empty seat across from him.
" I'm Draco Malfoy. First year, I presume?", Draco inquired, his tone remaining haughty.
" You're a Pure-blood", Arthur said, speaking for the first time.
" You've probably heard of my parents. My father-"
" Not exactly. I read about it in a book"
Draco raised an eyebrow, momentarily taken aback by Arthur's response. It was rare for someone not to be familiar with the Malfoy name.
Arthur, noticing Draco's surprise, explained, "I've spent most of my time in books, you see."
Draco's arrogance softened as he realized that Arthur came from a different background. He leaned back in his seat, looking out at the passing landscape.
"It can be overwhelming, I suppose," Draco admitted. "But Hogwarts is a place to make new experiences and connections. It's a chance to create your own story."
Arthur listened to Draco's words, a sense of understanding and empathy growing within him. He knew what it was like to carry the weight of expectations, even if their backgrounds were vastly different.
"What kind of story will you create?" Arthur asked, his voice soft and thoughtful.
Draco hesitated for a moment, his gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside. Then, he spoke with a hint of vulnerability, "The kind that shows my Dad I'm not worthless."
Arthur sighed, his gaze turning distant. "I wished I had that."
"Why?" Draco asked, curious.
"I never got to know my parents", Arthur replied softly. His eyes were fixed on a point outside the window, but it was clear that he was lost in memories.
Draco's expression shifted to one of empathy as he realized the depth of Arthur's loss. "Losing them must have been incredibly difficult."
Arthur nodded, a mixture of sadness and longing in his gray eyes. "Sometimes, I wonder what they were like, what kind of people they were. All I have are a few old photos."
Draco didn't press for more details. Instead, he understood that this was a sensitive topic for Arthur, and the conversation continued with a shared understanding of each other's backgrounds.
Just then, the compartment door slid open once again. This time, it revealed two new arrivals, a boy with untidy black hair and round glasses, and another with flaming red hair.
"Harry!" Ron exclaimed, his eyes widening in surprise as he spotted Arthur. "Blimey, Harry, look who's here."
Harry, who had been deep in conversation with Ron, turned his attention to Arthur. Recognition flashed in his green eyes. "Arthur, right? We met on the platform."
Arthur nodded, his memory of the brief encounter coming back to him. "Yes, that's me."
Ron, however, couldn't contain his disdain. "You're not one of them Malfoys, are you?"
Draco, who had been watching the newcomers with a stoic expression, clenched his fists. The tension in the compartment grew palpable.
The compartment door slid open once more, two burly boys, Crabbe and Goyle, entered
Harry's distaste for Draco was evident, and he made it clear as he glared at Draco and Arthur. "We don't want any trouble."
Ron chimed in, "Yeah, we don't sit with Malfoys. If you need a change of friends, Arthur, come find us."
With that, the duo left , brushing past Crabbe and Goyle as the passed them.
Crabbe and Goyle exchanged a glance and then turned to Draco, as if seeking guidance.
Draco, aware of the brewing tension, spoke up, "Let's not make a big deal out of this, guys."
Crabbe and Goyle, taking Draco's lead, merely nodded and mumbled in agreement before leaving the compartment.
"Bodyguards, huh?, Arthur asked.
"Not exactly."
It was only later, that Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom entered the compartment, inquiring about the missing toad. Hermione noticed the lightning bolt-shaped scar on Arthur's forehead and asked, "What happened to your forehead?"
Arthur, taken aback by the question, touched his scar absentmindedly. "Oh, this? I've had it as long as I can remember. It's just a scar."
"Hermione's curiosity got the better of her, and she pressed further, "Really? How did it happen?"
Arthur hesitated for a moment, his fingers brushing over the scar on his forehead as if seeking answers from its faint lines. "I don't really... Ow," he flinched suddenly, a pained expression crossing his face as he recalled something unpleasant.
Hermione and Draco exchanged concerned glances, realizing that the topic was clearly sensitive for Arthur. It was as if the scar held memories he wasn't ready to share.
Draco, ever the diplomat, spoke gently, "It's alright, Arthur. You don't have to talk about it."
"It's not that I don't want to. I don't just know. All I remember is some green light and-."
Arthur's words trailed off, and he furrowed his brow, struggling to recall the hazy memories that surrounded the scar on his forehead.
Hermione leaned in, her curiosity mingled with concern. "Green light? What could that possibly mean?"
Draco, who had been watching Arthur closely, added, "And why would anyone do something like that to a child?"
Arthur sighed, his frustration evident. "I wish I knew. It's like trying to grasp a dream that slips away when you wake up. All I remember is the green light, and then... nothing." the green light, and then... nothing."
Suddenly, Draco, who had been surprisingly understanding until now, seemed to revert to his old self. He sneered and muttered under his breath, "Pity party for a scar. How utterly fascinating."
Arthur and Hermione exchanged surprised glances, caught off guard by Draco's sudden change in demeanor. His arrogance had returned, and it was as if the moment of camaraderie they had shared earlier had vanished.
Without another word, Draco stormed out of the compartment, leaving Arthur, Hermione, and Neville in a state of confusion.
As Hermione and Neville prepared to leave the compartment, Arthur couldn't help but comment on Draco's abrupt mood swing. "Talk about a mood swing," he said with a hint of bewilderment.
Hermione offered a small smile and replied, "Well, he's a Malfoy. It tends to happen."
With that, Hermione and Neville made their way toward the compartment door. However, before they left, Arthur called after Hermione, realizing that he hadn't properly introduced himself earlier.
"Wait, I didn't get your name," he said.
She turned back with a warm smile, "Hermione. Hermione Granger.",
**************
As the Hogwarts Express chugged along, the journey through the picturesque countryside began to wind down. It wasn't long before the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow across the landscape.
Inside the compartments, students dressed in their freshly donned Hogwarts robes fidgeted with anticipation. The buzz of excitement filled the air as they wondered what awaited them at the end of this train ride.
Eventually, the train slowed to a stop, and the chatter among the students grew hushed as they sensed the moment they had all been waiting for. It was time to disembark and begin their journey into the wizarding world.
With a soft hiss, the train doors slid open, and the first-years filed out onto the platform. They were greeted by the sight of a massive man with wild, tangled hair and a coat made of what appeared to be animal pelts. It was Hagrid, the Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts.
Arthur, who had a familiarity with Hagrid from his earlier interactions, offered a warm smile as he stepped onto the platform. The rest of the first-years joined him, their anticipation building with each step. They were about to enter a world of magic, mystery, and adventure, guided by the gentle giant who had already become a familiar face to Arthur.
Hagrid greeted Arthur with a hearty clap on the back. "Good to see ya again, Arthur! Ready for yer first year at Hogwarts?"
Arthur nodded, gratitude evident in his eyes. "A little bit, Hagrid. It's good to see you again.
Hagrid beamed at the familiar face. "Yer a sight for sore eyes, Arthur."
As they walked together, Hagrid couldn't help but inquire, "S' Remus doing okay?"
Arthur's expression grew slightly somber. "He was. The last time I saw him, he was doing as well as can be expected, given his condition."
Hagrid nodded in understanding. "Well, keepin' 'im in me thoughts, I am. Always liked ol' Remus. Best be going now."
With Hagrid leading the way, the group of first-years followed him, their sense of wonder and possibility growing stronger as they approached the enchanted boats that would carry them across the dark waters to the castle that loomed in the distance. Their journey into the magical world of Hogwarts had truly begun.