Who: Kevin Dennahae and a random fellow first year What: The Train to Hogwarts Where: Hogwart’s Express When: 1 September 2017
After a tearful goodbye to his parents and little sister, the young man wiped his tears and held his head high as his father had instructed him, though there was a deep sinking feeling in his throat as the train pulled out from the station. This was the first time the young boy had been away from his parents and being strong he was still an eleven year old boy going away from home for the very first time. His fair skin and blonde hair didn’t help hide the fact he’d been crying though he sniffled one last time as he peered out the window only to see the train station fading into the distance.
His father had secured him a spot on the train and had reassured his son before leaving. There were three empty seats and the young man had enough gold in his pocket to buy candy from the trolley when it came by and sweets in his carry-on pouch to keep himself and others full of sweets to Hogwarts and back. Sighing, he pulled out one of his textbooks and began flipping through the pages, his wand set on the seat next to him as he considered practicing a charm or two. It wasn’t long, however before the door slide open and he looked up to see who it was that might be joining him.
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Kevin's mother allowed the girl to show him through the barrier after she said goodbye on the Muggle side of the platform. With the absence of his father, Kevin was disappointed that his mother hadn't wanted to go with him though he had known since the trip to Diagon Alley that she really didn't want anything to do with this new world of his.
He made his way practically unnoticed through the masses. His guide had disappeared to a group of friends, not that he could blame her. Kevin was certain he would have done the same had he known anyone. One of the workers on the platform helped him send his trunk to where it would be loaded. He then tossed the pack holding his school robes, wand, and the few galleons he had over his shoulder and board the train.
Upon his entrance, Kevin found himself being carried away by a group of older giggling girls. Trying to get out of their way, he opened the nearest compartment and took a step in. There sitting on one of the seats was a young boy Kevin recognized from Diagon Alley. With a sigh of relief that this trip might not be a lonely as he'd been thinking he ventured a guess at his name.
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The boy let a smile curl across his face at the sight of Kevin entering the compartment and nodded in acknowledgement of his name. “Yes, that’s right.” He said as he motioned for Kevin to enter properly and have a seat, keeping his book and wand out on the seat next to him suggesting Kevin sit across from him.
He remembered Kevin from the Candy Shoppe in Diagon Alley where he’d introduced the fellow first year to Chocolate Frogs. It made him wonder about the boy slightly but the overwhelming need for companionship let further questions fall by the wayside. He simply thought of it as being polite and it was by far better than sitting here all alone for the long trip to Hogwarts.
“Exciting, isn’t it?” he asked, a glimmer in his eye as they glanced about the train compartment.
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Kevin returned the boy's smile glad that he had rememberd his name. "I'm Kevin," he offered in case the boy had forgotten. As he took the seat offered him, Kevin noted the book in the boy's lap. "I didn't think to keep any of my books with me," he chided himself while taking his satchel off his shoulder to place on the seat beside him.
Kevin took out his wand simply because he noticed that the other young man had his wand laying on the seat beside him. Kevin also took note of his Muggle clothing and the fact that he had already noticed some individuals wearing their school robes.
"I'm not quite sure. Impatient is more like it." Kevin glanced out the window and noticed that the city was giving way to the country side. "Any idea how long the trip is?"
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“I was just passing the time.” the boy said as he looked at his books and then back at Kevin. “I remember you. Still like chocolate frogs?” He asked pulling out a few from his satchel and offering some to Kevin and then setting a few in his own lap. He opened one and watched the frog leap from the package and with a swift hand caught the frog as he had in the shoppe and bit off a leg.
Once he’d finished chewing he smiled broadly and nodded. “Impatient is right. I’m most looking forward to the Sorting Ceremony.” He beamed and sat up a bit taller in his seat. “We ought to be there just after dark I suppose.” He glanced out the window at the bright of day passing by in a blur as the train chugged onwards.
“So,” he began with a slight hesitation, looking back at Kevin. “Know any magic yet? My father taught me a few charms already but I’m most excited for Quidditch.” the boy grinned grinned wide. “My father was a Seeker.” He added with a great amount of pride.
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Kevin reached out and took the chocolate frog offered to him,"I got Hannah Abbott last time. It said she's the owner of the Leaky Cauldron. It also said something about fighting at the battle of Hogwarts?" Kevin didn't know much about the history of the Wizarding world and there had not been much about it in the history book. He wondered if it was something that had happened so recently that historians were still trying to figure out how to present it in the text books.
He opened the current frog and glanced at the card, Nicolas Flamel, this wizard looked much older than the witch on his last card. Though it said edition 2. He wondered what that meant but wasn't able to ask as Scorpius continued on about the trip ahead. "Dark, eh. So will they serve supper on the train?" he grabbed the frog and bit it's head off. He was so full of questions Kevin wondered if the other boy would be able to keep up with them. As it was, Kevin himself couldn't keep up with all the questions in his head.
"No I havn't learned any yet. Can you teach me?" and yet another question escaped his mouth followed by still another. "What's a Seeker?"
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The boy nodded and bit into his chocolate frog again as Kevin spoke and made a grunting noise acknowledging Kevin’s Hannah Abbot card. “Yeah, the war was brutal, I’m told.” Scorpius said, his tones indicating that it was a touchy subject and he moved on to Kevin’s next question. “Sure, I can show you some!” He said as his eyes lit-up and he finished swallowing so as to not speak too much with candy in his mouth. He picked up his wand and pointed it at one of the pristine white feather quills sticking out of his satchel. "coloro green!" he stated as his brow furrowed in concentration and a tiny whisp of greenish smoke sparked from the tip of his wand after he said the incantation. Looking slightly disappointed, he glanced at Kevin and shrugged. “It was supposed to turn the quill green,” He began as he rubbed his chin with the back of his hand, “But I guess I got the incantation mixed up.” The boy surmised with another shrug. “That’s why charms is going to be a fun class, don’t you think?” he said, shrugging off the mistaken charm and switching back to a topic he knew far more about.
It really didn’t bother the young man that Kevin hadn’t known a whole lot because, quite frankly, it gave him the center-stage position and he found he enjoyed talking to Kevin about their world.
“Seeker is a position on the Quidditch Team.” He started, opening another chocolate frog and rather than letting it hop he immediately broke off a leg and nibbled it. “It’s the best position too because you get to fly really fast and really high.” he felt a wide grin stretch across his face. “I’m going to try out for the house team,” He nodded proudly before qualifying his statement, “But first years rarely make the House teams. Only a handful over the centuries have.” He nodded, remembering how much his father had taught him that might come in handy if he was allowed to play this year.
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Muggle London had not known there was a war. There had just been a rash year of unfortunate events that were glossed over in the history books. Perhaps he would learn more in his Wizard history class.
Of course, he didn't have time to ponder the subject as the other boy was about to demonstrate magic for him. Yes, he had seen things moving in Diagon Alley, but Kevin had never actually watched someone specific perform a spell. He was a bit disappointed when the attempt fizzled.
"Can I give it a try?" he asked repeating the words but putting a bit more emphasis on the first syllable of the spell word. The quill didn't change, but it did actually flicker. "Wow, I said the same thing you did," Kevin was so shocked he'd almost accomplished something he hadn't even noted the difference in emphasis the two boys had given the words.
Then the conversation quickly changed to Quidditch. Kevin listened intently before replying. "I guess I'll have to see a game for it to make sense."