Hogwarts Express

Very quickly, Harry had found an empty carriage at the end of the train and resumed reading his schoolbooks. Normally, he was neither a bookworm nor a teacher's pet (Vernon would have had a fit if that had been the case), but he found Lockhart's books fascinating. He didn't understand what they were doing among the schoolbooks that Hagrid had brought him from Diagon Alley, but he thought they were brilliant. The self-absorbed and appearance-obsessed hero described in the book was simply hilarious. And the exploits he achieved despite his apparent stupidity were more spectacular one after the other.

But he was distracted from his reading when a red-haired girl knocked on the window of his compartment.

Can I sit here? There is no room in the other carriages.

The first thought that comes to Harry is that she was very pretty. Then he thinks and stammers:

Yes of course, Com, hmm hmm, what is your name?

Ginny Weasley and you?

Ha! The awkward question, said Harry to himself. He briefly considered lying, but quickly dismissed the idea. Sooner or later, everyone would know he was Harry Potter. He would have to learn to cope with his burdensome fame.

Harry Potter. He said softly.

She scowled.

Why are you making fun of me? I didn't do anything to you.

I'm not making fun of you. I really am Harry Potter.

But of course. And I am the reincarnation of Merlin. Everyone knows that Harry Potter doesn't go to Hogwarts. And besides, you don't look like Harry Potter.

Oh really? And what does he look like? Asked Harry, who was starting to be amused.

Already, he is much more handsome, he is tall, always well-groomed, and with a smoldering look. Look, they did a portrait of him in Witch Weekly. Ginny replied, taking out of her bag an article cut out from a newspaper titled "Exclusive Interview with Harry Potter." The article was illustrated with a photo of a muscular 15-year-old man proudly showing off steel abs.

But that's just like me.

She gave him a skeptical look.

Okay, I admit it, I am not Harry Potter. I am definitely not up to the legend. I apologize for this bad joke. I don't know what got into me.

It was a bad joke. No, I must be dreaming. You even went as far as giving yourself a fake lightning-shaped scar. You'll get along very well with Fred and George. They're my brothers. They love jokes.

They are at Hogwarts too, how come you're not with them?

I don't want to be with them. As soon as they turned their backs, I ran away. Since then, well last year my brother Ron died and since then my whole family has been overly protective of me, it's annoying.

Oh, I'm sorry about your brother.

Thank you.

A silence settled in the carriage. Then Harry resumed:

Me too, I recently lost my brother. Well, he was actually my cousin, but we were raised together and I considered him my brother.

Isn't it a bad joke yet?

No, I swear to you. I would never joke about that subject.

She was about to answer, but all of a sudden, she hid under the seat while a redhead with a prefect badge passed in the corridor, looking inside all the compartments. Once he left, Harry signaled her to come out.

Who was it? Why were you hiding?

It was my brother.

Again! But how many do you have?

5

Seriously, but does your mother run a farm?

I'm warning you, don't make fun of my family. And then go remove that fake scar. It makes you look ridiculous. Besides, it's ugly.

No, I'll keep it. I think it gives me style. And then I'm sure it will work with someone else. I might even manage to convince a professor who knows.

Of course not.

Are we betting? I bet you that I can make Albus Dumbledore himself believe that I am Harry Potter. Harry challenged her.

Are you crazy? You don't stand a chance.

What are you risking in this case?

Okay. If I win, you will have to do everything I want for a month. Replied Ginny.

Bet held. And if I win, you will have to give me a kiss. Harry said, reaching his hand out to her.

Bet held. She replied, shaking it.

Can you pass me the article? I need to find out more to get into character. Asked Harry

With a skeptical look, she handed him the article. He began to read it, holding back bursts of laughter at regular intervals.

What's so funny?

I just found out that I am no longer a virgin and that I am going to launch my own brand of thongs.

And without further explanation, he burst into laughter in front of Ginny's dismayed expression, who began to wonder if she should look for another carriage rather than stay with a seemingly disturbed boy. But her thoughts were interrupted by the arrival in the compartment of an obviously angry first-year girl who sat down without a word on the bench next to Ginny, followed by a calmer boy who sat timidly next to Harry.

Hey, don't you feel awkward? Could you ask before crashing the party? Ginny admonished.

Why does the compartment belong to you? Replied the cheeky one.

Jenny, calm down. We're sorry. Some Slytherins kicked us out of our carriage and the others didn't want us to stay with them. Can we stay here? Apologized her calmer companion.

Yes, of course. My name is Ginny Weasley, and you? Replied Ginny, who was finally not unhappy to no longer be alone with this strange boy. Moreover, her upbringing had conditioned her to immediately feel solidarity with any enemy of the Slytherins.

I'm Lucas Cross and she's Jenny.

Jenny Nott. Immediately completed the little girl. Does that pose a problem for you too?

Jenny! React Lucas

Nott like the Death Eater? Exclaimed Ginny horrified.

It's okay, the great Harry Potter will protect you from the terrible danger in short pants.

You're with them, aren't you? I should have suspected. That's why you make fun of Harry Potter. But don't worry, I'll leave you among future Slytherins.

Then she left the carriage like a fury.

Uh, what is a Death Eater? Asked Lucas

I don't know, but it looks like the redhead doesn't like them much. They are probably very nice people. Harry replied.

The Death Eaters are the servants of You-Know-Who, declared Jenny.

Oh! Not so nice after all. And so, I imagine that one of the Notts was a Death Eater. Asked Harry.

My uncle was one of the cruelest Death Eaters. Most wizards know someone who was killed or tortured by him.

I'm sure that despite everything, he had a good heart. Suggested Harry, half-jokingly and half to avoid offending her.

He tortured my father until he died because he was a Muggle, then left my mother alive saying he would return when I was born so he could make me suffer the same fate before her eyes.

I am sure he had a difficult childhood.

He was born into one of the richest and most powerful families in England. Replied Jenny.

He must have been punished severely. Harry tried again.

After the war, he got away unscathed by paying bribes. She explained.

No, but don't you see that I'm trying to cheer you up? Help me a little!

The girl relaxed and replied:

He is very ugly.

Well, you see, you can do it when you want. Do you have a photo so we can make fun of him?

My mother gave me one so that I would be on my guard if I run into him.

But you're kidding, he's super hot. If I were gay and a repeat offender psychopath, I would date him. What a shame I'm not gay.

Otherwise, would you at least pretend that I exist?

Oh sorry. So what's your tragic story? Voldemort killed my parents when I was very young.

Oh. I am Muggle-born and I grew up in a loving family in complete ignorance of the war. I discovered two months ago that I was a wizard and that my best friend Jenny was too.

No, but you're not making any effort to integrate into the wizarding world either. Said Harry.

Don't answer, Lucas. We accept you anyway, Jenny intervened.

Ah no, I don't agree, at least. Eek! What is that? Harry shouted in a very unmasculine voice.

It's a rat. It must be a pet, it has a collar. Oh, it's so cute. Look, it's coming towards you. Replied Lucas

Take it away, it's disgusting.

Are you afraid of rats? Asked Lucas.

No. But move him away. Harry replied with obvious bad faith.

So who is it that doesn't make an effort to get used to the wizards? Raya Lucas

It's me, but get him away quickly. Harry replied hastily.

Come on, come my darling. We're going to find your owner. Croutard, is that it? Said Lucas, reading the name on his collar.

After Lucas's departure, Harry relaxed and Jenny asked him:

By the way, what's your name?

Harry Potter

No, but it is a serious question.

And it was a serious answer.

Really?

Really.

Really? Really?

Really Really Really Really power to infinity.

So you have, you have a scar?

Harry pushed back his fringe so that his scar was clearly visible.

Wow, so crazy.

Once Lucas returned after giving his rat back to Ginny, they spent the rest of the day laughing the three of them in the carriage and eating the ton of sweets that Harry bought when the trolley witch passed near their compartment. They got into the boat together, taking them to Hogwarts, and while marveling at the view before their eyes, they finished forming a solid friendship.