Chapter Text
The year was 1984 and the wizarding war had ended four years previously. It was still the only thing that people talked about, at least it stopped being the Daily Prophet headline three years ago. It still baffled even him, how had a one year old baby stopped the dark lord? It was the question of the century and he had lost interest in the story pretty quickly. All he cared about was that the danger was gone and that his parents could stop worrying.
Some people would find it odd that an 11 year old would be up to date with the news, but the war had been going on practically since before he was born. Truth be told even at 7 he had worried that the war would make it impossible for him to start school, he liked to think that he was a well read intellectual child, but in reality he was just anxious and scared. He never was more grateful to a pureblood wizard, at least that’s what his father had told him for that last couple of years. He didn’t like thinking that his status was the only reason they were alive and whole while other families had been torn apart. Like the ones who had fought in the war only to lose their lives for unknown reasons. He sometimes wondered what had happened to that lucky infant, he hoped that he was being taken care of, being an orphan and all.
That thought brought him back to the present, walking through the crowds of King’s Cross station . He knew a lot of kids attending Hogwarts this year might be orphans, lots of people had died or been reported missing over the last couple of years. It made him feel guilty, knowing he had both his parents with him when some kids probably had no one.
“Cheer up Howard dear, I thought you were excited!” his mother smiled down at him as they approached platform nine and three-quarters. Howard’s trolley clattered along the uneven bricks making Lester’s cage clatter noisily.
“I am” he declared as they stopped to let people pass by. He really was excited, it was hard not to be after all.
The platform was packed when they made it through the gate but for once the crowded didn’t intimidate Howard because he only had eyes for the impressive scarlet steam engine in front of him. He was shaken from his stupor by his father.
“Come on son, lets find you a compartment” said his father patting him roughly on the back, encouraging him to move down the platform. Weaving through the crowd of students, parents, and siblings proved maddening. The consistent noise, owls screeching, kids screaming, the train’s whistle all threatened to overwhelm him yet, it was so exciting that he couldn't keep the amazed smile off his face. He, Howard TJ Moon was attending Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. Where he would continue the proud line of Moons being been sorted into Gryffindor, just like his father, and his grandfather, and so on.
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After stowing his trunk and other belongings away, including his owl. Howard bid his tearful parents goodbye. They were still worried, always would be he supposed. He was 11 now though, and in some places of the world he would be considered a man. He told them as much just as the last whistle blew. An so with a few quick hugs and a exasperated promise to make friends, he finally boarded the train.
Finding a compartment proved even more difficult than navigating the crowded platform, especially after the train started to move. Almost all of them were full, or if they weren’t full he would get dirty looks, which didn’t give him a good outlook in the friends department. Feeling dejected already, he ventured towards the last compartment. To his surprise only two people resided inside, and they looked like first years as well.
Without knocking, he slid the door open as quietly as possible, neither occupant noticed. At first, Howard couldn’t tell if either of them were boys or girls. On the left, sitting straight as a bored, already in they’re Hogwarts robes was a shoulder length black haired boy, at least Howard thought he was a boy. Either way they looked to be asleep, or...in a trance, he wasn’t sure. On the right however sat a small sandy haired boy who looked more like he was 9 then 11. He was still dressed in street clothes, a pink tee shirt of all things and flared denim pants, a pair of fashion boots were laid out on the floor. A canvas backpack sat on the seat next to him as he stared out the window at the passing countryside. He hadn’t heard the door open because of the large muggle headphones he had on. Howard had only ever seen them in store windows, he wasn’t even sure what they were for, only they’re name. He let the door slam shut, causing the small boy to jump in alarm. The other one didn’t even flinch.
Fumbling with a rectangular silver box the boy turned and took off the headphones.
“Bloody hell! Don’t scare a bloke like that! You’ll give me a heart attack or somethin” he said with an obvious cockney accent and a mock glare.
The first thing that struck Howard about this boy was his hair, he was tempted to ask if it were on backwards or a wig. Blonde and shaggy it framed the boys angular face perfectly. The second thing were his eyes, bright blue and big, like a pixies.
“Oi small eyes, you listening?” asked the boy, waving a hand gaining Howards attention once again.
“Sorry” he said finally “do you mind if I join you? Everywhere else is full”
In an instant the boys demeanor changed. He smiled wide and nodded, grabbing his bag and putting it on the floor with his boots to make room
“Yea go on, its been dead boring since we pulled out of the station, wots your name? I’m Vince Noir! Do you like Gary Neuman?” he seemed to talk a mile a minute, it threw Howard off for a moment. Still he sat and regard the other boy for a moment.
“Uh thanks, my names Howard...Howard Moon, whos Gary Neuman?”
“Whos Gary Numan!?” cried Vince in astonishment “only the best electro pop star ever! Where you’ve been livin? Under a rock?” Howard tried to keep the confusion off his face but was largely unsuccessful judging by Vince’s amused grin. “You gotta hear ‘em, he’s genius he is” the smaller boy demanded as he offered the headphones to Howard, who flinched and moved away.
“Uh no thanks, look are...are you meant to be on this train?” He hadn’t realized at first but after talking to him, Howard wasn’t sure if this boy was even a wizard.
“Wot? Course I am! Got my letter and everthin. Even my wand! Its well cool innit?” Vince said excitedly, producing a thin slightly bent wand for Howard’s inspection. Before now Howard had loved his wand. It was powerful looking and sturdy but now, looking at Vince’s graceful wand he felt jealous.
Jealous! Of another wizard’s wand!
That wasn’t very polite was it?
“Lets see yours then” urged the other boy, gesturing at Howard with his own wand; Howard was thankful that nothing happened when he did.
Reaching inside his inner jacket pocket, he pulled out his wand. Vince’s already big eyes widened even further in amazement before covering up a loud laugh with his hands.
“Excuse me sir, are you laughing at my wand?”
“No” the answer was strained and muffled, Vince still had his mouth covered, trying desperately to stifle his giggles.
“Whats wrong with it?” Howard quite liked his wand thank you very much. Big and powerful, the perfect wand for a boy...no, a man, a man of action and magic.
“Its ruddy big is what it is! Looks more like a branch then a stick, an look at this! Wots this about!?” Vince asked, pointing to the natural knot of wood that had been kept on the wand.
“Its a design choice”
“A design choice, it looks like a tumor”
“Whoa now, what about yours eh? Looks like a...twig”
“A twig? No way, your mental”
“An what about this?” Howard pointed out the curve at the base of Vince’s wand “that's an odd choice if I ever saw one”
“Ah no way! Its unique, elegant...like a swan”
“Elegant, like a swan?” Howard couldn’t keep a chuckle out of his voice.
“Yea, makes it easy to handle?”
“Have you used it?”
There was a pause
“No”
“There ya go then, I rest my case”
“Oh shut up, you don’t even know who Gary Numan is, you don’t know anythin”
“I know what house I’ll be sorted into! Bet you haven’t got a clue”
“Yea? Which one?”
“Gryffindor, like my dad, and my grandfather” Howard said proudly. Vince only gave him a blank look. “You don’t know the Hogwarts houses do you?” he asked, suddenly feeling stupid. Of course, this kid was obviously muggleborn. Vince simply shrugged and fiddled with his wand.
“I didn’t even know I was a wizard until a few months ago when an old geezer, can’t remember his name, came to visit me and my foster parents. Said I was a wizard and gave me my letter. Up till then everyone thought I was gifted” he explained with a surprisingly shy smile.
It was a lot of information at once but one thing stuck out. Reaching into his own bag he pulled out a stack of cards and easily found the one he was looking for.
“Was this him?” he asked showing Vince the card with Albus Dumbledore’s portrait on it.
“Oh hey yea” Vince’s eyes widened again “Howard he moved! How’d he do that?” he asked taking the card for a closer look; Howard smiled.
“I’ve got a lot to teach you little man”
“You gonna teach me everything you know?” asked Vince with a bemused giggle.
“Well, I’m going to try. It all depends on how good of a wizard you are” It felt good to impart knowledge after all the books that Howard poured over in preparation for school. “Like for starters, the Hogwarts Houses” at least the smaller boy looked interested now