Chapter Text
”Where exactly is the train?” Thomas asked his mum, who was currently scanning the busy train station for platform '9 3/4'.
Thomas's acceptance into Hogwarts had been unexpected and a surprise for both him and his mother. Neither of them had the faintest idea what Hogwarts was or that witches and wizards were actually real. Discovering the magical world was a massive shock to them. All they had was a letter telling them that Thomas needed a wand, cauldron and about a dozen books. Finding out where Diagon Alley was located was hard enough, now a non-existent platform?
"I don't know, Thomas dreary, I think we're going to have to ask someone." His mother replied.
Quite frankly, Thomas didn't really want to go to Hogwarts. He wasn't prepared to become a wizard and he certainly wasn't prepared to make friends all over again at some weird boarding school. He had already made lots of friends at his primary school and was looking forward to going to Heathrow High, where practically all his classmates were going. He didn't need to know how to turn teacups into frogs or whatever nonsense magic tricks they were planning to teach him. He was only here as his mum had forced him, saying it was exciting and a 'fresh start.'
"Please don't call me that, it's my first day of High School, not Reception." He scoffed.
Thomas picked up his cat from his cart he was wheeling and began stroking her. He had only had her for a little while, yet he absolutely adored her. When he had saw the pet store, he had practically begged his mum in Diagon Alley to get him a cat. After lots of persisting, eventually she gave in and bought him a fluffy american shorthair. She was 8 months old and had grey and brown stripes with striking blue eyes. She was the only good thing about going to Hogwarts.
"Don't be silly, hun, you're practically still a baby!" His mum exclaimed, "oh look! Thomas, that little boy has the same cart as you, let's go ask his mother if she knows where the platform is!"
Thomas set his cat down in his cart and winced as his mum grabbed his arm eagerly and dragged him to the family. She was probably going to share something embarrassing with them.
"Excuse me, do you perhaps know how to get onto platform 9 3/4?" His mum explained, "my son, Thomas, is going to Hogwarts."
The lady his mum was speaking too had a kind, pale face and pin-straight blonde hair. She was wearing a long, blue dress and a yellow cardigan. She looked quite young and had 2 kids. The boy with the cart, and a younger girl, probably his sister.
"Ah yes! Newt here is also starting Hogwarts!" The lady said.
Thomas tried not to laugh at his name. Because well, what kind of parent names their child Newt? Newt gave a friendly smile. He looked a lot like his mother: pale, with floppy blonde hair that slightly covered his brown eyes. He was skinny, but tall. Well, taller then Thomas atleast.
"That's great!" Thomas's mum answered, "Thomas has been very nervous about Hogwarts, especially about making friends. Often, he'll cry himself to sleep at night!"
"MUM! Not true!" Thomas shrieked. He could feel his face heating up. He knew she was going to say something embarrassing.
The lady laughed softly. "Newt, could you please demonstrate how to get on the platform for Thomas?" She asked.
Newt nodded and turned around. Thomas was confused. Newt then proceeded to run full speed towards a brick wall. Thomas scrunched up his eyes, expecting Newt to smash into the wall and get severely injured. But it was quite the opposite. When Thomas had opened his eyes, Newt had disappeared.
"Go on Thomas dreary, all you have to do is run through that wall!" His mum encouraged him. "I'll meet you on the other side."
Thomas gulped. Gingerly, he stood infront of the brick wall. It was fine when Newt did it, why was he feeling so scared?
Because you're not magical. A voice rang in his head.
You're better off without Hogwarts, with your old friends. The voice rang again.
He shook his head. Be brave. he thought.
Confidently, he charged towards the wall at full speed, and through the wall he went.
Platform 9 3/4 was amazing. There were witches and wizards everywhere with their kids crowding around the magnificent train, saying goodbye to them. He could hear laughing, crying, and a rhythmic puffing of smoke from the train. It was gleaming in the morning sunlight, and the train's polished black exterior was simply stunning. Its windows, adorned with a delicate latticework of iron and gold were really pretty, and the train looked brand new. Was it brand new? Thomas stared at the large signs at the front of the train that said 'HOGWARTS EXPRESS' and '5972.'
Kids already were in their social circles, talking on the platform. He spotted Newt with a tall, dark skinned boy and a red jacket on. Thomas was too nervous and lazy to make conversation and would rather just stick with his mum, even if she was embarrassing. Besides, he didn't even know Newt!
Thomas stood awkwardly next to the wall, waiting for his mum. Occasionally, someone would bump into him because of how crowded it was. And none of them even said sorry! Rude bastards.
Finally, his mum appeared through the wall. She stood and looked at her surroundings. Thomas was relieved, though he would never admit it out loud.
"Wow, this place is definitely not what I expected it would be." she stated, "why don't you go socialise with other kids?"
Thomas shrugged. "When does the train leave?" Thomas asked.
"Eager to leave me are you?" his mum joked. Thomas didn't laugh. "I don't know, but it should be soon. Just wait until the other kids get on."
'Great,' Thomas thought. Who was he going to sit with on the train? Was he even going to sit with anyone? He didn't really feel like spending 8 hours on the train by himself.
He and his mum stood around for a bit and talked. Their conversation mostly consisted of his mum checking if he had all his stuff.
"Gloves?" his mum asked.
"Yes."
"Hat?
"Yes... I have everything I need mum!" Thomas protested.
"I'm just checking you're all set. Now remember, Thomas, to stay safe, listen to your professors, and make the most out of every moment you make here. It's not everyday you get chosen to go to a weird magic school in the middle of nowhere." she replied with a fond smile.
"That's one way of saying it.." Thomas grumbled.
Suddenly, a triumphant blast of a whistle could be heard from the Hogwarts Express. The doors of every carriage slid open, beckoning the children to stop talking and to begin boarding.
"That's my cue to leave." Thomas called out to his mum. With a final embrace and a whispered word of encouragement, his mother let him go.
Thomas was one of the last ones to board the train. However, his luggage was so incredibly large, (thanks to all the things his mum made him pack) he wasn't able to haul it up the steps very easily. He stood there awkwardly, blocking the steps, trying to heave his luggage up.
"Need a hand there mate?"
Turning, Thomas was met with the sight of a familiar, friendly face framed by the same mop of floppy, blonde hair. Without waiting for an answer, Newt stepped forward to help. Although he was scrawny, his strong grip easily lifted the weight of Thomas' luggage.
"Thanks," Thomas mumbled, relief flooding through him as they headed up the steps together.
But, just as Thomas finally felt slightly reassured, his mother's shrill voice shattered the moment like a fragile glass ornament knocked onto a stone floor.
"Thomas, baby cakes, wait!" she cried.
He froze mid-step, his heart sinking. He knew what was coming next, even before the words left her lips.
"You forgot your medication for your lactose intolerance! You don't want to be having stomach aches and toilet breaks at your new school." she exclaimed, her voice carrying across the platform with a clarity that felt like a curse.
A ripple of laughter erupted from a nearby group of boys. At that moment, Thomas wished the ground would just swallow him whole. Did she really just announce that?
Hot embarrassment flooded his cheeks as he took the medication from her with shaky hands. He wished he was at home and not boarding this stupid train. Back in his room and bed where he could wallow in his own shame.
He spun round and hurried up the train steps behind Newt.
"Don't worry, Thomas. We'll all have our fair share of embarrassing moments at school. You unfortunately just had your first." Newt told him, walking along the train corridors, trying to find a free carriage.
Out of the blue, a group of boys presumably in the same year as them came strutting from their carriage straight towards Thomas and Newt.
'Oh great,' Thomas thought, 'am I really going to be subjected to bullying on my first day?'
At the front of the gang, stood a confident figure. His dark eyes bored into Thomas, lit with mischief and pure cockiness. He had sun-kissed skin and jet black hair that was gelled into a small quiff. He was Asian (Thomas assumed Korean.) His sharp grin and dangerous demeanour all rang alarm bells in Thomas's head.
However, Newt was unfazed.
"Beat it, Park." Newt said, annoyed, running a hand through his soft, blonde hair. "No one is intimidated by your 'big bad bully' demeanour." ‘Park’ smirked dangerously and laughed.
"Clearly this one is," he said, gesturing to Thomas. "He looks like he's just pissed his pants!" His gang giggled and started asking questions like, "Is your tum tum rumbling?" and "Do you need your meds, baby cakes?" or even “Good one, Minho!“
Thomas flushed an even darker shade of red (if it was possible.) Newt dragged him away from ‘Minho's’ gang and into a carriage with 3 other people inside. He recognised one of them as the boy Newt was talking to earlier. The other 2 were girls.
One girl was pale skinned and had blonde hair in a braid, with a fringe side swept on her head. She was similar looking to Newt actually. The other girl was dark skinned and had these pretty light brown eyes. She was talking to the blonde girl.
"Ahem," Newt cleared his throat to get attention. "This is Thomas, he's gonna be our new best mate!"
Thomas smiled awkwardly, face still flushed from the previous incident. "He's adorable!" The blonde girl exclaimed. "And so is your cat!" The other girl laughed giddily as she inspected his cat. "Come sit here." The blonde one patted next to her.
Thomas gingerly sat down next to her as Newt took a seat next to the dark skinned boy. "Thomas," Newt began with a toothy grin, "This is Alby," he gestured to the boy next to him, "Harriet," he gestured to the brown eyed girl, "And my sister Sonya." he finally gestured to the girl next to Thomas.
"Hi guys." Thomas said shakily as he felt all eyes on him. "Don't mind him," Newt brushed off. "He's just a little shaken up by Park’s gang." They all in unison groaned.
"Don't mind Park," Alby spoke up. "He thinks he can be a prick to everyone just because he's Minho Park, pureblood and his dad's famous."
"How so?" Thomas asked, confused.
"His dad works for the ministry and hates anyone who's non-magical." Alby stated. "He's gonna end up just like his bastard dad, who knows how much of a nuisance he'll be at Hogwarts." They all agreed.
"Hopefully not that bad. I can't be arsed to deal with him for like 7 years." Harriet added. They all laughed at that.
"What's a pureblood? And what's 'The Ministry'?" Thomas questioned.
"You've got a lot to learn, greenie."
Thomas just looked more confused at that. They all laughed again.
Thomas felt at ease, at last.