Neville nodded they stepped out long enough for Hermione to change, then she waited while they did. They had only searched a few compartments when. Harry decided there had to be a better way. Hogwarts: A History had mentioned student leaders in each house that wore a badge with a P on it. Harry helped continue the search until they reached a compartment where a person was wearing such a badge. "Could you help us? Is there a spell or something that you could use to help us find Neville's toad?"
The prefect whose robes were trimmed in green and silver looked amused. "What do you know a firstie with the ability to apply magical solutions to problems."
"Leave them alone Marcus." A girl wearing blue and bronze trimmed robes said.
"Aw Sandra, I'm just having a little fun."
"Marcus Aurelius Flint, Aunt Eleanor will kill you if you do anything that might cost you that prefect badge. You wouldn't have it now if Benton MacNair hadn't been so stupid with it last year and gotten himself expelled."
"Easy cousin. I'll help them. Yes there's a spell it's called "Accio" then what ever it is you wish to summon. With a wand movement similar to gathering something into your arms the tricky part is if it's something alive or breakable to be careful to visualize that thing coming without hitting anything or squashing it. Care to try it?" he asked fully expecting them to refuse.
"But what about the restriction?" Harry asked.
"Once you're on the train it no longer applies."
Marcus looked at Neville. Neville shook his head no, then at Hermione.
She looked at Neville a moment then reluctantly shook her head no.
He looked at Harry; Harry itched to try it. After a look at Neville, Harry nodded.
Marcus smiled he doubted a firstie could do the spell. His cousin Cassandra Yaxley frowned at him.
Harry said "ashio" to confirm the spell.
Marcus corrected Harry's pronunciation.
Harry nodded and pulled out his wand. He closed his eyes took a breath to find his center. He pictured clearly the toad Neville had arrived in the compartment with then the toad floating safely from where ever he was into his hands. "Accio, Trevor the toad."
A moment later he was rewarded by Trevor floating through the door.
"Oh my goodness Harry you did it!" Hermione exclaimed.
Harry grinning handed the toad to Neville. Then He turned to the prefect. "Thank you very much for your help. I couldn't have done it without you." Then he and his two companions returned to their compartment.
Marcus Flint and his cousin sat there stunned. Slytherin prefect, captain of Slytherin quidditch, and sixth year Marcus regarded himself as very able with magic. A firstie had just done a fourth year charm. Flint shook himself free of the shock. "I hope that firstie gets sorted into Slytherin. That kind of focus and control would be so good."
Cassandra Yaxley was the oldest of four Yaxley children born to the current head of house, she was also a borderline squib and knew it. Most of her family shunned her as if being an almost squib was catching. The exceptions were Marcus and her much younger cousin Aaron both of whom were in Slytherin. She was in her seventh year in Ravenclaw because she was smart and liked research. But she would be the first to admit, if her theory wasn't tip top she would have failed her owls. And most families of her father's acquaintance wouldn't consider her as a wife for their sons because she barely got in to Hogwarts and her OWL practicals in the subjects requiring magic (Transfiguration, Charms, DADA) had been P's her theory had been outstanding giving her acceptable overall. Her Potions and history OWLs had been acceptable as well. She was taking NEWTs in Arithmancy, Herbology, Astronomy, and to her fathers absolute fury Muggle Studies for they were the only classes she had gotten exceeds expectations or better in. She wondered what she would do at the end of the school year, but right now there was a larger puzzle to solve. "She called him Harry, you don't suppose?"
"It's possible. It's hard to tell with his hat on. Father asked me to report on his activities. I declined saying that would be like making war on children. He told me I could hold to my scruples for now but a day would come when he would expect obedience."
"Don't they all." Cassandra knew that as a borderline squib her future was anything but pleasant. Cassandra had noticed something else that she somehow doubted her cousin had. Most magic users took their wand and the wands of others for granted, seldom did they actually notice the wand another wizard used. Harry's wand was clearly a custom wand. Ninety-nine percent of magic users would never consider the expense that getting a custom made wand brought. Yet here was a mere firstie with a custom wand. That meant one of two things either he was showing off or his magic was very unique. Given what he had just done she leaned towards the later.
Back in the compartment with Neville, Hermione and Harry. The trolley came by, Harry on Neville's recommendation got a couple of Chocolate frogs paying about ten knuts. They all settled in to read their school books.
Harry so he could be prepared.
Neville because he thought maybe studying would help convince himself he was meant to be there.
Hermione studied because she was afraid she would put a foot wrong with Harry and get slammed again. Her father had warned her that reality was not necessarily found between the pages of books and she should be careful of believing it did. Her mother was like her, she lived and breathed books, and had always overruled her father. But maybe, just maybe her father was right this time.
A half hour before they figured they would reach Hogsmeade, Harry pulled out the tea and scones Aunt Petunia sent with him and he shared with the other two. Then the train pulled into Hogsmeade station. Their year at Hogwarts was about to begin.
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