Cedric sat alone in the compartment, gazing out of the window as the platform along with his parents blurred past. The rhythmic clatter of the train wheels filled the silence, interrupted only by the occasional bursts of laughter from nearby compartments. Despite the excitement bubbling in his chest, there was still a sense of nervous anticipation. Hogwarts. It was finally happening. He has been waiting for this day as far as he can remember.
His father had told him endless stories about the castle—the grandeur of the Great Hall, the moving staircases, the magical creatures that roamed the grounds of forbidden forest. Yet, despite all that knowledge, Cedric still felt the weight of the unknown pressing on his shoulders. Would he make friends? Would he be sorted into Hufflepuff like his father, or somewhere unexpected? His father has always bragged about him, whatever the chance he got- his neighbours, his friends or his colleagues from the Ministry of magic. Although sometimes he felt embarrassed, seeing the pride and smile on his parents faces, he can definitely handle that.
A slight creak of the door pulled him from his thoughts.
Standing in the doorway was a boy about his age—tall for an eleven-year-old, with smooth black hair and sharp hazel eyes that held a quiet confidence. He carried his trunk effortlessly, as if it weighed nothing, and behind him, an owl in a cage ruffled its feathers. It took him a moment, but he recognised that face from the Madam Malkin's robe shop. He has a presence about him that demands attention, even when he is standing there doing nothing.
"Hey, I know you!" the boy said, a sense of recognition in his eyes, his voice cheerful yet polite. "Cedric Diggory, right? We met at the robe shop. Mind if I sit here? Every other compartment is already full."
Cedric blinked, then smiled warmly. "Oh, hey! Glad you remembered me. Your name is…. Arnit Shukla, if i am not wrong. And yeah, of course! Plenty of space."
The boy gave a nod of thanks and heaved his trunk into the luggage rack before settling across from Cedric. His owl let out a soft hoot, as if approving of the choice.
"Glad to meet you again." the boy, Arnit, said after making himself comfortable.
"Pleasure is all mine." Cedric replied, extending a hand. Arnit shook it firmly.
There was a brief moment of silence, but not an awkward one. Cedric could tell that Arnit wasn't the type to speak just to fill the air—there was a sharpness to his gaze, an observant nature that made it seem like he was quietly assessing everything.
"Are you excited?" Cedric asked, trying to keep the conversation going.
Arnit gave a small smile. "Yeah. Though I suppose 'curious' is a better word. There's a lot to figure out."
Cedric nodded in understanding. "Same here. My dad's told me loads about Hogwarts, but I guess nothing beats actually being there. So, have you thought about which house you'll be in, after our last conversation?"
"The last time I met you, I was ignorant about Hogwarts and the British Magical community in general, but since then, I have read every book I could find on hogwarts. After reading all that, I could say that I would definitely like to be in Ravenclaw, " Arnit said, looking thoughtful. "But I suppose the Sorting Hat will have the final say."
"Aah..huh… sorting hat?" Cedric reacted slowly after Arnit's words. He asked tentatively in a puzzling voice, "what's that?"
'Why is he looking at me like that, like I am stupid or something?' Cedric thought seeing Arnit's judging eyes.
Suddenly there is a smile on Arnit's lips, so sweet that one can squeeze honey from it.
"Oh, nothing. A mad rambling." arnit said, looking downward. When he turned his face upwards, facing Cedric again, the sweet smile was gone, instead it was again that cheery smile with which he had greeted Cedric.
Cedric has some suspicions, but he let it go, seeing Arnit go quiet.
After that, they both looked outside the window, and the peaceful countryside of Scotland came into full view, which mesmerised both of them, especially Arnit.
The peaceful atmosphere was broken by a dramatic bang on the compartment door, making them both jump.
"Oi, oi, what do we 'ave here, George? Two firsties sittin' all serious-like, lookin' like they're ponderin' the meaning of life?"
"Tragic, Fred. Absolutely tragic. Can't be havin' that. It's a long ride to Hogwarts—gloom and doom won't do."
Two identical red-haired boys stepped inside, grins wide, eyes twinkling with mischief. Their Hogwarts robes were already slightly messy, as if they'd been up to no good before even boarding the train.
Cedric, who had heard plenty about the Weasley family, grinned. "You must be Fred and George."
The twins looked at each other in mock astonishment.
"Blimey, Fred, d'you hear that?" George said, clutching his chest. "We're famous already!"
"Proper legendary, mate," Fred agreed, pretending to wipe away a tear. "Warms me heart, it does."
Arnit smirked but remained quiet, watching them with an amused glint in his eye. He had already seen their antics at the station, so he was not surprised by their dramatic display.
Fred and George plopped down onto the seats, completely unbothered by the fact that they hadn't been invited.
"So," Fred began, looking between Cedric and Arnit. "What d'you reckon, lads? Excited? Nervous? Plottin' a coup to overthrow the Ministry?"
Cedric chuckled. "We haven't even arrived yet!"
"Details, details," George waved a hand. "Now, tell us, d'you two 'ave a decent sense of humour? 'Cause it's a vital requirement for survivin' at Hogwarts. No joke, mate—dull wizards don't last long."
Cedric and Arnit exchanged an amused glance before turning back to the twins.
Cedric barely registered the flick of Arnit's wrist and his soft muttering before the twins suddenly started dancing uncontrollably. Their legs jerked and kicked in rhythm, their arms flailing as if they were possessed by an invisible force.
"Oi! What the bloody hell—"
"Merlin's saggy socks! I can't stop!"
It took Cedric only a second to realize that Arnit had just cast a spell—without a wand. His sharp gaze snapped back to his compartment mate, who still wore a smirk.
"Hope that's enough humour to survive, yeah?" Arnit asked dramatically, his tone playful but laced with challenge.
The twins, instead of panicking or demanding the spell be reversed, burst out laughing—while still spinning and kicking like lunatics.
"Blimey, George—he's got a right wicked streak, this one!"
"Proper legend in the makin', Fred!"
Instead of asking for the spell to be lifted, they leaned into it, competing against each other in an impromptu dance-off.
Cedric, unable to hold back his laughter, watched them spin around like bewitched marionettes.
After a few more ridiculous moves, Arnit flicked his wrist again and muttered, "FiniteIncantatem."
The twins stumbled to a stop, slightly out of breath but grinning wider than ever.
"Well, well, we've been out-Weasleyd, George."
"Painful to admit, Fred, but it's true. We concede defeat."
Arnit chuckled and shrugged. "Sorry if I offended you by using a spell without asking."
Fred and George turned to each other, their eyes gleaming in that mischievous twin way.
Then, without warning, they slung an arm around each of Arnit's shoulders.
"Apology accepted—on one condition."
"Yeah, mate, you gotta teach us that spell."
Cedric grinned at Arnit, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"I wanna learn that too. But—" he hesitated, eyeing Arnit carefully. "How'd you do that without a wand?"
Fred and George suddenly paused, their grins fading slightly as they looked down at Arnit's empty hands.
*"Hang on a mo'—" George started.
"You weren't holdin' your wand?" Fred finished.
The twins stared at him, their expressions shifting from playful to intrigued.
"Well… I don't mind teaching you guys the spell. And…" said Arnit, shifting under their staring eyes, "the reason I didn't use a wand is because of the ring." he put forward his left hand, showing them an old silver ring.
"As you can infer from my english accent and my skin color, i am not from here. I have lived most of my life in India, where wizards use rings as a conduit instead of wand. But that doesnt mean i don't have a wand. It's just, for simpler and easier spells, I don't need a wand." explained arnit to others present in that compartment.
After that he continued telling them about the Indian magical community to the best of his ability while others shared their stories and cultures of the British wizarding world. That's how they spent their whole train journey.