On September 1st, Hogwarts opened.
The morning mist on the Thames had not yet dissipated. Damon got up early, dressed in a well-fitting casual suit, and carrying a light suitcase, set off for Platform 9 at King's Cross Station.
After a quick sprint at the ticket gate between Platforms 9 and 10, Damon successfully entered Platform 9 and saw a crimson steam locomotive parked next to the platform crowded with passengers.
The sign on the train read: Hogwarts Express, 11 o'clock.
The thick smoke from the steam locomotive lingered above the chattering crowd, cats of various colors darted around under people's feet, and students pushing luggage carts were like colorful butterflies that crashed into a spider web - the Weasleys' fiery red hair burned in the mist, Malfoy's light golden head floated above the crowd, and Hermione Granger's brown curly hair rose and fell with the rhythm of her flipping through "History of Magic".
A freshman pushing a luggage cart bumped into Damon's birdcage while running. Cha Cha Barton flapped his wings in dissatisfaction in the gilded birdcage, and a few snowy owl feathers fell out of the cage.
"Sorry - I seem to have rushed too hard."
"No, it's my fault. I shouldn't have stood there in a daze."
The clear and low voice gradually approached. Harry, who was sitting on the ground, subconsciously raised his head and saw a warm and slender hand. He subconsciously held it and was then pulled up steadily by that hand.
Even though Harry Potter was a boy, he had to say that the boy in front of him was really handsome. If they were familiar friends at this time, Harry might not be able to help but pat each other on the shoulder and say, "Hey, buddy, you are so handsome."
But they were just strangers who met for the first time, so he naturally couldn't say that.
Anyway, Harry had a very good first impression of this man, and he couldn't help but ask:
"Are you also a freshman at Hogwarts?"
"Yes, my name is Damon White, you can just call me Damon."
"Are you Harry Potter?"
"Yes - it's me -"
Harry, who was about to introduce himself, felt a little uncomfortable, and subconsciously moved the hair on his forehead to cover the scar.
He was a little worried that the boy in front of him would ask him questions like other people he had seen, or even shout excitedly.
If possible, Harry hoped that he would not - there were so many people on the platform!
As he wished, and to his surprise, the handsome boy in front of him just smiled and turned away, and the way he ended the conversation was even a little abrupt.
Looking at the other person's back with a suitcase in his left hand and an owl cage in his right hand, thinking of the other person's slightly mysterious smile before, Harry subconsciously followed him.
"Is this your owl? He's the same color as my Hedwig."
"Yes, her name is Chacha Barton."
The owl in the golden cage glanced at Harry with disdain, obviously still angry about the previous collision.
Harry smiled awkwardly and cast an apologetic look at Chacha Barton, and his mouth was out of control again:
"Chacha Barton? It sounds like a strange name - I mean, this name is quite nice."
"Your Hedwig is not bad either, Bathilda Bagshot - "A History of Magic", right?"
"How did you know!" Harry's heart was filled with joy of meeting a soulmate, and his attitude became a little more enthusiastic.
"Well, I usually like to read books."
The crowd around them was too crowded, and the two of them couldn't talk too much, and began to struggle to get through.
Harry found an empty compartment near the back of the car, and happily turned back to look for Damon's figure. The words came to his lips, but he couldn't finish them.
"Damon, there is a place here."
The other party's situation was really not good at this time - the place where he was seemed to be particularly crowded, and it was almost crowded by a group of little witches.
Seeing Harry calling out to Damon, their enthusiasm subsided, and Damon was able to pass through the crowd and come to Harry's side.
"Phew, thanks to you, Harry."
The two put the owl in place and moved the suitcases they were carrying to the door.
Harry wanted to move the suitcase onto the step, but he couldn't lift it at all. With great effort, the suitcase almost fell heavily on his feet. At this moment, he heard a wonderful spell.
"Levitation Spell (Wingardium Leviosa)!"
Harry's hands suddenly loosened, and the suitcase that he couldn't lift before was now as light as a feather. He didn't care about moving the suitcase. He stared at Damon with wide eyes and said excitedly:
"You've learned magic!"
Seeing a peer perform a spell was far more shocking to Harry than Hagrid.
On those nights when he was mocked at the Dursleys', Dudley often slammed a fairy tale book in his face and yelled "Only monsters can do magic!" Now, he seemed to have seen a group of monsters like him - no, better than him.
"It's just the simplest levitation spell. It's in the Standard Book of Spells: Elementary. You'll learn it right after you enter school."
"No - it's different!"
Harry shook his head and wanted to say something else, but suddenly couldn't help but reflect on himself - was he making a fuss?
So he stopped talking and quietly put the suitcase in the corner of the compartment.
At this time, a proud voice sounded behind them:
"Yes, it's completely different. Some spells may have terrible consequences if read incorrectly. I didn't dare to try it at all. The fact that you can use it so freely is enough to show your ability."
Damon turned his head and saw the girl with fluffy brown hair. His eyes flashed across her conspicuous front teeth.
Then the two boys sat down in their seats, and the girl introduced herself generously:
"Hello, my name is Hermione Granger."
"Damon White."
"Harry Potter."
"Ah!" Hermione suddenly screamed, excitedly, "Is it really you? I know everything about you!
Of course, I bought a few extra reference books, "Modern History of Magic", "The Rise and Fall of Dark Magic", and "Important Magical Events in the 20th Century". You are mentioned in these books."
"Mentioned me?" Harry said, he suddenly felt dizzy.
"Oh my God, you don't know, if it were me, I would definitely find a way to find all the books that mentioned me." Hermione said excitedly.
At this time, Damon silently took out a book "Magic Defense Theory" and read it quietly.
He didn't like the content of the current conversation.
For Harry, the night when he lost his parents was his eternal pain, and he would never be happy because such a thing was recorded.
Hermione saw that Damon was reading a book, his eyes were so bright that they almost glowed, and she was a little confused for a moment - should she continue chatting with the legendary "boy who survived a catastrophe" or start a new conversation with the fellow enthusiast in front of her?
Just as she was struggling, a round-faced boy hesitated and stood at the door of the compartment that had not yet been closed, and stammered:
"Hello, can I sit with you?"
"Of course, please come in!"
Hermione spoke first, and Harry looked at the boy at the door with some expectation.
"Hello, my name is Neville."
Neville subconsciously sat next to Harry, his fingers kept turning his hands.
Damon put down the book and glanced at Neville, with a smile on his face.
Gryffindor Swordmaster? Now he really looks like a pure boy next door.
"Neville, what's moving in your
pocket?"
Harry looked at Neville's pocket curiously.
"Ah, it's my pet, Rafe, it always likes to run around."
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(End of this chapter)