Chapter 3: On The Hogwarts Express

Though Severus was fascinated by Raislen’s book, his concentration wavered. That was unlike him, but he was feeling self conscious about his clothes. Raislen wore his Hogwarts uniform and looked so smartly put together in it that Severus felt even shabbier than usual. He didn’t want to go around Raislen’s friends looking shabby once they got off the train. “Ur… Would you mind turning around while I changed into my school uniform?”

Raislen shrugged. “We both have the same thing and you’re not my type, but sure.”

Severus snickered, but gave a sigh of relief when Raislen turned. His underpants were shabbier and more worn than his outerwear and he didn’t want anyone else seeing them. It was just too uncomfortable and private. Hurriedly he dug into his trunk for his uniform after carefully placing Raislen’s book on the seat beside him. It only took a few moments to scramble into his Hogwarts attire.

Suddenly he already felt more posh somehow. “You can turn around now,” he told the other boy as he hastily crammed his Muggle clothes into the trunk.

“Good. It was hard reading while twisted round like that,” Raislen said.

“Sorry,” Severus said. He felt his face flushing in embarrassment. “I’ve never… um… really had friends that much. Just a few cousins, and that’s different.”

Raislen nodded gravely as he glanced up from the book to meet Severus’s dark eyes with his green ones. “Yep, cousins are different.”

“I like your book a lot, but some of the curses seem rather easy,” Severus added, glancing back to the book lying on the seat beside him.

“They get more complicated a few pages in,” Raislen assured. “And you’re eleven in case you hadn’t noticed. How much do you know about curses?”

“A lot, actually,” Severus said. “Mum didn’t like the girls in school much. A lot of them were mean to her and the boys too so she learned to hurt them so they’d respect her and leave her alone. She taught me all she knows in case…” In case Grandfather Prince ever decided to hit him, but Severus didn’t want to say that aloud, not knowing how Raislen would take it. He didn’t know the other boy well enough to get too personal, and besides, he was sure it would be embarrassing talking about his grandfather. Best move on to something else.

He frowned, shifting on the seat. “I suppose I was stupid for expecting it to be different for me. I didn’t think people would be mean at Hogwarts now. I thought it was just the old fashioned time she grew up in or that those witches and wizards attending Hogwarts at that time were… I don’t know backwards or something. But those gits on the platform just started with me for no reason as if they simply wanted to fight!” It felt good having someone to vent to, Severus realized. Other than his Mum he’d never had that before.

“If you spot them out when we get off the train, you show me who they are,” Raislen said. “I’ll keep an eye on them and give them what for if they start in on you again.”

Severus smiled, feeling his shoulders relaxing at the idea of having back up. He realized that he was dreading surprise attacks in the back of his mind from the gits, and that was serving to dampen his eagerness to see the school. “Thank you,” he told Raislen, who nodded.

“Hey, no problem.”

Not knowing what else to say, Severus went back to reading Raislen’s book. Fortunately the older boy was right, and the curses did become more complex a few pages in. Both boys were happy to read as the train chugged along. When the door to their compartment eventually opened, Severus started, hastily glancing up from Raislen’s book with trepidation suddenly gripping his chest.

He supposed he wasn’t ready for new people yet, or perhaps he feared those gits would be looking for him to continue their torment. As it turned out, it was only the lady with the Trolley of snacks.

Though his mum had spoken of it often, he’d quite forgotten about it what with so much going on to claim his focus.

“I’m getting pumpkin pasties,” Raislen said eagerly. “I’ve been thinking about them all summer! What are you getting,” he asked Severus as he dug into a pocket of his school robe to pay for the pasties.

Severus shook his head. “Nothing. I’m not hungry,” he lied.

“Ah at least try a cauldron cake,” Raislen coaxed. “If you’re a potions guy, and from the book I am guessing you are, you’ve got to have one your first train ride! It’s a thing, or at least it should be.” He grinned.

“I don’t have any money with me,” Severus admitted, his face flushing hot in embarrassment.

Grandfather Prince with all that money and not a dime to spare for his family. Gods how Severus hated the man.

randfather Prince hated Muggles, but Tobias Snape, a Muggle, was a far better man than Prince would ever ever be even if he had forever to try!

“Well I have enough money to share,” Raislen said cheerfully. “That’ll be four pumpkin pasties and two cauldron cakes, please.”

“Thanks,” Severus said, trying hard not to feel embarrassed and failing.

“Hey, you’re doing me a favor,” Raislen assured. “I hate eating alone.”

The pumpkin pasties were delicious. The cauldron cakes were good too, but they were just cauldron shaped cupcakes, and Severus had never tasted anything like a pumpkin pasty before. They were far different than the pumpkin pie his Mum used to make on the holidays. Pumpkin pie was very good, but other pumpkin treats were just as tantalizing. “Cauldron cakes are just like Muggle cupcakes,” he told Raislen.

“Why are they cupcakes,” Raislen asked. “And is the cup at least a fancy goblet, because otherwise cauldrons should be better.”

Severus frowned thoughtfully. “You have a point there, I suppose. The cups are made of paper and I suppose they aren’t even really cups.”

“How do you know about Muggle foods,” Raislen asked. “Are you a halfblood?”

Severus nodded. “My dad was a Muggle,” he said proudly. Somehow his chin began to tremble as he was suddenly overwhelmed with wave upon wave of deep sadness. He really missed his dad. He supposed his mum bringing him up earlier had gotten to him more than he knew. “He is dead,” he added, blinking hard in case any tears thought to trickle out of his eyes and embarrass him.

“I’m really sorry,” Raislen said, seeming to mean it.

Severus nodded, letting out a breath as the tightness in his throat eased a bit. “Thanks.”

“Um… What happened to him if I may ask?”

“He was killed… By someone for being in a wizarding potion shop to pick up something for my mum.” Severus didn’t dare speak the name of Voldemort as his mum said it wasn’t safe to mention him in wizarding society.

“By Voldemort or one of his,” Raislen asked and Severus found himself nodding. Raislen was his friend, and he’d been nice to him so Severus didn’t want to lie. Besides, Raislen didn’t seem to like Voldemort, judging by the tone in which he spoke his name.

“He’s a bad one,” Raislen said. “Crazy too. He thinks killing is literally the answer to everything, but hell I don’t have to tell you that, do I?”

Severus shook his head.

“Lots of dark wizards follow him, but not my family. We’re mostly Slytherin all the way with a few Ravenclaws sprinkled in, but none of us are interested in buying what he’s selling. For one, we aren’t into following, you know? Not into being told what to do, because we already have our own ideas.”

Severus nodded. He could certainly relate to that.

“Also while we don’t love the way Muggles have treated us in the past, we don’t see that his way of doing things would truly solve the problem. Eventually the Muggles will just get more pissed off and rebel in ways he would never imagine.”

Severus nodded again. “I’ve never thought of that before, but it makes sense,” he said. He realized that he really liked talking to Raislen. “Do you think he’ll be stopped?”

Raislen nodded confidently. “Eventually he’ll have to be. Madness won’t go unchecked for too long without self destructing. It’s simply impossible. Only it would be far nicer if he were stopped sooner rather than later before he’s created more problems for the rest of us.”

“Or killed more people’s families,” Severus said and Raislen nodded.

“For sure that.”

Severus cleared his throat, suddenly nervous about what he was about to have to say. “Um would you promise not to tell anyone that he killed my dad? My mum said it wasn’t safe to bring it up.”

Raislen nodded quickly. “Of course. She’s right, you know. Some of the students attending Hogwarts are in families who serve him, and they’ll do the same when they graduate if not sooner.”

Severus’s eyes widened. That made sense, but how had he not considered it himself? “Yes,” he agreed.

“I promise to keep your secret,” Raislen vowed, and Severus smiled. He believed him. Raislen felt solid and safe and he was nice and fun. Perhaps Severus had been right about Hogwarts after all.

Perhaps it would be full of more people like Raislen and perhaps he’d love it there.

Perhaps it would be the home he’d longed for since they’d had to go and live with Grandfather Prince.

From the time he was seven, and his Mum had started telling him about the magic school inside of a castle, he’d imagined how wonderful it would be and how much he’d love attending. He’d even wanted to go early, but Eileen assured him that it wasn’t allowed. Now his time had finally come, though, and he was ready for it.