Coming out the other side, he immediately noticed the crowd. It seemed like the entire platform was covered by people. He had to push his way through the robe garbed wizards, and children his age and up pushing trolleys filled to the brim with their stuff.

Managing to get through the crowd, he finally caught sight of the train. And it was certainly worth the wait. It was just like those old coal trains people used to ride, and was painted with a vibrant scarlet red, with a midnight black edging. It was spectacular. A true sight to behold.

Too caught up in the majesty the train held, he didn't keep his eyes on where he was going, until a loud 'clang' sounded.

He'd crashed his trolley into someone else's.

The impact jarred his elbows, sending a pain through them. Stretching them out, he turned to look at the person he crashed into.

It was a boy, a tall and very thin boy, around his age. Who had gangling arms and legs, with a pair of big hand and feet. Freckles painted his face, surrounding his long nose. With fiery hair, the same as the family he was with, who were looking at me in amusement.

Noticing some of the boys things had tipped out, he bent down to help him, apologising to him as he did so.

The boy introduced himself. " It's alright mate, I wasn't looking where I was going either." He started, before adding, "I'm Ron by the way," He said, extending his arm. "Ron Weasley."

Percy quickly shook his offered hand and told him, "My name's Percy Jackson."

He certainly wasn't expecting Ron's reaction. Why did he seem so shocked by his name? Was it uncommon in the wizarding world.

Ron, not seeing Percy's confusion, but still answering his unasked question, said, "My brothers called Percy too. He's standing there by mum and dad. With my other siblings."

Percy looked over to the family Ron was with, and gesturing to, and noticed a boy with the parental figures, who looked a lot like Ron, only older. He too was tall and thin, and also had the Weasley family trademark red hair and freckles, though he was also wearing a pair of horn-rimmed glasses.

Standing close enough to the family, it was clear they had heard his and Ron's exchange (except the two parents who seemed to be talking between themselves), as Percy, once named, strode over to Percy the younger with purpose, before also offering his hand.

"Percy Weasley. Prefect for Gryffindor." He said, with a tad attitude of holier than thou, but Percy didn't mind, he was sure if followed in the elder boys footsteps he'd be able to live up to his promise, so a bit of arrogance couldn't hurt. He also shook this boys hand.

"I'm also called Percy. Though mine's short for Perseus. You're a prefect? You must be a really good student." He fired off rapidly, images (delusions?) of himself getting a prefect badge running through his mind.

He didn't fail to hear a snicker from some of the others gathered around, most probably from the two twins, who had clear amusement on their face. These also had the flaming hair, and the freckles, though they looked shorter and stockier than their brothers, but still tall. They also seemed to get their nose genes from their mother, who had a bigger nose.

His name twin, however, looked quite pleased by his mini rant. Even offering a tight smile. "Mines short for Percival, and I like to believe I'm a good student. Heaven knows I'm better than those two." This Weasley was also fond of gesturing, aimed at the two twins.

Both of whom looked about to retort, until a loud whistle stopped them. The train was about to go.

He turned back to Ron and said, "Can I meet you on the train? I don't really know anybody here."

He looked at the boy in question in apprehension, until Ron's face lit up and he said, "Of course, I'll save you a seat!"

Percy smiled widely and gave his thanks.

He briefly heard the twins mutter something about seeing a boy from outside the platform struggling with his bags, so they were going to offer their help.

He could feel eyes on him, and as he looked around the platform for one last time, to take it all in, his eyes locked with another pair. A pair of beautiful bright brown eyes, much like her mother's.

She must be Ron's sister.

He offered her a smile, which she returned with her own along with her cheeks flaming the same as her hair. She must have been embarrassed at being caught staring.

He offered an awkward wave to her, before turning on the spot and heading over to a man who was collecting the trolleys.

He missed her wave, and her look of disappointment.

After managing to board the the train with his great big trunk, he walked past numerous different carriages, peering in through the doorways to spot the only boy he knew.

He needn't have bothered, because it wasn't long before he heard a door slam open, and a young red head get pushed out, gently enough to be safe, yet hard enough to remove him.

He heard the boy speak up, while knocking on the door, his voice signifying it was Ron, "Aw c'mon George, just let me sit with you. I don't know anybody, and neither does the boy from the platform."

He was practically pounding on the door by now.

He could faintly hear a voice, assuming it to be George, say, "Is poor Ronnykins lonely? You can make new friends, can't you?" And a couple of snickers.

Ron just glared at the door, his ears turning red, before turning around, noticing he had an audience.

Ron's glared immediately lessened, though he was clearly still pissed.

"Sorry about that, mate. Fred and George are just being muppets, won't let us ride with 'em." His words laced with anger.

While Percy thought the twins were a bit mean, he could also understand them wanting their space away from their younger brother, so he told Ron to just follow their advice.

"There's bound to be other first years who don't know anyone, why don't we just go to them?" His mom appeared to be rubbing off on him, as he was now spouting out words of wisdom.

Ron still looked a little put out, he probably looked up to his older brothers and was annoyed at being snubbed, but he still acquiesced to this plan. The twins didn't seem like bad people, but he could tell they liked to wind people up and mess around.

Heading down the compartments, they kept coming to full ones. Becoming more and more flustered, and more and more desperate, they were about ready to give up when thet noticed each carriage was getting less and less full. Each still had a plethora of elder students though.

They managed to find an empty carriage, well empty except for a solitary figure, who gazed out at the passing country. He also looked quite young, so they figured him for a first year.

Opening up the door, he saw the boys head whip round to him, his mop of black hair whipping around behind him, showing off some kind of funny marking on his forehead.

This kid had on some old, beaten up glasses sitting on his nose. He looked criminally under fed, and had loosely fitting clothes wrapped around him. Nevertheless, once his emerald green eyes layed Ron, he let out a small smile.

Ron whispered in Percy's ear, "We met outside, he didn't know how to get through the barrier."

Percy nodded at Ron's words, an answer to a question he didn't even know he wanted the answer to.

He smiled at the boy in the compartment, and asked him, "Are these seats free?" Pointing at the ones opposite Harry, "Only we've been all over the train and can't find an empty compartment." He added, hopefully.

The boy nodded.

The two entered into the room, and got themselves comfy opposite the other occupant.

Percy found his mind wandering, only catching snippets of Ron and the other boys conversation. He was too busy thinking about what Hogwarts will have in-store.

He was only broken out of it by a sharp gasp from Ron. Tuning back in, he focused on what Ron was now saying.

"You said You-Know-Who's name!" Exclaimed Ron, his shock and awe apparent in his voice. "I'd have thought you, of all people ..." Ron trailed off as the boy quickly interrupted.

"I'm not trying to be brave or anything, saying the name," said the boy, "I just never knew you shouldn't. See what I mean? I've got loads to learn.... I bet," he added, voicing for the first time something that had been worrying him a lot lately, "I bet I'm the worst in the class."

"You won't be. There's loads of people who come from Muggle families and they learn quick enough." Ron said, trying to reassure him.

It was at this point he zoned out again, it wasn't his fault, but the conversation drifted to a more mundane topic.

Percy did also Know-Who. The headmaster told him and his mom a little about the problems the wizarding world has had to face, before putting their minds at ease and making it known how this powerful dark wizard fell.

A baby, no less.

A baby defeated the most dangerous wizard to ever live. Left unharmed, except for the lightning scar resting on his forehead.

Wait a minute, he thought. No, it couldn't be. Could it?

Percy's eyes bulged out of their sockets. He whipped around and faced the boy who was talking animatedly with Ron.

My god, it is him. Percy confirmed after catching sight of his scar when he laughed at Ron's joke.

Not being able to control his tongue, he blurted out, "You're Harry Potter!"

Both of them stopped talking.

One boy was looking a little embarrassed and flustered, while the other was laughing his ass off. Well not quite, but he did let out a good few chuckles.

"Er yes, I am." Came the boys timid reply.

"Hey Percy, where's your head been at? I've tried to involve you, but you were in a world of your own, just staring out the window." Ron said, in stark contrast to his new friend, as he let his amusement seep through, though there seemed to be a tinge of concern. Not enough to be weird, however.

"Oh sorry, I was just thinking. It's hard for me to concentrate sometimes. I wasn't meaning to be rude." Percy's cheeks were flushed red in embarrassment.

"Wait, you're American?" Interrupted the boy who lived.

Percy nodded.

Ron now chose to speak up, not commentating on his place of birth.

"Think nothing of it mate, but since you're ..." was as far as Ron got, before there was a great clattering outside in the corridor and a smiling, dimpled woman slid back their door and said,

"Anything off the cart, dears?"

He vaguely noticed Harry jump to his feet, but was too focused on Ron. His ears had turned a bright pink, and he mumbled something about a sandwich, the same one he had brought from his pocket and was now holding.

Percy was upset. Never being one who lived a life of luxury, he knew full well the position Ron was in. He'd done the exact same thing.

Taking a quick glance at Ron, he noticed the smudge on his nose, to his hand-me-down clothes. Thinking to the family he saw on the platform, and how big it was, and vaguely recalling overhearing something about even more brothers, he doubted the Weasley's were well off.

And Percy was sad. He'd never had any money, he'd been in the same position as Ron not 3 weeks ago, he hadn't even been clothes shopping and still had his ratty old clothes on, and then he suddenly had a vault filled to the brim with gold, it wasn't fair. And it made him angry.

The Weasley's seemed like such a nice family, it wasn't right for them to not have money. In fact, it wasn't right for anyone to not have any money.

Leaping to his feet, and following Harry to the cart, he decided he was going to get more than enough for them all.

Turns out, he needn't have bothered. Harry also seemed to have the same idea. He had to move to the side so Harry could fit past with his arms overflowing with different candy.

Deciding to just get some for himself, and a couple more things for the rest of the group, he headed back into the compartment.

He could already see Harry trying to give some stuff to Ron, by offering some of his candy in exchange for Ron's sandwiches. Percy had to smile at that, he was giving Ron a way to get some things he wanted, while still keeping some dignity.

Seemed like the most famous wizard ever, has a compassionate heart.

Percy, while having nowhere near as much as Harry, still got a lot, so he took what he wanted and added the rest to Harry's pile.

And they just sat and enjoyed sharing their treats with each other.

There was the novelty of the chocolate frogs, and their respective cards. Ron had a good time wading his way through the large pile, and Harry started his card collection.

Percy tried a couple, but couldn't get the image of his own toad out of his mind. And he had to make sure it was still in his pocket and hadn't switched with the one he was about to eat.

They had a good time eating the Every Flavor Beans. Harry got toast, coconut, baked bean, strawberry, curry, grass, coffee, sardine, and was even brave enough to nibble the end off a funny gray one Ron wouldn't touch, which turned out to be pepper. Percy's started off well, before he tasted vomit from one, and couldn't bring himself to have any more.

The countryside now flying past the window was becoming wilder. The neat fields had gone. Now there were woods, twisting rivers, and dark green hills.

There was a knock on the door of their compartment and a round-faced boy that Harry seemed to recognise, noted Percy.

He looked tearful.

"Sorry," he said, "but have you seen a toad at all?"

When the group shook their heads, he wailed, "I've lost him! He keeps getting away from me!"

"He'll turn up," said Harry, optimistically.

"Yes," said the boy miserably. "Well, if you see him..."

He left.

"Don't know why he's so bothered," said Ron. "If I'd brought a toad I'd lose it as quick as I could. Mind you, I brought Scabbers, so I can't talk."

The rat was still snoozing on Ron's lap.

"And what's wrong with a toad?" Piped up Percy, reaching into his jacket pocket to retrieve his toad.

Ron went pink.

"Well... Well nothing I suppose. Just they went out of fashion years ago," said Ron, trying to explain himself, "Besides, I suppose it's better than a rat, he might have died and you wouldn't know the difference," said Ron in disgust, glaring at the slumbering rat.

"I tried to turn him yellow yesterday to make him more interesting, but the spell didn't work. I'll show you, look..."

He rummaged around in his trunk and pulled out a very battered-looking wand. It was chipped in places and something white was glinting at the end.

"Unicorn hair's nearly poking out.

He had just raised his 'wand when the compartment door slid open again. The toadless boy was back, but this time he had a girl with him. She was already wearing her new Hogwarts robes.

"Has anyone seen a toad? Neville's lost one," she said. She had a bossy sort of voice, lots of bushy brown hair, and rather large front teeth.

"We've already told him we haven't seen it," said Ron, but the girl wasn't listening, she was looking at the wand in his hand.

"Oh, are you doing magic? Let's see it, then."

She sat down. Ron looked taken aback.

"Er -- all right."

He cleared his throat.

"Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, Turn this stupid, fat rat yellow."

He waved his wand, but nothing happened. Scabbers stayed gray and fast asleep.

"Are you sure that's a real spell?" said the girl. "Well, it's not very good, is it? I've tried a few simple spells just for practice and it's all worked for me. Nobody in my family's magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, I mean, it's the very best school of witchcraft there is, I've heard -- I've learned all our course books by heart, of course, I just hope it will be enough -- I'm Hermione Granger, by the way, who are you."
She said all this very fast.

Harry and Ron were befuddled. They each shared a look telling that neither of them had even opened up their textbooks.

"I'm Ron Weasley," Ron muttered.

"Harry Potter," said Harry.

Percy was about to offer his name, as Hermione was glancing his way, before she suddenly looked back at Harry.

"Are you really?" said Hermione. "I know all about you, of course -- I got a few extra books, for background reading, and you're in Modern Magical History and The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century."

"Am I?" said Harry, looking dazed.

"Goodness, didn't you know, I'd have found out everything I could if it was me," said Hermione. "Do either of you know what house you'll be in? I've been asking around, and I hope I'm in Gryffindor, it sounds by far the best; I hear Dumbledore himself was in it, but I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad.... Anyway, we'd better go and look for Neville's toad. You two had better change, you know, I expect we'll be there soon."

And she left, taking the toadless boy with her.

"Whatever house I'm in, I hope she's not in it," said Ron. He threw his wand back into his trunk. "Stupid spell -- George gave it to me, bet he knew it was a dud."

"I could show you a couple spells if you want? I don't know how to change your pets colour, but I did learn a couple from the textbook. I can show you as well Harry."

Harry's eyes widened, before he nodded, a little gleefully. Seems he was as enamoured by magic as Percy was. Ron also looked interested, but more about the prospect of finally doing magic, and not so much the spectacle of magic.

"Here's one. The first one I ever tried. I think it's like a smoke bomb spell."

He reached into his left shoe, brought out his wand, closed his eyes and took a couple deep breaths to focus his mind, causing Harry to lean forward in anticipation.

"Fumos." His voice, loud and clear.

For the benefit of the two wizards with him, he did the proper wand movements he found when revisiting the spell, so they could attempt it afterwards.

Both Ron and Harry's eyes widened as a black plume of smoke clouded out of the tip of his wand. It rapidly filled the room.

"Cool." Exclaimed Harry.

"Bloody hell." Ron whispered at the same time.

Holding his wand again, this time Percy said, "Finite." And the smoked rushed back into his wand.

They all watched as the last few wisps disappeared.

"Wish George had taught me a proper spell." Muttered Ron, sound equally angry and awed.

"Well you've got me now. Wanna try it? I'll show you both the wand gestures again." Percy said, kind of relishing the opportunity to teach someone a spell.

At seeing their agreement, he performed the hand action again, taking care to not think of the spell, lest he did nonverbal magic.

Once he was satisfied that they had managed to get it down, he taught them the spell, and then had them recite it back to him to get their pronunciation right.

When they had it good enough, he asked Ron to try it, since he was pretty bummed out about his own spell.

Watching as he performed the right action, and said the right word. Percy was surprised to see that nothing happened. He let Ron try it a few more times, all to the same success.

Creasing his brow, he said, "I was taught that you had to be focusing on the spell and to not let your mind wander, as magic needs a lot of focus. That's why I took some calming breathes beforehand, cause I can't focus well, give it a try."

Ron had been focusing, and was getting more and more wound up. Following Percy's advice, he tried breathing and calming down.

He couldn't.

Trying the spell one more time, he wasn't surprised by it not working, and neither was Percy.

Percy was a bit put out. He'd been doing everything correctly by correcting any imperfections, yet he couldn't get Ron to focus his mind. Guess he wasn't cut out to be a teacher.

Still, deciding to comfort Ron, he told him, "Don't worry, I couldn't manage it at first it took me ages, and I even had the textbook instructions to help guide me. All you have is me. I'm sure a proper teacher could help you." He lied through his teeth, but was pleased to see it had the right effect on Ron, as the boy in question was no longer sulking. He didn't fail to notice Harry sit a little straighter when he said this, perhaps anticipating his turn.

Turning to Harry, and seeing him sitting a lot straighter than he was a minute ago, Percy said, "Do you fancy giving it a go?"

And Harry did. He also failed at first. Yet he had so much more patience than Ron, and was able to keep himself calm. It took him a good 15 tries, but he was able to do the spell.

Though it wasn't as potent as Percy's. In fact it was probably even weaker than when Percy first tried it from his hand. But he still succeeded. And for that, Percy was pleased.

"You're a good teacher, you know Percy. You made sure I corrected everything, and you're breathing trick really worked." Harry practically beamed at Percy.

Ron wasn't as happy. He thought that Percy did a good job of teaching them what to do, but he just couldn't do the spell.

Percy was worried. It had taken him all of one try to correctly do the fumos charm, and he hadn't even needed to do the correct wand movements, he just held his wand. He could also do it without his wand, and without saying anything.

And he'd tried it less time than Harry had, and about the same times as Ron had before he gave up. Was he a freak?

Ron, thankfully, turned the subject away from magic, and onto the subject that girl from before was talking about. Hogwarts houses.

He heard Harry as Ron, "What house are your brothers in?" asked Harry.

"Gryffindor," said Ron. Gloom seemed to be settling on him once again. "Mom and Dad were in it, too. I don't know what they'll say if I'm not. I don't suppose Ravenclaw would be too bad, but imagine if they put me in Slytherin."

"That's the house Vol-, I mean, You-Know-Who was in?" Inquired Harry, knowing full well it was.

"Yeah," said Ron. He flopped back into his seat, looking depressed.

Neither of them could think of anything to cheer him up. He was clearly afraid of not being able to live up to his family's shadow, and wasn't able to do the spell (though he did give up far too easily).

"So what do your oldest brothers do now that they've left, anyway?"
Harry was wondering what a wizard did once he'd finished school, and thought he'd keep Ron engaged.

Percy was also curious. When he wasn't paying attention before, he must have missed them talking about Ron's family.

"Charlie's in Romania studying dragons, and Bill's in Africa doing something for Gringotts," said Ron. "Did you hear about
Gringotts? It's been all over the Daily Prophet, but I don't suppose you get that with the Muggles -- someone tried to rob a high security vault."

Harry just stared, before saying, "Really? What happened to them?"

"Nothing, that's why it's such big news. They haven't been caught. My dad says it must've been a powerful Dark wizard to get round Gringotts, but they don't think they took anything, that's what's odd. 'Course, everyone gets scared when something like this happens in case You-Know-Who's behind it."

Percy could see the cogs in Harry's mind turning this news over in his mind. It also helped that he was doing the exact same thing.

Before either of them could further question Ron, they felt the train start to slow down. That's when they noticed they hadn't changed into their robes yet.

Quickly rushing to each of their chests, in a mad scramble to get ready.

Percy, casting a quick alohomora, he unlocked his trunk. Hastily grabbing his robes, he started changing. Pulling on his robes, he shifted his wand into his left pocket, from his shoe, now having enough space to store it in a better position.

They all managed to change in time, and witnessed the train pulling into a station. They each got their trunk, and made their way to the exit.

This is it, Percy thought, I've arrived.

And he stepped off the train.