The first-year carriages were different from the others. Instead of open seating, they were divided into small compartments, allowing new students to sit together freely.
"Harry, over here! There's an empty compartment!" Ron waved.
Harry hurried over, and the two sat down happily. Ron had already introduced himself on the way, while Harry barely needed an introduction.
"Harry, how did you end up with Sean?" Ron asked curiously.
"Hagrid and Sean came to get me. I used to live with my aunt's family, and then I stayed at the Leaky Cauldron for a month," Harry explained.
"Lucky you," Ron said enviously. "You're famous—and you even got to live with someone famous."
"You mean Sean?"
"Yeah! My brothers all know him. They're at Hogwarts too, and they say Sean's more famous than the Head Boy."
Harry blinked. "He never mentioned any of that… He doesn't seem to care much about school stuff."
At that moment, the trolley witch stopped outside their compartment.
"Anything from the trolley, dears?"
Ron dug into his pocket and pulled out six Sickles. Thanks to Charlie and Percy's winnings, the family's situation had improved—but only slightly.
"Can this buy two boxes of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans?"
"It can," she smiled. "Anything else?"
"No, thanks…" Ron said awkwardly.
Harry, however, pulled out four Galleons.
"How much can this get?"
Ron stared in shock.
Moments later, they had nearly emptied the trolley, happily eating and chatting. Harry wasn't new to wizard sweets—during his month at the Leaky Cauldron, Sean had taken him to Diagon Alley a few times.
"Have you seen a toad? Neville's lost it."
A girl with bushy brown hair and large eyes stood at the door.
"No," Ron mumbled through a mouthful of candy.
She gave him a look of pure disgust. "You should change into your robes. We're arriving soon."
Just then, Sean passed by, holding a toad.
He frowned slightly—how had it ended up in his carriage?
"Miss Granger, could you return this to Neville?" Sean said casually.
Hermione instinctively took it—then paused.
"How do you know my name?"
"That's Sean!" Ron quickly swallowed his candy.
"Sean," Harry greeted.
"Get changed. We're almost there," Sean reminded them before walking off, ignoring Hermione's question.
Hermione turned to Harry in shock.
"You're Harry Potter?"
"Yes."
"I read about you in A History of Modern Magic. And him—that's Sean Grylls, right?"
"You know him too?" Harry asked.
"Of course. You're both famous. I'm Hermione Granger."
"I'm Ron Weasley," Ron added quickly.
"Nice to meet you," she replied dismissively.
As she left, Ron frowned.
"What's her problem?"
"No idea," Harry said. "Oh—there's something on your nose."
—
When the train arrived, first-years followed Hagrid across the Black Lake by boat, while the older students took Thestral carriages.
"This year's Head Boy is Keith Brent. I want that position when I'm in fifth year," Cassius said.
"Get into the top ten first," Chris replied coldly.
"Keith Brent…" Sean muttered. "I remember him."
A Ministry family. Arrogant. Had tried to ambush Sean in first year—until Sean and Snape shut him down. Since then, he avoided Sean like the plague.
"How did someone like him become Head Boy?" Sean wondered.
—
By the time Sean and the others were seated in the Great Hall, the first-years were just arriving.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall began, repeating her usual speech about the four houses.
As she stepped away, Draco approached Harry.
"I heard on the train—Harry Potter's joining this year."
Whispers spread.
"You're famous," Draco continued. "You'll want the right kind of friends."
He extended his hand.
"Draco Malfoy."
His tone carried unmistakable arrogance.
Ron snorted.
"Red hair—Weasley, obviously. What's so funny?" Draco snapped.
"Don't think new clothes make you upper class," he added. "Choosing friends matters. Associating with people like him lowers your status."
Harry looked at the hand—
and ignored it.
"I can tell right from wrong. Thanks—but no."
Draco's expression darkened.
—
The ceremony began.
"Don't go into the Forbidden Forest," Dumbledore said cheerfully. "And avoid the third-floor corridor if you value your life."
"What's in that room?" Cassius whispered.
"Nothing you need to see," Sean replied casually.
His attention, however, was on Quirrell—
whose back was facing Harry.
Harry suddenly winced, clutching his scar.
—
"Another Slytherin," Ron muttered as Draco was sorted.
"Are they all bad?" Harry asked.
"Most dark wizards come from Slytherin."
"…Sean is in Slytherin," Harry said. "He seems alright."
Ron hesitated.
"…He's an exception."
—
Finally—
"Harry Potter!"
Silence filled the hall.
The Sorting Hat murmured.
"Hmm… another like the one before… difficult… very difficult…"
Then—
"I know. GRYFFINDOR!"
Cheers erupted.
—
Draco scoffed. "Wasted potential."
From the Slytherin table, Sean spoke calmly:
"Draco, mind your manners."
Draco froze.
He didn't dare argue.
Sean had visited Malfoy Manor before—Lucius had praised him openly. Kurt had told Draco to rely on Sean once he enrolled.
And Sean had agreed.
How he 'looked after' Draco… was another matter.
"You said you'd help me!" Draco muttered.
"I am," Sean smiled. "And I will."
Draco shut up immediately.
—
"Finally third year! We can go to Hogsmeade!" Cassius said excitedly.
"Makes no difference to me," Sean replied.
With the Marauder's Map, he could've gone anytime.
But he had other priorities.
This year—
Animagus.
A complex transformation.
Even James Potter and Sirius Black took three years to master it.
Sean already knew the magical framework—
but the preparation was the real challenge.
—
As far as he knew—
things should proceed as before.
Quirrell.
The Stone.
Harry's victory.
—
But Sean didn't realize—
This Quirrell—
was no longer the same.
And this time—
He wanted everything.
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