Tom Stark-Malfoy

-- .:||King's Cross Station||:. --

"I'm sorry Dad, Pepper. I promise I'll do my best to stay safe while at school. I really do!"

Holding my head down I apologized to Tony and Pepper about keeping my new 'condition' and 'arc reactor' a secret from them. For the past month, I've explained everything I believed was happening inside me as well as gave several presentations of just how safe my 'magical' cold-fusion reactor was.

My 4 years of work was all understood by Tony in 4 days. An amazing feat given that 3 of those days was spent familiarizing himself with everything 'magical' and only 1 was actually spend analyzing everything else.

I knew that he knew every safety-measure I've added to my arc-reactor. He just made me work my fingers to the bone to convince him that I knew what I was dealing with. It was also a well-deserved punishment I confess. Since I tried to keep everything a secret it was only expected of me to explain everything I tried to hide.

From such a light punishment I could only conclude… Dad and Pepper must love me a lot. They spoil me too much… I worry for their future children.

"You know we only scold you this much because we love you right?"

Pepper bent over and held my cheek with the palm of her hand. I nodded my head and the frown on both their faces lit up into their regular warm smiles.

"Alright. Enough pouting. Your grounding is officially over. Now come here!"

Tony lifted me up with a big ear hug which made me squeak… no, ehem. I meant 'exclaim' in surprise. His mirth and laughter was contagious and I ended up sharing a few with him as he swayed me left and right.

After bending over such that my feet could touch the ground, Tony still hadn't let go when Pepper joined in the hug.

This was majorly embarrassing and yet.. warm. So very warm, that I didn't care to look at anyone else around us.

When a few more seconds had passed, we finally ended our hug.

Dad confusedly looked around the train station as he asked me. "Where was your station again Tom?"

I chuckled at his bewildered expression "It's right past this pillar Dad. Between platforms 9 and 10."

"uhuh…" Dad replied, still very confused. "And your luggage?"

I took out four mini suitcases from my pocket. All shrunken and made weight-less with 'Reducio' and the feather-light charm. Stuffing them back into my pocket Dad firmly held my upper arms.

"Learn a lot and have fun son."

With a cheeky grin, I looked at him and nodded. "I ȧssure you I shall. I'd offer to take you both to the other side, but I fear you both might run into the wall instead."

Dad gave my head one last rub before I turned around to head into Platform 9 ¾. Far into the distance of the platform, I saw a swarm of red-heads headed this way.

Opening my eyes on the other side, I saw a slew of cloaks, carts, birds in cages, and cats. Breathing in the air of 'magic', I could feel that my month-long punishment of papers, research, and powerpoints was truly over.

Merlin Hallelujah!

Hastening my pace through the train, I enter the last compartment of the train after failing to find Theodore. Nullifying the charms on my luggage and stowing them away, I changed into my robes and settled down onto the seat with my copy of first-year Potions in hand.

I suppose a quiet train-ride is also much welcome. It would also give me time to have a refresher on first-year potions and ingredients.

Not long after the train had started it's journey, I had completely immersed myself into the book and lost track of time. Suddenly, the noise of my compartment's door opening broke my concentration. Turning my head, I was prepared to 'kindly' shoo them away when an unexpected familiar face ruined my view.

I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the… uninvited guest.

"I beg your pardon? Do you… require ȧssistance of anykind?"

"Yes, have you seen a Toad? Neville's lost one." I glanced behind her bushy hair, difficult really, to see another familiar face hiding behind her.

…

I pulled out my 'fake' wand and gave it a swish. Fluttering my magic at the tip of my fingers, I asked magic to summon his toad.

"Accio Neville's lost toad." Tucking my wand away, I listened to the commotion that appeared from one of the other cabins. "You'd better step out of the way for a moment if you don't want a face full of toad." I warned the two flummoxed guests.

They had stepped away just in time when a croak was heard quickly approaching with a whistling swoosh in the air. Raising my hand, I caught the toad whilst still staring at the two. How strange. How truly truly strange. Had Neville lost his toad last time as well? But then again, I doubt my younger self would have bothered long enough to listen to anything this muggle-born or Longbottom would have said.

"Here" I handed the toad with a practiced smile.

"Thanks." The bushy-haired muggle-born replied in a daze. She handed it over to Longbottom who gave his own thanks then proceeded to hug the ugly thing whilst crying out "Trevor!"

"I'm Hermione Granger, by the way. Where did you learn that spell? From your tie I'd ȧssume you're in your first year as well. But I'm sure it's not from the first year curriculum. I've memorized every spell there is in our charms book by heart so I would know."

She said all this in a single breath. Thankfully I was saved by the halting of the train.

"Tom Stark. A shame that I'd have to end our meeting here, but we must now make haste to depart."

Shutting my book as I stood, I levitated it on top of my luggage before swiftly passing Granger.

"Hold on, aren't you going to take your luggage with you." Granger cried out as she quickened her pace to match mine. Quite a stubborn one she is. Had it not been for my elation to enter Hogwarts again, I would have berated her.

"No need. The elves will gather them for us."

"Earlier, what did you mean by needing to make haste? Do you know where we're going next? Are your family wizards? Is that how you know? Did they tell you these things? I'm the first witch of my family you see- and I've been worried just how far in the curriculum I'd need to catch up!"

Merlin. Does she not shut up? I slowed down my gait as I noticed that pacing like this made Granger raise her voice. And if she continues to scream in my ear, Merlin forbids detention, I will hex her.

"I was raised by a muggles, and no, you don't need to 'catch up'. Just as you've learned science and math, wizarding children learn 'other' lessons."

…hah~ 'Other' lessons. I amuse myself. I measure my gait and adjust my posture to one befitting of proper-bloods. Inwardly I go over my plan of how to fool the hat into sorting me into Ravenclaw. A respectable house with one foot in the light and one in the dark. There's also enough families with political-influence sorted into Ravenclaw that I may gather capable allies and plant 'spies' amongst both the DE and the OotP.

"What kind of other lessons? Do you think they'd teach me if I ask?"

Shaken out of my train of thought, I was demoralized by the thought of being surrounded by a swarm of blue-robbed 'Grangers'.

"Well? Would they teach me? And how do you know these things in the first place? There's a lot you've already shown that you shouldn't know if you didn't have some sort of connection with anyone magical – I reckon you have a friend who was raised in a magical family? That would explain your knowing of these things. Could you ask if they'd teach me as well? Or you could too I suppose."

Merlin grant me patience, for if you grant me strength, I might loose house points before I even get sorted.