Goal for the extra bonus chapter reached!
500 Power Stones!
That’s some enormous growth for just two weeks.
Thanks everyone for your support!
Hope you enjoy the chapter!
I’m really looking forward to the coming chapters and finally showing you William at Hogwarts.
Chapter 24 Tonks came down the stairs.
Seeing all our surprised faces, she looked around.
“What happened?” Ted held the Prophet out for her to read.
Tonks read it, but didn’t seem to care much.
“So what, you are famous.
We knew the letter going out was really rare, they didn’t even mention your name here though.
Even if they do, I doubt it would mean much… You are only 21 days too young to attend, most people would probably assume that Diana was lying about your birthday, or that she was Confounded…” She took a bite of toast at the end, seeming unbothered.
Andromeda spoke up.
“My daughter does have a point.
If anyone finds out the Prophet is talking about Will, little will happen from it.
William will still go to Hogwarts, and most will assume something along the lines of what Nymphadora said.” Tonks was about to protest her name but Andromeda just held up a hand.
“Not in the morning, please.” Tonks sank back down in her chair and finished breakfast.
The Daily Prophet article had singled out one issue I had struggled with: how much to stand out.
I had been swaying back and forth on that issue.
Do I show off more of what I can do now, or stay in the comfortable background where I was safer?
Luckily, that internal battle had been mostly settled, just before the article, with the quest from the system.
If I wanted to truly improve as much as possible during my time at Hogwarts, I would have to use all of its resources.
That, of course, included the teachers.
To get their attention would therefore be necessary to secure one-on-one teaching and mentorships.
To stand out before the teachers would also draw the attention of the students and Dumbledore, but it would be worth it.
So instead the question became: How much do I keep back from showing?
The answer came quickly: enough to truly surprise a potential enemy.
With my thoughts settled I focused back on the present.
When Tonks finished breakfast, we went out to celebrate.
We spent the afternoon swimming in the lake where I had met the mermaid.
There we had a nice time swimming and chatting about the upcoming year.
Platform 9¾ looked different today.
I had insisted on entering it through the Muggle side, my nostalgia and joy blending into a lovely feeling.
We arrived early so the platform was not as lively as it would soon become.
The Hogwarts train was there waiting for us as we entered.
A smile broke on my face.
Tonks, next to me, gave me a strange look, but made no comment.
There were a few families around, grouped up together, early arrivals like ourselves.
Tonks gave a quick hug to her parents and Diana, used to the goodbyes, before turning to me.
“I’ll wait on the train, I’ll get us a good compartment while you say goodbye.” She boarded the train and I turned to the others.
I gave a quick hug to Ted and Andromeda.
They then stepped back to give me and mum some space.
Mum had tears in her eyes for the second time in seven days, but she still looked much better than last time.
Getting a job at St Mungo’s had really helped her come to terms with me leaving for Hogwarts.
She gave me a soft smile.
“My dear boy, I’m so happy for you.
Do not think these tears are me breaking.
I will be fine, more than fine in fact.
I will get to start a new chapter and expand upon the life I stopped living when your father died.
So do not worry about me when you leave.
This is your time to really live, enjoy yourself at Hogwarts, do some pranks, join the Quidditch team, anything that brings you joy.
Try to find a few new things, make another friend and when you come home, I will be there waiting.
I love you, my William.” She hugged me then and held me for a long time.
“I will miss you, mum.
And yes, I’ll try to enjoy my time at Hogwarts, going there has been a dream for what seems like a very long time.
Wasting this chance would be stupid.” I smiled at her.
“Goodbye, dear.” A tear fell from her cheek.
“Goodbye, Mum.
I’ll see you soon.” With that I turned around and entered the train, giving my mum one last wave from the door.
In the second compartment Tonks was waiting for me.
She gave me a smile as I entered.
“Tough goodbye?” she asked.
“It was alright, I think mum will be fine.
The new job really helped.” She nodded at that.
We settled in chatting about Hogwarts as time passed.
The train was quickly filling up and soon the whistle sounded.
Soon the view outside the window changed to fields and hills.
“So, is anyone else joining us?” I asked.
Tonks shook her head.
She looked a bit sad.
I knew she and her friends at Hogwarts had a falling out.
The boyfriend of one of her friends had expressed interest in Tonks, because of her Metamorphmagus, which seemed to trigger a fear in the others as well.
Tonks had gradually been excluded, a missed invite, an inside joke where she was not included.
I couldn’t help thinking of them as weak people.
I tried to remember that they were young, but still.
Who cares about a partner if they are chasing others anyway?
“You know that says everything about them, and nothing about you, right, Tonks?” She gave me a sad smile.
“Yeah, Will.
It still hurts though, losing friends because they view me as a threat to their love lives just for existing.” I gave her a look.
“It is better to find a few real friends, than have people who will only be your friend when it is convenient.
Finding those is the hard part, but you have one at least.” I gave her a cheesy smile.
Tonks gave a chuckle at that and seemed to shake off the sadness.
“So where do you think you will end up?” “I will likely end up in Slytherin or Ravenclaw if the hat doesn’t decide to mess with me.” Tonks looked shocked.
“How do you know about the hat?
I never told you.
It is tradition to not tell someone before they experience the shortening.
Did Diana really tell you?” I just smiled mysteriously, without answering.
After a while she continued.
“Slytherin, huh?
I can see Ravenclaw, but why Slytherin?” I decided to answer truthfully.
“It fits best with who I am.
I like knowledge, of course, but I’m more about what that knowledge can get me.
I’m ambitious.
I like power and gathering it.
I can, when needed, be ruthless.” Tonks interrupted with a laugh.
“Yeah, you certainly can!
Sometimes I swear the way you duel could be described as evil!” I chuckled, and Tonks continued for me.
“I get it, though.
You are also adaptive, resourceful and pragmatic.
All those Slytherin traits and still somehow you are kind.” Tonks looked thoughtful, but not judgemental.
“I can see it, sure.
I just know a lot of Slytherins who are massive assholes, or sometimes even worse.
If you do end up there just make sure you are careful, though I’m not too worried.
I mean, can a seventh-year even handle you by now?” The question made me thoughtful, “could they?” Tonks laughed at my thoughtful look.
“Yeah, you’ll be fine.” Time quickly passed as we sat there.
We remained in our compartment, and our conversations were only interrupted by some loud conversations of passing students every now and then.
Tonks showed me her latest advances in wandless magic.
She could now cast a small wandless Protego.
With her joining me and Moody for practice, we had been discussing what magic would be most useful for her and landed on Protego.
Since she was much more limited than I was when it came to using wandless magic, trying to learn more than a few focused spells was unrealistic.
I sent a wandless Expelliarmus to test it and it was blocked.
The shield was maybe four times her palm so she had to practice a lot before it would be very useful in combat.
Nevertheless, the progress was very impressive.
She would become an amazing Auror if she decided to go for that later.
The Hogsmead station soon lay ahead.
Tonks and I had changed into our Hogwarts uniforms and were ready to exit the train.
I marvelled at the sight of Hogsmeade Station, as what I was about to see became more and more real.
I almost immediately noticed something different about the magic around here.
It felt dense.
Just being here felt different from home, so I filed it away for later.
My nostalgia returned as I spotted the enormous man waiting for the first years at the station.
“First years over here, please!”The deep voice rang out, carrying throughout the station.
I gave Tonks one final smile in farewell and went off to join the other first years next to Hagrid.
I didn’t try to fight that giddy feeling that rose in my chest as I reached him.
I decided to make a good first impression.
“Hello there, you must be Hagrid.
I’ve heard of you—always here to guide the first-year students to the castle.
That’s good of you.
I’m William.” He seemed surprised to be addressed, the first years usually just stared and whispered, but quickly gave me a large smile.
“Hello, William!
I’m just doing my job.” He rocked back on his heels and put his thumbs in his pockets, clearly happy with the compliment.
“First years, follow me please!” He walked off without realising that his large steps made us all jog to keep up.
I smiled and followed the others.
We quickly got to the docks where many boats were waiting for us.
“Four to a boat, no more!” Hagrid called out.
I walked up to a boat that already contained three people and climbed in.
I nodded to a girl sitting in the front next to me and then the two boys in the back.
“I’m William Walker, nice to meet you.” One of the boys sneered and said.
“Walker, never heard of them, you aren’t one of those mudbloods are you?”I raised an eyebrow and looked at him silently.
After a few seconds, he turned away without introducing himself.
The boy sitting next to him gave me a short nod, but didn’t say anything.
The girl looked uncomfortable, but quietly said.
“I’m Elizabeth, nice to meet you.” She then went quiet.
“Huh, tough crowd.” I was not really in the mood to talk anyway.
No, instead I let myself fully embrace the feeling of being here.
I was finally here, about to see Hogwarts for the first time.
Then I heard Hagrid call out.
“All inside?
Good.
Forward!” The boats rocked and started to move forward out of the docks.
We quickly left the small harbour and just as we got around the edge of the lake, there she was, Hogwarts.