Quirks in Wizarding World

________________________________________________________________________________

- Hogwarts Express -

- September 1,1991 -

Harry sat back against the cushioned seat, feeling something unfamiliar yet wonderful—happiness. Just weeks ago, he had been living in the cupboard under the stairs, thinking he was just an ordinary, unwanted boy. Then Hagrid had arrived, turning his entire world upside down. He had learned he was a wizard, that his parents hadn't died in a car crash but had been murdered protecting him. That they had loved him. That he was going to Hogwarts—the same school his parents had once called home.

And now, he wasn't alone.

He had never had real friends before. Dudley had made sure of that. But here, on the train to Hogwarts, he had already met Ron and Arthav—two boys who treated him like he was just… Harry. No whispered rumors, no wary glances, no signs of them treating him differently. Just an easy conversation, laughter over sweets, and curiosity about each other's lives. He could hardly believe it.

As he savored the last bite of a pumpkin pasty, Ron, still full of energy, asked, "So, what house d'you reckon you'll be in?"

Harry blinked. He hadn't really thought about it much. But before he could answer, Ron continued, "I'll probably end up in Gryffindor. Every Weasley has been, and Mum and Dad were there too." He said it with a mix of confidence and expectation, as if the idea of being anywhere else had never even crossed his mind.

Arthav, who had been quietly listening, smiled slightly. "I'm not sure," he admitted, his tone thoughtful. "But my mother was a Ravenclaw, so I'd like to be in the same house." His voice was steady, lacking any nervousness about the possibility of the Sorting. There was something about him—calm, self-assured in a way that felt far older than his years. He wasn't boastful like Malfoy had been when they met in Diagon Alley, nor was he overly eager like Ron. He was just… steady. It was a nice balance between Ron's boundless enthusiasm and Harry's own uncertainty.

Harry found himself hoping that they would all be sorted into the same house. He didn't know much about the differences between them, but if houses were like families at Hogwarts, he wanted to stay with the first real friends he had ever made.

"I hope we all end up together," he said, voicing his thoughts.

Ron grinned, nodding enthusiastically. "Yeah! That'd be brilliant."

Arthav, in his usual composed way, gave a small nod. "I'd like that too. But even if we're in different houses, it won't change anything. We're already friends. Nothing will stop us from enjoying each other's company."

Harry felt something warm spread in his chest. He wasn't used to hearing things like that—words filled with certainty, as if their friendship was already set in stone. He smiled, not bothering to hide how much he liked hearing it.

For the first time in his life, he had friends. And no matter where they were sorted, he had a feeling that wasn't going to change.

--------

As their conversation continued, Scabbers, Ron's old and scruffy-looking pet rat, was happily munching on the pile of snacks they had placed between them. The little rodent seemed particularly enthusiastic about the chocolate frogs, eagerly nibbling away. But then, something startled it—probably another chocolate frog hopping unexpectedly—and with a sudden squeak, Scabbers darted across the compartment, chasing after it.

Ron panicked, his voice rising. "Oi! Scabbers, come back!" He scrambled after the rat, nearly knocking over the stack of empty snack wrappers.

Arthav's sharp gaze followed the rodent's frantic movements. He had already known exactly what—or rather, who—Scabbers truly was. His special eyes could see the traces of the Animagus transformation magic clinging to the rat like an unnatural aura. To say he wasn't intrigued would be a lie. But this wasn't the time to act. He held himself back, watching for now.

Before Ron could get a proper grip on his pet, the compartment door swung open, revealing a bushy-haired girl with sharp, curious eyes. She looked around briefly before speaking in a clear, authoritative voice. "Have you seen a toad? A boy named Neville has lost one."

Before anyone could respond, Scabbers took this opportunity to make a desperate leap toward the open door.

"No—Scabbers!" Ron lunged forward, but he was too slow.

In that instant, before the rat could escape, Arthav acted. Without even reaching for his wand, he flicked his fingers slightly, his mind focusing. A quiet ripple of energy pulsed through the air as Scabbers froze mid-jump, suspended in place as if caught in an invisible grip. Slowly, effortlessly, Arthav guided the floating rat back toward Ron, who caught him with wide eyes, both shocked and relieved.

There was a brief silence before Hermione, who had been staring at the display with open amazement, finally spoke. "That was wandless magic! How did you do that?" Her voice was filled with intrigue, her sharp mind already racing with theories.

Arthav merely smiled, his response casual. "Just something I picked up." He didn't elaborate, which only made Hermione's curiosity deepen.

Harry, still unfamiliar with the extent of magic, watched the scene with fascination. He didn't know much yet, but it was clear that whatever Arthav had just done wasn't normal.

Ron, after recovering from the initial shock, beamed. "That was brilliant! Only a handful of people can do wandless magic! You must be really powerful."

Arthav shrugged, his tone even. "In India, wands aren't as necessary for magic." It wasn't entirely false—prana-based magic required intricate control and understanding, but he didn't elaborate further.

That only made the others more intrigued.

Hermione, who had finally torn her gaze away from Arthav's unusual blue eyes, straightened herself. "Well, that was… impressive," she admitted, before remembering why she had come in the first place. "Anyway, if you see the toad, let Neville know."

"Also it will be better if you all change into your school uniforms quickly, we've nearly reached our destination."

The boys nodded, and she turned to leave but paused for a moment. Looking at Arthav, she said, "We'll continue this discussion later." Then, turning to Ron, she added, "Oh, and you've got something on your nose."

Ron hastily rubbed his face as she walked out, leaving the boys to exchange glances.

"She's a bit much, isn't she?" Ron muttered.

Arthav chuckled softly, while Harry, still thinking about everything that had just happened, simply smiled. This train ride was turning out to be far more interesting than he had expected.

--------

As the train ride continued, the three of them eventually got up to change into their Hogwarts uniforms, realizing that they were getting close to their destination. The train had begun to slow down, and through the window, they could see the dark silhouettes of hills and trees, illuminated by the dim evening light.

By the time they stepped out onto the platform, the air was cool and crisp, carrying the scent of fresh rain and earth. Other first-years were also spilling out of the train, looking around nervously or excitedly chattering with newfound friends. The towering figure of Hagrid stood near the edge of the platform, holding a lantern high as his deep, booming voice carried over the crowd.

"Firs'-years! Over here! Firs'-years, follow me!"

Arthav, Harry, and Ron instinctively made their way toward the half-giant, along with the rest of the new students. As they got closer, Harry suddenly broke into a grin and ran ahead, wrapping his arms around Hagrid in a hug. "Hagrid!" he greeted happily.

Hagrid let out a warm chuckle, patting Harry's back with a hand so large it nearly knocked the boy forward. "Good ter see yeh, Harry! Hope yeh had a good train ride."

Harry turned and motioned toward Ron and Arthav. "These are my friends—Ron Weasley and Arthav Nair."

Ron, recognizing Hagrid from stories his older brothers had told, looked surprised but quickly grinned. "You're Hagrid? My brothers have mentioned you!"

Hagrid chuckled. "Ah, the Weasley lot! Good family, that." Then, his gaze shifted to Arthav, who gave a polite smile and a simple, "Hello."

Hagrid nodded in greeting before clapping his hands together. "Right then! Luggage'll be taken care of—yer don't need ter worry 'bout it. Now, all of yeh, follow me! We'll be takin' the boats to Hogwarts."

The first-years murmured in excitement as they followed Hagrid along the winding path toward the lake. When they finally reached the shore, dozens of small boats bobbed gently on the water's surface, awaiting their passengers.

"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called out as the students hurried to climb aboard.

Arthav, Harry, and Ron quickly picked one and were soon joined by another first-year, a quiet boy with sandy-colored hair and round glasses. As the boat pushed off from the shore, gentle ripples spread across the water, and the cool night air carried a sense of wonder and anticipation.

Then, as they turned a bend in the lake, the sight of Hogwarts came into view.

The castle stood tall and magnificent against the night sky, its many towers and turrets glowing with warm golden lights. The reflection shimmered in the lake, making it seem as if the castle floated between the water and the heavens.

Ron let out an awed whistle. "Blimey… it's even bigger than I imagined."

Harry, unable to tear his gaze away, simply whispered, "It's amazing."

Arthav, who had seen grand palaces back home, still found himself captivated by the sheer presence of the ancient castle. There was something about Hogwarts—the way its magic pulsed faintly in the air, the way the lights flickered invitingly—that made it feel like more than just a school.

As the boats glided smoothly toward the castle, the first-years sat in silence, mesmerized by the view.

________________________________________

________________________________________

Thanks for reading 🙏 🙏.

If you are liking this story so far please support this novel through the power stones and let me know your thoughts in the comments and please review this novel as ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ if you deem it worthwhile.