(AN: As this is the first day I post a story, I decided to post more than one chapter! The programming will still be the same, with three chapters per week, but you can consider this a bonus. ;)
I would like to know what you are thinking of Etham and his family. The interactions, the personalities, whether it feels forced or not, that sort of thing. And also if the story is too rushed, because I can try to slow down (Although future chapters will be more moderate, and will have some filling in with information).
That said, let's go with the chapter!
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-King's Cross Station, London-
The taxi ride to King's Cross station was uneventful, and after a while on the road, we finally arrived at the entrance.
After getting out of the taxi and paying the driver, my dad and I immediately entered the station. Already inside, I could see it was packed with people heading to work, college or school.
Ignoring the crowds boarding or disembarking around us, I walked with my dad, holding his hand as I guided us towards platforms 9 and 10.
I had convinced my dad to take me on a train ride as part of our boys' day out, claiming I'd never been on one before and wanted to experience it.
My request didn't seem strange to him, since, in his mind, it was perfectly natural for men to be fascinsted by massive steam-powered locomotives.
In a way, I hadn't lied. In this life, I had never ridden a train before. Besides, in my previous life, I was used to electric trains, so this would truly be my first time on a steam locomotive.
But putting that aside, my dad and I quickly rechead platforms 9 and 10. Glancing at the station's large clock, I saw it was nearly time for students to board the Hogwarts Express.
'Hmm... now I just need to wait' I thought, looking around while trying to find any wizarding families or students pushing carts loaded with large trunks and owls.
As I focused my gaze on the area near the platform 9 barrier, I heard a cluster of loud, chaotic voices approaching.
"Boys, you didn't forget anything, didi you? You always forget something because of those messy rooms" said a chubby red-haired woman to two teenagers who followed her, pushing luggage carts.
Both boys had red hair like their mother's and freckled faces. The taller one looked about seventeen, while the other seemed around fourteen.
"No, Mom, we didn't forget anything. And yes, we already checked… several times." the older boy said with an exasperated eye roll.
"Yeah... and why are you only asking us? Percy's going to school this year too. Aren't you going to ask him if he forgot anything?" the second boy asked, frowning as he pointed to an 11-year-old boy who was also pushing a cart.
"Charlie, dear, I'm asking you because you're quite disorganized, while Percy has always been the more responsible of you all." the woman replied to the boy who I assumed was Charlie Weasley.
Meanwhile, after hearing his mother call him responsible, Percy raised his chin and puffed out his chest with pride.
"Okay, I get it," Charlie said, knowing his mother was right about that.
"But at least we're not worse than Fred and George." he grumbled, looking at two red-haired 9-year-old twin boys who were pulling the hair of a boy who looked to be my age.
"Yes, I know that," said their mother with a tired sigh, before turning to the twins, "And Fred and George Weasley! Stop teasing your brother!" she scolded them.
"Oh... But it's..."
"... So fun..."
"...To play..."
"... With little..."
""...Ickle Ronnie!"" the twins spoke, alternating each sentence between them before finishing the last part together.
Just hearing that was enough to give me a headache.
"Enough! I don't want to see you two bothering your brother anymore" Molly said with a frown, "All those prank items you keep in your room are no longer enough, now even outside the house you find a way to create a mess"
When their mother talked about the prank items they thought were kept secret in their room, Fred and George immediately fell silent.
Seeing the silence and nervous look of the twins, Molly shook her head.
"Sigh... at least Ginevra is well behaved compared to you boys" she commented, looking at the youngest children — a red-haired girl who was holding her mother's hand.
"Mom! Don't call me Ginevra, call me Ginny. Ginevra is very strange" the little girl Ginny said, pouting at her mother.
"But that's your name, darling. And it's beautiful and very authentic" Molly said with a confused look.
However, this only increased her daughter's pout.
"Sigh... okay" she gave up, before deciding to change the subject, "But well, let's quickly go to the platform. We don't want you to be late and miss the train... again"
"And don't be loud or cause any more confusion. The muggles are already starting to look at us" she warned, looking around and seeing that they were attracting some attention.
""""Okay, mom!"""" said all the children in unison, before following their mother heading towards platform 9.
'What an incredible coincidence!' I thought, looking at the group of red-haired people who I was sure were the famous and iconic Weasley family.
'Well... that confirms my suspicions. I really am in the world of Harry Potter!'
At that realization, my heart began to beat faster, with feelings of euphoria, shock, and wonder flooded through me.
But forcing myself to stay calm and pushing aside my inner fanboy, I once again turned my gaze to the Weasley family, calmly analyzing them.
Molly was a little different from the actress in the films, but she still had that presence and personality of a loving and protective mother.
The taller and older boy was Bill (Willian), and he was also different from the actor who played him. Considering the current year and his age, he was probably in his last year at Hogwarts.
Charlie looked like Bill, but he was a little stockier and didn't have long hair like his older brother. He was probably in his fourth year.
And as for him looking like the actor in the films...
Well... to tell you the truth, it would be difficult to compare him to the actor as I barely remembered what he looked like — which wasn't surprising, since he didn't have any screen time in the films other than a photo in a newspaper article.
But well, going back to the remaining children, Percy seemed almost like a younger copy of the actor who played him, and just by the way he acted I knew he was going to be as arrogant and annoying as Charlie in the books.
The remaining children were the playful twins, Fred and George, the future Mrs Potter, Ginny, and the red-haired member of the golden trio, Ronald. They were almost identical to their actors and actress, changing only a few details.
And I knew that when the canon started they would look exactly like Rupert Grint, Bonnie Wright, and Oliver and James Phelps.
'Hmm, will the other characters also be like their actors and actresses?' I pondered, knowing it would be easier for me to recognize them if they had these familiar faces.
As I was thinking about this I saw the Weasleys arrive in front of the barrier between platforms 9 and 10, which I assumed was the magical entrance to platform 9 ¾.
'Interesting' I muttered to myself, noticing that as soon as the Weasleys reached the barrier the people around us stopped looking at them.
'The barrier probably has some sort of ward or spell to divert the attention of non-magicians when a wizard approaches it.'
And I didn't think much about it because my focus was entirely on the Weasleys, seeing that they were getting ready to cross the barrier.
'Oh, it's now!' I thought, excited to see the barrier working.
Then I saw Bill, who was still pushing his cart, running towards the barrier without any hesitation, and instead of hitting the solid structure he went through it as if it were intangible, disappearing shortly after.
After he disappeared, Charlie also crossed the barrier, quickly followed by Percy and the rest of the Weasley family.
'Magic really is incredible...' I thought with a twinkle in my eye.
While I was thinking about the wonders and mysteries of magic, I heard my dad calling me.
"Come on, son, our train has arrived" he said, breaking me out of my thoughts.
"Uh, really?" I blinked, looking ahead and seeing that there was indeed a train stopped in front of our platform.
"Yes," my dad nodded, "Then let's quickly get on the train. I'm sure you don't want to miss this spectacular tour with your fun and amazing father as your tour guide, do you?" he asked me, smiling with his chest puffed out with pride.
'Huh... where was all that confidence when Mom was around, you old narcissist?' I thought dismissively.
But that was just my internal thought. To my dad I responded something different.
"Of course I don't want to miss it!" I said, with the best smile and look of wonder I could put on my childish face.
"Excellent! Now let's go on our big adventure!" my dad said excitedly, before holding my hand and leading me to the train.
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-Some time later - The Night Family House, Afternoon-
"Honey, we're here!" my dad said as he opened the door.
My mom, who was sitting on the sofa in the living room reading, got up as soon as she heard my dad's voice and walked over the door to welcome us.
"Oh, you're finally here! I was already missing you" she said, greeting my dad with a kiss, to which I looked away.
She then crouched down to my level.
"So tell me, darling, how was your day with dad? Did you like it?" she asked after giving me a long, loving hug.
"Yes, mom, I liked it! Today was amazing!" I said, nodding my head excitedly with a huge smile on my face.
I was acting in this way — childish and innocent — because I had to maintain the illusion that I was still just a normal child.
And yes, this was tiring and a little humiliating for someone who was a teenager in mind and soul, but after seven years of doing this, I kind of got used to it.
Besides, I don't think there was anything I could do now that would be more humiliating than the things I had to do back when I was two.
'Those were dark times...' I thought with a wry, self-deprecating look.
"That's right, honey. You should have seen his joy today" my dad said, breaking me out of my thoughts as he ruffled my hair.
"But well, with me as his guide, you'd expect him to have that much fun" he declared arrogantly.
"Haha, of course, dear" my mom said with a fake smile.
"Now Ethan, why don't you go play in your room while I finish making lunch with a little help from your dad?" she suggested, looking at her husband the way a master looked at his servant.
Sensing the danger in the tone of her voice, I quickly nodded.
"Okay, mom"
I cast one last look of pity and mourning at my dad, who was looking at me desperately. Then I turned and headed upstairs.
When I got to my room and saw I was alone, my shoulders relaxed, relieved to finally be able to drop the innocent child act.
'Sigh, who said acting isn't tiring?' I thought with a tired look, before shaking my head, knowing there was something more important for me to focus on.
I began to think about everything I had seen and heard today, reflecting on all my discoveries and conclusions.
'So... this is it. I'm really in the magical world of Harry Potter...' I thought.
I was still finding it hard to believe that I hadn't been sent to the past, but rather had been isekaied into a world that was supposed to be fictional.
That was something that only happened in fanfictions.
'The wizarding world, Hogwarts, magical creatures, spells... all of this is unbelievable and wonderful... and now it's part of my world'
'I'm a wizard...!' and as the realization hit me, something indescribable stirred in my chest.
Just the thought that I would get to interact with the characters I grew up watching and reading about made me very excited and full of anticipation.
But as soon as I thought about the characters, or more specifically, the golden trio, something clicked in my mind.
'Wait a minute...' I paused, with a slight grimace on my face.
'I'm a wizard. A Muggleborn. The same age as the main characters...
'And in ten years a bloody war focused on exterminating all muggles and muggleborns will break out...'
...
...
...
'OH, FUCK!'
~End Flashback~
End.
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(End AN: Leave a comment! And I would ask for Power Stones, but even though I've been on the site for over two years, I still don't know what they're for, hehe.)