I Want to Go Home

Chapter One: The Train Ride

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Gordon Korman's "I Want to Go Home". While not a crossover per se this story borrows liberally from Mr. Korman's esteemed character Rudy Miller who is not of my creation.

Author's Note: Hey guys! If you're a follower, then yes I'm at it again. This is yet another what if Hogwarts re-write and is to be my submission for both the Different House Challenge and the What If Challenge on HPFC. Certain chapters will also be submitted for the Things I'm not allowed to do at Hogwarts challenge, also on HPFC, and they will be labelled accordingly. I do not expect updates to occur with any regularity but I hope you all enjoy despite this fact!

TIME SHIFT: The Year is 2011, because I want to incorporate modern technology.

It was a rare and lovely, sunny first of September and in the car park of King's Cross station a dark-haired boy with a blank-faced expression sat in the back of a small black car with his earphones in ignoring the world. Standing by the passenger-side rear door Lou and Frank Fleming, the boy's parents, shared a meaningful glance.

Frank opened the door and Lou hooked a pinky finger around the cord of the earphone nearest to her and tugged it free of her son's ear.

"Come on Harry, we're here."

"I am aware of that," said the boy, named Harry, mildly.

"Harry," said Frank patiently, "We've had this discussion."

"Then you understand."

"We understand," agreed Lou Fleming and before either her husband or her son could blink she had the music player in hand and was striding off towards the trains, "You can have it back when you get on the train," she called back over her shoulder.

"Well," said Frank blinking at his wife's retreating form, "That's that I suppose."

"Looks like," agreed Harry with a small nod as he got out of the car.

Frank loaded Harry's brand new school trunk onto a trolley and began wheeling it into the station.

About a month previous, just after Harry's eleventh birthday, a bubbly woman named Professor Charity Burbage had come to their house in Surrey and informed Harry that he was a wizard. Harry's parents were not as surprised as they might have been as when they'd found him wandering the streets of Little Whinging one chilly November evening ten years ago he'd come with a monogrammed blankie and a rather bizarre letter.

Lou and Frank were both of the opinion that boarding school, particularly boarding school that would cut down on the number of unexplainable incident reports that accompanied his behavioural reports home from school, would be good for him. There was no denying that Harry was exceptional. The problem was he was also exceptionally difficult and had trouble interacting with kid's his own age. The Flemings had tried everything, team sports, study groups, arranged play-dates, private school, nothing seemed to help. They were hoping that living the majority of the year with other kids would start to sort things out.

Harry had no interest in boarding school of any kind, even one that taught magic, and had resisted their decision every step of the way but the Flemings were adamant. They had all accompanied Professor Burbage to a place called Diagon Alley, where he learned that he had a trust fund for school from his biological parents and a fortune waiting in the wings when he turned 17, and picked up a number of strange school supplies. They also learned the reason why Harry had been found wandering the dark streets of Little Whinging, why everyone who heard the name Harry Potter gasped and fawned and where Harry had received the curious lightning shaped cut on his forehead.

All of this just made Harry all the more determined not to go to Hogwarts.

King's Cross station was packed with people of all sorts hurrying to and fro dragging luggage and shouting to be heard over the racket of their fellow travellers. Lou wasn't too far off her nose buried in the introductory booklet Professor Burbage had given her, apparently it was a useful guide for non-magical parents.

"Alright your ticket says the school train leaves from platform nine and three-quarters at eleven o'clock," Frank said reading off the ticket stub, "Its half past so we have plenty of time."

Harry glanced up at the platform numbers.

"It doesn't look like they've built the platform yet, Mum," Harry said to Lou, "We'd better turn back."

"Nonsense," said Lou, "It says right here in the guide that the platform is hidden, we just have to walk straight through the barrier between platform's nine and ten without stopping."

"That sounds dangerous, what if I'm gravely injured in the attempt?" asked Harry neutrally.

"It's not, and you won't be," answered Lou cheerily without missing a beat.

She was well used to her son's attitude. She took him firmly by the hand, ignoring his glower, and dragged him through the barrier between platforms nine and ten without incident, Frank following somewhat more sedately with the trunk.

The platform was just beginning to fill up with people and on the tracks, doors ajar, waited a scarlet red steam engine. The sign overhead read Hogwarts Express, Eleven O'clock and behind Harry the barrier had become a wrought iron archway with the words Platform Nine and Three-Quarters on it.

"There now, was that so difficult?"

Harry gave his mother a withering look and moved further down the platform so they wouldn't be bowled over by the next person coming through the barrier.

Smoke from the engine swirled around the heads of the chattering crowd as cats of every color wound in and out of people's legs and owls hooted at each other grumpily over the clatter of trolleys, the scraping of heavy trunks and the general babble.

"Someone really ought to call animal control," Harry remarked as he moved deftly through the crowd.

"Don't you want to sit up at the front? I see some other boys that look about your age," suggested Lou.

The front cars were already filling up with people, kids of all varieties hung out of windows to say their last goodbyes to their parents and siblings and some were even outright fighting for seats.

"Thank you, no. Just because I'm here under duress doesn't mean I have to outright torture myself," Harry replied.

"I'm sure it wouldn't be that bad," Frank said wryly.

"I have faith," Harry replied.

The second last compartment of the train was empty and Harry thought it was likely he wouldn't be disturbed for a while. Frank loaded the trunk onto the train and got it up into the luggage rack without any difficulty and then the two males made their way back onto the platform to join Lou.

Lou got her arms around Harry, and before he could escape, hugged him near to death. Harry obligingly wrapped his arms around his mother and returned her hug with a brief squeeze of his own surreptitiously breathing in the citrusy scent of her shampoo.

"Oh, I am going to miss you so much," she said pulling away with watery eyes.

"You could just take me home," Harry pointed out.

"You're not getting off that easy, boyo," said Frank ruffling his hair.

"Promise me you will at least try to have fun and get along with your classmates," said Lou, "And write us at least once a week so we know that you're doing alright."

"I promise," Harry agreed solemnly.

"That's the attitude," said Frank, "You'll have a great time at Hogwarts, just you wait."

"I doubt it Dad, but thanks for the thought."

As promised Lou handed over Harry's iPod before Frank led her from the station, and when he returned to his compartment Harry promptly sprawled himself out over one of the seats and stuck his earphones in closing his eyes.

A few minutes later the warning whistle sounded and the Hogwarts Express began to move. It was around that time that Harry's solitude was abruptly ended. Two boys, both already dressed in their Hogwarts robes tapped on the glass of the sliding door to his compartment and then let themselves in.

Harry kept his eyes firmly shut, hoping that if he just ignored them they might go away.

"Looks like he's asleep," said one, "Let's try further down the line."

"Everywhere else is probably full by now Michael, let's just sit here," said his friend.

"Well what about that guy?"

"He's sleeping and it's not like we're bothering him."

Harry cracked one eye open, pulled out one of his earphones and said without inflection.

"I'm not and you are."

Both boys started at his unexpected interruption and turned to face him, giving Harry his first good look at the squabbling friends. They were both taller than him, not that that was difficult, and had dark brown hair though one's was curly and the other's was straight. The curly haired boy promptly flashed Harry a sheepish smile.

"Sorry to disturb you, do you mind if we sit here? Everywhere else is full."

"It's a free country I suppose," said Harry unconcernedly.

"Is that a yes or a no?" demanded the boy with straight hair.

"Shut up Mikk, it's as close to a yes as we're gonna get out of this one," said the curly-haired boy under his breath jabbing his elbow into his friend's side, "Thanks," he added more loudly for Harry's benefit.

Working together the two boys managed to get both their trunks up into the luggage rack without too much difficulty, Harry suspected there was some spell on their trunks to make them lighter, then they both sat themselves down on the seat across from Harry.

"I'm Terry by the way, Terry Boot," said the curly-haired boy.

Terry Boot's friend got another elbow in the gut before he grunted out his own name, which was Michael Corner.

"I'm Harry," Harry said.

Michael pulled a paperback out of his robe pocket and promptly began ignoring both Harry and Terry in favour of reading it.

"Don't mind him," Terry said with an eye-roll, "It's the latest one in that new series by Nia Fawcett and it's no use trying to talk to him until he's through with it. You're muggleborn aren't you?"

"More or less," Harry said glancing out the window.

In the time it had taken for them to get settled they'd passed out of London and the suburbs and into the surrounding farmland.

"Thought as much, you know that gadget will be useless as soon as you get inside the grounds right? Magic makes muggle technology go all wonky for some reason."

Harry's face darkened though his expression didn't change.

"All the more reason to leave as soon as possible."

"Leave?" said Terry looking taken aback, "But why? Aren't you excited to learn magic?"

"Not particularly," said Harry with a laconic shrug.

"So then…not to seem rude but why are you even here?"

Something like a fleeting grimace passed over Harry's features.

"My parents are convinced boarding school will cure my anti-social tendencies, it was this or military school," he answered.

"Harsh," said Terry with a sympathetic wince, "Well all my family has been magic for ages back, so I've been waiting to come to Hogwarts for what seems like forever, Michael too. You should have seen him when his sister went off last year."

"Terry," said Michael warningly from where he was still absorbed in his book.

"I didn't say anything," Terry said defensively.

"See that you don't."

Terry stuck his tongue out at his friend and Michael, even without looking up from his book replied with a rude hand gesture.

Harry arched a brow at the wide grin that split Terry's face.

"We've lived next door to each other forever, and his Mum and my Mum are good friends so we've been friends since we were in nappies," the curly-haired boy explained.

"Felicitations," said Harry.

The countryside now flying past the window was becoming wilder. The neat fields had gone. Now there were woods, twisting rivers, and dark green hills.

There was a knock on the door of their compartment and a rather round-faced boy with brown hair cut in an unflattering style dressed in Hogwarts robes came in. He looked to be on the verge of tears.

"Neville," greeted Terry with a grin and a nod.

"Hey Terry, Michael,"

"Longbottom," Michael greeted, not looking up from his book.

"Sorry to bother you guys," he said, "but have you seen a toad at all?"

When they shook their heads, he wailed, "I've lost him for sure this time! He just keeps on getting away from me!"

"He'll turn up," said Terry encouragingly.

"Yeah, I guess," said the boy miserably, "Well, if you see him..." he trailed off and left the compartment dejectedly.

"I don't know why he's so bothered," said Michael unconcernedly flipping a page in his book, "Toads went out of fashion half a century ago and if I'd brought one I'd have lost it as soon as possible."

"Yes, but then again you're heartless," said Terry, "Have some sympathy for poor Neville. He raised that toad from spawn you know."

"I have plenty of sympathy for him," Michael retorted, "He has to live with his dragon of a grandmother."

"Dowager Longbottom isn't that bad," said Terry unconvincingly.

Michael shot him an incredulous glance over the top of his book.

"I think I'm going to go help him look for it, maybe we can find a prefect who can do a locator spell or something."

Just as Terry moved to rise the compartment door slid open again with a sharp clack. Neville Longbottom was back looking a tad overwhelmed and a tad apologetic and he had with him a short girl with a halo of bushy brown hair and overlarge front teeth who surveyed the compartment with a businesslike expression.

"Has anyone here seen a toad, this boy, Neville, seems to have lost one," she said briskly.

At this Michael finally snapped his book shut and looked up, glaring at the little witch.

"As we just told Longbottom himself, no we haven't seen the bloody toad!"

"But if we do see one you'll be the first to know," added Harry without inflection, despite the fact that he was just as annoyed as Michael at all the interruption.

The bushy-haired girl didn't seem too bothered by Michael's rudeness when she caught sight of the book he was reading.

"Are you reading Nia Fawcett? I picked up her entire series in Flourish and Blotts, for a bit of light reading of course I wanted to compare her work with that of muggle fiction. I find the differences ever so fascinating. Nobody in my family's magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, I mean, it's the very best school of witchcraft there is, I've heard – I've learned all our course books by heart, of course, I just hope it will be enough – I'm Hermione Granger, by the way, who are you?"

She said all this very fast.

Harry looked across the seat and took note of both Terry and Michael's dazed expressions.

"I'm Harry," he said, "This is Michael Corner and Terry Boot."

"A pleasure I'm sure," she said.

Terry was the first to recover his characteristic grin making itself known.

"Good to meet you Granger. Are you hoping for Ravenclaw then?" he asked.

"Well, I've been asking around, and I hope I'm in Gryffindor, it sounds by far the best. I hear Dumbledore himself was in it, but I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad. Anyway, we'd better go and look for Neville's toad."

"Here I'll come with you and help look, I was just thinking that we might try asking one of the prefects to do a locator spell."

"What a marvellous idea I can't believe I didn't think of that sooner!" Hermione exclaimed as Terry led her and Neville out of the compartment, "You had better change into your uniform Harry, I expect we'll be there soon," she tossed over her shoulder.

The compartment door shut with another sharp clack and for a blessed moment there was silence in their compartment.

"Whatever house I'm in, I hope she's not in it," said Michael turning back to his book.

Harry hummed his agreement before sticking his earphones back in. The two boys sat together in the quiet of their train compartment for what seemed like just moments, but was probably over an hour at least, when Terry and Hermione Granger returned.

Terry had a split lip and Hermione was scolding him roundly.

"—honestly, fighting on the train! You'll be in trouble before we even reach Hogwarts!"

"Hey you make it sound like I was the one who started the fight!" Terry protested.

"Well you certainly finished it didn't you," huffed Hermione.

"What in the name of Merlin happened to you?" Michael demanded.

"Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle got into it with the Weasleys and I had to go in and break things up," Terry explained.

"Tch. Serves you right, those two families have been feuding forever it seems, getting between them is just asking for it really."

"Did you find the toad at least?" asked Harry, mildly curious.

"Yeah, one of the prefects summoned him and we got him and Neville tucked back into their compartment safe and sound," Terry answered flopping back into his seat with a sigh.

"Harry," said Hermione in a scolding voice, rounding on the dark-haired boy, "You really need to get your robes on. I've just been up to speak to the conductor and we're nearly there."

"Good," said Harry, glancing out the window, but making no move to change into his robes.

It was getting dark and he could see mountains and forests under a deep purple sky. The train also did seem to be slowing down.

A voice echoed through the train: "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."

"There now, you see? I'm right."

"I have no doubt about that. However, I'm not going to Hogwarts and so I see no need to change," said Harry reasonably.

"Not going to…then why are you on this train?" Hermione demanded, hands on her hips.

"My mother was holding my iPod hostage," Harry answered.

"You can't mean that you don't want to go to Hogwarts," she said incredulously.

"Of course I can," Harry said, "And in fact I do."

"But…but, don't you want to learn magic?" sputtered Hermione wide-eyed.

"Not particularly," shrugged Harry.

The train shuddered to a stop and there was a sudden increase in the noise level just outside the door.

"You all should get going," he added putting his earphones back in.

"But—"

"Just leave him," said Michael tucking his book into his robe pocket and standing to stretch a bit, "The prefects will sort him out."

With a last sceptical glance over their shoulder Terry and Hermione followed Michael out of the compartment and joined the crowd thronging the corridor.

As Michael predicted no sooner had the noise in corridor dissipated then a pair of older students in red and blue accented robes respectively came into his compartment looking surprised to see him there.

"Now what's this then?" said the girl in the blue robes, "You're not even dressed yet."

"Don't mind me," Harry said waving them off, "I'm just waiting for the train to take me back to civilization."

The boy in the red robes blinked before pushing his horn-rimmed glasses further up his nose and puffing out his chest in a way that displayed the silver badge pinned to his robes to its best advantage.

"Now see here, young man, no more of this nonsense, you have to get off this train and join your classmates! Hurry up now, hop to!"

"I don't hop," said Harry calmly.

The older boy didn't seem to know what to say to that. The prefect in the blue accented robes however had no such confusion. With a few sharp flicks of her wand the girl had a set of Harry's brand new Hogwarts robes slithering onto him over his jeans and sweater. Harry shot her a glare.

"There now, that's better. Perce take him down to Hagrid, would you? I'll just finish up here," she said sweeping briskly out of the compartment.

"Right come on you, let's get going."

Silently Harry allowed the boy to lead him off the train and into the cool night air of the tiny platform. The sign above the platform read Hogsmeade Station and it was nearly empty of students as they all flocked in one direction.

There was a small knot of students gathered around an impossibly large shadowy figure with a lantern.

"C'mon, follow me – any more firs' years. Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!"

"Hold up a moment Hagrid!" called the boy.

"Ah, tha' you Percy? Got n'other one for me?"

"Yes, and you'd best keep a sharp eye on him," said Percy before rounding on Harry, "Now you stick with Hagrid, you hear? And don't make trouble."

Harry nodded and moved over to where Michael, Terry, Neville and Hermione were gathered, watching the proceedings with interest.

"Told you so," said Michael.

"You did," Harry agreed tucking his iPod into his robes pocket.

If Terry was to be believed it was about to become useless anyway.

"All righ' now, this way!"

The forty or so students still gathered on the platform followed Hagrid and his lantern down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. It was so dark on either side of them that Harry thought there must be thick trees there but he couldn't see well enough to be sure. Nobody spoke much, though Neville it seemed had taken it upon himself to stumble over every divot it the path and nearly went sprawling a number of times.

"Ye' all get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "Jus' round this bend here."

There was a loud "Oooooh!" from the group of first years. The narrow path had opened suddenly onto the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers. Even Harry had to admit that the sight was impressive.

"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore.

"These boats don't look particularly sturdy, I'd better wait on the shore," said Harry.

"Come on you," said Michael annoyed, catching hold of his wrist and dragging him into the nearest boat.

Terry and Neville climbed into the boat with them while Hermione joined a pair of girls in the next boat over.

"Everyone in?" shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself. "Right then – FORWARD!" And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over them as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood.

"Heads down!" yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff.

They all bent their heads and the little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of underground harbor, where they clambered out onto rocks and pebbles.

"Let me guess," said Terry when Harry didn't immediately get out of the little boat, "You're not coming."

"Correct," Harry agreed lounging as best as he could in his seat.

"You're gonna get caught, why do you even bother?"

"Those who do not try can never hope to succeed," Harry answered.

"Whatever, see you in a second."

"Oy, you there! Time ter get out now, we're here, hop to!" said Hagrid, who was checking the boats as people climbed out of them.

"I don't hop," Harry informed the giant of a man.

Foiled again Harry slipped out of the boat and once again joined the group. This time Harry could tell that Hagrid actually was keeping a sharp eye on him.

Then they clambered up a passageway in the rock after Hagrid's lamp, coming out at last onto smooth, damp grass right in the shadow of the castle. They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, oak front door.

"Everyone here?" his beetle black eyes searched Harry out of the crowd, "Alrigh' then."

Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.

AN: And there you have it folks! Please feel free to review and let me know what you think!