Harry didn't particularly enjoy being the center of attention, especially when everyone who had heard his na wanted to get a good look at the lightning-shaped scar on his forehead. It made him feel like so rare creature in a zoo exhibit.
But he didn't have the courage to object. Besides, he figured it was a useful way to break the ice.
So, when he caught Ron sneaking glances at his forehead with a mixture of awe and curiosity, he simply pushed his fringe aside and let him look.
"Bliy, rlin's socks…" Ron muttered reverently.
His eyes remained glued to Harry's scar with such intensity that Harry felt his cheeks flush.
Thunk.
Ron yelped as his older brother tapped him sharply on the head with his wand.
"Ow! What was that for?!"
"For being rude," Vaughn said simply.
"I.. I was just curious," Ron mumbled, now looking out the window, his ears turning red.
Harry shifted uncomfortably, not sure where to rest his eyes. Eventually, they settled on Vaughn's wand.
The Weasleys had helped him twice in one day, and Harry was already starting to feel more at ease around them.
His nerves eased a little more, and after watching Vaughn for a while, he couldn't hold back his curiosity.
"Er... can I call you Vaughn?" he asked tentatively.
Vaughn was gently grooming his fluffy cat. He nodded. "Of course, Harry."
"What was that spell you just used?"
"Wingardium Leviosa. A basic levitation charm. It's in our first-year textbooks."
"That's brilliant…" Harry said, wide-eyed. Then his expression fell slightly. "I tried so spells for a whole month and couldn't get anything to work."
Vaughn shrugged. "I started practicing when I was eight. You grew up with Muggles. You're not behind, Harry. Loads of Muggle-born students start just like you."
What Vaughn didn't add was that he had mastered the levitation charm after reading it twice.
No need to brag in front of children.
Harry looked relieved. The idea of entering a whole new world and being the only one who couldn't keep up had terrified him.
To change the subject, and feeling slightly guilty for ignoring Ron, Harry turned to him in a hopeful attempt at friendliness.
"What about you, Ron? I bet you know loads of spells already!"
Ron's ears turned redder than ever. He opened his mouth, then shut it again. His face flushed, and he looked utterly mortified.
Vaughn snorted with laughter, and Harry realized he might've said sothing stupid.
Too awkward!
Fortunately, at that mont, the compartnt door slid open.
"Anything off the trolley, dears?" ca a cheerful voice.
A kindly witch stood at the door, dimples showing as she smiled. Her trolley was stacked with all sorts of wizarding sweets.
Harry jumped to his feet. He'd never had friends before, so he wasn't quite sure how one was supposed to behave. But he figured offering snacks couldn't hurt.
Besides, for once in his life, he had money.
When Harry returned, his arms were piled high with cauldron cakes, pumpkin pasties, and an impressive collection of sweets. He emptied the whole lot onto the seat.
"Co on, have so! I bought loads. Can't eat all this by myself."
Ron hesitated. "Mum packed sandwiches…"
But Vaughn had already grabbed a pumpkin pasty and was unwrapping it cheerfully. He wasn't the type to stand on ceremony, he'd return the favor next ti.
Seeing his older brother dig in without sha, Ron gave in. He reached for a at pie, then another, and soon he was eating like soone who hadn't seen food in days.
Harry grinned. In eleven years, he'd never shared anything with anyone, mostly because he'd had nothing to share. And no one to share with.
This… this was amazing.
As they ate, the three of them chatted. Harry and Ron were soon deep in a discussion about Chocolate Frog cards and Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans. Vaughn chid in now and then but mostly sat back, smiling as he listened, his mind quietly working behind the scenes.
He'd once had a theory, back in his previous life. Considering the way Harry had grown up alone, unloved what would've happened if he hadn't t Ron and Hermione on this train?
He could imagine the outcos.
Either Harry, worshiped for his fa, would grow arrogant and entitled, eventually fading into diocrity.
Or he would spiral down the sa dark path as Voldemort.
But that was only speculation.
The truth was, here and now, Harry did et his friends on this train. This very mont was the turning point of his life, a friendship that would stay with him forever and fill that parched, withered soul with sothing it had never known before.
Love.
Dumbledore always said love was the greatest magic.
But Vaughn, he had a different opinion.
To him, destiny… was the most terrifying force in the world.
And he wanted it, wanted to hold it in his hands.
His fingers drifted across his wand as he turned to gaze out the window. The train had left the neatly lined farmland behind. Rolling hills gave way to forests and shadowy mountains, the landscape unfurling like a painting of the unknown.
Ti passed. The compartnt door slid open for the third ti.
This ti, a round-faced boy stood there, looking on the verge of tears.
"Have any of you seen a toad?" he asked, sniffling. "His na's Trevor. I lost him."
Harry and Ron shook their heads.
"I'll help you look," Vaughn said, rising to his feet. "Co on, Fruity. See if you can pick up his scent."
The ginger cat hopped down from the seat and padded after him.
"Thank you!" the boy said, eyes watering with relief. "I'm Neville. Neville Longbottom."
"No problem. Just call Vaughn."
Of course, Vaughn wasn't actually that eager to find a toad. He just wanted a good excuse to roam around the train and stretch his legs.
And maybe give his little brother and Harry a bit of ti to bond.
As Vaughn walked off with Neville, Harry sighed dreamily.
"Your brother's really nice, Ron."
Ron pulled a face like he'd just swallowed a lemon. "He is not! You've no idea how many tis he's scared the life out of . Him, Fred, and George they're all the sa!"
Harry shrugged. "You're brothers. It's normal to tease each other. But the way he talked to and helped that boy, I used to think all older brothers were like Dudley."
They'd talked about Dudley earlier. Harry had made him sound like a particularly nasty troll with a personal vendetta.
Compared to that, Ron realized… maybe Vaughn did seem a bit angelic.
"…Well, he's not that bad," Ron admitted reluctantly. "Actually, apart from scaring half to death, Vaughn's brilliant. He could brew potions by the ti he was eight, and everyone's heard of him, he's kind of famous."
"He's the one who earns the most money in our family too. Look!" Ron held up his wand proudly. "He bought this for . Brand new!"
Harry stared at the wand like it was made of solid gold. No one had ever bought him a gift before, not one that ant anything.
anwhile, Vaughn blissfully unaware that his younger brother was now singing his praises, was crouching in another compartnt, gently coaxing a fat, squirming toad into his hands.
Neville sniffled, thanked him profusely, and shuffled off, clutching the toad.
Vaughn stood up, brushing his robes, about to head back, when a voice called out behind him.
"Vaughn Weasley?"
He turned.
Not far down the corridor, a girl with thick, bushy brown hair stood with wide, shining eyes, her expression unreadable.
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