The next days passed in a snail pace. Mainly because Richard felt the slow progress of his advancement. It felt as if he was simply nibbling on a foot long pretzel stick, when he didn't use his wand. The work was boring as was the food served in the tavern. But he did progress. He was able to use accidental magic more easily in a controlled manner. Like unconsciously dropping a cup full of pepper into the stew when he wanted it to be extra spicy.
After the days passed, Richard left the leaky cauldron, using a map he had procured to find his way to the King's Cross station. He already had his ticket to Hogwarts, the head of the orphanage had mailed it to him via her owl a week before. Reaching the King's Cross Station at almost half past ten, he pushed his trolley that had all his necessities.
Moving towards the station, he checked the platform nine and then ten and checked the boy with the snow white owl. One more check.
When he was in the leaky cauldron, he made sure to ask specifically about how to enter the platform, so not to make a fool of himself. And from the way the boy who lived acted, he sure was glad he had some sense.
He stood there for a few seconds to catch Harry's attention , and sure enough, he noticed the boy who was the same age as him in seconds.
Seeing Harry wheeling his trolly toward him, Richard walked towards the barrier dividing the platforms before walking through it. Good deed of the day done.
Pushing his , quite heavy, trolly he moved towards the majestic steampunk train that had the words Hogwarts express on the front of the engine. He looked for empty compartments, but most of them were full, many filled with children who seemed familiar with each other. Except for the final compartment.
While silently cursing the wizards for not adding space enlarging enchantments to the train, Richard lifted his heavy bags one by one before pushing them into the compartment. Thankfully he had only a little compared to others. A single wizard robe, a single PJ, a uniform and seven pairs of underwear. One can never have too much underwear. After pushing up all his trucks, he fell into the window side seat, gently perspiring. He also made a mental note to add a better physical regiment in the future.
A few minutes passed by, when two identical ginger red haired boys, twins, pulled up a heavy trunk into the compartment, followed by a thin and bespectacled boy with shaggy black hair and green eyes walked.
"I hope you don't mind, everywhere else is full." Harry spoke first, as the twins pushed the trunk into a convenient corner.
"No, not at all." Richard replied as he invited Harry to the seat next to him.
"I'm Richard by the way, Richard Cloverfield"
"I'm Harry potter. Nice to meet you."
They both exchanged pleasentaries calmly, only to be interrupted by the twins.
"Wait! You are Harry Potter!?"
"You know him/me ?" Both Richard and Harry choruses together.
"Blimey_it's really him!" One of the twin's exclaimed as his eyes caught sight of the famous lightning shaped scar while the other followed."He really is!"
Feeling annoyed of being ignored, Richard quickly raised his voice."You know, it's rude to ignore someone in their presence, right ?"
The twins quickly pulled themselves back to their senses before introducing themselves."I'm Fred.." "...and I'm George"
"Richard Cloverfield, nice to meet you."
"Likewise" the twins replied in sync. But before the conversation could continue, a voice called out.
"Fred, George, are you there?"
"Coming mom " the twins looked back at Harry before leaving.
" what was that about?"