The soft knock at the compartment door was followed by a pause, almost hesitant. Solace glanced up from his reverie, eyes sharp but masked with a look of casual interest. The door slid open, revealing a trio that Solace would come to know well: a scrawny, bespectacled boy with perpetually messy black hair and a lightning-bolt scar, a red-haired boy with a smattering of freckles, and a bushy-haired girl with an air of determined curiosity.
"Mind if we sit here?" the redhead asked, his voice edged with a mix of excitement and nervousness.
Solace's lips twitched into a half-smile, his tone light as he gestured grandly to the empty seats. "Be my guests. The more, the merrier."
The trio exchanged relieved glances before stepping in and placing their luggage overhead. The girl took the seat closest to Solace, eyes flickering with the unmistakable thirst for knowledge. The dark-haired boy settled across from Solace, his green eyes darting curiously around the compartment, while the redhead slumped into the corner, already relaxing into the seat.
"I'm Harry," the dark-haired boy finally said, offering a hesitant smile. His scar seemed to draw Solace's attention for a moment longer than necessary, but Solace simply nodded.
"Solace Antigonus," he introduced smoothly. "Pleasure." His gaze moved to the others.
"Ron Weasley," the redhead mumbled with an affable grin.
"Hermione Granger," the girl announced, her voice tinged with an assertiveness that made Solace's eyes glimmer with intrigue.
"Quite the gathering," Solace said, leaning back against the seat, his fingers tapping a silent rhythm against his knee. "Off to make history on our very first day?"
The tension of introductions gave way to an ease, punctuated by Solace's lighthearted remarks. His eyes fell on Harry, a playful mischief evident. "So, Harry Potter," he began with a conspiratorial whisper, "is it true you defeated You-Know-Who as a baby? I heard some say you used the most powerful weapon known to wizards."
Harry blinked, caught off guard. "Er… no. I didn't—"
"Your legendary power of love," Solace continued, the corner of his mouth quirking upward. "They say he fell from grace the moment you kissed him goodbye."
Ron snorted with laughter, clapping Harry on the shoulder. Hermione rolled her eyes but failed to hide the tiny smile tugging at her lips.
"Don't listen to him, Harry," Hermione interjected, her tone only half-serious as she glanced at Solace. "He's obviously making things up."
Solace's gaze shifted to her, the playful glint dimming just slightly. "Oh, Miss Granger, would I ever?" There was something in his tone that made her furrow her brow, uncertain if she should take it as teasing or a challenge.
The compartment settled into a comfortable silence as the train rumbled through the countryside. Solace leaned back with an amused glint in his eyes, observing his companions. Harry glanced nervously out the window while Ron shifted restlessly, unable to contain his excitement. Hermione, on the other hand, sat upright, her eyes scanning the compartment as if committing every detail to memory.
"So," Solace began, breaking the silence, "you're all new to this world, aren't you?" His voice was warm, almost teasing.
"I am," Harry admitted, a hint of curiosity in his tone. "I only found out I was a wizard a month ago."
Solace raised an eyebrow, leaning forward slightly. "A month ago? That's quite the late introduction. Must have been a shock," he said with a smirk.
"You have no idea," Harry replied with a small grin.
"What about you?" Hermione chimed in, her eyes fixed on Solace. "Where do you come from?"
"Oh, here and there," Solace said, waving his hand nonchalantly. "My mother's a formidable witch, and my aunt—let's just say she has her own set of beliefs. As for me, I've been surrounded by magic as long as I can remember. Hogwarts is more of an extension of my life rather than a new chapter."
Ron snorted. "Sounds like you've had it easy."
"Easy?" Solace's eyes flashed for a moment before his usual playful expression returned. "Easy is a relative term. But let's not bore everyone with details. How about we talk about what awaits us at Hogwarts?" He glanced around, the corners of his mouth turning up into a sly smile.
"Yeah, the Sorting," Harry said, the apprehension evident in his voice. "Do you know anything about it?"
Solace's expression turned thoughtful, a hint of mischief twinkling in his eyes. "I heard whispers from some older students," he began, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "They say the Sorting ceremony is... a test." He paused, watching their reactions. Hermione's eyes narrowed in concentration, while Ron's widened.
"A test?" Hermione echoed, leaning in.
"Mm-hmm," Solace nodded, feigning seriousness. "They say you have to prove your worth. Sometimes it's dueling a ghostly opponent, sometimes solving a riddle that, if answered wrong, sends you straight to the dungeons."
"Bloody hell," Ron whispered, paling slightly. "Fred and George never mentioned that."
"They wouldn't," Solace said with a knowing nod. "They probably think it's funnier if you go in unprepared." He allowed a moment of silence to stretch before breaking into a grin. "But who knows? Maybe I'm just pulling your leg."
Hermione frowned, clearly trying to sift through the possibility. "That doesn't sound very plausible," she muttered, more to herself.
"You'd be surprised," Solace said softly, tilting his head at her. "This world isn't as straightforward as books might suggest." He turned to Harry and added with a smirk, "But don't worry. If it comes to it, you could always kiss Voldemort to death. I hear that's how he was defeated."
Harry blinked in stunned silence before realizing it was a joke. Laughter erupted, breaking the tension that had formed. Even Hermione's lips twitched into a reluctant smile.
"I think you'll fit right in," Harry said, shaking his head, his earlier apprehension momentarily forgotten.
Solace leaned back, the light of the passing countryside flickering across his face. "Oh, I intend to."
The tension in the compartment thickened as a crowd gathered around the door, eager to catch a glimpse of Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived. Draco Malfoy stood just inside the threshold, flanked by his usual companions, Crabbe and Goyle, a smirk dancing on his pale face. His eyes met Solace's for the briefest of moments, a silent acknowledgment passing between them—a flicker of intrigue and challenge.
"I heard Harry Potter was starting this year. Looks like the rumors were true," Draco said, his voice carrying just enough volume to attract whispers from the onlookers behind him. The crowd buzzed with excitement and anticipation.
Harry, standing up a little straighter, narrowed his eyes. "What do you want, Malfoy?"
Draco's smirk deepened as he extended a hand. "No need to be hostile, Potter. Just thought I'd introduce myself. Draco Malfoy. You'll soon find out some wizarding families are better than others. I can help you there."
Ron, already seething, interrupted. "We don't need any help from the likes of you, Malfoy."
Draco's gaze shifted to Ron, a sneer contorting his features. "Ah, Weasley. I should have known. Always the one to speak out of turn. I guess that's what happens when you're raised in a house that can barely afford proper robes."
Ron's face flushed crimson as he clenched his fists, and Harry took a step forward, his green eyes blazing. The air in the compartment crackled with the threat of a fight as murmurs and gasps rippled through the small crowd outside.
Solace watched the exchange with a carefully controlled expression, the hint of a smile playing on his lips. He waited until the tension peaked, then made his move. Rising smoothly from his seat, he offered Draco an exaggerated bow, one arm sweeping dramatically to the side.
"I must admire your courage, Malfoy," Solace said, his voice dripping with mock solemnity. The attention of everyone, including Harry and Draco, snapped to him. "To offend the Boy Who Lived? Why, he might have kissed Voldemort to death as a baby. Imagine what he could do now that he's older and has mastered more advanced techniques of the power of love. I, for one, look forward to seeing you bear the brunt of them."
There was a stunned silence, followed by a few snickers from the crowd. Hermione looked torn between disapproval and reluctant amusement, while Ron barked out a surprised laugh. Harry's tense posture relaxed just enough for the heat to dissipate from the air.
Draco's eyes narrowed as he realized Solace had deftly stolen the spotlight, defusing the conflict while maintaining an air of playful irreverence. He straightened his robes with an irritated huff. "You think you're clever, don't you, Antigonus?"
Solace met Draco's gaze evenly, a glint of mischief sparking in his eyes. "Only on my best days, Malfoy. Today just happens to be one of them."
The crowd dispersed, their curiosity satisfied for now, leaving the compartment in a quieter but charged atmosphere. Draco backed out with a final glare, muttering something under his breath as Crabbe and Goyle lumbered after him.
Ron flopped back into his seat, grinning. "That was brilliant, Solace. You really took the wind out of his sails."
Solace only shrugged, the ghost of a smile still on his lips. "Just making sure we don't start term with blood on the floor. Wouldn't want to miss the sorting ceremony for a fistfight, would we?"