Chapter 14

Knocking on my compartment door brought me out of my thoughts. I stand up and unlock the door (some people just can't take a hint, I obviously locked the door to not be disturbed) to find an 11 years old bushy haired girl whom I recognize as a future member of 'Golden Trio', Hemione Granger. I guess she is looking for Neville's toad.

"You know locking cart's door is against the rules." she stated.

I forgot how much of stickler for rules she is at this age. But this is still annoying and not to mention idiotic on her part. She is either clueless or doesn't seem to care about the fact that what she is doing is clearly antagonizing he senior by few years who logically should be much more knowledgeable and more powerful than her in a train without any teacher on board or in absence of any witnesses. But then again she is still very young and inexperienced. She still thinks that Hogwarts will be just as safe as her muggle school. She has no idea how dangerous magical world is, boy is she in for a rude awakening. Yeah! the troll will dislodge that belief soon enough. I always thought that she should be in Ravenclaw but given how naive and idiotic she currently is, maybe sorting hat was onto something by putting her in Gryffindor.

"Do you need something." I replied neutrally.

"No need to be rude, I was just pointing out the rule for you. Anyway, have you seen a toad, Neville lost his." she huffed.

Wow. She really is as bossy as portrayed in books. If not for the fact that I spent the last 3 years portraying myself as helpful but soft-spoken, reclusive nerd, I would have shown the error of her ways right now. Had she asked nicely, I would have just summoned the toad using Accio charm but not with her attitude.

"No, I haven't," I replied stiffly while closing and locking the door.

"Hey, you c..." she started but I put privacy wards on the door for the peace of my mind for rest of the journey.

After the train reached the Hogsmeade station, I changed into my school robes and deboarded the train and started to make my way towards the Hogwarts castle. Unlike the first year, older year students board the carriages pulled by Thestrals ( weird bony horses with wings ). They say that only those who have seen death can see them.

Anyway, I take a carriage towards the end. To my surprise, I saw Tonks sitting alone in it. Nymphadora Tonks has grown to be a beautiful witch. She is now in her last year of Hogwarts.

My initial plan was to not interact with her while I am still in Hogwarts. But as a result of practicing martial arts (legilimency for the win), my body has grown up nicely. While I don't have a bulky physique, I am taller than average for my age and has a swimmer like body. I can safely say that I have physically upgraded from cute to handsome. Since that is the case, it won't hurt to talk to her a bit to set my image as a nice guy now and lay the groundwork for future. Since she is in her NEWT year and needs good grades for her to be accepted in the Auror program. I can identify her weakest subject and help her in it saying it's my favorite subject and I read ahead in it to earn points in her books.

"Hello, Tonks. It's Aiden. Remember me. Can I sit with you." I asked politely.

"Hey, Aiden. Yes, of course, come in." she replied.

"So, how has it been? " I asked.

"Can't complain. Though workload has increased since last year due to NEWT level subjects. So, there is that. But nowhere near as much workload as you have. I have heard younger Puffs complaining that you always submit a lot of parchments as homework and no matter how much hard work they put in they always seems to fall short especially in potions." she replied.

Ah, didn't think Hufflepuffs will try to compare in homework. Then again since their house is known for hard work, it must hurt them that someone is working harder than them. Poor puffs, they will never know that I am working smart instead of hard. It doesn't help the matter when I giving a whole lot of extra parchments to Snape when he annoys me. There was that one time when Snape was taking his anger out on me about something when it was not even my fault and next day I gave him so many parchments of homework that I couldn't even carry them all due to weight and had to levitate to potion classroom. Snape's face when he saw them was a Patronus worthy memory.

"Speaking of NEWTs, What are you planning on doing after Hogwarts?" I asked looking curious.

"I always wanted to be an Auror. But everyone says I won't make it as I am too clumsy," she replied looking down.

"You know, I something tells me that you will make it (future knowledge from the books, but she doesn't need to know that), you just need to have confidence in yourself. In fact, I will bet 5 Galleons on it." I replied looking sure.

She giggled and said, "You know what, I will take that bet."

Soon enough we reached the castle and deboarded and made our way inside.

Soon after we got settled in the main hall, Prof. McGonagall brought first-year students inside.

After a ridiculous and painfully long song by sorting hat, Sorting commenced. Everyone got sorted to the same houses as in books. So, nothing new there. I almost laughed out aloud when Draco Malfoy got sorted into Slytherin. Draco is as Gryffindorish as they come, boy doesn't have any cunningness to speak of and has a standard reply when insulted: "My father will hear of this."

If dear old Salazar Slytherin knew of this, he would be rolling in his grave.

I ignore the rest of the sorting and focus on the staff table.

Prof. Quirrell, unlike his previous years at Hogwarts when he taught Muggle Studies, is wearing a turban. Already possessed by Voldemort I see. Seeing him made overcome with a sense of urgency. It is a reminder that I am still a cannon fodder against Voldemort and even though Quirrell won't attack me, He can kill me anytime in this school term.

I control my raging emotions with Occlumancy and start to plan for the following years before Triwizard Competition and subsequent rise of Voldemort. Since I have completed the goals I set for myself including learning all Hogwarts subjects plus warding, curse breaking, Healing, Alchemy and ritual magic up to NEWT levels. My new short term goals till my 7th year are:

Start on mastery level material for transfiguration, charms, healing, DADA, and warding.

follow Harry at end of his 2nd year(disillusioned), record him using Parseltongue to open chamber of secrets, after his adventure and exit, open chamber of secrets and harvest Basilisk using pre-learned spells.

Learn Patronus before the start of book 3.

obtain an Auror training method and start training in it.

Master 2nd Animagus form if possible.