The First days (Open)

[Thomas Dover]

Thomas stood nerviously on Platform 9 3/4 with his parents and little brother waiting for the Hogwarts Express to arrive. It was his first time at Hogwarts and he wasn't to sure as to how it would all turn out. Thomas's Saint Benard Chester lay at his feet paticently waiting resting his large head on his huge paws. As they waited Thomas's mother double checked his cart making sure that Thomas had everything on his list.

"Now son don't be nervious you will be fine. Now when you get to Hogwarts make sure you speak to the Head Master. Im pretty sure a letter was sent to him explaining your situation he should have some instructions for you." said his father Richerd putting a comforting hand on Thomas's shoulder and squeesing it gently. "Ok dad I will. Do you think the Head Master will like me?" Thomas asked turning his head to look up at his father as a whistle blast sounded in the distance.

"I'm sure he will Tom your a likable boy." comented his mother Lily looking up from the list of school supplies she was still pouring over while trying to hold onto Thomas's little brother Leo. "Now did you forget anything hun?" she asked handing the list to Richerd as she shifted Leo from one arm to the other. "Dear I'm sure Thomas has everything he will need. You've been over that list a million times since we left the house." Richerd said folding up the list and stuffing it into a pocket of Thomas's coat as Thomas searched his pockets for his ceder wand which was stuffed into his back pocket.

With a tinkling from his dog tag Chester raised his head off his paws to look at Thomas and gives a small bark which echoed around the nearly empty platform. A few witches and wizard clad in cloaks and robes stood along the platform waiting for the Hogwarts Express to most likly be taking to Hogsmead. Another whistle blast sounded off this time closer then before signaling that the train was about to arrive. Thomas shuffled his feet as the train pulled into the station and as it came to a stop setting off a blast of steam from the engine he looked up at his dad. "I don't know about this dad what if i end up hurting some one?"

Thomas's father looks at him with a comforting smile. "Son don't worry so much as long as you have Chester with you and you keep taking your potion everything will be fine. Now you get on board your mother and I will take care of your trunk and things." With a smile his mother bends down and gives him a kiss on the cheek. "Now you have fun and learn a whole lot and don't forget to write when you get there ok?" Lily runs a gentle hand through Thomas's black hair and moves a few straineds of hair out of his eyes. Thomas waves his mothers hand away moving his hair back to the way it was.

"I will don't worry mom and stop it my hair is fine. Leo you keep a eye on mom and dad ok?" Leo throws up a silly salute and crossing his eyes. "I will General sir doen't forget to send me a chocolete frog those things are soo cool and tasty." Thomas smiles and chuckles as Chester gets up wagging his tail ready to get on the train. "I will expect one in the mail soon." With a smile Thomas pulls on a small backpack and boards the train with Chester intow and finds a empty compartment. Throwing his pack on the coushines Thomas moves to the window and looks out spotting his parents.

"Bye mom bye dad." Thomas yells out the window waving as the train begins to start moving. "Bye son take care and stay out of trouble." his father calls back waving as the train pulls out of the station. Moving away from the window Thomas sat down. "Well Chester. It looks like we are on our way." He says to Chester who lay opposet to him on the seat looking at him with his tongue hanging out and responds with a small bark. "I know this is going to be interesting." Thomas sits back in his seat trying to relax a little on his trip.

[Thomas Dover]

For the first hour that the Express sped down the tracks Thomas looked around the compartment and watched out the window at the country side as it swept by. Some how this all felt weird to him even though he had taken the train before but this wasn't your normal train. "So what do you think Chester?" He asked looking at his dog who still lay on the seat watching the trees go by out the window. Chester looks at Thomas with a tilted head then gets off the seat to set his huge head on Thomas's lap drooling all down his knee.

Thomas smiles and scratches Chester behind the ears as a sound outside in the hall grew closer. Chester then raised his head as the door to the compartment slid open. "Fancy anything from the trolly dear?" asked the trolly lady looking around just seeing Thomas and his dog. "Um I think I'm good right now. Do you happen to have anything my dog could have?" The trolly lady scratched her chin looking first at Chester then at her trolly. "I don't know dearie thats a big dog and we don't normally have them on the train. Let me see what I can find." Thomas nods in thanks and smiles as the trolly lady closes the door and moves on. Thomas sits back again and closes his eyes feeling the need for a little nap before he reaches the point that he has to change into his robes.

A few hours later Thomas is woken up by a tapping on his door. His lip curls into a frown as a sudden urge to rip open the door and yell at whomever had just woken him up. Catching himself Thomas fixes his face and sits up as he opens the door. "I'm sorry for waking you dearie but here you are this was in the kitchen car. I think your dog will like it." With a slightly sleepy smile Thomas takes the fairly big package from the lady with Chester sniffing the air and wagging his tail.

"I'm sure he will thank you." Thomas said as the trolly lady closed the door and walked off. "Ok buddy what do you think it is?" Chester was getting exsited which wasn't a very good thing in the small confines of the compartment. Opening the package a bone rolled out of the paper off Toms lap and onto the floor. Chester pounched on it nearly slaming Thomas into the wall of the compartment. "Whoa Chester take it easy buddy." Thomas laughs as he watches Chester just going at the bone as if it was his only one. "We will be arriving at Hogsmead Station in 10 minutes. Repeat we will be arriving at Hogsmead Station in ten minutes." The conducters voice rang out from the intercom. "Well looks like I should change." Thomas said to Chester pulling his backpack to him opening it and pulls out his school uniform to change into.

As the train started to pull into Hogsmead Thomas slipped on the final peice of his outfit a plain black school robe with nothing on it at least not yet anyway. Putting his other clothes in his pack Thomas pulls on his backpack and leaves the train with Chester following happily behind him with the bone in his mouth. Stepping onto the platform Thomas looked around as hisses of steam and vaper shot off fron the engine around him. Thomas looks down at Chester slightly chewing on his bottom lip. "S o what do you think Chester should we wait for someone to come get us or just start walking?" Chester looks at him with his head tilted and just whimpered once. "Look I don't know thats why I was asking you."