Chapter 36: The Journey to Hogwarts
The train station was alive with movement, filled with families saying their goodbyes and young witches and wizards boarding the Hogwarts Express. Hermione Granger—once Wanda Maximoff—stood at the entrance of Platform 9¾, her brown eyes scanning the bustling crowd with quiet scrutiny.
Her parents stood beside her, excited yet slightly nervous. To them, this was an incredible opportunity for their daughter, a world of magic and wonder opening before her. But Hermione remained composed, her mind elsewhere. This moment, for most, was one of excitement. For her, it was another puzzle.
She gave her parents a small smile before stepping onto the train. The scarlet locomotive hissed as steam curled into the air. As she moved forward, she instinctively examined those around her. Some students carried themselves with arrogance, a superiority that suggested a privileged magical lineage. Others, wide-eyed and eager, clung to their parents, oblivious to the hierarchy already forming within the crowd.
She passed a group of students clustered together, their robes crisp and new. A blond-haired boy—Draco Malfoy—was at the center, speaking with casual arrogance. Hermione dismissed him immediately. She knew his type: predictable, someone who would rely on name and status rather than personal skill.
Further down, she caught sight of a timid boy searching frantically for something—likely his pet. He looked familiar, and Hermione almost approached him before deciding against it. Instead, she moved through the corridor, seeking a quiet place to think.
Preferring solitude, she found an empty compartment near the middle of the train and took a seat by the window. She had no intention of making friends, not yet. She needed to understand this world's structure first. Would it be like the MCU, where power dictated influence? Or was it more rigid, bound by archaic traditions?
The train lurched forward, beginning its journey. Hermione crossed her arms, leaning back into her seat. The world had thrown her into this role, but she would dictate how she played it.
As the train rolled into Hogsmeade Station, Barrett stepped onto the platform, taking in his first real sight of Hogwarts in the distance. The castle stood against the darkening sky, its towering spires bathed in the golden glow of torchlight. Unlike the students around him, whose awe was evident in their expressions, Barrett remained neutral. He had read about this place before in another life. But seeing it now, he could feel its power—ancient, unyielding.
A gruff voice called for first-years, and soon, they were led toward the black lake.
Barrett found himself stepping into a boat alongside three other students:
Daphne Greengrass, the poised and perceptive pure-blood girl he had interacted with on the train. Tracey Davis, Daphne's friend, who was more talkative and curious.
Hermione Granger, whom he had only briefly noted before but now, in the flickering torchlight, she stood out.
There was something different about her. Hermione Granger was supposed to be a smart, bookish Muggle-born witch. But the girl sitting across from him had an air of control, of restrained power. It didn't match the version of her from the books.
The boat glided smoothly across the black water, an eerie silence settling over the group. The gentle ripples of the lake distorted the castle's reflection, making it appear like a shifting mirage.
Tracey, always the one to break awkward silences, chuckled. "Why do I feel like we're being taken to some ancient ceremony instead of school?"
Daphne smirked. "Because, in a way, we are. Hogwarts is built on old magic, and traditions here run deep."
Hermione, sitting beside Barrett, was staring at the water, deep in thought. Finally, she spoke, her voice measured. "Magic leaves imprints. This lake has been crossed by countless students over centuries. You can almost feel the weight of history in the air."
Barrett turned to look at her fully for the first time. That was not normal first-year talk. Even among pure-bloods, very few acknowledged magic in such an instinctive way.
Daphne raised a brow. "Interesting perspective, Granger."
Hermione glanced at her but said nothing more.
The boat ride was slow, allowing them time to soak in their surroundings. As they neared the shore, Barrett took a deep breath, feeling the magic embedded within the very land. Hogwarts was more than a school—it was a nexus of ancient power.
Once the boats reached the shore, the first-years climbed out onto the rocky path leading up to the castle. The stone steps, worn smooth by generations of students, formed a steep incline. The night air was crisp, carrying the distant scent of wet stone and old parchment.
Hermione walked ahead, her mind racing with thoughts. This was the beginning of something new, something unknown. Unlike her past life, where chaos ruled her every step, here, she had a chance to shape her destiny from the start.
Barrett, walking a few steps behind her, was deep in thought. This Hermione Granger was not the one he remembered. She carried herself differently, spoke with an awareness that a normal eleven-year-old shouldn't have. Was she a deviation? Or was he the anomaly in this world?
Neither spoke, both lost in their thoughts, each thinking the other was different from what they expected.
Daphne, always perceptive, didn't miss the silent tension. She made a note to keep an eye on both of them. They weren't ordinary students, and in a place like Hogwarts, that meant something.
The grand doors of Hogwarts swung open, revealing the Great Hall beyond. The enchanted ceiling mirrored the starry sky above, the floating candles casting a warm glow over the room.
As Barrett and Hermione stepped inside, their minds remained filled with questions. Neither of them knew just how much their presence would alter the course of history.
And neither of them knew that they weren't the only ones who were different.