After a few minutes, the train doors closed, and with a rumble, the Hogwarts Express began to move. The countryside scenery rushed past Elias's window as the train sped along the tracks. He leaned back in his seat, his eyes half-closed, already thinking of the many challenges he would face at Hogwarts.
The quiet did not last long. The door to his compartment slid open, and two boys—one with messy black hair and glasses, and the other with a shock of red hair—popped their heads inside.
"Is this compartment taken?" the boy with glasses asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.
Elias glanced up at them, recognizing the boy with glasses as none other than Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived. The second boy, with the fiery red hair, was Ron Weasley. Elias hadn't paid much attention to the details, but the name was well-known. The Weasleys were a large, loud family, with a reputation for being kind-hearted and somewhat reckless.
"Not at all," Elias replied coolly, offering the boys a nod as an invitation to sit.
Harry and Ron exchanged a glance, then both entered the compartment. Harry hesitated, looking somewhat shy, while Ron seemed more confident, though his gaze kept flickering to Elias with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism.
"I'm Harry, by the way," Harry introduced himself, offering Elias a hesitant but friendly smile.
"Elias Blackthorn," Elias said, his tone polite but neutral. His name was already well-known, thanks to his family, but he wasn't one to brag. His focus was entirely on his studies and the future.
Ron couldn't help but stare for a moment before speaking. "Blackthorn, huh? Big name, big family... I've heard of you." His tone wasn't unfriendly, but there was a hint of rivalry in his voice, as though sizing up Elias in a way that made him a bit uncomfortable.
Elias raised an eyebrow, nonchalantly replying, "Yes, I'm from a long line of wizards. Not much different than any other wizard family, really."
Ron nodded but continued to stare, clearly trying to figure out who Elias really was. Harry, on the other hand, seemed more interested in making conversation.
"I heard about the Blackthorn family," Harry said. "You guys are supposed to be really good at… well, everything. What house do you think you'll be in?"
Elias glanced at him for a moment, then turned his attention back to the window. "Slytherin, I would imagine. My family's history is with Slytherin, and I don't intend to stray from that path."
Ron's eyes widened slightly. "Slytherin? The house of ambition and power, huh? You must have big plans." His tone was somewhat skeptical, but it wasn't hostile—at least, not yet.
Elias didn't respond immediately, keeping his thoughts to himself. He wasn't here to discuss his ambitions with anyone, not yet. He had enough to focus on without delving into idle chit-chat.
The train continued its journey, and the conversation turned to other topics—mainly about the houses and which ones the boys thought they might be sorted into. Elias didn't engage much, his mind focused more on the tasks ahead. He had no intention of wasting time on small talk, but he didn't mind the brief interaction. It was harmless for now.
At some point during the ride, Ron started talking a bit louder than necessary, making sure to draw attention to himself. "Honestly, I don't get all this attention on Harry. I mean, he's just a normal guy, right?"
Elias, who had been idly listening to the conversation, couldn't resist. He could already see where this was going—Ron was trying to stir up something, trying to create a rivalry out of nothing. The Weasley boy, despite his family's good reputation, didn't seem to know when to keep his mouth shut.
"Careful, Weasley," Elias said, his tone icy, "It's never a good idea to make enemies with people who have nothing to prove."
Ron glared at him. "You think you can intimidate me with your fancy name?"
Elias didn't flinch. He stood up calmly and moved to stand right in front of Ron. "It's not about intimidation. It's about knowing when to be quiet. I don't have time for petty rivalries."
Ron, brimming with frustration, took a step forward, clearly trying to assert himself. "What, you think you're better than me just because your family is rich and powerful?"
Elias' eyes narrowed, and before Ron could react, Elias took a swift step to the side, using his superior reflexes to sidestep Ron's attempted shove. With a single movement, he grabbed Ron's wrist, twisted it expertly, and then sent him tumbling into the compartment wall. The sudden action caught Harry by surprise, and the entire compartment went still.
"Next time you want to show off in front of others, make sure you can back it up," Elias said, his voice calm but firm. Ron, embarrassed and clearly stunned by the sudden move, stumbled to his feet, his face flushed.
Harry, looking slightly concerned, turned to Elias. "I didn't expect that."
Elias glanced at Harry but didn't respond to his comment. "Weasley needs to learn his place. People like him think they can speak without thinking of the consequences."
Ron, clearly seething with anger but too humiliated to argue further, shot Elias a glare before sitting down in his seat, fuming.
The rest of the ride continued in tense silence, but Elias felt no regret. Ron Weasley's outburst had been childish and in need of a lesson. And if Harry Potter saw it differently, it didn't matter. Elias was here for one thing—to build his future.
As the train neared Hogwarts, Elias prepared himself for the Sorting Ceremony ahead. Tonight, his journey truly began.