The Door to Chaos

Chapter 2 - Steam Up

Riddick had done what the ministry Aurors, who had accompanied him to Platform Nine and Three Quarters at King's Cross Station, told him to do, seething all the while. In spite of his confident secondary memories, he had felt very doubtful about pushing against the apparently solid wall between platform nine and platform ten, but then he had just stumbled through.

Children of all ages were standing and chatting everywhere, most of them dragging huge suitcases and cages with owls, cats, toads and rats. A loud gushing noise came from the strange enormous scarlet metal engine with wheels before him. Steam billowed up from its top.

So that's the Hogwarts Express. And that thing is supposed to take me from here to that wizard school? Just how long will this take? Fucking thing looks so antique that I'd probably get faster around walking!

His longing for a quicker way to get around triggered a couple new memories.

Like hell I will! That non-verbal Apparition spell feels too much like falling through that bloody archway again for my comfort and I'll skin the first fucker to suggest I sit on a broomstick. What the hell have I done wrong to find myself in a pre-space-going culture anyway! No skimmers, no skiffs, no way off the bloody planet.

That thought was uncomfortably close to things he really did not want to think about right now. Like where he came from.

Riddick firmly brought his thoughts back under control and to the present.

Regular people - have to remember to call them 'Muggles' - have barely made it beyond their moon and the wand wearing freaks who dragged me here are even worse. Somebody take their magic toys away and they'd all starve, not one honest farmer, butcher or baker in the lot.

Then he remembered that for the time being and until he had fulfilled his mission he was one of the wand wearing freaks and felt depression creeping in again. With a disgusted expression of total distrust Riddick frayed himself a path through curious staring witches, wizards and children and boarded the train.

***

He entered the first empty compartment he happened upon and dragged the curtains almost shut, so that he had not to watch any longer the happy faces and good-bye waving people outside of the train. He pushed his robe's dark hood over his head, rather liking the sensation of the silky material against his skin. Even if light did not hurt his shined eyes anymore for some reason since he had crossed to this universe, years of habit were hard to shed.

Riddick had no suitcase, but the Ministry staff had taken his measures and told him they would send clothes and everything he needed for his job directly to the school. They had even given him local creds to buy things. Heavy, metallic coins, that he had to carry around in a pouch. Well he supposed that the cred-chip imbedded in his forearm would not be working here and he had no access to intergalactic cred-meters anyway.

He settled down, his back against the window, and concentrated on the activities in the corridor. A slight shudder and rolling underneath told him that the train was moving out of the station. Boys and girls dragging heavy suitcases kept passing before his compartment, they looked frightened when they saw him, probably due to his silver eyes staring back at them out of the dark he supposed. This suited him just fine . He had no want for chattering, snivelling or giggling teenagers around him, if he could help it.

"Is that a Dementor? Look it's got a big black cloak and it's so huge..."

"Don't be moronic, Nigel, that is just a big man. Probably a teacher or some security wizard from the Ministry, guarding the train or something."

At the mention of the unfamiliar term a cold hand had gripped Riddick's throat for a moment. Yet more unwanted memories?

A "Dementor"?... lemme see... Big. Black hood, prison guard of Azkaban, sucks happiness out of people...Sirius spend years in Azkaban, nearly went mad with them things... hey wait a minute you call me a Dementor again, you little lawnbiter and I'll give you a taste of fucking happiness. All it takes is some Peppermint Schnaps...

"But he's got these strange eyes,"

"Don't stare Nigel, it's not polite. I think his eyes are way cool, wait I'll take a picture..."

"No Dennis, don't, he looks scary, what if he gets angry ..."

A pretty girl with very bushy hair tried to push her suitcase by and snarled at the two younger boys staring at him to get lost. The kid with name 'Denis' put his camera away and with a last look of curiosity and regret continued his way. A tall boy with bright red hair and freckles followed her with a lost puppy look. He threw Riddick a brief glance and talked to another boy behind him.

"You know Harry, I'm really sorry but I have to go to the Prefects' compartment

again, why don't you get a seat in here mate, this compartment looks nearly empty? Ginny won't mind if it's a bit in-teee-mate."

He grinned.

"Oh, shut up, Ron!" the dark-haired and green-eyed teenager grinned back and turned to enter Riddick's compartment, closely followed by a laughing younger red-haired and freckled girl. They dragged their suitcases in, wrangled them up over the seats, dropped a cage with a snowy white owl on another empty seat, sat down and got their first real look at the occupant. The two teenagers gulped and looked at the door like they regretted their rushed entry.

Too late kids, get used to me. Hey, I know that one, that's him! His name is... Harry... Potter. And even though he is the fucking reason for my being here, I must not kill him.

Riddick's mercury eyes fixed themselves on the brilliantly green orbs in front of him.

He said nothing, waited, kept staring. He wanted to see how the kid would handle this little bit of pressure. He handled it rather well, considering. His little girlfriend looked frightened enough to grab at the boy's arm though.

Smart girl.

"Hello Professor...? My name is Harry Potter."

Riddick did not take the offered hand. His expression did not change and his strange glowing eyes glittered at the teenager, who looked at his hand as if it had done something stupid and let it fall on his knees again.

"Richard B. Riddick. I guess I'm your new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher."

The red-haired girl accompanying Harry relaxed slightly at those words, and, her gaze never leaving Riddick, slid sideways to the windows and reached for the curtains.

Riddick's deep growl stopped her hand in the air. "Keep that closed. You're not afraid of the dark, are you?"