Harry wandered slowly through the corridors of the Hogwarts Express, and marveled at the relaxed atmosphere. It seemed that with Voldemort's demise that summer, everyone was determined to enjoy themselves. Harry himself was determined to enjoy his seventh and final year at Hogwarts. As he meandered, he occasionally caught glimpses of students, many who seemed awestruck at the sight of him. Apperantly only the 'Ministry Six' (as they had been dubbed) felt normal around him. Of course, they had been there too…
Glancing into the next compartment, Harry tried to shake his thoughts of that summer's final showdown. What his eyes saw effectively distracted him. Inside the compartment sat a solitary, hunched figure, likely a first year.
Quietly, Harry eased the door open, stepping into the compartment. At the sound of the door sliding open, the figure looked up. It was a young girl, definitely a first year. What caught his eye, however, was the tattered pin on her shirt. In peeling letters it read 'Happy 11th Birthday!"
"Hello." He said softly. "I'm Harry."
"I'm Anna Winnebelle. I'm gonna be a first year. Are you a Professor?"
Harry laughed. "No, just a seventh year. I don't think I'm smart enough to be a professor. My girlfriend, however, she definitely could be a professor!"
Anna smiled slightly. Cheered by this, Harry asked about her pin. "Is it your birthday today?"
At this, her face fell. "Yeah. A lady came to my house a while ago, and said I could come, even though my birthday wasn't 'till today." She paused. "And I think it's really cool, magic, that is, but-"
She stopped. Harry waited for a second. "But?"
"Nothing. It's stupid."
"I'll bet you it's not, your feelings aren't stupid." He countered. Oh, how well he knew the truth of that statement…
She sighed. "It's just… My family. They can't be here today. They're not magical. And then I think how foolish it is, because I'm off to learn magic." She bit her lip and stared out the window. "I told you it was stupid." She said, when Harry said nothing.
In reality, Harry was flashing back to his own birthday, just a month before. Oh, what a birthday it had been…
Voldemort, laughing…Mrs.Weasley crumpled on the ground, her eyes lifeless… then, green… blinding, soul-rending, green… With a start, Harry was back to himself.
"No, it's not stupid. It's okay to want to spend this day with your family. I know I wish I could."
She looked at him hard, before smiling softly. "Thanks."
"No problem. Now, how about some magic?"
Giggling slightly as he turned his hair blue, then black again, the Wizarding World's Savior, and its future were swept off into another year at Hogwarts.