Disclaimer : I do not own any of these characters, except for the two new American girls. I merely have created my own plot over an already existed story (der).
"First day back! This is so exciting!" Hermione Granger's voice was filled with excitement and her brown eyes danced as they watched the country side glide pass them. She played with the ties to her black velvet school cloak, with the Griffyndor lion over the heart, that hung loosely from her slim figure.
"Only because it's you." The unmistakable nervous voice of Ron Weasley added. "You got all 'Outstanding's on your O.W.L.s Meaning you can do whatever you want. Some of us, didn't." Ron slid back into his seat, threw his hands through his red spiked hair, freshly cut very close to his head, and sighed heavily as he watched other students run through the train, as they chased down the candy trolley. Ron adjusted his cloak around his legs impatiently and looked around the large compartment, which could seat at least six people, but only held the three. The compartment was like any other you'd find on a train, the walls were a velvet red and the seats were black leather, trunks were placed in the over head compartment, and the slide door revealed the hall of the train.
The Hogwarts Express was rolling through the English countryside and the view was irresistible, large green trees sped past in a wash of color which melt into the clear blue skies above them. The train rocked slightly as it made it's way over the tracks, it made little noise, just the quiet noise of the wind as it passed by. Harry Potter looked out the window at this site, his green eyes watched as the wash of blue and green colors flew by, and his body moved with the rocking of the train. He must have grown a foot over the summer, his once scrawny body was now toned with muscles, that of a young man. Nothing of his appearance suggested that he was only a boy of 16, instead it his features showed a boy was forced to grow up too fast, in a world always at odds with him and everything about him had changed from boy, to man, except for the shaggy black, unmanageable, hair, and the lightening bolt scar. Harry had always had these two things, the hair was his father's, as many had told him, for he never met his father, and that was what the lightening bolt scar reminded him of everyday. Why Harry couldn't remember his parents was on his forehead, that one scar. It had happened one night, when Harry was just a baby, nearly a year old, his parents were wizards who fought against a new evil, Voldemort. Well, as it would have it, a old school pal of Harry's father, Peter Pettigrew, told Voldemort where he could find James and Lily Potter, so that he could kill them and their infant son, to stop a prophecy. The child of his enemy was doomed to kill Voldemort, and he would not allow it, but after killing his mother, who fought to protect Harry, Voldemort turned to Harry with the same killing curse used on his parents. Only, it didn't kill him, it only gave Harry the scar on his forehead, and wounded Voldemort so badly that he had to go into hiding. That was where Harry's entire life was decided for him. Before he could do anything to stop it, he became a hero to people he never knew existed. Harry sighed deeply, his life was never his to control, and he had to except it. He was forever going to be 'the boy who lived', his name was famous. Harry's entire life had been something he could not control, he had lived with his Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, and Dudley all his life, and was treated like trash. The only thing that Harry enjoyed in his planned out life was when he would return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There, he was just another student, most of the time, teachers never gave him any special attention, usually, and the students, more or less, just came to think of him as Harry, but this time was different. Harry was not excited for his return to Hogwarts, instead he wished more than anything to not be going back. As Ron and Hermione spoke back and forth about their O.W.L.s, Harry's heart sank deep into his chest. The sight of the blurred countryside offered no solace for Harry and his thoughts only plagued him more as he watched the scene. Harry sighed deeply and thoughtfully, which caused Ron and Hermione to stop their talk and look to each other, with sad expressions.
"Harry, are yo–" Hermione's gently voice began, with all the care in the world, but was interrupted by Harry as he began to speak.
"You think Sirius ever looked out this window, while sitting exactly where I am?" Harry's eyes never left the window's view, they were locked, but Hermione knew he was speaking to her and Ron and her heart broke at these words. Sirius Black, James Potter's best friend and Harry's godfather, once falsely imprisoned in the wizarding worlds most infamous prison, Azkaban, for the murder to Peter Pettigrew, had died the previous year. There had been a battle in the Ministry of Magic, after Harry had a dream that Sirius was being tortured, by Voldemort and his death eaters. Voldemort had tricked Harry, Sirius was not being tortured, but Voldemort needed Harry to get a prophecy concerning the two. When Harry refused and was attacked by Death Eaters, Sirius had come to save Harry, along with Dumbledore, Lupin, Moody, Tonks, and Kingsley. Sirius was killed by Bellatrix Lestrange, his cousin, after she had hit him with a spell and he fell behind a curtain that no one comes back from.
"It's possible." Ron said, barely audible, in attempt to comfort Harry. Ron looked out the window, along with his best friend, as if hoping to see what Harry saw, so that he could understand what Harry felt. Ron could almost understand why Harry was not the same, he had lost his only family. Ron couldn't imagine going through that, he was one of seven and couldn't imagine having no family. Ron shuddered to himself.
"Unlikely, but possible, I guess." Ron shot Hermione an angered look, which asked her what she was thinking with that reply. Hermione shrugged and opened a large brown leather book that read Ancient Runes: Translations book, and became engrossed in the subject. The compartment was silent, all that was heard was the train rattling toward it's destination and people from other compartments, who spoke joyously. Harry continued to look out onto the world, replaying in his head his last vision of Sirius, fighting Bellatrix Lestrange until Dean Thomas, a boy about 5'11 with short brown hair and chocolate eyes, another Gryffindor, came barging into the compartment, out of breath and wild eyed. He looked from Hermione, to Ron, who had leapt from his seat, in excitement. Harry didn't move, his eyes stayed on the outside.
"Harry, Ron, Hermione! Did you hear?" Dean panted uncontrollably and his words were almost inaudible do to his heavy breathes. He wore a wild look on his face, one of sheer excitement, his brown eyes danced wildly and twinkled slightly. Dean was also sporting a grin from ear to ear, Ron stood and looked around confused. Hermione only placed her book down and looked up in concern.
"What is it, Dean?" Ron looked on at Dean, anxiously, and looked at Hermione, who, surprisingly, looked confused and a bit irritated. Then, Ron looked to Harry, who had not moved, not even flinched at the excitement Dean had in his voice. Dean had opened his mouth to speak, but before he could answer, Seamus Finnigan, only slightly taller than Dean, but with black hair and hazel eyes, ran into the room, wearing the same look as Dean.
"You tell them yet?" He asked Dean, excitedly as he almost knocked Dean to the ground as he slapped his back. Seamus looked around as the compartment, in an attempt to see if their expressions would tell him what he wanted to know. His hazel eyes searched Ron's blue eyes and Hermione's deep brown eyes, and found nothing.
"Just about to." Dean began to calm down, slightly, his voice still excited, as were his eyes, but now he has regained his composure and breathed normally. Hermione, who did not like being left in the dark about things, began to get irritated with the boys, and showed her frustration, as she tucked her once bushy hair behind her ear. Now, her hair was in curls, pulled lightly behind her.
"What are you two going on about?"Hermione spoke but noticed the neediness in her voice, she quickly shrugged and returned to her seat. "I mean, if it is so exciting, why not just tell us?" Hermione adjusted her cloak beneath her and grabbed her book again, as she flipped to her page Ron rolled his eyes at her.
"Yeah, what is it?" Ron began to turn red at the ears as he noticed that he still stood upright, almost 6 feet tall, and looked excited. Slowly he sat down and popped a green every flavored bean into his mouth. "Ugh, slug!" Ron gagged. "That's a taste I was hoping to never have to experience again." As Ron continued to gagged, Hermione giggled, and stuck her nose back into her book. Dean began to notice the excitement drifted, and decided to tell all.
"There are two new girls coming to Hogwarts!" Dean's smile grew, as did Seamus's, they looked from Ron to Hermione, who had both looked up, with bored expressions. New students were always expected. First years came every year, by the dozens, there was no need for so much excitement.
"Well, yeah. There's about two dozen new first years, a year. What's so special about just two of them?" Ron was about to pop another bean into his mouth, but after examining it, decided not to, the risk was too great for him. Dean and Seamus sighed heavily.
"Well, first of all, they aren't first years. They're joining us for their sixth year. Secondly, their Yankee girls! You know, from America and all." Seamus waited to see if his news struck something more, and it had. Hermione dropped her book, as well as her jaw, and Ron's flavored beans were now on the floor, each rolled around as the train bounced around. Hermione spoke first.
"These girls are going to be sixth years with us?" She looked around frantically. "But, that makes no sense. What about the five years they missed?" She looked to Harry, who still did not look anywhere near them, but kept his eyes on the scenery, she then looked to Ron, who nodded in agreement with her, even though Ron wasn't as smart as Hermione, he knew that new students were always first years, nothing more.
"They're transferring from a wizarding school in America. Some school named after an American wizard, named Salem, I guess." Dean looked to Seamus, questioningly, who shrugged in reply. Ron still looked confused.
"Wait," Ron looked to Dean and Seamus, then to Hermione. "America has Wizarding schools?" Hermione sighed in exasperation, as Dean and Seamus chuckled. Ron asked the stupidest question he could have, nothing to do with the girls. Hermione shot them a nasty look, and the boys quieted down and gave her an audience to explain to Ron.
"Of course, Ron. Not all wizards are from Europe." She closed her book and pulled out another. Schools across the world and opened to the first few pages. "America actually has two schools. One for each of it's coasts. But, it's sort of odd. The one on the east cost, is an all girls school, and on the west, all boys." Hermione raised an eyebrow, and read from the book, "'American Merlin's school for Wizards located im California, is the only Male wizarding school in all of America. Across the country, in Massachusetts, Salem's School for Witchcraft, is it's gender opposite. Though, both schools were built in the same year, Salem's school has become the dominate. In recent times, it is being decided on whether or not, it should be a co educational school.'" Hermione stopped and studied the page, without another word, she read this book to herself, and ignored the other in the compartment with her. Ron shrugged and cleared his throat.
"All males school? Yikes, imagine that. No girls around." Ron thought for a moment. "Must be kind of nice." Hermione, looked over her book, gave Ron the dirtiest look she could muster, and now, Harry's green eyes turned toward everyone in the compartment.
"And, we should care, why?" Harry looked at Dean and Seamus, with no expression, and no tone. They squirmed under his eyes, which showed his contempt for the topic and for being interrupted in his thoughts, until Dean spoke nervously.
"We're just telling everyone." Dean cleared his throat and elbowed Seamus, who jumped. They both looked toward one another in a nervous manner.
"Or, well, everyone in Griffyndor. Since we're hoping they'll be in our house..." Slowly they began to back out of the room as they saw Harry's eyes narrow.
"Well, next time, narrow down the list to those who would care." Dean and Seamus nodded to Harry and left the compartment as fast as they could. Everyone in the wizarding world knew what had happened last year, how they fought Voldemort in the Ministry of Magic, and Sirius. Now people knew he was innocent, but what did that matter? He was dead now, he was free the moment he fell behind the veil. Harry stopped for a moment and thought to himself. What was that veil? And why, after Sirius fell behind it, was he suddenly gone? Harry could still remember his face, as a spell from Bellatrix Lestrange had hit him. His happy expression changed to one of nothing, his eyes that were once full of life glazed over, and then, he was gone. Forever, but what could do that? What kind of magic is that? Harry turned once again to the window.
"Harry.."Hermione was behind him, her hand on his shoulder. "Ron and I have prefect duty right now...We'll be back soon." Her voice was soothing, but it did nothing to calm the fires in his heart, or the tears in his eyes.
"Right, then. Maybe I'll see you later." His voice was cold yet at the same time, on the brink of tears. Ron stood and looked at the back of Harry's head, in the hope that he could understand what was going on in Harry's mind.
"I'll stay." Ron meant what he said, and it would have touched Harry, but Harry knew he couldn't stay, so these words meant nothing to him, and caused no comfort.
"We can't stay, Ron. But we can hurry back." Hermione's hand left Harry's shoulder, and she sat next to him, he could feel her breathe on the back of his neck, which only irritated him more. "Harry, please don't blame yourself for what happened. It's not your fault." As Hermione spoke these words of sympathy, and encouragement, Harry grew angry at her. For that moment, he hated Hermione.
"Not my fault?" Harry's green eyes, the eyes of his mother, were blazed with fury. "Who's fault is it then? Not mine, even though I went to the Ministry. It was me Sirius had meant to save. He come to protect me, and now.."Harry turned away from Hermione with tearful eyes. All the pain of his loss came back to him at full speed. He looked back out the window. "Now, all of my family, is gone." Nothing more was said, Hermione and Ron, knew they could do nothing to mend Harry's broken heart, and they left to carry out their prefect duty. Harry returned to his spot, where he had hope Sirius or his father had once sat down in, and watched the scenes go by.
The Hogwarts express was pulling in quickly to it's destination, Harry, already in his robes, continued to just watch out the window, he didn't even notice that Hermione and Ron had reentered, as they talked quietly amongst themselves. The train began to slow down and halted at the platform for students to get off the train. The train lurched forward with a loud almost squeak of a noise, the doors had opened and students everywhere began to take their trunks from the overhead storage. The once quiet train was a raucous of noise and confusion while the students searched for their belongings. While students filed off of the train in a frenzy, Harry, Ron, and Hermione lingered in the back to avoid being shoved off of the train by the mass of students, they made it with little problems. When Harry had stepped off the train and stood on the platform, a few lost first years, and even more glanced toward him, though their eyes burned through Harry's skull so far, when he had stepped off the train, it seemed that maybe things would be easier. The ride had tortured Harry's thoughts, with questions of if Sirius had sat where he. It wasn't until Harry had taken his first steps on the hard ground, did he run into trouble, almost instantly as he waked toward the carriages to take them to the school, Draco Malfoy, and his Slytherin goons, had bumped into him. Draco Malfoy was a tall scrawny boy, but made up for it with his large side kicks, Crabbe and Goyle. Draco's hair was almost a bleached blonde slicked back , and had ice blue eyes, his features were delicate but dark in nature. His goons carried dark features of brown hair, and brown eyes.
"Watch it!" Malfoy spat at Harry, as if he spat out a poison. Harry, in no mood to play with Draco, decided to act as if whatever Draco was going, was of interest to him.
"Why in such a rush, Draco? Afraid Voldemort might kill you if you're walking within five feet of me?" At the name of the Dark Lord, Voldemort, everyone except Harry had made some kind of wince, even Draco had done so. Though, Harry figured Draco wasn't one of the Dark Lord's favorites right now, due to the fact Lucius was in Azkaban, Harry figured he rooted for the evil team. Malfoy sneered at Harry the moment he relaxed, and decided to play along.
"In case you didn't know, two new girls are here. Just want to make them feel...welcomed." Malfoy gave a dirty smirk, and looked to Hermione, who groaned in disgust. Malfoy returned the look,. "Later mud-blood, and mud-blood lovers." Harry reached to pull out his wand, but before he could, a large body stood in his way, and blocking all the light. For a moment, Harry wasn't sure what this large figure was, and a part of him didn't care. It wasn't Sirius. Though he didn't care, Harry looked up to see, what normally to him was a happy face, the face of the Groundskeeper/Care of Magical Creatures Professor - Hagrid.
"'Arry!" Hagrid's horribly strong accent boomed over all the loud noise as he patted Harry's shoulder affectionately, and almost knocked Harry to the grounds. Draco growled and rammed his shoulder into Harry's available shoulder, and whispered with hate.
"You're lucky he showed up, Potter." Draco quickly walked off with his goons, Harry rolled his eyes as he watched the three walk through the crowds, Grabbe and Goyle pushing first years and such out of their way. It would be great if Harry could just pull out his wand and give Draco what he deserved, but with all the other students around, and not to mention teachers, Harry knew he couldn't. Harry sighed in disappointment and looked up to Hagrid, who still beamed down at him, through his thick beard
"Hey Hagrid." Harry said not too enthusiastically. Ron and Hermione flashed Harry a look of sympathy, he had never been this way toward Hagrid before. Harry and Hagrid had always been best of friends, ever since Hagrid was sent to pick Harry up, when he was 11, to come to Hogwarts. It was always a highlight for Harry to see Hagrid. But now, Harry seemed cold toward Hagrid, who didn't seem to notice.
"'ello Ron, Hermione. How was yeh summers?" Hargid, oddly enough, glowed with excitement and anticipation. He always had a happy disposition to him, but for some reason, Hagrid's beading eyes glittered and his smile showed more teeth than Ron knew a person could have.
"All right." Ron sighed and began to look around as if in search of something more interesting, Harry seemed as bored as he was and followed suit, but Hermione smiled wildly at their giant friend.
"It was good, Hagrid. How about yours?" Hermione held her smile to show a faint bit of interest, Hagrid smiled and nodded. Hermione could not ever be rude to Hagrid, he had done so many nice things for them, and they enjoyed his company more than any. She had to make up for Ron and Harry's attitudes at the moment.
"It was great. Got a lot of new ideas for the class." That was probably why Hagrid's beading eyes shined through all the hair on his face. New, exciting, and extremely dangerous creatures was probably what Hagrid brought back this year, every year it was something new. Except last year it got Hagrid fired...so what was he doing back? Then it clicked. Dumbledore. He's back, so of course, was Hagrid. Harry looked around, not too interested in the current conversation, until Hagrid's large hand slapped Harry's back, sending him back to reality. "How about you, 'Arry? How was yeh summer?" Harry put on a fake smile, fake apparently to anyone but Hagrid.
"Oh, it was just great." Harry sighed at the end of his sarcastic remark and thought Hagrid would get the point. But, Hagrid must have missed the sarcasm, because he still smiled wildly. For a moment, Harry was tempted to explain to Hagrid the true meaning of his words, but as interrupted by Hermione, who stood further from Hagrid than anyone else.
"Hagrid, who are those girls over there?" Hermione nodded her head toward two girls, who stood alone, and looked around rather curiously. They definitely stuck out in the crowd of black velvet cloaks, due to the fact that they were the only ones on the platform not wearing the required robes. Instead, they wore their own clothes. One girl, with brown banana curled hair, wore tight fitting boot cut jeans that hugged her slender, yet curved body, and a fitted black tee. From a distance, the girl looked to be about 5'5, but upon closer inspection, she had been wearing a pair of black suede stiletto boots with fur outlining the edges. The other girl with straight blonde hair pulled back in a white headband wore black capris, that fit close, a white polo shirt that perfectly hugged to her small frame with black kitten heels. Ron side stepped Hagrid's large body out of his way and began to look around furiously.
"Who? Where?" Ron jumped directly behind Hermione and looked straight ahead. "Whoa. Blimey, Hagrid. Who are they?" Ron's face dropped into one of amazement, which caused Harry to become curious, he then stood right next to Ron, not behind because they were the same height now. Harry looked straight ahead at the girls, who looked around at all the new students. For a moment, they looked overwhelmed by all the bodies that moved about them, but in an instance they looked bored and began to talk amongst one other. Harry could see the brunettes body slouch and sighed heavily as she looked around until her attention was brought to three bodies approaching them, Malfoy and his goons. Harry began to grind his teeth in annoyance at the sight of this and looked at them in pure hatred. Draco held out a hand to the brunette girl, who just smiled and nodded, probably just being friendly. Then he held out a hand to the blonde one who coughed lightly and smiled sweetly. Harry hadn't even noticed he was staring until he felt a sharp poke in his back. Hermione.
"Why are you just staring at her?" Hermione's voice sounded angry as she also jabbed a finger in Ron's back, who jumped forward with a yelp. Hermione stood a full foot shorter than the boys, which made it easier for her to jab them in the right spot of their backs to get their attention.
"Ow, Hermione. What was that for?" Ron rubbed the spot where she had stabbed him and shook his head. Hermione stomped her foot and crossed her arms.
"Why are you staring at them, I asked." Hermione tossed her hair over her shoulders. Over the years, her hair had grown into itself and instead of a mess of hair, it was waved into a mix of curls and straight hair. Ron shrugged.
"They're just so..." Ron turned his attention back to the girls, who were in dire need to be rescued from Draco and his goons, but locked his attention on the blonde girl, with a dreamy gaze. Harry also looked back to the girl with brown hair and felt a wave of euphoria. His scar even began to tickle slightly, but he made no motion to touch it, because Hermione would panic.
"Yeah, she really is." Both boys said nothing after that. They just continued to stare off at the unknown girls. Hermione became increasingly annoyed with their behavior and turned to Hagrid, who was smiling fondly down at the three of them.
"Hagrid, shouldn't you be getting back to that girls over there? I'm sure they doesn't know where they are going, and I don't think Draco Malfoy is someone either of them should get involved with." Hermione smirked as Hagrid looked over at the girls, in a forgetful manner.
"Oh, yeh right." Hagrid turned quickly to where the girls stood and waved to the three standing behind him, his large hand waved in the air as his large body made way to the girls, students dodge his large body and continued on their way. Hermione smiled triumphantly when Ron and Harry took their last glances at the unknown girls, who looked over to Hagrid and smiled warmly.
"Come on, you two." Hermione grabbed Ron and Harry's elbows and gave them a gentle tugged before she let go, in the hopes they were following her. For a moment, neither boy moved until the anonymous girls began to move away into the crowd with Hagrid. They sighed heavily, and began their walk to the large carriages that would take them to Hogwarts. Harry looked around to see his fellow students climbing into the large black carriages dragged by the invisible to everyone but a few, thestrals. These are large winged-horse like animals that are invisible unless you have had a near death experience. Harry looked into the eyes of the animals and sighed heavily, he hated the animal now. Harry walked toward the step into the carriage and looked around him. Students everywhere laughed and spoke happily, Harry couldn't help but hate every single one of them. What right did they have to feel any kind of enjoyment when Harry couldn't? Harry unwillingly climbed into the carriage with Hermione and Ron. Both watched his every step with concern while Harry sighed in exasperation and locked eyes with the two.
"What?" Harry sat down quickly and looked straight ahead. At that moment, he couldn't deal with their concerned glances of judging love. Harry just needed to look out at the black lake, and be by himself. No, not by himself, with the pain of knowing Sirius was never going to walk through the halls of Hogwarts a free man, like he had told Harry he wanted to, three years ago.