Disclaimer: I own nothing, nowhere, and nobody. Except Lizzie. Everything I don't own belongs to JK Rowling.
Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger arrived at King's Cross an hour early, at ten o'clock. They had spent the previous week together with Ginny, Fred, and George Weasley, Ron's siblings, and Ron's parents in Diagon Alley. Now, with all their school supplies tucked safely into their trunks, the six Hogwarts students and family ran through the barrier between platforms 9 and 10 to arrive at Platform 9 and 3/4, where the Hogwarts Express was to depart at eleven that morning.
The sudents looked around, searching for the friends they hadn't seen all summer.
"Dean Thomas! Seamus Finnigan!" Ron called out with joy, "How's life been treating you?"
Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown each exchanged pleasantries with Hermione then went to appraise Harry.
Harry Potter had changed over the summer, there was no doubt about it. Now 16 years old, he was no longer the short, scrawny boy he used to be. He was at least four centimetres taller, and had the physique of a young man, rather than a boy. Virtually the only thing about him that hadn't changed was his perpetually messy black hair. His hair, and his haunting green eyes. Even his scar contributed to what Parvati now called, "His unlimited reserves of S.A."
Harry was uncomfortable with all the attention he received from the opposite sex. "As if being a celebrity isn't enough, now I have to be a sex symbol," he thought to himself. At least Hermione didn't treat him that way; she had enough sense to be... well, sensible around him. Then again, Hermione did have "A really-not-my-boyfriend," as she called him, in the Bulgarian Quidditch star Viktor Krum.
At that moment, Hermione tapped Harry on the shoulder, rousing him from his reverie. "Hey, Harry!" Hermione said, beaming, "We have a new fifth-year girl this year! Harry, meet Elisabeth O'Neill."
Harry shook Elisabeth's hand politely and said, "Pleased to meet you, Elisabeth. I'm Harry Potter."
Elisabeth blushed slightly and replied, "The pleasure is mine, Mr. Potter. But please, call me Lizzie. Everyone else does."
Harry nodded his head slightly. "That's just fine, Lizzie. But only if you would call me Harry. The only people who call me Mr. Potter are reporters and some teachers, but it really does make me uncomfortable."
Hermione beamed, something of which she seemed to be doing a lot, lately. Then the train's whistle blew. "It's time to board," Hermione said, "Let's find a compartment, shall we, Harry? Ron?"
The mass of students boarded the train and tried to settle into compartments. Hermione invited Lizzie to sit with the trio, and introduced Lizzie to Ron. Ron asked Lizzie, "How come you're just starting Hogwarts this year?"
Lizzie sighed, it was a question she would have to get used to. "Well, you see, I'm originally from Northern Ireland. Belfast, to be precise. My dad is a wizard, but my mum was a Muggle. I'm sure you can understand the kind of tension that existed. But on top of that, my dad is Catholic and so am I, butl my mum was Protestant. My mum broke down and moved out last March. About three months after that, she was shot dead by members of a Catholic militant group. At her funeral, I learned that the one of the killers was my father's brother, my uncle. I told my father and he agreed that we had to move. So now we live in London," Lizzie said, punctuating her last words with a small, sad smile. Lizzie pushed her short, silvery-blonde hair out of her narrow, blue-gray eyes. She shrugged her shoulders and said, "Well, isn't anyone going to say anything?"
Harry raised his eyebrows in surprise. "So you're a half-Muggle, Catholic witch?"
Lizzie looked at him and frowned, not quite believing Harry's discourtesy. She said, "Yes. Is there a problem with that? There are lots of Catholic witches in Ireland. My old school even had a mass at seven in the evening every Holy Day of Obligation. So really, it isn't all that freakish to be Catholic and a witch. I'm sorry if you see it that way," Lizzie finished coldly.
Harry realized his mistake and tried to apologize, saying, "Listen, Lizzie, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to insult you. It's just that there aren't that many Catholic witches in England, or any magical people who have Muggle religions. Even some Muggles don't have Muggle religion, so please don't be offended. I really don't think you're a freak. Really."
Lizzie stood up with all the dignity she could muster, which was quite a bit. In reply to Harry, she said, "If you'll pardon me, I must adjourn to the W.C."
Hermione looked at Harry sternly. "That wasn't very nice, you know. She was nothing but pleasant to you, and then you went and insulted her. Plus lots of Muggle-born witches and wizards keep their Muggle religion. Honestly, Harry, I don't know what's gotten into you. You used to be so nice. Now just because you turned into every girl's Prince Charming, you think it's your prerogative to offend them right and left. You've changed, Harry, and I don't think I like what you're changing into. Now please excuse me, I'm going to go talk to Lizzie. Maybe I'll even apologize for you. But just remember what I said, Harry." With that, Hermione left the compartment, in search of a distraught Lizzie.
"I don't think I'll ever understand girls," Ron lamented, "At first they're such pleasant people, then you accidentally make a mistake and they're your worst enemy. Hermione especially."
"I don't think you give Hermione enough credit, Ron," Harry replied.
"Enough credit for what? Bossing me around and annoying me half to death? You're right, Harry, I should really send her a fruit basket, shouldn't I?" Ron said sarcastically.
"No, Hermione's right. I was really mean to Lizzie. I should try to make it up to her somehow." Presently, Harry happened to look out of his compartment and saw Parvati, her sister Padma, Lavender, and Ginny staring at him and giggling. "Honestly, Ron, why do you let Ginny hang around with those girls? She'll start doing silly things, like paying attention in Divination."
Ron sighed. "Ginny's in her fourth year now. More than halfway through Hogwarts. I can't tell her what to do anymore, she won't listen to me. Besides, she's over her little crush on you," Ron said with a smirk on his face.
Harry looked at his best friend quizzically. "How do you know?" He asked, curious.
Ron smiled evilly. "Let's just say that Ginny isn't too careful about where she puts her private journal. All I'm going to say is, Neville Longbottom better watch out."
Harry and Ron each enjoyed a good laugh at this, then the sweet-selling witch came down the aisle.
Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger arrived at King's Cross an hour early, at ten o'clock. They had spent the previous week together with Ginny, Fred, and George Weasley, Ron's siblings, and Ron's parents in Diagon Alley. Now, with all their school supplies tucked safely into their trunks, the six Hogwarts students and family ran through the barrier between platforms 9 and 10 to arrive at Platform 9 and 3/4, where the Hogwarts Express was to depart at eleven that morning.
The sudents looked around, searching for the friends they hadn't seen all summer.
"Dean Thomas! Seamus Finnigan!" Ron called out with joy, "How's life been treating you?"
Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown each exchanged pleasantries with Hermione then went to appraise Harry.
Harry Potter had changed over the summer, there was no doubt about it. Now 16 years old, he was no longer the short, scrawny boy he used to be. He was at least four centimetres taller, and had the physique of a young man, rather than a boy. Virtually the only thing about him that hadn't changed was his perpetually messy black hair. His hair, and his haunting green eyes. Even his scar contributed to what Parvati now called, "His unlimited reserves of S.A."
Harry was uncomfortable with all the attention he received from the opposite sex. "As if being a celebrity isn't enough, now I have to be a sex symbol," he thought to himself. At least Hermione didn't treat him that way; she had enough sense to be... well, sensible around him. Then again, Hermione did have "A really-not-my-boyfriend," as she called him, in the Bulgarian Quidditch star Viktor Krum.
At that moment, Hermione tapped Harry on the shoulder, rousing him from his reverie. "Hey, Harry!" Hermione said, beaming, "We have a new fifth-year girl this year! Harry, meet Elisabeth O'Neill."
Harry shook Elisabeth's hand politely and said, "Pleased to meet you, Elisabeth. I'm Harry Potter."
Elisabeth blushed slightly and replied, "The pleasure is mine, Mr. Potter. But please, call me Lizzie. Everyone else does."
Harry nodded his head slightly. "That's just fine, Lizzie. But only if you would call me Harry. The only people who call me Mr. Potter are reporters and some teachers, but it really does make me uncomfortable."
Hermione beamed, something of which she seemed to be doing a lot, lately. Then the train's whistle blew. "It's time to board," Hermione said, "Let's find a compartment, shall we, Harry? Ron?"
The mass of students boarded the train and tried to settle into compartments. Hermione invited Lizzie to sit with the trio, and introduced Lizzie to Ron. Ron asked Lizzie, "How come you're just starting Hogwarts this year?"
Lizzie sighed, it was a question she would have to get used to. "Well, you see, I'm originally from Northern Ireland. Belfast, to be precise. My dad is a wizard, but my mum was a Muggle. I'm sure you can understand the kind of tension that existed. But on top of that, my dad is Catholic and so am I, butl my mum was Protestant. My mum broke down and moved out last March. About three months after that, she was shot dead by members of a Catholic militant group. At her funeral, I learned that the one of the killers was my father's brother, my uncle. I told my father and he agreed that we had to move. So now we live in London," Lizzie said, punctuating her last words with a small, sad smile. Lizzie pushed her short, silvery-blonde hair out of her narrow, blue-gray eyes. She shrugged her shoulders and said, "Well, isn't anyone going to say anything?"
Harry raised his eyebrows in surprise. "So you're a half-Muggle, Catholic witch?"
Lizzie looked at him and frowned, not quite believing Harry's discourtesy. She said, "Yes. Is there a problem with that? There are lots of Catholic witches in Ireland. My old school even had a mass at seven in the evening every Holy Day of Obligation. So really, it isn't all that freakish to be Catholic and a witch. I'm sorry if you see it that way," Lizzie finished coldly.
Harry realized his mistake and tried to apologize, saying, "Listen, Lizzie, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to insult you. It's just that there aren't that many Catholic witches in England, or any magical people who have Muggle religions. Even some Muggles don't have Muggle religion, so please don't be offended. I really don't think you're a freak. Really."
Lizzie stood up with all the dignity she could muster, which was quite a bit. In reply to Harry, she said, "If you'll pardon me, I must adjourn to the W.C."
Hermione looked at Harry sternly. "That wasn't very nice, you know. She was nothing but pleasant to you, and then you went and insulted her. Plus lots of Muggle-born witches and wizards keep their Muggle religion. Honestly, Harry, I don't know what's gotten into you. You used to be so nice. Now just because you turned into every girl's Prince Charming, you think it's your prerogative to offend them right and left. You've changed, Harry, and I don't think I like what you're changing into. Now please excuse me, I'm going to go talk to Lizzie. Maybe I'll even apologize for you. But just remember what I said, Harry." With that, Hermione left the compartment, in search of a distraught Lizzie.
"I don't think I'll ever understand girls," Ron lamented, "At first they're such pleasant people, then you accidentally make a mistake and they're your worst enemy. Hermione especially."
"I don't think you give Hermione enough credit, Ron," Harry replied.
"Enough credit for what? Bossing me around and annoying me half to death? You're right, Harry, I should really send her a fruit basket, shouldn't I?" Ron said sarcastically.
"No, Hermione's right. I was really mean to Lizzie. I should try to make it up to her somehow." Presently, Harry happened to look out of his compartment and saw Parvati, her sister Padma, Lavender, and Ginny staring at him and giggling. "Honestly, Ron, why do you let Ginny hang around with those girls? She'll start doing silly things, like paying attention in Divination."
Ron sighed. "Ginny's in her fourth year now. More than halfway through Hogwarts. I can't tell her what to do anymore, she won't listen to me. Besides, she's over her little crush on you," Ron said with a smirk on his face.
Harry looked at his best friend quizzically. "How do you know?" He asked, curious.
Ron smiled evilly. "Let's just say that Ginny isn't too careful about where she puts her private journal. All I'm going to say is, Neville Longbottom better watch out."
Harry and Ron each enjoyed a good laugh at this, then the sweet-selling witch came down the aisle.