Disclaimer: The wonderful world of Harry Potter and the canon characters belong to J. K. Rowling and I am only borrowing them to write for my and other people's enjoyment, without any intention of profiting from it. I thank this creative lady for blessing us with such a rich ground to build up our creativity on!
There was an uncomfortable tangle of arms and legs at the back of the muggle taxis - that they were jam-packed into, like sardines in a tin can - transporting Harry, Hermione, and the Weasleys to King's Cross station.
Hermione scrunched up her nose with disgust, as Ron was munching on a snack, that was half-dangling out of his mouth. She did not mind that he ate more than Harry and she did together, but she was disappointed with the way he inhaled his grub. It was absolutely disgusting.
"Honestly Ron, must you have the manners of a pig?" She huffed, pressing herself against Harry's side, as closely as she possibly could, so there was more space between the human garbage disposal and her.
Harry rolled his eyes at his friends' antics, but snaked an arm around Hermione, and let her lean against him for comfort. She was the only person, whom he allowed into his personal bubble, as she was the only one, whose presence soothed him. He loved her like a sister, and he would do anything to protect her from anyone, be that evil overlords, or messy best friends.
Ron swallowed the last of his bacon, and grinned. "Chill out, 'Mione!" He said cheerfully, as nothing, and no one could upset him, when his hunger was satisfied. Crookshanks intended to put his effervescent disposition to the test, when he toppled over his face, claws first, as the car came to a sudden bumpy stop.
"Get off me you orange menace!" He yelled, and threw the half-Kneazle off him with force.
Hermione's eyes widened, as she reached for her cat, and gave Ron a scathing look. "I'd appreciate it, if you did not assault my familiar, Ronald." She said in a dangerous voice, narrowing her eyes. "How would you feel, if you were thrown about by someone the size of Hagrid?" She asked, while she cradled her grumpy cat, and cooed at him, gently running her fingertips through his bright fur.
The youngest Weasley male's ears reddened with anger. "I am neither a half-giant, nor do I have sharp claws to viciously dig into someone's skin. You should not have bought that ruddy beast! It barely tolerates people." He seethed.
The muggleborn witch's eye twitched with annoyance, as she exhaled slowly. "Crooks is a perfectly reasonable companion, but you are a complete moron! He was simply scared, it was not like he purposefully violated your face!" She explained, her voice tinged with irritation. "And don't think I will help you with your assignments, until you apologize to him."
Crookshanks gazed into the blue eyes of the tall redheaded wizard, his expression smug, as his Mistress protected him, and Ron gaped at the creature with a shocked expression.
"'Mione, can't you see that the bloody fiend is playing you?" He shouted at her. "He is always picking fights with me, it's like he enjoys it. I swear for a know-it-all, you can be bloody stupid sometimes." He gritted his teeth, and missed the hurt that flashed her eyes.
The curly-haired witch's jaw tightened slightly, as she swallowed her tears, and turned to Harry, who was warily looking back and forth between the two, his emerald orbs darkening significantly, when he noticed Hermione's expression. He squeezed her hand gently.
"Come on guys, the car stopped a while back, we better go, or we will miss the train." He chimed with a sigh. He did not want to get involved in such a ridiculous argument, but he also could not help but feel irritated with Ron for upsetting the witch he considered family, however he stayed quiet, because he did not want to make a scene, especially before they even made it to the castle.
The brunette witch and the redheaded wizard exchanged glares, but did as Harry suggested, and scrambled out of the crowded car. There was a bit of chaos with sorting their trunks and cages, but they were relieved to finally have some proper breathing space, even if it was raining heavily.
Hermione wished that she could cast a Water-Repelling Charm, but they were in a non-magical area, not to mention she was still underage. She glanced at Harry and the Weasleys, but they appeared to be unfazed. She sighed, stiffening slightly, as two lean bodies flanked her - one from the left, and the other from the right side - looping an arm around her shoulders teasingly.
"Oi, Granger!" Fred grinned, with a playful gleam in his eyes.
"You look drenched-" George winked cheekily.
"Like an adorably disgruntled kitten-"
"Or is it a ruffled owl?" They echoed in unison, twin smirks plastered on their faces.
Hermione huffed exasperatedly. "Don't you have something better to do? Like sliding through the barrier without making a fuss?"
The Weasley twins shared a glance above her head, and grinned. "Nope." They chimed together, and swept her off her feet, effortlessly gliding through the wall between platforms nine and ten.
Hermione gasped, and bit down on her lower lip, so she would not shriek like a banshee, as they manhandled her onto Platform Nine and Three Quarters. The family of redheads, and her traitorous best friend were laughing at her predicament, their eyes dancing with mirth.
"Unhand my best friend, you bothersome tricksters!" Harry quipped, his lips curling with a smile.
"As you command, oh slayer of trolls-" Gred said with a wide-eyed expression.
"Basilisks, and conquer of Dark Lords-" Forge whispered theatrically.
"We dare not oppose you-"
"Oh mighty Boy-Who-Lived-"
"...Boy-Who-Loved perhaps?" George wriggled his eyebrows suggestively, and Harry flushed under their teasing, even though he most certainly did not like Hermione that way.
Hermione was mildly amused at their antics. "Put me down, or there will be consequences." She chimed, her lips twitching upwards.
Fred and George quickly complied, and gently placed her down on the ground. "As the lady wishes." They echoed, not really wishing to be on the receiving end of her wand. They adored riling her up, but they never actually passed her limits.
The witch smirked, and Harry actually lost it at the twins' comical expressions. "I think you have them nicely trained, 'Mi." He chuckled softly.
"Oi, Potter! No one tames a Weasley twin!" Fred yelled incredulously, as he and George hopped on the train, with their trunks shrunk in their pockets, helping their sister, and Hermione with their belongings.
"If you say so..." Harry laughed, and set off finding seats for the journey to Hogwarts. They were soon stowing their luggage in a compartment towards the end of the train, then they hopped back down onto the platform to say a proper goodbye to the remaining Weasleys.
"I might be seeing you lot sooner than you think..." Charlie grinned, as he embraced his little sister tenderly.
"Really? Why?" Ginny asked curiously.
The twins shared a glance, and rounded on their brother. "What do you know that we don't?" They asked with interest, bouncing up and down on the balls of their feet.
"Plenty." He laughed. "But on a serious note, you will just have to wait and see. Just don't tell Percy I mentioned anything, it's all classified information, until such time the Ministry sees fit to release it, or some such nonsense." He rolled his eyes.
"Yeah." Bill nodded. "I sort of wish that I was back at Hogwarts this year." He sighed wistfully.
"Why?" The twins asked impatiently.
"Let's just say that you are going to have an interesting year." Bill's eyes twinkled. "Perhaps I will arrange to come and watch some of it..."
"Some of what?" Ron asked.
At the exact moment the lanky wizard asked his question, the whistle blew, and Mrs. Weasley nudged them all towards the train doors.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Mrs. Weasley." Hermione said softly, as they climbed on board, closed the door, and leaned out of the window to talk to her some more.
"Yes, thank you for everything, Mrs. Weasley. I really enjoyed my time at the Burrow." Harry smiled.
"Oh, it was my pleasure, dears," Molly said with a motherly smile. "I would invite you children for Christmas, but... I'd imagine you are all going to want to stay at Hogwarts, what with all the... secret surprises that await you." She lightly teased.
"Mum!" Ron groaned. "What d'you three know that we don't?"
Bill, Charlie and Mrs. Weasley grinned at each other, and she trailed her gaze over her young charges. "You will find out at the Opening Feast, I believe," She chuckled. "It's going to be very exciting, but I am glad they changed the rules-" She sighed in relief, as she could only imagine what sort of trouble her twin sons could get up to, if they did not.
"What rules?" The youngsters echoed in unison to the amusement of the adults.
"I am sure Professor Dumbledore will tell you... Now, make sure to properly behave yourselves, won't you?" She narrowed her eyes, looking pointedly at the twins. "Fred? George? I don't fancy receiving word of your shenanigans, especially this year..."
The redheaded miscreants feigned an innocent look, shining their halos under their mother's scrutiny, as the train started to move.
"What rules have they changed, and why are you glad about it?" Fred asked loudly.
"Yes, tell us what's happening at Hogwarts!" George demanded, but their mother only smiled, and waved.
"Take care of yourselves, loves." Mrs. Weasley shouted after them, and before the train had rounded the corner, she disapparated, with Bill and Charlie hot on her heels.
"Come on, let's go back to our compartment." Hermione suggested, and they murmured their agreement, making their way towards their seats.
Once inside, they flopped down on their seats, and Ron opened his trunk, rummaging through it, and throwing his dress robes over the cage of Pigwidgeon to muffle his annoying hooting that was giving him a headache. Crookshanks found that opportune moment to claw at his cage, and let his Mistress know that he wanted out of his restraints.
"Don't you dare let that beast out!" Ron hissed.
The half-Kneazle meowed indignantly, and Hermione ignored his rude remark, and let the cat out of his cage. Crooks happily jumped into her lap, and glared at the annoying human with distaste reflecting in his feline eyes.
Harry groaned, rubbing the spot between his brows. "Please, don't resume your ridiculous spat. Can't we all just get along for once?"
Hermione's gaze softened, as she looked at Harry. "Of course." She nodded, and clutched Crookshanks against her chest, leaning down to quietly murmur in his ears. "I know you dislike Ronald, and I know you love to annoy him, but please... can you be a good boy for the train ride?" She whispered, and he meowed in protest. "Fine, I will acquire a nice piece of tuna for you later." She bribed him, and he purred his consent, and obediently curled up as far away from the Weasley boy, as he could.
Harry grinned knowingly, and turned to Ron. "Is this arrangement good with you?" He inclined his head towards Crooks avoiding him.
Ron rolled his eyes, and simply glared at Hermione in silence, then frowned. "You know, Bagman wanted to tell us what's going to happen at Hogwarts, at the World Cup." He said grumpily. "But my own family won't say a word about it. It's so bloody unfair, don't you think? I wonder wh-"
"Shush!" Hermione whispered suddenly, pressing her finger on her lips, signaling the boys to be quiet and listen, pointing at the compartment next to them. They leaned towards the open door, and soon a familiar drawling voice drifted in.
"Father considered sending me to Durmstrang rather than Hogwarts. You know how much he despises Dumbledore - he is too much of a Mudblood-lover, after all - but Mother did not want me so far away from home, you see. Father knows the Headmaster, and he says that Durmstrang is far more sensible with their curriculum, and the students actually get to learn and practice the Dark Arts, not just some rubbish defense against it, like we do..."
Hermione tiptoed towards the door, and carefully slid it shut, blocking out Malfoy's voice. She did not want them to get caught eavesdropping on the ferret's conversation, it would be unseemly.
"I wish that his parents actually sent him to Durmstrang." She sniffed bitterly. "Then we would not have to put up with him..."
"Is that another magical school?" Harry wondered out loud.
Hermione looked at him softly. "Mhm, it is. It's got a terrible reputation though, as the teachers put a lot of emphasis on the Dark Arts. I also heard that it's either a very wizard-dominated school, or it actually is an all-wizards school." She explained.
"I think I've heard of it before..." Ron hummed, and glanced at his friend. "Do y'know what country is it in?"
Hermione shook her head. "I don't think anyone knows, apart from those who go there to study, or teach."
"Er, why not?" The boys asked in unison.
"There is traditionally a lot of rivalry amongst the magical schools, thus they protect their secrets something fierce, besides like Hogwarts, I assume the other schools are also magically concealed, hidden from public-eye, and more importantly from the scrutiny of muggles."
"How d'you hide a castle then?" Ron asked with a frown.
"Well, there are many ways to hide an area-" She began. "For one thing - as it clearly says in Hogwarts, A History - the castle is bewitched. If a muggle looks at it, all they see is an ancient ruin, with a sign over the entrance warning of danger. The other schools may have Muggle-Repelling Charms, like the World Cup Stadium, and would also probably be Unplottable-"
"Unplottable?" Harry furrowed his brows.
"Well, you can enchant a building, so it's impossible to plot on a map, providing further protection." She explained and leaned against the support of her seat. "Isn't magic wonderful?" She asked dreamily, thinking about all the wondrous possibilities that their abilities would allow them to do.
"If you say so." He muttered. He disliked not knowing things, and even though he loved Hermione, sometimes it irked him how much more she seemed to know, but then again it was also comforting that he had a friend, who could answer most of his questions.
The rain poured heavier, as the train traveled further north, falling against the window rather noisily. Hermione gazed at the passing scenery, watching the dark sky, through the steamy glass, so lost in her thoughts, that she did not even react when the lunch trolley came, or their friends stopped by for a visit and a chat.
She could not help but feel anxious about whatever it was Mrs. Weasley, Bill and Charlie heavily hinted about. She just knew it would be something dangerous, and that Harry would be no doubt tangled up in the strands of danger once more. Hermione's stomach rolled uncomfortably at the thought, and she vowed to do everything in her power to prevent that from happening.
Hermione was so caught up in her own world, that she completely missed when Malfoy and his cronies stopped by to taunt the trio, and only looked up, when Harry tapped her on the shoulder, and told her it was time to change into their school robes. She was still quiet when the Hogwarts Express stopped at Hogsmeade station.
As the train doors opened, Harry glanced at his best friend, concern gleaming in his eyes. After Ron hopped off the train, he paused in the doorway, and pulled her close. "'Mi, are you alright? You've been awfully quiet on the train ride. That isn't like you, you know." He said quietly.
There was a rumble of thunder, which startled her, and made her jump, bundling Crooks in the safety of her cloak, as she gazed at the wizard. "Oh you know me, just worrying about this and that." She said vaguely, with a weak smile.
Harry frowned. "Worrying about what exactly? It is only the beginning of the year, you could not possibly worry about exams already."
Hermione chuckled. "I do worry about things other than studying sometimes." She said, and ruffled his hair playfully. "We must get off the train however, or the carriages will leave without us." She warned, and jumped off the train, purposefully avoiding any further questioning from the wizard.
Harry narrowed his eyes, knowing full well that she was evading him, but he would let her just this once, after all they did have to catch the carriages.
~oo~oOo~oo~
At the same time, in the heights of Olympus, hidden somewhere unplottable, except from the eyes of the permitted Gods and Goddesses, spun the threads of fate, The Moirae; Klôthô, Lakhesis and Atropos.
"The time for change is drawing near-" Klôthô whispered, as her fingertips caressed a precious thread.
"She shall live a long life, shall she succeed in her quest..." Lakhesis chimed in knowingly. "She who sacrifices herself for love, shall succeed in her quest..."
"I shall not interfere with the strings of her life, shall she keep true to her lot in life." Atropos confided in her companions.
"The time for change is drawing near..." The spinner repeated, and they temporarily faded from the view.
A/N: Are you intrigued yet? The Moirae are sure mysterious. The next chapter will explain their foreshadowing, as we move on to the opening feast, and the announcement of the tournament, and Hermione's vigorous research.
I am excited about this story, I have a lot of it planned, and can't wait to write it all down.
Also, I wanted to say that I've took-, and somewhat reworded some instances from the book for this chapter, but it felt necessary to do that, thus what feels familiar I do not claim to be my own.
Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed the first chapter.