Chapter Three:
Platform 93/4. The gateway to Harry's temporary salvation known as Hogwarts. He didn't know what he would've done without Hogwarts. Without his friends and the closest to a family he had ever really had. Maybe he would've lost his mind; maybe he would've been killed. He considered himself lucky to have it.
As he waited for the train to arrive he watched all the happy families and their frolicking children in a hollow sort of fascination. He decided at that moment that he had to do whatever it would take to save them. He had to save them all. He also knew that he would probably lose his life in the process but, at that moment, it really didn't bother him at all. At least he would help someone.
Harry was then, quite literally, knocked out of his reverie by what appeared to be a large mass of hair hugging him intensely. He tried not to wince as the Gryffindor girl squeezed his bruised ribs and brushed against his cuts.
"Harry!" she exclaimed joyously, "How are you? How was your summer!"
She was so excited, he couldn't help but smile back, and even considering the dark thoughts he had just been having.
"Brilliant 'Mione, how was yours?" He happily lied to his friend. She already worried about him enough as it was, she didn't need another reason.
"Wonderful! My parents and I vacationed in Rome! Do you have any idea how much history there is there? It was absolutely fascinating!"
Harry laughed at his friend's enthusiasm and smiled as Ron suddenly appeared behind her.
"You're here for two minutes and already talking about history? Definitely Hermione."
Hermione blushed and gave him a stern look. Ron's grin got even bigger and Harry's almost matched.
"'Ello mate." Said the red head.
"Hey Ron, good to see you. How was your holiday?"
The three friends continued their pleasantries and conversation all the way on to the train. When seated in their very own compartment and enjoying the comfortable silence and warm atmosphere, Hermione tentatively broke it.
"Um…Harry? I've been meaning to ask you..."
"If this is about Sirius I really don't want to talk about it right now alright?" Harry interrupted.
"Well then tell me how you got that bruise around your eye...or that cut on your lip..?" She continued.
'Shite' Harry thought, 'I forgot to use the glamour.'
Ron looked like he was trying to conceal his fear of Harry's answer. He couldn't let them know the torment he endured every summer so he did what any good friend would do. He lied.
"I fell out of a tree." Sensing his friends wanted more of an answer he continued, "I was climbing the big tree in the back yard and I slipped and fell out of it. That's all. Don't worry." He gave them a slight smile. "You know I'm a klutz, is it really that hard to believe?" he laughed quietly.
"No…I guess not." Hermione replied, "Just know that you can tell us anything Harry, Anything at all."
"I know Hermione, thank you."
Ron accepted his answer as truth. After all, why would his best mate lie to him? Hermione looked a bit more skeptical but Harry changed the conversation to Quidditch before she could ask anymore questions. Soon Ron and Harry were immersed in conversation of all the games Harry had missed over the summer. He was way out of the loop on that.
After about an hour of conversation Hermione stood and flattened out her robes.
"Ron and I have a prefect meeting to go to Harry, are you going to be alright here?" She asked concerned.
"Yes Mum, I think I'll manage." He smiled warmly at Hermione. She threw her arms up in the air and left. Ron, after flashing a giant grin in Harry's direction did the same.
Harry stared out the window of the compartment. Watching the scenery pass by he thought of many things, life, death, Voldemort, Sirius, His friends and wondering if he could keep them alive or if it would be better to push them away. He knew that if they continued to stay with him and fight by his side that they would probably die as well. Harry didn't think he could take it if they died because of him, but he also knew that their damn Gryffindor loyalty would keep them bound by his side until the very end...how ever soon that may be. Knowing that they cared so much for him brought a slight smile to his face. One that was immediately crushed by the entrance of a certain blonde Slytherin and his two cronies.
Harry looked towards the sound of the compartment door sliding open and his face became cold, void of any emotion. Malfoy Jr. just reminded him of the Malfoy Sr. it filled him with cold hatred.
"Leave." Harry simply said in a monotone voice laced with hatred.
Malfoy had no intention of leaving.
"I hear your dog died Potter. How tragic. I also hear that it was my loving aunt Bella who did it and that it was all your fault. Did you cry when little fluffy died?" Crabbe and Goyle laughed like the brainless oafs they were and Malfoy stood smug. A small trademark smirk on his face.
Harry was furious but this wasn't the place for a fight and he was in no condition to win so he translated his fury into words.
"Oh you heard about that? Yeah, I did cry a bit, thanks for your concern. By the way, while were sharing, I heard your sick, twisted, bastard of a father was put into Azkaban for being a murderous psychopath. How do you think he'll taste to the dementors Malfoy? Like candy? Do you think he'll die quick? I've heard it's a long and painful process. I hope that's true." Harry had heard the news earlier from Ron who was very happy about the whole thing. Harry himself had felt a sense of justice.
Malfoy was fuming. His pale pallor was flushed with the red tinge of anger. He lunged towards Harry, as if to punch him, but Harry stood up quickly and kicked him in the stomach. Malfoy doubled over as he got the air knocked out of him.
"Don't fuck with me Malfoy. This is not your year. Just leave me alone." Harry said leaning close to the boy.
Malfoy straightened himself out and took Harry by surprise, slamming him into the glass window of the compartment. His head bounced off of it with a crack, the remnants of his past concussion coming back to haunt him. Stars exploded in Harry's eyes. Malfoy punched him in one of his bruised ribs and he nearly passed out from the pain but managed to get his elbow free and elbow Malfoy in the face. It would leave a bruise on his pale mask of arrogance. Harry was happy. Malfoy stumbled back and Harry stopped moving. Something didn't feel right. He touched the back of his head gingerly and came away with blood. He then lifted the front of his shirt to view his rib and say that two of them were a dark purple. He looked up at Malfoy, who was standing in confusion not knowing whether or not to strike, and blood trickled out from the corner of Harry's mouth. He then fell to the floor and lost consciousness.
Malfoy noted that Harry appeared underfed and had bruises covering his body. It didn't bode well for him; he looked at Crabbe and Goyle.
"Shite."He said to them. "Let's get the hell out of here."
The three fled from the compartment and shut the door.