Hello all just wanted to say thanks again for all the support on this, and also now that i have decided to continue writing for the foreseeable future i'm looking into finding a beta reader to check over my work and give advice.

If anyone's interested in helping me out dont hesitate to PM me and tell me a bit about you.

Thanks again.


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IV - The Golden Trio

Harry found himself arriving at Kings Cross Station dreadfully early on the morning of the 1st of September. He couldn't wait that morning to return to Hogwarts and had decided, in an effort not to miss the train or suffer any unfortunate incidents that he found himself expecting. As it happened he was so trapped in his musings that when he walked through the divide between platforms 9 and 10 he managed to plough his trolley directly into someone else's sending their belongings flying across the platform.

"Ughh, What the hell did you do that for dumbass?" he turned around and found himself face to face with a very attractive redheaded witch. Her hair was darker than that of the Weasleys' but was still incredibly vibrant, and actually shone in the light. She had dark hazel eyes, and a petite nose with a small scattering of light freckles over the bridge of her nose.

"Umm, well it wasn't really intentional" he replied, running his hands through his already messy hair accidentally revealing his infamous scar. Colour rose to her cheeks and she started apologising profusely trying to pin the blame entirely on herself for leaving the trolley there. Harry laughed at the awkwardness of the whole situation and began to gather her belongings.

Susan stood there frozen to the spot in embarrassment, it probably had been her fault as she'd left her belongings in front of the doorway to the platform so it was only a matter of time before someone hit her trolley. The main reason for her embarrassment was that she had begun to berate Harry Potter. Harry Potter of all people! She hadn't recognised him from behind, after all he seemed to have changed significantly since last year. Gone was the short, scrawny kid and he'd been replaced by a taller, obviously fitter and roguishly handsome young man. Suffice it to say she was internally kicking herself for her own stupidity.

Harry deposited the last of the witch's belongings back onto her trolley before moving back towards his own and taking the handle before steering it away from her trolley. He strolled down the platform slightly before loading his belongings into one of the trains many carriages knowing people would leave the compartment alone if it had already been 'claimed' by someone else.

He then stepped back off the crimson steam train in the hopes of finding a friend to spend the next 40 minutes with. He looked around the platform and saw that there was hardly anyone here this early and he found himself looking once more towards the attractive redhead who seemed to be watching him from afar. He began making his way towards the pretty witch after scanning the platform and finding no one of his friends.

"Hey there, probably should've done this earlier but I was kind of embarrassed," he started as he neared the redhead. "I'm really sorry for that, I was completely distracted and didn't even see your trolley there." He smiled at her waiting for her response.

"Don't apologise, it was my fault I shouldn't have left it right in front of the entrance." She brushed off his apology with a shrug.

"Well probably not, how's about we agree we're both at fault?" he asked, flashing her a lopsided smile which to his amusement caused a faint red tinge to flare on her cheek. "Im Harry by the way, Harry Potter." He continued attempting to make conversation with her.

"Everyone knows who you are Harry there's really no reason to introduce yourself."

"Well I don't want to presume; besides I'm not used to this 'fame' I've supposedly got. Besides I've found in practise that by introducing yourself other people tend to introduce themselves too, and it's a lot less awkward when I know your name too" he responded breaking out in another larger smile when she literally face-palmed hearing his reasons.

"Oh sorry again, I'm Susan, Susan Bones"

"Any relation to an Amelia Bones?" Harry asked, seeing her face light up at the mention of the Head of the DMLE.

"She's my Auntie, she's looked after me my whole life. She's sort of my role model." She admitted.

"She's an incredibly impressive lady from what I've read, seems like a good role model to have" he shrugged. "I don't mean to be rude but what year are you in I recognise you but couldn't place the name to the face."

"I'm a second year too, but your always so closed off with Hermione and Ron I don't think you notice anyone else to be honest." She sighed, "besides I'm a Hufflepuff…"

"So? What's wrong with Hufflepuff?" he asked, confused at why she'd be so ashamed of her house.

"Everyone knows you don't like anyone who's not a Gryffindor…"

"I don't care about people's houses; I judge on what people are like not where they sit at dinner." He looked towards her "does everyone think I'm that prejudiced?"

She nodded "Ron was adamant last year whenever anyone wanted to talk to you, he kept saying about how you didn't want to talk to the likes of the stupid puffs." She saw Harry's hands clench into a fist.

"I'm going to kill Ron when I see him. If he's been stopping people from being friendly with me." He looked sad at this, before looking once more at Susan "Don't listen to him if he says it again okay? And tell the same to anyone else that wants to talk to me if he says it again I'll shut him up permanently" Harry looked over his shoulder to see Neville Longbottom stepping out of the platform's entrance. "I'm gonna go catch up with Neville, why don't you come find me on the train and we can talk a bit more? If you want to that is?" he looked at her for affirmation.

"I'd like that" she answered smiling widely at his want to know more about her. "Can I bring Hannah? She's my best friend"

Harry laughed at this and nodded, "why ask permission, the more the merrier. Besides if she's anything like you I'm sure we'll get along fine" she blushed at this suddenly finding her shoes incredibly interesting. "You're really cute when you blush you know" he said without thinking quickly turning crimson himself. "Bye" he squeaked before practically running towards Neville on the other side of the busying platform.

"And just what were you doing Miss Bones, and who may I ask was that scrumptious looking specimen?" her best friend asked, appearing at her side the second Harry had got far enough away from her not so subtly watching his bum as he walked away.

"Harry Potter" Susan whispered at her friend, unable to stop the red tinge from rushing to her cheeks as she said his name. "He's nothing like they said, and he's nice and he invited us to his cabin with him and his friends later if you want to go?"

"I want to know everything" Hannah whispered excitedly, letting out a small squeak after realising who exactly she'd just called 'scrumptious'. Susan began to explain everything from him hitting her trolley to him apologising like a true gentleman. Excitedly explaining how it had been Ron who didn't want him making friends out of his house not Harry.

At the end of the speech Hannah just stood there thinking to herself before suddenly snapping out of her thoughts and grinning at Susan. "Dibs" she laughed at her friends anger when she said this.

"Ugh, Hannah!" she whined. Then without warning both started giggling like they were 6 years old again. "Come on let's go find you someone else to tease." She laughed and began dragging her friend down the platform pushing their trolleys and debating how this year might differ from their last.

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After leaving Susan Harry had went to speak to Neville and although they weren't close last year Harry found that Neville was an interesting bloke when he wasn't shyly avoiding confrontation. Harry ended up extending another invitation for Neville to join him in his cabin which he had taken instantly. The two boys stayed in the cabin then till the train set off, Hermione joined them about quarter of an hour before the train set off and proceeded to break both boys' backs with bone crushing hugs. They were also joined by Dean and Seamus briefly before both went off in search of 'fit birds' to 'get acquainted to', much to Hermione's obvious disgust. Just before the train set off they were also joined by Susan and her best friend, Hannah, and within seconds they were all laughing and joking around like they'd been friends the whole time.

About 5 minutes after the train departed the compartment door opened, revealing a Harry's other best friend Ron. Instantly his eyes locked on Susan and Hannah, his face twisted into a grimace. "What are those two doing here," his eyes then focussed on Neville "no, what are those three doing in here?" he near hissed at Harry.

"Why shouldn't they be here Ronald?!" Hermione practically yelled at the Redhead.

"He is barely more than a squib unable to do anything useful" he spat back pointing towards Neville, "and those two slags are probably only here to try and get in his pants, Stupid fucking Puffs."

Harry saw the effects of the words on the three people in question; Susan looked nearly in tears, Hannah looked ready to rip him a new one and Neville just began gathering his things as if to leave. Harry looked to the three of them and he wanted them to stay, even Ron though with every second Harry felt his anger rising at him.

"Get Out" Harry whispered looking directly at Ron.

When no one moved, Ron smirked smugly towards the three. "You heard him dipshits, get the hell out" he spat pointing at the door for emphasis.

"I wasn't speaking to them dumbass." Harry hissed towards him, getting up and forcibly removing him from the room. He looked over to his three new friends, "Sorry about him I never knew he could be such a…"

"Dick" Hermione finished for him.

Harry smiled at his brainy friend. "Exactly the word I was looking for" he finished before sitting back down next to Susan and whispering in her ear, "Don't take his words to heart, he doesn't know anything about you, and you're not like that anyway so I have no reason to be afraid, right?"

She laughed and much to both of their surprise flung her arms around him before whispering back, "Maybe sometime" before settling down again, breaking out in a fit of hysterics at the brilliant shade of crimson the raven-haired wizard had gone.

Susan's bout of giggles seemed to break the tension in the room, and they soon were talking amongst themselves just as they had been before the interruption.

They talked for the entire trip back to Hogwarts, not even realising how long it'd been till the train stopped at Hogsmede station and they were forced to part ways as they headed towards the great hall for the sorting feast.

}-{

After the sorting ceremony finished and the students began heading towards their respective common rooms, a very confused Harry was dragged into an abandoned classroom by Hermione. "What changed?" she started "Here I was worried out of my mind over summer, knowing you were stuck with your relatives but you seem good. Great even, you've changed a lot and you're hardly anything like you were last year. So, I repeat, what has happened to you?" she finished, taking a huge breath not realising she'd said all of that in one breath.

"It's a bit of a long story. But I'll try to explain."

Hermione stayed sat there in silence throughout the entire time Harry explained his story. About how the beginning of summer was worse than ever before, to Dobby's visit, to his training all the way up to their meeting back on the Hogwarts Express. He omitted several details, such as his two unexpected Lordships, but for the most part told her everything. When he finally finished, she looked at him for a second open-mouthed. "Harry James Potter! How dare you take such a stupid risk with your life you… you stupid numpty. A dragon? Ugh, I thought the troll last year or Voldemort would have put you off fighting things out of your league."

"Hey! I beat all of them, the troll I killed last year, Voldemort I also killed and as you can see," He said gesturing to his body "the dragon didn't get me either."

"It was still a stupid, stupid risk to take and for what?"

"The Lordship of House Potter for one, as well as emancipation meaning I never have to return to the Dursleys ever again." He grinned at the bushy haired witch, "I'm free, and with my new income I managed to get some proper clothes, I live in a proper house as well as getting fed without fail 3 meals a day."

"I get it, I really do it's just…."

He interrupted her at this point, "and Potter Manor has a huge library, which you can see when you visit."

"How huge is huge?"

He knew he'd got her then, if all else fails mention books and Hermione forgets whatever she was just doing. It was a brilliant trick that Harry found useful in many situations.

"Bigger than the school library" he laughed holding his hand out to escort her back to the Gryffindor common room.

They walked back together much more at ease now that Hermione had had her rant, and so the two best friends got to talking about the newest additions to their friendship circle. Hermione was incredibly pleased at the addition of two more girls to talk, mentioning something about boys being completely thick. Whatever that meant.

They walked through the hole in the wall, and into the circular room that was the Gryffindor Common Room. As soon as they got there the two friends knew something was wrong from the hush that fell over the rooms inhabitants the second they walked in.

Harry looked towards his housemates and his eyes rested on Katie Bell who just pointed upwards towards the boy's dormitories and Harry sprinted up the stairs to see what caused the reaction from the Gryffindors. He opened the door to the second-year boy's dorm and saw chaos, someone's belongings were strewn across every inch of the room, and in the corner, was Neville head in his hands.

He was obviously distraught, and Harry closed the distance putting a hand on the other boy's shoulder and asking if he was alright. Neville then began to explain how he'd caught Ron going through Harry's belongings looking for his Invisibility cloak. When Neville had tried to stop the redhead, Ron had got angry and started throwing Neville's belongings around the room before skulking off, invisibility cloak in hand.

This made Harry incredibly angry. Not only had Ron taken one of his most precious possessions, he had also insulted Neville once again. Harry stood up and helped Neville gather his possessions before leaving the dorm in search of the redhead. He stepped into the common room and made a beeline for the twins. "Where is he?"

"How, little Harrykins…" one twin started.

"would we know who…" the other continued.

"you're talking about" they finished together.

"Cut the crap and tell me where Ron is. Now." He didn't have to raise his voice, his tone change said it all and the twins knew it.

"Don't kill him Harry. He's a nob but he's our brother."

"He's down at the quidditch pitch, he's with Parvati he's trying to impress her."

"Don't care" Harry said already leaving through the portrait. Several people began to follow him, interested in the fight that was supposedly about to happen between the two former best friends.

When Harry got to the Quidditch pitch he saw the two Gryffindors immediately and summoned his cloak from beside the redhead. "Stand up Ron." He shouted his anger showing in his voice.

"Piss off Scarhead." Came the reply from beside Parvati, who madly scrambled to her feet quickly getting out of the way of the two boys.

Harry brought out his wand and aimed it at Ron. "I said stand, you insult my friends and take my stuff? Defend yourself."

Ron stood and levelled his own wand at Harry and immediately began throwing spells at the raven-haired wizard. Harry just sidestepped the spells Ron was throwing his way, Ron was a subpar wizard at best and none of these spells would do anything to Harry if they hit but Harry had to teach him a lesson. In truth, it wasn't a duel, or even a fight, as soon as Harry began casting it would be over in a second but Ron had to learn.

After spotting a particularly nasty spell that could've seriously damaged Harry had it hit, a bludgeoning spell that they were taught by some fifth years last year, Harry saw red and began casting himself. He sent a couple of stunners at the redhead, following them up with a disarming spell which caused Ron's wand to fly into Harry's hand. He then sent a body bind at Ron and lifted him in the air removing much of his clothing. Humiliating him in front of almost the entirety of Gryffindor house. Harry banished the clothing before dropping the boy and making his way up towards the castle once again.

Behind him all he heard was the excited whispering from behind him as the Gryffindors began to talk amongst themselves, trying to wrap their heads around what had just happened. Only one comment however stuck out to Harry as he walked away.

"Seems the Golden Trio, have split."


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