The next couple of weeks were filled spending time with Ron and Hermione at the Burrow. Harry and Ron also visited the twins a few more times. Harry taking that time to read the books on animagus transformation that they had gotten uninterrupted. He was taking a lot of notes as it was pretty advanced transfiguration to begin with. Once it was completed however the change was simple. He and Ron had decided not to fill Hermione in on what they were planning on doing until it was too late to stop them. She could join in then if she wanted to. They didn't want her to take over the project or to tell them 'I told you so' if they couldn't pull it off. Hermione's bossiness had not abated and she was busy planning every minute of their school weeks, fitting in regular study sessions and even going so far as to dictate when they could go to the bathroom in the evenings. Ron had argued with Hermione over that, saying she could not have that much control over their lives. Harry just planned on ignoring her, he'd developed his own study habits over the last 5 years and he wasn't about to change them now, not when they had served him so well.
Harry was also trying to not let himself be alone with just Ron and Hermione, and especially careful about not being left alone with only Hermione. She kept trying to get him to open up about Sirius and Harry still wasn't ready to go there. But she couldn't accept that fact and the closer they got to departing for Hogwarts the more persistent she had become. Hermione also didn't believe his and Ron's theory about Malfoy. They'd only gotten so far as telling her about Malfoy threatening Borgin with his arm, when she rolled her eyes at them and told them they were being silly and that there was no way that could be the case. They'd let it go and didn't tell her the rest of the story. Instead they decided they would wait for Fred and George to contact them. When they twins had told them it was some kind of cupboard Harry and Ron thought they'd wait until they had more information before trying to tell Hermione again. It wasn't worth the lecture and they didn't really want her to ask about Fred and George's warehouse.
Harry had been having 'early' nights and going to 'bed' before everyone else, so that he could read his new textbooks and the medical books Poppy had given him. He was also making sure to keep the journal Poppy wanted, it was actually pretty interesting to see what his energy and power levels were like after various days. He'd spent one afternoon behind the burrow trying out new spells from the sixth year defense book and some of the other books he had gotten on defensive magic and when he had gone to bed, it didn't look like his magical strength had waned at all.
He was lucky Ron could sleep through just about anything so he could read late into the night. His books were really very interesting and he couldn't wait for school to start. Soon August 31st rolled around and Harry was in Ron's room packing. To be precise he was in the library compartment of his trunk re-shelving all his books, he hadn't gotten around to organising his trunk yet. He was actually having a lot of fun, coming in and out to organise one of the wardrobe compartments (he really didn't see why he needed two, maybe he could re-purpose it for something else?) and his study and potions lab. Ron just laughed every time Harry came out of the trunk with a smile on his face. "You really like that thing don't you Harry?" he asked.
"Yeah" Harry replied, "it's really cool. It's kinda like a portable home. Everything I own is in there, I can even fit my broom in here" Harry was too busy gathering up the rest of his clothes to see the expression of sorrow and realisation flit across his friends face. It struck Ron again just how bad Harry's life at the Dursleys was that he thought a trunk was like a home. He wondered again at just how badly the Dursleys had treated Harry. Shaking off his thoughts for now he watched Harry descend once more into his trunk as Hermione barged in the door. Ron was in the process of putting his underwear in his trunk so he suddenly cried out.
"Hermione! Knock first! This is a boys room you don't know what you'er going to walk in on! One of us could have been naked!" He exclaimed trying to close the lid on his trunk so she wouldn't see his underthings.
Hermione just rolled her eyes "I just came up here to make sure you guys were actually packing and not just sitting around" she said bossily. "I just finished all of mine, where's Harry? I think he's been avoiding me. I wanted to talk to him". She asked looking around for the boy in question.
"That depends" replied Ron.
"On what?" demanded Hermione.
"On whether or not you're going to try and make him talk about his feelings again" retorted Ron "you need to leave him alone about that Hermione, poor fellows got enough on his plate without you harping on all the time".
"Harping?!" Hermione cried "I don't harp on about it! Harry needs to talk about it and I thought it would be better to do it before he gets back to Hogwarts".
Ron gave her a look "I'm serious 'Mione you need to lay off him. He's not ready, if you keep pushing him you'll only drive a wedge between you guys".
Hermione sneered at him then, "Oh I see, you think you know what you're talking about know that you've read a few behavioural books. Well you don't Ronald, I know what's best for Harry and it's not to bottle up his feelings".
"This has got nothing to do with what I've read and everything to do with what I know about my best mate. He's working through it and he'll talk if and when he's ready, not because you demand him to. Lay off him Hermione, I mean it" Ron warned.
"Or what Ron?" spat Hermione.
"Or I'll choose him and not you when he eventually gets tired of your nagging and bossing him around" Ron said evenly. "Look Hermione, you're our best friend but you gotta get this habit of yours under control. We don't need a babysitter or you trying to parent us".
Hermione looked insulted and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her. Ron sat down heavily on his bed and put his head in his hands. Harry stuck his head out of the trunk and folded his arms on the edge. "Thanks for that Ron, I know it must've been hard to tell her off like that" Ron just waved a hand at Harry as if to say it wasn't that big a deal. "Ron, I know you like her, like, like her like her. So I'm just saying thanks for sticking up for me. I hope she comes around mate, I don't know what I'd do if I wasn't friends with her, but I just can't deal with her anymore. It's too hard." he said resting his cheek on his arms.
"I know mate, I know" Ron mumbled softly. Standing up he said "we better get this finished, we can have a fly before tea if we hurry". Harry grinned at him and accioed a few more things before climbing back into his trunk.
Harry woke early the next morning to the sounds of the ghoul clanking about in the attic. He rolled over and smiled into his pillow. They were going back to Hogwarts today! Jumping up he grabbed his things and rushed into the bathroom to get ready. Coming out of the steamy room he ran into Ginny in the hall. "Morning Ginny" he said brightly "excited to be going back to Hogwarts?"
Ginny looked at him and replied "You obviously are Harry, how can you be so cheerful at this time of the morning?" she smiled coyly at him "Good dreams?"
Harry recalled the nightmare that had woken him and Ron in the middle of the night and shuddered. "No Gin, just glad to be going back to Hogwarts" he said mood dimming. He walked despondently back to Ron's room and closed the door behind him. Waking Ron he set about putting away the camp bed and making sure one of the miscellaneous compartments had his school clothes, invisibility cloak, Hedwigs cage (she preferred to fly places when she could) the marauders map and other odds and ends he might need throughout the day. He walked down the stairs to wait at the breakfast table. Molly was already up and about banging pots and pans, making breakfast. "Morning, Mrs Weasley" Harry called to her.
"Oh, morning Harry dear, are you all set for today? Got all your things together?" Molly asked.
"I think so, I'm pretty sure I do anyway".
"Well if you did forget something dear, I'll send it along during the week" Molly replied magically cracking a dozen eggs into a pan.
It was then Ginny came down the stairs and sat next to Harry. She was sitting so close that her leg brushed his whenever she moved. She'd been doing things like this a lot lately, sitting on the arm of his chair, looming over him, standing close to him without giving him any room and giggling, (Merlin the giggling!) a lot whenever he said something even mildly funny. Harry looked at her and shuffled over slightly, he didn't like it when people crowded him, especially at meal times. Hermione was next down the stairs and sat across from Harry, giving Ginny a knowing smile that left Harry confused, clearly there was something going on that only Ginny and Hermione knew about. Shrugging he said good morning to Hermione as well. Molly had put breakfast on the table and Ron came down just in time, covering his mouth and fighting a yawn. Molly had just been about to open her mouth to yell for him, she smiled at him instead.
"Quickly you lot, you need to hurry up and finish breakfast, Arthur will be here soon with the ministry cars and we don't want to keep them waiting" She said sitting down and grabbing her own breakfast. They all quickly piled their plates and started eating. Harry was starting to get annoyed at Ginny, whenever she went to grab something off the table she would brush against him, her hand, her elbow. She was reaching across him for the sauce when he snapped at her "Really Ginny is it that hard to say 'please Harry, could you pass the so and so' stop leaning over me" he grabbed the sauce and put it in front of her.
"Sorry Harry" she said meekly. Flipping her hair over her shoulder it what he thought, she thought to be an attractive way, she grabbed the sauce bottle. He rolled his eyes and continued eating his breakfast. Ron narrowed his eyes at his little sister. Hermione had a small smile on her face. Harry finally had enough of Ginny's behaviour when she reached for a piece of toast off of his plate. HIS plate dammit, as if there wasn't a stack of toast in front of them. "Forgive me?" She said with a coquettish smile.
He stood up then piling the rest of his breakfast between two pieces of toast he stalked up to Ron's bedroom. Ginny taking the food off his plate reminded him painfully of Dudley. Eating the last of his breakfast quickly, before anyone else thought to take it from him. He opened the window and sat down on the sill. Hermione and Ron found him up there patting Hedwig a few minutes later. "Harry" Hermione started in an admonishing tone "that was rude, Ginny wasn't doing anything wrong". Harry shrugged if Hermione didn't get it by now he wasn't going to explain his actions to her. "You need to apologise to her Harry, you hurt her feelings".
Harry shrugged again. "Maybe next time she'll leave me alone when I'm trying to eat".
"Harry you need to get over yourself, your attitude about things lately has been very unpleasant" Hermione chided. Harry glared at her.
"Hermione, leave it" murmured Ron "Harry's right, Ginny shouldn't of taken food off his plate and she was being annoying" Ron was clearly trying to communicate to Hermione silently. Hermione was being surprisingly dense for once.
Molly called up the stairs then that the cars were here and Hermione left them alone to grab Crookshanks and her things. Harry turned to Hedwig and giving her a final pat told her he would see her at Hogwarts. Watching her fly off for a moment. He turned around, shrunk his trunk and put it in his pocket.
Ron cleared his throat then "Mate I'm sorry about Ginny, I dunno what's come over her".
"It's not your fault Ron, she's just been making me uncomfortable lately" Harry responded.
"Yeah I've noticed, I'll have a talk to her if you want?"
"Nah just leave it for now, maybe she'll stop once we get to Hogwarts" Harry said.
They reached the platform surprisingly quickly and as they stepped through the barrier Harry gave a little sigh of relief, just like he did every year since second year. Walking along the platform they got on the train and found an empty compartment. Thankfully Ginny had decided to go meet her friends instead of sitting with them. Harry unshrunk his trunk and swung it up on the rack. Taking a place next to the window he saw Neville and Luna, pulling the window down he yelled out for them to join them in their compartment. Hermione huffed at Luna joining them.
"Hermione, she saved our butts more than once last year. How can you not like her?" Harry asked mouth agape.
"She still doesn't say anything that makes any sense Harry, and she believes in all sorts of illogical things" Hermione explained patiently as if Harry was a child.
"Well that's too bad for you then Hermione, Luna's great and I'd thank you to not insult her around me and you know very well that no-one believed Eratosthenes when he told them the Earth was round!" Harry retorted. Shit, he thought, that's the first time I've slipped up with Hermione.
"Luna's good value" Ron put in letting Pig out of his cage so he could fly around the compartment. Hermione opened her mouth to say something but Harry didn't find out what as just then Neville and the girl in question opened the door and walked in.
"Hey guys! How were your holidays?" Neville asked cheerfully. Harry sighed with relief.
"Alright" replied Harry, "Better once I got to Ron's, thanks for your birthday gift by the way it's been really helpful. I've spent a lot of time with it this last month".
"Yes" Hermione said with a derisive snort "Harry's been doodling constantly at the burrow".
Neville gave her a strange look "well I'm glad it's been good for you Harry and really it was no trouble".
Luna sat down with the latest edition of the Quibbler (upside down of course) just as the train started to move "I see it has been good for you Harry, though there are still too many wrackspurts around you" opening the Quibbler she hid her face in it as she started reading. Hermione had a look of distaste on her face. But Harry thought he knew what Luna meant.
"How about you Neville?" Harry tried drawing Hermione's attention away from Luna "How was yours?"
Neville rolled his eyes "Grans been on my case about learning politics 'cause I come of age next year. So she's been giving me even more lessons than normal".
Ron chuckled, "Sorry for laughing about that mate, but I'm glad I'm the sixth son, only Bill and Charlie have to worry about any of that stuff. You're looking good though, this summer has been good to you" Ron commented mentioning Neville's height and how he had finally lost the last of the baby fat from his face.
"He's right Neville" Luna piped up from behind her magazine "You're quite handsome now. I almost didn't recognise you. I'm sure lots of girls will be looking at you this year" Neville blushed at her words.
"I.. I.. I don't want lots of girls looking at me, I'd rather avoid the dating thing if I can" Neville stammered.
"Well you better hurry up mate, before your Gran picks one for you" commented Ron. Neville looked a little aghast as he contemplated Ron's words. Harry just looked between them confused. He didn't understand half of what Neville and Ron had been talking about. Just then the compartment door opened and any questions Harry had fell from his lips when he saw who had opened the door.
Standing there was a very handsome boy with dark skin, a nicely muscled frame and strange coloured eyes, Harry couldn't quite place the colour. Beside him were two girls, one was almost as tall as the boy, slim with blonde hair and light blue-eyes. The other was of medium build with generous curves with dark hair and eyes. "Oh" said blonde "sorry we didn't realise this was taken" she shut the door then and Harry heard them walking down to the next compartment.
"Who was that?" He asked he was pretty sure he hadn't noticed them at Hogwarts before.
Neville looked at him strangely "the guy was Blaise Zabini, the blonde was Daphne Greengrass and the other girl was Tracey Davis. They're in our year Harry" he answered Harry's question.
"They're in Slytherin Harry" Hermione chastised, "honestly you should pay more attention there are other people in Slytherin besides Malfoy you know."
"Well I'm sorry Hermione, I realise now I should of spent more time at school ogling the student body and gossiping instead of trying not to get killed" Harry retorted angrily as Hermione gasped. He folded his arms in front of him and glared moodily out the window. It seemed these days everything Hermione said to him just rankled. Ron exchanged a significant look with Neville and started a conversation about Quidditch. Hermione harrumphed and pulled a book out her bag. The trolley lady arrived then and Harry quickly brought lunch and sweets for everyone before anyone else could even get their pouches out. He calmed down a bit after having something to eat and a chocolate frog (Morgana again) and soon joined in the conversation.
They had just finished their lunch when a knock came at the door. It opened to reveal a second year Hufflepuff who was holding two pieces of parchment. He looked nervously around the compartment and spotting Harry and Neville thrust them into their hands and vanished back out the door. Looking at the note curiously Harry saw that it was an invitation to join Slughorn and a few 'select others' in the teachers carriage at the front of the train. Seeing Neville had got the same one and remembering Dumbledore's request to 'get to know' Slughorn they excused themselves from their friends. Walking up the corridor Neville asked Harry if he knew what it was about. Harry shrugged "I dunno Nev, 'spose we'll see when we get there".
Entering Slughorn's compartment, they were apparently the last ones to arrive. Harry took a seat as close to the door as possible and Neville sat next to him. Slughorn looked greedily at Harry and started making the introductions. Harry nodded at everyone in turn and when he was introduced to Zabini, Harry noticed the boy seemed uncomfortable to be here. Slughorn was making conversation and Harry made a face at Neville when it became clear Slughorn was trying to suck up to all of the potentially influential people in the carriage. Harry leant over towards Neville and muttered "kiss arse gossip. Ten galleons he says 'boy-who-lived'." Neville smothered a laugh. Harry saw Zabini watching them.
"I don't take sucker bets" Neville whispered back.
"Fine, but if he says 'chosen one' we're leaving" Harry said under his breath.
Slughorn heard them whispering and he turned his attention towards them, his eyes alighting on Harry but turning to Neville he said "Now Neville, I wanted to say how very sorry I am about your parents" Harry felt Neville go stiff beside him "I remember they were such wonderful people, do you visit them? How are they?" Neville didn't answer him. One glance at Neville told Harry all he needed to know. Neville was rigid with rage. Slughorn pressed "I mean with their circumstance.." he broke off as Harry spoke up icily.
"Professor, I would have thought a man who rubs shoulders with societies highest fliers, such as yourself, would have irreproachable manners. I find myself disappointed".
"Harry my boy?" The Professor asked in surprise. Harry's eyes locked onto the Professor's.
"I am not 'your boy' Professor, nor have I given you leave to use my first name. Discontinue this line of questioning at once" Harry told him in a commanding tone.
Slughorn looked at Harry, quite taken aback by Harry's vehemence. Slughorn swallowed a few times and turned his attention to Zabini instead. Apparently Zabini's mother was quite beautiful and had a number of husbands that all died of mysterious circumstance. Slughorn insinuated that the Zabini's were quite rich. Zabini himself curled his lip at Slughorn in a decidedly unfriendly manner and didn't deign to answer Slughorn. Slughorn apparently didn't need one. Speaking with a few more of the others he eventually turned back to Harry at last he exclaimed "so Harry Potter! The boy who lived hmm?" Harry threw Neville a smirk, Neville just shook his head. "You realise there are a those that say you must have enormous power to be able to defeat the killing curse and You-Know-Who as a baby. Now of course their saying you were in a battle at the Ministry fighting You-Know-Who and that there's a prophecy of which you're 'the chosen one'!" Slughorn said happily, Harry saw a couple of contentious glances thrown his way from McLaggen, Belby and Zabini. "Now you're among friends here, tell us, is it true?"
Harry looked at him in disbelief "Sir, the only people I could count among friends in this compartment is Gryffindor's Gryffindor here, Neville, and my best mates sister over there, Ginny. The rest of this compartment are barely acquaintances, yourself included. I don't know who 'they' are but this 'chosen one' rubbish is just that, rubbish, the day the Prophet actually gets it right will be on the next cold day in hell. As to the 'boy-who-lived' if you really believe that a fifteen month old baby, was more powerful than a dark lord you've gone barmy".
Slughorn looked a bit shocked and put out at Harry's words. "Still they wouldn't keep printing that you were in the fight at the Department of Mysteries if there wasn't some truth to it, hey Harry?" he tried to say charmingly, failing miserably.
Harry gave him a pitying look and stood up. "I've already asked you once not to call me Harry, if you want to believe the Prophet Sir, that's your prerogative. Once again you seem to have forgotten your social manners, as you seem to quite keen to press me for details about my Godfathers death". Harry paused for a moment, letting that sink in and watching the colour drain from Slughorns face. In a lower tone that was still clearly heard, as the compartment had gone deadly quiet. Harry continued "Come on Neville, let's go, apparently all that goes on in these meetings is gossip and arse kissing, neither of which do I want to participate it" Harry said scathingly. Neville went to the door and opened it, "If you'll excuse us Professor" he said at normal volume "We are going to spend the rest of the journey with our friends."
Stalking quickly back to the compartment Harry threw himself into his seat with disgust. Neville had barely closed the door behind him when he burst into laughter. Harry, Hermione, Ron & Luna all looked at him. Neville had slid down the floor, his back against the door, tears coming out of his eyes. "You alright mate?" Ron asked clearly worried.
"Yeah, yeah, it's just" Neville broke off into laughter again. The three who weren't at the meeting looked to Harry who just shrugged. They looked back at Neville who was just managing to get a hold of himself. "You should of seen their faces! Harry, you were only looking at Slughorn, the rest of them were so confused! They didn't know what to do with themselves! Then Slughorn at the end of your speech! He looked like he was going to either cry or wet himself!" Neville started laughing again.
Now they looked back to Harry, who quickly explained what had taken place. Ron started chortling which set Neville off again. Luna congratulated Harry for sticking up for himself and Hermione, well Hermione was livid. "How dare you speak to a Professor that way Harry! Do you have any idea how disrespectful that was? How rude you were?"
"Hermione, he was asking Neville about his parents, he was asking me about things just as private as well! I didn't want to share with the class! He kept going as though he and the rest of them had a right to know!" Harry said trying to convince her.
"That's not the point Harry, you shouldn't have done what you did!"
"Well what should of he done then 'Mione? If he didn't say anything he would have ended up with Slughorn pestering him all the time" Ron questioned.
Hermione glared at him. "I'm just saying Ronald that he shouldn't have said those things to Professor Slughorn! Calling him a gossip and a kiss up!"
"That's what he is Hermione" Luna piped up "Daddy told me that Professor Slughorn likes to collect interesting people to make himself more important, we think he got bitten by hiberian glumpies once. They make you crave admiration from people" she stated as if were a matter of fact.
Hermione just looked at her stunned. Harry caught Luna's eye and mouthed "thank you" to her. Luna mouthed back "you're welcome" turning back to her magazine. Harry smiled, he knew that sometimes Luna said the things she did to stop conversations or to change the topic. It was her way of helping him and he loved her for it.
The rest of the train ride went smoothly, Ron and Hermione left at one stage to their prefect rounds and then it was time for them to get changed. Harry pulled his robes from his trunk and made his way to the bathroom. On his way back a door opened and someone stepped out quickly. Harry didn't see them in time and bumped into them. "Oh sorry, sorry. I didn't see you" He looked up then to see Zabini's face looking down at him. Zabini was taller than Harry, by about three inches. He noticed then that his eyes were a strange violet hue that was almost black. Harry also noticed the high cheekbones and smooth skin. Blinking stupidly Harry offered his apologies again. Zabini just stared at him silently for a moment more, as if inspecting him, before stepping aside so Harry could pass him in the narrow hallway. Harry could feel the heat from Zabini's body as he squeezed past him. Looking back over his shoulder he saw Zabini shake his head and walk down the passageway towards the bathroom.
Harry rejoined his friends and Luna asked him if he was feeling alright, she said he looked a little flushed, like he had just run into some nargles. Harry shook his head at her and said he was okay. Soon the train was stopping in Hogsmeade. They quickly got into one of the threstral drawn carriages, Ginny finding them and claiming a seat next to Harry as they made their way up to the castle.
