Aurors were patrolling the platform ready for the boarding of the Hogwarts Express; everyone knew that Hogwarts was only re-opening because of the return of Harry Potter - the Chosen One. There was a tension around the platform as families said goodbye to loved ones and friends caught up after a summer apart. There was also another tension; the ministry was convinced that the train was going to be attacked because Potter was going to be on the train. Auror Jim Catterridge was aware of these tensions, he was also aware that a goblin battalion was going to be in the last and first carriage of the train during the trip up north. The Minister had agreed some protection with Gringotts for popular magical areas so that Auror forces would not be stretched and they could reply to individual attacks around the country. When asked who was paying for it, he replied 'A friend'. There was plenty of speculation as to who this person was, but only a few knew that it Potter who was responsible for this help. His musings were cut short as a large red-headed family made its way to the train, unusually, they were early - it was only 10.50. The Weasley family had taken a sever bashing this summer, there had been a reporter at the wedding between one of them and the Delacour Veela and some truths had been blurted that day regarding love potions on Potter and some other person. Even though the other person hadn't been named, most knew it was the Granger girl, Potter's best friend.
He could overhear the Weasley discussing ways to get back into Potter's good graces; he snorted to himself. Good luck with that, the oaths had been worded in such a way that Potter would have to initiate contact with them and that wasn't going to happen in a month of Sundays. Speaking of the devil, where is Potter, he should be here being Head Boy and all. As if by chance, he saw Potter arrive, but it wasn't the Potter that most people would have expected to see. Why couldn't he be at Hogwarts this year? Potter's looks are going to attract so much attention that it might be fun to see people make fools out of themselves in front of him.
Ginny saw him first and she couldn't help herself from drooling. Harry was beautiful; there was no other word for it. He had a tan, he no longer needed glasses, he had exercised for sure (the muscles were a giveaway), his clothes fit him and finally, his magic was there, you could feel it simmering waiting to be released. Ron saw him next and narrowed his eyes. Bloody Potter making himself even more noticeable, the ponce. Look at him; he's like Malfoy now flaunting his wealth. He'd better not try anything with Hermione, she's mine. Mummy says so. Molly noticed him as well and his appearance convinced her to make sure that Ginny got her man so that he could share his wealth with his family.
Harry walked through the portal and straight away he could feel the stares on him as he made his way to the train. His passive legilimency also picked up the thoughts of three people he had rather hoped to never see again, however, he ignored it all and made his way to the Head Boy and Girl's carriage. He knew that people's reactions were going to vary when they see him, he just hoped that they would accept it and remain the same; speaking of which he could hear some familiar voices ahead so decided to see how they would react. He slowed down as he heard the conversation taking place, it was about Hermione.
"I mean seriously, have you seen her? She's seriously fit now."
"I know, I wonder if she has any tan lines. I bet she hasn't got any, you know what they say about brainy types. They're the best shags."
"The boys from Ravenclaw are making bets on who the first person to bag her will be, they reckon that she'll only go out with them as only they'll be able to maintain an intelligent conversation with her."
"I don't know, I mean, look who her best friend is and what she has done with him. He's not clever enough to maintain a conversation of the Ravenclaw type with her, but she keeps them around. Also being friends with Harry will help as it shows you're not into the The Harry Potter thing, but that you can look past surfaces."
"..."
"Wow that has to be the most profound thing you have said about girls Seamus."
Harry decided to step in now, he had heard enough about his best friend. He stepped into view to the horror and surprise of Dean, Seamus and Neville.
"Hi Guys!"
"..."
"Did you have a good summer guys?"
"..."
"Well mine was better than before as you can tell probably. I found some friends, family and decided to become me."
"..."
"Well, since you can't talk, I'll take my leave of you. Cheerio."
With that, Harry turned and walked off with a glint in his eye and a smirk on his face towards Hermione. He left behind some shell-shocked teenagers - Seamus summed it up.
"Holy Jesus, he's changed a bit hasn't he?"
Harry walked away knowing that he'd shocked his dorm mates, he made his way to the Head carriage greeting people every so often. People were startled by his appearance; the boys looked on in awe, whilst most of the girls started to determine how to get into his pants. Finally, he got to the carriage, but stopped before he opened the door as he heard shouting coming from inside.
"Ron, will you please piss off, I know what potions you gave me, I know that you gave harry potions as did Ginny so right now I am struggling not to hit you or hex you. So, once again, get the hell out of here!"
"Come on Herms..."
"Don't call me that name Weasley!!!"
"...you've got to admit that you fancied me for a while, so why can't we try to see how it would work out. I mean I'm your best friend, I know better than anyone, you know me too, and we would be perfect together. Come on, let's give it a go!"
"Ronald Weasley! I have never fancied you at all, I would never go out with you, you are uncouth, slobby, lazy, stupid and not even handsome. You look like a carrot top, your hair is always dirty, you wash only every other day, you smell, and you only like me so that you can copy my homework. Moreover, I am only your friend because of Harry, Harry is my best friend, he doesn't copy off me, I allow him to copy sometimes, he doesn't argue with me all the time, we may not always agree on everything, but we talk it out and come to an agreement. Last year was purely influenced by the potions. If there hadn't been any, we might have been able to save Dumbledore - think of that. Now, once again, get the hell out of here!"
"It's Potter again isn't it, he gets everything: money, fame and the girl! Well, let me give you a few home truths: you're a bookworm, boring..."
He never got to finish his sentence as Harry blasted the door of its hinges; ironically, it landed straight on Ron and knocked him out pushing him into the wall head first. Harry didn't even spare him a glance; he went over to Hermione and hugged the stuffing out of her.
"Don't listen to him Hermione. You're my best friend, I love spending time with you, you're fun, and I enjoy talking to you. You're beautiful; you've always been beautiful to me. Please don't listen to him."
Hermione listened to the rest of the kind words Harry had for her and felt her heart get lighter. Harry always knew what to say to make her feel better. She still couldn't believe the arrangements he made for her this summer with her parents. Her parents were safe, she got to spend so much time with them and now they're pregnant again. She tightened her grip on him and thought about what he said and decided to take what could be either big step forward or a giant leap backwards. She disengaged herself slightly and looked up at Harry; she saw a swirl of emotions in those mesmerising green eyes including love, pain and tenderness. She reached up on tip toes and kissed Harry on the lips for a few seconds. She felt him stiffen for a moment, before he raised his arms to her face and deepened the kiss.
Harry couldn't believe, tentatively, he stroked her lips with his tongue and was granted access to a smooth tongue that stroked his in return. Hermione lifted her arms to his neck and held him close. Eventually, the need for air became too much and they separated, but rested their foreheads against one another. Harry's mind was in a whirlwind and said the first thing that came to his mind.
"I Love you Hermione."
Hermione gasped and tears came to her eyes as she closed the gap between their lips to convey without words her own feelings of love. Her thoughts flashed back to a conversation she had with her mum.
Flashback
"Hermione, can I have a word with you?"
Hermione looked up at her mum and nodded.
"Hermione, why did Harry do all this for us? I mean we're so grateful that he's done this. He's given us a safe location, a holiday home, spending money and more time with you. This isn't what some best friend does for you. What exactly do you mean to him and what does he mean to you?"
Wordlessly, Hermione hands over the letter that Harry gave her earlier. She watched as the emotions played across her mum's face. Tears started to fall as she finished the letter, her mum stood up and went over to sit next to Hermione and hugged her. When the tears were finished, she just whispered.
"He loves you." A nod from her daughter. "You love him." Another nod. "He's a scared little boy despite being the all-powerful wizard; you need to make the first step with him. DO it quickly. Love him and let him love you. He'll do anything to keep you and he has already started hasn't he?" A last nod.
End of Flashback
She pulled away and whispered in Harry's ear.
"I love you too Harry, so very much."
He tightened his hold on her and they stayed that way until they felt the train moving. Startled out of their thoughts, they noticed Ron was still unconscious on the floor. Hermione flicked her wand to heal him and then levitated him out of the compartment into the toilet. She went back into the carriage and got ready for the prefects' meeting, Harry and she didn't need to talk as they knew what the other meant to the other. They decided to sit next to each other waiting for the meeting to start. Eventually, the other prefects started trickling in until all were there. The meeting went smoothly enough with minimal interference from the Slytherin prefects who were Blaise Zabini and Daphne Greengrass for the seventh years. It was known that these two were betrothed to one another and both were neutral houses with plenty of involvement with muggle businesses. Harry was pleased these two were the prefects as it meant that they control the house a little more especially with Gran as Head of House.
After the prefects' meeting, Harry and Hermione sat down together and read their books. Hermione was reading up on her Arithmancy, whilst Harry was reading fiction - Jane Eyre. About two hours in the trip the train started to slow down, Hermione was asleep, but not Harry. He looked out of the window and saw some specks off in the distance. Getting up, he ran to the rear compartment where the goblins were. Without knocking he rushed in.
"Warriors, Death Eaters approaching from the east. Orders are as follows: two goblins per compartment to defend the students, the others will go on the roof to defend and keep a look out. I will go and defend the train. Understood?"
With a nod from the Goblins, Harry stood up and made his way to the driver's car, there, he saw a black-robed individual controlling the train. With a quick curse, the death eater was stunned and Harry dropped a portkey on him to whisk him to the Hogwarts dungeons where he would be held for questioning. He transformed himself into his Griffin shape and flew off to start the fight. Meanwhile, Hermione woke up to an empty carriage apart from a goblin that was obviously dressed for battle. He reassured her that he was here for protection on Lord Potter's orders, when she asked where Harry was, the goblin pointed outside. Hermione looked and saw a blur charge towards what was about 30 death eaters flying on broomsticks. The blur streaked at incredible speed between them evading the spells. After 10 seconds, about 10 death eaters had fallen off their brooms to their deaths from 100 feet up; the others had landed and were running to the train when they suddenly had to dive for cover as spells came from the top of the train. Obviously other Goblins were there; the Griffin landed behind the other death eaters and transformed into... HARRY!!! What the hell?
The students were at the windows watching Harry potter land behind the death eaters, he had obviously been spotted as half of them had turned around and started firing spells at him. A Staff suddenly appeared in Harry's hand and with a twirl a green shield appeared that reflected the spells at them. Using the distraction of the death eaters diving for cover, Harry knelt down and touched the ground beneath him, everyone stopped fighting as the ground beneath them started to shake when a wave of earth suddenly appeared behind the death eaters coming from Harry and buried the death eaters beneath tons of earth. Following that, there was an eerie silence; Harry ran forward to the mound of earth where the death eaters were buried alive. Harry concentrated and the mound started to get smaller and smaller. It was obvious to those watching what was happening. He was burying them and crushing them beneath tonnes of earth. They never had a chance.
The Goblins inspected the carriages making sure that no fighting had broken out between the students and upon finding none, they returned to their carriage. Kingsley and Tonks turned up suddenly and saw Harry walking towards the train. Hermione rushed and embraced Harry fiercely, she then stepped back and smacked across the chest and started berating him for going out there. He just smiled and whispered something that made her stop and hug him again. Tonks went to the driver's cab and got the Express started again to finish the journey to Hogwarts. Back in the train, people were asking harry what he had done, how could he kill those people and finally was that a staff? He silenced them by raising his hand and explained his actions very clearly in a chilling voice.
"Thos people were death eaters; they kill, rape, maim and torture anyone against them. They are the minions of Voldemort, take them away and his defences disappear. Let's make one thing clear; they are just average wizards that live off the confusion and panic that they create. They only inspire fear because people are afraid to fight back, but I will and I will make sure that they can never do the same again. For every death eater caught alive, I will strip them of their magic and make them muggles, not squibs, but muggles. I will obliviate them and dump them in the muggle world. I have the authorisation from the ministry to do it and believe me I will. Think about, 10 death eaters turn up in Diagon Alley which has nearly 100 adults, yet no-one fights back. Why? They are just bullies, hit back and they become afraid; they know that fear is their biggest weapon and they make the most of it. Fight back with everything you have, never give because they will first, which is why they only attack in groups."
That said, Harry grabbed Hermione's hand and turned back to the head's carriage. The discussion for the remainder of the trip was split between the girls and the boys - the girls noticed Harry grabbing Hermione's hand, whilst the boys discussed the truth of Harry's statement.
A.N: SORRY FOR THE DELAY, BUT THINGS HAVE BEEN HECTIC, I WILL NOW TRY TO PUT UP AT LEAST A CHAPTER A WEEK BY EVERY FRIDAY.
Thanks for all the great reviews from everyone, I hope that this chapter pleases those who wanted Harry and Hermione to kiss and those who wanted to see what else Harry has been doing in training.
