Putting It Back
Chapter 8 – Hogwarts Express
The next morning, Harry found himself cuddling Ginny in the train compartment that they shared with Hermione and Ron. His arm was lazily wrapped around her shoulders, as she rested against his chest. He marveled how well she fit against him as if they were made for each other. It was all worth it.
As Harry reflected on his feelings for girl in his arms, he looked over and caught Ron's contented eyes looking back him. Hermione was curled up in Ron's embrace sleeping. The book she was reading was loosely laying on his lap where it drooped out of her hand. Her wild hair brushed against his face, but Ron seemed to find nothing but comfort from the circumstance.
Harry shared a look with Ron that spoke a million words and none at the same time. He pictured the years pass before his eyes and imagined the four of them growing older together and never apart. It was as it should be.
He looked out the window and noticed the urban sprawl become more dense and signaling the closure of their train ride. With a nudge, he whispered, "Hey beautiful, we're nearly there. It's time to change into muggle clothing."
She smiled but kept her eyes screwed shut. Leaning against him, she tried to capture a few more minutes of her dream.
Ron aroused Hermione, and she groggily responded by sitting up and stretching. She was going to ask something, but was interrupted by the compartment door opening.
The familiar drawl caused Harry to tense up rapidly. Ginny looked around in panic. "Well, what do we have here? The golden trio and the blood traitor tart."
Harry stood up quickly with a wand in hand. He was about to pound the slimy-blond haired git to bits, but a single hand stopped him. It was Ginny. She beseeched him, "Don't."
Still seething at the insult, Harry intrinsically obeyed his girlfriend. It was not like he was "whipped"… Ok, he was whipped. But, it was more that he trusted her judgment and honored her wishes. It was as if she was voice in the back of his mind speaking for the wisdom of his consciousness.
Draco smirked in amusement. "At least someone is holding his leash."
Ginny gave him a stern look that would have made Professor McGonagall proud. Harry was hoping that she would step aside this once, but then Harry remembered the bathroom incident from the year before. He also remembered Draco's reluctance to kill Dumbledore, and his timely forgetfulness when he was in Malfoy manor. Despite all of that, Draco still should get a bloody nose for saying those words about his Ginny.
Ron barked out, "Get lost, Draco!"
Hermione quelled him, with a hand on his arm. She asked Draco, "What happened to Crabbe and Goyle?" She asked in a compassionate tone, but Draco returned a cold glare as if he had been attacked.
"Not that you would care, but Crabbe is dead. And, Goyle is at St. Mungo's injured and under guard. Not that it would matter since as soon as he is well enough, they will be dragging him off to cell in Azkaban for the rest of his LIFE!" Draco was going to turn to leave, but stopped. Turning back, he bit out a few last words. "Potty, you better watch your back." Without another word he left.
Hermione was speechless. It was unclear whether it was Draco's rant or his warning, but her eyes were wide as she thought about what just transpired.
Ginny's eyes had not lost their coldness, yet she too was deep in thought. Unlike Hermione, her jaw was clenched and her fists were balled up tight.
Ron did another uncharacteristic thing. He pulled his notebook out of the pocket of his robes and started to scribble out some notes to himself.
With a claming hand on Ginny's shoulder, Harry just stared at Ron as if he didn't know him.
Hermione broke the silence. "What do you think he knows about?"
"What?" Ron looked up from his notes.
"Well, it was definitely a warning."
Ron questioned her logic. "A warning… or a threat?"
"Oh really Ron, be reasonable. Draco has had ample opportunity to harm us if he really wanted. This must have been a warning."
Ginny added her own brand of logic. "It makes no difference. Someone is wants to harm Harry, and I won't let them."
The dream from the night before came to Harry's mind as she said that. He didn't want her to put herself in danger trying to protect him.
Ron seemed to be in agreement. "Yeah, I agree with Ginny. Let's stick close together until this threat has passed."
The train started to break as it approached Kings Cross station.
Harry protested, "Really guys, I don't want you possibly getting hurt by trying to protect me."
Hermione was the first to correct this. "Harry, we have been through this before. We're in this together."
"Yeah, but that was Voldemort, and it's over. You three don't have to…"
He wasn't able to complete his thought as she interrupted him. "Yes we do! And, you would to do the same for us in a heartbeat."
Harry cast his eyes away because he knew she was right. If anyone threatened any of them, especially Ginny, he would protect them with his life. He felt an arm slip around him with a hug.
Ginny added, "We'll be fine, because we're together. We're a team. We're family. That's what we do."
Ginny really did mean to show reassurance, but it only made his fears worse. Harry looked like he was going to be sick. He softly told them, "I'll be fine. I can look after myself." He hoped that it was convincing, but deep inside he knew it was futile. They would never leave his side. Yet, in some way, he actually drew some comfort from that knowledge.
