Chapter 10
A/N: yay! I got my first review from someone that hates my story. Thank you! I've been waiting for one of those lol.
I do appreciate constructive criticism.
And also a huge THANK YOU to everyone that has reviewed and said they liked my story. You guys rock!
But I do want to reiterate that this is an AU story so the characters may do things out of canon. If you like it, yay I hope you keep reading; if you don't, then I'm sorry I guess.
Anyway onward we go to... Chapter 10!
Chapter 10: The train ride
"RONALD" was heard throughout the Burrow as Mrs. Weasley yelled for Ron to wake up. He was the last to go to sleep the night before, having to finish his summer work.
"I'm up, up...Ooof" Ron mumbled as he rolled out of bed and on to the floor. Rather than trying to get up again Ron simply pulled down his pillow and fell back asleep.
"Ron get up you great prat. Mum says you won't get breakfast if you are not down in five minutes" Ginny said as she stuck her head into Ron's room.
That got Ron's attention and he was soon off the floor and in the bathroom getting ready to head out to Kings Cross Station for the ride back to Hogwarts.
After his quick shower Ron joined everyone in the kitchen. Harry, Ginny, and Hermione were already down there with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley as well as Fred and George. Ron sat down next to Harry and across from Hermione before starting shoveling food onto his plate and into his mouth.
"We will leave in 15 minutes. The ministry car should be here by then." Mr. Weasley said.
"why are we going by car and not just flooing to the station?" asked Harry
"well we received word that reporters were going to be waiting by the floo entrances for you to come so we decided that it would be easier to avoid all that by entering from the other entrance" answered Mr. Weasley
"oh" Harry mumbled as he lowered his head to hide his embarrassment. He hated the attention the press was still giving him for something he had no choice in doing.
"Does everyone have everything packed? Make sure you don't forget anything Ronald." stated Mrs. Weasley noticing Harry's embarrassment and changing the subject.
"umfm um gaf..." Ron began with his mouth full but was cut off by Hermione jumping out of her chair and yelling "RONALD! That's disgusting. Your flying food nearly hit me. Ugh!" she finished by angrily stomping out of the kitchen and into the living room.
"you are such a prat" declared Ginny as she followed her friend put of the kitchen.
"bloody hell. What did I do now?" Ron asked after swallowing his food.
"language Ron." hissed Mrs. Weasley as she began to pick up the empty breakfast plates.
Ron turned to Harry with a questioning look still plastered on his face, but Harry mearley shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.
Fred and George decided to have pity on their younger brother saying "ahhh my dear brother"
"you have much to learn" finished George
"what are you two on about?" Ron turned to his twin brothers with anger replacing his confusion.
"etiquette" they both declared as mirror smiles appeared on their faces
"it's obviously something you don't possess. But need to, especially around the ladies." added Fred with a teasing tone in his voice.
"we will be only happy to help our younger and less wise brother in the tender matters of the heart" continued George with the same teasing tone.
"but alas there is not enough time in the world to help you"
"you are utterly hopeless" they stated together with cheeky smiles on their faces before appariateing away. Most likely to their shop.
"boys!" Mrs. Weasley reprimanded but the twins had already left. She sighed and then shooed Harry and Ron to the living room to make sure that everything was packed and their owls were in their cages as well.
Of course this was the third time that morning that Mrs. Weasley had wanted everyone to make sure everything was packed, so naturally they simply went and sat down on the couch to wait for the cars.
It wasn't a long wait before the cars came and everything was put in the boot.
The elder Weasleys sat in the front with the driver and the kids all piled up in the back. And because the car was magically enlarged it was a comfortable fit for everyone.
The drive to the station was uneventful and full of mindless chatter. Ron had dosed off after apologizing to Hermione, even though he still wasn't sure what set her off. That left Harry talking with Hermione and Ginny. But the conversation topics were quickly exhausted between the three. So Harry and Ginny ended up talking about what they expect from school year and Hermione was reading Hogwarts: A History again.
When they arrived at the station the car was quickly parked and emptied and the Weasley family plus Harry and Hermione were walking through the barrier between platforms 9 and 10. When they passed through to platform 9 3/4 the six quickly stride to the train.
They didn't want to risk Harry being seen so they said their goodbyes quickly and quietly.
Mrs. Weasley ever the emotional mother hugged each of the four teens to an inch of their life before telling them to be good.
Mr. Weasley was much more in control of his emotions and wished them all luck and more quietly told Ron to watch out for Ginny.
After the goodbyes the four teens loaded up on the train and with smiles on their faces waved back to the 2 elder Weasleys.
"Harry, Ginny, I and Ron need to go to the front compartment for the prefects meeting. We will see you afterwards." Hermione said as she dragged her trunk and Crookshanks cage to the front of the train.
"see yah soon" Ron said as he too followed her.
"well I guess we better find an empty compartment before they all fill up" Harry said as he took off in the opposite direction of his two prefect friends. Ginny nodded her agreement and followed him.
They found a compartment further down the train and settled in. They sat in silence for a while as the train left the station. It wasn't long before someone came to the door.
"hey Harry. Ginny. Do you mind if we join you?" Asked Neville as he stuck his head in the doorway of the compartment.
"sure Neville. Who else is with you?" Ginny answered.
Luna was the one to answer that question in her dreamy far away voice, "just me and Neville. All the other compartments have filled up" she stated as she took a seat next to Ginny, and Neville was next to Harry.
"so how was your summer Harry? You sure look good. There are even less Nargals around your head" Luna asked.
"err . . . yea . . . it was good. I spent it at the Burrow. Did a lot of quiddich practice for the team. How was yours?" Harry stated after carefully avoiding mentioning Luna's obsession with creatures no one has seen or heard of.
"it was very good. Thanks for asking. I went to South America with my dad." She answered with a smile towards Harry.
"oh that's nice" Harry said before turning towards Neville and asking "how was your summer?"
"it was ok. Spent most of it practicing quiddich. I am so excited to be on the team this year. What do you think that Culture class will be about? Does anyone have any ideas?"
"no. none." Answered Harry
"yea same here" added Ginny.
The conversation turned to guesses about the new defense teacher and generally the upcoming year. Later on Ron and Hermione joined the other four and their expectation and thoughts were added to the rest. Dean and Seamus as well as Parvati, Padma, and Lavender stopped by as well to say hi to everyone.
Halfway through the train ride, Ginny left to go and visit with her friends, Harry and Ron were playing wizard chess with Neville watching them, and Hermione and Luna were reading; Hermione a book and Luna the Quibbler.
The year was beginning the same as always, only this time no one had to worry about a certain psychotic dark lord coming a killing them or their family. It looked like a better year already, and it still hadn't started yet.
A/N: Sorry guys I know it took me long to update this time and I know that this was more of a filler chapter, but I hope you have liked the story so far and I promise the next chapter will be better. And I will try to update sooner but my schedule is crazy right now, so please bear with me.
Anyway let me know what you think, Review!