Chapter 11- Train

A few days had passed since the release of Sirius Black when the morning mist lifted from the noisy home of the Weasleys. From distant eyes you would perceive the tall hill-top home to be a serene and calm place. But as you went nearer shouts could be heard in the overpopulated house. Harry sat at the kitchen table, the centre of it all, enjoying his breakfast with Sirius who had been welcomed by the Weasley family rather hesitantly when they had found out the truth. They allow him to see Harry but it wasn't necessary for them to trust such a man.

"Mum where are my socks?" Ginny shouted down the long winding staircase of the burrow. "Top left drawer!" replied Molly from the kitchen. Harry was the only one ready owing to the help of Sirius and his magical packing skills. Harry could have done it himself but he had been using his magical signature too much to avoid getting caught.

Various shouts ensued from above and Molly somehow managed to make out the tangle of words and successfully reply to each precisely where their top hats were, where the cauldron was kept, which books were whose, etc. Harry was amazed by the amount of work Molly did yet the way she could handle herself through it all!

By a prompt 11:10 the Weasleys plus a Potter and a Black were all lined up outside. The six students were separated into twos which gained a scowling Ron as he noticed his pair to be Percy. Both the Weasley clan parents took a group one-by-one through portkey and Sirius with Harry and Ginny followed. They all arrived at a small alleyway near King's Cross Station and for once in their school lives, the three eldest students weren't late to catch their train. They all clamoured through the gateway, the newest Hogwartians choosing to run, and stood at the platform stunned they still had a moment to say goodbye.

The cluttered platform overflew with the students and their parents alike. The scarlet train stood to the side waiting to take the students to their beloved school. Steam blew from the front and the air was a mix of shouts of friends meeting and the hoots and meows of the pets around. Hedwig opened a bleary eye before closing it again to sleep.

"I don't remember the last time we've actually been early..." said Molly.

Harry grinned and stood between his godfather and Ginny. They had their goodbyes and they boarded the train settling down. Before Harry had went, Sirius had pulled him to the side and told him, "Be careful Harry. I know you said what Quirell is and what he'll do. Don't go looking for trouble. Let everything happen the way it does." Harry stared up solemnly at him and replied, "I don't go to trouble.. It comes to me! But I swear I'll be on my guard at all times." Sirius nodded trusting his godson with his words. The red train gave a loud whistle as the wheels started their journey forward and students leaned out from the windows waving to the parents still present on the platform.

In an empty compartment to the end, Harry, Ginny and Ron tucked their luggage away and Harry sat near the window with Ginny across from him and Ron beside him. They chattered for some hours and when the lunch trolley came and they stacked up a pile of treats. "So Harry," started Ron, "We never get to talk much because you are always with Ginny." Ginny made a face at that and opened her mouth to argue but Harry shot her a look to make her shut up.

"What house do you reckon you'll be in? Gryffindor should be obvious. It's the perfect house for us!"
Harry stayed quiet for a minute then replied, "Gryffindors are known for their bravery, Ravenclaws for their intellect, Slytherins for their cunningness and Hufflepuffs for their loyalty."

"Hufflepuffs don't even count as a house! They're just a bunch of dunderheads. No one likes Slytherins and Ravenclaws are pushovers. That leaves Gryffindors as the best!"

Harry frowned. "No. Hufflepuffs are better. Life is nothing without if i could be in a house, i'd rather it be a house of all four combined."

Ron scrunched up his face as if the mere thought was something unthinkable then shrugged and tossed Harry a packet of Chocolate Frogs. Opening the packet Harry was surprised to see the first card he had ever received. the card showed a man's face. He wore half-moon glasses, had a long crooked nose, and flowing silver hair, beard and moustache. Harry found himself grinning at the form of Albus Dumbledore cleaning his glasses. "Do you know guys," he started off. "In muggles photos pictures don't move."

Ron stared at him amazed and Ginny raised her eyebrows. "That's weird." she said. Harry simply grinned and ate his frog. At that moment there was a knock at their compartment door and a round-faced, pudgy boy, with tears in his eyes stepped in.

Harry's heart thumped with recognition and the sudden urge to hug the boy. Neville was still the same. He had missed Neville a lot.

"Sorry," he said, "but have you seen a toad at all?"

When they shook their heads, he begun to cry harder and blubbered out, "He keeps getting away from me! I've lost him!"

"I'm sure he'll turn up..." said Ginny.

"Well if you see him then please..." he said turning to leave. Harry jumped up and shouted, "No!"

Then realising what he had done, Harry turned red and muttered, "I mean you could sit here. After you find your toad.."

Neville's face showed a small smile before he disappeared muttering a small thanks.

"Dont know what he's bothered about," said Ron. "If I'd brought a toad, I'd loose it quick. Mind you, I bought Scabbers, so I can't talk."

The rat was snoozing in Ron's lap.

Just then, the compartment door slide open again. Neville was back, but this time he wa hidden behind a girl with incredibly bushy hair. Harry's heart begun to ache. She was already dresses in her new Hogwarts school robes. "Have you seen a toad? Neville's lost one." she said in a bossy sort of voice. She had two rather large front teeth too.

"We already told him we haven't see it" said Ginny. But the girl wasn't paying attention to her. She was staring at Harry with her mouth slightly open.

"You're Harry Potter!" she exclaimed.

"I know I am." said Harry chuckling. "W-wait... You're Harry Potter?" asked Neville, astonished that he had been invited to sit with him.

"Yeah." said Harry feeling slightly awkward. These were people he spent his life with. "I know all about you, of course - I got a few extra books for background reading, and you're in Modern Magical History, The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century."

There was some silence while the Weasleys and Harry stared at her. "Oh my, I foregut to introduce myself!" she said. "I'm Hermione Granger and he's Neville Longbottom. You are?" she asked the red heads.

"I'm Ginny Weasley and that's my brother Ron." said Ginny smiling. "It's nice to meet you. I'm sure we'll be friends."

Hermione smiled and said, "Pleased to meet you too. Do you know what house you'll be in? I've been asking around, and I hope I'm in Gryffindor, it sounds great; I heard Dumbledore himself was in it, but I suppose Ravenclaw would been great too... Anyways, we better go look for Neville's toad. You three better change, you know, I expect we'll be there soon."

And with that she left, taking Neville with her.

"Whatever house I'm in, I hope she's not in it. " said Ron. "Oh don't be so mean," said Ginny. "She seemed nice."

Harry smiled at Ginny. "Well she's my friend now." he said. Ginny nodded showing her agreement. Ron shook his head and the topic changed to playing games to pads the time. Then, yet again, the compartment door opened. This time it wasn't Neville or Hermionie.

Three boys, two flanking the middle one, stepped inside. The middle one was blonde and pale. The two flanking him looked like gorillas to Harry. "Is it true?" the blonde asked. "They're saying that Harry Potters in this compartment. So it's you isn't it?" he said looking at Harry.

"Yes." said Harry standing up. "This is Crabbe and Goyle." the blonde said pointing at the two large boys. "And I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy." he said holding his hand out.

- Hey guys... I know its LOOOOONG overdue.. Im super sorry.. I hope yo enjoyed it! I know this was very short, but next up is the Sorting! And i swear it'll be longer... :) Stay tuned! I probably have it up in a week or so.. No more long absences for me!