Ch13 Don't Kill, Don't Kill.
"Bells?" Sebastian called, his deep baritone ringing through the house.
"In here brother. Just fixing supper," Arabella replied.
"I don't know why you do that by hand. I can swish and flick, and have it done in a jiffy."
"I like doing it this way. I think too many proper wizards forget the essentials. What if you don't have your wand? These sorts of skills need to be taught to youngsters today."
"What are we having then?"
"Steak, mashed potatoes and asparagus."
"Ben's favorite. Why today, Bells?"
Arabella whirled and buried her face in a dishtowel to try and staunch the tears. "Today's his birthday Sebastian. I always made it for him, then." Her brother walked slowly towards her and drew his sister into a comforting hug. Life had never quite turned out the way either of them planned. His wife Mary, a powerful and dangerous witch in her own right, had been killed twelve years ago during the height of Voldemort's power. His sister's husband, Ben, had been killed in a steel accident nearly thirty years ago, the steel spooler had kicked sideways and the still hot sheet had cleanly removed his head. They'd only been married for four years and she had never gotten over losing him. It came out most painfully in times like this.
"Shhh... Shhhh... It's going to be alright. I'm here now," Sebastian said rocking his sister back and forth.
"Oh dear, what am I on about? Dinner's about to burn and Ben never would have forgiven me for that!" Arabella finally squeaked rushing around the kitchen frantically trying to stay busy to keep the tears at bay once again. "How did the police interview go?"
"Oh, fine, fine. I was able to finally convince the inspector that Harry had been acting in Miss Weasley's defense. Not that it will be allowed to pass again. Good thing the boy didn't use magic, that is all I can say or we'd be having a very different conversation."
"Oh, so no need to Obliviate him?"
"No, no need. He did finally see it my way... after only a minor Confundus Charm. It only took that and the past two weeks to get the whole mess sorted."
"Sebastian, are you sure it is right of us to keep the boy out of trouble? How will he learn if we keep bailing him out?"
"Arabella, how do we hold him accountable for doing what he felt was right? The boy's mind is more Kneazle than human, you know that. You and I both know that any Kneazle would have reacted very similarly to the situation. Perhaps not with the same level of aggression, but Harry is a special case. He isn't truly vindictive or evil; he just needs some good advice, time to adjust and strong parenting. How would we inform the police that he's a cat trapped in a boy's body? I think this is for the best. If it becomes a problem in the future we'll deal with it. Where is he anyway? I'd hoped we could all eat together today."
"Oh... He's out with Molly and her brood likely buying school supplies I suppose. I thought it might be best for just us. I didn't know what kind of mood you'd be in when you got back from dealing with the inspector." She shrugged.
"Oh well. I suppose one can't have everything one wants. It does smell delicious."
Elsewhere Harry was having a very different sort of time. It had been a long day and Harry was willing it to be over. At Arabella's request and Ginny's insistence Harry had been invited along with the Weasley clan to go shopping for school supplies in Diagon Alley. It had been somewhat of an unmitigated disaster. Harry had missed the Floo exit, never having travelled that way before, been trapped in a seedy shop while one Mr. Malfoy conducted nefarious business and his ferret of a son whined about Hermione and Harry. Making it through Knockturn Alley as a Kneazle had been a challenge as people kept trying to scoop him up and hustle him into back doors of restaurants that never saw a health inspector. Finally, he was reunited with the Weasleys, united for the first time with Hermione and her parents and managed to not get lost in the brief trip up the marble stairs to the only wizarding bank in Britain. After another harrowing trip through Gringotts they set out for the wild world of shopping.
"New robes for Ginny, and a cauldron plus potion ingredients." Harry's acute ears kept picking up the distressed murmurings of one Molly Weasley regarding her lack of monetary capability to provide for all her children. Harry had often thought it must be difficult to be a human parent with all the different things they had to provide. Kneazles had it easier in many respects. Food, shelter, water, and protection were the only requirements that Father had ever seen fit to provide. Humans on the other hand! So much for the same result. So, since Harry had grasped slightly better the concept of money since his crash course in economics with Hagrid last summer, he had decided to make a game of it. It would keep his mind off the stares and whispers and help improve his manual dexterity. What could accomplish all of that? Harry had taken to trying to slip Galleons into Molly's purse when no one was looking. Thus far he had succeeded eighteen times. He thought Ginny had seen him once but she seemed either oblivious to his intentions or polite enough to not tell on him. The latter trait was a huge reason as to why he'd adopted her. At the moment though, they were heading for a large crowd inside Flourish and Blotts bookstore.
"The entire collection of Gilderoy Lockhart? Oh my..." Mrs. Weasley trailed off. Harry could hear her murmuring. "How much do we have left, seven eight, nine, ten Galleons. Why we had ten before we left Madam Malkin's. What is going on? I must be getting soft in my age." As all men learn at some point one never comments out loud on a witch's age, positively or no. Looking up a large sign proclaimed the reason for the crowd. Gilderoy Lockhart it seemed would be giving away signed copies of his autobiography Magical Me.
"Oh do you think we'll get to meet him?" Hermione squealed.
"Who cares?" Harry replied irritably. He hated crowds; people were forever stepping on your tail that way.
"But Harry, he wrote almost the entire booklist! He's brilliant really!"
"No one who attracts this kind of a crowd is brilliant Hermione. I just want to buy our books and leave." Harry snapped. The confined spaces were starting to get to him. Moving along the shelves he began to pick up the books one by one. When Harry saw Ginny rummaging around in a cauldron marked 'Used and Abused, Sixty Percent Off!' he grabbed her elbow and steered her firmly to the 'New and Pristine' section.
"Harry! Mum can't afford this! Not with all my brothers' things too!"
"How much are the books? Exactly?"
"Umm... Three Galleons, twelve Sickles and four Knuts."
"Make it an even four and get yourself something nice." Harry smiled even as Ginny stammered and turned beet red. She'd been doing better around him since the onset of the summer but occasionally she would turn red and go quiet for no reason Harry could discern.
"Harry!" she whispered, "I can't take this! Mum would go spare thinking I was taking advantage of you!"
Harry merely smiled. "I've been slipping Galleons into Mum's purse since we arrived. I don't think she'll be able to say too much after that." Ginny looked awestruck.
"Well, I know you were the once, but how many... exactly?" She asked as Harry finished placing the rest of the books in her cauldron and began forcing their way back towards the mass of assorted Weasleys and Grangers.
"Eighteen or so. It's been great fun." Harry grinned at her shocked expression.
"Eighteen! Harry, you'll need that for later!"
"No, I think I have plenty. There are all sorts of piles of the stuff underground in my vault. I don't think it is really as valuable as everyone says. It confounds your mum so why not?" Harry finished as a forty-something burly man backed into him.
"Hey kid! Watch where you're going?"
"Of course, but I wasn't the one who backed into me. Perhaps you should turn around to see where you are walking," Harry suggested.
"Who do you think you are, you little bastard?" The man raged, obviously slightly pissed.
Harry missed both the sarcasm and the underlying threat. Reading foreign humans still wasn't one of his specialties. "I think I'm Harry Potter. One never can be too sure though. Last year I thought I was a Kneazle," he replied. The sudden commotion had attracted the attention of many people in the book shop including its star for the day.
"Harry Potter! My Lord!" Gilderoy Lockhart exclaimed, as he jumped forward to drag Harry to the front of the store and put his arm around the boy in a show of familiarity Harry was not at all comfortable with.
'Don't kill... Don't kill... he's not threatening Ginny, Don't kill... Don't Kill...' Became Harry's mental mantra. He tried to smile but he came out looking badly constipated.
"Ladies and gentlemen when young Mr. Potter set foot in this shop here today it was merely to purchase a signed copy of my autobiography Magical Me, which he will now be getting free of charge along with the rest of my book list. Little did he realize that he and all his classmates will be getting the real magical me this September! I am pleased to officially announce that I will be taking up the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts for this coming year." The sudden flash of cameras and slew of questions took Harry by surprise. "Smile, Harry, between the two of us it's worth the front page." The blond man whispered carefully.
'Don't kill... Don't kill...' Harry finally managed to disentangle himself and found himself carrying the entire works of Lockhart which he was only too happy to drop into Ginny's cauldron. "You take them," he mumbled, obviously embarrassed at all the attention.
"Bet you loved that didn't you, Potter?" a familiar voice sneered. Harry whirled around and came face to face with one Draco Malfoy. "Famous Potter, can't even walk into a bookstore without getting a pat on the back."
"Leave him alone he didn't ask for that!" Ginny exclaimed, her little hands balling into fists.
"Oh, who's this Potter, your girlfriend?" Malfoy chuckled at his own joke.
'Don't kill… don't kill, remember Sebastian's warning, and don't kill.' Harry's mantra kicked in again, his mind furiously spinning to try to deal with the perceived trespasser. Harry reviewed his options: one, kill the ferret, two acknowledge a relationship (even if non-existent) and get killed by Ginny's brothers, three threaten and or reply with snarky comeback. Door three, please, Isis.
"Malfoy, if you're looking for a bitch in heat try your mum. I hear she's on sale this week," Harry replied smugly. If Draco's enraged face was anything to go by Harry was getting better at this whole insult thing. George and Fred had been coaching him, and along with some unobtrusive observation of the older neighbourhood boys, Harry had picked up quite the repertoire. He was still trying to figure out what went with what but he was getting better. Improvement was always a good thing.
"Potter, don't you dare talk about my mother that way." Malfoy hissed, his body language reading much more aggressively.
"Then leave Ginny alone. Now go sex somebody else's leg, mudface." Not the best he could have done, Harry reflected, but not bad.
"Boys, not starting trouble are we?" The fatherly tones of Arthur Weasley came suddenly from behind Harry drawing both boys' and Ginny's attention.
"No Mr. Weasley. If we were starting trouble I'd be pounding the smarmy git into his own shoes," Harry said pleasantly with an evil grin towards said recipient of the imaginary pounding. Most people wouldn't have noticed Draco blanch, as pale as the boy was, but Harry never counted as most people.
Suddenly, any further verbal sparring was stalled between the youngsters as one Lucius Malfoy strode purposefully up to his son's side. Everyone in the room could have sworn the temperature dropped at least two degrees.
"Arthur."
"Lucius."
"I do hope they are paying you extra for all those raids. What is the point of being a disgrace to Wizardkind if they don't even pay you for it? Then again, perhaps not," he said gesturing to the state of the robes Ginny and Ron were wearing.
"We have a very different view of what makes a disgrace to Wizard kind Lucius." Arthur rebuked.
"Clearly." The senior Malfoy then reached into Ginny's open cauldron ignoring the low rumble emanating from Harry's chest. "Really Arthur, a man of your position should hardly be stealing from a book shop. The second hand ones are over there."
It took only a second for Mr. Weasley to leap over Ginny's cauldron and slam full force into the elder Malfoy. Harry watched with anticipation as fisticuffs were exchanged and both men went tumbling, knocking over displays and the occasional bookshelf. Ginny appeared worried, Ron and the twins were ecstatic, and Percy merely had on a disapproving scowl.
Harry glanced sideways and saw his arch nemesis was as engrossed in the fatherly dispute as the rest of the shop so Harry took a chance. Leaning to his right he braced his right leg in an effort to spring, drew his right hand back, planted his left leg firmly and… POP! delivered a stunning blow to Malfoy Junior's nose. Judging from the loud crack and the profuse blood now seeping out it was apparent that it was broken. Whistling innocently, Harry's eyes roamed around the shop making contact with anything but his most recent victim of aggression as he idly wondered if there were any long-term effects from having your nose broken and reset repeatedly.
Ginny for her part merely gave him an appreciative smile followed by a sad pout when Hagrid stepped in to break up the parental brawl. Standing up straight and dusting himself off Mr. Malfoy shoved the new textbook back into her cauldron. "Keep it girl, you'll be living on bread and water for a month after what that cost them. Come Draco." He strode away without even a backwards glance.
"Yeh shouldn't have let him get to yeh, Arthur. Bad blood the lot of 'em. Everyone knows it," Hagrid chided.
"Indeed, brawling in a public place! At least try to set a good example for the children," Molly further admonished. She continued her tirade until he looked suitably contrite and then turned her ire on Ginny.
"Ginevra Weasley! Where did you get these textbooks? They're practically brand new! How are we supposed to pay for them?" She continued in only slightly subdued tones.
"Ummm… Mum, well you see it's like this…" Ginny stammered, not really sure what to say.
"I bought them for her, Mum Weasley. A birthday present, if somewhat belated," Harry supplied cheerfully.
"Well, that's very thoughtful dear, but I'm sure the secondhand ones are just as suitable. We'll just have to take them back and…"
"You'll do no such thing. To refuse a gift is a great insult. I don't think you're the type of mother to insult her children's friends," Harry loved that line. Ginny had heard it on one of her mother's wireless programmes two years ago and it stuck with him ever since. Molly Weasley, for her part, could do nothing but sputter incoherently at the brazen nature of the boy in front of her. Luckily for all involved they avoided a full blown meltdown when Arthur placed his hand gently on his wife's shoulder and confirmed that it wouldn't hurt to let the boy do this. She shot her husband a venomous glare, but said nothing further.
"Come on now children, I think we've all had quite enough excitement for today," Arthur said and hurried the entire brood back towards the Leaky Cauldron.
oOo
Harry had finally taken Arabella's advice and tried once again to sleep in a bed as a human. She said it would help him get accustomed once again to pretending to be human. She figured her boy, as she'd taken to thinking of him, needed all the help he could get. Harry for his part would much rather stay under the corn crib, but he couldn't live there forever and this year HIS human would be attending Hogwarts and in his house! If she were in any other he vowed to personally remove every inch of stitching from the damned hat.
Lying back on his bed he extended his hands up into the darkness, fantasising about the possibility of kneading his claws into the disloyal hat, when Harry heard a pop and felt a small yet solid object drop onto his chest. Making eye contact he discovered that it was a visitor with large bulbous eyes and floppy ears. A house-elf he was sure of it. He'd heard Mum Weasley talk about them enough. Ginny had even asked what one was and the description fit this rodent perfectly. In truth he did look like a rodent, but not the delicious kind, just another disease infested rat.
The rat was twisting his hands fearfully and was clad in what appeared to be a dirty pillowcase. "Mister Harry Potter sir?" The elf squeaked. Harry merely nodded.
"It has been such a hard time to find you! I has come with a message, a warning for you sir. You must not return back to Hogwarts! Not at all. There is much danger for you there."
Sitting up abruptly pushed the small elf off his bed and he fell unceremoniously to the floor. "Ummm… danger right. What's your name again?"
"Dobby Mister Harry Potter! You is a great wizard for asking! Most wizards would not bother with the name of a lowly house-elf!"
"Most wizards wouldn't bother with a lot of things it seems, so there you have it. I don't suppose I've ever been like a lot of wizards. Now Dobby, what are you going on about?"
"Harry Potter sir, you must not return to Hogwarts this year! There is much danger, too much! A plot is afoot!" At this the elf's eyes went wide and he began banging his head against the wall.
"Dobby!" Harry commanded sharply, channeling every ounce of his father. "Stop that at once! I will not have you injuring yourself. Now you said there was danger. Can you tell me more?"
"I apologise, Harry Potter sir, but a house-elf is bound and Dobby cannot discuss this without the permission of his family!" He began wailing again and Harry finally grabbed a wad of socks and stuffed them firmly into Dobby's mouth, stifling the abhorrent sound.
"I am sorry, Dobby, but you don't want to seem to listen any other way. Now please do pay attention. This past year, my first, there was a significant danger. You weren't there to help me then and I doubt you'll be on hand to help me this year. If all you've come to say is stay away then my answer is no. I have someone to protect too, and if I don't go she'll be alone. I won't have that. I know you can understand. I'm a little more resilient than you think." Gently Harry reached forward and removed the socks from Dobby's mouth.
"Mister Harry Potter sir, Dobby must apologise, but I must stop you from going then. Life before and after He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is and was awful for house elves, but nothing compared to when he was in power. You must live, Harry Potter!" With that the elf Disapparated with a loud 'crack' and left Harry alone with a sinking feeling in his stomach, something was about to go terribly wrong.
oOo
Sooner than Harry could have anticipated nearly two weeks had gone by and September first was upon them once again. Harry stood outside the entrance to Platform nine and three quarters with the rest of the Weasley's who'd brought him upon Arabella's request. One of Harry's little siblings had gotten underfoot and the older woman wasn't as nimble as she used to be. Harry had learned that it was apparently difficult to drive the car with a broken leg.
"Hurry up, you lot! The train's going to leave any minute now," Mrs. Weasley yelled, hurriedly shooing her children towards the barrier.
"C'mon Harry! All the good seats will be taken!" Ron called at the edge of the brick wall. Harry grabbed Ginny's hand and hastened to catch up to his friend when the girl he was practically dragging tripped. The rest of the Weasleys had already gone through, which saved a little bit of the girl's dignity as only Harry and Ron were there to see her. It didn't stop it from being absolutely mortifying, though. Tripping in front of the boy you like, what next? Looking to her left Ginny saw her trunk had fallen open and some of her things had spilled out. Harry bent down and righted the trunk and quickly began refilling it.
"Ron, you go ahead and save us a compartment. I don't want to have to be sitting in the aisle the whole way there!" Harry called over his shoulder. Ron grunted in affirmation and hurried through the barrier. As Harry was placing the last of Ginny's things back in her trunk he saw a book he'd not seen before. It was old and rather beaten up, which independently was no surprise as that is how most Weasley things were, but it didn't look like a text book.
Holding it in his hand he could clearly read T.M. Riddle on the spine. It felt wrong, evil almost. The hairs on Harry's neck were standing straight up if that were possible as he stared intently at the cover. He opened it to find… nothing. Harry breathed a sigh of relief as he saw all the pages were empty. Ginny, however, snatched the book out of his hand and looked at it carefully.
"I don't remember packing this one. I wonder what it is?"
"I don't know, Ginny, but I don't like it. Get rid of it please. It feels funny."
"It's just a book. What harm ever came from writing in a book?" At this Harry secretly thought she'd never met Madam Pince, the guardian of all Hogwarts book purity. Ginny stowed the last of her things in the trunk and latched the lid firmly. "C'mon, we need to catch up with my brother." Both Ginny and Harry moved a little closer to the barrier before starting their jog towards the brick wall. WHAM! The brick wall, it seemed, today decided to be a real brick wall. Harry fell back his trunk flopping sideways and he quickly righted himself on all fours. He moved slowly over to Ginny and checked her for injuries. Nothing beyond the scrapes and bruises associated with running into a brick wall, thank Isis.
People around them were giving both of them strange looks and a man muttering something under his breath promptly shut up when he met Harry's very angry glare. Harry wrapped his arm around his red-headed compatriot's shoulders. She looked about ready to cry and he was sure it had nothing to do with the pain.
"Wh… why did the barrier close? I don't understand. Am I not allowed to go to Hogwarts? Did the letter arrive by mistake?" She was a second away from tears as Harry pulled her into an engulfing hug.
"No, it didn't arrive by mistake. You'll get there yet. We just need to find alternate means of transportation." Ginny smiled up at him and wiped her eyes. Standing quickly to her feet she even helped her black-haired protector up. She touched him! A victory any day.
"What's the plan, chief?" Ginny said in a more cheerful voice than she felt. Harry could feel the tension in his human, and she needed reassurance now more than ever.
"Fly. I've got my broom, maybe we could levitate the trunks and you could ride behind me. A flying caravan."
"Car… avan. Harry, you're a genius!" Ginny shouted, and then dropped into a conspiratorial whisper to explain. "Harry, I don't know if Ron told you but Daddy's car can fly!" Harry tried to look surprised. He'd been there when Ginny found her father tinkering and enchanting the machine in his garage. He'd helped her blackmail Mr. Weasley into giving her no chores for a week. Harry recommended a month, but his meows fell on deaf ears. He also knew it had never been tested.
"Ginny, I don't know if it's even still there. Why wouldn't your parents take it home?"
"They're always so forgetful, they probably Disapparated home and will come to pick it up later! C'mon, unless you have a better idea." She gave him a saucy look that Harry recognised. It usually meant that one of her brothers wouldn't let her do something because she was too little. He wasn't going to pick a fight about that.
Harry shrugged, picked up his trunk and followed Ginny out to the car park. There it was, a very old and beat up light blue Ford Anglia. Harry wasn't sure this was a good plan at all. He really hated riding in cars, the movement and noise always set his stomach on edge.
Ginny on the other hand loved the idea. The forbidden had always held a certain allure, especially when you could justify it. "Harry, come on! The barrier closed and the train is likely halfway to Hogwarts by now. They won't realise that we're missing till halfway through the feast and by then Mum will be going spare. We can just fly it to Hogwarts park it underneath the stands on the Quidditch pitch and owl daddy about it in the morning."
"How do you know so much about Hogwarts?" Harry asked.
"Six brothers and you, my dear sir." She replied smartly." With a grudging sigh he loaded his and Ginny's trunks into the magical boot. He watched with fascination as Ginny crawled in the driver's seat and began messing with a loose collection of wires underneath the steering wheel. Several minutes later the engine roared to life. "Our chariot, Mr. Potter," she said smiling cheekily.
"Ginny, where did you learn to do that?"
"All between Fred, George and Dad. Dad loves to figure out how things work and Fred and George taught me a bit about Muggle things so between them I kind of guessed how to make the car start without the keys. Muggles call it 'hot-wiring'."
"Sparkplug, I think that's illegal."
"Yeah, well, so is putting kids in hospital, so between us I guess we're just a pair of Azkaban rats!" She giggled at Harry's put-out expression. So much like her four-legged Harry she marvelled. It was almost like he was a Kneazle in human form. Shaking her head to clear it of silly ideas she hopped in the front seat and adjusted all the controls to fit her eleven year old form, trying with all her might to see over the dashboard. Anyone following her would have thought the car was being steered magically except for two small sets of knuckles gripping the steering wheel.
Harry dashed in the passenger side as she put it in gear and prayed with all his might that he still had at least three of his nine lives left. He had a feeling he was going to need them. Ginny pulled out of the carpark and adjusted the shifter to its 'levitate' setting. The car rose easily into the air prompting one little boy to have a fit trying to tell his mother and a drunk to pour away the rest of his bottle. 'Time to get sober' he thought.
"Ginny, everyone can see us! They'll notice in a moment." Harry yelled.
"Hold your hippogriffs Harry. We've got invisibility." Ginny smiled as she punched the button marked 'invisibility booster' on the stereo. Looking outside Harry couldn't see the car anymore, but he had to guess it was still there as he hadn't suddenly plummeted to earth and died a horrible splattery death.
"Sparkplug, do you know how to fly this thing?"
"Daddy likes to call it 'on the job training'." She smiled. Harry was seeing at least one of his lives flashing before his eyes. He wondered and hoped that since Kneazles lived longer than regular housecats he had a few more than nine. If Ginny's rambunctious streak became any more pronounced he was going to need them.
Flying in a northerly fashion Harry's sharp eyes quickly located the crimson of the Hogwarts Express winding its way through the hills towards the outwardly decrepit castle Harry had begun to call home number two. "There it is!" he cried.
Banking the car like a helicopter pilot straight out of the Falklands war, Ginny decided today was an excellent day to experiment with nap-of-the-earth automotive flying techniques. Harry could do nothing else but admire her ease at handling the large machine, almost like she was born to the air.
"If we hurry we can beat them there. I can meet Ron and Hermione to head into the castle and you can ride the boats over. They'll never miss us." Harry exclaimed enthusiastically. Ginny merely nodded and pressed the accelerator down to the floor. The car jerked heavily, dropped thirty feet became visible for a second and then accelerated heavily. "What was that?" Harry asked worriedly.
"Don't worry Paws, I've got it under control."
"Paws? What the bloody hell is Paws?"
"Well, you call me Sparkplug… NO one but Daddy calls me that. I still haven't asked where you heard it. Ohhhhh…. If Ron told you I'll kill the git," Ginny continued to growl incoherently at imaginary slights by her brother until she finally continued. "And I need something to call you. Harry is just so tame and you remind me of my Kneazle at home. No, you haven't met him yet, but his name is Harry too! I just thought it fit. So you're Paws now." Harry met her eyes with a look that clearly read 'if you must'.
"We're nearly there," Harry said several hours later. Flying wasn't nearly as fast as it looked Harry found. He'd taken the position as navigator with his keen direction sense and sharp eyes it left Ginny to do the actual flying.
"Good I don't know how much more this thing can take," Ginny said nervously. She enjoyed the car when it was working, but the invisibility booster had gone out for a good thirty minutes before either of them had noticed. A well-placed kick from Harry had started it up again; 'percussive maintenance' he called it.
Five minutes later the grounds of Hogwarts were in full view. They could hear the whistle of the Express approaching Hogsmeade. "Damn! I thought we were going to be early. This is going to get difficult."
"Don't worry Paws, we'll be down in no time!" With that Ginny pushed the car into a spectacular dive, the tires barely skimming the tree tops.
"Ginny, pull up! Don't touch the…" What Ginny wasn't supposed to touch however was lost as the Whomping Willow, which they did touch, slammed several of its largest branches into the bumper of the old Ford sending them from nap-of-the-earth to crashing rather painfully into the grounds just outside Hagrid's hut. Seatbelts being one of the Muggle inventions a top flight Ford pilot didn't usually wear, Ginny was thrown forward through the windshield, her fall only being broken by the squishy body of Harry landing immediately underneath her. The car righted its self flashed its lights and blared the horn in indignation. It made several rotations, digging deep ruts into Hagrid's pumpkin patch, and finally spat out both Harry and Ginny's trunks from the boot before disappearing into the forest.
Ginny was white as a ghost. Goodly-sized cuts lined her face and Harry was privately thanking Isis for watching out that no more harm came to his Human than that. Her next statement made Harry wish that maybe he had died. "Mum's going to kill me." An angry Mum Weasley was no fun to face. The rage that this little incident would generate from her should be truly earth shattering.
Harry could only watch helplessly as the now wild car drove itself deep into the forest. He had the sneaking suspicion it wasn't the last time he'd see it. "Come on Ginny. We're expected at the castle. Mum really will go spare if you don't turn up and we lost the car."
"Harry, we didn't lose the car. I'm the one driving,"
"Piloting. Like one of those fancy Muggle aer-o-planes. Captain Ginny Weasley and her fearless co-pilot Paws bravely flying where no one has a right to fly!" Harry struck a dramatic pose and was rewarded with a soft giggle.
"Fine… piloting, but I'm the one who lost the car. I convinced you to take it."
"Firstly we did it together. Secondly how else would we have gotten here? I didn't much fancy walking did you? I think it was a good adventure and I'm sure your mum will forgive us eventually. She has to like you, you're family. She'll likely think it was all my idea anyway." Harry smiled nervously. He had sacrificed hours of potential nudity to appease the Weasley matriarch and now it could all be for nothing.
"Don't worry about it. We'll figure it out. I'm more worried about Ron. He'll have gone spare that he missed this."
The two friends locked eyes and smiled. Harry charmed both their trunks to levitate and they pushed them towards the imposing bulk of the castle hoping to avoid detection until they were firmly entrenched at the house tables, Harry conveniently forgetting that Ginny still needed to be Sorted.
oOo
They moved swiftly up to the castle, but unfortunately the doors were already shut. Harry stood on his tiptoes and peered in through the windows looking at the glow of the candles and the long line of students. "Harry, what's happening? Why are all the younger ones in a line?"
"Oh shite, it's the Sorting! Ginny, we have to get you in there. If you're not sorted you can't attend!"
"That may not be an issue, Potter." Every hair on Harry's neck stood on end. His imaginary tail was swishing back and forth furiously, and his ears would have been pinned flat to his head. Both Weasley and Potter whirled around to be confronted with the looming if not completely imposing form of Professor Severus Snape, Potions Master extraordinaire. "The newest Weasley," he spat, "I am pleased that for once you will be the last. Come with me both of you." They dutifully followed. Harry walked between Ginny and the professor, shoulders back, head up and his face set in a resolute expression. He didn't know how much trouble they were in, but he was determined that Ginny would face as little as possible. He didn't think she realized that the teachers couldn't really do anything to them. He'd explain it to her later.
They were led into the headmaster's office and sat in two of the signature overstuffed armchairs. "Arriving by train not good enough for you eh Potter? Not nearly flashy enough for the famous Potter and his new sidekick. Trying to get her expelled before she even starts?" Ginny let out a fearful squeak at this possibility.
"Hardly, Professor, and I will thank you to leave Ginny out of it. I am the sole one responsible. She came along out of necessity."
"Necessity? Cultivating your personal fame is hardly a necessity. If you were part of my house, expulsion would be too good for you, however since that does not rest with me I will go fetch those who have that happy power." With an evil grin and a dramatic billowing of his robes the surly professor strode from the office.
"That robe trick is neat. I wonder how he does it. I'll have to learn, you never know when it could come in handy," Harry said offhandedly.
"Harry!" Ginny shrieked almost in tears. "They're going to expel us and snap my wand!" She continued pulling her wand out of her pocket for dramatic effect.
"Ginny, I think the wand is already snapped," Harry cried.
"Oh no!" At the sight of her damaged wand she began to cry in earnest. "It.. it was my grandmother's and now!" She was so upset she could hardly speak.
"Breath, Sparkplug. If you need to you can use mine, nothing else for it. We'll get you a new one. C'mon they're not going to expel you, I won't let them. I'll tell them it was all my idea. They can kick me out if it comes to it."
"That may not be your choice, Mr. Potter," Harry whirled around in his chair so fast he thought he might have damaged something. There stood cousin McGonagall, Snape and Albus Kneazle-molester Dumbledore. Harry was really starting to get sick of people sneaking up on him in all his distraction. He'd be dead twice tonight alone if this were real.
"So…" McGonagall began, "you stole and illegally flew an enchanted car from Kings Cross, damaged a valuable piece of school flora and were SEEN by no less than seven Muggles. The Obliviator Squad is having to work overtime with regards to this. Can you please explain yourselves Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley?"
"The barrier to King's Cross closed, cous… er Professor. We needed a quick and reliable means of transportation to arrive at the school in a timely fashion. A flying, if not entirely invisible, car seemed the best option. Is there something else you would have preferred?" Harry asked indignantly. He hated having his (or in this case Ginny's) judgment questioned on something so very obvious. It wasn't like he had a way to contact them.
"Hmmm… a closed barrier." Dumbledore mused. "Any idea why it would have closed?"
"No, sir." Harry answered. Glancing sideways at Ginny the poor girl still seemed to be in no condition to answer.
"That has never happened before so you will understand my skepticism."
"No, professor, I don't. I haven't intentionally lied to you before and I don't make it a frequent point of doing it regularly, except on your orders. For all I know it happens every year and you just aren't telling me."
All eyes fixed on Harry. McGonagall's mouth had pursed into a nearly invisible line and Snape's eyes were about to bug out of his head. Dumbledore for his part merely nodded. "True Harry, that is true. This leads me to the only logical conclusion. Powerful magics were at work here, something we don't fully understand."
"Does that mean we're not going to be expelled?" Ginny finally found her voice.
"Not today, my dear girl. Although I must impress upon you both the seriousness of what you have done. In the future should such a thing occur it would be best for you to stay put and wait for an adult." Harry snorted at that. Wait for an adult indeed, that lack of independence is what got so many human young into trouble. He was glad Kneazles encouraged independent thought and action.
"Professor! I must protest! These two have flaunted school rules, broken the Decree for Secrecy and Underage Wizardry, damaged a valuable school tree…"
"Severus," Dumbledore interrupted quietly, "my decision stands. Not today. Now I believe that we need to return to the feast. Minerva, young Miss Weasley needs to be Sorted if you would retrieve the hat and administer. Please do let me know where she is placed." With that and a death glare from Snape both men walked out of the room.
"I had anticipated something like this," Professor McGonagall muttered as she produced the old floppy Sorting Hat. "Place this on your head if you please Miss Weasley."
Ginny cautiously took the hat and placed the over sized garment over her head nearly obscuring her entire face. After what seemed only a few seconds the hat called out "GRYFFINDOR!" She pulled it off and Harry could see the relief on her features. Nodding in appreciation, or resignation, the Transfiguration Professor waved her wand and a large plate of sandwiches and two goblets of pumpkin juice appeared.
"Now both of you will wait here and eat. Your trunks have already been taken up to your rooms and you will head there, after you've eaten and the feast has concluded."
"Professor?"
"Yes, Mr. Potter."
"Since the term really hadn't started when we flew the car and Ginny wasn't part of Gryffindor…"
"No, Mr. Potter, no House Points will be taken. However you both will be receiving detentions."
Harry looked puzzled. "That's nice, but I was wondering if we have to sleep outside or miss breakfast or something you know… important."
Don't kill… he's not all human. That had been Minerva's chant the previous year once she was aware of Mr. Potter's 'furry little problem'. It looked like she'd need it again. "Mr. Potter despite what you think House Points are considered by many here to be 'important'. Now if you'll excuse me I have to rejoin the feast."
"That could have gone worse," Harry observed, as their head of house swept out of the room rather hurriedly.
"Mum's still going to kill me." Ginny said morosely.
"Maybe, but not until Christmas. That's a whole term away! So live a little. This Friday I'll take you to meet Hagrid. I think you'll like him." Ginny smiled a little.
"Anyone you like has to be a bit of alright Paws."
"There you are! Now come on. Dinner's wasting."
After both had stuffed themselves with food (who knew life-threatening situations gave you such an appetite?) they leaned back and listened to the sounds of the Great Hall wafting in from the open window.
"Why do you think they didn't expel us?" Ginny asked cautiously.
"Because you're so cute, I bet," Harry said offhandedly. Ginny's face flamed red. She wasn't sure how he meant it, but it had to be good either way.
"Let's go, it sounds like the feast let out. We'll need the password to get to the tower."
The way to the tower seemed like an endless maze of passages for Ginny and with Harry giving her basic instruction on Hogwarts life she was hard-pressed to remember it all. Finally, they were at the Portrait Hole. "Password?" The Fat Lady asked.
Harry merely stammered. They hadn't been given one!
"Mate! There you are! I was wondering where you'd gotten to. It's all over, they said you flew a car here and crashed into the Whomping Willow."
"We didn't really crash into it. We sort of grazed the upper branches and it smacked us out of the sky. We might have been killed if Ginny hadn't piloted so well," Harry said modestly.
"Wait, Ginny flew! Flew a car all the way here by herself?"
"Well I navigated."
"Where did you get a flying car anyway… hold on tell me it wasn't…"
"It was Daddy's," Ginny finally added looking thoroughly abashed at her shoes.
"Bloody brilliant. Mum's going to have your hide, don't get me wrong, but it was brilliant. Don't tell Hermione I said so, though. She's been going mental with worry for you two when you didn't show up on the train."
"Ron, what's the password?"
"Oh, Fizzing Whizbee." With that the portrait hole swung open and all three clambered in to a party that none of them were anticipating. The entire house was there, from Fred and George congratulating them on a job well done to Hermione admonishing them for both flying the car and making her worry. Being of smaller stature could come in handy Harry found as he and Ginny were able to slip through the crowd and avoid a very disgruntled-looking Percy.
"How was this for your first trip to Hogwarts?" Harry asked.
"Bloody brilliant!" Ginny exclaimed as she headed up to bed.
Harry reflected as he climbed the stairs to his own dorm bed that today had, despite all its shortcomings, been bloody brilliant.
AN: Thank everyone for both their kind responses and input on an American Harry. It was just an idea, and in retrospect likely a poor one at that. I am officially looking for interesting plot ideas. I will finish this one first, so no fear loyal readers! UPDATE MAN was nearly foiled by his arch nemisis, COMPUTER PROBLEMS! Kneazle Harry will continue to develop I am open to both input and constructive criticism. I would like to say that I have reached 176 reviews with 0 flames! I don't know if it is a record, but it feels like one to me! Thank you all!