Chapter 14. The Road less Traveled

"Two roads diverged in a wood

And I took the one less traveled by

And that has made all the difference" – Robert Frost

"Well, that was definitely unexpected," groaned Tonks, as a medi-witch checked her over.

"What exactly happened? We arrived after the fact," commented Minerva.

"It was an ambush," said Kingsley as he walked up. "Death eaters were on the platform waiting. Mad-Eye didn't have time to warn anyone, so by the time Harry got on the platform, he was trying to draw their attention away. Harry managed to dodge a few spells before he somehow took them all out at the same time."

Albus looked up. "How did he do that?"

Tonks grimaced as the medi-witch cleaned a cut. "He sent out some kind of wave of power and they all fell unconscious. He looked more surprised than I did when it happened." She looked at Kingsley and shrugged. "Glad Harry is on our side, though. Whatever it was he did, I know I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of it."

Albus stood there smiling as he pondered what to tell Harry.

Harry sat on the train watching out the window and thinking. Ron and Hermione were not back from the Prefect's meeting and Ginny had fallen asleep against him. He looked at her resting peacefully and smiled. He kissed her forehead before settling back and closing his eyes.

He was still replaying what had happened at the Platform. He thought about when he realized that they were going to attack Ginny. He knew that he had experienced some kind of adrenaline rush, because he remembered that suddenly everything slowed down. He saw the spells heading for Ginny and knew he had to block them somehow. Before he realized it, he had sent a spell toward them...he watched as a wave of light left his body and shattered the stunners headed for Ginny and Molly. How he did it, he didn't know.

He was fast asleep ten minutes later and didn't hear the doors to the compartment open.

Cho Chang, this year's Head Girl, was just finishing with the Prefect's meeting when Professor Snape walked into the compartment. He looked briefly over those in attendance, nodded to Cho and left.

The Prefects began discussing some things among themselves, but Cho, curious as to why Snape was on the train, left the room. She saw a figure down the corridor head into a compartment and she followed. As she walked down the corridor, she wondered which one Harry was in. She really regretted the way she treated him, and after a long talk with her grandfather, a solicitor and a very logical man, she realized that she wanted to be with Harry.

She opened the doors to the compartment to find Harry sitting alone with Ron Weasley's little sister. They were both asleep and leaning against one another. She fought back tears as she grew angry. Whether her anger was at Harry or herself, she didn't know...but she did know that she had to get away from the scene before her. She quietly closed the doors and ran to an empty compartment where she let the tears flow freely.

Draco Malfoy sat in his compartment surrounded by his so-called friends. Crabbe, Goyle, Parkinson and the others laughed and joked about their summers while Draco observed. His summer had not been one to remember; in fact, he was lucky to be heading back to Hogwarts at all. His mother had threatened to transfer him to Durmstrang after what had happened with his father in June. He was supposed to be presented to the Dark Lord over the summer, and he felt oddly relieved when he wasn't.

This sense of relief felt odd to him. He had been brought up around Dark Magic, and his father insured that he was proficient in it. He was trained to hate any that were not purebloods, and he was especially trained to hate Harry Potter. Based on how he was feeling, he was no longer sure if he actually hated Potter or was jealous of him.

He was brought back to the present when Pansy poked him in the side. She had somehow managed to get him all alone and wanted to "play" as she put it. While the thought of that was disgusting, as he had realized how vile she was, he felt compelled to go along...at least for now.

Harry woke up when he felt someone poking him. He jerked up and saw a very red-faced Ron looking down at him and Hermione behind him in the doorway, laughing. "What do you think you are doing?"

Harry, still not quite awake, was dumbfounded. He glanced down at his lap and saw Ginny, sleeping...then he noticed why Ron was upset. While he had slept, he had somehow gotten his hand inside her blouse on her stomach. He jerked his hand away and started blushing...which caused Hermione to start laughing. Ron grabbed her and pulled her inside so that he could close the door.

Harry's sudden movements had woken up Ginny from a very nice dream that involved her and Harry and a wedding. Needless to say, she was not happy at having the dream suddenly ended by her brother and his girlfriend. It took almost an hour for everyone to stop snickering or glaring. Then the door opened again and they all looked up to see Malfoy standing there...alone.

"Potter, could you step outside?"

Harry watched as Ron automatically pulled his wand. Something was wrong though, Harry could sense it. "Hold a moment, Ron. What is it, Malfoy?"

"I need to tell you something." He held his hands out. "Weasel, you can hold my wand if it will make you feel better." When Ron nodded, he slowly handed his wand to Ron and Harry stepped into the corridor, closing the door behind him.

Malfoy looked out the window. "Look, Potter, I know you hate me. I can't say as I blame you. But something has happened...I can't talk about it just yet, but I am not the same person I was when I left at the end of last term."

Harry watched him, waiting for a trap. When it didn't come, he replied. "Look, Malfoy...I don't know if I can trust you. You and I have never agreed on anything. But if you are serious about changing, then I can give you the benefit of the doubt for now and we can go from there."

Malfoy turned and looked Harry in the eye. "That's fair. I do have to keep up appearances though...my house mates would sense it if I treated you differently."

Harry agreed. "That's true. Why don't we see what Dumbledore has to say and go from there?" Malfoy agreed and then Harry retrieved the wand from Ron and handed it back to him. "I take it as a good sign that you haven't tried anything. I am willing to help you once we talk to the Headmaster, Draco. I will try to see him after the Feast." With that, Harry stepped inside and closed the door, leaving Malfoy in shock over the fact that he had just heard his first name used by Harry Potter.

They had all just gotten changed into their robes when the train slowed down and stopped at Hogsmeade station. They got their things and headed out to the familiar sounds of Hagrid gathering the First Years. Harry waved to Hagrid, who smiled and waved back before gathering the new students and setting off toward the lake. They all managed to get into a carriage together and laughed and joked trying to figure out what would happen during their sixth year.

As they entered the Great Hall, Harry stopped and closed his eyes. He really felt like he was home. Ginny laughed and pulled at his sleeve, and the two of them joined Ron and Hermione in their usual places at the Gryffindor table as they waited for the Sorting to begin.

Before they knew it, Professor McGonagall was heading in carrying a stool and the Sorting Hat, followed by a group of small, very scared looking children. Harry marveled at them, remembering how scared he was when he made that same trip.

Harry watched as the stool was placed and the Hat atop it. Almost immediately, the Hat came to life and it began its yearly song.

Welcome all, to the halls of magic,

Things we learn are not so tragic
that we must live in fear.

New ones listen, and old ones too,

To what I have to say to you,

And heed the words you hear.

Great Godric Gryffindor once roamed these halls, you see,

His bravery true and heart so pure, in fact he did make me.

Ravishing Rowena Ravenclaw, a beauty and smarter than the others,

She was intelligent enough to know that we all must act like sisters and brothers.

Happy Helga Hufflepuff was the mediator when problems came to fruition,

And in her house their always has been a stronger sense of tradition.

Speculative Salazar Slytherin was not as evil as you are lead to believe,

But over time, many have tried to keep them from reprieve.

The founders four, all great alone, combined their awesome powers,

Their greatest fame in all of time gave us this place that we call ours.

So let me say, the lesson is, that even though we have power,

Much greater then we cannot be than if friendship is to flower.

Combined our strength can overcome, even our greatest dangers,

And family be, but we will lose if we do stay as strangers.

But still we need to see our strengths and I am proof of that,

And for that reason, I was made, the Hogwarts Sorting Hat.

Everyone applauded the end of the song, but once again, muttering started regarding the warnings in it. After a few moments, Professor McGonagall walked up and started the Sorting.

"Allen, Betty."

"Hufflepuff!"

While the Sorting was going on, Harry looked up at the Staff table and caught the Headmaster's eye. He saw Dumbledore nod and he knew that his unspoken request to meet with him had been granted.