21: The Hogwarts Express

Harry spent the rest of his summer enjoying a sunny, colourful pre-war Diagon Alley. He had only briefly visited this one of the most important magical communities twice since he came back, and had never felt the contract so dearly. Before he left, only a year and a half had passed since the war, and the Wizarding World, Diagon Alley included, was still affected by its aftermath. The last time he visited the place before Malfoy's offer, half of the street was advertising Calming Draughts, home security devices, and domestic necessities. The other half thrived on second-hand businesses. The Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes was still the only colourful store on the entire street. Without Fred (though he had a Portrait), even the WWW was duller than usual.

It was about a week after Harry arrived at the Leaky Cauldron's when he confirmed his theory of being followed. He had just came out of the Apothecary after refilling his potions ingredient when he heard a familiar voice apologizing to someone behind him. Harry then made a detour claiming he needed more beetle eyes this year, and spotted a tall, blonde witch turning around abruptly. He then chose one of the busiest cafés in the Alley to have lunch, and stayed to do his homework. The witch, who sat two tables away from him, kept ordering absurd snacks looking utterly bored. By 3o' clock, Harry decided it was enough, and gathered his things.

The witch stood up right away, looking more than ready to leave the place, but Harry walked right to her table.

"Hello, Tonks," greeted Harry.

"Uh - hi. Have we met?" Tonks had a bemused look that Harry knew was faked. Still, he couldn't help but praising her as he could've easily been fooled if he didn't know better. Then, he reminded himself, Tonks was technically only a year older than him, and without a Dark Wizard chasing after her constantly, she was actually doing pretty well.

"Last year, at Florean Frotescue's. You met me and two of my friends. We were staring at your pink hair," Harry prompted, realization showed on Tonk's face. Before she could ask, Harry smiled, "I have a good memory."

Tonks nodded quickly. Harry sat down beside her, and blurted, "I'm Harry. Harry Potter."

Tonks jumped a little, Harry supposed it was more because of his bluntness than his identity. People turned around to stare, and Harry immediately regretted his decision. "I know," said Tonks quietly, rubbing her neck, also feeling uncomfortable by the suddenly attention.

"Don't you have work?" asked Harry, silently casting Muffliatos to nearby tables.

"I do, for a matter of fact," Tonks cleared her throat, sounding more confident, "I'm stationed here."

"You're following me," Harry let out the Hippogriff, and chuckled at Tonk's face.

"You knew? How?" she frowned, "Merlin! You turned back on purpose! And you've been watching me here…" Harry grinned, "that was bloody brilliant, Harry! You completely fooled me -"

Tonks cursed, and Harry knew why, "Mad-Eye'll kill me - he's my mentor, bloody paranoid and all - my first shift on my own and I've messed up -"

"Relax," Harry held up a hand, "I won't tell. We can have a chat together, you are still safeguarding me and we'll have more fun together. You can help me with some homework."

It turned out, Tonks was an exceptional Potioneer and downright frightening when it came to Defense (which he had witnessed only briefly in his previous timeline). And as for History, Tonks summed everything up in three words, "oppression, rebellion, repeat." Harry found it more accurate than most of his essays. They then talked about werewolf and House-Elf rights. Harry's affection towards her doubled as they complained loudly to each other how badly some Pureblood families treated House-Elves, earning eccentric looks from the neighbouring tables (Harry had cancelled the Charm as they got to the topic).

"Do you think Riddle's gone?" Harry asked quietly after a moment of silence.

"Riddle?"

"Tom Riddle, better known as Voldemort."

Tonks looked pensive. "I dunno, Harry. Dumbledore said he was never gone, and there have been signs of Dark Magic in Albania until -"

"The year before last year," Harry finished her thought, "he was was stuck at the back of Quirrell's head. I saw him at the end of my first year."

She didn't speak for a few second. When she did, she sounded soft, "I'm sorry, Harry -"

"'Tis all right," waved Harry, "I'm used to having someone after my neck. First year Quirrell, second year Riddle's diary and Basilisk, this year Sirius Black, who knows? Maybe he'll be after me next year? Maybe he'll - kidnap me and get his body back or something."

Harry couldn't help the bitterness in his tone as he alluded to the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Tonks noticed it, too. "You'll survive, Harry," she said softly, each of her word ringing clearly in Harry's ears, "you've got good instincts and advanced skills. You're a natural at Defense, I saw it today. And you've got a good heart. You'll live. Hell, you may even get rid of him for good one day. And when that day comes, you'll join the Aurors. I bet my Metamorphmagus ability that Mad-Eye handpicks you."

Harry nodded, smiling to himself as he remembered being handpicked by the best mentor in the Office after one dull Patrol. Tonks glanced at his watch. "Blimey!" she yelped, jumping up, "I'm off an hour ago! I'll escort you to the bar, it's getting dark."

Harry followed her, taking the last chance to talk to her. Before they bid each other goodbye, Harry made a little request, "could you tell the Manager at Flourish and Blotts that he only needs to stroke the spines of The Monster's Book of Monsters to tame them?"

Tonks made a funny salute and shooed Harry into the bar.

Ron and Hermione joined him on the last day of the holidays. They wanted to drag Ginny along, but Mrs Weasley insisted she was too young and needed to be kept around adults. Harry and Ron exchanged a grin.

They finished their back-to-school shopping by noon. Hermione, on Malfoy's orders, signed up for Divination aside from Care of Magical Creatures, Ancient Runes, and Arithmacy, which meant she had to break her promise of no more time-travelling. Harry and Ron had bullied her into swearing to turn back a few more hours per day to sleep and to skive classes if things got rough. Finally satisfied, they headed to the Magical Menagerie to reunite with Crookshanks.

Ron didn't bother buying Scabbers rat tonic this time around, and Hermione blatantly forbidden Crookshanks to go near Scabbers cage. The cat spent the day hissing dangerously at a squealing Scabbers, which gave Harry a perfect opportunity to fill them in about his second encounter with Tonks.

"So you think she'll be trustworthy?" asked Ron. They were back at the Leaky Cauldron's, in Harry's room to avoid being overheard by human and rats alike.

Harry nodded, "we can definitely trust her. Maybe Kingsley, too, if we meet him sooner this time around."

"I'm not sure, Harry," Hermione put a finger between her teeth, looking hesitant, "At this rate, we'll be telling the entire Order before we get to Dumbledore, and that is too risky."

Harry considered it for a moment before deciding Hermione had a good point. Ron, again, proposed a compromise: "we can tell them what we need to do and not tell them why we do it. It'll be good to have Tonks or Kingsley to help getting the Ring, or to work in the Ministry, once Riddle's back. We can beg them to take us and they'll do it. Especially Tonks, she'll definitely be in."

Harry and Hermione nodded in agreement and decided to ask the rest of the team about it.

At King's Cross the next morning, Harry was pulled aside by Mr Weasley. He told the others to find a compartment and followed him toward a pillar.

"There's something I've got to tell you before you leave -" said Mr Weasley in a tense voice.

"Is it about Sirius Black, Mr Weasley?"

"You know?" Mr Weasley was taken aback, "How could you know?"

"I bumped into my Auror guard the other day," said Harry wryly, hoping Tonks would never find out about it.

Mr Weasley's eyes went unfocused for a second. "Harry, you must be very scared -"

"I'm not," said Harry, more sincerely than the last time, "I've faced Voldemort before, and he can't be worse, can he?"

Mr Weasley flinched at the name. Harry made a mental note to start asking people calling him Riddle. Mrs Weasley was calling for them from behind.

"Listen," Mr Weasley grabbed his arm and talked hurriedly, "I want you to give me your word that you won't go looking for Black, no matter what you might hear, promise me you won't go after him."

"I promise, Mr Weasley," said Harry before he ran to the train. He then smiled at himself for planning to do the exact opposite.

Ron lead him to their compartment and Harry immediately deflated.

"Really, Hermione," he hissed, "we are sitting with Re -"

Hermione shushed him before he could do any damage. Closing the door behind him, he saw her pointing her wand at the new Professor.

"Now, to answer your question, Harry," Hermione stared at him with exasperation, "you'll want Remus to meet you in a more - private - setting."

"So you Muffliatoed him?"

"Exactly," Hermione smirked, "I had a slight suspicion that he was feigning to sleep last time. So I took precautions."

"Right," said Harry, sitting down. Hermione shot him another glare.

"So Dad made you promise not to go after Snuffles?" asked Ron.

Harry grinned. "How ironic. We are doing the exact opposite, for the exact opposite reasons." He eyed Scabbers, who had been fed another dose of Sleeping Draught and was completely oblivious about the conversation around him. "You might want to hide that rat from Remus. At least don't let him have a good look till it's time."

The compartment door slid open. "Potter," bellowed Malfoy, "we've got a problem -" he stopped at the sight of Lupin.

"It's okay," gestured Harry, "we've Muffliatoed him."

Malfoy stepped in and closed the door behind him. "We can't all faint at the sight of Dementors."

Harry understood immediately. They all clearly remember how badly they had reacted the first time they met those creatures. Now, with the memories from a War and no Patronuses, there was no way to predict how they would react.

Harry thought about how Dementors and Patronuses work, before reaching a conclusion, "use Occlumency. Try focusing on hopeful thoughts and lock the dreadful ones aside. Neutral, logical thoughts help, too. Like the fact that we are here to shape things for the better. It's a mind game."

Malfoy took a minute to digest Harry's words before striding out of the compartment, "I'll tell Dusty that," he informed before leaving.

Ginny came half-way through their ride. Harry quickly explained his theory to Ginny. The latter nodded but refused to speak, and spent the next hour thinking to herself.

Harry pulled Ginny to himself the moment the train stopped. He allowed her to grab him by the arm. Ginny had just started getting a glimpse of Occlumency, and her recent encounter with the Diary would only make everything worse. Harry hoped by providing an arm, he could remind her that he was with her, and would be by her side until the very end. Hermione cancelled the Charm before the light went out.

"Sorry - d'you know what's going on? - Ouch - sorry -" The compartment door opened.

"Hullo, Neville," said Harry, feeling around in the dark to find Neville.

"Harry? Is that you? What's happening?"

"No idea - sit down -"

"Ouch!" Yelped Ron, Neville apologized quickly, before stumbling onto the ground. Harry felt someone's cloak and dragged it up.

"Harry, you are choking me!" shrieked Hermione.

"Sorry, 'Mione."

"Neville you okay?"

"Yeah. I think I found a seat -"

"Not here! I'm here!"

"Quiet!" Remus was finally awake. He lit his wand and ordered them to stay. Ginny dragged Neville into a seat beside them, and grasped Harry's arm again. Harry wrapped his other hand on top of Ginny's.

The door slid open again to reveal a Dementor. Harry felt its effect instantly, and attempted his best blocking away memories.

"Harry Potter, I now speak directly to you -"

You will make your choice early enough this time.

"Kill the spare -"

You will not let that happen again.

"NO! Fred, no!"

There will be no Battle of Hogwarts

"Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off!"

I will see them when it's my time.

"Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living."

Don't worry, I will.

"Little Teddy lost both of his parents a year ago today -"

Several things happened at once. Ginny screamed, Lupin's Patronus sprung forward and banished the Dementor out of the compartment, the air became warm again, and Harry bent over and vomited all over the floor.

"C'mon, now. It's gone," someone was rubbing his back as he heaved. He was shaking violently, unable to support his own weight even as he was sitting. An arm reached for his shoulder, steadied him with a warm, firm grip. Another bout of nausea hit him. Harry bent forward again and grasped the arm like a drowning man holding onto a piece of wood.

"Easy," the same someone soothed, still supporting him while patting his back. Harry took several deep breaths before lifting himself up. Lupin was bending over him, his wrinkled face full of concern.

"'m okay now," murmured Harry. Lupin gave him one last glance before vanished the vomit on the floor. Harry looked around. Ron and Hermione huddled together, pale and shaking slightly. Neville didn't look too bad, but was shaking his head blankly. Ginny's hand still clutched around his arm. She, too, was shaking badly, biting her lip to stop herself from crying. Harry suspected she was on the verge of fainting by the time Lupin called his Patronus. Harry rested her head on his shoulder, and she instantly curled up beside him. Then Harry realized he was drenched in cold sweat.

The snap of Lupin breaking the chocolate almost made Harry jump up and start shooting spells all over. He stopped himself half-way in the motion and stalled his wand back to his pocket. Lupin shot him another strange look.

"Here," he handed Harry one of the biggest pieces, "Eat it. It'll help."

Harry took a bite, and the reaction was instant. The warmth spread through him like water. He felt more control in his own muscles.

"What was that thing?" he asked, looking at Lupin.

"A Dementor," said Lupin, who was giving Neville the last piece of chocolate, "One of the Dementors of Azkaban."

Everyone stared at him. Remus crumpled up the empty chocolate wrapper and put it in his pocket.

"Eat," he repeated, Harry took another bite, "It'll help. I need to speak to the driver, excuse me…"

He strolled past them and disappeared into the corridor. The five of them sat in silence as they ate their chocolate. When they finally finished, Hermione asked, "all right, Harry? Ginny?"

Ginny nodded. Harry muttered a fine before asking Ron, Hermione and Neville the same question.

Neville shivered slightly, and answered in a voice higher than usual, "It was horrible… Just horrible."

"I heard people, yelling and shouting," said Ron, giving Harry a significant glance.

"I was hearing a lot of things," Harry prompted.

"I heard screaming," whimpered Hermione, "and I think it's mine."

Ron's arm was instantly around Hermione's shoulder. Harry didn't need to ask what exactly Hermione heard. Neville looked puzzled.

"What are you talking about? No one screamed, or yelled, or shouted," he asked. The rest of them just shrugged.

Remus came in a minute later, told them they were fifteen minutes away, and asked again if Harry was all right. Harry had a faint suspicion of having the worst reaction on the train again.

They briefly talked to Malfoy and Astoria before boarding the carriages. The two Slytherins did much better than the others, partly because they were better Occlumens, partly because they, luckily, hadn't suffered as much. In fact, Harry was taken aback at both of their confessions of not being able to see Thestrals.

They had an interesting ride to the castle as they shared a carriage with Luna. Neville was bewildered at Luna's refreshing perspectives on Dementors, Hermione was not at all amused, Ron suppressed several snorts, and Harry and Ginny exchanged grins.

Hermione was called out by McGonagall and didn't come back until the Sorting ended. She gave them a triumphant smile that told them she had the time turner. Harry then cast a few quick Muffliato's, and the real discussion began.

"That theory of yours, Harry," Ron swallowed some mashed potato, "it was brilliant. I would've fainted at the first one."

"So we all heard multiples?" Harry inquired, mildly interested.

"I had two," said Hermione quietly, shaking his sleeve to reveal the skin where the word Mudblood had been carved in, "the Manor and your death."

"I had them, too," said Ron, his voice sharp but steady, "and a few about Fred."

"I had loads of different ones," Harry held up a hand and counted, "Riddle's final note, Cedric, Fred - funny how Sirius didn't show - Remus and Dora."

Ginny burst into laughing at his count. "Can we just appreciate the fact that," she paused to catch her breath, "despite how everyone's worst memories included you dying, and you," she pointed at Harry, "are just oblivious?"

"That reminds me," Harry rubbed his scar out of habit, "There was one at King's Cross, when I had to choose between going on and coming back."

Ginny gaped at him, "exactly my point," she ignored Harry's scowl, "I got two on Riddle, one on the Carrows, and you."

"I'm glad I'm your worst nightmare, love," said Harry slyly, sending the others into chuckles and laughters.

A/N: So I was told I wrote too much explanation in my A/N's. Thanks! I'll try to explain everything for the upcoming chapters. I guess for the glasses I just assumed everyone already knew it, and for what happened to Ginny, I never expected her to remember. But you're right, I should integrate explanations into actual writings.

Yours, 0902FRIENDs