A Trip of Nine Hours Begins With a Single Train Station

Please Read and Review. I'd like to know what I'm doing right (to keep doing it), and what I'm I doing wrong (to correct it).

Harry came out of his room at the Leaky Cauldron, half amused and half annoyed by the Weasley boys arguing. As he already knew about Sirius Black and his 'crimes', he saw no reason to eavesdrop on Mr. Weasley discussion with his wife. He just waited until the pair went upstairs to look for the stuff Ron had bought for Scabbers; a bottle of rat tonic, and went back up to his own room.

On the way up, he read the label of the bottle, just to check if the tonic could harm the new rat. He memorized the main ingredients, making a mental note to ask Hermione and Neville if there could be any secondary effects.

After all, the rat was doing him a big favour.

The next day, Mr. Weasley made a big production about the two cars the Ministry had put at their disposal to carry the group to King's Cross Station, to board the Hogwarts Express.

As always, the last minute frantic packing was both amusing and irritating, especially as both Harry and Hermione had everything packed since the previous night.

Ron looked frantically for Scabbers, until Hermione directed him to look in Crookshanks wickerwork basket. Both cat and rat looked out the open door of the box. Actually, they looked as old friends sharing a joke at the expense of everybody else.

"Honestly, Ron. You shouldn't wait until the last minute to pack. I'm almost sure you will have to owl your parents for some thing or another you forgot in the rush."

Harry smiled at Ron's eloquent answer.

"But, but..." Ron finally choose to change tactics, looking around, he found the perfect excuse. "Scabbers! Come here, quick! He's gonna eat you!"

Harry had had enough of Ron's antics. "Relax, mate. They are friends, just leave them be."

"But he attacked Scabbers back at the store!"

"Did he?" Hermione rolled her eyes. "I think he was just a little bit too enthusiastic to greet Scabbers. Weren't you, Crookshanks?"

The cat just blinked slowly and yawned. The rat stood up on its back legs, it's left front paw brazenly put over Crookshanks shoulder. A loud purring could be heard all over the room, even over the noise of packing done by several Hoghwarts students.

"See? They are quite happy there. And frankly, I prefer them that way. Crookshanks can be a little wilful, and it seems Scabbers keeps him calm."

"Hermione is right, Ron."

The red-headed boy sulked for a moment, until Mrs. Weasley prodded him, not too gently, to finish packing already.

Harry and Hermione took advantage of their having nothing to do while the Ministry cars arrived. They discussed the ingredients in the rat tonic. Apparently, they were both relaxant and invigorating. Harry was a bit tempted to try it, until Hermione, guessing what he was thinking, gently dissuaded him.

The trip to the train station was a bit tense. Now that Harry knew what was going on, he could recognize the furtive glances around of the adults.

They were afraid.

Afraid the mad murderer, Sirius Black, would jump from behind a bush and kill everybody in Voldemort's name.

Harry participated in the friendly arguing, but more to keep appearances than out of any real interest. He could feel himself growing distant from the Weasleys, and it really pained him.

There it was. Gleaming red in the light. Promising a fast and comfortable trip back to school.

Harry felt his heart flutter in his chest. A mix of opposite emotions coursed through him.

On one hand, he felt the powerful call back to the place he considered his first true home. On the other, he knew what awaited him during the trip.

Deadly danger, and a memory he both dreaded and longed for. The voices of his parents.

And their deaths.

For a moment, he just stood there; his mouth dry, his hands trembling a bit.

"Are you okay, mate?" Harry felt a hand shake his shoulder gently.

"Yeah.. I was just... thinking..." he shook his head, and followed the group into the train.

He was close to boarding, then he saw a strangely dressed wizard, accompanied by a girl with pale blond hair.

'They must be the Lovegoods.' He thought.

The sight of a couple of small radishes hanging from the girl's ears confirmed his suspicions. Harry stopped, he tapped Ron's shoulder, and told the boy, "Save me a seat, Ron. I'll be there in a minute." Before Ron could answer, Harry was already walking towards the pair.

"Excuse me," He addressed the wizard, "Are you, by any chance Mr. Xenophilus Lovegood?"

The man scratched his head, surprised at being recognized. "Well... yes. Yes, I am."

Harry smiled disarmingly at him, "Great! I was wondering if I could bother you for a moment. I would like to subscribe to The Quibbler. Please excuse me if its a bad moment." He smiled to the girl, her face lit up immediately.

"Hmm... you see, I have no subscription forms with me at the moment." He patted his robe distractedly. "Tell you what, I'll owl my daughter one tomorrow morning and you can pay her for the subscription. I will send you the latest issue along with the form. What name should I put to the owl?"

"Oh, sorry, Sir. Where are my manners? Harry Potter, at your service. Call me Harry, please." He extended his hand. The girl's eyes opened wide in surprise. Once he had shaken hands with the wizard, he turned towards the still surprised girl. "I look forward to talking with you in Hogwarts, Miss Lovegood."

"Luna. Fair is fair. If I can call you by your given name, you can call me by mine." She clutched her bag against her chest, looking at Harry with a gentle intensity. "You have noticeably less wrakspurts than the average wizard."

"Is that bad?"

"No, no. That's very good. It means they don't mess with your thinking."

Harry smiled again. Before he could say anything else, Ron interrupted them with a shout from the train. "C'mon, Harry! Hurry up!"

Harry waved back at him. "Please excuse me, I must go. I look forward to reading The Quibbler and talking to you, Luna. I'll be seeing you, Mr. Lovegood, a pleasure to meet you." He bowed respectfully, and walked back to the train, leaving behind two pleasantly surprised Lovegoods, and quite a lot of raised eyebrows.

Their little exchange would be food for the Hogwarts rumour mill, even before the train left the station.

Author Notes:

Very good guess about Peter. He is being set up. Sirius want to return the favour received.