Harry was currently in a taxi on the way to Kings Cross Station, recapping what he had done over the last few days of his stay in the hotel. He had confined himself to staying in the hotel at all times, he continued his attempts in finding his Animagus form and alternately practised his Occlumency and wandless magic. It took an hour or so to get back in to the rhythm of casting wandless magic after not practising for so long, but he soon got back in to the swing of things.
With the hotel bill taken care of courtesy of the goblins all Harry had to worry about was packing his trunk. After having a mere week of freedom, no distractions and being able to do what he wanted to do, when he wanted to do it. He had found himself at a crossroads when it came to returning to Hogwarts.
It had been the place where he had met nearly all of his friends, the majority of his good memories where at Hogwarts however, he had bad memories as well and his past proved that he wasn't that safe at Hogwarts. He was most likely safer hiding in the Muggle World, but he didn't want to hide from his responsibilities, Harry wanted to fight and help the Wizarding World in its time of need. And if by some chance he did survive, after the dust had settled he could start to enjoy his life.
"Pretty busy round here, always is this time of year for some reason." said the taxi driver. Harry looked out of the window and saw a few people on the pavement in cloaks walking in the direction of Kings Cross, the road was at a standstill and Harry thought it would be a safe bet that in some of the other cars were Muggle Born families.
"I can walk from here." said Harry politely, taking out a few notes and passing them the driver.
"Alright, it's just straight up this road anyway." muttered the taxi driver.
"Keep the change." said Harry, opening the door and crossing over to the pavement. He was already dressed in his school uniform he bought from Twilfitt and Tatting's, smart shoes, grey trousers, white shirt, tie, and black jumper with his house colours. The latter however was hidden as he wore a hoodie over the top of it, his wand was in his wrist holster and his blade was tied around his left calf so he looked more or less perfectly normal.
His hands were in his pockets so that he could keep a firm grasp on his shrunken trunk, glancing at the large clock at the front of the station, he saw that he had twenty five minutes until the train set off. Hoping he would have enough time to get some food and get an empty compartment he walked to the nearest store that sold food and bought several sandwiches and a few other snacks so that he wouldn't have to survive off sweets on the train.
As he exited the store he saw a few people in cloaks walking over to platform Nine and Three Quarters, setting off behind them slowly he waited for them to go through the invisible wall and after a quick look to see if anyone was watching, superstitiously walked over to the wall and pretended to check timetable times before walking backwards through the wall and on to the platform.
The loud noises that greeted him were irritating and he quickly made his way through crowds of students and parents, taking care to keep his hood up and head down and walked on to the train and quickly found a compartment, sliding the door closed behind him. Opening the windows because it was a bit warm, Harry sat down and took out his miniature trunk and re-sized it. Taking out 'Cruel Curses and Sizzling Spells' he closed the trunk and slid it under his seat, opening the book and waited.
"Come on, Ron! We're going to be late!" whispered Hermione, furiously.
"It wasn't me that spent an hour picking what books they wanted to take to Hogwarts and what to leave behind." retorted Ron. Hermione scowled at his response, turning her back on Ron and steadied her trolley.
"Come on, we're late as it is." muttered Ginny, walking ahead of Hermione and through the wall. Hermione's scowl deepened as she walked through the wall. Behind her came Mad-Eye and Mrs Weasley, with Ron, Neville and Mr Weasley bringing up the rear.
"Everyone here?" asked Mad-Eye, his eye whizzing madly as he looked for any suspicious characters.
"Looks like it." muttered Tonks, who had apparated in to the station a few minutes earlier as a precaution.
"Seen anything?" pressed Mad-Eye, his eye still whirring.
"If I had, I would have messaged you." said Tonks.
"Come on Alastor, we need to get them on the train." said Mr Weasley, ushering them on the train.
"I want to search the train for Potter." mumbled Mad-Eye to Tonks.
"You can't Mad-Eye, you don't have any jurisdiction." whispered Tonks, furiously. Watching Ron, Hermione and Ginny get on the train just as the train let out as hiss of steam.
"Too late anyway, by the time I get over there with this leg." growled Mad-Eye, turning his back on the train.
"You will write to us as soon as you can if Harry's on the train won't you." urged Mrs Weasley.
"Yes mum." muttered Ron, struggling with his trunk.
"Good, now stay out of trouble and we'll see you at Christmas." smiled Mrs Weasley, giving her son a bone crushing hug.
"I...will..." struggled Ron, gasping for air as he was released.
"Come on, Ron let's find a compartment." said Hermione, biting back a retort Ron wrenched his trunk on to the train and walked down the carriageway.
"This one's free." called Ginny, dragging her trunk into it. Ron followed Hermione in to the compartment, sitting down just as the train lurched.
"Where's Neville?" asked Hermione, looking at Ron.
"I don't know." said Ron, putting his trunk under his seat.
"He went on to the train as soon as he was on the platform, probably in a different compartment." said Ginny.
"I need to go to the prefect meeting, we'll look for Harry when I get back. Right?" asked Hermione, looking at Ron and Ginny.
"I'll walk around and have a look while you two are gone." said Ginny, standing up.
"You didn't tell your own sister?" pressed Hermione, in disbelief. Ron sighed and hunched over in defeat.
"I went the entire summer without her knowing." muttered Ron.
"Tell me about what?" asked Ginny.
"I lost my Prefect badge, Hermione only found out because in her Sixth Year Prefect letter it said she would have a new partner." said Ron, in a low voice.
"It could be, Harry!" started Ginny.
"No, I asked him. He is Quidditch Captain though." mumbled Ron, with a slight edge of bitterness. Hermione rolled her eyes at Ron and walked out of the compartment so she wouldn't be late for the prefect meeting.
"I can't believe you didn't tell mum and dad, they're going to kill you." laughed Ginny, leaving to look for Harry and leaving Ron to stew in his own thoughts.
(Scene Break)
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The distant rumbling from the engine and the jerked slightly as the train slowly pulled away from the station, trying to ignore the noise Harry turned his attention back to his book until he was interrupted by the doors sliding open to his compartment. He peered over his book to see the face of Neville Longbottom looking in. It was like the memory of being told that St Mungos had been attacked was blocked out, however Harry was certain it hadn't been like that for Neville.
"Hi, Harry...mind if I come in." asked Neville,
"Not at all, Neville." said Harry, sitting up slightly and closing his book.
"Thanks." smiled Neville, meekly. Carrying his trunk into the compartment with some difficulty. Harry watched Neville struggle and immediately realised he probably had more in common with Neville than anyone else. Especially after this summer, his parents had been taken away from him in the cruellest way. They were in a comatose state his entire life but at least Neville had been able to visit them, even talk to them. And now they were gone. He breathed out a heavy sigh of exasperation.
"How you doing, Neville?" asked Harry, standing up to help him with his trunk.
"Well...you know, after everything that happened...what about you." asked Neville, offering a hesitant smile.
"The same...I'm not going to push you to talk about anything Neville. Believe me, I know what it's like." said Harry, sitting back down.
"Thanks, Ron, Hermione and Ginny sure can be..." Neville floated off as he tried to think of a word.
"Annyoing?" offered Harry, raising his eyebrows. They had probably been pushing Neville to talk and share like they did with him.
"I was going to say persistent, after a while I just learnt to get up early and go hideaway somewhere with a few books." laughed Neville.
"Worked for me." said Harry, taking a drink from one of the bottles he bought.
"Are you going to be here for the rest of the train journey? It's just I have to find the...Prefect Meeting." muttered Neville, looking at the floor.
"You were made Prefect? Congratulations." smiled Harry, surprising Neville.
"You aren't angry?" asked Neville.
"No, Neville. I'm fine, not exactly Prefect material with the amount of rules I've broken over the years." said Harry, jokingly. Neville laughed and visibly relaxed.
"I haven't told anyone, I don't know what they were thinking making me a Prefect." said Neville in a low voice, Harry looked at Neville and his slightly defeated stature.
"I think they realised what a great wizard you are, brave, modest and not afraid to stand up to people." replied Harry, hinting at Neville's past antics. At this Neville reddened slightly out of embarassment.
"You think so?" asked Neville.
"I know so, and soon everyone else will as well." said Harry, confidently.
"Thanks, Harry...You know I had to get a new wand." said Neville, drawing his wand and holding it out for Harry to see.
"It looks great, where did you get it from?" asked Harry.
"Ollivanders, just before he left his shop. Twelve and a half inches, Cherry with a Unicorn hair and Centaur hair wrapped around each other. Ollivander said it was really rare." said Neville, excitedly.
"Have you tried it out yet?" asked Harry, looking at Neville.
"Not yet, but when I held it for the first time it just...felt right. Like a warm feeling, you know?" said Neville.
"I do." said Harry, nodding slightly.
"I don't want to go but I can't be late for the first meeting." rushed Neville, looking slightly guilty.
"Don't worry about it Neville, I've got plenty of stuff to pass the time." said Harry, indicating to his book.
"Alright, see you soon." said Neville, turning and exiting the compartment and walking right in to Ginny Weasley.
"Neville? Why did you...Harry!" shouted Ginny, Harry had immediately looked up after hearing Ginny's voice. He knew he would have to talk to Ron, Hermione and Ginny but had hoped he would have been able to at least finish one of his sandwiches first. Ginny rushed over to him and embraced him tightly, not knowing whether to return the hug or not Harry looked over to Neville who had a bewildered and amused expression on his face. Harry looked at Neville with confusion on his face and a scowl following soon after as Neville walked away but not before bursting into silent laughter.
"We heard you escaped from Azkaban. What happened? Why didn't you come to...headquarters?" asked Ginny, the last part in a low voice. The embrace had gone on for an uncomfortably long duration and Harry decided to break it up.
"I'd rather not talk about it, Ginny." said Harry, simply.
"No, you were like this at...headquarters. Come on, Ron wants to see you." said Ginny, standing up and trying to pull Harry up.
"I'm quite happy to stay here actually, I told Neville I'd look after his stuff while he went to the Prefect Meeting." replied Harry, opening one of his sandwiches and taking a large bite out of it.
"Your scars..." whispered Ginny, looking at the scars on Harry's face. Harry ate on silently, he had spent hours wondering how people were going to react. Neville had either not noticed or decided to not bring it up, Ginny obviously had no qualms. They weren't exactly visible, but anyone who looked at him in close proximity would notice them. He had deliberated whether he wanted or even could cover them up, he decided he was just going to leave them. He had a famous scar all his life, what was the harm in a few more.
"How bad was it?" asked Ginny, gently. Placing her arm on Harry's.
"I said that I didn't want to talk about it." muttered Harry, swallowing his mouthful of sandwich and taking another. Not even looking at Ginny.
"I'll go tell Ron your here, the Order didn't even know if you were going to be on the train. We were told to write to them as soon as we could if we knew." said Ginny, standing up and adjusting her robes. She looked at Harry with a sympathetic gaze before leaving to find Ron.
'Definitely flirting' said a voice in Harry's head. Hugging him for longer than normal, whispering in his ear, touching his arm... This could get quite awkward.
Thoughts ran through his head as he turned back to his sandwich, eating it at a near Ron Weasley speed. He had barely finished it when Ginny walked back in to the compartment with Ron right behind her.
"Harry! Merlin, was worried I wouldn't see you again." joked Ron, punching him on the arm.
"Hi, Ron." said Harry.
"What's the book?" asked Ron, looking at the title.
"Just a bit of extra reading." said Harry, putting the book down. He couldn't concentrate and have conversations at the same time. And he had a feeling he would have to have a conversation to satisfy Ron.
"Turning into Hermione?" joked Ron, elbowing him in the ribs.
"Too much knowledge never hurt anyone." said Harry, suppressing a frown and turning his attention back on his bag of sandwiches.
"What else are you taking?" asked Ron, looking at the sandwiches.
"Care of Magical Creatures, Charms, Defence Against The Dark Arts, Potions and Transfiguration." listed Harry, moving his sandwiches closer to him so Ron couldn't take one as easily.
"Wait...you aren't taking Herbology...what about you know, being an Auror." said Ron, looking at Harry like he was crazy.
"I don't want to work for the Ministry, I've fought enough Death Eaters already. I'd rather do something I find fun and interesting." said Harry, honestly.
"But...you said you wanted to be an Auror last year. McGonagall and Umbridge had a huge argument about it didn't they." said Ginny.
"They argued whether the Ministry would ever employ me, but it I don't have to worry about that if I don't want to work there." replied Harry, glad that the conversation was about something so trivial.
"You'll be sorry mate, when I'm off fighting Death Eaters and you're doing...whatever it is you want to do." said Ron, almost boating as he said it with an air of importance.
"I don't know, Tonks doesn't look like she's enjoying it that much lately." said Ginny, looking at Harry.
"Exactly, look at Mad-Eye. Missing an eye and half his leg. And he's as paranoid as hell, rather you than me." said Harry, taking a bite out of his sandwich. Ron looked slightly perturbed and worried at this remark.
"Just wait until Hermione hears you're doing five subjects." said Ron, after a few seconds of silence.
"Not like it's her business." muttered Harry, abruptly. Shocking both Ron and Ginny.
"You alright mate?" asked Ron, looking at Harry strangely.
"I'm fine." replied Harry, after swallowing his sandwich. Conversation stayed at a trivial level for quite a while, and whenever the subject of Azkaban was brought up Harry ignored them and talked about something else. Then Neville came back with Hermione.
"Harry!" shouted Hermione, rushing over and pushing Ron aside so she could hug him.
"Hello, Hermione." said Harry, putting an arm around her and hugging her for a second before breaking the hug.
"Where did you go, Neville?" asked Ginny.
"He's the new Gryffindor Sixth Year Prefect." said Hermione, before Neville could say anything. He was too busy looking at Harry, almost apologetically. Harry returned it with a knowing gaze in his eyes so Neville wouldn't feel awkward.
"You're the new prefect?" asked Ron, disbelief in his voice.
"Yes, I'll take the first patrol shift Hermione" said Neville, quietly. Offering Harry another sympathetic smile, who was angry at Ron's remark.
"Thanks, Neville...I still can't believe you didn't tell me you had your badge taken from you." hissed Hermione, slapping Ron on the leg. Harry rolled his eyes, fully expecting a classic 'Ron v Hermione' argument.
"Stop it you two, I had enough of that this summer." said Ginny, scathingly.
"Speaking of this summer, Harry...you look better than I thought you would." said Hermione, looking at Harry and his scars before placing a hand on his arm.
"Thanks, but I don't really want to talk about what happened." said Harry, starting to get uncomfortable as Hermione kept her hand on his arm.
"You can't keep things bottled up, Harry. You need to share, after what happened with...Sirius and then at Privet Drive. You need to tell us about it." urged Hermione.
"Why?" asked Harry, Hermione looked at him as though he was a difficult question.
"What do you mean, why? Because we're your friends." said Hermione, after a few seconds.
"Then, as my friend I'm asking you not to ask me about anything that happened to me over the summer." replied Harry, looking in Hermione's eyes so she knew he really meant it.
"But...you need to talk..." started Hermione, but Harry interrupted her.
"I don't need to talk Hermione, I don't want to talk either." said Harry.
"You can't say nothing mate, you always tell us everything." exclaimed Ron, leaning forwards.
"Well I don't want to, I'm entitled to a personal life aren't I?" asked Harry, looking at Ron, Hermione and Ginny individually.
"Of course you are Harry, I just think you should share what happened to you so that you feel at ease." said Hermione, in hushed tone. Still holding his arm and looking at him intently. Harry looked back at her, biting back the retort in his throat. He wanted to tell them it was none of there business, that they couldn't understand, that they couldn't even conceive what he had gone through. But then he had an idea.
"Ginny, you've been possessed by Voldemort. Right?" asked Harry, ignoring the flinches at the name and focusing on Ginny, who for a moment was too shocked to reply.
"Errr, yes. You-Know-Who possessed me in my first year, Dumbledore told us he possessed you at the Ministry." replied Ginny, staring at Harry. He repressed his anger at Dumbledore for once again telling everyone his business and moved on.
"Do you want to talk about it?" pushed Harry, gazing at Ginny.
"Well...do you want to talk about it?" countered Ginny, looking at Harry as though she wasn't sure what to say.
"Yes." said Harry, simply.
"Alright...I don't really remember much about it really. I just woke up and there was a blank space in my head about what had happened. Sometimes there were blood and feathers on my robes, but that's about it." said Ginny, confidently.
"Interesting...do you all want to hear about what happened when Voldemort possessed me?" asked Harry. Ron, Hermione and Ginny nodded.
"It helps to share your feelings." smiled Hermione, holding Harry's arm. Restraining himself from releasing his arm from his grip, he looked at Ron and Ginny, then Hermione.
"Alright...you all want to know what I feel about being possessed by Voldemort. Here it is...I felt so much pain, I wanted to die..." said Harry, his voice filled with a menace that nearly made Ron's jaw drop.
"Harry..." started Hermione, her voice filling with regret.
"No, you wanted to know about it. I was filled with so much pain, so much...agony! That I wanted Dumbledore to kill me, I wanted it to end right then and there. I wanted to die..." said Harry, seething with hate.
"Harry..." whispered Hermione, barely audible. But Harry continued...
"You all wanted to know how it made me fell, you all wanted me to share...I wanted to die. Voldemort taunted Dumbledore, telling him to kill us both. And I agreed. I wanted him to kill us both, so that it would end the suffering, the torture... I tried to beg Dumbledore to end it, but I couldn't. And now you want me to tell you about it so that it makes me feel better? Well it doesn't, it only makes me relive that memory, and relive the pain. It was hell and if I say I don't want to talk about it. Then, I don't want to talk about it for a reason!" spat Harry, his tone cold and even.
Some of his anger came to the surface but, thanks to his Occlumency skills all the way through he had remained calm and in control. He emitted a fake sigh of relief, hoping that it had been enough to convey his point. He looked up at Hermione, she looked shocked and sick at his recollections. Ron was even more pale than usual and Ginny seemed to be even paler than her brother, and a slight look of fear in her eyes.
"I don't tell you things for a reason, whether it be I don't want to tell you or you aren't supposed to know. You can't handle it and I don't want to talk about it, fairly simple explanation...now can we move on?" asked Harry, not bothering to look at any of them and turning his attention back on to his sandwich.
After several moments of silence, trivial conversations sprung up. Mostly about what to expect in the upcoming year, Harry tried to stay quiet as much as he possibly could. Not wanting to engage in the idle chit chat that had soon sprung up at every turn.
"What's the book about, Harry?" asked Hermione, craning to take a look at the book cover that was buried underneath a small pile of sandwich and snack wrappers.
"Something I picked up." muttered Harry in reply, quick enough to grab the the book and put it in his lap so that it was out of Hermione's grasp. She looked at him scornfully, before returning her stare back at the book.
"'Cruel Curses and Sizzling Spells'...Harry! That sounds like a Dark Arts book!" gasped Hermione, reading the spine of the textbook.
"What are you doing with a book on Dark Arts!" whispered Ron, furiously. Looking at Harry as though he had grown a third nostril.
"I told you, extra reading. In case I get bored, or need to take my mind of something." muttered Harry, keeping a tight grip on the book.
"It is still a book about Dark Arts, Harry!" said Hermione, looking at the book as if it were on fire.
"So what, it's good to know what I'm up against." argued Harry, unperturbed by Hermione's disapproval of his book.
"So you're not learning the spells." said Ron, carefully.
"I need to know what to expect from Death Eaters and Voldemort, stunning them and disarming them aren't going to make them stop." replied Harry, subconciously rubbing his face where his scars where.
"Is this about what happened at Azkaban?" asked Ginny, tentatively.
"I thought we talked about this..." muttered Harry, dangerously. Looking up and glaring at Ginny.
"We did...but it's changed you, I don't know if it's what happened in Azkaban or losing Sirius..." said Ginny, but Harry interrupted her.
"I've only changed because now I know what I'm up against, and what I can expect when I fight them again." replied Harry, staring at her with a hard gaze.
"What do you mean? You want to fight them again? You can't fight them again." exclaimed Ginny, incredulously.
"Ginny's right, leave it up to the Order...and the Ministry. Maybe even me someday." laughed Ron, the compartment fell silent however as all eyes turned to Harry.
"I'm going to face the Death Eaters again at some point, if I learn all the tricks they have up there sleeves...beside the Dark Mark, then I at least have the element of surprise on my side." said Harry, although he knew he would hopefully have some other tricks as well.
"So, you are learning the spells?" demanded Hermione.
"Yes." said Harry, as though it was a simple question.
"But, the Dark Arts are evil Harry. That's why the Death Eaters and You-Know-Who use them!" replied Hermione, silently imploring him to see things from her perspective.
"No, magic depends on how you use it. I'm using it to stop the Death Eaters and Voldemort, they use it to kill and torture needlessly. Innocent lives are being lost and I'm not just going to be a good little boy, and study for my tests. Do you really think that this won't affect you?" asked Harry, astonished at the apparent ignorance.
"There are better ways than killing them." whispered Hermione.
"Hermione's right mate, what you're doing is a bit dark." muttered Ron.
"Whatever..." said Harry, picking up his book and walking out of the compartment, he heard the beginnings of a conversation about him as he slid the door close.
"...Relax Ron, those spells are quite advanced anyway. I think he wouldn't be able to cast any of them..." Harry's expression darkened but at the same time he almost laughed, he was fairly certain this year was going to be very different.
Harry walked up the train slowly, he wanted to get some fresh air... or at least somewhere he could sit in relative peace and quiet for a while. It only took a few seconds before he found Neville exiting a compartment full of embarrassed looking children.
"First years, caught them messing about with their Potions kits." explained Neville, seeing Harry's face.
"Idiots..." laughed Harry.
"Ron, Hermione and Ginny get on your nerves?" asked Neville, looking at Harry.
"I've put up with it for years, but it just gets too much after a while. I mean, you know them. You not what they're like." said Harry.
"That's why I kept hiding away at, well you know...Hermione might be a bit more hard-work soon though." replied Neville, walking up the train with Harry.
"Why?" asked Harry, curious about what Neville knew.
"Well, after the Prefect Meeting... Hermione kept badgering the Katie Bell, she's the new Head Girl by the way, anyway... Hermione kept asking her all sorts of questions about the Head Girl position. After Katie told her she didn't want to talk about it at that time, well you know Hermione. She persisted and Katie told her that a big part of being Head Girl was listening to other people and to be respected and respectful of others...Told Hermione if she carried on then she would report her to Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore about trying to get inside knowledge about the Head Girl position and recommend them to revoke her Prefect status." muttered Neville, as they walked past a compartment of fourth year girls who all sat up and started looked at Harry longingly.
Slightly disconcerted, Harry walked past without returning any gazes. Absorbing what Neville had just told him, he wasn't surprised at Katie's reaction. On the Quidditch Team she wasn't afraid to stand up for herself, only this time it had been to a badgering Hermione. Maybe he should take some tips from his team-mate and start doing that more often.
"What happened next?" asked Harry, barely containing his laughter as he wondered what Hermione's reaction would be.
"She was shocked that someone had threatened her Prefect Status, stuttered for a few seconds and then she just walked off, met her halfway down the train just before we came back in." replied Neville, reaching the shopping trolley. Harry looked out of the window as Neville bought a few Chocolate Frogs. The scenery speeding by suggested from previous experience only an hour or two until they reached Hogwarts. Harry was snapped out of his daze by Neville.
"Want one?" offered Neville, holding a frog out to Harry.
"No thanks, when does your patrol shift end?" asked Harry, not wanting to subject Neville to the trio in the compartment.
"A few minutes ago, it's Hermione's turn until the end of the journey now. Want to walk back?" asked Neville, looking at Harry who only nodded back in response. They walked back slowly as they discussed more about Neville's wand, eventually reaching their compartment. Harry slid the door open and knew immediately something was wrong. Ron, Hermione and Ginny stopped their hushed conversation immediately and looked up, with Ron and Ginny tingeing red slightly.
Harry looked around and immediately spotted what was out of place, he had slid his trunk on the other side of the seats and he could see from there that it was hadn't been closed properly.
"You went through my trunk?" shouted Harry, storming in to the compartment and over to Hermione, snatching a book out of her hands.
"We...we just wanted to know if you had any more of...those books." said Hermione, defensively.
"You had no right to do that!" roared Harry, anger coursing through his body like fire.
"You shouldn't have those books." countered Ginny, as though trying to argue a point.
"Or that kind of trunk, must have cost a fortune." muttered Ron, enviously.
"Get out." said Harry, as calmly as he could.
"Harry...wait, we just want to help..." started Hermione, but Harry drowned her efforts.
"Get out, before I make you." growled Harry, glaring at them and meeting their shocked gaze.
"Harry...come on mate. You need to talk to Dumbledore..." but Ron was cut off again, this time from Neville.
"Looking through another students trunk is against the rules, I think you should go..." said Neville as steadily as he could. He was confident if they didn't, Harry would force them out of the compartment. The power he had felt for the few seconds Harry had been shouting was intense, how he wasn't cursing them through the window was a mystery.
"So now you're a prefect you think you can start telling us what to do?" asked Ron, a comical look on his face.
"Neville is welcome here, you on the other hand. Aren't. Leave." spat Harry, fury in his tone and force in his words.
"Your siding with him?" it was more of statement from Ron than anything, but Harry answered it all the same.
"Neville is the only one here who hasn't harped on at me, who hasn't pestered me. Who hasn't looked through my trunk, without my permission." hissed Harry, eyes narrowing.
"We're your best friends!" retorted Hermione, slightly scared at the look she was getting from Harry. Not to mention his entire demeanour.
"Friends don't go through another friends personal belongings, just get out Hermione." snapped Harry, standing aside so they could walk past him. They all looked at him as if appalled and then each other before slowly walking past him. Neville slid the compartment door to a close after Ginny walked out with a hurt look in her eyes.
"Dark Arts books, Twilfitt and Tatting's robes...turning in to a arrogant git like Mal..." Neville slammed the door shut before Ron finished the sentence, and saw Harry's expression darken.
"You are not like Malfoy." laughed Neville.
"I know, I'm just angry at them. I didn't think they would do something like that..." muttered Harry, Neville didn't know what to say and so he said nothing and sat down.
"Can I have that Chocolate Frog now?" asked Harry, after several minutes of silence. Neville smiled and reached into his pocket for his last one and tossed it to Harry. Over the next hour and a half they talked about anything, except for what had just happened and the summer holidays.
The attacks, the deaths, the upcoming Hogwarts year, classes, how much of a git was Snape going to be in their Potions class, Quidditch...but as the conversation progressed it became more and more apparent how much was changing all around them.
And, in the back of each of their minds...both were thinking the exact same thing.
Times were definitely changing...
(End of Chapter)
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La Fin?
A/N - Sorry it took a while to upload, but I actually lost my job last week so I wasn't focusing on anything properly.
I am tempted to put this chapter as, 'Completed' and start a new story that basically carries on from where I just left.
Thoughts? Reviews? Sleep? The last one will be just me for the next couple of hours, hope I wake up to an inbox full of fanfiction alerts...
OR
Emails from twitter - /AbolishPenguin (follow, tweet, trend, whatever!)
530+ reviews would make me feel better, as well as all the puppies in the world...