Harry Potter and the Year of Searching
Chapter Twenty Nine: Return to the Muggles
Harry woke up the morning of their departure refreshed and ready. He showered and dressed, then stuffed the last of his belongings into his trunk before heading down to breakfast. In the common room he met up with Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, and they bantered lightly over eggs and toast.
Finally they were riding in the thestral-drawn carriages back to the Hogwarts Express, and when they arrived they quickly found a compartment to themselves and settled in. Ginny pulled out a paperback book to read, and Ron and Hermione made themselves comfortable in the opposite seat, Hermione reading "Hogwarts, A History," for what had to be the hundredth time, and Ron browsing through "Which Broomstick."
Harry stared at the window, thinking about the past year. He realised this was his first year without some great adventure at the end. The first year had the whole episode with the Sorcerer's Stone, the second had the Chamber of Secrets, in his third year they ended up catching and then losing Peter Pettigrew and then there were dementors to deal with. And then his fourth year... Harry didn't want to think about that. And in the fifth he had wound up in the Department of Mysteries with all the others. So this, his sixth year, was the first without some great adventure or mishap at the end. For some reason, though, Harry wasn't comforted by this fact; it seemed to him like the calm before the storm. He wondered what was going to happen next year, but quickly pushed that thought aside. Instead, he turned his gaze to Ginny and thought romantic thoughts until lunch time.
After Harry had treated them all to Cauldron Cakes, Pumpkin Pasties, and other delighs from the cart, they settled back in, but didn't remain comfortable for long.
The door slammed open and in it was an unwelcome trio of Slytherins. "Well well," said Malfoy, sneering, "I see the rumours are true. The Weasel and the Mudblood, the hero and the poor girl. I see you still have no taste, Potter."
"I see you still have no manners, Malfoy. Now leave," Harry said sharply, pulling out his wand. Out of the corner of his eye he saw that his friends were already aiming their wands, and he motioned to them not to do anything.
"No, I don't think I will," Malfoy said, leaning against the door. "Potty-baiting is a fun game. Tell me, Potter, do you still use the locker rooms to make out with your redhead? Easily bought, she is. Just show her someone with a little money and she's all over-" Malfoy was interuppted by a Silencing Charm from Harry, a stunner from Ron, and twin Bat-Bogey Hexes from Hermione and Ginny. All three Slytherins were blasted off their feet, and Harry made sure Crabbe and Goyle carried Malfoy away before closing and locking the door.
"That couldn't have gone better," he said, grinnning. "Did you know that two Bat-Bogey Hexes covers his face in weird lime green tiny fish? Neither did I. Very interesting."
When they arrived at Platform Nine and Three Quarters they exited the train and, loading their trunks into trolleys, came across one Blaise Zabini.
"Hey," said the Slytherin, "just wanted to let you know, Malfoy's still covered in the fish. Good one, that." Harry nodded and grinned, then went through the barrier.
On the other side he found Mrs. Weasley, Tonks, Lupin, and Moody, and also the Dursleys and Hermione's parents. Ron and Ginny were gathered up by Mrs. Weasley while Hermione rushed over to her parents. Harry stood a little way away from the Dursleys, not looking at them. Finally Ron and Ginny came to tell him good bye, and Hermione joined them a moment later.
"Well, Harry," Ron said, "Mum says you're definitely coming over again this summer, dunno when. So I guess just be ready, it might be sudden like it was last summer."
"Yeah, all right. Can't wait," Harry said, grinning. He was dreading the weeks to come where he would be ignored by the Dursleys and forced to eat little, if at all, because of Dudley's diet.
"Harry," Hermione said, "see you over the summer. I'll be at the Burrow too, I hope. Bye." She gave him a little hug, then pulled Ron off a little way away. Ron waved to Harry, who grinned back before turning to Ginny.
He tucked that same stray lock of hair behind her ear and said, looking full into her eyes, "I'll see you soon, I hope. I'll write, too." She nodded. "I love you," Harry whispered.
"I love you too, Harry," she said, standing on tiptoe for a kiss, which Harry was only too glad to give. They broke apart a moment later when they heard someone clearing their throat behind them.
Harry turned and found Lupin watching them. "Hey, Moony," Harry said grinning. "Did you want something? Only I wasn't finished-"
"Just wanted to tell you to keep in touch. Hopefully you'll be going with the Weasleys before long. And also to remember, this summer you're seventeen. You can do magic legally, but don't abuse that, all right? See you in a few weeks."
Lupin retreated to where Moody and Tonks were waiting. Harry glanced around to see where Hermione and Ron had got too, but he was stopped when Ginny said, "I'm waiting." Harry smiled and turned back to an expectant Ginny who recieved the rest of her kiss. Finally they broke apart.
"Bye," Harry said simply.
"See you." Ginny then went to find Ron and Hermione.
"Well," said Uncle Vernon when Harry met up with them, after waving to the Weasleys, Tonks, Lupin, and Moody. "Are you ready? You were attracting attention back there, I'll have you know, you and that little-that-that girl!" Vernon was steaming, but Harry just ignored him.
"Are we leaving?" he asked, imperiously leading them out.
AN: We're over. Done. Caput. Until the next one-shot or the sequel, that is. Did you enjoy it? Did you hate it? Too much fluffy stuff? Not enough? Tell me everything, please. I love to hear from you. Anyway, I'm going to take a while off to start the sequel, then I'll be back and in full form. The sequel will, hopefully, be better, but slower. I'll probably crank out two or three chapters a week instead of my current rate of two or three a day. Hopefully I'll not be grounded by the time I start posting again, so I can post freely after I've written without waiting a few days every time, which get's really annoying.
Please please please review! And wish me luck on this upcoming mission trip, I'm not exactly looking forward to it but I'm playing music there so hopefully I can show those poor people how to rock. A little. Maybe. Oh, and wish me luck also with being grounded. I was able to talk to some folks on AIM yesterday, which was lucky, but unfortunately I was at my grandmother's house, on her computer (which has high-speed internet, lucky old lady), so I couldn't update.
In case you're wondering about the gig I kept telling you all about, it went decently. I mean, I had to sit down because my dad (keyboards) was also sitting down. Usually we both stand, so we were sorta thrown off by the change. Apparently I was fantastic, though, because I recieved some hefty compliments. Anyway. Didn't get paid though, it was just for fun. No tips, even, becuase we didn't bring a jar-the folks who run the coffee shop usually gather up tips for us. Oh well.
SOoooo... review. Now. Push that button. Tell me all. All. Replies to reviews will be posted at the end of the first chapter of the sequel.
Chapter Twenty Nine: Return to the Muggles
Harry woke up the morning of their departure refreshed and ready. He showered and dressed, then stuffed the last of his belongings into his trunk before heading down to breakfast. In the common room he met up with Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, and they bantered lightly over eggs and toast.
Finally they were riding in the thestral-drawn carriages back to the Hogwarts Express, and when they arrived they quickly found a compartment to themselves and settled in. Ginny pulled out a paperback book to read, and Ron and Hermione made themselves comfortable in the opposite seat, Hermione reading "Hogwarts, A History," for what had to be the hundredth time, and Ron browsing through "Which Broomstick."
Harry stared at the window, thinking about the past year. He realised this was his first year without some great adventure at the end. The first year had the whole episode with the Sorcerer's Stone, the second had the Chamber of Secrets, in his third year they ended up catching and then losing Peter Pettigrew and then there were dementors to deal with. And then his fourth year... Harry didn't want to think about that. And in the fifth he had wound up in the Department of Mysteries with all the others. So this, his sixth year, was the first without some great adventure or mishap at the end. For some reason, though, Harry wasn't comforted by this fact; it seemed to him like the calm before the storm. He wondered what was going to happen next year, but quickly pushed that thought aside. Instead, he turned his gaze to Ginny and thought romantic thoughts until lunch time.
After Harry had treated them all to Cauldron Cakes, Pumpkin Pasties, and other delighs from the cart, they settled back in, but didn't remain comfortable for long.
The door slammed open and in it was an unwelcome trio of Slytherins. "Well well," said Malfoy, sneering, "I see the rumours are true. The Weasel and the Mudblood, the hero and the poor girl. I see you still have no taste, Potter."
"I see you still have no manners, Malfoy. Now leave," Harry said sharply, pulling out his wand. Out of the corner of his eye he saw that his friends were already aiming their wands, and he motioned to them not to do anything.
"No, I don't think I will," Malfoy said, leaning against the door. "Potty-baiting is a fun game. Tell me, Potter, do you still use the locker rooms to make out with your redhead? Easily bought, she is. Just show her someone with a little money and she's all over-" Malfoy was interuppted by a Silencing Charm from Harry, a stunner from Ron, and twin Bat-Bogey Hexes from Hermione and Ginny. All three Slytherins were blasted off their feet, and Harry made sure Crabbe and Goyle carried Malfoy away before closing and locking the door.
"That couldn't have gone better," he said, grinnning. "Did you know that two Bat-Bogey Hexes covers his face in weird lime green tiny fish? Neither did I. Very interesting."
When they arrived at Platform Nine and Three Quarters they exited the train and, loading their trunks into trolleys, came across one Blaise Zabini.
"Hey," said the Slytherin, "just wanted to let you know, Malfoy's still covered in the fish. Good one, that." Harry nodded and grinned, then went through the barrier.
On the other side he found Mrs. Weasley, Tonks, Lupin, and Moody, and also the Dursleys and Hermione's parents. Ron and Ginny were gathered up by Mrs. Weasley while Hermione rushed over to her parents. Harry stood a little way away from the Dursleys, not looking at them. Finally Ron and Ginny came to tell him good bye, and Hermione joined them a moment later.
"Well, Harry," Ron said, "Mum says you're definitely coming over again this summer, dunno when. So I guess just be ready, it might be sudden like it was last summer."
"Yeah, all right. Can't wait," Harry said, grinning. He was dreading the weeks to come where he would be ignored by the Dursleys and forced to eat little, if at all, because of Dudley's diet.
"Harry," Hermione said, "see you over the summer. I'll be at the Burrow too, I hope. Bye." She gave him a little hug, then pulled Ron off a little way away. Ron waved to Harry, who grinned back before turning to Ginny.
He tucked that same stray lock of hair behind her ear and said, looking full into her eyes, "I'll see you soon, I hope. I'll write, too." She nodded. "I love you," Harry whispered.
"I love you too, Harry," she said, standing on tiptoe for a kiss, which Harry was only too glad to give. They broke apart a moment later when they heard someone clearing their throat behind them.
Harry turned and found Lupin watching them. "Hey, Moony," Harry said grinning. "Did you want something? Only I wasn't finished-"
"Just wanted to tell you to keep in touch. Hopefully you'll be going with the Weasleys before long. And also to remember, this summer you're seventeen. You can do magic legally, but don't abuse that, all right? See you in a few weeks."
Lupin retreated to where Moody and Tonks were waiting. Harry glanced around to see where Hermione and Ron had got too, but he was stopped when Ginny said, "I'm waiting." Harry smiled and turned back to an expectant Ginny who recieved the rest of her kiss. Finally they broke apart.
"Bye," Harry said simply.
"See you." Ginny then went to find Ron and Hermione.
"Well," said Uncle Vernon when Harry met up with them, after waving to the Weasleys, Tonks, Lupin, and Moody. "Are you ready? You were attracting attention back there, I'll have you know, you and that little-that-that girl!" Vernon was steaming, but Harry just ignored him.
"Are we leaving?" he asked, imperiously leading them out.
AN: We're over. Done. Caput. Until the next one-shot or the sequel, that is. Did you enjoy it? Did you hate it? Too much fluffy stuff? Not enough? Tell me everything, please. I love to hear from you. Anyway, I'm going to take a while off to start the sequel, then I'll be back and in full form. The sequel will, hopefully, be better, but slower. I'll probably crank out two or three chapters a week instead of my current rate of two or three a day. Hopefully I'll not be grounded by the time I start posting again, so I can post freely after I've written without waiting a few days every time, which get's really annoying.
Please please please review! And wish me luck on this upcoming mission trip, I'm not exactly looking forward to it but I'm playing music there so hopefully I can show those poor people how to rock. A little. Maybe. Oh, and wish me luck also with being grounded. I was able to talk to some folks on AIM yesterday, which was lucky, but unfortunately I was at my grandmother's house, on her computer (which has high-speed internet, lucky old lady), so I couldn't update.
In case you're wondering about the gig I kept telling you all about, it went decently. I mean, I had to sit down because my dad (keyboards) was also sitting down. Usually we both stand, so we were sorta thrown off by the change. Apparently I was fantastic, though, because I recieved some hefty compliments. Anyway. Didn't get paid though, it was just for fun. No tips, even, becuase we didn't bring a jar-the folks who run the coffee shop usually gather up tips for us. Oh well.
SOoooo... review. Now. Push that button. Tell me all. All. Replies to reviews will be posted at the end of the first chapter of the sequel.
