Chapter 16: The Hogwarts Express
Chapter 16
The Hogwarts Express
As everyone sat for breakfast Professor McGonagal came in the front door.
"G' mornin' Minerva a spot of breakfast this fine day?" Asked Mr Weasley.
"Thank you, no Arthur. Just dropping off letters for school. Fred and George yours are here too but you will need to remember that you are going to be in with the class that was below yours." Professor McGonagall started to say.
"George ….. Fred ….. Are you going back to school? " Squealed Mrs Weasley.
"Yes, Mum. We didn't want to say anything until we knew if it was possible. We don't want you to worry you don't have to get our books or anything. We were the ones that made this choice." Said Fred.
Mrs Weasley let it end there. All-day she was seen smiling and heard humming strange tunes to her self.
Over the next few days, they took small groups into Diagon Alley for supplies. The Order felt that was safer than everyone going at once. Their next problem was getting everyone to Kings Cross on time, without drawing too much attention and exercising safety.
The morning they were to leave it was like Grimmauld Place had turned into a madhouse. Hailee found herself almost as nervous as the day she first entered here and started this new life with her brother, new family, and friends. She had to go back to her room three times to get her trunk packed. Hermione had come back just the night before so she was packed and helping everyone else.
Mrs. Weasley had a pile of toast and a variety of jams and jellies on the table with a pitcher of juice. Everyone was told to help themselves. People were munching bits of toast as they went up and down the stairs. Remus and Mr Weasley were sitting in the drawing-room waiting for the herd to quit stampeding.
The decision was made to shrink all of the trunks. Remus would accompany them on the train, revert the trunks to normal. Finally, there were seven students with seven trunks standing in the hall. Remus began to shrink the trunks. He made them about the size of a briefcase and just as light. They left in small groups to not draw attention to themselves. Hedwig and Pig were sent on to Hogwarts so that their cages could be shrunk. Crookshanks was the only animal that would be heading out on the train but he, of course, did not stand out like owls in cages to the muggles.
Harry found himself excited about going to school. He wanted to have a place where he could be alone and sort through all of the things that were going on in his life. He loved his friends and he loved his sister, but sometimes a guy just needs some peace to think in.
Harry knew the perfect place and as soon as the feast was over he was going to the Room of Requirement. That was his favourite place on earth. It was the only place Harry could ever make just the way he wanted it to be.
Harry and Hailee waited on platform nine and three quarters for the others to come through the barrier. After a few minutes, Fred and George came through, followed closely by Hermione and Ginny. They all waited for what seemed like ages. Silently, Harry thought it was a good thing they had left home so early this morning or by now they would have been late.
A red faced, angry Ron broke the barrier. "I can't believe it. Aurors took Remus in for questioning. They got an anonymous tip that he was part of You-Know-Who's Death Eaters. Remus was livid. And they took him away calling him werewolf, right in front of the muggles." Ron informed. "Dad should be coming along but he was pretty far behind us. What do we do about our trunks if he doesn't get here in time?"
George was the next to speak. "Dad probably won't be coming through the barrier he most likely was diverted to the ministry. So we will have to wait until just after the feast and get McGonagall's attention. Everyone relax we need our heads about us right now there was a reason that Remus was intercepted trying to get us on the train. What was it Moody always said….."
"CONSTANT VIGILANCE ….. Weasley" Growled Moody. The whole lot jumped. No one had seen him come through the barrier. "There are plenty of us here so don't worry. There are a fair few that will be escorting the train back to Hogwarts. I happened to be the one behind Remus. I saw what happened. Alright, then let's have those trunks quickly."
No one had noticed that the train was about to leave. There was steam pouring out of the stack. One by one Moody enlarged the trunks. They all made their way onto the train. Finding a compartment that would hold them all was another story. Hermione and Ron made their way to the prefects meeting. The rest found that the very last compartment was empty and began to pile in. The train lurched forward knocking Hailee into Fred. A couple of kilometres out of the station there was a large boom at the opposite end. The train came to an abrupt halt, knocking all of them out of their seats. Harry scrambled up wand held out in front of him. Hailee was next. They all waited. Pretty soon there was a chill that passed over them and screams could be heard from further down the train. Hailee stepped in front of Harry, only to have George grab her arm.
" This isn't your fight, right now." He whispered.
"Maybe not but I am going. " She turned from his grasp and opened the compartment door. Harry stepped forward. Hailee turned towards him. "Stay here. I'll be right back."
Hailee didn't get completely into the hall when she saw what was causing the screams from the other train passengers. A dementor was making his way down the hall. Hailee raised her hands and said " EXPECTO PATRONUM!" The others watched as a giant silvery phoenix erupted from her hands. It drove the dementors back and off the train. They all waited in silence for the train to start moving again. After about a half-hour and after all of the prefects and the head boy and girl had made their rounds the train moved on.
George looked like he was in shock, Hailee leaned over to him and asked if he was ok.
"Ummm well yeah, I guess your power just shocked me. You are amazing, Hailee." George said and went quiet.
Ron and Hermione entered the compartment. "We are going to be there soon. Sorry, We missed most of the trip with you guys but with all that happened we, Well the prefects thought that it was best to stay with the younger students and you all were so well protected." Hermione blushed and looked to Hailee.
Harry was sure that their grandfather had made a mistake and taken the wrong one of them, Not that they should have been separated. Hailee was so powerful. What did she need him for, she had more than enough power to face Voldemort "Harry, quit feeling so sorry for yourself this is going to be the best year at Hogwarts you have ever had." Harry thought to himself.
Harry was snapped back into the real world by the stopping of the train. It was good to be home again.
"Firs' years this way." Hollered Hagrid over the heads of the students leaving the train.
Harry took Hailee's hand and headed towards Hagrid. "A'right there Harry?" Hagrid asked when he saw Harry heading towards him.
"Hello, Hagrid. I know you have to take the first years and I wanted you to meet my sister. Hagrid, Hailee. Hailee, Hagrid." Hailee reached out to shake Hagrid's hand. Hers became lost in his.
"Very nice to meet you, Professor," said Hailee.
"m' pleasure Hailee. Looks like there is one spot left for you in the boats." Said Hagrid nodding towards the one empty seat.
"But I thought she could go with us ." Said, Harry.
"F'st year here init. Plus shes to be sorted with the res o' 'em." Said Hagrid.
"It's ok Harry. This will be nice, to know that we both first saw the castle the same way." Said Hailee.
With that, Harry smiled, turned and went to the carriages. Hailee climbed into the boat and waited until she could have her first glimpse of Hogwarts. The boats lurched and they were off. Hailee's stomach seemed to fill with butterflies without warning.