17. Return To Hogwarts
Story Start: September First Platform 9 3/4
Harry and Petunia stood on the platform next to the crimson steam engine. Harry's trunk was shrunk and feather light, held in the impervious and feather light charmed book bag that was Petunia's gift for his birthday. (She planned on getting him another one that was also space expanded as a Graduation Gift, space expansion charms weren't cheap) Petunia knelt down and gave him a hug as she said "Stay safe Harry, and remember, if you come across ANYTHING suspicious, go to the teachers."
Harry nodded and said "Yes Aunt Petunia."
Smiling, she ruffled her nephew's perpetually messy hair and said "Have a good trip, I'll talk to you in a week."
Harry nodded and the pair separated, Harry making his way up to the staircase of the first car, he turned back and gave his aunt a final wave goodbye that she returned before she headed for the entrance to the rest of the station. Harry turned around only to blink in surprise when he saw a firstie with dirty blond hair and pale silver eyes studying him with a cocked head from the doorway into the car.
"Uh, hi?" Harry asked with an unsure wave, silently hopping that the girl in front of him wasn't here for an autograph.
"You are Harry Potter." The girl said.
"I am." Harry said now resigned.
The girl nodded and said "I am Luna Lovegood. Your friends are in the fifth car."
With that, she turned and entered the car, entering the third compartment on the left. Harry blinked in confusion before he shrugged to himself and walked down the car, checking each compartment just to be safe. In Luna's compartment there was the Weasley daughter whose face quickly matched her hair color when she spotted Harry while Luna gave an absent wave that Harry returned out of politeness sake. Sure enough, when Harry reached the fifth car Hermione and Neville were already settled in, the pair of them reading books, Neville a Herbology Text and Hermione a text on Egyptian runes.
The pair looked up at his entrance and Hermione cocked her head as she asked "Are you alright there Harry? You look slightly unsure about something."
"Yeah, I just ran into this girl who seemed a bit strange." Harry said, sitting next to Hermione.
"Dirty blonde hair and silver eyes?" Neville asked knowingly.
"Yeah, that's her." Harry said with a nod.
Neville let out a small hum and said "Luna Lovegood. Girl's got Seer blood in her, that one. Her and her father ran into me and Gran by the floo station for the platform, told me to make sure that I remembered to double knot my shoes before getting off the train."
"Well that was a rather odd thing to say to you." Hermione said with a frown.
"I don't know, my shoe laces have been coming undone pretty often this last week." Neville said with a chuckle.
"By the way Harry, where's Hedwig?" Hermione asked.
"I gave her the choice to ride with me or fly up to Hogwarts under her own power, she chose the latter. I think she thought I was an idiot for asking in the first place." Harry said and the other two chuckled. Hedwig did seem to be a rather independent owl.
The trio talked about a few mundane things before they went back to their books, Harry pulling a new quidditch book out of his book bag that was thick enough to last him through the majority of the train ride up to the school.
Their companionable silence was interrupted about an hour before they reached the school by the compartment door sliding open and an unwanted voice saying "Well, if it isn't scar face and his posse."
Harry idly turned a page near the end of his book as he said "Well, if it isn't the yapping Pomeranian and his Chihuahua hanger-ons."
Neville's surprised snort turned into snickers while Hermione let out a few giggles despite herself.
"What did you call me Potter?!" Malfoy asked, drawing his wand. A wand which quickly flew out of his hand, flipped around, and slapped into Harry's left hand. Harry glanced up at the flabbergasted Draco and said "You would be absolutely awful at Politics little doggy, going for violence after the first round of insults? For shaaaame."
"Give me my wand Potter." Malfoy demanded with a growl.
"You want the stick little doggy? Go get the stick!" Harry said, making a light throwing motion and the wand shot out over Draco's head, made a ninety degree turn to the right and kept going until there was a clatter sound as it hit the door at the end of the car. Malfoy quickly stumbled after the thrown object, Crabbe and Goyle chasing after him and Harry closed the door and magically locked it as he said "Prat's lucky I didn't toss it out the window."
"I suppose it's also our fault for not locking the door after the cart lady came around." Neville mused.
Hermione sighed and said "Come now, let's be honest with each other, we wanted a chance to get the better of him again."
Neville and Harry shrugged their shoulders, it wasn't like she was wrong after all.
The rest of their trip up was fortunately uneventful and at Hogsmeade station after Neville had dutifully double knotted his shoes after they had come untied the trio boarded a horse less carriage that they shared with Susan Bones and Hannah Abbot. They traded small talk on the way to the castle then split up in the Great Hall to head to their respective tables.
The Sorting of the new first years commenced soon after. Harry clapped politely for each student sorted, yes even the Slytherins, but the only ones that caught his attention was Ron's sister making Gryffindor ('Ah, the last of the current lot, well, no problems working out where YOU'RE going my dear, GRYFFINDOR!') and Luna Lovegood to Ravenclaw ('Ah, a young lass after Rowena's own heart, off you trot to RAVENCLAW deary!').
Once all of the firsties were sorted, Dumbledore stood up and said "Welcome students, to another year at Hogwarts! I know that you all are eager to begin eating so I shall keep this speech brief." The old man suddenly shimmered, now wearing aclassical Pirate Captain outfit, complete with eye patch, Fawkes flaming onto his left shoulder as he raised his goblet with his right hand and called out "Drink up me hearties Yoho!"
Professors McGonagall and Snape both smacked their faces with their palms while all of the students and most of the teachers either laughed or let out a cheer, the students eagerly digging in as the food and drink arrived. As a now normal for him Dumbledore sat back down, Lockhart, who looked quite dapper in his aquamarine robes, flipped him a Galleon with his thumb from five seats away, the shiny coin going over the other professor's heads and landing RIGHT where Dumbledore had put his hand. The new professor was softly cackling to himself at whatever THAT had been about as he began spooning mashed potatoes on his plate.
A few minutes after dessert appeared, one of the new first years came up to Harry and his friends with an eager grin. When Harry spotted the camera, he mentally groaned and thought 'Oh boy, here we go.'
The first year grinned and said "Hello sir, my name's Colin Creevey. You're Harry Potter right?"
"That's right, what can I do for you Colin?" Harry asked, remembering his Aunt Petunia's words of 'Always be polite when speaking to people until they merit otherwise.'
"I was wondering if I could take a picture of you and your friends and if you would all sign it when it's developed." Colin said, his grin turning slightly hopeful.
"You want our autographs as well?" Neville asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Of Course! Anyone's that's friends with the Boy-Who-Lived is sure to be going places!" Colin said happily.
Harry sighed at the title before he glanced at the other two. A quick bit of nonverbal conversation later, he turned back to Colin and said "Alright, we'll do it, but there are a few conditions. First and foremost, none of that Boy-Who-Lived stuff, to me it's nothing but a reminder that I somehow lived while so many others including my parents died, just call me Harry alright?" At Colin's slightly solemn nod, Harry continued "Second, not tonight. We'll work out where the best place to take the photo is either tomorrow or the day after so that way you have a proper photo to work with." 'And it gives us a chance to not look like we're about to fall asleep.' He finished mentally.
"An excellent decision Harry." Lockhart said from where he was standing on the other side of the table causing the three second years and one first year to startle.
Spinning around, Harry asked "Sir, when did you get here?"
Lockhart gave him a megawatt grin and said "When I saw Young Mr Creevey approaching with his camera I thought it would be best for me to offer my advice when it comes to these sorts of things. If you four don't mind my intrusion, I can help you find the perfect place for a quick photoshoot."
"Sure!" Colin chirped out eagerly. Harry and his friends traded quick looks followed by a simultaneous shrug with each other before Harry said "That sounds fine Professor."
"Very well, I shall look around for the perfect spot and inform you of the location in no more than two days' time, for now, enjoy the rest of your meals children." Lockhart said before he did an elegant twirl and strode quite magnificently back to the Staff Table.
As he left leaving a good chunk of Gryffindor chatting about what just happened, Harry sighed and said "I really wish he wasn't in his 'on stage' persona just now."
"It did seem a bit much." Neville hesitantly agreed.
"Hopefully it's just because it's the opening feast and he dials it down during class time." Harry said, pushing his glasses up to rub at his face with his hands for a moment before dropping them back in place.
"I am sure Professor Lockhart will be perfectly professional in class." Hermione said primly.
"One can hope." Harry muttered before he turned back to Colin and asked "Need anything else Colin?"
Colin quickly shook his head and said "No, thanks for agreeing Harry!" And then he took off back to his seat, eagerly talking to his seat mates.
Harry let out another sigh but resolutely went back to his Treacle Tart. Hopefully it would just be one photo when it came time, but he doubted he would be that lucky.
Once everyone was finished with their desserts, Dumbledore stood up to give the standard announcements, there were even MORE forbidden items on Filch's list, Forbidden Forest was named such for a reason (pointed stare at the Weasley Twins), and classes began tomorrow morning so be sure to be at the breakfast table by eight to get your morning schedule.
After that was the obligatory singing of the Hogwarts Anthem which all of them actually managed to sing in tune with each other in an uplifting tone thanks to Fawkes. (Snape and Filch both looked like they wanted to murder the bird at the end of it)
Then it was the climb up to the Gryffindor Tower and the password given, Wattlebird, before they tiredly made for the staircase. The second years climbed up to the top where their dormitory of last year was, which now had a sign on it saying SECOND YEARS. They entered the familiar, circular room, with its five four-four posters hung with red velvet and its high, narrow windows. Most of their trunks had been brought up for them and stood at the ends of their beds, and Harry was quick to take his trunk out of his book bag and place it at the end of his bed, tapping his wand on it once to resize it back to its original size.
Opening his trunk, Harry got out his pajamas and changed into them before slipping into his bed as he called out "Good night guys." He got a chorus of replies back from everyone else, even Ron before he blissfully drifted to sleep.
END