The last week of the summer holidays flew by. Between dealing with the Golden Trio, hanging out with Ginny, and having a couple' Reader Lessons' with Devin, I'd kept busy. As the week grew shorter, my stomach started to bubble with excitement. I'd be heading back to Hogwarts! I'd only spent a couple days there when I'd arrived in this world, but they had been magical. Hogwarts was such a fantastic place. I couldn't wait to go back.

"I am theenking of dressing zem in pale gold - pink would, of course, be horrible with Ginny's 'air…" I heard Fleur saying. She'd been talking with Mrs. Weasley for too long, and I hadn't been able to find an out. It wasn't that I disliked the Beauxbatons champion; I just didn't want to listen to her for another hour.

"Ah, Harry!" Mrs. Weasley cut in as Harry walked into the kitchen. The conversation lasted for a bit, then I heard, "You'd better get on, Harry. And you too, Charlene. I want the trunks ready tonight, if possible, so we don't have the usual last-minute scramble."

I smiled softly and stood. "Don't worry, Mrs. Weasley. We'll all be ready," I said before leaving the kitchen with Harry.

The next morning went smoothly. While I enjoyed the efficiency of the Aurors helping us onto the platform, I could tell Mrs. Weasley was a little unused to this, and it had her flustered. We all got through to the platform fine, and I headed towards the train with Ginny. Even though the girl was a year younger than me, we got on famously. I would be sad not to be sitting with her. I knew she'd be going to sit with Dean, and I didn't much care to watch the two lovebirds.

Harry got on the train after talking with Mr. Weasley. I followed behind him, wishing Ron and Hermione weren't in the Prefect compartment. Out of the Golden Trio, Harry was the one I personally knew least. At least, if you took away my knowledge of him from reading the books. And with everything I knew was about to happen on the train ride, I wasn't particularly sure I wanted to be with him. He was the chosen one. And got so much attention because of it. Ugh. I really would hate to be him.

We soon bumped into Neville and Luna and found a compartment with them. Harry introduced me to the two as Charlene, and I held back a sigh. It seemed I was destined to be Charlene here, and never Charlie.

Neville and Harry started talking, and I got myself situated on the bench.

"-staring at us! Because we're with you!" Neville said, gesturing to himself and Luna.

"Maybe because you were at the Ministry, too. And in the paper," I said as Harry opened his mouth. I winced slightly. Should I have let him say that?

"Yes, I thought Gran would be angry about all the publicity, but she was really pleased," Neville said, smiling, "Says I'm starting to live up to my dad at long last. She bought me a new wand, look!" Neville said before pulling out his wand and showing it to us. After a couple seconds, though, he was diving under the seats to catch Trevor the toad, and Luna had changed the subject to Dumbledore's Army. I couldn't help being sad I'd missed that. Dumbledore's Army was the best part of the 5th book.

"-was like having friends," Luna said as I tuned back into the conversation.

I could see Harry nearly squirming in his seat with uncomfortableness, but I thought what Luna had said was sweet. Before he or I could respond, a group of girls reached the outside of our compartment, giggling and whispering.

I leaned over to Harry. "Don't pay any attention to them," I said softly.

He glanced at me and nodded with a smile.

The door opened, and a girl, annoying in her manner alone, pushed through the horde of girls into the compartment. She had large dark eyes and long black hair. This must have been Romilda Vane. Ugh.

"Hi, Harry, I'm Romilda, Romilda Vane," she said loudly and confidently. "Why don't you join us in our compartment? You don't have to sit with them," she said in a loud whisper as she gestured towards Neville and Luna. Neville was still searching for Trevor, his rear end sticking out from under the seats. Luna had put on some Spectrespecs, which made her look a bit odd, to say the least.

"They're friends of mine," Harry said, his tone colder than I'd realized it could be.

"Oh," Romilda said, obviously a bit surprised. "Oh. Okay," she said before leaving, closing the door behind her.

I watched her go, smiling. Good riddance. After that, things were relatively quiet and peaceful between the four of us. At least, they were until Harry and Neville were summoned for Professor Slughorn's big lunch. To my surprise, an invitation was included for me as well. I didn't even know the man, and I wasn't extraordinary in any way. What did he want with me?

To my annoyance, Harry pulled me up. "You got an invitation. You should come, Charlene," he said.

"What if I don't want to? Slughorn is…not really someone I want to associate with," I said, perhaps a little haughtily.

Harry rolled his eyes, but Neville looked like he'd also rather stay. Unfortunately for both of us, we soon found ourselves in Compartment C with Professor Slughorn and his 'Slug Club.' Thankfully, Ginny was there, squished in a corner, looking rather uncomfortable. To my surprise, Devin sat next to her, a space between the two.

I flashed Ginny a smile, then walked over and sat between her and Devin. "What are you doing here?" I asked him quietly.

"I'm as surprised as you. I don't even know the guy," he said, setting a hand on my knee. "By the way, I've been thinking about our chemistry project-"

"No time for that right now," I cut him off. "We need to figure this out," I said quietly.

"Now, do you know everyone?" Slughorn asked Harry and Neville. I was grateful I'd already slipped past the old man.

"Blaise Zabini is in your year, of course -"

Zabini didn't say a thing. Of course, he wouldn't, being Slytherin. Most of them didn't acknowledge Gryffindors, and this Slytherin hung out with Malfoy.

"-Marcus Belby, I don't know whether -?" Slughorn paused. Belby gave a strained smile, and I could tell he was as annoyed as the rest of us.

"And, you entered with Charlene Montrose, so you must know her. And this is Devin Findlay. Both are great friends of mine and Professor Dumbledore's," he said, flashing a smile at the both of us. We were his great friends, were we? Just great. I sent an empathetic smile in Harry's direction. He managed a small smile in return. I could feel Devin tense beside me and turned to look at him.

"You okay?" I whispered.

"Fine," he nodded, although his expression said he was anything but. I couldn't quite figure it out, though. Even though I knew him well, I couldn't tell what this expression was. I'd never seen it before. I shook my head and turned my attention back to Slughorn.

"- this charming young lady tells me she knows you!" Slughorn finished.

Ginny grimaced at Harry and Neville behind Slughorn's back, and I couldn't help smiling. That was our Ginny.

"Well now, this is most pleasant," said Slughorn, pulling out napkins and passing them around. Sadly, at the sight of the pheasant Slughorn had brought, my stomach gave a small grumble, and my mouth started to water. Unfortunately, the pheasant really didn't taste as good as it had looked. It was dry and sadly lacking in flavor.

Before long, Harry's 'interrogation' began, and Slughorn soon brought up the Ministry.

"But the rest of the stories - so sensational, of course, one doesn't know quite what to believe - this fabled prophecy for instance -"

"We never heard a prophecy," said Neville, his cheeks quickly going pink. Poor guy. It had probably taken so much courage to say that.

"That's right," Ginny said staunchly. "Neville, Devin, and I were all there too, and all this 'Chosen One' rubbish is just the Prophet making things up as usual."

"You three were there too, were you?" said Slughorn with great interest, looking between Ginny, Devin, and Neville. All three of them sat silently, unwilling to speak. Slughorn soon moved on.

The lunch went on for what seemed like ages. It didn't help that it was almost entirely Slughorn rambling on about famous students he'd known and influenced. Ugh, he was so full of himself.

It started to get dark outside, and the lanterns along the train were soon lit. The setting sun shone through the windows of the compartment, and Slughorn looked around, apparently finally noticing how late it had gotten.

"Good gracious, it's getting dark already! I didn't notice they'd lit the lamps! You'd all better go and change into your robes, all of you. Although, Charlene, Devin, if you'd stay, I'd like to chat a little more with the two of you," he said. I glanced at Devin, trying to hide the horror on my face. He only shrugged and stayed where he was as everyone else left the compartment.

The door slid closed as McLaggen and Belby, the last two remaining, left. Slughorn turned to us.

"Now, Charlene, Albus tells me you're new and quite a special woman. He also mentioned you'd be needing special tutoring with your potions, as your previous school was sadly lacking in this department. I would be happy to personally see to your tutoring," he said, flashing me a smile.

I smiled weakly, "Thank you, Professor."

"Unless, of course, you'd like Mr. Findlay to tutor you here, as well as what he's already helping with. Albus says you're quite the whiz at potions, boy," Slughorn said, turning his attention to Devin. "You'll have to stop by and show me. In fact, why don't you tutor Miss Montrose? I'll just keep an eye on the two of you during your sessions, maybe offer some advice occasionally," he smiled at us.

I glanced at Devin as he nodded. "Of course, Professor."

Slughorn nodded. "Good, good. Now, you two go get ready. I wouldn't want to delay you any longer," he said before turning back to what was left of his meal.

Devin and I left the compartment, and I turned to him. "I didn't know you were at the ministry."

He only shrugged. "The 5th book was my year. You should get back to your compartment. Harry's already with Malfoy," he said.

My eyes widened as I remembered that moment in the book. Just great.

"Fine. I guess I'll see you around," I said before turning to head back to my compartment. There was nothing I could do at this point.

The train soon reached Hogwarts, and I got off with Neville and Luna. "Save me a spot in the carriage, will you? I'm going to go talk with Tonks for a second," I said before slipping off to talk to the Auror.

I walked over to her, smiling a bit with excitement. I'd never met the fun metamorphagus. Of course, right now, she wasn't so fun, pining after Lupin as she was.

"Tonks, right?" I asked as I walked up to her.

The mousy-haired Auror smiled a little at me. "Yes. Can I ask what you're doing here, talking to me instead of getting in the carriages?"

"My name is Charlene, and I'm a friend of Harry's. I'm a little worried about him. He never came back to our compartment, and I didn't see him get off at all," I said.

She slowly nodded, and I could see she was deciding whether to trust me. "I'll take care of it. You go rejoin your friends."

I nodded slightly. "Um, do you know what a reader is?" I asked on a whim, hoping she did and that she'd know to trust me. Her eyes widened slightly, and I could tell I'd been right in guessing she probably did.

"Oh. Um, yes. I'll find Harry. You get up to the school. I'm sure the headmaster will be waiting for you," she said before heading towards the train.

I watched her go, then hurried back to the carriages. I climbed in next to Neville and Luna as the carriage lurched forward, towards Hogwarts.