In Chapter 9, readers pointed out that I needed to make a fix. Lucius Malfoy is arrested in Chapter 5, and he is tried and Kissed in Chapter 10. But when Harry, Hermione, Luna, Sirius and Bladebloody discuss the Malfoy family in Chapter 9, Lucius still is alive.

Chapter 11
1st September, Part 1

Two days later
Friday, 1st September 1995
King's Cross Station

Hermione had crossed over to Platform 9¾ from Platform 9, and was pulling her trunk towards the Hogwarts Express. This was when she spotted Parvati and Padma Patil talking to two olive-skinned adults.

As Hermione approached the girl twins, she saw the sisters and their mother each put her hands together, as though each witch were praying, and bow. Then the parents walked away.

The twins from India no longer looked identical, and not only because now they were wearing different-coloured school robes. Padma was not wearing eye makeup, whereas Parvati was; and Parvati's lipstick was a brighter red than was Padma's.

Also, Padma was wearing a blue 'P'-badge, whereas Parvati was not. There was a reason why Parvati was lacking a prefect badge—Hermione grinned with pride.

Hermione intended to compliment Padma on her prefect badge. But before Hermione could speak, Parvati shrieked, "You have Harry's ring! Merlin, you truly are married! Show us the ring, show us!"

When Hermione presented the Lady Potter ring on her left hand, grinning Padma squealed, and grinning Hermione's heart raced. Hermione felt proud of being married, and she felt happy that now she was fully accepted into the universal sisterhood. This was how Hermione discovered that she was more of a girly-girl than she had always thought she was.

After the Patil twins had ooh'd and ah'd over the Lady Potter ring, Hermione said to Padma, "Congratulations on being selected as a prefect. You deserve it."

"Are you a prefect too?" Parvati asked. Hermione was wearing her Muggle clothes, not robes, so it was not obvious whether Hermione was a prefect.

"Yes I am," Hermione said, "and I feel so honoured. Do you know who the other fifth-year prefects are?"

Padma said, "Anthony Goldstein is the Ravenclaw boy prefect. Ernie Macmillan"—from Hufflepuff—"is a prefect too. Merlin, now he'll be even worse!"

"Worse?" Hermione repeated. "What do you mean? I don't know him well."

"When Ernie talks," Padma replied, "he always acts like he's giving a speech. He's pompous."

Parvati said, "Remember Percy Weasley? Ernie is like him."

Hermione rolled her eyes. She said to Padma, "Then I pity Hufflepuff firsties. Parvati will tell you that when we were firsties, Perfect Prefect Percy was a pompous, pontificating prat."

Parvati's eyes were shining with eagerness. "Speaking of male Gryffindor prefects, do you know who your partner is?"

"Yes."

Seconds of silence passed, then Parvati said, "Well?"

Hermione gave Parvati a mischievous smile. " 'Well?' what? You asked me a yes-or-no question; I answered it."

Padma laughed at her twin. "She logic-bombed you!" Then Padma asked Hermione, "Why aren't you in Ravenclaw?"

Hermione shrugged. "The Sorting Hat decided I was braver than I was smart."

Parvati whinged, "Hermione, I want to know who your prefect partner is."

Both Hermione and Padma ignored Parvati's words. Instead, Padma said, "If you're braver than you're smart, this would make you mega-brave. Harry Potter brave. Are you brave like that?"

"Not really. When I was in the loo and the twelve-foot mountain troll attacked, Harry killed the troll, and Ron fought the troll a bit. But me, I hid and screamed! So I'm not brave in the way that Harry is brave."

Before either Patil could say anything, Hermione's index finger shot up in the air. "But last year, remember all that? When Harry's name came out of the Goblet and he said that he hadn't put his name in, and nobody believed him? His own 'best mate' called Harry a liar and a cheater, everyone believed Ron, nobody believed Harry, and the entire school"—Hermione glared at each Patil twin—"insulted Harry and shunned him. Only Neville, the twins—the other twins—Luna Lovegood of Ravenclaw and I stood with Harry and spoke up for him. Which takes a special kind of bravery—a bravery I'm glad I have."

"And one I don't have," Parvati said quietly. "I thought Harry was telling the truth, but I never spoke up and said so."

Hermione was on a roll. "I don't know if you heard this, or if you remember, but after the Third Task, it was revealed that 'Mad-Eye' Moody was actually a Polyjuiced Death Eater, and it was he who put Harry's name in the Goblet. So Harry was proven right all along. But do you want to know how many kids apologised to Harry after the Third Task? Five."

All three girls knew that neither Patil twin had been one of the five.

Parvati asked, "Did Ron apologise? I mean, he'd almost have to, right?"

Hermione said stiffly, "Ron has never apologised for his lies and slanders. It's one of the reasons why we no longer are friends with him."

Hermione did not need to be a Legilimens to know what Parvati was thinking now: This is gossip gold! Meanwhile, Padma, who was looking sad, asked, "So the Golden Trio is no more?"

"The original Golden Trio is no more. Now it's Harry and I, and also Luna Lovegood."

Parvati stared, and Padma choked. "You're friends with Loony?" the Patil twins said in chorus.

"Stop that!" Hermione growled. "Luna is a Seer, and quite a good one. She can see auras—so she knows when you are sleeping, she knows when you're awake, and she knows if you're being bad or good. Also, she gets flashes of the future sometimes. If not for her, Harry could've been in serious legal trouble this summer; he could've been expelled and his wand snapped. But Luna's timely warning saved Harry."

"But she's so weird," Padma said.

"And because of how she acts, last year she was bullied in Ravenclaw." Hermione looked pointedly at Padma and added, "I hope Luna won't have that problem this year."

Reluctantly Padma promised, "If I see Luna be bullied, I'll put a stop to it."

Parvati drew her wand, then cast Tempus with it. "Merlin, Pad, we need to be going! Later, Hermione."

Hermione growled, "Before you go..."

"Yes?" Padma said warily.

"It annoys me for Harry's sake that last year the entire school wrongfully dumped on Harry, and almost nobody has apologised to him for this. I'd like it if each of you would apologise to Harry before the train arrives in Hogsmeade."

Parvati stood straight. "I'll do it. I wronged Harry, I admit it and I'm going to apologise to him today." Then Parvati grinned mischievously. "I won't even mention the Yule Ball—talk about apologies being due!"

Padma said, "I also shall apologise to Harry."

As the Patil girls hurried away, Hermione heard Parvati say to Padma, "Hermione never did say who the Gryffindor fifth-year boy prefect was, did she?"


One minute after the train's departure

As soon as the train started to move, Hermione put on her brand new and quite special robes. Then she stepped out into the corridor. With a determined step, she headed forwards to the Head Boy/Head Girl's compartment, which was where the prefects' meeting was.

By the time the meeting started, in the compartment were Julius Travers the Head Boy, Sylvia Abbott the Head Girl, and twenty-three other prefects besides Hermione. Twenty-six teenagers were in the compartment, yet Hermione felt like all eyes were on her. Perhaps because of the way she was dressed, and because of her Lady Potter ring?

When the prefects' meeting ended, Hermione grabbed Harry's hand and dragged him over to where Daphne and Blaise were standing. "Congratulations, you two," Hermione said, "on being chosen as prefects."

"Lord Potter. Lady Potter," the two Slytherins said. Blaise bowed, whilst Daphne curtseyed.

Then Blaise said, "Be honest. How surprised are you to see that it's us? And not certain other Slytherins of our year?"

Harry said, "I admit it, we were worried that Snape would pick Malfoy and Parkinson. But we aren't complaining—you two definitely deserve to be prefects."

Blaise and Daphne exchanged a look. Daphne said, "We, erm, had our own worry: that instead of you, Potter, it would be Weasley sharing a prefect badge with Gra—with Lady Potter. Everyone knows what arse-kissers the Weasleys are when they're near Bumblebee."

Blaise said, "Changing the subject—you both realise, I trust, that Professor Snape will go spare when he sees how you two are dressed. You'll make history as the first prefects ever assigned detention during the Welcoming Feast."

Harry and Hermione each were wearing black acromantula-silk robes. Each Potter wore the Potter crest, in white, on the left breast of his/her robes; the red-and-yellow Gryffindor crest on the right side of the robes; and a prefect-'P' red badge in the middle. Neither Potter's robes showed any other red colour. Harry's Potter crest was inside a wide white circle; Hermione's Potter crest was inside a wide yellow circle.

Now Hermione pulled a book from the pocket of her robes, and held it out for Blaise and Daphne to see. "According to the Hogwarts Student Handbook, 1938 edition, how we're both dressed is legal, because Harry is Head of House Potter and I'm his wife."

Daphne almost snatched the book out of Hermione's hand, but stopped herself. "Where did you get this? I've never seen any student handbook in all the time I've been here."

Harry said, "This book is a team effort. Our friend Luna Lovegood alerted us that this book was in a room somewhere in the castle where old junk is stored. I sent a house-elf friend of mine to fetch the book for Hermione. Hermione probably has the book memorised now"—Hermione grinned—"and I've read it once. Did you know that if the headmaster or deputy headmaster ever summons you for a meeting, you're entitled to insist that your Head of House go with you?"

Hermione said, "Hold on," and cast the Geminio spell three times. Blaise, Daphne and Harry now each had his or her own (temporary) copy of the Handbook.


Julius and Sylvia, the Head Boy and Head Girl, did not assign patrols to Harry and Hermione till later in the train trip. But right after the prefects' meeting ended, Hermione wanted to walk along the entire train and to introduce herself to the first-years—in particular, to the Muggle-born first-years. ("I guarantee you, Harry, the Muggle-born firsties are scared to death now, but are trying not to show it.") Harry was willing to help Hermione with this worthy project—especially when he saw how relieved were the Muggle-born eleven-year-olds when they met a kindred spirit.

The result was that Harry and Hermione did not return to their own compartment till an hour and a half into the trainride. In their compartment, Harry and Hermione found Luna and Neville, which was good. They did not find Ron there, which was even better. But in the compartment was Ginny; this was not good at all.

"Hello, Harry," Ginny said, in a you get three rounds for a knut version of a sexy voice.

"Out!" said Hermione, pointing to the door.

"Please, Harry, can I stay?" said Ginny, her eyes full of promise. "I'd be quite grateful." Ginny did not look at Hermione at all.

Harry said, "I'm married, Ginevra."

Ginny purred, "I can share, if I have to. But we all know I'm prettier, hm?"

Harry thought, Be nice to people and they think you're a milquetoast. Aloud, Harry said, "What you are, is a spoiled child who is disrespecting my wife. Out, before I"—Harry drew his wand—"throw you out."

Ginny glared at both Harry and Hermione, but she left.


Five minutes later

Harry was having a pleasant conversation with Hermione, Luna and Neville when the compartment door opened. Harry thought at first it might be Ginny returning, on Ron strolling in as if he were welcome—but no, standing in the doorway was the ferret. Crabbe and Goyle stood behind him.

"So, Scarhead," said Draco, "I hear you married the mudblood. Was this the best you could do? Or was it a 'wandpoint wedding'?"

Harry raised a hand, to tell everyone else in the compartment to say nothing. Then Harry looked at Draco and said, "Let me ask you a question, Draco: What's your name?"

"What?" said Neville.

"You know perfectly well," Draco snarled, "what my name is, Potter."

But Draco's condescension was all an act, Harry could tell—Draco was nervous, but trying to cover it up.

"Humour me," Harry said. "Tell me your name."

Draco stepped into the compartment then, and shut the door—leaving him inside and his bodyguards outside. "I'm Draco. There, you satisfied?"

Draco turned to open the door.

"Draco what?" Harry pressed. "Include your last name."

Draco turned round to face Harry again. He tried to send Harry a Fiendfyre glare. "I'm Draco Mal—," cough, "Mal—," cough, "Mmm—," cough, "Draco Black."

Neville asked, "Why can't he say 'Malfoy' anymore?"

Luna answered, "Because when Lucius Malfoy, the Head of House, was executed for murder, the House of Malfoy went away, bye-bye." She made an airy goodbye-wave of her hand. "The two people still alive who had the Malfoy name are dishonoured—they can't say the name, or write it."

Harry said, "Also, Sirius told me that before Lord Lucius Malfoy got soul-sucked, Sirius as Lord Black annulled the marriage of Lucius and Narcissa, and claimed Narcissa's son Draco as part of House Black. So Draco Black is Draco's name now."

Draco scowled, but did not argue with what Luna said or what Harry said.

Harry looked at the blond boy. "Draco, I've two things to tell you. The good news is, four years ago on this train, I refused to shake your hand when you offered it, and I unknowingly insulted you. It's too late to fix things, but now I apologise for that unintended insult."

So saying, Harry shook Draco's hand.

"I accept your apology," Draco said grudgingly.

Harry said, "The bad news is, I'm now Head of House Potter, as you might have noticed." Harry plucked his Lord Potter black robes. "Draco, if you insult me or insult my wife, I now may legally challenge you to a duel to the death and kill you. Do you want carved on your headstone, 'He called Lady Potter a mudblood'? Think about it."

"You only think you could kill me in a duel, Potter."

Luna said airily, "In only a few futures do you kill Harry—by sneak attacks. A dueling platform doesn't allow sneak attacks, unless you jump the count. In almost all futures, once you both stand on the dueling platform, Harry kills you in less than a minute."

Draco stared at Luna, looking horrified. Neville also stared. Luna wore a dreamy smile, and Hermione looked like she was biting her tongue.

Harry continued, "Here's more bad news. Your Head of House isn't Lucius Malfoy anymore, he's Sirius Black. You can't hope to be Lord Black one day, because Sirius already has declared me to be Heir Black—and this is assuming that Sirius never marries Amelia Bones and gets her pregnant. The best you can hope for now is to live the rest of your life as Draco Black."

"Yeah, I guess so," said Draco.

"Except Sirius is a hothead, and he doesn't like at all how you've treated Hermione and me. Keep this shit up and, even if I don't kill you, you could wind up with Sirius disowning you. Then you wouldn't be able to say 'Draco Black' either."

Draco scowled.

Harry asked, "Hermione, you have anything to add?"

Hermione said, "Draco, on top of everything else, Harry and I are prefects but you aren't. So don't act like a foul, loathsome, evil little cockroach near us, and your life will be brilliant."

"Brilliant, right," Draco said. With shoulders sagging, he turned round, opened the compartment door and left.


A few minutes after Draco & Co. left the compartment, the Patil twins knocked on the door, then entered the compartment when they were invited in.

The Indian twins apologised to Harry for their "simply horrid behaviour" last year, after the Goblet of Fire had spit out Harry's name. Hearing both girls' sincere apologies, Harry was surprised and pleased.


Later in the trainride

During parts of the trainride, Prefect Harry or Prefect Hermione patrolled the train. During other parts of the trainride, Harry's and Hermione's compartment received drop-in visitors. But during a different part of the trainride, when Harry, Hermione and Luna were alone in their compartment—

Luna said to the other two, "Whilst you two were gone, I had a vision."

"Another one?" said Hermione.

"It was mostly hidden by Seer smoke, so it's incomplete. Anyway, tomorrow is a juncture."

"What kind of juncture?" Harry asked.

"If we do nothing special tomorrow, than Harry, you fight You-Know-Who in—I'm not sure, 1996 or 1997. In some of the futures you win, and in some of the futures he wins."

"Bugger," Harry said. Hermione slapped his arm.

Luna continued, "But tomorrow, I saw it where the three of us go to Moaning Myrtle's lavatory, then time passes, and somehow we're in a library where all the books have green covers. Hermione and I can't read the books but you can."

Harry thought, A library that somehow is connected to the Chamber of Secrets, it sounds like. It sounds like all the books are written in Parseltext.

Luna said, "Then time passes, and somehow you're holding a particular green book. You use what the green book tells you, then we three fight You-Know-Who much sooner than 1997, and maybe even sooner than 1996."

Hermione asked, "And when we fight Voldemort, what happens in your vision?"

Luna replied, "In sixty-six out of sixty-seven futures, Harry Potter, you defeat You-Know-Who."

"Wow," said Harry.

Luna then said, "I trust my vision, but I can't imagine how going to the Haunted Loo could lead to us being in a library."

Harry and Hermione shared a look. Harry smiled a crooked smile and said, "Would you lot like to see the place where a sixty-foot-long basilisk tried to kill me? It'll be fun."