Laura
A few days later, after the chaos that unveiled in Diagon Alley, Hermione, Noel, and I walked along the crowded halls of the Hogwarts Express. For minutes, we searched to find an empty compartment. After being unable to find an empty seat, we decided to sit with two girls, one blonde and one redhead, in a cabin towards the front of the train. Both girls seemed to be first years, as I only recognized the redheaded girl to be Ron's sister, Ginny.
"Is it okay if we sit in here, with you guys?" Hermione asked, opening the cabin door.
"That's fine." The blonde replied, nonchalantly
We sat on split sides, the first years opposing us. For a while it was silent, before I happened to realize that Harry and Ron weren't with us. I decided to start the conversation with that, as I was almost certain the girl was Ron's sister.
"Hey, are you Ron's sister? Ginny, if I'm correct?" I asked.
"Um, yeah." She replied, somewhat scarcely.
"Do you happen to know where he is? He and Harry both?"
Hermione's eyes grew, as Noel raised an eyebrow. They just realized they were missing, too. They looked at each other, panicked.
"I'm sorry, no," Ginny responded, suddenly looking at the door window. "Give me a moment." She rushed up, sprinting to the door, and quickly opened it. I could see her calling down the hall; to who, I don't know. When her, extremely awkward, for us, conversation was over, she came back into the cabin and sat back in her seat.
"I checked in with Fred and George, and they have no clue where those two are."
Her response clearly made Hermione freak out, as she started to ask us rapid questions, "they were with us, right? I saw them, right behind Fred and George. I bet they're somewhere on the train. Maybe they couldn't find us. Maybe someone else knows?"
Luckily, and unluckily, we were interrupted by, who other than, Draco himself. Similar to last year, he sauntered into the cabin and began to talk. Clearly, this kid does not have boundaries.
"Seen Potter, have you?" He sneered, "thought he'd would be with you people."
"We haven't." Hermione replied coolly, clearly mad that he interrupted her endless questioning.
"Left you all, has he? Knew that friendship wouldn't last long." He turned to look at Ginny, who seemed just as annoyed as us. "Potter left his girlfriend behind, too?"
"Can it, Malfoy." Noel jabbed, "just because you're practically in love with Harry doesn't mean you can go around harassing first years."
His faced turned sour, as he glared at Noel. Before he could retort, I quickly spoke up.
"Like I said before, Draco, just shove off. There's no reason for you to keep being this toxic. For goodness sake, Harry and Ron are missing and you go harass a first year? Over what - nothing?" I stood up, ushering him out of the cabin. "I don't know what your father taught you, but I was taught to think before I speak. Now, I suggest you do the same."
Once more, he glared at me as I held back his stare. After a few seconds, I spoke up with my confidence fueling my words.
"You can leave now," I finished, "or try to be nice. Option one is probably easiest, though."
He scoffed at me before turning around, flinging his robe behind him. Honestly, this kid acts like a straight up diva sometimes. I rolled my eyes, before shutting the door, and sitting back down without talking.
"Finally," Noel sighed, "that kid makes me want to throw myself out a window."
"I bet Harry could have taken him," Ginny remarked, almost dreamily.
I met eyes with Noel and Hermione, as a silent conversation passed between us. The two things we all seemed to know were, one—Ginny had a crush on Harry—and two—Noel was about to start cracking up. Almost as if on que, she did.
"Oh, he has tried," Noel snickered, most likely thinking of all our failed fights with Malfoy. As Noel's laughter died down, the cabin was left in a somewhat awkward silence. Never the first to talk to new people, Hermione pulled out a book and Noel began reading it over her shoulder. Why am I always the peacekeeper?
Unwilling to spend another minute watching Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb attempt to read the same book at the same time, I shifted my gaze to the, thus far, unspoken first year. She had long, straggly, dirty-blonde hair and eyes so protuberant that they appeared permanently surprised. Her large eyes were currently examining a small ring on her right hand which appeared to contain a shiny black beetle instead of a stone or jewel. Refusing to believe it was truly a beetle, I decided to ask her about it.
I pointed to the offending object, "is that really a beetle?" I questioned.
She raised her large, doe-like eyes to meet mine and took a moment to examine me, with a floaty expression that had not yet left her face, the whole train ride.
"Oh, this," her voice was even floatier than her face and carried on in a slow, dream-like way. "He bumped into my window the other morning and died. I couldn't stand to think of his family not seeing him again, so I carry him around and show him to every other beetle I find. Even if they're not his family, maybe they can help spread the news."
After she had finished her speech, she fished a magazine out from, seemingly, nowhere and began reading it. Or, at least, I think she was reading, she kept twisting the thing in a spiral motion. I glanced at Ginny, who seemed to have ignored the speech and pulled out a deck of exploding snap, then toward my right, to where Noel and Hermione had abandoned their book and were, quite blatantly, pointing at and talking about Luna. I decided to ignore them; maybe I would study up on defensive spells, from our earlier conversation, I could infer more duels with Draco were not far off. So, as Hermione and Noel turned back to, now, each their own book, seeing as Hermione had, finally, gotten annoyed of Noel squinting over her shoulder, there was silence.
This time, quite peaceful silence fell once more upon the cabin. Luckily, it seemed this would stay.
For the rest of the ride, we sat, separately, keeping to ourselves. Over time, I got fully bored with my book of defensive spells and decided to switch into reading about Transfiguration. Honestly, although I had fallen asleep in the very first class, I had grown to appreciate the subject over the previous year. Although defensive spells probably would help in another duel with Draco, maybe, if I were to study on Transfiguration enough, I could turn him into something other than his annoying self. I turned the page to encounter a list of animals you could transfigure people into, and, upon it, I found exactly the thing for him: A ferret. That's what he was, a quivering, little, ferret.
As I continued to fantasize about what I could do to Draco in ferret form – my favorite idea being to make him wear a little Gryffindor robe and keep him as the house mascot; payback – it came around the time for lunch. Like most people, except for a few of the poorer families, I had simply brought money for the trolley witch. That is why I was, thoroughly, surprised to see Noel removing a steaming bowl of French onion soup from her trunk. A—how had a bowl of soup be in her trunk without spilling and still hot—and B—why on earth would Noel pack lunch? At this point, I was pretty sure Noel's family had money coming out of their noses.
"Um, Noel, is there a reason you packed?" I questioned her.
She looked up at me and batted her eyes in confusion before responding, "What do you mean?" She asked, unabashed.
"I mean, it's just that most people buy from the trolley witch."
She took a moment to look around the cabin before answering, she shrugged, "no reason." And then went back to eating her soup.
No reason? Yeah, right; couldn't fool me. I knew her well enough to know there definitely was a reason. I just needed to figure out how to get it out of her.
Noel
I was glad when we arrived at the station, the second half of the train ride had been torturous. I thought about the events the whole ride to the castle, not focusing on the wonder of the horseless carriages. I mean come on, this is our second-year at a magic school and you're still amazed at the fact that it contains magic? Grow up. Anyway, after Laura interrogated me at my choice of lunch, she continued to questionably stare at me the rest of the ride. I mean, not the whole time... but, every once in a while, I would just look up and see her pale green eyes looking straight at me, still pondering why I had packed a lunch. Then there was her. The Trolley Witch. While Hermione, Laura, and Luna were buying snacks from her, I tried to keep my focus on my lunch, I thought it was safe to look up after she shut the doors, but when I did, she was just standing there. Still outside the doors, looking in. And, I swear, looking straight at me. How was I supposed to tell my friends that I was scared of the jolly, round-faced old lady who sold them sweets? I would just have to try to avoid the conversation at all costs.
I had been so lost in my own thoughts that I hardly realized that we had left the horseless carriages and were now sitting at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall.
"Earth to Noel," Hermione said, waving her hand in front of my face.
"Earth to Noel?" I questioned.
She looked at me a bit oddly before explaining, "Erm, muggle term... moon launch reference. You know?"
I decided to just roll with it, "sure."
"Right," Laura interjected, "so, what do you think?"
I really had not been paying attention, "What do I think?"
Laura sighed, "Are you feeling okay? We've literally only been talking about one thing."
"I'm fine." I rushed to cover up my spacing out. "But, could you remind me exactly what we have been talking about?"
"Sheesh," Laura muttered, shaking her head.
"Harry and Ron," Hermione said, quite exasperated, "Shouldn't we tell at a teacher? Look at the table, Noel. They're still not here."
I quickly looked up and down the table. They're still not here. Just then, a slightly flustered looking Professor McGonigal hurried the new first years up to the front and, somewhat, anxiously placed the sorting hat down and stepping to the side as the sorting hat began spouting.
I spend each year preparing
For the one night I am worn
Not bothering and not caring
If I'm dirty, ripped, or torn
No longer now my job
To be striking, bold, and pretty
Rather, now I face the mob
Forced to sort each nervous kiddy
And when beneath my brim, they whisper
Every thought they've thought, to me
Each stutter, brat, and lisper
Knows where they ought to be
A bodacious claim to Gryffindor
They scream with mighty pride
Admiring bravery and courage they adore
Yet do not hold inside
A quiet plea to Ravenclaw
I wrangle from their mind
But, with that wise, creative slaw
They will not find their kind
A plaintive push towards Slytherin
They cry from deep in heart
Mayhap but do ambition to win
Does not set them apart
A kindly ask for Hufflepuff
Does from some minds unfurl
Longing for loyalty and friendly stuff
Not in their minds, a whirl
So, do not fret
And do not cry
Least you set
The fates awry
For it is only me
Who knows where you ought to be
As the Sorting Hat's song drew to a close, I joined in the applause of the rest of my peers before spacing out. I was less concerned with who was being sorted where, and more concerned with Harry and Ron. They could be quite dumb sometimes, but it was almost a guarantee that you would find them together. Now I would just need a hint as to where. I glanced around the hall. McGonagall was looking a bit ruffled, however, seeing as she was standing in front of me, there was no way Harry and Ron could be with her. I suppose she might go to them after the sorting, but there was no way I could safely follow her without her noticing. Not without Harry's invisibility cloak. I scanned the rest of the staff table. Bingo. Dumbledore was sitting in the middle of two empty seats. McGonagall always sat to his left and Snape to his right. I scanned the table one last time just to be sure. No greasy potions master to be seen; I guess I'll be paying an unexpected visit to the dungeons this evening.
I tuned back in to see the last student, Ginny, get sorted into Gryffindor. Great, another Weasley in Gryffindor. I watched McGonagall rush out of the hall, while I waited a few minutes before determining it was safe. Was this really necessary? I could already tell by my Professor's behavior that Harry and Ron were in the castle - no one else would be stupid enough to cause trouble on our first night back - but I had to be sure. I leaned over to Laura, who was sitting next to me, and whispered,
"Cover for me. I'll tell you more later."
I then stood up from the table, quickly answering Hermione's gaze with a simple answer that would satisfy anyone close enough to hear it,
"I have to go to the bathroom."
I quietly slipped out of the hall, trying to catch as little attention as possible. I regarded the hallway before making my way down to Snape's office. I knew I had little to worry about being caught, everyone was still at the feast. As I approached the door to Snape's office, I pulled out my wand, preparing to cast a paper thin charm on the door, to allow everyone's voices to carry through it, when a gentile hand was placed on my shoulder. I whipped around, had Laura followed me? When I saw who it actually was, my heart dropped to the floor.
"Professor Dumbledore," I breathed out, almost reflexively.
His blue eyes shimmered kindly as he regarded my defensive stance, wand still clutched tightly in one hand. "Taking a walk?" He chortled at my precarious situation.
I stammered, "It's just...the train... and not at the feast... Harry and Ron!" I quickly sputtered out the last statement, surprised at his still smiling eyes.
"I can assure you that Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley are perfectly alright. Now, run back along to the feast, I'm sure you have plenty of other friends wondering where you are."
I stared at him in confusion. "But I'm not... aren't I in..."
"Trouble," my professor laughed, "I won't tell if you won't," he cheerily replied. Pushing me along my way with a flick of his wand. I walked numbly back to the great hall and sat down, in quite a daze.
Laura eyed me, "that was one long trip to the bathroom," she commented.
"Tell you later," I waved her off as I began to mindlessly eat. By the end of the feast, I had regained my nerve and was anxiously waiting to sprint up to the common room as Dumbledore finished his yearly speech. Yeah, yeah, we get it. No forbidden forest, been there, done that, just dismiss us already. Before he could finish pronouncing the final "t" in goodnight, I had already jumped up from the table, with Laura and Hermione hot on my heels. Snape, McGonagall, and Dumbledore had returned to the feast, and everyone knows that, between the three of them, they were not stupid enough to leave Harry and Ron unattended anywhere other than Gryffindor tower.
I ran to the portrait hole, almost bumping into Harry and Ron who were loitering outside.
"What have you done this time, "I cried, recovering from the shock of nearly knocking them over.
Laura and Hermione came sputtering up behind me as I continued, " I know you've done something, what other explanation is there for you being in Snape's office?"
At this point other students were beginning to arrive, so Laura, always the voice of reason, pushed us inside the common room, stating the password, wattlebird, which she had gotten from a prefect before following me, then admonishing, "How about we continue this inside the portrait hole before Percy comes up and gives us all detention."
As we shuffled into the portrait hole, Hermione took the moment of silence to question me. "How did you know they were in Snape's office; you were at the feast all," she gasped in the middle of her sentence, "I knew you weren't going to the bathroom!" she accused.
"Hermione," I groaned.
"What if you had been caught? What if you had been EXPELLED?!" Hermione ranted on.
"And what if I was caught and got in no trouble at all," I replied calmly before continuing, "Now, I, for one, think we should focus on the people who actually got in trouble." I quickly remembered that I didn't actually know if they had gotten in trouble, "You did get into trouble, right?"
Hermione rolled her eyes at my blatant attempt to avoid her fury and Harry mumbled a guilty yes.
"SEE!" I cried, pointing at Harry, "They did something, and they got in trouble. Harry tell us, now."
"Noel," Laura sighed, "even I could tell you part of what happened, and you would know by now too if you weren't too busy brooding at dinner to listen to what everyone was whispering about."
Hermione interjected, "You don't mean you believe those ludicrous rumors that Harry and Ron flew a car to school? And got EXPELLED?!"
"Well, we haven't been expelled..." Harry mumbled.
I shook my head, "Of all the stupid things."
"Oi! Save the lecture, we've already gotten one," Ron cried, looking a bit grumpy with the whole situation.
Just then Lee Jordan came by exclaiming, "Brilliant! Inspired! What an entrance! Flying a car right into the Whomping Willow, people'll talking about it for years-"
"You've got to be joking!" Hermione exclaimed, balking as more and more people came to congratulate Harry and Ron on their successfully illegal entrance. Ron was beginning to turn red from all the praise, which even he knew was wrong, and mumbled something about going up to bed before dragging Harry along with him.
I turned to see Hermione still gawking at the spot where Lee Jordan, now long gone, had been standing, "Let's go," I sighed, turning around to see Laura nodding her head and reaching to nudge Hermione before following me to our dorm.