Chapter 5 The Train Ride

With that Harry rushed off with Hedwig and his trunk. Harry heard her before he saw them,

"Always packed with muggles."

"Mum, cant I go…" Ginny asked holding her mothers hand.

"You're not old enough, now be quiet. All right, Percy, you go first. Percy, Fred and George all vanished onto the platform, Harry saw her, and she looked just as beautiful as she always has, albeit with a childish look. Harry walked shyly to Mrs. Weasley and asked, "Excuse me, could, er… help me get on the platform?"

"Sure dear, its Ron's first time as well." Harry looked over at Ron and smiled, Ron grinned back.

"Now," Mrs. Weasley explained, "Walk strait at the barrier between platform 9 and 10. Don't stop and don't be scared you'll crash into it, that's very important. Best do it at a bit of a run if your nervous. Go on, go now before Ron."

"Thanks, I appreciate it," Harry, turning to Ginny said, "Your time will come, everything happens to everybody sooner or later." Giving her a half smile. She in turn smiled widely back, happy that someone thought she should go to Hogwarts.

With that Harry took off at the barrier, leaving the Weasley's shocked. He disappeared into the barrier, to reappear on the other side; happy he was changing things for the better.

Harry loaded his bags with the help of Fred and George, he finally found an empty compartment, and as soon as he sat down, Ron came in.

"Do you mind?" He asked.

"No not at all." Harry replied.

"Do I know you from somewhere? You look really familiar, do I know you? Never mind. Did you hear, Harry Potter is on the train!"

"Oh really?" Harry answered amused, scratching the back of his head.

"I'm Ron by the way, Ron Weasley." Putting out his hand.

"Harry, Harry Potter." Taking his hand. Ron had a stricken look on his face.

"Oh, I feel like an idiot, asking Harry Potter if he knew that Harry Potter was on the train. Do you have the scar?" Ron asked nervously.

Harry grinned and pushed up his hair revealing the lightning bolt on his forehead.

"Wicked." Ron said thoroughly impressed.

"Anything off the cart dears?" A smiling, dimpled lady asked pushing a trolley laden with all sorts of sweets.

"I'm set." Holding up a mashed sandwich, "Mom always forgets that I don't like corned beef." Ron said looking downcast.

"We'll take the lot." Harry said holding out a hand full of Galleons. Ron's eyes widened looking at the money.

As soon as they settled in, Harry and Ron started talking about Hogwarts, Harry tried not to let too much on, that he had studied there for 7 years and then taught for another 50 at the magnificent castle. As the conversation progressed it ended up on one thing, Quidditch. Ron started playing with Percy's old wand idly in his hand. Suddenly a familiar brown bushy haired girl burst into their compartment.

"Have either of you seen a toad? This boy Neville has lost one." Both boys shook their heads.

"Oh," seeing Ron's wand in his hand, "Are you doing magic? I've only been practicing basic spells but they worked for me. Lets see it then."

Ron cleared his throat and began.

Sunshine, Daises, Butter Mellow,

Turn this stupid, big rat yellow.

Both Hermione and Ron were both too preoccupied with Ron's spell that neither of them noticed Harry casting the nonverbal transfiguration spell to change Scabbers fur yellow. But Harry mixing up the wording cast the spell to change an Animagus to their human form.

As Scabbers grew, Harry realized his mistake almost immediately, Ron and Hermione on the other hand, believed that it was Ron who had cast the spell, were frozen in fear, unsure what was happening. Ron finally recovered and pushed the rapidly growing Peter Pettigrew on to the floor, standing and stepping away from the disgusting creature. Hermione screamed and grabbed at the closest thing she could to bury her head into to hide, which as it happened, was Ron Weasley's shoulder. Ron's arms automatically wrapped around her protecting her from the writhing Peter Pettigrew. Harry stunned Peter, and thought, this is good, now Sirius could walk a free man.

Switch

Far away in the Teachers Compartment sat Minerva McGonagall, reading a list of all that had been covered in the Prefects meeting, she was pleased, her favorite students son, Harry Potter was safely on his way to Hogwarts. She heard a blood-curling scream and jolted up. She rushed down the train to find Hermione Granger wrapped in a tight embrace with Ron Weasley, both looking absolutely terrified. Her eyes passed them on to a scraggly boy with glasses and a look that could instill fear in to Lord Voldemort. Thankfully it was not directed at her but rather a lump of a person, one that she had previously had believed dead for nigh on eleven years, Peter Pettigrew.

Switch

Harry was oblivious to McGonagall when she rushed into the room.

He betrayed my parents!

Give him to Dumbledore, get Sirius released.

He should pay of what he has done.

He will, by the Dementors hand, or mouth in their case.

The battle raged on inside Harry head, he finally realized that McGonagall was staring at him, and Ron and Hermione were terrified, both holding the other, that was a interesting development, perhaps they wouldn't wait so long to figure out that they were made for each other Harry mused. About the time Harry broke from his revere, as did Ron and Hermione, realizing that they were hugging quite tightly, they broke apart, embarrassed that they had just met and were tightly embracing in fear.

"Well, Mr. Potter, is it not? What is going on in here? And why is a supposed dead man on the floor of this compartment?"

But before Harry answered, Hermione beat him to the punch,

"Its my fault Professor, I asked this boy," gesturing to Ron, "to perform magic, I'm muggleborn see and I was curious. After Ron did the spell, his rat, which he preformed the spell on, transformed into that person."

"And you are-"

"Granger, Hermione Granger."

McGonagall looked appraisingly at what she assumed to be the last of the Weasley boys, Ron.

"And you are?" Looking at Ron.

"Ron Weasley ma'am."

"Well, Mr. Weasley, could you tell me the incantation for the spell you preformed?"

Ron recited the verse, scared out of his wits he was going to be chucked into Azkaban.

"Not to worry Mr. Weasley, you aren't going to Azkaban tonight," reading the worry on his face, "But perhaps you should exercise caution, doing spells taught to you by your jokers of brothers, might lead you into more trouble than naught."

Ron nodded his head vigorously, reminding Harry of all the American muggles and their head bopping.

"I am going to take Mr. Pettigrew with me, I fear that their may be a falsely accused behind the walls of Azkaban," said McGonagall thinking of Sirius Black. "I suggest that you change into your robes, I suspect that we will be arriving at Hogwarts soon."

Professor McGonagall levitating Peter Pettigrew out of the compartment and down the train drew many strange looks, but no one questioned her. When she arrived in the Teachers Compartment she dropped him, and sent a Patronus to none other than, Albus Dumbledore.

Back in the first year compartment, sat Harry, berating himself for screwing up so incredibly huge. He felt like he was back in Auror School when he couldn't figure out which one changed body features and which changed Animagi to human form. Ron and Hermione sat looking at the floor of the compartment every once in a while casting furtive glances at the other.

They changed and came back to the compartment just in time for the train to pull into Hogsmead.

"First years this way!" Hagrid called out. As Harry came upon Hagrid, Hagrid asked, "All right their Harry?"

"Ya, this year is gonna be great." Harry said as he walked to the boats that would take him across the Black Lake.

Im so sorry for taking so long to update, School was being, difficult, but that was over and then Christmas, everything was against me but here is a nice long chapter, thats not really that long but longer than normal, somewhat. So have a good Christmas, or Hanukah, or Kwanza, whatever you celebrate, have a good time. JediEmperor5 P.S. I need a Marauders name for Harry, Review and give my your ideas, i suspect that i will need it in the next couple days or week, you never know, give me good reviews and i might get it up faster, hint hint...