Chapter 11: The Journey Back
Harry's final few days at Grimmauld Place passed much too quickly for his liking. Usually, Harry was incredibly eager to return to Hogwarts. This year was different. This was the first time he would miss the place he was leaving.
While it was true that he missed Quidditch, the Gryffindor Common Room, and the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall, he knew that he would soon be missing Sirius far more than any of those things.
Harry tried to keep a smile on his face during those last few days, not wanting to spoil any of his remaining time with his godfather and Remus by moping about.
It was difficult to maintain the facade.
Harry knew that this year would likely be very difficult. With the Daily Prophet printing lies about him every few days, he would probably be faced with widespread animosity from the rest of the student body. That prospect, combined with the new developments with his scar, made Harry almost want to stay at Grimmauld Place.
Sirius, as it turned out, was not at all fooled by the act, understanding that Harry didn't want to leave him behind.
On the day before their return to Hogwarts, he pulled Harry aside.
"There's something I want you to have," he said, pulling a cloth-wrapped package from the folds of his robes. "It's a way for us to communicate while you're at school."
Harry's eyes widened as he watched Sirius unwrap the cloth, delighted at the prospect of having a way to speak to his godfather. Inside the package was a lovely silver hand mirror, ornate patterns gilding the handle.
"This is a two-way mirror," Sirius explained. "I have the other one. When you want to talk, just say my name into your mirror. When I pick up, you'll be able to speak to me."
Harry was fascinated by the mirror, marveling at the intricate spell-work.
"Just make sure you call where no one can hear you," his godfather added. "I don't think you should widely broadcast the fact that you're in communication with Sirius Black. He's supposed to be a dangerous criminal, after all."
Harry grinned at Sirius.
Maybe this year wouldn't be so bad after all.
...
At last, September first arrived, bringing with it a morning that could only be described as absolute chaos. Various Weasleys had forgotten various things around the house, and Mrs. Weasley was beginning to fear that they would miss the train.
At last, everyone was packed and ready to go. All that was left was to wait for the arrival of the several Order members who were going to escort them to King's Cross Station. Harry couldn't help but feel guilty. His presence was preventing the other teenagers from heading off to school like normal students. What other Hogwarts student had to be accompanied to the train by an armed guard?
Just before they left, Sirius pulled Harry into a tight hug. "Remember the mirror, Harry," he whispered. "You'd better call at least once a week. If you don't, I'm going to have to break into Hogwarts again."
Harry laughed, knowing that Sirius wasn't joking. He would break into Hogwarts for Harry. After all, he'd done it before.
"I will, Sirius," he promised, meaning it.
Sirius pulled back, ruffling Harry's hair fondly. "Off you go, then!" he exclaimed. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"
Remus, who had overheard, made a face at that. "That's terrible advice," he said firmly. "Don't do anything Sirius would do, okay?"
Harry grinned at the two men, offering them one final wave before he allowed himself to be shuffled out of Grimmauld Place with the others.
It was time to get back to Hogwarts.
Harry's good mood disappeared almost immediately when they arrived at Platform 9 ¾. Everyone was staring at him. They weren't nice stares either.
Harry kept his head down, focusing on getting himself, Hedwig's cage, and his trunk onto the train. It was no easy feat considering how many books he'd packed.
Ron and Hermione headed off to the Prefect's Carriage while Harry, Ginny, Fred, George, and Lee Jordan (who had seemingly been conjured out of thin air by the twins) found a nearly empty compartment.
The only occupants were a girl with long blonde hair and Neville. Ginny introduced the girl as Luna Lovegood. She seemed extremely uninterested by their arrival, simply nodding at each of them before turning back to reading her upside-down magazine. Harry liked her immediately. She had an aura of strangeness about her that made him feel oddly comforted. On instinct, he extended his magic into the carriage, attempting to sense her magic. It was beautiful, like the tinkling of tiny bells.
Harry was very glad to see Neville again. He had forgotten just how much he enjoyed spending time with his fellow Gryffindor. He had been so distracted in previous years that he hadn't given Neville the time he really deserved. He resolved that this year he would be a better friend to Neville.
Neville was in the middle of explaining the properties of his Mimbulus Mibletonia when the compartment door slid open. Standing on the threshold was one of the last people Harry wanted to see: Cho Chang. She was still undeniably pretty, but all Harry felt when he looked at her was guilt. He had basically killed her boyfriend. Was she here to yell at him? He wouldn't blame her if she was.
"Hi, Harry," Cho said softly.
She didn't seem angry.
"Hi," Harry choked out, trying to hide the fact that his hands had started trembling violently.
There was an awkward silence before Cho seemed to come to a decision. "Can I talk to you for a moment, Harry?" she asked. "Outside?"
Harry nodded, feeling his blood run cold. Here it was. She was going to tell him that she blamed him for Cedric's death.
He stiffly followed Cho from the compartment, trying to hide how anxious he was.
Once they were outside, Cho gave him a soft smile. "I just wanted to thank you, Harry," she said.
Harry thought for a moment that he was hallucinating. "Why?"
The word came out before Harry could stop himself.
Cho drew in a deep, shaky, breath before continuing. "You brought him back to us," she whispered. "To his family and to me. I believe you, you know. About You-Know-Who. You must have risked a lot to bring him back. So, thank you."
There were tears in her eyes. She seemed so grateful. She didn't understand. She needed to understand.
"You shouldn't thank me," Harry said, desperation obvious in his voice. "It was my fault that he was even anywhere near Voldemort. You should hate me."
Cho was now looking at him like he was a wounded animal. There was such sympathy in her gaze, sympathy that he didn't deserve.
He couldn't do this. It felt like the train was closing in around him, walls drawing closer and closer, crushing him slowly.
"Um, Cho," he said, voice shaking. "I just remembered that I have to go ask Hermione about...something. It's urgent. So, I'm going to just…"
He turned and practically fled down the train.
He found one of the bathrooms and hurried inside, locking the door behind him.
Resting his arms on the sink, he tried to catch his breath. He didn't understand why seeing Cho would affect him like this. She had been nothing but kind to him. She had thanked him for Merlin's sake.
He was definitely going mad.
Harry splashed some cold water on his face, trying to come back to himself. Slowly but surely, he regained a measure of calm, heart slowing and breath quieting.
He was fine.
Unfortunately, a glance at the mirror showed him that he certainly didn't look fine. The many nights of disturbed sleep had left their mark, creating deep circles beneath his eyes and lending an unnatural pallor to his already pale skin. His scar stood out starkly, red and inflamed.
He looked vaguely ill, pale and clammy despite the hot summer air.
Sighing heavily, Harry exited the bathroom and headed back to the compartment, hoping that no one would notice how awful he looked.
George, who was never fooled by Harry, noticed right away, giving him a very sharp look when he entered, eyes swimming with concern. Harry smiled at him, trying to appear as if nothing had happened. George didn't seem to buy it, but he said nothing, simply moving over to let Harry sit by the window.
Harry took the offered seat, grateful for George's insight. He always felt better when he could see the world speeding by, greenery and blue sky helping him feel calmer, more centered, stronger.
The rest of the train ride passed quickly, the rhythmic noise and George's closeness helping Harry come back to himself. Ron and Hermione eventually returned, Ron complaining loudly about the tedium of the Prefect meeting.
As they exited the train, the first thing Harry noticed was that Hagrid was not the one calling for the first years. Instead, it was Professor Grubbly-Plank. Before Harry could dwell on Hagrid's absence, he noticed something else, something that made him stop cold.
There was something pulling the carriages.
Skeletal black horses, two to each carriage, were standing there plain as day. Harry stepped forward, reaching out his hand to pat the horse. Its skin was leathery but strangely soft. It leaned into his touch. Harry felt a strange connection to this creature. It was only then that he noticed that his friends were staring at him like he'd lost his mind.
"What?" Harry asked. "It seems friendly."
His explanation didn't seem to help. His friends were still gaping at him.
"They can't see them, Harry," Luna said, turning to the others. "The carriages are pulled by Thestrals," she explained. "They're only visible to those who have seen death. That's why Harry and I can see them, and you can't."
Understanding filled Hermione's face. "Oh," she breathed. "I've read about Thestrals! I never knew they pulled the carriages though. It's not in Hogwarts: A History."
Harry could almost see the gears in Hermione's head turning as she planned how to make a revision to her favorite book.
He turned back to the skeletal horse. He felt oddly connected to the strange animal. Maybe it was because he also felt like a harbinger of death.
Shaking away his morbid thoughts, Harry tore himself away from the strangely beautiful creature and followed the others into a carriage.
The trip passed without incident, and soon enough they were walking into the Entrance Hall of Hogwarts. It was somehow even more beautiful than Harry remembered. He loved it here.
They filed into the Great Hall, bidding goodbye to Luna as she headed toward the Ravenclaw table. They made it to the Gryffindor table just in time, barely finding seats before McGonagall entered, the first years trailing behind her. She brought out the stool and the Sorting Hat, placing them at the very front of the Hall. The Hat seemed to draw in a breath before its brim opened and it broke into song.
Long Ago, when I was newly made
It seemed the spirit of Hogwarts would never fade
It was written in the castle's very stone
That students would always protect their own
Whether Gryffindor brave, or Hufflepuff diligent,
Slytherin sly, or Ravenclaw intelligent,
The students of this noble school
Should follow this, our most sacred rule:
To care for their comrade
In times of good or bad
Without thought or care
For the color tie they wear
Forget the divides between you,
Forge yourselves friendships new.
If you make enemies of one another
Hogwarts will be torn asunder
A great darkness approaches
We must be strong before evil encroaches
Denial will not stop its arrival
Only unity can ensure our survival
You must understand the danger we face
Before we lose the beauty of this place
Stand together, side by side
To slow evil's coming tide.
Do not allow Hogwarts to fall
Unite, once and for all.
Remember what I have said
For only together can you face the darkness ahead.
Silence descended over the Great Hall as the Sorting Hat finished its song. The Hat had never said anything like this before. Many of the students were whispering among themselves, looks of deep confusion and concern on their faces. Harry didn't pay attention to a single Sorting, too distracted by the implications of the hat's song.
Looking around the Great Hall, Harry was sure of one thing: this was going to be a very interesting year.