A/N: Here we go! Another chapter written! I would have had this up a couple of days ago, but my evil sister wouldn't let me use the computer, and the laptop doesn't have the internet yet, so I had to wait. Please don't kill me! Also, I've been in a production since last week, and I haven't been getting home until 1, maybe 2 AM!! in the morning. And I mean, not coming home at all, until that time. I have been thoroughly exhausted.
Disclaimer!! I own nothing about this story! I'm not sure that I even own the plot! I just like bending J. K. Rowlings characters to do my every whim!
Chapter 19
The next morning couldn't have been more hectic. Mrs. Weasley was up at the crack of dawn, waking everyone up and trying to get them ready. She was in the Kitchen when the rest of the kids came down, all bleary eyed and almost falling asleep in their porridge.
'Morning Love.' Draco muttered to Hermione, giving her a kiss on the forehead and wrapping her in a huge hug.
'Morning.' Hermione muttered back and rubbed her head into his bed shirt (they were all in their bed clothes still).
They all sat down and started to dig into their breakfast, before Sirius, Remus and James came down the stairs.
'What are you all doing up so early?' James asked.
'This is normal. Molly gets them all up early to get to the train station on time.' Sirius answered. James groaned.
'Did you have to wake us up too?' He grumbled.
'You could have stayed in bed.' Mrs. Weasley mumbled.
'That would have been a lot easier if this lot didn't make so much noise.' He answered back. As he walked past Harry, though, he ruffled his hair and grabbed his breakfast.
'Well, Remus needed to get up anyway.' Mrs. Weasley argued. Remus just grunted and ate his meal.
'Hurry now everyone! You all still need to get dressed!' Mrs. Weasley cried. They all ate breakfast as quickly as they could and ran back up to their bedrooms to go get dressed for the ride to Hogwarts.
Soon, they were all traipsing downstairs with their trunks, fully dressed, but still somewhat sleepy from getting up so early.
'Hey mum? How are we getting to the train station this year?' Ron asked his mother as they stood out on the curb.
'Arthur managed to wrangle us some Ministry cars to protect Harry. We all know that You-Know-Who is on the loose.' Mrs. Weasley explained. Harry rolled his eyes and sighed.
'Cool! Ministry cars!' Ginny said. Just then, Sirius and Remus walked out of the house, with the door closing by itself behind them.
'We'll see you guys later. I'm taking the Floo into the school once I'm completely ready to go. I'll see you all there. You are in for an exciting year.' Remus said.
'Why?' Harry asked cautiously.
'No reason.' Remus evaded. Harry looked at him with suspicious eyes for a moment, but soon let it go and decided to wait.
'Where is Prongs?' Harry asked instead, then he felt someone envelope him in a hug, which he returned with some hesitance.
'I'll miss you son. Come home over the holidays and we can start moving our stuff into Potter Manor.' He heard James whisper into his ear.
'Of course I will. I wouldn't miss it for the world. It's great to have you back dad.' Harry whispered back at the invisible man holding him.
'See you over the holidays. I might even let the world know that I live soon. So watch out for the newspapers.' James said before letting go of his son and holding him at arms length; not that Harry could tell though.
James gave a final nod before stepping back and patting Sirius on the arm. Sirius went up and gave Harry a huge hug before turning to Draco and giving him one too.
'Behave yourselves you lot. I might be making a couple of trips to Hogwarts this year to see old Moony here, but I won't be around as often as before. Harry, keep yourself out of trouble. I know it's hard for you, and I know that trouble usually finds you instead, but I don't care, try and keep yourself safe. Draco, don't stay with Hermione too much, if you know what I mean. You can still love each other without being physical. I'll see you all when you get back for Christmas.' Sirius said to everyone. Then he gave everyone their hugs and waved them goodbye as the Ministry cars pulled up and they put their bags piled into the enchanted boot, then clambered in the car. They all waved good bye to the three men (though one was still invisible) as they drove away.
'I can't wait to get back to Hogwarts.' Hermione gushed, bouncing up and down on her seat. Draco rolled his eyes and wrapped his arms around her.
'At least there aren't any major tests like OWLs or NEWTs this year.' He muttered. Hermione glared at him and slapped him on the shoulder.
'Hey! That hurt!' Draco whimpered, holding his arm and glowering at her.
'You deserved it! Exams and tests are important. Do you want to do anything with your life?' She asked. Draco looked hurt.
'Of course I do! I want to marry you, love you, grow old with you, and father your children...' Draco trailed off, realising that everyone in the car was looking at him.
'What? That's what I want to do!' He cried. He had yet to mention to Hermione about the letter his mother had sent him. He knew he would have to do it at some time, but just not now.
'Yes, you might want to, but we don't want to know about it.' Harry pointed out. Draco gave him a look and just rested his head on Hermione's shoulder.
'I wonder what it's going to be like this year.' Ginny said, resting her head on the back of the seat and sighed.
'Hopefully a good one.' Harry answered to the murmured agreements of the other people in the car.
'I hope that the homework isn't that hard.' Ron said. Harry and Draco laughingly agreed and Hermione rolled her eyes.
'It will be harder than last year Ron. If you haven't noticed, homework gets harder every year. Shocker.' Hermione said sarcastically. Ron shot Hermione a playful look. They all laughed at Hermione's sarcastic answer and gave Ron a hard time about it. Then Harry changed the subject.
'How do you think Prongs is going to go throughout the year without everyone in the house all the time?' He announced.
'He'll probably be fine with only Sirius. Those two are will have an amazing time together.' Sierra reassured him.
'I hope so. I hate leaving him there.' Harry explained, more to himself than to the others.
'Don't worry Harry. You'll see him again soon enough. What's the bet he will sneak into the school to see you when Sirius visits?' Hermione commented. They laughed at this, knowing full well that James would do just that, if it meant seeing his son again.
'What about Hogsmeade weekends? You could still probably see him at that place where we used to see Sirius when he was in hiding in Fourth year.' Ron suggested.
'Maybe. I don't know. I don't want to risk him getting caught and then having to run away from paparazzi the entire time that we are together.' Harry stated.
'That's true. That wouldn't be a very happy reunion.' Hermione agreed.
'Exactly!' Harry exclaimed. They all sat thoughtfully for a while before Ron spoke up.
'I wonder how angry Pansy is going to be because we didn't see each other over the holidays.' Ron pondered aloud to himself.
'Probably really angry.' Sierra answered. 'I know Pansy, probably more than you. She would be really upset.' She told Ron.
'Brilliant, just bloody brilliant.' Ron sighed, leaning back against the chair and took a deep breath.
'Why don't you buy her some food or something on the train? Do something nice for her. That might make things better.' Hermione suggested.
'Maybe, but I don't get it. I just had no time over the holidays. I thought the letters would have been enough.'
'Didn't you promise her just before we left that you would see her at least once?' Ginny asked.
'Yeah, I did. Damn it! I am such a screw up!' He exclaimed, crashing his fists onto the chair on either side of him and grumbled to himself.
'Ron, calm down. Maybe it won't be that bad. Maybe she won't entirely kill you. After all, if she wants a good snog she won't.' Ginny reassured. Ron rolled his eyes.
'I want more from her than just a good snog. I want to know if she actually loves me, or even just likes me. Because I know I love her.' Ron explained.
'Awww.' Hermione, Sierra and Ginny cooed. Harry and Draco rolled their eyes and shook their heads. Girls were so predictable.
'Do you really love her Ron?' Sierra asked.
'Yes. But don't tell her. I want to do that. Next time I see her.' He answered.
'Ron that's sweet. And here I was thinking that you didn't possess any of that.' Ginny teased.
'Haha Gin. You really don't know much about me do you?' Ron asked.
'No, I try not to immerse myself into the long and complicated life of Ronald Weasley.' Ginny answered.
'No, she prefers to immerse herself in her daydreams about Blaise.' Draco teased. Ginny glared at him.
'I do not.' She answered huffily.
'Yeah right. Gin, you might not notice, but sometimes you zone out while staring at him. To put it mildly, the boy is now rather careful around you.' Draco told her.
'I do?' She asked, eyes wide and skin as a sheet.
'Yeah, you do.' Draco answered, with the nodded agreements of everyone else that was in the car.
'I totally didn't mean that! I can't believe it! He probably thinks that I'm such a freak!' Ginny cried into her hands.
'Oh Gin, everything will be fine! Don't worry about it!' Hermione cried, sitting down next to the younger girl and wrapping her arms around her and rubbing her back gently. Hermione sent a glare in Draco's direction and went back to comforting Ginny. Sierra joined in the effort and Draco, Harry and Ron were all left stunned.
'And this is our fault how?' Draco whispered to them.
'No idea.' They mouthed back, shaking their heads and leaning back against the seat.
After about ten minutes, Ginny had calmed down and Hermione was once again sitting down beside Draco. The minute she had sat down, Draco had wrapped his arms around her and kissed the side of her head.
'You aren't angry with me are you?' He whispered to her. Hermione turned to him.
'No, but you could have not said that she kept looking like an idiot in front of him. That wasn't very nice you know.' She chastised.
'Sorry, but I was only telling the truth. She needed to know so that she would stop.' Draco answered, kissing her neck.
'Fine. No, I'm not angry at you, just, try and be a little more sensitive when telling her stuff like that.' Hermione advised.
'Point taken. Thanks love.' Draco whispered, and then rested his head on her shoulder, where it stayed for the rest of the trip.
-
When they arrived at the train station, they climbed out of the car, pulling their cages or whatnot with them for their animals, and pulled their trunks out of the back of the car. They loaded their trunks onto the available trolleys and rolled them over to where they waited for the others from the other car to follow.
When everyone arrived, they took it in turns to travel through the archway at Platforms 9 and 10.
Draco and Hermione went first, looking as though nothing was the matter and chatting amicably between themselves, before leaning through the archway, where Sierra, Ginny, Ron and Harry soon took their places and fazed through the wall themselves. Fred and George followed them in, and then Mrs. Weasley made her way through.
'Hurry up then everyone! Get yourselves set up on the train and I will see you all at Christmas.' She announced, before taking her children into big hugs and then hugging Harry, Hermione, Sierra and Draco.
'Don't get into too much trouble you lot! I don't think any of your parents want to hear about you getting too many detentions or something like that.' Mrs. Weasley lectured.
'Mrs. Weasley, do we ever get into that much trouble?' Harry asked with an innocent smile on his face. The others laughed and boarded the train with their trunks.
'See you Mrs. Weasley!' They yelled out of the windows.
'Well, it was nice to spend the holidays with you all, but now we must leave you and go find Lee, we have some excellent things to tell him.' Fred told them, rubbing his hands together.
'Sure, see you guys later.' Ron muttered as he attempted to drag his trunk onto the train after prying out of his mothers' grip.
'See you.' They answered and went on their way to find their best friend.
'Let's go find a compartment.' Draco suggested.
'Yes, let's. Hermione agreed and they made their way down the corridor and found a compartment that would fit all of them, their luggage and their animals, that wasn't occupied.
They moved everything in and took their seats around the compartment. Then Ron noticed something.
'What are you doing here Gin? Don't you have your own friends to go talk to? You know, catch up with?' Ron asked, clearly insisting that she leaved.
'Well, there is a reason why I am here.' Ginny said, hesitantly. Then, that reason just happened to be walking through the door with an annoyed Pansy walking in right behind him.
'Hey Blaise, Pansy.' They greeted and Ginny turned a brilliant shade of red, one to rival her hair colour, and looed out of the window.
'Hey guys. How was your summer?' Blaise asked. Conveniently, his seat was right next to Ginny, who was very conscious of the fact that he was there.
Pansy immediately walked over and sat next to Ron, burying her face in his shirt.
'Why didn't you see me over the summer?' She asked him.
'I was busy love. And mum wouldn't let anyone come over to the house other than the people that lived there. Trust me; I felt a bit like a fifth wheel. Harry and Sierra and Draco and Hermione. Would you like to live with that?' He asked her.
'I really missed you.' She muttered.
'I missed you too.' Ron said back. By this time most of the people in the compartment were listening to what they were saying and wondering whether Ron was actually going to tell her.
'I want to tell you something.' He muttered to her, not even noticing that everyone was silently listening.
'What?' She looked up curiously at him. Just as oblivious to the others as he was.
'I love you.' He whispered. She looked at him with shock before a look of pure delight covered her face.
'I love you too!' She squealed and covered her mouth with his as everyone turned to them and cooed things to them.
'AWWWWW!!' The girls squealed.
'Finally.' Harry and Draco muttered.
Blaise just smiled. He put his hand on the chair beside his leg and it landed half on Ginny's.
Both blushed profusely and muttered apologies before turning away from each other and keeping their hands in their laps.
Hermione smiled to herself. These two might not be so hard to get together as she thought that they would be, but then again, they were both very stubborn. Hermione showed Draco what she had seen and he smirked that famous Malfoy smirk that made Hermione weak at the knees. Draco nodded and fixed both Blaise and Ginny in a mile wide grin. They shot him concerned looks and turned back to continue talking to each other.
Hermione hit Draco playfully on the shoulder and leaned back against him. Draco wrapped his arms around her tightly and kissed her neck cheekily. Hermione grinned at him and cuddled him tighter.
'Would you two stop it, you're making me want to puke.' Ginny commented pulling a face at them. Hermione stuck her tongue out childishly at Ginny and Draco laughed.
'Just because you can't get the guy you want, Gin, doesn't mean we can't have fun with the people we already have.' Draco shot back. Ginny glared at him menacingly and all they people in the cabin 'ooh'ed and then burst out laughing, well, all except for Blaise, who was blushing bright red and didn't look at Ginny. Ginny just continued glaring, not noticing anything what was going on with Blaise.
'Hey, when do you think the lunch trolley will come around? I'm hungry.' Harry commented, brows furrowed.
'Don't worry love; I'm sure it'll come around soon.' Sierra said, patting his stomach. She gave him a gentle kiss on the lips and settled back into his embrace. Harry grinned at her and hugged her tight.
Just as this happened, the door to the compartment opened and the Lady with the Lunch Trolley came in.
'Anything from the trolley, dears?' She asked kindly and the whole of the compartment roared with laughter, making the Lady look rather affronted.
'Sorry, we didn't mean to offend you, but we were just talking about when you were coming around when you opened the door.' Hermione explained. At this, the Lunch Lady herself chuckled with them. They bought their lunch and a few snacks and went back to talking amongst themselves, until it came time for them to pack up the compartment and get ready to get off the train.
When they reached the Hogsmeade platform, they got out of the train and Harry, Hermione and Draco left their stuff with the others to take up to the school while they performed their prefect duties.
'Hurry up! Come on! Over this way First Years! Walk towards the man with the lantern!' Hermione cried over all the hustle and bustle of the crowds and all other people that were walking up to get the carriages.
Harry and Draco were on either ends of the Platform and were directing the frightened first years over to were Hagrid was standing over near the road were the older students were walking.
'Firs' years! Firs' years, over 'ere don' be shy!' Hagrid called out in that booming voice of his. He was close to Hermione now and she turned to smile and wave at the half-giant.
'Hagrid! Over here!' Hermione called waving like mad.
''Ello there 'ermione! 'Ow are ya?' He asked as he made his way over to her.
'I'm fine Hagrid, how are you?' She called back.
'I'm alrigh'. 'Ow are 'Arry and Ron doing?' He asked her.
'Oh, they're fine! We'll make sure to come and see you soon Hagrid! See you!' She yelled as she was swept away by the crowd.
'See you 'Ermione!' Hagrid called back.
After everyone was gone and Harry, Hermione and Draco were the only ones left, they hopped on the last carriage for the night and were transported up to the school, where they walked tiredly into the Great Hall and flopped down onto their seats, just to listen to the boring speech by Dumbledore. Hermione and Harry nearly fell asleep in their seats.
'Welcome students,' Dumbledore said as he stood up and looked at the timid first years waiting to be sorted. 'I will make this short, because our little first years here seem to be incredibly scared. May your new year at Hogwarts be a good one! Now, let us start!'
At the end of the speech, Professor McGonagall stood up and called forward the scared little first years' one at a time to try on the Sorting Hat and get put into their rightful houses.
After they were all done, McGonagall sat back down and Dumbledore stood up again and spread his arms wide.
'Codswallop, Turkey, Cheese!' Dumbledore announced before sitting down. Almost immediately, food appeared magically on the table and you could hear the excited squeals of the first years as they saw all the food before them.
'Can't I just go to bed? I don't think I'll be able to listen to Dumbledore's speech I'm that tired.' Hermione announced, laying her head down on the table. Harry and Ron laughed.
'I'm sure that you'll be in bed soon enough Hermione. Though who's, I'm not too sure about.' Harry commented and had to jolt away as Hermione whipped out viciously at Harry.
'Sorry, I had to comment.' Harry said laughingly. Hermione just glared strongly at him and piled a small amount of food onto her plate.
'Aren't you going to eat any more than that?' Ron asked, just before he put food into his own mouth.
'I'm not that hungry. I'll have a bigger breakfast.' Hermione promised and started to slowly eat what she had on her plate.
'So, what did you all do over the summer?' Seamus turned to ask them.
'Not much. Hung around with Sirius, went to the Muggle Cinemas, ate, slept, talked; the usual things you do on the holidays in the summer.' Harry answered, still eating.
'I went over to Ireland to visit my grandparents, then stayed at home the rest of the time, but Dean came over for a while, but then he had to leave, so it was rather boring.' Seamus explained. They all nodded their consent and went back to eating.
After the feast, Dumbledore stood up and made his announcements, which were the same as any other year and dismissed the students all to bed, which Hermione was entirely grateful for. But before walking off completely, she bid goodnight to Draco and the rest of her Slytherin friends.
She made her way to the Gryffindor common room and up to her dormitories, bidding goodnight to Harry and Ron and as soon as she hit the pillow, she was asleep within seconds.
A/N: Hello again! Here's to my wonderful reviewers!
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Thankyou again to all of you faithful reviewers! You keep me all very happy and bouncy!
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