Harry Potter and the Room of Things no one Knows About

Chapter 5

What if Harry was a little smarter about getting to Hogwarts when the portal closed on platform 9¾.

By

Jason Richard

It took a little coaxing from Hermione, but she finally started remembering Harry and Ron. They weren't sure what had affected her memory but were both glad that it seemed to be coming back. They just hoped she hadn't forgotten any schoolwork. It would probably drive her mad.

The next day Harry went with the Weasleys to the train station and platform 9 ¾. Most of the other Weasley's, including first time Hogwarts student Ginny, went through the portal to the Hogwarts Express first, leaving Ron and Harry to go through last.

When they tried to go through, however, they collided with the solid wall and fell over, all their luggage spilling from their carts. They got up, confused, and realized that the portal was closed.

"What happened?" asked a bewildered Ron.

"I don't know," said Harry. "But how will we get to Hogwarts?"

"Wait," said Ron. "I know, we could hijack my dad's flying invisible car!"

"And get expelled or arrested!" said Harry. "Are you insane?"

"Well I am related to Fred and George," said Ron.

"I rest my case," said Harry. "Ron, I'm not getting detention the moment I get to Hogwarts."

Ron, "Do you have a better idea?"

Harry, "Yes, I'll just write a letter to Professor Dumbledore explaining that the portal closed and send Hedwig. He'll understand."

"Oh right," said Ron. "Good idea."

Now listening in on the conversation was the house elf Dobby. He had been the one to close the portal, as he still believed Harry Potter to be in great danger. It hadn't occurred to him that Harry would use an owl to contact the school. There was only one thing to do, so Dobby left for a moment to prepare, apparating away.

As he left, however, Molly and Arthur Weasley suddenly came out through the portal just as Harry was writing the letter.

"What are you doing?" asked Mrs. Weasley. "Why didn't you come through the portal?"

"It closed on this side," said Ron.

Mr. Weasley checked and sure enough, the portal was closed.

"Well that's inconvenient," said Mr. Weasley. "Come on, I'll drive you in the car. It's a longer trip than I'm looking forward to, but it can't be helped. Lucky the portal was still open on the other side, eh?"

So they all left, relieved that things might work out. A few minutes later Dobby, not knowing that Harry was already on his way, rematerialized in the station, ready to enact his plan to keep Harry from sending Hedwig.

And it apparently involved dressing up like Elmer Fudd and carrying an elf-sized rifle.

"Alright Hedwig," said Dobby, pumping the rifle. "It's owl season." then he looked around in confusion.

Dobby, "Harry?"

…

So Arthur Weasley drove across the countryside with Molly in the passenger's seat and the two boys in the back. Arthur tried to drop hints that this would be faster if it was a flying, invisible car, and Molly insisted that it was a good thing it wasn't, as enchanting muggle items like cars were illegal.

"I agree," said Harry. "What if I was caught in an illegal car? I don't want to go to wizard jail!"

"Oh calm down Harry," said Ron. "They wouldn't arrest us, though you could potentially get detention the moment you get to Hogwarts…'

Harry, "NO!"

Meanwhile, out in the country by the road, Dobby apparate in with his little rifle. He had to stop Harry from going to Hogwarts, by any means necessary. So he waited near a stop light. Once the car was stopped he would shoot out the tires. Finally, the car stopped at a red light. Dobby aimed carefully and fired!

And a little suction dart shot from the gun and stuck to the tire. This, naturally, left the tire intact.

As the car started driving away again, Dobby grimaced.

Dobby, "Perhaps Dobby shouldn't have looked for a rifle at a place with a cartoon giraffe. If only Dobby could read!"

…

So the car got as close to Hogwarts as they could, but by then they were well within the muggle repelling charms the castle employed. Harry and Ron were given magic tethers to tie their luggage to their brooms and flew off, their luggage levitating behind them connected to their brooms by the tethers. Soon the castle was in view, and they could even see the Hogwarts Express pulling up to the station at the edge of the castle grounds.

As they approached the station, however, Harry noticed something in the distance. A very strange tree moved around and swatting at something unseen. Harry couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"Ron," said Harry. "Are there...dangerous moving trees at Hogwarts?"

"Just the one," said Ron. "That's the Walloping Willow, so named because it wallops people."

Suddenly a ball of paper hit Ron in the face. Confused, and careful not to fall off his broom, he opened it. It read:

That's Whomping Willow Ron. Honestly, read a book for once in your life!

Hermione.

"How'd she hear me from up here!" said Ron, looking around as if Hermione would be flying next to them. "Seriously, who takes the take to correct someone flying several hundred feet above them!?"

"It's Hermione," said Harry. "I'd be surprised if she didn't."

…

Finally, Harry and Ron landed and made their way to join the rest of the students boarding the horseless carriages to Hogwarts. Finally, they'd caught up. Before Harry could board, however, he spotted something hanging out by the carriages, and it appeared to be a chipmunk with a collar.

Harry stooped down and picked up the little creature and saw that the collar tag, as he expected, said:

Dyna

Owned by Rubeus Hagrid

"Huh," said Harry. "So this is Hagrid's new pet. You don't look so dangerous. At least I know I probably won't get detention because of you. I'll give you back to Hagrid when I see him, okay?"

The fuzzy little creature seemed to understand him, so Harry just put it with his bags. His snowy owl Hedwig perked up for a moment.

"No Hedwig," said Harry. "This chipmunk isn't your lunch."

And Hedwig drooped her head in sadness.

So Harry went with the others in the horseless carriages. Eventually, he went up the steps into the castle and placed his bags near the entrance with everyone else. As he made his way up to the great hall for the sorting ceremony, he finally saw Hagrid, looking quite worried.

"Hagrid," said Harry. "Looking for your chipmunk?"

Hagrid shushed him, surprising Harry.

"Uh," said Harry. "Hagrid? You okay?"

"I can't find Dyna," said Hagrid. "You know, the...totally not dangerous at all chipmunk I told you about?"

"Oh yeah," said Harry. "I found her. She's with my luggage."

"Not good!" cried Hagrid, running off. "Not good! Not good! Not good!"

"Hagrid!" protested Harry. "What's wrong? You said she wasn't dangerous!"

"Oh!" said Hagrid, trying to be nonchalant but coming off as guilty. "She isn't. Dyna is perfectly safe.

And suddenly, to Harry's horror, all the luggage at the Hogwarts entrance went KABOOM!

Harry looked back as clothing and books fell to the ground among other debris and Hagrid stood there looking guilty.

"You had an exploding chipmunk?" demanded Harry.

Hagrid thought about his answer, then reluctantly said, "Yes. She's an exploding chipmunk. Dyna's short for dynamite you see. She got out right before feeding time and if you don't feed them for a while they explode."

"Hagrid! You told me that thing was safe! Don't you realize what's just happened?! I bought an exploding chipmunk into Hogwarts and it destroyed everyone's luggage?"

"So it was you who exploded the luggage," said Snape's oily voice.

"Professor Snape!" said Harry, horrified to see the slimy looking professor. "It's not what…"

"Congratulations Potter," said Snape. "It's the moment you've reached Hogwarts and already you have detention. That's a new record."

Harry, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Snape, meanwhile, felt his heart breaking. He muttered to himself under his breath.

Snape, "Lily, I hate to do this to your son, but I cannot play favorites. Besides, this will surely drive a wedge between him and Hagrid. After the dragon incident, it's clear he's a bad influence on Harry."

Harry muttered, "I'm so angry at Snape I don't even remember why I'm angry at Hagrid…" he thought about it. "For some reason, I'm certain my anger at both of them is related, but my anger at Snape has still made me forget to be angry at Hagrid."

Hagrid, meanwhile, tried to speak up, "Actually professor, It was my fault."

Snape, "Oh look, a dragon."

Hagrid, "Awesome!"

Harry, "Hey!"

But it was too late. Hagrid was off. Snape then looked at Harry and said, "Follow." Harry, a scowl on his face, followed.