As always, I'm only playing with JK Rowling's toys.

#

The remainder of the journey was very quiet; at least for Harry and the occupants of his compartment. Ron had drifted off to sleep, Neville had grown pensive while Harry and Hermione opted to read. Hermione was attempting to compartmentalise everything that she had heard and seen from Harry since he had woken up, something about him had changed, and she had a pathological need to find out what.

Harry, on the other hand, had noticed that Ginny was desperately trying to get him to notice her, without doing anything overtly obvious. Normally Harry would have found such antics funny, but now they were beginning to grate.

He decided to challenge her on it 'Ginny if you have something to say, can you please just come out with it? All the subtle looks and the flicking of your hair is very off-putting.'

'Well it's...you see...' she stuttered,

'Yes?' he asked a little more abruptly than was necessary.

'Well, I was wondering if, you know if you would like to take me to Hogsmead at the weekend coming up?' She asked hopefully

'Why?' came his response.

'so we could spend some time together, of course.' she said, hoping that this would clarify things.

'Why?' he asked again.

Ginny sat like a rabbit in the headlights; she blinked a couple of times before frowning slightly. 'why do you think, Harry?' she asked, throwing the question back to him.

'I haven't the foggiest idea, Ginny. We have very little in common out with Quidditch, you have barely said more than a dozen words to me since the end of your first year. I am at a total loss as to why we should go on a date to Hogsmeade. I don't mean to be harsh Ginny, I don't, but you and I can't be a thing.'

At this point, Ron, predictably, woke up and caught only that last part of what Harry had said.

'What is my sister not good enough for you, Harry, is that it?' Ron barked at Harry.

'Shut up, Ron!' exclaimed Ginny.

'Ron, Keep your opinions to yourself, alright. I was stating a fact to your sister that she and I will never work for the simple reason that I am interested in someone else.' Stated Harry, without ever looking up from the potions book he was reading, he did notice that Hermione had held her breath.

'Oh yeah, and who is the lucky lady that you think is better than my sister?' demanded Ron.

'I know, and she knows.' Said Harry as he closed his book and slowly raised his eyes to meet Ron's 'and to be frank, I don't give a damn what you or anyone else thinks about it, is that clear?'

'I'm supposed to be your best mate, that's the type of thing that you share with your mates Harry.' Ron tried to sound magnanimous, but ended up sounding jealous; he added 'what's go into you? You've been acting weird since you woke up.'

'Yeah well, maybe I've just finally woke up.' Harry turned to Ginny 'I think you are a genuinely sweet girl and you've had a shitty time of it, but whatever fantasies you may have about us getting together have to stop.'

Ron changed his target and spoke to Hermione, 'You'll be coming with me to Hogsmead, won't You Hermy?'

'What did you just call me?' she demanded

'Hermy, it's like a nick-name or a term of affection that only I get to call you.' Explained Ron.

Hermione closed her book and gave Ron a blast of her iciest stare,'First off, you call me Hermy, Herms or any other bastardised version of my name ever again and I'll turn you into a castrato, is that clear Ronald?'

He gulped and nodded

'Good, and secondly, no I will not be going to Hogsmeade with you, at all. Ever, besides, I have already agreed to go with Harry as he wasn't officially allowed to go.'

Ron glared at Harry for a moment, Harry met his stare with one of his own, almost daring Ron to say something. The offered silence was enough. Harry turned to Neville and asked 'how's Trevor?' Neville looked up and smiled, 'he's still getting lost, but he's old now, so he doesn't get too far.'

Harry gave Neville a warm smile and said 'I'm glad to hear that, Nev. I owe Trevor a big box of flies, without him getting lost I wouldn't have got my glasses fixed on that first train ride.'

Neville looked a little confused until Harry explained what had happened.

'Harry, can I ask you something?' said Neville

'Of course, you can, that's what friends are for.' Replied Harry, his barb aimed at Ron

'well it's about your wand, I was wondering how you manage to get your wand to work for you when I struggle to get minimal results from mine.'

Ron laughed 'You can't just go about asking another Wizard about his wand, Nev.'

Neville blushed at this and stuttered an apology to Harry.

Harry took his wand out and handed it to Neville and said 'let's see if you can get it to work, how about doing casting Lumos?'

Neville took the wand and nervously looked around the compartment.

'Lumos' the tip of Harry's wand glowed brightly causing everyone to shield their eyes, he whispered 'Nox.

'Wow, Neville, I think I'm going to be seeing spots for the rest of the day. That was brilliant.' Said Hermione.

Neville looked at the wand in his hand with a stunned look on his face 'I've never gotten mine that bright before. do you think it might have got broken, my wand I mean?'

'I'm not sure mate, Hermione and I will do some research for you. if anyone could find an answer, it would be her.' smiled Harry, while Hermione, faining interest in her Arithmancy book, blushed and tried to hide the smile on her lips.

#

As the train emptied on to the platform, Ron and Ginny quickly made their way through the crowd. They wanted to be as far away from their friends as possible.

The remaining three chatted easily with each other as they made their way towards the carriages. Suddenly Neville shot off like a ferret up a drainpipe shouting

'OI! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOUR PLAYING AT?'

The uncharacteristic outburst by the quiet man of Gryffindor caused everyone to stop in their tracks.

'get lost, Longbottom, this is claw business.' Said one of the girls that Neville had hollered too.

'Really, well now it is my business. Leave the girl alone, or you'll have me to deal with.' Threatened Neville. No one had ever seen this side to Neville before and to say that It had left more than a few people stunned was an understatement.

Hannah Abbot rushed over to help the young girl in question who was on the ground. 'Are you alright?' she asked as the argument between Neville and the Ravenclaw girls ensued.

'I'll be ok, thank you, Hannah Abbot.'

Hannah Smiled 'I didn't catch your name.'

'I'm Luna Lovegood. You're Hannah Abbot, this is Neville Longbottom, and there is pudding at the feast tonight.'

Suddenly a simperingly girly voice called out 'Hi Harry.'

'I do hope that you aren't bullying my friend, Cho.' Harry said as he and Hermione walked over.

'No, Harry, it was Neville that started shouting at us.' Cho pleaded innocently

'I was referring to Luna, Cho. I know that you, Fawcett and Edgecombe started it. I don't like bullies, and I certainly don't appreciate my friends being picked on.' Harry growled

'wha's goin on over here?' bellowed Hagrid

'Hi Hagrid, its nothing. Just a simple misunderstanding, it's been sorted out.' Said Harry as he stared unblinking at Cho.

'oh, alrigh then. I'd best be gettin the firs years up for the sorting.' The good-natured half-giant lumbered off to the loch shore.

'Here's a friendly warning from one seeker to another, Cho. Anyone picking on Luna won't find me half as pleasant as I am right now.'

Cho whimpered an apology before turning and running off towards the school; the two other girls grew pale as the realisation of what Harry had said sunk in. They watched as Hannah and Neville helped Luna to her feet and picked up her belongings. They didn't want to be the focus of Harry's ire, so they mumbled a brief apology to Luna and hurried to the carriages.

'Hi, Luna I'm Hermione Granger. I don't think we've met.' Said Hermione

'I know who you are Hermione Granger. You'll know when the time comes so don't be afraid to tell him.' smiled Luna

'You did the right thing, Harry Potter, now the Bad Faith will become the Good Faith, well after a fashion.'

Harry and Hermione both looked at Luna then at each other and mouthed "what was that?"