The next morning, he packed up his things and made his way to King's Cross. Harry soon stood in front of platform nine and three quarters. Suddenly he was feeling a bit nervous. He had learned so much and there was so much he had to do, so many things to fix in this new timeline, it was overwhelming, daunting even. How was he going to keep his composure around Dumbledore, Snape and-
"— packed with Muggles, of course —" Came a familiar voice. Harry froze at the sound of it.
"Now, what's the platform number?"
"Nine and three-quarters!" piped Ginny, "Mom, can't I go..."
"You're not old enough, Ginny, now be quiet. All right, Percy, you go first."
He clenched his fists, feeling so much anger it took everything in him not to start yelling at them right then and there.
Great, he thought to himself. If this is how I react around them, how on earth am I supposed to control myself when I see Dumbledore again?
Harry took a deep breath, and then ignoring the family of redheads, he pushed his cart through the barrier, quickly getting through to the other side.
Immediately he began searching the crowd in hopes of finding Hermione. Just when he was about to give up looking, he saw her. Suddenly she turned and their eyes met. Did it work? Did she remember? He looked for any sign of recognition in her expression and felt a wave of relief when he saw that she did.
He lifted his hand up to wave, letting her know that he knew her. Hermione's face broke out into a huge smile at this and she ran up to him, throwing her arms around him. "Hermione" He breathed, hugging her back.
"You died," She said, sounding close to tears. "Hagrid carried your body back to us."
"I know, I'm sorry."
"Next thing I knew I collapsed and was taken to the underworld where I met Death. He explained everything to me. It's so good to see you again!"
"C'mon, let's board the train and we can talk more once we get a compartment" He said, reluctantly pulling away. Hermione agreed to this and together they wheeled their trunks onto the train and into an empty compartment.
Once they were seated, Harry related his own experience with Death. "I still can't believe it—the Weasleys and Dumbledore, everyone we thought we could trust—" Hermione said sadly when he had finished.
"I know," He replied. "But at least we have each other."
"We should go after the horcruxes as soon as possible," Harry was saying as they spent the train ride discussing their plans. "That way as soon as Voldemort resurrects I can kill him again, this time for good, before he has a chance to even do anything."
"It's going to be rather hard, don't you think? We're children again, the trace is on us and we'll be stuck at Hogwarts most of the year" Hermione pointed out.
"That does seem to be a bit of a flaw in Death's decision to send us back to first year. But I guess he wanted to give us as much time as possible to accomplish what we need to. He did say I could become emancipated once I turn fifteen. Perhaps in the meantime we can train hard while we're at school so we're more prepared this time."
"I think that's a great idea, I'm glad you're willing to take your schooling more seriously this time."
"Well it helps that I have you to be a good influence on me and no Ron to be a bad one" He grinned at her and she blushed.
"What should we do about Ron?" She asked next.
"I don't know," He admitted. "Being friends with him means being close to his family which includes Molly. I've got enough to worry about without having to deal with love potions on top of things."
"Me either. I didn't tell you, but I was potioned too."
"What?!" He exclaimed suddenly. Death hadn't mentioned anything about that.
"Apparently Mrs. Weasley was helping both of her kids in their love lives. She was slipping me one to make me fall for Ron. That's why I was acting so oddly in sixth year."
Harry sat silently for a moment, taking in this new piece of information. He remembered how uncomfortable he'd been feeling at the idea of Ron and Hermione getting together ever since the beginning of sixth year. How lonely it made him feel even though he'd had Ginny at the time and how when Hermione had kissed Ron in the middle of battle he'd been desperate to break them from it. And then came into his mind the words he'd spoken when Ron had destroyed the locket after a vision of his worst insecurities, that Harry and Hermione had feelings for each other.
"She's like my sister, I love her like a sister and I reckon she feels the same way about me. It's always been that way, I thought you knew."
He'd been unable to look Ron in the eye when he said this and had thought about it many times since, almost haunted by it. Why did it bother him so?
And now upon hearing that Hermione didn't truly have feelings for Ron, that it had been the work of a love potion, he couldn't help but feel…relieved. He didn't know why.
His thoughts were soon interrupted however by a knock on the door of their compartment and Neville Longbottom came in. He looked tearful.
"Sorry," he said, "but have you seen a toad at all?"
When they shook their heads, he wailed, "I've lost him! He keeps getting away from me!"
"What's his name?" Hermione asked, pulling out her wand.
"Trevor. What are you going to do?" Neville was looking curiously at her.
"Accio Trevor the toad!" A few seconds later the toad came flying through the doorway into Hermione's lap. She then handed the amphibian over to Neville who was staring in amazement.
"Wow! Thank you. Where did you learn to do that?"
"I bought the standard book of spells for all seven years out of excitement and I picked it up from there, I wasn't sure it would work though." Harry marveled briefly at how much better she'd gotten at lying on the spot like that.
"You must be a really talented witch if you already managed to do something that before we've even gotten to Hogwarts."
"That she is" Harry said smiling and Hermione glowed at the compliment. "Why don't you come sit with us?" The boy eagerly obliged.
"I'm Neville Longbottom" He introduced himself.
"Hermione Granger."
"Harry Potter." When he had said this Neville's eyes widened. "Are you really?" Harry lifted up his bangs so he could see his scar.
They spend the rest of the train ride in Neville's company, chatting and sharing sweets from the trolley witch's cart. Harry had decided to make more of an effort to befriend the shy awkward boy. He remembered how brave Neville had been, leading the DA, standing up to Voldemort, and killing Nagini. He knew he would be a steadfast friend he could rely on through thick and thin. He only wished he'd realized it sooner.
The sky turned dark outside and not long after the train arrived at its destination.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over here! All right there, Harry?"
Hagrid's big hairy face beamed over the sea of heads.
"C'mon, follow me — any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!"
Harry and Hermione got a boat together with Neville, feeling a rush of excitement as they floated toward the castle. It was so good to be back at Hogwarts! Hagrid took them inside the entrance hall and then left them in Mcgonagall's.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room.
"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rulebreaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."
While the rest of the students panicked over this, Harry and Hermione smiled at each other, sharing a knowing look. They were then led inside the great hall and listened to the sorting hat's song.
When Hermione's name was called up to the front and she put the hat on, Harry was surprised when instead of sorting her into Gryffindor, the hat shouted out, "Ravenclaw!"
As soon as it was Harry's turn and the hat dropped over his eyes, he heard the familiar voice inside his head.
"How interesting," The hat mused. "This isn't your first time be sorted. Oh yes it's all here in your head. Quite the Slytherin plan you're putting in motion, eh?"
No don't put me in Slytherin. I want to be in Ravenclaw, he thought, wanting to be with Hermione.
"You want to be with your friend do you? That's very Hufflepuff of you."
You're supposed to take my choice into account and I'm telling you I want to go to Ravenclaw!
"Alright alright, don't get your knickers in a twist. If you're sure that's where you want to go then—better be RAVENCLAW!"
Harry then happily went and sat at the Ravenclaw table next to Hermione who grinned at him. The rest of the students were sorted and they began to eat.
Albus Dumbledore had gotten to his feet. He was beaming at the students, his arms opened wide, as if nothing could have pleased him more than to see them all there. Harry stiffened at the sight of him and Hermione upon noticing this, gave his hand a comforting squeeze. He looked at her gratefully.
"Welcome," he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!
"Thank you!"
He sat back down. Everybody clapped and cheered with the exception of Harry and Hermione.
When the feast was over the Ravenclaw prefect Penelope Clearwater led them up to the Ravenclaw tower.
"We don't have passwords like the other houses do," She was explaining. "Instead the knocker is enchanted to ask a different riddle every time and if you answer correctly it will let you in. Would any of you like to give it a try?"
Predictably Hermione's hand shot into the air. Harry smiled, glad to know that at least some things would never change.
The door knocker gave out the following riddle. "Under pressure is the only way I work, and by myself is the only way I'm hurt…what am I?"
Hermione only needed to think for a minute or two before correctly answering, "A diamond!"
"Well done!" Penelope praised.
It was strange to think this open airy common room, looking like the night sky, was to be his home for the next seven years. It was so very different from Gryffindor tower.
Harry lay awake some time after the other boys in his dorm had gone to sleep. He was thinking about all that had happened and all that they had to do. It was hard to sleep in a new unfamiliar bed. Eventually he crept downstairs into the common room and was surprised to find Hermione there already, reading a book. She looked up when she heard him coming down the stairs.
"Couldn't sleep either?" She asked. He shook his head and sat down next to her on the blue sofa.
"I suppose we'll get used to it in time," He said, referring not just to their new living arrangement but to being in an eleven year old body once again.
"I wonder why the sorting hat put us both in Ravenclaw this time."
"I only got sorted there because I asked it to, so we could be together you know."
"I barely got the hat on me before it shouted out Ravenclaw. Last time it had been torn between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor before sorting me into the latter. Something must have changed to make it choose differently."
"A lot of things have changed," Harry pointed out.
"Yeah I guess they have. I'm glad this hasn't," She said knocking her shoulder against his to indicate she meant their friendship.
"And it never will" He promised giving her a small smile which she returned.