Chapter IV: Antiseptium
After breakfast and getting dressed, the Weasleys and Harry Potter lugged their heavy chests out to the car. Mr. Weasley magically expanded the trunk of the car to fit all of their luggage. Without Percy and the twins, the car was much roomier. Ginny sat on the opposite side of Ron then Harry. Harry took Hedwig, his snowy owl, on his lap. He didn't think that the trunk would be much good for her.
Ginny was half-hoping, as Mr. Weasley pulled the car out of the driveway, that they were going to fly to Kings Cross station. Unfortunately, Ginny knew that Mrs. Weasley would never allow that. Ginny could always hope, though. Ever since second year when Harry and Ron had flew to Hogwarts, she wanted to fly in that car. It would be so cool.
The Weasleys took the main road all the way to London. There weren't many people traveling from Ottery St. Catchpole to London, so the road wasn't crowded. Ginny found much of the trip very tedious. The small houses and shops on the side of the road rushed passed and gave no time for imagination. Ginny lay her head back on the seat and starred at the uneventful ceiling of the car.
"Heard from...," Ron began and then looked at Mr. and Mrs. Weasley in the front seat. Ron lowered his voice to a whisper that only Ginny's skilled-in-eaves-dropping ears could make out. "Have you heard from Sirius?"
Ginny stared out the window, trying to not let on that she heard anything.
"A little," Harry said. "He can't contact me much now that he's working as a spy. He uses all these code names and has to switch off owls so no one gets suspicious."
"That's wicked," Ron commented, smiling. "D'you think he'll write you at Hogwarts? That'll be so cool."
"I'm really not sure," Harry admitted. "I mean, other then the fact that Sirius has to keep a low profile, he's awfully busy. I doubt he'll write me more then five times the whole year."
"That's rotten luck," Ron said. "I bet you wish he hadn't taken the assignment. Then you could live with him instead of those bloody Dursleys."
"He is doing it for Ministry," Harry explained. "In a time like this, with the war and everything, I can't be selfish. If me living with the Dursley's three months a year helps to stop Voldemort then I'll gladly do it."
Ron and Ginny cringed because of the mention of Voldemort's name. It wasn't something to be mentioned.
Mr. Weasley parked the car in front of King's Cross station. Ginny got out and grabbed a cart from a long line of them and wheeled it over to the trunk of the car. Mr. Weasley pulled Ginny's chest out of the trunk and put it on the cart. Harry and Ron, distracted with chatter, took carts also. Once everything was out of the trunk, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley accompanied the three teenagers to the platform. Harry and Ron went onto platform nine and three quarters by running through the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Ginny followed once they had disappeared.
The platform was full of students and thier families. The scarlet train, which was marked "Hogwarts Express", bellowed steam as if to remind the students that they didn't have much time until departure.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley came on to the platform behind Ginny.
"Now, Ron, Harry," Mr. Weasley began, "don't make too much trouble at Hogwarts and try not to risk your lives again."
Harry and Ron snickered to each other. Ginny wondered why Mr. Weasley didn't worry about her making trouble. It was true that she tended to be more easy-going and didn't do much to disturb things at Hogwarts. She did, though, wonder why she never seemed to be in on anything that went on in Hogwarts. Ron and Harry had all the adventure.
"Goodbye, Ginny," Mrs. Weasley said, hugging Ginny tightly.
"Mum!" Ginny whined. "We're in public."
Mrs. Weasley patted Harry's cheek and kissed Ron. Mr. Weasley messed up Harry's already messed-up hair.
"You fellahs be good," Mr. Weasley ordered. "Ginny, have a good time."
Harry and Ron hurried on to the train. Ginny waved goodbye to her folks and then turned toward the Hogwarts Express. Off to Hogwarts again, Ginny told herself.
Ginny dragged her chest off through the Hogwarts Express. She passed several compartments. Among them, was Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown screaming excitedly as they played with a Ouija board. Ginny also took note when she saw Neville Longbottum throwing things out of his chest, apparently looking for something, as he held his reddened remembrall in his hand. Ernie Macmillan stood in a compartment with some other fifth years. He seemed to be telling a story.
"Did you know," Ernie said, "that Colin Creevey is in league with You-Know-Who?"
"Really?" gasped a freckled brunette.
"Why else would he take a camera to school every year?" Ernie asked. "I'm telling you, he's a spy. He's probably sending all those pictures of Harry Potter to You-Know-Who."
Ginny raised her eyebrow at this, convinced of Ernie Macmillan's fatuous paranoia. She continued down to the compartment where Ron had put his trunk. She didn't exactly want to spend the ride hanging around her brother, but she couldn't seem to find any of her friends. Ron must've been off socializing, because the compartment was empty except for Ron and Harry's chests, which were shoved under the seats. Ginny packed hers among them.
Hermione came into the compartment, dragging her trunk.
"Where's Ron and Harry?" She asked, pushing her trunk under a seat.
"I don't know," Ginny admitted. "I suppose they're off talking to people."
"Oh," Hermione began, "I guess I'll wait here. I mean, I wouldn't know where to look."
"They ought to be back soon," Ginny said. "We're about to leave the station."
Hermione and Ginny sat down and waited.
"So, Ginny," Hermione began, "you ready for your fifth year?"
"I hope so," Ginny laughed.
Ron came into the compartment just as the departing whistle sounded.
"Where's Harry," Ginny asked.
"He wouldn't leave Cho," Ron told them.
Ginny clenched her teeth, trying to suppress an emotional outburst. Hermione took The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 6 from her bookbag and began to read.
"What, haven't memorized it yet?" Ron snickered.
Hermione glared at him, saying, "I'll have you know that I am only making sure that my homework is all correct."
"Homework?" Ron repeated. "Who said we had homework over the Summer holiday?"
"It's personal," Hermione explained. "I give myself homework so that I can better understand the material."
"Before school has even started?" Ron questioned. "You're nutty, you know that?"
Hermione gave Ron a scowl before she went back to reading. A few moments later, rapid screeching came from down the train. Ron and Hermione looked at each other in dismay. Ginny got up and peeped out the door of the compartment. Harry stood in the corridor, clutching his hand.
"Harry," Cho called. "I am so sorry. Satanna never acted this way at home."
"It's alright," Harry assured her.
Harry started toward Ginny.
"I think I can put her back in the cage," Cho said, sticking her head into the hallway.
"No," Harry began, "I think I'll hang out with my friends for a while."
"I'll see you at Hogwarts," Cho assumed.
"Yeah," Harry called back to her as he neared the compartment Hermione, Ron, and Ginny were in.
Ginny sat back down.
"What was up with that, Harry?" Ron asked.
"Cho's bat went bonkers," Harry explained. "It started attacking me."
"Are you alright?" Hermione queried.
Harry looked at his hand, "Well, I'm not sure. It bit me."
"Did it take blood?" Hermione demanded.
"It drew blood, but I don't think it drank any," Harry told her.
"Good thing," Hermione commented. "That was a vampire bat. And not just a muggle vampire bat. If that bat had taken blood, you'd turn to some sort of wicked bat-person."
Ginny's eyes widened. What kind of person would want a bat like that?
Harry eyed Hermione, "How could I tell if it took blood? I mean, maybe it took a sip when it bit me."
"Oh, no," Hermione assured him. "You would know if it took blood. It stays on you for approximately twenty second, sucking."
"Trevor!" they heard Neville Longbottum call. "Trevor!"
Hermione got this worried look in her eyes.
"I'll be right back," she said, getting up and leaving the compartment.
"Wonder where she's off to," Ron voiced.
Probably the privy, Ginny thought.
Ron's owl quacked.
"Shove it, Pig!" he snapped.
"What d'you suppose'll happen this year?" Harry queried, stroking his chin.
"A plague maybe," Ron said. "Anything is liable to happen."
"How do you suppose a plague is going to get into Hogwarts?" Ginny questioned.
"Chemical warfare," Harry muttered.
Ginny and Ron gaped at him.
"What?" Ron asked.
"It's like...a war of potions," Harry explained. "Each side sending diseases to the other."
"Who would drink it if they know it's from thier enemy?" Ron asked.
"Well," Harry began, "they aren't potions for drinking. They're potions that when you breath it in the fumes, you get sick."
Ginny thought that was terrible. She imagined a Death Eater running around and throwing a potion on an innocent muggle. That muggle collapsed and went into seizures. Ginny gasped.
"That's horrible!" She exclaimed.
"Yes, it is," Harry agreed.
"That's stupid," A pert voice sneered.
Ron, Ginny, and Harry looked at the door to their compartment. Malfoy stood with ridicule, Crabbe and Goyle standing just behind him, looking dull-witted. Harry and Ron shot to their feet and glared at Malfoy.
"Muggles don't have potions, Potter," Malfoy informed.
"You don't know anything about muggles," Harry said.
"All I need to know is that they're a blemish," Malfoy voiced. "The whole lot of 'em should be wiped out."
Crabbe and Goyle agreed.
"Then there are those wizard families that are just a repugnant," Malfoy commented, looking Ron up and down. "New robes, Weasley? Obviously not."
Ron's ears went pink. Harry took out his wand.
"Leave him alone, Malfoy!" He shouted.
"Or what?" Malfoy laughed, pulling out his own wand. "Little girl Weasley has new robes too."
Ginny looked down at the patched and frayed robes that were sticking out of her trunk. She turned red.
"That's it!" Harry yelled. "Rictusempra!"
Malfoy doubled over and held his sides. Suddenly he began laughing uncontrollably.
"Get..him," Malfoy managed to say between chuckles.
Crabbe lifted his gorilla-like arms and grabbed Harry's collar. Being twice Harry's size, Crabbe easily lifted him off the ground. Ginny fumbled through her pockets for her wand. She then realized that she had packed it. Ron pulled out his wand just in time to have it smacked out of his hand by Goyle. Malfoy was still unable to stop laughing.
"Stop it!" Ginny shouted, now looking through her trunk.
Harry started swing his legs randomly. One of his feet intercepted Crabbe's gut. Crabbe automatically dropped Harry and groaned.
"Stupify!" Harry casted from where he had landed on the ground.
A green light shot from Harry's wand, causing Crabbe to fall to the ground unconscious.
"Fu...fur..nun..uncalus!" Malfoy laughed out.
A orange stream hit Harry's arm. It seemed Malfoy's aim wasn't the best while he laughed. Red lumps broke out all over Harry's arm. He hissed and groaned in the pain of the monstrous boils. Supposedly scared, Goyle threw Malfoy over his shoulder, and dragged Crabbe by his shirt collar to their compartment.
Ron pulled Harry on to the seat as Ginny gor her wand out. Harry was holding his arm out stiffly, grimacing at the boils. Ginny tried to think of something she could do to help. She didn't know any spells to cure boils. Thinking hard, something popped in her head. After Harry's broom hit him into the shed, Harry asked her if she had any antiseptic. Ginny felt as if someone had just whispered a spell to her.
"Antiseptium!" Ginny casted on Harry's arm.
Surprisingly, the boils began to sink back into his skin. In seconds his arm was back to normal. Harry and Ron gaped at Ginny.
"Thank you," Harry whispered, rubbing his hand up and down his newly restored arm.
"Where'd you learn that?" Ron gasped.
Ginny shrugged.
The train slowed to a stop at Hogsmede station. Putting her robes on over her clothes, Ginny crouched down to get her trunk from under her seat. Harry and Ron were doing the same. Ginny, Ron, and Harry climbed off the train and looked around the dark and crowded station. A large shadow was cast on them. Ginny gaped up at the enormous figure.
"Hagrid!" Harry shouted.
"All righ', Harry?" Hagrid asked.
"I'm just fine," Harry told him.
Hagrid's beady, black eyes amongst his hairy face glimmered.
"Firs' years this way!" He called over the crowd, holding up his lantern.
"We'll see you at the feast, Hagrid," Ron said.
A crowd of first years reluctantly stepped toward the giant. Harry, Ginny, and Ron went on with the rest of the students down the platform. On the side of a squalid road, about a hundred carriages stood awaiting the students. Ginny always found this trip peculiar since there were no horses pulling the carriages. As Harry began to climb in the carriage, Ginny saw Hermione running down the platform toward them.
"Wait for me!" She called.
Ginny climbed into the carriage. Ron stood, holding the door until Hermione got in and then he followed. The carriages started off toward Hogwarts.
"Where'd you go, Hermione?" Ron asked.
"I was helping Neville," Hermione explained.
"Neville, eh?" Ron said. "Helping him what?"
"He was looking for Trevor," Hermione told him. "While he was checking his trunk to see if there was anything he had forgotten, Trevor got away. We finally found him in Parvati Patil's bookbag. She had a frightful fit when she saw him in there."
"Took you that long to catch a toad?" Ron asked.
Hermione nodded.
"Well, you missed the excitement," Ron blurted, Ginny and Harry eyeing him. "Malfoy came in and started to hassle us. Harry knew what to do, though."
Ron continued to tell Hermione about the whole endeavor in exaggerated excitement.
"I didn't know you knew a boil-curing spell, Ginny," Hermione commented.
"I-," Ginny began, but she wasn't sure what to say to that. She shrugged, smiling sheepishly.
The carriages halted at the stone steps that led into Hogwarts. Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny climbed from the carriage and headed into the castle. Students crowded into the Great Hall. Ginny starred up at the floating candles and enchanted ceiling. The stars and pale moon shone through the roof as if it wasn't there. The students separated into their houses. Ginny went to sit next to Harry, Hermione and Ron.
"Ginny," Amilia Reinhardt called from down the table a ways, "Sit here."
Ginny passed them and went over to Amilia. Amilia was a little taller and thinner then Ginny. She had a pleasant smile that shone in her face, even when she wasn't happy.
"What's new?" Amilia asked, smoothing her short blond hair.
"I am over Harry Potter," Ginny lied, hopefully thinking.
"Really?" Amilia questioned, looking as if she didn't believe her.
"Almost, anyway," Ginny replied.
Amilia nodded.
Professor McGonagal, a stern-looking woman, led the first years into the Great hall and stood by a stool with a grubby old hat on it. Professor McGonagal picked the hat up by it's point.
"When I call your name, come up and sit on the stool," Professor McGonagal told the first years. "Baldwin, Clarence."
A very nervous dark-haired boy walked slowly up to the sorting hat.
"He came in with you," Amilia stated. "Did you two hang out on the train?"
"Some of the time," Ginny answered.
"And?"
"Gryffindor!" yelled the hat.
Ginny and Amilia clapped briefly.
"I cured his boils," Ginny explained.
"Really?" Amilia asked. "Was he grateful?"
"I suppose so," Ginny guessed. "He said thank you."
"Campbell, Regenald."
"That's it?" Amilia said in shock.
"What else do you expect?" Ginny snapped.
"He should have thanked you," Amilia told her.
"Are you having a problem with your ears?" Ginny queried. "Did I not just say that he thanked me."
"Ravenclaw!"
"You said that he said 'thank you'," Amilia pointed out. "He should have actually thanked you."
"What's the ruddy difference?" Ginny asked.
"Thanking you requires more then words," Amilia explained.
"Edwards, Brittney."
"What are you talking about?"
"He should have given you something," Amilia told her.
"It was just boils," Ginny said. "It doesn't really require an award."
"Not like that," Amilia retorted.
"Slytherin!"
Ginny just looked at Amilia in bewilderment.
"If you're truly grateful, you'll give some sign of it," Amilia went on. "A smile, a hug, a wink...anything like that."
"Yes," Ginny began, "after I bravely casted a boil-curing spell, Harry, filled with gratitude, reached over and hugged me."
Amilia raised her eyebrows.
"What's wrong with that?" She asked.
"Ferris, Hazel."
"Would never happen," Ginny explained.
"Oh, Ginny," Amilia began, "I'm sure it could happen. If only Harry'd take the time to know you, he'd realize that you're a good friend."
Ginny giggled.
"What?" Amilia questioned.
"Gryffindor!"
Amilia and Ginny clapped as a small brunette sat at the Gryffindor table.
Ginny smiled, wondering if she should mention it.
"Gin," Amilia began, "don't keep me in the dark."
"Harry just spent three days at my house," Ginny explained.
"Graham, Elizabeth."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Amilia said in a hushed shout.
Ginny shrugged.
"Well," Amilia said, "did he do anything?"
"What do you mean?" Ginny asked.
"Did you two talk or-" Amilia began.
"Hufflepufff!"
"Of course we talked," Ginny voiced.
"What'd he say?"
"He doesn't like divination," Ginny told her.
"Horowitz, Nathaniel."
"And?"
"Vacuum cleaners suck air," Ginny went on.
"Anything else?"
"He likes his old Firebolt," Ginny said.
"Ravenclaw!"
"What's the point in talking to you?" Amilia snapped.
"He gave me a daisy," Ginny whispered.
Amilia gawked at her.
"I fixed him up after a nasty fall," Ginny mused.
Amilia had her eyes fixed on Ginny, not even blinking.
"And he is in love with someone else," Ginny admitted.
"Kirpatrick, Percival."
"What?" Amilia exclaimed.
"That's why I am trying to get over him," Ginny explained.
"Gryffindor!"
Amilia gave Ginny an expectant look as they cheered for the new member of thier house. Ginny just looked away.
The rest of the Sorting Ceremony went without Amilia and Ginny's prattle.
After breakfast and getting dressed, the Weasleys and Harry Potter lugged their heavy chests out to the car. Mr. Weasley magically expanded the trunk of the car to fit all of their luggage. Without Percy and the twins, the car was much roomier. Ginny sat on the opposite side of Ron then Harry. Harry took Hedwig, his snowy owl, on his lap. He didn't think that the trunk would be much good for her.
Ginny was half-hoping, as Mr. Weasley pulled the car out of the driveway, that they were going to fly to Kings Cross station. Unfortunately, Ginny knew that Mrs. Weasley would never allow that. Ginny could always hope, though. Ever since second year when Harry and Ron had flew to Hogwarts, she wanted to fly in that car. It would be so cool.
The Weasleys took the main road all the way to London. There weren't many people traveling from Ottery St. Catchpole to London, so the road wasn't crowded. Ginny found much of the trip very tedious. The small houses and shops on the side of the road rushed passed and gave no time for imagination. Ginny lay her head back on the seat and starred at the uneventful ceiling of the car.
"Heard from...," Ron began and then looked at Mr. and Mrs. Weasley in the front seat. Ron lowered his voice to a whisper that only Ginny's skilled-in-eaves-dropping ears could make out. "Have you heard from Sirius?"
Ginny stared out the window, trying to not let on that she heard anything.
"A little," Harry said. "He can't contact me much now that he's working as a spy. He uses all these code names and has to switch off owls so no one gets suspicious."
"That's wicked," Ron commented, smiling. "D'you think he'll write you at Hogwarts? That'll be so cool."
"I'm really not sure," Harry admitted. "I mean, other then the fact that Sirius has to keep a low profile, he's awfully busy. I doubt he'll write me more then five times the whole year."
"That's rotten luck," Ron said. "I bet you wish he hadn't taken the assignment. Then you could live with him instead of those bloody Dursleys."
"He is doing it for Ministry," Harry explained. "In a time like this, with the war and everything, I can't be selfish. If me living with the Dursley's three months a year helps to stop Voldemort then I'll gladly do it."
Ron and Ginny cringed because of the mention of Voldemort's name. It wasn't something to be mentioned.
Mr. Weasley parked the car in front of King's Cross station. Ginny got out and grabbed a cart from a long line of them and wheeled it over to the trunk of the car. Mr. Weasley pulled Ginny's chest out of the trunk and put it on the cart. Harry and Ron, distracted with chatter, took carts also. Once everything was out of the trunk, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley accompanied the three teenagers to the platform. Harry and Ron went onto platform nine and three quarters by running through the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Ginny followed once they had disappeared.
The platform was full of students and thier families. The scarlet train, which was marked "Hogwarts Express", bellowed steam as if to remind the students that they didn't have much time until departure.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley came on to the platform behind Ginny.
"Now, Ron, Harry," Mr. Weasley began, "don't make too much trouble at Hogwarts and try not to risk your lives again."
Harry and Ron snickered to each other. Ginny wondered why Mr. Weasley didn't worry about her making trouble. It was true that she tended to be more easy-going and didn't do much to disturb things at Hogwarts. She did, though, wonder why she never seemed to be in on anything that went on in Hogwarts. Ron and Harry had all the adventure.
"Goodbye, Ginny," Mrs. Weasley said, hugging Ginny tightly.
"Mum!" Ginny whined. "We're in public."
Mrs. Weasley patted Harry's cheek and kissed Ron. Mr. Weasley messed up Harry's already messed-up hair.
"You fellahs be good," Mr. Weasley ordered. "Ginny, have a good time."
Harry and Ron hurried on to the train. Ginny waved goodbye to her folks and then turned toward the Hogwarts Express. Off to Hogwarts again, Ginny told herself.
Ginny dragged her chest off through the Hogwarts Express. She passed several compartments. Among them, was Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown screaming excitedly as they played with a Ouija board. Ginny also took note when she saw Neville Longbottum throwing things out of his chest, apparently looking for something, as he held his reddened remembrall in his hand. Ernie Macmillan stood in a compartment with some other fifth years. He seemed to be telling a story.
"Did you know," Ernie said, "that Colin Creevey is in league with You-Know-Who?"
"Really?" gasped a freckled brunette.
"Why else would he take a camera to school every year?" Ernie asked. "I'm telling you, he's a spy. He's probably sending all those pictures of Harry Potter to You-Know-Who."
Ginny raised her eyebrow at this, convinced of Ernie Macmillan's fatuous paranoia. She continued down to the compartment where Ron had put his trunk. She didn't exactly want to spend the ride hanging around her brother, but she couldn't seem to find any of her friends. Ron must've been off socializing, because the compartment was empty except for Ron and Harry's chests, which were shoved under the seats. Ginny packed hers among them.
Hermione came into the compartment, dragging her trunk.
"Where's Ron and Harry?" She asked, pushing her trunk under a seat.
"I don't know," Ginny admitted. "I suppose they're off talking to people."
"Oh," Hermione began, "I guess I'll wait here. I mean, I wouldn't know where to look."
"They ought to be back soon," Ginny said. "We're about to leave the station."
Hermione and Ginny sat down and waited.
"So, Ginny," Hermione began, "you ready for your fifth year?"
"I hope so," Ginny laughed.
Ron came into the compartment just as the departing whistle sounded.
"Where's Harry," Ginny asked.
"He wouldn't leave Cho," Ron told them.
Ginny clenched her teeth, trying to suppress an emotional outburst. Hermione took The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 6 from her bookbag and began to read.
"What, haven't memorized it yet?" Ron snickered.
Hermione glared at him, saying, "I'll have you know that I am only making sure that my homework is all correct."
"Homework?" Ron repeated. "Who said we had homework over the Summer holiday?"
"It's personal," Hermione explained. "I give myself homework so that I can better understand the material."
"Before school has even started?" Ron questioned. "You're nutty, you know that?"
Hermione gave Ron a scowl before she went back to reading. A few moments later, rapid screeching came from down the train. Ron and Hermione looked at each other in dismay. Ginny got up and peeped out the door of the compartment. Harry stood in the corridor, clutching his hand.
"Harry," Cho called. "I am so sorry. Satanna never acted this way at home."
"It's alright," Harry assured her.
Harry started toward Ginny.
"I think I can put her back in the cage," Cho said, sticking her head into the hallway.
"No," Harry began, "I think I'll hang out with my friends for a while."
"I'll see you at Hogwarts," Cho assumed.
"Yeah," Harry called back to her as he neared the compartment Hermione, Ron, and Ginny were in.
Ginny sat back down.
"What was up with that, Harry?" Ron asked.
"Cho's bat went bonkers," Harry explained. "It started attacking me."
"Are you alright?" Hermione queried.
Harry looked at his hand, "Well, I'm not sure. It bit me."
"Did it take blood?" Hermione demanded.
"It drew blood, but I don't think it drank any," Harry told her.
"Good thing," Hermione commented. "That was a vampire bat. And not just a muggle vampire bat. If that bat had taken blood, you'd turn to some sort of wicked bat-person."
Ginny's eyes widened. What kind of person would want a bat like that?
Harry eyed Hermione, "How could I tell if it took blood? I mean, maybe it took a sip when it bit me."
"Oh, no," Hermione assured him. "You would know if it took blood. It stays on you for approximately twenty second, sucking."
"Trevor!" they heard Neville Longbottum call. "Trevor!"
Hermione got this worried look in her eyes.
"I'll be right back," she said, getting up and leaving the compartment.
"Wonder where she's off to," Ron voiced.
Probably the privy, Ginny thought.
Ron's owl quacked.
"Shove it, Pig!" he snapped.
"What d'you suppose'll happen this year?" Harry queried, stroking his chin.
"A plague maybe," Ron said. "Anything is liable to happen."
"How do you suppose a plague is going to get into Hogwarts?" Ginny questioned.
"Chemical warfare," Harry muttered.
Ginny and Ron gaped at him.
"What?" Ron asked.
"It's like...a war of potions," Harry explained. "Each side sending diseases to the other."
"Who would drink it if they know it's from thier enemy?" Ron asked.
"Well," Harry began, "they aren't potions for drinking. They're potions that when you breath it in the fumes, you get sick."
Ginny thought that was terrible. She imagined a Death Eater running around and throwing a potion on an innocent muggle. That muggle collapsed and went into seizures. Ginny gasped.
"That's horrible!" She exclaimed.
"Yes, it is," Harry agreed.
"That's stupid," A pert voice sneered.
Ron, Ginny, and Harry looked at the door to their compartment. Malfoy stood with ridicule, Crabbe and Goyle standing just behind him, looking dull-witted. Harry and Ron shot to their feet and glared at Malfoy.
"Muggles don't have potions, Potter," Malfoy informed.
"You don't know anything about muggles," Harry said.
"All I need to know is that they're a blemish," Malfoy voiced. "The whole lot of 'em should be wiped out."
Crabbe and Goyle agreed.
"Then there are those wizard families that are just a repugnant," Malfoy commented, looking Ron up and down. "New robes, Weasley? Obviously not."
Ron's ears went pink. Harry took out his wand.
"Leave him alone, Malfoy!" He shouted.
"Or what?" Malfoy laughed, pulling out his own wand. "Little girl Weasley has new robes too."
Ginny looked down at the patched and frayed robes that were sticking out of her trunk. She turned red.
"That's it!" Harry yelled. "Rictusempra!"
Malfoy doubled over and held his sides. Suddenly he began laughing uncontrollably.
"Get..him," Malfoy managed to say between chuckles.
Crabbe lifted his gorilla-like arms and grabbed Harry's collar. Being twice Harry's size, Crabbe easily lifted him off the ground. Ginny fumbled through her pockets for her wand. She then realized that she had packed it. Ron pulled out his wand just in time to have it smacked out of his hand by Goyle. Malfoy was still unable to stop laughing.
"Stop it!" Ginny shouted, now looking through her trunk.
Harry started swing his legs randomly. One of his feet intercepted Crabbe's gut. Crabbe automatically dropped Harry and groaned.
"Stupify!" Harry casted from where he had landed on the ground.
A green light shot from Harry's wand, causing Crabbe to fall to the ground unconscious.
"Fu...fur..nun..uncalus!" Malfoy laughed out.
A orange stream hit Harry's arm. It seemed Malfoy's aim wasn't the best while he laughed. Red lumps broke out all over Harry's arm. He hissed and groaned in the pain of the monstrous boils. Supposedly scared, Goyle threw Malfoy over his shoulder, and dragged Crabbe by his shirt collar to their compartment.
Ron pulled Harry on to the seat as Ginny gor her wand out. Harry was holding his arm out stiffly, grimacing at the boils. Ginny tried to think of something she could do to help. She didn't know any spells to cure boils. Thinking hard, something popped in her head. After Harry's broom hit him into the shed, Harry asked her if she had any antiseptic. Ginny felt as if someone had just whispered a spell to her.
"Antiseptium!" Ginny casted on Harry's arm.
Surprisingly, the boils began to sink back into his skin. In seconds his arm was back to normal. Harry and Ron gaped at Ginny.
"Thank you," Harry whispered, rubbing his hand up and down his newly restored arm.
"Where'd you learn that?" Ron gasped.
Ginny shrugged.
The train slowed to a stop at Hogsmede station. Putting her robes on over her clothes, Ginny crouched down to get her trunk from under her seat. Harry and Ron were doing the same. Ginny, Ron, and Harry climbed off the train and looked around the dark and crowded station. A large shadow was cast on them. Ginny gaped up at the enormous figure.
"Hagrid!" Harry shouted.
"All righ', Harry?" Hagrid asked.
"I'm just fine," Harry told him.
Hagrid's beady, black eyes amongst his hairy face glimmered.
"Firs' years this way!" He called over the crowd, holding up his lantern.
"We'll see you at the feast, Hagrid," Ron said.
A crowd of first years reluctantly stepped toward the giant. Harry, Ginny, and Ron went on with the rest of the students down the platform. On the side of a squalid road, about a hundred carriages stood awaiting the students. Ginny always found this trip peculiar since there were no horses pulling the carriages. As Harry began to climb in the carriage, Ginny saw Hermione running down the platform toward them.
"Wait for me!" She called.
Ginny climbed into the carriage. Ron stood, holding the door until Hermione got in and then he followed. The carriages started off toward Hogwarts.
"Where'd you go, Hermione?" Ron asked.
"I was helping Neville," Hermione explained.
"Neville, eh?" Ron said. "Helping him what?"
"He was looking for Trevor," Hermione told him. "While he was checking his trunk to see if there was anything he had forgotten, Trevor got away. We finally found him in Parvati Patil's bookbag. She had a frightful fit when she saw him in there."
"Took you that long to catch a toad?" Ron asked.
Hermione nodded.
"Well, you missed the excitement," Ron blurted, Ginny and Harry eyeing him. "Malfoy came in and started to hassle us. Harry knew what to do, though."
Ron continued to tell Hermione about the whole endeavor in exaggerated excitement.
"I didn't know you knew a boil-curing spell, Ginny," Hermione commented.
"I-," Ginny began, but she wasn't sure what to say to that. She shrugged, smiling sheepishly.
The carriages halted at the stone steps that led into Hogwarts. Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny climbed from the carriage and headed into the castle. Students crowded into the Great Hall. Ginny starred up at the floating candles and enchanted ceiling. The stars and pale moon shone through the roof as if it wasn't there. The students separated into their houses. Ginny went to sit next to Harry, Hermione and Ron.
"Ginny," Amilia Reinhardt called from down the table a ways, "Sit here."
Ginny passed them and went over to Amilia. Amilia was a little taller and thinner then Ginny. She had a pleasant smile that shone in her face, even when she wasn't happy.
"What's new?" Amilia asked, smoothing her short blond hair.
"I am over Harry Potter," Ginny lied, hopefully thinking.
"Really?" Amilia questioned, looking as if she didn't believe her.
"Almost, anyway," Ginny replied.
Amilia nodded.
Professor McGonagal, a stern-looking woman, led the first years into the Great hall and stood by a stool with a grubby old hat on it. Professor McGonagal picked the hat up by it's point.
"When I call your name, come up and sit on the stool," Professor McGonagal told the first years. "Baldwin, Clarence."
A very nervous dark-haired boy walked slowly up to the sorting hat.
"He came in with you," Amilia stated. "Did you two hang out on the train?"
"Some of the time," Ginny answered.
"And?"
"Gryffindor!" yelled the hat.
Ginny and Amilia clapped briefly.
"I cured his boils," Ginny explained.
"Really?" Amilia asked. "Was he grateful?"
"I suppose so," Ginny guessed. "He said thank you."
"Campbell, Regenald."
"That's it?" Amilia said in shock.
"What else do you expect?" Ginny snapped.
"He should have thanked you," Amilia told her.
"Are you having a problem with your ears?" Ginny queried. "Did I not just say that he thanked me."
"Ravenclaw!"
"You said that he said 'thank you'," Amilia pointed out. "He should have actually thanked you."
"What's the ruddy difference?" Ginny asked.
"Thanking you requires more then words," Amilia explained.
"Edwards, Brittney."
"What are you talking about?"
"He should have given you something," Amilia told her.
"It was just boils," Ginny said. "It doesn't really require an award."
"Not like that," Amilia retorted.
"Slytherin!"
Ginny just looked at Amilia in bewilderment.
"If you're truly grateful, you'll give some sign of it," Amilia went on. "A smile, a hug, a wink...anything like that."
"Yes," Ginny began, "after I bravely casted a boil-curing spell, Harry, filled with gratitude, reached over and hugged me."
Amilia raised her eyebrows.
"What's wrong with that?" She asked.
"Ferris, Hazel."
"Would never happen," Ginny explained.
"Oh, Ginny," Amilia began, "I'm sure it could happen. If only Harry'd take the time to know you, he'd realize that you're a good friend."
Ginny giggled.
"What?" Amilia questioned.
"Gryffindor!"
Amilia and Ginny clapped as a small brunette sat at the Gryffindor table.
Ginny smiled, wondering if she should mention it.
"Gin," Amilia began, "don't keep me in the dark."
"Harry just spent three days at my house," Ginny explained.
"Graham, Elizabeth."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Amilia said in a hushed shout.
Ginny shrugged.
"Well," Amilia said, "did he do anything?"
"What do you mean?" Ginny asked.
"Did you two talk or-" Amilia began.
"Hufflepufff!"
"Of course we talked," Ginny voiced.
"What'd he say?"
"He doesn't like divination," Ginny told her.
"Horowitz, Nathaniel."
"And?"
"Vacuum cleaners suck air," Ginny went on.
"Anything else?"
"He likes his old Firebolt," Ginny said.
"Ravenclaw!"
"What's the point in talking to you?" Amilia snapped.
"He gave me a daisy," Ginny whispered.
Amilia gawked at her.
"I fixed him up after a nasty fall," Ginny mused.
Amilia had her eyes fixed on Ginny, not even blinking.
"And he is in love with someone else," Ginny admitted.
"Kirpatrick, Percival."
"What?" Amilia exclaimed.
"That's why I am trying to get over him," Ginny explained.
"Gryffindor!"
Amilia gave Ginny an expectant look as they cheered for the new member of thier house. Ginny just looked away.
The rest of the Sorting Ceremony went without Amilia and Ginny's prattle.