disclaimer - the usual routine, nothing belongs to me etc etc etc.
CHAPTER 4 - En Route to Hogwarts
And then it was time. Time to return to the place that Harry had so adored the first time he had seen it, the first place where he was treated as if he were a human. It was time to return to Hogwarts. Harry was a trifle nervous. After all that he had been through in the last year, it was going to be a painful experience returning to the wizarding world at large. But in a way he was looking forward to it. There was so much to do, so much to do specially now.
There had been complete chaos for the last week. Harry had received his letter. The books had been bought as had been robes. Harry had collected his gift from Sirius's vault. It was a huge box of tricks of all possible varieties. Harry was convinced that even the Weasely brothers did not have as many. On the box was written the words that still bought a lump to Harry's throat - Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs.
Fred and George of course were thrilled to bits and were already making elaborate plans regarding them. Harry was the only one who knew how far they had gotten in their jokester business and he lauded them for their enthusiasm.
Now at the station, Harry took a deep breath and leant on the barrier. He felt the familiar unease and then he fell onto Platform 9 and ¾. There stood the purple engine, welcoming and warm in its glowing tones. Ron, Hermione and Ginny came up behind him and they started scouting around for an empty cabin. They kept searching until finally they came to one, the very last one. They scrambled in just in time, for a second later the train started moving.
A game of exploding snap kept them busy for quite a while, until Ron, the bottomless pit, started to grumble. "Where is that dratted witch? She should have been here with the food a long, long time ago."
Ginny snapped back, "Food is all you can ever think about, you greedy jerk. Get back to the game. Something must have delayed her."
Ron got back to the game, muttering under his breath, but Hermione jumped to her feet. "Am I the only one who thinks so, or are things dreadfully quiet around here?"
There was silence in the cabin, broken only by Pigwidgeon's hoots, as all of them attentively listened for any trace of sound. Hermione was right. There was no sound at all, no voices, no laughter, nothing. Just silence.
"Yet something pipeth like a bird," whispered Ginny.
"I didn't know you fancied Flecker, Ginny." Said Hermione, temporarily distracted.
"Never mind that now. Wands out, all of you." Said Harry tersely. "I have a feeling that something is seriously wrong and we should be on guard."
Hermione peeped out. "All seems clear. Come on."
The four crept out and towards the end of the carriage. True enough, there was not a sound from any of the other cabins. Harry pulled one of the doors open and found it completely empty. Just then a piercing scream from Ginny forced all three of them to whip around and race towards her.
"What's wrong, Gin," asked Ron concernedly. Ginny stretched out a trembling finger and the other three gasped. Their carriage had been detached from the others and had come to rest in a leafy sheltered area.
"Where on earth are we?" asked Hermione when she noticed Harry passing her as if in a trance to go outside. "Harry, stop. Where do you think you are going? It could be a trap."
But Harry was already outside inhaling the fragrant air. He dropped on one knee and said, "At last, at last. Godric's Hollow, how I've missed thee. How I've craved thee. Dear Lord, I thank thee, I tarry no more. I am home."
"What?" shouted the other three in unison. Ron ran to Harry and shook him by the shoulder. Harry looked up, but unseeing.
"Is it indeed ye? Friend, fare thee well and fare thee true. Alas the stars spake false, but thou art safe and thou art with me."
Just then a blaze of light filled the small enclosing. A blaze of rainbow light emanating from Harry dazzled their eyes and then there was nothingness. The next thing they knew, they were standing in the Hogwarts grounds.
"What the… How did we get here?" asked Hermione. "You can't apparate or disapparate to Hogwarts or from it. It says so in Hogwarts - A history."
"You'll find out soon enough if you are permitted to remain here. This is the last time Potter and his little gang step out of the line." Said a much-hated voice.
"Professor Snape," said Hermione. "Please listen. This is important. We were abducted, I don't know who by and we were in this place which looked like a dell and…"
"Oh stop. Leave your sniveling for Dumbledore; he may even listen to you. Come with me now."
Snape led all four of them, including the now utterly confused and back to normal Harry to the gargoyle that all of them knew so well by then. He muttered "Mars Bars" and the door slid open. They followed him inside where Dumbledore sat looking as angry as any of them had ever seen him. Well, any of them except Harry who remembered his fury from last year. Snape walked out with his customary sneer and all of them stood gazing at Dumbledore apprehensively.
Dumbledore's face relaxed and he gestured for them to sit down. They did and he looked at them with his commanding eyes. "Now, Hermione," he ordered. "I want the whole story with nothing left out. I need to know what happened."
Hermione obediently repeated the story and Dumbledore listened intently, adding to his Pensieve as things went along. When she had finished, he heaved a deep sigh. "I see," he said. "Thank you. You'd better go to the kitchen and get something to eat, for the feast is over. I will see you later, all of you."
Curious as always, Hermione asked "But what happened, Professor?"
"I cannot tell you yet, Miss Granger, but soon very soon. Be patient, you'll need to be."
The students left. Dumbledore called Fawkes to him. "Carry a message for me, dear friend. Tell my comrades, all of them, that it has happened. The lamp is lighted."
California Love - I am sorry if my reference to Jesus hurt ur religious sentiments, ur quite right and I do believe that he is beyond all human praise and hence beyond all human blasphemy, but i'l avoi such things hereon.
Malena - thanks keep reading and keep telling me what u think
Missy - I'm not sure if its going to d/g or h/g but one of the two definitely. i'd welcome some more feedback
speedy - If you can't flame better than that, then you shouldn't
CHAPTER 4 - En Route to Hogwarts
And then it was time. Time to return to the place that Harry had so adored the first time he had seen it, the first place where he was treated as if he were a human. It was time to return to Hogwarts. Harry was a trifle nervous. After all that he had been through in the last year, it was going to be a painful experience returning to the wizarding world at large. But in a way he was looking forward to it. There was so much to do, so much to do specially now.
There had been complete chaos for the last week. Harry had received his letter. The books had been bought as had been robes. Harry had collected his gift from Sirius's vault. It was a huge box of tricks of all possible varieties. Harry was convinced that even the Weasely brothers did not have as many. On the box was written the words that still bought a lump to Harry's throat - Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs.
Fred and George of course were thrilled to bits and were already making elaborate plans regarding them. Harry was the only one who knew how far they had gotten in their jokester business and he lauded them for their enthusiasm.
Now at the station, Harry took a deep breath and leant on the barrier. He felt the familiar unease and then he fell onto Platform 9 and ¾. There stood the purple engine, welcoming and warm in its glowing tones. Ron, Hermione and Ginny came up behind him and they started scouting around for an empty cabin. They kept searching until finally they came to one, the very last one. They scrambled in just in time, for a second later the train started moving.
A game of exploding snap kept them busy for quite a while, until Ron, the bottomless pit, started to grumble. "Where is that dratted witch? She should have been here with the food a long, long time ago."
Ginny snapped back, "Food is all you can ever think about, you greedy jerk. Get back to the game. Something must have delayed her."
Ron got back to the game, muttering under his breath, but Hermione jumped to her feet. "Am I the only one who thinks so, or are things dreadfully quiet around here?"
There was silence in the cabin, broken only by Pigwidgeon's hoots, as all of them attentively listened for any trace of sound. Hermione was right. There was no sound at all, no voices, no laughter, nothing. Just silence.
"Yet something pipeth like a bird," whispered Ginny.
"I didn't know you fancied Flecker, Ginny." Said Hermione, temporarily distracted.
"Never mind that now. Wands out, all of you." Said Harry tersely. "I have a feeling that something is seriously wrong and we should be on guard."
Hermione peeped out. "All seems clear. Come on."
The four crept out and towards the end of the carriage. True enough, there was not a sound from any of the other cabins. Harry pulled one of the doors open and found it completely empty. Just then a piercing scream from Ginny forced all three of them to whip around and race towards her.
"What's wrong, Gin," asked Ron concernedly. Ginny stretched out a trembling finger and the other three gasped. Their carriage had been detached from the others and had come to rest in a leafy sheltered area.
"Where on earth are we?" asked Hermione when she noticed Harry passing her as if in a trance to go outside. "Harry, stop. Where do you think you are going? It could be a trap."
But Harry was already outside inhaling the fragrant air. He dropped on one knee and said, "At last, at last. Godric's Hollow, how I've missed thee. How I've craved thee. Dear Lord, I thank thee, I tarry no more. I am home."
"What?" shouted the other three in unison. Ron ran to Harry and shook him by the shoulder. Harry looked up, but unseeing.
"Is it indeed ye? Friend, fare thee well and fare thee true. Alas the stars spake false, but thou art safe and thou art with me."
Just then a blaze of light filled the small enclosing. A blaze of rainbow light emanating from Harry dazzled their eyes and then there was nothingness. The next thing they knew, they were standing in the Hogwarts grounds.
"What the… How did we get here?" asked Hermione. "You can't apparate or disapparate to Hogwarts or from it. It says so in Hogwarts - A history."
"You'll find out soon enough if you are permitted to remain here. This is the last time Potter and his little gang step out of the line." Said a much-hated voice.
"Professor Snape," said Hermione. "Please listen. This is important. We were abducted, I don't know who by and we were in this place which looked like a dell and…"
"Oh stop. Leave your sniveling for Dumbledore; he may even listen to you. Come with me now."
Snape led all four of them, including the now utterly confused and back to normal Harry to the gargoyle that all of them knew so well by then. He muttered "Mars Bars" and the door slid open. They followed him inside where Dumbledore sat looking as angry as any of them had ever seen him. Well, any of them except Harry who remembered his fury from last year. Snape walked out with his customary sneer and all of them stood gazing at Dumbledore apprehensively.
Dumbledore's face relaxed and he gestured for them to sit down. They did and he looked at them with his commanding eyes. "Now, Hermione," he ordered. "I want the whole story with nothing left out. I need to know what happened."
Hermione obediently repeated the story and Dumbledore listened intently, adding to his Pensieve as things went along. When she had finished, he heaved a deep sigh. "I see," he said. "Thank you. You'd better go to the kitchen and get something to eat, for the feast is over. I will see you later, all of you."
Curious as always, Hermione asked "But what happened, Professor?"
"I cannot tell you yet, Miss Granger, but soon very soon. Be patient, you'll need to be."
The students left. Dumbledore called Fawkes to him. "Carry a message for me, dear friend. Tell my comrades, all of them, that it has happened. The lamp is lighted."
California Love - I am sorry if my reference to Jesus hurt ur religious sentiments, ur quite right and I do believe that he is beyond all human praise and hence beyond all human blasphemy, but i'l avoi such things hereon.
Malena - thanks keep reading and keep telling me what u think
Missy - I'm not sure if its going to d/g or h/g but one of the two definitely. i'd welcome some more feedback
speedy - If you can't flame better than that, then you shouldn't
