Title: HP and the truth of the wand Ch 2: Back at Hogwarts
Disc: own nothing!
There was a loud screeching sound and the whole train stopped abruptly, causing the trio to tumble to the floor of the compartment. The lights flickered and went out. The Hogwarts Express was cast into darkness. The younger children were screaming frantically, while the older, like Fred and George Weasley seized this opportunity to let off as many dungbombs as possible.
"Are you two al right?" Harry asked, his voice muffled because half his robe was in his mouth and his arms pinned at his sides from the weight of Ron and Hermione on top of him.
"Harry? Harry, where are you?" Hermione asked.
"Under Ron," Harry whispered.
"Herm, will you please get off of me so I can get off of Harry?"
"I would if I could see- OWW! What did you just take?" Hermione felt someone reach into her robes. She squinted in the darkness and saw the illuminated tip of a wand exit out of the compartment.
"I didn't take anything!" Ron protested. "And you smell like vanilla! WHY would anyone want to smell like bloody vanilla?"
"I'm suffocating, hello!" Harry called.
"Where's my wand?" Hermione asked, looking around frantically.
"I don't bloody know!!!" Ron yelled back.
To their relief, the lights flickered back on. Hermione scrambled up and to her feet. "Ah, there you are!" she said, spotting her wand on her seat and replacing it in her robes.
Ron stood up and took in a deep breath. "Ah, not vanilla scented air,"
Harry was the last to get to his feet. He walked to the compartment and looked into the hallway. "What do you think happened?"
At that very moment, a loud voice rang throughout the train, "Attention students, we've had a slight delay. A cow is asleep on the tracks. We'll be underway shortly."
Ron laughed loudly. "I can't believe they did it!"
Harry and Hermione looked at each other.
"Fred and George were always boasting how they wanted to bewitch a cow to fall asleep on the tracks!" Ron declared, laughing and slapping his knee.
Harry broke out into a grin and to his delight, Hermione erupted into giggles.
After the Sorting, Dumbledore unveiled a statue in honor of Cedric Diggory. It would be placed down by the lake. Harry caught Cho wiping her eyes, which were extremely boodshot.
It was only when the Feast had started, that Hermione seemed to remember about S.P.E.W. "I'm going to be working on it harder this year," she said.
"Yeah, yeah, pass the potatoes," Ron said, with a mouthful of peas.
"I'm serious, Ron!" she snapped and heaved the bowl at him. "Maybe Viktor will help me, since you two won't."
Harry choked on a piece of piece of chicken. He almost forgot about Viktor Krum, who had been at Hogwarts last year for the Triwizard Tournament. He had fallen hard for Hermione. And suddenly, Harry started seeing him as the enemy, ever since the night she and Ron came to take him to the Burrow.
Ron gaped at him, his mouth open, a few peas falling out.
"Are you al right?" Hermione said, slapping Harry on the back.
"Ow--- yes!" Harry said, swallowing the chunk of chicken. He grabbed the pitcher of Pumpkin juice, filled his goblet, drained it, and refilled it again. "Viktor, eh?" he asked her.
She blushed and returned to her seat. "Yes. He may start S.P.E.W at Durmstrag, also."
Ron snorted, but kept quiet. They finished the rest of their meal in silence.
Harry was secretly hoping that Professor Trelawney would have quit teaching at Hogwarts over the summer, but to no avail. As he and Ron trudged up to her Aromatherapy room, she emerged from the shadows, with Lavender and Parvati applauding.
"Hmm…" Ron muttered, imitating Professor Trelawney. "I see hard times ahead for you, dear. Watch out for renegade Owls! They'll peck you to death!"
Harry laughed out loud.
Professor Trelawney turned to him. "Do the fates amuse you, dear?"
"Sorry, Professor," Harry said, grinning.
She shook her head sadly. "Ah, yes, the boy with the grim…"
"What is it now?" Harry asked loudly, Ron laughing beside him. "Will I cover my head one night with my blankets and suffocate?"
"No," Professor Trelawney said with great concern. "One you treasure will leave forever." She then turned, and strode back up to the front of the room.
Harry and Ron exchanged looks.
"She's sniffed too many candles," Ron replied.
Hermione met them outside of the Charms classroom, grinning contently.
"What?" Ron asked. "Homework already?"
"No!" she beamed, gazing at Harry, and then blushed. "Nothing."
Ron shook his head. "How about we actually go into the classroom?"
"You go ahead," Hermione said proudly. "I want to talk to Harry for a minute."
Ron raised a brow and stepped into the classroom. Harry turned to her. Hermione blushed, and then opened her mouth to speak when---
"Potter!!!!" Professor McGonagall came tearing up the corridor.
Harry turned from Hermione to McGonagall. "Hi, Professor,"
"Run along, Ms. Granger, I must talk to Harry alone."
"Hermione was just---" Harry started.
"It's okay," Hermione said. "It can wait until later." She smiled and walked into the classroom.
Harry stared at McGonagall.
"You know Wood graduated two years ago, and we didn't have Quidditch last term," Professor McGonagall said.
Harry nodded.
"Well," she grinned. "Before he left, he named a new Captain… any idea where I'm going with this?"
Harry gaped at her. "Me?"
McGonagall nodded emphatically. "Congratulations. Try-outs for a new Keeper start in a week. Good luck."
"But wouldn't Alicia or Fred or George be better for it?" Harry asked.
"You were Wood's decision." She said, shaking her head. "Run along to class now."
Harry almost jumped into the air. Things seemed to be starting off well this year for the boy who lived.
"You're kidding," Ron said when Harry told he and Hermione the great news.
Harry shook his head. "I'm dead serious."
"Congratulations, Harry!" Hermione beamed, throwing her arms around his neck.
"Yeah, congratulations!" Fred called from across the room and he and George strode over.
"Sorry neither of you got it," Harry said.
"Are you mad?" Fred asked. "We don't want it!"
"Yeah," George replied. "Way too much responsibility."
Harry zoned out. He hadn't figured in what a huge job this would be. He just hoped he was up for the challenge. "Any ideas for the new Keeper?" he asked them.
Fred and George shrugged. "Just post signs. We'll judge from whoever shows up."
That night, Harry's pounding scar woke him from a dreamless sleep. It had been a few days since his scar bothered him, and he had almost forgot about it… almost. Harry sat upright in bed, rubbing his forehead. "Where are you, Voldemort?" he asked softly into the darkness.
Harry sat on his Firebolt in front of five second year Gryffindor try-outs. "It's real simple," Harry told them. "I'm going to have my three Chasers" he pointed to Alicia, Angelina, and Katie. "Try and score on you. You'll be chosen one at a time. And I'll judge you by how well you do."
The try-outs looked at each other nervously and at the three Chasers. They looked like they were about to face a firing squad.
At the end of the try-outs, Carlos Freedman was chosen as the new Keeper, only allowing three goals.
The next day during Charms, Professor McGonagall stuck her head in and called for Hermione. Bewildered, she got up and followed her out and didn't return all lesson. When she didn't turn up for lunch, Harry and Ron started to get worried.
"I hope nothing happened," Harry said to Ron as they walked toward the Portrait Hole.
Ron furrowed his brow and muttered, "Pudding" to the Fat Lady. She swung forward allowing them entrance to the common room. Harry's heart dropped. Hermione sat at a table by the fireplace, her head buried in her hands, sobbing. Harry and Ron dashed over.
Harry gently placed a hand on her shoulder. Hermione looked up, saw it was them and looped her arms around his neck. "It's horrible!" she cried.
"Hermione, what's happened?" Ron asked quietly.
"I'm… I'm being expelled!" she sobbed.
Harry and Ron exchanged worried glances.
End of Chapter 2!!!! Thanks to everyone who reviewed chapter 1!!! I'm working on chapter 3 as we speak, and if you're all good and review, I'll hurry it along. J
