~*Not Nice*~

Chapter Two: Just Harold

Harold Poster was happily strolling around at home when his father, Junie Poster, and mother Lydia Poster appeared at the top of the manor's staircase.

"Harold! DEAR!" Lydia sang, off-key.

"Yes, mother?" Harold murmured.

"Are you ready?"

"Ready as ever!" Harold exclaimed, grinning.

His chauffeur strode past Harold and went to rev up their Ford Sedan. Two maids magicked Harold's bags out the door and into the Ford. Harold strutted out the manor, bidding his parents good-bye, and climbed into the car.

"Ready, sir?" the chauffeur asked from the wheel.

"Ready as ever!" Harold cried out again.

The Ford jerked up and started toward the sky. Harold was busily humming to the wizarding radio when the car suddenly stopped and slowly parked near the King's Cross-station. Harold picked up his trunk and loaded it into a trolley nearby. His owl, Genevieve, was in a cage, which was propped on top of his trunk. Harold waved to the chauffeur who was still in the car.

Harold quickly spotted a few redheaded people and a black-haired boy by a platform with similar trunks like his. Harold figured they were Hogwarts students too. Harold pushed his trolley up to them. Harold saw a curly red-haired boy who looked older then him walk straight at Platforms 9 and 10. Harold cocked an eyebrow, but then the boy disappeared through the platforms.

If there was one negative thing about Harold, it was that he did anything before he thought about it. But he also wasn't really easily surprised. Harold pushed his trolley past the redheaded people and the dark-haired boy just as two identical twins started for the platform. Harold ran straight at the platform and managed to make it past.

Harold saw the Hogwarts Express and loaded his trunk and Genevieve onto the train. Harold started to look for empty compartments. Each of them was crowded with people....except two. A brown bushy-haired girl who had her head poked out the window already accompanied one. Three boys occupied the other compartment. Harold decided to sit with the brown-haired girl, who he thought was pretty attractive.

"Hello. Can I sit here?" Harold asked her.

The girl spun around. "Oh, hi. Um, I was saving these seats for my friends, but....I guess you could."

~*Harold's P.O.V*~

I grinned. "Thanks."

I wanted to get to know her better. I set Genevieve next to me.

"So what's your name?" I asked her.

The girl smiled. "Hermione Granger. What about you?"

"Harold Poster. Who're your friends?" Whoops. I felt like smacking myself. (A/N: Yeah, well. You should.)

Hermione giggled. "Ron Weasley and Harry Potter. You know about Harry Potter, right?"

I shook my head, wondering who Harry Potter could possibly be. Hermione gasped a little. "You don't!?"

"No. Tell me about him," I said.

Hermione launched into this whole description about this Harry Potter. It was about this evil sorcerer that took over the wizarding world and Harry Potter managed to defeat him and escaped with nothing but a scar on his forehead. Hermione also told me about what happened in her second year at Hogwarts. It was pretty interesting, but kind of heartbreaking (A/N: Oh puh-leaz, Mr. Prince Charming), once I found out she was one of the victims of her second year tragedy. I noticed when Hermione was talking about Harry Potter; she was talking in this dazed way. Hmm.

By the time she was done, most of everyone had arrived onto the train. Hermione checked her watch.

"You don't think they'd be this late, do you?" Hermione asked me, worriedly.

I shook my head. "No, I don't think so." I felt like coming over to sit next to her and put my arm around her, to comfort her. So I did.

~*Hermione's P.O.V*~

The next thing I knew, Harold came over next to me and put his arm around me! Now he's like nuzzling my shoulder. Ugh, I thought. This guy is giving me the creeps. When are Harry and Ron going to get here!?

Just then, two boys burst in. They were both panting slightly. It was Harry and Ron.

I quickly sat up, worming out of Harold's reach. "RON! HARRY!" I don't know why, but I flung my arms around Harry and Ron. Ron turned pink, just as Harry said, "Hey Hermione. Vacation was only three months!"

I shook my head. "Just missed you, er, that's all." I could see from the corner of my eye, Harold looked a little slumped. Weird.

"Why were you two so late?" I demanded.

"Fred and George took up so much time to get on the train," Ron said, disgustedly.

I shrugged. I turned to Harry.

"Harry, this is Harold. Harold, this is Harry. And this is Ron," I added, glancing at Ron.

Harold stood up and shook hands with Harry and Ron. "I heard a lot about you, Harry."

Harry shrugged. "Sure, everyone does."

Harold gave him a look that I was sure meant Stop-Bragging-You-Big-Shot. I glared at him. Harold shrugged apologetically.

We all sat down, while I managed to find a way to sit either next to Harry or Ron, or between them. Luckily, I was between them. I breathed a sigh of relief.

A/N: I have a feeling this fan fic is getting somewhere!!! R+R!!! ~*Peanut Butter Code Red Kracker*~