Author's note: Chapter Four is here. Are you excited? Sorry for ending all chapters on slight cliffhangers so far. I can't help it – I want to keep your interest as long as I possibly can. It's only when you get bored that I've failed as an author. So as always, comments and questions are always welcome along with constructive criticism. Please, sit back, enjoy this chapter and tell me what you think.



Disclaimer: Harry Potter or any of its affiliates do not belong to me.



Chapter Four: Hogwarts At Last.



"Harry, what's...," Hermione started to say as the boy-who-lived ran past the pair in a frenzy, shouting something the two couldn't understand. "... wrong?" Ron turned towards the direction from which Harry came from and stood wide-eyed. Hermione, who was too busy trying to figure out Harry's strange behavior, didn't notice the steady tap to her arm that Ron used to get her attention.



"Hermione! Run!" Ron finally shouted as he dashed past her, grabbing her hand along the way and dragging her with him. She stumbled to match his pace at first, slightly confused as to why Ron was running so fast. But then Hermione looked behind her— a thunderous stampede of magical creatures were racing toward them!



Among the grouping, she could see three unbearably large trolls, one carrying a wooden club, the other two slings with stones carefully lodged in the leather pocket. A giant snake followed with fangs large enough that they could easily deter an automobile, Hermione assumed. Then a small parade of spiders of all sizes, finishing off with a very angry looking hornback dragon! She went deathly pale at the sight and felt that she would soon hyperventilate, but remembered Ron and Harry. She wouldn't let them down. She couldn't let them down, so she moved her legs as fast as they would go to keep up with Ron.



But the three grew tired as the adrenaline that was pumping through their bodies lost its effect. Harry seemed to be slowing down as Ron and Hermione caught up with him. How Harry wished he had his broom right now! 'Flying would be so much easier,' he said to himself, imagining his trusty boom right there between his legs, flying off to Hogwarts with his friends. Harry didn't turn back to see if the horde was getting closer. He didn't turn back to stand and fight them— it would prove to be a battle he had no chance of winning, even if he was advanced for his age. Harry just ran with all his might through the field, checking up on his friends every once in a while. With whatever breath he had left over to speak with, Harry yelled out to Ron.



"We can''t... keep this... up!" he managed to say through gasps of air, seeing his friend nod in response. Ron's face was beet red an Hermione looked like she was about to fall. It seemed absolutely hopeless to Harry. The only thing left t do was to stand and fight for their lives. What else could they do? There was no one to help them get out of this trouble.



"Harry! Look!" Ron cried, gesturing to what looked like a door in the middle of the meadow. An old, wooden door that stood between two large trees and was quite suspicious looking, especially to Hermione. Who put it there? Let's go in. It could be a trap! What other choices do we have? The three thought as they enclosed the port. Harry's eyebrows furrowed as he made a last dash at the door. Ron followed his lead and brought Hermione with him. It may have been a trap, but it was better than this. Anything would be better than this!



Harry flung open the door, rushing in with Ron and Hermione trailing at his heels. Once inside, what they found wasn't frightening, nor was it a trap, the trio concluded. Hundreds of eyes watched the three intensely as a deafening silence overtook them. Maybe it was scarier than they had thought.




So glad you could join us tonight Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Ms. Granger," the tall, bearded figure at the other end of the room spoke. It was Albus Dumbledore and they were in the Great Hall— the feast was just starting. Harry couldn't believe his own eyes. Almost simultaneously, the friends looked back at the door they came through. Ron let go of Hermione's hand and did a more thorough examination. It looked just as it always did... And exited to the same spot it always had every year!



"Bloody brilliant...," Ron muttered in astonishment. The three exhausted students nearly collapsed in a heap when another all-too familiar voice sounded.



"If you three are quite finished, would you take your seat so we could continue?" Snape. 'Still as cranky as ever,' Ron remarked as harry led them to three open seats by their fellow Gryffindors. As the welcoming ceremony and feast continued, they were met with all sorts of questions.



"Where were you guys?" asked their friend Seamus Finnigan.



"Thought you had missed the train. What happened?" chimed in Dean Thomas.



"I bet Ron and Hermione were confessing their love for each other and this bozo," she pointed to Harry, "walked in on them. They were so pissed that they had to chase Harry down and get revenge!" Lavender Brown concocted with her mind full of romance novels and false predictions. Harry scoffed, Ron turned away and Hermione shot a glare towards the girl, one that could send shivers up any normal person's back.



The night was almost over and Ron was about to beat down a Ravenclaw student he had heard make a dirty comment about Hermione. "Bet I could lay her by the end of the year," he said, Ron having to use all his willpower to restrain himself. It was bad enough that he couldn't tell her how he felt and had to watch the girl he wanted get many a compliment from other guys. She'd blush a little and say thank you and every time it made Ron's blood curdle. Unknowing to Ron though, Harry noticed these acts of jealousy and made mental notes to ask him about it later.



When the hall slowly started to become empty, Harry moved to the seat across from Ron and Hermione and leaned over the edge the table and motioned for them to move in a little closer as well. Ron sent a questioning glance to Hermione, who sent the same look back as they leaned in closer to Harry.



"I think someone is trying to kill us," he said as softly as he could and still be audible in hopes that none of the teachers would hear him. Ron could see the seriousness in Harry's face and felt his own heart clench up.



And underneath the table, a slender hand slid into Ron's.