Disclaimer- Everything, right down to Fred and George's gaping mouths, belongs to JK and the numerous companies she's entrusted with the copyrights.
A/N- Yup, folks. I know it's
been a while-but here's the twelfth chapter.
Mad Man
The frustrated looks on both Harry and Ron's face betrayed them. Just as Hermione's vocal cords were fighting against her restraint to let out her hidden knowledge, Harry's and Ron's were throbbing with questions to ask. Noting this, Hermione stood up so quickly she nearly had a dizzy spell and backed away from her two friends.
Ron hadn't time to shout, "For Merlin's sake, we're your best friends, Hermione!" before she had stormed through the screen door, letting it bang against the door frame behind her.
"Girls," Ron muttered, swearing under his breath.
Their questioning didn't succeed the next morning, either. In fact, they didn't even have time to pester Hermione. They'd left their packing to the very last minute and were still trying to pack away their Hogwarts' things when most of the family was enjoying breakfast.
When finally they were packed, they all but jumped down the staircase, eagerly anticipating the soon to come moment when they could fill their rumbling stomachs. They ate a breakfast of sweetened grapefruit, frothy glasses of milk, French toast, and scrambled eggs while waiting for Fred and George who were still upstairs, gingerly packing their own books. They were doing so very carefully because they didn't want the Exploding Chalk that covered the books to explode on them.
The spacious interior of the yellow Volkswagen awaited them, and when they finally did pile into the car (all nine of them, quite comfortably because of the magical advancements made by Mr. Weasley) and start off towards the station, they had to return to the Weasley household several times. The first time was so Ginny could retrieve from her room the souvenir Hermione had bought her in Italy (a tiny model of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, complete with talking and walking tourists); the second time so that a grumbling Ron could take from the porch a forgotten and squeaking Pigwidgeon (Ron's small owl); and the third time so that Fred could return to the house and bring along his entirely forgotten luggage.
Once they were on the road, The Burrow long behind them, and most of their luggage alongside them, they were much too busy chattering about the coming school year to notice the empty Muggle streets.
~
"Hurry it up will you, Harry?" prodded Ron, from behind him.
No matter how hard Harry tried, he couldn't move his trolley, laden down with his school supplies, a step further.
With Harry in front, then Ron and Hermione, the twins, Ginny, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley following behind, they had been walking towards platform 9 ¾ (which is in the barrier between platforms 9 and 10).
A loud grumbling took place down the line as Ron started to wheel around Harry, holding up the line once again as he too stopped from moving forward.
Soon, everyone but Mr. and Mrs. Weasley
were standing that way, reading the sign on the barrier between the empty
platforms 1 and 2.
Wanted: Sirius Black
The repeated murders that have been happening in Britain are believed to be the work of the convicted felon, Sirius Black.
He escaped, armed and dangerous, from a high security prison two years ago. Police have no doubt it is this man who is committing the harsh crimes.
Because of this safety risk, we can not take
responsibility for any loss of life not concerned with the trains while
you travel.
Below this was a picture of Sirius when he had been in the wizard prison, Azkaban. His hair hung down past his shoulders in unwashed strands, his skin was pale and sunken, and his eyes stared out at them morbidly. Harry felt like he had just been punched in the gut.
Hermione and Ron grabbed their friend and traded a nervous glance with each other.
"You mean they haven't caught the bas-"
"Fred!" shouted their mother shrilly.
Only Fred, George, and Ginny didn't know of Sirius's innocence. Apparently, Mrs. Weasley had thought that the secret would be best kept if not shared with too many.
"Go on, now," said Mr. Weasley nervously, looking over at the suddenly ill-stricken Harry.
Harry gulped. "It's.. Voldemort's ally."
He turned to the Weasley's, his eyes flashing in anger. "IT ISN'T SIRIUS!"
Mrs. Weasley placed a comforting hand on Harry's shoulder as the twins and Ginny stared at him in wonder. Ron coughed rather uncomfortably and wheeled his cart around the barrier, heading for Platform 9 ¾. Hermione cast a fleeting look back at Harry and followed Ron, Ginny at her side. The twins stood gaping at Harry until their father prodded them forward with a small gesture. Harry continued to stand there.
With tears in her eyes, Mrs. Weasley's hand left Harry's shoulder. "He'll be all right Harry."
Fishing for a tissue in the pocket of her dress, Mrs. Weasley hurried off, releasing a sob as she blew her nose loudly. Mr. Weasley placed his hand on Harry's back and gently pushed him forward.
"Go on, Harry."
Turning back around, Harry's fists clenched over the top of his cart and he began to push it towards the others.
Mr. Weasley stood behind. In a whisper
he choked out, "Be careful, Harry."
