Chapter 4
An eventful journey

The sun shone through a gap in the curtains right in to Harry's eyes. Harry stretched his arms out and gave a huge yawn then he snuggled back down under the covers contentedly. He could hear soft snores coming from the other bed in the room as Ron slept on. Harry yawned once again which finished with him grinning to himself, he was back with people who actually liked him and once again, on his way to the place he called home, Hogwarts. Perhaps he wondered Dumbledore would give him a job at Hogwarts once he had finished school so he could stay there forever. A light tapping on the window interrupted his thoughts of just what job he could do. Harry looked over to the window his eye catching Hedwig's empty cage. Surely, she couldn't be back already he thought as he jumped out of bed and flung open the curtains. Hedwig tapped on the glass again for Harry to let her in. As he opened the window to let her in, Ron's little minute owl Pigwideon, awoke and began hopping up and down, twittering madly "Shut up Pig," muttered Ron turning over and going back to sleep. Harry took the attached letter from Hedwig's leg. Before going to bed the night before Harry had written to his godfather Sirius, he felt guilty not writing before but first he was to busy having a good time with Alannia then he was locked in his room unable to get Hedwig out . Therefore, he had decided to write about every thing that had happened the last few weeks. After he had finished the letter, he sent Hedwig off telling her he would see her at Hogwarts, all that had happened the last few weeks he never expected a reply so soon. Opening the letter, he saw that it wasn't Sirius writing. He quickly turned over the letter to see who the letter was from it was signed Remus Lupin his old Defence against the Dark Arts teacher with whom Sirius was stopping. Harry turned the letter back and began to read, the first line read, 'don't worry Harry, Snuffles is quite safe' Harry let out a large sigh or relief before reading on 'It's just that he can't write now as he is away on important business for Dumbledore.' Harry stopped reading the letter if Sirius wasn't at Professor Lupin's why had Hedwig delivered the letter there? Harry read on 'I was intrigued by the new friend you mentioned you say in your letter that her great-aunt is called Arabella Figg, do you by any chance know her mother's name if you do please write back and tell me at once' signed Remus Lupin. Harry sat down on his bed and reread the letter again why, would Professor Lupin be interested in Alannia's mother. Harry jumped as aloud knock came on the door He heard Mrs Weasley outside "Come on Boys time to get up or we'll be late for breakfast" "Ok Mrs Weasley we're awake," called back Harry "Alright but don't let Ron go back to sleep, see you down stairs in twenty minutes" she answered. Harry heard her go to the George and Fred's room where she knocked louder "Oh mum alright, alright." Harry heard from the next room. Mrs Weasley, knowing what George and Fred were like, had probably marched in and pulled the bedclothes off the twins. Harry looked over to Ron who continued to snore. Harry decided to show the letter to Ron and Hermione later and ask them what they think about it.

After breakfast time seemed to fly with everyone running around packing things they had forgot the night before, soon it was time to leave for King's Cross railway station to catch the Hogwart Express. They arrived at the station with ten minutes to spare Hermione, Harry and Ron were just putting the last of there trunks on to the train when a voice called out "Harry," he looked up to see Alannia dragging Mrs Figg through the crowds "WOW!" exclaimed Ron as he to looked to see who had called Harry name. He elbowed Harry in the side "That's not HER is it?" "She has got a name you know," muttered Harry as Alannia drew closer "Hi Harry," she said "we're so glad to see you, we were so worried Aunt Arabella went to the Dursley's this morning ,because we hadn't seen you in two day's, and your Aunt told us you had assaulted your Uncle and was staying with someone else. By the way what did you do to your uncle's hair, Aunt Arabella says it gone grey with purple stripes." Harry laughed "Mr Weasley said it was tinged with purple" "Nope" replied Alannia "Big purple stripes like a coloured zebra" at this every one burst out laughing. Harry started to introduce Alannia to every one. When it was Ginny's turn, she gave Alannia a strange look. "Hello Ginny," said Alannia "Harry told me all about you, your in the fourth year aren't you I hope I'm in Gryffindor with you it would be nice to have a friend to show me around." Ginny's began to warm to Alannia as most people did after a few moments with her, thought Harry. Fred, George and Ron fought over who was going to put Alannia's trunk on the train each of them making goggle eyes at her. Alannia smiled "Thank you all." She said as she boarded the train with Ginny and they giggled as the boys pushed and shoved each other to follow her on the train.

Most of the train journey was uneventful, apart from the occasional interruption by some of the older boy's from all of the houses just popping in to say hello was the usual excuse .Most of them Harry had only seen walking in the corridors in between lessons and didn't know by name. All of them insisted they were introduced to Alannia who smiled graciously like a queen greetings her new subjects for the first time. "I did realise every one would be so friendly." Alannia said as the latest admirer left. "It's only because they think your pretty." Piped up Hermione from the book she had her nose buried in to hid her jealousy "Do you really think I'm pretty?" Alannia asked Hermione "Didn't boys in your other school think so" sniped Hermione. Harry turned on Hermione "Alannia hasn't been to any other school. She's been living abroad with her mother and hardly got to see anybody especially not any kids." Said Harry, coming to Alannia's defence. "And I think she's very pretty" He declared and stormed out of the carriage, followed by Ron. Alannia leaned over to Hermione she touched her on the arm .Hermione felt her arm get warm "Hermione" said Alannia "I'm sorry I didn't mean to be vain it's just that I have never had many complements about my looks apart from my mother and my grandfather but they don't count do they. It is just nice to get them every now and then." Hermione glanced sideways at her to see if she was being genuine, she was. Hermione softened to Alannia straight away. When Harry and Ron returned the girls were all sitting in the corner discussing school. A little later on Ginny took Alannia, down the corridor, to meet some of her friends in Gryffindor house.

It was about fifteen or twenty minutes later when the door to the carriage was flung open. Colin Creevey, the boy Harry had seen in Diagon Alley, almost fell to the floor. Harry and Hermione rushed to pick him up he was trying to say something but couldn't get his breath. Harry just caught the words Malfoy, Ginny and New Girl and knew there was trouble. Letting go of Colin together, Harry and Hermione ran out of the carriage and down the corridor closely followed by Ron who had to jump over Colin Creevey now lying crumpled on the floor. The three of them reached the next set of carriages at the same time, barging through the doors they all stopped dead in their tracks an amazing sight lay before them. Crabbe and Goyle, Malfoy's two sidekicks were stuck to the roof of the carriage held there only by Alannia's hand pointing in their direction. Malfoy had just let go of Ginny's arm, he had held behind her back, began to rush towards Alannia who with a wave of her hand sent Malfoy lifting of his feet and flying down towards the end of the carriage before slamming in to the wall at the end, landing in a heap on the floor. As Alannia turned toward Harry, Crabbe and Goyle came crashing to the floor. There was silent for a split second before everyone, with the exception of Slytherin house members, cheered and clapped loudly.

With Ron and Harry by her side as bodyguards, they finally managed to get Alannia away from her cheering public and back to their carriage. Harry pulled down the blinds after Hermione and Ginny had followed them in shutting the door behind them. Alannia sat in the furthest most corner with a sheepish look on her face. Ron was the first to speak "That was bloody marvellous. " He declared with admiration in his voice. "Sorry" was all Alannia could say Ron sat down next to her with a large grin on his face "I'm just savouring the moment when Malfoy when flying down the aisle he couldn't have done it better on a broomstick" smirked Ron. Fred and George barging through the door laughing, disturbing Ron's train of thought. After they had taken Alannia from the carriage, the wizard in charge of the train had come in. The twins told the group, Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle were all lying unconscious on the floor. The wizard and the witch, who brought round the tuck trolley, had them carried to an empty carriage. The only problem was the wizard was sending an owl to Dumbledore to meet the train when it arrived. The twins patted Alannia on the back and shouted 'well done' as they left the carriage. The group sat in silence for the rest of the journey. Hermione diving in to her bag, pulled out a thick book, and started to search for something. Harry seethed inside, if Malfoy caused Alannia to be thrown out of Hogwarts before she had even started, him and Malfoy were going to have a showdown. Alannia seemed to be the least worried of the group as she sat admiring the view whizzing passed the train window. When the train arrived at Hogsmead's train station it was pitch black outside and the rain was lashing down. The wizard from the train called at Harry's carriage and told Alannia to wait on the platform for Dumbledore's arrival. Ginny started to cry "It's all mine fault," she sobbed "It was me Malfoy was picking on" Hermione and Ron helped her off the train. "I'm staying with Alannia to explain to Dumbledore what happened," decided Harry as they got of the train.

The train pulled out as every looked for the stagecoaches that were normally there to take them all to the school, with the exception of the first years that went on the lake by boat with Hagrid. Nevertheless, there was neither sight nor sound of either Hagrid, who would be hard to miss, or the stagecoaches equally hard to miss as none of them were pulled by horses, not visible ones anyway. A seventh former pushed his way to the front, a head boy's badge glinted in the lantern light of the station. "Come on let me through now." He said as the crowds of students moved out of his way. He sounded just like Ron's brother Percy, when he was head boy. Finally he reached the station master after speaking to him for a few seconds the head boy turn to address every one else "It seems there has been a rock slide on the road up to the school people are trying to clear it as we speak. As soon as it has been cleared, the coaches will arrive. Thank you for your co-operation." "He sounds like he works for the railway," muttered Ron to no one in particular. No one laughed; they were not in the mood. To make matters worse the rain came down heaver than before and there was no cover at the station. The minutes seemed like hours before some one from the front shouted "There coming, I can see the coaches." Sure enough coming around the bend were hundreds of stagecoaches but not a horse in site. As they pulled to a stop outside the station Dumbledore, followed by Hagrid, alighted for the first coach "Very sorry to keep you all waiting. Now every one into the coaches, first years as well. Careful there Mr Longbottom that could have been a nasty fall." Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny all stayed back with Alannia to face Dumbledore "Ah" said Dumbledore as the pupils thinned out "What have we been up to" Everyone started to speak at once. Dumbledore held up his hands and the din died down "I think he said we should all get to Hogwarts before we all catch horrible colds. Miss Figg would you like to accompany me I don't think there is enough room for all of us in the same carriage." Dumbledore, Hagrid and Alannia climbed into one carriage whilst Harry, Ron Hermione and Ginny climbed in the other. Harry was worried about Alannia, although Dumbledore's coach had left the station after theirs; it managed to arrive before them even though the road to the school was narrow and dangerous. By the time they arrived, Dumbledore and Alannia were nowhere to be seen. . Professor McGonagall met them as they arrived and informed them they had an hour to get dry and changed before the sorting ceremony began.