Chapter Nine - Back to School

Disclaimer:- I don't own Harry Potter. All I own is the computer I'm writing on and the Characters Caz, Jen and Tim.

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The rest of the summer passed quickly and was certainly different to any previous summer Harry had had. Harry soon learned that living here was very different to living with the Dursley's and it was especially different to when he had stayed with the Weasley's before. One major difference between here and everywhere else was that the wards Dumbledore had put up around the place prevented the detection of magic from outside. This meant that Harry was free to use as much magic as he wanted over the remainder of the summer without the worry of the ministry issuing him with another warning. So it was for this reason that he found himself, along with Caz having extra lessons from the four adults in the house over the final month of the summer. Sirius and Remus joked that when he returned to school he'd be better prepared for the fifth year curriculum than even Hermione; this was a thought that made him laugh. Dumbledore had come to visit in the middle of august, bringing with him two letters. One for Harry as usual and also, to Harry's surprise, one for Caz. Harry was delighted to learn that she would be joining him in the fifth year at the start of September. One thing that surprised Harry immensely was the shiny pin badge enclosed in his school letter which told him that he had been made a Gryffindor prefect. A fact which apparently did not surprise anyone in the least. He also knew, from the list of other prefects included, that Hermione and Malfoy were both prefects too as well as Blaise Zabini.

The rest of the summer for Ron and Hermione was somewhat different. After much awkwardness, deliberation and procrastination they'd finally managed to talk to each other and had, to their great delight, discovered their feelings for each other were mutual. Their only worry now was that Harry would feel pushed out by this new development in their friendship. They hadn't yet told Ron's family about their relationship, deciding to wait until things had developed a little more but on the night before their return to Hogwarts that had changed.

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Ron and Hermione sat on Ron's bed. Originally they had just been talking but now they were entwined in each others arms, kissing passionately. This was the furthest they had gone this summer, neither of them wanting to abuse the trust Mr and Mrs Weasley placed in them, especially since they knew nothing about the relationship. Hermione suddenly found Ron's hand sliding up her t-shirt. She froze for half a second before deciding she didn't mind and continued to deepen the kiss. It was at this point that the youngest Weasley had waltzed into the room yelling something about transfiguration textbooks.

She had stopped dead when she caught sight of the scene unfolding before her. Her brother and her best friend were. romantically involved. she definitely did NOT need to be seeing this.

"I think I might come back later, this is obviously a bad time," Ginny said hurriedly before turning to bolt out of the room.

Ron and Hermione froze mid-kiss. Upon seeing Ginny stood in the doorway they sprung apart and sat eyes fixed on Ginny like deer's caught in headlights.

Ron finally found his voice, "Gin, no. Perhaps we should explain. Please just stay and hear us out." It was more of a question than a statement. Ginny turned and looked at them before reluctantly crossing the room and leaning against Ron's chest of drawers.

"Let's hear it then."

Forty-five minutes and a lot of explaining, begging and pleading later Ron and Hermione had finally persuaded Ginny to keep quiet about what she had seen and had also managed to convince her to accept it. The initial shock had died down leaving her somewhat happy that her brother and her friend were both happy and now she thought about it they had spent a lot of the past few weeks whispering in Ron's room and in corners around the house. It didn't really surprise her all that much.

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Harry and Caz were both being just as impatient as the other. Dumbledore had not allowed them to ride the Hogwarts express to school, instead insisting that they come to school by direct portkey straight to his office. At the moment they were both waiting impatiently in the living room for Sirius, Abbi, Jen and Remus. Neither could understand why all four adults had to deliver them to Hogwarts, nor why it was taking them so long to get ready when they were only going to be there a matter of minutes but they stood and waited as patiently as possible non the less.

Finally they were all ready to go. They stood together in the kitchen of the place Harry had come to know as home over the past few months. Sirius pulled a tin of baked beans out of his pocked. Harry frowned,

"Baked beans? What, you suddenly hungry Sirius?"

Caz laughed. Over the last month Harry and Caz had quickly become friends and had discovered a deep level of trust between them. Although Caz had not mentioned anymore to Harry about her father than the day he had arrived she was starting to wonder if she could and deeply wanted too. She needed someone to share the truth with. Sirius looked momentarily exasperated at Harry's comment and sighed,

"It's a portkey Harry. Not a snack!"

Harry looked at him.

"I realised that. I was kidding. You know, the thing where you say something and it's supposed to be funny and everybody laughs."

Sirius stuck his tongue out at Harry before holding out the tin for everyone. As they all grabbed hold Harry felt the jerk behind his navel and squeezed his eyes closed trying to block out the memories this was dredging up. As quick as it had started it stopped and Harry opened his eyes to see the 6 of them were now stood in professor Dumbledore's office.

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Platform nine and three-quarters was in its usual September the first state of chaos. People were everywhere. Older students were meeting up with friends and catching up on two months of separation while their parents ran through all the last minute checks of 'did you remember everything' and 'where's your wand'. Younger students on the other hand were going all shy and clingy on their parents. Looking absolutely terrified of leaving for this strange new place and being away from home for so long. It was these parents that weren't bothered about their children having everything but more about getting them on the train before it pulled out of the station. In some cases this involved prying children from their parents forcefully and literally forcing them onto the train. As Ron and Hermione stood and looked around the chaos on the platform Ron leaned and whispered in Hermione's ear,

"I don't remember us ever being that terrified of going to school. What do they think we're going to do? Eat them?"

Hermione laughed at that thought before scalding Ron for being so mean. He gave her a mock glare before continuing his search of the platform for Harry. Deciding they couldn't see Harry anywhere and that they only had one minute before the train left they said goodbye to the Weasley's and boarded the train, hoping that Harry would be waiting for them in their usual compartment. Needless to say. He wasn't.

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A/N:- that took A LOT longer than expected to write, mainly due to the fact that I had a stupid project to do and it got sent back to me three times before I had finally done enough words. Chapter 10 will probably be another couple of weeks because of coursework but after that I'm on study leave and updates will be more regular. Thanx to my reviewers! You're all great! Check out my other story 'What d'ya get..' It's only one chapter long yet but I'm in the process of writing another one which should be out in a few weeks. Katie-Catherine -x-