A/N: Hey everyone! Welcome back! I'm glad you're still with me! Zee, thanks again for your feedback. I'm glad that you're enjoying the story and that I have earned such high esteem from you. I'll do my best to keep earning it! I quite agree that Neville has gotten the short end of the stick when it comes to fan fiction, but in my opinion he proved himself just as much as the others in OotP. All I have to say is way to go Neville, you the man!
~Chapter 3~
Getting off the train was one thing, getting on to the carriages was another thing all together. As soon as Neville, Parvati and Cho got off the train, the hellos and looks of surprise kept them detained another 30 minutes.
"Neville, I've just finished your latest book, 'Basic Herbology for Exotic Plant Life,' and it's absolutely fantastic!" Hermione was telling Neville. He smiled and blushed, which was hard to detect on his very tan skin, but the truth was that Neville had become quite the famous expert on Herbology. He learned early on that his only strong point was Herbology and after graduating from Hogwarts he began traveling the world learning about different plants and what uses they would be good for. It wasn't long before he wrote his first book, which became a best seller, and wrote three more books in as many years. "There's no question what you're being brought here to teach!" she finished.
"I guess not," Neville said. "What do you guys think you'll be teaching?" he asked the group.
"I don't know," Harry answered, "we were trying to figure out who'll get what on the train, but I think that you're the only one with a sure deal Neville!"
"I just hope that I don't get stuck with Diviniation," Hermione said. "Though I doubt that I could do any worse at it than that Trelawney woman!"
Parvati gasped in outrage, "Professor Trelawney was a very gifted Seer and I take offense that you ever thought of her any other way!"
Hermione rolled her eyes and looked over toward Cho was standing between her and Harry, "What about you Cho?"
"Well, at university I really excelled at History of Magic. It's really a great course when the teacher isn't just drudging on in a monotone voice." Everyone laughed thinking back to their years in History of Magic with Professor Binns.
"Well, I'm hoping that I'll get Potions!" Ron chimed in. "It will be like sticking it to Snape after all these years!"
"Oh please, Ron!" Ginny said, "Potions were always your worst subject. They'll as likely give you Potions as they'll give it to the thestrals pulling those carriages!" she said pointing toward the carriages.
"Speaking of the carriages," Draco said, "why don't we get on them and head to the castle. That way you'll find out for sure what you'll be teaching and I won't have to listen to you any more." He had been leaning on the train just listening to them go on and on, first about how much everyone had changed and now about who would teach what. He couldn't take it anymore.
A couple of disgusted looks were shot over in his direction, but everyone turned to climb into the carriages. Since there were only eight of them, only two carriages were waiting for them. Ginny started heading toward the one with her brother, Harry and Hermione, but was a little shocked and agitated that Cho was already trying to lift her trunk on to the top of their carriage. She had been hoping that she'd be able to at least ride to the castle with them. She was glaring at the other carriage as she walked away and wasn't paying attention when she plowed right into Draco's back who was waiting as Neville and Parvati tried hopelessly to put their trunks and cages on the top before climbing in. She stumbled back a couple of steps before loosing her balance and falling on the ground.
Draco turned around fully annoyed, "Weasley, why don't you watch where you're going," he said, but he put his hand out to help her up. Ginny just stared at his extended arm in amazement. It wasn't an everyday occurrence for a Malfoy to offer their help to anyone, least of all a Weasley. "Well, are you going to take it?" he asked in an irritated voice.
"I'm sorry," Ginny mumbled as she placed her small hand into his. He helped her up and as she started brushing the dust off her, Draco bent down and picked up her things for her. In one easy move, he had her trunk secured to the roof of the carriage and then he bent down to pick up her backpack from the ground. Once again Ginny could do nothing but stare at Draco as he held her bag. "Are we going to stand here all day or are you going to get in," he said. "Honestly Weasley, has someone placed an immobility charm on you today?"
Regaining her composure, Ginny climbed into the coach. Neville and Parvati were sitting next to each other deep in conversation, both oblivious to what had been going on just outside the carriage. She sat in the bench opposite them and Draco climbed in after her. "Here's your bag," he said passing it to her.
"Thank you," she replied taking the bag as the carriage started off. Ginny and Draco stared out of opposite windows while Neville and Parvati continued chatting up a storm. Neville tried to bring Ginny into the conversations a couple of times, but the first time she had to ask him to repeat the question and the second time she didn't even hear him.
Her mind was back at the station. She didn't understand why he was being so nice to her, but found it to be a little disarming. She tried to remember that this was the same Draco Malfoy who always hurt her feelings by making her life and the lives of her family members the butt of his jokes, but was having a hard time as her mind kept drifting back to their little encounter. All she needed to get the right image of Draco again was have a short conversation with her brother. She was sure that he was fully aggravated with the unexpected arrival of Draco. Thinking of her brother reminded her of why she was sitting there ignoring perfectly good conversation. 'Really, just what was Cho thinking!'
~~~ In the other carriage ~~~
"And that save against England in the 33rd hour of game play was brilliant!" Cho was telling Ron. By this time Ron's face was completely bright red. Cho had just basically recounted his entire career as a Keeper since he had left Hogwarts. Ron knew that his skill had much improved since his first games in his fifth year, but it still embarrassed him when people made him the center of attention. He turned to Hermione pleading silently with his eyes for her to help him.
She smiled at him taking pity at the situation, which she knew made him self-conscious and asked, "How about you, Cho, have you done much Quidditch playing of your own since you left Hogwarts." Ron reached down for her hand between them on the seat and gave it a little squeeze of thanks. As Cho started talking again, Ron didn't move his hand away and Hermione was perfectly content to leave it where it was. She tried to keep her mind off of the simple gesture and tried to focus on what Cho was saying.
"Well, not much really. I played for fun a few times at school…" Harry was looking at Cho, but not really paying much attention to what she was saying.
He had noticed Ginny's hurt look when she saw that Cho had climbed into the carriage with them. He'd have to remember to apologize to her for that, even though it wasn't his fault. He wondered if the only reason he had come with them was so that she could describe to them all of Ron's greatest Quidditch moments which is what she had been doing from the moment they started moving. She hadn't once looked in his direction and seemed perfectly content to ignore his very presence.
'She's still as pretty as ever,' he thought. Harry sighed. It wasn't good to have these thought fluttering around in his head. Just as easily as Cho had ignored him she had ignored Hermione. When Hermione had interrupted her continual praise of Ron, her eyes had momentarily darkened with irritation. He brought his mind back to the conversation.
"For the past year I've been trying to get a job at the Ministry, but I think I'd have an easier time breaking into Gringotts than getting a job with the Ministry. When I got the letter from McGonagall, I was just happy to finally have been offered a job."
"I just hope that we're ready for it," Hermione said nervously.
Ron gave her hand another reassuring squeeze, "Don't worry, you'll be great."
She looked up at Ron and smiled, "Thanks Ron."
'Well isn't this interesting,' Harry thought looking at his friends who were still smiling at each other.
Harry didn't have much time to ponder this because at that moment Cho said, "We're here!" The other three looked out the window and saw the castle just outside the window. The door opened and Cho came bounding out. Harry gave his friends an exasperated look before climbing out. He couldn't wait until he could talk with them alone. Right behind them the others were getting out of their carriage as well. Harry and Ron began taking the trunks down from the top of their carriage and Neville and Draco took them down from theirs.
Everyone gathered their stuff and began heading up the steps of Hogwarts. The castle still gave Harry the same sense of happiness it always did. He tried to gather in as much as he could of the grounds on his way up. He couldn't wait until he had time to wander around reminiscing. The door opened and to everyone's immense surprise none other than Mr. Filch stood behind it.
"Well, well, well," Filch said, looking down at his cat, "look who we have here Mrs. Norris." Everyone filed into front hall as Filch closed the door. "I expect that you all remember the rules around here," he said glaring at each one of them. "I especially don't want any trouble out of you two!" he said looking menacingly at Ron and Ginny, "I get enough of that from your brothers, don't need no more from you!"
"We've only just got here!" Ron said outraged.
"Don't take that tone of voice with me! I'm just reminding you there's rules here." Tuning to the rest of them he said, "You will be escorted to your rooms where you will have time to unpack and freshen up before meeting Professor McGonagall in the staff lounge for dinner. Please stay in your rooms until you have been sent for." With that, Filch turned and walked away Mrs. Norris trailing in his wake.
"Well, who's going to be taking us to our rooms then?" Parvati asked.
"Harry Potter sir!"
Harry tuned around and instantly had his answer. Eight house elves were standing there all smiling widely and ready to serve as always.
"Hello Dobby. How are you?" Harry asked looking down at the house elf. He was still dressing in horribly mismatched clothing covering him from head to foot, just as Harry remembered him.
"Dobby has been most excited sir! Dobby has been waiting patiently for the return of Harry Potter sir!"
Draco groaned, "Can we just get on with it?" He didn't want to stand around and listen to his former house elf go on about how much he adored Harry.
"Of course sir," Dobby said clearly upset, "Dobby didn't mean to make you wait sir!" Dobby started looking around and Harry knew he was looking for the nearest wall he could bang his head into.
"It's alright Dobby," Harry said grabbing the elf before he could inflict any damage on himself, "why don't we just get going." The house elves started walking toward the visitors. Using levitation charms the trunks hovered in the air ready to follow them to their rooms. Carrying Hedwig's cage, Harry started after Dobby.
"Right this way, sir. Dobby will show you to your room, sir." Harry and the others started following the house elves up the stairs. Dobby was still going on, "It is a very great day indeed, sir, when Harry Potter comes back to Hogwarts, sir. Dobby has been waiting many days for your return, sir. Was so happy when Professor McGonagall asked Dobby to escort Harry Potter to his room!" Harry was used to Dobby's constant praise and promptly tuned him out.
Harry was lead toward where the Gryffindor common room was. They stopped at the beginning of a corridor at the end of which was the portrait of the fat lady. The fat lady in the portrait bowed her head at Harry when she saw him and he bowed his head back.
"Here it is, sir," Dobby said pointing at a portrait of an old man wearing a dark gray pin stripe suit and who was sitting on a rocking chair and smoking a pipe, "This is Harry Potter's new room."
Taking the pipe out of his mouth he said, "Good evening, sir, my name is Orville," he said regally, "I am your room's keeper."
"Hello Orville, I'm Harry."
"Yes, Mr. Potter, I have been expecting you. As keeper of your room, no one may enter the inner sanctuary without password approval," he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blank piece of paper. "At this time I would like to take out your wand and touching the tip of it to my canvas here," he pointed to the paper, "write whatever password you would like to use to gain entry to your chambers. Please be sure to press firmly when writing and choose a password that you will easily remember." Orville put the pipe back into his mouth and waited patiently for Harry to decide on a password.
Harry pulled out his wand, touched it to the parchment and spelled out Padfoot on the parchment. The parchment remained clear and as Harry removed his wand from it, he wondered if he had done it correctly. Orville turned the piece of paper around, read it, folded it and put it back into his pocket. "Very good, sir. Should you desire to change the password, just let me know." With that the portrait swung open and Harry entered.
It was a very large room and beautifully furnished. In the center was a very large bed with dark green covers. On either side of the bed were two mahogany night tables with large lamps on them. On another wall was a matching mahogany dresser set. Across from the bed was a large mahogany desk. Right next to the desk was a large gold stand with a hook coming out of the top, meant for a birdcage. Harry hung Hedwig's cage on it and walked over to where the windows were. He pulled open the dark green curtains and was met with a view of the front of Hogwarts grounds, which went all the way down to the lake. The taupe colored walls were covered with pictures of witches and wizards that Harry didn't know. They all looked at him curiously, trying to size up the rooms new owner.
"Is the room to your liking, sir?" Dobby asked a little hesitantly.
"Yes, it's perfect," he replied.
"If there is anything Harry Potter doesn't like he should just tell Dobby and Dobby will make sure to change it, sir," Dobby said opening Harry's trunk and starting to put things away.
"No Dobby, the room is fine," Harry said crossing the room to help him unpack his things.
It didn't take long for Harry and Dobby to unpack. The whole time Dobby chatted endlessly about how glad he was that Harry was back. When they finished, Dobby said his goodbyes and left to go and help finish making dinner in the kitchens.
"If you need anything, sir, please be sure to ask." Dobby exited the room and Harry went to the bed and laid down. He looked at the clock hanging over his desk. It was 4:15 and he didn't know what time he would be summoned for dinner. He wondered where Ron and Hermione were and how they were doing. He supposed he'd have to wait until after dinner to get a chance for one on one conversation. He decided that he'd take a nap since he knew he'd probably be up half the night chatting with Ron and Hermione. Harry closed his eyes and before he knew it he was fast asleep.
A/N: All right, I really hoped that I'd have made it to the dinner before ending this chapter, but it's gone a lot longer than I thought it would. So everyone will have to wait for another day to get the dinner conversation. Zee, I hope you're excited to see our favorite caretaker still at Hogwarts! We haven't seen the twins yet, but they're coming soon, I promise! I know that I've spoiled you all with daily updates but I'm probably not going to be able to update again until at least Tuesday or Wednesday. I'm sorry about that, but if I can do it on Tuesday I will. Until then, review if you have time!