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Harry turned around as he heard his name being called.

"Harry!" shrieked Hermione Granger, as she walked fast towards Harry. She gave him a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"Hello 'Mione!" said Harry smiling at her.

"Don't call me 'Mione', Harry…" she said in a low voice.

"I bet you wouldn't mind if Ron called you that…" he answered in what was just a mutter, making Hermione blush profusely.

"And what is that supposed to mean?!" she asked as long as she regained her composure.

"Oh, nothing…" he answered in a sarcastic tone while rolling his eyes. "Where is Ron, anyways?"

"Oh… He's just looking for a compartment to settle in. Oh, never mind… there he comes" She pointed at the very tall figure that was exiting the train in that moment.

"Ron! Over here!!" Hermione called waving her hand towards her. Ron turned around and grinned when he saw both Harry and her. As soon as Ron walked over to Harry, they shook hands.

"Hello, Mate! Happy to go back to Hogwarts, I suppose." Ron said while ruffling his very red hair.

"You have no idea…" said Harry half-smiling.

"Did you find the compartment, Ron?" interrupted Hermione.

"Yes, I found a compartment on the back of the train, Mione." Hermione immediately blushed and Harry had to exercise a lot of self-control to prevent himself from laughing.

"See… I knew it." he said shaking his head and smiling. Hermione elbowed him hard on the ribs and he did his best to keep his laughter as a silent snicker.

"What?" asked Ron with a confused expression. Hermione quickly changed the subject.

"Anyways… why don't we go and get your things settled in, Harry?"

"Yes, Mio— Hermione…" He corrected himself when Hermione shot him a dangerous glare.

"Erm… what's going on with you two?" asked Ron furrowing his eyebrows while crossing his arms over his chest.

"Nothing mate… nothing at all." Harry shook his head. "Okay… let's just go."

Harry heard Hermione muttering "About time!"  before entering the train, but decide it to ignore it as they carried his trunk to a compartment on the very back of the train, followed closely by Lupin's vigilant gaze.

"Hey, why don't we go say 'bye' to my mum before the train leaves?" asked Ron after Lupin had helped them putting their trunks on the luggage rack.

"Sounds good to me!" said Harry smiling and Hermione nodded her head vigorously in agreement.

"Well, the train is about to leave," said Lupin after quickly examining an ancient looking timepiece that we withdrew from his cloak pocket. "You better hurry up then. " He motioned them to the door of the compartment and followed them out on to the platform, where Mrs. Weasley was talking animatedly with Tonks.

"-but you don't suppose?!" Mrs. Weasley was talking quickly and in a low voice. "Well, I was told that two of them are Americans and one is from Beauxba- Oh Harry dear! " they both turned around as they heard them approaching. "I thought I wasn't going to get a chance to see you before you left!" she continued while embracing him in one of her usual maternal hugs.

"Hello Mrs. Weasley!" said Harry smiling, yet blushing a bit. Just as they pulled away from the hug, he noticed a different person was pulling him into another, slighter forceful hug.

"Oh Harry!!" said Fred Weasley imitating his mom's voice and knocking the air out of Harry. " So glad to see you, darling!" he continued, faking sweetness and then ruffled Harry's hair making him blush.

Before he could do anything to avoid it, George Weasley was giving him another bone crushing 'hug'. All Harry could do was gasp.


"Oh my! He is no boy!! Will you just look at how grown up he looks!?" He said after he pulled away, clasping his hands in front of him, also adopting his mother's tone of voice and faking emotion.

"Honestly you two!" Said Mrs. Weasley steering Harry away from Fred and George's grasp; for which, he was very thankful.

"Hey when did you guys get here?" Asked Ron, who was snickering.

"Just Apparated here, lil' bro!" said George beaming at him. "Couldn't allow ourselves to not see you before you left!" he said sniffing and wiping away nonexistent tears from his eyes.

"Yeah… Our favorite little brother!!" said Fred giving him Ron a 'hug' as well.
Ron let out a muffled "Ger off!" and managed to pull him away. Fred pulled away and pinched Ron's cheek playfully.

"So, how's the store, boys?" Asked Hermione, who was standing next to an irritable looking Ron.

"Hermione! Sweet heart! Didn't see you there!" Fred shrieked, opening his arms wide as to hug her too. She backed away quickly putting her arms in front of her protectively.

"No! No… I'm okay… no need for 'hugging'… heh…" She laughed nervously and Fred lowered his arms to his sides, acting as if he was very offended.

"Well, Hermione! How rude is that?!" said George pointing an accusatory finger at her. Hermione raised an eyebrow and moved away from him.

Mrs. Weasley stepped in front of them. "Stop it you two!"

 "Oh well, your loss!" he said pouting exaggeratedly. He turned around as he heard his name being called from somewhere behind him.

"Fredders!!"  A slightly short, fair skinned girl waved at him enthusiastically from the entrance of the platform.  She had very straight brown hair that reached the middle of her back.  Harry remembered her to be a seventh year from Ravenclaw. 

"Rudders!!" 'Fredders' beamed and ran towards her, ambushing her in what he called 'a hug'.  The girl gasped rather loudly but blushed profusely as soon as he finally released her.  She clutched her sides and punched him playfully on the arm.  He grasped his arm dramatically and fell on his knees while the girl giggled at his overreaction.

Harry shook his head and turned towards the rest of the group, which was watching the 'show' rather amusedly.

"Oh… charming ickle love birds they are…" said George putting his hands together and contemplating the couple with faked emotion.

"For Merlin's beard! Will you two ever stop being so dramatic?!" asked Mrs. Weasley crossing her arms over her chest.

"Actually…"-George started but obviously, his mother didn't want to hear an answer.  

"Oh, forget about it!! The train is leaving anyti-" just when she said this a loud whistle came from the train. She turned around. "Oh never mind! Hurry up now Ron, Harry, Hermione!"

She hugged the three of them quickly.

"Now, take care… and keep out of trouble… and don't do anything stupid… and-"

"Its okay mum… we know…" said Ron cutting her off and rolling his eyes a bit. He gave her a final hug and entered the train with Hermione.

Lupin walked over to Harry and shook his hand. "Do try to take care of yourself, Harry."
"Don't worry; I will." Said Harry smiling at him. Lupin smiled back and bowed his head slightly.

The Hogwarts Express made a second and final whistling sound and started moving. Harry waved at the Weasley's, Tonks and Lupin and quickly boarded the train.