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Chapter Thirteen

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The remainder of the summer was spent in the cabin; Harry studying his school

books and Caliga lounging in the sun. Harry was surprised but he had memorised

his books and could now recite them if asked- he was quite happy about this.

He had been correct in his assumption the Caliga could, indeed, hunt for herself

but she usually kept to his side when the hunted.

The only odd thing about their stay in the small cabin was when Caliga had gotten

a green strip around the base of her tail. He now knew she was no ordinary cat

but he had never known of such a thing. Perhaps he could find something in the

library about it.

"Time to go, Caliga," he called as he was packing his trunk in front of the

fireplace. Moments later she came bounding into the room to come to a stop

behind his trunk. Opening his arms to her, she stepped forward and he scooped

her up. Putting some kindle onto the fire, he hugged her to his chest waiting for

the fire to start back up. Grabbing the Floo powder he spoke the words,

"Diagon Alley," grabbed his trunk and stepped into the fire. He clutched

Caliga tightly to himself as the grates blurred past and she didn't seem to like

this form of travel because she was sticking her sharp claws into his chest.

Stepping out of the hearth he put her down for a moment to brush her fur off

and to pat it down because it was raised. He vowed to never take her through

means of Floo powder unless it was absolutely necessary- her claws hurt!

Also brushing himself off, he looked around the dingy little pub; there were a

few wizards in the corner booth but that was all other than Tom behind the

bar. Suddenly, he was very relieved he had decided to come early, he hated

crowds. He was also glad he had disguised himself- and Caliga because of her

tail- he didn't want to be recognized. Picking Caliga up and tucking her into

his cloak to calm her, he picked his trunk up and walked to the exit. Walking

out into Muggle London he walked his way to King's Cross station.

When he arrived at the station, he walked through the barrier and went in

search to find himself a deserted compartment. This didn't prove to be

difficult because there were only a few over-excited first-years almost

bouncing off their seatsfrom fright when he slid open the door. Shaking his

head, he found one near the end of the train to his liking and stored his trunk.

Sitting down, he let Caliga out of his cloak and she curled up on his lap for a

long nap. Letting off his disguise and Harry continued to pet her until, he too,

fell into a peaceful sleep.

When Harry next awoke he was looking into a pair of blue eyes. Looking up

it was glaringly obvious who this person was. Ron Weasley, his best friend.

His friend with horrendously bad breath! Turning his head, he coughed into

his hand and wheezed, "Shit Ron, have you ever heard of a mint?!"

Someone gasped and others laughed from behind him as Ron turned a dark

shade of red from embarrassment. Then an all too familiar voice exclaimed,

"Harry James Potter, you kiss your mother with that mouth?" Her eyes then

widened and she slapped a hand over her mouth as the others went quiet.

She must use it so much on Ron she must not even realize she's doing it, he

mused. Then he thought he had better answer before Hermione

hyperventalated, which she looked like she could at any moment.

He smiled good-naturedly and asked, "What other mouth would I use?" He

said that as if his mother were alive to kiss and his friends looked as though

he had grown a second head. He checked to make sure, which made their faces

look at him even more perplexed. "Well, sit down," he told them, then asked,

"Were you waiting for an invitation." Neville, Luna, Ginny and Ron seated

themselves but Hermione just continued to stand there, a horrified expression

on her face. "I guess she was," he muttered to himself, then said to Hermione,

"Really, it's fine Hermione." She smiled at him and sat down but she stayed

strangely quiet. Then he started to wonder why they weren't in the prefects

compartment but one look out at the scenery passing by answered his question.

It was almost dusk and there was no sign of civilization outside the train to

say they were at all close to the city.

The rest of the train trip was spent playing wizars chess, exploding snape and

some invention of the twins, which he had wisely declined to play, somehow

sensing the intent behind the game. His senses were proved right when Ron and

Neville were dyed purple with yellow poka dots. Hermione merely groaned and

performed the countercurse without being asked. He and Ginny had laughed

when it didn't work. This much didn't surprise Harry, of course the twins

would know Hermione was with them and would know how to take it off- they must

have made it permanent somehow.

About an hour later, when they left to get their school robes on, the prank wore

off making Ron happy and Neville sighed in relief- he probably didn't want a

Howler from his Grandmum about this.

Harry decided to keep his new Muggle clothes on and just put on his school robe

overtop, it's not like anyone would notice. Plus, he was really becoming attached

to his new outfit.

When the time came to go out to the horseless carriages they still hadn't had

their yearly confrontation with Draco. He was relieved because he needed to

speak with his about how they were to act. They would most likely treat each

other as they normally did, only now they would mean it.

Smiling at the Thestrals as they climbed into the carriage, Harry saw Hermione

giving him an odd look but she quickly turned it into a smile as she saw he

might see her. Smiling back at her he wondered what this was all about. Then

the answer came to him, she was wondering why he wasn't depressed about

Sirius or even sad when she had mentioned his parents. Oh well, he would let

her draw her own conclusions and he was betting she did.

Now there came the matter of explaining his disappearance from Privet Drive.

They obviously hadn't informed his friends or they would've been trying to pry

answers out of him already. He fingered the letter in his pocket he had made

for that occasion but now he would use it with the old professor. He just hoped

to whatever gods were out there that this worked.

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Sorry I haven't updated in so long but last Thursday my computer just stopped

working and we took it to future shop. Then there's a five day wait! I was like

oh no, I'm going to die. But I didn't and we got it back on Tuesday and here I am

on Thursday, well technically Friday but I started writing this yesterday.

Review Response: I would like to thank everyone for their reviews and I have to

say I agree that the end of the last chapter was quite lame. lol.

(Oh yea, this is not beta-ed, I lost my beta's e-mail so if your out there e-mail me,

and I don't even have spell check, I still have to install microsoft works.)

Review Please and tell me what you think!