CHAPTER SIX – ALL ABOARD THE HOGWARTS EXPRESS!
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thanks to EVERYONE who has reviewed for this story. I'm at 46 reviews right now. I never thought I'd get that much. LOL, I just started this fic to entertain myself and suddenly all you guys are reading it. So big ups to everyone for reviewing. I appreciate all of them. So check out the 'Review Responses' section for my replies to every review. Sorry it took so long for this chapter to get out, but I was stuck on ideas. But I have worked out something for a Draco/Harry thing that I'm pretty sure everyone will like. I've been emailing my friend Teila (who was completely against a friendship) for a couple of days, and she likes the idea, so hopefully you all will too.
I know that some of you will be thinking to yourselves, "Why would Lucius do that?" (I'm not going to say what, because it'll ruin the little suspense I have in the chapter). But it will all be explained in a future chapter. And in case you forget, I'll leave a reminder for you in the Author's Note. I know that I said I would address the whole 'Harry not sticking up for his friends in Diagon Alley,' but the scene just kinda naturally drifted away from that confrontation. So let's just pretend that they forgave and forgot, ok?
***
Harry found himself standing in blackness. There was no light anywhere he turned his head. "HELLO!" he yelled into the black chasm. He moved his feet and felt that he was definitely standing on solid ground. "Where am I?" he pondered as he moved. A feeling of fear and dread overcame him. "Is anyone there!" he yelled. Silence.
Just as he was about to yell again, colors flew through the air. Gusts of wind knocked Harry back as the colors began to form objects. Harry was thrown to his feet as a gold dagger flew over his head and collided with a brown shield to form a giant oak door with a golden handle. Harry looked around and noticed that all of the colors were combining to form a room, a rather large and luxurious room to be precise.
And just as fast as the colors appeared, they also vanished. Harry stood up from his seat on the stone floor and looked around the room. He was in a dining hall almost the size of the one found in Hogwarts. There were candles everywhere illuminating the beautiful hall. There were emerald green banners with silver trimmings hanging from the walls. There were numerous large paintings hanging as well. Directly in front of Harry was a large wooden table covered in what smelt like delicious food. Sitting at the table were three figures that Harry couldn't exactly make out. He could tell that two were an adult man and woman, and that the third was another man, though he was smaller than the adult. The all sat in silence; that is to say, Harry heard no noise other than the music of a mournful violin in the background.
Then suddenly there came an explosion from the wall opposite of Harry. Stones from the wall flew everywhere. He looked to his left and heard a scream from a woman in
one of the paintings on the wall as a stone flew straight at her. Once the stone hit it, the canvas and frame came crashing down to the floor. Harry could see blood pouring from the woman's head. "Even paintings could die," Harry supposed.
He looked back to the three sitting at the table. The woman and the younger man got up from their seats and stood behind the table in front of Harry. The other man merely sat still in his seat. Harry could see the woman trembling as she coward behind the younger man.
Harry watched as twenty dark hooded figures walked into the room. Harry could feel the evil they radiated. The man still sat in his chair and watched as these figures walked calmly into the room. The violin music had at stopped long ago and the room was filled with nothing but silence.
"What are you doing here Avery?" the man snarled at the hooded figure apparently named Avery.
"I should as you the same question. Please, enlighten an old friend. What possessed you to go to the Ministry when we were all set free? How could you be such an idiot as to…" but Avery never finished his sentence before the now standing man slapped him in the face and grabbed his robe's collar.
"Don't you dare lecture me on desertion you pathetic excuse for a Death Eater. You of all people should understand my actions. As you were the one who went to Dumbledore weeping like a woman after a mere child defeated your Lord. So do not think yourself mightier than I."
The man named Avery screamed like an animal and pushed the standing man back. He pointed his finger at the man and growled like a lion. "Don't you dare think yourself holier than anyone else in this room. No one forced you to wear these black robes or to take that serpent on your arm. You chose them on your own free will, so do not look down upon anyone other than yourself." He stood there with his finger pointed at the standing man. Avery's body rose and fell slightly from his heavy breathing. It appeared to Harry that he might explode. Avery spoke quietly, but clearly, "Take him." The other hooded figures immediately circled the standing man and grabbed him from behind. The man kicked and yelled at the figures to not touch him. Avery nodded his head at one of the figures. The figure then pulled out a dagger and in one movement separated the man's hand from his arm. Harry watched as the man barely flinched at the pain. Harry looked into the man's silver eyes and saw the pain in them, but also the determination. The man would not give the hooded figures the pleasure to hear him scream.
The woman behind the younger man screamed when she saw the limp hand fall t the ground. Avery gave another nod and all but five left the standing man as they moved to take his wife and son. The woman kicked and screamed as the figures took her in their arms and held her down. The younger man was more effective than the woman. He took out a wand and successfully took down three figures before he was also bound in their arms.
"Now do you realize your mistake? You betrayed the Master, and now you and your family will pay." Harry couldn't see, but he was sure that there was an evil smile behind that black mask. But Harry was once again distracted from the scene in front of him, as was everyone else, when he heard another explosion. The second explosion seemed as though it was far away, though still near the room. The standing man smiled broadly at the man he called Avery.
"Same old stupid Avery. You always were rash weren't you? You never stopped to think that I might have a trump card in my hand, did you?" the standing man sneered at the figures holding him. "That explosion was the Ministry. I estimate that they will be entering this room in less than one minute. And as you all know, the manor has anti-apparation wards surrounding it. If you do not vacate immediately, then you will surely be caught." The man looked directly at Avery and smirked a familiar smirk to Harry. "Checkmate" he sneered at the hooded figure.
The hooded figure turned his head to the left and right as if looking for something or someone. A feeble, "Master?" came from his lips. Then suddenly it felt as if Harry were being stabbed in his forehead. He dropped down to his knees as the invisible knives kept thrusting themselves into his forehead. His vision was even more blurred when he looked up and saw another dark figure. Even though Harry couldn't make out the exact shape of the figure, he knew who it was.
"Voldemort." The whisper came from Harry's mouth as he looked up at the creature.
"You are quite right in your mathematics," Voldemort hissed at the standing man. The once confident look on the man's face slowly became one of fear. "Though one minute is not enough time for torture, it does allow enough time for your death." Voldemort lifted his wand and a jet of green light erupted from the tip. It struck the man squarely in the chest. The standing man was thrown back into the figures that were holding him and the group fell to the floor. Voldemort then turned to the wife of the man. The woman was shaking, screaming, and crying all at once. "Quit your incessant cries woman" Voldemort spat at her. She screamed out once again and broke free of the figures holding her. She ran over to the younger man and stepped in front of him, shielding him from Voldemort.
"Leave my son alone. He has done nothing to you!" the woman shouted.
Harry heard Voldemort chuckle as the woman's dead body fell to the floor. "His father has refused my name. Therefore, he shall die as well whore." Voldemort said as he was kneeling next to the woman's dead body.
Just as Voldemort turned towards the younger man, Harry saw numerous figures enter the room from the hole in the wall. Harry assumed it was the Aurors that the standing man had talked of. Voldemort looked in annoyance at the Aurors. He hissed at the Death Eaters. "Finish off the boy!" and in a wave of his cloak, he had vanished.
The 'boy' as he was addressed, was forgotten in the battle as all of the cloaked figures ran from the room. The boy remained standing where his captures had left him. He looked down at his dead parents lying on the ground. An Auror came to the boy and tried to comfort him.
"It's okay to cry son," the man said as he rubbed the boy's back.
The boy jerked himself away from the Auror. "I will not cry" he said in a cold voice.
Harry looked at the destructiveness of Voldemort and how he managed to separate another boy from his parents. Harry looked at the man that had refused to let the evil figures have the satisfaction of his death. Harry looked at the dead wife and mother on the ground. The wife that had wept for her dead husband, the mother that had tried to save her son and shield him with her own flesh and blood.
Harry's heart went out to the boy that stood there. The boy was he. The man and the woman lying on the floor were James and Lily Potter. The family was his, yet it wasn't. Though the murder was still the same.
Harry watched as the colors once again leapt from their spots in the room and swam through the air. The boy became a pale gold sword as he disappeared. Harry was once again standing in a room of darkness.
***
Harry sat up in his bed at Number Four Private Drive. He looked to his left and saw his reflection in the mirror. The blurred face of the boy in his dream stared back at him. Harry instinctively moved back from the mirror and blinked his eyes. He looked again and saw the face of Harry Potter staring back at him. Harry let out a sigh of relief and muttered something about eating too much McDonalds. Harry's head hit the pillow again for the second time that night, though dreams would not plague the rest of his slumber.
Hours and many miles away, wizards and witches woke up and received their morning mail. Though as soon as their eyes caught the morning headline, the papers flew to the floor. A picture of two tombstones sat under the headline:
"Malfoy Manor Attacked: Another Parentless Boy Left Behind"
***
Harry awoke early on the morning of September the first. He looked over at his alarm clock and saw that it was six in the morning. He jumped out of his bed and walked over to his closet. He grabbed a pair of black athletic shorts and a simple white short-sleeved shirt. He quickly changed out of his pajamas into the clothes for his morning jog.
Harry had continued his routine of going out to jog as soon as he got up. He was determined to not be the scrawny child he once was. After his jog he would come back to the house and eat his breakfast, which he followed with homework or extra reading. Then he would make lunch, and once again jog over to the local weight lifting center. He had bought a month's membership with his left over money and was working out five times a week. Harry would then jog back to his house and take another shower before making himself dinner and then heading back to his room for more extra reading.
Harry had bought extra books at the bookstore in Diagon Alley on defensive and offensive hexes, charms, and spells. He knew that he would one day have to face Voldemort without Dumbledore there to protect him, and he was determined to be ready for it. Since Harry was not with the Weasleys during the summer, he really had nothing else to do but read and study his books. Harry had already gone through all of the schoolbooks and worked out all of the charms and spells he would have to know for Transfiguration and Charms. He had also mentally worked out most of the potions that were in his potions book.
Harry smiled to himself as he thought how Hermione would react when he raised his hand before her in the classroom. He was rounding his last corner and saw Number Four come into view. Harry walked into the silent house and made his way to his room to grab some clothes to change into before he headed over to the bathroom to take a shower.
By the time Harry was done showering and ready to go, it was ten minutes to eight. Harry walked into his room and grabbed his messenger bag from his desk and sat down next to his trunk. He had organized it the previous night and put all of his school supplies and most of his clothes in it. The only clothes that were left were the ones he wore on his jog and the ones he was wearing after he changed. Harry opened up the bag as wide as he could and placed it on the corner of the trunk. The trunk was slowly shrinking and being sucked into the bag. This was a function that Harry had discovered the other day when he left the bag lying on his desk. After Harry came back into the room a few minutes later, he found his desk inside the bag. Harry looked over his shoulder at the empty birdcage. He hadn't seen Hedwig in a month and he missed her. He had sent the other owl with her last message to Hogwarts the previous night.
Harry walked over and placed the bag under the birdcage as he pushed it into the bag. He then turned around to survey his room so as to not forget anything. As he put his bag across his shoulder, Harry heard the doorbell ring. He slowly made his way down the steps towards the door. When Harry opened the door, an elderly man who was dressed in black robes greeted him. Harry immediately reached for his wand in his picket when he saw the black robes, but then put the thought away when he saw the ministry crest sewn onto the robes. Harry turned around and shut the door behind. A second later Harry was once again facing the man with one of the man's wrists in his hand and his wand pointing at the man in his other. "What are you doing?" Harry asked the man through narrow eyes.
"I was just going to ask if you had any bags that you wanted me to get. You might as well put that wand away son, or else you'll get in trouble for using magic. Using magic in a muggle neighborhood at that as well. We can't be letting these muggles know about our world," the old man lectured Harry.
Apparently the man didn't recognize him, as he was lecturing Harry rather than ogling at him and his scar. Harry sneered at the man as he let go of his arm and walked towards the car. "You should have thought of that before you wore robes in a muggle neighborhood" Harry called over his shoulder as he got into the limousine. The old man grumbled about brats as he walked back to the car and began driving away.
Harry laughed to himself when he heard the man complaining about him from the driver's seat. The drive to the train station was uneventful for Harry. He watched as houses turned into buildings. Then buildings turned into fields of grass and farmland. Finally they arrived at the train station.
The Weasleys pulled into the parking lot of the train station. "Mum, do you suppose that Harry is already here or on his way?" Ron asked his mother. Mrs. Weasley stood leaning over her only daughter Ginny when her son asked her the question. She straightened up and turned around to glare at her sons. Ron jumped in surprise.
"For the last time Ronald Weasley, I do not know! All I know is that Professor Dumbledore made arrangements for Harry to get to the train stations. I'm sorry I left my crystal ball at home!" she screamed. Ron merely nodded and grabbed his trunk from the boot of the car. Ginny left to grab a cart for everyone. Ron turned to Hermione.
"How do you think Harry is? After everything that went on last year?" Ron asked her. Hermione sighed and looked at Ron. "I mean, Sirius is…well, he's gone. And he was all Harry had." Ron put his head down. Hermione reached over and wrapped her arms around him.
"He still has us, unless you stopped being friends with him without telling me," Hermione said as she placed a soft kiss on his cheek. Ron's ears turned apple red at her display of affection.
Ron's head went from left to right making sure no one saw them. "Hermione," Ron choked out, "what if my mum saw us!" Hermione just laughed at her boyfriend.
"It's not her I'm worried about," she said as she looked around her surroundings for any sign of a mess of black hair. "Oh, here comes Ginny" Hermione said as she smiled at her boyfriend and patted her trunk. "Thank you," she said in a singsong voice as she moved to talk to the women in the mess of red hair.
"Hermione please, next time you feel like you have to show my brother you care about him, how about you give him a firm handshake." Hermione had a mock angered expression on her face as she playfully hit Ginny on her shoulder. "I'm quite tired of watching you two snog all summer." Hermione placed her hands on her hips as she used her perfect impression of Prof. McGonagall. Ginny merely laughed at her friend.
"Please Hermione, that look might scare Harry and my whipped brother, but it doesn't have any effect on me," Ginny said sweetly. Hermione laughed at the response and yelled back at Ron to hurry with her trunk. Ron could be heard muttering under his breath as he pulled the three trunks on a cart and pushed it over to the two girls.
"You know, feel free to help me out anytime you want," Ron said as he rubbed his back. He glared at his sister and friend turned girlfriend.
"Aww, but you look so cute doing it," Hermione cooed.
"Really?" Ron said hopefully.
"Sure, keep saying that to yourself," Hermione said as she pat him on the stomach. The three moved to walk into the station when a black limo pulled up to the curb in front of them. The three watched as a driver got out and went to open the door for the passenger.
"Blimey, you suppose Malfoy felt the need to show everyone how rich he was this year? I mean just because—" Ron began before Ginny hit him over the head.
"That is going too far Ron," she reprimanded her brother. The three stood there watching as the driver opened the door. A tell muscular raven-haired boy stepped out from the vehicle. He had semi long hair that covered his forehead and ears. He was very attractive looking with his perfect hair and nice clothes. He was wearing a black button down shirt casually; it was not tucked in, the top couple of buttons hung open, and his cuffs were folded up. He wore dark faded jeans and black shoes. He had on an obviously expensive silver and green watch that matched his sparkling emerald eyes. He carried a black leather back across his shoulder and chest. The boy stood there looking around. He turned and looked at the three friends. Ginny held her breath for a second. The boy's eyes locked with hers and held them, then his eyes traveled over her body.
She raised her eyebrows at him suggestively. The boy in turn also raised his eyebrows, but he did it out of surprise. Ginny rolled her eyes at him and turned to her friends. Ron was the next to meet eyes with the boy. The two held eye contact for a minute before Ron turned away scowling. "Damn Slytherins," Ron mumbled as he caught sight of the green and silver watch the boy was wearing. He put his arm around Hermione's waist protectively.
Hermione stared at the boy curiously. She couldn't help but think that she had seen him somewhere before. Ron looked at his girlfriend staring at another boy. "Why don't you take a picture Hermione, I'm sure he wouldn't mind," Ron sneered at her.
"Don't go acting like a jealous boyfriend Ronald Weasley. I am only interested in you," she said as she turned to him and poked him in the stomach. "He just looks really familiar. Like I've seen him somewhere before." The two turned back to the boy who was still staring at the two. Ron glared at the boy.
"Oi! Why don't you take a picture mate! And stop staring!" Ron flashed a superficial smile at the boy. The boy looked surprised as he turned and walked away.
"Great going," Ginny said sarcastically. "You scared away the cute boy."
"Since when did you come out of that shy shell of yours?" Ron asked his little sister.
"Oh probably around the time you and Hermione snogged in my room for twenty minutes?" Ginny said sweetly as she ducked to dodge Hermione's arm swinging at her. "Hey, I have an idea," Ginny said as she grabbed hold of Hermione's arms and started pulling her towards the station, "let's see if we can get some seats on the train before we get stuck next to Draco Malfoy." The two girls began walking to the station with Ron grumbling behind the two pushing the luggage cart.
The driver opened the door as Harry stepped out of the car. He looked around at his surroundings. The building looked smaller every year he thought as he grabbed his bag and pulled the strap over his shoulder and across his chest. He turned around when he felt eyes staring at him. To his surprise, there stood three members of Dumbledore's Army. "Dumbledore's Army, what a joke," Harry thought to himself as he looked at the three figures.
The first that really caught his eye was the beautiful red head next to Hermione. "That's Ginny?" Harry thought as he looked at the girl. She definitely did change over the summer. She stood there wearing a simple pair of tight jeans and a tight white shirt that read 'Hogwarts or Bust' in red letters. Harry smiled when he saw the 'W3' under the writing. Apparently Fred and George had expanded their merchandise. As his eyes roamed over her body, he say Ginny raise her eyebrows at him suggestively. Harry was surprised by her actions. "She's changed more than her wardrobe over the summer" Harry thought as he looked at her. Then what she did next blew his mind. She rolled her eyes at him and turned her attention back to Ron and Hermione. Ginny had never rolled her eyes at him before. She used to worship the ground he walked on. "I guess I'm not the only one who's changed."
Harry then looked at Ron. But when their eyes met, Harry was not greeted by a smile; he was greeted by a glare. Harry was not one to back down to anyone, so he met the glare ten times more powerful than Ron could ever hope to accomplish. Ron quickly turned away from him and protectively put his arm around Hermione's waist. This surprised Harry. Granted, Harry felt that he was close to Hermione, but he wouldn't put his arm around her waist and pull her close to his body, that was something a boyfriend would do.
Harry saw Hermione staring at him. He became uncomfortable when her gaze did not move after a minute. She turned to talk to Ron, and then Ron yelled some remarks to Harry, which caught him completely off guard. Harry turned around and walked away. "That wanker better apologize later. I can't believe they didn't recognize me," he thought.
When Harry stepped on the other side of the barrier, the sight of crowds of people standing on the platform met him. Harry walked around looking for a friendly face. All the people he met were either girls flirting with him, or boys that he never talked to or thought of him as a liar and attention seeker the previous year after the Daily Prophet article came out. Harry walked over to a pillar and leaned against in waiting for Ron, Hermione, and Ginny to come through the barrier.
"…don't know his last name. All I know is that his name is Ethan. We took on the Weasel and Mudblood together. He's supposed to be here. He was home schooled, but he convinced his parents to let him come to Hogwarts" Harry heard from behind the pillar he was leaning on. A smile spread across his face. Malfoy genuinely thought that Ethan was a real Hogwarts student.
"I can have some fun with this," Harry thought as he turned around and walked to the other side of the pillar. "Waiting for me Malfoy?" Harry asked sinisterly.
Malfoy looked up from his group of friends and stared at Harry. "Who in the bloody hell are you?" Malfoy sneered at him.
"Take a closer look Sherlock" Harry sneered back.
Malfoy moved closer and squinted his eyes. "Ethan, you charmed your hair. What caused the change? Though I must say the new look suits you" Draco smiled and walked over to Harry and held out his hand.
Harry only looked at the hand and smiled broadly. "Correct, but take a closer look Malfoy" Harry said his name almost as if it were an insult to his tongue. Malfoy looked at Harry confused as if he thought he was playing a joke. Harry let out a deep chuckle and drew back the hair that was covering his forehead. Malfoy's confused look turned into one of anger and hatred.
"You bloody bastard," Malfoy hissed at him.
"Oh come now Malfoy, I thought we were friends?" Harry mocked him. "You said you would show me around school and give me tips on who I should associate myself with. Don't tell me that a little scar will get in the way of that," Harry said as he gave Malfoy a fake puppy dog look.
"Oh, believe me Potter, a lot more than a hideous scar is in between the two of us." If looks could kill, Harry supposed that he would be dead ten times over. But luckily for Harry, he was now used to Draco's death glares. He merely looked back at Draco with a look of indifference. This caused Draco's milky pale skin to turn ever so slightly pink at the boy's action.
Harry knew what he was doing, and he was certainly having fun. "Why did I ever think I wanted to be friends with this guy?" Harry thought as he looked at the other boy. Harry didn't know much about the boy in front of him, but in all his years at Hogwarts, Harry knew enough to know that only one thing was important to a Malfoy; their pride. And Harry had just taken that pride, dressed it in a woman's dress, paraded it in front of the sixth year Slytherins, and waved it in front of Draco's face teasingly.
Draco raised his wand and pointed it at Harry's neck. "Apparently you forgot my little promise to you last year Potter," he spat. "But I never forget."
Harry merely rolled his eyes and looked back at the boy. "How elephant-like of you. Put that wand away Malfoy, unless you truly hate Hogwarts and do not wish to attend this year. You think you can hex the Boy Who Lived outside of school and get away with it. Your father doesn't even have enough power to—" but before Harry could finish his sentence Draco pushed Harry so hard that he fell on the floor and jumped on top of him. Harry now had his back to the ground and Draco kneeling over him with his arm at Harry's through, and his wand at Harry's scar.
"Don't you dare speak of my father you pathetic excuse for a hero. My father is twice the man you'll ever wish to be. He put your muggle loving father to shame," Draco sneered at Harry. Now it was Harry's turn to retaliate. His emerald green eyes clouded over and became a dark green, almost black. He could feel untamed magic spread through his entire body as he flung Draco off of him. Draco flew into the air and hit the ground with his back. Harry picked up Draco's discarded wand and stood up. He looked at the Slytherins, daring any of them to interfere with his eyes. None of them attempted to even move from their place.
"Now you listen here Malfoy. I will say this once and only once." Harry said darkly. Everyone who heard him shivered in fear and took a step back. Even though Harry was not addressing them, the seriousness and anger in his voice was enough to scare even Hermione, Ron, and Ginny who had walked up to the group of people. "You will never mention my father or my mother again, do you understand me? You're not worthy to even speak their name" Harry snarled at Draco. He held up the wand that Draco had been holding. He balanced it between two fingers and then snapped it in half. "If you do, I'll break more than your wand." Harry stood up and turned to walk away, but he soon found himself falling to the floor again.
Draco had been furious with Harry's actions. "Who does this half-blood think he is?" Draco thought as Harry tried his best to cause Draco pain with his eyes. When Harry had stood up to leave, Draco swung his left leg under Harry's and kicked them out from under him. He watched as Harry fell to the ground once again before he jumped up and pounced on top of him once again. Their roles were now reversed.
"Now you listen here Potter. I'm going to say this once and only once. You hold neither the right nor the honor to speak my father's name or even mention him." Draco spoke with so much venom that the crowd around the two once again took a step back and held their breath. Everyone had seen Draco mad before, but this was a whole new level and anger, even for him. Raw magic could be felt in the air as it radiated from the two teenaged boys on the ground. "So unless you'd like to find yourself in thirty different pieces, I'd suggest you take your 'holier than thou' attitude and use it on someone else. I'm not blind to your arrogance Potter, now get out of my sight quickly," Draco then reached his hand back towards Pansy who was standing behind him. He snapped his fingers at her. The trembling girl reached into her pocket and pulled out her wand and handed it to the waiting hand. Draco then put the wand in front of Harry's face and snapped it in half with two fingers. "because if you don't, then I'll be breaking more than Pansy's wand next time."
Harry snorted a laugh at him. "Please, hurt me as much as you want, but please don't break Pansy's wand" Harry mocked. "Anything but that." Ron, Hermione and Ginny looked at Harry with amazement. First, he looked completely different. He was tall, muscular, and wearing clothes that looked to be expensive and they actually fit him nicely. The second thing was that Harry rarely ever stood up to Malfoy before. Harry always chose to just ignore the boy in the past. Ron was the one who always confront Malfoy with physical retaliation.
"It only seemed fair to break her wand when you broke some Gryffindor's wand in my face." Draco said simply. Harry stared at the boy for a few seconds before he burst out into laughter. The two stood up and glared at each other once more.
"Touché" Harry said before the two turned away and walked their separate directions. Harry stopped to pick up his bag that he had discarded right before Draco had pushed hi to the ground the first time.
Draco turned around and was met by the sight of a weeping Pansy. "Oh come on Pansy, pull yourself together. It was only a wand" he reprimanded her as he started another conversation with his group of Slytherins.
"Harry," Ron was gawking at his friend.
Harry turned his head and smiled at the boy. "Oh, so now you know who I am." Harry laughed at the expressions on his friend's face. He put his arm around their shoulders and led them onto the train. "Yeah, we've got a lot to catch up on. Oh, and hello to you Ginny," Harry called the last part of his shoulder.
"Hello yourself Harry Potter," Ginny called back. She giggled to herself when she saw the smirk that Harry had sent to her. She turned and walked over to her group of fifth year friends. "Did you see that? He smiled at me," she said before the entire group of girls started giggling and looking back at the retreating figures as they entered the train.
***
"So you're saying that you went to Gringotts and suddenly there was all this money in your vault?" Ron asked incredulously.
"Yeah, and it gets even weirder. It was deposited by Dumbledore himself" Harry said. Hermione sat back in her seat and got that look in her face that said she was thinking very hard.
"I wonder why Prof. Dumbledore gave you all that money," Hermione said.
"Are you serious?" Ron asked his two friends. They both looked at him with confused expressions. "Isn't it obvious why Harry suddenly got all this money from Dumbledore?" Ron asked. He looked at his two friends and he suddenly looked very smug. "Well, it looks like I've outsmarted my very beautiful girlfriend for once." As soon as he finished his sentence, both he and Hermione froze where they sat.
Harry arched an eyebrow at the two. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, I saw you two outside the train station. We'll talk about that later, but tell me what you think Ron."
Ron looked very nervous since he had blatantly announced his and Hermione's new relationship in front of his best friend. The two had planned to sit down with Harry and talk the matter over. They wanted him to be eased into the new situation. Instead Ron, in typical fashion, he accidentally blew the plan away and instead slammed Harry in the face with the news. "Uh, well I could be wrong—but I thought that it was probably S-Sirius' money. I'm guessing that Dumbledore took control of all of Sirius' money and property since old Black Manor is the Order's Headquarters. So I'm g-guessing that he gave you all of Sirius' money when he di—when he passed—when, well—" Ron sputtered the last part of his explanation.
"When Sirius died?" Harry asked him lazily. Ron nodded.
"Honestly Ron, dancing around the fact that Sirius isn't here anymore doesn't exactly help Harry's situation," Hermione scolded her boyfriend.
"Please Hermione, what exactly is my situation?" Harry asked in his best sweet voice.
"Well—that would—uh—you see—what I meant was," Hermione sputtered the same as Ron had.
"Yeah, that's what I thought. But that does make a lot of sense. I mean the manor did belong to Sirius since he was the last Black. The property should have gone to the Ministry to be auctioned off. I'll have to talk to Dumbledore when we get to school." Harry had said the last part to himself. He looked over at his two friends who were looking at him and each other nervously. "Oh come off it you two, grow up. You two are dating, I've been waiting years for this to happen. Just don't feel free to snog each other while I'm around." Ron and Hermione both sighed in relief. Ron smiled at his friend and Harry smiled back. "So Ron, is she a good kisser?" the two boys laughed.
Hermione shook her head and muttered a simple "Boys," under her breath. "wait Harry," Hermione began, "why were you and Malfoy fighting?" she asked.
Harry just rolled his eyes. "Long story. Do you two remember that boy that was standing next to Malfoy in 'Wonderfully Written'?" Harry asked his two friends. They both nodded affirmatively. "Well, that was me. And I just thought I'd have a little fun with him. Just a little teasing, then I mentioned his father and he went crazy. I don't know what's with him."
"Honestly Harry, don't you know?" Hermione asked him. Harry looked at her with a blank expression. Hermione sighed and reached into her bag and pulled out a Daily Prophet newspaper that was a month old. Harry scanned the headline and looked up at his two friends. They shook their heads. Harry went back to read the article. The description of what happened was extremely familiar to Harry.
"Why does this seem so familiar?" Harry wondered as he read. He began searching his mind for any recollection of what it might be. He got a headache and his scar began to hurt.
"You alright mate?" Ron asked when he saw his friend put a hand over his scar.
"Yeah, I'm fine, just a little headache." Harry shook his head and put the paper on the seat next to him. "Maybe I'm just making it up," he thought as he dismissed the thought that the article was familiar to him.
"So how was your summer Harry? You've certainly changed" Hermione said giving him a pointed look.
Harry blushed and laughed lightly. "Yeah, I guess I have changed." His two friends gave him a look that said 'that's an understatement.' "Well, I'm just tired of being pushed around. I know that in the past I've been really into being the hero and putting everyone else before myself. I guess it's just time for me to be a normal kid. I've always been a hero my entire life. I just want to be normal Harry Potter for once." Hermione and Ron nodded their agreement.
Suddenly the compartment door opened and Colin Creevey stepped in with his camera. He took a picture of Harry and blinded the boy. Harry let out an annoyed sigh as he tried to rub his vision back. "Harry, that was amazing what you did back there. No one else has ever been able to give it to Malfoy like that before. Finally showed him who's boss. I was just wondering, could you autograph—" but before he could finish his sentence, Harry had pushed him out of the compartment and closed the door. The trio heard a muffled "Nice to see you again Harry" from the other side of the door. Harry shook his head.
"Oh yeah, normal Harry Potter," Ron mocked. He laughed and ducked a pillow that flew at his head. Harry laughed as well and ducked when Ron threw the pillow back.
Hermione just shook her head and muttered to herself, "Boys."
***
The trio had spent the rest of the train ride talking and catching up with each other. Ron and Hermione explained how the two became an item. Hermione had come to stay at the Burrow for part of the summer.
"Yeah, so one day we were all playing Quidditch in the back yard one day. I somehow convinced Hermione to get on a broom and play Keeper. She just had to move a few feet to the left and right, no major flying. I thought it was safe and she could keep out of trouble," Ron smiled. Hermione hit him on the shoulder and he coiled away from her and let out an "Oww!" He rubbed his shoulder.
"Oh shut up you big baby," Hermione teased as she rubbed his shoulder and kissed him lightly on the cheek. Ron smiled and turned red as Harry rolled his eyes at the two. "Anyway, so I was playing Keeper when him, Ginny, Fred and George played Chasers. Bill was the other Keeper, he got a transfer to the Gringotts in Diagon Alley so he was staying at the Burrow until he found his own flat." Harry nodded and Hermione continued the story. "So as I was saying, I was the Keeper. It was me, Ron and Fred against everyone else. Well, Ginny had the Quaffle and was flying straight at me. I might have gotten excited and accidentally—" but she was cut off by Ron's hearty laugh.
"You might have gotten excited and accidentally did something? Please Hermione!" Ron exclaimed. Hermione stared at Ron and sent a death glare at him as she crossed her arms over her chest in annoyance. "So like I was saying, the teams were just like Mione said. So I'm doing a down right bloody good job as Chaser," Hermione let out a laugh at Ron's comment about himself, he looked at her and glared, "well I was! Anyway, so I'm flying down the pitch with the Quaffle when I thought I saw a Bludger coming at me, so I—" he was cut off once again by Hermione's laughter.
"A Bludger Ron?" Hermione asked. Ron once again glared at his girlfriend. "Let me tell you what really happened. After several attempts at stealing the Quaffle from his little sister, he finally gets it when she drops it after a Bludger is sent at her head. So Ron picks it up and screams like a little girl when he sees a cute little bird fly at least twenty feet in front of him." Harry laughed at his best friend's antics. Hermione turned and looked at her boyfriend lovingly. "It was a sweet little bird Ron, not a Bludger." Ron turned bright red.
"Well, since you've told him how I played, why don't I tell Harry how you played Dear." Hermione's smile faded and a scowl spread across her facial features. "So there's Hermione on her broom in front of the goals. She's sitting there for about five minutes not having to do anything. Finally Ginny gets to the other side of the pitch. She's flying straight at Hermione. Hermione at this point was spacing out and ignoring the game. She finally looks up and sees Ginny heading straight at her. Now this is the good part," Ron said trying to contain his laughter. Hermione was turning red and shooting death glares at both Ron and Harry who was now laughing lightly at her expression. "So Hermione looks up and sees Ginny flying straight at her. Oh, and I'm right on Ginny's tail at this point. So Hermione looks up and screams like a bloody banshee! She starts jerking around on her broom and just tips over to the left and is falling. So I have to go down to save her. I catch her, but since this is Hermione, she's still kicking and screaming. So now that he's on my broom, she kicks me and I accidentally let go of her and she falls straight into the bushes below us." Harry at this point had fallen off his seat and was on the floor rolling around in laughter. Ron had been telling the last part of his story in broken up phrases because after every three or so words, he would start laughing. Ron soon joined him as the two boys were lying on the floor and laughing hysterically.
"Well honestly," Hermione scolded, "it could happen to anyone." This caused the two to laugh even harder. "Boys," Hermione murmured again.
Neville Longbottom entered the compartment a few minutes later to find a laughing Harry and Ron on the floor and an extremely annoyed Hermione sitting on her seat above the two. "Did I come at a bad time?" Neville asked.
Ron's laugh subsided a little as he looked at Neville. "Oi, Neville, sit down. I've got a great story to tell you," Ron began before he was cut off.
"Don't you dare Ronald Weasley!" Hermione yelled. Harry and Ron laughed even more, and soon, Neville was laughing at the two boys on the floor. This caused Harry and Ron to laugh even harder and shake slightly. Neville then began laughing more at the sight of the two shaking on the ground. The cycle continued until all three boys were on the floor laughing and Hermione was on the other side of the door muttering, "Boys," as she walked down the train corridor to go find Ginny.
***
All right! One more chapter done! I hope you guys liked the ending. It was funny in my mind, but I don't know how it'll come across to you guys when you read it. As you noticed, I gave you a little Harry/Draco confrontation. So as I stated before, I've finally come up with an idea of how Harry and Draco will be in the future. Things will pretty much be like they were in this chapter for the most part.
I want to thank all of you guys for reviewing. I'm using as many suggestions from reviewers as I can. So keep those coming! Umm…to all of those Neville fans out there, he'll have a pretty prominent character in this fic, so cheers to you guys. I felt like at the end of book 5, he was sort of becoming this completely new Neville. So he'll be really different in this fic than in previous books, mostly because I think that this is his next level. The real Neville without all his insecurities and shyness. Also, I've decided who the new DAD teachers and Dueling teachers will be. And yes, I said DADA teacher'S'. I know someone asked that Tonks teach, and as I've said before, your wish is my command. She will be part of the teaching team at Hogwarts this year. Woohoo! Let's see, what else…Ron and Hermione are together. But don't worry, to those people who were against the idea, it wont be anything major. This isn't a Ron/Hermione ship fic, it's a Harry fic. And I tried to make their interactions be as little lovey dovey as possible. There's also a new and improved Ginny in this fic. Can I get an Amen!? She will be Harry's first conquest at Hogwarts I've decided, so stay tuned for that.
All right, here is the poll for this chapter:
1) What did you think of this chapter? I want feedback people! LOL
2) What other girls would you like Harry to hook up with?
3) Who would you like to see make the Quidditch team? I've got a rough idea on who I want, but I would definitely like some input on that.
4) What would you like to happen while Harry's at Hogwarts? I've got a rough outline of what will happen to him, but I could definitely use some ideas from you guys. So keep those coming.
5) What do you guys think of me including some of Harry's sex scenes in this story? Cause if I do, then I'll have to up the rating to R. is that OK? Or would you like some semi-sexual scenes? Or would you prefer no sex scenes period? Like them just going into his room and then they come out the next morning, leaving it to the imagination. Would they offend anyone? This is an important one.
I think that's about it. If you guys think of anything else, feel free to put that in your review. Once again major props everyone who has reviewed and continues to review. I love you guys. So keep em coming. Until next chapter. PEEEEEEEACE!
gotta B writin
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NEXT CHAPTER: Harry arrives at Hogwarts, gets his classes, has a run in with his favorite potions teacher, does a little flirting with young Ms. Weasley, and anything else you guys can think of.
