Chapter 6:

To the Hogwart's Express.

Harry spent the last week and a half of the summer meditating and goofing around with Ron, Hermione, and Ginny. Ron and Hermione had apologized over and over again for ignoring him. Ginny had thanked him over and over again for saving her life. There was one final Order meeting before the trip to King's Cross. It was to discuss the defense plan.

Harry jumped right in, "First question, who's going to be there."

Dumbledore smiled, "You don't waste any time, Harry. Kingsley, report."

Kingsley Shackleboat stood up, "Okay, we have been trying to approach a few people outside of the Order to help us. We don't want to make a full Ministry action out of it because the Death Eaters would get wind of it. Outside of the Order, Dawlish, Adams, and Amos Diggory are going to be there. From the Order, myself, Tonks, Alastor, and Sturgis are going to be waiting in the station with the other three. Remus, Arthur, and Molly are going to be traveling with Harry and the others. I understand that Professor Dumbledore is going to have professors stationed on the train to protect the students. I just don't think we've got enough people for this."

Harry shook his head, "No, anymore, and they would just break off the attack and flee. We've got to make it seem like an even match-up. I expect there to be eight to ten Death Eaters at the most. Voldemort isn't going to be willing to risk more than that. They won't attack until they see me. So, the key is going to be making sure that the other students are on the train. With Amos, and the other two Aurors, there will be ten of us. It should work. Professor Dumbledore, we need the boarding whistle for the train to go off ten minutes early. That way we can insure that most of the students will be out of the way. The few stragglers will get on when curses start flying."

Dumbledore nodded, "I understand. However, I don't like putting the students in danger, Harry."

Harry looked stricken, "Do you think I do, Professor? I hate this, but the attack is going to come, and I would rather have it now when we are at least ready for it."

Dumbledore smiled, "I know, Harry, I know."

Molly asked, "What did you mean by there will be ten of us, Harry?"

"Dawlish, Adams, Diggory, Remus, Kingsley, Sturgis, Moody, Arthur, Nymphadora, and me."

"I know you did not just call me Nymphadora, Potter."

Harry grinned mischievously, "Sorry, Tonks, but I just couldn't resist a tension breaker." Harry continued to smile impishly at Tonks while she waved a fist at him.

Molly inserted, "I believe, I make eleven."

Harry shook his head, "You won't be in the fight, Molly. You have a much more important job."

Molly looked at him in surprise, "What is that?"

"Getting Ginny, Ron, and Hermione onto that train and keeping them there. If I know those three, they will fight tooth and nail to get to me. I don't want them hurt."

Molly smiled, "I understand, Harry, but we don't want you hurt either."

"I know, but I don't have a choice but to be involved. If I'm not there Voldemort will think me a coward, and then the whole plan comes crashing down around our heads."

Molly began to cry slightly, "But, what if you die, Harry?"

Harry snorted, "Don't worry, I have no intention of making Ginny a widow before I even propose marriage to her."

The entire room looked at him in shock. Harry paused and then flushed red when he realized what he had just said, "I, er, that didn't come out right."

Lupin smiled, "No, Harry, I think that came out just perfect."

Harry blushed even deeper and then said, "Never mind. Back to the subject at hand. The Death Eaters won't make their move until they see me. We will intentionally arrive at the last minute so as to avoid the other students. The way I see it, it's the best we can do."

Dumbledore stood and laid a hand on Harry's shoulder, "It isn't easy to have the weight of the world on your shoulders?"

Harry shook his head mournfully, "No, its not, but it's a burden that I am willing to carry. Not that I have a choice in the matter."

Alastor spoke up, "Just remember, Potter, you don't have to carry the burden alone."

"If I thought that, Moody, I would have already been crushed."

"Why don't you go ahead and go to bed, Harry. You have a long day ahead of you tomorrow."

Harry shook his head, "Why is it that I get the feeling that I'm going to be spending some quality time with Madam Pomfrey before tomorrow is over?" said Harry ruefully before heading up the stairs to bed.

The next morning while everyone was getting ready. Harry cornered the other three teenagers in the kitchen. "Today, when we get to Platform 9 3/4, something is going to happen, and I expect the three of you to keep your heads down, and obey orders immediately and without question."

Ron asked peevishly, "And if we don't?"

Harry whipped out his wand and leveled at Ron's nose, "I stun everyone of you right here, and you get to wonder what's going on instead of actually knowing. Your choice."

Ron and Ginny nodded, but Hermione asked, "If we're following orders, what are you going to be doing?"

"Something you will consider idiotic, I am sure." Harry replied evasively.

Hermione continued, "What are you going to be doing?"

Harry held up his hand, "You'll see. Just remember what I said. You have to do as you are told and get on that train. I want your word that no matter what happens, that all three of you are going to get on that train."

Hermione nodded, "We will, Harry."

He spun around, "Let's go then."

The group arrived at King's Cross with barely a minute to spare. They all rushed towards the barrier. Harry stopped and drew his wand. So did, Remus and Arthur. Harry turned, "Molly, take Ron, Hermione, and Ginny first. We'll be just behind."

Ginny grabbed Harry in a hug. "Harry, you be careful."

Harry smiled down at her, "I will. Don't worry."

The three teenagers and Molly disappeared through the barrier onto Platform 9 ¾. Lupin turned to Harry, "Are you ready?"

Harry nodded, "Let's do this."

The three of them stepped through the barrier quickly. As soon as Harry stepped onto the platform, there was the distinctive pop of Apparating wizards. There were ten of them decked out in their black robes and masks. The Death Eaters had barely sprung into being when there were curses flying in every direction. Harry tipped over his trolley and trunk and took cover behind it. He then started hurling hexes at the Death Eaters. He quickly assessed where everyone was. Lupin was squatted down directly beside him. Arthur was staying behind cover in the archway and occasionally popping out to fire off a curse before ducking back. Harry jumped and dropped one of the Death Eaters with a Full Body Bind just as Mad-Eye caught another one with a stunner. That left the odds at ten to eight. Check that, nine to eight, as Harry saw Adams go down to four stunners simultaneously. Dawlish managed to pick off another one. Harry leaned over towards Lupin, "This is going rather well, but we've got to end it quicker, or someone's going to get hurt. I'm going to try and get up to where Tonks and Kingsley are. Cover me." Then, Harry jumped and ran to one of the wall sconces while hurling Disarming Charms at the Death Eaters. Once he ducked behind cover, he noticed that Diggory and Dawlish had dropped another Death Eater. He leaned and then had to jerk back to dodge a stunner. "Damn." Harry mumbled under his breath as he saw Kingsley go down. That left Tonks two on one. Two of the remaining Death Eaters were dueling Amos Diggory and Dawlish. The other two were keeping Lupin, Sturgis, and Mr. Weasley pinned down behind cover. That left Harry open to try something. He looked around, "Where the hell is Mad-Eye?" Then, he noticed him down too. Harry sent a Reductor Curse at the two Death Eaters hammering away at Arthur, Sturgis, and Remus. They leapt aside as the trolley exploded and Sturgis caught one of them with a stunning spell, while Lupin got the other with a body bind.

"Avada" Harry spun and leapt at Tonks. "Kedavra." Harry just managed to knock her clear and the familiar bolt of green light bounced harmlessly off the wall. "Stupefy." Harry managed to catch one of her two attackers with the spell. The other one whipped his wand around and said, "Explodra." Harry shoved Tonks out of the way as the spell hit and he was catapulted into the air from the explosion. He hit the ground with a loud thud. He rolled and then countered, "Petrificus Totalus." and dropped the Death Eater in his tracks. He managed to lean his head and glance to see that the others had made short work of the remaining two Death Eaters.

Tonks cradled his head in her lap as Aurors began popping onto the platform with medi-witches to clean up the mess. Dumbledore appeared beside her. "Is he okay, Tonks?"

She looked up teary eyed, "He saved my life. I don't know. He got hit point blank with an Explosion Hex."

Dumbledore picked up a rock and muttered, "Portus. Here, take this Portkey. I told Madam Pomfrey to stand ready to receive Harry. I figured he would do something dangerous."

Tonks grabbed the Portkey and placed Harry's finger on it then tapped it with her wand. They appeared right in the middle of Hogwart's hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey bustled over to Tonks. "Help me get him onto a bed. This boy seems determined to make me have a heart attack."

Tonks smiled, "He can do that."

Amidst all of the confusion that occurred when the Death Eaters arrived, no one really noticed that the train had actually left. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny stood with Mrs. Weasley as long as they could see what was going on. Ron was ashen faced, while the two girls had tears in their eyes. Hermione kept repeating, "We need to help him. We need to help him."

Ron looked at his mother as Harry disappeared from sight, "Why didn't you let us help in the battle."

Mrs. Weasley shook her head, "Harry didn't want any of you involved."

Ron persisted stubbornly, "Why, though, does he think we're worthless?"

It was Ginny that answered, "No, Ron, he doesn't think we're worthless. He just wants to keep us alive. If we were out there fighting, then Harry would have to worry about us. That would distract him, and might get him killed."

Hermione cried even harder, and Ron swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat. "Well, we're not accomplishing anything standing here. Let's go find a compartment. I don't think that Prefects will even bother meeting after this." The three made their way down the corridor while Molly went in search of some of the professors.

They found Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood sitting in a compartment alone about halfway up the train. They drug their trunks in and greeted the two. "Hi, Neville. Hi, Luna."

Neville looked up expectantly, "Hi, guys. Where's Harry?"

Ginny and Hermione started crying again, which left Ron to answer, "Still out on the platform."

Neville looked horrified, "Why didn't he get on the train?"

Ron shrugged, "I don't know, but I think he was the target. If he had tried to leave with us the Death Eaters would have followed."

Luna asked dreamily, "What happened? We couldn't see properly from this far up the train."

Hermione composed herself enough to answer, "When Harry came onto the platform, the Death Eaters appeared, and they started fighting. It seemed like their were several people helping Harry, though. He wasn't by himself at least."

Ginny sniffled, "Like that would have mattered. Harry would have tried to take them on by himself. When I see him I'm going to kill him."

Ron nodded, "I know exactly what you mean, Ginny."

Hermione started crying again, "I just hope he's alright."

Neville smiled, "Cheer up. Harry will be fine."

Ginny looked at him, "How do you know that?"

"He always is. I have faith that Harry will come through in any situation." replied Neville.

Ginny nodded, "So do I."

The five teenagers continued to talk and express various worries about Harry's safety. Then, they would discuss strangling him for putting them through this. This continued until the compartment door opened to reveal none other than Draco Malfoy flanked by his two goons, Crabbe and Goyle.

Ron looked up, "Shove off, Malfoy."

"Temper, temper, Weasley. I'm amazed actually. I expected you and the Mudblood to be out helping Potter." responded Malfoy snidely.

Suddenly, all five of them had their wands leveled at Malfoy, "I said shove off Malfoy."

"Threatening a prefect. All of you are going to be in serious trouble for this."

Hermione smiled acidly, "I don't think so, Malfoy. In case you haven't noticed there are three prefects in this room."

"Four." inserted Luna, and she flashed her prefect badge.

Hermione smirked, "So, as you see, you are outnumbered. I suggest that you leave."

Neville broke in, "As Ron said, shove off, Malfoy."

Draco smiled, "Just watch out. I'll catch you alone eventually."

Ginny smiled, "You should be the one to watch out, Draco. Harry will be the one to catch you. After what I saw him do to the Death Eaters in Diagon Alley, I would be careful if I were you."

Draco snorted, "We'll see, Weasley. We'll see." After that the three of them left the five to themselves.

A few hours later, the train arrived at the station in Hogsmeade. The five of them got out and prepared to head to the castle.

A/N: pegoheart144, Vampire Story Hunter, Dragonstorm316: Thanks for the review. Hope you enjoy this one too.

Hp4all: Harry's change from dark and brooding to being a great deal more open was the whole point. Most people are tired of his omigod it's all my fault attitude. Thanks for the review, though. Keep' em coming.