Erin- Thanks for your comments and the correction!
'Harry, are you okay?' Ron asked. 'You were screaming.'
'I'm fine,' Harry said slowly.
'Are you sure you don't want me to get someone?' Ron asked.
'No,' Harry insisted. He didn't want them making a fuss. This dream hadn't meant anything. It had felt real like his dreams before, but this dream hadn't shown anyone in grave danger. There was a knock on the door, and it opened. Standing there was Claire and Hermione.
'Are you alright Harry?' Hermione asked. She and Claire both looked anxious.
'I'm fine,' Harry said, embarrassed that Claire was there. 'Really, you can all go back to bed, I was just having a nightmare.'
'If you're sure,' Hermione said.
'Goodnight Harry,' Claire said. But her eyes showed she was still worried.
Mrs. Weasley came in a few hours later and woke them all up.
'Come on dears, breakfast time!'
Thy all traipsed bleary-eyed down into the kitchen. Mrs. Weasley put out warm plates of toast and crumpets, and they all spread on whatever they wanted.
'Sleep well?' she asked them all.
They all said yes, and Harry ignored the looks that the others gave him. He wasn't going to worry Mrs. Weasley just because he had seen a Dementor in his dream and his scar had hurt.
'I'm so exited, the owls with your results should be here any minute,' Mrs. Weasley said. They all looked nervously at one another. They tried to eat their breakfast, but none of them could stomach any of it, and eventually gave up. It seemed like the owls were taking forever to get there. What was taking them so long? But eventually, there was a tapping on the window. There were several owls waiting outside. Mrs. Weasley hurriedly let them in, and took the letters they held.
'Right, now Claire dear, this one's for you, and Hermione, this is yours, and oh, Ron this is your one! And Harry dear, here's yours,' she put an envelope with Harry's name on it into his hands. He started down at it. Which is what they all seemed to be doing.
'Well go on then,' open them! Mr. Weasley urged who had just come into the room.
'I don't think I can,' Ron said, putting the envelope on the table. He looked very pale.
'Go on and open it Ron, or I will,' Mrs. Weasley said. Ron picked the envelope back up. Tentatively, they all did they same. And slowly, they all ripped them open, and pulled out the parchment inside. In exact synchrony, they all unfolded the parchment. Harry's eyes skimmed down the paper.
H. Potter Ordinary Wizarding Level Results 1 SeptemberO Defense Against the Dark Arts
E Potions
O Transfiguration
E Herbology
E Divination
E History of Magic
O Care of Magical Creatures
O Charms
E Astronomy
A great sense of relief swept over Harry. His grades were good, as O stood for Outsanding, E for Exededes expectations. He could hear the excited sounds of the others around him, but for a moment, he couldn't take his eyes of his far better than he had expected results.
'Ron dear, what did you get?' Mrs. Weasley asked eagerly.
'I've got 4 O's!' he said in disbelief. In Herbology, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts and Care of Magical Creatures!'
'Oh my dear, that's excellent!' Mrs. Weasley said happily.
'The rest are all E's. Oh, except for Potions, that's a A. Still, it's not too bad!'
Mrs. Weasley hugged her son. 'That's really good Ron, well done. She looked up at the others. 'Well what did you all get? Come on, don't be shy, Harry dear, how's yours?'
'I got 4 O's, 4 E's and an O in Defense Against the Dark Arts,' he said happily.
'I got an O, 3 O's and 5 E's,' Claire said with pride.
They all looked at Hermione. She looked in shock. 'I...I got 10 O's.'
They all stared at her.
'Bloody hell Hermione, that's amazing!' Ron said. Hermione looked rather pink.
A bit later on, they were all happily eating their breakfast. But as they ate, Harry felt that something wasn't right. And then Harry realised; Sirius wasn't there to hear his good results. It felt like your parents not being there on your first day of school.
'I can't wait to go to Diagon Alley,' Claire said enthusiastically. 'I haven't been there for ages.'
'It's probably changed a bit in the last five years,' Mrs. Weasley said. It's getting so commercial down there, all the little shops are going out of business and all the big brand names are coming in. It's a terrible shame...'
With their exam results they had all received a form which they had to fill in giving four subjects they wanted to study for the next two years, and a fifth subject which they wouldn't mind doing if they couldn't do all of their choices. And it had to be returned to Hogwarts on the following day. But they all decided to put it out of their heads until after Diagon Alley.
After breakfast they all went and got ready to go out. Half and hour later, they were all assembled in the living room with Ginny and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Mrs. Weasley with a pot of Floo powder in her hand.
'You all know how to use it, don't you?' she asked.
They all confirmed.
'Well, I'll go first,' Mr. Weasley said. He stepped into the fireplace and said loudly, 'Diagon Alley!' He threw down the Floo powder and a green flame engulfed him and he disappeared. One by one, they all did this, until it came to Harry's turn. He did as the others had and said 'Diagon Alley!' and threw the Floo powder. He felt like he was flying through space and landed with a sudden jolt. He found himself in the fireplace of The Leaky Cauldron. Mr. Weasley, Claire and Hermione stood before him. They quickly pulled him out of the fireplace just before Ron landed where he previously was. Soon they were all in the rather dingy pub.
'This place is smaller than I remember it,' Claire said, looking around.
'Maybe because you've grown,' Hermione said.
They went through the back way and Mr. Weasley tapped the combination on the wall with his wand to get into Diagon Alley. The enchanted bricks slowly moved apart to reveal a bustling high street. There were wizards and witches everywhere.
'Well kids,' Mr. Weasley said. 'Your mother and I have to pick up some things for the you-know-what so if you want to be having a look around we'll meet you at Flourish and Blotts in an hour.'
'Wicked! Okay, see you later!' Ron said.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley walked off, and Ron suggested, 'shall we go and see Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes then? It's supposed to be near Crystal's Magical Gadgets.'
'Great idea,' Harry said, eager to see it. They started walking down the bust street in the opposite direction to Ron's parents. On the way, they passed a broomstick shop, and Harry spotted a broomstick quite similar to his in the window.
'Hang on a sec, can I just take a look at that?' he asked the others. They all walked up to the shop window and looked at the broomstick behind the glass. A sign told them that it was the Firebolt second edition.
'Wow, that is a nice broomstick,' Ron said.
'That's also a very expensive broomstick,' Hermione added.
'Yeah, but you're paying for quality, Hermione.'
'But when it comes to flying, it's talent that counts and not what make of broomstick you're on,' she pointed out. While they bickered, Harry notice someone inside the shop. Someone tall with slicked back, blonde hair and blue eyes.
'Shut up a minute you two, look, it's Malfoy,' Harry said, cutting Ron short.
'That's Draco Malfoy?' Claire asked.
'Yep,' Harry said.
'Wow. He sure looks...up himself,' Claire observed.
'Yeah. Probably in there to buy the most expensive broomstick in the shop,' Ron said a little bitterly. 'Come on, let's get out of here.' The five carried on down the street until they came to Crystal's Magical Gadgets. Next door to it was a simply amazing looking shop. The large sign read in red letters 'Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes', and not only was the sign rotating but it was randomly emitting fireworks into the air. In the window there were signs like 'bucking broomsticks-now half off!' and 'buy one extendable ear, get one free!'
Ron grinned. 'Wow, this is bloody brilliant!' Nobody disagreed with that.
They all went inside, and the door played a tune as they opened.
'Hello guys!' Fred said, who was standing behind the counter.
George who was stacking a shelf looked up. 'Oh, hiya!'
Harry looked around. The shop wasn't terribly big but it was packed full of stuff. There were quite a few groups of kids looking around. There were strange looking items everywhere, and Harry couldn't imagine what they did.
'So what do you think?' Fred asked.
'Wicked!' Ron exclaimed.
'It's amazing,' Claire said, looking around in some awe.
'Thanks,' George smiled. 'So how are your exam results?'
The four of them told Fred and George their grades.
'Wow!' Fred said in awe. '10 O's Hermione? We didn't get one between us...'
'Well done you four, looks like you'll be staying at Hogwarts for another two years then!'
They looked around Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes for a while and then decided to have a look round some more shops. They went from shop to shop, looking at all the interesting things there were to buy.
'What broomstick do you have?' Harry asked Claire as they passed by the broomstick shop again.
'I have a Dragonfly,' Claire said. They all looked at her, puzzled. 'It's an American make,' she explained.
'Is it good?' Ron asked.
'Uncle Severus bought it for me. It was the best you could get at the time. Of course, there have been better models brought out since but it's still a pretty good broom.'
It wasn't long before they realised it was time to meet Mr. and Mrs. Weasley in Flourish and Blotts. When they got there, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley weren't there yet, but someone was.
'Potter,' came a cold drawl.
'Malfoy,' Harry acknowledged coldly.
'With your band of merry men as usual,' he said snidely. But then he noticed Claire. 'But who's this?' He held out his hand to her. 'I'm Draco Malfoy.'
Claire shook his hand and said, 'I'm Claire. Claire Snape.'
'Snape eh? Any relation of Severus?'
'Yes, he's my uncle,' Claire informed him.
'I see. He's my favorite teacher at Hogwarts you know. Are you going there next year by any chance?' Draco asked.
'Well actually, yes I am.'
Draco smiled. 'Good. Well let me give you a bit of advise. There are different sorts of students at Hogwarts. You don't want to be associated with the wrong sort.' He looked at Harry. 'But I'm sure you'll find that out for yourself. Seeing as you're related to Snape, I'm sure we'd get along very well...Get your exam results? I got an O in Potions,' Draco's chest swelled with pride.
'Oh yeah?' Ron said. 'Well Hermione got 10 O's. You're O in Potions don't seem so great now Malfoy, does it? You probably bought that grade anyway.'
Draco sneered. 'Well if we had to buy grades Weasley, you'd be lucky to get a T!'
Just as Harry and Hermione had to grab Ron to stop him from punching Draco, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley came in.
'Sorry we're late, got held up,' Mr. Weasley said.
'Now Ginny dear, come with us to look for your books and you three can find yours on your own. Claire and Harry dears, if you don't have enough to pay for all of yours, we can pay and you can pay us back when we get home.' They went off with Ginny while Malfoy had a slightly disgusted look on his face.
'You're staying with the Weasley's? I'm surprised they have enough room in their house for an extra person. Why are you staying with them?'
'Well, Uncle Severus is a mem-' Ron kicked Claire and cut her off. 'I mean to say, Uncle Severus knows our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher who also taught me when I lived in America and because she's Ron's Aunt she's staying with them, and because I know her, they've offered to let me stay there too.'
'Right,' Draco said. 'Well, I do feel sorry for you, I mean, a girl like you living in a place like that.'
'Oh no, it's really quite nice,' Claire defended them.
'I'm sure it is,' Draco said sarcastically. 'Well Claire, I'm going for a walk down Knockturn Alley, if you'd like to come?'
'Oh, thanks but I'm fine here,' Claire said politely.
'Maybe some other time perhaps.'
'Well, I guess I'll see you at school then,' Claire said.
'I'll look forward to it,' Draco smiled, and walked away.
Claire turned around. 'Well, he seemed nice.'
They all looked at her with total disbelief.
'What? I'm joking! I mean, I'm obviously joking, come on, it was a joke...'
The four looked around the shop for the requested books.
'It was nice of your parent to offer to pay for the books until we get back, Ron. I hadn't realised they would be so expensive. I don't think I have enough Galleons,' Claire said, picking up a rater large, hardback version of The Complete History of the Dark Arts. 'I might pick up a copy of Hogwarts; A History while I'm here, I think it would be interesting to read up about Hogwarts.'
'I have a copy you can borrow!' Hermione said excitedly.
'Cool, thanks,' Claire smiled.
They found all the books they needed to buy and then went over to Mr., Mrs., and Ginny.
'Oh, hello dears,' Mrs. Weasley said. 'Got everything you need?'
'Yes mum,' Ron said.
'Okay, well let's go and pay then,' Mr. Weasley said.
Luckily they all had enough Galleons to pay, just. After that, they went and had lunch in a café. They sat outside in the sunshine and Harry felt truly content. He looked over at Claire and she smiled at him. The sun was shining in the bright blue sky behind her and it lit up her face. Harry's heart skipped a beat, and he grinned back.
That evening they sat in the drawing room talking again.
'I can see what you mean about Draco,' Claire said. 'He does seem a bit...?'
'Stuck up?' Hermione prompted.
'Yeah,' Claire agreed. 'He was quite nice to me though, no offense.'
'Probably because your Snape's niece,' Harry said.
'Probably because he fancies you more like,' Ron retorted.
'I don't think so somehow,' Claire said shyly.
'Ah come on, he wanted you to go for a walk in Knockturn Alley with him, come on Claire! You have an admirer!' Ron teased her.
Claire laughed and blushed. 'I really don't think so...' she objected.
'Well, we'll see when we get back to school,' Ron said. 'Woah, I can't believe we're back at school in less than a week. The holiday has flown by.'
'Yeah,' Harry agreed weakly. For him, until now the holiday had been dragging by painfully slowly.
'I tell you what else has gone by quickly,' Hermione said. 'The time we've been at Hogwarts. Can you believe when we go back we're going to be in the sixth form?'
'I know,' Claire agreed. 'It's going to be really strange for me, starting at a new school for just two years.'
'Yeah, just as soon as you get used to the place, you're going to have to leave,' Ron realised.
'Yeah,' Claire said, slightly glumly.
'Well, we have to make it two great years,' Hermione said, and smiled at Claire.
'Oh, I'm sure it will be,' Claire said, meeting Harry's eye.
They all then gave their relief on their O.W.L results.
'I'm so relieved that I did okay,' Claire said. 'I don't know what I would have said to Uncle Severus if I'd got bad results. He's going to be so pleased that I got an A in Potions.'
'I've been thinking a lot about what subjects I'm going to write down to do next year,' Hermione admitted. 'I thought I'd decided but...'
'I can't believe we have to send it in tomorrow,' Claire said. 'I still haven't made up my mind what I want to do.'
'Well Professor McGonagall said if I want to be an Auror I have to do Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms and Potions.' He and Ron exchanged a look. He wasn't exactly eager to do Potions for another two years when he had a choice in the matter.
'That's funny,' Claire said. 'Except I was considering Care of Magical Creatures instead of Charms. But I wouldn't mind doing Charms.'
'That's the same as me, except I want to do Arithmacy instead of Charms,' Hermione told them.
'Well I really don't have a clue,' Ron said. 'I'll probably end up writing down the same as Harry. Mind you, I don't really fancy doing Potions for another two years. Maybe I'll write down Care of Magical Creatures...'
'Well we really need to decide now, if we've got to send off our forms tomorrow,' Hermione said. 'Just think, if you don't know what subjects you need to do for a career, think what you'd like to study for another two years.'
'Well I'm definitely doing Potions, for obvious reasons. And Defense Against the Dark Arts because Annabelle's a good teacher. Transfiguration...well that's useful whatever I decide to do really. I think I'm going to write down Charms because that's useful too,' Claire decided.
'I think I'm going to write down the same,' Harry decided. If he had to do Potions, at least he'd be in the same class as Claire.
'I'm going to do the same, but Care of Magical Creatures instead of Potions. I think I heard Neville say he's doing it, so that'll be okay,' Ron decided.
'I'm going to do Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Arithmacy and Potions,' Hermione told them. 'I know Potions hasn't exactly been our favorite subject, but it is an important one.'
This all sorted, a short while later they all went up to bed, and Harry slept a little better than the previous night.
The next few days passed by with lots of fun and Claire getting better acquainted with their group. The next morning they sent Hedwig to Hogwarts will all their subject choices. They were all a lot more relaxed and happy now they had received their O.W.L results, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley even threw them all a party for doing so well. Snape came that evening to congratulate his niece, but it made the evening slightly less pleasant for Harry, even though it made Claire obviously much happier. Maybe it was because she, the guest in the house, still had someone from her family who she looked up to there, while Harry had no one.
It seemed that hardly any time had passed before they were trying to fall asleep the evening before going back to school. Harry was going to be glad to get out of the house, it reminded him too much of Sirius. On the other hand, he was really enjoying the time with Ron, Hermione and especially Claire. When they got to school she might end up in a different house and make a whole load of new friends. So Harry had enjoyed his time with her but it had gone by too quickly.
The next morning they all got up early and everyone seemed slightly nervous. They all went downstairs for breakfast.
'Morning dears,' Mrs. Weasley said cheerfully. 'Looking forward to school today?'
'Yeah,' they all said slightly half-heartedly.
'Well hurry up and get on with your breakfasts. Mr. Weasley is driving us round to the station in less than an hour.' Harry, Ron and Hermione all looked at one another. Was this the same car that went at abnormally fast speeds that they had picked Harry up in?
'The station?' Claire queried.
'We have to go to Victoria Station to catch the Hogwarts Express to get there,' Hermione explained.
'Platform 9 and three quarters,' Ron added.
'Platform 9 and three quarters?' Claire repeated with a puzzled frown.
'You'll see when you get there,' Harry grinned.
They ate as much breakfast as they could and then went up to get dressed and washed. Harry was feeling excited, he was finally going back to Hogwarts! He felt like he was going home.
They were all standing with their luggage trolleys at the barrier between platforms 9 and 10. The car journey had been long and hot because they had had to travel at normal speed, Mrs. Weasley being in the car. But eventually they got to Victoria Station.
'So where is platform 9 and three quarters then?' Claire asked, looking up at the 9 and 10 signs.
'Ginny,' would you like to demonstrate?' Mr. Weasley asked his daughter. Ginny grinned. She sauntered casually towards the barrier between the two tracks, building up speed as she went. But when she should have crashed into the barrier, she disappeared into thin air!
'Oh wow!' Claire exclaimed. 'That looks so cool! But what if I do something wrong? What if I end up somewhere else?'
'Harry dear, why don't you go through with Claire?' Mrs. Weasley suggested.
The two of them went over to the place where Ginny started off. Claire gave Harry a worried look. 'Will you hold my hand?' she asked. She held it out, and Harry took it. Together, they ran through the barrier.
'Wow!' Claire exclaimed as they emerged through the other side. They were standing on platform 9 and three quarters, and there, being boarded by many Hogwarts students, was the Hogwarts Express.
'Hi guys!' Ginny said, walking over to them. She looked down at their still held hands. Quickly, they let go of each other. Harry's palm still felt warm. A moment later, Ron came through the barrier, followed by Hermione, then Mr. and finally Mrs. Weasley.
'Get through okay, Claire dear?' Mrs. Weasley asked the girl.
'Thank you, yes I did. Thanks to Harry,' she smiled at him.
'It was no trouble,' he grinned back.
'Well, you lot had better get seats, the train'll be off soon,' Mr. Weasley said to the five Hogwarts students. The bid goodbye to the Weasley's, and boarded the train. The walked past full compartments for a while, until they found an empty one. Hermione pulled open the door, and they went inside. Light was streaming in through the open window, as well as a light, cooling breeze. They all sat down on the comfortable, plush seats.
'This is nice,' Claire said cheerfully. It was not long before the train was starting up, and they had passed the Weasley's standing on the platform, and all waved furiously. Soon they were speeding through beautiful countryside. They were telling Claire what sort of people to expect at Hogwarts, from the Students to the teachers, the paintings to the ghosts.
'...and then there's Peeves. You've got to watch out for him, he's a right old nuisance,' Ron was saying. 'Hey look, it's the food trolley!'
They all started fishing out their money. Harry noticed Ron and Ginny exchange a glum look and he looked from the small pile of copper coins that they held, to the handful of gold and silver coins he held. He didn't want to directly offer to buy them some food, he knew they would never accept it.
'Hey, why don't I buy us all lunch, it'll be my treat,' Harry said.
Hermione gave him a smile of understanding.
'Thank you Harry,' Ginny said.
'Yeah, thanks mate,' Ron agreed.
'That's nice of you Harry,' Claire smiled.
'Yeah, well one of you lot is buying next time,' he said lightly. Soon they were all eating Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans, Pumpkin Pasties and Chocolate Frogs. The cards of famous witches and wizard in the Chocolate Frogs particularly fascinated Claire.
'We only get Quidditch League players on cards in America,' she said. 'These are way more interesting.'
'You won't find them quite so interesting when you've got the whole set but one, and you always seem to get the same card every time,' Ron grumbled, throwing his Dumbledore card onto the seat beside him.
'I'll have that,' Claire said, picking up the card. She looked at it with interest. 'So this is Dumbledore. Uncle Severus is always saying what a great man he is.'
'He's right, Dumbledore is a great man,' Hermione said.
'Hey guys,' Ginny said, getting up. 'I might go and find Dean.'
'Dean, eh?' Claire asked teasingly. 'Is that your boyfriend, Ginny?'
Ginny blushed and nodded.
'I really hope that Dean knows what he's up to. He'd better not go upsetting my sister,' Ron muttered
'He's our friend, remember?' Harry reminded him.
'He might not be for much longer,' Ron muttered.
'Hermione, would you show me where the girl's bathroom is?' Claire asked.
'Sure,' Hermione said, getting to her feet, and the two girls left the carriage.
'You know, it's kind of good we've got Claire now. I mean, it evens up the numbers doesn't it, two boys and two girls,' Ron said thoughtfully.
'That's assuming she carries on hanging around with us,' Harry pointed out. 'Knowing our luck she'll end up in Slytherin and be befriended by Pansy Parkinson.'
'She doesn't seem like a Slytherin though, does she. Even if Snape is her uncle.'
'He'll be so mad if she ends up in a different house,' Harry laughed.
'He'll be even madder if she's friend with us,' Ron grinned. 'I hope she does get into Gryffindor and stay friends with us. Don't you think she's kinda pretty?' Ron asked.
'I guess,' Harry said, non-committedly.
'Well I do,' Ron ploughed on. 'And she seems really nice too. I dunno, sometimes I sort of forget that Hermione is a girl. But Claire...' He was cut off when Hermione burst into the carriage.
'Guess what?' she exclaimed.
'What?' Ron asked.
'We were on our way to the bathroom when Draco Malfoy spotted us and came out of his carriage. He asked Claire if she wanted to go and sit in his compartment, and she went with him!'