Disclaimer: I don't own anything that you will recognize.

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Chapter Eight
The Hogwarts Express
By Patilaputra Jeanne

Harry was rather concerned when Ron wouldn't talk to him the next day, or even look at him for that matter. The rest of them had noticed as well and gave them their space since they all figured that Harry and Ron would work it out for themselves, they had last time after all. Harry figured for some reason that this was deeper than the last time and that there were other reasons than that he could figure out. He knew that it was probably mostly the prophecy but he knew some how that there was something else as well.

He did not have much time to think about this though since he still had not found his handbook. Harry asked everyone in the old mansion as they had all seen him reading it at one point or another. Harry finally resolved to asking Ron although though he really didn't expect an answer, but to Harry's surprise, he got one.

"You mean this?" Ron asked nastily. He withdrew the diary like book from his jacket pocket. "I've seen you reading this book night and day. Yesterday morning I figured I'd have a look at what you had been reading so enthusiastically. The entire book was empty but for a few scribbles of gibberish here and there in your handwriting. I thought you had lost it when you came back looking like that, but now I know you really aren't sane." He thrust the book back at Harry and left the bedroom.

Harry changed into the same clothes he wore on that day the Order had come to get him; clothes that he had avoided wearing for the past month. He hung the fang from his ear again and wore contacts instead of his glasses. He now looked like a convict and actually looked forward to scaring a couple people.

Mrs. Weasley and Tonks brought them to King's Cross Station. They all said cheerful good byes and got onto the train. Harry was glad that Ron was a prefect for once so he followed Ginny and found a compartment with Neville, Luna, Hermione's trunk and a hissing Crookshanks.

What Harry paid the most attention to, was their reactions as they saw his new look for the first time. Neville's eyes got as big as saucers when he saw Harry, though Luna didn't seem at all surprised. Harry sat looking out the window for a couple hours while the others played exploding Snap. He said nothing, and didn't answer when any one talked to him.

Thee landscape outside the window started to change as they gradually made their way North. Harry finally got up and walked along the length of the train a couple times to stretch his legs. As he was making his way back to the compartment, his three least favorite classmates (as there were other people he hated more) came out of their compartment and blocked his way.

"Where are you going?" Malfoy asked in what would be a drawling voice. "You have been up and down the corridor about twenty times now and if you don't stop your stomping around, I'll give you a reason to stop."

Harry rolled his eyes. Ron's words meant more than these did and he knew Ron would never attempt to carry out his threats. Malfoy no longer had the power he once had. With his father in Azkaban, he was just another Hogwarts student.

"That's very touching Malfoy," Harry said in his diplomatic voice. He was starting to like speaking this way as it confused people more than the actual words that he spoke. "But, as you know, a school prefect may only intervene when a rule is being broken. And in this case, it most certainly is not so please step out of my way." Malfoy glared at him and slowly made to grab his wand from the pocket of his robe. Harry hadn't changed yet but had his wand close at hand in the side pocket of the baggy black jeans he wore.

"I am just going to have to teach you a lesson then aren't I?" Malfoy said as he drew his wand, pointing it directly at Harry's chest and yelled a strange curse that Harry had only read about. Harry however, was too quick for him and ducked as the spell hit someone farther down the corridor.

Harry poised his body so he'd be ready for quick movements as Crabbe and Goyle sent their disarming spells toward him. He was surprised that they even knew how, forget that they were of a good strength. Harry put up a shield that he had been wanting to try out all summer, but to his chagrin, it only half worked; he got rid of the spells, but all four of them were inside.

Harry quickly shouted a full-body-bind curse at Crabbe and he fell over, stiff as a board, into Goyle who was knocked down as well. Malfoy however, wasted no time in sending spell after hex after curse at Harry who either dodged them or sent a spell of his own back.

"Stop! Stop!" someone yelled. The pair of them (stupid as they were) looked around for the source of the voice and both were hit by the spell the other had cast a second before. Malfoy was thrust down the hall, losing his wand and a similar one hit Harry causing him to crash into the wall next to him.

"Now, now!" the voice said again as they both scrambled to their feet. "Gentlemen, stop this at once! You dishonor your family with such a display!" When neither listened, vines suddenly wound around their ankles causing them to fall down again. Unfortunately lost his wand, but was thankful that he wasn't the only one.

The person talking to them walked out of the compartment that they were now in front of. He was a man about Remus's age with dark brown hair, very tan skin and jade eyes. He also wore clothes that Harry though came right our of a pirate movie. He wore a white tunic with puffy sleeves that would have been seen in the 17oo's with pants of a dark green material and calf length boots that were a medium brown. He also wore a green over robe of spring green with leaves embroidered along the hemlines.

"Thank you." He said. Harry now noticed that he spoke with an eastern accent. "Now would either of you care to explain why you would take part in such an outrageous display?"

"I can tell you." It wasn't Harry, but it wasn't Malfoy either. It had come from behind Harry who turned to see the red headed prefect. "Harry found someone blocking his way that happens to not worship him like most people and decided that he should straighten him out. They have been archenemies since the sorting six years ago." Ron glared at Harry and continued down the corridor to the compartment that he'd left Ginny, Luna and Neville in. All Harry could do was gape at his best friend.

"I shall inform your professors that you will each serve a week's worth of Detention with me at 8:00, starting tomorrow night." Harry's eyes grew round. How could he give them detention? "Your teachers will inform you were to find me."

The vines unwrapped themselves and the two of them carefully got up. "Who are you?" Malfoy spat. "What gives you the right to give us detention?" The man smiled goodheartedly.

"Forgive me, I am used to people knowing who I am." he said caressing the vines that had crawled up his arm. One hand, harry noticed was heavily tattooed with vines and flowering plants. "I am Briar Moss, the new High Inquisitor. Headmaster Dumbledore has kindly asked me to fill the position that the Ministry added to the school last year but I will also be filling in where I am needed."

Harry sighed at this, very relieved that they were not going to have to deal with another teacher like Umbrigde. The new High Inquisitor gave them a curt nod of dismissle and the two of them went opposite directions, Crabbe and Goyle nowhere to be found.

Albeit, before he went into the compartment, a thought came over him. Had those been vines that the new High Inquisitor had used to stop the fight? Harry hadn't thought it was possible to command a plant like a tractable animal without magic. He decided that he would find out soon enough.

Harry opened the door of the compartment to find that Ron and Hermione were both there. Luna, Ginny and Neville were also there and enjoying a game of exploding Snap. Harry couldn't help feeling that he wasn't a part of them anymore; he wasn't wiser because of everything that had happened, just older. He couldn't be as carefree as they were now, and he realized that he could never go back to that either.

"Harry!" Hermione yelped as she saw him standing in the doorway. "What have you done? Are you alright?" Harry just rolled his eyes and smiled warmly at her since he knew this was how she would act and not missing the glare from the red head behind her as she threw her arms around his neck.

"I'm fine Hermione." Harry explained. "The past month has been one of the happiest in a very long time. I actually could not have been happier until about 8:30 last night." He looked directly at Ron as he said this and Ron must have realized that Harry had found out about listening in on Harry and Remus as he shifted in his seat. Hermione looked anxiously between the two best friends. "Oh and Ron, I must thank you for landing me in detention for a week with the new High Inquisitor." Harry returned to the seat he ad habituated before. Ron however, couldn't stand being in the same area as Harry and got up.

"I'm going to go see what time we are arriving," Ron said for an excuse. Ron left the compartment but not without kissing Hermione on the cheek, causing Harry's jaw to nearly hit the floor.

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Yeah! I got another chapter done! If my readers are a little confused, I tried to straighten some things out by adding a couple paragraphs to the last chapter.