Disclaimer: I don't own characters or setting; They rightfully belong to JKR.

Chapter 2: The Hogwarts Express Ride Back

Harry and his best friend Ron were standing on platform nine and three quarters waiting for Hermione and Elisa to show up. It had bee the first time in their lives that either had been early for the train departure. Harry suspected that the reason Ron had dragged Harry out of bed that morning at 5:00 AM had something to do with Ron's eagerness to see Hermione again, after she had spent the holidays visiting Victor Krum.

Harry however was excited about seeing Elisa. After their first meeting they had spent the last weeks of July talking just about Hogwarts. It was nice to finally have someone he could actually talk to during the holidays. At the beginning of August, Harry left for Ron's house with a little bit of a happier mood. Elisa made Harry promise he would help her out the first day of school; it turned out that she was extremely nervous about a new school, and wanted to make sure nothing awful happened.

Hermione came through the wall with two trunks and Crooshanks right underneath her arm. "Harry! Ron! I am so excited to see you two, it's been so long!"

"Welcome back," Harry said smiling, helping her with one of the trunks. "What is in this thing?" Harry asked as he tried to lift the trunk.

"Oh just some extra reading. I brought them so we can do extra studying for the N.E.WT.S." Hermione stated matter-of-factly. Leave it to Hermione to bring more work to do.

"Why weren't you back last week like your letter said? We waited forever for you at Diagon Alley." Ron questioned Hermione as they began walking to the train to put away Hermione's things.

"Nice to see you too, Ron." Hermione said sarcastically.

"Well why not? After all you were planning on coming with us to Diagon Alley... We don't like being stood up."

"Look, Ron... things happened that were out of my control. I had to stay a little bit longer." Hermione said defensively as they boarded the train and made their way to the compartment.

"Would you two stop?" Harry whispered noticing glances from fellow hogwarts students, "People are staring at us."

"Well, did Krum want you stay longer? Nice to see where our friendship is on your priority list," Ron said ignoring Harry.

"I did not stay because Krum wanted me to stay longer. I stayed because I wanted to stay longer Ron. Again things happened... okay?" Hermione said, growing impatient.

"What things?" Ron asked as they turned into their compartment and set Hermione's things down.

"It's absolutely none of your business Ronald Weasley!" Hermione said in huff and turned and stomped down the corridor without a look back. Harry, who was sick of the bickering, was glad she had decided to leave.

"What does she mean it's none of my business? We are friends... Of course it is my business." Ron asked Harry.

"Don't know mate. But we better get back to the platform, we have to meet Elisa, remember?" Harry said as he turned to leave.

"Oh yes, the capitalistic American. Joy." Ron said sarcastically.

"She isn't bad, Ron."

"Maybe not... but most Americans are." (DO NOT TAKE THIS PERSONALLY, ALL YOU AMERICANS OUT THERE... he he I am one too after all)

"Well some Brits are bad, too" Harry said as he made his way off the train. (DON'T TAKE THAT PERSONALLY EITHER!)

"Well the American better hurry," Ron said checking his watch, "she has about four minutes."

"HARRY!"

Harry turned around as he heard a voice call out his name behind him. He turned around to see Elisa Parker about 20 feet away, having a rather difficult time caring all of her luggage. Speak of the devil, Harry thought. Ron gave Harry a quizzical look as if to say 'This is the girl you were telling me about?' and then some what amused, he and Harry both went to give Elisa a hand with her trunk and all of her other bags.

"Thanks," she said, "You must be Ron," she said noticing him for the first time.

"That's me," Ron stated, while his ears turned a shade of red, "We have to hurry. We have less than two minutes to board the train... and I still have to say goodbye to mum."

"Here I'll take this," Harry said grabbing Elisa's bag from Ron, "You go say bye to your mum, and we'll get all this stuff on the train. Tell Molly I say bye ...and thanks for everything." With that Ron left and Harry and Elisa made their way to the train.

"So anyone know who the defense against the Dark Arts teacher is going to be?" Ron asked while unwrapping a chocolate frog. The witch with the food trolley had passed by five minutes ago and wrappers and candy lay everywhere. Ron was visiting Harry, Elisa, Ginny, Dean and Neville in the compartment. Needless to say, the compartment was very cramped. Ron was supposed to be in the Prefect compartment or else patrolling, but Hermione was still edgy so Ron had avoided her at all costs. Introductions had all been made, and Elisa seemed to be feeling more and more comfortable.

"No idea, mate." Dean said, while slipping an arm over Ginny's shoulder. Ron's eyes grew cold as he noticed Dean's gesture. Harry had to suppress a laugh.

"Someone told me Snape finally got it," Ron said after he got over Dean's action, while Neville stared in horror from Ron's statement.

"Snape, did get the job Ronald." Luna said at the doorway. Everyone jumped at seeing Luna stand silently in the doorway. Everyone else went on ignoring the comment... no one took her seriously.

"Hello Luna," Harry said good-naturedly as everyone else went on with the conversation. She just ignored him.

"Hello," she said dreamily as she sat down next to Ron, much to Ron's discomfort.

"Harry, let's go find Hermione... We have to plan err... our study groups." Ron said jumping up and heading out the door. Elisa was in deep conversation with Ginny so Harry grabbed his bag and followed Ron out the compartment. He wanted to show Ron and Hermione the picture, anyways. Ron was waiting outside the compartment. "Let's go. She's got to be around her somewhere around here. I didn't want to be around Loony Luna." Ron said shuddering.

"I have to show you something anyway... It's really weird." Harry said shaking his head, referring to the picture.

"Alrigh..." Ron started but cut off in surprise. At that exact moment, the train came to a halting stop, causing Harry and Ron to fly forward. There were sounds of screams and bodies falling. Then, all was dark.

Okay: Hope you liked the chapter. I am trying to get the plot to go faster. Write me any comments. PLEASE REVIEW. Also take no offense to the reference to Americans and Brits! Just something to show Ron's attitude towards Elisa. Okay that's all. PLEASE REVIEW so I know if there is something that I can do better. Thanks!

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