Chapter 5
The normally short walk to the train station became a slow trudge with the trunks in tow. Arthur insisted that everyone carried the baggage in the conventional Muggle fashion, so Harry and Remus each took an end of Harry's trunk, Ron and Fred took Ron's, Mr. Weasley and George took Ginny's and Bill and Tonks carried Hermione's. Ginny carried Hedwig's cage, Hermione took Crookshanks in his carrier and Mrs. Weasley took Pigwideon, who twittered and flapped all the way. Tessa carried her own bag and took the lead. Behind her she heard heaves and curses, bumps and scrapes as the group unused to handling heavy loads struggled their way down the street. She handled the money and tokens for the Underground when they had finally gotten there while everyone wrestled the baggage down into the station and finally onto the train.
They were winded and perspiring when they finally settled into their seats. Mr. Weasley was beaming with pride at their accomplishment.
"I don't know how Muggles do it, I really don't. Such a bother all the manual labor involved but, my goodness, what a sense of accomplishing a task when you're done."
"Well, were not done yet, Arthur. We still have to get the baggage to Platform 9 ¾," Molly said.
"Yes, yes of course," he said mopping his brow with a handkerchief.
Hermione had placed herself next to Tessa. She whispered to her. "I can't wait to start Defense Against the Dark Arts class. I think you are going to be able to teach us quite a lot."
Tessa looked at Hermione's excited face, smiled and winked, "I hope so. That's what I'm supposed to do anyway."
Remus sat on the other side of her and held her hand. He pulled her closer so he could speak to her without anyone hearing him. He hadn't had a chance to talk to her during the frenzy of leaving Grimmauld Place. "You certainly are full of surprises aren't you?"
Tessa looked concerned. "I don't understand what I did that was so special. Really, Remus, everyone was acting as if I had sprouted antlers or something."
He chuckled, "No, not quite. But that was very powerful magic you did and you did it so...effortlessly."
She shrugged. She didn't think it was that powerful or impressive. "Honestly, I think you all feel that way because you've never seen or used that technique before. I'll show you how to do it and you'll see it's not that big of a deal, really."
"I'll look forward to it," he assured her and moved his hand to leisurely rest on her knee.
She rested her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arm around his enjoying the feel of him close to her. She wanted to concentrate on this feeling, on Remus' presence, wanted to block out the rumbling of the train and the voices of the other travelers. Sensing her need, he moved his arm about her, encircling her, and for the rest of the Tube trip they stayed in a world unto themselves while the rest of the group chatted around them. They held each other and spoke softly about nothing; neither wanting to talk about the parting that was before them. But soon the train shuddered to a halt at their stop.
Everyone rose, grabbed the luggage and pushed their way out of the car. They lumbered to the escalators and hauled the trunks up to the street level and into the main station. Arthur and Bill went to find several trolley's for the baggage leaving everyone else to mill around for a few minutes.
Tessa sat down on a bench, one foot up and the other on the floor, her bag sitting next to her, watching the people coming and going around her. She tried to keep her mind active, away from the thought of leaving, but too soon the trunks were on the trolleys and the group was moving toward the train platforms. She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to look up into Remus' handsome face. She smiled sadly up at him.
"Ready?" he asked.
"No," Tessa said, "But let's go anyway."
He held out his hand and she took it and together they walked hand in hand behind the others. She realized this was the first time they had walked together. She tried to match his stride but they had to stop repeatedly because Ginny's trolley had a shifty wheel. The fourth time they nearly tread over her, Remus reached in his jacket and said, "You think anyone would notice if I'd just..." he indicated the trolley with his head.
"Yes, they would," Tessa laughed as she put her hand over his.
As they approached Platform Nine, Tessa held Remus back. "Perhaps I should go in on my own if I'm not supposed to know anyone."
Remus nodded. They walked back a bit and waited for a few minutes to let the others get onto the hidden platform. Remus put his arms around Tessa and she leaned her head on his chest, contented to shut out the sounds of the station listening to the rhythmic beat of his heart. Finally he told her that the last of the group had disappeared onto Platform 9 ¾.
Tessa held him tightly for another minute then said into his shoulder, "I guess we need to say our goodbyes here."
She moved back to look into his eyes. Remus was about to protest but knew that she was right and nodded.
"I love you," she said.
"I love you, Tessa." He touched her face moving her hair behind her ear and drew her into a long kiss. Tessa felt stinging behind her eyes as she fought to hold back tears. She didn't want to cry, so she wouldn't let herself do so.
They released each other and he said, "Remember, we're never really apart now."
She nodded and tried to smile. She looked at the station clock and saw there were only a few minutes left until the train departed. She gave him one more kiss, said, "Be safe," and walked toward the hidden Platform entrance. Her feet felt leaden and her stomach knotted as she approached the brick pillar. When she got there, she turned to look at him. He smiled at her and she forced herself to smile back. She raised her hand in a small wave and stepped backwards disappearing from view.
Tessa found herself staring at another brick wall. She turned to see the chaos of people trying to get trunks loaded before the train left. She passed Molly and Arthur. She nodded slightly to them; they smiled and nodded back. Bill winked at her when she passed him. Tessa wasn't sure if it was intentional or an accident but Tonks walked backwards into her and whispered a quick "Goodbye." She nearly collided with Fred and George as they jumped off the train and just like their brother, winked their farewell to her.
She walked farther on the platform and stepped up onto the train looking back in time to see her friends making their way back to the main station. She paused to watch them disappear through the gate. She then moved her way down the train as it began its journey out of the station and on to Hogwart's.
She found an empty compartment close to the engine and settled in. She sat there for a long time staring out the window watching the scenery go past. She became restless and uncomfortable and tried switching seats. That worked for a few minutes but then she got up, grabbed her pack and rummaged in it for something to read. She found her class notes and stuffed those back in. She found the copy of Hogwarts: A History that Hermione loaned her and started to scan through it for a time. But she tired of that as well and tossed it back into her pack again.
She laid back across the seat thinking that perhaps napping might be a good idea then thankfully, the food trolley stopped outside her compartment giving her a welcome distraction. She left the door to her compartment open after she had purchased her snacks to listen to the chatter of students excitedly greeting friends and renewing acquaintances bringing a pleasant din to her otherwise dreary, silent journey.
She had just finished her third Chocolate Frog when she heard a commotion farther down the train car. She got up to investigate. Leaning out her door she saw two very large boys blocking the entrance to another compartment. As she got closer, she saw that just in front of them was a boy, much thinner, with silver blond hair and he seemed to be accosting the occupants of the compartment.
"Remember what I said, Potter. You best keep your head down at Hogwart's or you're likely to loose it."
"You should worry about yourself, Malfoy. Daddy's not around to help you anymore."
Tessa stepped forward, tapped one of the larger boys on the arm and, startled, he stepped back slightly. "Is there a problem?" she asked looking at the thinner boy, Malfoy, she assumed. She noted the appraising look he gave her.
He sneered, "And what business is it of yours?"
"Mr. Malfoy is it?" He nodded. "Well, as I am a new teacher at Hogwart's, I think it is very much my business to be concerned when two," she looked at him and then pointedly to the large boys, "or more of my students are involved in a very loud disagreement."
His eyes widen and looked her up and down again, trying to equate "teacher" with the woman dressed in very muggle attire before him.
"I suggest the three of you return to your compartment and we continue on in a more peaceful fashion." They didn't move, the larger two waiting for a signal from Malfoy.
"Perhaps, I didn't make myself clear, Mr. Malfoy. I'd hate for your house to start out the year down in points before we even reach Hogwart's."
The people in the compartment snickered. Tessa noticed two more people inside than the four she expected to see; a sandy haired boy and a girl with long, blond hair and a distinctly far-away look in her eyes joined Ginny, Hermione, Harry and Ron.
Malfoy shot them a contemptuous look. "You're lucky, Potter; seems there's always a teacher around to save you."
"Potter?" Tessa asked feigning ignorance. "Which one of you is Potter?" Harry smirked and raised his hand. "From what I hear, Mr. Potter can handle himself quite well. It may be that you were the lucky one, Mr. Malfoy."
He narrowed his eyes as the others laughed, shot Tessa a murderous look and signaled the two boys to follow him. She watched them leave the car and move toward the rear of the train. She turned to look at the beaming faces of the children in the compartment and squelched an urge to smile back. Instead she said levelly, "I expect there won't be anymore trouble. Enjoy the rest of the journey." Then she turned and left.
She heard the unfamiliar boy's voice ask, "Harry, do you think she's our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?"
Harry replied, "Dunno. Might be."
The normally short walk to the train station became a slow trudge with the trunks in tow. Arthur insisted that everyone carried the baggage in the conventional Muggle fashion, so Harry and Remus each took an end of Harry's trunk, Ron and Fred took Ron's, Mr. Weasley and George took Ginny's and Bill and Tonks carried Hermione's. Ginny carried Hedwig's cage, Hermione took Crookshanks in his carrier and Mrs. Weasley took Pigwideon, who twittered and flapped all the way. Tessa carried her own bag and took the lead. Behind her she heard heaves and curses, bumps and scrapes as the group unused to handling heavy loads struggled their way down the street. She handled the money and tokens for the Underground when they had finally gotten there while everyone wrestled the baggage down into the station and finally onto the train.
They were winded and perspiring when they finally settled into their seats. Mr. Weasley was beaming with pride at their accomplishment.
"I don't know how Muggles do it, I really don't. Such a bother all the manual labor involved but, my goodness, what a sense of accomplishing a task when you're done."
"Well, were not done yet, Arthur. We still have to get the baggage to Platform 9 ¾," Molly said.
"Yes, yes of course," he said mopping his brow with a handkerchief.
Hermione had placed herself next to Tessa. She whispered to her. "I can't wait to start Defense Against the Dark Arts class. I think you are going to be able to teach us quite a lot."
Tessa looked at Hermione's excited face, smiled and winked, "I hope so. That's what I'm supposed to do anyway."
Remus sat on the other side of her and held her hand. He pulled her closer so he could speak to her without anyone hearing him. He hadn't had a chance to talk to her during the frenzy of leaving Grimmauld Place. "You certainly are full of surprises aren't you?"
Tessa looked concerned. "I don't understand what I did that was so special. Really, Remus, everyone was acting as if I had sprouted antlers or something."
He chuckled, "No, not quite. But that was very powerful magic you did and you did it so...effortlessly."
She shrugged. She didn't think it was that powerful or impressive. "Honestly, I think you all feel that way because you've never seen or used that technique before. I'll show you how to do it and you'll see it's not that big of a deal, really."
"I'll look forward to it," he assured her and moved his hand to leisurely rest on her knee.
She rested her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arm around his enjoying the feel of him close to her. She wanted to concentrate on this feeling, on Remus' presence, wanted to block out the rumbling of the train and the voices of the other travelers. Sensing her need, he moved his arm about her, encircling her, and for the rest of the Tube trip they stayed in a world unto themselves while the rest of the group chatted around them. They held each other and spoke softly about nothing; neither wanting to talk about the parting that was before them. But soon the train shuddered to a halt at their stop.
Everyone rose, grabbed the luggage and pushed their way out of the car. They lumbered to the escalators and hauled the trunks up to the street level and into the main station. Arthur and Bill went to find several trolley's for the baggage leaving everyone else to mill around for a few minutes.
Tessa sat down on a bench, one foot up and the other on the floor, her bag sitting next to her, watching the people coming and going around her. She tried to keep her mind active, away from the thought of leaving, but too soon the trunks were on the trolleys and the group was moving toward the train platforms. She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to look up into Remus' handsome face. She smiled sadly up at him.
"Ready?" he asked.
"No," Tessa said, "But let's go anyway."
He held out his hand and she took it and together they walked hand in hand behind the others. She realized this was the first time they had walked together. She tried to match his stride but they had to stop repeatedly because Ginny's trolley had a shifty wheel. The fourth time they nearly tread over her, Remus reached in his jacket and said, "You think anyone would notice if I'd just..." he indicated the trolley with his head.
"Yes, they would," Tessa laughed as she put her hand over his.
As they approached Platform Nine, Tessa held Remus back. "Perhaps I should go in on my own if I'm not supposed to know anyone."
Remus nodded. They walked back a bit and waited for a few minutes to let the others get onto the hidden platform. Remus put his arms around Tessa and she leaned her head on his chest, contented to shut out the sounds of the station listening to the rhythmic beat of his heart. Finally he told her that the last of the group had disappeared onto Platform 9 ¾.
Tessa held him tightly for another minute then said into his shoulder, "I guess we need to say our goodbyes here."
She moved back to look into his eyes. Remus was about to protest but knew that she was right and nodded.
"I love you," she said.
"I love you, Tessa." He touched her face moving her hair behind her ear and drew her into a long kiss. Tessa felt stinging behind her eyes as she fought to hold back tears. She didn't want to cry, so she wouldn't let herself do so.
They released each other and he said, "Remember, we're never really apart now."
She nodded and tried to smile. She looked at the station clock and saw there were only a few minutes left until the train departed. She gave him one more kiss, said, "Be safe," and walked toward the hidden Platform entrance. Her feet felt leaden and her stomach knotted as she approached the brick pillar. When she got there, she turned to look at him. He smiled at her and she forced herself to smile back. She raised her hand in a small wave and stepped backwards disappearing from view.
Tessa found herself staring at another brick wall. She turned to see the chaos of people trying to get trunks loaded before the train left. She passed Molly and Arthur. She nodded slightly to them; they smiled and nodded back. Bill winked at her when she passed him. Tessa wasn't sure if it was intentional or an accident but Tonks walked backwards into her and whispered a quick "Goodbye." She nearly collided with Fred and George as they jumped off the train and just like their brother, winked their farewell to her.
She walked farther on the platform and stepped up onto the train looking back in time to see her friends making their way back to the main station. She paused to watch them disappear through the gate. She then moved her way down the train as it began its journey out of the station and on to Hogwart's.
She found an empty compartment close to the engine and settled in. She sat there for a long time staring out the window watching the scenery go past. She became restless and uncomfortable and tried switching seats. That worked for a few minutes but then she got up, grabbed her pack and rummaged in it for something to read. She found her class notes and stuffed those back in. She found the copy of Hogwarts: A History that Hermione loaned her and started to scan through it for a time. But she tired of that as well and tossed it back into her pack again.
She laid back across the seat thinking that perhaps napping might be a good idea then thankfully, the food trolley stopped outside her compartment giving her a welcome distraction. She left the door to her compartment open after she had purchased her snacks to listen to the chatter of students excitedly greeting friends and renewing acquaintances bringing a pleasant din to her otherwise dreary, silent journey.
She had just finished her third Chocolate Frog when she heard a commotion farther down the train car. She got up to investigate. Leaning out her door she saw two very large boys blocking the entrance to another compartment. As she got closer, she saw that just in front of them was a boy, much thinner, with silver blond hair and he seemed to be accosting the occupants of the compartment.
"Remember what I said, Potter. You best keep your head down at Hogwart's or you're likely to loose it."
"You should worry about yourself, Malfoy. Daddy's not around to help you anymore."
Tessa stepped forward, tapped one of the larger boys on the arm and, startled, he stepped back slightly. "Is there a problem?" she asked looking at the thinner boy, Malfoy, she assumed. She noted the appraising look he gave her.
He sneered, "And what business is it of yours?"
"Mr. Malfoy is it?" He nodded. "Well, as I am a new teacher at Hogwart's, I think it is very much my business to be concerned when two," she looked at him and then pointedly to the large boys, "or more of my students are involved in a very loud disagreement."
His eyes widen and looked her up and down again, trying to equate "teacher" with the woman dressed in very muggle attire before him.
"I suggest the three of you return to your compartment and we continue on in a more peaceful fashion." They didn't move, the larger two waiting for a signal from Malfoy.
"Perhaps, I didn't make myself clear, Mr. Malfoy. I'd hate for your house to start out the year down in points before we even reach Hogwart's."
The people in the compartment snickered. Tessa noticed two more people inside than the four she expected to see; a sandy haired boy and a girl with long, blond hair and a distinctly far-away look in her eyes joined Ginny, Hermione, Harry and Ron.
Malfoy shot them a contemptuous look. "You're lucky, Potter; seems there's always a teacher around to save you."
"Potter?" Tessa asked feigning ignorance. "Which one of you is Potter?" Harry smirked and raised his hand. "From what I hear, Mr. Potter can handle himself quite well. It may be that you were the lucky one, Mr. Malfoy."
He narrowed his eyes as the others laughed, shot Tessa a murderous look and signaled the two boys to follow him. She watched them leave the car and move toward the rear of the train. She turned to look at the beaming faces of the children in the compartment and squelched an urge to smile back. Instead she said levelly, "I expect there won't be anymore trouble. Enjoy the rest of the journey." Then she turned and left.
She heard the unfamiliar boy's voice ask, "Harry, do you think she's our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?"
Harry replied, "Dunno. Might be."