"Everyone, eat up. This is the last night we will all be together for a very long time," Mrs. Weasley was saying. She prepared a very large meal for the departure of Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Ginny tomorrow.
"Mum, there isn't an axe murder waiting at Hogwarts for them," Fred said winking at George. The twins had come home for the dinner. Next to them sat Tonks, who was changing the color of her hair for Ginny and Hermione. On the left of Ginny was Mad-Eye Moody-who was talking all about guarding Azkaban.
"It's getting harder…they are waking up. Had a fight with one of them today," He was telling Mr. Weasley, who seemed very worried "Don't worry Arthur they haven't regained there magic or anything. I mean they don't even have wands and most of them couldn't even make an innocent bit of magic happen."
"I was able to keep up with Harry on his Firebolt. Thanks again, Fred." Ron was telling Fred all about his broom-which was something he would do with anyone who would listen.
Harry was not listening too much of this. He was only half-eating-taking a few bites and resolving to just pushing the food around. He was much too busy staring at Lupin. His former teacher had come around eight and had been quite ever since. He looked pale and discontented. His usual shabby robes even worse than usual, they were torn in more than a few place. His face looked sunken in and he seemed to be less alive. It was as if he was existed from another dimension and his grasp on his body was strained. Lupin caught Harry's eye once and forced a smile. Harry, of course, didn't buy it. He had faked too many smiles in his life to be fooled.
Harry was also thinking about how much he missed Hogwarts. It was still all he dreamed about. The feelings of yearning were filling him even as he put the spoon of food in his mouth. It felt as if someone had punched him in the stomach. Just as the felling was filling him, he saw something. It was Lupin. He had moved his head, signaling toward the paddock behind the Weasley's house. They both got up and walked slowly over to the group of trees. As Harry entered the paddock he noticed how dark it was in there. He could now only see the faint outline of Lupin. The trees large tops had shrouded out all of the moonlight.
"Harry, how are you?" He asked in a quiet tone. Harry could see his outline moving toward him. He become more and more clear, till Harry could see his face appear through the darkness.
"I'm fine," Harry knew that he wanted to talk about Sirius. Lupin's hand came down and he rested it gently on Harry's shoulder.
"No your not," Lupin said in small tone. His voice seemed strained.
"No I'm not. I think of him all the time…he is always on my mind," Harry thought oddly about the words he had chosen. They could be applied to someone else…Voldemort.
"I am also speaking about the Prophecy," Lupin said removing his hand. The moon was shining through the trees. Harry could see half of it…was there more?
"I think about it, but not all the time. I mean there is nothing to be done about it," Harry said. He squinted his eyes…was there more to the moon?
"Harry, promise me that you will not do anything-anything brash," Lupin followed Harry's eyes up to the sky. "You need not worry. The full moon was last week," Lupin said in a rather jovial tone.
"Shall we return?" Lupin said pulling Harry out of the paddock.
The next morning came quickly. Harry soon found himself dressed and packed and ready to go. Ron was searching frantically for his prefect badge and Hermione was jotting around with Hogwarts: A history, in her hands. Ginny was reading avidly. She kept reminding everyone that this was her O.W.L year. Harry had never known she was so…Hermione-like. As Harry, began on his third piece of toast Mrs. Weasley came in.
"Hurry everyone, we are leaving now. Fred-oh golly he isn't here is he? Ron, are you all packed," Mrs. Weasley asked as Ron appeared from under the table beaming. His lost badge pinned to his vest.
"I am packed," Ron said as he left the room. Mrs. Weasley flicked her wand in the direction of the dishes and they magically began to wash themselves.
"Mrs. Weasley, how are we getting there," Hermione asked from behind her book. She had pulled her trunk into the kitchen.
"Arthur is on his way with a few cars," Mrs. Weasley said. And then, like clockwork, there was a small beep from the backyard. "Let's go."
Harry ran up the steps and grabbed his trunk from Ron's room and pulled it methodically down the steps. Ron was yelling for him outside of the house. Mr. Weasley came jostling in.
"Locomotor Trunk," Bellowed Mr. Weasley, his wand pointing toward Harry's trunk.
"Thank you, Mr. Weasley" Harry went out of the house and got into the comfortable Ford Anglia. Mr. Weasley and the trunk soon joined them and they were off to the train station. They traveled at ease for a while and at last reached the station.
It was a large stone building. There was noise coming from every section. Harry could hear the sound of a mother scolding her child; the teary goodbyes of lovers and the old vendor women singing iiiiiiiiiiiiii. Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Harry, Mr. Weasley, and Mrs. Weasley walked slowly into the building. They all got trolleys and were ready to enter platform nine-and-three quarters. It never stopped astonishing Harry how this worked. To get onto platform nine-and-three quarters you had to run through the solid wall between nine and ten.
"Harry, you go first," Said Mrs. Weasley. Harry stood for a minute and then took off. Harry closed his eyes for a moment and then he reached the barrier and then…went through it. As soon as, Harry opened his eyes he saw the large scarlet steam engine as it puffed a great amount of smoke. He could hear the muffled sounds of cats and owls in the background as Ginny came through.
"I am going to get on the train," She said pushing her trolley over to the entrance. In another moment, Ron came through and after that Hermione. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley followed them.
"Well, it was nice having you Harry and Hermione," Said Mr. Weasley.
"We would be happy to have you for Christmas," Mrs. Weasley exclaimed. She hugged them all and gave her usual farewell to Ron. They went back through the barrier and they walked over to the train.
"Ron, we have to go to the front of the train and see the new head boy and girl," Hermione said awkwardly. She knew that it was difficult for Harry to be left out of their lives. Ron went a bright red color.
"Alright, Harry find us a compartment," Ron said as Hermione dragged him away slowly. Harry stalked off sadly and went into in an empty compartment.
The train had started moving along slowly as he sat down and looked out of the window. The mountains were streaming by quickly. His eyes dragged upon the lone trees. There was a slight prick on his forehead and then….
Harry was staring down at a man with bright white hair. His face was rather pointed and contorted with fear. It was Lucius Malfoy and he seemed paler than usual. He was bowing in fear…to Harry.
"It is your turn to be punished…you have failed me to many times," Harry said to Malfoy in a high cold voice. That is not my voice, Harry thought. The room around him was dark and the only light was coming from the long window to the left. Harry was sitting in a large chair.
"My Lord, please, I have tried so hard to do good for you,"Malfoy was cowering, there were beads of sweat running down his face.
"Crucio," Harry pointed out his long wand. Harry could see Malfoy screaming in pain. Harry pulled his hand down…he noticed that his hand was not his hand. His fingers were long and scorned. "How dare you. You have failed me to many times. You who betrayed me. You should have gone to Azkaban before you dared to forsake my name. Did you once try to save me?"
Malfoy hindered for a moment. He looked back up into Harry's eyes and began to whimper. "Crucio," Harry proclaimed again. Malfoy cried out in pain.
"Malfoy, you will repay your debt. You, who have given me my greatest asset, I will spare you death this time." Harry said. He then laughed; it was a high cold laugh like a blast of icy wind.
"Harry," Someone screamed. There voice was muffled as if it were coming from an out of tune television. "Harry," The scream was louder this time. His eyes were opening. He could see three people hovering over him. They all looked rather afraid and pale. They became more definite. It was Ron, Hermione, and Neville. Hermione was saying something to Ron or Neville.
"Neville, could you go ask the driver when we will be at Hogwarts?" Hermione asked politely. Neville left quickly without looking back. Harry could feel a cool trickle on his forehead. A red liquid was beginning to obscure his vision. Hermione took a napkin from her pocket and began wiping at his forehead. Harry grabbed the napkin and noticed that he was on the floor. He got up and sat back down on the seat…his eyes back on the window.
"Harry, what happened to you?" Ron asked looking hurt that Harry hadn't given an explanation. Harry turned and saw that Hermione was holding Ron's hand.
"I had another vision-well not a vision-I had another of those things were I dream that I am Voldemort," Harry didn't want to talk about this to them. He wanted to talk to Sirius. But Sirius is gone, said a cold voice in his head.
"Harry, when we get to Hogwarts tells this to Dumbledore," Hermione said letting go of Ron's hand. She looked weary and cold.
"Who are the new head boy and head girl?" Harry asked. A change of conversation is what Harry wanted. Ron and Hermione seemed to understand and were happy for his choice.
"The head boy is that git, Zacharis Smith and-" Ron halted for a moment. He seemed to have a problem saying what he had to say.
"Oh, Ron, Harry hasn't fancied her for months," Hermione exclaimed from her seat. "The head girl is Cho Chang."
Cho Chang had been Harry's first crush and kiss. However, he didn't really like her anymore. Whenever, he thought of her it was in the past tense. She seemed to belong to another world that Harry used to live in.
"That's nice, at least it's not a Slytherin," Harry said. He had spat out the last word as if it were a curse. Slytherin was the worst house in Hogwarts and to Harry's dismay; three Slytherins' were standing at the door to the compartment. The closest one was blonde and had long corked nose. The others were tall and burly and were wearing expressions of retardation on their faces. The blonde one was Draco Malfoy and the others were his cronies, Crabbe and Goyle.
"What about Slytherin, Potter," Said Malfoy in his cold voice. Harry had a flash of his father lying on the floor screaming. Wait….
"Malfoy, I thought your father was in Azkaban," Harry said loudly. Ron looked up in shock and Hermione snorted in laughter. All the color in Malfoy's face was drained.
"Well, Potter, if you bothered to read the paper you would know something. You can read, can't you?" Malfoy said as Crabbe and Goyle guffawed stupidly.
"What about the paper," Harry asked. Hermione was now looking up at Harry in shock, as well.
"All the people that got arrested in the Ministry that day, they left with the dementor's, Potter," Malfoy said with a snide look on his face. Harry noticed he never said his father's name. "But, don't think I have forgotten what you did. You will pay, Potter," Malfoy said as he slammed the compartment door shut and they saw his silhouette walk away slowly.
"Harry, what was that about?" Ron asked as Harry sat back down.
"When I had the dream thing, I saw or was Voldemort (Ron flinched) torturing Malfoy. He said he had never tried to bring him back," Harry said. Hermione looked interested.
"That is odd. I mean he did try to rescue him, didn't he?" Hermione said quietly.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"The Chamber of Secrets," She said quickly as Neville walked back into the room. He looked slightly red.
"Are you okay, Neville" Harry said. Although, he was wondering about what Hermione had just said. Why had Malfoy neglected to Voldemort about the Chamber?
"Malfoy attacked me," He said. He looked like he was on the verge of tears. Harry stared deeper into Neville's round face and all the animosity he had felt toward him faded away. Neville was in fact, not crying he was red in fury. His hands were clutching the hems of his jeans.
"Don't worry about him, Neville," Harry said compassionately. Neville fell down on the seat and looked down to the floor.
"Neville, are we almost there?" Hermione asked on tenterhooks. Neville still looked quite opposite.
"We are nearly there," He said quickly and Hermione turned away from him. She rummaged threw her trunk, after pushing her owl cage out into the open.
"Hermione, when did you get the owl?" Ron asked noticing the large bushy brown owl.
"My mum got her for me…her name is Jane Eyre," Hermione said pulling her jet black robes out. She threw them on over her clothes and sat down. She was methodically pinning her prefect badge to her chest. Ron had begun rummaging threw his trunk. He pulled out his as Harry began to do the same. Just as Harry began to pull his robes over his head he heard the sound of the door slide open.
"Hello Luna," Rang out Hermione's voice as he pulled the robe down over his head. Standing in front of him was a rather tall young woman. She had rather straggly, waist length, dirty blonde hair and her eyebrows, the same color, were almost transparent. Her eyes were large and looked as if she was constantly shocked. She was wearing a number of green butterfly barrettes in her hair and on her ears were dragon hearts. There was a piece of wood hanging out of her hair. It was her wand.
"Hello, who are you all," She said taking a seat next to Neville. He still was sitting quietly. Harry wanted to say something to her but didn't have the words in him.
"So…how did that article on Sirius go?"Hermoine asked. This grabbed Harry's attention back to Luna. She was looking oddly at Harry. There was a slight smile on her face.
"It went great. Father was able to put it into the issue called: Things the Ministry didn't tell and other lies Fudge told," She said meekly. Ron stared up at her in awe. Harry was gaping at her in his usual manner. He loved that she beloved so many wild things. "I have a copy here."
"May I see it," Harry asked. Luna began to rummage through her pocket finally pulling out a thick looking newspaper entitled the Quibbler. She threw it over to Harry; who was sitting on the opposite seat. He opened it and went through a couple of pages seeing a few headlines that he was sure would have made Hermione scoff(Unicorn's: The Uprising power and Unspeakable Who Gained Too Much Power: You-Know-Who and more)then on the 11th page he found what he was looking for. Emblazoned in black letter were the words: Sirius Black: Friend or Foe. There was a picture of Sirius in the corner. It was the same one that had been used when Sirius escaped from Azkaban. Harry noticed how gaunt and lifeless his face was. He began to read:
In June, there were some most unexpected visitors to the Ministry of Magic. These included: Harry Potter and five of his closest school chums, Headmaster of Hogwarts Albus Dumbledore, famed Auror Made-Eye Moody, and others. Among this other's was none other than Sirius Black-the most infamous person ever to reside in Azkaban. But…did he ever deserve to be in Azkaban?
The answer is no; he was innocent and never proved guilty. He was proved to be disliked. Under the shady watch, of Millicent Bagnold and then followed by the faulty and gilded rule of Fudge, this innocent man was put into jail and kept there. How do we know this?
(Can't on pg.17)
"How do you know this?" Harry said as he closed the paper. He didn't care to hear the mad up reasons behind Sirius's innocence.
"My father got an interview with Dumbledore; he said it was insult to Black's Memory to let the world continue to think he was guilty. He was all for getting a Prophet interview but my dad got him in the end," Luna said with a smile on her face. Harry was quite happy with her explanation. Neville was still looking down at the ground.
Just when Harry was about to say something the train came to a stop. Hermione arose and looked wearily down at Neville. "Neville, you aren't going to let Malfoy get down, are you? I mean what you can expect from a dirty old Slytherin," She said in a happy voice. It was odd to hear Hermione say that. She very rarely criticized Slytherin house as a whole. Neville looked up at her brightly.
"I know…I have to go get my trunk from Ginny and Dean's compartment," He said with a smile coming up on his round face. Ron looked somnolent as he picked up Pig's cage and his trunk. Harry laughed; it was a known fact that Ron didn't like Ginny dating, as he picked up his own trunk and Hedwig's cage. She hooted loudly at the recognition. Hermione got her cage and trunk.
"Where's Crookshanks?" Ron asked as they left the compartment and headed toward the train's door.
"I left him at home. I wanted to bring Jane Eyre with me. I don't think he minded though; he loves my mum," Hermione said as they walked out of the train and saw that it was a clear starry night... From afar, they could hear Hagrid's rough, yet gentle, voice calling the first years. Harry wanted to go over but his hands were tired and he resolved to speak to Hagrid later.
As Harry approached the carriage he was once again haunted by what was holding the reins of the carriage He could see the haunting form of the Thestral. Its skeletal body and dragon-like face. It was jet black and its wings were flapping soundlessly. Harry for the first three years of Hogwarts had thought the carriages were able to fly; he knew better now, only those who saw death could see the Thestral.
He put them out of his mind and threw his things into the carriage, and dragged himself up. Hermione, Ron, Luna, and Neville followed him. The carriage began to move slowly and then gained speed. Then, over the hill, Harry could see it. He could see the sloping towers and cold gray brick that formed Hogwarts. His heart gave a slight skip. He was home.
