The trip to Charing Cross station was uneventful, Professor Snape sent Dumbledore a message via the toaster, much to the amusement of Gekko, who seemed to be favouring the Potions Master with a bit of hero worship. Dumbledore replied that the Hogwarts express would be there to greet them…and that was that.

Two days later Harry sat in the compartment with Lupin and Snape, thumbing through a thick tome with no title-though, Harry reasoned; some things don't need names to have identities. Gekko spent the first half-hour to Hogwarts run up and down the aisle of the train, peering out windows and generally bursting with excitement at his "first real magical train ride". Lupin dozed, and Snape took turns scowling at everyone, while Dawn sat at the front of the train-doing god only knows what.

"I'm bored." Gekko announced to Harry, placing his small fist on his page so Harry couldn't just pretend to listen to the hyper child. Harry sighed and looked up at the young boy.

"Yes" He said agreeably. "You are."

Gekko scowled at him; and with a fast movement, yanked the book out of Harry's hands and clambered onto the bench next to Him, with a piteous look on his face. "Tell me about Hogwarts." He demanded. Harry rolled his eyes.

"You'll see it when we get there." He snatched his text back and settled onto his lap again, smoothing the pages and huffing with indignation

Gekko pouted and whirled to Snape, who had transferred his scowl to the boy. "Do you know anything about Hogwarts?" He asked. Snape raised an eyebrow at him.

"I am a Professor there." He replied, as if that was supposed to answer the child's question.

Gekko beamed. "Really? What do you teach? Is it scary? Do you work in a dungeon with ghouls and monsters?"

"As a matter a fact…" Snape sneered, thinking of his students.

Gekko eyes grew to the size of galleons. "Brilliant…" and went into a silent fit of joy at that thought of going to place that sounded every bit like the castle's he saw in B-rated horror movies. Harry rolled his eyes and turned a page, it would be a lot easier if he could concentrate.

While the thought of going back to Hogwarts was a pleasing notion, the idea of facing his friends and Dumbledore again were enough to rankle his nerves quite badly. Especially when he tells them he isn't going to be staying at the school. He knew what Hermione would do; lecture him on the irresponsibility of taking off where no one could protect him, and then yell at him for missing class while doing something girly like crying onto his shoulder and hugging him to death.

Ron would probably punch him.

Harry vaguely thought that Ron's method was much more comprehensive (and easier to deal with), even if he wasn't really looking forward to the black eye.

Harry thought about the time Mrs. Weasley said he was as good as one of her sons, he hoped she wasn't going to remember that and send him a howler. Harry squirmed and stretched out on the bench, dislodging Gekko from his seat, and stuffing his jumper behind his head for a pillow. Gekko whined in protest and sat atop Harry's legs, glaring at the teenager in annoyance. Harry grinned at him over his book.

"Come on Hal, please tell me 'bout Hogwarts?" The boy begged. Harry raised his eyebrows at him.

"Hal?" He asked, snorting. Gekko beamed at him. "I won't call you it if you tell me about your school."

Harry sighed and shut his book, staring up at the train's cracked ceiling.

"It's a giant castle with huge windows overlooking a huge lake, on a clear day on the highest tower, it seems like you can see out forever…"

He told Gekko everything about Hogwarts, and when he was done he told the little werewolf about his first year there, and found himself telling like it was a fairy tale, which, if Harry thought about more, would realize that is exactly what it was. He was halfway through his second year when he felt the train shudder and slow to a stop, and Dawn walked into their compartment -her arms loaded with scrolls and parchment- and told them it was time to go. Lupin stood up first-it seemed he had woken up earlier and was listening to Harry's narrative with a closed expression on his face. Snape followed, and after Harry was able to stand –his legs had fallen asleep from Gekko lounging on them-He hobbled out with Gekko in tow.

"Interesting view of events you have, Potter" Snape murmured to Harry as they walked down the train aisle.

He shrugged, not answering.

"One would think you would give yourself more of a hero's title, no doubt you father would have."

Harry felt something in him snap and-before he realized what he was doing- had Snape backed against the train wall, is wand pointing at his neck.

"The next person;" He hissed angrily, "The next fucking person who compares me to my Father will regret it. My father was a decent enough person to save your life; I don't have a problem letting you die. We. Are. Not. The . Same. Person." He ground out and stepped back from the potions professor, tucking his wand back in his shirt.

Harry turned to the other three people in the train, his face was white and there was a definitive tremble in his hand. Lupin was watching him sadly, Dawn was twiddling her thumbs rather impatiently, and Gekko tucked his hand into Harry's and said very quietly-so no one would hear him- "You were lying, you would save his life in a heart beat…you ran away so you wouldn't hafta." Harry was calming down enough to give the boy a small smile, and exiting the train. Snape exited the train last, having recovered from Harry's threat, and no one looked behind them to see the Potions Professor wearing a very uncharacteristic smile, and his eyes were flickering with something that could easily be pride.

Shockingly, it was Ron who cried. As Harry stepped into the great hall, tugging on the ends of his hair ribbon nervously (he had changed his hair back to its raven hue, and had clear contacts over his –once again-bright green eyes), two familiar faces bounded up to him and proceeded to envelope him into a large bone crushing hug. Ron was crying openly, gibbering that Harry was an Idiot and that if he ever tried something like that again he's sic Charlie's dragons on him.

Repeatedly.

Hermione agreed with the sentiment, but was too choked up to hex him, so the bushy-haired girl settled for smacking him repeatedly about the head. Ginny also appeared next to him, grinning, along with Neville and Luna, who greeted Harry as if he had seen her yesterday and wandered off to the Ravenclaw table with a book under her arm. Harry managed to get his friends to calm down, though Hermione still insisted on hitting him. Ron wiped at eyes, his ears red with righteous anger and more than a little embarrassment.

"Cor mate!" He said, sniffling. "Where in hell's name have you been?"

Harry, who had recovered his breath and was rubbingthe bruises on his much-abused skull, ducked his head at his friends and mumbled "London" at the floor. There was a slight, pregnant pause, and the five teenagers laughed, taking turns to hug Harry and thump him soundly on the head and back.

"If I am not interrupting, Mr Potter." Came a strict voice from behind. Harry turned to see Professor McGonagall glaring at him. Her eyes were suspiciously bright. He broke away from the little group and moved towards the Professor, he really, really, hoped she wasn't going to start crying.

The Deputy Head Mistress burst into tears.

Harry sighed; he had a feeling it was going to be one of those days.

Cor, that took a bloody while! Next up: Bumblebee…er….Dumbledore….I need to sleep. Oh, umm, if you thinks it's strange that Ron should cry over seeing Harry, well, I'm under the impression that Ron isn't as tough as he acts…and I thought it would befunny. Till next time!