9. Search for Knowledge
The days leading up to the departure from the Burrow to head to Hogwarts were some of the happiest times Harry had ever experienced. Everyday the group would go with George and Fred into town and help around the joke shop. Harry enjoyed helping out while the twins continued to spend their time developing products for the Christmas catalogue they would send to students at Hogwarts and publish an add in the daily profit for sales. They had also become so popular that they were planning the grand opening of their second shop. Hermione also had joined in the working at the joke shop developing a book keeping system for the twins that would help them keep track of the sales records and marginal costs of the products, trying to make it as easy as possible to under stand as well as use.
"You see Fred, if demand increase for a product then the supply should decrease as well," Hermione tried to explain, "and if the demand decreases then the supply will increase. Do you get it?"
"Not really Hermione," Fred said as he stared at the charts and profiles Hermione had written up on the merchandise in the joke shop.
"Ok... if people really like your product they will want more right?" Hermione asked.
"Yes," Fred answered.
"Then you will have less of that product in stock right?" Hermione asked.
"Yes," Fred answered.
"So if people don't like the product and it's not popular then people wont want it, right?" Hermione asked.
"Yes," Fred answered.
"Then you will have more of that product laying around?" Hermione asked.
"Yes," Fred answered.
"That is call supply and demand and that is what all these charts mean," Hermione explained.
"Then why didn't you say that in the first place Hermione?" Fred asked with annoyed look on his face.
"Don't worry about it, as long as you get it now things will make sense," Hermione sighed.
"But Hermione it still really doesn't make much sense," Fred sighed.
"Oh goodness," Hermione exclaimed rolling her eyes, "maybe if we got you a computer it would help you out."
"A What!" Fred and George cried
"Pure bloods, Hermione," Harry said with a laugh.
"Well they would be the most technologically advanced shop in all of Diagon Alley," Hermione smiled.
"But the lack of tech support could spiral their productivity to unimaginable lows," Dominic said.
"Spiral...productivity...unimaginable?" George shuddered.
"None of this sounds good at all!" Fred said with a worried look.
"No good will come of this, Hermione!" George frowned.
"Alright, alright," Hermione said exasperated, "I'll try and think of something way easier," she said and went on with the inventory listing she had started.
"That girl will be the end of this business!" Fred whispered to George.
"Undoubtedly!" George whispered back.
Every night once they had all finished at the shop every last one of them would enjoy nightly Quiddich practice. They would practice from the time dinner was finished to the time the sun had set. They would then return to the house tired and yet happy from what they had accomplished in a days work.
The week ended quickly. The last two days of the holidays were spent frantically getting everyone ready to head back to Hogwarts. Ron, Ginny, Dominic, Amelia, Hermione and Harry were the group heading off to the school once again and Molly Weasley was the only adult left to organize the six children. The night before leaving trunks were stacked nearly to the ceiling near the door of the Weasley house. Pets were pampered, cleaned and placed in sturdy cages for the voyage. Rooms were checked and double checked for belongings and school supplies that would be hard to live without were stored snugly into the cases. Harry packed his new quiddich robes and broom neatly into his case and became extremely excited to start the Quiddich year, it would be great. He would be the greatest Captain. He told himself happily. This was going to be the best year at Hogwarts and yet something like a pain, a dread lingered within him. Something he knew would probably be his greatest challenge ever. Harry would be finishing his schooling at Hogwarts this year and would be going on to the wizarding world for work, but he would also be leaving the safety of the castle, a place where Lord Voldemort would never be able to touch him as long as he was there. The time would soon come for him to face and battle Voldemort again. It had happened so many time in his magical life but something inside him told him that this would probably be the most difficult of the engagements with the dark lord. Harry stared blankly out the window from the dinning table in the burrow thinking to himself about the things to come.
"Harry dear, are you alright?" Mrs. Weasley asked after a few moments of watching him stare.
"Oh yes I am fine," Harry smiled as he snapped out of his trance like state.
"Are you worried you have forgotten to pack something? If you have we can find it and send it to you by owl. Don't worry about anything," Mrs. Weasley smiled as she patted his head, "you will have a wonderful year."
Harry smiled back at her and excused himself from the table. She was probably right it would be a wonderful year he only wished what awaited him after wasn't real. All the worry about the dark lord and school and Quiddich had taken all his time. He had yet to decided what he wanted to do after school. He had a few ideas brewing in his head but had never really picked one certain thing always finding some way it would be ruined by Voldemort. Sometimes he wondered if he should even bother to worry about it. His destiny was set and it was leading him down the path of facing off with Voldemort and that was his highest priority. There was no use in being selfish for himself because he risked most of the magical community if he didn't fight against the darkness. Even if he wanted to do something for himself his path was set. Harry believed deep down if he practiced a lot that he could be a good enough Quiddich player to try out for the national team, but he would never risk the quiddich league or his team with the ever looming presents of Voldemort. Sometimes the reality of his life was the most depressing thing for Harry, but he had to push that to the back of his mind he had other more important things to worry about and clouding his mind with other things only made him weaker against the darkness. He sighed sadly to himself and continued on his way upstairs
The next morning all were woken by Mrs. Weasley bright and early to make sure they were all well fed and dressed warmly before heading off to the station to meet the train. Breakfast was already on the table as they came from all directions of the house. The conversation on this morning was bright and cheerful, but not about the days work at the joke shop but most of the time was spent telling the twins about how they would arrive at Hogwarts.
"This should be quite interesting," Amelia mused, "we could have never taken the train to Starysnow, it was always a two day journey to where we had to meet. First we would travel by car to a meeting place where we would meet Mr. Folly, he was the ground keeper and he would lead all the students by horse drawn sleigh as far north as the horse could go. Then we would stop and change to dog sled for the rest of the trek."
"Yeah it was really cold all the time, worst part of the trip if you ask me," Dominic said as he ate, "you go from really nice summer weather to cold and then colder as the year progressed."
"Yeah, it really bother Dominic because his favorite thing to do is lay in the sun," Amelia joked.
"I'm a sloth what can I say!" Dominic laughed
"Well the train is very warm," Ron laughed, "and once we get to Hogsmade station we go by carriage from there to the castle. The carriages are drawn by these weird demony thingies that you can only see if you have seen death"
"Weird demony thingies, is that a technical term Ron?"Hermione laughed.
"You know what I mean!" Ron said turning a little red.
"The first years don't take the carriages, they go with Rubeus Hagrid, our grounds keeper across the lake by boat. It takes longer for them so we all get there first and get into the great hall to wait for them and see the sorting." Ginny explained.
"That sorting thing really sounds terrible," Amelia stated as she finished her breakfast and helped to clear the table, "when we were sorted into houses at Starysnow it was only before the six house teachers. "Six houses why so many?" Ginny asked in amazement.
"It is the only wizarding school in all of Canada, for a country with thirteen provinces and territories it had to be a very large school. There were so many students all the time."Dominic explained.
"Yeah there were so many of us that we all had to arrive by province at a different time , that's why we were sorted like we were. It would have taken so long with all the new people coming in," Amelia added.
"Yeah it took over a week for all the students to arrive. We were one of the first provinces every year so we had like a week of just hanging around the school before even sitting down to the start of term feast," Dominic laughed.
"But it was nice too we all got to have private lessons or jump ahead with one on one work with the professors for that first week," Amelia smiled, "but I am so looking forward to working with Professor McGonagall, I really hope she will give me some private lessons, tutoring if you would for my Animagus."
"I'm sure she will she's a great Animagus herself," Hermione smiled.
"Alright all you, we had best be getting out of here and the station, hurry and get your things!" Mrs. Weasley urged as she cleared the last of the dishes, "Arthur are the cars here yet?"
"Yes!" Mr. Weasley said as he came into the house.
"Ron, Harry, Dominic, would you please help Arthur with the cases," Mrs. Weasley asked, "girls you take the animals out there please."
"Yes ma'am" the three boys said together.
The cars were loaded quickly and the whole group headed off to the station. They arrived at the station and frantically unloaded the cars noticing that even the most preparation had left them running late.
"Alright everyone hurry, or you'll miss the train!" Mrs. Weasley said as she began to run through the station to platform nine and three quarters.
"Just run straight at that wall," Harry said to Amelia as they got close to the platform
"What at the wall?" Amelia gasped
"Yes that's how you get onto the platform, its through the wall." Harry laughed, "oh just watch Ginny."
Ginny ran straight at the wall and disappeared onto the platform.
"That's awesome," Dominic said to Amelia with a smile, "this is so cool. Mrs. Weasley may I go next?" he asked filled with excitement.
"Go ahead dear." Mrs. Weasley laughed.
Soon everyone was on the platform looking at the familiar red engine of the Hogwarts Express. Amelia and Dominic boarded right behind Harry and found a compartment to wait for Hermione and Ron to meet them. Ginny, on the platform, found a few of her other friends and ran off down the train to sit with them.
"This is so beautiful" Amelia smiled as she looked up and down the train.
"It's a train Amelia!" Dominic said with a weird look.
"Its so different!" Amelia smiled.
"That's how I felt too when I took my first train ride to Hogwarts. Wait till you see the castle!" Harry said with enthusiasm.
"Well Potter you are back again," A voice came from the doorway.
"As are you Malfoy," Harry rolled his eyes.
"And who are you?" Draco Malfoy asked as he eyed Amelia, "you aren't from around here are you beautiful."
"I'm Amelia Cross, and this is my twin brother Dominic," Amelia said feeling a bit awkward, "we're from Canada."
"Ah a northern beauty, I can help you become accustom to Hogwarts. Hope you are sorted to Slytherin," Draco smiled.
"Go back to Pansy, Draco," Harry said under his breath, "Amelia has already been sorted, she's in Gryffindor."
"Ah you're girlfriend then Potter?" Malfoy laughed, "well I can change that, my lady should you need anything it would be my pleasure to help you," he smiled again at Amelia.
"Leave my sister alone, she doesn't need to befriend Slytherin's" Dominic said as he glared at Draco.
"Problem with Slytherin?" Draco said angrily, "we'll show you, don't mess with me punk!"
"I'll mess with you all I like," Dominic said even more forcefully.
"Please stop!" Amelia cried, "don't get into a fight already Dominic."
"Listen to the beautiful lady sitting beside you, she knows when not to mess with a dark wizard, you should learn some manners!" Draco glared, "not a good thing Miss. Cross to be associating yourself with trouble makers like Potter."
"Please Draco," Amelia said with anguish in her voice, "I don't want to see a fight its not very becoming of any of you." she said as she pushed past Draco and out of the compartment.
"Stay away from my sister!" Dominic yelled as Draco turned to follow her.
"You going to stop me?" Malfoy asked.
"Damn right I am!" Dominic said as he drew his wand, "I have no use for dark wizards nor does my sister stay away."
"I'll deal with you later!" Malfoy laughed and left the compartment.
Amelia returned shortly after still looking angry with Hermione.
"Please stay away from him Amelia," Dominic said as she came back, "Harry says he already has a girlfriend and that he's just not good."
"I heard it all from Hermione and what he thinks of muggle born wizards, but I don't need you to fight for me Dominic, I can stand up for myself," Amelia said angrily, "I don't need this, and it's not even the first day at a new school."
"I was just trying to help," Dominic sighed.
"He's really not a good person," Harry said softly again.
"I can judge that for myself," Amelia said angrily.
"He's telling the truth Amelia," Hermione sighed, "his father is Lord Voldemort's lead death eater, or something along those lines. The whole family is just bad. Pure blood doesn't always mean good blood."
"What?" Amelia gasped, "now I really don't want you fighting him Dominic, just stay away!"
"If he comes near you again I can't promise I will," Dominic said.
"Dominic no!" Amelia cried, "just leave him alone."
"Please don't fight," Hermione said, "we'll be at the school soon. We had better change into our school robes and get ready. Come with me Amelia."
"Amelia, please don't be mad at me," Dominic said at the door to his sister, "I just don't want you to be hurt like mum was."
"I know Dominic, I just don't want you to cause any trouble," Amelia sighed, "the more we stay away from him the less likely anything will happen. And I am not mad at you Dom."