/I don't own anything you recognize in this story. /

Chapter Five

Standing on Platform 9 ¾, Harry looked around while watching the activity that was going on. He loved watching the hustle and bustle, letting it fill him up and feel the magic and excitement there was to going back to Hogwarts again. It was really the only thing that he looked foreword to and help him forget about his family.

After a couple of minutes, Harry turned to Hermione and Ron, who were handing their luggage to a nearby carter.

"We better get on and find a place to sit, it's almost time to leave," Harry said to them.

"Sounds like a good idea to me," Ron said.

"Harry, um, we can't sit with you in the beginning. Prefects have to be at the beginning to get instructions and such. I hope you won't be too upset," Hermione said timidly.

Harry felt his heart sink. He had forgotten that Ron and Hermione were prefects and had to sit at the front of the train on the way to Hogwarts in the beginning. He remembered all to well at the beginning of last year when he had felt jealousy and rage because of his best friends' being prefects. In fact, Harry hadn't been a very good friend last year and could understand why Hermione was fearful right now to what his reaction might be.

Harry shrugged. "Ok. I'll just go and find a seat and save you two a couple when you come back. I'll be waiting, patiently."

Hermione smiled in relief. "Ok, then. We'll be back in a few minutes, don't worry."

"Yeah, it's a real bother, believe me. You're lucky you're not one," Ron added to reassure him.

"Yeah, well, see you." Harry turned and climbed up the steps into the train. Finding an empty compartment at the end of the train, Harry went in and sat down, glancing out the window silently, his elbow resting on the windowsill and his head resting on his hand. This reminded him of his first train trip to Hogwarts, when he was uncertain of whether he would be accepted or not. But now it seemed as if he were accepted by almost everyone. Then in his third year he met his godfather and hoped that he would someday live with him and have a fatherly figure to look up at.

Sirius. Harry squeezed his eyes shut before opening them up again. He could never think about his godfather without almost breaking down and cry. He wished that he hadn't been so stupid as to let Sirius get into such a trap.

"Oh, look, everybody, it's Potter. What's the matter, Potter, did your friends abandon you? Maybe they couldn't take your celebrity status anymore. I wouldn't blame them, I'm quite sick of it, myself," Malfoy's voice rang out at the compartment door.

Glaring at his archenemy, Harry exclaimed, "Shut up, Malfoy, nobody wants to hear your boasting."

Malfoy's eyes narrowed. "You better watch your mouth, Potter, I could do some serious damage to your reputation, you know."

Harry feigned fearfulness. "Oh I'm so scared. I should watch where I step from now on, won't I? I'd love to see you try."

"Oh, don't worry, you'll be seeing it soon. Someday, you'll wish you'd never said that," Malfoy said.

Turning, Malfoy left the compartment and disappeared down the train. Harry shook his head. Some people Harry looked foreword to do without after Hogwarts. After several moments, Ron and Hermione appeared at the compartment and sat down beside Harry.

"That was a total waste of time. Trust me, Harry, I'll switch you positions any time, if you'd like," Ron complained, kicking his shoes off.

"If you'd like to defeat Voldemort for me, then go right ahead, I wouldn't mind. Being a prefect will be easy compared to that," Harry grumbled.

Ron and Hermione paled when they heard Voldemort's name, but didn't mention anything. Harry felt grim satisfaction that Ron looked as if he'd had second thoughts and decided that being a prefect was the better of the too, and much better at that.

"But I'm sure Harry will have no trouble defeating…Voldemort when the time comes," Hermione finally spoke up.

"Yeah, whatever," Harry muttered under his breath.

Ron suddenly pulled out his chessboard. "Want to have a go at chess, Harry? I'm sure you'll win this time."

"Sure," Harry complied and the two of them started off into a game of chess while Hermione sat long ways on the seat across from them knitting some clothes with Crookshanks on her lap. Anything right now was better than talking about the future.