Harry Potter and Dumbledore's Army
Chapter Nine: The Hogwarts Express
A/N: This chapter took me so long because I went on vacation and then school started. I promise I am going to keep up with things though! I made up a few names of previous Hogwarts Students so just go along with it. Other than that I've introduced a new character with a few more on the way… Enjoy!
The Hogwarts Express chugged its way into the station and tooted its horn to announce its arrival. Only a handful of people awaited the glorious train and of those only a few were students. Harry quickly grabbed the bags of Ginny and Soleil and hoisted them onto the train. He then lugged Hermione, Luna and his own bags into the storage compartments and went back to say good byes.
"Jeeze, thanks for the help Harry," Ron laughed as he lugged his own things onto the train. Hermione only chuckled at the two and said, "We are wizards boys. Levioso." Hermione then proceeded to carry Neville, Draco and Ron's things into the awaiting compartment. Harry laughed at his own stupidity and shook his head. "Well Ron, I suppose we are lucky to be wizards but are luckier that we have Hermione."
Tears were cried and hugs were exchanged as our young and ambitious team said their goodbyes to Mr. And Mrs. Weasley. Draco Malfoy stood off to the side unsure what to do or say. It was obvious to all that he wanted to stay at the Burrow and go to Hogwarts at the same time. He was battling with his demons and needed the protection that both provided. Mrs. Weasley, who had instantly taken him under her wing, was the emotional support and kindness that Draco had never felt. Hogwarts was the physical protection and safety that was necessary to live another day.
"Draco, sweety, come here." Mrs. Weasley quietly called to him. Draco timidly approached, still shaken from the encounters earlier that day. He had spent hours being interrogated by Aurors, Professors and the adult Weasleys (namely Mr., Mrs., and Charlie) while the rest of the group ate dinner and waited for the train.
"Do you want to return to the Burrow or head to Hogwarts now? I know you've had a long day and things have been a bit much but Professor McGonagall feels you are safest at Hogwarts. Even with Dumbledore gone, Hogwarts has the power and strength to protect the few that are returning this year." Mrs. Weasley lightly patted his arm and then drew him into her arms. She had always been the motherly friend in her youth. As an adult she clearly had taken that a step further and had a more than half-a-dozen kids. Then as a mother she had adopted even more children into her life. Draco was another child in her care and she refused to see him lose his way again.
"I can go back to the Burrow?" Draco whispered, his eyes glossed over and his body slack. Though Draco had always been a git, he wasn't naturally an evil person. Years of pain and torture had molded him into a conceited, egotistical death-eater-in-the-making. If it wasn't for his mother, Draco might have turned into that Death Eater, but secretly the little bits of love he received from his mother had given him a heart. It is rare for a person to truly be good or bad. Draco was completely stuck in the middle of a battle with his warring inner personalities.
"Yes, of course you can. Draco, we all have talked things over and we understand that things are never what they seem. Your blatant attempt at getting us killed is hard to forgive but Mrs. Weasley and I are not so cold as to not try. You changed your heart just in time to save us and you fought on our side. That is enough to offer you a home for now. You will have to return to Hogwarts and win over our children but for now you can return with us." This came from Mr. Weasley, who had approached his wife after having a word with Harry. Mostly warnings and promises to keep each other informed were passed between Harry and Mr. Weasley.
"But, won't that put you in danger if I return to the Burrow?" Draco's brow creased in worry and his angelic yet devilish eyes turned dark. His failures had already led to the death of the only important person in his life, his mother. He wouldn't place another family in danger because of him. He had already almost gotten them killed.
Up until that morning Draco thought that he would be able to hold it together long enough to get through the day and all of the plans made by Voldemort. He thought he could watch these people die if it meant saving his mother. He thought he would be able to let go of it all. Then Mrs. Weasley started to nag about everyone's safety, including his own. Then he realized the trust she was putting him in by letting him go with them. Then he realized what he was doing. It wasn't until he saw the newspaper that he knew what he had to do. Before that point, he wanted to save Mrs. Weasley alone. Maybe even Granger, who had defended him in the kitchen only the night before. He knew these were good people and didn't deserve what was awaiting them, but he didn't know how to stop it without getting his own family killed.
After seeing the picture and hearing Potter read the story out loud Draco knew what he had to do. They arrived just in time to save the Weasleys. Though he didn't think that Potter or Ron Weasley realized it but he deflected quite a few of the unforgivable curses from them as well as their girlfriends. Draco was not surprised in slightest at the D.A's lack of balls. Simple, harmless, spells were attempted at the Death Eaters. The smartest thing they did was to avoid the Death Eaters while the Aurors did all of the dirty work. Draco was grateful that Mrs. Weasley and a few of the Aurors noticed Draco's fight for the good guys. He had even thrown a few, slightly dark, but powerful spells at the attackers, some of whom were his friends fathers or his fathers friends.
Once everyone was safe and the captured Death Eaters were taken away, Draco went through a thorough investigation with many important people there to witness. He dumped as many of his key memories into a pensive and answered all the questions the best he could. He, at first, care very little whether they believed him or not. He barely even cared whether he lived to see the next day. But eventually, after a little bit of comforting from Mrs. Weasley, Draco broke and cried in front of everyone.
He was then escorted to St. Mungo's to identify his mother and father and sign paper work to inherit his title and all that went with it. This was the hardest thing Draco had ever done. Seeing his dear mother in such a horrible condition. His mind whirled and his heart ached but he did what he had to do. He signed off on paper after paper giving the ministry permission to search the Malfoy estate for anything to help with the search for Voldemort. He single goal in life now was to fight Voldemort and kick his ass (pardon my French but clearly there is reasoning behind Malfoy's anger).
Draco's pain ached in his heart and in his head as he faced the Weasleys. To return to the Burrow would be putting Mr. And Mrs. Weasley in danger. He knew that he would not only have to face his demons but he would have to face Lord Voldemort as well. Death loomed over him as his face paled and his eye smoldered. He could not place the Weasleys in that kind of danger, not when he just finished getting them out of danger.
"Yes, it won't be the safest of situations, Draco, but Molly and I are strong wizards and are willing to take the chances. Of course if an attack is clearly on its way we will have to remove ourselves, but for now the Burrow is safe enough." Mr. Weasley put a hand on Draco's shoulder to comfort him.
"No, I'll return to Hogwarts. I need to be away from Voldemort as far as I can. I can't- I won't- I'm going to Hogwarts." Draco's troubles were nothing new. He had never been able to express love or compassion out loud. He didn't know how to tell the Weasleys how much they meant to him now, or that he couldn't bare to put them in any danger. His head drooped and his shoulders hunched over. The pain visibly crossed his face. Mrs. Weasley, an all knowing woman, wrapped him in a hug and whispered,
"Draco, your struggle is not nearly over but you have love and support. I am only an owl away, Arthur is going to be visiting Hogwarts frequently and my children, once they've turned around, will be there as well. Have a little faith, love and hope and you will be all right. If things get really bad, Hermione has never turned away a friend in need and will completely be there to listen."
Draco nodded and absentmindedly wiped away his tears. From the train a few observes took note of the events in front of them. It was a new day for Draco Malfoy and for the good guys.
"Harry, are you okay?" Hermione asked staring at the dazed, scruffy young man across the compartment from him. She watched as he shrugged a reply and absentmindedly leaned onto Ginny, who was sitting next to him. Even without thinking about it, she brushed the hair from his face and entwined her fingers with his. Hermione sighed at the displays of emotion between the broken couple. It was a waste of love and time for them to claim to not be together.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just in shock a little from earlier today." Harry mumbled as he fiddled with Ginny's hand. In reality Harry had just witnessed an odd scene outside of the train on the platform. He pressed the image out of his mind and looked up as the compartment door opened.
This year the Hogwarts express was arranged slightly different. Instead of being separated into compartments within each car, the whole car was one living-room-like space with pillows, chairs, a bookcase and a small cart of food. The colors of the houses swirled and mixed in beautiful patterns that lightened all of the décor of the train. Ginny and Harry were seated in a small plush love seat across from Hermione, Ron and Neville, who each took up their own recliner. Luna lay upside-down with her feet dangling on the cushion of a larger couch against the train's wall. Soleil laid across the remainder of the couch not bothered in the least by Luna's feet.
The door had opened to reveal a beautiful multiracial girl. Her almond-shaped eyes drifted across the room only momentarily hesitating at Harry. Harry wondered who she was and where she came from since he had clearly never seen someone so enchanting before in his life. She had a presence about her that screamed dignity, poise and warmth but she commanded the attention of the room without the arrogance of a Veela or a veela-descendent. Her hands shook lightly with nerves and she had began to droop until Harry said, "Hi. Come on in."
She instantly perked up and took a seat in an armchair next to Hermione. In her arms was a large book entitled "History of Wizarding England" which caught Hermione's eyes within seconds. She smiled at the stranger, knowing that they would at least have reading in common.
"I'm Hermione. This is Ron, his sister Ginny, Neville, Soleil, Harry and Luna." Hermione stuck her hand out and the other girl took it. Now both of them were smiling warmly and the stranger said, "I am Caralyn da Vinci but you may call me Cara. I'll be a 7th year at Hogwarts. I used to attend Universidad Bologna."
"Bologna? I thought that was muggle. Wow, well, welcome to Hogwarts." Hermione again smiled. Harry was the only other person to have heard of Bologna before but couldn't remember where he had heard of it from. Obviously it was from his years before Hogwarts, but that was so long ago that he didn't strain to remember. He was sure Hermione would inform him of the significance later.
"Thank you. I am excited but a little nervous. Have all of you been at Hogwarts for all of your years?"
"No, I am going to be a 6th 'ear at 'ogwarts but I used to go to Beauxbatons." Soleil gave Caralyn an understanding look. Hogwarts was the most famous of all the wizarding schools in the world and was quite an intimidating force. Even with the tragedies of the past three years Hogwarts had suffered considerably less damage than many of the other schools. What wasn't widely known to the students was that Voldemort's supporters crossed countries as well as species. There were numerous groups in numerous places that had bowed to his powers before and were quickly reuniting with the dark cause. During Harry's 6th year England wasn't the only place facing strange and unusual deaths and disappearances. Unfortunately, most other countries had obvious and bloody deaths and disappearances. No longer did many people feel the need to high their loyalties or their actions. The situation was deteriorating rapidly.
"Are there many new students and transfers?" Cara asked slightly timidly. For someone of such presence and beauty she was quite shy and nervous. Harry inwardly laughed at the thought of Cara getting comfortable and giving Malfoy a run for his money. She was clearly noble and clearly pureblood. Then Harry remembered Malfoy's situation and the changes that were taking place. He wasn't sure if there would ever be a time of laughter and fun now that the war was developing.
"Well, we don't really know yet. You're the first person we've seen so far. We all came together. Right now not many students are even returning to Hogwarts, let alone transferring." Hermione sighed at this and a thoughtful look crossed her face. Ron felt the shift and gently rubbed her arm. Hermione was more surprised than anything at this obvious sense of understanding, something that Ron rarely displayed.
"It is the 7 of us and another boy so far. I've been told that about ten 5th years returned, eight 4th years and no one under that. Professor, erm, Headmaster McGonagall wasn't sure about 6th and 7th years or transfers. This year is looking to be quite different for all of us." Ginny had spent some time asking about each and every one of her friends. Professor McGonagall had done her best to remember but had quite obviously been busy with getting things ready.
Though they didn't know it, of the 7th years, Cho Chang, Blaise Zambini, Terry Bones and Samantha Bowler were returning and of the 6th years, Marcos Polonie, Debra Mitchell, Bobby O'Shay and Thomas Jenkins were returning. These few students, plus our heroes and our transfers, were going to be placed in dorms by their year rather than their house. It was so important that the remaining students unified that Professor McGonagall gave up the ages long tradition of houses and the House Cup. In the time of war things were always different.
"So Caralyn, how old are you?" Neville asked, attempting to start conversation. "I am 17, almost 18. My birthday is December sixth." Luna perked up at this and said, "Hmm a Sagittarius. Seeing is believing and your powers will reflect sight." Caralyn, as well as everyone else, merely gave her an odd look and shrugged their shoulders.
"I hate to ask this, but are you Harry Potter, like the Harry Potter? And Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley and Ginny Weasley?" Caralyn had been bursting to ask these questions since she walked in. Her guard was going down and her nerves were settling. Neville seemed slightly disappointed that he hadn't been noticed but Luna chose that moment to test her paper airplane and hit him squarely on the nose.
"Yeah, that's us." Harry seemed a little irritated at being known world wide but then he felt a little proud that it was at least for honorable and good things now. No longer was he the-boy-that-lived-because-he-was-merely-a-baby-and-his-mom-loved-him; He was now the Boy-that-lived-and-knew-the-truth-and-was-ignored-but-fought-anyways-like-a-true-heroe-with-true-heroic-friends.
"Wow, that's amazing that you are returning to Hogwarts. You guys are so brave!" Cara smiled and relaxed in her seat. Just as she got comfortable she remembered something, "Oi, where is the loo, I need to change into my robes."
"Well, it's two compartments over but you don't have to change just yet." Hermione motioned towards the correct door.
"I feel more comfortable once I'm out of my mother's idea of proper Italian witch attire." She smiled, gathered her things and waved. "I'll be back in a bit."
Cara exited the compartment where Harry and his friends sat and entered the next one only to hear sounds of sobs and sniffles. She looked around and in the corner sat a small, bundled Draco Malfoy hugging his knees as if he wished he could disappear (forever rather than disparate).
Cara approached him and said, "Hey, are you all right?" Draco looked up startled and ungentlemanly said, "Bugger off."
A/N: Well, what do you think? More time on the train next and maybe even a few new students (depends on where the keyboard leads me). Review and Much love to all of my favorite reviewers. I hope this satisfies you for a little bit longer. Adventure and Action and much more coming very soon I PROMISE :0)