Sorry this has taken so long to come out. As they say trouble comes in threes, let's just hope it doesn't decide to come in any more than that.

ShadeDancer

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and can't get money for this, but I can make him into a Mafia Prince.

Warning: Some chapters (the ones including pranks) might not be appropriate to read at work. Laughter may ensue leading your co-workers to see you as even more insane than they previously thought.

Chapter 6: Unseen Things

"Be on your guard," Manuel was instructing Harry quietly as they walked towards the barrier at platform 9 ¾, "I don't like how things went last year, but at least this year I know Severus will keep an eye on you. And for the love of the clan keep yourself fully armed at all times, I'd send a Dagger with you if I could. Also, don't let that headmaster talk you into anything or get you to reveal anything, there's cunning behind that grandfatherly façade."

Harry nodded as his father talked, they had been through this many times already that morning but he knew it was worry that had his father relentlessly pursuing the topic. The worst thing was that Harry understood the concern and felt it himself though not to the extent that Manuel did. He was the one who had faced the possessed Quirrell at the end of last year with no help in sight except for Blaise, how he had frantically wished for the protection of the guards that had been with him over the years then.

Looking up Harry and Manuel noticed that Blaise and Trevor had already disappeared through the wall leading to platform 9 ¾ and it was now their turn. Walking boldly forward with purpose so as not to attract attention by acting furtive Harry and his father strode towards the barrier only to come in contact with a brick wall. Puzzled Harry and his father looked at each other knowing that they had the right place, but the barrier wasn't letting them through.

"What's going on Harry?" Manuel asked knowing that there was nothing he could do as this dealt with magic and he wasn't a wizard.

"I don't know." Harry spoke softly, "I can sense the barrier here, but it seems to be shut for some reason. Trevor and Blaise made it through though. What if something's happening on the other side and they're in trouble?"

The same thought had been tumbling through Manuel's mind, "is there any way you can get us through?"

Harry frowned before concentrating his magic and imagining the barrier opening up to let him and his father through. Slowly Harry began to, well, force his magic out was the only way he could think of to describe it and he felt the barrier try and ripple open even as some unknown force opposed him. Struggling Harry pushed on, refusing to give up as he used more magic, taking strength from his father's belief in him as well as the comforting hand upon his shoulder. With a sudden surge the barrier opened under his relentless assault and Harry told his father to go through before him, he knew the moment he walked through the barrier he would be unable to keep opposing the force that continued to fight back. Nodding Manuel backed through the barrier, watching his son's back all the while as he prepared to pull his child to him if needed. With a nearly inaudible cry Harry threw himself through the opening he had punched through the barrier and landed awkwardly in his father's arms, the barrier snapping resolutely shut behind him.

"You alright?" Manuel asked Harry urgently after he finished scanning the station and realized that there was no threat, no one had even taken any notice of them.

"Yeah," Harry spoke softly, fighting off dizziness but unwilling to tell his father.

"Let's find Trevor and Blaise and get you to a compartment," Manuel said, surreptitiously supporting Harry though he made out that it was more of a protective gesture; he knew Harry would not confess to the tiredness that was writ across his young face and would refuse help if it was presented as that.

Pushing forward through the crowd Manuel drew Harry along behind him, pretending not to notice that Harry was leaning a bit heavily on his arm as they made their way to the end carriage where they knew Trevor and Blaise would be. He didn't care if anyone called out rudely as he shoved a path through the milling throng; he only wanted to see Harry to a compartment where his son could safely rest. In relief he glimpsed Trevor worriedly scanning the crowd and waved his best friend over, ignoring the questioning glances he was sent as they both flanked Harry. With mere minutes to spare they settled an exhausted Harry into the compartment with Blaise, Manuel promising to fill Trevor in later as the train was about to leave.

"I love you Harry." Manuel whispered as he placed a kiss upon the boys forehead, smiling yet worried when he noticed the boy was already asleep.

The warning whistle sounded and Manuel quickly secured a promise from Blaise to watch over Harry as he slept and to make sure he ate when he awoke before leaving the compartment so Trevor could throw up a hasty ward that only the children could take down. With that both men left the train and stared at it as the scarlet engine departed, a sense of foreboding suddenly filling them.

"Severus will be there to watch over them," Trevor spoke suddenly, softly, as if to reassure them both; but it didn't matter, the only thing that would really reassure them now was to have their children safely at their sides.

Meanwhile on the other side of the barrier a young redhead was panicking. He had slipped away from his mothers coddling only to drop his pet rat. Naturally he had chased after his worthless pet only to realize that the hunt had taken him back through the barrier into the muggle world. Quickly he had ran back at the barrier, hoping to make it through before the train left, only to smash headlong into rough brick. The barrier was closed and he could only watch helplessly as a nearby clock struck eleven, the train had left without him and he was stuck in the muggle world, unknowing of when his parents would come back through. That was if they didn't apparate home, but they couldn't apparate without leaving the car.

Ron's eyes widened as inspiration struck. The car! It could fly and turn invisible. It couldn't be that hard to drive it, after all the twins along with Harry and Blaise had snuck it out earlier that summer. All he had to do was hit the invisibility booster and get it into the air before following the Express to Hogwarts. Grinning at the thought of the twins expression when he landed the car at Hogwarts Ron scampered off towards the parking lot. They sure would be jealous and wish they had been along with him, it would be something to tease them about for a long time.

"Come on Harry!" A voice called and he felt a fleeting touch on his shoulder before he jerked awake, knife coming out.

In a corner of the compartment Blaise stood with a knowing look upon her face, she had been expecting him to lash out and had jumped back after giving him a shake. With a wiry smile Harry sheathed his knife and stretched out his body, working out the cramps he had acquired while sleeping.

"What time is it?" He yawned, "are we near Hogwarts yet?"

"No," Blaise replied shaking her head, "but the trolley lady is right outside and I figured you'd need something to eat."

"Thanks Blaise," Harry smiled at his friend and turned to greet the trolley lady as he selected an assortment of candy before sorting some wizard money out from his pounds and paying for it.

Thanking the trolley lady Harry dumped the candy into the empty basket Blaise had handed him and turned to see that Blaise had set out the food Lucille had sent along with them for the trip. Seriously, with the amount of food Lucille had packed them you would think that the school didn't feed them any; there was probably enough food for five people. Spread out on one of the seats were a large variety of sandwiches, crisps, two canteens of soup, pickles, cookies, mini cakes, and two thermoses of soup. In the end it turned out to be a good thing that Lucille had packed so much for the twins and Ginny could be heard out in the hall and they were looking for them.

"In here," Blaise shoved the door open and motioned the Weasley's in, "we're just about to have lunch."

The Weasley's eagerly joined when they learned Lucille had packed the lunch and threw their own food into the mix to slightly swell the available amount. Lee Jordan ended up joining them as well and the compartment was full of laughter and plotting as pranks were thought of and the twins teased Ginny about going through the sorting. As the train drew up to the station Harry was wishing that he had gotten the chance to sleep a bit more before the feast, but a wave of magic swept over him as they passed through the wards around the station and energized him slightly. They paused at the station long enough to bid Ginny good luck as she went with the other first years towards Hagrid and the boats before walking along with the other students towards the carriages that would transport them to the school. Thankfully only the first years went by boat and the twins along with Harry, Blaise, and Lee Jordan secured a carriage by themselves for the ride to Hogwarts.

"What are the things pulling the carriage?" Harry asked once they had set off and Blaise nodded to indicate her curiosity as well.

"Things pulling the carriage?"

The others were puzzled and said the carriages weren't pulled by anything that they could see. Harry and Blaise exchanged looks but said no more on the matter as the carriage rumbled over the rocky path towards the castle. But their curiosity hadn't abated and when the carriages pulled to a stop they walked to the front and studied the horse-like creatures there. They were a black and bony creature with leathery wings jutting out from their backs and eyes that shone a clouded white in the night. The creatures also possessed a spirited air about them that reminded him slightly of Azrael when the stallion was in a demonic mood, only Azrael wasn't skin and bones and didn't have wings. These were the types of horses you could imagine pulling the chariot of Hades. Taking a chance Harry reached out and rubbed one of the creatures on the nose, glad that it didn't bite at him but leaned into the touch gracefully, before he headed into the school with Blaise and the others for the sorting and feast.

"Weasley, Ginerva," McGonagall called out, gathering Harry's full attention in order to see where the youngest Weasley went to.

It took a few minutes, but finally the hat shouted out "GRYFFINDOR" and Ginny happily took a seat at the Gryffindor table next to the twins who were rowdily congratulating her. Managing to catch Ginny's eye he mouthed 'Ginerva' questioningly and received a blush in response, causing him to chuckled before he turned back to the matter that had previously attracted his attention; the absence of one Professor Severus Snape at the head table. His worry over the professor was short lived though as the head of Slytherin house swept into the great hall amidst the groans of students who had been hoping he had not returned to harass them for yet another year. A quick word with Dumbledore and McGonagall had the transfiguration teacher heading out of the Hall behind Professor Snape; Dumbledore left a few minutes later after starting the feast.

Rampant speculation filled the hall as to what had called three of the teachers away from the feast, but no one seemed to have any real ideas except for the Weasley's. They had noticed that Ron was missing and caught the attention of Harry and Blaise to indicate their missing brother. Harry and Blaise nodded in acknowledgement but knew that there was nothing they could do about it and so turned back to eating, noting when the missing professors returned. Nothing else noteworthy happened during the feast except for Gilderoy Lockhart being introduced and giving a longwinded speech about nothing before sitting down with a flourish so that Dumbledore could give his announcements. It was going to be a long year Harry thought as he settled back into the familiar comfort of the Slytherin dorms and he was going to give Lockhart as much trouble as he could.

Meanwhile a tiny creature with large, floppy ears and tennis ball eyes was ironing his already bandaged hands, occasionally stopping to bang his head with the oven door, all the while muttering how he had failed his master.

"Couldn't get to Mister Harry Potter," he was muttering, "couldn't keep him from the train. Master be mad at poor Dobby. Master punish Dobby. Dobby punish self for Master. Dobby do better next time. Master must give Dobby a new chance. Dobby do better next time."

A/N: I will get to the part where Manuel and Trevor interrogate the guards but it just hasn't seemed to fit in quite yet.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed and I'm really sorry on how long it took to get this out.