Chapter 6 – Returning to Hogwarts

Harry has his wand in his hand before the door to the cab was even beginning to open. He noticed that Ginny was still asleep and Leon was looking at him curiously.

'Why the hell am I so worried about what Leon is looking at? AND why the hell am I so worried who is coming through that door?' Harry thought.

The door to the cab opened to reveal a woman with a trolley full of candy. "Want anything off the trolley, dears?"

Harry put his wand away as soon as he realized that there was no immediate danger. Leon was able to distract the woman long enough for Harry to put his wand away without her noticing.

"What do you have madam?" Leon asked politely, drawing the woman's attention to his question.

"I have all sorts of things, dear. Anything in particular you want?" the woman said politely with a smile.

"I think that we will take three of everything, please, madam." Harry said once he had his wand put away out of sight and was pulling out some galleons.

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Ginny was beginning to wake up as Harry finished paying for the candy. She saw Harry grab the big bag full of candy and another boy grabbed the other bag that was being given to Harry.

'Who the heck is that guy? When did he get in here? I guess I fell asleep.' Ginny thought, as she became fully awake.

"Harry?" Ginny said as she was rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

"How long have I been asleep?" Ginny asked as the woman with the trolley left and closed the cab door.

Then she remembered what happened out on the platform.

"And what do you think you and my brother were doing out there on the platform?"

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Harry turned to Ginny as she said his name. He waited till she was awake before he said anything. Then she asked him how long she had been asleep. 'I hope that she is okay. Ha! That look on her face. Yep, she's okay.'

"I'm glad that you are feeling okay, Ginny." Harry said in a gentle voice, but showing no emotions otherwise. "You have been asleep since we left the train station."

"You didn't answer my question? Just what were you thinking out there on the platform? HUH?" Ginny said with the angriest look and voice she could muster.

"I don't know 'what' you are talking about? Oh, by the way, this is Leon Wood." Harry replied in a much cooler tone than before and gesturing to Leon in front of him.

"Oh!" Ginny said a little surprised because she totally forgot about the boy when she finally woke up and started speaking. "I'm sorry. My name is . . ."

"Ginny, right? Harry here has told me your name," Leon said with a smile while cutting off Ginny. "I have to say that it is quite a pleasure making your acquaintance, now that you are awake."

"Pleasure is all mine." Ginny said with a slight blush on her cheeks. "I don't mean to sound rude but who exactly are you? Because I have not seen you around before."

"I'm a new student attending Hogwarts. I'm sure that Harry here can fill you in on all the details." Leon said politely with a smile gesturing toward Harry.

Harry shot Leon an evil look for putting all the attention back on him. 'What is Leon up to? Why is he not willing to talk to Ginny?'

"SO, are you going to tell me about your new friend here or not, Harry?" Ginny asked because she was trying to break the uncomfortable silence in the cab.

Just as Harry turned his attention back to Ginny the door to the cab began to open. Harry grabbed for his wand and Leon grabbed for something in his pocket. Harry slightly push Ginny back into her seat as the door to the cab opened up more to reveal Hermione and Ron.

Harry put his wand away and noticed that whatever Leon grabbed was no longer in his hand.

"Hey, guys your back. That means that we better change into our robes. Oh, and before I forget this is Leon Wood." Harry said as they walked through the door and gestured toward Leon.

"Wood? Are you related to Oliver Wood?" Hermione asked as she let Ron sit next to him and size him up.

"No. I have never heard of the fellow." Leon replied as he smiled at Hermione. "If I may ask, whom my beautiful lady are you?"

Harry noticed that Ron didn't know what to make of Leon, until he smiled at Hermione. 'Yup. Ron doesn't like him at all.' Harry thought. 'I can't believe that the guy had the nerve to talk to Hermione like that.'

Hermione was blushing when Ron said in an angry tone, "My name in Ron Weasley and this is 'my girlfriend' Hermione Granger. So keep your eyes and hands to yourself."

Hermione blushed even more, as Ron got up and put his arm around her waist and stared down at Leon.

"I see . . ." Leon said as he watched Ron carefully to see if he was going to do anything. " . . . I didn't mean anything by it Ron. I may call you Ron?"

"You can call him an egotistical pig! For all I care!" Ginny burst out since Ron and Hermione got back. "All I want to know what the heck you and Harry were thinking out there on that platform!"

Harry just busted out laughing for the first time since summer started, so did Leon. Everybody looked at them like they were madmen.

After about a minute of laughing and sobering up a bit Harry and Leon both suggested that they change into their robes before they got to Hogwarts. With that suggestion Harry, Ron, and Leon stepped out of the cab to let the girls get changed.

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"I guess you two better answer her when we get back inside before she starts blaming me for something, boyos." Leon said with a huge grin while they waited outside the cab.

"I don't think that you have anything to worry about, LEON, that is if that is your real name!" Ron said with a suspicious look. 'I don't trust this guy for one second, but Harry seems to act like he use to before summer started around this guy. I wonder why? But I will keep my guard up around this guy just in case he tries anything on Harry or Hermione for that matter.'

"You'll have to excuse Ron, he doesn't like anybody teasing his sister except him." Harry said with a huge grin himself. "But every now and then we can get away with teasing her."

Leon laughed and Ron was looking at Harry surprised that he was actually smiling and making fun of him, but before Ron could say anything the girls came out of the cab.

"Well, you three better change, we will be arriving at Hogwarts in just a few minutes." Hermione said ushering the boys into the cab before Ginny could say anything to them.

"I'm glad that she's my girlfriend cause we probably would not have been able to get back in here by ourselves without Ginny bugging us." Ron said as they started changing and giving Leon a second chance due to Harry's behavior around him.

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Once they arrived at the front steps of the Great Hall, they walked in except for Leon who said that he was to wait outside the doors until the Headmaster told him what to do. With that the gang went there separate ways and sat down at their table, while Ginny kept bugging them about what they think they were doing on the platform when they were attacked until Harry told her to knock it off. Everyone seemed surprised at Harry's change of personality after Leon left.

Once they sat down the sorting ceremony began for the first years and then Dumbledore started to make announcements. After Dumbledore was finishing with the normal announcements for the first years, he addressed the entire school with a new announcement that had everybody's attention.

"Students I'm glad that all of you had a great summer and I all hope that you will welcome the first years as well as two new students that will be joining us this year. They will be studying with the other sixth years here at Hogwarts." Dumbledore then waved his hand and the doors to the Great Hall began to open with a boy and a girl standing side by side in the doorway.

The girl had dark brown hair that went to her shoulders, dark brown eyes, and tan skin. She was the most beautiful thing to ever grace the halls of Hogwarts. At least that is what all the boys thought.

Once the doors were open all the way they both began to walk toward the front of the Great Hall where all the professors were sitting and stopped directly in front of where Dumbledore sat. "I would like to introduce them to you, Leon Wood and Liliana Forest. I expect that all of you will make them feel at home here. Now if you two would take a moment to be sorted, we can begin the feast."

Everybody's attention was staring at the newest sixth years at Hogwarts. Leon was standing there in front of everybody with the courage of a gentleman, while Liliana stood there with the grace of a lady for all to see.

Professor McGongall gave the sorting hat to Leon first and it yelled out, "Gryffindor!" after a minute or two. Most of the girls groaned because he didn't end up in their house, but all the girls at the Gryffindor table squealed with delight.

Then it was Liliana's turn to put on the sorting hat. Everyone wanted to know where she was going to be placed especially all the boys. As she was putting on the sorting hat it just yelled, "Gryffindor!" Everybody, well every boy, at the Gryffindor table jumped up screaming with excitement.

While everybody was staring at Leon and Liliana the entire time nobody noticed that Harry tensed up as he heard her name and was able to take a better look at her. 'She is the girl from my dreams. What . . . how . . .'

After they both were sorted they went to join Harry and the others at the table. Liliana sat next to Harry while Leon sat next to Ron, across from her. Leon said hello to everybody and introduced everyone to Liliana properly. Then the feast began after they said hello to her.

There was a lot of chattering from Hermione and Ginny about their summer. While Ron told Harry about what he did over the summer without Hermione around to tell him not to do it. With Hermione giving him evil looks when he said something that sounded dangerous.

Leon was watching Liliana serve herself and begin to eat delicately. She seemed to enjoy the food, even though she had never eaten anything like it. He also noticed that Harry was watching Liliana's every movement. He was also waiting for her to take the first bite like any gentleman would.

'Maybe Harry could be the best candidate for my lady, after all.' Leon thought.

Harry had eaten his fill after Liliana did, so did Leon. They both waited for her to take the first bite, after Ron just started to stuff his face. They both paid attention to every movement she made, so as to tell whether or not she was enjoying herself.

'Why the hell am I so worried about how she feels? That smile of hers is beautiful. Damn! I wish she would say something, but she looks like she is really enjoying herself. Especially considering Ron is stuffing his face and talking with his mouth full. I just hope that she stays that way.' Harry thought as he ate and listened to his friends talking.

Liliana was enjoying herself, delicious food, good conservation, and good company. She had what seemed not only one, but two gentlemen in her presence. 'Let's see if I can remember each of their names. There is Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasley, and Harry Potter.'

'Harry Potter. I rather like that name. I wonder what Harry is like? He seems to be rather in control of his emotions from I can tell. He doesn't seem to want to show what he is feeling at all. I wonder why that is?' Liliana thought.

Liliana just ate and listened to what the others were saying. Leon commented from time to time. Liliana just nodded and listened while edging closer and closer to Harry to hear what the girls were saying.

Harry could barely breathe when she kept getting closer and closer to him. She smelled like flowers, no, not just any flowers, she smelled like lilies. Harry was becoming intoxicated with her scent. He sat still listening to Ron as she was getting closer to him. She was so beautiful it was hard for Harry to keep his eyes off her, but somehow he did and stayed exactly where he was, listening to Ron.

Harry had finally started to talk to his friends from time to time, instead of just nodding. He was also aware of Liliana paying complete attention to him when he did speak. Her eyes tended to linger on him when he finished talking before she turned to look at the person now talking.

'She really is beautiful. I hope that I will be able to keep my cool. She seems really nice and friendly. I wonder what she really is like?' Harry thought.

The feast ended, Ron and Hermione lead the first years' to the common room, whereas Harry and Ginny lead Leon and Liliana to the common room.

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Harry was still exhausted from the day's events, so he decided that he was going to go to bed as soon as he got to the common room. But he didn't voice his idea; he was going to wait for Ginny and Liliana to go to sleep first. He wanted to know that they would be okay.

Harry sat in a big chair near the fire, after the girls sat on the couch in front of the fire. Leon decided to stand near the fire and keep the common room in his sight. He was noticing every person in the room and what they were doing and all the objects in their spots.

After about an hour or so of talking after they arrived at the common room the girls decided to go to bed. Harry stood up as they got up to go to their room, then sat down when they disappeared up the stairs. Leon finally sat down on the couch near him, so they could chat a bit.

"So, what do you think about that? Liliana and Ginny becoming friends, I mean. If you don't mind me saying, I just don't want those two yelling at me for doing or not doing something." Leon said with a faint smile with the thought of both girls yelling at him. "I could barely stand Ginny yelling at you how do you think I will survive if she yells at me?"

Harry had to smile at what Leon just said. 'I think maybe he does have a point at them yelling at both of us.' Harry thought.

"I think you have a point there about them yelling. We would be in a bad situation if that happened. But then again we could blame everything on Ron." Harry said with a wide grin. "Then again we could always stay on their good sides as much as possible. What do you think?"

"That sounds good to me, but do you think we can stay on their good sides all the time?" Leon said with a big grin, then replied with a chuckle when Harry smiled nodding his head no. "Hahaha! I didn't think so."

"I think that they should get along at least, so Liliana doesn't have to be alone. She needs to have a girl around to talk to besides us." Harry said with a serious tone. "Do you think she is really happy being here? I noticed that she was rather quiet around the rest of us."

"You have a point about Liliana needing female companionship. She will need another to confide in, since this place in all new to her. And if you don't mind me asking why are you asking me if she is happy?"

'I wonder is he is starting to put things together or if he is just curious enough about her to confide it in me? But Harry seems to be a very intelligent and capable man who is thinking about her welfare before his own. I have to say that he is sitting here talking to me about her being safe and happy, while he is exhausted. He has every right to get some rest and ease his mind more than anybody else here at this school.' Leon thought with respect for Harry.

"I was asking about her because you two seem to know each other. I can tell by the way that you look at each other, so I figured you would know her better than anyone else. But if you don't then I apologize for the wrong assumption." Harry said.

'I wonder what he is going to say? I think I left myself open for him to ask anything. Wonder if he will tell the truth or lie?' Harry thought.

"You are correct in that I know Liliana. I have known her since we were kids." Leon replied in an even tone and looking Harry directly in the eyes.

"If you don't mind me asking, but why are you two here anyway? You two do not strike me as seeking knowledge about things you already know about." Harry said.

'Why the hell did I just say that? He looks completely surprised by what I just said. I wonder what exactly all this means. I wonder what the hell he is going to say now. Damn! I'm tired but it doesn't look like I'm going to bed anytime soon.' Harry thought.

Leon was completely floored by what Harry just said. 'How the hell did he know. What exactly DID he know?' Leon thought.

"How . . . did . . . you . . . know?" Leon asked shocked and cautiously as he watched Harry for a reply.