Chapter 10: Platform Nine and Three-quarters

The rest of summer passed quickly, they spent their mornings studying the various book Hermione recommended to learn more about their powers and the afternoons were spent with the room in various states of chaos as the practiced their transformations. By the night before their return to Hogwarts they had all mastered this skill, and Harry could switch directly from one to another without returning to his human form. True to his word, Remus had returned earlier that day and would be among the guard on the way to King's Crossing.

The next morning, they were in a rush, as usual, trying to get out the door and to the train in time. They were to take muggle taxis and had to be waiting outside before they arrived in order to avoid unwanted questions. They were to be accompanied by Bill, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, the twins and Tonks, who was today sporting a head of Weasley red hair and a host of freckles, in the hope of looking like a cousin to any causal observer. Mad-eye Moody and Kingsley Shacklebolt were also accompanying them, but they were under the cover of invisibility cloaks.

When they arrived at the station they hurried through the station and proceeded carefully onto the platform so as to avoid attracting to much attention. There were very few people left on the platform, so they said hasty good byes and then right before they stepped onto the train, thirty Death Eaters appeared on the platform and began firing curses at everyone still not on the train. Mrs. Weasley shoved them all toward the train with one hand and started firing curses at the Death Eaters. Harry helped the others onto the train, and was about to step onto the train when he saw Draco Malfoy lying on the ground bleeding, a Death Eater stood over him laughing, and then pointed a wand at him, and yelled 'Crucio'. Harry turned around and crossed the platform, ignoring the protests of his friends; he pulled out his wand and shot a curse at the Death Eaters back. His victim fell to the ground stunned, Harry took the last few steps to Malfoy's side at a run, pulling the blond boy to his feet, "Come on, let's get on the train," he hissed, and they ran to the train, Harry half-carrying Malfoy, as they reached the side of the train as it began to pull away, Ron reached out and grabbed hold of Malfoy pulling him onto the train. But the train was moving too fast, Harry was falling behind, suddenly a burst of magic ran through him and he ran several steps barely having time to register that he was moving faster than the train, caught up and pulled himself onto the train.

When he got on to the train he looked over at Malfoy, and saw that the other boy was barely clinging to consciousness, he had been badly injured before he ran for the train, and the dash had only made his injuries worse. Harry quickly surveyed his wounds, there was a gash across down Malfoy's left leg, his nose was broken and judging from the amount of blood in his hair, the cut on his scalp was serious. Harry looked at the others, "He is injured pretty badly, I don't think I can heal him, is there anyway to get word to Madame Pomphrey?"

"Harry, I don't think there is time for that, we could send an owl but that might not reach her in time," said Hermione.

Neville took a deep breath, "I can heal him let me do it."

Harry gave him a questioning look, "Are you sure, Neville, I would never ask that of you."

"Yes, I'm sure." Neville approached the Slytherin as if he had the plague; even though he had agreed to help it was plain to see he was terrified of the other boy.

Harry said a quick prayer of thanks that Malfoy was to weak to talk. The group gathered around Neville and Malfoy, watching them apprehensively. Neville placed one hand on Malfoy's arm and closed his eye, concentrating, several seconds passed and there was a collective in take of breath Neville opened his eyes and looked at Malfoy, all of his injuries had been healed. Malfoy threw off Neville's hand and jumped to his feet and stalked off, without a word of thanks. Curious as to how the other boy was feeling, Harry took a quick glance at his aura as he disappear into the prefects compartment, he saw a swirl of grey, light blue, blood red and purple.

"Come on," said Harry, "no sense, in hanging around out here; Ron, Hermione we'll save you all seats." He started off down the hall followed by Neville and Luna, noticing Ginny standing uncertainly in the hall he called back to her, "You comin' Gin?"

"Ummm…actually I was gonna go find Dean, but maybe I will stop in later."

His heart stopped beating, hardly trusting himself to speak he managed to say, "Yeah, good," although his voice sounded abnormally deep. A strange look crossed Ginny's face as he turned away but, he ignored it and hurried off to an empty compartment.

They put away their trunks, and sat down, they sat in awkward silence, until Harry desperate for something to talk about said, "That was a great thing you did Neville, everybody knows Malfoy has never done anything to deserve your help."

"Thanks Harry, but I didn't do it for Malfoy's sake, I did it because it was important to you."

"Well, all the same, it was really good of you, you saved his life."

"Yes, let's just hope we don't regret it. Fancy a game of chess?" With that Neville pulled out his chess board.

Harry lost spectacularly, even faster than usual, as his thoughts were on the red head he could hear laughter in the next compartment. It seemed so odd being on the train without Ginny, she had ridden with them for the past three years, it hurt even more knowing that she wasn't there because she was with her boyfriend, her boyfriend who wasn't Harry. Neville seemed to understand that Harry would not be able to concentrate on a second game and told Harry that he did not feel up to another round. Harry turned back to listen to Ginny, and Neville and Luna began to talk about her excursion to find a Crumpled Horn-Snorkack.

The group stayed that way until Ron's voice cut through Harry' thoughts, "Oi, Harry where are you?"

Harry strode across the compartment and threw open the door, unfortunately Ron was a little closer than he had originally thought, and as he opened the door, Ron was about to open it from the other side, the sudden disappearance of the sliding door caused Ron to over-balance and he fell face first onto the floor there was a sickening crunching sound and when Ron rolled over his nose, was bleeding profusely. "Bloody 'ell," he shouted.

"Ron, we are prefects!" Hermione admonished.

"I don't care, I just broke my bloody nose."

Luna looked at him for a moment and then asked, in her usual dreamy voice, "Oh, was it bloody before you broke it?"

Ron looked at her murderously, and started to get up, until Harry pushed him back down and healed his nose. "Sorry, mate, I didn't think you were that close by," Harry said looking apologetic.

"No big deal, it's alright."

They spent the rest of the day talking, playing chess, and reading; Harry found that he was able to push Ginny to the back of his mind. He was almost disappointed when the train stopped. They gathered their things and headed out of the train to get to the carriages, only as they stepped out of the train that they would not hear the usual call of 'first years, over hear' not his year or the next, Hagrid was gone to Hogwarts.

He was so caught up in his thoughts that he almost did not notice Ron stop and look at him, slightly confused. He turned to his friend, "What's up?"

"Listen, I know that voice, who is it?"

Harry tilted his head to better hear the voice in question, and sure enough it did sound familiar.

"Oi, first years, this way to the boats." They turned and looked at their new Care of Magical Creatures, Professor and they all dropped their things in unison.