I haven't abandoned you! About writing this on the plane... I started the chapter, but then it got deleted. Why, you ask? Because I didn't have enough time to save it right before we lifted off, since I barely had a few seconds to do so. But I suppose it was all for the best since what I wrote was... shall we say... not the best in the world. So... I started writing this late last night and finished it this afternoon. So, sorry about the delay, but here's the chapter. There isn't much action, but a teensy bit of comedy, if I do say so myself. And, without further ado...
The rest of the summer passed without much disturbance. Though, there WAS the fact that the Weasleys and Roses were reported as kidnapped, oh, and several other people murdered, and of course me getting over the awful event that changed my life forever... Yes, well, as I said, completely normal. It was the 1st of September, and everyone was calmly getting ready for school.
"Eek! Have you seen my suitcase! It's gone missing!" Shrieked Truby, as she rushed into the breakfast nook, where I was trying to eat breakfast. I rolled my eyes.
"Did you check right next to your bed?" I asked.
"Oh... Er... No..." Truby rushed off in a blur of blue. She was wearing a pair of jeans and a blue T-shirt.
"I found it!" Came her distant voice. Finishing my porridge, I rushed up the stairs, and hurried into the bathroom, brushing my teeth, and doing my hair. I glanced around my room, checking to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything. Oh dear, I can't forget my cashmere robe! I thought suddenly, seeing it in closet. Ok, that's about it. I gazed into my mirror, and studied my appearance. I was wearing a brown pair of muggle pants, and a brown twin set. Not bad, I thought as I smoothed my hair.
"Dantes! Are you ready yet?" Came my mother's voice.
"Almost!" I said, and quickly placed my wand into my purse. I rushed down the stairs, and saw mother tapping her foot impatiently, and Truby, who was sliding on a sweater. "Ok, I'm ready."
"About bloody..." Mother broke off, I knew she was thinking about her fight with Father. "Right, well... Let's go." Mother had spent a half hour on the phone, trying to get a limousine to pick us up at the Mansion. Mother isn't exactly the best with muggles. She always calls them, every year, but she always has the same problems. The chauffer got out of the car and grabbed our bags, sagging slightly under the weight. We all slid into the limo, enjoying the plush leather seats.
"Wow, this is nice!" Truby exclaimed happily.
"Isn't it?" Mother replied. "I'm always awed by this grandeur from the part of muggles. I mean, how do they make these odd things without magic?"
"Well, it all starts in the factory..." Truby began explaining the process of making cars, Mother listening with rapt attention, me idly stroking the luxurious seats.
"Right, here we are, miss!" The driver interrupted Truby's explanation, and we all got out, stretching after sitting so long. He removed all of our bags, and then said, out of polite curiosity: "So, where are you going?"
"I... er... Out of town!" Mother said finally, after a long silence. The man had an odd expression on his face, but didn't press her for any more details. "Oh, and, could you stay here for a little bit? I need a ride back home."
"Of course ma'am." He said as we walked off. We entered the station, and walked to the barrier in-between platform 9 and 10.
"Right, Truby, you go first." Mother said. Truby walked the space between her and the barrier, and then disappeared through. I followed her, and then Mother came after me. The red train puffed as it sat there, and people were milling about.
"Mum! Did I bring my dress robes? Oh dear... Could you send them plea-" Came a small first-year-looking girl's voice.
"And I want no fooling around this year; You have to get at least 7 O.W.L's..." Came a mother's voice.
"But dad... What if I lose it?"
"Oh mum... I'm so nervous... What if I get sorted into Hufflepuff!"
"I TOLD you you shouldn't have-"
"You see mum! It happens every year! You always do this! I mean, for once, couldn't you just-"
"What do you mean they stopped the Hogsmeade trips! The year I'm FINALLY old enough..."
"Right, well, I hope you have a safe trip, and a happy school year you two!" Mother's voice brought me back to reality.
"Thanks Mum-" I froze. Did I just say mum? "I mean mother."
"Thank you so much for all your hospitality, Sorraine! I've had so much fun this summer!" Trudy had not noticed my mistake at all.
"You're welcome, it's been a pleasure! And remember, anytime you need a place to stay..." She gave a happy smile. "You're welcome to stay at our house!" Truby grinned happily. I glanced at the clock, we had five minutes before 10:00.
"Well, we'd better go, the train leaves in five minutes!" I said as I hugged her. I grasped the handle to my trunk and walked off to the train, waving as I went and yelling a last "Goodbye!" to her.
"Geese, there's never any empty compartments in here!" Truby complained as we walked past a compartment with cho chang chatting to her curly haired friend.
"God, I hate her." I moaned. "She's thinks she's all that. Thinks she has all the guys wrapped around her little finger, doesn't she?"
"Who cares. Guys are morons." She glanced over at me and then said hurriedly, "Well, most of them anyway." I laughed. After looking for what seemed like forever, we finally found an empty compartment and settled in. I groaned and leaned back in my seat. Ahh... The pleasures of an empty compartment.
"What's shaking, ladies?" Came a voice.
"Gabie! Don't do that!" I said, half annoyed, half amused. She always does that. Gabrielle laughed.
"Mind if I sit with you, Senorita?" I groaned even louder.
"Look, if you're trying for a seductive Spanish guy, or doing very-" Gabrielle burst out laughing.
"You're weird." She said, plopping herself down.
"I'M weird! Have YOU looked in the mirror lately?"
"Yes, and YOU really should. You're turning all red. It looks horrible on your complexion." I strained myself not to shout back.
"Gabrielle-"
"Oh, would you two be quiet!" Truby finally roared. "Look, I'm TRYING to read some important-"
"You think 'Potions: antidotes to save you in the nick of time' is important! Try reading teen witch. So much more important." Gabrielle said the last part airily, as if she was some very important queen or something. Truby however looked incredulous.
"You think that Teen witch is more important than Potions: antidotes to-"
"Can you make it short please?"
"Fine, this potions book that gives all kinds of antidotes to save you in the nick of time!" Truby said, lengthening what she could have said. "Like here, it gives an antidote against-" Gabrielle sighed.
"Whatever. Just continue reading."
"Hey... That book looks familiar... I think mother was reading it right before we went to diagon alley..." I said, suddenly remembering the shopping excursion.
"Yes, she recommended it. She said it saved her from getting dark zet disease sometime during the summer." I gazed at her blankly.
"Dark zet disease?"
"Yes... It happens when you feel VERY betrayed and sad. It also has to happen on a special day. Something important." I felt a low sinking in my stomach. She had almost got... what was it? Ah yes. Dark zit disease. Or was it dark zet Disease? Because of me. I sighed. Everything was silent for a while except the ruffling of Truby's book.
"What would you like off the trolley, dears?" Came a voice. I looked up. Ooh... Food...
An hour later we were stuffed, still eating the occasional candy when the mood came upon us.
"Hey look... I got Dumbledore! Geesh... He looks rather young in that picture... Remember last year when he was so old and weak looking?" Gabrielle said, halfway through eating a chocolate frog.
"Yeah... And remember his arm? It looked dead almost..."
"Definitely CANNOT make a good fashion statement with an arm like that..." Gabrielle said, idly brushing her hair with her fingers. I groaned.
"Do people ALWAYS have to make a fashion statement in your mind Gabie?" I said, annoyed.
"Well, if they want to look good, yeah..." She replied, and she began to unfold the box boredly.
"Oh Gabie... You really shou-" A sudden knock interrupted me, and caused Truby to put her bookmark at her current place in the book, and then place it down.
"Erm... Excuse me... Have you seen Harry?" A rather fat boy who looked very familiar entered the compartment.
"No... Why?" I asked. I didn't really know the famous Harry Potter, at least, not personally.
"Well... I haven't seen him on the train, and neither has Luna, or, well, anyone else I've talked to." I gazed at him for a moment.
"Well I haven't seen him. Perhaps he forgot about hogwarts on his mad dash to save the world?" I said, slightly amused.
"Harry wouldn't forget Hogwarts! He's probably just somewhere else on the train!" The boy said, and started to walk out of the compartment. I felt bad.
"Wait! I'm sorry I said that. You're right, he's probably somewhere else on the train." He glanced at me, and then gave a small smile.
"Thanks."
"Oh... And, what's your name?"
"Neville, Neville Longbottom." He said over his shoulder. Oh! It was Neville... The guy who was a disgrace at potions... Realization spread through me. But... There was something else. A vague memory... For some reason, in the back of my mind I knew he was important. But I had no idea why.
Only one review for this chappie! Eek! Come on people! I've gotten 56 hits... and only 8 reviews for the whole story! PLEASE review! Even if you don't say anything important. Just to let me know that you're reading this! like, you can copy this:
Hi! I'm reading this story!
and then put it in a review! See how easy that is?
So... To the only person who reviewed my last chapter...
TrubySCS3: Whew so glad I portrayed correctly! Thank you!