Chapter 6: Dreams, Trains, and Malfoy
The train station was packed with students when Harry, Hermione, and the Weasleys arrived. At long last, it was time to return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The rest of their summer had been uneventful; boring was a better word for it; to say the least, they were thrilled to have the new term begin.
Mrs. Weasley gave each of the teenagers a quick hug goodbye, and Fred and George told them to cause as much trouble as possible. The group hurried onto the train and quickly found a compartment in the back. Harry and Ron sat on one side, while Hermione and Ginny sat on the other.
"Feels weird, doesn't it? Going back," Ron said, "I wonder if Malfoy is coming, now that his dad is locked up in Azkaban. I hope not!"
"Me too, I've definitely seen enough of him for a lifetime," said Harry, thinking back to what Malfoy had said to him at Diagon Alley. Ginny suddenly stood up.
"I think I ought to find Dean before the train starts," she said before leaving. Ron looked at her back in disgust.
"Why Dean Thomas? Michael Corner was bad enough!"
"Ron, you can't protect her from every guy on the planet, she's growing up, y'know," Hermione said.
"Yes, I do know that, but that doesn't mean she has to date everyone she meets!" Ron retorted.
"I was only saying that you don't really need to watch her every move, Ronald!"
"She's my sister, Hermione! I'm the older brother, it's my duty to watch out for her," he said. Hermione looked at him for a moment before saying:
"All right Ron, all right," had Hermione just ended a fight before it even started? That wasn't like her at all. Ron obviously noticed this as well.
"Are you okay, Hermione?" he asked. Hermione looked from Ron to Harry.
"Yes, it's just…I don't want us fighting, Ron. Not with this war, I don't want to say anything I'd regret and not have the chance to take it back," she said.
"Aw, the Mudblood is afraid to die! That's so sad, wont Potty and Weasel be able to rescue you?" it was Malfoy.
"Get gone, Malfoy. Why don't you just go and visit your dad down in Azkaban?" Harry said. Malfoy looked at him closely before taking a step and getting less than a foot away from is face. He spoke just above a whisper.
"You watch it, Potter. One of these days, I will kill you," he said before he quickly left the compartment. Harry sat in stunned silence. Never before had Malfoy made a direct threat to Harry's life; Hermione was the first to speak.
"Don't worry, Harry. You'll be fine as long as you're at school or with us. Malfoy can't seriously mean he's going to kill you; he can't…can he?"
"Nah," Ron said, "he couldn't possibly, it takes a real powerful wizard to use the three Unforgivable Curses, and besides, Malfoy's too much of a chicken!" Harry laughed; suddenly he wasn't so scared anymore.
"Oh Ron, I was meaning to ask you, do you want my old Firebolt?" Ron stared at Harry as if he had never seen him before. "I have no use for it; not now that I have the Phoenix."
"Harry, you can't give me your Firebolt…it's a Firebolt!"
"Either take it or I'll give it to Dean Thomas," Harry joked.
"Okay, okay! Now I can give my broom to Ginny! Hers is much worse than mine…she'll be thrilled! Hey, that reminds me; what about Quidditch?" Harry and Ron looked at each other. As far as Harry knew, he was no longer Seeker for the Gryfindor team, Ginny was. "I wouldn't worry too much, I'm sure we can sort it out when we get to school," Ron said. Harry agreed, surely they wouldn't keep things the way they were?
The train began to move. Ron sat back in his seat, and Hermione pulled out a book. Harry rested his head back against the wall and shut his eyes…
Hogwarts was gone; nothing remained but burning piles of rubble. Harry could barely move; it hurt too much. He turned his head, next to him lay Ron; eyes open, looking at nothing. Ron was dead. Harry slowly got to his feet; he could see Voldemort standing over the dead body of Dumbledore. But Dumbledore couldn't be dead; Dumbledore couldn't die! Harry felt a hand on his shoulder; he whipped around to find Hermione with her wand ready. Without saying anything she charged at Voldemort. Colors went flying threw the air as spell after spell was cast. "Hermione, NO!" Harry tried to run to her, but couldn't. He fell, unable to get up he watched as Hermione got struck to the ground. "Hermione! Hermione! NO!"
"Harry!" someone was shaking him, "Please, Harry, wake up!" Distantly he heard Ron's voice. "Harry, c'mon, Harry!" Harry opened his eyes; Ron was standing over him with a look of utmost concern on his face. "Hey, you were having a pretty bad dream, eh?"
"Yeah…yeah. Hogwarts was gone…Voldemort…he killed…everyone," he said. He looked to Hermione who was sitting across from him, looking nervous. "Was I…screaming?" Harry asked Ron.
"Well…yeah," Ron said carefully.
"What was I screaming?" Harry asked. Ron looked at Hermione before answering.
"Nothing, nothing important," he said.
"We really should be going, Ron. Prefect meeting," Hermione said, heading for the door.
"Sure…see you later, Harry," Ron said. Harry nodded. After Ron and Hermione left, Harry was left alone in the compartment.
Had Ron and Hermione heard me screaming out Hermione's name? He suspected that they had, the look on Hermione's face was unforgettable. Was that dream a precognition? Harry hoped not; he wouldn't let it be. Hogwarts was Harry's home; he wouldn't let it get taken by Voldemort. But what if? Harry shook his head; he was being stupid; it was only a dream. But dreams can be more than dreams. Maybe that was it; maybe Voldemort put that dream into Harry's mind trying to scare him. That sounded more logical than Harry being able to see the future. Thinking nothing more of it, Harry sat alone in the compartment with only Crookshanks to keep him company. The woman with the food cart strolled by, and Harry bought plenty of treats for he, Ron and Hermione.
"Hey, Harry!" Ron said as he opened the compartment door, "Man, have you seen the first years? They're so tiny!" Ron sat down and helped himself to some chocolate frogs. "Oh, you should change into your school robes, we're getting close to school." Harry began to change and shortly after he had finished, Hermione opened the door, already in her school robes. She smiled at Harry, sat down, and picked up her book once again. Harry couldn't help but feel that Hermione was avoiding him. Had his dream really affected her that much? Harry was determined to find out; he'd ask her next time he got her alone.
Before long, the train slowed down and came to a halt. Hagrid's voice could be heard above the noise of the students.
"Firs' years this way! Hello Harry, Ron, Hermione! Firs' years, follow me!"
Harry, Ron, and Hermione all got into the same carriage to take them up to the castle. As Harry stared out the window and watched the castle slowly come into focus, all he could feel was a sense of foreboding.