Disclaimers: I apologize for not writing this in the first chapter but…I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER OR ANY OTHER CHARACTERS FROM J K ROWLING'S BOOKS. (*CRY CRY* OTHERWISE I'D BE A MILLIONARE TOO…) *AHEM* I own Lapis Lazuli Azure Black, so if anyone wants to use her, please e-mail me first, okies??
A Note to the Readers: Gomen ne, for taking so long with these chapters. -__-U Lately the home life has been getting busier, but the creative light bulb has not gone out yet!! So look forward to a finished product, okies peoples? ^_^ Besides, I miss all those wonderful reviews I've been getting! Anyways, read on!!
Salem's Lot
Chapter 7: Are You Ready?
The trip to Platform 9 and three-quarters had been dull, as Harry had anticipated. The train ride had been even more so, since he had fallen back into his state of misery. Seeing his fellow classmates and the impending return to Hogwarts did not lift his spirits in the least. Instead, it made him remember the exact moment he'd felt the pit drop in his stomach, when Sirius had fallen through the mirror…
"Harry? Harry?!" a hand came flying out in front of his face, knocking his glasses askew. He held back the urge to glare at the owner of that hand, and was thankful he did, finding himself staring into the concerned eyes of Hermione. "Harry…are you all right?"
He felt a slight twinge of guilt for his attitude. It was that which had kept him from returning the letters his friends had been sending him all summer, as well as thank-you's for his birthday presents. He'd planned on using his Aunt and Uncle as an excuse for that, but didn't have the effort to even bother, so when asked, he'd merely shrugged in response and turned his attention to the window next to him.
"Oie, Harry? Umm…chocolate frog?" Ron held one out in front of him awkwardly. Even his best friend didn't know what to do with him at this point. Harry had succeeded in putting himself into a right good rut. All three of them were silent throughout the train ride, neither of his companions having anything good to say at this point, at least not without the fear that Harry might bite their heads off.
He supposed that it was a good thing then that Luna Lovegood had decided to appear from behind their seats, wand tucked behind her ear, holding a copy of her father's paper upside down in her hands. "Have any of you read the history of Salem?" she inquired jovially. Her mood was very up, compared to the other three, and her question took them all off-guard.
"Of course, what witch or wizard hasn't?" Hermione answered promptly. When looked at both Ron and Harry attempted to make themselves look smaller.
"Erm, is it something we should know?" Ron scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"Oh, everyone should know about this!" Luna leaned over and placed the article in front of Ron's face, completely unaware that he was making no sense of an upside down periodical. Hermione rolled her eyes and turned her questions back to Harry.
"You haven't read anything on Salem? The Salem witch trials? Anything ringing a bell?" she repeated. Harry scowled a bit, not really in the mood to watch his I.Q. go down anymore for the day. When it was apparent he didn't know anything about it, she went on. "Salem was the first designated community for witches and wizards in the sixteenth century. It was the first major time period for magic users, since the time of Merlin and King Arthur. According to Salem: A Lost Motherland, a few Muggle girls got mixed up in some of the actual witches identities, and were burned, drowned and forsaken by the rest of the Muggle settlers. After that, the true witches and wizards either went into hiding to practice their arts, or moved back to England, where the community was better hidden."
"Yeah! But I mean, have you read up on it? This article tells all about the Black Arts Salem witches practiced back then, and could still be practicing today!" Luna interjected, nearly falling out from her seat and onto Ron's back. Harry blinked several times.
"Black Arts?" he questioned.
"Yes! The Black Arts was widely practiced among the Salem witches, and was the main reason they were sought out and burned." Luna was smiling widely in excitement. "My dad says that they're releasing this story because there's going to be a big controversy in the Ministry about allowing a Salem witch into the community here in England!"
Harry raised his eyebrows. "Wouldn't that mean allowing an American into England?"
"Oh that's just asking for trouble, you know." Ron spoke, finally managing to raise his head form above Luna's upside down article. Hermione gave him a disapproving look. "well, think about it! First, American's are already screwy as it is, so bringing one of 'em here in the first place is a cooky idea to begin with. Next, hand that American magic and separate 'em from the Muggle full home they live in and they'll go crazy!" Harry had to grin at his friend's negative outlook on the whole thing.
"But if the witch in question is already practicing magic and knows about it, then there isn't any problem." Hermione crossed her arms wisely, giving Ron a familiar look that screamed an argument coming on. Before it could though, an even worse thing came. Malfoy.
"Well, well, Potter. How are things in your own private hell?" the cocky Slytherin smirked in an all too knowing way. "It wasn't bad enough you were hanging with a Weasel, a Mud-Blood and a Loony, now you're short one wanted murderer. How do you feel?"
Ron dove at him, just as Hermione went to grab him, both began a struggle in the middle of the seat, one bent on killing the other determined to control the situation. Harry glared dangerously at Malfoy, not caring for the hundredth time in his life who was watching or whether Crabbe and Goyle were standing right behind him. He stood, leaning slightly on the window next to him, never letting his eyes leave Malfoy's.
"…you know, on a good day, I might actually give a damn what comes out of the hole underneath your nose, Malfoy. Today unfortunately, just isn't a good day." He watched the platinum blonde eye him carefully as he slouched against the window now, feeling very much like the image of his father. "I hope your father's a saint, otherwise all this you're giving me about a wanted criminal is pretty redundant, wouldn't you say?" Harry smiled, despite himself. Draco's eyes drew down into a vicious glare that might have frozen a whole room. However, Harry was not about ready to let him get under his skin even before they reached the school.
Hermione and Ron both stared at Harry slack-jawed as Malfoy walked away, obviously having nothing to say worth saying.
"Well, here comes another wonderful year…" Harry sighed, slumping back down into his seat, once again feeling mopey. Hermione bit her lip and looked at Ron, who had calmed down quit a bit.
"Are you gonna be okay, Harry?" Ron asked him quietly.
Harry shrugged, honestly not knowing the answer to that question.