Ch. 5
It was unknown if Sirius had actually convinced Dumbledore to let him accompany Harry to the train in the form of a dog, but he did so anyway. Lupin and Tonks came as well, forming the guard. Moody brought their luggage, complaining that Podmore had vanished and hasn't shown up for his appointed duties in two days.
On board the train, Ron and Hermione finally told Harry that they were expected to sit in the Prefects' Compartment. It would be the first train ride that Harry and Ron hadn't sat together. He was a little disappointed, but he continued on until he came to Ginny and Neville. They had found an almost empty compartment in the back - the only inhabitant was a blond girl.
The girl was reading a magazine called The Quibbler upside-down. She had a necklace of butterbeer caps and her wand was balanced behind her left ear. The very air around her seemed to have an aura of dottiness. Ginny introduced her as Luna Lovegood.
"Guess what I got for my birthday, Harry!" Neville announced after they got situated.
Harry shrugged and watched as Neville produced a potted plant. It looked like a small gray cactus covered in boils.
"It's called a Mimbulus Mimbletonia," Neville proclaimed proudly. "They're really rare. My great-uncle Algie got it for me from Assyria and we're going to see if I can breed it."
"What does it do?" Ginny asked.
Harry shrugged. Sloane would be the one to know since Uncle Theodore had Sloane reading up on plants and magical creatures all summer long. Harry wondered where his brother was, probably sitting with Malfoy.
"Loads of stuff! It's got a great defensive mechanism." Neville exclaimed. "Here, hold Trevor!" He shoved his toad into Harry's hands and brought the plant to eye-level. Very carefully, he poked it between two boils with a quill -
SPLAT!
Thick, dark green liquid squirted from every boil, drenching everything in the compartment in a foul smelling gel. Harry and Neville, who had their hands full, got the worst of it while Ginny and Luna managed to cover their faces. The stuff smelled like rancid manure.
"Sorry about that," Neville apologized. "I hadn't tried that before, so I didn't know that would happen."
Harry merely grimaced and tried to pull strings of the goo off of him as the compartment door opened. Cho Chang, the Ravenclaw Seeker and Harry's secret crush for two years now, poked her head in. She was a very beautiful girl with long, shiny black hair.
"Oh, hi Harry. I just thought I'd stop bye . . . and it's obviously a bad time. Uh, bye." Cho said and made a hasty exit.
Ginny cleaned the mess up for them with a simple cleaning spell. Harry slumped in his seat, rubbing his hands on his newly cleaned robes. He had wanted Cho to find him surrounded by friends, all laughing at some witty comment he had made, not covered in smelly goo.
Just then the compartment door opened up. Ron and Hermione walked in. Ron immediately threw himself down next to Ginny with a tired sigh, as if he had been busy all day. Hermione merely shook her head.
"There are two fifth-year prefects for each house," Hermione announced. "Boy and girl each."
"Guess who made Slytherian," Ron scoffed, clearly disgusted.
Harry smiled. "Well, by the sound of your voice, I'd say it's one of your two favorite Slytherians. And since I haven't heard about Sloane making prefect, it must be Dr - uh, Malfoy." Harry had gotten used to calling the blond boy Draco in America that he almost forgot that he was expected to call him by his proper name instead of his given name in England. Only Hermione seemed to have noticed his near slip as she gave him a questioning look.
"Can you believe it?" Ron cried. "That unbearable git made prefect!"
"And Pansy Parkinson is their girl prefect," Hermione hissed. "How in the world could she have been made prefect, I'll never know. A brain dead baboon has more intellegence and beauty then she does."
Harry shrugged. "Snape has to pick someone from his house. Can you think of any other Slytherian girl you'd think of making prefect in our year?"
Hermione tried to think on that, but each girl was as bad as the last. She finally sighed and shook her head.
"Why are you being so calm about this?" Ron asked. "You do realize that Malfoy will use his new prefect position to make your life miserable?"
Harry shrugged again. "And am I mistaken in assuming that you can't wait to catch Crabbe and Goyle doing something so you can dish out a punishment?"
Hermione scoffed. "We will most certainly not be using our position for revenge, right Ron?" When Ron didn't answer, Hermione turned to him. "I said, right Ron?"
"Well, I say get them before they get us. Besides that's different," Ron muttered. Hermione rolled her eyes and Harry hid his grin. Hermione was too noble sometimes and seemed to expect everyone to play by the rules. It was a cute quirk of hers, one that Harry knew that Sloane found so sweet.
"Who else are prefects?" Harry asked.
"Well, Ernie Macmillan and Hannah Abbot for Hufflepuff and Anthony Goldstein and Padma Patil for Ravenclaw." Hermione said.
Harry smiled. "Not bad. They're decent people."
Luna looked over her magazine at Ron. "You went to the Yule ball with Padma." It was a statement, not a question.
"Uh, yea," Ron replied, a bit stunned to be addressed by Luna.
"She didn't like it," Luna said, going back behind her magazine. "She said you wouldn't dance with her. Parvati, I heard, enjoyed dancing with you, Harry. She was embarrassed by the fact that your mom was there, however."
Harry grinned. "Yea. I know I should be embarrassed by the fact that my mom showed up, but I just couldn't. She was having so much fun and she really deserved it."
"You're a good son, Harry," Luna said and then fell silent as she continued to read.
Harry ducked his head, grinning. He felt his face warm under the blush of having a stranger call him a 'good son'.
His grin faded when the compartment door opened a third time. Draco Malfoy stood there, flanked by his two goons, Crabbe and Goyle. It just wouldn't be a normal year if Draco hadn't come by to taunt Harry over something.
"Yes?" Harry inquired as the blond stood there. It was almost as if Draco didn't have any real reason to be back there, but knew it was expected of him. The blond stared at Harry with a look that suggested he had almost expected someone different.
Draco's gray eyes fell on the prefect badges on Ron's and Hermione's robes and he smirked. "So, tell me Potter, how does it feel to be second-best to Weasley?"
Harry caught them all off guard by smiling. "Gotta be second-best sometimes. Besides, Ron has earned his badge."
Draco frowned. "In case you hadn't noticed, Potter, I am also a Prefect. That means that I hold a power you lack. Guess you're also second-best to me."
From the corner of his eye, Harry could see that Hermione and Ron were about to enter the conversation on his behalf. If this was the worst that Draco got this year, he could handle it.
Before anyone could say anything, Sloane slammed into Goyle and quickly stumbled around the thuggish boy and entered the compartment. A gift wrapped in rather ratty paper was held in one hand and he was breathing hard. He paused and looked back at Draco, surprised.
"Oh, hi Draco. What are you doing back here?" Sloane asked.
Draco smirked. "Just showing off my Prefect badge to Potter."
Sloane grinned and turned back to Draco. He stood next to the blond boy so that everyone could see the Prefect badge on Draco's robes. With a flourish of his hands, Sloane framed the badge like he was showcasing it on television.
"This lovely Prefect badge comes in silver and green with the emblem of the snake to represent the Slytherian House," Sloane said. "Each badge is different, depending on the House. Hermione, if you will stand up please?"
Hermione shrugged and stood. Sloane moved next to her and framed her badge as well. "Now, this example is the Gryffindor Prefect badge made with gold and red, baring the emblem of the lion. Thank you, Hermione."
Harry smothered his laughter as Hermione sat down. Draco merely rolled his eyes, now used to Sloane's strange sense of humor.
"I think your mom must have dropped you on your head when you were a baby, Sloane," Draco scoffed.
Harry grinned. "I always thought he was like this because of eating lead paint chips."
Sloane pretended to look hurt. "Dropping me on my head? Paint chips? You're both wrong. It's from sitting in front of a microwave that emitted harmful radiation waves. Everyone knows that."
Draco shook his head. He didn't even bother questioning what he didn't understand. "OK, what are you doing back here, Sloane?"
"Two reasons. One is to give my brother his birthday gift, and the other is to warn you." Sloane said.
"Warn me?"
Sloane nodded. "Yea, Pansy is looking for you. Trust me, you'd do best to hide from her for a long time. She's asking The Question."
"The Question?" Hermione inquired.
Sloane nodded and pointed to his cheek, which Harry now saw was sporting a pink handprint. "You know, the question that has no answer that women have been asking men since the beginning of time. No matter what they guy says, it's the wrong answer. No answer is still the wrong answer."
Draco lifted one silver-blond eyebrow. "What is the question?"
Sloane then spoke in a perfect imitation of Pansy's voice, "Does this robe make me look fat?"
There was moment of perfect silence before Draco started to laugh. It was a moment where he was completely unguarded and let the real Draco out for all to see. He no longer looked pinched and angry, and Harry could see why Sloane was friends with him.
"What did you say, Sloane?" Hermione asked.
"I lied like a cheep rug and tried to complement her." Sloane sighed, rubbing his cheek. "Apparently, telling a girl that she's too thin is a bad thing."
Draco grinned. "I'll take my chances. See you around, Sloane. Oh, and Potter, just watch yourself this year. I'll be dogging your every step." He turned and walked off, Crabbe and Goyle following behind.
"Tell me, Hermione, what should I have said?" Sloane asked. He didn't miss the sudden fearful look that Harry and Hermione had passed, but figured he could ask Harry about it later.
She shrugged. "I have no idea. Personally, if you had said I looked pretty, I wouldn't have slapped you. Maybe she knew you were lying?"
Sloane sighed and turned back to Harry, holding out his gift. "Happy Birthday! Sorry about the wrapping paper, I had to hold it out of Pansy's reach when she was hitting me for my insulting comment."
"You certainly have a way with women," Harry said as he held out a larger package and they exchanged gifts. Harry looked a little puzzled when he opened his to reveal an official Mars Family arm holster.
"Before you say anything, this is the newest model. It won't be available for the family for another year. Mom tested it out last year, and I had to beg to get one for you." Sloane said. "Put it on and I'll show you what it does."
Harry took off his old arm holster and put the new one on. He slid his wand in the appropriate spot and waited.
"OK, just tap the Family Crest with your fingers and say 'activate'." Sloane instructed. Harry did so and was surprised when the arm holster became invisible, making his arm look bare.
"This way, you can carry your wand in full view of Muggles if need be. It works like the old arm holsters, so you shouldn't have anything to worry about." Sloane grinned.
"Thanks Sloane. It's perfect!" Harry gushed.
Sloane then opened his gift. He unfurled a magnificent cloak of forest green with a black silk lining. The clasp was a silver snake with emerald eyes.
"I sent it to Zio Luke in Washington, DC and had Shielding Spells woven into the cloak. Not that I'm really worried about hexes and jinxes flying at you this year, but with recent events -" Harry's voice trailed off, but Sloane understood. Better safe then sorry.
"It's the most perfect gift, Harry. Thanks!" Sloane said and left, carrying his new cloak.
The rest of the train ride was uneventful and they soon arrived at Hogwarts. Harry was surprised when he noticed that Hagrid wasn't there to greet the First Years like he had done for the past four years that Harry had attended Hogwarts. Instead, it was a brisk voiced woman with a prominent chin and a severe haircut.
He wondered briefly where Hagrid was, but then found himself busy trying to find a carriage to take him to the school. The older Years, Second Years on up to Seventh, rode to the school in horse-less carriages.
Only, Harry realized, this year they had horses - or, rather, a horse-like creature. The creature was a mixture of a horse and a reptile. They appeared fleshless, every bone able to be seen through thinly stretched skin. Their heads were almost like a dragon's with milky white eyes that gave Harry the creeps. They had wings, and the only place he had seen such wings was on a picture of a Pterodactyl when he was a kid. He wondered what those things were, and why no one else seemed surprised to see them.
It took Harry a while to find his friends and get a carriage. Hermione was angry over Draco's bullying. It was worse then ever, she had said. He had reduced a First Year to tears and pushed a group of Second Years from a carriage so that he and his friends could have one all to themselves. Actually, Harry thought that that was normal for Draco.
"Hermione, what are those things pulling the carriages?" Harry asked the second she paused to take a breath.
"What things? The carriages are horse-less, like they always are." Hermione answered.
Harry shook his head. "No, they're not. There's something pulling them. I don't know the name for them, but they look like a mutation between a horse and dragon."
Hermione gave him a sad look. "Harry, there's nothing out there. Are you feeling all right? Maybe you should see Madam Pomfrey?"
Harry shook his head violently at the thought of seeing the mediwitch just seconds after arriving. He knew he wasn't seeing things, which meant that the creatures were real and his friends couldn't see them. He knew that there were Dark Creatures like the Shikibu (little monsters that hid in dark places like closets and under beds that fed on tender children's flesh), Sardina (also known as "Eater of Dreams" for it uses its long trunk to suck memories from its victims while the victim sleeps), and the Bobashi (a flying spirit made of the hatred of scorned lovers) that would only appear to their intended victims and not anyone else. However, Harry thought, there was no way Dumbledore would let anything that dangerous near the students.
The new Defense teacher, a Professor Umbridge sent from the Ministry of Magic, made this year's Welcoming Feast memorable. Umbridge was a squat woman who reminded Harry of a toad with her wide, flat face. She wore a horribly fuzzy cardigan sweater and a black bow in her curly hair.
After Dumbledore had introduced her and was about to talk about when Quidditch tryouts would be, Umbridge stood up - not that anyone noticed at first - and gave a speech of her own. Her voice surprised Harry, who had been expecting a croak instead of the simpering girlish tone that issued forth. It was long and boring, but Harry and Hermione caught the underlying meaning. The Ministry of Magic was putting their grubby paws in Hogwarts to make sure that Dumbledore couldn't inform anyone else of Voldemort's resurrection. Harry didn't like it one bit when she talked about going back to the basics and that progress for progress sake could damage the school. He wasn't sure what she meant, but he knew it was bad.
Across the room, Sloane Mars was thinking the same thing.
A/N: I took some ideas from different sources to make the monsters that Harry thinks about when he wonders about why he sees the 'horse-reptile creatures' and no one else does. The Shikibu actually came from an old episode of "Amazing Adventures" or something like that. It had a Jamaican babysitter who warned the two boys she was watching that evil monsters live in the closet. They don't believe her and she winds up bringing their imagination to life, including the little monster. I couldn't remember the name of the monster from the show, so I made one up. The "Eater of Dreams" came from an Oriental Dungeons and Dragons book that's been collecting dust in my room. It's originally a good creature that banishes nightmares and bad spirits, but I wanted the evil version of it so I changed the name (the original was way too long) and made it suck out memories instead. The final monster I just made up. Mythology and such has creatures like that from almost every culture. I hope no one is upset over my liberal use of my writer's license.