Harry Potter and the Mind Mage

By James Milamber

A/N: Greetings from sunny, warm New South Wales! Well, not really, but it seems that way after Victoria. Erm…yeah. On with the chapter!

The majority of the Weasley family arrived at Hogwarts later that day, and they held a party for Ginny in the Gryffindor common room. Even McGonagall attended briefly, although Snape was not to be seen. No one even thought to invite him.

September 1 was on them almost before they realised. At about nine o'clock, Professor Milton came into the Gryffindor common room holding a battered old boot.

'Portkey,' he explained at the confused looks that greeted him. 'Dumbledore's decided that you have to catch the train with everyone else. Let's not give away the fact that you spent the last month at Hogwarts.'

So it was that they found themselves standing on Platform nine and three quarters later that day amid a flock of Hogwarts students. All six wore their Hogwarts robes, and Ron and Hermione had their Prefect's badges pinned to the front. Harry had been pleased to learn that Ginny had not been made a Prefect, although he immediately felt ashamed for thinking so. She seemed to catch his mood and grinned.

'Remember in your fourth year, that time the Slytherin's robes all turned pink at breakfast?'

Harry remembered the day well. It had been not long after the first task, and the entire hall had been falling off their chairs laughing at the Slytherins, who had rather quickly departed the hall.

'I charmed the benches,' Ginny said casually, and Harry laughed.

'That explains a lot,' he said, returning her grin. 'You should have seen the look on Malfoy's face in Transfiguration that day when McGonagall asked him if he was the one that started the new trend. I swear, he looked about ready to slide under the desk. That or try to strangle McGonagall.'

Ginny laughed, and they moved off towards the train, looking for a free compartment with Neville and Luna trailing after. Ron and Hermione had disappeared to the Prefect's car.

They found a compartment near the back of the train and climbed in. Soon after, the train began to move. Harry and Ginny chatted about the upcoming Quidditch trials which Harry, as the new Captain, would be in charge of. The position had fallen to him by default; as the only player with more than two years on the team, he was the only one qualified. He had a hell of a job ahead of him; he needed to fill all three Chaser positions, as Angelina, Katie and Alicia had all left at the end of last year, although he had a pretty good idea who would be getting one of the places. While not as good as Angelina, Ginny was still very good, especially with her new broom.

It began to rain, a soft, silvery drizzle that obscured anything more than a few feet from the windows. The lunch trolley came past, and Harry deliberately bought far more than he needed and then insisted on sharing some with Ginny, proclaiming that he was full. She looked at him suspiciously, but didn't comment, even when he started stuffing his face with Chocolate Frogs.

Eventually Ron and Hermione arrived.

'What a bloody nightmare,' Ron sighed, flopping down onto a seat.

'Ron,' Hermione said reprovingly, seating herself with a little more dignity.

'Well it is,' he protested. 'They've doubled everyone's shifts,' Ron explained. 'And – get this – they've made it a rule that every Prefect has to go to the DA meetings.'

Harry's face hardened. 'Even…'

'Yep,' Ron scowled. 'Malfoy.'

'Wonderful,' Harry sighed, slumping into his seat. 'That's the last thing I need.'

'So nice to be appreciated, Potter.'

Malfoy stood in the doorway, scowling down at Harry. For once, he was not flanked by Crabbe and Goyle.

'Sod off, Malfoy,' Harry said shortly.

'Watch your tongue, Potter,' Malfoy said blandly. 'I'm still a Prefect, you know.'

'Well, so are we,' Hermione said testily.

'Oh yes, Potter's faithful little Mudblood,' Malfoy sneered. Harry saw Ron's jaw clench and his hand tighten into a fist.

'I'm warning you, Malfoy,' Harry said quietly. 'Leave now.'

'Or what, Potter?' Malfoy smirked. 'You'll set the Weasel and the Mudblood on me? Or maybe the Weaselette?'

That did it. Harry was on his feet in an instant, eyes blazing with green fire. His fist clenched in the front of Malfoy's robes, and with apparent ease he lifted the other boy off the floor.

'If you ever, ever insult my friends again, I'll kill you myself,' Harry snarled, his face inches from a now very scared looking Malfoy. 'Do you understand?'

Malfoy nodded quickly, his silver eyes wide. Harry could almost smell the fear rolling off the platinum haired boy, and it seemed deeply satisfying.

'Harry,' Ginny placed her hand on his shoulder gently. 'Put him down.'

The fire in Harry's eyes dimmed, and he shook himself slightly. With a look of disgust he shoved Malfoy out of the compartment and slammed the door, rattling the walls and windows.

He turned to find everyone staring at him. 'What?' he snapped.

'Hey,' Ron raised one hand as if to defend himself. 'We're your friends, remember?'

Harry glared at him for a few seconds, then sighed and flopped back into his seat. 'Sorry,' he apologised. 'But Malfoy…' He couldn't find words to describe how he felt, so settled for shrugging.

'How did you do that?' Neville was looking at him with awe.

'Do what?' Harry asked.

'Harry, you lifted him about a foot off the ground.'

'Did I?' Harry looked around in surprise. 'I thought I just grabbed him.'

'Nope, there was definitely lifting involved,' Ron confirmed.

'Huh,' Harry glanced at the door, and noticed a large crack running through the wood in the frame where he had slammed the door. He clenched his fist a few times experimentally; he didn't feel any stronger. He mentally shrugged. He had had a growth spurt over the summer; he was bound to be a bit stronger than he was before. But strong enough to lift Malfoy off the ground with one hand?

His thoughts were interrupted as the door slid open again. Harry turned to snap at Malfoy but stopped short when he saw who it was.

'Can I have a word with you, Harry?' Cho Chang asked uncertainly, glancing around the compartment. Ron was looking at her with open hostility, and Hermione wasn't much different, although she tried to hide it. Ginny was glaring daggers at the older girl, and as Harry stood up, he found her hand and gave it a light squeeze.

'Sure, Cho,' he said aloud, releasing Ginny's hand and following Cho out the door and down the corridor a short way.

'Harry,' Cho hesitated, her eyes clearly showing how uncomfortable she was. 'I'm…sorry about everything that happened last year. Between us, I mean. And…I'd like to try again, if you do.'

Harry looked at the girl who he now thought of as only mildly attractive; he had long since gotten over his crush on her. She looked at him hopefully, and seemed to be holding her breath. Finally, Harry shook his head.

'I'm sorry, Cho,' he said, and genuinely meant it. 'It could never work between us. There's too much…baggage. I'm sorry.' And without another word he turned and walked away, leaving a stricken Cho shaking with silent tears in the middle of the corridor.

He re-entered the compartment to five questioning stares. Even Luna was watching him curiously. He sat back down, his head lowered.

It was Ginny who finally broke the silence. 'Harry,' she started uncertainly.

'I've already told you, Gin,' he said firmly. 'Cho and I could never work.'

His words broke the tension as everyone seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, which amused Harry considerably. Ginny hesitantly edged closer to him, finally laying her head on his shoulder. His arm went around her waist, and it stayed there as Ron challenged him to a game of chess. It was a bit awkward to play with his left hand, but he didn't mind.

The drizzle turned into real rain as they got closer to Hogwarts, and the lights came on all along the train. Harry was playing his third game of chess against Ron (he had lost the first two rather spectacularly) when the door slid open again, and two people walked in, a boy and a girl. They looked so similar that Harry was sure they were twins. Both had long black hair coming to just below their shoulders, the same bright blue eyes, and they were even the same height. They seemed to be about the same age as Harry, Ron and Hermione.

'Harry Potter, we presume?' the boy said, bowing flamboyantly in Harry's direction.

'Yes,' Harry said cautiously.

'Allow us to introduce ourselves,' the girl said. 'I'm Cassandra,' she curtsied gracefully, although her cheeky smile ruined the effect somewhat.

'And I'm Alexander,' the boy bowed again, wearing an identical grin.

'Umm…okay,' Harry said uncertainly.

Cassandra sighed. 'He's no fun,' she said to her twin.

'Father said his father was a Marauder,' Alexander shrugged.

'Hard to believe,' Cassandra commented, her eyes twinkling.

'Quite,' Alexander said, his eyes also twinkling.

Harry shook his head to clear it. Whatever else they were, they were confusing. 'Excuse me, but what do you want, exactly?'

Alexander laughed. 'Sorry about that,' he apologised, sliding into the seat next to Ron, who gaped at him.

'Couldn't resist,' Cassandra agreed, sliding into the seat next to Harry.

'Seriously though,' Alexander said, 'call me Alex.'

'And me Cassie,' Cassandra added.

'Okay,' Harry said resignedly.

They both laughed. 'You're about as much fun as a wet blanket,' Alex said with a smirk.

'Father said you were quick on your feet,' Cassie added, then sighed theatrically. 'So much for that theory.'

'Who's your father again?' Hermione asked, obviously nonplussed with the twin's abrupt arrival.

'I'd thought that would be obvious by now,' Alex commented.

'You do know him,' Cassie added.

Harry looked closely at Alex, who grinned back at him. There was something about the eyes, and the shape of the jaw, that reminded him of someone.

'You look a little like Professor Milton,' he said slowly. 'But he's much too young, you're what, sixteen?'

'It's impolite to speculate about a lady's age, Harry,' Cassie said lightly.

'Good thing you're not a lady, then,' Alex grinned at her.

'Quite,' she agreed.

'Anyway, he's older than he looks,' Alex said.

Suddenly Hermione was looking at him intently. 'Is James Milton his real name?'

Alex shook his head with a smirk.

'What about Joseph Milter?' she asked triumphantly.

'Oh you're good,' Cassie said admiringly.

'Huh?' Ron was clearly confused, and Harry didn't blame him.

'Joseph Milter was a Mind Mage in the service of Grindelwald,' Luna supplied. 'He disappeared when Dumbledore killed Grindelwald, and hasn't been heard of since.' Hermione looked slightly offended at the Ravenclaw girl's butting in.

'Not quite,' Alex said.

'He changed his name and hid out for a while,' Cassie told them.

Alex nodded. 'About twenty years ago he started moving around again as a mercenary, providing his services to the highest bidder.'

'Until he met our mum,' Cassie finished.

Harry blinked.

'He's even slower that we thought,' Alex commented to his sister, who nodded solemnly.

'Not much hope for the Wizarding world then, is there?'

'Hey!' Harry said indignantly, and both twins laughed.

'Sorry,' Alex grinned.

'Slip of the tongue,' Cassie agreed.

'Well,' Alex stood and offered his hand to his sister, who used it to pull herself up, 'now that we have you thoroughly confused, we'll take our leave. We'll look for you once we get sorted into Gryffindor.'

'Bye,' Harry said weakly as they left the compartment.

'What was that about?' Ron asked in bafflement.

Hermione sighed in exasperation. 'Honestly, Ron! It means that Professor Milton used to work for Grindelwald!'

A/N: I love doing that. Full points to anyone who saw that coming. ;)

Next chapter: The Sorting, of course!