Thanks to Hermione's diligence (or nagging, depending on who you asked) the trio of friends made it to the barrier for Platform 9 and 3/4 with almost fifteen minutes to spare. As Hermione said goodbye to her parents on the muggle side, Harry and Ron slid through and met up the Weasleys to say their own farewells. Both of Ron's parents stood on the platform, waiting to say goodbye to their two youngest children and the boy they both thought of as one of their own. After administering a crushing hug to all three of the youths, she launched into a speech about the responsibilities of their age and status. As she was explaining to Ginny the finer points of precisely what is expected of a sixth year prefect, Ron caught sight of Hermione and the three attempted to escape.
"Herms! Over here!" Waving her over, the two Weasleys and Harry disentangled themselves from the redheaded witch and excused themselves, after promising to behave.
Once they had settled into a compartment towards the end of the train, they stuck their heads out the window and waved goodbye as the train rolled away from the platform. After everyone had changed into their school robes, the two Heads left to perform rounds leaving Ron and Ginny to keep each other company.
In a pleasant break from tradition, Draco Malfoy didn't stop by to harass them once during the ride. Although they managed to avoid Malfoy, Luna Lovegood dropped by the compartment to discuss her summer excursions with Ginny. In Ron's mind spending the train ride with Looney Lovegood was only a slight improvement over a run-in with Draco the ferret boy.
As the last first year took her place at the Ravenclaw house table Ron commented that this year's crop of Gryffindors, while large in number, seemed especially puny in stature. Just as Hermione opened her mouth in rebuke, Dumbledore stood up to give welcoming remarks. Effectively silenced, Hermione had to make do with a glare across the table. After the usual assortment of welcomes and warning (there were now 873 items on Filch's banned list), the headmaster introduced the year's defense professor. A thin man of average height introduced himself as Professor Gill. As he didn't seem to have any ties to the dark lord or Cornelius Fudge, he would probably be one of their better instructors. With the introductions and announcements complete, Dumbledore clapped his hands and the feast began.
After the last bite of treacle tart had been swallowed, Ron headed off to tell the older students the password into Gryffindor Tower (Godric's gobstones) and avoid a certain blond Ravenclaw who was headed for the table. Sharing an amused glance, Harry and Hermione rounded up the first years and gave them a quick tour of the castle, before showing them to the portrait hole. After making sure that the younger students made it to bed before lights out Hermione went back down to the Gryffindor common room to catch up with Lavender and Parvati. Although they were no longer roommates, Hermione didn't want to alienate herself from the other girls in the year. Harry stayed with the first years, making sure they were settling in OK. Once they had all drifted to sleep, he went downstairs to join his friends. Seeing Hermione occupied by Lavender and Parvati's chatter, Harry challenged Ron to a game of chess. While Harry lost spectacularly, the two boys talked about classes, quidditch and girls until it was time for Harry and Hermione to head to their own dorm.
The next morning, Harry woke up well before breakfast was due to begin. After a quick shower in the bathroom connecting his room to Hermione's he headed down to the common room they shared to find her sitting at a table in front of a small fire, with a copy of Hogwarts, A History open in front of her. Bidding her good morning, Harry walked out the wall hanging hiding their quarters and over to Gryffindor tower. Stepping through the portrait hole, Harry was hit with a feeling of déjà vu. There in front of the fire was another small figure curled up with a book. Instead of bushy brown hair, this head was capped with curly blond locks. Recognizing Sam, one of the new first years, Harry sent her upstairs to wake her classmates so he could take them to breakfast and show them to their first class. He did the same after lunch and made sure that they all got back to the common room to start their homework that night.
Harry figured as the first years became accustomed to the castle and all its secret passages and moving staircases, they would no longer need him to walk him to classes. In fact quite the opposite happened. The next morning when he went over to the Tower to wake them up he found them already up and ready to head to the Great Hall. That day at lunch he found a couple of Hufflepuff first years among his flock. As he walked the students back after dinner he realized that he had students to drop off at both the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw dorms. By the end of the week, students from all four houses could be seen trailing after him in the corridors. By this time it was a running joke among the students and faculty. Head Girl Hermione took care of most of the duties and detentions while Harry took care of the first years.
The three friends quickly settled into their seventh year at Hogwarts. With classes came Quidditch practices and tutoring sessions, D.A. meetings and Potions essays. Harry, Ron and Hermione quickly became accustomed to their new positions within Gryffindor House and the school at large. Ron positively reveled in it.
While shoveling a third helping of roast chicken into his mouth the Monday after the start of term, Ron recounted the tale of a Ravenclaw fifth year that had approached him with a rather audacious proposition earlier that day.
"She's been making eyes at me all through lunch, but I didn't think nothing of it until she came at me in the Charms corridor." Spooning some mashed potatoes onto his plate he continued, "How would she even know about that stuff? I mean, she's younger than Ginny!" he sputtered.
Wiping a small fleck of mashed potato from her cheek, Hermione responded, "Well kids grow up quicker these days I suppose. Although I will have a talk with Susan. As prefect she should really try to reign in that sort of behaviour with the younger students"
Harry jumped in at this comment, "Not all the younger students are so…. mature. The first years are actually rather sweet."
"Of course you defend your firsties, they're too busy stalking you to cause mischief. They follow you about like little ducklings, all in a row" Ron laughed to himself, "In fact, I think that's what I'm calling them from now on." Calling down to the end of the table where they sat he yelled, "Hey firsties! You've been promoted. Now you're Harry's ducklings!" Receiving only confused looks from the younger students, Ron turned back to his friends. "Harry you should make them little hats to wear in the halls. Or have them quack to each other. Or-"
"Honestly Ron, that's quite enough. I think it's sweet that the first years are so attached to Harry. I wish the Head Boy had done the same for us when we were new to the school. It really helps to build unity within the Hogwarts community." Turning to her other best friend she continued, "Don't listen to him Harry. I think you're doing a wonderful job as Head Boy. "
"I never said he wasn't!" Ron answered hotly.
"And you! In the six years I've known you your table manners have gone from bad to worse. Really! You know, I'm glad the younger students have Harry to look up to or they might start to take after you, and then where would we be?"
"We'd be a school of damn fine Quidditch players that's what!" And with that Ron and Hermione were off in one of their infamous rows, leaving Harry alone with his thoughts.
As the three sat down in the common room that night to finish (or in some cases, start) their assignments, Ron and Hermione ended their bickering with a huffy "Fine!" from both parties. Over the sound of quills scratching on parchment, Harry's mind wandered to his ducklings. They had come to him for help and advice since the second day of classes. Even a couple of Slytherins had approached him. Not that he minded. He actually rather enjoyed looking after the younger students. 'Besides', he thought darkly, 'it will probably be the closest I get to looking after children of my own.' Smothering a sigh, he dipped his quill in the ink and began work on his essay for Transfiguration.
Later that night, after separating an amorous young couple while on rounds with Hermione, Harry wondered if he'd ever have anyone to snog after hours in a broom closet. It seemed quite diverting, if the sixth year Ravenclaws they had sent to bed were any indication. Not that he hadn't had plenty of offers, but Harry felt little attraction to the random witches who threw themselves at him. His circle of friends was a small one. True friends were a rare commodity when you were the Boy-Who-Lived and Harry guarded his privacy-and his heart- far to closely to let just anyone in. Adding that to the list of things he wouldn't have the chance to experience, he continued brooding
Hermione noted her best friend's silence. This was one the many changes in Harry the summer had wrought. While he had matured a great deal, he had also retreated further into himself. She became aware of the change when the three of them met in Diagon Alley the day before returning to Hogwarts. She had hoped he would snap out of it once he was back at the castle, surrounded by friends and familiarity but it didn't seem to be happening. Telling herself not to pry, Hermione resigned herself to a quiet tour of the school.
Author's Note: A special thank you to those of you who took the time to review. Your comments really mean a lot to me.