Disclaimer: If I seriously owned Harry Potter and everything in relation to it, do you really think Harry would have EVER dated Ginny? Or in this fact, that Ron and Hermione would ever get together? Yeah, no. So here it is, I own nothing but my idea's and computer.
Fun Fact for today:
Tomato - Fruit or Vegetable?
In 1893 , the Supreme Court ruled that the tomato must be considered a vegetable, even though, botanically, it is a fruit. Because vegetables and fruits were subject to different import duties, it was necessary to define it as one or the other. So, tomatoes were declared to be a vegetable given that it was commonly eaten as one. (Source: The Packer, 6/9/90)
So, I could have been pelted with a fruit AND a Vegetable!
Chapter 16: Return to Hogwarts
A fortnight had passed since Harry's belated surprise birthday party. The home was quite and less packed. Hermione's family had been relocated to their newly fixed and charmed home less than a week ago. The Weaslys were now down to their last two children as Fred and George moved into the flat above their business to make it easier to open up shop in the morning. The Twins had confessed to Harry and Ron minutes after their mum left the room that it was really so they could sleep in later opposed to waking up 15 minutes earlier if they decided to live at home. They thought the sacrifice of the smaller living space was worth the 15 minutes. The Order activity within the house had almost come to a halt as the new term of school drew near, making the house quite and almost empty compared to what it has been in the past. To some, the peace of the home was almost eerie.
"Mate," Harry said as he looked around Ron's room, "What the bloody hell happened in here?" Harry kicked a black dress shoe away from where he stood in the doorway.
Ron smiled sheepishly and turned back to looking through his truck. "I know it's in here somewhere," he said as he threw out the other dress shoe. "Ah ha! Here it is." Ron pulled out his chessboard and a bag with his pieces in it. "I'll show Ginny," he said grinning.
Harry laughed, "What are you going to show her?" He asked, "Your room? I agree it would scare anybody with a pulse."
"She claims she's better in chess than me. But I'm going to show her. Want to play after I beat her?" he asked as he headed towards the door.
Harry really didn't want to. He had been heading to the kitchen to get something to eat when a sock flew at him from Ron's bedroom door. Harry was about to say no when Hermione walked into the room and make a face of condemnation. "Ugh, now this is just repulsive," She muttered
"It's how we were meant to live, we're men. We don't clean," Ron said sticking out his chest arrogantly. Harry shook his head at Ron's comment and chucked a shoe at him. It hit Ron on the chest making his smugness disintegrate but he quickly recovered and found humor in it and started to laugh.
Hermione scowled, "Harry's room isn't a mess," She said in a matter-of-fact tone crossing her arms.
Ron gave a weak glare, "He has Dobby to do it for him," He looked around his room and glowered in despite, "I know if I had a house elf I would have a clean room," Ron mumbled barely audible, but both Harry and Hermione heard it.
Harry shrugged his shoulders, "If you want, you can ask Dobby if he will clean your room, I'm sure he would be happy to do it. But in the end, it is up to him."
Ron smiled triumphantly towards Hermione, "So, Harry, do you want to play the winner then?" he asked walking back to his truck and closing it.
"Uh-" Harry started but was cut off by Remus who entered the room.
"Harry can I speak with you for a moment?" he asked earnestly, he glanced and greeted Hermione and Ron with a small smile.
"Uh, yeah sure." Harry said, "Sorry Ron."
"Oh, it's okay, maybe next time than?" he asked.
"Yeah, sure. Next time," Harry said as he walked out of the room.
Harry walked into the kitchen after Remus, noticing that Molly Weasley stood at the stove while Bill, Charlie, and Arthur Weasley sat around the table. Mad-Eye Moody and Tonks where standing at the end of the table and when they noticed Harry, they also sat.
Remus sat down next to Tonks and Harry followed suit. "What's going on?" He asked looking around the table.
"We are trying to think of how to get all of you to the train on the first," Bill said pulling out rolls of parchments offering one to Charlie.
"We thought you would like to be included in the process," Charlie added, taking the parchment and unwrap it and spreading it across the table.
"Well, most of us did anyway," Tonks said throwing a look to Mrs. Weasley who stood taut at the stove stirring what looked like soup.
"Now, we have a couple of choices here," Arthur said to everybody, "First choice is we can take the approached that we did last summer and walk there."
"With all the attention Harry is getting these days, it wouldn't be very practical," Bill pointed out to Arthur, who in turn nodded.
"Which brings us to our second option; we could get ministry cars to take us there,"
"That sounds like a good idea," Charlie said looking towards his dad, "Why don't we just do that?" He asked
"Well, the dilemma with this is there are various problems," Tonks said interrupting. "We could have easily get a car or two from the ministry with Harry being the savior of the world and all again," She sent Harry a smile, "But some ministry people are lacking in the, uh, amiability towards Harry, him being in the Ministry last June and all. Also, some blame Harry for the Ministry's lack of belief of You-know-who's return. And usually this wouldn't matter, but these people are the ones we need to grant us the usage of the cars." She said glowering, "And we can't force them to do anything, anyway, as the Minister seems to still have a grudge against you Harry, so he won't over rule the rejection from the ministry transport system."
"So really, that was never an option, so on to the third choice, which is to just portkey you kids to the station," Arthur said to Harry
"Does anybody in that department hate Harry?" Tonks asked gleefully to Arthur, sending a joyful smile towards Harry.
Harry scowled towards her, "Why wouldn't you know, you work at the Ministry and you seem full of answers today."
"I don't work in transportation by portkey department. Why should I know if people hate you or not?" She asked smiling
"But you knew if the other people had hated me," He pointed out irately
"I never said they hated you, Anyway, I run into Jim and Todd at the pub sometimes when I go out after work." Tonks said smiling, "Todd always asks me out." She said directing it towards Remus who glared in return.
"You wouldn't date him if somebody paid you. You told Molly that he was as dull as your quill," He said rolling his eyes to her
"That's completely beside the point, tons of guys would be glad to date me-"
"Just because-" Remus started
"I think you two should continue your little quarrel outside of our meeting." Arthur interrupted their little brawl, "Alright, and no, nobody hates Harry in this department, but the only problem would be where they would fall. The platform has certain wards and most likely will land us either on the train tracks or in the middle of the platform where press will be waiting for Harry,"
"Wait, why is the press going to be there?" Harry asked hastily
Remus gave a small sad smile and patted Harry on the shoulder and had Arthur continue on, "We could have Dumbedore lift the wards for the destination time but this could cause problems. We risk an attack if somebody got a hold of the time of the portkey and they would know when the wards would be lifted." He said pointing out, "We also have the option just to have floo you all to Hogwarts and not have you take the train at all." He said making this choice sound like it was his choice.
"But the train is tradition," Bill said frowning
"I agree," Charlie said nodding his head
Mad-Eye glared, "Tradition or not, it's too dangerous to get them there."
"Are there any other choices?" Remus asked
Arthur shook his head in response, but than stopped in mid-shake, "Well, there is always the Knight Bus,"
"What's the problem with this idea?" Tonks asked wondering with a smile
"We could be easily attacked," Arthur said, "Deatheaters could sneak attack us pretending to be a passenger or a employee..." He trailed off
"Well," Harry started. All eye's were on him, well, beside's Molly's, "Why don't you just have taxicab's take us there? There are only 4 of us now so you can have 2 cabs, 2 kids in each, and than have 1 adult or maybe even two with them." Harry said leaning forward in his chair. "You don't have to get the Ministry's permission, Hermione, Ron, Ginny and I get to take the train, there's no way that Death eaters will think we will take Muggle transportation. So really no danger with them attacking. Plus there is a one in a billion chance that a death eater would kill our driver and take the drivers place and sneak attack us," Harry concluded.
"That is an excellent idea," Charlie said, "What do you think dad?"
"You're right, it is a excellent idea," He nodded, "Ron and Ginny could ride in one taxicab with Molly and I, and Harry, you and Hermione will ride in the other along with Tonks and Remus." He then turned his attention to Remus. "We won't need any more guards than that will we?"
Remus shook his head, "No, this sounds fine with me."
Everybody agrees than?" Arthur asked looking around at everybody, and guiltily looked back towards Harry, "Now, how do we exactly get these taxicabs?" He asked weakly.
"Don't worry Arthur, I'll make the arrangements," Remus said, laughing lightly.
"Dinners about ready, why don't you all go wash up?" Mrs. Weasley said finally moving from the stovetop and wiped her hands on a dish towel.
Harry nodded and left the table and walked from the room with Tonks and Remus behind him.
"Where are the others?" Tonks asked as they walked up the stairs
"In the sitting room I would guess. Ron said something about playing a game of chess against Ginny," He replied.
"I'll let them know dinner is done than," Remus said walking away
Tonks smiled and whispered to Harry, "I made a bet with Remus on the chess game, I'm banking on Ginny." Harry shook his head with a smile
"I'll come with you, I want to see if Ginny won or not," Tonks said catching up with Remus and skipping off towards the sitting room with him now trailing behind her.
"HA! I TOLD YOU SO! NOW PAY UP WEREWOLF!" Tonks voice carried through the hall way as Harry reached his door. He laughed aloud and shook his head, poor Ron.
--------------------------------------------
September 1st came around sooner than expected as Harry packed his last book in his trunk. He was somewhat excited to go back, but he would miss his freedom that he held when here at Grimmauld place because he knew that whatever freedom he had would vanish once he returned. Harry shrunk his trunk and pocketed it in his jeans. He heard Mrs. Weasley call up the stairs nearly 2 minutes ago that the cars were there and to and to get down there. He had let Hedwig fly ahead to Hogwarts instead of making her sit in her cage on the long ride to the castle.
Harry headed down the stairs, Hermione stood there with her book bag across her shoulders. A thin book clutched in her hands. Ginny, who stood against the wall next to Hermione, popped her bubble gum with irritation. Ginny's trunk floating inches from the ground next to her, where as Hermione's trunk was nowhere in sight.
"Where's Ronald?" Mrs. Weasley asked looking up the stairs towards Ron's bedroom door.
"He's coming, He waited to pack his trunk till the last minute." Ginny said popping her gum
Her mother looked disapprovingly at her and called up the stairs, "Ronald! Hurry up or we are leaving you behind and you can walk to Hogwarts!"
Ron came hastily out of his room struggling with his trunk as he dragged it down the stairs. "Where's your trunk, Mate?" He asked as he finally got to the last step.
"I shrunk it and put a feather-light charm on it." Harry said smiling at him wanting to laugh at Ron's facial expression, which was one of confusion.
"Good, do that to mine." He said standing up strait.
"He. Will. Not." Mrs. Weasley said angrily though her faced was controlled, "He shouldn't even be using magic out side of school. He should only use magic when necessary and at this moment, it isn't." She opened the door and unbewitched Ginny's trunk, "I don't even see why you need it shrunk, there is plenty of room in the car, don't you remember?"
Harry looked to Mr. Weasley who was slowly starting to turn red and started to sweat. He was rather glad Fred and George had refused to come back to school this year, or else Mr. Weasly would be sleeping on the couch the rest of his life because Molly would surely realize the space in the cars if there were more people than 5.
"Hermione, where is your trunk?" Ron asked looking around, "Did Harry shrink it for you?" He said with a hint envy in his voice
"No, Remus shrunk it for me last night." She said indicating to her bag.
"How are you going to change on the train if your trunk and all your things are shrunk? You can't unshrink it yourself can you?" He asked trying to tug at his trunk, it seemed to gain weight as it sat on the step.
Hermione held back a scowl, "I am capable of doing it myself. Even though it is none of your business, I have my clothes in my bag so I won't have to unshrink my trunk. Anyway, when we get to school the wards will return them back to normal," She said and picked up Crookshanks' cage, which Harry hadn't even notice was there, and walked out of the house.
"Bill, Charlie, take you sister's trunk to the car, Arthur can you help Ronald with his?" Mrs. Weasley said steering Ginny out of the door giving Ron an unreadable look.
Bill and Charlie walked over to Ginny's trunk and together picked it up and put it in the boot of the second taxicab; Arthur and Ron had placed Ron's in Hermione and Harry's taxicab.
Ginny smiled sadly to her brothers and hugged them both tightly. Hermione walked over to them setting Crookshanks down saying her goodbyes. Surprisingly they both looked at each other and hugged her.
"Ron, Ginny, your in with your mother and me," Mr. Weasley said ushering his children into the back seat with him, Mrs. Weasley sat in the front with the driver.
Tonks happily slid into the back seat and took the window behind the driver's side and Hermione slid in next to Tonks, being careful of Crookshanks, and Harry followed and sat next to Hermione before shutting the door. Remus finally got in the car and told the driver it was all right to leave.
Harry looked out the window, thinking of the press that where going to be at the platform. Why couldn't they ever leave them alone?
"Harry!" Hermione said nudging him in the ribs
"Huh?" He asked looking at her
"I asked if you could crack the window some. It's kind of stuffy in here." She said indicating to the window. She looked at him, "You okay?"
"Yup," He said unrolling the window half way, "That good?"
"Yeah, that's fine, thanks." She said giving him a strange look but sat back in her seat and tapped her fingers against Crookshanke's cage to the soft music playing on the taxicabs radio.
When they arrived to the platform barrier Ron and Ginny went through first followed by their parents, Tonks went through, followed by Harry and Hermione and then Remus.
The flashes of lighbulbs blinded Harry as he resurfaced on the platform, Hermione ran into Harry's back. He had suddenly wished that he had agreed to just Flooing to Hogwarts. Due the fact that Tonks had stopped unexpectedly, he too had stopped, causing the collision of Hermione to his back. He was blinking rapidly trying to regain his vision from the multitude of flashes.
"I think I've gone blind," Tonks whispered to Harry.
Harry cracked a smile despite his bad mood. He too felt as if he was going blind.
More cameras flashed went off and reporters called his name, "Harry!"
Harry pushed Tonks ahead and she seemed to readapt to her business like approach and yelled for a clearing, even once being able to threaten to hex somebody. Least to say, she was smiling by the time she got Harry and Hermione aboard the train.
"I saw Rita Seeker in that bunch," Hermione said looking out the window of the door disgustingly, "that evil hag."
Harry shrugged his shoulders in response, though Hermione hadn't seen the gesture.
"Lets find Ron and Ginny," Hermione said moving from the door,
"No need," Harry said pointing to Ron who came towards them, "we're sitting in that compartment with Loony and Neville," Ron said pointing to a door down the corridor
"Luna, Ron. Her name is Luna." Harry said pushing past Ron somewhat coldly. He hadn't known why he said it that manor. Maybe it was because he had known Luna was a good person, a bit crazy, but still a good person and didn't deserve to be made fun of or picked on the way she was. Or maybe even possibly he had realized that he had grown up in more than one way this summer and had passed this childish behavior to tolerate Ron and his antics. No matter, it had come out coldly, and deep down he had meant it to sound just that.
"Uh, oh, right. Sorry." Ron said somewhat sheepishly, "Luna and Neville are waiting in the compartment and are saving our seats." Harry who had already passed him entered the compartment and smiled at the occupants.
"Hey Luna, Neville. How were your summers?" He sat down, aware that Ron entered the compartment after him. Luna was reading an issue of The Quibbler.
"Mine was exquisite, my Father and I got to travel across Canada to visit my Uncle who lives close to somebody who knew somebody who knew where to find Nimplintons." She set her Quibbler down sadly on her crossed legs, "But as I was telling Ginny, My father and I didn't get to see any while we were there. But I didn't get to finish my story because she left when a boy came to get her to sit with him."
"How bout yours Neville?" He asked nodding to Luna.
Neville muttered something and looked down at his hands.
Harry gave Neville a look of confusion, "I'm sorry, what was that? I couldn't exactly understand you."
"He spent half his summer in St. Mungos," Luna said nodding her head sympathetically, "He had a fight with his, um... plant..."
Ron laughed, "What happened, Mate?"
Neville turned red, "I-I, um, well, you see what happened was-" He seemed to lose his courage as he twisted his hands in humiliation.
"Come on, you can tell us," Hermione said sitting down next to Harry, completely avoiding the open seat next to Luna. No matter if Harry liked Luna, Hermione surely didn't hold her in the best esteem.
"I was, um, arguing with my Gran you see. Well, she was yelling at me and I was just standing there listening..." He seemed to trail off and than started again, "Uh, right, so she was yelling at me and I was feeding and watering my plants. And one of my plants has this special food that it needs. If you feed it anything else is fatally dangerous. Well, she was yelling really loud and I hadn't noticed that I had fed the Jilagona plant the Pictoran's food and it attacked me with its vines..." Hermione gasped and Ron laughed. Harry just gave Neville a pitying look
"...They cured me within 2 days, but they wanted to keep me there for testing and observation..." Once again he trailed off
"Anything else eventful?" He asked when the silence became uncomfortable
"I got a new wand," he said pulling it out of his pant pocket, "It's a whole lot better than my old one," he said perking up showing it to them.
Harry nodded and leaned back into his seat, slightly aware Hermione was close enough to him for her leg to touch his. Luna had resumed reading her issue of The Quibbler and Ron had settled into the seat next to Hermione, even though it was a tight squeeze making Hermione even closer to Harry than before. Harry wonder silently to himself if it had been this crowded before, when he realized, they had grown up. He was no longer the scrawny little kid he was last year or the previous years before then. Ron had also grown out some, not much, but enough to make a difference in seating wise. But not so much to make it this crowded.
"Ugh," Harry heard Ron, so he looked over and realized what was making it crowded on the seat, Crookshanks was sitting next to Hermione and refused to move for Ron. "Hermione, can you move this thing?" He asked his butt half in the air above the cat and waving his hand franticly.
"Are you guys not supposed to be in the prefect compartment?" Neville asked looking at his watch wonderingly.
"Oh!" Hermione sprung up and rushed out of the compartment, Ron sighed and walked slowly after her muttering something about his mother and not being able to quit.
Harry laughed leaning over to pick up Crookshanks and setting the cat on his lap petting it. Harry heard the whistle of the train and the train jerked forward as the train began moving. He leaned into his seat and continued petting Hermione's cat. He looked out the window as the scenery passed by in a blur.
Harry heard the clearing of a throat and looked towards the door. Cho stood in their compartment timidly. Harry felt Crookshanks being pushed off of his lap not realizing that he was the one doing the pushing.
She smiled uncertainly. "Harry, can I talk to you for a second?" she asked nervously
He nodded and stood. Hermione entered the room at that moment and was startled before looking to Harry in question. Ron entered and sat down before he realized that Cho was in the compartment.
"I'll be back." He said to Hermione in particular, following Cho out of the compartment. He knew he no longer had feelings for Cho, he'd known that since last term. They had left things off on such bad terms, and for some reason he wanted to fix that. Cho led him into an empty compartment, which he noticed had people's things in it.
"It's my compartment," She told him awkwardly, "Lucy is head girl, and Janet is a prefect... I asked the others to leave so I could talk with you." She twisted her skirt in her hands, which was noticeably short. Her shirt was sleeveless and rather reveling. "W-would you like to sit?" She asked, he shook his head but when she sat he changed his mind and sat across from her.
"I wanted to talk to you about last year," She said after the silence fell in the compartment heavily, "I had a lot of thinking time this summer. I should have never said those things about Hermione and everything else. I should have understood that you and Hermione are only friends. B-but I've never seen two people so close of the opposite sex like you guys are..." She trailed off silently, "I'm sorry about that,"
Harry nodded, "It's okay, we've all grown up over the summer. We really had no choice." He said giving her a small smile and stood up.
She stood and smiled flirting with him, "You've grown up a lot over the summer." She suggestively scanned his body.
He cleared his throat uncomfortably, "Uh-"
"I want us to start over." She said cutting him off. "I like talking to you, and I don't want us not to talk." She said talk in a manor that didn't mean talking in particular, but Harry didn't pick up on it.
Thinking this innocent and couldn't bring any bad, he nodded, "I would like that, Cho." And before he knew it Cho had thrown her body onto his causing him to fall onto the seat. She kissed him passionately. It took a second of him to make his body to comply with his thoughts as he pushed her away from him. "Cho, I-I don't like you that way anymore." She was still on top of him; she looked at him her eyes cast downward.
"Am I not pretty enough for you?" She asked looking at him sadly
"Of course your pretty-"
"Am I not smart enough for you?"
"Of course your smart enough-"
"Than what's the problem? What's wrong with me that makes you not want me?"
"Nothing is wrong with you, I just-" He was cut off with her kissing him once again. He was strong enough to pick her up and remove her from his body, breaking her kiss.
"Cho, you're a great girl, but I don't like you that way anymore."
"Why not?"
"I can't give you a reason for it but I just don't," Instead of the emotional-sad-Cho that he was use to, she became angry
"You were fine kissing me last year."
"We kissed once," He said, matching her anger, "We weren't even boyfriend and girlfriend. We went on a date where you went psychotic,"
"Only because you where going to go meet Hermione Granger on our date!" She yelled emphasizing the word 'our', "She was the problem with us!"
Harry stood, "You know what, I don't need this right now. Hermione was never our problem in our relationship, if that's what you wish to call it, so get over it." He said coldly and left the compartment, running right into Marietta who had been standing right in front of the door along with 3 other girls. He had now wished he had sound proofed the compartment, knowing they heard everything they said. He pushed his way threw them and stalked back down to his own compartment where Hermione was reading the thin book which she was holding earlier that day while Ron was playing chess with Neville, who looked to be losing, and Luna, who seemed to be still reading her issue of the Quibbler.
Ron looked up at Harry's arrival, "What'd she want?" He asked as one of his knights shattered one of Neville's Rookies
"Nothing important," He said sitting down in between Ron and Hermione, given that Hermione had taken his seat by the window.
Ron seemed to shrug it off, as he continued on with his game with Neville. Hermione hadn't given him even the slightest glance, which would have bothered him some time before today, but right now it just gave him relief.
Within the compartment things were quiet as they all carried on with their own enjoyments. Harry soon joined Ron and Neville in a game of exploding snap, Hermione continued on intensively reading her book, and Luna seemed to be reading her Quibbler backwards since she was now on the first page when earlier she seemed to be near the end. Ginny joined them in the compartment later, after the sun had set and the clouds had made the dark seem almost deafening. She had also joined in the rather intense game of exploding snap, which ended when Ginny forcefully throwing a card near Ron, which in turn exploded in Ron's face, causing him to leave the compartment to find a healer to fix the separation of his eyebrows from his face even though Hermione was capable of doing so herself.
Taking advantage of this, Hermione kicked Harry and Neville out of the compartment to allow the girls to change into their uniforms and in turn when Ron came back from the healer they in turn left the compartment so the boys could change.
Hermione and Ron went onto one last patrol after this and when they arrived back they where greeted with heaps of food in the compartment.
"Oh good, I'm starving. Though why so late? Less than an hour to go till Hogwarts, it's never this late." Ron said flopping down on a seat and grabbed a Chocolate frog.
"New lady," Neville said eating a pastry. "Kind of short, Blackish-bluish hair, really pale. Early 20's I'd say," He said sizing her up and trying to help Ron visualize her.
"Oh…" Ron said trailing off and giving the door a fleeting glance as if the lady would walk by, "When did she come by?"
"Right after you guys left." Harry said taking his feet from the seat across from him so Hermione could sit. Harry now sat by Luna and let Hermione continue to reside in "his" seat. She accepted the pastry Harry offered her and ate it silently.
"You okay?" He asked her after a second of studying her.
"Yes," Was all she said as she opened her book once again. Harry was intrigued to say the lease. He had been studying the thin book that Hermione clutched the whole day with interest. She was reading it fixedly but seemed to not gain advancement in pages. She hadn't let it out of her sight all day and never put it down. When she went to patrol the corridors with Ron she even took the book with her.
"What are you reading?" He asked conversationally
She look up over her book and gave him a raised eyebrow, "… a book," she said as if he was thick.
"No? I thought it was a rock. How foolish of me." He rolled his eyes and sat back watching her for a second as she let her eyes wonder back down to her book. This time less focused than before but focused enough to ignore Harry's questioning eyes.
Harry sighed lightly, looking out the window. A large bolt of lightning flashed through the sky and was quickly followed by a roar of thunder. A blanket of rain fell from the gray-black clouds and forcefully smashed against the window, obviously the wind was blowing towards the train rather than away from it. He leaned his head against the cold window, which happened to feel rather refreshing. Another bolt of lightning struck the sky followed by another. Hermione, who had been watching Harry from atop of her book, had looked out the window when he looked back to her to see her looking at him. The lights flickered off and than on again seconds later, which caused a rather loud curse from Ron. The lights flicked once again but did not turn back on.
" D-dementors again?" Neville asked, Harry could feel Neville's hand move threw the air, the motions it was sending out were hitting his sentences like a hammer. Harry could even see Neville's hand waving in the air as if he could touch the invisible dementors. Harry was able to see them all, not that this was natural, he had known that ritual would come in handy, not that he had told Hermione about it. She knew to much already of what he had done that summer. He saw Luna had put down her issue of the Quibbler and was looking towards Harry now, Hermione had her eyebrows forward and was looking worriedly out the window, while Ginny, who sat next to her, was looking over her shoulder to see if she could see anything threw the now the pouring rain. Ron had seemingly missed the importance of them sitting in the dark, was scratching the inside of his nose. Harry suppressed an eye roll.
" No..." Harry said looking back out his window giving into his eye roll towards Ron, though it was not evident in his voice, "I would be able to feel them if they were here." He shook his head though he knew it was useless, nobody could even see their hands in front of their own noses, let alone Harry shaking his head slowly. He looked back towards Hermione, "I'm going to guess the storm knocked out the power or something,"
Hermione now looked to where she knew Harry to be, "But you forget Harry, we're on a train that doesn't run its lights off electricity! It's run on magical power sources. Nothing can knock them out except something more powerful. Neville's assumption was a good one."
"I would be able to feel them though, so it can't be Dementors."
Hermione frowned, "I'll check with the Head Girl and Boy. They should know something." She said standing up setting her book on her chair.
" I'll come with," Ron offered and stood up almost immediately causing Crookshanks to hiss and find shelter under Harry's legs.
Hermione muttered a 'whatever' and walked from the compartment expertly without the need of light, but Ron tripped over Ginny's bag and than over Neville's foot even though he was sitting next to the door. " Hermione, wait up. I can't see."
Harry could hear Ginny snicker and light her wand, " Idiot," was what she said as she rolled her eyes. Harry blinked to adjust to the light. He didn't mind the dark, it's just that the light made him see white dots every time he blinked. Ginny slid her wand into the crack between the seats so it stood upright so she didn't need to hold it.
Harry's eyes strayed to Hermione's book in which she had left behind. Either it was in light of the events occurring and she merely forgot or it was to test Harry. Harry did very badly at tests, as most teachers would tell others, so Harry reached for the book and picked it up. He was aware that everybody's eyes were now on him if they hadn't been before. The book was thin and light, it was about7 inches in height and the base seemed to be less than 4 inches. It was a thickness that hardly compared to Hermione's usual readings, this was truly "light" reading. It looked like it only contained 20 pages. The front and back were both blank, the out side was a light-gray blue and the edges were torn and rippled at the edges. It was really old by the looks of it and as if it would fall apart within seconds of opening the fragile bindings. He hesitated and opened the cover and looked at the first page. In a neat, careful, cursive writing was written in French Tout s'en va, tout passe, L'eau coule, et la coeur Oblie
The translation was written beneath it in a completely different hand writing, All goes away, all passes, water flows, the heart forgets.
Guilt hit him in a large wave, this was something personal by the looks of the first page, he went on though, curiosity getting the better of him. As he flip the first blank page he noticed the pages were tissue thin, like they had used back in the 1400's, where one drop of water could coil the whole page. As he turned the page he noticed a little star at the upper right hand corner. The page was filled with the script that was on the page before, just as neat and clearly English wasn't his Native language. Harry closed the book without even reading the first sentence, ashamed of himself. The guilt hit him even harder than before. He almost read something of Hermione's, her personal belongings when she clearly didn't want him to even know what she was reading. He shouldn't have even picked it up.
No, he didn't know if it was somehow related to her. It could be some homework assignment she had assigned herself. Maybe some book she found in the bookstore he had taken her to, though he hadn't noticed it before. But it was an easily ignored book. It was small and thin it could have been press between two large Volumes and Harry hadn't even noticed. But still, it wasn't his business to know what she was reading, now was it? Curiosity was dangerous when it was inside of Harry. It was like a hungry snake tempted with rat scurrying by its nose.
Hermione had been distant with him today and he wasn't sure why, but this clearly wasn't the way to make things better. Harry set the book down back where it laid before he had picked it up, "What is it about?" Neville asked
"Dunno," Harry said sitting back in his seat now, "I didn't read it, It felt wrong." He frowned
"Don't worry, we won't tell her you peeked," Ginny said comforting him slightly with a small smile.
He nodded, "Do we need that light?" He asked finally, he had closed his eyes and instead of seeing the darkness he usually saw, he saw a pinkish-beige color.
"Oh, no." She said putting out the light, but as soon as she did the lights flickered back on. "Back on," She said unnecessarily.
He sighed and propped his foot on Hermione's seat, she would be back soon enough but he was going to take advantage of her absence.
"What do you think the book's about than?" Ginny asked, "You read the first page didn't you?"
"Well, second, first was blank. But yeah, it was some quote in French." He said shrugging; he didn't tell her it was translated into English.
"Hmm," She said tossing the book back to its place. Hermione arrived soon after, looking agitated. "Lightning hit the front of the train's wards, blew out the lights," She sighed and noticed her book realizing that she had left it. "Oh, my book..." She said picking it up, Harry dropped his foot.
"Nobody looked at it did they?" She asked looking around the compartment some what embarrassed.
"Nope," Neville said, "It was pitch black the whole time. Didn't even notice it was there," he lied easily, looking at the book unconcerned.
Harry inwardly smiled, he was glad they didn't turn him in to Hermione. He didn't want her to be angry at him. For some reason, if she was, he doubted that he would want to eat at the feast, and he was starving.
"Oh, well, alright." She said stuffing the book into her bag and grabbing all of her things, "We'll be at Hogwarts in a couple of minutes, I have to go and help organize people off the train." She said rather distinctly and left the room, Ron running up to catch her.
"Now that makes me wonder what's in that book." Neville said looking after her.
Harry laughed.
ROTGL
The announcement of their arrival to the platform echoed through the train after Hermione had left that told them to leave their belongings on the train. Harry and the others filed off the train among the other students. Among them Harry watched the small first years nervously looking around. He himself found himself looking for the apparently absent Hagrid. Relief filled him when he saw his friend striding toward the platform quickly, he was just late.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" He yelled when he finally reached the hoard of students, he beamed when he saw Harry, "Harry! Yer all grown," He said shaking his head in memory,
Harry smiled, "I'll come down tomorrow to visit, you have first years to attend to," he laughed, glad to be back even if it meant less freedom. It never really stopped him before to break the rules, now he'll just be better at it.
Hagrid who had seemed to forget about the other students looked around him, "Firs' years! Any more firs' years? C'mon, follow me," He waved to Harry and led the first years away from the train and out of sight.
Harry looked around him and spotted Ron who was standing next to a carriage where Hermione stood on the second step, one hand on her him annoyed. Ginny had disappeared with Dean, and Neville and Luna were right behind him.
"Ron, for Merlin sake's, get over it." Hermione's voice reached Harry's ears at last when he got to their carriage.
"What's going on?" He asked looking at Ron.
"He wants to pet one," Hermione said annoyed
Harry eye's Ron silently who happily started to pet air. "Look! I'm petting it!" He said smugly to Hermione.
"Uh... Ron, Mate?" Harry said cautiously.
"Yeah?" He asked grinning
"Your petting his bum, and I don't think he like's it very much," Luna said with her wide eyes just as mysterious as they have ever been, but her voice was filled with seriousness.
Ron jumped back from the air and pulled his hand back and wiped it on his pants, Harry roared with laughter and entered the carriage after a laughing Hermione. Ron who was hysterical complained the whole way to the castle. "I. Hate. Invisible. Beast."
They were the third to last group to enter the Great Hall though they took their usual places at the Gryffindor table. Luna separated from them at sat at the Ravenclaw.
"Look, new DADA teacher," Harry said inclining his head to the teachers table.
A women in her mid-twenties was sitting next to Professor Flitwick and Snape whom she'd seemed to be in a rather deep conversation with. She had light blond hair that was twisted into a braid at the top of her head, he face was a side darker than pale, her lips were thin but in a small smile, and her robes were the basic black teaching robes which Dumbledore obviously discarded for himself. The Headmaster, had seemed to think Bright Purple was a fascinating color. He had his wizards hat topped with a fuzzy cotton ball painted pink. Bright glowing and moving stars where about his robes. His face was drawn but still held a smile, and his eyes twinkled less than they had the year before, but none the less, still twinkled as he watched the students assemble themselves in their seats.
McGonagall walked into the Great Hall with the first years walking timidly behind her. The Hall quieted down as they watch them walk down.
"Is it just me, or are they shrinking?" Ron said looking at the first years in wonder, "I mean, yeah, I know we're growing and all, but every year they seem to get smaller and smaller. This batch looks as if they could be 9 or something."
Harry only shrugged his shoulders in response and let his eyes wonder around the Hall. He let his eyes stray to the Slytherin table and found it to be missing quite a few students, one being Malfoy.
Ginny noticed also, "Where's Malfoy?"
Ron now looked. "Maybe he died," he suggested
Neville who had been looking also, "Don't get my hopes up."
Harry suppressed a laugh but the rest of the Gryffindors didn't.
McGonagall arrived to the front of the Staff Table were she disappeared and reappeared with the stool and Sorting Hat. She stood rather stiffly as she looked over the first years. The Hall once again quieted down.
"She must still be injured," Hermione whispered to him.
He nodded sadly and looked back to McGonagall. She placed the hat on the stool and the creases once again opened and started its yearly song.
"As years have passed,
students place me on their heads
to be told what's in their minds
which house do they belong
Gryfindor where the brave and true of heart duel
Hufflepuff were the loyal reside
Ravenclaw of those who wish to prove themselves
and only those of working minds
Or Slytherin where those of Cunning dwell,
a mistake on my part
and some of yours as well.
We are strong united
weakest divided
my message strong last year
None took it seriously
and suffering is what you will do
From within these walls
we are one
no matter which house you belong
A war inhabits this world
as you must have learned
only if you work together
shall you endure,
This year my warning strong and true,
same as last
My time is due
We must unite inside these walls
or we'll crumble from within
I have told you, I have warned you,
My job is only half way through,
Now on with each of you
to see which house you belong,
let the Sorting now begin."
Harry joined in on the clapping as the song finish and let McGonagall quite the Hall down. "Now, when your name is called, you will come up here and sit on the stool and place the hat on your head. Upon hearing your house, you shall remove the hat and sit at your respective table." She pulled the scroll of names from beneath her arm were it was tucked, unrolling it she called out the first name, "Anderson, Stacy."
A little girl with bright blond hair walked coolly to the stool and sat and put the hat on her head. Seconds later the hat called out, "Slytherin!" She jumped from the stool and walked to her table where she sat in the mist of the fifth years, where one in particular had the same smirk on his face and patted her on her back.
"Andorra, Rick," McGonagall said moving on
"RAVENCLAW!" a large wave of applause came from the table as the house was called.
"Brian, Steven."
"GRYFINDOR!" The hat had called without even touching the boy's head.
Harry started to space off after the second student was placed into Gryfindor but was nudged back into attention by Hermione. He looked at her, "Ow," She in turn rolled her eyes and motioned her head towards the doors. He looked quickly and saw Malfoy walking quickly to his table while adjusting his robes. He greeted Crabb with a push and a low growl of "get out of my seat".
"Wonder what he was doing," Harry whispered knowing very well what Malfoy might have been up to.
"We'll check on it tomorrow." Hermione whispered back.
"No, I will do it. Don't worry about it." He said not even looking at her.
She scowled, "We'll look into it tomorrow. You're not doing it alone."
Harry watched the rest of the Sorting. As the last First year was sorted into Hufflepuff they all clapped.
Dumbledore Stood and looked around the student body, "Ah, a new school year! But I shall not bore you with a speech at this moment, but time will come where I must." He smiled, "But if I don't start the feast I daresay I may be pelted with food as soon as I do. So, Tuck in!"
The food appeared in front of them as Ron hungrily pulled food towards him. Harry shook his head at Ron and put food on his plate.
"So, Harry. How was your summer then?" Neville asked him.
Harry Swallowed his food, "It was okay, I guess." He said and went back to eating his food.
Neville gave him a questioning glace but went on talking to Dean about their summers.
The deserts appeared soon after but Harry was still eating his dinner, "Save me a piece of that," He said to Hermione who had taken the second to last piece of chocolate moose pie. She nodded and put the last piece of pie onto a plate and put it next to him.
Harry finished up his food and happily picked up his pie. Dumbledore stood while Harry took a fork and took a chunk from his pie. Dumbledore held his hands wide and the food disappeared before Harry could put the pie in his mouth. He looked at his fork which was now empty of pie. He looked to Hermione in protest and than back to his fork and than angrily whispered, "Old man." Only enough for the Gryffindor table to hear and let his fork hit his plate with a thunk and crossed his arms across his chest which made the whole table cracked up laughing.
The hall was looking at the Gryffindors questionably, who just out of nowhere had started to laugh. Dumbledore looked confused and cleared his throat, "Ah, well, to our newcomers, welcome, to our old hands- welcome back!
"Our Caretaker, Mr. Filch, has asked me to remind you students that magic is not permitted in the corridors between classes, nor anything that can be bought at the shop called Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, along with numerous things which are all named in your common rooms.
"I am please to announce that we have a new addition to our staff. Mrs. Duncan," he said extending his hand to the women beside Snape who stood up, "has kindly accepted to fill the Defense Against the Dark arts teaching position," She smiled at them all as the applause started, she blushed and sat down and Snape said something to her which made her grin.
"She's Hot." Dean said looking at the teacher.
"Yeah," Ron said eagerly in response.
Harry would have had to agree fully with Ron and Dean, but knew if he did so out loud, he'd receive a rather large smack to the head.
"Lets just hope she can actually teach us something this year," Harry said looking at them. They all nodded in response
"If you wish to try out for your House Quidditch teams, they will take place in the second week of October, any questions please contact your Head of House. We are also looking for some new captains, if you're interested please do the same.
"Now, as you all know, Lord Voldemort and his followers are once more at large." The Hall fell with a thick silence, "I can not emphasize enough the importance, now more than ever, to follow the rules here at Hogwarts. There is to be no student out and about after curfew, which has now been changed for your safety. No students may leave the premises of Hogwarts with out permission. Under NO circumstance may any student enter the Dark Forest. All students must attend all of their classes, attendance is mandatory and if you are not in class you shall be interrogated as to why not."
He looked around the Hall once more, "Now, before I dismiss you all to your warm and most welcoming beds, if you all will do me the pleasure of hearing your wonderful voices that I haven't heard in such a long time," He pulled out his wand and gave it a light flick and a the memorable long golden ribbon flew out of it, which rose high above the tables and twisted itself into words. "Now, everybody pick your favorite tune, and off we go.
The school bellowed:
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,
Whether we be old and bald
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling
With some interesting stuff,
For now they're bare and full of air,
Dead flies and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we've forgot,
Just do your best, we'll do the rest,
And learn until our brains all rot."
As always, everybody finished the song at different times, "Ah, music," he said joyfully, "A magic beyond all we do here! Now, off to beds you trot!"
"Coming Harry?" Ron asked him rising from the table, "I don't have to walk the midgets this year."
Harry shook his head in response, "Nah, I need to talk with Dumbledore real fast, I'll catch up with you in the room."
"Alright, later." He said walking off, Hermione gave him a disbelieving look, "You're going to confront Malfoy aren't you?" She demanded
He gave her a serious look, "I swear I am going to talk to Dumbledore."
"Alright," She said slowly giving him a doubtful look as she left the Great Hall. Harry waited for the students to file out and walk to the Staff table where Dumbledore sat waiting for him, "Something on your mind Harry?" He smiled
"You made my pie disappear." He said thinking desperately of something to say
Dumbledore frowned, "Is that why the Gryffindors started to laugh?" He asked sadly, Harry only nodded.
"Well, I'm off to bed," He said bidding Dumbledore a good night and walked out of the Great Hall and into a secret passage way that lead to the Slytherin common room. Well, he didn't lie to Hermione. He did speak to Dumbledore, and he never denied his plans of confronting Malfoy.
He arrived in the corridor that had a fork in the way, one leading to the common room, and the other towards another set of stairs away from the Great Hall. Harry leaned against the wall and was hidden by the shadows. He knew Malfoy hadn't arrived yet, it takes longer to walk the right way than the passage way. Soon enough he heard Malfoy's voice, "That is none of your Business Crabb, what assignments the Dark Lord gives me is of no concern to you." Malfoy came into sight with Crabbe, Goyle, Nott, and Parkinson flocking him. "I have business to attend to," he said dismissing them as they turned down the corridor to their common room.
Malfoy walked towards the opposite stair case down the opposite corridor. Harry cleared his throat and Malfoy turned to where he stood against the wall. He squinted and then scowled, "Hiding in the shadow's now are we, Potter?"
Harry smiled and pushed himself off the wall while Malfoy walked towards him. He was taller than Malfoy by at least 3 inches or so, so when he stood in front of him Malfoy glared, "Been eating your vegetables, Potter?"
He just smiled, "Something like that,"
"This is a very stupid Gryffindor move."
"Didn't you hear, Malfoy? Houses don't matter." Harry smiled a knowing smile, "Oh, that's right, you weren't in the Great Hall for the Hats song. Now where could ferret boy have been?" He asked in a some what patronizing tone.
"You've been keeping tabs on me? How special does that make me, then?" He asked crossing his arms glaring at Harry.
"Not very." He said, "What's your dad's old mate Voldemort up to now? I thought he was through employing incompetent morons to do his dirty work." Harry smiled lightly, "Speaking of which, how is your father?"
"You should know, you KILLED him!" Malfoy said losing his temper.
"Maybe," Harry shrugged, " maybe not. But he pretty much killed himself long before I was even born, when he gave his life to that murder." Harry said calmly, "Your dad signed away his life... your mother's, and yours." He added as an after thought. "He knew one day he would die, it just happened to me whom may have killed him."
"You're the murder." Malfoy said threw clenched teeth
"Me? No, not so much. I killed to survive, your dad and his mates kill for the fun of it-"
"They kill to purify our world!" Malfoy yelled
"Oh, so it's alright for people to kill others... as long as it's okay with you? Sorry to tell you, Malfoy, but Voldemort doesn't run his game like that. The powerful conquer over the weak. If you thought it otherwise, you're in the wrong business." Harry looked at him, "So you know as well as I do that's a morons' logic, 'To purify our world.' Voldemort kills for power, not to rid the world of 'unworthy' witches or wizards. He strives on the power of penetrating fear in others."
"Power is everything." Malfoy said
"Power is an unnatural force, Malfoy. Those who seek it can never have enough and are always fearful of someone taking it away. It corrupts those who want it, and Voldemort was and is its biggest pawn. A struggle is formed when you take power by force and use it against others, a struggle between self-preservation from those who wish to take the power from you, and an internal struggle of gaining more of it to stay ahead of perceived enemies. Voldemort is a murder, a coward, and a half-blood, but does not hold any power over those who oppose him and his lackeys. The same lackeys who do his bidding like trained dogs, looking for a treat after doing a trick. But none will ever be rewarded Malfoy, power is the only thing he has that you as Deatheaters want, why would he share it with them, you? When you guys are no longer needed Voldemort will dispense of all of you. He won't share power, he only takes it. Sooner or later you'll realize the only goal he has is to keep his power, and one day you might just get in the way of that. And I just hope I'm there to see it." Harry said
"The Dark Lord will enjoy killing you," Malfoy said in assurance
"I'm sure he will, but I'll take him with me if he succeeds. But hey, he's personally tried 5 times already, maybe he'll get lucky one day and have an anvil fall on my head, or something." Harry looked at Malfoy, "If you so decide to continue on with Voldemort and his followers, I will not hesitate to kill you when that time presents itself, nor will anybody else on my side."
"Is that a threat, Potter?" Malfoy asked daringly, He tried to look cool and collected, though it failed him by his face, which had paled against his already fair skin.
"No, it's a promise." Harry walked back to the secret passageway which opened without an incantation. Harry turned back to Malfoy glaring at his receding back, "So when you look at your arm everyday and see that skull and snake that's been branded into your skin like cattle, ask yourself if it was really worth your life and the ones you love?" Harry turned and walked threw the passageway. Harry didn't look back again before the passageway had closed, but if he had he wouldn't of seen a glaring Malfoy, but a worried one instead.
Harry found his way to the route he usually took when going to Gryffindor tower and walked up to the stairs towards the common room only to realize that he had forgotten to get the password from Ron. Harry silently cursed himself, he should have learned by now. He looked up to the portrait of the Fat Lady and smiled sweetly, "There's no way you would let me in without the password is there?"
She looked down at her dress and dusted off some imaginary dirt and looked up at him and simply said, "No."
Harry looked thoughtful for a second and sighed, "I guess I could go and find Dumbledore and ask him what the password is..." He said to himself out loud
"You should guess it, it is rather simple," She said offering
He looked at her skeptically, "I doubt anything Hermione comes up with is simple." He said
She shrugged, "Always worth a guess than to sleep in the corridor and break a school rule in being out of bed, I'd say."
"Well, if I was sleeping, and the corridor was my bed, I really wouldn't be breaking a rule now would I? Or if I carried my bed into the corridor and slept out here on my bed, would that be breaking a rule?"
The Fat Lady couldn't reply as the Portrait swung open as Ginny poked her head out. "There you are, I've been checking out here every so often since Ron remembered he never gave you the password."
"Thanks," He said walking into the brightly lit common room which was surprisingly empty.
She gave him a small smile and a 'night' and walked to the girls stair case that lead to her dorm and stopped, she turned at looked at him, hesitating but finally asking, "You confronted Malfoy didn't you?"
Harry looked at her for a second, "Don't tell Hermione," he said half joking
She nodded, "Oh, the password is Dumbledore's Army," she said retreating up the stairs.
Harry smiled, he should have guessed that. He looked around the common room and decided to retreat to his own dorm. When he entered, the silence of the dorm was most welcoming so Harry happily traded his robes for just his boxers and fell into his cool bed. He sighed happily and closed his eyes. Ron's snores started up just as he closed his eyes, he let a smile come to his lips before he fell asleep.
----------------
I'M DONE, I'M DONE, I'M DONE! Finally! You do not know how had it was to get this chapter up dated. I wrote it more than 5 times due to lack of saving, computer problems, rewording, ex... Man oh man, it was longer but I cut out his trip back to his common room, he had talked to Hermione, but I can put that in the next chapter with Dumbledore's meeting and many many more wonderful plots! Yayyyy! Please, review my readers!