I don't own Harry Potter

Chapter Seven — 'I Hate the Train'

The two weeks before Harry left for Hogwarts were hectic. He had taught himself some of the easier charms and spells from his book. He even managed to put a levitation charm on the floor so that anyone who walked into that room you would end up on the ceiling. Harry got into big trouble for that when Tonks fell for the trap instead of Remus.

The morning they had to leave Harry snuck out of his room early and put a twenty-four hour tripping charm on the floor near the fireplace. Remus had no clue what Harry did. He wasn't surprised to find Harry in the kitchen making chocolate chip pancakes. What did surprise him was the smirk on Harry's face. He came to realize that was the same look James had when he pulled a prank.

"What did you do this time? I know that look. I know that you are up to something."

"Uncle Remmy, I'm hurt that you think I'm up to something. Can't a kid just smile? Help me with breakfast I still have some packing to do."

"Tell me what you did. I don't want to fall for another one of your pranks. I can't take you to the train station if I'm on the ceiling."

"I needed a test subject for when I use it on a Slytherin. It wasn't my fault that Tonks got in the way before my subject stepped on it."

At that moment, Tonks once again fell out of the fireplace. She visited almost everyday since the trial. She gave Harry more Metamorph lessons. Soon the only thing that Harry couldn't change was his forehead. It seemed like he was doomed to have that scar no matter how hard he tried to get rid of it. They wrote to Dumbledore about it but he seemed as perplexed as Tonks. He had suspicions but he wouldn't tell anyone until they were confirmed. Being left in the dark annoyed Harry to no end.

Remus walked into the living room to help Tonks get up but he fell over the jinx instead, landing right on top of Tonks. They both were bright red with embarrassment until Remus remembered that Harry had a prank in the making. He explained what happened before calling Harry into the room.

"Harry James, get in here right now." Harry poked his head in the room unable to hide his laughter at Remus who was still entangled with Tonks. "Take the jinx of the floor right now!" he was finally off the floor.

"I don't know how. The book says that it will wear off in about twenty-four hours. Please don't get mad, Uncle Remmy. I just wanted to practice my magic." He gave Remus his best puppy-dog eyes he could muster. Remus immediately fell for it as he did when James gave him that look.

"Cub, you are too much like your Dad. He always give me the same look to convince me it was a good idea to prank Snape, of course Snivellus deserved to be pranked anyways. Just try to control yourself with the number of pranks you pull. Not everyone will appreciate a good sense of humor." He knew he meant Snape.

A few hours later, Harry, Remus, and Tonks were on there way to Kings Cross Station. Harry wasn't feeling nervous in the least, which isn't something he could say about Remus. He just didn't want his Cub to leave so soon after he gained guardianship. He knew that Harry was suspicious and was the type who attracts a lot of trouble. He also knew that Harry loved to solve a mystery, like his chocolate obsession.

Harry wasn't surprised to find Hermione and her parents outside the platform 9¾. It must have been confusing for the Muggles that they needed to walk through the barrier. Even Harry wasn't sure about walking into a wall. Remus explained to him that it wasn't wise for Muggles to know where their platform was. All he had to do to get on the platform was walk into a wall that was between platforms nine and ten. Remus said it was easier to run through if you were nervous. Remus walked into the barrier to demonstrate.

"Harry, be good and don't go looking for trouble. Remember to write if you need anything. Don't tell anyone that you have been staying with me. If they ask who I am, tell them that I'm your Uncle Remmy. I don't have to remind to stay away from Snape. Make lots of friends." He pulled Harry into a hug and whispered into his ear. "I'll see at Christmas."

"Uncle Remmy, you're suffocating me. Don't worry; I'll be at school. What's the worst that can happen? Bye, I'll write tonight."

"Bye Cub. Just remember what I said."

The train pulled out as Harry climbed into the train. He couldn't help but notice that Remus was acting a bit overprotective. Even Hermione noticed his strange behavior. Just then, three redheads entered the compartment. Two of them quickly left.

"Blimey, hi Harry. You mind that I sit here; everywhere else is full except my brothers' compartment but I really don't fit in there."

"No, I don't mind. I could use another friendly face. This is Hermione Granger; she's a Muggle-born. I assume those two were your brothers. I heard a lot about your family from my uncle. Is it true that the third oldest is the Gryffindor Prefect?"

"Yes, they are my brothers and Percy is the Prefect. That was Fred and George they are Third Years. Where have you been hiding for the past ten years? Mum said you lived with Muggles."

"I'd rather not talk about that. I still have nightmares about that place. Don't get me wrong, there are good Muggles and bad Muggles. I just happened to get stuck with some bad ones. A month ago, a friend of my dads rescued me. He told me about who and what I am. It hurts to think about what my aunt and uncle did to me."

"I don't understand. Why are your relatives bad?"

"I don't want to talk about it, alright."

"But—"

"Leave it, Ron. He obviously needs time to deal with whatever happened to him. Why don't you tell us more about your family and then I'll tell you about mine." Hermione came to Harry's rescue and he felt it wasn't gong to be the last time.

"If you want me to. I have five older brothers, Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, and George. I also have a younger sister, Ginny. Bill and Charlie have already graduated. Bill is a charm breaker in Egypt. Charlie works with dragons in Romania. He gave me a tooth of one of the babies that lost their mother. Percy is nothing more than a prick. But he did give me his rat, Scabbers, when he got Hermes."

Harry felt a pang of fear when Ron pulled Scabbers out of his pocket. It was almost as though the rat was glaring at Harry. But that was impossible, rats don't glare at people. Hermione noticed how Harry tensed at the sight of the rat and was curious as to why he would react that way. Ron just kept talking. He apparently didn't see the distress that Harry was in. He put the rat back into his pocket was he went on to the twins, Fred and George.

"The twins, you met them, are the practical jokers of the family. As I said they are in their Third Year. I asked them how we were sorted into our house but all they said was that it was painful and it involved a troll. Percy said it wasn't a big deal and that was going to be in Gryffindor no matter what, just because my last name is Weasley. All of my family was or are in Gryffindor." Much to Ron's dislike, Hermione interrupted at the mention of Houses.

"I would love to be in Gryffindor. I read Hogwarts: A History and that sounded like the best one. I wouldn't mind being in Ravenclaw since they are known for the intellect. What House do you want to be in Harry?"

Harry was still in a daze, thinking about the rat, didn't hear Hermione's question.

"Harry? HARRY!" she finally got his attention. He glanced up at her with a confused look on his face. "Are you alright? You seemed to be in your own world for a minute there."

"I'm sorry. I just have a lot on my mind. My life has changed so much this past month that its hard to keep everything straight."

"We were talking about Houses. Which one do you want to be in? Ron says that he'll be in Gryffindor like his family. I want either Gryffindor or Ravenclaw."

"I'm a Gryffindor. My Mum, Dad, and their friends were in that house. But I really don't care as long as Draco Malfoy isn't in the same house." At that, Malfoy entered the compartment with two other First Years.

"You know that really hurt me. I am not riffraff like that Weasley you are sitting next to. You should be more careful in who you decide to be your friends. What is your name? You never did tell me at Madame Malkins."

"Potter. My name is Potter. I think I have a good judgment of character. And you, Malfoy, in the little exposure I had with you found that you are spoiled, conceited, and just plain mean. You put down someone just for their name and totally ignored someone else for reasons I can't explain. And still haven't introduced the two goons behind you. Now please leave; we were having a private conversation."

After Malfoy and his friends left, the conversation turned to practical jokes. Hermione quickly became bored and left to find girls her own age. Five minutes after she left Harry heard a strange croaking sound. It was a large toad. Harry figured that it must have entered the compartment when Hermione left.

"We better find the owner. He's probably worrying about his pet." Just as he was about to open the door it slid open to reveal a chunky and round-faced boy who looked rather nervous.

"Trevor! Thank Merlin that you are okay. Hi, I'm Neville Longbottom and that is my toad you are holding."

"I'm Harry Potter (insert gasp from Neville that Harry ignored) and this is my friend Ron. Would you like to join us?"

"S-sure," Neville stuttered. The compartment became uncomfortably quiet for Harry who didn't know how to make Neville relax. Fortunately, a woman with a food cart opened their door. When she left, Harry shared with everyone in the compartment. He bought everything except things that had chocolate in it.

Ron broke the silence. "Harry, what's with you with rats? When I pulled Scabbers out you all but screamed in fright."

"I can't explain. Ever since I was a kid, I have been a little anxious around them. It's like a memory that I have half forgotten; as if a rat had hurt me before I just don't remember when. Seeing Scabbers brought back those feelings. I really don't like talking about it. I can handle other things but rats creep me out."

Hermione rejoined them after her walk and noticed the mess that the boys made and made a huffing noise. Harry closed his eyes and tried to remember the cleaning spell that Remus told him about. He muttered "Scourgify!" under his breath. This act of magic not only cleaned the space but also caused everyone to gasp or in Neville's case to faint. Harry only looked up and questioned why they were shocked to see magic.