Off to Hogwarts

Arthur Weasley came to 4 Privet Dr the day before the first.

"Hello, I'm Arthur Weasley…", Arthur introduced himself. "You must be…"

"Boy! Get down here at once!", Vernon ordered.

"Mr Weasley?"

"What did I tell you about giving out our address?", he barked at Harry.

"Harry… Mr Dursley, the Minister thought it best if Harry would come to Diagon Alley early. Minister Fudge is worried about that Black…"

"You want him, take him. As far as I'm concerned, you can keep him", Vernon said.

Turning to Harry: "Get your things and get out!"

Harry went up to his bedroom to make sure everything was packed and ready to go. He dragged his trunk down the stairs. Dudley made no motion to help in any way.

"Where's Hedwig?", Arthur asked, seeing the empty cage.

"I sent him along to Hogwarts… What's this all about?"

"It's Cornelius Fudge: he believes it best if you stay at the Leaky Cauldron before you board the Express. We'll be taking rooms, and we can do your school shopping".

"It seems a lot of bother".

"The Minister is convinced that Black escaped to finish what he started twelve years ago. The guards heard him talking in his sleep: 'He's at Hogwarts', he said over and over again. Being that I work for the Ministry, he asked if I would look after you as a personal favour. Everyone will be there: Ron, his brothers, and Ginny".

Harry and Arthur took a normie cab to Charing Cross, and from there, a short walk to the Leaky Cauldron.

"HAAAA-RRRRY!", Ron greeted as soon as he entered the Leaky Cauldron. He waved him over. "You made it!"

"Said I would, didn't I? Good to see everyone. Hermione".

Harry reminded himself to be normal around Ron. It helped to remind himself that present Ron wasn't the future Ron who would do something as horrible as Wormtail. He strongly suspected what that future thing was. There was always the chance that Ron might change, and not do that thing.

"Mum and Dad dropped me off this morning", she explained. "I've pretty much done my school shopping", as she indicated her filled book bag.

"Oh, hey, look at this", Ron said as he picked up a long thin box. Inside was a new wand. "Fourteen inches, willow, with a unicorn tail hair", as he showed off the new wand.

"Impressive", Harry said.

"Shall we be off?", Molly said as she led the way out back with Harry, Ron, and Ginny.

"About the others…", Harry started to ask.

"Fred, George, and Percy will be joining us later", Molly explained.

"Since my B-day is in September and I'm never home anymore, Mum and Dad gave me some extra to buy myself an early birthday present", Hermione announced.

"How about a nice book?", Ron said sarcastically.

"I don't think so", Hermione informed him. "What I'd really like is a pet, an owl. Harry has Hedwig and you have Errol…"

"Actually, I don't", Ron said. "Errol's a family owl. All I have is Scabbers".

He pulled the rat from a pocket: "I need to have him looked at. I don't think Egypt agreed with him". Harry could see he wasn't looking as well as he used to.

"Hope he croaks", he kept that thought to himself. Scabbers was looking thinner than usual, and there was a droop to his whiskers.

"There's a magical pet shop", Harry explained, "maybe they can suggest something?"

Molly tapped the third brick above the dumpster to open the gateway to Diagon Alley to let them in. She said she'd catch up later. Harry had his robes resized at Madam Malkin's since he'd gained a few inches. He could have bought new robes, but figured the old ones would do since the only thing wrong was that they were too short. Ron and Ginny got their new robes, the first time Ron wouldn't be starting school in hand-me-down robes.

At Flourish and Blotts, there was a large steel cage with substantial bars, Inside, Monster Book of Monsters were growling, snapping, and fighting.

"New school books?', an assistant greeted.

Harry took out his list. The proprietor pulled on heavy gloves and a heavy walking stick. "Out of my way".

"I already have a copy".

Harry understood what Hagrid meant when he said the Monster Book of Monsters would come in handy, it was for Care of Magical Creatures. He was worried that Hagrid meant he wanted assistance with a particularly dangerous pet.

"Thank Merlin for that! It's been nothing but bedlam since they arrived. I'm never stocking them again! Hogwarts requirement or not!"

There was a ripping sound. Two of the books had a third between them as they were tearing it to shreds.

"STOP THAT!", the proprietor used his stick to prod the books apart.

"Haven't had this much trouble since that order for 200 copies of the Invisible Book of Invisibility. Cost a fortune, and we still haven't located them".

Harry consulted his list: "I'll be needing Unfogging the Future…"

"Taking Divination this year? Right this way"

He led Harry to an alcove at the rear of the store that was dedicated to Divination. Tables held volumes such as Predicting the Unpredictable: Insulate Yourself Against Shocks, and Broken Balls: When Forunes Turn Foul.

"Unfogging the Future", he announced as he handed Harry a copy.

Harry was studying another book: Death Omens: What to do When You Know the Worst is Coming.

"I'd strongly advise not even looking in that", the proprietor said. "You'll start seeing death omens everywhere. Enough to scare a soul to death… Anything else?", he asked.

"Intermediate Transfiguration and the Standard Book of Spells – Level Three"

Harry gave a last look at the death omen book. The cover art depicted a large, black dog with gleaming eyes.

"How about those Monster books?", Ron asked. "I thought the clerk was gonna cry when we asked for two".

Next stop was the Magical Menagerie. It wasn't a large shop, and so was crowded, with a decided animal odor in the air.. Cages lined the walls, filled with animals who hissed, growled, purred. There were bright yellow, and very poisonous, snails oozing up and down the sides of their aquarium. A white rabbit turned into a silk top hat and back with a loud popping sound. Cages of cawing ravens. A large tortoise, shell decorated with jewels, was in a window display. A bin filled with custard colored furballs who were humming loudly. Cats of every size, shape, and colour.

The counter lady was giving advice to a customer concerning the care of double-ended newts. They looked over the displays while waiting. Finally, the double-ended newt guy left, and Ron stepped up to the counter. There was a cage with sleek, black rats who were playing a skipping game with their long tails.

"It's my rat", Ron explained, "he's been off colour lately".

"Bang him on the counter, and let's have a look", she said as she pulled out black framed spectacles.

Ron took Scabbers from an inside pocket, and the counter lady began her examination. The black rats interrupted their game to come to the side of the cage to get a better look at the new arrival.

"What powers does he have?", she asked.

"None that I noticed".

"A common garden rat can't be expected to live for more than three to five years. How old is he?"

"Quite old. I sort'a inherited him from my older brother. We've taken good care of him".

"My, my, this one's been through the wringer", as she noticed a tattered ear, and a missing toe.

"He was like that when Percy found him", Ron said defensively at the implied accusation of abuse.

"If you'd like something a bit more hard wearing", she indicated the cage of the black rats.

"No, I'll keep him".

"You could try this tonic", she said as she retrieved a red bottle from under the counter.

"OW! DAMMIT!", Ron called out as something large and orange leaped from the top of one of the cages to land on Ron's head, then onto the counter.

"NO! CROOKSHANKS, NO!", the counter lady reprimanded. Scabbers squirmed out of her fingers, hit the floor, splay-legged, then shot out the front door.

"SCABBERS! COME BACK!", Ron ran after Scabbers, with Harry close behind. "What was that?", he asked.

"Either a very large cat or a very small tiger", Harry said.

They caught sight of him as he ran across the street. It took ten minutes, at least, before they found him cringing under a trash can.

Hermione was just leaving the shop with a bundle…

"You bought that thing?!", Ron looked on disbelieving.

"I thought you were getting an owl?", Harry asked.

"That damn thing nearly scalped me!", Ron complained.

"Stop exaggerating", Hermione said. "He didn't mean any harm, did you, Crookshanks? The counter lady said he's been in there for a long time because no one wanted him".

"Well, fuck, I wonder why that might be?", Ron added sarcastically.

"Isn't he simply gorgeous?", Hermione said.

Harry thought that was a matter of opinion. Crookshanks' face had a smashed-in look, and he was somewhat bow legged. The odd look due to his being a cat/kneazle hybrid. On the plus side, his fur was soft and fluffy and he purred contentedly in Hermione's arms.

"Should have gotten an owl", Ron kept complaining, "all he's good for is turning perfectly good cat food into cat shit. What about Scabbers? You know he's not well", Ron pointed to the lump in his pocket. "He needs rest and relaxation: how's he gonna get that with that thing hanging around?"

"Scabbers'll be living in the boys' dorm, and Crookshanks with me. I'm not seeing a problem here, Ron. You forgot your tonic", she said as she handed over the red bottle.

"Well, at least put him in his carrier".

A wicker cat carrier came with Crookshanks, a freebie as the sales lady was so pleased someone had finally purchased the hard to sell animal.

There was a crowd gathered in front of Quality Quiddich Supplies.

"What do you suppose is goin' on?", Ron asked.

"Dunnow… check it out", Harry suggested.

They joined the crowd. As they worked their way to the front, in the display window was the most magnificent broom Harry had ever seen

THE FIREBOLT

This state of the art racing broom features an aerodynamic design. The handle of fine ash has a diamond hard finish. Each birch twig in the broomtail was hand selected and shaped for pin point precision. The firebolt can go from a standing start to 150 miles per hour in ten seconds. The Firebolt is equipped with an unbreakable Braking Charm. Each Firebolt comes with its own serial number. Price on request.

There was comments going around the crowd.

"It's supposed to be the fastest broom ever, Dad", said a young boy who was swinging off his father's arm.

"Heard that Team Ireland just ordered seven", said another old wizard. "They're favourites to win the World Cup".

"Price on request", Ron said.

"That means if you have to ask, you can't afford", Hermione reminded.

Harry had never lost a match with his trusty Nimbus 2000. Even though the Firebolt would undoubtedly be amazing, he really didn't need a new broom for Team Gryffindor.

"And the wait time for back orders", Harry added.

Next stop was Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor for Sundaes and nectar sodas.

Upon returning to the Leaky Cauldron, Arthur Weasley was waiting at a table, passing the time with the Daily Prophet.

"Harry!", he greeted, "ready for school?"

He pointed to his book bag: "Good to go".

Arthur put down the paper, and there was yet another picture of his godfather staring back at him.

"They haven't caught him yet?", Harry asked.

"No", he answered. "We've been pulled off our regular duties to devote all our time to the Black case. So far, no luck".

"Would there be a reward?", Ron asked.

"Catching Black would be part of our jobs at the Ministry", Arthur explained. "I wouldn't be rewarded for doing my job".

"I mean, it would be good to bring in some extra money".

"Ronald, don't be ridiculous", Arthur reprimanded. "Black will be apprehended, but not by any thirteen year old wizards. It will most likely be the Azkaban guards who apprehend him, and I wouldn't want to be in his shoes when that happens. If he had any sense, he'd turn himself in to the aurors".

Molly, Fred and George, and Percy were arriving. Percy stepped right up to Harry, offered his hand: "Harry, how nice to see you", he said it in a very pompous manner.

"Hello, Percy", Harry took his hand.

"I hope you're well".

"Very well, thanks for asking".

Fred elbowed Percy aside. With a deep bow: "Simply splendid to see you, Old Boy!"

George nudged Fred aside: "Marvelous! Absolutely spiffing!"

"That's enough, you two", Molly told them.

"Mum!", Fred called out as though he'd just noticed her presence. "How really corking to see you!"

"I said, that's enough!" She dropped her bags onto an empty seat.

"Hello, Harry, Dear", Molly greeted. "I guess you've heard our good news?", as she indicated the Head Boy badge Percy wore. "Second Head Boy in the family", she said with pride.

"And the last", Fred said under his breathe.

He didn't say it quite quietly enough: "I don't doubt that", Molly said with an unpleasant edge. "I noticed neither of you made Prefect".

"Why would we want to be Prefects…", George started.

"… Take all the fun out of life", Fred completed that thought.

Ginny giggled.

"I would hope you'd try harder to set a better example than that for your sister", Molly objected.

"Ginny has other, more responsible, brothers to set her example", Percy protested. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going up to change for dinner".

"Don't mind Brother Percy", George explained. "We tried shutting him inside a pyramid, but Mum spotted us".

Dinner was a pleasant enough affair. Old Tom put three tables together in the parlor. Everyone ate their way through five delicious courses, courtesy of the Ministry. Over chocolate pudding, Fred spoke up.

"How're we getting to King's Cross, Dad?', he asked.

"The Ministry's providing a couple of limos".

"Why would they do that?", Percy asked.

"It's for you", Fred said. "There will be these little flags on the front fenders with HB on them…"

"… For Humongous Bighead", George added.

Everyone but for Percy and Molly snorted into their pudding, hearing that.

"Father, why is the Ministry providing limos?", Percy asked, very dignified.

"I work for the Ministry, and they're doing me a favour, seeing how we don't have one anymore", as he shot a look at Fred, George, and Ron.

Last year, Harry made his escape from the Dursleys, courtesy of this old Ford Anglia that Arthur was restoring, and not just in the muggle sense. He also included features such as that space warping charm that made the inside larger than the outside to accommodate all the Weasleys. He also added a flight feature, much to Molly's disapproval.

Harry couldn't get through the portal onto platform 9.75, and missed the Express. That's when the twins and Ron took the car, used its flight feature to get to Hogwarts. However, they hadn't mastered the art of landing, and so crash landed into the Whomping Willow. Ron broke his wand, and the car sustained substantial damage. Next, Harry and Ron used it to escape Aragog, the acromantula, and his offspring who were intent on feeding on them. The last anyone saw of the Anglia was its tail lights as it disappeared into the Forbidden Forest.

"We have so much luggage, how would that work on the muggle Underground?", Molly added. "You're all packed, aren't you?"

"Ron isn't: he dumped all his things on my bed", Percy announced.

"You'd better pack properly", Molly called from down the table, "we won't have time to do it in the morning".

Ron scowled at Percy.

One by one, everyone made for their rooms. Harry was finishing his double check, and locked his trunk when he heard angry voices through the wall, next room over that Percy and Ron were sharing. He went to investigate; the door to Number Twelve was half open.

"… Here! Right here on the nightstand!", it was Percy.

"I didn't take your silly badge, all right?!", Ron was shouting back.

"It didn't sprout legs and walk off on its own, that's for sure!"

"My rat tonic's gone missing!", Ron was complaining as he threw things from his trunk.

"You're not going anywhere until you find my badge!"

"'Sup?", Harry interrupted.

"It's my Head Boy badge: it's gone missing. I was sure I left it here", he indicated the nightstand. "I took it off for polishing", he explained.

"And Scabbers' tonic", Ron added.

"You probably left it downstairs, I'll have a quick look-see", Harry offered, hoping this would silence the argument.

He was feeling his way along the dark passage that led to the bar when he heard more angry voices. They seemed to be coming from the parlor: Mr and Mrs Weasley having the first argument he ever heard.

"… Makes no sense not to tell him", Arthur said heatedly. "Harry's got a right to know! I've tried explaining this to Fudge, but he insists on treating him like a child. For the love of Merlin, he's thirteen…"

"And he'd be happier not knowing", Molly objected. "Do you want to send him to school with that hanging over his head?"

"Molly, I'm not trying to make him miserable; I'm trying to put him on alert. You know what Harry and Ron are like? Going off to explore, they've even been into the Forbidden Forest! More than once! Harry must not do that this year. They say Black is quite mad, and maybe they're right, and maybe they're not. That doesn't change the fact that he escaped Azkaban, and that's supposed to be impossible. It's been over a month now, and no one's seen hide nor hair of Black. Despite the nonsense Fudge feeds the Prophet, we're no more near catching Black than we are to inventing self spelling wands. If he can break out of Azkaban, he surely can break into Hogwarts!"

"No one really knows that Black is after Harry"

There was a thud, and it seemed obvious Arthur banged on a table.

"How many times do I have to explain it to you?! The press hasn't mentioned anything about this, but Cornelius Fudge was there at Azkaban the very night Black escaped. The guards told him that Black was talking in his sleep: "He's at Hogwarts", he said over and over. Isn't it obvious? Black is so deranged that he may actually believe that murdering Harry will bring Youknowwho back to full power. Ever since that night when Harry banished Youknowwho, Black's had twelve years alone in Azkaban to stew over what happened, how he lost everything. Getting revenge is a powerful motive".

"Well, Arthur, you have to do what you think is right. Harry will be perfectly safe at Hogwarts", Molly objected.

"We thought Black was safely locked away in Azkaban…"

"You're forgetting Albus: so long as he's Headmaster, nothing will get at Harry. I suppose he knows everything?"

"Of course he knows. We had to explain everything in order to get his permission to station Azkaban guards around the Perimeter. He isn't happy about it, but he agreed".

"Why wouldn't he be happy? If they're there to protect Harry".

"Dumbledore isn't fond of the Azkaban guards, and neither am I. However, sometimes you have to work with those you'd rather avoid. That's especially true when it comes to a wizard like Black".

"If they save Harry…"

"… I will never say another word against them. C'mon, it's getting late, we'd best be going up".

Harry slipped into the bar to hide in the shadows. He heard chairs scrape, then footfalls on the staircase to rental rooms. He waited until he heard their door shut. Inside the parlor, he found Ron's rat tonic under the tables where they ate dinner. The thought occurred to him to pour out the contents, fill it with water.

As he made his own way upstairs, he encountered Fred and George lurking in the shadows of the landing.

"We have it…", Fred started.

"… We've been improving it".

Percy's badge now read: Bighead Boy.

Harry dropped off Ron's rat tonic before, hopefully, getting a night's sleep uninterrupted by Ron and Percy.

As Harry lay in bed, he thought: "Clueless. Utterly clueless". Molly, especially, looked to be a Dumbledore fangurl. This year was shaping up to really suck, even despite the Philosopher's Stone and the Chamber of Secrets. So long as everyone believed that nonsense about Sirius' motives and so long as he was free, Harry knew that Dumbledore's army of busy bodies wouldn't be giving him any privacy. Unfortunately, among those numbers would be Ron, and Hermione, especially Hermione.

He had another thought: "Dumbledore isn't going to let me go to Hogs-fucking-meade".

0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

Harry's wake up call came in the form of Old Tom, bearing a gift of a cup of tea. Harry got up and dressed. He'd just finished when Ron came banging into Harry's room. He was pulling on a sweat shirt.

"The sooner we're on the Express, the better. The sooner I can get away from Percy".

"Oh? What did he do this time?"

"He accused me of dripping tea on his photo of Penelope Clearwater".

"Who?"

"His girlfriend. Her nose went all blotchy and she's hiding behind the frame. I didn't take his precious badge, and I didn't touch his precious picture, but I get blamed for all the shit that happens. I'm really getting sick and tired of my whole goddamned family".

Fred and George dropped in to congratulate Ron for aggravating Percy again.

"Might as well take our stuff downstairs", Harry said, as he started dragging his trunk out the door and down the narrow staircase. Downstairs, Arthur was reading the Prophet with furrowed brow. Molly was regaling Hermione and Ginny with a story about a love potion she'd made as a young girl. All three females were especially giggly.

They piled their trunks beside the door. Hermes, Percy's screech owl, was in a cage on top of the trunks, and a wicker cat carrier off to the side. Crookshanks was hissing at the owl.

"Don't worry", Hermione said through the wickerwork, "you can get out on the Express…"

"Like hell you will!", Ron protested. "Scabbers", he pointed to a lump in his pocket.

"They're here!", Arthur's announcement interrupted the developing argument.

Outside, two black limousines pulled up ton the curb just outside the Leaky Cauldron. The Ministry drivers wore the traditional livery driver's uniforms, but of emerald green velvet.

"Harry, come on!", Arthur called out, and Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Percy – much to Ron's displeasure – got in the back seat of one of the limos. The inside expanding to accommodate everyone. The drivers took care of loading the luggage.

The Ministry limos seemed quite normal, except that they easily slid through gaps between lanes the way Uncle Vernon's new SUV certainly could not manage. Traffic signals also weren't any sort of impediment either. They arrived at King's Cross twenty minutes early.

The Ministry drivers fetched trollies and unloaded all the luggage. Before departing, the drivers tipped their caps in salute to Arthur. The limos pulled away, and jumped to the front of an unmoving line of cars at the intersection.

"Let's do this by pairs, as there are so many of us", Arthur announced. "We'll go first", he said to Harry. They made their way to the brick column with the brass "10" on all four sides. Arthur made it look like he was particularly interested in the Intercity 125 train that was pulling into platform nine. He casually leaned against the column and slid through. Harry did the same, sliding onto Platform 9.75. The Express was waiting, puffing smoke and steam.

Next, Percy and Ginny appeared behind Harry, both puffing so they must've taken the gateway at a run.

"Ah, there's Penelope", Percy announced. He slicked his hair before striding, chest out so she couldn't miss seeing his shiny new badge, up to a girl with long, curly hair. Ginny caught Harry's eye, and both turned aside to hide their laughter at Percy.

Ron and Harry went to scope out the carriages. Most were already full. Molly kissed all her kids goodbye, then Hermione and finally Harry.

"Won't you take care of yourself, Harry?", she said as she straightened up, eyes looking especially bright.

She reached into her handbag, announcing: "I've made you sandwiches", as she passed them out.

"No, Ron, it's not corned beef", she answered the unvoiced objection. "Where's Fred? … Oh, there you are…"

"I need a word", Arthur said to Harry in a low, conspirital tone, as he motioned to a nearby column.

"There's something you need to know…", Arthur began.

"I know all about it", Harry said.

"Oh? How?"

"Last night, I… well… sort'a overheard you and Mrs Weasley talking about it. Purely accidental".

"That's not how I'd hoped to tell you".

"It's OK, this way, you haven't broken your promise to Minister Fudge, and I still know".

"You must be very scared…"

"I'm not", Harry objected.

"Really: I'm not scared", he insisted as he'd seen the look of incredulity. "After the last two terms, a psycho killer is NBD"

"I always figured you were made of stronger stuff than Cornelius thinks… There's one thing: I need your promise…"

"That I'll be a good boy and stay in the castle".

"There that…"

"Arthur! What're you doing?! It's about to leave!"

"Coming Molly!", he called back.

"I need your promise that you won't go looking for Black", he said at a faster pace.

"Now why would I do that? Look for some nutter that's gonna kill me?"

"Your promise!"

"It's leaving!"

"OK, you have it: no looking for Black".

The Express was just pulling out of the station, so Harry had to run to catch up. Ron held the carriage door open to let him jump on board. All the compartments were filled, except for the very last one. They didn't have this compartment to themselves. There was one lone passenger, a man, fast asleep as he leaned against the window. Up until now, the only adult they saw in the passenger areas was the trolly lady.

"Who d'you suppose he is?", Ron asked.

"Remus Lupin", Hermione answered right away.

"How d'you know that?"

"It's on his case", she pointed to the overhead rack, to a dark brown leather, diplomatic briefcase that bristled with shiny brass latches and combination locks. There was also a brass name tag: "Remus J. Lupin" in black lettering.

His robes looked shabby, time worn, and darned in several places. Though he looked quite young, his light brown hair was flecked with gray. He looked either ill and/or exhausted. Harry figured he was used to traveling if he could sleep like that.

"Who d'you recon he is?", Ron asked.

"Probably the new professor", Hermione said.

"New professor? Of what?"

"Defense Against the Dark Arts, of course, it's the only opening on the faculty".

"Hope he's up to it. From the look of him, one good hex'd finish him off".

"He can't be any worse than the last two", Harry pointed out.