Aboard the Hogwarts Express

(Book: B4, 158-162 In the morning, it's still pouring. Amos Diggory's face is in the fire & asks Mr. Weasley to help out because the police have gone to Mad-Eye Moody's and they need to get Mad-Eye Moody off on a small charge. Mad-Eye heard an intruder & jinxed his dust bins. Mr. Weasley leaves to take care of it. The Weasleys talk about how Mad-Eye is a "nutter," an old friend of Dumbledore, a retired Auror (Dark Wizard catcher), and doesn't trust anyone.

Percy says he HAS to go to work because Mr. Crouch needs him & George retorts that Crouch will know Percy's name soon. Bill & Charlie decide to come to see everyone off)

Remus and Sirius arrived in a grey bedford van, which Siria suspected may be enchanted. It wasn't as polished as Sirius's Austin Healey Sprite, but, in the rain, it would have been hard to see if it did. What gave it away was how the rain seemed to fall right off the windows and kept them clear, like when Hermione used Impervius, on Siria's glasses last year. The inside of the bedford van had been magically expanded, just as the Weasley's Ford Anglia.

"Why aren't we taking the Weasley's car?" Siria asked as she handed Sirius her trunk.

"And make Molly drive it all the way back out here?" Sirius gave an exaggerated sigh of disbelief. "In this weather, no less." He tapped her nose. "Besides, it's less of a squeeze for everyone to fit in here."

With their trunks, the eleven of them fit snugly in the van. Hermione held Crookshanks's carrier in her lap and Siria did the same with Hedwig's cage. Mrs. Weasley sat in the front, on an elongated seat, with Sirius at the wheel and Remus in the middle. Bill, Charlie, Ginny and Hermione sat behind them, with Fred, George, Ron, and Siria in the very back. Remus passed back some bags of chips and Muggle candy while Sirius pulled out of the Burrow.

Despite the thundering rain outside, it was quiet in the van. Hermione leaned around her seat. "Sometimes I feel Sirius is just asking for the Ministry to look into him," Hermione confessed.

"I mean, the Ministry enchants cars too, so it'd be hypocritical of them." said Ron.

"I don't think the Ministry cares about their hypocrisy— look at how Winky was treated."

"Hermione!" Ron and Siria groaned.

"It's true!" Hermione insisted. Ron and Siria sighed.

"I've said it once, I'll say it again— if it bothers you that much, do something about it!"

"I will!" Hermione tsked and turned back around.

"What's her problem now?" Fred asked.

"Still house elves." Ron told him through a mouthful of chips.

"What'll it take for her to see they're happy?" George shook his head. The other three shrugged. Siria wondered if, after Dobby and Winky, Hermione would believe there were happy House elves.

"How do you suppose someone could keep the happy ones, like Kreacher, happy and make the unhappy ones happy?" Siria asked. Fred, George, and Ron shrugged.

"If anyone can figure it out, it'd be Ms. Granger." Fred smirked and looked over the top of Hermione's seat. Her arms were crossed and she was staring determinately out the window.

The rest of the journey to King's Cross was rather uneventful, but it was pouring even harder when they arrived. With all the hands they had available, the lot of them were able to get inside without getting too soaked. Having done it twice before, getting onto Platform 9 ¾ was easy now. It was a simple matter of walking into the pillar between Platform 9 and Platform 10, but they had the small problem of their group going through without attracting the attention of Muggles (B4, 163).

Mrs. Weasley and Charlie took Ginny through first while the others crowded around the barrier. Bill leaned against with barrier with Fred and George, then they slid through together. Remus followed with Hermione and Ron. Sirius took Siria under his arm and leaned against the barrier. He pulled her head close to his ear. "Now really, have a safe year." Sirius requested as they slid onto Platform 9 ¾.

"I expect no less than a letter a week— I've seen how much you write Astoria, so I expect just as much sent my way." Sirius ruffled Siria's already unmanageable hair.

"Dad!" She groaned and knocked his arm away from her hair.

(Book: B4, 163-164 The Hogwarts Express is loud, the platform full of students and families. The trio gets a compartment then return to say their farewells. Charlie says he may be seeing them soon. Bill says he almost wishes he was still at Hogwarts. Fred, George, & Ron are curious as to why)

"When're you going to visit?" Siria asked as the train whistled.

"As soon as I can." Sirius promised. "I'll write you ahead of time."

"And once it's known, I can talk fine, right?" Siria asked. She didn't want to be the only one, beside Hermione, that couldn't talk about the Triwizard Tournament. "You're sure?"

"Positive." He nodded and looked to Remus, who nodded as well.

"Don't worry." Remus assured her.

Though Siria could step onto the train fine, Sirius insisted on hoisting her up. "Don't do anything I would." He instructed.

"The more you tell me not to, the more I want to." Siria confessed.

"That was always my problem too." He sighed. The doors of the train were closing. "See you soon!"

"See you soon!" She waved back.

(Book: B4,164-168 Hermione & Siria thank Mrs. Weasley for having them over summer. The train leaves. When the trio are back in their compartment, they hear Draco Malfoy say that his father wanted to send him to Durmstrang, as his father knows the headmaster & can't stand Dumbledore, but Draco didn't go because his mother didn't want him so far away. Hermione explains how Wizarding schools are hidden by being made Unplottable and to look like unsafe structures if Muggles happen to stumble upon them. She says Durmstrang is probably cold, as their uniform requires thick capes. Durmstrang don't let Muggleborns in and teach the Dark Arts. Dean Thomas & Seamus Finnigan stop by to talk, and so does Neville. Hermione works on Summoning Charms while the rest of them reply the match. Dean & Seamus had left the door cracked, so when Ron says that they were in the top box, Draco Malfoy enters telling Ron it was "for the first and last time". Crabbe & Goyle flank him.)

"What do you think you're doing?" Seamus asked and rose to his feet. He and Dean stood shoulder to shoulder. They weren't as intimidating as Crabbe and Goyle, but Malfoy seemed taken aback. "You've got a lot of gall to come near Siria after last year!" Dean added and stepped forward. Hermione looked over her book, at Siria, and mouthed "see."

Last year, Siria fell off her broom and, for reasons he had yet to share, Draco Malfoy tried to stop her fall. Rumors about Malfoy liking her spread through the school and, for the first time in his life, he was bullied. When Malfoy was knocked into Siria by some older students, she made the largest scene she had in her— and claimed Malfoy had turned her down. Siria expected it to kill the rumors or else direct the bullying at herself, but things hadn't worked out quite as she intended. As far as most people were concerned, Siria made a romantic gesture then was rejected by Draco Malfoy.

Malfoy was forced to step back as Dean and Seamus nearly stepped on him. "We all knew you had poor taste, but rejecting Siria hammered in the final nail." Dean told Malfoy.

"She may have questionable taste for liking you, but you aren't going to trouble her for it!" Seamus insisted. Dean, Seamus, Ron, and, much to everyone's surprise, Neville helped pull the door closed. Crabbe and Goyle struggled with the door before they and Malfoy returned to their compartment.

"Honestly, Siria" Seamus sighed as he sat back down. "Don't know what you saw in him."

"He's…" Siria looked from Ron to Hermione for help, but Hermione shook her head and Ron shrugged. "Pretty?" She pretended not to hear the question in her own voice and changed the subject quickly with. "Can you believe Viktor Krum though? Amazing!"

(Book: B4, 170 they arrive at school and it's pouring rain. They're thankful they aren't first years and that they don't have to take the lake in this weather)