DISCLAIMER: That part of this world and those characters you've seen before belong to their Creator: JKR. The rest is mine - although I cannot quit my day job as I make no $$$
A/N: (I know as compared to some writers, I tend to update fast, but…) Sorry for the delay. I did warn I was traveling a fair bit recently.
CHAPTER FOUR: OFF TO HOGWARTS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 31st, 1991 – POTTER HOUSE, LONDON, U.K.
Sirius Black was in Harry's room helping his godson pack, or at least that was what he told Harry he was doing. In Harry's mind it would have been more like supervising except that he really was not doing that either. Harry could have packed anything into his magical trunk and Sirius would probably have not said a word. Likewise, Harry was convinced that aside from the Marauders' Map and some prank stuff, had Harry not packed anything, Sirius might not have said a word. Sirius seemed to be more interested in talking than packing. Generally Harry would not have minded at all. Sirius was almost always good for a laugh or two. Right now, however, he would have preferred Hermione or Clarice as at least they could be counted on to make sure he had not forgotten anything.
"I've been thinking about it," Sirius said.
"What's that?" Harry asked as he made sure his First Year supplies and books were all there on the bed so he could check and make sure the not-so-normal supplies were all ready to go.
"Why did you tell them about the Founders' Heirs?"
Harry knew Sirius was referring to the meeting at Camp W with the Magical Council and all the others. "The timing seemed right and at least that group is trustworthy," he replied. "No telling what would have happened if we had waited until we were at Hogwarts to do it. I don't trust Dumbledore and three quarters or so of the students there are not in The Club."
"Is that all?"
"We would have had to do it eventually. This way, Dumbledore is not about to try and stop us or something and it's not likely to wind up on the front page of the Daily Prophet or invite a visit from the Ministry. By the time it does become general knowledge, hopefully the lot of them won't be able to do much more than complain."
"Makes sense," Sirius nodded. "Although you can bet Dumbledore will try something. He's had it in for you since before you were born in a way. And since that night when … well."
"I know."
"How will you deal with that?"
"Hermione and Clarice both say that I should act like a clueless eleven year old for as long as possible and let the man think I'm someone he can mold. I tend to agree, but I don't think it's as if he'll stay out of my way or something. Then again, the whole idea annoys me and…"
"Yeah," Sirius said, "and you're not about to be a pawn. The twins give you two months."
"They might be right," Harry nodded. "Then again, it might be months before I see the man. With the Minister stepping down and a new one to pick, he's not going to be around much."
"He won't," Sirius agreed, "but Snape will be. Don't underestimate that greasy git. He's a marked Death Eater and Dumbledore's lap dog. You can be sure he's going to keep Dumbledore well apprised of what's going on, especially if Dumbledore tells him to."
"Hopefully he's placed that burden on Aunt Minnie."
"Hopefully," Sirius agreed, "but don't count on it. The man's too cautious to rely on any one person."
"And yet he is planning on relying on me to be his sacrificial pawn," Harry noted.
"Extenuating circumstances with that prophecy he's put all his faith in," Sirius said. "And this Quirrell thing? How do you plan to handle that?"
"Hermione's working on something," Harry said. "She'll figure a way to do it and not cause too much of a problem."
"What kind of something?"
"A spell. That's all she's told me so far. I ask. She keeps mum about it. She says she doesn't want to be specific until she knows it works."
"So, she's going to try and snuff someone to see if it works? After all, that's what you lot may need to do."
"Er – she has told me the spell will only work like that on Voldemort, or at least a person actively possessed by Voldemort. If her spell works I could hit you with it and you'd supposedly suffer no ill effect at all, she says."
"How the hell can a spell do that?"
"She won't say, except for that Sensei said something once long ago and she remembered it and it gave her the idea."
"What? What did Sensei say?"
"No idea," Harry said. "She's the one who remembers every little thing. Clarice finds that annoying at times."
"And you?"
Harry shrugged. "She wouldn't be Hermione if she was any different."
"You really like her don't you?"
"Of course! She's my best friend as has been since the day we first met."
"That's not what I meant, Harry."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"I mean like a girlfriend girlfriend."
"Um…"
Sirius sighed. "When I first went off to Hogwarts my father gave me a talk…"
"I already know about that, Sirius. Kind of hard not to given that my sister is a Healer and that sort of thing is her specialty."
"Um, well there's that too, but that's not what I meant, Harry. Besides, where that is concerned, I am sure Hermione and Clarice are more than capable of keeping you from doing something stupid. But, aside from that there are other things a young man should know about young women and…"
Sirius paused. Part of him was enjoying just how red his godson had become. The other part wondered just where he was going with this and how he was going to talk about it. His father's talk was out of the question. It was a Pureblood rant that practically encouraged the then horrified young boy to take advantage of Muggle Born or Half Blood girls provided the boy understood that one played with them, one married a Pureblood. He had found that talk disgusting back then and even more so now seeing as his wife was a Muggle Born witch.
"Truth is, Harry, I don't know where to begin," Sirius finally said. "I mean on the one hand, you are eleven years old and all. On the other, you're twenty-seven and probably know far more magic than I do thanks to Japan. Yet, you are still a boy in some ways and…"
"What ways?"
"You either don't really know what you feel about Hermione or don't want to say or…"
"Would like to but am terrified she might not feel the same way?" Harry offered.
Sirius nodded. "I had my first crush when I was your age," he said. "She was a year ahead of me at school and I thought she was … well … Turns out she was, well, not nearly as nice or pretty as I imagined. Confusing."
"I'm pretty sure what I … Hermione's no crush."
"Course she isn't. You actually know her and can talk to her. Can't do that with a crush. Well, you can, but not without sounding like a total idiot. You sure as Merlin's beard would not be comfortable kissing her or holding her had all the time."
"We don't kiss!" Harry protested.
"Funny," Sirius said. "I thought pressing your lips against her and vice versa was kissing. Maybe they changed the word when I was in prison…"
"We don't snog!"
"Granted. And hopefully you'll both wait at least three years before you do. But you cannot say you don't fancy her. You cannot say you don't have feelings for her."
Harry remained silent mainly because it was true.
"Physically, you both are two young to be dating," Sirius said. "You probably won't be old enough for another couple of years, and I'm sure Robert Granger would prefer if neither of you were ever old enough."
"Why?"
"It's a dad thing," Sirius said. "I can tell you, Harry, my Emily is only one and I think I might be okay with the idea of my daughter dating when she's … Well, maybe I'll never be okay with the idea. Then again, I doubt she'll be as lucky as Hermione, not that it would matter."
"I don't understand, Sirius."
"Proof that in a way you still are eleven," Sirius smiled. "I'm gonna be honest with you Harry. You can spend your whole life looking, but I doubt you'll find anyone better for you than the one you already have. Don't let her get away."
"But you said that Robert might not like it!"
"You could well be the exception," Sirius said. "He already knows you two are closer than any boy and girl your age. He's okay with the idea, so long as you are serious about it. Of course, he'll never say that to you, at least for a while. Might even seem like he's trying to chase you off, as it were. Again, that's a dad thing."
"And you're telling me this because…?"
"Harry, I know you think Hermione likes you and I know she does. But one thing you must know about girls: never assume they know how you feel. They need to be told, preferably many, many times."
"For how long?"
"Well, I tell Sophie at least once every day and have since I knew she was it for me, which was after a couple of weeks although it took a while for her to realize I meant it. When I know how long before you can stop telling her and not make her thing you're taking her for granted, I'll tell you. But I suspect it will be – oh I don't know – never."
"So, you think I should tell her I love her or something?"
"Do you?" Sirius asked. "To be honest, you probably aren't old enough for that. But if she means the world to you, you should tell her. Ask her to be your girlfriend or something…"
"What?"
"Don't you want that?"
"Eventually, but…"
"No eventually. Not with girls. Either you are or are not her boyfriend. That doesn't mean you have to sit in a corner and snog her or anything. In fact, snogging does not necessarily mean anything aside from the fact that the boy and girl have hormones. But you two? You already have more than most boys will ever have. Don't lose it by assuming it will always be there."
"Girlfriend?"
Sirius nodded. "Why not? She is, isn't she? Besides the fact that everyone you know already thinks that even if they don't say it to your face, there is the issue of Hogwarts. Most of those kids are not part of the Club and don't know you or Hermione. I can tell you, because of who you are, girls who don't know better will one day be throwing themselves at you in hopes of becoming Mrs. Rich and Famous Potter."
"Hermione doesn't care about that," Harry began.
"Indeed. One of her many attributes. She sees you as her best of best friends who happens to be rich and famous. She sees the real you, not the other stuff and likes the real you and…"
"Hates the other stuff, really."
"As do you, Harry."
"And the girlfriend thing?"
"Again, it's what she is and if everyone knows that, perhaps the two of you will be left alone."
"And if not?"
"Then the idiots who don't take the hint deserve to be hexed into next year. Whatever you do, Harry, don't let her get away." Sirius then got up and left without another word.
To Harry's embarrassment, Remus seemed to be waiting for his chance to talk with him. The conversation began with a lengthy discussion of Hogwarts in general and the Potions professor in particular. Harry was not at all pleased with the description of the man who taught one of his favorite subjects, not that it really mattered as Harry held a Mastery in the subject had had already been published in a leading international Potions journal, under another name of course. Still, the description of this professor was, to use the English art of understatement, disappointing. Apparently, all of this was a warm up for yet another "talk" regarding the fairer sex in general and Hermione in particular, leaving Harry red faced and somewhat mortified. Things only got worse in his opinion when Remus left and Robert Granger came in. There was only one subject to that conversation.
It was one very embarrassed Harry that walked out into the large garden behind Potter House sometime later. He was looking for a nice, quiet place as far from the adults in the house as possible to mull over what had just transpired. Fortunately, the large garden had many such places including a bench surrounded by flowerbeds that he had grown to consider as peaceful as any place, at least when there were flowers and such. As he approached the bench, he saw it was already occupied. A back was towards him, but he could tell the long, brown hair which had been pulled into a ponytail anywhere. Quietly, he sat next to the silent figure.
"Hey Hermione," he said.
"Oh," she jumped slightly. "Hi Harry." Her voice sounded a little off in Harry's opinion.
"You okay?" he asked.
"It's been a really – er – awkward day," she sighed.
"Oh?"
"My parents," she huffed. "They gave me The Talk!"
"Glad I'm not the only one then," Harry said relaxing. "Wonder if Clarice got it too…"
"They gave it to you?" Hermione asked.
"Well," Harry said somewhat embarrassed again, "not Rose. Not yet and hopefully not … But yeah. Your Dad did, after Sirius and Remus of course."
"All three of them?"
Harry nodded. "Sirius and Remus talked about other stuff first, then about it. Your Dad cut right to it."
"Oh?"
"Basically, he wanted to my intentions towards his daughter," Harry began.
"He didn't!"
"I reminded him – or thought I did – that I am, after all, only eleven and then just barely and …"
"Yet you're also twenty-seven," Hermione interjected.
Harry nodded. "In some ways, but not in the ways that count at least as far as he should be concerned."
"You're not interested in girls at all?"
"No more so than any boy my age, at least in general," Harry said. "Curious? You bet. Feel an overpowering need to get … well … that way? Probably die from embarrassment. Besides, I suspect I'll never really be normal in that way."
"Oh? Why not?"
"'Cause I don't see the need to be," Harry said.
"Harry, just because you're already a lot older than others and that you got things happening around you that others will never have to deal with, does not mean that you should deny yourself a life! You are too nice, warm and caring to hide away and …"
"That's not what I meant, Hermione," Harry said softly. She looked at him. "I meant why look for what I've already found and would never want to lose?"
"What are you saying, Harry?" she asked with tears beginning to form in her eyes.
"Remus and Sirius said I should not – er – be … Oh well. What I mean is while you are and have always been my best friend, Hermione; you are and always have been so much more. Why should I be interested in 'girls?' I already am best friends with the best girl there is or will be, in my opinion."
"Harry …?" she began.
"I hope I don't need to be looking for a girlfriend," he said. "I hope I already have one and I hope it's you," he said softly.
To say her reaction stunned him was an understatement. She smiled if only for a moment before kissing him for the first time on the lips. "Am I your girlfriend?" she asked for it was only a quick kiss.
"Up to you," Harry said in a bit of a daze. "I'd like you to be."
She kissed him again.
"I take it that's a yes."
After she kissed him again, he said: "Not sure that form of the word 'yes' will be practical or appropriate in all circumstances, but it is liked."
"Prat!" she laughed. "So I can tell the other girls hands off my boyfriend?"
Harry wanted to make a crack about what "hands on" might mean as it applied to her but held his tongue. "Sure."
"And what did you tell Daddy?"
"That I have no intentions that are not Hermione's intentions," Harry said. "And that I doubt her immediate intentions should be of any concern."
"Immediate," she nodded. "But in a few years…"
"That's in a few years," Harry said putting his arm around her.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1st, 1991 – EUSTON ROAD, LONDON, U.K.
If there was one thing that annoyed Harry and the others about Hogwarts it was how one was required to travel there. It was in his and their mind annoying enough that it was the only magical boarding school in Britain. While the other five schools had some boarders, that was not required as arrangements existed that allowed students to commute directly from their homes every day. Boarding was limited mostly to children whose parents were out of the country or for reasons unrelated to travel. Not so Hogwarts. Despite the availability of floos and portkeys, no one commuted. Even the teachers were required to live there.
Even then the custom made things difficult. Every student was required to travel from London to Hogsmeade by train at the beginning and end of every term. Of course for Harry and the others who lived with him at Potter House just across from Hyde Park, this was not that much of a nuisance. But he and the other seriously questioned the logic for those students who actually lived closer to the school. For example, while the Longbottoms currently resided with Harry and the others, their real home was Longbottom Manor located outside of the town of Colne in Lancashire, a couple hundred miles or more to the north and just south of Scotland itself. They were much closer to Hogwarts (said to be somewhere north and west of Inverness in the mountains) than they were to London. Yet had they not been living at Potter House, they would have been required to travel to London just to travel back north by train. Not only that, but Hermione had figured out the rail line the train used and knew the Muggle equivalent National Rail passed through York and other cities not far from where the Longbottoms lived. It made no sense for them to travel to London when there was no real reason they could see aside from custom that the train to Hogwarts could not stop en route.
But they were required to travel from London and so they had gotten up and prepared to do just that. Harry, Hermione and Clarice had sent themselves letters by their own owls that morning to be delivered the next day. As Hedwig, Merlin and Alvin were all set to live in the Hogwarts Owlery unless they were elsewhere; it made no sense for them to be cooped up in a cage for a long train ride when they could just as easily fly there for themselves. Hermione's cat Crookshanks and Clarice's ferret Sabrina, however, were not so lucky and neither seemed keen on being sentenced to their pet carriers. Only when promised free run later were they seemingly placated.
The kids were dressed muggle style, as usual. They decided that since the blood wards on Potter House prevented detection of underage magic (and there being the added fact that of the seven adults currently living there only the Grangers were not magical) they would shrink their trunks rather than try and cart them to the station. Each child (including Neville) had a backpack which held their shrunken trunks, their Hogwarts uniforms and robes as well as any other items they decided they would pack for the train ride. The thought was, it would be much easier to get from their home to King's Cross station via the Underground that way than if they also had to lug around their trunks at full size.
Getting from their home to King's Cross was much easier by Underground than by car. True, it was a Sunday when London traffic was almost tolerable, but parking was always an issue and the parking near King's Cross could be problematic. The Station was not only one of two major rail terminals, one just across Pancras Road from the other, but there were more than a few shops and such in the immediate vicinity which were bound to attract people even on Sunday. It was not that much of a deal to walk out their hidden front door on Baywater Road and walk the two blocks to the Lancaster Gate Underground Station to catch the eastbound Central Line train. They changed trains to a northbound Victoria Line at Oxford Circus that stopped at St. Pancras/King's Cross.
As a group, they had selected to use non-magical transport for many reasons. First and foremost were the Grangers. They were not magical after all and while they had each experienced forms of magical transport, neither of them were comfortable with any aside from portals. The Grangers had used the portal from the Leaky Cauldron into Diagon Alley and had a portal set up in their Dental Surgery that connected their Muggle office with the one they now had in Diagon Alley. Rose had also used the portal in Japan which connected the Watanabe School with the Muggle airport in Tokyo. Portals were instantaneous and about as difficult to use as stepping through a door. They were also rare and expensive and tended to be permanent due to the cost.
Using the Floo network was possible, even for the Grangers, but there were few who liked it. It was at best messy as one almost always exited the fireplace on the far side covered with soot and at worst highly uncomfortable. Harry was convinced he was genetically disposed to never Floo right. He always seemed to land either on his face or rear and apparently Sensei had never mastered the Floo either. Besides, Floo travel was not recommended for people with very small children; which meant that Sirius and Sophie had to find another way to get to King's Cross as they wanted to bring little Emily with them.
There was another reason why using the Floo was a less than ideal option. King's Cross, while a large train station was just a train station. There were no fireplaces that could form the terminus of a Floo connection. True, Platform 9 ¾ was actually accessed via a portal and had the magical thought about it they could have placed fireplaces at the magical platform, but that had not been done. While many magical folk did travel to catch the Hogwarts Express by Floo, they arrived at another location and walked to the station. The residents of Potter House, living as they did in both the magical and non-magical worlds were very comfortable with the Underground as was any self respecting Londoner and really saw little need for using magical transport except over long distances or in emergencies. Thus, much of the household travelled to King's Cross by Muggle means.
However, while they arrived at King's Cross Underground station, they did not proceed into the rail station itself. When they stepped off the Victoria Line train, it was just after 7:30 in the morning and the train to Hogsmeade Station (and Hogwarts) was not due to board until 10:30 or so. There was a reason why they had arrived so early on a Sunday morning and that reason was located in the huge building just to the west of King's Cross Station on Euston Road. Both King's Cross and their destination fronted upon the major London thoroughfare and were separated by Pancras Road, a less travelled street.
Their destination that morning was a huge, multi-storied red brick building that was so ornate one might thing it a palace. It was considered one of the finest examples of Victorian architecture in London. The side closest to King's Cross had a towering clock tower that might have been a London Landmark or world renown, were it not for the fact that London was already home to the most iconic clock tower in the world Big Ben which loomed over the Houses of Parliament and the River Thames. At the center of the building along Euston Road was another, lesser tower reminiscent of a castle gate house with a huge, arched entry into the building itself. The building was a hotel, once known as the Midlands Grand Hotel, but it had since been renamed when the Midlands Rail line which had built it back in the mid-nineteenth century had been consolidated along with all other railroads into British Rail. The Hotel was also the entry into another railway station: St. Pancras.
As a rail station, St. Pancras was of little use to the magicals. The station provided service mainly to the west and midlands (hence the name of the line that gave name to the original hotel). King's Cross was the terminus of the East Line which provided service to the north and east of England and Scotland, all the way north to Inverness. There was a magical branch line near Inverness that led to Hogsmeade Valley. But as a hotel, the entrance to St. Pancras was well known and used by the magicals. It was built decades before central air and was originally heated by scores upon scores of fireplaces. Thus it was ideally suited for Floo connections and was the largest Floo connection in London outside of Diagon Alley itself. The magical world occupied a magical floor of the hotel that existed in some state between the non-magical third and fourth floors and was unimaginatively referred to as Floor 3 ¾. In addition to the Floo connections, it was also a magical hotel and boasted one of the best restaurants in magical London.
This restaurant was the destination for Harry and the others as they entered the old Hotel from Euston Street. Its Sunday morning buffet was well known in the magical world, if a little pricey and it was Lord Black's idea to enjoy the fare before sending the kids off to Hogwarts. Besides, it would allow those who were not traveling to King's Cross by Underground a place to meet those who were. The Grangers and their three charges, the Blacks, Remus Lupin and Neville were soon joined by Augusta, Frank and Alice Longbottom, the Lovegoods (including young Harry and Hermione), Lord Black, Dora Tonks and her parents and Amelia Bones and her Niece Susan. Dora was Harry and Hermione's Cousin through their Great-grandmother's older brother and was also both a seventh year Prefect in Huffelpuff House and the oldest Club member at Hogwarts. Susan Bones was also set to begin her First Year at Hogwarts, but like Neville and Luna (and Dora) had already spent three summers in Japan. Technically speaking, Luna Lovegood and Clarice were too young to begin Hogwarts, but their admission had been moved up a year by Minerva McGonagall, who soon joined them at their table.
The conversation mainly focused on Hogwarts as those who had been there before as students (even if it was decades ago) reminisced about their first train ride to the school, some of their more memorable escapades (although Remus and Sirius kept their stories to a minimum as they could take days recounting all the mischief and mayhem they and one James Potter had caused), and the Sorting. Of those present, only the Grangers and Sophie Black had little to contribute. The Grangers, of course, were Muggles. While Sophie was a witch, she had attended one of the other British magical schools. Still, for them just hearing the stories was entertaining in their own way. Speculation finally centered upon what houses the six children would join once sorted.
The conversation was mostly for Susan and Dora. Those two children and their adult family members were among the only people at the table who did not know about Sensei, the Harry Potter from another timeline. Lord Black was also not fully aware of the time traveling avatar, so those who did know also knew better than to speak about Sensei. But they did know of that what had happened in the other timeline before. They knew that in the other timeline, Harry, Hermione and Neville had all been sorted into Gryffindor, although in Harry's case the Sorting Hat of Hogwarts had seemed keen on making Sensei a Slytherin and debated making Hermione a Ravenclaw. Luna had been a year behind them in that timeline and had been a Ravenclaw. For these kids, the question was whether she would be again now that she was starting a year early. Harry, however, was almost certain Luna would wind up in Gryffindor this time. About two years earlier the girl had been very brave when she saved her mother's life following an explosion and a fire and seemed since then to be the least affected in any given situation.
Clarice was the question mark. Like Luna, she was starting magical school a year early (although in reality, she already had twenty years of magical education like Hermione and her brother Harry.) The question was what she had done and been in the prior timeline. The one thing Sensei had been consistent about was that she had died in the camps during the Muggle Born Registration during the Second War in 1998. When Sensei had first spoken of what he remembered of his sister, which was entirely from documents, he said he remembered there was a Clarice in Ravenclaw a year behind him at Hogwarts. But he had also said sometime later that he believed his sister had attended St. George's which was another magical school located in London. As Sensei's memory was identical to that of his creator the other Harry, this told the kids that Sensei really did not know for sure where his sister had gone to school.
"Most likely Gryffindor," Minerva said when asked where she though Clarice would wind up.
"Why's that?" Clarice asked.
"You're a Potter," she replied. "They've been in Gryffindor for generations. I'm not aware of a single witch or wizard from that family who was not. Now I will admit that's just a guess. Had I not intervened to insure you and Harry were in the same year, who knows? You were actually down for St. George's."
"How did that happen?" Susan asked. "I thought family always went to the same school."
"Ordinarily that it true," Minerva said. "School roles are usually by family. Before that terrible night Clarice was not yet assigned. You don't get assigned to any school until there is some manifestation of accidental magic. When Clarice finally expressed magic, she was the adopted daughter of the Jamesons and considered Muggle Born. One Muggle Born in ten gets into Hogwarts and they are selected from each of the other school regions at random."
"What about Harry?" Hermione asked. "What about me?"
"I don't know for certain if Harry was down for Hogwarts yet when it happened and he wound up with his Aunt. If he wasn't, then he got in the same way you did," Minerva said.
"How's that?"
"In your case, I made sure you were on Hogwarts rolls once you first expressed magic. My guess is if Harry was assigned to school after his parents died, Dumbledore made sure it was Hogwarts."
"You can do that?"
Minerva nodded. "As Deputy Headmistress, I do have that authority. I've exercised it on a total of three occasions in my sixteen years, including your case."
"And the other two?"
"The other two are Luna and Clarice, both of whom are entering a year early and in Clarice's case; she was transferred off of St. George's rolls. I had no intention of breaking your little group up either by year or school. Call me weak willed…"
"Don't believe that for a minute," Sirius laughed.
The conversation returned to speculating about houses. Susan revealed that both her parents were in Huffelpuff, although her Mum was a Muggle Born. The Bones family, however, had been in Huffelpuff for generations too numerous to count so she was sure she would be joining Dora Tonks' house. Neville noted that Longbottoms had been Gryffindors forever it seemed. He admitted that had anyone asked him a few years ago before he became friends with Harry, Hermione, Clarice and Luna and began doing magic, he and many others assumed he was a Squib because no one could remember him ever doing accidental magic.
"Not true," Alice said. "You did just after your first birthday, Neville." That led to a conversation on why it had not happened in the interim and it was agreed if not proven that there might have been a connection between the loss of his parents and his suppressed magical ability.
Hermione had also come from a family of Gryffindors dating back for generations. Minerva noted that many could easily have fit into Ravenclaw which was known for intellectuals, but it had been a long time since there had been a Ravenclaw ancestor. (Although most at the table knew Hermione was the magical heir of Rowena Ravenclaw, this matter as well as the fact that the magical heirs of the other three founders were present was not revealed to their other guests.) However, before anyone could get too comfortable as to their future houses, Sirius and Dora reminded the gathering that family legacies might well be coincidental or at least avoidable. While Dora's father was a Muggle Born Ravenclaw, her mother was a Black and like Sirius's ancestors, for generations all Blacks were Slytherins. Sirius had been the first Black not to be sorted into Slytherin in over three hundred years near as any could tell. Dora was not sorted into either of her parents' houses. However both Dora and Sirius did note that when they were called to be sorted they focused on letting that manky hat know that Slytherin was right out, as Sirius put it. So perhaps one's desire could affect their placement, or at least the hat would not send a child to a House they desperately wanted to avoid.
The six younger kids then began asking Dora questions about the Hogwarts club. They were all Club members and such, but as none of them had ever seen Hogwarts, they did not know really how the Club operated there. Harry, Hermione and Clarice were only somewhat familiar with it as they had received correspondence from Hogwarts as well as all five other schools in Britain regarding how their clubs operated and how they preserved the secret that an increasing number of young British witches and wizards were becoming far more educated than could otherwise be possible. The policy at the Schools was to "hide in the open."
Dora explained that the Clubs both were and were not secret. That there was a large Club and who many of its members were was not kept secret. It was not advertised either, but no one would deny that a club existed. As all members of the club studied occlumency and any who had finished a summer in Japan were fairly well skilled in the mind arts, there was little concern that a teacher might detect any deception, even one skilled in the arts. Club business was not discussed outside of the Club's corridor, which had been an unused corridor on the Fourth Floor of the castle with several unused classrooms that and been converted to Club use and like the House Common Rooms could only be accessed by password. Passwords were in Japanese and changed at least weekly. The Weasley boys had charmed the "gatekeeper" portrait that allowed entrance not only to recognize the proper password but to recognize each person allowed access. Only Club members and the three members of the faculty who did know about the Club could enter.
However, outside the Club corridor, those who were not members only knew there was a Club. Any rumor that deviated from the truth was generally encouraged to circulate among the rest of the students and staff. Many thought it was for kids who were into Quidditch as there was a group of members from all four houses who booked practice times on the pitch. Others thought they were a collection of study groups as Club members tended to do well in class. Some Slytherins thought it was a bastion of Blood Traitors and this too was encouraged. As far as Minerva and Dora knew, no one had yet figured out that a large part of the membership were years ahead of their peers. The Club's concern was that this would be the first year where a significant portion of the entering First Year students were long time Club members who had spent at least a year in Japan or more and they were very curious how that would work. Dora said the best thing to do was act stupid. Never outperform the best non-Club member in any class. In other words, let a non Club member get the lesson first, and then coast through it. It seemed to work last year when a large number of Second through Fourth Year students had spent their summer in Japan.
Much to Hermione's horror, it was also highly recommended to not study much for exams and to intentionally do poorly on homework assignments. The Club had "other things" to keep the majority of the members occupied so that the year at school was not "wasted."
"It's not like we won't have other things to do," Harry whispered to her. She knew it was true with the horcruxes, Voldemort and other projects looming before them. Not doing her best in all things was a foreign concept to her.
At around nine-thirty, both Minerva and the Tonks took their leave. Minerva was heading back to Hogwarts and would see the rest of them later. She reminded them that at that school, she was a Professor and Deputy Headmistress (outside the Club Corridor) and they would have to try and remember to address her that way. Dora told the others she had some Prefect things to do before the rush for the trains began. Remus and Sirius both openly wondered about that after Dora left.
"You ever show up an hour and a half before the train departed?" Sirius asked his friend.
"Once," Remus said. "First time as a Prefect. It was a waste. I was practically the only one there for the first hour or so."
Several minutes later, the remaining group having paid their bill rose from their seats and began their short trek to King's Cross. They left through the main entrance to the Hotel and St. Pancras Station and walked the less than one block to the main entrance to King's Cross. Someone noted that for most magicals, this walk was their longest exposure to the Muggle world. Once inside the station, they found the long, concrete walkway for Platforms 9 and 10 and walked down through the relatively light crowds waiting to board the trains or waiting for their train to arrive until they found a specific brick wall where they stopped. Sirius explained that this was their portal to their platform and led the group through. It took a while for them to pass from the Muggle station to the magical one as they had to pass through the brick wall in a manner so as not to attract attention, but after a few minutes, the whole group was through and into what looked like a waiting room. Sirius then led them through a set of doors onto an almost identical looking rail platform bearing the sign "Platform 9 ¾ Hogwarts Express."
The first thing Harry and the others saw was a huge, steam locomotive. Its boiler was painted bright scarlet and on the front of the boiler was a gold lettered sign that proudly proclaimed that it was the Hogwarts Express. Steam wafted from its piston assembly just forward of the silver driving rods and huge drive wheels. Even though Harry had been told about this locomotive for a long time, it still was impressive to see for real.
"Cool!" he said.
"It's antiquated," Hermione observed.
"But steam engines are so cool!" Harry replied.
Hermione looked at her father. "Don't look at me," he said. "I happen to agree that it's cool."
Harry looked down the line past the engine. There was a tender immediately behind. In fact, had he not known the train was associated with the world of magic; he would never have been able to tell just by looking. Behind the tender he saw two baggage carriages followed by several passenger carriages. While it was clearly at least forty or more years out of date, it otherwise looked like a passenger train. In a way it was a little exciting as the only trains Harry had been on (aside from a ride at Disney World a few years earlier and the French high speed rail from Paris to Marseilles two summers ago) was the London Underground.
The group stepped out onto the platform and rounded a barrier and saw lines of students facing the train. Behind them, they could see parents and family as well. Even a cursory glance showed that the kids were all Club members. There seemed to be five groups of students each group with an older student standing in front and finally facing them was Dora.
"Okay," Harry said to Hermione, "any idea what this is about?"
Hermione could only shrug.
"Here they are!" a voice called. "First Years all present!"
Harry and the others could see Percy Weasley standing in front of a group of some sixteen students whom he knew were all going to be starting Hogwarts. He already knew that Percy had somehow made Prefect in Gryffindor despite giving McGonagall at least as many grey hairs as his two older brothers. Harry had also heard that Percy was adept at avoiding detentions and had grades that made him all but impossible to ignore for the position. He recalled McGonagall saying that she was hoping to have at least one Club member Prefect from each House.
"Gryffindors all present," a girl called out from the far end of the platform. Harry recognized her and realized she was also a Prefect and a Club member.
"Huffelpuffs all present," a deeper voice called out. It belonged to yet another Club member Prefect.
"Ravenclaws present," a girl called out. Harry knew her name if only because Penelope Clearwater and Percy Weasley had been an item all last year and all summer in Japan.
"Slytherins present," Olivia Adair said. She was the Slytherin Fifth Year Prefect and had been in the Club for three years and two summers in Japan. Harry remembered that she and the other Slytherin Club members were almost a House within a House as they refused to toe the Slytherin line and harass other houses in general and non-Purebloods in particular. Their membership in a Club that freely admitted people without regard to blood status had clearly annoyed the bigots in their House. Yet being in the Club had advantages. None of the other Slytherins could bully any Club member and get away with it. None of them knew enough magic to harass any club member with a year in Japan under their belt.
Olivia made Slytherin Prefect almost by default. Harry and the others knew that McGonagall wanted Club Prefects in all houses now that a full third of all students Fifth Year and below (and already over half of the starting First Years) were Club members. He and the others also knew that Professor Snape, who was Head of Slytherin, had little or no respect for members of this Club. Snape also had no idea what the Club was really about and was apparently incensed that Club members seemed to know how to occlude their minds. The last thing Snape wanted was a Prefect he could neither coerce or whose mind was closed to him, apparently.
But there were certain standards for making Prefect. Olivia was one of only three Slytherin girls (out of seven) whose grades were high enough to even be considered and had not lost too many House Points the previous year. Snape had not recommended her at all. Quite the opposite as he apparently had told Dumbledore she lacked the appropriate attitude for the position. But Dumbledore had added another criterion for making (and retaining) Prefect status. No boy or girl could be Prefect if they had anything to do with the Time Chamber. Unfortunately for Snape, Olivia was the only girl in her year in his House who had not given birth to a child. Thus, the House within a House now had a Prefect to protect them.
"Right then," Dora called out. "Some announcements before boarding! Club Corridor will be open following the Welcoming Feast. There will be a meeting of Club Prefects and certain others at nine this evening. Those others will be informed on the train as to who they are. No worries though. Watch lists will be posted in each Common Room and in the Club with First Watch this evening. You First Watch types will be advised on the train so no worries. Same drill as last year. Physical training at zero six each morning. Club space will be available for martial arts and magical training following breakfast and you are reminded you are not supposed to skive off lessons for that!"
There were several laughs.
"And as a reminder, the Club Corridor Floo will be open Fridays after seven to allow you lot to get to Camp W, or wherever it is you go Friday nights."
There was another laugh.
"Right then," Dora continued. "Last six carriages on the train are ours. Let's get settled in and then you lot are free to say your teary farewells!"
Again, there were several laughs and the assembled students began heading towards the rear of the train and boarding the carriages. Dora, on the other hand, headed over to Harry and the others. Oddly, it was only then that Harry realized the entire thing had been in Japanese and only when he saw the expressions on the faces of some of the adults. Rose Granger, Sirius, Sophie and Remus had not been surprised as they had each spent at least the better part of one summer in Japan and understood the language.
"Right then," Dora said to them, "as I said, the Club has the last six carriages. Front four are compartments and last two lounge cars for which we would like to thank Lord Black."
"Lounge cars?" Sirius asked. "We never had those!"
"Old Black private carriages," Lord Black said. "Was not about to break them out for just a couple of kids. But for this group? Why not?"
"Thanks," Hermione said for the entire group.
"Okay," Dora said, "get on and put your kit in a compartment. Then you'll have loads of time to say your goodbyes."
Susan Bones practically ran off to catch up with her friends while Harry and the others headed off to the rear of the train. They found an empty compartment near the rear of the last passenger carriage and placed their backpacks in the overhead and their two pet carriers on the seats before leaving to say farewell to the others.
"What's this about Floos?" Augusta Longbottom asked when the kids returned.
"The Club members Floo from Hogwarts to Camp W on the weekends," Neville said.
"But what's this about 'wherever else?'"
"Oh," Hermione said. "Those Club members whose homes have access to the Floo network can Floo home on Friday provided they show up at Camp W on time that weekend."
"You mean you can spend weekend evenings at home?" Rose asked.
Hermione nodded. "Most weekends."
"The Floo is closed on Quidditch and Hogsmeade Weekends," Hermione said. "There are four of those Fall Term, four in Winter Term and two in Spring Term. Aside from those, however, we can come home on weekends, assuming that's okay with you."
"Okay? That's wonderful!"
"And assuming we're not in detention," Clarice added.
"And if you're not from time to time, I'll be disappointed," Sirius began.
"Sirius!" Sophie and Rose scolded.
"Okay, so I won't be."
"We'll try and make sure we don't get weekend detentions," Harry smirked.
"I'd prefer you didn't get any at all," Rose said. "Still, it's nice to know we won't have to wait until Christmas to see you," she added as she began to hug the children. She stopped just before hugging Clarice who was talking with Sophie.
"Now I expect to see you in two weeks for your check-up," Clarice said to the older witch.
"I'm sure I'll be fine," Sophie began.
"While I am confident you will be, I will not have a patient of mine skipping her pre-natal appointments. You are due in January, you know."
"I know, but…"
"It's either me or Ted Tonks. Either way, you can't skip out of this."
"Fine." Sophie said.
"I swear Healers make the worst patients," Clarice began.
"A fact I hope to verify with you one day," Sophie finished before she gave her Healer and Goddaughter by Marriage a hug.