Getting there early to Kings Cross and avoiding the crowds might have been one of the best ideas he'd ever had in his short seventeen years of life on earth.
Harry sat in the last train car of the Hogwarts express, lazily with his head laid down upon the cool smooth surface of the glass window. He had been hoping to ease the ever persistent ache that rumbled through his forehead.
Honestly it felt like someone were jabbing chop sticks through his eye sockets, but that would be exaggerating of course.
He didn't look too much different other than perhaps his hair that was now to his shoulders and had noticeably auburn highlights through it's messy tresses. Also having had his glasses broken by Dudley one too many times this past summer, he had begun to wear contacts.
His clothes consisted of a beat up emerald green soccer jersey with the number thirteen on the front( coincidence I think not) and ripped jeans so baggy they looked as if they'd fall down his narrow hips if he stood up for too long.
All in all he didn't think it was so necessary for Hermione to gape at him like a fish as if he had the plague or something the moment she walked in.
"H-Harry..? Is that really you?" Asked a wide eyed Hermione as she made her way to sit down across from him.
She placed Crookshanks' cat carrier down next to her still staring at him, oddly enough with a hint of a blush coloring her cheeks.
"The one an only 'Mione."
"Well…you look different…what happened to your hair?"" She sputtered intelligently.
"It grew pretty fast over the summer for some reason…and as for the high lights, I read in a book Remus sent me about the coming of age for wizards. It said I may experience and take on more characteristics of my mother's half of the family as I reach maturity." He responded not taking his head from the icy coolness of window only sparing her a small glance.
Her eyes widened with excitement at the mention of a book she hadn't yet managed to read. "Could I borrow it sometime?"
He turned his head ever so slightly his emerald eyes softening as he smiled a small smile, "Of course 'Mione."
"Harry have you been eating properly? You look rather skinny." Prompted Hermione her maternal instincts going into overdrive at Harry's lanky appearance.
"I've been eating as much as I can get my hands on." Harry mumbled bitterly.
"What did you say Harry?" Blinked Hermione worriedly.
Sighing softly Harry turned and forced a smile, "I'm eating just fine Hermione, your such a mother-hen sometimes it's cute."
She flushed red and puffed her cheeks out some, "I am not Harry, I just worry about you is all, can't I worry? It's only natural for friends to worry about one another. And I am n-not cute Harry Potter!"
The door to their train car slid open revealing Ron, "Blimey was Mum horrid this morning…ran around the kitchen after me with a rollin' pin she did, all because I was a lil' late wakin' up…"
Ron Slouched into the seat next to Hermione dejectedly while sending a scathing glance to Crookshanks' cat carrier.
Hermione turned her chocolate brown eyes to Ron, "Well Ronald if you woke up on time like the rest of us perhaps your mother wouldn't be so harsh. What happened to that alarm clock I gave you for Christmas?"
Laughing nervously Ron's ears turned pink, "Well you see….My dad took it apart to see where the tickin' noise came from."
Looking at him dubiously she sighed, "What ever shall we do with you Ron?"
"So who's the small skinny bloke?" Whispered Ron to Hermione as he jerked a finger at Harry who was staying silent and watching them with well hidden amusement.
"That, as you so bluntly put it is Harry." Quipped Hermione.
"Ehhh? Harry?" He said wide eyed mouth agape as he continued to point rudely at him.
"Oi do I really look so mind bogglingly different?" Spoke Harry in an annoyed tone of voice.
"Well yeah mate…I mean I didn't even recognize yah." Ron responded rubbing the back of his neck embarrassed.
"Well I'm the same old Harry, just so you know."
"Tha's a relief." The red head murmured to himself receiving a bop to the head from the brunette sitting next to him.
Hermione sighed, "Something tells me this year is going to be our strangest one yet…"
Sitting in the carriages pulled by the majestic reptilian like horses they called Thestrals; Harry's mind was swirling in a black mist of incoherent thoughts and images.
Shaking his head a bead of sweat dripped down the side of his temple. The moon was glittering high in the dark aging sky above them, and for some reason it's rays almost had his eyes in a hypnotic dance of submission.
"And then I started on my Charms Essay right when I got home from King's Cross!" Spouted Hermione proudly bringing Harry back to the solid ground of reality.
"Geeze 'Mione Mum had to threaten me wit no dinner for a month to get me tah do mine!" Grumbled Ron.
"Oh Ron, I really had hoped you would have grown up by now, after all we are in our final year of Hogwarts!" She contradicted him, as her brown eyes flashed with anger and disappointment.
Ron just sunk lower in his seat, "Gods you remind me of my Mum when you do that…"
"Well someone has to set you straight Ronald, I'm going to make sure you really study this year! No copying my homework or notes from now on!" Hermione said as she settled herself better in her seat.
Looking more than a bit devastated his freckled cheeks flushed angrily, "Come on! That's not fair at all! Back me up on this one mate! Harry..?"
Harry stayed quiet as he looked out the window at the approaching beautifully lit fortress like castle known to them as Hogwarts.
Hermione turned toward him now as well, "Harry? Are you alright?"
Blinking slightly Harry looked to her, "Did you say something?"
Frowning she placed a hand to his forehead, "You seem to have a slight fever Harry, perhaps you should go to Madam Pomfrey and skip the feast."
Putting up a small smile that to anyone else looked to be real he replied, "I probably just have a small cold in the very least. You worry too much 'Mione." He then continued to look out the window in a like dazed fashion.
"If you say so..but If you get worse I'll drag you down there myself." She retorted swiftly.
"I'll keep that in mind." He said with a weak smile.
The carriages soon stopped and the Golden trio as they were sometimes applied to as, followed their fellow peers across the school grounds and into the great hall.
Hermione took it upon herself to steer Harry to the Gryffindor table like a mother would to a child. Not wishing to ignite the flames of her infamous anger he allowed her to baby him.
Ron looked on at them with a bit of jealousy but said nothing as they seated themselves.
-In-cert the Sorting Hat singing I am so not good at rhyming at will-
Harry was staring numbly at his plate, not feeling the flame of two onyx orbs staring at him suspiciously from across the room at the staff table.
As everyone was sorted Dumbledore stood, "This year we have three special transfer students, I'd like you to treat them with the utmost kindness and care." He sat down then motioned for three eleven year olds who looked to be all related to walk forward from the shadows.
The first was a small pixie like girl, her jet black hair with auburn streaks fell to her waist as her strikingly elegant looking emerald eyes sparkled excitedly. Her face was a bit sharply angled. She wore black robes trimmed with silver.
A boy followed her, he had shoulder length unruly spiky hair that looked very familiar. His eyes were emerald matching his sister's. He wore robes of navy with a silver tint.
And lastly was a girl who looked surprisingly looked like a female child Professor Snape except without the hooked nose. She wore all black robes and kept her knee length black hair in two low pigtails.
Professor McGonagall the read a name, "Lilith Evans"
The first girl sat on the stool and before the hat could even touch her head it bellowed, "GRYFFINDOR!"
Giggling the girl skipped off the stool and went over to the cheering Gryffindor table and seated herself next to and oblivious Harry.
"Alexander Evans." McGonagall said next.
Alex walked gracefully up to the stool and sat down.
The storing hat was placed onto his head and yelled, "SLYTHERIN!"
Smirking slightly he walked to the Slytherin table and sat down calmly.
"And last but not least, Eileen Evans." Spoke McGonagall.
The hat hovered inches from Eileen's head, "RAVENCLAW!"
Not wasting any time Eileen walked over to the Ravenclaws and took her place at the end of the table.
Dumbledore then spoke as Minerva sat down, "Thank you for being so patient, Tuck in!"
Food and drink of all varieties and textures appeared on/in the awaiting plates and goblets.
Hermione glanced at each set of the triplets with a suspicious look to her brown orbs before shaking her head and beginning to eat.
Chibi: Well here my friends is chapter one redo! I hope you liked it
