This chapter has been edited and updated, in preparation for getting the story going again after a long wait. I apologize for the shortness of the chapter. Remember that for the chapters which were already uploaded (1-8), I am merely editing them. If I combine any chapters, I'll lose the reviews for them.
MysticSong, 02/01/2012
Chapter Three:
"Harry!" the stern voice of Severus Snape called.
"Yes, Professor?" asked Harry, poking his head out of the room he was staying in at the older man's house.
"I have just flooed Albus and he needs me to come back to Hogwarts sooner than expected. Also, for sake of not showing favouritism, I am sending you to the Weasley's for the last few days of summer hols, and then you will be taking the Hogwarts Express to school."
Harry nodded, "That's fine, sir. I really enjoyed the train ride last year. I don't mind at all."
Snape gave Harry what would pass as a smile, and informed him that his extra belongings would be taken back to Hogwarts early. Harry would only have his owl and a lighter-than-normal trunk to take back on the train to ensure he'd have his robes to change into before reaching the school, and a few things to tide him over while at the Weasley's.
Harry went to gather his belongings, prepared a neat pile for Severus to take back to Hogwarts, and then made sure he had everything that had gradually seeped out into other rooms that he would actually need on the train. He then scrubbed out Hedwig's cage and prepared her for the trip to the Weasley's. There was no question on whether or not he would take Hedwig with him! Even if he could have stood to be apart from his beloved owl, his professor would have none of it. The Weasley's owl, Snape knew, was barely able to fly in a straight line these days; best that Harry have a reliable way to contact him should the need arise.
Harry quite enjoyed himself at the Weasley's house, "The Burrow" as Ron reminded him, his cheeks tinged with red, despite Harry's assurances that he loved his mate's family home. He had enjoyed his time with his Head of House, but it was truly joyous to spend time with a real family. Harry was in fact a bit jealous of Ron, knowing how much the boy's parents lit up when any of their children were around; it made Harry despair all the more over the certain-to-be unfriendly reaction his own relatives would have the next time they saw each other.
Sooner than Harry would have liked, it was time to return to school. Molly prepared a luscious feast the night before, which had Harry's mouth watering. A real home-cooked meal! One he didn't have to help prepare. He smiled happily at the matriarch of the family when she winked at Harry as she set a large bowl of treacle pudding – Harry's favourite – in the centre of the table for dessert. Ron's brothers, Fred and George, finished off the evening with Filibuster fireworks that lit-up the inside of the house for quite some time. Mrs. Weasley indulgently provided each of the children with a delicious mug of hot chocolate before she herded them up to bed.
Harry was relieved the next morning that he had so little to pack for the train ride. He had his robes to change into, and his regular clothes that Molly had tidied up for him, including a few needed patches, Hedwig's cage was once again spotless and the owl cooed at him in appreciation as they watched the tumultuous household try to get ready for the drive to King's Crossing.
Harry couldn't fathom how such a large group of people, plus their trunks, could possibly fit inside a Ford Angelica. He hid a smirk when Mr. Weasley showed him how the car had been magically enhanced, and vowed not to tell the man's wife. He found it hard, however, not to laugh, when Molly commented how comfortable and spacious the car was, especially since it looked so small on the outside.
Unfortunately, both Ginny and the twins realized at different moments that they had forgotten much-needed items, and two trips were made back to the house. Once finally on the road, tempers were high between the Weasley parents, and the students all found themselves nervous at the thought of missing the train.
Mr. Weasley pleaded with his wife about the car, but she staunchly refused. Curious, Harry turned to Ron for an answer, but George answered conspiratorially, "Dad enhanced the car with an invisibility booster and it can fly! Mum's quite against it though, afraid, you know that, the booster would die out and we'd be seen by Muggles."
It was nearly eleven when they reached the train station, and they rushed for the platform, hoping they wouldn't be too late.
Luck was on their side, however, and the brilliant red train was still waiting in place; many passengers were still in the process of boarding. Relieved, Molly slowed down her pace to give her children, especially her Ginny, a proper send-off and teary goodbye.
Harry smiled at the scene and when Molly pulled back, whispered to the shy girl, "Don't worry, Ginny, at least you know magic. Your first year is bound to be better than mine was!" Ginny reddened at this; she was still a bit nervous around Harry, though having him at her house during the summer, she had slowly begun to see him as a person, not just a famous boy she had always heard stories about all her life. Molly smiled at Harry gratefully, then began to shoo her raucous brood towards the train.
Harry had learned that the Weasley boys were genuinely fond of their little sister, the only girl in the lot of them, and so he was not surprised when he saw Ron direct Ginny to sit with them in their compartment.
The young girl was undeniably shy and, Harry thought, a bit sweet, though Ron warned him that she could be as devious as the twins could. Harry suspected Ginny could easily get away with it too because she didn't look like she would dare do anything to anyone, but, growing up with all boys, especially Fred and George, Harry imagined she probably had learned a thing or two; self-defence if nothing else.
Not long after they had settled down, the door opened and Hermione bounced in, delighted to see her friends. Harry smirked as Ron unconsciously rubbed his nose, even though it was smudge-free this year. Hermione was followed by Neville, and then, to Ginny's complete surprise, three students wearing Slytherin robes. She only recognized Draco, and was sure that things were about to take a sour turn. She shrank back into the corner, but as she watched her brother and his friends, realized that no one, not even Hermione, seemed the least bit concerned.
Draco slumped. . . slumped! down next to Harry, exclaiming how glad he was to be shed of his parents. They'd been complete prats lately. Pansy immediately joined Hermione and began talking about this year's courses, and Blaise alternated discussing Quidditch with Ron and Herbology with Neville. Ginny thought that perhaps she had entered an alternate universe.
Pansy noticed the confused look on the young girl's face, and extended a hand in introduction.
"Pansy Parkinson. You must be Ron's sister?"
Ginny nodded, and timidly shook the older girl's hand. "I'm Ginny."
"I bet you're glad to finally be going to Hogwarts, aren't you?"
Ginny nodded. "I'm a bit nervous though," she admitted.
Pansy nodded. "I think we all were a bit nervous, except maybe for your brother since he had a better idea of what to expect since you have older siblings."
Ginny giggled and shook her head. "The twins, George and Fred, told Ron some pretty rotten things about the Sorting, none of which turned out to be true, but he was plenty nervous last year!"
Ron caught wind of the conversation, and nodded to Pansy. "She's right, Pans, the twins have been pranksters as long as I can remember. They give Mum the fits. I was the nice older brother though, and told Ginny how it is. She was still nervous though, but I think that's Harry's fault."
Harry looked up from his conversation with Draco in alarm and consternation. "What exactly was my fault?"
"You know, Harry," said Ron, "you're the Boy Who Lived, the poor suffering handsome Hero. Girls love that stuff. Makes them shy though."
Ginny's face was slowly turning as red as her hair. Hermione rolled her eyes at Ron. "Oh, cut it out, Ronald. Don't embarrass your sister. I think most of our classmates had a lot of curiosity in meeting Harry. It couldn't be helped, what with the way different books, especially, Hogwarts, A History, built him up in everyone's eyes before he even knew who he was to the Wizarding World. Give your sister a break!"
Ron sighed dramatically. "She's right. Sorry Gin. No Bat Bogeys?"
Ginny still looked a bit out of sorts, but nodded to her brother.
"Bat Bogey?" asked Draco and Neville.
"A nasty curse that Ginny is quite accomplished with. Trust me when I say you don't want to get on the receiving end of it!" Ron said, showing a bit of horror, but also, Harry though, a bit of pride for his sister.
"So," Pansy said, drawing the conversation back around, "what House do you hope you'll be sorted into, Ginny?"
"Gryffindor, I guess," the younger girl replied. "All my family's been there. I guess Ravenclaw would be all right too. Just not S..." she broke off realizing what she had been about to say.
The four Slytherins simply burst out laughing. "It's okay, Ginny," said Draco. "We're not overly fond of some of our house-mates either."
"I was nervous when I saw you come in," Ginny admitted, "especially after the scene with your Father at the bookstore."
Draco nodded ruefully. "I decided it was better to protect myself and Harry by appearing to act as if I were following in my Father's footsteps. Harry here may have done in the Dark Lord when he was a baby, but Father still acts as if he'll come back one day. I don't know what he'd do if he thought I was on the other side."
Ginny nodded. Draco's comments showed her that there could be a good side to the Slytherin cunning. Perhaps the House wasn't all bad. It made her wonder, but while she was mulling those thoughts over, the lady with the snack trolley came by, and there was a break in conversation as Harry supplied their compartment with an overwhelming abundance of sugary goodness.
The remainder of the ride was spent gorging on a wide assortment of snacks to laughing at shared memories of the older students' first year at Hogwarts and wondering what the new year would bring.
