Chapter 13

Return to Hogwarts

Winter break was over. And the eight friends were packing their bags and preparing for the trip to the train station.

"I can't fit everything," said Luna, "I guess I have to put on another sweater."

Luna had on about three sweaters, two t-shirts, and one tank top on because she couldn't fit everything into her suitcase.

When everyone was finished packing they levitated their trunks down the stairs.

"Uncle Vernon!" called Harry, "we're ready to leave."

Uncle Vernon practically flew down the stairs, he was happy to get rid of them as soon as possible.

"Let's go," growled Uncle Vernon.

The Dursleys, and the eight wizards climbed into the car and drove off to the station.

"Hope I didn't leave anything behind," mumbled Neville.

The ride there was in silence. Ginny fell asleep on Harry's shoulder and Hermione was drifting off to sleep in Ron's arms. When the got to the station all four girls, plus Ron, had fallen asleep and needed to be shaken awake. The three boys with great care shook the girls awake but wasted do time and started dragging Ron out of the car by his legs to wake him up.

The Dursley's walked them into the station and when the got to platforms 9 and 10 they stopped.

"Well then," said Aunt Petunia, "I guess this is good-bye."

She and the two Dursley men began to walk away but a voice called behind them.

"Excuse me but due to the circumstances I have heard that it is your job to take them into the station, and that means platform 9 and 3/4 .

The Dursleys turned around to see a huge man with a huge black beard that seemed to cover his whole face.

"Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, Dudley," said Ginny, "this is our friend Hagrid!"

"We've met before," said Hagrid eyeing them unpleasantly.

"What do you mean platform 9 and ¾?" asked Uncle Vernon.

"You've never taken Harry all the way inside?" asked Hagrid, "its standard rules for safety don't you know?"

"They don't care about my safety Hagrid," said Harry.

"Well they ought too," said Hagrid, "you'll be taking them in know. You don't want to be late."

Hagrid walked off passed the Dursleys down towards the exit of the station.

"Hagrid! Where are you going?" called Ron.

"Some first year tried to ride to the school on his own and got stuck in a tree," called, "they called me to help get him down."

They watched until Hagrid turned the corner.

"Well that doesn't sound like us," Ron whispered to Harry, smiling.

"Well then," said Luna, "you heard him. You have to take us all the way."

The Dursley's grimaced.

"What was he talking about 9 and ¾?" asked Uncle Vernon more to himself than to any of the wizards.

"Come now we're going to be late!" said Hermione, "just watch us."

She grabbed Ron's hand and together they took their trolleys and ran at the wall and disappeared.

"Oh!" gasped Aunt Petunia.

Luna and Ginny went next running through with their trolleys.

Aunt Petunia covered her grapping mouth.

Then Neville and Draco ran through.

Aunt Petunia covered her eyes.

"Come on Aunt Petunia," said Harry, "just ran to the wall."

Aunt Petunia grabbed Uncle Vernon's hand, who grabbed Dudley's hand and together the three of them ran into the wall and disappeared.

"Pretty good for first timers," said Harry and he and Raya took their trolleys and ran through the wall as well.

They got to the other side to see Ginny's hand above the crowd waving them over.

"C'mon then," said Harry and he took Raya's hand and with his free hand steered his trolley.

They found the Dursleys and their six friends all in a group in an opening from all the hustle and bustle. Raya could see the conductor walking up to people asking for their bags to put in the trains cargo compartment. Then she froze. She felt something. She turned her head sharply to see that Draco's eyes were glued to where she had been looking at. Dark shapes were moving on the opposite side of the train. Draco and Raya made eye contact and in that moment they could read each other's thoughts perfectly.

"We need to get everyone out of here," they both thought at exactly the same moment.

"All aboard!" called another conductor at the front of the train the whistle blew loudly.

The conductor asking for bags were almost at their group.

"Everyone," said Raya sharply causing everyone to jump a little. "We need to get out of here."

"Why?" asked Neville, seeing the conductor he got his things ready to hand to him.

"No! Neville!" said Draco, "don't give the conductor your stuff. Everyone put your trunks in the center."

Everyone did so. Still confused.

"Levante Awave," muttered Raya and the trunks disappeared.

All the Dursleys in the meantime looked like they were going to have heart attacks

"Where did you put our stuff?" asked Luna.

"I just sent it to Hogwarts in our dormitories," answered Raya hurriedly.

"All Aboard Now," cried the conductor at the front of the train, "departure is now!"

Luna, Neville, Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione all boarded the train while Raya and Draco stayed rooted to their spots.

"Well?" asked Uncle Vernon wanting to get out of this place as soon as possible, "what are you waiting for? Get in!"

He gave Raya a little push and she reluctantly stepped onto the train followed by Draco. They found the others in the large compartment in the back of the train. They looked out the window to see Hagrid helping a small first year onto the train and then standing back so he was behind the Dursleys preventing them from leaving. He waved heartily at them and they waved back.

"Raya?" asked Harry, "What's wrong?"

"This train isn't safe," said Raya looking around at everyone in the compartment.

They felt the train lurch and start moving. The train slowly began making its way through the station.

"This is not good," said Draco looking out the window, "this is not good."

After about one minute, the train still had not pulled all the way out of the station; a large boom was heard from the front of the train. Raya through open the window and leaned her head out towards the sound of the boom. The engine had been blown up. Raya looked out at the horrified crowd and saw the Dursleys panicking. Raya drew her head back inside.

"What's going on?" asked Ginny.

"The engine's blown!" said Raya, "Draco we need to get to the front car, their not going to stop at just blowing up the engine they'll go for all the cars."

"Right!" said Draco.

Raya and Draco went back to the window. They squeezed through the window and began running towards the front on top of the train. They got to the first passenger car and squeezed through an open window. It was chaos everywhere. People were screaming and crying. Raya took her elbow and slammed it into the window they had just come through shattering the glass.

"Here girl," Raya picked up a small first year and lifted her through the window.

"Next!" cried Raya and she picked up a small third year boy who had a bloody ankle from some debris, "Draco go to the other side, and call people over to us. We need to get them out."

As she said this she continued lifting people up and out of the train. They had just about completed the first car when the coal car right in front of them blew. The train car shook and bits of fiery debris fell on top of the car. Then Raya and Draco climbed out of the first car, dodging debris left and right and maneuvered their way into the second car. As all the parents had gone the kids were running around searching for their friends and siblings. Raya and Draco moved as fast as they could to get all the kids. Suddenly as they were lifting some of the last children they heard glass break in the compartment next to them. Moments later Harry and Ron appeared in the hall.

"We're here to help," said Ron grabbing another child and moving into the compartment next to them to get him through that, less occupied, window.

They finished the second car and began moving towards the third. At this point some people were getting a clue and getting themselves out but they were still their helping, making sure everyone got out. But they couldn't get through the doors to the next compartment there were too many people running around.

"The roofs!" shouted Ron, "there are hatches on the roof for emergencies we can get in through there faster!"

"Great idea Ron!" said Raya and she reached up and opened the hatch.

As they were on the roof the second car making their way to the window of the third the first car blew. The force sent Harry and Ron forward all the way to the roof of the fourth car and pushing Raya and Draco down hard against the cold metal of the train. Raya pushed against the roof of the train and got upon her feet and made her way towards the window. When she got there she saw Draco still crawling towards her. The wind from the explosion had caused a piece of small debris to fall on Draco's foot and Raya knew that Draco couldn't get up. But he had too. The second car would blow soon.

"Draco!" cried Raya, she ran towards him, and offered him her hand, "Come on!"

"Get inside," said Draco, "get to the others. I'm coming."

Raya reluctantly slipped through the hatch and busted a window with her elbow and started helping students out. After about a half a minute Draco came through the hatch and ran to the compartment opposite and began helping kids.

"Raya!" he yelled as he continued to help kids out the window, "The second car going up any moment now!"

"We just have to work faster!" cried Raya, as she lifted up a rather large first year through the window, "Where's Harry and Ron?"

"I saw them," said Draco as he finished the last kid through the window on his side, "go into the fourth car. They should be finished by now."

"And the others?" asked Raya finishing up and motioning for Draco the hatch above, "where's Hermione, Ginny, and everyone else?"

They paused their conversation long enough to get out the hatch and back onto the roof of the train.

"They got off safely," said Draco, as they ran over the fourth car and onto the fifth, "their trying to calm everybody down so no one gets hurt."

They continued the act with all the cars until the train was empty. Harry, Ron, Raya, and Draco were standing in the last car.

"Harry, Ron," said Raya, "get out! We have to search to make sure everyone got out okay."

"We want to-" started Harry.

"Harry please," said Raya, "time is everything right now and the less people the less time so please so I say for once."

She kissed him on the cheek and Harry and Ron exited through the door. Raya and Draco once again got themselves onto the roof. They saw that most people and got back through the wall of Platform 9 and ¾ and only a few people remained. Surprisingly the Dursleys remained but also still there was Hermione, Ginny, Luna, Neville, Harry, Ron, and Hagrid.

Raya and Draco made their way back up the compartments listening for anyone and anything. Then as they about to step onto it the second one, it blew.

"Get out!" cried Raya to everyone still standing nearby, "get out of the station! Now!"

They did as they were told.

Raya and Draco made a run for it. They ran and as soon as they set foot on the fourth one the third blew.

"Quick!" cried Raya, "jump off!"

They jumped from the roof onto the platform's floor. The fourth car blew and the train tipped on its side and began sliding quickly towards them.

"Quick!" cried Draco and they ran as fast as they could the train, still on fire, come hurtling after them.

"We have to get out!" said Raya and they ran towards the opening where the train should have traveled through. They were out in the open, in the fresh air, when the train fully exploded. Raya and Draco still ran with all they had to out run the flames that chased them from the explosion. Finally they past a small pond and drove into it. The water was ice cold and Raya was surprised it hadn't iced up yet. They looked up and saw the fire pass over them. After a couple moments they emerged from the pool. They looked towards the station and saw that it had been charred. Completely charred. They slowly got out of the pool and began walking towards what was left of the station. The cold air on their damp clothes was killing Draco. Raya could withstand extremely cold temperatures because of all the time she had spent in one world that was nothing but ice. But Draco, had not been able to accompany Raya to the particular world, and was going to freeze to death if he didn't get out of this cold.

"Draco!" breathed Raya, and she took off her cloak.

She muttered a spell. The cloak instantly dried. She would have muttered the same spell on Draco's clothes but you couldn't use the spell for clothes on your body. She wrapped the cloak tightly around her best friend and hugging him as the walked, trying to keep him warm. They entered the station and were greeted by smoke and ash. She helped Draco towards the platform entrance. They went through the wall and was greeted by Harry and Ron right outside.

"Draco!" cried Harry, "what's wrong with him?"

"We had to dive into a pond so the fire wouldn't kill us," explained Raya, "the water was as cold as death."

Raya took Draco by the hand and led him through the station with Harry and Ron behind them.

"Where's Hermione, Luna, Ginny, and Neville?" asked Raya.

"They are outside in the Dursley's car," said Ron, "they are very worried about you."

"C'mon then," said Raya and they hurried out the door.

Raya could hear Draco moan when the cold air hit them once more.

"Hang in there," whispered Raya quietly.

When they got to the Dursleys car Raya quickly got inside and literally pushed Uncle Vernon out of the driver's seat. Then she went to the other side of the car and pushed Aunt Petunia and Dudley out the door.

"I'll return the car later," said Raya and she put Draco in the passenger side and ran over to the driver's side and got in the car.

"What do you mean return it later?" yelled Uncle Vernon.

He was cut off however when the engine to the car roared and Raya sped off.

"Do you even know how to drive!" asked Ron from the back seat.

"Yes," answered Raya and she sped off towards the direction the train was supposed to go.

"Where did everyone else go?" asked Raya.

"All the students are on the bridge waiting for you," said Hermione, "you know the one the Hogwarts express passes over."

"Yes," said Raya, "I have to get there."

She spun the car around and went down a street none of them had ever seen before.

"Do you know where you're going?" asked Neville nervously.

"Of course," said Raya, "I went down these streets twice a year watching Harry get on and off the Hogwarts train every year."

"Wow!" thought Harry, "she really is the best sister."

"Oh and Ron," said Raya still keeping her eyes on the mysterious street and taking a sharp right, "you were really bad at looking not jealous when Hermione kissed Harry's cheek in fourth year."

Ron turned red. Ginny said, "AWWWWWWWW! Was Ronnikins Jealous?"

Ron scowled at her.

Soon, before any of them could believe it, they were on the train tracks the Hogwarts Express used. Soon they found themselves on the bridge and Raya stopped the car and got out as fast as she could. She ran to the other side of the car and got Draco out as fast as she could.

"Everyone out of the car," said Raya and everyone obeyed.

They saw all the students at Hogwarts, first year to seventh year, standing there, waiting for Raya to tell them what to do.

"I could never handle that pressure," said Harry staring at all the students.

"Everyone," said Raya, "I know you don't want to. But we have to. Start walking."

"Walking!" cried a Slytherin student, "if my father could see this he would have some things to say to you!"

"I'm sure he would," said Raya unfazed helping Draco along.

"Everyone!" Raya called out to everyone, "we need to move quick the weather is getting colder by the second."

"Harry," she said and she turned to him, "I have already sent a message to Dumbledore and he is sending transport out immediately. We don't have to walk far. Just get everyone moving, we have to get out of muggle territory."

Harry nodded and motioned for Ron to follow him.

"Everyone follow us!" Ron and Harry called and made there way to the front.

Raya muttered a quick drying spell on Draco and a warming spell in hopes that his body temperature would rise. Her own teeth started to chatter and she performed the same spells upon herself.

"You both alright?" asked Luna, reaching over and rubbing Draco's arm, "I can't believe you guys had to dive into a pond! It must have been terrible."

Raya nodded.

"I'm worried we aren't going to get back to Hogwarts fast enough," she said, "I'm scared about Draco. He could get hypothermia."

"What about you?" asked Luna, and she reached over and placed her hand on Raya's, "your freezing."

"I don't mind the cold that much, and I am more worried about Draco right now," Raya answered.

Soon the sound of wheels could be heard and the same carts that pulled them every year from the Hogwarts station pulled towards them.

"Everyone inside!" called Ron.

The students ran to be the first one in and out of the cold.

"Hold on Draco," Raya said, leading him to a cart in the back, "we're almost there."

"I'm fine," chattered Draco, he teeth moving so fast his jaw hurt.

The two were soon joined by Ron and Hermione and the cart started moving.

The time passed more quickly than they thought and after about an hour they were finally at Hogwarts. Raya looked over to see that Draco had passed out.

"Hermione," said Raya, "if you could get Madam Pomfrey aware of Draco's condition as fast as you could -."

"Of course," Hermione said right away and she dashed out of the barely stilled carriage.

Raya, Ron, and Draco followed as Ron helped Raya carry Draco. They carried him to the infirmary where Madam Pomfrey was waiting at the door.

"Yes, child, I'm here what do you need?" asked Madam Pomfrey, right away.

"Draco!" cried Raya, "Draco needs your help!"

She and Ron carried Draco inside and placed him on a bed.

"Oh my!" cried Madam Pomfrey and she began bustling about getting blankets and medicines.

"How did this happen?" asked Madam Pomfrey, placing her hand on his forehead checking his temperature.

"Well," started Raya, "the Hogwarts Express was blown up."

"I heard," said Madam Pomfrey.

"Yes," said Raya, "and Draco and I got everyone out of the train."

Raya paused talking when Madam Pomfrey made a large crash trying to get a basin out of a cupboard.

"Then the whole train blew and we ran outside and to escape the fire we jumped into an icy pond," continued Raya, " Draco took the cold full blast."

"He'll have to stay here over night," said Madam Pomfrey pouring potions into a basin, "probably tomorrow night as well. He won't be in classes tomorrow."

"Can I stay with him?" asked Raya.

"Can you get me a thick quilt from the trunk over there?" asked Madam Pomfrey.

Raya did as she was asked.

"So may I stay with him?" asked Raya.

"I suppose so," said Madam Pomfrey, "but I will not give any homework passes; I expect it done."

"Alright," said Raya and she pulled up a chair by his side.

Moments later Draco's eyes fluttered open.

"Raya?" asked Draco, "Raya?"

"I'm here," said Raya holding his hand, "I'm here. Don't worry."

Draco smiled at her and closed his eyes again.

"Stay?" asked Draco keeping his eyes closed.

"Yes," said Raya, "I'm staying."

"Good," said Draco and he drifted off into sleep

So what did you think? Please review! I love your comments! I would also like to answer the questions of a reviewer:

Harry is not Head Boy because he was not a prefect so I figured that it would more likely for Ron to be Head Boy than for Harry to be.

The Quidditch question will be answered in Chapter 14.

They trust Draco because Dumbledore told them to and he has proven himself worthy.

Harry did receive special training in 6th year but this is not sixth year so I didn't say anything about it but planned to make references back to it in later chapters. Plus Harry and Co. received training during the last four weeks of summer vacation if you will recall. Yes I agree it would be moronic of Dumbledore not to have him trained. But he did.

Draco knows more about Voldemort than Harry and Co. because he lives with a Death Eater father who knows more than almost anyone about Voldemort.

The answer to since when does Harry start carrying a picture of Ginny in his robes will be answered in later chapters.