Dark: Heyo! God, I did it again. I really did mean to have this chapter up much faster. (sighs) alas, my procastination hit me full force. I did finish it in less than 6 months this time, though. Aren't you all proud?
Deana: I highly doubt they are.
Dark: Why are you such a negative person? Hmmmm? Do you have a painful secret from your past you'd like to share? (suddenly in a room with a comfotable couch. Dark's sitting with glasses on the tip of her nose, her hair up in a bun, and a note pad in her hand) Now tell me, how do you feel?
Deana: THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH ME!
Dark: Of course not, you keep telling yourself that, dear.
Deana: SHUT UP!
Dark: While I try to fix Deana's many psychological problems, please read and enjoy the story. Review responses are at the bottom of the page, for those who wish to see them
Disclaimer: Me? You've chosen ME to take over Inuyasha and Harry Potter? Why, I'd be honored! (wakes up) ...DAMN!
Chapter 6
The Journey from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters
"Today's the day! Today's the day! Today's the day!" Kagome screamed as she jumped up and down enthusiastically on Hermione's bed.
Hermione covered her head with her pillow and tried to block out the sound of Kagome's voice. But that, along with the fact that she was jumping on the bed, wasn't exactly allowing her to fall back asleep.
"KAGOME!!"
Kagome stopped and smiled innocently at her, not that she could see it. "Yes, Hermione?"
"GET OUT OF MY ROOM!"
Hermione literally kicked her out of he room and slammed the door, locking Kagome out. Kagome blinked then turned around and pummeled the door with her fists.
"But, Hermione! Today's the day!"
Hermione growled slightly. "So you've been saying for the past TEN MINUTES! Now, what exactly is so important about today?"
"Well, we leave for Hogwarts this very day in…" Kagome glanced down at her watch. "Half an hour."
There was silence on the other side of the door, then "WHAAAAT?!"
Hermione was ready and zooming out the door in five minutes.
"…No wonder Demitri hates you. Waking him up in the middle of the day for no reason, for shame."
Hermione growled. "How do you know how your dumb owl feels about me?"
Kagome snarled. "Demitri is not dumb! He is a very intelligent owl and knows exactly what is going on around him. You know what?" She stomped her foot. "I'm telling Aunty. AUNTY, HERMIONE'S BEING MEAN TO DEMITRI AGAIN!"
"I AM NOT! And why'd you name him Demitri anyway? You're a Jap who grew up in England!"
Kagome stuck her tongue out at Hermione and ran down the stairs, Hermione on her heels. "So I like foreign names, got a problem?"
Aunt Sarah stepped in. "That'll be enough out of you two. Now, Hermione, eat breakfast. We'll be leaving soon."
Hermione sent one last half-hearted glare at Kagome, which she returned with a grin, before sitting down to eat her breakfast.
She quickly put some food on her plate and started eating as fast as was physically possible while still being able to look as though she was in no hurry at all.
"I wonder what Hogwarts will be like. Do you think it'll be fun?" These were obviously rhetorical questions on account of the fact that Hermione had her mouth full and wasn't going to answer, but Kagome asked them anyway. She gasped. "Maybe I'll make some new friends! Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
The conversation continued like that for the next fifteen minutes while Hermione finished her breakfast.
As soon as Kagome saw she was done, she began clearing the table and setting everything in the sink. "Go now, or we're going to be late." She instructed Hermione.
Hermione only rolled her eyes and took a last sip of her orange juice before setting the glass in the sink and leaving the kitchen.
Kagome joined her in the living room not long after and practically shoved Hermione out the front door while simultaneously chucking their trunks out said door.
"Heads!" She cried as one landed heavily on the front steps. She disappeared again inside the house only to reappear at the front door with Demitri's cage in her hand.
"…I really don't know where you get the strength to drag those things, much less chuck them out the door." Mumbled Hermione almost to herself.
"No talkie!" Kagome proceeded to set the cage gently down on the floor and hauled the trunks to the car, loading them into said car with what seemed like considerable ease.
She quickly grabbed Demitri's cage and crawled into the car. "Come on, we're gonna be late!"
Hermione quickly climbed in after Kagome seeing as how she didn't want the door to be slammed in her face.
Sarah and Sam blinked.
"Kagome certainly is excited about going to Hogwarts…" Mumbled Sarah.
"I'll say." Replied Sam. He glanced at his watch. "We really should be going though…"
"Uncle Sam!" Kagome had stuck her head out the door again. "We're going to miss our train!
Sam sighed and rolled his eyes with a smile. "Let's go, love, Kagome'll chew off our heads if we don't."
Chuckling, Sarah followed her husband into the car.
"Do you both have your seatbelts on?" She asked as she buckled her own.
Kagome let out a small frustrated sigh. "Yes, even Demitri's wearing one." To prove her point, she pointed out the seatbelt around the owls cage.
"…Kagome, dear, Demitri can't sit there…"
"Awwwwww, why?" She whined.
Sarah sighed. "Because."
"Because isn't an answer." Pointed out Kagome.
"Too bad."
Kagome huffed, but put Demitri's cage in the back before coming back to her seat and asking, "Better?"
Sarah smiled. "Much. Now, let's go Sam."
Sam started up the car and off they went.
Kagome was silently reading a book while listening to a CD player and Hermione was trying to figure out a particularly difficult Sudoku puzzle.
"I have a two…have a seven…a three…where does the dumb six go?"
Kagome shut her book and glanced at her sister, her eye twitching. Even through the headphones she could hear her. "Hermione, you know I love you, right?"
Hermione glanced up from her puzzle and regarded Kagome warily. "…Yes?"
"Then you know I love you enough to give you a quick and painless death should you continue to wonder out loud what number should go where."
"And I'm loving enough to shove those headphones down your throat." Replied Hermione with a sugar-sweet smile.
"I'd like to see you try." Mumbled an annoyed Kagome.
"Mum, Kagome's threatening me again."
Aunt Sarah heaved out a sigh and rubbed her temples. "Would you to please stop? Hermione, stop mumbling. Kagome, stop threatening your sister."
Kagome crossed her arms and pouted. "She started it…"
"Did not!"
Kagome stuck her tongue out at Hermione and swiftly ended the conversation by turning her back to her.
Hermione huffed. "Well that's really mature."
"Immature's my middle name, deal."
Hermione grinned. "No it's not, it's Lilian."
Kagome made a buzzer noise. "Wrong! It's Lily. You'd think you'd know this by now considering we've only been living together for the past 11 years of our lives."
"Shut up." Grumbled Hermione as she went back to her Sudoku, this time keeping the wonderings to herself.
Harry was looking between platform nine and platform ten with a sort of befuddled look on his face. He glanced down at the ticket in his hand, then back up at the numbers over the platforms. Not only did he look amazingly strange with all the luggage he had, not to mention the owl, but now he didn't even know where he was supposed to go.
"How am I going to get to platform nine and three-quarters if I don't know where it is?" He wondered to himself.
"I never should have told them to go on without me. What was I thinking?!"
Harry's head snapped around at the voice. He knew that voice.
"They've probably already found the platform, and what am I doing? Wandering from platform to platform trying to find the stupid platform that's not even here!"
Harry saw Kagome throw her hand's up in frustration, then quickly bring them back down on the cart when it started rolling away.
He contemplated whether to run over to her, or try to wave her over. He decided on the latter.
"Kagome!"
Kagome's head snapped up. Had she been a fox, Harry bet he'd be able to see her ears twitch, trying to figure out which direction the voice had come from.
Harry grinned at the image he'd conjured up, then cupped his hands around his mouth and called out to her again.
"Kagome, over here!"
She glanced around and finally saw him, her face brightening immensely with a huge grin.
"Harry!" She somehow managed to swing the cart around without toppling anything on to the floor with amazing speed. She trotted up to him and looked around. "You wouldn't by any chance happen to know where this 'platform nine and three-quarters' is, would you?"
He gave her a look that clearly stated 'you're kidding, right?'
"Ok, guess not."
They were about to pull their wands out and try to do something with them in order to make some sort of portal appear when a few words drifted into their ears from somewhere behind them.
"--packed with Muggles, as usual--"
Harry and Kagome glanced at each other then simultaneously swung around. The speaker was a plump woman who seemed to be talking to four boys, all with bright red hair resembling flames. Each one of them was pushing a trunk like Harry and Kagome's in front of them--and they just so happened to have an owl.
"I highly doubt we'll find anyone else before the train leaves," said Kagome. "So…" Kagome quickly took after them. Harry seemed stunned for a moment, before he too came to his senses and followed her.
The group stopped and so did they, just close enough so that they could hear what was being said.
"What's the platform number again?" asked the boys' mother.
"Nine and three-quarters!" exclaimed a small girl, she had the same flaming red hair as the boys, who was holding the mother's hand, "Mom, can I go? Please?"
The mother sighed. "Ginny, you're not old enough. Now hush. All right, Percy, you go first."
What seemed like the oldest of the boys strode towards platforms nine and ten. Kagome and Harry watched him intensely, not blinking for fear of missing what he would do--but as soon as the boy neared the barrier between the platforms, a group of tourists rushed in front of them, blocking their view. By the time the last backpack was out of view, the boy was gone.
Kagome blinked in confusion. "…Did he--where'd he go?!" She twitched.
"Fred, you next," said the woman.
"I'm not Fred, I'm George," said the boy. "Honestly, and you call yourself our mother?"
"Sorry, George, dear."
The boy grinned. "Only kidding, I am Fred." That said, he dashed off, calling over his shoulder at his twin to hurry up. And he must have because the next second they were gone…but how?
Kagome sighed and looked at Harry. "Am I the only one who just say three guys disappear?"
Harry shook his head. "No, but how…?"
"Well, let's go ask!" Kagome walked briskly towards the woman, but as soon as she got near, she slowed down and seemed almost timid.
Realizing Kagome had been attacked by shyness, Harry decided to take the situation into his own hands.
"Excuse me," he said to the woman.
The woman turned to them and smiled. Kagome blushed slightly and hid behind Harry. "Hello, dears," She looked around Harry at Kagome. "My, you're a shy one aren't you?"
Harry stepped aside and Kagome was left under the gaze of the woman. She merely nodded with the smallest of smiles.
The woman beamed at them. "First time at Hogwarts?" She signaled to her last and youngest son. "Ron's new too." The boy, now identified as Ron, was tall, thin, and gangling, with freckles, big hands and feet, and a long nose. He grinned at them sheepishly.
Kagome now returned her smile with more confidence as she stopped hiding. "Yes, we are. But the thing is…" She frowned ever so slightly.
"You see, we don't know how to…" continued Harry.
"How to get onto the platform?" she asked kindly.
Kagome and Harry nodded.
"Not to worry," she said with a smile. "All you have to do is head straight for the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Don't stop and don't be scared or you'll crash into it. You'd better do it at a bit of a run if you're nervous. Now, go on before Ron."
They glanced at the woman then at each other.
"Ladies first."
"Age before beauty."
"We're the same age."
"What's your point?"
"I'll buy you candy on the train."
That's all that he needed to say. "Well, why didn't you say so?" she asked with a wide grin. "Hope you brought a lot of money, Harry."
Kagome walked confidently towards the barrier and right through it. She looked around in amazement. "I didn't crash!" She then looked at the scarlet steam engine next to the platform. Her eyes widened. "Wow…"
As soon as the words left her mouth, she sensed a presence behind her. Looking back, she saw Harry emerging from a wrought-iron archway where the barrier had been. On it were words that said 'Platform Nine and Three Quarters'.
"We did it." said Harry in wonder.
Kagome nodded. "There's the Hogwarts Express!" she exclaimed.
The first few carriages of the train were already packed with students, some hanging out the windows and chatting with their families, and others fighting over seats. Harry and Kagome pushed their carts down off the platform and began searching for open seats. They passed a round-faced boy who was saying, "Gran…I lost my toad again…"
"Oh, Neville…" they heard her sigh.
A boy with dreadlocks was standing in front of them, a small group surrounding him.
"Let's have a look, Lee!"
The boy grinned and lifted the lid of the box he was holding. The people surrounding him shrieked and screamed as something poked a long hairy leg out of the box.
Harry and Kagome continued on, finally finding an empty compartment towards the end of the train. They put their owls in first and then tried to get their trunks in. Harry was tugging, pushing, doing whatever he could think of to try and get his trunk in; Kagome was frowning slightly at her own trunk, trying to figure out a way to get it on.
"Need a hand?"
Kagome looked up to find one of the red-headed twins they'd seen earlier. She grinned up at him sweetly. "That'd be appreciated, thanks." She tugged at Harry's sleeve, "Harry, they're going to help us."
Harry panted. "Oh, thanks," he said with a smile to the twin.
He grinned at them. "No problem. Oi, Fred! C'mere, these two need help!"
With the twin's help, Harry and Kagome managed to finally get their trunks stowed in a corner of the compartment.
"Thanks so much!" said Kagome as she pushed her bangs up and away from her eyes.
"Hey, what's that?" asked one of the twins suddenly, pointing at her lighting shaped scar.
"What? Oh," she covered up the scar self-consciously with a small smile. "That."
"He's got one too!" exclaimed the other twin, pointing at Harry.
"Blimey," said the first twin. "Are you--"
"They are!" exclaimed the other twin. "Aren't you?"
"What? Are what?" asked Kagome in confusion.
"Kagome Higurashi,"
"Harry Potter,"
They had said the names at the same time, as identical looks of amazement crossed their faces.
"Oh," said Kagome, somewhat disappointed, though not very surprised.
"Them," said Harry. "I mean, yes, we are."
The two boys gaped, Kagome felt her face going red and hid behind Harry. Harry too felt his face go red and was relieved when a voice floated into the compartment.
"Fred? George? Are you two in there?"
"Coming!" They called.
With one last look at the two, the twins hopped off the train.
Harry turned around and looked at Kagome. She cocked a brow and they sat down. Partially hidden from view, they watched and listened to the red-haired family. Their mother had just taken out a handkerchief.
"Ron, you've got something on your nose."
She tugged her youngest son towards her as he tried to escape her grasp and began rubbing his nose with the handkerchief.
"Mom, stop it!" He wiggled away.
"Ahh, does wittle Ronniekins have something on his nose?" said one of the twins with a grin.
"Shut up," said Ron.
"Where's Percy?" asked their mother.
"He's coming."
The oldest boy could now be seen striding towards his family. He had already changed into the billowing black Hogwarts robes, and Kagome could see a shiny silver badge on his chest. On the badge was the letter P.
"Can't stay long, Mother. I have to go up front with the prefects, they've got two compartments to themselves--"
"Oh, you're a prefect, Percy?" asked one of the twins with what sounded like great surprise. "Well, why didn't you tell us? We had no idea."
"Hold on," said the other twin with a small look of concentration. "I think I vaguely remember him saying something about it, once--"
"Or twice--"
"A minute--"
"A month--"
"All summer--"
"Oh, shut up," said Percy the Prefect irritably.
"By the way, how come Percy gets new robes?" asked one of the twins.
"Because he's a prefect," their mother replied fondly. "Well, have a good term, dear--send me an owl as soon as you get there."
She placed a peck on Percy's cheek and he left. Then she turned to the twins.
"Now, I want you two to behave. If I get one more owl saying that you've--you've blown up a toilet or--"
"Blown up a toilet? I don't think we've ever blown up a toilet."
"That's a great idea though, thanks, Mom."
"It's not funny. And please look after Ron."
"Not to worry, wittle Ronniekins is safe with us."
"Shut up," he said again. Already he was almost as tall as the twins and his nose was a little pink from where his mother had rubbed it.
"Hey, Mom, guess who we just met on the train?"
Harry and Kagome shot each other identical looks before leaning back quickly so they wouldn't be seen watching.
"You know that black-haired boy--"
"And that black-haired girl--"
"Who were near us in the station?"
"Know who they are?"
"Who?" she asked in curiosity.
"Harry Potter!"
"Kagome Higurashi!"
They exclaimed, once again, simultaneously.
Harry and Kagome heard the little girl speak.
"Oh, Mom, can I please go on the train and see them? Please?"
"You've already seen them, Ginny, and I doubt they'd appreciate being goggled at like animals in a zoo. Are they really, Fred? How do you know?"
"Asked them, of course. Saw her scar first, George saw his. They're really there--like lightning."
"Poor dears--no wonder they were all alone. Harry was so polite when he asked how to get to the platform. And Kagome seems like the shyest little thing, blushed and hid behind Harry whenever I sent her a smile."
"Forget that, you think they remember what You-Know-Who looks like?"
Their mother suddenly became stern.
"I forbid you to ask them, you two. Don't you dare. I doubt they need to be reminded on their first day of school."
"Alright, alright, keep your hat on."
A whistle sounded.
"Hurry!" said their mother as the three boys clambered onto the train. They stuck their heads out of a window so their mother could kiss them good-bye and their younger sister began to cry.
"Don't cry, Ginny, we'll send you tons of owls."
"We'll send you a Hogwarts toilet seat."
"George!"
"Only kidding, Mom."
The train started to move. Harry and Kagome saw their mother waving and their sister, half laughing, half crying, run along side the train until it picked up too much speed and she had to fall back and wave.
Kagome watched the girl and her mother until they disappeared around a corner.
Houses flew by, and Harry was suddenly filled with excitement. He didn't know what exactly he was headed towards, but he knew it was better than what he was leaving behind.
Kagome had a blank look on her face, the kind one gets when they happen to be deep in thought, when the compartment door opened. Startled, she glanced over, Harry doing the same in curiosity. In the doorway stood the youngest of the red-headed boys.
He sent them a small, nervous smile. "Anyone sitting there?" he asked, pointing to the seat next to Harry. "Everywhere else is full."
Harry shook his head and Kagome grinned. "Feel free to sit there."
Grinning back, he thanked her and sat down. He glanced at them both before quickly looking down at his hands, pretending he hadn't looked. Kagome noticed he still had a black spot on his nose.
"Hey Ron,"
The twins were back, causing Kagome's grin to widen.
"We're going down to the middle of the train, Lee's got a giant tarantula with him."
"Right," mumbled Ron.
"Harry," said one twin.
"Kagome," said the other.
"I don't believe we've introduced ourselves." they said simultaneously.
"We're Fred."
"And George Weasley. That's our brother, Ron."
"Well, see you later then."
"Bye," said Harry, Kagome, and Ron. The twins closed the compartment door behind them.
Finally unable to hold it in, Ron blurted, "Are you two really Harry Potter and Kagome Higurashi?"
Kagome giggled at him and he blushed a dark red. Harry simply nodded.
"Oh," his blush darkened as Kagome continued to giggle at him. "I thought it might've been one of Fred and George's jokes."
Kagome managed to control herself, allowing Ron to return to his original color.
"So, do you really have…you know…"
He formed a lightning shape in the air, clearly indicating their scars.
Now it was Kagome's turn to blush as she lifted her sleeve and Harry lifted his bangs to show him. Ron stared, his gaze flying from one to the other.
"So that's where…"
"Yeah, but I don't remember much." Harry glanced at Kagome. "What about you, Kagome?"
She seemed thoughtful for a moment. "…All I can really remember is a flash of green light…"
"Wow," said Ron. He sat and stared at Kagome for a few moments, causing her blush to come back full force. As if suddenly realizing what he was doing, he looked away again.
Mustering up all her courage, Kagome looked at Ron, an eagerness in her face. "So are all your family wizards?" She was just as curious about him as he seemed to be about herself and Harry.
Ron blinked at her. "Uh, yeah, I think. There might be a cousin of my mum's that's a secretary, but we don't talk about her much."
She clasped her hands in delight. "Does that mean you've already learned a ton of magic?" she asked, then frowned. "I don't know all that much myself…"
The Weasleys were obviously one of those old wizarding families the pale boy in the robes hop had talked about.
"I heard you two lived with Muggle families. What are they like?"
"Horrible," said Harry. "Well, not all of them."
"My aunt, uncle, and 'sister' are wonderful!" Kagome said with a smile. She then scowled. "Harry's aunt, uncle, and cousin, on the other hand…" she trailed off, her scowl deepening for a fraction of a second.
"I wish I had three wizard brothers." said Harry, sending a small grin at Kagome's scowling figure. No doubt she was planning what she'd do to them when they met again.
"Five," said Ron. For reasons unknown to Harry, or Kagome now that she'd snapped out of her thoughts, he sounded rather gloomy about it. "I'm the sixth one to go to Hogwarts. I guess you could say I have to live up to a lot. Bill and Charlie already left--Bill was head boy and Charlie became Quidditch captain. Now Percy's a Prefect. Fred and George may goof off a lot, but they still get really good grades and everyone thinks they're hilarious. Everyone wants me to do as well as them, but if I do it won't matter because they've already done it. You never get anything new when you have five brothers either. I've got Bill's old robes, Charlie's old wand, and Percy's old rat."
Ron reached into his jacked and pulled out a fat gray rat, which happened to be sleeping.
Kagome gave it a suspicious look. It wasn't that she didn't like rats…she didn't love them, but that didn't mean they couldn't be liked. She just…ok, it gave her a weird feeling.
"His name's Scabbers and he's pretty useless, hardly ever wakes up. Dad got Percy an owl because he's a Prefect, but we couldn't aff--I mean, I got Scabbers."
Ron's ears went pink, and it seemed he thought he'd said too much because he looked down at his hands.
Kagome didn't think there was anything wrong with not being able to afford an owl. She rarely used money because she didn't want her aunt and uncle to spend on her when they needed it. Though that was a bit different…oh, well.
"Ron," she said, standing up. "I want you to stand up."
He gave her a look filled with confusion, but did as she asked. "Ok…"
Kagome smiled and launched herself into his arms, hugging him tightly.
Ron's face flamed and Harry hid a smile behind his hand.
"W-w-what are you d-doing?" he asked a smiling Kagome.
"Why, what's it look like I'm doing? I'm hugging you!"
Ron spluttered. "W-well, yeah, I can see that, but why?"
"Well, because you looked depressed and I wanted to cheer you up!" she exclaimed with a grin.
Rising up on tip-toe, she kissed his cheek, partly to see his reaction and partly to lift his spirits. Ron's face, of course burned brighter than ever and that in turn caused her to hide a grin of her own behind her hand..
"Now," she said as she sat down, her face carefully composed. "Sit down, Ron." Without waiting for him to comply, she tugged him down next to her and wrapped an arm around his shoulder in a friendly gesture.
That's when Harry grinned at him and told him there was nothing wrong with not being able to afford an owl. He explained how he never had any money, how he had been forced to wear Dudley's clothes and had never gotten a proper birthday present. That, and possibly the fact that Kagome was still hugging him, cheered Ron up a bit. Kagome, on the other hand, had frowned slightly before an evil grin spread along her features. Harry was sure she was back to plotting a horrible demise for the Dursleys. He almost felt sorry for them…almost, but not quite.
"…And until Hagrid told us, we didn't know anything about being a witch and wizard or about our parents or about Voldemort--"
Ron gasped, interrupting Harry.
Kagome cocked her head to one side, her brows scrunching together slightly in a face full of confusion. "What?"
"He said You-Know-Who's name!" Ron exclaimed, sounding both shocked and impressed. "I thought you, of all people--"
Harry stopped him. "I'm not being brave,"
"We just never knew we weren't supposed to even speak his name." finished Kagome.
"See? We've got tons to learn…I bet," Harry began to voice a worry that had been bothering a lot lately when Kagome jumped in.
"Harry, you better not be thinking what I think you're thinking. What did I tell you about that negative attitude?" she demanded.
Harry held up his hands in a sign of peace. "Calm down, Kagome, I just can't help thinking--"
"Don't say it!"
"--I'll be the worst in class."
Kagome threw her hands up in frustration, removing her arm from Ron's shoulder in the process. "ARGH! I told you not to say it!" She turned to Ron. "You see what I put up with? The man has no self-confidence whatsoever!" she fumed playfully.
Ron laughed. "Well, don't worry, you won't be--the worst, that is."
"See?"
"There are tons of people who come from Muggle families and they learn quick enough."
While they had been talking, the train had taken them out of London. They were now zooming past fields full of cows, sheep, and the occasional goat or llama. For a while they were quiet, just watching the fields pass by.
It was probably half past twelve when there was a great clambering outside and a smiling woman opened up their compartment door. "Anything off the trolley, dears?"
Kagome leaped up and across at Harry. "Now, Harry, love, don't forget your promise." she said with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
Harry gulped. "…Oh, boy." He was beginning to learn that the only time she used the word 'love' after your name was when she was going to get something she wanted.
She flashed him a grin. "Get me anything and everything chocolate covered."
Harry sighed, though with a smile, and stood up. Ron's ears turned pink yet again as he mumbled something abut having brought something with him. Of course, Kagome sat down with him again and tried to cheer him up with crazy stories. Harry went out into the hallway.
Harry had never really had any money to spend on himself when he had lived with the Dursleys, but now that he had gold and silver happily jingling in his pockets, he was going to buy all the Mars Bars he could carry--but there was one little problem, the woman didn't have any Mars Bars. What she did have were Pumpkin Pasties, Chocolate Frogs, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Cauldron Cakes, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, and a ton of other things Harry had never before seen. Not wanting to miss a thing, he got some of everything. Of course, he had to get some extra Chocolate Frogs for Kagome. Having gotten everything he needed, he paid the woman thirteen silver Sickles and twenty Knuts.
Ron stared as Harry brought everything back into the compartment, Kagome leaping up as he dropped them on an empty seat.
"Hungry are you?" asked Ron.
"Starving," said Harry as he took a big bite out of a Cauldron Cake.
"What d'you get me, Harry?" asked Kagome as she studied the pile curiously.
"Chocolate Frogs."
"Well that sounds interesting."
During their conversation, Ron had pulled out a lumpy package. He unwrapped it, revealing four sandwiches. He pulled one of them apart and frowned, mumbling, "She always forgets I don't like corned beef…"
"I'll trade you for one of these," cajoled Kagome as she waved a Pumpkin Pasty in front of his face. "Come on, you know you want to."
"No, no I couldn't. Besides, you don't want this, it's all dry." said Ron. "You know, she doesn't have much time," he added quickly. "With five of us and all."
Kagome sighed. "I'm doomed to spend the rest of my life with stubborn guys."
Harry grinned and held out another Pasty. "Come on, Ron, we don't want to make Kagome cry, do we?"
Kagome made a sniffling noise, quickly catching on. "Yeah, Ron," her eyes began to water and her voice hitched ever so slightly. "Do you really want a hysterical girl to throw herself upon you just because you don't want a Pasty?"
Ron sighed and rolled his eyes, a smile tugging at his lips as he finally accepted the treats. It was a nice feeling, the three of them sitting there, happily enjoying the cakes, pasties, and candies (The sandwiches now lay forgotten).
"What are these, exactly?" Harry asked Ron curiously, holding up a pack of Chocolate Frogs.
Kagome picked one up herself and slowly turned it in her hands. "They're not really frogs are they? Because if they are, I might not be so tempted to eat them, chocolate covered or not." Honestly, Kagome felt she wouldn't have been surprised if they were real.
Ron chuckled and shook his head. "No, but check what card you got, I'm missing Agrippa."
Kagome blinked. A-what-a? her mind asked. Out loud, she asked, "…Say what now?"
"Oh, that's right, I forgot, you wouldn't know--Chocolate Frogs have cards in them, you know, to collect--famous witches and wizards. I have a nice stash myself, but I've yet to find Ptolemy or Agrippa."
"Ah, that makes so much more sense." Kagome said with a grin as she unwrapped her Chocolate Frog, ignoring the card while she quickly popped the frog in her mouth.
Harry, on the other hand, took out his card first. On it, was a man's face. He was wearing half-moon glasses, had a crooked nose, and flowing silver hair, beard, and mustache. Underneath the picture, clearly printed, was the name 'Albus Dumbledore'.
"Huh," said Kagome as she glanced at the card in Harry's hand. "So that's Dumbledore."
"Don't tell me you've never heard of Dumbledore!" Ron said, sounding a little shocked.
"Well, obviously we've heard of him or else we'd be asking you 'Who's Albus Dumbledore?' wouldn't we?" she said with a smile.
"That's true…hey, can you give me a frog? I want to see if I can get Agrippa."
She handed one to him while unwrapping one herself.
"Thanks."
Harry flipped over his card and read:
Albus Dumbledore
Currently headmaster of Hogwarts
Considered by many the greatest wizard of modern times, Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel. Professor Dumbledore enjoys chamber music and tenpin bowling.
Harry flipped the card back over and saw, much to his amazement, that Dumbledore's face had vanished.
"Hey, he's gone!"
"Is he really? Let me see!" Kagome plopped herself next to Harry for the moment, taking the card and turning it over in her hands. "Weird!"
"What do you mean 'weird'?" asked Ron. "You can't really expect him to hang around all day, can you? Don't worry, though, he'll be back." He frowned at the card in his hand. "I got Morgana again…I already have about six of her…do you want it?" he asked Harry as he held out the card. "You can start collecting."
Harry took it distractedly.
Ron's eyes wandered over to the pile of Chocolate Frogs that were just begging to be unwrapped.
"Help yourself," said Kagome as she looked at him. "But, you know, in the Muggle world, the people in pictures just stay in one spot."
"Do they really? They don't move at all?" Ron sounded amazed. "Now that's weird."
Harry stared as Dumbledore shifted back into position on his card and sent Harry a small smile. Kagome and Ron seemed to be more interested in the Chocolate Frogs than the Famous Witches and Wizards cards, though. Kagome would glance through them, take a few she found interesting, and hand the rest to Harry. Soon, both Harry and Kagome had a lot more cards than before. Harry finally managed to rip his gaze away from his cards to open a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.
"I'd be really careful with those," Ron warned Harry. "When they say every flavor, they mean every flavor--sure, you get your normal flavors like chocolate, blueberry, and apple…but you can also get stuff like liver or worms."
"Well that's appetizing." said Kagome as she picked up a red one speckled with brown and popped it into her mouth before Ron could stop her. She smiled and chewed it happily.
"What flavor did you get?" asked Harry and Ron simultaneously.
She swallowed and grinned. "Apple cinnamon."
Ron gaped at her. "Lucky!" He picked up a green bean and looked at it carefully, studied it as if it would kill him should he make a wrong move. Deciding he'd be safe, he took a bite out of the corner…and scowled.
"Blech, I got sprouts…"
They had a good time eating the Every Flavor Beans. There had been some very interesting flavors in the mix. Harry had, at one point, been brave enough to nibble on a funny looking gray one that even Kagome didn't dare taste. It had turned out to be pepper.
The countryside outside their window was flying by. The neat little fields were now gone to be replaced by wild forests, twisting rivers, and dark green, sloping hills.
There was, once again, a knock on the door of their compartment and the round-faced boy Harry and Kagome had seen on the platform nine and three-quarters with his grandmother came in, he looked about ready to burst into tears.
"Sorry," he said, "but you haven't by any chance seen a toad around here, have you?"
The three of them looked at each other before turning back to the boy.
Kagome looked at him apologetically. "I'm sorry, no."
The other two shook their heads in the negative as if to support her claim.
As soon as they had, the boy wailed, "Oh, I've lost him! He just keeps managing to get away from me!"
"I'm sure he'll turn up soon." said Kagome as she stood up, a worried frown on her face. "Just don't worry, alright?" She sent him a reassuring smile.
He smiled back, if a little tremulously, and said, "You're right. Well, if you see him…"
"We'll be sure to find you." she said.
He turned and left, Kagome sending a small "Buh-bye, now." after him.
"I don't see why he seems so bothered," said Ron as soon as Kagome had closed the compartment door. "If I'd brought a toad with me I'd lose it as fast as possible. Then again, I brought Scabbers, so I can't really talk."
The rat was still fast asleep on Ron's lap.
"The reason he's so worried is probably because he actually likes his pet, Ron."
"I like my pet!"
"Suuuure you do."
"It's just…well, he could pretty much die and you wouldn't be able to know the difference." said Ron, disgust slightly dripping from his voice. "I tried to turn him yellow yesterday to make him seem at least a little more interesting, but the dumb spell didn't work. Here, I'll show you…" He pulled out his wand and pointed it at Scabbers.
It was then that Kagome's head snapped to the compartment door. "Uh, you guys? I'm gonna do something really quick."
Apparently that was her warning as a few seconds later, after she mumbled something under her breath and flicked her wand at herself, her hair had changed from its lustrous black to a very pretty white-blonde that cascaded over her shoulders, her silver eyes changed into a deep and mysterious violet, and even her skin seemed a shade darker.
The two boys gaped at her.
"What? Did I screw something up?" She pulled out a mirror and glanced in it. Seeing everything was in order, she turned back to look at the guys.
"You know," she said, a grin twitching on her lips. "If you keep your mouths open like that, flies will surely fly in."
That made them snap their mouths shut.
"How'd you--why'd you--what's going on?" asked a confused Ron.
As soon as the words were out of his mouth, the compartment door slid open yet again. The boy who'd lost his toad was back, but this time there was a girl with him. She had already changed into her new Hogwarts robes.
"Have any of you seen a toad? Neville's lost his." she said. She had a bossy sort of voice, lots of bushy brown hair, and kind of large front teeth.
"We've already told him we haven't seen any toads around here." said Ron, but the girl obviously wasn't listening. Her gaze seemed to be fixed on the wand in his hand.
"Oh, are you doing magic in here? Well, let's see."
She sat down. Ron seemed a little surprised.
"Uh…alright."
He cleared his throat.
"Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow,
Turn this stupid, fat rat yellow."
He waved his wand, but nothing happened. Scabbers stayed gray, he didn't even wake up.
The girl frowned. "Are you sure that's a real spell?" Without waiting for an answer, she said, "Well, it isn't very good, is it? I've tried a few simple spells myself, for practice of course, and it's all worked pretty good for me. No one in my family's magic either, well unless you count my adopted sister, and we were both quite surprised when we got our letters…actually she wasn't very surprised at all because apparently my mom had already told her that she was a witch. But we were so happy when we found out, I mean this is the very best school of witchcraft and wizardry there is, at least that's what I've heard--I've learned all of our books by heart, of course, I just hope that'll be enough--My name's Hermione Granger, by the way. Who are you all?"
She said all of this extremely fast.
Kagome sweat dropped at her sister. She sure talks a lot when she really wants to…
Harry looked at Ron and Kagome. He was relieved to see by Ron's stunned face that he hadn't learned all the course books by heart either. Kagome, meanwhile, looked as if she was embarrassed for the girl, or by the girl, he wasn't sure.
"I'm Ron Weasley," Ron mumbled.
"Harry Potter," said Harry.
"Are you really?" asked Hermione. "Oh, I know all about you, of course I know an awful lot more about Kagome, her being my adopted sister and all--"
A few cocked brows were sent in Kagome's direction. She simply smiled at them.
"--I got a few extra books to learn a bit more and you're in Modern Magical History and The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century."
"I am?" asked Harry, feeling a little dazed.
"You didn't know? I helped Kagome find out all she could, though she didn't seem very interested." said Hermione.
She then turned to look at Kagome. "Oh, I never did get your name."
"Artemis Fletcher, at your service." said Kagome with a faint Irish lilt in her voice. The smile on her face was amazingly convincing, as was the accent, and had Ron and Harry not seen her transform, they might've been fooled.
"Ah," Hermione smiled. "Nice to meet you. Do any of you know what house you'll be in? I've been asking around, and I really hope I'm in Gryffindor, it sounds like the best house. I hear even Dumbledore was in it, but I guess Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad…Anyway, we'd better finish looking for Neville's toad. You three had better change, I'm pretty sure we'll be there soon."
That said, she left, taking Neville with her.
Kagome let out a sigh of relief and, again, mumbled something under her breath, causing the spell she had placed on herself to disappear. She now looked like the normal Kagome once again.
"Whatever house I'm in, I pray she's not in it." said Ron.
"Aw, she's not that bad…once you get to know her…really, really well…"
Ron now turned his attention to her. "What was with that, anyway?"
Kagome blinked her eyes and gave him an innocent smile. "What was with what?"
"Oh, come off it. It's not like we didn't notice you changing your whole appearance and adopting an Irish accent as soon as that girl walked in."
Kagome pouted. "I just wanted to be left alone for a while." She growled. "The whole stupid ride to the Platform, she wouldn't stop mumbling. And I'm almost positive that she wouldn't stop talking my ear off if I sat in the same compartment as her. Plus, she wants to tell me all these things she read about me when I actually don't really care."
"Ok, ok, I get it." said Ron. "So she's your cousin?"
Kagome grinned. "That'd be her, yes."
"Joy," he mumbled.
Harry chuckled quietly to himself before asking, "And what house are your brothers in?"
"Gryffindor," replied Ron. The gloomy attitude seemed to be coming back and Kagome just frowned at him in disapproval. Why the heck was he so gloomy all the time?
"Mom and Dad were in Gryffindor too. I have no idea what they'll say or do if I don't get into it. Though I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad, but imagine if they put me in Slytherin."
"Isn't that the house Vol-, I mean, You-Know-Who was in?" asked Harry
"Yeah," said Ron. He slumped back into his seat, the depressed mood now back full force.
"You better cheer up if you don't want me to slap you, Ron." said Kagome crossly.
Harry decided it'd be best to interfere. "You know, it kind of looks like the tips of Scabbers whiskers look lighter," he said, trying to move Ron's train of thought away from houses.
"So, what do your older brothers do? Now that they've left Hogwarts, that is?" asked Kagome, in a seemingly calmer mood. She was probably wondering what a witch or wizard did after they graduated. Harry seemed to be thinking something along the same lines because his attention was now being directed straight at Ron.
"Charlie's in Romania, he's studying dragons, and Bill's in Africa doing something or other for Gringotts." said Ron. "Oh, did you hear about Gringotts? It's been all over the Daily Prophet, but I highly doubt you can get that with the Muggles--someone actually tried to rob a high security vault the other day."
Harry and Kagome stared.
"Really? What happened to the robbers?" asked Kagome curiously.
"Nothing, that's why it's such huge news. The robbers have yet to be caught. My dad thinks it must've been a powerful Dark wizard to be able to get around Gringotts security, but they don't think they took anything, that's what's stranger still. Of course, everyone gets a bit scared whenever anything like this in case You-Know-Who's behind it."
Harry and Kagome both frowned, they were beginning to get chills whenever You-Know-Who was mentioned.
"What's your Quidditch team?" asked Ron
"Are brooms involved in this 'Quidditch' thing?" asked Kagome
"Um…I don't know any teams…" confessed Harry.
"What!" Ron seemed to be shocked beyond belief. "Oh, just wait, it's the best game in the world--" And he was off, explaining everything about the four balls, how the sever players were positioned, describing some of the famous games he'd been to with his brothers, and the broomstick he'd like to get if he had the money. He was just taking Harry and Kagome through the finer points of the game when the compartment door slid open yet again.
Kagome glanced up with a scowl. She had been entranced by the game since Ron started talking and she didn't enjoy it when her lesson was being interrupted.
Three boys had entered the compartment this time, and Kagome recognized the boy in the middle immediately: it was the pale boy from Madam Malkin's. He was looking at Harry and Kagome with a lot more interest than he'd shown in the robe shop. His gaze lingered on Kagome, who's face had darkened oh so slightly.
"Is it true?" he asked. "They're saying that Harry Potter and Kagome Higurashi are in this compartment. So you two are them, are you?"
"Yes," said Harry.
Kagome simply stood up, her eyes cold, as she nodded.
Harry was looking at the two boys that flanked the pale one. They were both big-boned and looked quite mean. The way they stood behind the pale boy made them seem like bodyguards.
"Oh, this is Crabbe and that's Goyle," said the pale boy almost carelessly when he seemed to notice where Harry was looking. "And my name's Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."
Ron gave a slight cough which may or may not have been covering a snicker. Draco Malfoy turned to look at him.
"You think my name's funny, do you? I don't need to ask who you are. Red hair and freckles? You're a Weasley."
Kagome stepped forward, her arms crossed. "Mr. Malfoy," She also stepped in front of Ron so that he wouldn't try anything stupid. "May I ask what exactly you're doing here?" Her voice held no emotion whatsoever, same with her eyes and face.
Draco turned back to her, a smile on his face. "You'll soon find out that some wizarding families are a whole lot better than others, Kagome. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong ones. I can help you there."
He took her hand gently in his and raised it to his lips, placing a small kiss on it. Her only reaction was the raising of a single brow.
Harry stood up and walked up next to Kagome. "I think," he said coolly as he removed Draco's hand from Kagome's patiently. "that we can tell who the wrong ones are ourselves, thanks."
Draco Malfoy's face didn't flame, but a pink tinge did appear on his pale cheeks.
"I'd watch my tongue if I were you, Potter," he said slowly. "Unless you're a bit more polite you'll go the same way as your parents. They didn't know what was good for them, either. You hang around with people like the Weasleys and that Hagrid, and it'll surely rub off on you.
Ron stood up, Harry scowled, and Kagome glared daggers.
"Say that again, I dare you," said Ron, his face a bright red with anger.
"Oh, so you're going to fight us?" Malfoy sneered.
"Not if you get out now," said Harry more bravely than he felt. Let's face it, Crabbe and Goyle were a lot bigger than any of them.
"No one is going to fight." said Kagome calmly.
"But we really don't feel like leaving, do we?" Obviously, Malfoy couldn't take a hint.
Kagome stomped up to him. "Listen here, Mr. Malfoy," She grabbed the front of his shirt and dragged him down to her eye level. "There will be, under no circumstances, any fighting in here. So I suggest you leave now, love."
"Love?" he asked with a smirk.
"Oh, don't you go and get any stupid ideas. I use the word frequently, you're no one special." She snarled. "Now get out."
He took her hand off his shirt. "No."
She smirked, an evil glint entering her eyes. "Now, don't say I didn't warn you."
As she was pulling back her fist to give Malfoy a piece of his own medicine, Goyle let out a horrible yell.
It seemed he had been reaching for the Chocolate Frogs that littered the ground. Now, Scabbers was hanging off his finger, sharp little teeth imbedded in his knuckle--Crabbe, Malfoy, and Kagome backed away as Goyle spun around and around, trying to get Scabbers off his finger. Then, Scabbers finally flew off and hit the window. As soon as Goyle was free of the rat's little teeth, all three of them disappeared. Maybe they though there were more rats hanging around, or maybe they heard footsteps, because a second later Hermione Granger had walked in.
"What's going on?" she asked, looking at all the sweets that littered the floor and Ron who was picking up Scabbers by his tail.
"I actually think he's been knocked out," Ron said. He peered closer at Scabbers. "Nope--I can't believe it--he's gone back to sleep."
"Kagome? What are you doing here?" asked Hermione.
Kagome glanced over, ignoring Hermione for the moment. "So he has…"
"You two have met Malfoy before?" asked Ron.
Harry explained about their meeting at the robes shop in Diagon Alley
"I've heard of his family," Ron said darkly. "They're one of the first ones to come back to our side after You-Know-Who vanished. Claimed they'd been bewitched. My dad doesn't believe a word. He says Malfoy's father didn't exactly need an excuse to cross sides." He turned to Hermione, who was silently fuming at Kagome's back. "Can we help you with something?"
She continued to scowl at Kagome, but said, "You're better hurry up and put your robes on. I've just talked to the conductor and he says we're almost there." She now grabbed Kagome and spun her around. "You haven't been fighting have you? You'll be in trouble before we even set foot in Hogwarts!"
"You're such a worry-wart, Hermione." drawled Kagome. "No, I haven't been fighting, but Scabbers was." She didn't add that she'd almost punched Malfoy. "Now, would you mind? People are changing." She ushered a spluttering Hermione out the door. "Buh-bye!"
Harry glanced out the window. It was getting darker. He could see a few mountains under a beautiful dark purple sky. The train did seem to be slowing down a bit.
The three of them tugged their robes on quickly. Ron's were a bit short for him, but no one commented.
A voice echoed throughout the train: "We'll be arriving at Hogwarts in about five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, they'll be taken to the school later."
Harry seemed to have butterflies fluttering in his stomach from nerves, Ron looked a little pale under his freckles, and Kagome was shifting from foot to foot nervously. They shoved the last of their sweets into their pockets and filed out into the corridor, quickly melting in with the crowd that was already there.
The train continued to slow down until it finally stopped. People pushed their way toward the door and out onto a small, dark platform. Kagome shivered slightly in the cool night air. Then a light came bobbing over the heads of the students, and Harry and Kagome heard a familiar voice:
"Firs' years! Over here Firs' years! All right there, Harry, Kagome?"
Hagrid's big face beamed over the crowd of students.
"C'mon, now, follow me--any more firs' years? Careful, now. Watch where yer steppin'. Firs' years follow me!"
Slipping and sliding, they followed Hagrid down a steep and narrow path. It was so amazingly dark to either side that Harry thought they must be surrounded by thick trees. Nobody spoke an awful lot. Neville, the boy who had lost his toad, sniffed a couple times.
"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in minute," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round the corner here."
There was a loud "Wooaahh!" from the students.
The narrow path had suddenly opened to a huge black lake. Perched atop a mountain on the other side of the lake, it's windows twinkling in the starry sky, stood a vast castle with many, many towers.
"Watch yer step! No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats floating in the water close to shore. Harry, Ron, and Kagome were followed into their boat by Neville.
"Everyone in?" asked Hagrid, who happened to have a boat all to himself. "All right then--FORWARD!"
And the little fleet of boats moved all at once, gliding gracefully across the lake, which seemed as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle in awe. It towered over the as they sailed closer and closer to the cliff on which it stood proudly.
"Heads down!" yelled Hagrid as the first few boats reached the cliff; they all bent their heads and the little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy that hid an opening in the cliff. They were carried through a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of underground harbor, where they hurriedly clambered out of the boats and onto rocks and pebbles.
"Oi, you there! This your toad?" asked Hagrid, who had been checking the boats as people climbed out of them.
"Trevor!" cried Neville happily, holding out his hands.
"See," said Kagome, walking up beside him for the moment. "I told you you'd find him."
They then hurried up a passageway in the rock, following Hagrid's lamp, finally coming out onto smooth, damp grass that grew in the shadow of the castle.
They walked up a flight of stone steps and huddled around the huge, oak front door.
"You all here? You, still got yer toad?"
Hagrid raised a huge fist and knocked three times on the castle door.
15 pages in word. Written in times new roman, size 10.
At least I give you big chapters, right?
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I would like to take this space to thank all my wonderful reviewers (I think I forgot some last time...oops.)
Kurama'sFoxyMiko(I'm a genius, she says, then gives me a kirara plushie! KYAA! (cuddles her plushie) and here's your update, dear), Taeniaea, Inuka666 (they might, you never know...actually, they probably will fall in love), Spastic Freak (Yesh, you make me feel REALLY special, and yes (grins) she's adorable), Chibes (no she won't time travel, but she might meet the Inu characters later on), loverofallthingsgreek (here's your update!), Five Tailed Demon Dog (HA! My story is loved! Take that Deana!), xXKillorbeKilledXx, Penneay7, vnienhuis (here's your update!), Sevvy101 (AHHHH! I LOVE YOU! I've decided you need a treat! I'll give you any kind of plushie you want, heck I'll even draw you a picture. You have no idea how happy that review made me. Well, here's your long awaited update), The Mysterious Shadow, Yumiko-Emiko (wait no more for here is your update), Zana Haruko ((grins)that answer your question about the Weasleys?)