Disclaimer: I'm not J.K. Rowling. I'm also not a chicken. Happy?

Luna Quiz Answers:

DISAPPEARING STAIRCASES

GALLEONS SICKLES AND KNUTS

Chapter 8

A Faster Express

Harry was caught by surprise at how fast August was ending. Everyone at the Weasley household became a nit more frantic as September first closed in. Mrs. Weasley was helping Harry, Ron, and Ginny pack while Mr. Weasley was just trying to steer clear of his wife. He had confessed to Harry that Mrs. Weasley was keeping herself busy more often because this was one of the last chances she would have to baby anyone. After seventh year he and Ron would be on their own. And a year later Ginny would leave too.

When Harry told Ron and Ginny they simply started laughing.

"What?"

"She would still treat us like children once we're old and gray," Ginny let out a giggle. "Bill and Charlie didn't leave right away and Fred and George still pop up unannounced for dinner. Well, they did. Now I suspect they have a hired cook," she added haughtily.

"Are you mad at them?" Harry exchanged a look with Ron. His mate simply shrugged and rolled his eyes.

"Of course! How could I not be! As much as I enjoy their jokes they are still selfish."

"What are you talking about Ginny?" Ron asked, a look of confusion on his face. "They're not selfish…What makes you say that?"

"Have you ever thought about opening a business? Do you have any idea how much it must cost to have a store on Diagon Alley? The galleons didn't just magically appear. Who do you think paid for it?" Harry started to blush. "They probably coned Mum with 'Oh, we won't leave you like Percy if you give us some loose change'."

"But they would give to Mum and Dad if they needed it. And they probably saved up from their seventh year. After Mum's reaction do you think she knew that they opened a joke shop?"

"Still, they had to get something from them. There is no way they could have gotten a windfall of galleons on their own."

Harry coughed. "Actually, they did. I gave them my Triwizard earnings."

Ginny's mouth made a perfect O until Ron elbowed her in her side. "That'll teach you to say bad things about family," Ron muttered. But that didn't stop both of them to stare at Harry for a while, at least until dinner was called.

"Don't tell," he said before heading into the kitchen. Fortunately, Mr. Weasley had a funny story about an enchanted stuffed animal monkey. After dinner, Harry and Ron finished packing in silence and went to bed early.

The next morning was a hassle. Mrs. Weasley convinced herself that they were running late, and eventually they were because the Order wizards were late arriving. Mr. Weasley had been given a car from the Ministry and they had to have at least two wizards sitting on either side of Harry. Thankfully magic made all the seats wider than possible in a normal car. It didn't stop Harry from feeling like the Prime Minister.

Platform 9 and ¾ seemed emptier than usual. The year before some students had been withdrawn from Hogwarts because of Voldemort's return, but now there were less. Perhaps Dumbledore's death at Hogwarts had struck a chord with parents.

Harry and Ron got on after a quick good-bye from the Weasley's and looked for a good car. A lot of room's were open. After a while Ginny joined them, followed by Luna Lovegood.

"Look who I bumped into," Ginny said. Harry and Ron said hello as the Ravenclaw stared at them and gave a small wave.

"Hello Ron,. Ginny told my you're Head Boy," Luna said in her dreamy way. Ron nodded, and reached into his pocket to show her his badge. Luna started talking about how there was some sort of curse on Head Boy's that fell onto one every seven years. Ron's face paled a bit as she described some of the previous boys until there was a loud whistle interrupting them.

"Is the train leaving?" Ron asked quickly, trying to distract Luna.

"It shouldn't . It's only ten-thirty," Harry said, looking at his watch. After a few shrugs Luna started telling her tale again. Ron gave Harry a look.

"Um, Ron, don't you have to go to the front of the train for, um, a meeting?"

"Oh, yes I do! Maybe I can find out what happened to the train." He got up and left the cabin in a rush.

"Did you hear about the first years?" Luna asked. Ginny and Harry shook their heads, afraid of what she might say. "It's a shame really. There is usually a pretty big bunch that comes fresh and green every year. Only nine are enrolled this year."

"You're kidding!" Ginny exclaimed.

"No, I'm not. Too many parents are afraid for their kids now. Last year there was a small group of first years, but that was simply because it was true about Him. This year, with a new headmistress in a time of crisis, more parents don't want to send eleven and ten year olds away."

"But surely there are more than nine," Harry said in disbelief. Luna just shook her head and sighed. She looked out the window and gasped.

"We're moving."

"But it's not eleven!" Harry crossed over to the window and the train was still at the platform, but it was just getting ready to go. The wheels started turning and there was a whistle from up front. 9 and ¾ was empty, no one was standing on it anymore. A clock read 10:45. Ginny actually stuck her head out and looked around.

"I don't get it, why leave early?" she pulled out her ticket and checked the times.

"Because no one else is coming," a voice said. Neville Longbottom was at the door, and Ron and Hermione were behind him. The three squeezed into seats. Amazing that the train could be practically empty and yet they had to be crowded like this.

"They explained to us that due to low enrollment they would leave early," Hermione explained. "The conductor was told to leave if a certain amount of students were on by this time. A few people were unsure about returning, so anyone that didn't arrive by 10:45 probably didn't want to actually go."

"But we've often arrived late and just got on, even though we were willing to go," Ginny protested.

"Owls were sent to anyone that was or might go," Neville spoke up. "My gran got it and immediately made me start checking my luggage for everything. We left for the train at eight. She didn't want me missing it."

"Eight is still pretty early," Harry mused. Neville flushed.

"She figured I wouldn't make it unless we came that early." Neville shrugged and pulled Trevor out of his bag.

"What happened to your Mimbulus mimbletonia?" Luna asked. She was looking at Trevor as though expecting him to transform into it.

"Oh, well, after it sprayed her with Stinksap, Gran locked it in my trunk and put a few spells on it. She thinks that I might use it in a fight or something," he chuckled. Neville cast a glance at Luna and then turned to Harry. "So, will we have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts club this year?"

Harry remembered how the year before they were fighting Death Eaters with members of the Order. Out of everyone he knew, Neville and Luna wanted to be a member of the D.A. the most. Over the years he had known Neville to be bad in most subjects but great in Herbology. The D.A. was one of the things that had allowed him to learn.

"I guess so. We can make it official and everything this time," Harry grinned. Both Luna and Neville's faces lit-up at his words. And besides, it would help keep him sharp for when the next Horcruxes popped up.

I rambled at the begining of this chapter, and I can't remember; Did Harry tell Ron about the Triwizard winnings?