Disclaimer: See chapter 1. Reviews are always welcomed, but flames aren't.
Chapter 12: A Train Bound for Nowhere
As the last notes faded, their compartment door slammed open and the bushy-haired girl staggered in. Her face pale and tear streaked. "C. . .can I stay here with you?"
Harry hmm'ed for a moment as he continued to play his guitar softly. Unknown to the pair, he was sending out quiet bardic magic to calm the girl down. He had to be careful to not over do it, as Bardic magic is powerful and if he messed up, he could put her into a coma.
"I'm sorry," the girl said after a moment, "I'm Hermione Granger, by the way."
Just then, the compartment door opened and a blonde headed boy said, "I heard that Harry Potter might be on this train. Anyone seen him? Oh, it's you, the mudblood." He sneered arrogantly.
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Sirius hissed at the television screen. "Anyone can see that he's a Malfoy! I bet five bucks that Harry decks him."
"You are on!" Cory said.
"Quiet you two!" Sarah said, from her comfortable spot, cuddled beside Jareth. Giving the back of Sirius' head a tap with her foot, she went on. "I think this was the boy at the Robe Shop. Garion wasn't too impressed with him."
"Oww! Sarah!"
"Sh!"
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Harry ceased playing and gently set his guitar aside. He noted the way the girl flinched away from the blonde and a frown crossed his face. " Who wants to know?" Harry replied with a haughty lift of his chin. " And you will refrain from insulting a lady in my presence."
Malfoy smirked. "Lady? Why, she's no more than a filthy mud . . ." He took a half-step back, bumping into the two hulking figures behind him as Harry lunged to his feet to confront him.
Anger, barely controlled, turned Harry's voice hard. "What gives you the right to use such language in front of a lady?" He demanded coldly.
"As I've already pointed out, she's got filthy blood," the blonde spat in contempt, " she's nothing but a muggle born mudblood! Not fit to be in the same school as purebloods like me."
Harry stood ramrod straight. "Ah yes, a noble house of a pure blood." The last word said with a sneer, " I've heard about them." Harry spat with contempt. "However, from your behavior here I see you have no idea what true nobility compasses." Harry's eyes raked the blonde with scorn. "True nobility is courtesy, honor and chivalry . . . none of which you have shown this day! I find your presence here offensive, an affront to myself and my companions. You are neither welcome nor wanted here." Magic seemed to shiver in the compartment as Harry spoke. The feeling of power was almost tangible and Malfoys' faced paled. " LEAVE US NOW!" Harrys' last words held a command that, while quietly spoken, carried an almost physical blow. Malfoy stumbled back abruptly, almost tripping on his two companions in his haste to be gone.
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Cory grinned at the disgruntled Sirius. "I do believe you owe me. Pay up."
"Sh! Honestly you two!" Sarah chided them.
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Harry closed the door and turned to lean against it as if he was the real Kenshin Himura. He allowed his red bangs to hide the disappointment in his eyes. Ron looked at Hermione then back at Harry and shouted, "What the bloody hell just happened? I thought Malfoy was going to faint!"
Harry still looking down at the floor, smiled, and started quoting: "Ferengi Rule of Acquistion number 85 -'Never let the competition know what you're thinking.' Rule number 69 - 'The Ferengi are not responsible for the stupidity of other races.' My favorite is rule number 192 - 'Never cheat a Klingon...unless you're sure you can get away with it'. . . "
Hermione giggled as she wiped away the traces of her tears and added one herself, "Mine is rule number 273 - 'Don't waste your breath arguing with a Klingon; save it for the running you may have to do' I memorized them as well and that one is my favorite."
Ron looked confused. "I don't get it. Why did Malfoy run like a scared rabbit?"
Harry picked up his guitar and started to play softly. "Simple, listen." Taking out his wand, he tapped his case, "Kenny Rogers, The Gambler, accompaniment."
On a warm summer's evenin', on a train bound for nowhere,
I met up with the gambler; we were both too tired to sleep.
So we took turns a starin' out the window at the darkness,
'Til boredom overtook us, and he began to speak.
Harry smiled and winked at Hermione as he played, who seemed to blush.
He said: "Son, I've made a life out of readin' people's faces,
And knowin' what their cards were by the way they held their eyes.
So if you don't mind my sayin', I can see you're out of aces.
For a taste of your whiskey, I'll give you some advice."
Hermione looked at him, startled, then started laughing much to Ron's puzzlement.
So I handed him my bottle and he drank down my last swallow.
Then he bummed a cigarette and asked me for a light.
And the night got deathly quiet, his face lost all expression.
He said: "If you're gonna play the game, boy, you gotta learn to play it right"
"You got to know when to hold 'em; know when to fold 'em,
Know when to walk away; know when to run.
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done."
Music filled their compartment, easing tension and drawing a warm cocoon of peace about the three of them.
"Now ev'ry gambler knows the secret to survivin.
Is knowin' what to throw away, knowing what to keep.
'Cos ev'ry hand's a winner and ev'ry hand's a loser,
And the best you can hope for is to die in your sleep."
Harry gazed into their eyes and wondered briefly if either would pick up the hidden meanings to his song.
So when he'd finished speakin', he turned back toward the window:
Crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sleep.
And somewhere in the darkness the gambler, he broke even.
But in his final words I found an ace that I could keep.
You got to know when to hold 'em; know when to fold 'em,
Know when to walk away; know when to run.
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
As the last strains of the song died, Harry, still in bardic mode, looked over at the girl and smiled. " I trust you're feeling better now, milady?"
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Thanks for the reviews. Yes, we are enjoying ourselves in writing this. Until next time. --GF and the Frau