"Hurry up with those trunks," Mrs. Weasley called to Harry and Ron, who were slowly climbing downward with trunks on their backs. "Your father has arranged for two Ministry cars to come and take us all to the station and they should be arriving soon."
She bustled off to the kitchen and returned with a large stack of toast as Ron and Harry set down the trunks in the hall.
"Could you boys please go take down the girls' trunks?" she said as they came toward her for breakfast.
"Mum! I've just dragged my trunk down here. Can't the girls just-"
"Now don't you argue with me," she said, stuffing a piece in his open mouth. "Get up there and bring down those trunks."
The boys moaned as they trudged back up the stairs. They entered the first door to the right on the first landing and found Hermione, Ginny, and Vera talking happily on their beds.
"Oh, hello," Vera said as Ron and Harry walked closer.
"Mrs. Weasley said we have to take down your trunks," he said, stifling a yawn.
"Okay then, " Hermione said. "Just let me pack a few more things."
As Hermione opened her trunk, Harry crossed the room and sat down on Vera's bed.
"Hey," he said.
"Hi," she replied. "Doesn't look like you got a lot of sleep, did you?"
"Your about right," he said, yawning again.
"Well, my trunk's all packed, you want help taking it down?"
"Sure."
They each grabbed an end of the trunk and lifted. They left the room and were on the stairs when Vera's pant leg got caught on a loose floorboard. She slipped and the trunk flew out of her hands.
"Impedimenta!"
Harry had pointed his wand at the trunk, and it froze immediately. He lunged out and caught Vera around the waist right before she hit the stairs. The numb feeling in her fingers was back.
"Wow, that was close," Vera said as she looked down at the stairs that were three-inches beneath her.
"Yeah," he said, lifting her back onto her feet, yet not taking his hand off her waist. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," said Vera, but as she tried to walk over and grab the trunk her right leg gave way.
"No, you're not," Harry said, looking worried. "You've sprained your ankle. Here, let me help you."
He placed his hand around her lower back and pulled her arm over his shoulder. "Lean on me, okay?"
"But what about the-"
"I'll come back for it," Harry stared back at the trunk, then nudged Vera forward.
They entered the kitchen and Mrs. Weasley rushed toward them.
"What happened?" she said with the same worried look on her face as Harry's.
"Nothing," Vera said.
"It's not nothing," Harry said to her. "Vera sprained her ankle Mrs. Weasley."
"Well, it's nothing to be too worried about. No need to fix it with magic. Harry, take her to the sofa. Vera, you need to rest for a while and then you'll be able to walk soon."
"But Mrs. Weasley, I'm fine, I-"
"Sit," Mrs. Weasley said simply, pointing to the living room.
"I don't see what the big deal is, I'm fine!" Vera argued, but nevertheless, Harry brought her to the sofa and sat her down.
"Now just sit, okay?"
"Fine," Vera said in a defeated sort of way as he left to get the trunks.
A few minutes later, Hermione entered the room.
"What happened to you?"
"According to Harry, I've sprained my ankle," Vera replied hot-headedly.
"Hmm…"
"Hermione!" came Mrs. Weasley's voice, sounding very panicked. "Please come and get Crookshanks, dear!"
"Coming! Do you need help, Vera?"
"No, I'm fine," she said as she stood and leaned gingerly on her right foot as Hermione left. She hobbled along, wincing at the pain.
"Vera! What are you doing? Mrs. Weasley said to rest," Harry said, appearing in the doorway.
"Uh…"
"You're going to hurt your ankle even more." He crossed the room and resumed helping her, much to Vera's dislike.
"Hurry!" Mrs. Weasley cried. "We're going to be late!"
Harry helped Vera into the car, and they all sped off to King's Cross in London.
"Hermione, Ron, get trolleys," Mrs. Weasley instructed. "Harry, help Vera."
They waited for Ron and Hermione to return, loaded the carts, and went into the station.
"I'm telling you Harry," Vera said as he helped her limp along. "I am fine!"
"I don't care what you feel, I'm helping you until I feel you're okay."
"Whatever," Vera said fiercely. All this attention was annoying her. They're treating me like a child, she thought contemptuously.
They walked through the barrier between Platforms 9 and 10 and were soon immersed in the sight of the Hogwart's Express gleaming in front of them.
"Hold on, I've got to talk to Mr. Weasley." Harry said, leaving Vera in Hermione's care.
"Harry's really concerned about you, Vera," Hermione said, helping her onto the train.
"So I've noticed," Vera said sulkily.
They found a compartment, put their trunks in the overhead compartment and left to say good-bye to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.
"Have a good term," Mrs. Weasley said, giving Ginny one last embrace. "And please be careful. These are dangerous times."
The whistle went off on the train.
"Oh, get on, get on!" Mrs. Weasley said as she chivied them all onto the train. "Harry, quickly!"
Vera looked around and saw Harry running toward the train. He got on and closed the door as they picked up speed and rounded the corner.
"Shall we get a compartment?" Harry inquired of Ron, Hermione, and Vera.
"Oh, Harry, Ron and I have Prefect duty," Hermione said.
"Sorry, mate, we'll be back later," Ron said with a small smile as the two of them walked away.
"I guess it's just you and me then," Harry said to Vera.
Vera turned to lead them down the corridor, but she almost fell again.
"Here, let me help."
Vera saw no reason to argue anymore; Harry was about as stubborn as she was. They made their way down the isle and soon met Neville and Luna, who accompanied them to their compartment.
Harry insisted that Vera sit with her leg up. Lifting her leg shot pain through her foot.
"Ugh," she moaned, partly out of annoyance.
"So, um, Harry, how was your summer?" Neville asked.
They talked of their individual summers for some time and were only interrupted by a group of giggly girls who wanted Harry to join them as opposed to sitting with Neville, Vera, and Luna. Vera was pleased by the dumbstruck looks on their faces when Harry told them that he was sitting with friends of his. The coldness she was showing him seemed to melt away.
At lunch, Ron and Hermione turned up.
"I'm starved," Ron announced upon entering the compartment.
Soon after that, a girl entered the compartment and handed Harry and Neville a scroll each and left.
"What are those?" Vera asked.
"They're invitations to Professor Slughorn's compartment for a late lunch," he replied after reading the message.
"Oh," Vera said a little disappointed.
Harry and Neville left, leaving the compartment inhabitants in a dull silence. Ron soon fell asleep, while Luna pulled out the latest addition of The Quibbler, and Hermione and Vera talked.
"How is your ankle feeling?" Hermione questioned.
"Better," Vera replied. "Why is Harry acting so weird?"
"I don't know, it is kind of odd, but then again it's Harry."
"Hmm," Vera couldn't help but think about the sensation in her fingers and how it only happened when Harry touched her.
After a while, Neville returned.
"Where's Harry?" Ron said groggily, having just woken up.
"I don't know," he replied nervously. "He slipped away from me and disappeared."
"He should be back soon," Hermione said, mainly to the whole compartment, but Vera had a feeling that she had noticed the worried look on her own face.
They talked for the next half-hour. Vera constantly dropped out of the conversation and became lost in thought. Where is Harry? Why did he leave? Is he okay? It took her a while to convince herself that he was fine, but the security was not absolute.
They all changed into their robes and filed out into the corridor. There was still no sign of Harry. As she walked off the train, Vera stumbled into someone.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I was just—Tonks?"
"Hi Vera," Tonks said half-heartedly. She hadn't really been the same lately.
"What are you doing here?" Vera asked.
"I'm patrolling Hogsmeade with some other Aurors. You know, things aren't safe anymore."
"Yeah," Vera understood the danger full well. Voldemort's return two years ago brought great terror for her, but now that it was public it felt all the more real, like darkness that could not be penetrated.
"I saw Ron and Hermione, but where's Harry?" Tonks asked.
"Oh, I don't know. He went to lunch with Professor Slughorn and never returned to the compartment."
"Come with me," Tonks' face mirrored the fear Vera felt.
The train was now empty. They walked past many empty compartments until they walked past one with the door blinds down. Tonks opened the door. It was empty, too. But Tonks noticed something Vera didn't. She groped around on the ground then her fist clenched in the air and she pulled.
Suddenly, Harry appeared in a frozen heap on the floor; the Invisibility Cloak that had covered him was in Tonks hand.
"Wotcher Harry," Tonks said smiling down at him.
She waved her wand, and with a burst of white light, Harry was able to move. Vera stared at him in disbelief. Harry's face was badly bruised and swollen and covered in blood. Harry, as if knowing what she was thinking, wiped some blood off his face.
"We'd better get out of here quickly," Tonks said as the train began to move. "Come on, we'll jump."
Vera and Harry followed Tonks into the corridor, where they threw open the door and jumped onto the platform as the train gained speed and turned the corner. Tonks handed Harry the Cloak.
"Who did it?" she asked.
"Draco Malfoy," he replied. "Thanks for…well…"
"No problem," Tonks said. "I found Vera and we had both noticed you were gone," she looked at Vera and then back to Harry. "I can fix your nose if you stand still."
Harry looked a little hesitant, but nevertheless, he stood still with his eyes closed.
"Episkey," Tonks murmured.
Harry felt his nose and smiled. "Thanks a lot!"
"You two had better put the Cloak on so we can get back up to the castle," Tonks said.
Harry pulled the Invisibility Cloak over himself and Vera as Tonks waved her wand again, releasing a glimmering Patronus that glided away, silent as the cool, gentle breeze.