Flying to Hogwarts and Lockhart

Summer passed on quickly.

It seemed bittersweet to leave the Weasleys' house, even though I was told I was always welcome there. On September first, we hurried to get onboard the train. We had less than five minutes left before we'd miss it. My trolley was full and Ginny was carrying Hedwig for me as a favor as we ran.

Cedric and the rest of the Weasleys passed through the barrier easily, but when Ron and I tried, instead of passing through the wall, we crashed into it, causing some attention from the Muggles.

My arm hurt as I helped Ron up. "Why can't we get through?" I hissed.

"I don't know. The gateway's sealed itself for some reason," said Ron.

Just then, the train station's clock chimed eleven. "We've missed the train!" I said. "I never should've left Hedwig with Ginny! We could've sent a message to Hogwarts."

"Helena," said Ron, looking worried. "Do you think that if we can't get through, maybe Mum and Dad can't get back?"

I sighed as I bit my lip. "I don't know. Maybe we should just go and wait by the car."

Ron looked as if he had an idea. "The car! That's it! We'll fly to Hogwarts!"

"No way in Hades, Ron! That plan is insane on so many levels!" I hissed, as we picked up our things. "What if we get caught? We could get expelled or worse!"

"There's nothing else we can do," Ron pointed out. "Besides, Dad installed an Invisiblity Booster."

I wanted to argue further, but I could see Ron was right. "If we get in trouble, I'll kill you, Ron!"

Ron nodded and then we packed up our things and Ron got the Invisibility Booster going as we took off. I prayed we hadn't been seen by the Muggles. We flew all over the country until we found the train tracks. When Invisibility Booster died on us, Ron flew us down lower and we followed the tracks.

"Ron, does it seem like we're getting closer?" I said, as the sounds of the train became louder.

"Yeah," said Ron. "Wait…"

We turned around and started screaming when we realized the train was behind us. We flew up into the air and then I nearly fell out when the car door swung open. Ron barely managed to get me back up and into the car safely.

"I think we've found the train," I gasped

"Yeah," said Ron.

We continued following the train until we had to fly across the Hogwarts lake. The castle looked simply stunning. We both smiled at the sight of it.

"Welcome home," said Ron.

We were nearly there when the car started to act up and then we crashed into a giant mutant willow tree. Ron's wand broke upon impact. "My wand!" he moaned. "Look at my wand!"

"Be thankful it's not your neck," I said, relieved we were okay. There was crashing sound and something began hitting the car. The tree was attacking us. Good grief, what else could go wrong? "Oh, crap! Ron, drive, fast!"

Ron didn't need telling twice and drove as fast he could as we landed on the ground and then the car seemed to eject us out along with our belongings before it went off on its own into the Dark Forest.

"Dad's going to kill me," said Ron.

"Worry about that later. Let's just get inside before anything else happens," I said.

We gathered our things and went inside and talked about what had happened. "So, a house-elf shows up in my bedroom, we can't get through the barrier to platform nine-and-three-quarter, we almost get killed by a tree…clearly, someone doesn't want me here this year," I said.

We'd almost made, but then we were met by Filch, the caretaker. "Well, children, this night may be the last you spend in this castle. Oh, dear we are in trouble." To make things worse, he took us to Professor Snape.

Professor Snape seemed even more furious with us than usual. "Do the two of you have no sense of secrecy or obeidiance to our laws?" He held up the Daily Prophet, which had a picture of the Ford Angela disappearing. "You were seen by no less than seven Muggles! Do you have any idea how serious this is? You have risked the exposure of our world! Not to mention the damage you inflicted on the Whomping Willow that's been on these grounds since before you were born!" He got up and was an inch away from our faces. "I assure you that were you in Slytherin and your fate rested with me, the both of you would be on the train home tonight! As it is—"

"They are not," said Professor Dumbledore.

My heart sank at the sight of him and Professor McGonagall. Only a few months ago, I'd made them proud, now I'd made them disappointed and angry. And that hurt as much as my scar's burnings did.

"Headmaster," said Professor Snape. "These two have flouted the Decree for the Restriction of Underage Wizardry."

"I'm well-aware of our bylaws, Severus," said Professor Dumbledore. "Having written quite a few of them myself. However, as Head of Gryffindor House, it is for Professor McGonagall to decide the appropriate action."

"Professors, wait, if anyone should be punished, it's me. Helena wasn't to blame, it was my idea. She didn't want to do it. We were desperate. We couldn't send an owl as Hedwig was with Ginny," said Ron.

"While that is quite honorable of you, Mr. Weasely, and be that as it may, Miss Potter still participated in the event and she'll still serve out her punishment," said Professor McGonagall.

"I understand, Professor," I said. "Are we going to be expelled?"

"Not today, Miss Potter," said Professor McGonagall. "But I must impress on you the seriousness of what you have done. I'll be writing to your families tonight and you'll both receive detention."

We both nodded, both quite relieved by this.

"Now, the feast is over and Miss Weasley's been placed in Gryffindor. I want the both of you go up to your dormitories immediately before I change my mind, and the new password's 'wattlebird.'"

"Yes, Professor," I said. "Thank you."

Ron and I went up to the portrait hole.

"Hey, Ron, thanks for sticking up for me," I said. I slipped him some Chocolate Frogs. "Thanks."

"Ah, no problem, Helena. What're friends for?" said Ron.

"Where—have—you—two—been?" screeched a voice, startling us.

We looked up to see Cedric and Hermione coming towards us looking both angry and relieved at us.

"Do you two have idea how worried we've been? People have been saying you've been expelled for flying a car here and crashing into the Whomping Willow!" said Hermione.

"We haven't been expelled," said Ron.

"You're not saying you did fly here?" said Cedric.

"Uh, yes?" I said, weakly.

Cedric sighed in exasperation. "Helena Lily Potter, you could've been killed! What were you two thinking flying that car here?"

"Don't scream at her, it was my idea," said Ron, and he explained everything.

"If you two ever scare us like that again, I'll kill you!" said Hermione.

"Okay, okay, we're sorry," I said, holding up my hands.

Cedric hugged me. "Quit worrying me like that okay?"

"Okay, I'll try," I promised.

He smiled and then waved good-bye as he walked off to his common room. Ron and I were the center of attention when we walked inside as everyone wanted to know about what had happened. We explained the best we could and then went off to bed, feeling tired both physically and emotionally.

Over the next week or so, we got adjusted to being back at school.

It was great to be home again and I studied my subjects with vigor and managed to do a bit well in them. I officially hated Herbology now as we'd began working Mandrakes, plants that screamed and could knock you out or kill you. Cedric was keeping a close eye on me and Hermione barely let Ron out of her sight. After a while the flying car business died down, or so I thought.

At breakfast, Ron clumsily taped up his wand. "Say it, I'm doomed."

"You're doomed," I said, as I sipped my pumpkin juice.

There was a flash of white light and a first-year boy poked his head out from behind it. "Hi, Miss Helena. I'm Colin Creevy, I'm in Gryffindor too!"

"Hi, Colin, nice to meet you," I said, politely.

"Miss Helena, would you mind signing my photo when it's developed?" he asked. "I'm a huge fan. I'm a Muggle-born, so all of this is really exciting for me."

"Uh, sure," I said, slowly.

"Excuse me," said Cedric, as he gently shooed Colin away.

"Thanks," I mouthed. I didn't need another crazed fan. I got enough attention for rubbish and more was the last thing I wanted or needed.

"Ron, is that your owl?" said Hermione.

Ron and I looked up as Eroll came flying down and crashed into a bowl of fruit. He picked himself up again, but not before dropping off a smoking red envelope that had Ron scared to death.

"Oh, no!" he said. "She's sent me a Howler."

"Better open it quickly," Cedric advised. "A friend of mine ignored one from his mum and it didn't end well."

I raised an eyebrow as Ron opened the envelope and then it seemed to float in mid-air and started screeching at him and looked like a mouth. "RONALD WEASLEY, HOW DARE YOU STEAL THAT CAR! I AM ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED! YOUR FATHER'S NOW FACING AN INQUIRY AT WORK AND IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT! IF YOU PUT ANOTHER TOE OUT OF LINE, WE'LL BRING YOU STRAIGHT HOME!" The Howler then tore itself up and Ron looked scared.

"Sorry, Ron," said Hermione.

"Let's get to class," he said, standing up. "What've we got today?"

"Lockhart's," I said, checking my schedule. "Hey, Cedric, have you been to any of his classes, yet?"

"Two," he said. "And they're a complete joke, the way he teaches it."

I groaned but Hermione scowled as we walked to class.

We took our seats and then Lockhart came out grinning broadly like the idiot he was as he said, "Let me introduce you to you new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, me! Gilderoy Lockhart, Order of Merlin Third Class. Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defense League. And five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award. But I don't talk about that, I didn't get rid of the Bandon Banshee by smiling at him.

No one laughed at his attempt at a joke.

He pulled out his wand. "Now, be warned! It is my job to prepare you to fight against the foulest creatures known to wizardkind. Know only that no harm will befall whilst I'm here, but I must ask you not to scream. It might provoke them!" He yanked a cover off a cage to reveal dozens of blue pixies.

"Cornish pixies?" said Seamus, laughing.

"Freshly caught Cornish pixies!" said Lockhart, dramatically. "Laugh if you will, Mr. Finnegan, but pixies can be nasty little blighters. Let's see what you make of them." He opened the cage and all Tartarus broke loose.

The pixies attacked us, tore up books and painting, swiped Lockhart's wand and used it to send a dragon skeleton down to the ground, they placed Neville on the chandelier, and pulled Hermione's hair—(I had to swat one off her with my book)—and chased the students out. Lockhart himself got scared and told us to put them all back.

"Hermione, do something!" I yelled.

Hermione nodded and yanked out her wand. "Immobulus!" and then all the pixies froze in mid-air.

"Hermione, you're a genius," I said.

She smiled.

We got all the pixies back into their cage and Lockhart gave us full marks for "bravery," and gave us no homework for the rest of the month. I just bit back a snort as I remembered his cowardice earlier.

The next day, I had Quidditch practice. Wood was deeply enthusiastic about the game this year. We didn't win the Quidditch Cup last year as I'd been in a coma, but Wood insisted we'd do better this year. Ron, Hermione and Cedric came out to watch. However, no sooner had we walked onto the pitch than we saw the Slytherin team come out as well.

"What're you doing here, Flint?" asked Wood.

"Quidditch practice," he replied.

"The pitch's been booked for Gryffindor today," I protested.

"Easier, Potter, I got a note," said Flint. He handed Wood a roll of parchment.

"'I, Severus Snape, do hereby grant the Slytherin team permission to train today owing to the need to train their new Seeker,'" said Wood. "You've got a new Seeker? Who?"

To my disgust, Malfoy stepped forward.

"Malfoy's your new Seeker?" said Cedric. "You can't be serious."

"Afraid we are, Diggory." said Malfoy. "What's the matter; scared I'll show up your little girlfriend on the field?"

"Why don't you just shut up, Malfoy?" I snarled, as Cedric looked furious.

"Those are Nimbus Two Thousand and Ones," said Ron, eyeing their black polished brooms. "How'd you get those?"

"A gift from Draco's father," said Flint, smugly.

"At least no one on the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in," said Hermione. "They got in on pure talent."

Malfoy glared at her. "No one asked your opinion, you filthy little Mudblood!"

Everyone on Gryffindor's side glared at him and looked outraged, but no more so than Ron, who raised his wand. "You'll pay for that one, Malfoy! Eat Slugs!" But the force of Ron's spell on his broken wand sent him flying back and we all went after him.

"Are you okay, Ron?" asked Hermione. "Say something!"

But Ron couldn't reply as he began burping up slugs and Colin began taking pictures.

"Colin, get out the way! No photographs! Hermione, Cedric, let's get him to Hagrid, he'll know what to do," I said, "Cedric, help me!"

We took Ron to Hagrid's while the Slytherins laughed at us. Hagrid was more than willing to help when he saw Ron puking, and let us come inside. He gave Ron a bucket after we sat down.

"Is there any sort of potion or counter-spell to reverse this?" I asked.

"Nothing to do but wait until it stops, I'm afraid," he admitted. "What happened, anyway?"

"Malfoy bribed his way onto the Slytherin team and a little tiff broke out," said Cedric. "He called Hermione a…I can't even say it. Anyway, Ron got madder than all of us and tried to curse him and the spell backfired."

"Was it, what'd he say?" asked Hagrid.

"He called her a…a Mudblood," I admitted.

Hagrid looked furious. "He did not!"

"He did," said Hermione, her eyes glistening with tears. "Mudblood's a really foul name for someone who's Muggle-born. Someone with non-magic parents, someone like me. It's not a term one usually hears in a civilized conversation. But it was sweet of Ron to stand up for me like that."

"You see, Helena, there are some Wizarding families who think they're better than everyone else because they're what people called 'pure-blood.' Rubbish in my opinion. There's not a wizard today who's not half-blood or less. And more to the point, they've yet to think of a spell that our Hermione can't do," said Hagrid. He squeezed Hermione's hand. "Don't you think on it, Hermione. Don't you think on it for one minute."

Ron burped up another slug. "It's disgusting," he said. I didn't know if he was referring to Malfoy's words or the slugs.

"It's stupid," said Cedric. "What difference does it make where you come from? It's our actions that define us, not our bloodlines."

"That's true enough, but not everyone believes that. There'll always be people like that in this world. All we can do try to bear it and stand up for what we believe in when we need to," said Hagrid.

I nodded in agreement.