Chapter 17 – King's Cross

Harry sat on a bench with Ginny and Neville. They'd arrived early to meet up with Ron and Hermione. They'd decided to meet at Kings Cross instead of surprising them when they ported to the Leaky Cauldron because Neville was currently angry with the proprietor. When Hannah found out that he was selling the bar she was beside herself. Hannah had been certain she'd be able to buy the bar from Tom once they'd saved a little more for the down payment. Tom had even promised to help her with a payment plan to purchase the place if he hadn't sold it. He had known her parents and so he'd hired her when they had been killed. He hadn't anticipated this problem - he'd hoped she'd want to return to Hogwarts.

Neville had the good mind to stay out of the conflict – Hannah was not a damsel in distress type and she'd made that clear. He was still upset. After hearing the story, Harry feared Neville's frustrations would get the better of him and he might find a way to give Tom a piece of his mind. Neville would sit down and stare at the ground. Then he'd stand up and pace. Then he'd sit down again and repeat the process.

Harry found himself lost in his own thoughts. He'd headed out of the Burrow early on Sunday knowing that he wouldn't stand up to further grilling from Ginny. He waited for the seamstress with a book and when she finally arrived they both headed up to Lavender's room carrying samples of fabric and a few pictures of sample robes.

Lavender was not pleased to have a guest. When Harry explained the purpose she groaned and pulled the curtain. Harry was impressed that the woman did not so much as bat an eye. She only looked from Lavender to Harry and said, "I see what you mean. She will need some custom measurements." She then looked to Lavender, "I take it you are self conscious about a few things." Lavender did her best to shrug in response.

"I can make your robes more flattering," claimed the seamstress, "that's the advantage of custom tailoring, of course." Looking back at Harry she said, "excuse me" and gently closed the curtain between him and Hecate. She then asked, "Take off your gown please." Harry sat and listened for a good hour as the seamstress gave instructions. "Raise your arm," "Stand as straight as you can," "Now slouch," "Don't suck in your stomach – the robes are meant to flatter you as you are," "I can also make you some cloaks with hoods in case you are self conscious in public," "I can make you some special knickers that will cover that up," "I need to take an inseam – this may tickle," "what is it you are most self conscious about?" Dozens of more comments and questions shot back and forth between Lavender and the seamstress. Some made Harry blush. He was amazed at first by her candour but he realised quickly that it was the very thing setting Lavender at ease.

The only tense moment was halfway through when Lavender complained, "It is very nice for you to come here and do this for me but I don't know how I can possibly pay for all of the clothing you propose. I am sure if these are custom made they are expensive." She spoke loud enough for Harry, "The only Galleons I have to my name are the ones I received last month at the ceremony. This seems like a luxury that I can't afford."

The seamstress interrupted, "Madam, everything is taken care of. I would not work on a Sunday had it not been."

Lavender fumed, "Harry, you cannot pay for all of this. It must be at least...It must be a lot. I mean a LOT. I've been to the shops at Diagon Alley and I've seen the prices for custom robes. And they don't even do half of the measurements she's performing. Or this many alterations. You are not paying for all of this."

Harry considered quietly for a few moments. The seamstress continued to do her job with the focus of a professional. Seamstresses knew better than to get involved in an argument. It was better to act as if she couldn't hear a thing.

Finally he spoke, again through the curtain, "Lav..."

"Hecate!"

"Hecate, all my mates and family do is complain when I offer help. I understand why...but can you please pretend for a few days that this isn't coming from me? I had to accept my inheritance knowing it came indirectly from some very bad people. I think Sirius took great joy that those same people would roll in their graves knowing what I'd do with it. Part of the reason he gave it to me was so that I could help right many of the wrongs done to people all through England. I cannot do that if all that deserve help fight me."

"So can you please do it? Can you please just pretend that this was from someone else? I know this fine lady helping you was willing to take the Galleons happily. I promise you I overpaid her." Lavender looked down and the seamstress confirmed with a nod. She gestured with her hands that he'd overpaid by a lot. "But the money is better in her hands considering the economy than wasting away in a vault in Gringotts, don't you think?"

"You are worth much more than a few thousand Galleons. I'd give a hundred times that if I could take away all that's happened to you but I can't. If it will make you a little more comfortable with yourself then this is a very small price to pay. All right? L...Hecate?"

She didn't say a thing but the curtain flung open and Harry was attacked by a hug moments later. He looked down and found the seamstress wearing a big grin and he even caught a quick wink...

...And now he was at Kings Cross where Neville was once again pacing. Harry couldn't take it any more, "Neville, it'll be all right. You worry too much. I'm sure by tomorrow it will have taken care of itself."

"How? How Harry? She was so happy there. You don't understand. She was so happy there. She fancied owning the place eventually. Her family would take her there as a little girl and Tom would let her pour the drinks for customers while they waited for their food. Her father and Tom were as thick as thieves and now he's selling the place out from under her. He had a commitment to her."

"I don't think it's that simple Neville. He's not doing too well. You know he hired her because he couldn't handle the business on his own any longer. Do you think he'd have sold it for less than what he was asking for otherwise?"

Neville's shoulders slumped, "No." He then looked back at Harry, "It's just this was supposed to be a happy week. It was our last week together before the Holiday when we get..."

Ginny grinned and nudged Harry. Harry couldn't help but smile, "Until you get what Neville?"

"Well, I'd wanted to tell you when she was with us too. Just a few of us mates. You, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Luna and my grandmother. We were going to have my Mum and Dad brought in too. It was going to be special. I was going to use the money from the Order of Merlin to put a down payment on the tavern. And then we'd pay the note monthly like he'd proposed. But now, this ruins everything. It was going to be so perfect."

"Neville, you worry too much," repeated Harry. Then, without thinking, "You'll still marry her and the two of you will be very happy."

"What? How did you know? Who told you?" Neville looked from Ginny to Harry.

Ron and Hermione just then popped in with Luna. She'd met them at the Cauldron. Ginny's eyes travelled between the boys and the new arrivals, "This is awkward."

Luna, in her usual honest fashion, responded, "That's usually my line."

ZZZZZZZ

Molly had popped in at the station with her husband just long enough to see her youngest boy and only girl off for the last time. They now stood before the train with hundreds of students and parents passing by, "I'm so proud of you, son," she whispered in his ear. She'd been smart enough not to repeat the mistake of his fifth year when she questioned how he became a Prefect. "You are Head Boy and Quidditch Captain. Don't let anyone tell you that you haven't earned it. I've heard stories about how you earned Gryffindor two championships. You are a smart boy who can do nearly anything when you properly apply yourself. Now go on and do great things." Harry watched as Ron strutted into the train.

"Ginny, Ginny, Ginny. My little girl is grown up. I'm going to stop standing in your way when you make decisions. I will offer my thoughts but you are now ready to be a woman. Just promise me one thing," she whispered. Ginny looked askance to her mum and she took her daughters head in her hands affectionately, "Promise me you will do what is right in your heart and that you will do what is right for you. Remember, now that you are of age you will be asked to make adult decisions and no-one can live with the consequences but you. You are my only little girl and all I want is happiness for you."

"Ok Mum," Ginny teared up as she gave her mum a kiss and a long hug. Ginny turned to her father and hugged him as well, "I'm going to miss you Dad." He held her tight and reminded her, "I'm just an owl away and if that won't do, I always enjoy seeing that beautiful filly of yours prance around the house. You lot enjoy yourselves this year. For once you can concentrate on school."

Harry and Hermione were seen off with hugs as well. Arthur said something quietly to Harry that struck him strange, "Son, keep watch. Bill and I agree something just isn't right. I know you'll have enough of a job watching over your own shoulder but keep an eye on my little girl as well. She's the only one I have. Everyone's guard is down including that of Hogwarts and the Ministry and we agree something still feels...off."

Harry had been saved a spot in a compartment with Luna, Ginny and Neville. He sat down next to Ginny and watched as Luna read a fresh copy of the Quibbler, "It appears that Nargles are threatened with extinction." Neville was caught out of his trance, "What is a Nargle again?"

While Luna once again described a Nargle, Harry sat wishing he could be with his two best mates. Hermione and Ron were heading the meeting of the Prefects. It'd been a few years since they'd all been able to sit together. He wanted to enjoy this last year with them. He should be happy by all accounts. He was sitting next to the girl he loved and with two of his closest mates. But he sat remembering the first trip with Hermione and Ron. She had been all smug as a cover to hide how worried she was. Ron was Ron, constantly a mixed bag of fidgeting and happy go lucky.

"It's not the same without Ron and Hermione, is it Harry? You really miss them," observed Luna.

"Yes," admitted Harry. "I feel like we should be solving some kind of plot...some mystery by now. There's no more to solve. It's all done. I don't feel like I belong here any more."

"Give it time Harry," advised Luna, "I'm sure Ginny has a few mysteries waiting for you." Ginny turned red and squeezed his hand. He couldn't help but smile. Luna just had that effect on him.

The ride was quiet for the most part until the door to the compartment shot open. Ron had a handful of chocolate frogs and chocolate smudged on his face. Hermione followed him in. Luna gave them room by squeezing her self in on Harry's other side. Hermione sat next to Neville and kissed him on the cheek, "Congratulations! I heard you are engaged!"

"Does everyone know?" he grumped. "Can no-one keep a secret?"

"I don't think Draco knows," mused Luna. "But I can tell him if you would like." The cabin erupted in laughter. Even Neville laughed a little after some mild cursing.

Ginny leaned past Harry, "Luna, did you see those patterns that Hannah was looking at?" The two girls carried on a conversation about the wedding as if Harry wasn't there. He tried to move so they could sit next to each other but Ginny held his hand firmly. He finally gave in and looked over at Ron, "Any new cards?"

"They're all new. Shacklebolt has one now he's Minister. Look at the picture." He stared at them and smiled. Shacklebolt gave a small salute like he did when they'd pass by each other at the Ministry.

"Any idea who the Defence Against Dark Arts Teacher is?" asked Harry.

Ron beamed, "You haven't heard? Since they've pulled in most of the Death Eaters and he has no Trainees, they've asked Auror Duncan to teach." Ron continued conspiratorially, "Actually the Minister told him he was teaching it. He wants an Auror close by in the event something goes bad. That and he wants the Auror Trainees to get proper training. He's going to keep us on the track we have been on."

Hermione looked intrigued, "You mean I get to learn what Aurors are learning?" Ron planted his face in his palm, "Hermione, don't suck the fun out of this for me. I'm just getting where I'm enjoying learning this stuff. I don't need you creating timetables and calendars for revisions..."

"...Don't need? If anyone ever needed a timetable and plan for revision it would be you. You wouldn't know how to revise on your own if you had an instruction manual nearby. And what do you mean suck the fun out of..?"

Harry didn't even hear the rest. He had two girls talking over him about weddings. Ron and Hermione locked in an argument in front of him. Neville looked across at him and smiled and they silently agreed. This was what they remembered when they thought back on train rides to Hogwarts.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZz

Some rituals grow old with time. Others bring back memories. Harry watched the thestrals as they pulled Ginny, Luna and Neville to the front gate. Now nearly everyone could see them. Even a few second and third years saw the majestic beasts. Many were in shock. They'd mostly gone home via Floo or apparition this past May. Harry wished he could have come this year for the first time. So much innocence and the school was now packed.

It was estimated that more than 1300 students were now attending the school. For years the classes had been nearly double those of Harry's year. Harry's year had been very small due to the end of the First War with Voldemort. Harry had thought his first few years that they were lucky to have had so much room in their flat. Fact was they were lucky. There were typically 180-200 new students each term introduced as First Years. Harry's there'd been only 54. Each year since had grown.

Harry was not looking forward to the Sorting this year. It was expected there would be 208 first years this year. Neville had even made mock threats toward the hat when he heard how many were on the train, "I'll pull more out than a sword if that hat so much as considers a student for more than five seconds. I am starving."

They were soon seated at the far end of the table. He saved a spot for Hermione and Ron as always. He heard Seamus and Dean not far away, "You should have seen it..."

"Should have seen what," asked Harry over Ginny.

"The World Cup," called out Seamus over the crowd. "Twas incredible. Was in Italy. I don't know how they pulled it off but it was in the Old Colosseum in Rome. They had it expanded and some really powerful wizard Transfigured the inside so that it was spectacular. The Bulgarians of course were back and Krum was as strong as ever. This year the Spanish beat the Chileans and they had three bangin' Chasers. One of them is a Bird and she was smokin' on her broom."

"She was faster than that bloke over at Puddlemore?" asked Dean.

Seamus gave Dean a disgusted look, "Who are you and what have you done with my mate? She was smokin' hot. And that bird could fly too..."

"So what happened? Who won the Cup?" Harry honestly hadn't kept up because the Finals took place after the Auror Trainee Program was disbanded. He'd been focusing on Lavender.

"You shoulda seen it. This bird kept popping the quaffle past the Bulgarian Keeper. He was defenceless. I think she charmed him somehow. The Bulgarians have this Beater though and after the fourteenth score in the first hour he took out one of her mates. That evened things up a bit. Well, by hour two the Spanish were up 210-50. Krum looked heartbroken. How you can be a world class Seeker on a team of duffers, I don't know. Anyway, he found the snitch and looked ready to put the Bulgarians out of their misery but just as he was about to put his hand around it the most incredible thing happened."

"Everyone please quiet down so we can begin," Professor McGonagall announced.

"What?" asked Harry and Ginny in a whisper. By now Ron and Hermione were sitting down and they were paying attention as well. In fact that end of the table was listening.

Seamus explained the action as quietly as he could, "Krum saw it. They showed it on the replay. They showed the Beater Voznik knock out another Spanish Chaser," Seamus grinned. "Krum saw it and pulled his hand back just as he was about to grasp the snitch. He saved them from defeat. You'd have thought it would have been easy from there. Two Spaniards were grounded. But that smokin' hot bird kept Spain in it. She single-handedly took on three Bulgarian Chasers and constant bludgers to keep it close."

"After the fourth hour Spain and Bulgaria were closer at 260-180. She scored five goals herself and kept Bulgaria to thirteen. By then Victor had found the snitch again. The problem was that the other Seeker Carravales had seen it too and he was closer. Victor flew as fast as he could and he was nearly there when..."

I said, Silence please!" the Headmistress called out. "Mr. Finnigan, there will be plenty of time to talk Quidditch once we are done. For now, we need to get started with the Sorting. Professor Sprout?"

Harry and the others began motioning to Seamus to finish but he just shook his head. Most were on the ends of their seats waiting...knowing the story was almost over. "Bloody Sorting!" Ron whispered under his breath. Those Seventh Years near enough to hear nodded agreement.