Chapter 6
Disclaimer: I still don't own Harry Potter, that right belongs to J.K. Rowling. May she never kick us out of her sand box.
A/N: No call outs for my last chapter trivia. The answer to 'Why did Luna name her rabbit Louis?' – After Louis Comte, the earliest magician to pull a rabbit out of a hat, back in 1814. No shame in googling my trivia, it's how I come up with most of it. The next one will be much easier, I promise.
A/N: Thank you for waiting for this chapter, sorry it took so long, and thank you for continuing; I know I lost at least a few followers because of chapter 5's length and content. That was probably the longest chapter that will be in this story, as I said I made a promise and aimed to keep it. Please enjoy, and maybe drop a review.
It was the morning of September the 1st and Harry was having mixed feelings about going back to school. It had been the best summer of his life so far, and he would miss his elves and mansion. From the sounds coming from the next room over, it appeared that Ron was running late and hurrying to pack. Harry couldn't help but smirk before getting ready for the day. Dobby had laid his clothes for the day out on-top of his trunk, along with a small plate of breakfast.
After Harry dressed and ate his plate of scrambled eggs, bacon and scones with jam he made his way down to the pub where he found an embarrassing, though not unexpected, scene; the Weasley family in their usual September 1st chaos. By the table they had used the night before, was a steadily growing pile of trunks, cauldrons, bags and cages, with most of the family running around. Only Percy seemed to be sitting down to breakfast, a massive tray of eggs, toast, bacon, and sausages.
At a quarter till nine, the Weasleys managed to get all their stuff together and most sat down to a hasty breakfast. At nine on the dot, several wizards with Ministry pins walked through the door to muggle London and made their way towards the Weasleys quickly, the youngest one stumbling slightly when he saw the mountain of luggage that would need to be packed into the cars. After a quick word with Mr. Weasley, and the almost customary look towards Harrys' scar, the workers from the Ministry got to work loading the cars with the luggage. Fifteen minutes later the cars were loaded and they were off to Kings Cross Station.
They still had over an hour and half before the Hogwarts Express left the station, but they still had to go through London on a Wednesday. Harry was a little nervous about making it on time once they hit their first traffic jam, until he noticed they were now at the front of the line waiting on a red light. That confused him for a minute before an idea came to him. As they were coming to another jam, he subtly focused with his true sight and for just a moment he saw spots as the car lit up with magic and when the spots passed, they were sitting at the front of the line again. After being astonished for a moment, Harry thought, 'Why am I not surprised they're using magic to jump lines, just because they're using cars? No-one likes waiting in traffic and most wizards and witches believe themselves above muggles, why wouldn't they use magic to skip the trouble'.
Harry knocked on the window between the back and driver, which was closed at the moment. The little window opened and the driver asked "What is it, kid?". Harry asked, "How is it no-ones noticing us jumping cars, won't the muggles notice?" The driver looked surprised for a moment before chuckling lightly and moving through the now green light. "Them muggles won't notice anything, boy. You ever ride the knight bus?" the driver asked. After Harry said he had, the driver continued. "Some of the same charms that are on that bus; like the muggle notice-me-not charm and the scooch over charm. Then there is this button on the dash here, activates a short apparition to the front of any line, so quick most passengers don't ever notice it; it's the focus and distance that causes that pulled through straw effect most people complain about. We jump to the front, then the charms make the space and make muggles not think about it."
Harry thanked the driver for the explanation and sat back as Hermione looked like she wanted to tear the car apart to find out how those charms worked, Percy looked interested but his focus kept shifting to his watch, and Ron looked disinterested. The driver closed the window again, when it was clear there wasn't anything else. Even with all the skips they did, they made it to Kings Cross with only twenty minutes to spare. The Ministry workers helped unload their luggage and got everything loaded onto trolleys for the Weasleys, Harry and Hermione, before driving off and immediately jumped to the front of a waiting line of cars.
As they approached the hidden gate between platforms 9 and 10, Mr. Weasley organized the order they would go in; he would go first with Harry, followed by Percy and Ginny, then the Twins and finally Mrs. Weasley with Ron. As they made their way towards the second compartment, they saw Luna half out the window of a cabin waving at them. Mrs. Weasley quickly kissed all her kids, even if two of them weren't hers, before handing out sandwiches and waving them towards the train. When they got to the cabin Luna was in, they also found Neville waiting for them. Harry, Hermione and Ron got their trunks and two pet carriers situated while Fred and Gorge excused themselves to go find their friend Lee Jordan. Ginny took the final seat by the window.
After everyone was settled and the train started to move, Ginny asked everyone about their summer break. Hermione told them about all the places she'd been in France, both Magical and Muggle. Neville talked about all the plants he had collected over the summer and about visiting Harry in Diagon Alley, they didn't want to tell Ginny, Hermione and Ron about their full summer experience until Harry took the lead. Luna looked excited for her turn as she got something down from the luggage rack.
"I got all my homework done before going with my dad on his latest exploration. While I was there, I found a new friend and dad let me bring him back with me. His name is Newt, want to meet him?!" Luna said excitedly. After Ginny, Hermione and Ron gave her a nervous look they nodded, noting how Harry and Neville didn't look nervous. She opened the little bag she had gotten down and reached into it up to her shoulders, when she came back out, she had what looked like a miniature rhino with a squashed horn and bolder brown skin. "We finally found some, he's a Crumpled-Horn Snorkack! Isn't he just the cutest thing?!" She exclaimed, pulling Newt into a tight hug.
While Ginny and Ron looked bewildered, Hermione looked like she was going to have a stroke. "But it… Theres no such… But it… How?!... Where?!" She finally got out in a voice between a squeak and a screech. That did it, Harry and Neville couldn't hold back their laughter, while Luna giggled and grinned. "Like I said, we found him on our last trip. We went to a secluded stretch of woods surrounded by mountain ridges in northern Africa. They hide among the boulders on the ridges when anyone is near, and graze on the plants at the edge of the woods. It took almost the whole time we were there before they let us see them in more than a glimpse."
"How did you hide him in that little bag and where is your rabbit? How are you going to keep that thing in school, there must be some rule about having more than one pet and what types they can be; I thought you could only have one of the three approved pets, a cat, an owl, or a toad?" Hermione fired off before looking embarrassed, she had worked hard to overcome the impulse to fire off questions like that.
She listed off her response to Hermione's arguments, while giving Ron's jacket pocket a sharp look. "The bag is an enchanted bottomless bag with an enclosed habitat similar to Newts home. Louis is also in the bag as rabbits can survive almost anywhere on the planet. There actually is no rule about having more than one pet, as very few people our age actually have multiple pets. As for the approved pet list, you'll note a rat is not on that list either yet Ron and Percy before him both took Scabbers with them to school and I know for a fact there are other students that have other pets they bring to school. I heard Lee Jordan brought a spider to school last year."
While Hermione was giving her impersonation of a fish, making Harry and Neville laugh even harder, the door got jerked open. On the other side was Draco Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle. "Well, well, what have we here? I see the mud blood is finally showing her real intelligence. By Morgana, that is the stupidest thing I have ever seen, why would anyone want one as a pet? Then again, I guess I shouldn't be surprised that Loony Lovegood would want one, probably calling it one of her made up animals." That angered everyone in the cabin and made Malfoy, Crabb, and Goyle laugh.
Next thing anyone knew, there was a flash of magic and the Slytherins were gone. The smug smirk on Dobby's face was marred by his scowl at where his former master had been standing. After a moment of surprise, Luna's eyes unfocussed for a few moments before she burst out laughing. While Ginny, Hermione and Ron looked at her confused and worried, Harry and Neville raised an eyebrow at their odd friend and waited for her to settle down and tell them what was so funny. After hearing Luna's laughter, Dobby blushed and looked his feet. "Dobby thinks this one will deserve punishing, Master Harry."
While Hermione looked like she was about to get up arms about that, Harry cut her off by asking Dobby why and a sharp look toward Hermione. "Dobby changed their clothing and stuffed them in the ladies' room at the three broomsticks. When they are found it will cause much embarrassment for them. They be dressed as three ladies." Dobby said, pulling at his ears.
Harry closed his eyes for a moment, the mental image of those three dressed as ladies and stuffed in a ladies' room was both at the same time hilarious and revolting. "What three ladies did you dress them as?" Before Dobby could say, Luna laughed harder due to Harry's question, actually falling out of her seat in laughter. "Dobby could you please calm her down before she gets hurt?" Harry asked.
Dobby snapped his fingers and cast an elven calming charm on Luna, who went from gales of laughter to giggling with a broad smile. "Thank you, Dobby. Now, since you feel you need punishment for something involving clothes and this is the second time you've done this kind of thing to Malfoy, here is your punishment; you're not allowed to set out my clothes for a week and you must accept this." Harry finished, digging a Sickle out of his pockets and handing it to Dobby. Dobby's face tried to show three very strong emotions all at once; horror, reverence, and confusion. "Dobby will do as Master Harry says, but why does Master Harry give Dobby money?"
"You did something naughty and asked to be punished. You also made Luna laugh, which I love hearing. You got upset at the idea of being paid before, so I'm paying you for the laugh." Harry explained. Dobby bowed low, and popped away. Looking towards Hermione, Harry sighed before saying, "If he's going to insist on calling me Master, I ordered him to call me Harry, he shortened it to Master Harry; at least he's not shouting out 'Great Master Harry Potter Sir' every time he says my name. And giving him punishments if he thinks needs them and actually did do something that warrants a small punishment prevents him from punishing himself more severely. He doesn't want pay; he says its insulting to offer a house elf payment beyond a bit of your magic. That's what helps keep house elves healthy and happy."
While Hermione still looked like she wanted to argue, she couldn't really fault Harry his punishment. It was short and didn't hurt Dobby, and it was naughty of him. She focused on the last thing Harry said and decided she needed to learn more about house elves, maybe even talk to some.
With the calming charming helping, Luna got back onto the seat and hugged Newt. When Hermione asked what had set her off, she giggled and turned to Harry and Neville before saying, "Let's just say, you never want to get pranked twice by a house elf, they get more creative. We'll just have to wait and See what comes of it." After that, Luna put Newt back in his bag and pulled out a top hat, which promptly transformed itself into a rabbit, making Luna and Ginny giggle again.
The giggling was drowned out however when Scabbers poked his head out of Ron's jacket pocket, causing the sneakascope in Harry's trunk to go off. Everyone's covered their ears as Harry got his trunk down, immediately found the source. It was the pocket sneakascope, spinning and whistling. As Harry pulled it out, Dobby popped back in and silenced it. Everyone pulled their hands away from their ears and thanked Dobby. Scabbers remembered what the item was and hid back in Ron's pocket, causing the sneakascope to settle down.
"Well, that was odd." Ron said, causing Hermione and Ginny to look exasperated while Neville and Luna raised an eyebrow. Harry focused on the sneakascope but didn't see any active magic as it had become inert; Harry shook his head before putting it back into the trunk. Crookshanks, who had seen all this from her spot on Hermione's lap yowled and glared at Ron's pocket.
As everyone was distracted, the door opened and the trolley lady stuck her head in asked if they wanted anything. Harry bought everyone what they wanted, much to half the cabins chagrin, and bought a little of everything for 10 Galleons. After he split everything among everyone, they all enjoyed the candy and talked about what they wanted to see in Hogsmeade. Ginny and Luna listened in and contributed what they had heard about the magical town and looking forward to their third year. Goldclaw had come through and convinced Vernon to sign the permission slip for Hogsmeade and Harry had gotten it the morning he had left the Manor.
After decimating the candy and running out of topics, everyone pulled out a book to read. Hermione was surprised Ron pulled out a book, until she saw it was a book on quidditch. As they read, the train chugged its way along towards the Hogwarts. As the sky began to darken, rainclouds gathered.
Ron had just mentioned them being almost there as the train began to slow. Hermione checked her watch, saying they couldn't be there yet, it was too early. As the train stopped it began to rain and a chill came with it. While Ginny, Hermione, Neville and Ron noticed the window freezing over, Luna scowled and Harry's senses were screaming at him. Then the lights went out. There was a squeaking as Ron tried to clear the window and noticed something entering the train. "Someone just got on, maybe the Aurors stopped the train to search it."
After a few moments of waiting, there was movement outside their cabin. The door slowly slid open and a pale, skeletal, hand reached through to brace the door open. The figure inhaled deeply, its breath rattling in its chest, and everyone in the cabin felt a chill in their chests. Harry felt his breath catch and a chill trying to take him over. He felt it try to sink beneath his skin and try to touch his mind and soul. He could hear the faint sounds of what sounded like screaming before he heard a louder screech, drawing him into his inner mind.
The screech sounded again, coming from the ever-present flame that sat in the middle of his mindscape. Then Harry heard a whooshing sound as Fawkes appeared looking concerned and angry. "Harry, there is not time to explain. You and your friends are in danger! Focus on the outer world and summon your fire to your hand, then raise it to the creature. Order it to leave then flare the flame. If it refuses, don't hesitate to use your flame to protect those your care for." Next thing Harry knew, he was back in the cabin, Fawkes urging him on.
Harry took a quick look at his friends with one eye still on the creature, should it decide to enter further. What he saw enraged him; Ron was shaking, Ginny was sobbing quietly, Hermione had a look of horror on her face, Neville looked to be fighting the effect but tears were flowing down his face, and Luna was curled up in a ball crying for her mother. Without another thought, Harry summoned his flame to his hands and stood to face the creature. "Leave this cabin at once, creature! You are hurting those I care for, leave now before I make you!" Harry said, the flame in his hands flaring and changing from orange to blue and growing in size.
The creature flinched and tried to approach before falling back and shutting the door between them. A moment after the creature shut the door, a bright light shown through the window of the door and the creature could be heard hissing before the chill in the air retreated and Harry returned the magical fire to his core. Once the creature had left the train, the lights returned causing everyone to blink. While everyone looked at Harry in amazement, he had yet to take his seat.
A moment later, there was a knock on the door before it opened. In the doorway stood a sickly-looking man, with tattered robes, peppered brown hair, and a pale but focused face. "Is everyone alright in here? That was a Dementor, nasty creatures that guard Azkaban usually. Whoever allowed it to search the train must be a fool. They feed on happiness, leaving only a person's worse memories. Here, chocolate, it helps with Dementor exposure." The man said, in a soft, hoarse, voice. Harry stayed alert, Fawkes whispering he could trust him.
"Who are you, sir? It might be different in the wizarding world, but most muggle raised are told to never take candy from strangers." Harry said, defensively, stepping between the newcomer and his friends. He saw the man blink for a moment before smiling softly and chuckle. "Very wise, I apologize for not introducing myself. My name is Remus Lupin, and I will be your new Professor for Defense Against the Dark Arts. Take some chocolate, it will help remove the chill effect they cause, I need to have a word with the driver." After putting some cauldron cakes on the seat, Remus backed out of the cabin and shut the door.
After the new Professor left the cabin, Ron started them talking about their experiences. Most of them anyway. Ginny was still quietly sobbing and Luna looked rather blank, which Harry had learned was one clue someone was using Occlumency. Hermione went to comfort Ginny as Harry moved to offer comfort for Luna. He gently took her hand, causing Luna to look both fearful and fiercely at Harry before she blinked hard and gave him a grateful smile then returned to her Occlumency, holding tightly to Harry's hand.
After half an hour, Ginny had stopped crying after eating several chocolates and Hermione's kind words. Luna relaxed into her usual self, though everyone could tell she was still shaken. Within another half hour they had polished off all the chocolate they had and the girls kicked the boys out so they could change. Ron tried for the fifth time to get Harry to tell him how he had driven off the Dementor, hoping to finally get an answer without Hermione or Luna shushing him or changing the subject, but no such luck. Neville thought he knew, but he knew he would have to wait for Harry to decide to talk.
Ten minutes after they had kicked the boys out, the girls switched places with them so they could get changed. After five minutes, they let the girls in and they spent the rest of the ride talking about what they expected would be their first classes of the day tomorrow. When the train stopped at Hogsmeade station they looked out the window to see sheets of freezing rain and grumbled. They couldn't help but chuckle though when Harry said softly, "Come on, its not even October yet…"
As they got their trunks down, Harry and Neville helping the others, Dobby popped in with six umbrellas hanging off him, making him look like an odd Christmas tree. Despite talking with the rest of the Potter elves, Dobby still had the most bizarre sense of fashion, preferring to go with as many colors as he could get away with. Everyone thanked Dobby as they grabbed a colorful umbrella from him before he popped away again bowing low.
As they headed over to the carriages, Hagrid called out a greeting to them over the storm while calling the new first years to take their traditional ride across the lake. Harry thought they should forgo it this year, but knew better than to try to argue logic to most wizards and witches. With a nod and smile from Luna, Harry put his concerns aside and helped Luna into the carriage before climbing in. It was a tight fit with the six of them, but as soon as they were all in the thestrals started pulling them towards Hogwarts.
As they were nearing the gates leading to the school, Harry felt the chill of Dementors nearby and heard an agitated little squawk and brought his magic to the ready, warming the carriage slightly. As they passed the gates, they saw a Dementor on either side of the old iron gates. Once they passed them, the affects of the Dementors diminished enough for Harry to relax his magic.
Once they got to the courtyard where the carriages released the students, they opened their umbrellas and walked quickly to get out of the rain and not get caught under foot of the other students. As they took their seats in the Great Hall, they saw something very peculiar; the hour glasses that held the gems representing house points had black pearls in the bottom of Slytherin's. They looked to the head table, but Professor Snape was not there. Harry glanced towards Ravenclaw with a raised eyebrow, but Luna just shook her head and grinned, eyes shining with mirth.
Once everyone was seated, the first years were led into the Great Hall to be sorted. Harry was right, they were absolutely soaked. He looked towards the door they had come in from and saw Filch glaring at them and the mess they had brought in. It took nearly twenty minutes, but eventually all the first years were sorted and Dumbledore stood to make his start of year announcements. With a look that seemed to indicate he had too many Lemon Drops at once, he announced that Hogwarts would play host to the Dementors of Azkaban and warned all the students not to go near them or try to sneak past them, as they would not distinguish between their target and the ones who get in their way.
Moving on to more enjoyable topics, Professor Lupin was announced to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, much to Professor Snape's frustration, he had slipped back in during the sorting looking ready to curse anyone who spoke to him. Next, Hagrid was revealed to be the Care of Magical Creatures Professor, as Professor Kettleburn had retired at the end of last year. While most in Slytherin scowled, most of the rest of the students cheered loudly for the Groundskeeper who always had time to help and an ear to listen over tea. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were the last to stop clapping as Ron said, "We should have known, who else would have us get biting books?"
Once the rest of the announcements were made, the standard fair about the Forbidden Forest being out of bounds and more items being added to the list of banned items being posted in Filches office, the feast began. After everyone had eaten their fill, Dumbledore announced it was time for bed and the Great Hall began to empty. Harry and his friends stayed behind to congratulate Hagrid. Hagrid said it was all thanks to Harry and them, mostly focusing on Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and told them how it happened. Professor McGonagall came over and told them all to get off to bed, but requested a moment of Hermione's time.
Hermione followed Professor McGonagall while the rest of the group set off for the grand staircase for their common rooms. They said goodnight to Luna on the fifth floor, then continued to climb up to the seventh floor. Harry and his friends made it to the portrait of the Fat Lady just as Percy was pushing his way through the crowd, as he hadn't passed the password on to the Gryffindor Prefects. When he stated "Fortuna Major" to the Fat Lady, she bowed and swung open.
As they reached the stairs leading up to their dorm rooms, the boys said goodnight to Ginny before climbing their set of stairs to bed. They got ready for bed and settled in just as Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan came in. Wishing them and his friends a good night, Harry shut his curtains of his four-poster bed and silenced them. He learned to do this from Fred and George after he complained to them about Ron's snoring. Harry couldn't help but wonder what this year was going to hold, before drifting off to sleep.
Thank you all for waiting, sorry this chapter took so long. I also apologize for it being on the short side, people complained about chapter 5s length and I'll probably get some complaints about this one being short. What can you do, right?
Between work, life, and starting a crossover story between Static and InFamous, took a bit longer than I had planned, but I hope you all enjoy.
Time for that easy chapter trivia I promised: Why did Luna name her Snorkack Newt?
What did Dobby do to Malfoy and his goons, and why is Slytherin starting the year in the negative? You'll have to wait till next time to find out. Until next time, looking forward to hearing from you all!