Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket.
A twist at the end of Harry's first trip to Diagon Alley with Hagrid.
Chapter 17: Platform Nine and Three-Quarters and the Hogwarts Express.
I don't own the Harry Potter verse. Just playing.
Summary: A twist at the end of Harry's first trip to Diagon Alley with Hagrid. As they approach the Leaky Cauldron to leave Diagon Alley, Hagrid decides to present Harry with his gold ticket to the Hogwarts Express, while Harry was really expecting to go directly to Hogwarts with Hagrid now. Harry asks a different question.
And that changes everything. HHr NLLL T for Characters deaths.
02/02/23 Beta alix33, thank you.
- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -
Saturday, thirty-first of August started with a bang with the bold headlines on the Daily Prophet.
HARRY POTTER SPOTTED IN GODRIC'S HOLLOW!
VISITED PARENTS' GRAVES!
With a full page magical moving picture of the graves of James and Lily Potter and the surrounding graves covered in beautiful flowers in every colour of the rainbow. In the background were a large number of witches young and not so young desperately looking for the Boy-Who-Lived.
Hermione chuckled. "Looking at the shadows on the tombstones, this photo must have been taken about an hour after we left Godric's Hollow."
"Rita has her spies. Good thing that mobile Notice-Me-Not charm worked, Sirius." Gran chuckled as she saw the photo. Then she saw the frown on Harry's face. "Don't be disappointed Harry. Rita has as many spies and contacts as headmaster, and the mobile Notice-Me-Not charm was for the headmaster's spies and that worked marvellously. I told Bathilda to wait half an hour before owling in a hot tip to Rita. Rita would have paid good galleons for that and us old girls just want to have fun. Plus that crowd would have spent good galleons in Godric's Hollow like they do for Halloween, and we can see the reaction."
Harry and Hermione felt better.
"Lily created that mobile Notice-Me-Not charm in third year to avoid unwanted attention." Sirius chuckled as he coughed 'Your dad'. "And the Marauders put it to good use. And yes, I will teach you the charm after breakfast, Harry and Hermione. But remember it won't hide your scent from Padfoot or Moony and the headmaster still saw through the charm."
Harry and Hermione fist-pumped a yes!
Gran continued. "Wow, can you imagine what Platform Nine and Three-Quarters and the Hogwarts Express will be like tomorrow, being a Sunday?"
While Padfoot gave Moony that look that said that the Marauders need to do something to protect their pups on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters tomorrow. They decided that it would be a good idea for Moony to travel on the Hogwarts Express, just in case.
- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -
The rest of that Saturday, thirty-first of August was a very busy day at Longbottom Manor as they prepared to send children to Hogwarts for the first time in over twelve years. Neville had to make arrangements for the care of his greenhouses pending his imminent departure to Hogwarts. Then they had to finalise their plans for the top secret operation code named; Operation Luna Ascent.
Sunday, first of September, 1991, dawn cool and sunny, full of hope of a bright future. Harry and Neville helped to cook breakfast for everyone as Hermione and Luna got ready. Hedwig and Louis packed the trunks for Neville, Harry and Hermione. (Including Luna.) The trunks would be delivered directly to the Hogwarts Express waiting on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters once Harry and Hermione had found their compartment. Along with Shere Khan and Moonlight.
Luna gave Neville a tearful farewell as she decided that it would be just too heartbreaking to go to King's Cross Station and watch Neville leave on the Hogwarts Express. She would stay at Longbottom Manor all by herself. Surprisingly Gran gave Luna a tearful hug and agreed with the wise decision.
As a precaution Sirius cast the mobile Notice-Me-Not charm on Harry as they were ready to Floo to King's Cross Station.
So at ten o'clock, a tearful Luna hugged and waved them goodbye as Gran, Harry, Hermione and Neville with Frank, Alice, Sirius, Remus, Dan and Emma held hands as they disappeared in the green flames to floo directly to one of the ten fireplaces attached to the waiting room on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters of King's Cross Station. A similar setup to the multiple fireplaces in the Transport Corridor at the Ministry of Magic, except that the fireplaces were lined with polished granite of the same scarlet colour of the Hogwarts Express.
Gran and Sirius quickly cleaned the soot off everyone as they saw the signs on the walls welcoming the return of the Boy-Who-Lived, Harry Potter. The walls were covered with large magical photos of old Harry that were taken when he came to Diagon Alley with Hagrid. Which fortunately Harry no longer matched. So with the extra mobile Notice-Me-Not charm on Harry, they were able to walk through the massive crowd of witches, young and not so young, waiting with their welcome signs on the platform.
The sight of the scarlet Hogwarts Express took their breath away as Dan loved to see an old stream engine, while the sight also brought back happy memories for Sirius, Remus, Frank and Alice. Tonks waved to get their attention as she had saved them a magically enlarged compartment on the train to share with Draco, Susan and Hannah. They settled in as Dobby popped in with Harry and Hermione's trunks and then popped back with Neville's trunk that contained Luna's shrunken trunk, and Hedwig and Louis arrived with a small wickerwork basket that was charmed to be bigger on the inside and weightless, that contained Moonlight and Shere Khan. Shere Khan opened the basket and moved to take the shotgun position next to the door while Moonlight sat opposite next to Neville. Winky popped in with a basket of drinks and snacks in one hand while the other held on to the hand of a sneaky giggling Luna hiding under the Longbottom's Cloak of Invisibility. The invisible Luna silently moved to sit between Moonlight and Neville.
Draco excused himself and left the compartment to say a final goodbye to his mother. As did Susan, Hannah, Hermione, Harry and Neville, while Shere Khan guarded the compartment with Tonks, Moonlight and the invisible Luna.
There were tears on the platform as Gran, Sirius, Remus, Frank, Alice, Dan and Emma with Amelia and Hannah's parents hugged and kissed Susan, Hannah, Neville, Harry and Hermione. They gave their tearful farewells and returned. Except for Draco as Narcissa was having a hard time letting go.
A little while later there was a commotion on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters as someone claimed to have seen the Boy-Who-Lived outside the Muggle-born Entrance. There was a sudden surge of witches and their welcome signs through the portal and onto the Muggle side of platforms nine and ten of King's Cross station before the Aurors were able to stop them.
- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -
Meanwhile, platforms nine and ten were already crowded with Muggles, when an unruly mob of witches with signs welcoming the Boy-Who-Lived appeared and they were eagerly looking for Harry Potter. While the Aurors assigned to the portal desperately tried to extend the Muggle Notice-Me-Not charm to surround the large crowd, and encourage the students to return to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
Then at two minutes to eleven o'clock a large redhead family rushed down platforms nine and ten with the plump mother witch loudly complaining. While the Security Aurors were still trying to get the crowd of Hogwarts students back through the portal and onto the Hogwarts Express.
"— packed with Muggles, of course —"
The shouted word 'Muggles' caught the attention of the Security Aurors assigned to the magical portal entrance to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. They quickly spotted the plump redhead witch and gave a sad groan when they recognise the loud redhead harpy from Diagon Alley. Two Aurors started move to head her off as she led four boys, all with flaming red hair. Each of them was pushing a trunk and one had an owl.
Oblivious to the approaching danger, the plump redhead witch loudly asked her daughter the next question.
"Now, what's the platform number?" said the boys' mother.
"Nine and Three-Quarters!" piped a small girl, also red-headed, who was holding her hand,
"Mom, can't I go to Hogwarts..."
"You're not old enough, Ginny, now be quiet…."
"Excuse me, madam." The first Auror blocked the witch's path. "Could you come with me? Please do not cause a scene."
"BUT….!"
The Auror cast a silencing and Notice-Me-Not charms on her before she start to yell. He grabbed her arm and led the witch and daughter to a small hidden guard box and bundled her inside.
The oldest redhead boy spoke pompously to the second Auror. "I told her not to speak so loudly, the platform is packed with Muggles. But she wouldn't listen."
The second Auror spotted the silver 'P' and said. "Well done, Prefect, you did the right thing. But why are Pure-bloods using the Muggle-born entrance?"
"Er, no idea? Sir. This is our first time to use the Muggle-born entrance. Normally we just floo directly to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. But this time we floo-ed to the Leaky Calderon and then walked from there. We almost missed the express!" Percy answered wondering why himself.
"Okay. Can you guide your brothers through the entrance?"
Perfect Prefect Percy puffed out his chest. "Of course, sir. Goodbye, mother!" He said and then turned to his brothers. "This way, don't cause a scene."
The redhead boys followed their brother, shaking their heads as their mother had embarrassed them again.
The youngest redhead boy blindly followed his brothers as he searched everywhere along the platform for a certain black-hair boy with glasses and a scar. He didn't notice the crowd of witches around the entrance until he was ten feet away.
Then he saw the young blonde witch holding a large sign with red love hearts around the edge that read.
'Welcome back, Harry Potter!'
'Be my friend!'
'Love, Pansy!'
The youngest redhead boy saw the sign and immediately went ballistic as he screamed.
"THE BOY-WHO-LIVED IS MY BEST FRIEND!"
"MY BEST FRIEND ALONE! YOU MENTAL WITCH!"
And threw an epic tantrum like the two year old he was, and screamed his war cry as he rammed his trolley and trunk into the poor witch breaking her ankle and knocking her into other witches injuring them. He grabbed the sign and ripped it up.
"STAY THE BLOODY HELL AWAY FROM HARRY POTTER. HE DOESN'T LIKE YOU!"
The rude angry redhead tried to grab another welcome sign but saw the Aurors and avoided them.
Two Aurors tried to grab the idiot redhead but there were fallen witches in the way, and the crowd started to panic and surged through the entrance portal to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
In the confusion, the youngest redhead boy abandoned his trunk which was a cunningly devised move as it was filled with second-hand books and clothes none of which borne his name. Keeping his head down, he escaped through the crowd and onto the Hogwarts Express.
- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -
All the shouting drew the attention of the Muggle uniform guard but he shook his head at the time-wasters as he was used to mobs of strangely dressed people from around the world. But his ears did prick up at the mention of Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, Hogwarts and the strange individual called the Boy-Who-Lived, and realised that it was that particular day again and wondered when they would ever learn that there was not a train that left at eleven o'clock, from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, called Hogwarts Express. And they should ignore that loud steam engine whistle.
While a chuckling Draco returned to the compartment with the news that Harry's dogfather had just pranked Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
The whistle blew to signal all aboard and Remus boarded the train just in case to keep an eye on Harry. Seeing Remus board the train, Narcissa jumped on board too to keep a watch on Draco. She shared a compartment with Remus that was hidden behind Notice-Me-Not charms. Remus called for Princess to supply them food and drinks.
There were more tears and farewells on the platform as Gran, Sirius, Frank, Alice, Dan and Emma with Amelia and Hannah's parents watched and waved to Susan, Hannah, Draco, Neville, Harry and Hermione through the window. Luna was right; it really was heartbreaking for them to watch the Hogwarts Express steam out of the station on its way north to Hogwarts.
While youngest redhead boy just managed to jump on the express as it started to move. His abandoned trunk was left outside the Magical Portal on platforms nine and ten and it would disappear into the Muggle Lost and Found, never to be claimed.
While the mood of the hopeful witches waiting for the Boy-Who-Lived to appear, dropped slowly, and many hung out the doors and windows of the carriages to catch a last look of Platform Nine and Three-Quarters as the express pulled away.
A certain famous reporter decided to go to Hogwarts tonight with her new favourite photographer, Krusty, and catch the Boy-Who-Lived at the sorting and Welcome Feast.
While most of the witches injured outside the portal were able to board the express after care, unfortunately three young witches were too injured and sadly missed their first trip on the Hogwarts Express. As they were going to Hogwarts that day, it was decided to transport them directly to the Hogwarts hospital ward to be healed and then they can rest in the afternoon. Two Aurors went with them to see if the rude redhead boy would show up at Hogwarts.
As you can imagine, neither Professor McGonagall nor Madam Pomfrey were happy to see injured students even before the castle opened.
Then the Aurors happen to mention that Harry Potter didn't show up and wasn't on the Hogwarts Express.
Professor McGonagall cursed and avoided the headmaster all day.
- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -
It was a sad Gran, Sirius, Frank, Alice, Dan and Emma that held hands as they disappeared in the green flames to floo back to Longbottom Manor, only to discover Unspeakable Croaker waiting there for Gran with a team of Unspeakables and Goblin curse breakers.
Croaker explained the situation. "Our scans show that the last cursed dark artefact of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is in Hogwarts. We need to search the castle for it before the students arrive and without the headmaster interfering."
Gran smirked as she used the fireplace to call an emergency meeting of the Board of Governors with the headmaster's mandatory attendance. His stay in the hospital ward had prevented the Board of Governors from meeting to discuss many matters of the school.
Gran turned to Dan and Emma. "How would you like to be on the Board of Governors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry? We have some seats recently vacated that need to be filled before the headmaster can add his own choice. We can do with your input into Muggle Studies and Wizarding Etiquette, and you might see the sorting in the Great Hall tonight."
Dan and Emma looked at each other and then Emma asked. "Would we need to travel to Hogwarts?"
"Absolutely."
"Yes, of course." Dan and Emma replied together.
"Excellent."
They had a quick early lunch and dressed in their finest robes. But before they left via a Portkey, Emma asked. "Where's Luna?"
Gran chuckled. "Neville and Luna are inseparable. You find one and there will be the other."
Emma chuckled. "Luna is on the Hogwarts Express?"
Gran nodded. "Absolutely."
The Portkey deposited Gran, Sirius, Frank, Alice, Dan and Emma with the Unspeakables and Goblins at the entrance of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. They quietly made their way in. Once they were inside the wards, Dan and Emma were amazed at the grandeur of the ancient enormous Hogwarts Castle. Gran went with Dan and Emma to enjoy herself with the Board of Governors for there was no Malfoy to push the Pure-blood Agenda. While Sirius, Frank and Alice had a relaxing afternoon re-exploring the castle and saving their strength for the Welcome Feast. The Unspeakables and Goblins disillusioned themselves and started the search for the last cursed dark artefact.
- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -
Meanwhile, earlier that day.
Albus Dumbledore was finally free of the care of the Madam of pain, and was already totally frustrated as he had no idea what had happened to Magical Britain for the whole month of August. He had a large stack of Daily Prophets by his bed that he didn't have the time or the will to read. In his office there was an even larger stack of reports from all of his spies that he never bothered to read. He always knew better. The only thing he knew for sure was that Harry Potter was missing. The Dursleys were gone and their home was destroyed. And His future depended on the Boy-Who-Lived arriving at Hogwarts Castle and being sorted into Gryffindor tonight.
His bad day started with the Castle refusing to talk to him and returning the control of the famous Wards of Hogwarts to him from Professor McGonagall. He assumed that was a sign that he was still weak from his injuries. But actually the Castle was not happy with the decisions he had made and particular Quirrellmort.
Then the headmaster was beside himself to discover that Fawkes was still AWOL, and that there was still so much damage to his office, and his Private Quarters was still chock-a-block full of dangerous magically supercharged Acceptance Letters and he dare not open that Pandora's door from painful experience.
He was most annoyed that the Castle's House-elves still had not cleared his inner sanctum of Acceptance Letters, and that blocked his access to all of his beautiful colourful robes. He had purchased an expensive beautiful new robe in Gryffindor red and gold to wear tonight to celebrate the return of the Boy-Who-Lived into Gryffindor.
But, more importantly, Dumbledore was blocked to his access to his diary, and the critical ancient magical artefacts that he had hidden in there, and that he had used before to correct events and maintain the course of His Greater Good. He could have summoned them with his beloved Elder Wand but he couldn't find the damn thing anywhere. He really needed to use his Enhanced Extended Time-Turner and go back in time and fix whatever the Boy had done on his birthday that led to him escaping Durzkaban, and to find his beloved Elder Wand.
He day got worse as none of his Chocolate Frog spy cards had reported that the Boy-Who-Lived was on the Hogwarts Express, and the Wizarding Wireless Network News reported that the Boy-Who-Lived was a no-show. Worse still, all his listening charms in the DMLE were only playing a catchy country and western song. There must be some interference in the ether.
Then the headmaster received an angry howler from Molly. She had used her one owl call to complain that she had not found the silly Boy at King's Cross Station on platforms nine and ten and she had been arrested for committing a serious offence under section 13 of the International Confederation of Warlocks' Statute of Secrecy, and he had better come and get her out now!
Sadly, the headmaster had more important things to worry about, and he decided to send Minerva to free Molly but he couldn't find her, and he dare not risk sending Hagrid. Then he decided he didn't have time today and would give Molly a night to calm down, and send an owl tomorrow to let Arthur know where he could collect his wife.
Then there had been an incident outside the secret Muggle-born Portal to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters and now three injured students were in the Hospital Ward under the care of Poppy with two Auror wishing to question a certain loud young redhead wizard who escaped on the Hogwarts Express. These particular Aurors were from Ravenclaw, and were not part of his Order of the Phoenix, and didn't owe him any favours, and absolutely refused to leave the castle. The sneaky manipulative headmaster won one concession from them that they wouldn't arrest the boy before he was sorted. For he knew once the boy was sorted he would become a Hogwarts student and the headmaster would then have in loco parentis authority and would sadly be afraid and refuse to allow the Aurors to question the boy or arrest him. Amateurs!
So the last place the angry frustrated headmaster wanted to be was at an emergency meeting of the Board of Governors that his attendance was absolutely required. He particularly needed to be there to ensure the Board didn't fire Severus due to all the silly unfounded complaints against him. For the Greater Good, Severus was needed in the castle.
Fortunately for the headmaster, Amos Diggory, a member on the Board of Governors who owed him a favour had warned him of the emergency meeting, and he just had enough time to rush to the third floor and cast the Fidelius Charm over the Corridor of Painful Death with himself as the Secret-Keeper. He didn't need Hagrid to accidentally mention that extracurricular activity while the Board of Governors or the Aurors were in the castle.
The headmaster was so distracted at the meeting that when he welcomed the two new members to the Board of Governors, Dan and Emma Granger, that he didn't realise that they were actually a Muggle and Muggle-born witch dressed in fine expensive Wizarding dress robes. When Dan or Emma had a question, Gran would cast the Muffliato Charm over the three them so they could talk freely and not alert the headmaster to who they were.
The other unwanted surprises for the headmaster were that the New Minister of Magic and the New Chief Witch of the Wizengamot were also present with the Board of Governors. Dumbledore was at a loss to discover how on earth Madam Amelia Bones became the new Minister of Magic, and he wondered what had happened to Cornelius and Delores, as he was certain that the Toad would have eliminated Bones if she ever became a threat to her Fudgy, and Lucius Malfoy and the Dark side would have never voted for her. Seeing the new Chief Witch of the Wizengamot, Madam Griselda Marchbanks, was disappointing but understandable given that he had been out of action for a month and had just left the Hogwarts Hospital Ward that morning.
No matter, he was confident that he would soon have all of his power and positions back and the Boy-Who-Lived would soon be found and back under his thumb for his Greater Good.
Amelia, Griselda and Gran were having a great time dragging the meeting out as they discussed the curriculum, classes, staff needs and changes. In particularly, every single complaint received against Severus Snape. They went through each and every complain, to which the headmaster gave his standard answer that young Severus had his complete trust and support, and automatically rejected the infantile unwarranted complaints out of hand. While Amos Diggory was very uncomfortable with the headmaster's response as one of the complaints had been made by his son, Cedric and he had help lodge the complaint.
Dan noticed something odd with the headmaster. He was humming a familiar country and western tune that was completely out of place in Hogwarts. He quietly spoke to Emma and she agreed. She touched Gran sleeve and Gran cast the Muffliato Charm.
Emma asked. "Gran? Why is the headmaster humming the Muggle country and western tune, 'Achy Breaky Heart'?"
Gran snorted. "That's 'Achy Breaky Heart'? Sweet Merlin! What an annoying tune!"
"It is a cruel and unusual punishment banned by the Geneva Convention." Dan added.
"Really?" Gran chuckled as she looked across at Amelia and Griselda who were trying to hide their smirks. "Amelia found one of the headmaster's spy listening hexes in her office and she couldn't remove it. It had been there too long. So she boobytrapped it to play 'Achy Breaky Heart' continuously. It seems that the headmaster has been caught out."
Gran gave Amelia the thumbs up and cancelled the Muffliato Charm. When the meeting slowed down, Dan would hum a few bars and set the headmaster off again. Much to the amusement of Gran, Amelia and Griselda.
After successfully overturning and rejecting two hundred and fifty complains against his official Pet Death Eater, the headmaster's winning streak came to a sudden end with the two hundredth and fifty-first complaint. That was because this complaint came from a Pure-blood who held an important position at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. As a Pure-blood Official had made the complaint, the headmaster couldn't prevent Professor Severus Snape from being summoned to appear before the Board of Governors. So while they waited for Severus, the Board took a short break and refreshments. The Headmaster dare not leave the room in case he couldn't get back in and they finally kick Severus out of the castle.
Severus arrived and the headmaster had a quick word while the Board sat down. "I am so sorry, Severus, my boy, I am afraid that I couldn't overturn this unfounded complaint. It is imperative for the Greater Good that you remain in the castle. Do whatever you need, say whatever you have to, and agree to anything so long as you stay here in the castle, my boy."
Severus nodded. "Do not fear, headmaster. I have a cunningly devised plan."
Severus stood before the Board of Governors and raised an eyebrow when he recognised Dan and Emma.
The Chairwitch of the Board of Governors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, stood up and address Severus. "Professor Snape, I have here, the two hundredth and fifty-first complaint against you."
Severus straight face hid a smirk, two hundred and fifty-one complaints was his personal best and new record. The headmaster would be pleased.
Gran continued. "The complaint is from Head Healer, Madam Andromeda Tonks nee Black. She has expressed her disappointment in your teaching methods and has recommended that you be sacked, kissed, hung, drawn and quartered, and then thrown through the veil. What do you have to say for yourself?"
Severus thought, 'Note to myself, never cross a Witch of the Black Family!' Then he gave the headmaster a wink and turned to the Chairwitch. "I am very sorry for the failure of my teaching methods. By happenstance, I had the opportunity to meet Madam Tonks over the summer and she pointed out the error of my ways. The headmaster has continuously reminded me of the return of the Boy-Who-Lived, and I remembered a senior year school project that I was working on with Lily Evans, Harry Potter's mother. It was a new Introduction to Potions textbook."
Severus open his bag and took out a full colour A4 hardcover book with the title; 'A Twenty-first Century Introduction to Modern Potions', by Lily Evans and Severus Snape. He placed the book in the hands of the much surprised Chairwitch. And then handed a copy to each of the members of the Board of Governors, (except the headmaster as he had not brought enough copies, and the headmaster didn't need to use it. But he was still miffed.) They opened the colourful book and started to read the Foreword written by, Madam Andromeda Tonks nee Black, Head Healer, St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.
"I thought it would be a nice surprise for the return of the Boy-Who-Lived, and I completed the project. Madam Tonks reviewed it and kindly wrote the foreword. A friend helped me print enough copies to give every student at Hogwarts one for free. I hope that this will begin to help compensate for my poor teaching."
Severus said with genuine remorse, and he was so thankful to run into Andy at Harry's Surprise Birthday party. Seeing the change in him after being with Harry, she told him of the complaint she had made. He told her that was one of the many things he had to make good for Harry, and had willing forgiven her. Then he asked for her help to review the book Lily and he had written. She loved it and even wrote the Foreword. Sirius was more than happy to pay for the printing as both a thank you to Severus and as a useful practical gift for the education for Harry and Hermione, Neville and Luna.
Knowing that being with Harry had changed Severus, and his help had been invaluable for the recovery of Frank and Alice, and his brilliant plan had freed Sirius had changed Magical Britain. This book was the proof of Severus' attempt to make good. The board decided to give him one last chance and hoped that Severus would continue to be a different person this year.
Gran smiled. "We will give you a second chance, Professor Snape. Don't waste it."
While the headmaster smirked. His Pet Death Eater had pulled off a brilliant cunningly devised plan and got away with it. Though he thought Severus went overboard to give a free copy to everyone except him.
Dan started to hum the chorus of a country and western tune and set the headmaster off quietly humming as the others smirked.
The Head Elf popped in to announce. "Students are entering the castle."
Gran smiled. "Well that is all we have time for today. Thank you Professor Severus Snape for your new book. When will you be handing these out?"
"Breakfast tomorrow, for the start of classes, Madam Chairwitch."
"Very good, thank you everyone." Gran said as the headmaster bolted for the door.
The beyond totally frustrated headmaster disappeared as soon as the meeting finished to check again his spy network, including the castle portraits. While the members of the Board of Governors made their way to the Great Hall of Hogwarts to watch the sorting and enjoy the Welcome Feast.
- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -
Along the way Unspeakable Croaker caught up with Gran, Amelia, Griselda, Dan and Emma. Severus wasn't in a rush to go the Great Hall and was talking to Dan and Emma about the new book and Harry, and decided to join them. Croaker put his finger to his lips to silence any questions before he led them into a disused classroom. He waved his wand to erect the most powerful Unspeakable privacy and secrecy wards on the classroom. They could see that it was bad news.
"We have a problem. We have not found the last cursed dark artefact of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named but the results taken outside the castle confirmed that it was hidden in the castle somewhere. But there is a complication. When we cast the detection charms inside the castle, the charms detected two sources when we were only expecting one. And with the magics involved inside an ancient magical castle, we have not been able to pin point either sources inside the castle."
Gran asked. "What does that mean? Do we need to close the castle?"
Croaker looked at his sister. "Not at this time. We have searched all the corridors, classrooms and dorms excepted for some occupied offices and private quarters. We hope to search those during the Welcome Feast when everyone should be in the Great Hall. Currently the artefacts are not accessible to the students."
"So the sorting can go ahead?"
"Yes!"
Everyone released the breath they were holding.
"So we are looking for two artefacts?" Gran asked.
"Possible, but our measurements indicate that there should only be one. Which means that the second source could be the original primary source." Croaker explained. "But it is very weak and lacks any magical power."
"Are you suggesting that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named could be inside the castle?" Amelia questioned.
"In a very weakened form, yes!" Croaker answered. "Probably possessing one of the professors."
"It is not Severus. He wasn't possessed." Gran pointed out.
"Why, thank you, Madam Longbottom." Severus spoke in his deep voice while the others chuckled.
"We believe it is Quirinus Quirrell, the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor. He is very weak and sick. Something is draining his magical core so he can't cast magic." Croaker explained.
"That makes sense, Quirinus has kept to his quarters and had all his meals delivered there." Sev reported.
"I have three of my best Unspeakables watching him so if the wraith of the original gets spooked and kills Quirrell to try to escape, we will capture him." Croaker reassured them.
Emma asked. "Would Dumbledore be that foolish to allow a professor possessed by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named into the castle?"
Griselda snorted. "Allow? He is neither befuddled nor discombobulated! If He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is in the castle, Dumbledore wants him here! And he has given him a job teaching the Dark Arts to the students. He is paying him to be here!"
"Actually, it is worse." Sev continued. "I believe the headmaster is using the Philosopher's Stone to attract the dark lord. Harry had a fake one that Hagrid had removed from Gringotts that day."
Emma questioned. "The Philosopher's Stone is real?"
"Yes, the alchemist Nicolas Flamel is a friend of Dumbledore, and he made one to be used to create the Elixir of Life, which can make the drinker immortal, as well as transform any metal into pure gold." Croaker explained. "Something He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named would kill for."
Gran continued. "Dumbledore set up the Bones, Potters, Longbottoms, Sirius, and many others who trusted him. Why not set up a rematch for the Boy-Who-Lived?"
Amelia continued. "And if it all blows up in Harry's face. Dumbledore would step in and save the day. And claim that there was no danger as the Great Albus Dumbledore was here to protect everyone! And the Great Albus Dumbledore would be the Greatest Wizard ever taking down two Dark Lords!"
"Except for Harry and any poor students killed as collateral damage!" Dan finished.
"That is why we are here! To prevent that from happening. Remember, Quirrellmort is very weak and can't cast magic. But don't assume that Dumbledore won't cast the first spell." Croaker said. "He is very good at creating chaos and taking control of the situation while dumping the blame on someone else."
"Like Harry! Damn that Manipulative Old Fool!" Gran swore. "We need to be very careful and let this play out, and take a lesson from Dumbledore's book on the 'Art of Manipulation.' Our primary goal is to protect the students from Dumbledore's manipulations, and if we can focus the blame on the one responsible we will have succeeded."
Croaker continued. "For Dumbledore to win, he just needs to be the last great wizard standing!"
Severus spoke. "I will sit next to Quirrellmort and keep an eye on him."
"Good, Sev. The three Unspeakables currently watching Quirrellmort now will back you up."
"Griselda and I have to sit next to the headmaster. His request. We can keep a close eye on him and will take him down if he takes out his wand." Amelia said as Griselda nodded.
"Good, I have three more Unspeakables to back you up!" Croaker said as the three Unspeakables appeared next to him. "And Rita is in the castle with her favourite photographer, and so if this goes down everyone will see the real Albus Dumbledore."
Everyone nodded.
"Now the good news, and I think the castle is helping us." Croaker continued as he pointed to two bags, one large and one not so large full of trinkets that students would have. "The opportunity to search the castle has turned up hundreds of cursed dark artefacts and hidden ancient runes have been found. Sadly most of the cursed dark artefacts and hidden runes had Dumbledore's magical signature all over them, and they were cursed to negatively affect the environment around them from simple sadness, to spread fear, doom and gloom, others were hexed to absorb joy, hope and goodwill, raise hostilities, loathing, rivalry and hatred. Plus every magical portrait had hidden ancient runes on them that enslaved the portrait to Albus Dumbledore. It was obvious that Dumbledore used these evil things to spy on, control and manipulated the students and the future of Magical Britain."
"Damn!" The adults swore.
Croaker cheerfully continued. "So of course, we collected the cursed dark artefacts as we discovered them, and erased and removed the negative enslavement ancient runes on each magical portrait and they are now free to help the students. Such things should never be found in a school."
"Well done, Unspeakable Croaker. Please pass on my thanks to your teams." Minister Bones congratulated them. "The castle seems to be brighter and happier than what it was like when we arrived."
"Yes, you are correct, the castle is starting to awake and hum, and we found the cursed artefact that caused the Professor for Defence Against the Dark Arts to be replaced each year." He held up an award for special services to the school. "This was given to Tom Riddle fifty years ago and has Ancient Runes on the back to curse the DADA professor. Tom Marvolo Riddle is the real name of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named!"
"And Dumbledore left that here in the castle?" Gran asked as she shook her head.
That left the question. "So? What do we do with Dumbledore?"
- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -
Meanwhile, much earlier on the Hogwarts Express.
Tonks kept Harry, Hermione, Neville, Susan, Hannah and Draco along with a hidden invisible Luna, entertained between her Prefect patrols. While to keep Harry identity a secret they referred to him as James, his middle name. Luna tried to make herself unnoticeably invisible so a certain angry redhead wouldn't rat her out. But she need not to have worried as Shere Khan was riding shotgun and guarding the door of their compartment.
It was time for Tonks' second Prefects Patrol of the Hogwarts Express. She stood up and turned to James and Hermione. "Guys, it is time for another Prefect Patrol. On my first patrol I spotted a first year redhead boy looking through the windows of the compartments. Obviously looking for someone. I asked if he needed help and he was very rude to me and refused to give me his name. I wrote him up anyway and he has already lost ten points for whichever house he is sorted into. Being a flaming redhead makes him a Weasley and so he is looking for someone for Dumbledore."
"You're a beautiful auburn redhead, Susan." Hannah encouraged as she hugged her. "While that Weasley is a flaming idiot!"
"She is right, you know." Draco said as he joined the hug and Tonks nodded an apology.
"That would be Ronald Weasley. Luna saw him looking through the windows before." Neville reported while above them in the luggage racks, Hedwig and Louis spat into the rubbish bin on the floor at the mention of the name.
"Good to know." Tonks chuckled at the antics of the owls, and then turned to the ginger tiger who looked like he was asleep on his back with his paws straight up. "Shere Khan, I need you to protect this door!"
The cat gave a low growl and twitched his whiskers.
Hermione smirked. "He said. None shall pass!"
"That's the spirit. Keep the door closed and I will see you soon." Tonks said as she cast a strong Muffliato charm and left the compartment.
- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -
While the certain angry frustrated redhead was rudely searching the express for his new best friend. He was frustrated that he hadn't spotted the idiot on his first walk through the train as he looked into each compartment. Now on his second walk through he was yanking open each compartment door, sticking his head in and eyeballing everyone sitting inside. Looking for the telltale black hair, glasses and the all important scar.
- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -
Nice Senior Prefect Tonks hadn't got far before she spotted the rude redhead boy who glared at her as he pushed pass. She cast a Muffliato charm over her head to protect her ears as she watched him approach their compartment. Without a knock, he loudly yanked open the door and started to stick his head inside only to cop a face full of.
RAAWWRR GRRAW RAAWWRR!
The ginger tiger cat was annoyed that the rude boy had dared to open the door and stick his ugly head inside, and showed his displeasure by letting loose a deafening but measured response roar of one hundred and ten decibels with a bass boost of sabre-tooth tiger goodness directly into the face of the terrified moron as the low frequencies and loudness of the sound rattled, and paralysed, and blew him out of the doorway and slammed him into the opposite wall and smashing the glass windows. The windows automatically repaired themselves as the cut and bleeding boy slid to the floor. He jumped up and blindly ran screaming all the way to the girls' bathroom at the end of the carriage as he pushed a young Gryffindor witch out of his way and locked himself in.
"Sweet Merlin, that's loud! Even with the Muffliato charm, I still felt it through the floor. I have got to get myself one of those pocket tigers!" Tonks said to herself as she started to walk towards the girls' bathroom to evict the idiot, and as she carefully walked down the corridor, she waved her wand to clean up the trail of mess and blood the boy left. Then she saw the young Gryffindor witch with Perfect Prefect Percy heading towards her from the next carriage.
Tonks approached the girls' bathroom as Perfect Prefect Percy arrived with the young Gryffindor witch. He puffed out his chest and took a deep breath, but before he could take charge, Tonks ordered.
"A boy pushed this witch out of the way and locked himself in this girls' bathroom. Prefect Weasley you are to extract him out of the girls' bathroom, clean up the mess and punish him!" She turned to the young witch. "Come along love, I will escort you to the other bathroom."
Tonks and the young Gryffindor witch left and walked quickly to the other bathroom, while Perfect Prefect Percy stood straight, his time had come. He hammered on the door and spoke through it in his most authoritarian voice.
"You in there! Boys are not permitted in the girls' bathroom! I am taking twenty points from your house and giving you two weeks detention with Mr Argus Filch, the Hogwarts caretaker. Unlock this door and come out now!"
Nice Senior Prefect Tonks smirked as she heard Perfect Prefect Percy made the rookie mistake of issuing punishments before he had a clear understanding of the facts of the case.
While there was groaning inside the girls' bathroom, and Perfect Prefect Percy waited a moment before he decided to increase the punishment. "That will be forty points and four weeks detention. Unlock this door and come out now!"
The noise Perfect Prefect Percy was making had drawn a crowd of witches to watch, and he was in his element. He was about to increase the punishment when he heard a weak. "Percy?" Through the door.
"Ronald? What the hell?" Perfect Prefect Percy whispered. Sadly, he knew from past experience that after the way Ronald eats like a troll, he makes one unbelievable atrocious stench in bathrooms, and was banished to use the outhouse behind his father's shed.
Perfect Prefect Percy drew his wand and ordered.
"Will everyone please step back twenty feet! This could be dangerous!"
The crowd of witches saw the prefect take out his wand and took the hint and left. Percy cast two shield charms to seal the corridor either side of the girls' bathroom. Then cast the Bubble-Head Charm to enclose his head to give him a bubble of breathable air just as his mother does when she has to clean the indoor bathroom after Ronald has used it.
He pointed his wand at the door lock. "Alohomora!"
The lock clicked and the door slowly swung open half way as a green miasma floated out of the girls' bathroom.
The witches standing behind the sealing shields saw the green miasma float out, and turned and ran off up the corridor screaming.
"TROLL IN THE GIRLS' BATHROOM!"
"TROLL IN THE GIRLS' BATHROOM!"
Perfect Prefect Percy waved his wand at the green miasma and repeatedly cast the Vanishing Spell. "Evanesco, Evanesco, Evanesco, Evanesco, Evanesco, Evanesco!"
He continued to cast the Vanishing spell as he slowly advanced into the girls' bathroom and found his youngest brother collapsed on the floor.
Perfect Prefect Percy continued to wave his wand as he repeatedly cast. "Scourgify, Aguamenti, Evanesco!"
Slowly he managed to clean up his little brother and the girls' bathroom. When he was finally clean enough, Percy conjured a blanket and wrapped his brother up and enclosed him in an enlarged Bubble Charm, and floated him out of the girls' bathroom.
By this time Nice Senior Prefect Tonks had returned and had taken down Perfect Prefect Percy's shield charms that sealed the corridor. She stood in front of the door of the girls' bathroom and eyeballed Percy.
Ashamed, Percy nodded a thank you as he guided his floating younger brother out of the girls' bathroom, and left his pomposity behind. He carefully returned to his compartment
Perfect Prefect Percy had been on continuous patrol looking for an opportunity to give his first detention and had come to investigate the extremely loud noise. He was about to throw the rule book at the boy who dared to push a witch and lock himself in the girls' bathroom. When he discovered that the evil perpetrator was his little brother, Ronald. He was surprised, ashamed and angry to find his little brother crumbled to the floor of the girls' bathroom. He had to clean up the atrocious smell, and stains, and do his own perp walk back to his compartment. He owed Nice Senior Prefect Tonks big time, not to mention this incident ever again and that he had failed to follow through on his punishments for his little brother.
Once in his compartment, Percy finished cleaning up Ronald, and applied first aid. He tried to ask questions, but his brother was completely deaf, and gaga, and didn't understand or know anything. He knew about his redhead clowns brothers having a spider, and he knew his little brother's utter dread fear of spiders. He decided not to make a scene and let his little brother to stay with him for the rest of the journey. He soon regretted that decision as his little brother quickly ate all of his food and owl treats that were supposed to last him until Yule, and then fell asleep and promptly started to snore so loudly that the windows and floor rattled and shook. Not for the first time did Percy wonder if Ronald had some Troll blood in him, as he cast the silencing charm on his little brother. Three times! Before he finally was silenced. The rude redhead boy didn't recover his wits until they had reached Hogsmeade station.
- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -
After giving Perfect Prefect Percy his orders, Nice Senior Prefect Tonks quickly escorted the young witch to the other bathroom and stood guard outside as she watched what Perfect Prefect Percy did and smirked when he made that rookie mistake. She was surprised he treated the threat as a biohazard and wondered what on earth the rude redhead ate. What was it with boys and toxic bowel movements? She briefly checked in on her compartment to see if they were okay and then returned to the girls' bathroom and eyeballed Percy as he did his own perp walk, so he would know that she knew about this. Hopefully Perfect Prefect Percy won't be so pompous anymore and leave Hufflepuff alone.
Nice Senior Prefect Tonks returned to her compartment. Fortunately, she had cast a strong Muffliato Charm on compartment to protect their ears and they only heard a dull roar.
Shere Khan heard the door starting to open and sprung into action. Seeing that it was Nice Senior Prefect Tonks, he let her pass. A satisfied Shere Khan closed the door with his paw and went back to sleep.
"Good work, Shere Khan." Tonks said as she recast Notice-Me-Not charms on the windows of the compartment. "Would you like to Patrol the castle with me?"
The tiger cat gave a low growl and twitched his whiskers.
Hermione smirked. "He asked if he can eat whatever he catches?"
"If they are wearing silver and green? Absolutely!" Tonks chuckled.
"What happened, G T?" Draco asked.
Tonks chuckled. "Well, after Ronald rudely opened the door and got a face full of Shere Khan, he ran away and hid in the girls' bathroom at the end of the carriage. He has a big brother, Perfect Prefect Percy. He has been looking for an opportunity to give his first detention." Tonks explained as she went on to describe biohazard threat and eyeballing Percy. "Hopefully, Perfect Prefect Percy won't be so pompous now!"
While a hidden Moony and Narcissa watched carefully before vanishing back into the shadows.
- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -
Luna noticed the look of doubt on Hermione's face as she realised that Shere Khan had hurt that rude redhead boy.
"It is okay, Hermione. I know you would never deliberately hurt someone." Luna quietly said under her Cloak of Invisibility.
James hugged Hermione as she nodded a thank you to where Luna's voice came from next to Neville. "I saw his face before Shere Khan roared. It was full of anger and hate."
James continued. "He was already angry and ready to explode. Bullies like that will lash out and don't care if they hurt anyone else. I had my wand out to stop him but Shere Khan got there first. Otherwise Hedwig would have hit with my trunk, and she took down Hagrid."
Hedwig and Louis barked overhead. No one was going to hurt their Hermione.
Neville chuckled as Luna quietly spoke from under her Cloak of Invisibility. "Ronald's middle name is Bilius for a reason. He has four older brothers and all he has learnt was to eat as much and as fast as he can. He gets all their hand-me-downs and nothing new, and he hates being poor. He has never had to grow up, and never would have until he met Shere Khan. I would visit his little sister, Ginny, who wants to marry the Boy-Who-Lived to escape her mother. I made the mistake of defeating Bilius at Wizard Chess, and he was so angry that he called me a derogative rhyming name. They are our closest neighbour but I didn't feel welcome there. I was so clad to go to Neville's birthday party that I never went home."
Hermione nodded as she enjoyed the comfort of Harry's arms.
The tiger cat gave a low growl and twitched his whiskers.
Hermione nodded. "He said he toned down his roar to only one hundred and ten decibels with a bass boost of sabre-tooth tiger goodness and launched it directly into the face of that terrified moron to get his attention. Next time he won't hold back!"
"Your pocket tiger can go louder?" Susan asked as Hermione nodded.
The tiger cat gave a low growl and twitched his whiskers.
Hermione nodded. "He said he had to. There was nowhere to bury the bodies on a train and he wasn't going to eat it."
"Sweet Merlin!" Draco quietly said. "He was lucky then. Shere Khan got through to that rude redhead and taught him a lesson that the world doesn't revolve around him. Bilius and I grew up on the opposite sides of the same Pure-blood galleon. If I had a choice, I would choose Shere Khan over what happened to me. Like Bilius, I was taught that I was a Malfoy, a Pure-blood Wizard and better than anyone else. I looked down on the Weasleys, and Half-bloods and Muggle-borns. That behaviour got me everything I wanted, but it was all based on fear and a lie. My Pater Malus stole everything and bribed or murdered anyone who got in his way. He joined the dark lord so he could continue to steal, rape and murder. Then the dark lord attacked er him." Nodding to James and not wanting to say Harry or Potter. "And everything changed. The dark lord drained the life-force of my Pater Malus and we saw his true face as he went mad. He attacked my mother and me, and destroyed everything. Then went and murdered Bozo and Mr Crouch in that terrible firestorm. My life was over before it had started. Then something James had done in love and forgiveness for someone else, opened a door to a future I could never imagine. I have friends that I love and who love me. And I have never had so much fun."
James wrapped his arms around Hermione, as she looked at Draco with tears in her eyes as she felt Draco's pain and joy. "Thank you, Draco. That means a lot to me."
"You can't change people unless they want to change their heart and themselves. Bullies like that only understand pain! Shere Khan only got his attention!" James said as Draco nodded in agreement. "If they can blame someone else, they will never change, and they will never take responsibility for their actions. He believed that the greed and rude behaviour was perfectly acceptable. Now Shere Khan has given him something to think about."
Tonks continued. "They are right, Hermione. What you have here is your own personal knight in cuddly fur. I don't know where he came from, but what I do know is that he has a very particular set of skills, skills that he has developed over a very long time. Skills that make him an absolute nightmare for people like Bilius. And I have some annoying ex-boyfriends who doesn't understand the word, No, that I would love to introduce to Shere Khan."
- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -
Winky and Dobby popped in with a late lunch and later Susan asked Hermione to teach her the charm to conjure roses. Hermione cheered up as she helped Susan and Hannah to conjured roses and other flowers in singles, bunches, bouquets, garlands, and wreaths.
Hedwig barked and Harry replied. "She said the roses were beautiful."
"Thank you, Hedwig."
Nice Senior Prefect Tonks had completed her Prefect Patrols and stayed with them in the compartment, keeping them entertained. She explained the boat journey the first years had to take across the Black Lake to see the lights of the castle. They planned how to get the invisible Luna on a boat and to the castle.
Nice Senior Prefect Tonks noticed her ex-boyfriend wander pass. "Hey, Shere Khan, want to help a girl out?"
The sleeping tiger cat gave a low growl and twitched his whiskers.
Hermione smirked. "He asked, what can he do for a fair young maiden?"
G T snorted. "My Knight in cuddly fur and claws. That ex-boyfriend who doesn't understand the word No! The one that I have hexed so many times, he still needs to learn the lesson. He is searching the train for me. Oh here he comes now!"
That got a reaction from the pocket tiger and the door slowly opened as G T cast the Muffliato charm.
A pompous Ralph McLaggen slowly open the door and started to say.
"There you are my sweet Nym.."
RAAWWRR GRRAW RAAWWRR!
The ginger tiger cat let loose a deafening measured response roar of only one hundred and ten decibels with a bass boost of sabre-tooth tiger goodness directly into the face of the terrified pompous moron as the low frequencies and loudness of the sound rattled, and paralysed, and blew him out of the doorway and slammed him into the opposite wall. The idiot jumped up, ran off screaming and locked himself in the girls' bathroom. While the pocket tiger closed the door and went back to sleep.
"That was beautiful, Shere Khan! He has been such a pain!" Tonks chuckled. "His face went from arrogant pompous to utter dread in a micro second!"
The sleeping tiger cat gave a low growl and twitched his whiskers.
Hermione smirked. "He said, you're welcome anytime."
Tonks continued. "I better go inform Perfect Prefect Percy that a non redhead boy has locked himself in the girls' bathroom. He did such a good job of cleaning it last time!"
She skipped away with a spring in her step, while James, Hermione, Susan and Hannah waved their wands to clean up the mess on the floor. Tonks returned with Perfect Prefect Percy close behind. They could hear him make the rookie mistake again of issuing punishments through the door before discovering that the boy locked inside the girls' bathroom was the Not Nice Seventh Year Gryffindor Prefect.
Tonks high-five everyone as she returned to the compartment, especially the ginger pocket tiger, Shere Khan.
Winky and Dobby popped in with more fresh food and drink and Shere Khan got a special serving of KFC for dealing with the rude redhead and the idiot who didn't understand the word; No!
There was so much food that Draco left at times to take some of the delicious food to his friends Crabbe and Goyle who were still sad at the loss of their fathers and their uncertain future.
- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -
Hedwig barked and Harry replied. "Okay, okay!"
And started to tidy himself up. "Hedwig said we are twenty minutes away from Hogsmeade Station and we had better get ready!"
Everyone got up as G T activated the privacy screen to divide the enlarged compartment in half with wizards on one side and the witches on the other so they could change into their school robes.
It was dark when the express arrived at Hogsmeade station. To prevent the headmaster's sticky fingers searching their trunks, Dobby and Winky popped their trunks to a storage room in the castle called the Come and Go Room while Hedwig and Louis flew off to find a suitable perch on the rafters of the Great Hall and wait for Princess, Dobby and Winky so they could watch the sorting. Hermione hugged Shere Khan while Harry hugged Moonlight as Neville guided Luna hidden under the Longbottom's Cloak of Invisibility. Tonks, Draco, Susan and Hannah kept a lookout. They stepped onto the platform and shivered in the cold night air.
The Golden Quad plus four stood at the back away from the crowd to ensure no one bumped into an invisible Luna. Shere Khan gave a low growl warning and Neville and Harry had to move to shield her from the rude redhead boy as he pushed passed still looking for someone.
Then a lamp came bobbing over the heads of the students, and Harry heard a familiar voice: "Firs' years! Firs' years over here!"
Harry recognised Hagrid's big hairy face as he scan over the sea of heads looking for someone. He was still unhappy with the half-giant for following the headmaster's orders to return him to Durzkaban and he didn't identify himself.
Hagrid searched the faces of the first year students for a certain boy with a scar and glasses but didn't see him, and he felt like crying again. He had recovered his memory of what had happened to Harry in Diagon Alley and was so ashamed that he had blindly followed the headmaster's orders that he cried inconsolable for a week. He should have known the headmaster was wrong. He would have never treated any of his magical creatures like that and he had done that to poor little lonely Harry. He couldn't forgive himself. He was sort of glad that the headmaster has been in the hospital ward for the last month as he couldn't face him without crying about the poor baby he had taken to that horrible place. He even tried to get Fluffy back but the headmaster wouldn't hear of it.
Sadly, Hagrid hoped Harry was okay wherever he was. He steeled himself as he had children to care for and said. "C'mon, follow me — any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!"
Tonks wished them well and left to travel by carriage to the castle. A formerly pompous Ralph McLaggen spotted his ex-girlfriend and remembered an extremely loud roar and pain, and decided to catch another carriage. Lesson learnt.
Slipping and stumbling, the first years followed Hagrid down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. It was so dark on either side of them that Harry thought there must be thick trees there. He held out his palm and said, "Lumos!" And cast a Love Light to light their path. Hermione and the others cast their Love Light and soon little balls of light lite up their path and floated along.
"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here." Then Hagrid noticed the little balls of light surrounding the group at the back. "That's beautiful."
Hagrid waved his pink umbrella and cast the Lumos charm to light the path for rest of the first years.
Harry, Hermione, Neville and Luna with Draco, Susan and Hannah, ooh and aah at the magical sight of the castle on the cliff across the black lake. They followed the path to the small boats. The rude redhead was giving off such an angry negative vibe that no one wanted to be near him and he had a boat to himself. The Golden Quad plus three climbed into the last two boats.
When they were ready, Hagrid gave the signal to go.
Half way across, Shere Khan saw something move in the water and started to growl when this large tentacle reached out of the water. The offending tentacle took the hint and went the other way to swamp the small boat with the lone angry redhead, before it disappeared back into the inky black water.
Hagrid had to circle back and fish the loud screaming rude boy out of the cold black water.
They reached the other side and got out and stood at the back of the group to hide Luna better and stop some careless boys from stepping on her toes or Shere Khan would have to deal with them.
While Hagrid used his pink umbrella to try and dry the rude redhead boy, but only managed to set his secondhand robes on fire. Then he had to quickly gently pat the boy down to put out the flames. Well gently for a half-giant, but the pat down will leave bruises on the rude boy.
They climbed up the stone stairs and Hermione recognise Professor McGonagall on the top landing.
Professor McGonagall felt sad as she saw how few first years had come to Hogwarts this year. The result of the Blood War that Harry Potter had ended. She remembered back to her own first year when there were over one hundred happy smiling witches and wizards from the baby boom after the First World War. Sadly, she looked at Hagrid as her eyes asked the unasked question of the moment, which Hagrid answered with a sad shake of his head.
The Boy-Who-Lived, aka Harry Potter, had not come to Hogwarts.
Sadly Professor McGonagall feared that the sighting of Harry Potter at Godric's Hollow to visit his parents' grave on Friday could have been a farewell before Harry left the country to go to another School of Magic. She was well aware that the headmaster had lost his links to the Boy-Who-Lived and had been desperately trying to find him. Severus had told her what happened at Number four Privet Drive, and she was ashamed of her part in leaving the son of Lily in that terrible place.
But Professor McGonagall did notice the atrocious stink next to her and looked and saw a smoking drowned rat of a redhead boy who was obviously a Weasley and matched the description of the boy that the Aurors were looking for. Now she understood why the two Ravenclaw Aurors agreed to the headmaster's demand that they do nothing until after the sorting. No one wanted to get involved a fight between Perseus Parkinson, Molly Weasley and Albus Dumbledore.
She took out her wand and waved it over the boy to clean and dry his clothes, and smarten him up. She added the scent if lavender to his clothes to cover the musty smell, but didn't get a thank you as the rude boy glared at her.
Half-hearted, she gave her traditional speech on the sorting into their future Hogwarts family houses of Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff or Slytherin. She left them there to check if they were ready in the Great Hall.
The rude redhead boy was still half deaf, so he mumbled very loudly something about wrestling a troll while the other students chuckled at his foolishness. Then the rude redhead boy mumbled about how hungry he was as his stomach grumbled. Then he tried for the last time to find his new best friend but he felt a bad vibe of something watching him. He turned to see a ginger pocket tiger staring directly into his soul and he remembered pain! A whole lot of pain! And quickly moved back to the top landing at the front of the group. Far away from that ginger pocket tiger.
Ron was in a very bad mood by now.
While a group of young witches moved away. One turned to her friend and whispered.
"He was the Troll in the girls' bathroom!"
"Really? It's no wonder no one can stand him," her friend whispered to her as they pushed their way into the crowd, "he's a nightmare, honestly."
Someone went red and growled.
"I think he heard you."
"So?" whispered the young witch, but she looked a bit uncomfortable that the troll might target her. "He must've noticed he's got no friends."
Shere Khan gave a low growl and stared, and the redhead turned away and the angry bad vibe faded.
As things calmed down, the invisible Luna gasped as she saw the Magic of the Castle reach out and surround Harry and them.
Harry and Hermione were holding hands and felt the Love and Magic of the Castle surround them and welcome them home.
"That is so beautiful!"
Invisible Luna whispered as she and Neville felt the love and magic grow to surround Draco, Susan and Hannah. Luna reached out under the Longbottoms' Cloak of Invisibility to hold Neville's hand and he gasped as he suddenly saw the beautiful magic that Luna saw. Luna reached out with her other hand and held Harry's hand and both Harry and Hermione could see the beautiful magic of the castle that surrounded them. Hermione reached out to hold Susan's hand and then Susan, Hannah and Draco gasp as they saw the beautiful magic of Hogwarts surround them.
Sadly, Professor McGonagall's mind was elsewhere as she returned to lead the First Years into the Great Hall, and didn't notice that all the ghosts of Hogwarts were standing silent and staring at the group of students at the back.
- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -
Thank you for reading.
- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -