Astra, Starbeam, Heather, and Samuel were in a compartment together. They expected Ron, Pigwigeon, Harry, and Hedwig to come and join them at any minute. Maybe Hermione and Crookshanks too, but Astra suspected that Hermione would end up a perfect.
Eventually, they saw Harry look through the window. Harry then opened the door and walked in with Hedwig, followed by Ginny. Everyone said hello to each other, and Harry and Ginny sat down across from Astra and Heather.
"Hermione and Ron are at the prefects carriage," Harry said.
"Ron's a prefect?" Astra said, surprised. "Good for him." She paused. "So, how have things been with you, Harry?" she asked.
"Alright. It was nice the rest of the summer with Sirius and the Weasley's. The Dursley's kicked me out permanently, so I never have to go back there ever again, but apparently I had to stay with the Dursley's because I get magical protection by staying with my mother's relatives, so it's kind of scary to know that I don't have that anymore. I don't blame them for kicking me out though."
"Why not? Why did they kick you out anyway?"
"Because their son was in the park when I was ambushed, so he was killed because of me," he snapped, clenching his fist and looking like he was about to cry.
Astra got up, holding Starbeam, and crouched down in front of Harry. She placed Starbeam on Harry's lap, and Starbeam rubbed up against him.
"Try not to clench your fist like that, Harry," she said. "It can cause physical pain, and that only makes the anger even worse. It often helps to hold someone else, instead."
Ginny placed her hand on Harry's, and he clenched it, and then he grabbed Astra's hand with his other hand.
Heather got down, on the floor, beside Astra. She looked at Hedwig, on the seat beside Harry, pushing on the bars of her cage. "Would you like me to let Hedwig out?" she asked.
Harry nodded. Heather let Hedwig out, and Hedwig hopped out, and snuggled up next to Harry.
Astra was glad that Hedwig was here, although she was not sure why. She knew that a lot of people carried their owls on the train, but she had never understood it. Scropius always just flew to Hogwarts.
When the trolley came, Astra bought six Cauldron Cakes, and Harry bought six Chocolate Frogs. They each gave one to each to everyone, and set one on each bench. Astra got out Starbeams bowl and some a jar of anchovies. Soon they were all sitting around, eating treats.
Eventually, the compartment door slid open. Ron and Hermione walked in, with Pigwidgeon and Crookshanks, and each sat down across from each other.
"I'm starving," Ron said, digging into a chocolate frog.
Astra almost served more anchovies, for both of the cats, as Starbeam had eaten all was in her bowl, but then she saw that Crookshanks and Starbeam were running around on the floor together.
"Well, there are two fifth-year prefects from each house, boy and girl from each," Hermione said.
"And guess who's a Slytherin prefect?" said Ron.
"Draco and Pansy," Astra said.
Ron and Hermione looked surprised.
"What? Draco talks to me plenty, when we're at home, and he and Pansy wrote to each other this summer."
"Who are Hufflepuff's?" Harry asked.
"Ernie Macmillan and Hannah Abbott," said Ron, thickly.
"And Anthony Goldstein and Padma Patil for Ravenclaw," said Hermione.
"We're supposed to patrol the corridors every so often," Ron explained, "and we can give out punishments if people are misbehaving. I can't wait to get Crabb and Goyle for something…"
"You're not supposed to abuse your position Ron!" said Hermione, sharply.
"Vince and Greg aren't even going to be at Hogwarts this year," Astra said. "Vince was expelled, and Greg didn't want to return without Vince." Gregory had not been any good at school anyway. Draco had even claimed that he and Vincent had to help him cheat so they didn't flunk.
Gregory had failed to realize that Draco had been the one who told. Vincent, who was smarter but played the part of a fool, had been too busy to notice. That did not change the fact that Vincent and Georgy were both closer to each other then they were to Draco. Draco had said that he did not want to be friends with them anymore, anyway, but he had seemed sad when he said that. At least he still had some friends, although Astra feared that he had never had as close of friends as she did.
Astra, Starbeam, Heather, Samuel, Crookshanks, Harry, and Hedwig were in sight of the carriages. Now they waited for Ginny and Pigwigen, who had gotten separated from the others, and Ron and Hermione, who were doing prefect duties.
"What are those things, d'you reckon?" Harry asked.
"What things?" Astra said.
"Those horse -"
"Where's Pig?" said Ron, when he approached, behind them.
"Ginny had him, and she got separated from us a bit ago. I'm sure she'll turn up. Where do you reckon -"
"Hagrid is? I dunno," said Ron, sounding worried. "He'd better be okay…"
Hermione emerged from the crowd, and soon relived Heather of the cat. "Thanks," Hermione said. "Come on, let's get a carriage together before they all fill up…"
"I haven't even got Pig yet!" Ron said, but Hermione was already heading off toward the nearest unoccupied coach.
"Ron, do you know what those horse things are?" Harry asked.
"What horse things?" Ron said.
"The things pulling the carriages?" Astra asked.
"Yes."
"I don't know. They've always been there."
Ginny showed up, and handed Pigwidgeon to Ron.
"Thanks Ginny," Ron said.
They all started heading toward the carriages.
"What are you two talking about?" asked Ron. "There's never been any horse things pulling the carriages!"
"We're talking about - look," Harry said, grabbed Ron's arm, and wheeling him about.
"What am I supposed to be looking at?"
"Um… I can't see them either," Heather said, nervously.
During the feast, Astra asked to talk to Draco, and they went out into the hall.
"What's going on?" Draco asked.
"Harry claims that the carriages were pulled by nothing until this year, and now they're pulled by horse things, but they were pulled by creepy horse creatures last year too. Ron, Heather, Hermione, and Ginny claim they were always and still are pulled by nothing."
Draco stared at her, in shock. "Alright. Don't mention that to anyone else. They'll think you're crazy. When we go back to our common rooms, I'll see if I can talk to Professor Snape in private and ask him."
"Thanks, Draco."