Chapter 2- Journey to Hogwarts

The rails squealed and wheels clacked as the Weasleys and the order shrank from view, Sirius' distant howl was carried by the wind as people began to openly chuckle at the enthusiastic stray.

"He shouldn't have come with us." Said Hermione in a worried voice

"Oh lighten up" replied Ron "he hasn't seen daylight for months, poor bloke."

"Well," said Fred, clapping his hands together, "can't stand around chatting all day. We got business to discuss with Lee, see you later." He and Geoge disappeared down the corridor on the right. The train was gathering still more speed and the houses outside swayed where they stood

"Should we find a compartment then?" asked Harry. Ron and Hermione exchanged looks

"Ron and i are supposed to go to the prefect carriage" Hermione said awkwardly and Ron avoided looking at him altogether, starting to be increasingly interested in his fingernails

"Oh right, fine." Harry replied

"I don't think we will have to stay there the whole journey, the letter only said we needed to receive instructions from the head boy and girl and patrol the corridors from time to time." Hermione tried to assure Harry

"Fine" said Harry again "well I guess i'll see you later then."

"yeah definitely" said Ron casting a shifty anxious look at Harry "it's a pain having to go down there i'd rather but…but we have to. I'm not enjoying it, I'm not Percy!" he finished defiantly

"I know you're not" Harry grinned but as they dragged their luggage and a caged Crookshanks and Pigwedgeon, he couldn't help but feel a tad abandoned

"Come on" Ginny told him "If we hurry we may be able to save them places"

"Right" said Harry as they began to make their way down the train. People stared as he walked past even nudging their fellow friend to get a good look at him, Harry's heart sank as he realised this year would be much like his first with the whispering and pointing. Three quarters of the way down they ran into Neville, who was glowing from a light sheen of sweat as he Tried to restrain Trevor in one hand and haul his luggage down the train in the other

"Hey guys" he said sounding out of breath "All the compartments are full"

"Let's just go in this one, only loony lovegood is in it." Harry tried to recognise the name but nothing came to mind and Neville began to look down and rub his arm, his usual awkwardness returning to him once more as he entered the compartment

"Hey Luna!" Ginny said "is it okay if we take these seats" . The girl looked up from her upside down magazine with a beaming smile. She had waist length dirty blonde hair, pale eyebrows that made her look permanently surprised and silvery eyes. The girl gave off an aura of distinct dottiness, perhaps it was the way she had her wand behind her left ear or how she was wearing a necklace of butterbeer corks. Her eyes moved from Neville and then moved onto Harry turning to Ginny she nodded "Thanks" said Ginny bounding down happily next to the peculiar girl. Her eyes had not left Harry as he took the seat opposite her, who now wished he hadn't.

"Have a nice summer Luna." asked Ginny

"Yes" said Luna dreamily, her eyes still not leaving Harry "Yes it was quite enjoyable, you know your Harry potter" she added

"Really? I never knew" Harry said awkwardly, not sure if the strange girl was joking, Neville hid his guffaws behind his hand. Her pale eyes turned to him instead

"I don't know who you are" Said Luna

"I'm nobody" replied Neville hurriedly

"No you're not," said Ginny sharply " Neviile longbottom, Luna lovegood. Lunas in my year but is in Ravenclaw." Luna began to sing to herself an unfamiliar tune, raising her upside down magazine to hide her face. Harry and Neville looked at each other with their eyebrows raised, Ginny suppressed a giggle. The train continued its journey rattling onwards into the country.

"Guess what i got for my birthday" Said Neville

"Another remembrall" asked Harry remembering the ball he saved in his first year

"No I lost mine, I've forgotten where I put it" he replied, causing Harry to roll his eyes at Ginny from the irony. He dug the hand that wasn't holding trevor into his school bag and began rummaging, a bright smile made its way across his face as he pulled out a small cactus looking plant that looked to be covered in boils rather than spines

"Mimbulus mimbletonia" he said proudly. The plant was pulsating slightly, giving it a sinister look like it was a diseased internal organ " it's really really rare, my uncle Algae got me it… I don't think they have one at Hogwarts, I can't wait to show Professor Sprout." Harry could see Nevilles enthusiasm towards Herbology, but did not understand why anyone would want anything to do with this ugly, stubby little plant

"Does it do anything" Harry asked pretending he was interested

"It does loads, here hold Trevor for me while I show you this defence mechanism" He handed the slimy frog over to Harry and lifted the plant up and looked as if he had been chosen for Minister of Magic. Neville withdrew a quill from his luggage and aimed at the plant. Luna's eyes appeared above her magazine clearly interested in whatever spectacle Neville was so delighted to show. Neville took aim, his tongue slightly out of his mouth and gently prodded the plant…Liquid squirted from every boil, the dark green thick liquid went everywhere. The ceiling, the walls, Luna magazine, even Ginny who had managed to get her hands up just in time seemed to be wearing a green hat. Harry, whose hands had been busy preventing Trevors escape, got a face full… it smelled like rancid manure. He turned to Neville who appeared just as drenched as he was wiping his eyes. He apologised meekly. At that moment the door to the compartment slid open

"Oh hello Harry" said a nervous voice "bad time?" Harry wiped the lens of his glasses with his Trevor free hand. A very pretty girl with long shiny black hair was standing in the doorway smiling at him. Cho Chang, Ravenclaws seeker.

"Hi" said Harry blankly

"Oh, just thought i'd come say hello, bye then" rather pink in the face. She closed the door and departed. Any previous feelings Harry had for Cho from the previous years had vanished during the summer although he wouldn't have minded her coming in and seeing him with cooler people. Harry stood up excusing himself to go to the lavatory and clean up. He entered and looked himself over in the mirror, he was covered in the foul smelling slime and immediately began to get to work cleaning himself. It wasn't great but it would do for now, Harry stepped out and caught sight of the trolley witch, eager to get the foul taste out of his mouth he approached and asked for four chocolate frogs, one for everyone in the compartment. The trolley witch bent down rummaging her cart .

"Pack of fudge flies, please" said an angelic voice

Harry turned and instantly swallowed. it was a girl with long honey blonde hair that cascaded midway down her back, she had bright blue eyes that had an unusual sparkle to them and an oval face shape that complimented facial features such as the light splattering of freckles on her nose, invisible unless properly inspected.

"There you go dear" the trolly witch said as she set the frogs on top of her cart and made a move to get the fudge flies the beautiful girl had asked for. He quickly gave her the money and picked up his items, he glanced one last time at the girl who gave him a polite smile with a tint of redness adoring her cheeks. Harry returned the smile without thinking, making her red hue deeper and began to return to his compartment, his heart thumping and a dopey grin on his face. He slid the door open and stepped in dropping the chocolate frogs in each of their laps. Neville and Ginny thanked him while Luna's permanent look of surprise increased tenfold, before she beamed at him and also thanked him.

"What's got you all smiley" Asked Ginny with her eyebrows raised

"Nothing, just looking forward to returning to Hogwarts" He said, unboxing the chocolate frog and using his seeker-like reflexes to catch the enchanted treat, biting his head off.

"I hope they serve chocolate pudding," said Luna, who had been trying to wipe the slime off her magazine. Harry was floating on a cloud and began to find the strange 4th year amusing, she slid her magazine back up and hid behind her magazine once again. The compartment door slid open as Hermione and Ron, who looked completely shattered, stepped in, turning their noses up at the putrid smell. Ron drew his wand and vanished the slime on the seats so he and Hermione could sit down.

"Have a good time?" Harry asked, smirking at Ron's obvious exhaustion. He turned to Harry huffing as he moved his luggage to the top rack of the compartment and took half of the chocolate frog Harry had been eating and munched on it much to Harry's protests.

"Amazing" Said Ron sarcastically, his mouth full

"Oh it was alright the head boy and girl are nice but with the extra responsibilities we have, i don't know how im going to juggle it with…oh hi, i don't believe we have met, i'm Hermione" Hermione must of noticed Luna peering over her magazine and thought an introduction was needed to the strange girl

"Luna" She replied in her usual dreamy voice "your head is infested with Wrackspurts"

"Wrackspurts?" Hermione questioned obviously as confused as everyone else was in the compartment

"They are invisible creatures that makes ones brain go fuzzy" Luna said as if she were talking about the weather

"I don't believe there are such things" Hermione replied warily

"They're a bit shy so not many people know of them, but they're there if you know where to look," Luna said, twirling the butterbeer cork necklace between her fingers. Luna and Hermione carried on their discussion, Ron nudged Harry slightly

"Guess who the Slytherin prefect is?" Ron said with a sneer on his face which looked quite funny considering he still had hints of the chocolate frog he had previously eaten around his gob.

"Malfoy" Harry replied instantly, his heart sinking at the power the boy now had over him

"Course" Ron said bitterly his nose upturned

"And that cow Pansy bloody Parkinson" Hermione jumped in, obviously exasperated with her previous conversation with Luna "How she got to be a prefect i will never know, when she's thicker than a concussed troll…"

"We're supposed to patrol the corridors every so often… i can't wait to punish Crabbe and Goyle for something" Ron smirked

"You're not supposed to abuse your position Ron!" said Hermione sharply

"Yeah right, because Malfoy won't abuse it at all" Ron said sarcastically

"So your going to descend to his level"

"No i'm just gonna make sure i get his mates before he gets mine"

"For heaven's sake, Ron"

"I'll make Goyle do lines, it will kill him, he hates writing." Ron scrunched up his face in deep concentration and opened his mouth releasing an imitation of Goyle

"I…must…not…look…like…a…baboons…backside". Everyone laughed including Luna Lovegood who laughed the hardest out of all of them dropping her magazine as tears swam in her eyes. Harry glanced down at the magazine and a caption caught his eye

SIRIUS BLACK: VILLAIN OR VICTiM?

"Can I have a look at that?" Harry asked Luna who nodded still chuckling at Ron's joke. Harry picked up and skimmed through it, the theory seemed far fetched and ridiculous much like the rest of the magazine he thought as he turned through the rest of the pages.

"The Quibbler" Hermione scoffed "i wouldn't trust what's in there, it's a load of rubbish"

"Excuse me, my dads the editor" said Luna, her voice losing its dream like quality

"Oh well, there is some interesting stuff in it, it's just.."

"I'll have it back thank you" Luna leaned forward, snatching the magazine back, turning it back upside down and hiding behind it once again." Harry felt bad and tried to cheer up the girl but before he could, the compartment door slid open revealing Draco Malfoy flanked by his two gorilla cronies. Harry expected this but was still annoyed

"What?" Harry snapped before Draco could open his mouth

"Manners Potter or I'll have to give you detention" Draco drawled, whose sleeked blonde hair and pointed chin looked identical to his father "You see unlike you I have been made a prefect, which means unlike you, have the power to hand out punishment."

"Yeah" said Harry "But you, unlike me has your nose firmly wedged up Snapes greasy backside" Ron, Hermione, Neville and Ginny laughed and Dracos lips curled

"Tell me how does it feel to be second best to Weasley"

"Shut up" Hermione replied sharply

"Struck a nerve, have i? Draco cackled shortly followed by Crabbe and Goyle affect elbowing them in the gut "just watch yourself Potter i'll be dogging your every footstep incase you step out of line"

"Get out" said Hermione standing up. Sniggering Malfoy gave Harry a menacing look before leaving with Crabbe and Goyle. Harry and Hermione exchanged worried glances as they realised what he said. Ron began eating another chocolate frog not noticing anything. They couldn't speak with Neville and Luna here but from the worried glances that were shared there was no doubt that the topic of conversation was bound to come up later.

"We best be getting changed" Hermione said as she pinned her prefect badge and stood up, Ron followed her lead and left the compartment saying a quick goodbye to their friends.

The train began to slow down and the whistle blew, rain began splattering the windows matching the melancholy mood that had been placed on the compartment since Draco had visited. Harry stood grabbing his luggage and Hedwig, he passed pigwidgeon to Luna as she politely offered to hold it so he could hold Hedwig more securely. The night air stung his cheeks as he stepped off the train breathing in the fresh air of Scotland. Ron and Hermione were supervising the first years and were nowhere to be found so he would have to get a carriage with Ginny, Neville and Luna.

"First year's line over here!" a voice different to the friendly half giant he met years ago. Professor Grubbly-Plank, the witch who had taken over for Hagrids care for magical creatures class the previous year.

"Where's Hagrid" Harry said aloud

"I don't know" replied Ginny "But we'd better get out of the way, we're blocking the door."

"Right"

They moved off towards the carriages carrying a general chit chat until an awkward Neville and Luna found them and joined their trek. Harry turned to Neville who was sweating from carrying his luggage, and holding a dangerously loose grip on Trevor who seemed ready to leap from his hand, he was just about to warn Neville when the toad made his escape. Neville shrieked as the Toad began to make its way down towards the busy path, Harry darted and began his chase… Neville, still shocked, gave chase but he was much slower than Harry who used to spend his summer outrunning Dudley and his gang. Harry was gaining on him, closer and closer he got before a pair of hands grasped the squirming toad, who ribbited in protest. Harry looked at the owner of the hands and his heart jumped in his throat as he saw it was the same beautiful girl from earlier who he had exchanged smiles with. Harry came to a stop gasping for breath as the girl locked eyes with him.

"Um…hi" Harry said stupidly, kicking himself for how nervous he sounded

"Hi" The girl said smiling, showing her perfect white teeth "lost something?"

"Yeah, my friend wasn't paying attention and the bloody git escaped" Harry chuckled remembering to take his hands out of his pocket "Im Harry potter"

"Daphne Greengrass"

"I don't think i have seen you befor…"

"TREVOR!" a familiar voice sounded from behind, making Harry's heart sink as his chance to talk to the girl started to slip between his fingers as his gryffindor friend skidded to a halt

"Slippery thing isn't he" Daphne said in her angelic voice. Neville turned red and his previous embarrassment returned as he shakily took the Toad from her hands and made sure to have an extra tight grip on his Toad

"Thank you" Nevillie squeaked before he turned around and began walking back towards Ginny and Luna

"Don't Mind him, he's quite a shy bloke" Harry said desperately trying to fabricate anything that would keep the conversation going

"Bless him" she said with a smile "My sisters the same, she's a second year and doesn't have that many friends"

"Well next time you see her, tell her the great Harry Potter would love to be her friend" Harry kicked himself a hundred times mentally regretting the words he said and hoping he didn't come off as arrogant. Luckily she smiled and let out a musical laugh

"I'll be sure to let her know, just don't blame me when she starts doodling little love hearts of your name in her notebook" Harry mentally shivered and began to run his hand through his hair, unintentionally showing his scar which Daphne did not glance at once

"Daphne I got us a carriage- oh who's your friend" A girl with a slender build, brown eyes which matched her hair that fell to shoulder length.

"Harry" he said as he accepted her hand to shake

"Im Tracy Davis, Daphne's best friend"

"It's nice to meet you, have i seen you before you look familiar"

"Maybe but then again i just have one of those faces or so i am told, anyway we best get going, the carriages are about to leave." Tracy said politely. She took Daphne's hand and began to drag her along teasing the girl the entire time. Harry turned to make his way to his own carriage when he heard

"We share potions together, save me a seat!" Daphne shouted and as quickly as she was there she was gone, Harry continued his trek fighting the grin that pulled at the ends of his lips.

"Harry over here" Neville's voice came from his right, almost causing Harry to walk into a tall dark animal of some kind. Harry took a step back and analysed the creature. It had a black skeletal appearance, with bat-like wings, white eyes and a face that resembled that of a dragon.

"What are these things, do you reckon?" he said turning to Ron who had finally rejoined the group

"What things?"

"Those horse-"

Luna appeared holding Pigwedgeons cage, the little owl twittering excitedly as usual

"Here you are" she said "he's a sweet little owl, isn't he?"

"He's alright i guess" Ron grumbled taking the small bird's cage out of her hands "well come on then let's get in as he made a move to get inside one of the carriages "What were you saying Harry…"

"I was saying what are those horse things"

"What horse things?" Ron replied confused

"The horse things pulling the carriage" Harry replied impatiently, they were after all only 3 feet away from the nearest one

"What are you talking about"

"I'm talking about-look!" Harry grabbed Ron's hand and wheeled him in the direction of the winged horse

"What am I supposed to be looking at?"

"At the- there, between the shafts! Harnessed to the coach it's right in front-" Ron continued to look bemused, a strange thought occurred to Harry

"Can't you see them?"

"See what?"

"Can't You see what's pulling the carriage?" Ron looked seriously alarmed by now

"Are you feeling alright Harry?"

"I…yeah…" Harry was bewildered, he could see them clear as day, could smell its unique scent, could feel its heavy breaths as it readied itself to take off

"Shall we get in then?" Ron asked a concerned expression still on his face

"Yeah" said Harry "go on"

"It's alright, your not going mad or anything, i can see them, too" Said Luna her dreamy voice increasing tenfold

"Can you?" Harry asked desperately, turning to Luna with pleading eyes

"Oh yes, ive been able to see them since my first year, they have always pulled the carriages. Don't worry. You're just as sane as I am." That didn't reassure Harry at all as he climbed into the carriage behind her. The carriage made its bumpy way to the castle as the bat-like horses galloped, the rain had begun to increase the closer they got to the school. Harry looked out of the carriage at Hagrids hut but there were no lights or anything to suggest someone was there. The atmosphere was tense as Luna had made a scathing remark about Hagrids teaching skills but the tenseness was broken as the carriage jolted to a stop. He stepped out of the carriage hauling his luggage with him as he took in the castle that stood before him.

"Come on Harry" Hermione nudged him as she walked past "Don't want to miss the sorting."

"Coming" Harry said, still taking in the castle, a smile blossoming on his face. "Im coming "