The train compartment was almost silent, as it had been since Harry, Hermione and Ron had entered three hours before.
The only sound that Harry heard was the rain, which beat against the window that his head was pressed to. I can't believe I'm saying this, he thought, but am I looking forward to going back to them?
''It's July and the weather is still horrible,'' Hermione said. ''I hope that it will be sunnier soon.''
He closed his eyes. Is she really talking about the weather again?
''Although I don't mind the rain.'' Hermione went on when nobody answered. ''We have a lot of homework this summer, far more than last year. Of course, that's expected because we will be going into our third year.'' It seemed that she realised no one was listening, she stopped. ''What will you two be doing for the summer? I know I will be visiting France, which I am looking forward to.''
Lucky you. He thought. I'm just hoping that I'll survive this summer.
''Nothing,'' Ron grunted.
''Nothing?'' She repeated.
''Nothing,'' Ron said, ''I'm just going to be looking for her.''
Hermione stopped for a moment. ''Ginny will be found.'' She said, ''I'm sure of it.''
''Of course, she'll be found,'' Ron said sharply. ''She's not dead.''
''I — I never said that.'' She said carefully.
Ron's face twisted, and then he sighed. ''Sorry.'' He mumbled. ''I just thought we'd find her by now.''
''I just know that Ginny will be found soon,'' Hermione said. ''She could show up today…''
''Doubt it,'' Ron mumbled. ''I thought the heir got her, but I don't know now…..the heir just petrified people, you know? Ginny didn't get petrified.''
Harry kept his eyes shut. That we know of.
''Then what could have possibly happened?''
Ron looked hopeful. ''I don't know….maybe she ran off and went home early….maybe mom and dad just haven't said yet.''
Harry opened his eyes and shifted in his seat. Ron seemed to sense his disbelief.
''What?''
''Nothing,'' Harry said, without any energy.
Ron wasn't smiling. ''You sure?''
''I'm sure.''
''You've been quiet all day,'' Ron noted.
Harry shrugged. ''I just haven't had much to say.''
Ron went on. ''You've barely said anything in weeks.''
You're not the only one with problems. A cold voice said. You haven't had to deal with everyone calling you the heir for months, calling you a freak, a monster. You haven't had people compare you to her.
Harry said, ''I've just been distracted,'' calmly.
''If you say so.'' Ron turned back to Hermione. ''I'm going to look for Ginny and won't stop till I find her. I don't care how long it takes.''
Harry closed his eyes and once again rested his head on the window, listening to rainfall.
And I'm going to find the heir, no matter what.
Puddles filled the platform and lightning skirted across the sky. Harry had changed into muggle clothes, a jacket and trousers, which stuck to his skin.
As the three of them walked down the platform, Harry said very little in response to Ron and Hermione. He was in his head, as he had been all day.
''I'll see you guys later,'' Ron said, who still wore his robes. His brothers stood by the wall. ''See you in September.''
Hermione seized Ron into a tight hug. ''I know the last few weeks have been horrible, but please at least owl me!''
Ron smiled slightly. ''I will, I will.''
Once Hermione let go, Ron sent Harry a look. ''I'll see you, Harry.''
''Bye, Ron,'' Harry said quietly, then the other boy stepped over to his brothers, and they began marching out of the train station, with one less Weasley in sight.
''My parents should be waiting,'' Hermione said. ''Will your uncle be picking you up?''
He only looked at her in the corner of his eye. ''Probably.''
''Probably?'' She repeated. ''Harry?''
He sighed. ''Don't worry about it.''
''Harry.'' She said firmly.
''I sent a letter to my uncle, to see if he would pick me up.''
''And he must've said yes.''
''He didn't say no,'' Harry explained. ''He just never responded.''
''He probably just forgot to respond,'' Hermione said as if that was the truth. ''I'm sure he's waiting for you.''
Waiting for me? Harry thought. If I'm two minutes late he'd probably just leave.
''Is something wrong?'' Hermione asked. ''You've been acting strange lately, but especially today.''
''No, nothing is wrong.''
''No, tell me.'' She said, ''If you don't then I will keep on asking.''
''What do you think is wrong?'' Harry asked sharply. ''What do you think has been going on all year?''
''The heir.'' She whispered.
''Yeah.'' He said calmly. ''I know Ron has problems, but so do I. People have been calling me the heir all year.''
In the rain, Hermione's expression softened. ''We don't.''
Harry didn't mean to say, ''Don't you?'' But it still slipped out.
''Of course we don't, don't be ridiculous!'' She said vehemently. ''You aren't the heir.''
''I know you don't.'' He murmured. ''But everyone else does, even the professors. For months people have whispered about me, looked at me like I'm some freak, some monster.''
''Don't listen to a word they say,'' Hermione said. ''They don't know you like we do…''
He turned away. ''I know Ron's got his problems, so I tried to keep quiet. But I'm so sick of it.''
Hermione stepped in front of Harry and then pulled him into a tight hug. He didn't resist, he couldn't.
''The professors will find the true heir, I'm sure of it. By September they will.''
''Maybe.''
''No, they will. Next year will be better.''
''I hope so.''
She let go. ''Do you want my parents to drive you home? They won't mind. Really. We will be driving through Surrey.''
He shook his head. ''It's fine.''
''They really wouldn't mind.''
''And it's fine. My uncle will be there.''
Even though it was still raining, Harry felt his mood brighten a bit.
''Make sure to return my letters this year.'' She said, ''Ron's too.''
''I will.''
The two of them continued, dragging their carts along the slippery floor. When Harry and Hermione reached the barrier, they ran through it and stepped foot into platform 9.
Hermione gave him one final hug, so tight that it hurt. ''Are you sure I shouldn't ask my parents? They wouldn't mind, I mean it.''
''I'm sure. My uncle should be here soon.''
When Hermione walked over to her parents, Harry watched the way they interacted, with smiles that his family never showed him. Something cold seized his heart.
If my parents were alive, would they treat me like that?
There was no point in thinking about it. After all, Harry had no family that ever cared for him, nor would he ever.
Five hours.
That is how long Harry had been waiting. It was now night and he had long lost feeling in his limbs.
If Harry could have walked home, he would have. It would have taken hours, and he only had wizarding money remaining. He was in the muggle world now, so he could not use magical means.
In the end, he had absolutely no choice but to ask around for directions.
''Little whinging? That's miles away!''
Of course, there was the option of asking for a ride home, but he heard what happened to 12-year-olds who did that. Even if he had a wand, he didn't want to chance it.
Harry sat on the curb, in his soggy jacket and trousers. He pulled his wand out and twirled it between his fingers. To the adults who watched him, he was just a child playing with his toy.
''Hello.'' A voice said. ''Are you lost?''
When Harry turned his head, he stared for a few seconds too long. She would stand out anywhere, under an umbrella. She was tall & willowy, with full lips and hair as dark as his that descended past her shoulders.
''No.'' He noticed she had a suitcase.
''Are you waiting for someone?''
''Maybe.''
''Maybe?'' She echoed. ''You are sitting outside a train station with luggage. Have you lost your parents?''
''No.''
''If it will make you feel better, then I am also lost.'' She said, ''I have only just got off the train.''
He glanced at her suitcase. ''I know.''
''Where are you off to?'' She asked. ''I know that I will be taking the bus to Surrey.''
He twisted his neck. ''Surrey?''
''I see that your eyes lit up at that.'' She noted. ''Where are you going?''
He shrugged. ''Maybe I'm already here. What makes you think I'm meant to be anywhere?''
She sat next to him on the curb. ''Because it is late and you are sitting here alone, with luggage. I could be wrong, but I don't think so.'' She said. ''How old are you?''
''Nearly 13. How old are you?''
''I turn 17 this December.''
Harry frowned. He would have thought she was a few years older than that.
''My uncle should have come here to pick me up by now.''
''How long have you been waiting for?''
''A while.''
''Do you have a way to return home?''
''No.''
''Do you at least have some money?''
''No.''
''That is awful of him.'' She shook her head. ''Where are you off to? I have spare money on me.''
Harry considered not telling the truth. ''Surrey.''
She crooked an eyebrow. ''Surrey?''
''I know it looks weird,'' He said, ''But I really live there.''
''No, I believe you.'' She said, ''It does sound suspicious, but I don't think that you're lying.'' She rose from the curb. ''If you would like, I could give you the money you need for a ride home.''
He frowned. ''You'd do that?''
''I do have the extra money.'' She said, ''I would also feel guilty if I could help you, but decided not to.''
He climbed to his feet. ''Well, thank you.''
''You don't need to thank me.'' She closed in on Harry, so he was under the umbrella. ''I am only doing what anyone else would do in the same situation.'' She paused. ''I never caught your name.''
''Harry.'' He said. ''Harry Potter.''
''Harry,'' It was as if she was tasting the name on the tip of her tongue. ''It's nice to meet you, Harry. My name is Grace Riddle.''
''I believe that you are supposed to be getting off soon.''
Harry blinked his eyes open, then remembered he was on a bus. He suppressed a yawn. ''What time is it?''
''Almost 12.'' She said. ''You have been asleep for around an hour.''
Once the final remnants of tiredness faded, Harry realised that his head was nudged on her shoulder, and he straightened. ''Sorry.'' He said hastily.
''It's no problem,'' she said easily. ''You were exhausted.''
Harry turned to the window, feeling a tinge of embarrassment creep up his cheeks. He recognised the street they were on.
''I will be getting off in a few stops as well.'' She said. ''I was surprised when you knew the street I lived on. I didn't expect us to live so close by.''
He frowned. ''It is weird.''
She laughed softly. ''If I didn't know any better, then I would say I had a stalker.'' She joked. ''It is odd though. It's as if our meeting was fated.''
''Maybe.'' He said. ''I really don't know what I would have done if you didn't pay for my ticket''
''I'm sure you would have found your way home.'' She said. ''I could walk you home. I don't live far, and it could be a good way of familiarising myself with the neighbourhood.''
''It's fine.'' He said.
''It's no trouble.'' She said. ''I would feel guilty if I let a 12-year-old walk home on his own this late.''
''I'm nearly 13''
''True.'' She said. ''Although I might be asking because I do enjoy your company, even if we have just met.''
There was a lump in Harry's throat. Muggles usually weren't nice to him.
''I don't mind.''
At the next stop, Harry and Grace exited the bus. They trudged down the street, rain pelting against the umbrella.
''There is something I have been curious about.'' Grace started, ''Did you really board the train alone?''
''Yeah.'' He mumbled. ''Er, I go to boarding school.''
Interest was written across her face. ''Boarding school, is your family well off?''
Harry had to consider that. ''My aunt and uncle aren't...I'm only going because of my parents.''
''I won't pry.'' She said. ''What is it like here, I will only be moving in tonight.''
Harry gave it some thought. ''Boring.''
''It can't be all boring.''
''Well, it is.'' He said. ''Nothing exciting ever happens here.''
There was a twinkle in her eyes. ''Let's hope that changes.''
Then he realized something. ''Did you come here alone too?''
She hummed. ''I am only 16, but my situation is still complicated. I don't have parents.''
Harry stopped for a moment. ''Oh.''
Grace smiled in return. ''I did not mean to make things awkward. I never knew them.''
''Oh, okay.'' What else was there to say?
''I doubt that I will be here for long.'' She admitted. ''Only until I deal with family business.''
''Lucky.'' He muttered. ''I've been here since I was 1.''
She caught his eye. ''At the very least you can use school as a getaway.''
''What makes you think it's a getaway?''
It did not take much longer for them to arrive. ''We really do live nearby,'' Grace said. ''Is this where you live?''
''Yeah.'' He mumbled. ''Like I said, my aunt and uncle aren't rich.''
''I remember.'' She offered him a dazzling smile. ''Goodnight, Harry.''
''Goodnight.'' Harry drew his hood up, then stepped out from under her umbrella.
''Something is telling me that we will be meeting again very soon,'' Grace said. ''I still can not believe the coincidence of us living so close to one another.''
It is strange, Harry thought, as he slipped into the yard, I was actually starting to feel like a stalker.
