Disclaimer: I make no money from this and hold no rights to it save for any original characters I may create. Anything you recognise belongs to Warner Bros.
Authors Note:
This story his been rated T due to some violent scenes and some bad language, though the bad language will be kept to a minimum.
Thanks to everyone who has supported me and the story thus far and special thanks to the following people for being the latest to favourite, review or follow the story; R-Uchiha-Namikaze, gamerazor89, Lunaschild2016, GuardWhoIsLost, GinaWeasleyPotter, tomatosah, lcwintersoldier, LORD PEVERELL 27, sam139nyc, Sakura Lisel, clt.
Reviews:
To Caro Guest Reviewer: Thank you for the kind words, glad to know you are enjoying the story.
To
Everyone who has supported me and the story up to this point, thank you all very much.
Also, apologies from me if this chapter seems a bit longer than others but I had trouble finding a good cut off point.
Chapter Four:
"Come on now boys, no time to be waiting around", Arthur Weasley smiled at Harry and Ron while chivvying them along with their trollies.
The platform was a mass of people milling about. Some were saying goodbye to their children or wards while others, the children, depending on their personalities, were crying or eager to be off.
Still more children hang out of the train windows and waved at family members. "This looks like a good spot", Arthur said as he helped Ron put his trunk and cage up into the corridor of the nearest carriage by way of levitation.
Molly hurried over looking concerned. "Arthur!".
Mr Weasley turned at the sound of his wife's agitated voice and asked in concern, "what's wrong Molly dear?".
She gestured behind her even as she pulled Ginny in close to her side. "It's those reporters, they're searching for Harry and they've seen him!".
Arthur looked to where his wife was gesturing and his normal smile gave way to a scowl. "Can't they leave him alone?", he shook his head and turned back to his sons. "Lets get you two on the train and find a compartment for you".
"Alright Dad", Harry replied feeling relieved that his parents kept him away from most reporters.
Ron jumped on on to the train and Harry made to lift the trunk up. "Allow me boys", Arthur said with a smile. He took out his wand and waved it slightly, incanting "Wingardium Leviosa". The trunk and cage rose up from the trolley and sailed calmly through the air the short distance to the waiting train before a slight flick of the wand set them down.
"Arthur they're nearly here!", Molly hissed.
Arthur turned and scowled again at the sea of reporters rushing over to them, including the particularly odious and irritating Rita Skeeter of the Daily Prophet. He looked back at his two sons. "Sorry boys, looks like your mother and I will need to fend off these reporters. You'll have to find a compartment yourselves".
"Don't worry about it Dad", said Ron as he jumped down on to the platform.
Arthur smiled and ruffled Ron's hair and then Harry's as he too jumped down to say goodbye to his parents. "Come here you two", he said as he pulled them both into a tight hug. "I'm so proud of you both. Have a great term and don't forget to send us a letter telling us how you're getting on".
"We want letters every day!", Mrs Weasley insisted as Arthur released the hug and she pulled them into one of her usual motherly, bone-crushing hugs. She kissed them each on the top of the head and then pulled away, tears in her eyes.
Arthur patted his wife's shoulder comfortingly as Harry protested, "Mum we can't send one every day, Hedwig would be exhausted!".
"You'll have to make do with one a week Mum", Ron agreed with his brother.
Molly huffed. "Oh fine!". She waggled a finger at them both. "But it had better be a very detailed letter!".
"It will be", they reassured her.
Molly began to cry while Arthur hugged her.
Ginny walked over to her brothers and was instantly pulled into a hug. "Make sure you speak to me as well!", she insisted. "I want to know what's happening because...well I'll miss you...both of you".
"We'll contact you so much that you'll get sick of it Gin, you'll see", Harry promised her. Ron promised the same.
With a final wave to their sister and parents, Harry and Ron hopped aboard the train and took their luggage along the carriage to find a free compartment.
Harry just caught sight of the reporters as they reached his parents and sighed in relief as they held the group of people off.
"This one's nearly empty, save for another boy and a girl", Harry said to his brother halfway down the carriage.
Ron grimaced. "I'd prefer one with just us. They could be right gits".
Harry rolled his eyes at his brothers predictable attitude. "It'll be good for us to start mixing with other students, can't be dependent on each other forever Ron".
Ron looked annoyed but followed Harry as he slid the door open to the compartment and poked his head in.
There was a bushy haired girl, already wearing her Hogwarts robes sat near the door on the left had row of seats. She had a book open in her lap and seemed engrossed in it. Harry was startled to see the cover of the book as she shifted slightly. The title read: Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century.
It wasn't so much the fact that the girl was reading said book, it was more the fact that she was obviously reading one of the chapters about him and his apparent victory over the dark wizard Lord Voldemort who had killed his birth parents.
"It's all nonsense you know", Harry couldn't help saying.
The bushy haired girl and a boy with short black hair who was wrestling to control a wriggling toad both looked up at the sound of his voice.
"Excuse me, I don't believe we've been introduced", replied the girl. She extended a hand. "Hermione Granger, Muggleborn".
Harry shook her hand. "I'm Harry", he said. As he leaned forward, his fringe of dark hair shifted slightly and the girl gasped at the sight of his lightning bolt scar. "Holy cricket, you're Harry Potter!", she exclaimed.
Harry sighed. "Harry Potter-Weasley actually, but yes".
"Harry Potter?!", the boy sat next to her looked stunned. He ceased trying to keep hold of the toad for a moment giving the animal a chance to wriggle free and hop down to the floor, darting for the doorway.
The boy jumped up and shouted. "Trevor!".
"Don't worry, I've got him!", Ron cried out. Quick as a flash, Ron slammed the door shut and knelt down to pick up the troublesome toad.
The boy hurried over. "Thank you!", he said in gratitude as Ron handed the toad over.
"No worries", Ron waved away the thanks.
The other boy rushed back over to his luggage and placed the toad in a cage before wiping his brow.
"Would you like to sit in here with us, most other compartments are already full", Hermione explained.
Harry grinned. "We were just about to ask that...", he eyed her suspiciously, "you aren't going to ask for an autograph are you?".
Hermione giggled. "No of course not", she assured him.
Ron smirked. "Oh go on, it's fun to see him looking embarrassed".
"Shut up Ron!", Harry hissed and playfully swatted his round the head.
The two of them opened the sliding door, brought in their luggage and closed the door again.
In a short time, the Weasley brothers had their luggage stowed away and were seated next to each other on the opposite benches.
"This is Neville by the way", Hermione indicated the owner of the toad. "Neville Longbottom".
Harry and Ron both grinned at the shy, rather pudgy boy as he quietly said, "hi". They each extended a hand and shook his. "Great to meet you Neville!", Harry said enthusiastically. The other boy smiled a little at the greeting as Ron said, "I hope you'll be in the same house as us, me and Harry don't know many other wizards outside our family".
"Wait, you're brothers?", Hermione cut in. She clamped a hand over her mouth as Harry and Ron stared at her. She apologised, "I'm sorry. That was very rude of me".
Harry waved away the apology. "It's alright Hermione. Most people are surprised when they learn it, I think it's the fact I have black hair", he swept a hand over his messy black hair.
"But how did you end up being Ronald's brother?", Hermione asked inquisitively. Neville too seemed keen for the answer if his change in posture was any indication. The pudgy, dark haired boy was leaning forwards in his seat.
Harry blew out a breath. "Well the way Mum and Dad tell it I was initially going to live with my Muggle relatives, a Mr and Mrs Dursley..."
"That's where all the books say you've been living!", Hermione interrupted excitably and then promptly apologised. "I'm sorry, that was thoughtless, interrupting like that".
Harry smiled. "Not a problem Hermione".
"Apparently Harry's Muggle relatives were horrible and so Professor McGonagall, Professor Dumbledore, they work at Hogwarts, and Hagrid who is like an uncle to us, they decided he should live with us instead", Ron explained.
Harry nodded agreement with this assessment. Talked soon turned to Hogwarts, what they could all expect and what house they would be in. "We have to be in Gryffindor", Ron told Neville and Hermione.
At the look of confusion on their new friends faces Harry clarified, "my parents were in Gryffindor as were all of my Dad's family and everyone in my adopted family as well".
Hermione laughed. "I doubt your parents will disown if you aren't sorted in to Gryffindor".
Harry shrugged as did his brother and then said, "maybe but in any case..."
"...Anything is better than Slytherin", Ron finished.
Neville and Hermione stared. "What?", the two brothers said together.
"You just...you finished each others sentence", Neville said giving them an odd look like he was worried for their sanity.
The two brothers exchanged and a look and then burst out laughing. "Don't mind that", Harry told them.
"Yeah it's just something we do on occasion", he added, "it's our brothers Fred and George you want to watch for. They call themselves Gred and Forge and almost always finish each others sentences".
"And they're a right handful with pranks and things", Harry said.
Hermione looked disapproving at the idea of pranks but turned her attention to something more important. "Harry, Ron, do either of you know how we get sorted?".
Harry and Ron shook their heads. "Fred said it hurts but...I think he was joking", Ron said in a hopeful tone.
Harry glanced at his brother. "George told me we had to demonstrate some magic. I've learnt a few basic spells but that might not count".
"I highly doubt it's as dangerous as Fred and George have told you", Hermione reasoned, "a school would surely never put it's students in peril like that".
Harry had just opened his mouth to reply when the compartment door slid open. The four occupants turned their heads at the sound.
Harry noticed at once that there were two rather round and menacing looking boys wearing school robes. The one on the left had short curly hair while the other boy standing to his right had even shorter straight hair.
Both boys had their arms crossed and scowls on their faces. Presently, another boy called out, "move aside you two". The two boys made a gap and through said gap, squeezed a much slimmer and slightly shorter boy also wearing Hogwarts robes.
The slimmer boy had slicked back white-blonde hair and light grey eyes which were casting a disdainful eye at the occupants of the carriage.
"So it's true then, what the rest of the students are saying", the boy said as Harry recognised him from Madam Malkins Robes shop. "The famous Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts".
Harry nodded cautiously. "My name is Draco Malfoy the boy said with a smirk". He gestured to either side, this is Goyle and Crabbe, my associates".
Harry took careful note of that Malfoy avoided the word "friends" and the fact that the boy had forgotten his previous meeting with both he and Ron and decided at once that he didn't much like the boy or his attitude and would avoid him if he could.
At the mention of the name "Malfoy", Ron started sniggering uncontrollably causing the blonde haired boy to sneer and demand hotly, "think my name's funny do you?". He surveyed Ron disdainfully. "No need to ask who you are, wearing Muggle clothes, red hair and thick as a Hippogriff, clearly you're a Weasley".
"Why you...", Harry pulled Ron back down and stood up himself while Ron continued to seethe.
Malfoy extended a hand. "You'll soon learn that some wizarding families are better than others Potter, I can help you there".
Harry stared down at Malfoy's hand as if it were poison. He looked back up at Malfoy, his eyes narrowed and said in a quiet voice, a sign of his anger being close to boiling point, "get out and take your cronies with you Malfoy".
"How dare you speak to me like that!", Malfoy said with a sneer, "you'd do well to shake my hand or you'll regret it Potter!".
Harry smiled dangerously and in one flick his wand was in his hand. He pointed it in Malfoy's direction. "You insulted my family, got my last name wrong, it's Potter-Weasley, and you have an arrogant and superior attitude that I don't like. Get out or you'll regret it".
Ron and Neville both stood, each holding a wand that was aimed at Malfoy's goons. Hermione stood up a moment later and extracted her wand from her robe pocket more slowly.
A look of rage passed across Malfoy's face and he spat out. "I'll get you back for this, all of you". He turned, grabbed hold of Crabbe and Goyle and pushed them through the doorway shouting, "come on you idiots!".
The four young witches and wizards watched as the three boys stormed off down through the carriage.
"I have a feeling we've all just made our first school rivals", Neville commented darkly to nods from the others.
The train steamed to a halt and Harry, Ron and their new friends peered out of the carriage windows with interest.
Outside, the darkness was heavy with the only light coming from dozens of lanterns and magical street lights dotted along the length of the platform at the station where they had stopped.
The four of them noticed that the students were piling off of the train with trunks, cages and baskets as station porters stacked luggage on to trolleys ready to be taken up to the school.
"This must be Hogsmeade Station", Harry declared. He stood up and with helped from Ron he managed to get his luggage down before doing the favour for his brother.
The two brothers helped their friends with their luggage and the foursome exited the compartment heading for the nearest door.
There was a sticky moment as Neville, exiting the train last, missed the step and nearly faceplanted the platform but luckily Harry and Ron were able to break his fall and the three of them got up unharmed except for their dignity.
"Where do we go now?", Hermione asked no in particular.
A booming voice cut through the night air. "Firs' years! firs' years this way!".
Harry grinned widely. "Follow us, there's someone we want you to meet".
Harry and Ron led the way down the platform with Neville and Hermione following on. The foursome placed their luggage near one of the station buildings and headed towards the booming voice.
A lantern, held high in the air, illuminated one of section of the platform in bright light and as the foursome approached it a man in a massive moleskin overcoat and sporting a thick black beard and shaggy black hair could be seen gesturing to the first years.
"Uncle Hagrid!", Harry smiled and ran the last few yards to the half-giant, hugging him around the waist, followed shortly after by an equalled delighted shout from Ron and another hug.
Hagrid smiled down at the two boys that were like nephews to him and relinquished the hug after a pat on their shoulders. "Alright yeh two? ready for Hogwarts?".
Harry and Ron exchanged a look and said together, "we're ready!".
Hagrid chuckled and then, having spotted Hermione and Neville, asked "hello, who are yeh two then?".
Harry explained, "this is Neville Longbottom and Hermione Granger. We met them on the train and they allowed us to share a compartment".
Hagrid nodded to their friends and smiled. "Rubeus Hagrid, honorary uncle to these two, pleased ta meet ya".
"This git called Draco Malfoy showed up with these two goons of his and tried to be all smarmy with Harry but Harry told him to get out", Ron informed Hagrid.
"And then Neville and Hermione joined us telling them to get out and Malfoy threatened us all", Harry finished the explanation.
Hagrid's eyes darkened. "Oh he did, did he? well if I was yeh four I'd watch him, sounds like he's trouble. Maybe I should tell Pr'fessor Dumbledore abou' him".
"No Uncle Hagrid, please", Harry pleaded, "we can handle him".
Hagrid gave them all a long look but relented. "Alright then, but if he does something really bad you tell one of the Pr'fessors about it, or me, understood?".
Harry and Ron nodded. "Alright then, once all of the first years have gathered we'll head down to the boats".
"Boats?", all four friends said as one.
Hagrid grinned. "Yep, boats, tha's how first years get ta Hogwarts, across the lake".
"Wicked!", Ron exclaimed.
The four friends waited with excitement at the trip across the lake and chatted amongst themselves as the other first year students assembled in front of Hagrid. "Right then, if we're all here we'd best be moving down ta the boats", Hagrid informed the students and began to stride off down the steps that led to the boats.
"Four ta a boat, everyone climb in!", Hagrid called out as he took a place in one of the boats and began to help several students clamber in next to him.
Hagrid looked around and saw that each boat had four people within. "Off we go!", the boats cut through the dark water, the only sound at first being that of the water slapping against the sides, though conversation soon filled the night air.
There were many gasps and much happy and excited murmuring as the boats rounded the bend that revealed the huge and ancient castle of Hogwarts in it's full glory. Lights twinkled in every window as high turrets revealed themselves.
"It's beautiful!", Hermione exclaimed in awe.
"It's majestic!", Harry chimed in.
"It's huge!", was Ron's comment.
"Look at those turrets!", Neville declared.
The boats soon reached a jetty with a ramp and the students piled out, assembling together.
"Follow me now, we've got ta head on in to the castle through the doors there", Hagrid indicated a large set of doors. "Then we head up the stairs and we'll be in the Entrance Hall".
The first years followed on behind looking nervous, excited or impressed as their various natures dictated.
The group soon found themselves standing in a grand and imposing Entrance Hall with high ceilings, large oak doors leading to two different areas and a vast marble staircase that rose up to the first floor and branched off to other smaller stone staircases.
The excited chatter of certain students was cut short as the set of large oak doors nearest the group opened and out stepped an imposing looking woman with wrinkles on her face that made her look more distinguished.
The woman was dressed in dark green robes and bore a pointy black hat upon her head underneath which, Harry could see, was a mass of black hair. Her green eyes surveyed the gathered students and then fixed upon Harry. Her face softened for a moment as Harry frowned.
The woman turned her attention to Hagrid as he said, "here are the first years Pr'fessor McGonagall, all safe an sound".
"So I see", Professor McGonagall replied and then added, "thank you Hagrid, you may head in to the Great Hall now".
Hagrid nodded to Professor McGonagall and the mass of students before heading through the open doors from which a loud buzzing could be heard and hundreds of students could be seen conversing with one another.
"My name is Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The four houses in to which each of you shall be sorted are named Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin".
Harry noted that the professor mentioned the last house name less warmly than the rest.
"While you are here at Hogwarts your house will be like your family. Triumphs will earn points for your house while any rule breaking will lose points, bear that in mind if you should think pranks or fighting is fun", Professor McGonagall warned them sternly and added, "I am also Head of Gryffindor House and you shall be under my watch if you should be sorted there".
Some of the more boisterous and adventurous students sniggered and whispered until a sharp look from the professor silenced them. "Welcome to Hogwarts. Momentarily, you shall follow me through these doors", she gestured to the large oak doors behind her, "and be sorted in to your houses".
The doors opened once again and a very short man with a moustache and short black hair approached Professor McGonagall. The robed man looked at the students, adjusted his glasses and greeted them all, "ah new faces. Welcome, all of you, to Hogwarts". He turned to the professor and informed her, "Minerva, the stool is set up and ready for the sorting ceremony".
"Thank you Filius", Professor McGonagall thanked the man and then explained, "this is Professor Flitwick, Head of Ravenclaw House. He will be your Charms teacher".
Professor Flitwick left them in the Entrance Hall as Professor McGonagall instructed the assembled students to "follow me" and led the way through the doorway in to the packed Great Hall beyond.
As the students walked up the central aisle to the stool that stood in front of a raised dais, Hermione informed Harry, Ron and Neville, "that isn't the real night sky up on the ceiling. It's just been enchanted to match the weather conditions outside. I read it in Hogwarts: A History".
"It's incredible!", Harry enthused. Everything about the castle was imposing and impressive but friendly and comforting at the same time.
The students halted in front of Professor McGonagall who was herself standing in front of a three legged footstool which bore a rather old but well cared for hat upon it and extracting something from one of her robe pockets. At length, she unfurled a piece of parchment and told the students standing in front of her, "when I call your name you are to walk over to the stool, place the hat upon your head and you will be sorted in to your house".
Without warning, a seam on the hat opened and a pair of eyes stared out at the occupants of the hall. A mouth soon opened too and the hat began to sing a song warning about not judging anyone on looks and to trust it sort the students in the correct house.
Once the long song was over, thunderous applause filled the Great Hall as Ron whispered to Harry, "I'm going kill Fred and George".
"Why don't we just prank them to get our own back?", Harry suggested in reply.
Ron grinned and nodded.
"Abbott, Hannah", Professor McGonagall called out and Harry watched as a girl with long blonde hair passed him. He had the strangest feeling as their eyes briefly locked, but he shrugged it off.
Hannah Abbott was soon sorted in to Hufflepuff and left to join her new housemates who were applauding loudly.
Other students followed with Crabbe and Goyle being sorted into Slytherin.
Hermione Granger was next and the hat took a full two minute to decide where to place her before shouting out "Gryffindor!". The bushy haired girl ran over to the Gryffindor table and sat down as she was greeted by her new housemates including Seamus Finnegan and Lavender Brown who were fellow first years.
Draco Malfoy, unsurprisingly in Harry's opinion, became a Slytherin.
The list continued along with Neville likewise eventually becoming a Gryffindor also and the pudgy boy was grinning despite his shyness as he sat down in an empty space next to Hermione. Harry was glad that he and Ron's two new friends were in the same house.
And finally came "Weasley-Potter, Harry". Harry gulped, looked up at Professor McGonagall and then walked over to the stool eyeing it uncertainly. He took a moment to centre himself and felt instantly more relaxed as he sat down on the stool and placed the hat upon his head, thinking all the time 'Gryffindor! put me in Gryffindor!'. He longed to be in the same house as his new friends and all of his siblings.
"Ah Potter-Weasley!", the hat greeted as it smiled down at him. "At last we meet".
Harry smiled. "Hello".
"So polite. It's a pleasure young fellow", the hat said and then added, "down to business then, where to put you".
There was silence for a moment before the hat began to speak again. "Interesting, very interesting. You're smart, a bookworm in fact and have a great desire to learn which would be a good fit for Ravenclaw, though you aren't one for riddles. You're loyal and hard working which is perfect for a Hufflepuff. You have the ability to be sneaky and cunning like a Slytherin and you're brave and noble like a Gryffindor...this is tricky".
"Please sir, place me in Gryffindor", Harry pleaded with the hat.
The hat was surprised. "Gryffindor eh? are you sure you wouldn't prefer Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff? and what about Slytherin? Slytherin could help you on the road to greatness no doubt about that, it's all there in your head after all".
"I have nothing against Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, though I'd never want to be a Slytherin, but I want to be with my brothers and my new friends. Everyone of them is in Gryffindor".
The sorting hat considered for a moment and then sighed. "Oh well if you're sure, it'd better be...Gryffindor!", the last word was shouted out by the hat and as one the Gryffindor table rose in applause and cheering. Harry's older brothers Fred and George were high fiving and whistling while also yelling, and Percy was applauding loudly and smiling and Hermione and Neville were grinning happily and clapping as Harry ran over to them.
On his way to the Gryffindor table Harry passed Ron and flashed his brother a reassuring smile, clapping him on the shoulder.
Harry sat down next to Percy who actually patted Harry on the back and said, "glad you could make it little brother", startling Harry as his older brother usually didn't get on with he or Ron.
Neville and Hermione greeted Harry from his left as the whole of the Great Hall waited to see where the final student, Ron, would be sorted. Harry crossed his fingers and whispered "please be in Gryffindor". He couldn't imagine how tough it would be on him, but on Ron especially for his brother to be placed in another house.
Harry, it turns out, needn't have worried for just moments after the sorting hat was placed upon Ron's head it cried out "Gryffindor!" to another explosion of cheering and applause, this time the loudest coming from Harry.
Ron raced over to join his new housemates, his friends and his siblings. He was greeted warmly by everyone but most especially Fred, George, Percy and Harry who were ecstatic about him being in Gryffindor.
Harry looked towards the Staff table and found himself looking direct at a man with long black hair who wore equally black robes. The man regarded him placidly and yet Harry clapped a hand to his scar as it pained him, something that had never happened before.
"Harry, are you alright?", Ron was the first to notice his brother being in pain. Harry nodded, "fine, scar just hurts a bit for some reason". He turned away from the Staff table where the long haired wizard was chatting to another wizard wearing a purple turban.
Harry tapped Percy on the shoulder to get his attention and asked. "Perc, who is that with the long black hair at the Staff table?".
Percy followed Harry's gaze and said neutrally, "that's Professor Snape, he's Head of Slytherin House and has quarters and an office down in the dungeons. He's also the Potions teacher so you'll be meeting him yourself quite soon". Harry shuddered at this idea as despite the placid look he had the feeling the long haired wizard did not like him.
A hush suddenly descended upon the hall as Professor Dumbledore stood up and explained that he was the Headmaster and he welcomed those new students warmly and was glad to see so many returning students.
Most of Professor Dumbledore's announcements that followed, including the instatement of Professor Quirrell to Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher from Muggle Studies, were relatively mundane including the announcement about Quidditch trials that thrilled Harry, though he didn't feel he would get on to the team. The following announcement, however, was not mundane but instead quite startling as Dumbledore proclaimed, "and finally a warning to all students that the third floor corridor is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a most horrible death".
Harry and the other students were stunned and shocked at this pronouncement which led to renewed whispering. "Has that ever happened before Percy?", Harry asked his brother.
Percy was frowning. "It has, but usually the Headmaster gives a reason as to why we can't go somewhere, such as not allowing us to enter the Forbidden Forest due to it's being a dangerous place".
As Harry lay in his bed that night following the Welcome Feast he pondered on the events of that day. The day had been both exciting and surprising.
Harry had been glad that he and Ron had made two new friends as well being overjoyed at their getting all sorted in to the same house. He was however vexed over the sudden pain in his scar which had never happened before and the further mystery of the forbidden Third Floor corridor.
In addition to the feelings of wonderment and confusion that the day had brought, Harry was also feeling a stab of homesickness.
With a sigh, Harry kicked back the covers and headed downstairs to the Common Room with his teddy bear, his duvet and a pillow, intending to spend some time alone.
As he entered the Common Room Harry was surprised to see that he was not the only one whom the homesickness had hit for Ron, Neville and Hermione were all sitting in chairs or the floor and all three had a pillow and duvet with them.
"Err...hi guys", Harry greeted awkwardly. "Bit early to be up". He tried to hide the pillow and duvet.
"I know you can't sleep Harry", Ron said, "we both had the same problem when we spent the summer with Aunt Muriel two years ago, remember?".
Harry felt annoyed with Ron for bringing that up but sighed and muttered, "true" as he took a space on the floor.
"Den down here for now then?", Harry said. The other three nodded and thus they bedded down next to each other exchanging stories before falling asleep.
Harry's last thought as his eyes closed was a feeling of gratitude that he had a brother and friends to distract him from life's mysteries and problems. Perhaps being away from home would not be so bad after all...