Chapter 9: Home to Hogwarts
Author's note: A helpful reviewer informed me in my last story that if Harry was sixteen then Colin Creevey would be fifteen, not fourteen. My bad! You are absolutely right! So in the sequel, I'm changing his age to sixteen from fifteen, as it's a year later. Anyway, thanks to all my reviewers, and happy reading! Special hello to The Fly! =0)
The train station was busy as usual as Harry, Ron, and Hermione stepped out of the Muggle cab. The three had had to hire two cabs for the trip to King's Cross Station, one to carry them, and the other for their luggage.
The cabby had frowned suspiciously as the trio loaded their trunks, one orange bottlebrush tailed cat, one snowy owl, and one tiny rambunctious owl carefully into his cab. Ron had finally left Hermione and Harry to pay for the fare, as he had no idea about Muggle money.
They did their best to avert their eyes from the dubious glares of both cabbies and paid them quietly, piled their belongings on trolley carts and wheeled them towards the train platform.
Hermione heard the distinct utterance of "Blimey…kids today!" from one of the cabbies as they drove away.
"Whew!" muttered Ron as he watched the cabs disappear from view, "That was bloody close…"
"Ron, from now on maybe you should let Harry or I pay for any Muggle activities," said Hermione a little bossily, "That man's eyes nearly popped right from his head when you offered him galleons and knuts!"
"How was I supposed to know!?" replied Ron defensively, "Muggle money is such bilge! How can those flimsy notes be worth anything!?"
"It'd take too long to explain, Ron," said Harry with a smile as they neared the tall brick pillar between platforms nine and ten. "Do you want to go first then?"
Ron nodded. "Might as well."
He scanned the crowd for signs of anyone watching and when satisfied, took off at a run towards the deceptively solid pillar. Harry and Hermione soon followed, letting the wall swallow them as well, trolleys and all.
Immediately after they emerged on Platform nine and three quarters, Harry felt a specific oddness about the place. The Hogwarts Express was still gleaming, black and red on the tracks, waiting patiently for its passengers, and parents and students were still milling about as usual, giving hugs and kisses goodbye with promises of letters and gifts. But he noticed a change in the air; a certain sense of caution in the faces of the crowd and apprehension in their eyes.
The most significant change however was the very apparent fact that there were noticeably fewer students than usual.
"Let's hurry, now!" Yelled a familiar older female voice hidden by the crowd. "We must board the train quickly…Quickly please!"
Hermione immediately stood on tiptoe, a hand shading her eyes from the sun, and squinted for the owner of the voice. "That sounds like Professor McGonnagol!"
"It does," replied Harry with a puzzled frown on his face.
"Well let's get then," said Ron, pushing his trolley in front of him, "We won't find out anything by standing here gawping."
Harry nodded in agreement, and the three began making their way towards who they finally realized was indeed Professor McGonnagol.
The older woman was currently waving students on the train and greeting parents as pleasantly as possible while urging them that good-byes needed to be quick, and boarding even quicker.
She made her way from one small group to the other, concern evident on her face, and ushered students towards the open train door with polite leading and a few gentle shoves.
"Professor McGonnagol!" called Hermione with a delighted grin as they approached her. After all, the elder lady was Hermione's favorite teacher.
McGonnagol turned, and a look of relief washed over her features. "Oh, thank Merlin for you three!" she breathed out. "Ms. Granger, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, would you please help me usher the younger years on the train…we should be moving soon."
"Why the rush?" asked a confused Ron, for it was fifteen minutes before the train was scheduled to leave. "And you've never met us at King's Cross before for that matter…Is something wrong? What's going…"
"No, nothing wrong," said a flustered McGonnagol, waving over their heads at a group of giggling girls, "On the train please, ladies!" She turned back to them. "Just better if we're on board, safe and sound. Will you help me? I'll explain when we're on our way. Severus will take your things…"
At that moment, Snape glided up, the ever-present look of haughty disdain still evident on his face. "Weasley, Granger…Potter," he sneered to them. Harry merely lifted his chin in reply. Snape always said his name as if forming the words gave him a bad aftertaste.
The Potions master began loading their trunks onto the train, leaving the trio's animals to ride with them.
Ron couldn't help but notice the look of quiet anger Snape wore at having to be bellhop for all of the students, and snickered as the greasy-haired professor whirled away from them.
"Go please," said McGonnagol, shooing them away to start leading students.
They began to walk away towards the students, but a word from McGonnagol stopped them. "Potter, Granger!"
Harry and Hermione turned and saw McGonnagol toss them two shiny golden badges. They each caught one, and turned wide eyes back up to the professor, particularly Harry.
"Head boy and girl," she called out with a small smile, "The students may be more likely to listen to you with those pinned on. Off with you now!"
Ron turned to look at them with slack-jawed surprise as students bumped and milled past them toward the train. " 'Mione I was sure of, but you?" he turned to Harry. "You're smart mate, but I didn't think you had top marks."
"I don't," said Harry with a frown, "Guess that's another thing we'll have to ask her."
"Let's go then," said Hermione, delight plainly glowing on her face. She'd been sure she would be named as Head girl, but it was still a huge honor nonetheless, and an honor she got to share with Harry.
Boarding the train went much more quickly with the added help, and very soon the trip was under way.
Once on board and with the train moving steadily down the tracks, the air about the small community bound for Hogwarts changed back to one of familiar excitement.
Harry, Ron and Hermione make their way back towards their usual compartment, stumbling a bit as the train lurched lazily, and stopping to chat with friends and fellow schoolmates.
Dean, Seamus, and Neville were inseparable as usual, and greeted Ron and Harry with slaps on the back and a chaste kiss on the cheek for Hermione. The five talked about their final school year for a while before heading back to their seats, and on the way, Harry and Hermione were congratulated over and over as the head badges they wore were noticed.
They came nearer their compartment, which was precariously near where the Slytherin usually sat, and were commenting to each other about how they hoped not to have to run into Malfoy or his oaf companions on the trip, when they were passed rather briskly by a very morose Colin Creevey.
They noticed that he'd changed a bit over the summer. He was taller, less gangly, but was just as thin, even a little too thin for good health. He moved quickly past them, his lips white and pressed into a thin line, his face pale with an unreadable expression, and began to make his way to a compartment.
He opened it cautiously, and finding it to be empty, walked quickly inside and slammed the door.
Ron turned a bewildered look on Harry. "Strange, that was. He didn't even stop to idolize you…That's a first."
"He looked upset," Harry replied with a frown as he, Ron and Hermione entered their compartment and sat down, "Maybe we should go talk to him. I've never seen him like that. And I didn't see Dennis. Wonder where he's gotten too?"
"They usually stick together," said Ron, "That is odd…but then again, everything is starting out ruddy odd this year, isn't it?"
"Quite," replied Hermione, "But I don't think we should go to Colin right now. He didn't seem in the mood to chat. It seemed like he wanted to be alone…We can talk to him later."
She finished the latter part absently as she dug deeply into the small bag she had lugged onto the train with her. She finally produced a thick leather bound book, old and smelling of must and opened it to where she'd apparently stopped earlier. Without a second word to them, she began reading, and was immediately engrossed in it, as was her usual state every year on the way to school.
Harry turned his head sideways to glance curiously at the book's title and hooked a finger over the edge, bringing it down to catch a glimpse of Hermione's face.
"Magical Maladies, love? This wasn't on the school list."
Hermione pressed her lips together and lowered the volume slowly, a slight look of guilt on her face. "I know…Madame Pomfrey gave it to me at the end of last year. She was convinced I'd do well if I decided to study magical medicine. I…I'm not sure yet but…so far I'm really interested."
Ron was currently paying the train's trolley witch for a load of junk food and sat back down with the bundle of snacks, dispersing them between the three.
" 'Mione, you're interested in anything you read," he said sarcastically.
Hermione frowned deeply and opened her mouth to reply but Harry cut in first. "And how is this a problem you nit…"
Ron raised his eyebrows and raised a hand. "No problem mate." He turned to Hermione with a lop-sided grin. "I mean mates. Just observing…"
"Well observe with your mouth shut," said Hermione with a small playful kick to Ron's shin, " Being interested in multiple subjects is a good thing."
"I just meant that it makes it harder for you to decide what you want to do," said Ron, "or become for that matter. And speaking of that," he turned his gaze Harry's way, "I've been meaning to ask you what you're becoming."
Harry looked at him quizzically until a look of comprehension crossed his face. "You mean the extra abilities."
Ron nodded. "Thinking of trying out for the most powerful wizard in the world award yet?"
Harry punched him in the shoulder. "Shut you're gob you prat. It's not as if I've been able to practice over the summer. I'm still only able to levitate one thing at a time…and that's all I can do."
"Wandless," corrected Ron pointedly, "You levitate wandless Harry. I still can't believe it."
Hermione lowered her book. "So you decided to tell him…"
"Of course he did!" said Ron, offended. "Neither of you can keep anything from me for long, it's a proven fact."
Hermione scoffed and smiled, glancing out the window at the passing scenery. "Fact, Ron?"
"Utter fact," said Ron, raising his head slightly. "You're both worthless at secrets. Hell, I can see right through both of you. Fact."
Harry closed his eyes briefly and leaned back against Hermione, one eyebrow raised in a lazy gesture. "Fiction, Weasley. There's a great raging secret I've been keeping from you since the day we met…but now that we're mates for life, I think it's time I told you."
Ron's gaze flew up to Harry's, and seeing the seriousness in his face, he sat up straight in shock. "What're you…wh…If you're lying to me mate, I swear I'll…"
"It's true, Ron. I'm sorry…I…I should've told you sooner."
Hermione looked surprised at this and pushed Harry off of her with a grunt. "Harry! We don't keep secrets from each other…any of us! What is this!?"
Harry pressed his lips together with a pained expression and leaned forward, his elbows on his knees and his fingers laced. He gestured Ron forward until Weasley was inches from his face.
"I don't like to keep secrets from you Ron, you're like my brother. So I'll tell it to you straight on…"
Ron's anxiety factor shot up by at least fifty percent and he steeled himself.
Harry sighed. "This might be a shock mate, but…you're a great blazing idiot."
He sat up and blinked hard as if suffering with having to deal such a blow. "Thought you should know."
Ron blinked a few times and sat back against his seat as Harry began to snicker and then laugh even louder, dodging the halfhearted looks of disapproval Hermione was shooting his way. But Ron noticed the smile fighting to work its way onto her face.
"I walked right into that, didn't I…" he said matter-of-factly.
"Not half!" wheezed Harry, guffawing as he slapped back against his seat and clutched his stomach.
Ron shook his head darkly and gazed out the window, muttering to himself. "Ruddy blighter…"
Hermione buried her nose in her book to hide her grin.
************************************
The dullness of silence and the steady rocking and clacking of the train had soon almost lulled all three to sleep.
Harry had switched places with Hermione to allow her to nap back against him and he lay leaned back against the train window with his mouth relaxed open and his arms around her, oblivious to the steady vibration of his head against the glass.
Ron, opposite them, had borrowed the Quidditch book he had given Harry for his birthday, and it now lay forgotten on his lap as his chin bobbed onto his chest. He had been struggling between asleep and awake for an hour now, but the lack of conversation and the steady rhythm of the train had done him in.
Too soon into their nap however the compartment door vibrated with a small rap, and slid open a little loudly.
Ron snapped awake first.
"Sod off, Malfoy!"
Professor McGonnagol favored him with a stern look for a moment and then entered the compartment.
Ron sleepily rubbed his eyes and sat up. "I'm sorry P…Professor…I didn't know it was you."
"Obviously," said McGonnagol with a raised eyebrow, but her look softened as she saw Harry and Hermione asleep, intertwined with each other.
A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, but she chased it away. There was business to attend to.
"Mr. Weasley, if you please…"
Ron nodded dully and nudged Harry roughly on the shoulder. "Oy, Harry…Wake up, you. 'Mione, you too."
Harry snapped awake and blinked the fogginess away. "Wh…what…"
Hermione sat up quickly. "P…Professor!" She looked almost mortified to have been caught even leaning against Harry lest McGonnagol find it inappropriate, but the older woman merely settled down next to Ron, folding her hands.
"I'm sorry to disturb you three but I wanted to talk to you before we get to Hogwarts…The Headmaster sent Professor Snape and I to be with the students on the way to school this year."
Harry rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands. "Dumbledore? Why?"
Minerva looked almost frightened, but composed herself immediately. "I assume you heard about the incident in Diagon Alley yesterday; the dark mark."
Hermione stiffened. "We were there."
McGonnagol shut her eyes for a moment and nodded. "I figured as much. Albus thought it best to send a couple of professors to hurry the students along, and to make sure things went…smoothly."
Harry grimaced. "Because of Voldemort's threat."
"We don't yet know what he's capable of," said McGonnagol, betraying her calm exterior by wringing her hands, "Or where he might decide to show himself. Hogwarts is safe, but King's Cross has never been quite as protected. We had to make sure our students made it safely to the school…at least the ones remaining." She added sadly.
"We noticed Professor," said Ron, leaning forward. "There seems to be a lot less enrolled this year. Am I right then?"
"You are," said McGonnagol. "There are quite a few parents this term who decided to keep their children away. It seems the fear at what Voldemort might do is finally affecting our enrollment. The school is still the safest place, but a student had never been taken actually off of school grounds before until last year," she finished quietly, "Until you, Ms. Granger."
Hermione pressed her lips together but faced McGonnagol's soft gaze with a steady one. Harry took her hand and spoke quietly.
"But that can't be the only reason, Professor."
McGonnagol looked pained and started to explain, but stopped herself, and stood. "It's not, Mr. Potter…but I'll leave that for the Headmaster to explain." She nodded to them and began to leave, but stopped at a question from Harry.
"Professor, wait…I…I wanted to ask you about the head boy badge. I know I don't have the highest marks so I have to know…Why me?"
McGonnagol sighed and turned back to gaze steadily back at Harry. "Professor Dumbledore considered more than just marks in choosing the head boy this year Harry, what with all the…evil…that's happened so recently. He wanted someone he knew could stand against the dark lord if needed; someone that had the courage, and the ability to be a true leader if for any reason it was needed… He chose you."
Harry blinked and swallowed thickly, the heavy burden that always followed him slipping its arms around his shoulders and bearing down once more.
McGonnagol's expression softened before she left. "He's a wise wizard Harry. You've said it yourself before…He's rarely wrong."
She gave all of them understanding smiles before leaving them in peace once again.
************************************
The rest of the trip to Hogwarts was uneventful. Ginny came by the compartment for a brief moment to say hello and make her presence known and then scurried off with an excuse. She'd been acting oddly all summer, according to Ron, but he hadn't really given it much thought. He'd always thought Ginny a little odd.
The only other oddity the three noticed was the strange absence of Malfoy. He was most definitely on the train, as they had seen his tall blonde head in his usual compartment while passing, but he hadn't tried to barge in or cause any trouble. The obnoxious Slytherin, trailed by his two large goons had given them grief every year on the train since they'd met, but as of yet hadn't shown his face to them. Not that they were complaining…
Harry smiled. Ever since he was eleven years old, Hogwarts had been the only real home he'd ever known. And even though it was his last year there, it was also his last year with the Dursley's, a thought that never failed to cheer him. He'd already owled Sirius with his plans to get his own flat as soon as he graduated.
Sirius, though thinking he was a bit young, had relented. Anything to get him away from the Dursleys, and Sirius himself still wasn't completely cleared enough from the false murder accusations against him to be able to give Harry a good home. He was constantly on the move, and didn't want Harry to have to be also. Then there was also the matter of how serious Harry seemed to be with his girlfriend. If Harry only knew how often his godfather had thought to himself that it might only be a matter of time before he was given a certain announcement…
Harry pulled Hermione back against him again and she turned sideways this time to lay her cheek on his chest. He hugged her to him and held her, placing a gentle kiss on her hair, thinking simultaneously about how happy he was to have another year at the school.
It was then, as he held her and leaned back again against the train window that a profound thought hit him. Hogwarts wasn't home because of the school; it had never been. Hogwarts was home because Hermione was there. Harry shook his head and closed his eyes, squeezing her tighter, and felt her return the embrace. He finally realized that he wanted Hermione with him always, because there would be nowhere that would ever be home without her. She was everything.