Chapter 20 - The Gryffindor's Promise
It turned out that Hagrid had gotten the carriages set up and ready to meet the train. It took the students that weren't transported to St. Mungo's only about fifteen minutes to reach the castle. In Harry's carriage, things were quiet and solemn. The group of first years had to split up into three of the carriages. Harry took the first one so he could be there to meet the rest.
The same little girl was determined not to be separated and Harry couldn't tell her otherwise. That little girl had gotten to him. She sat as close as possible to him in the carriage and tried to pursue conversation to her best ability.
"What's your name?" She asked.
"Harry, what's yours?"
"Emily. How old are you?"
"Sixteen. How old are you?"
She giggled, "I'm eleven. I'm a first year."
Harry gave the girl a small smile as he glanced around the frightened faces of the carriage. "Don't worry. Everything will be alright when we get to the castle."
One of the younger boys scowled, "How do you know?"
"Because he's sixteen and he said so!" Emily said.
Harry bit back a chuckle at the girls comment but spoke to the boy, "It has nothing to do with me. Do you remember the older man who came onto the train?" The ones who had been in the front compartment nodded. "That's the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Professor Dumbledore. The wizard that those people who attacked us work for a man who is terrified of Dumbledore. He knows not to attack the castle or anyone in it."
"You-know-who sent those people?" Emily said in horror.
Harry gave a small nod. "I'm afraid so, Emily. But don't worry, like on the train, I won't let them get to you."
"How can you stop them? You're just a kid yourself," the same boy said defiantly.
"Because it's me their after." Harry said simply. "But they don't have the nerve to take me without their 'master's' permission. To hurt me would be to hurt him."
"You couldn't stop all of them from getting us," The boy repeated. "And what about the other carriages?"
"Remember the really big man who brought the carriages for us?" Harry asked. Their eyes widened and they nodded. "That's Hagrid, He's a good friend of mine. If for one reason or another I can't protect you, Hagrid will do everything in his being to do so."
"I don't like him." The boy said sharply.
"You don't like who?"
"The half-giant."
"You don't know Hagrid. There's little to dislike about him." Harry said.
"Giants are joining with You-Know-Who. So will he. He's half-giant." The boy said adamantly.
"Rubeus Hagrid would never betray Dumbledore," Harry said. "Plus I know how much he dislikes the Dark Side, personally."
"How?" Emily asked, eyes wide.
"Hagrid was friends with my parents, who were killed by V-You-Know-Who. Hagrid was the one who brought me to Dumbledore."
Emily gasped. "Harry...You're Harry Potter!"
The other boy scowled deeper. "Just our luck. He's the one who managed to escape You-Know-Who and he throws in his luck with a giant," he said the last word with an air of talking about a slug.
Harry was instantly reminded of a combination of Kreature and of 13 year-old Draco Malfoy. He shook his head. "What's your name?"
"Michael." The boy said.
"Michael, how much do you know?"
"I know enough to know you're going to meet your parents and that Diggory boy soon." The boy smirked.
"You need to be nice!" Emily growled.
Harry patted her knee gently before turning back to Michael. "I want you to get a few things straight, Michael. You are going to Hogwarts and the teachers are strained. You need to learn to hold your comments, they won't take it. Second, you apparently know little about this war and hopefully you don't have to see much more than what you saw today, but if you do you need to understand that NO ONE on this side is just going to take what's thrown at them. We will fight to the end. Finally, It would do you well not to speak like that of my parents or of Cedric Diggory once we arrive at the castle, no one will take that lightly, especially the Hufflepuffs and myself."
The boy narrowed his eyes, "I'm not afraid of you. You probably couldn't hurt me if you tried."
"He's Harry Potter," Emily interrupted. "He could too hurt you. But he won't, he's not mean."
The carriage pulled to a stop and Harry pushed open the door, holding it open as he helped each kid from the carriage. "Wait right here until we're all together and I'll take you to Professor McGonagall."
They were in awe of the castle's beauty; Harry had to agree with them. The other carriages came and Harry helped each student down and led them around to the castle, patting the Threstrals as he past. He had to chuckle when a few of the kids exchanged confused looks and tried to pet whatever was there, jumping when the actually felt something there.
"Evening, Hagrid," Harry called.
"'arry. 'ows Hermione?" The large man asked.
"Not so well. Dumbledore took her to St. Mungo's, that evil witch hit her with a severing charm," Harry said, unable to say the assailants name.
"Ah, well get the firs' years up ta' McGonagall then," Hagrid nodded.
"Will do Hagrid. See you in class then, Professor." Harry said, laughing when his friend beamed at the title he'd regained since Umbrages leave. "This way," he said to the first years as he led the way into the castle.
"Potter!"
Harry looked up to see a panic stricken McGonagall, "Professor, here's the first years."
The witch nodded, eyes scanning the group before resting on Harry again. "Alright, I shall take them from here."
"Yes, ma'am," Harry said before turning to enter the Great Hall.
"Potter?"
Harry turned back around to his Professor curiously.
"You did well this evening."
"Thank you, though I should have done better," he said solemnly glancing over the small group of eleven year olds then to his professor who understood his underlying meaning.
"Harry! I want to go with you!" Emily called out.
"You need to go with Professor McGonagall to be sorted into your house." Harry said. "Don't worry, I'll see you after sorting ok?"
The girl sighed but nodded, she did want to know what house she would be in after all.
Harry gave a small nod to McGonagall before entering the Great Hall. Many eyes turned to face him. His eyes scanned for a moment. The Slytherin table was nearly empty. Most the DA was sitting in their usual spots, though several were missing. And most the general population looked terrified. He sighed and walked over to his own spot at the Gryffindor table.
Ron and Ginny were sitting silently in their seats when Harry sat down. "Are you two alright?"
Ginny nodded, unable to speak because of the silent sobs and the tears that were streaming down her face. Ron looked up at his best friend, "Neville and Luna were hit, taken to St. Mungo's. Then Lucius came out of the stunner somehow and hexed Draco, we're not sure how he's doing."
Harry shook his head, "That witch got Hermione with a severing charm. Her shoulder was sliced open pretty badly." His own eyes began to tear up.
"How are the first years?" Ginny asked between sobs.
Harry sighed, "We lost almost a third of them in the explosions."
"Merlin," Ron said. "And this is only the beginning."
Harry nodded then remembered something, "Did you guys see Tonks?"
Ron and Ginny frowned and shook their heads, "No, not since she left with Remus."
Harry swore under his breath, "I hope she's alright."
The doors opened again and the Hall fell silent as McGonagall and the first years entered. The Sorting Hat gave another song on coming together before it was too late and the Sorting began. Michael Atkins, the boy from the carriage, became one of the few Slytherins (not that Harry was surprised), and Emily Jackson became the first of the Gryffindors.
The girl beamed as she ran down the Hall and sat herself down right next to Harry. There were a few chuckles about the Hall and even McGonagall gave Harry an amused look. Harry patted Emily on the back and glanced up at the two Weasleys who were looking from Emily up to Harry.
"Emily, these are two of my friends, Ron and Ginny-"
"Weasley, I know." She grinned. Ron looked confused. "It's obvious you're related to the Weasleys that own that joke shop!"
Ron, Ginny, and Harry all had to laugh at that. Of course the girl would have been Fred and George's shop.
"Harry?" She asked.
"What, Em?"
"Was that girl who got hurt on the train your friend too?"
"Yes, she is."
"What is her name?"
"Hermione Granger."
Emily tilted her head before giving Harry a hug, "I'm sorry Hermione got hurt. That woman in the black was really mean."
Harry returned the girl's hug and glanced at the two Weasleys. "It's alright Emily, Hermione will be alright. So will the others," He said the last part to his friends more than to the little girl. "Everything's going to turn out alright, I promise."
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