Disclaimer: I own nothing. J.K. Rowling has everything. It just isn't right, but that's life.
I would like to say a lovely "THANK YOU!" to all my reviewers. I never thought about the apparition thing…let's just say you got me. Sorry.
Also, Chockymousse is my beta and I love you! Chocky Rocks!
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Chapter 4
The train
The train huffed and rattled into the station floating huge clouds of steam to roll over the occupants of the platform. Ron was delighted to see the Hogwarts Express finally reach the station. He couldn't wait to get his hands on that stupid prat of a best friend. Ron knew what was happening. Harry was running amok in the guilt thing again. He couldn't understand how Harry would try to take everything on himself like he did. That bloody howler was the last straw. At first, Ron thought it was a ripe joke and he had laughed. When he saw Ginny's face he understood that he actually didn't understand anything after all. Gin could always read people better than he did. He had finally grasped that his best friend really wasn't coming for the last bit of summer.
At first he wanted to throttle him. Now, Ron just wanted to get him here to talk! He knew once they were back in the train and having a proper Chocolate frog nosh that everything would feel right again. Every time Harry went back to those horrible people in the summer he seemed darker and more beaten in spirit. A lot had happened last term, but a lot had happened every year. They'd get through this just like they always did. As long as no one brings up the whole `big brain' episode again. He had been properly harassed by his dim-witted twin brothers every time they came home on the weekends from their joke shop for Sunday dinner. His parents made sure he had a checkup at St. Mungo's after they got home from Hogwarts, but it wasn't so bad. Ron spent a pleasant evening chatting up a very young and very pretty nurse who was impressed with his stories about fighting off the Death Eaters.
Ron grabbed his trunk and absently kissed his mother goodbye while she fluttered and admonished him and Ginny before they could escape.
"Try not to grow anymore Ron! I just let out Percy's robes for you and there won't be any more hems to let out! Ginny dear, please be sure and write me all about Harry as soon as you can. I am very worried about that dear boy."
Mrs. Weasley waved them off as they pulled themselves up onto the steps and into the train car. Ginny immediately saw one of her mates and left Ron to his own devices. The tall red-headed boy looked around and noticed they were actually early for once. Ron grinned realizing his two older brothers were the ones who were always making them late for everything.
"Brilliant! For once we don't have to settle for the worst cabin car!"
He wandered around before he found the cabin closest to the trolley cart refill station. It couldn't hurt to be close to where the trolley was. Harry always bought a cart full for tradition's sake.
Neville Longbottom nearly bumped into him as Ron was inspecting all the candies and cakes on display.
"Oy! Watch it!" Ron sputtered as he got a nose full of custard.
Luckily he had a few knuts to pay for it since the witch watching the trolley had crossed her arms and was tapping her foot in anger. Neville looked properly contrite and offered to pay him back as soon as he unloaded his trunk in their dorm.
Neville had grown taller than but not nearly as tall as Ron. Surprisingly, Neville had also caught up to his gangly legs and arms and his features had filled in pleasantly as his nose finally fit his face. The shy boy had been surprised to see the appreciative looks of several girls as he had entered the train. He didn't know what that meant, and he was a little intimidated to find out.
Hermione walked around the corner and seeing Ron, waved slightly. Her smile was small and her eyes appeared worried. She had tied her hair back in a twist and she had on her robes already. The dark black of the robes made her appear smaller and thinner than last year. Or maybe, Ron thought, she was thinner than before. She looked like she had gotten a little taller and more womanly over the summer. Her manner seemed less gawky and coltish. Almost graceful, Ron thought surprised. He could see the beauty she was becoming. She was so delicate and tiny, it was hard to remember this was the girl who screamed at him for ten whole minutes when he accidentally singed Crookshanks' tail with firecrackers. He was sure they would have shot OFF the cat for the display and not stayed tied on its fuzzy tail. He couldn't help but grin about that recollection. His smile faded as he stared at the quiet and worried young woman. Ron couldn't be sure, but she didn't look too happy to be here.
"Hullo." Her voice had a sense of forced cheer and it only served to highlight her overall anxious demeanor.
"Seen Harry, yet?" She asked not really wanting to know.
"No. You all right, `Mione?" He was looking at her closely.
"I'm just fine, Ronald. Settle down. How's your brain?"
She saw his concern and it touched her a little. Not many things pulled her back from the self-imposed fog she had been living in. Her sincere question after his health made Ron's eyes roll and remember similar questions asked incessantly by his irritating brothers.
"My brain is fine, thank you very much, Ms. Granger. You didn't look too bloody good after that fight, either! Just please, don't do any brain jokes. My brothers have completely driven me spare this summer!" he laughed but then sputtered to an embarrassed stop when she sat down and was staring out the window. That was definitely not Hermione, Ron thought. Merlin, what was wrong with her?
Harry heard Ron's laugh down the corridor and he winced a little in anticipation of their meeting. He knew he had royally messed things up as usual. Why couldn't he just do things right for a change? Harry contemplated running for just a second. He realized he was just putting off the inevitable so he trudged down the slightly dirty hallway until he was right behind the taller red-headed boy.
"Oy, Ron."
Ron's head seemed to swivel faster than the rest of his body as he jumped at the voice of his friend. Harry's dark shaggy hair and lightning scar looked the same as always. He was taller, broader and a little quieter, but still the same Harry. It was hard for Ron to even think that the three of them were really growing up. There were times during the fights with Death Eaters and Voldemort that believing they would live to sixteen was almost laughable.
Ron nonchalantly leaned slowly against the door frame and crossed his arms over his chest. He wasn't going to make this easy for him. It had really hurt the way Harry had pushed him away like that. They had endured so much together and Harry just shut him out. Not to mention that Howler. That was going to take a lot of explaining.
"Um. Well. Sorry about that." Harry sounded a lot like Hagrid.
Ron blinked. Suddenly he couldn't help laughing. He slapped his mate on the back and shook his head rolling his eyes.
"Just don't be such a stupid prat again, eh? Sending me a howler! What were you thinking!?" Ron shoved Harry into the cabin and imperiously motioned for the trolley lady to bring the cakes and candies.
Harry smiled slightly. For once Ron made it easy. He reached into his robes and pulled out a few coins to pay the witch who carried the enormous platter of wizarding candies.
"Tradition is so great!" Ron said through a mouth full of pumpkin pasties.
"So then, Pax?" Harry asked tentatively.
"Pax, Harry. I'll get you back at some point. I don't have the Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes as brothers for nothing." Ron smirked at Harry's mock expression of worry hiding his true sense of relief.
Harry had settled his things and then noticed Hermione staring out the window in the corner. She hadn't even noticed his entrance to the train car. She must really not care. His eyes furtively flashed her direction. She looked tired. What was it about her that made him hurt inside when she was mad? Even her funning scolds made him wince a little. Hermione was so small and yet so strong. Harry couldn't help but admire so much about her.
She hates me. His face fell with the knowledge of her apparent feelings.
If only I had kept her from being hurt. She could have died! There is no way she'd forgive me now.
It was amazing that Ron had so understood, but that was Ron for you. Hermione was a bit of a mystery. Well, the way girls think in general befuddled him. This proved to him that she must hate him after all. That thought ripped at his heart and he could feel his whole body clenching up to hold back the emotions. Harry turned his body and forced himself to stare out the window until he could deal with the hollow feeling inside.
Ron chewed thoughtfully as he saw both his best friends pull into themselves. The emotions in the room reminded him
of the Dementors that were allowed on the train third year. He sighed softly. This was going to be a long trip.
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