CHAPTER FOUR: HOMECOMING
~~~~~September 1st, 1996. Grimmauld Place.~~~~~
The few weeks before their return to Hogwarts found long days for the four students staying at Grimmauld Place. It mainly consisted of the four in the sitting room, Ginny reading a magazine, Hermione a book and the boys playing chess. Hermione and Harry had only shared a bed once more over the time past and both was still not going to admit their feelings, which was frustrating Ginny greatly.
She'd talked to both of them about it but neither was willing to take that next step. Ron of course was oblivious to the whole thing, but Ginny had a sinking feeling that he wouldn't be happy about it. As much as she loved her brother she knew that he wasn't right for Hermione, just by the way he looked at her. Ron would look at Hermione as if she was a prize and his to have and own, whereas the way Harry looked at her was much different. Ginny could see that when Harry looked at her, he wasn't just seeing her body like Ron did, he was seeing her heart and soul.
Ginny wanted to get them together but knew that Ron was going to be a problem for them. He'd always been jealous of Harry without thinking about things first and if Harry had got the girl too, Ginny knew Ron would be extremely pissed. But that didn't change the fact that Harry and Hermione belonged together.
Even with long, boring days, the morning of September first found three of the four racing around searching for things. Hermione was of course, already packed and ready to go and therefore was now in Harrys room helping him find his things, after just finishing packing Ginnys trunk.
"Oh, Harry, no wonder you can't ever fit everything in your trunk." She sighed as she started pulling things out to pack them neatly.
"Sorry, but I'm just not good with those things." He replied from under the bed where he was currently searching for a shoe.
Placing everything back in the trunk Hermione was quite pleased with the result, there was much more room. Harry came out with his shoe, the last thing he needed to find, and looked in astonishment at the trunk.
"How'd you manage that?" He asked while he handed her the shoe which she placed neatly in the trunk beside its twin then picked up his sweatshirt and started folding it.
"You need to do it neatly, don't just throw it all in there."
"What would I do without you?" He said, giving her a kiss on the cheek which caused her to blush.
Hermione turned her face down, lest he see the smile, and placed the shirt in the trunk while saying, "You would have been dead long ago."
The four, along with Tonks, Mad-Eye, Lupin and Mrs Weasley took two Ministry cars that Arthur had managed to aquire for the day to Kings Cross station. Since they were very close to missing the train they all bolted through the crowds to barely make it onto the platform on time. Hurriedly throwing their things on the train they quickly said good-bye to their escorts.
Lupin took Harry aside, "Harry, I want you to know that I'm here for you."
"I already knew that Remus."
"Well, while we were going through Sirius' things I found a certain mirror, I believe you have the other half."
Harry looked a little guilty when he said, "I broke it."
"No problem, you're a wizard Harry, a simple Mirror Reparo will fix it." Lupin grinned.
Harry hadn't even thought of that and smiled, "Thanks, Remus."
"Harry! Hurry or you'll miss the train." Mrs Weasley hollered.
Spurred on by impulse, Harry hugged Lupin. The werewolf looked to be on the verge of tears when he pulled away and smiled at Harry. "Keep in touch."
"I will." Harry called as he ran for the now departing train and jumped on. The four dragged their trunks to a compartment where they found Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood. Packing their stuff away Hermione announced that she, Ron and Ginny, who had been made a prefect, had to go and recieve their instructions from the Heads.
Harry sat down across from Neville and Luna once they left. Luna was reading her copy of the Quibbler upside down as usual so Harry turned to Neville.
"How's your Summer been, Neville?"
"Not bad. After all that stuff happened I thought my Gran would kill me, but instead she was so proud going on about how I was finally living up to my father and stuff. She even took me to get a new wand." Neville told him, pulling his new wand out.
"That's great, Neville. What about you, Luna?"
She put her paper down and looked at him with her dreamy expression. "Oh father and I had a wonderful time looking for the Crumple-Horned Snorkacks again. We tried Switzerland this time and were sure we saw one, but it was gone by the time we got our camera out."
"Bad luck, huh?"
Luna nodded and went back to her reading. Harry and Neville talked about all sorts of things, OWLs and quidditch and such until Hermione, Ron and Ginny returned to the carriage. Ginny sat in between Luna and Neville while Hermione took the seat in between Harry and Ron.
"How'd it go?" Harry asked.
"Fine." Hermione answered.
Ginny rolled her eyes and elaborated, "Cho's head girl and she kept shooting Hermione dirty looks."
"Why'd she keep shooting you dirty looks?" Neville asked.
"I have no idea."
Ginny repeated the act of rolling her eyes, "Because of Harry."
"What about me?"
"Don't you remember how jealous she kept getting everytime you'd mention Hermione last year? Not to mention what Hermione did to that friend of hers, Marietta or whatever her name is."
"I didn't do it to her, she did it to herself. If she hadn't of ran to that damn Umbridge then it wouldn't of happened. We told them the DA was a secret, they should have expected we'd take steps to ensure that. And nobody else may be able to remove it, but I can, and if she'd just apologize for being a dirty, rotten, snitch then I will."
"You're joking!" Harry exclaimed, looking at Hermione in wonder, "Is that bloody thing on her face still there?"
"Of course it is. You don't think I'd use a charm that can simply be removed do you?" As if he was insulting her just by suggesting it.
Harry just laughed and shook his head, muttering, "Unbelievable." Then louder, while he swung an arm over her shoulders, he said, "You know I think we've corrupted her, Ron."
Ron also put his arm around her shoulder. "Oh, we definitely have. I mean just look at what she did to Rita Skeeter."
"She also deserved it. That horrible woman going around spying on people and then twisting the facts." Hermione defended.
"Then of course there's leading Umbridge into a forest to be killed by a herd of centaurs." Harry added with a smile.
"She didn't get killed and what else was I supposed to do? Oh, just leave me alone. Wake me up when we're home."
Ron laughed and took his arm back, challenging Neville to a game of chess. Harry liked the way that Hermione also referred to Hogwarts as home. He also like the way she had layed her head on his shoulder to go to sleep. He moved his arm so it was around her waist to make her more comfortable. What he didn't like about the situation was the unusual look that Ron gave him.
Leaving the train at Hogsmeade station the six walked to the carriages but not before Harry, Ron and Hermione had said a quick hello to Hagrid who was calling for the first years.
"Oh, 'ello you lot."
"Hey Hagrid, how are you?"
"Not bad, 'Arry, not bad. How did yer all go on yer OWLs?"
They quickly went through their results to a very pleased Hagrid. He told them that he was proud of them, but he had to get the first years to the boats and that he'd see them soon.
On the way to the carriage Ron was oblivious to the look that crossed Harrys face when he saw the thestrals, but Hermione wasn't. She grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze. "Try not to look at them."
He smiled at her and with their hands still held he helped her into the carriage after Ron had pushed himself in. "I hope you never see them." He said quietly.
She looked back and down from the doorway, squeezing his hand again. "Me too."
Upon entering the Great Hall of Hogwarts Harry basked in the overwhelming sense of happiness and peace that washed over him.
I'm finally home, he thought. They took their seat at the Gryffindor table, greeting a few other friends they hadn't seen in a while, but the room quietened down as McGonagall led a group of horrified first years down the hall.
"God, Mione, were we ever that young?" He whispered in her ear, close enough to send a shiver down her spine.
She shook it off and smiled at him, leaning in close. "We were younger Harry."
Up the front of the Hall Dumbledore witnessed the exchange with a smile. He turned his attention back to the Sorting Hat, which was for the second year in a row singing about the houses uniting against outside evil. The sorting proceeded without a glitch but Dumbledore made a note to ask the Sorting Hat later about the fact that while the other three houses had increased substantially, Slytherin had only received six or seven students.
Once the sorting was through and McGonagall had resumed her seat Dumbledore stood and silence filled the hall. He smiled at his students. "For those who are new, welcome. To those who are not, welcome back. There is much to be said, however this is not the time for it. Tuck in!"
With a wave of his arms, food covered the tables and the students happily started eating and catching up. Dumbledore resumed his seat. Professor Brodsky was beside him and he leaned over.
"Where is she? I can't see her!" He exclaimed quietly.
"She is here, Byron, do not fear." Dumbledore smiled.
McGonagall leaned over Dumbledore. "You need to have patience, Byron. You can't be obvious."
"I'm not going to be obvious. It's just that I haven't been this close to her in a very long time."
The feast went by merrily, with great food and friends reuniting. Luna had come over to the Gryffindor table since she didn't have any friends in her own house.
After the tables had been cleared Dumbledore stood once more. "We are back for another year and let us hope it is a good one. For first years and those who refuse to listen I will say once again that the Forbidden Forest is simply that, forbidden to all students. Mr Filch, our caretaker has requested that all of you make the time to stop by his office where a renewed list of prohibited items has been hung up, I believe they now include a number of items from the Weasley twins now legal store."
A small chuckle rang out, mostly from the Gryffindors. "Now I know you would all like to get a good nights sleep, but first I would like to introduce our new Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher. Now do not fear, this one is most competent." A laugh mixed with a sigh of relief was let out amongst the majority of students who remembered Umbridge all too well. "May I introduce Professor Byron F. Brodsky."
The man beside Dumbledore stood giving the students their first good look at him. Dumbledore continued speaking but Hermione didn't hear a word, she was too shocked, she just stared at their new teacher. His eyes were scanning the Gryffindor table intently and when they fell on her they stopped.
Hermione reached out for Harrys arms with shaky hands and shook it. He turned to her and was immediately worried by the look in her eyes. "What's wrong Hermione? What is it?"
"That's him, Harry. Our new professor, it's him."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~