Post by anezja on Nov 16, 2006 19:01:33 GMT -5
Chapter One: The Long Ride Home
Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s P.O.V.
Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, and Hermione Granger sat in a compartment near the back of the Hogwarts Express. Summer was over and they were thrilled to be headed back to school for their sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
“Ron,” Hermione said, “What time is it? We need to be up at the Head Compartment for our meeting at noon.” Ron and Hermione had been chosen for headboy and headgirl at Hogwarts and were supposed to get their instructions from deputy headmistress, Professor MaGonagall.
Ron checked his watch, “It’s about ten till.” He said.
Hermione’s eyes widened, “Oh no!” She gasped. “We better get going. We’re going to be late!”
Ron rolled his eyes. “Chill out Hermione! We’ve still got ten minutes!”
And then Hermione gave Ron such a contemptuous look that he shut his mouth and left the compartment silently behind Hermione, grimacing at the sound of Harry’s laughter.
Ginny and Luna’s P.O.V.
Ginny Weasley, Ron’s little (and only) sister was sitting in a compartment about halfway up the train with her newest friend, Luna Lovegood. Luna held a copy of The Quibbler in her lap as she absent-mindedly listened to Ginny’s telling of her summer.
“Well I finally dumped Dean. I mean he was obviously still into that Patil girl, wasn’t he?” Ginny rambled on. “And if truth be told, he didn’t exactly tickle my fancy, you know what I mean?”
Luna nodded her head, her eyes staring blankly at Ginny. Honestly, she was getting a bit annoyed with her friend. Ginny had rambled on about such trivial things for at least three hours. She was so material…Luna had been in the middle of a very important article about hunched gornbags, and had been polite enough to put the magazine down and listen. But seriously…enough was enough!
“Hey Ginny!” Luna shouted over Ginny’s elaboration of why Dean didn’t ‘tickle her fancy.’ “You should go visit Harry. Your brother and Hermione just walked by so Harry is probably lonely.”
Ginny looked taken aback for a moment but then said, “Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“Oh no!” Luna said. “I’m actually in the middle of a very interesting article about the rare and beautiful hunched gornbags. Did you know…?”
“Got to go!” Ginny said jumping up hurriedly. “See you later!”
Luna shrugged then buried herself in the Quibbler.
Ron and Hermione’s P.O.V.
Ron and Hermione made their way down the length of the Hogwarts Express to Professor MaGonagall’s compartment.
“Oooh, I can’t believe we made headboy and headgirl, can you?!” Hermione was positively giddy.
“Nope,” Ron said, “I can honestly say I wasn’t expecting to get headboy.” He smiled. “Though I kind of figured you’d get headgirl…”
Hermione felt her face grow warm. “Did you?” she smiled at Ron who quickly blushed.
“Well, yeah, but you know---“
A tall brunette boy who had just stepped out of a nearby compartment cut Ron off.
“Hello, Hermione,” the boy said, smiling at her.
“Hello, Jeff!” Hermione said, looking suddenly very much like a kid in a candy store.
Ron was looking back and forth between the two of them. He noticed, with a pang of annoyance that Hermione was blushing. Ron felt his ears go red. ‘Was it possible that Hermione actually liked this guy?! I mean, sure, “Jeff” was handsome, but no more so then himself.’
“How was your summer, then?” Jeff asked, flashing a toothy grin at Hermione.
“Um, just great…yours?” Hermione responded dreamily.
“Oh, well, you know…it was okay except…I really missed y---“
Ron hastily interrupted. “Ahem” he said. “Hermione, we’re going to be late…”
Hermione frowned at him. “Just a second, Ron!” she said, sounding irritated.
Suddenly Ron felt an anger rise within himself, like he’d swallowed a Hungarian Horntail. It took him a minute to realize that the monster inside was jealousy. Raw, passionate, jealousy that swept over him like the waves upon the sand. He shook his head to try to snap out of it, and then, failing, he stepped around Hermione and Jeff and stormed off down the train.
Hermione watched Ron huff off, curiously.
“Was it something I said?” Jeff laughed.
Hermione smiled and hit him playfully, “Oh, of course not!” she said. “But I do have to go…duty calls you know…”
“See you later then, Hermione,” Jeff said.
“Bye Jeff!” And Hermione hurried off after Ron.
* * *
“Now what was that all about?!” Hermione asked Ron when she finally managed to catch up with him.
“Why don’t you tell me?!” Ron snapped. “Who the Hell is ‘Jeff’?!”
Hermione looked taken aback, “Um, Jeff is a friend of mine from my arithmancy course last year. And why do you give a damn anyway?!”
Ron glared at her. “I don’t give a damn!” he said, growing steadily louder. “It’s just you were so worried we were going to be late to MaGonagall’s and then you stop and flirt with ‘pretty-boy Jeff’ for five minutes! What the Hell is that?!”
“I’m s-s-sorry,” Hermione stuttered, “but I was, well, I haven’t actually gotten to talk to Jeff in person since school got out.”
Ron stopped. “In person?!” he rounded on her. “Wait a second…have you been getting owls from him?!”
Hermione looked down. “Well…yes…”
“At MY house?!” Ron fumed.
“Now Ron,” Hermione scowled, “don’t you think you’re being slightly ridiculous?”
“No,” Ron sneered back, “as a matter of fact, I don’t!”
Suddenly, Professor MaGonagall’s compartment door flew open. “What is this racket?!” she shouted. “Oh, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger,” she frowned, “I should expect better behavior from our new headboy and headgirl.”
“Sorry, Professor,” Hermione said, lowering her head.
Professor MaGonagall looked at them curiously, and then motioned them into her compartment.
Harry’s P.O.V.
Harry sat in the compartment room alone, now, thinking about the one good thing in his life. The one ray of sunshine that pierced through the cloudy skies above. He was thinking about his one true love. His secret one true love…
Ginny’s P.O.V.
As Ginny slid out of her and Luna’s compartment, she narrowed her eyes suspiciously. ‘She couldn’t know, could she?’ she thought. ‘No, that was silly. Luna couldn’t know…my own family doesn’t know. What twits!’ Ginny laughed. But then again, you can never tell with Luna. She could know.’ Thinking hard now, Ginny made her way to Harry’s compartment.
Harry and Ginny’s P.O.V.
A soft knock on the compartment door caused Harry to look up. He grinned widely when a trim red headed girl entered.
“Hiya, Ginny!” Harry said giddily.
“Hello, Harry.” Ginny moved to him and threw her arms around her neck, pressing her lips against his in a loving kiss. She pulled away then sat down on the cushioned bench.
“I wonder if we’re being too obvious, Gin,” Harry said, sighing. “You know, it would be easier if we just told everyone about us…”
Ginny rolled her eyes. “Harry we’ve been through this before!” she said. “Mum would freak out!”
“Are you kidding?! She treats me like her own son!”
“Exactly!” Ginny said. “Her son and daughter… lovers?! Gross!”
“You’re right,” Harry sighed. “That is pretty gross…Wait! LOVERS?!” Harry’s eyes widened. “Since when?”
“Since about a half an hour from now…” Ginny smirked coyly.
Harry grinned then, with a flick of his wand, locked the compartment door, and pulled Ginny into his arms.
Draco Malfoy’s P.O.V.
Draco Malfoy sat in a compartment on the Hogwarts Express all alone. He didn’t mind though. Lately, Draco only felt secure when he was alone. It made him fell safe. When you’re unwillingly on the side of the Dark Lord, you could never be quite sure whom you could trust.
Draco leaned his silver-blonde head against the cold window and gazed at the trees as they passed by in a dark green blur. As he stared beyond them at the rain-soaked hills in the distance, he felt a single warm tear roll down his pale face. Draco tried his best to hold it in but he could tell that the dam was about to give way. He could now feel the steady rain of salty drops as they slid mercilessly over his cheek. Burying his tear stained face in his sweaty hands, Draco tried to breathe. He had to stop crying before someone saw him. He couldn’t get his father’s voice out of his head. He imagined what Lucious Malfoy would say if he could see his only son now.
“Pure bloods do not cry, Draco!” Draco’s head swarmed with the resonating bass of his father’s voice. “Quit sobbing, you no good worthless excuse for a Malfoy! The Dark’s Lord’s servants must be strong! Now shut up and practice the Unforgivable Curses!”
The thought of his father made Draco cringe. The man he had once admired and aspired to be was now his worst enemy.
Draco shook his head, trying desperately to force everything out so that he could focus on the task that had been set before him by evil. A task that, when completed, would free him from the service of the Dark Lord forever…
Professor MaGonagall, Ron, and Hermione’s P.O.V.
“As Headboy and Headgirl, Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger, you will be expected to know and enforce the rules of Hogwarts.” Professor MaGonagall looked sharply at Ron. “And follow them as well, of course.” Ron’s ears turned red.
MaGonagall continued her instructional lecture (to which only Hermione was paying attention), “Finally,” she said, “You will both be housed in the head students private dormitory.”
“What?!” Ron said, suddenly attentive.
“We get our own dorms?!” Hermione exclaimed giddily. “Wow, that’s terrific!”
MaGonagall waved her arms, “Settle down now.” She continued. “The room is located on the fourth floor just left of the statue of the sphinx behind the portrait of Sir Leigho de Jacque. Your password is ‘Luntica.’ That will change in two weeks time.” She clapped her hands. “Alright, I think that’s it…you may go.”
Ron and Hermione’s P.O.V.
Ron and Hermione left Professor MaGonagall’s compartment and headed down the train to their compartment. Hermione was talking non-stop about their new dormitory. “Can you believe it?!” she reeled. “Finally! No more rooming with the airheads!” (Hermione roomed with Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil- possibly the two dumbest girls in all of Hogwarts.) Hermione looked at Ron who was frowning. “What’s wrong,” she inquired. “Aren’t you excited?”
Ron shrugged, “Yeah, but, well…what about Harry?”
Hermione’s face fell. “Oh yeah…Harry.”
“It kind of sucks that we have to leave him alone, you know. Besides, I like all of my roommates.”
“Well to be perfectly honest, Ron, I’m more worried about Harry’s safety than the fact that you won’t be sleeping with your best friends anymore.”
“Yeah, but he’ll be in the room with three other members of the D.A. so he’ll still be pretty well protected. Plus, Harry’s not completely incompetent.” Ron shrugged. “But won’t it be a little awkward?”
Hermione furrowed her brow at him. “Awkward? How so?”
“Well you know…you…me…living together…by ourselves…”
Hermione blushed. “Well, we’ll have different rooms of course…”
“Of course…”
An awkward silence fell over the pair, a silence that followed them down the length of the Hogwarts Express.
Harry and Ginny’s P.O.V.
Back in the compartment, Harry and Ginny were going at it like a couple of rabbits when Ginny suddenly shot away from Harry, breathing heavily.
Harry looked dumbfounded. “Are you okay, Ginny?” He asked, praying that the answer was yes.
But Ginny shushed him. “Footsteps…” she whispered.
Harry stood silent, listening intently. Then they both heard the knob of the compartment door click.
“Harry?” A voice from outside called.
“It’s Ron!” Ginny screeched.
Harry frantically tried to redress himself, while Ginny simply grabbed her wand and muttered a spell that instantly dressed both herself and Harry. Harry smiled. “I always forget I can do that.”
Ginny sat down on the bench and gave Harry a nod that meant she was ready for the door to open.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny’s P.O.V.
Harry unlocked the compartment door and in stepped Ron and Hermione looking very confused.
“Why’d you lock the bloody door, mate?” Ron asked furrowing his brow.
“I didn’t lock the door!” Harry said innocently. “You must have bumped it on your way out.”
Ron looked away from Harry and saw his sister sitting on the bench. “Hey Ginny, when did you get here?”
Ginny shrugged. “After you left.”
Hermione raised her eyebrow, “Wait a second…if you got here after Ron and I left…how did you…”
Ginny and Harry glanced at each other both wide eyed. ‘Damn Hermione’s brain!’
“Um, Hermione, I have to go to the bathroom. Come with me?” Ginny cut Hermione off before she could reveal her revelation to a completely clueless Ron.
Hermione stared at a Ginny then smirked at her.
Ginny rolled her eyes, grabbed Hermione’s arm and dragged her out of the compartment.
Harry and Ron’s P.O.V.
Ron looked at Harry. “Now what do you suppose that was all about?” He asked.
Harry shrugged. “You know how girls are…it’s physically impossible for them to go to the bathroom alone.”
Ron laughed. “Too true, mate.” He paused. “So I hope you and Ginny had a good time…”
Harry’s heart stopped. Ron sounded awfully shaky when he said those words. “Yeah, I suppose we had an alright time,” he said wiping his sweaty forehead off with his sleeve.
“Well I didn’t!” Ron collapsed on the bench that Harry and Ginny had “gotten familiar” on. Harry cringed at the thought of what Ron would say if he knew. “Hermione stopped and talked to this guy named ‘Jeff’. He was a real jerk. I mean he was rude and annoying and really ugly.”
Harry smirked. “Did Hermione think he was ugly?”
“Well she had to have… I mean, she’s not that blind! Not that you could tell it by the way she threw herself at him, mind you. She must be desperate.” He shook his head. “It was pathetic, really!”
“I’m sure it was…” Harry tried to suppress a laugh. “Anyway, what did you guys find out about the Headship?”
Ron lowered his head and then stared guiltily at Harry. “Well mate, it doesn’t look…like…we’ll, um…be*cough* room*cough* ing *cough* together…”
Harry looked at Ron curiously, “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that last part.”
Ron whimpered desperately, “We aren’t rooming together anymore!”
Harry drew back curiously. “What do you mean?”
“The Headboy and Headgirl get their own private tower.” Ron hung his head. “I’m sorry…”
Harry sat down on the bench. “This totally sucks! What the Hell?! This isn’t fair!”
“I know mate, it bites, but what can you do?” Ron shrugged. “No offense, mate but honestly I’m more worried about the fact that Hermione and I will be rooming together…”
Harry rolled his eyes. He wished Ron would give up this redundant charade. He OBVIOUSLY had the hots for Hermione but just refused to admit it. What a prat.
Hermione and Ginny’s P.O.V.
Ginny cut her way through the hallways all the way to the bathrooms at the front of the train. No one ever used those bathrooms because they were reserved for the conductor and other Hogwarts Express staff. Just as Ginny had expected the bathroom was completely empty. Her and Hermione entered and stood silently staring at each other.
It was Ginny who first broke the silence. “You can’t tell Ron!” her voice sounded pleading.
Hermione looked suddenly excited, “You and Harry! This is just too unbelievable!”
“Well believe it.” Ginny smiled. “Harry and I have been going out since August.”
“August!” Hermione cried. “How could you not tell me?!”
“Well, we didn’t want anyone to know about us and even just telling you, there was more of a chance that people could find out.”
Hermione’s eyes widened. “So back in the compartment, you and Harry locked the door…did you guys do it??!!”
Ginny smiled weakly, “No, thanks to you guys…”
“Oh my God, I am so sorry!”
“Yeah well, I guess we were kind of stupid to try it in a public area anyway…”
Ginny sighed. “The point is you are absolutely forbidden to tell Ron! I mean he would freak out! His best friend…and his sister? Just promise me…Okay?”
Hermione smiled. “Okay, I won’t tell.”
Ginny released a breath she had forgotten she was holding. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
“C’mon,” Hermione said. “Let’s get back to the compartment before your brother gets suspicious
.
* * *
As Hermione and Ginny made their way down the hallway, they came upon a compartment that was magically shaded.
“I wonder who’s in there?” Hermione cocked her head.
“Let’s find out…” Ginny said, putting her ear up against the door. She listened intently for a second then whispered, “Someone’s crying…”
Hermione furrowed her brow, “Does it sound like anyone we know?”
Just then, the door of the shaded compartment flew open and suddenly a sneering Draco Malfoy stood over the pair of girls.
“It’s about time you guys got…” It was then that Draco realized to whom he was talking. “Oh,” he said looking shaken for a second. He quickly regained his composure. “Well, well, who have we here? The littlest weasel and the mudblood…”
Hermione was sure that the only reason herself and Ginny hadn’t responded was due to their shocking realization that Draco Malfoy had been crying. His eyes were red and swollen. Hermione felt an unexpected twinge of pity. She noticed that he looked tired and weak. In fact she was positive that it was only his pride that was allowing him to stand so straight.
Draco seemed to notice that the girls were aware of his condition and quickly slammed the door in their face muttering something about them not being worth his time.
Hermione and Ginny remained still, unable to believe what they had just witnessed.
“I wasn’t hallucinating…” Ginny said, slowly standing up. “That was Draco Malfoy, right?”
Hermione nodded her head, her mouth hanging open.
“Well what do you know…” Ginny grimaced. “Malfoy’s human.”
“He was crying…” Hermione was still staring at the shaded compartment door. “But…why?”
Ginny grabbed Hermione’s arm and pulled her down the hallway, “Come on,” she said, “we’ve got to tell the guys!”
Draco Malfoy’s P.O.V.
“Shit!” Draco cursed. “They saw me weak!” Draco knew they had realized he was upset. ‘I shouldn’t have let them go!’ he thought. ‘Now they’re going to go tell Potter!’ Draco kicked the bench. “Damnit!”
Draco sat down, breathing hard and held his head in his hands. ‘I need to be strong! My father would lynch me now if he knew. And Potter… The thought of him knowing that I… What an idiot I am! If he says anything to me I swear I’ll curse hi…’ Draco stopped. “…kill him…”
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny’s P.O.V.
“Oh my God! Guess what…” Ginny and Hermione burst into the compartment, breathing heavily from their previous sprint down the hallway.
“Let me see…the fifth dentist caved and now they’re all recommending Trident?” Harry laughed at his own joke but he was the only one. “Trident…the muggle gum…oh, never mind!” Ginny and Ron just stared at him. “Anyway, what happened?”
Ginny shook her head then continued. “Malfoy… cruel, arrogant, cold-hearted Malfoy…was crying.”
Ron and Harry stared at her blankly. “Crying…” Ron repeated. “As in…crying?”
“Yes!” Ginny sighed, exasperatedly. “You know, weeping, sobbing, boo-hoo… crying!”
“That’s impossible…” Ron said, shaking his head. “You have to have feelings to cry.”
“I’m telling you that that’s what Hermione and I saw!” Ginny gushed. “We were passing a compartment that was magically shaded and we heard whimpering. I, being the naturally curious person that I am, leaned in to investigate. When the door opened, it was Draco Malfoy standing above us. I would never have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes.”
Ron closed his eyes, and shook his head again. “That’s impossible…”
“Will you stop saying that!?!” Ginny cried. “I know what I saw! Ask Hermione if you don’t believe me!”
All eyes immediately focused on Hermione. “It was Malfoy…and he was crying.” She paused. “But…I can’t imagine why…”
“Well it’s obvious…isn’t it?” Ron sighed. “You both are making it up…therefore he wasn’t really crying!” He crossed his arms. “Mystery solved.”
Ginny socked Ron in the arm and Hermione rolled her eyes as Harry looked on with laughter.
“Seriously though,” Harry started. “We really need to figure this out.”
Hermione glanced at her watch. “Well what ever the reason, we’ll have to wait to figure it out.” She looked back at her friends. “It’s time to get robed…we’re almost there.”
Harry turned to Ginny and Hermione, grabbed Ron’s arm and pulled him out of the compartment saying, “Ladies first.”
Harry and Ron’s P.O.V.
While Hermione and Ginny dressed themselves in the compartment, Harry and Ron stood outside.
“Do you reckon they were serious?” Ron asked Harry.
“Yeah, I guess…” Harry shrugged. “I mean that’s not exactly the kind of thing they would joke about.”
Ron sighed, “Yeah, you’re right. But that leaves us with one question.”
“Why was he crying?” Harry finished. “I don’t know but one things for sure…”
“We can’t ignore this.” Ron and Harry looked at each other. “And we really need to stop finishing each other’s sentences. It’s kind of freakin’ me out.”
“Yeah,” Harry said putting his hands in his pockets.
“Yeah…”
* * *
When the train finally stopped at the Hogsmeade Station, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny stepped off and took their first look at Hogwarts in three months. It looked the same as always: elegant, majestic…magical.
Harry’s P.O.V.
Ron, Hermione and Ginny struggled to pass through the crowd but it was Harry who had it the hardest. Although just last year the entirety of Hogwarts School had shunned him, he found himself being swallowed by a surmounting horde of admirers. Within seconds he lost sight of his friends. Harry struggled to tear himself from the mass of people but only fell deeper into their grasps. Just as Harry was about to succumb, he felt a strong pair of arms lift him out of the crowd and set him down firmly a distance away.
“ ‘Ello Harry,” the giant before him said. “Yeh okay?”
Harry breathed a sigh of relief. “Yeah, thanks Hagrid.”
Hagrid chuckled, “Yeh gettin’ a lil more attention then yeh’d like?”
“Yeah. I think I liked it better when everyone thought I was insane!” He laughed.
“All righ’ Harry, yeh best get to them carriages afore they leave ya.”
“Thanks Hagrid!” Harry said as he turned and ran toward the invisible, winged, dragon-like creatures that pulled the students to Hogwarts.
As Harry ran, he pondered these amazing creatures. He had seen them for the first time just last year. He had thought at the time that he was imagining their presence but was later taught that you could only see threstrals once you have seen someone die. He had of course witnessed Cedric Diggory’s death the previous year which allowed him to view these mysterious beings.
Harry’s train of thought was halted by the realization that the threstrals were beginning to move. He sped up and just managed to hurl himself into the carriage at the very end. He landed face down on the scarlet velvet carpet, panting.
“Well, well, well…” Harry shot his head up at the sound of the familiar drawl. “It’s Potty!”
Harry swore loudly and, after a quick tussle, found himself face down on the pavement a mile from Hogwarts as he listened to the riotous laughter of Malfoy and his cronies. Praying that the feast would still be in progress when he finally arrived, Harry set off for home.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s P.O.V.
Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, and Hermione Granger sat in a compartment near the back of the Hogwarts Express. Summer was over and they were thrilled to be headed back to school for their sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
“Ron,” Hermione said, “What time is it? We need to be up at the Head Compartment for our meeting at noon.” Ron and Hermione had been chosen for headboy and headgirl at Hogwarts and were supposed to get their instructions from deputy headmistress, Professor MaGonagall.
Ron checked his watch, “It’s about ten till.” He said.
Hermione’s eyes widened, “Oh no!” She gasped. “We better get going. We’re going to be late!”
Ron rolled his eyes. “Chill out Hermione! We’ve still got ten minutes!”
And then Hermione gave Ron such a contemptuous look that he shut his mouth and left the compartment silently behind Hermione, grimacing at the sound of Harry’s laughter.
Ginny and Luna’s P.O.V.
Ginny Weasley, Ron’s little (and only) sister was sitting in a compartment about halfway up the train with her newest friend, Luna Lovegood. Luna held a copy of The Quibbler in her lap as she absent-mindedly listened to Ginny’s telling of her summer.
“Well I finally dumped Dean. I mean he was obviously still into that Patil girl, wasn’t he?” Ginny rambled on. “And if truth be told, he didn’t exactly tickle my fancy, you know what I mean?”
Luna nodded her head, her eyes staring blankly at Ginny. Honestly, she was getting a bit annoyed with her friend. Ginny had rambled on about such trivial things for at least three hours. She was so material…Luna had been in the middle of a very important article about hunched gornbags, and had been polite enough to put the magazine down and listen. But seriously…enough was enough!
“Hey Ginny!” Luna shouted over Ginny’s elaboration of why Dean didn’t ‘tickle her fancy.’ “You should go visit Harry. Your brother and Hermione just walked by so Harry is probably lonely.”
Ginny looked taken aback for a moment but then said, “Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“Oh no!” Luna said. “I’m actually in the middle of a very interesting article about the rare and beautiful hunched gornbags. Did you know…?”
“Got to go!” Ginny said jumping up hurriedly. “See you later!”
Luna shrugged then buried herself in the Quibbler.
Ron and Hermione’s P.O.V.
Ron and Hermione made their way down the length of the Hogwarts Express to Professor MaGonagall’s compartment.
“Oooh, I can’t believe we made headboy and headgirl, can you?!” Hermione was positively giddy.
“Nope,” Ron said, “I can honestly say I wasn’t expecting to get headboy.” He smiled. “Though I kind of figured you’d get headgirl…”
Hermione felt her face grow warm. “Did you?” she smiled at Ron who quickly blushed.
“Well, yeah, but you know---“
A tall brunette boy who had just stepped out of a nearby compartment cut Ron off.
“Hello, Hermione,” the boy said, smiling at her.
“Hello, Jeff!” Hermione said, looking suddenly very much like a kid in a candy store.
Ron was looking back and forth between the two of them. He noticed, with a pang of annoyance that Hermione was blushing. Ron felt his ears go red. ‘Was it possible that Hermione actually liked this guy?! I mean, sure, “Jeff” was handsome, but no more so then himself.’
“How was your summer, then?” Jeff asked, flashing a toothy grin at Hermione.
“Um, just great…yours?” Hermione responded dreamily.
“Oh, well, you know…it was okay except…I really missed y---“
Ron hastily interrupted. “Ahem” he said. “Hermione, we’re going to be late…”
Hermione frowned at him. “Just a second, Ron!” she said, sounding irritated.
Suddenly Ron felt an anger rise within himself, like he’d swallowed a Hungarian Horntail. It took him a minute to realize that the monster inside was jealousy. Raw, passionate, jealousy that swept over him like the waves upon the sand. He shook his head to try to snap out of it, and then, failing, he stepped around Hermione and Jeff and stormed off down the train.
Hermione watched Ron huff off, curiously.
“Was it something I said?” Jeff laughed.
Hermione smiled and hit him playfully, “Oh, of course not!” she said. “But I do have to go…duty calls you know…”
“See you later then, Hermione,” Jeff said.
“Bye Jeff!” And Hermione hurried off after Ron.
* * *
“Now what was that all about?!” Hermione asked Ron when she finally managed to catch up with him.
“Why don’t you tell me?!” Ron snapped. “Who the Hell is ‘Jeff’?!”
Hermione looked taken aback, “Um, Jeff is a friend of mine from my arithmancy course last year. And why do you give a damn anyway?!”
Ron glared at her. “I don’t give a damn!” he said, growing steadily louder. “It’s just you were so worried we were going to be late to MaGonagall’s and then you stop and flirt with ‘pretty-boy Jeff’ for five minutes! What the Hell is that?!”
“I’m s-s-sorry,” Hermione stuttered, “but I was, well, I haven’t actually gotten to talk to Jeff in person since school got out.”
Ron stopped. “In person?!” he rounded on her. “Wait a second…have you been getting owls from him?!”
Hermione looked down. “Well…yes…”
“At MY house?!” Ron fumed.
“Now Ron,” Hermione scowled, “don’t you think you’re being slightly ridiculous?”
“No,” Ron sneered back, “as a matter of fact, I don’t!”
Suddenly, Professor MaGonagall’s compartment door flew open. “What is this racket?!” she shouted. “Oh, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger,” she frowned, “I should expect better behavior from our new headboy and headgirl.”
“Sorry, Professor,” Hermione said, lowering her head.
Professor MaGonagall looked at them curiously, and then motioned them into her compartment.
Harry’s P.O.V.
Harry sat in the compartment room alone, now, thinking about the one good thing in his life. The one ray of sunshine that pierced through the cloudy skies above. He was thinking about his one true love. His secret one true love…
Ginny’s P.O.V.
As Ginny slid out of her and Luna’s compartment, she narrowed her eyes suspiciously. ‘She couldn’t know, could she?’ she thought. ‘No, that was silly. Luna couldn’t know…my own family doesn’t know. What twits!’ Ginny laughed. But then again, you can never tell with Luna. She could know.’ Thinking hard now, Ginny made her way to Harry’s compartment.
Harry and Ginny’s P.O.V.
A soft knock on the compartment door caused Harry to look up. He grinned widely when a trim red headed girl entered.
“Hiya, Ginny!” Harry said giddily.
“Hello, Harry.” Ginny moved to him and threw her arms around her neck, pressing her lips against his in a loving kiss. She pulled away then sat down on the cushioned bench.
“I wonder if we’re being too obvious, Gin,” Harry said, sighing. “You know, it would be easier if we just told everyone about us…”
Ginny rolled her eyes. “Harry we’ve been through this before!” she said. “Mum would freak out!”
“Are you kidding?! She treats me like her own son!”
“Exactly!” Ginny said. “Her son and daughter… lovers?! Gross!”
“You’re right,” Harry sighed. “That is pretty gross…Wait! LOVERS?!” Harry’s eyes widened. “Since when?”
“Since about a half an hour from now…” Ginny smirked coyly.
Harry grinned then, with a flick of his wand, locked the compartment door, and pulled Ginny into his arms.
Draco Malfoy’s P.O.V.
Draco Malfoy sat in a compartment on the Hogwarts Express all alone. He didn’t mind though. Lately, Draco only felt secure when he was alone. It made him fell safe. When you’re unwillingly on the side of the Dark Lord, you could never be quite sure whom you could trust.
Draco leaned his silver-blonde head against the cold window and gazed at the trees as they passed by in a dark green blur. As he stared beyond them at the rain-soaked hills in the distance, he felt a single warm tear roll down his pale face. Draco tried his best to hold it in but he could tell that the dam was about to give way. He could now feel the steady rain of salty drops as they slid mercilessly over his cheek. Burying his tear stained face in his sweaty hands, Draco tried to breathe. He had to stop crying before someone saw him. He couldn’t get his father’s voice out of his head. He imagined what Lucious Malfoy would say if he could see his only son now.
“Pure bloods do not cry, Draco!” Draco’s head swarmed with the resonating bass of his father’s voice. “Quit sobbing, you no good worthless excuse for a Malfoy! The Dark’s Lord’s servants must be strong! Now shut up and practice the Unforgivable Curses!”
The thought of his father made Draco cringe. The man he had once admired and aspired to be was now his worst enemy.
Draco shook his head, trying desperately to force everything out so that he could focus on the task that had been set before him by evil. A task that, when completed, would free him from the service of the Dark Lord forever…
Professor MaGonagall, Ron, and Hermione’s P.O.V.
“As Headboy and Headgirl, Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger, you will be expected to know and enforce the rules of Hogwarts.” Professor MaGonagall looked sharply at Ron. “And follow them as well, of course.” Ron’s ears turned red.
MaGonagall continued her instructional lecture (to which only Hermione was paying attention), “Finally,” she said, “You will both be housed in the head students private dormitory.”
“What?!” Ron said, suddenly attentive.
“We get our own dorms?!” Hermione exclaimed giddily. “Wow, that’s terrific!”
MaGonagall waved her arms, “Settle down now.” She continued. “The room is located on the fourth floor just left of the statue of the sphinx behind the portrait of Sir Leigho de Jacque. Your password is ‘Luntica.’ That will change in two weeks time.” She clapped her hands. “Alright, I think that’s it…you may go.”
Ron and Hermione’s P.O.V.
Ron and Hermione left Professor MaGonagall’s compartment and headed down the train to their compartment. Hermione was talking non-stop about their new dormitory. “Can you believe it?!” she reeled. “Finally! No more rooming with the airheads!” (Hermione roomed with Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil- possibly the two dumbest girls in all of Hogwarts.) Hermione looked at Ron who was frowning. “What’s wrong,” she inquired. “Aren’t you excited?”
Ron shrugged, “Yeah, but, well…what about Harry?”
Hermione’s face fell. “Oh yeah…Harry.”
“It kind of sucks that we have to leave him alone, you know. Besides, I like all of my roommates.”
“Well to be perfectly honest, Ron, I’m more worried about Harry’s safety than the fact that you won’t be sleeping with your best friends anymore.”
“Yeah, but he’ll be in the room with three other members of the D.A. so he’ll still be pretty well protected. Plus, Harry’s not completely incompetent.” Ron shrugged. “But won’t it be a little awkward?”
Hermione furrowed her brow at him. “Awkward? How so?”
“Well you know…you…me…living together…by ourselves…”
Hermione blushed. “Well, we’ll have different rooms of course…”
“Of course…”
An awkward silence fell over the pair, a silence that followed them down the length of the Hogwarts Express.
Harry and Ginny’s P.O.V.
Back in the compartment, Harry and Ginny were going at it like a couple of rabbits when Ginny suddenly shot away from Harry, breathing heavily.
Harry looked dumbfounded. “Are you okay, Ginny?” He asked, praying that the answer was yes.
But Ginny shushed him. “Footsteps…” she whispered.
Harry stood silent, listening intently. Then they both heard the knob of the compartment door click.
“Harry?” A voice from outside called.
“It’s Ron!” Ginny screeched.
Harry frantically tried to redress himself, while Ginny simply grabbed her wand and muttered a spell that instantly dressed both herself and Harry. Harry smiled. “I always forget I can do that.”
Ginny sat down on the bench and gave Harry a nod that meant she was ready for the door to open.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny’s P.O.V.
Harry unlocked the compartment door and in stepped Ron and Hermione looking very confused.
“Why’d you lock the bloody door, mate?” Ron asked furrowing his brow.
“I didn’t lock the door!” Harry said innocently. “You must have bumped it on your way out.”
Ron looked away from Harry and saw his sister sitting on the bench. “Hey Ginny, when did you get here?”
Ginny shrugged. “After you left.”
Hermione raised her eyebrow, “Wait a second…if you got here after Ron and I left…how did you…”
Ginny and Harry glanced at each other both wide eyed. ‘Damn Hermione’s brain!’
“Um, Hermione, I have to go to the bathroom. Come with me?” Ginny cut Hermione off before she could reveal her revelation to a completely clueless Ron.
Hermione stared at a Ginny then smirked at her.
Ginny rolled her eyes, grabbed Hermione’s arm and dragged her out of the compartment.
Harry and Ron’s P.O.V.
Ron looked at Harry. “Now what do you suppose that was all about?” He asked.
Harry shrugged. “You know how girls are…it’s physically impossible for them to go to the bathroom alone.”
Ron laughed. “Too true, mate.” He paused. “So I hope you and Ginny had a good time…”
Harry’s heart stopped. Ron sounded awfully shaky when he said those words. “Yeah, I suppose we had an alright time,” he said wiping his sweaty forehead off with his sleeve.
“Well I didn’t!” Ron collapsed on the bench that Harry and Ginny had “gotten familiar” on. Harry cringed at the thought of what Ron would say if he knew. “Hermione stopped and talked to this guy named ‘Jeff’. He was a real jerk. I mean he was rude and annoying and really ugly.”
Harry smirked. “Did Hermione think he was ugly?”
“Well she had to have… I mean, she’s not that blind! Not that you could tell it by the way she threw herself at him, mind you. She must be desperate.” He shook his head. “It was pathetic, really!”
“I’m sure it was…” Harry tried to suppress a laugh. “Anyway, what did you guys find out about the Headship?”
Ron lowered his head and then stared guiltily at Harry. “Well mate, it doesn’t look…like…we’ll, um…be*cough* room*cough* ing *cough* together…”
Harry looked at Ron curiously, “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that last part.”
Ron whimpered desperately, “We aren’t rooming together anymore!”
Harry drew back curiously. “What do you mean?”
“The Headboy and Headgirl get their own private tower.” Ron hung his head. “I’m sorry…”
Harry sat down on the bench. “This totally sucks! What the Hell?! This isn’t fair!”
“I know mate, it bites, but what can you do?” Ron shrugged. “No offense, mate but honestly I’m more worried about the fact that Hermione and I will be rooming together…”
Harry rolled his eyes. He wished Ron would give up this redundant charade. He OBVIOUSLY had the hots for Hermione but just refused to admit it. What a prat.
Hermione and Ginny’s P.O.V.
Ginny cut her way through the hallways all the way to the bathrooms at the front of the train. No one ever used those bathrooms because they were reserved for the conductor and other Hogwarts Express staff. Just as Ginny had expected the bathroom was completely empty. Her and Hermione entered and stood silently staring at each other.
It was Ginny who first broke the silence. “You can’t tell Ron!” her voice sounded pleading.
Hermione looked suddenly excited, “You and Harry! This is just too unbelievable!”
“Well believe it.” Ginny smiled. “Harry and I have been going out since August.”
“August!” Hermione cried. “How could you not tell me?!”
“Well, we didn’t want anyone to know about us and even just telling you, there was more of a chance that people could find out.”
Hermione’s eyes widened. “So back in the compartment, you and Harry locked the door…did you guys do it??!!”
Ginny smiled weakly, “No, thanks to you guys…”
“Oh my God, I am so sorry!”
“Yeah well, I guess we were kind of stupid to try it in a public area anyway…”
Ginny sighed. “The point is you are absolutely forbidden to tell Ron! I mean he would freak out! His best friend…and his sister? Just promise me…Okay?”
Hermione smiled. “Okay, I won’t tell.”
Ginny released a breath she had forgotten she was holding. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
“C’mon,” Hermione said. “Let’s get back to the compartment before your brother gets suspicious
.
* * *
As Hermione and Ginny made their way down the hallway, they came upon a compartment that was magically shaded.
“I wonder who’s in there?” Hermione cocked her head.
“Let’s find out…” Ginny said, putting her ear up against the door. She listened intently for a second then whispered, “Someone’s crying…”
Hermione furrowed her brow, “Does it sound like anyone we know?”
Just then, the door of the shaded compartment flew open and suddenly a sneering Draco Malfoy stood over the pair of girls.
“It’s about time you guys got…” It was then that Draco realized to whom he was talking. “Oh,” he said looking shaken for a second. He quickly regained his composure. “Well, well, who have we here? The littlest weasel and the mudblood…”
Hermione was sure that the only reason herself and Ginny hadn’t responded was due to their shocking realization that Draco Malfoy had been crying. His eyes were red and swollen. Hermione felt an unexpected twinge of pity. She noticed that he looked tired and weak. In fact she was positive that it was only his pride that was allowing him to stand so straight.
Draco seemed to notice that the girls were aware of his condition and quickly slammed the door in their face muttering something about them not being worth his time.
Hermione and Ginny remained still, unable to believe what they had just witnessed.
“I wasn’t hallucinating…” Ginny said, slowly standing up. “That was Draco Malfoy, right?”
Hermione nodded her head, her mouth hanging open.
“Well what do you know…” Ginny grimaced. “Malfoy’s human.”
“He was crying…” Hermione was still staring at the shaded compartment door. “But…why?”
Ginny grabbed Hermione’s arm and pulled her down the hallway, “Come on,” she said, “we’ve got to tell the guys!”
Draco Malfoy’s P.O.V.
“Shit!” Draco cursed. “They saw me weak!” Draco knew they had realized he was upset. ‘I shouldn’t have let them go!’ he thought. ‘Now they’re going to go tell Potter!’ Draco kicked the bench. “Damnit!”
Draco sat down, breathing hard and held his head in his hands. ‘I need to be strong! My father would lynch me now if he knew. And Potter… The thought of him knowing that I… What an idiot I am! If he says anything to me I swear I’ll curse hi…’ Draco stopped. “…kill him…”
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny’s P.O.V.
“Oh my God! Guess what…” Ginny and Hermione burst into the compartment, breathing heavily from their previous sprint down the hallway.
“Let me see…the fifth dentist caved and now they’re all recommending Trident?” Harry laughed at his own joke but he was the only one. “Trident…the muggle gum…oh, never mind!” Ginny and Ron just stared at him. “Anyway, what happened?”
Ginny shook her head then continued. “Malfoy… cruel, arrogant, cold-hearted Malfoy…was crying.”
Ron and Harry stared at her blankly. “Crying…” Ron repeated. “As in…crying?”
“Yes!” Ginny sighed, exasperatedly. “You know, weeping, sobbing, boo-hoo… crying!”
“That’s impossible…” Ron said, shaking his head. “You have to have feelings to cry.”
“I’m telling you that that’s what Hermione and I saw!” Ginny gushed. “We were passing a compartment that was magically shaded and we heard whimpering. I, being the naturally curious person that I am, leaned in to investigate. When the door opened, it was Draco Malfoy standing above us. I would never have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes.”
Ron closed his eyes, and shook his head again. “That’s impossible…”
“Will you stop saying that!?!” Ginny cried. “I know what I saw! Ask Hermione if you don’t believe me!”
All eyes immediately focused on Hermione. “It was Malfoy…and he was crying.” She paused. “But…I can’t imagine why…”
“Well it’s obvious…isn’t it?” Ron sighed. “You both are making it up…therefore he wasn’t really crying!” He crossed his arms. “Mystery solved.”
Ginny socked Ron in the arm and Hermione rolled her eyes as Harry looked on with laughter.
“Seriously though,” Harry started. “We really need to figure this out.”
Hermione glanced at her watch. “Well what ever the reason, we’ll have to wait to figure it out.” She looked back at her friends. “It’s time to get robed…we’re almost there.”
Harry turned to Ginny and Hermione, grabbed Ron’s arm and pulled him out of the compartment saying, “Ladies first.”
Harry and Ron’s P.O.V.
While Hermione and Ginny dressed themselves in the compartment, Harry and Ron stood outside.
“Do you reckon they were serious?” Ron asked Harry.
“Yeah, I guess…” Harry shrugged. “I mean that’s not exactly the kind of thing they would joke about.”
Ron sighed, “Yeah, you’re right. But that leaves us with one question.”
“Why was he crying?” Harry finished. “I don’t know but one things for sure…”
“We can’t ignore this.” Ron and Harry looked at each other. “And we really need to stop finishing each other’s sentences. It’s kind of freakin’ me out.”
“Yeah,” Harry said putting his hands in his pockets.
“Yeah…”
* * *
When the train finally stopped at the Hogsmeade Station, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny stepped off and took their first look at Hogwarts in three months. It looked the same as always: elegant, majestic…magical.
Harry’s P.O.V.
Ron, Hermione and Ginny struggled to pass through the crowd but it was Harry who had it the hardest. Although just last year the entirety of Hogwarts School had shunned him, he found himself being swallowed by a surmounting horde of admirers. Within seconds he lost sight of his friends. Harry struggled to tear himself from the mass of people but only fell deeper into their grasps. Just as Harry was about to succumb, he felt a strong pair of arms lift him out of the crowd and set him down firmly a distance away.
“ ‘Ello Harry,” the giant before him said. “Yeh okay?”
Harry breathed a sigh of relief. “Yeah, thanks Hagrid.”
Hagrid chuckled, “Yeh gettin’ a lil more attention then yeh’d like?”
“Yeah. I think I liked it better when everyone thought I was insane!” He laughed.
“All righ’ Harry, yeh best get to them carriages afore they leave ya.”
“Thanks Hagrid!” Harry said as he turned and ran toward the invisible, winged, dragon-like creatures that pulled the students to Hogwarts.
As Harry ran, he pondered these amazing creatures. He had seen them for the first time just last year. He had thought at the time that he was imagining their presence but was later taught that you could only see threstrals once you have seen someone die. He had of course witnessed Cedric Diggory’s death the previous year which allowed him to view these mysterious beings.
Harry’s train of thought was halted by the realization that the threstrals were beginning to move. He sped up and just managed to hurl himself into the carriage at the very end. He landed face down on the scarlet velvet carpet, panting.
“Well, well, well…” Harry shot his head up at the sound of the familiar drawl. “It’s Potty!”
Harry swore loudly and, after a quick tussle, found himself face down on the pavement a mile from Hogwarts as he listened to the riotous laughter of Malfoy and his cronies. Praying that the feast would still be in progress when he finally arrived, Harry set off for home.